• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.421-428
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• 2005

The tenn 'Brain plasticity' has been identified that our central nervous system is continuously being adapted and modulated according to environmental needs and demands, and has been used to encompass the multifarious mechanisms related to learning, development, and recovery from damage to the nervous system. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate cortical reorganization in a 26-year-old right-handed hemiparetic patient with traumatic primary motor cortex (M1) injury, using functional MRI (fMRI). The unaffected (left) primary sensori-motor cortex centered on the precentral knob was activated during unaffected (right) hand movements. However, the medial area of the injured M1 was activated during affected (left) hand movements. It seems that the motor function of the affected hand in this patient was reorganized into the medial area of the injured precentral knob. These investigations provide a great useful information and clinical evidences with the specialized clinician in stroke physical therapy about patient's prognosis and therapeutic guidelines.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.11-20
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• 2000

The morphological changes in normal and weathering hair shafts of the human scalp were investigated by using the transmission and scanning electron microscopes. The hair shaft composed of cuticular layer, cortex and medula. The surface of normal hairs are smooth and covered by imbricated cuticular scales. The cuticular layer consists of five to seven cuticle cells. These cells, which are flat and thin, measuring about $100{\mu}m$ long and $0.4{\mu}m$ thick, appears intercellular membrane complex in diameter 25 nm. The cortex composed of melanin granules and cornified cells, which multicomponent concentric microfibrils in diameter about 8 nm give rise to macrofibrils in diameter $0.5{\mu}m$ to $0.8{\mu}m$ encased in limiting membrane. The melanin granules are spherical shaped about $0.5{\mu}m$ in size and scattered between macrofibrils. The medulla in the normal hairs are $16{\mu}m$ in diameter centrally region of cortex. Normal hair shafts undergo progressive degenerative changes due to a variety of environmental insults. In the initial weathering process of hair, the cuticular scales became irregularly raised and broken, and then cuticle cells formed cytoplasmic vacuolation, following dissociated intercellular membrane complex, ultimately entirely lost and nuded cortex. Occasionally, transverse fissures were seen at hair shafts indicating that the hairs were deteriorated. Complete removal of the cuticular layer in the heavily damaged cortex portions appeared splitting of the cortical cell into its macrofibrils and scattering of melanin granules.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.145-156
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• 2003

Objective : This study is to investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture ST36 on altered transmission of afferent somatosensory information caused by amyloid-${\beta}$(A-${\beta}$) that caused Alzheimer's disease. Methods : The effects of topical application of A-${\beta}$, A-${\beta}$ with ST36, aggregated A-${\beta}$(aA-${\beta}$), aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 and ST36 on the afferent sensory transmission to the neurons in the primary somatosensory(SI) cortex was observed in anesthetized rats. Quantitative determination of the effects of A-${\beta}$, A-${\beta}$ with ST36, aA-${\beta}$, aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 and ST36 was made by generating poststimulus time histogram of evoked response of individual cortical neuron by electrical stimulation of the receptive located in peripheral area(forepaw) Results : The results obtained in present study were summerized as follow : 1. Application of physiological concentrative 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex facilitated. 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ with ST36 exerted much stronger effects than 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ alone. 2. Application of $10{\mu}M$ A-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex unchangeable. But $10{\mu}M$ A-${\beta}$ with ST36 is facilitated at 30 min of post-drug period 3. Application of $10{\mu}M$ aA-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex diminished. $10{\mu}M$ aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 is diminished after 15min of post-drug period but is facilitated after 75min.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.298-303
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• 2018

Background: Panax ginseng is one of the most commonly used medicinal herbs worldwide for a variety of therapeutic properties including neurocognitive effects. Ginsenoside Rg1 is one of the most abundant active chemical constituents of this herb with known neuroprotective, anxiolytic, and cognition improving effects. Methods: We investigated the effects of Rg1 on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a key brain region involved in cognition, information processing, working memory, and decision making. In this study, the effects of systemic administration of Rg1 (1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, or 10 mg/kg) on (1) spontaneous firing of the medial prefrontal cortical neurons and (2) long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal-medial prefrontal cortical (HP-mPFC) pathway were investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Results: The spontaneous neuronal activity of approximately 50% the recorded pyramidal cells in the mPFC was suppressed by Rg1. In addition, Rg1 attenuated LTP in the HP-mPFC pathway. These effects were not dose-dependent. Conclusion: This report suggests that acute treatment of Rg1 impairs LTP in the HP-mPFC pathway, perhaps by suppressing the firing of a subset of mPFC neurons that may contribute to the neurocognitive effects of Rg1.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.23-29
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• 1996

