Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a circulating peptide hormone with 28 amino acids secreted from cardiac atria, plays an important role in the maintenance of fluid and electrolytes homeostasis. The actions of ANP appear to be mediated by specific receptors on target cells. However, the specific antagonist for ANP receptors is not yet to be defined. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antagonistic effects of water extract obtained from the gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) on the natriuretic peptide receptor system in the kidney. In the kidney of Sprague Dawley rats, specific 125I-ANP binding sites were localized in glomerulus, inner medulla, intrarenal artery, and vasa recta bundle by using quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography. These specific bindings were competitively displaced in a dose dependent manner by water extract obtained from the gardenia. Moreover, productions of 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) via activation of particulate guanylyl cyclase (GC) by ANP were increased in receptor proteins from the glomerulus and inner medulla of rat kidney. These cGMP productions were inhibited in a dose dependent manner by water extract obtained from the gardenia. The inhibitory effect of water extract obtained from the gardenia on activation of GC was quantitatively more potent rather than on 125I-ANP bindings to these renal structures. From affinity cross-linking study on the specific receptor proteins, the water extract obtained from the gardenia inhibited the 125I-ANP labeling of GC-coupled natriuretic peptide receptor from renal glomerulus of rat. Intravenous infusion of ANP elicits the potent diuresis, increment of urine osmolariry, and excretions of urinary chloride, creatinine and PAH in New Zealand White rabbit. These renal effects of ANP were inhibited by the intravenous pre-treatment of water extract obtained from the gardenia without changes in systemic hemodynamics including mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate. These results indicate that the water extract obtained from the gardenia may could be block the GC-coupled natriuretic peptide receptor, and suggest that the extract may contain a natural antagonistic molecule regulating the renal natriuretic peptide system.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antagonistic effects of water extracts of Chinese gooseberry (Actinidia chinensis P.) root on the natriuretic peptide receptor system in the rat kidney. By using in vitro receptor autoradiography, specific 125I-atrial natriuretic peptide (125I-ANP) binding sites were localized in glomerulus, inner medulla, intrarenal artery, vasa recta bundle, and renal pelvis of Sprague Dawley rat kidney. These specific bindings were competitively displaced by water extracts of Chinese gooseberry root in a dose dependent manner. Also, productions of 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) by activation of particulate guanylyl cyclase (GC) were stimulated by ANP in the glomerular and inner medullary membranes from rat kidney. These cGMP productions were inhibited by water extracts of Chinese gooseberry root in a dose dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of water extracts of Chinese gooseberry root on activation of GC was more potent rather than on 125I-ANP bindings to these renal structures. From affinity cross-linking study, the water extracts of Chinese gooseberry root inhibited the 125I-ANP labeling of GC-coupled natriuretic peptide receptor from renal glomerulus. Intravenous infusion of ANP elicits a potent diuresis, and urinary sodium and chloride excretions in New Zealand White rabbit. The pre-treatment of intravenous water extracts of Chinese gooseberry root infusion decreased competitively various renal effects of ANP with out changes in systemic hemodynamics. These results indicate that the water extracts of Chinese gooseberry root specifically inhibits the GC-coupled natriuretic peptide receptor subtypes (NPR-A), and suggest that the water extracts of Chinese gooseberry root may contain an antagonistic molecule regulating the biological functions of ANP system in the kidney and other organs.

Iridology, developed more than 100 years ago, is the diagnosis of medical conditions through noting irregularities of the pigmentation in the iris The purpose of this study is to compare interrelation between CVA, hypertension family history and cardio-renal connective tissue in Iris Constitution through iris constitution examination. The subjects consist of 114 patients who were examined in Iris Constitution at Chonju Oriental Medicine Hospital attached to Wonkwang Univ. from September. 1st. 2000 to August. 31th. 2002. 1. In the distribution of Iris Constitution, among of 79cases, There are neurogenic type 13cases, abdominal connective tissue weakness constitution 31 cases, cardio-renal connective tissue weakness constitution 6 cases, cholesterol 7 cases and others 22 case in control group. 2. There are familial history of CVA and hypertention 32 cases, no familial history of CVA and hypertention1 3 cases, in 35cases of experimental group. These results imply that there is meaningfulness of interrelation between cardio-renal connective tissue weakness constitution and CVA, hypertention.

This study was performed to prove the antithrombotic effects of paeonia japonica (赤芍葯, PJ) aqua-acupuncture solution by way of experimental methods. the thrombosis was induced by injection of collagen the mixture (0.1ml/10g, 2mg/kg B.W) plus serotonin (5mg/kg B.W) into the caudal vein of rats, 2 hours after liquid extract of paeonia japonica (PJ) was acupunctured into 'Taechung' (太衝:Liv3) of rats. The effect of aqua- acupunctures of paeonia japonica (PJ) was examined by the number of RBC and platelets, bleeding time, blood clotting time, death rate, platelet aggregation, plasma coagulation factor activity, exvivo and vitro fibrinolytic activicty of englobulin fracture in the rats. The results were summerized as followings. 1. The number of RBC and platelets was significantly increased in PJ-treated group in comparison with the control group. 2. Bleeding time was significantly shortened in PJ-treated group in comparison with the control group. 3. Blood clotting time was significantly prolonged in PJ-treated group in comparison with the control group. 4. The death rate of mouse was inhibited in PJ-treated group in comparison with the control group. 5. The platelet aggregation was inhibited in PJ-treated group in comparison with the control group. 6. The prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time on the test of plasma coagulation factor activity was prolonged but was not valuable in PJ-treated group. 7. Fibrinogen lyses time of rat was reduced and lyses area was increased in PJ-treated group in comparison with the control group. 8. Fibrinogen lyses time of rat in vitro assay was reduced in PJ-treated group. From the above results, it was thought that the aqua-acupuncture of PJ could be applied effectively in the thrombosis.

This research was studied whether umbilicus level of belly is to same Gv4 (命門) level of back or not. we know that Gv4 (命門) is located at L2-L3 The survey was done on 50 case of low back pain with L-spine X-ray. The resurts obtained here were as follows: 1. Umbilicus level of belly is to same L4 body level of back. (52%) 2. Umbilicus level of belly is to same L4-L5 level of back. (30%) 3. Umbilicus level of belly is to same L3- L4 level of back. (10%) 4. Umbilicus level of belly is to same L5 body back. (8%) As you see on the above results, umbilicus level of belly is not to same Gv4 (命門) level of back.