Background: With the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, enhancing immunity has become an important challenge. Health functional foods, such as Phellitus linteus (PL), are known to improve immune function. In previous laboratory studies, it has been reported that PL has anticancer activities. In this study, we will evaluate if PL improves immune functions in adults with reduced immunity and identify its effects on immunity factors. Methods: This study will be a single-center, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial. Study participants will be randomly allocated to 3 experimental groups: those taking PL 1000 mg, PL 2000 mg, or placebo. Total duration of the clinical trial will be 8 to 10 weeks. Study participants will have follow-up visits every 4 weeks and the effect and safety will be assessed at the second and third visits. All participants will be asked to maintain a dosage schedule for this protocol. The primary outcome will be natural killer (NK) cell activity and the secondary outcomes will include peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count; levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-12 to assess autoimmune reactivity; and levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)G1, IgG2, and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) to assess allergic activity. Repeated measure analysis will be used to measure primary efficacy based on full analysis set. Discussion: This study has limited inclusion and exclusion criteria and a well-controlled intervention. It will be the first randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of PL in adults with reduced immunity. This study will provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the immune-stimulating effects of PL and lay the groundwork for further studies.

This study analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case studies investigating Chuna manual therapy and variations of this term, for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. On June 15 th , 2019, 6 online databases were used to retrieve studies. A total of 527 articles were retrieved, and 14 RCTs and 20 case studies were selected for review. Typically, the frequency of Chuna therapy was 1-2 times/week. The most common period of treatment was 12 months in RCTs and 3-6 months in case studies. Cobb's angle was the most frequent evaluation index used (11 RCTs and 20 case studies). In control groups, brace treatment was used in 8 RCTs. In 6 RCTs and 20 case studies, Cobb's angle significantly decreased after Chuna therapy, and in 4 RCTs, Chuna therapy was as effective as brace treatment, with no significant difference between groups. Adverse events were not reported except for minor reactions in only 3 case studies. This review suggested that Chuna therapy for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was more advantageous than and as effective as brace treatment in most cases, although the risk of bias in 13 RCTs was unclear.

Background: Respiratory disease has emerged as a global issue due to COVID-19. In particular, there has been an increased frequency of occurrence of symptoms such as cough, sputum, and dyspnea, which commonly accompany chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Liriope platyphylla (LP) extract is known to improve respiratory function. LP extract ameliorates the symptoms commonly seen in bronchitis, asthma, and COPD and enhances immunity, as it has anti-inflammatory properties. In a previous study in rats, LP effectively improved respiratory inflammation levels. However, few randomized controlled trials have verified the effects of LP in respiratory disease and there have been no studies to determine the appropriate dose and duration to make it a more convenient functional health product. Based on previous studies, we would like to proceed with this clinical trial under the assumption that LP will help improve respiratory function and produce anti-inflammatory effects.Methods: This will be a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial. Participants will randomly be allocated to receive either 1000 mg LP or placebo. The total duration of the clinical trial will be 4 to 6 weeks. A follow-up assessment will be conducted 4 weeks after screening, and the effect and safety of LP application will be assessed at this second visit. The primary outcome will be the breathlessness, cough, and sputum scale score. Secondary outcomes will include pulmonary function, clinical symptoms of cough and sputum (reported through a questionnaire), changes in immune cells, changes in immune factors used to analyze allergic inflammation in bronchi, antioxidant enzyme activity, nitric oxide level, and COPD assessment test score.Discussion: This study has limited inclusion and exclusion criteria and the intervention will be well-controlled. This will be the first randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of LP extract in adults with cough and sputum. This study will provide insight into the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects and improvement of respiratory function of LP.Abbreviations: CAT = COPD assessment test, FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in 1 second, FVC = forced vital capacity, LP = liriope platyphylla.

Sacral insufficiency fractures (SIF) are a common, but often underdiagnosed source of lower back pain without apparent trauma. This report presents the clinical outcome of a 75-year-old female with SIF, and an underlying medical history of osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. She was treated non-operatively, in-hospital, with Korean medicine. Patient progress was assessed using the numerical rating scale and selfreported symptoms. Post-treatment, the numerical rating scale score for pain in her hip decreased from 7 to 2. At admission, the patient was unable to sit, and could only walk 3 m with assistance. At discharge, she could sit for longer than 1 hour and walk further than 200 m unassisted. On the follow-up visit, the patient was asymptomatic, and x-ray scans showed ossification of the sacral and pubic fractures. These results suggest that, Korean medicine can effectively reduce pain and aid rehabilitation in patients with SIF, without the need for surgery.