According to the traditional receptor model, competitive antagonists share with agonists the ability to bind to a common site on receptors, but they are different from agonist in that they cannot trigger the biological response-i.e., they lack intrinsic efficacy. Recent findings extend the model by indicating that not all antagonists display an intrinsic efficacy of zero but that some display 'inverse agonism'. In the present study we studied the inverse agonism at $A_1$ adenosine receptors in membranes prepared from rat cerebral cortex. Eight commercially available $A_1$ adenosine receptor antagonists (CGS-15943, ADPX, CPT, DPCPX, DPX, N-0840, PACPX and 8-PT) were screened for inverse agonism by measuring the extent of $[^{35}S]guanosine-5'-({\gamma}-thio)$ triphosphate $([^{35}S]GTP_{\gamma}S)$ binding to G proteins. The agonist-induced stimulation of $[^{35}S]GTP_{\gamma}S$ bindings was completely blocked in the presence of $A_1$ adenosine receptor antagonists. Under optimal conditions, two types of antagonists could be distinguished. Seven antagonists including DPCPX decreased the basal $[^{35}S]GTP_{\gamma}S$ binding in the absence of agonist, displaying inverse agonist activity. One (CGS-15943) had no effect on the basal bindings. N-ethylmaleimide treatment reduced the basal bindings as well as agonist-mediated stimulation of $[^{35}S]GTP_{\gamma}S$ bindings, indicating that a substantial amount of this binding reflects an activated state of the C proteins. In good agreement with these findings, 0.1 mM GTP decreased the apparent affinity of the receptors for the agonist PIA, increased that for DPCPX, and had no effect on that for CGS-15943.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.53-62
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• 2020

Objective : This study is accomplished in order to investigate the effect of banggibongnyeongtang on the immunohistological change in LPS-induced depression rats to confirm the histological result of the previous behavioral and biochemical effect. Methods : LPS 5 ㎍ was injected to lateral ventricle and experimental groups were administered BBT intraperitoneally. The concentration of 5-HT in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Striatum, Hippocampus, Amygdala was measured by ELISA. IL-1β, TNF-α mRNA and BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus was examined by RT-PCR. Result : BBT enhanced 5-HT concentration at all part of brain but no significantly difference at medial prefrontal cortex and striatum. LPS+BBT400 group increased 5-HT concentration significantly than LPS group at hippocampus and amygdala (p<0.05). BBT decreased IL-1β mRNA expression dose dependently but only with significantly decrease in LPS+BBT400 group than LPS group's in Hippocampus (p<0.05). But BBT did not decrease TNF-α mRNA expression significantly in Hippocampus. BBT increased the expression of BDNF mRNA at hippocampus and LPS+BBT400 group significantly increased comparing with LPS group does (p<0.05). Conclusion : It is postulated that the anti-depressant effect of BBT can be validated through the anti-inflammatory effect, 5-HT concentration increase, and the neuro-protective effect mediated by BDNF by combining the results of the previous report about the behavioral and biochemical effect.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.95-106
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• 2002

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of various electroacupuncture(EA) stimulation on NADPH-diaphorase and Neuropeptide Y(NPY) in the cerebral cortex of Sprague-Dawley Rats. We evaluated the changes of NADPH-d-positive neurons using a histochemical method and the changes of NPY-positive neurons using a double labeling immunohistochemical method. The staining intensities of NADPH-d-positive neuron and NPY-positive neurons were assessed in a quantitative fashion using a microdensitometrical method based on optical density by means of an image analyzer. As to frequency, the optical density of NADPH-d-positive neurons of 2Hz-1 time EA group was significantly higher than that of 100Hz-1 time EA group in M1, Cg, and that of 100Hz-3 times EA group was significantly higher than that of 2Hz-3 times EA group in Vi, Au, Cg and Ins. As to treatment-time, the optical density of NADPH-d-positive neurons of 2Hz-1 time EA group was higher than 2Hz-3 times EA group in Vi, Au, Cg and Ins. And in Vi 100Hz-1 time EA group and in M1 100Hz-3 times EA group was more efficient. As to frequency, the optical density of NPY-positive neurons of 2Hz-1 time was significantly higher in Vi, and that of 100Hz-1 EA group was higher in M1. And that of 2Hz-3 times EA group was higher than 100Hz-3 times EA group in Cg. As to treatment-time, the optical density of NPY-positive neurons of 2Hz-1 time EA group was significantly higer than 2Hz-3 times EA in S1, Vi, Au. And that of 100Hz-1 time EA group was significantly higher than that of 100Hz-3 time EA in Cg. The present results demonstrated that EA changes the activity in NO and NPY system in the cerebral cortex of SHR and EA stimulation, like frequency and treatment-time, is of importance for this effect.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 1994

It has been shown that there are several subtypes of ${\kappa}$ opioid receptor. We examined ligand binding profiles and the effects of various opioid agonists on high potassium-stimulated release of $[^3H]$ histamine. We have evaluated the properties of $non-{\mu},\;non-{\delta},$ binding of $[^3H]\;DIP\;([^3H]\;diprenorphine),$ anonselective opioid antagonist, in rat cortex membranes. Binding $to\;{\mu}\;and\;{\delta}$ sites was inhibited by the use of an excess of competing selective agonists (DAMGO, DPDPE) for these sites. (-) Ethylketocyclazocine (EKC), DIP and bremazocine inhibited $[^3H]$ DIP binding. However, arylacetamides (U69593 and U50488H) gave little inhibition Replacement of sodium by NMDG and the addition of guanine nucleotide influenced the inhibitory potency of (-) EKC, an agonist for {\kappa}_1-and-{\kappa}_2-binding site, but not of bremazocine. This result suggests that bremazocine can be an antagonist at this binding site. Also, we have examined the opioid modulation of $K^+(30mM)-induced\;[^3H]\;histamine$ release in rat frontal cortex slices labeled with $1-[^3H]\;histidine$. The $[^3H]\; histamine$ release from cortex slices was inhibited by EKC in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the ${\delta}$ receptor selective agonists, DPDPE and deltorphine II, ${\mu}$ receptor agonists, DAMGO and TAPS, ${\kappa}_1-agonists$, U69593 and U50488H, and ${\varepsilon}-agonist,\;{\beta}-endorphin,$ did not. The concentration-response curve of EKC was shifted to right in the presence of naloxone, nor-binaltorphimine and bremazocine, respectively. These results suggest that ${\kappa}_2$ opioid receptor regulates histamine release in the fromtal cortex of the rat.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.257-264
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• 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumor. 5-FU is commonly used for the treatment of CRC. However, the development of drug resistance in tumor chemotherapy can seriously reduce therapeutic efficacy of 5-FU. Recent data show that FoxM1 is associated with 5-FU resistance in CRC. FoxM1 plays a critical role in the carcinogenesis and drug resistance of several malignancies. It has been reported that urushiol V isolated from the cortex of Rhus verniciflua Stokes is cytotoxic to several types of cancer cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for its antitumor activity and its potential to attenuate the chemotherapeutic resistance in CRC cells remain unknown. Here, we found that urushiol V could inhibit the cell proliferation and induced S-phase arrest of SW480 colon cancer cells. It inhibited protein expression level of FoxM1 through activation of AMPK. We also investigated the combined effect of urushiol V and 5-FU. The combination treatment reduced FoxM1 expression and consequently reduced cell growth and colony formation in 5-FU resistant colon cancer cells (SW480/5-FUR). Taken together, these result suggest that urushiol V from Rhus verniciflua Stokes can suppress cell proliferation by inhibiting FoxM1 and enhance the antitumor capacity of 5-FU. Therefore, urushiol V may be a potential bioactive compound for CRC therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제43권8호
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• pp.1236-1247
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• 2014

Gamma irradiated-treatment of natural medicinal plants can be used to improve extraction transference number and for qualitative improvement of color when applied to functional material exploration. This study investigated the biological activities of Aralia elata cortex extracts upon gamma irradiation. In addition, different physical techniques [photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL)] were used for irradiation identification of Aralia elata cortex. In PSL analysis, non-irradiated (0 kGy) sample showed a negative result of 400 photon counts (PCs), whereas irradiated (5, 10, and 30 kGy) samples showed positive results of 90,100.00, 312,614.33, and 321,661.67 PCs, respectively. In the TL method, growth curve showed very unusual behaviors around $200^{\circ}C$ upon natural-irradiation of the non-irradiated (0 kGy) sample and around $150{\sim}250^{\circ}C$ for the irradiated (5, 10, and 30 kGy) samples. The TL ratio was 0.1 in non-irradiated samples at 0.011, whereas the values of irradiated samples (5, 10, and 30 kGy) were 0.1 at 1.105, 1.009, and 2.206, respectively. For phenolics of gamma-irradiated Aralia elata cortex, water and 50% ethanol extracts had the highest amounts, $17.30{\pm}0.40mg/g$ and $18.87{\pm}0.46mg/g$ at 10 kGy irradiation, respectively. The inhibitory activities of angiotensin-converting enzyme and xanthin oxidase were higher in both irradiated water and 50% ethanol extracts than in non-irradiated ones. For pancreatin ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities, water and 50% ethanol extracts containing $200{\mu}g/mL$ of phenolics showed high inhibitory activities of 60~100% at all irradiation doses (0~30 kGy). This result confirmed that Aralia elata cortex extracts have greater anti-diabetic effects than acabose as a diabetic remedy. Gamma-irradiated Aralia elata cortex extracts are useful as a functional material with anti-diabetic effects. Thus, Aralia elata cortex extracts can be used as a functional material with various biological activities, and gamma-irradiation can be used to amplify biological activities in plants.