• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.796-804
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• 2011

Microglia are central nervous system (CNS)-resident professional macrophages that function as the principal immune cells responding to pathological stimulations in the CNS. Activation of microglia, induced by various pathogens, protects neurons and maintains homeostasis in the CNS, but severe activation causes inflammatory responses secreting various neurotoxic molecules such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Allium fistulosum, a member of the onion family, is mainly cultivated for consumption, as well as medicinal use in Oriental medicine. It has been reported that A. fistulosum has various biological effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-fungus and anti-cholesterol synthesis, however there has been no research about the anti-inflammatory effects of A. fistulosum extracts. In this study, it was undertaken to explore the functions of A. fistulosum as a suppressor of neuronal inflammation by using BV2 microglia cells. As a result, it was found that four kinds of extracts of A. fistulosum effectively reduced the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at both mRNA and protein levels, and also attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at the mRNA level in BV2 stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the extracts of A. fistulosum attenuated the release of NO markedly, as well as resulting in slight decreases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production, the effects of which were most significant when treated with ethyl alcohol extract from the whole A. fistulosum. In conclusion, the data indicated that the anti-inflammatory actions of A. fistulosum against BV2 microglia cells is through the down-regulation of iNOS, COX2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, and these effects are expected to help in the protection of nerve tissues by suppressions of neuronal inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the differences in clinical characteristics and severity of symptoms between panic patients with and without comorbid major depressive disorder, and to ascertain the differences in the function of the autonomic nerve system measured by heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: The subjects were 60 patients who have panic disorder without major depressive disorder and 19 patients who met DSMIV criteria for both panic disorder and major depressive disorder. First, they drew up symptom checklists and self-rating scales, and were measured by Anxiety Disorder Inventory Schedule-Panic Attack & Agoraphobia (ADIS-P&A), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV). For statistical analysis, we performed t-test to compare the scores of self reported scales and clinician’s rating scales in panic patients with comorbid major depressive disorder and those without major depressive disorder. ANCOVA was used to compare the variables of HRV, considering age as a covariate. Results: The subjective severities of depression and anxiety that comorbid patients complained of were higher than those of patients with only panic disorder. Futhermore, comorbid patients were more sensitive to anxiety and physical sensations, and they tend to be more negative in their thinking. The scores of clinician-rating scales such as CGI and PDSS were also higher in the comorbid patients. However, there were no significant differences in HRV variables between both groups, despite a tendency to low heart rate variability in the comorbid group. Conclusion: This study suggests that patients with panic disorder and comorbid major depressive disorder tend to complain of more symptoms and to be more sensitive to various symptoms than those with panic disorder without comorbid depression. However, in this study comorbid major depressive disorder did not have a significant impact on the HRV variables of patients with panic disorder.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.87-106
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• 2005

In order to evaluate the mechanism of transmission as well as processing of sensory information originating from low-threshold mechanoreceptor in oral and maxillofacial region at primary synaptic region of trigeminal nervous system, vibrissa afferent fibers of adult cat were labeled with intra-axonal HRP injection. Serial sections containing labeled boutons were obtained from the piece of trigeminal interpolar nucleus. Under electron microscope, total 30 labeled boutons were observed, and ultrastructural characteristics, frequency of occurence, synaptic organizations of vibrissa afferent terminals were analysed. The results were as follows: 1. Labeled boutons contained clear, spherical synaptic vesicles with diameter of 45$\sim$55nm. They formed asymmetrical synapse with dendrites showing definite postsynaptic density, larger synaptic cleft, multiple synaptic structures at various regions. With unlabeled axon terminals(p-ending) containing polymorphic synaptic vesicles, they formed symmetrical synapse showing indefinite postsynaptic density and narrower synaptic area. 2. Each labeled bouton formed 1 to 15 synapses, the average of 4.77$\pm$3.37 contacts per labeled bouton, with adjacent neuronal profiles. Relatively complex synaptic organization, which formed synapses with more than 5 neuronal profiles, was observed in a large number(46.7%, n=14) of labeled boutons. 3. Axo-somatic synapse was not observed. The number of axo-dendritic synapse was 1.83$\pm$1.37 per labeled bouton. Majority(85.0%) of axo-dendritic synapses were formed with dendritic shafts, nonprimary dendrites(n=47, 1.57$\pm$1.38/1 bouton), however, synapses formed with primary dendrites(n=6, 0.20$\pm$0.41/1 bouton) or dendritic spines(n=2, 0.07$\pm$0.25/1 bouton) were rare. 4. 76.7%(n=23) of labeled boutons formed axo-axonic synapse (2.93$\pm$2.36/1 bouton) with p-endings containing pleomorphic vesicles. Synaptic triad, in which p-endings formed synapses with labeled boutons and dendrites adjacent to the labeled boutons simultaneoulsy, were also observed in 60.0%(n=18) of labeled boutons. From the above results, vibrissa afferent terminals of adult cat showed distinctive synaptic organization in the trigeminal interpolar nucleus, thus, suggests their correlation with the function of the trigeminal interpolaris nucleus, which participates in processing of complex sensory information such as two-point discrimination and motivational-affective action. Further studies on physiologic functions such as quantitative analysis on ultrastructures of afferent terminals and nerve transmitters participating in presynaptic inhibition are required.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.189-198
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• 2009

Purpose: We wanted to evaluate the clinical results of the Latarjet procedure for treating anterior shoulder instability combined with a glenoid bone defect. Materials and Methods: Between Oct. 2006 and May. 2007, fourteen patients underwent a Latarjet operation to treat their anterior shoulder instability combined with a glenoid bone defect. The mean follow-up period was 15 months (range: 12 to 19 months), and the average age at the time of surgery was 29.9-years-old (range: 19 to 44 years). There were 13 males and 1 female. Eight patients exhibited involvement of the right shoulder. The dominant arm was involved in 8 patients. Six patients had undergone a previous arthroscopic Bankart repair before their Latarjet operation and 2 patients had a history of seizure. Results: The average Rowe score improved from 51.8 to 80.2 with 9 excellent, 4 good, and 1 fair results. The average Korean shoulder score for instability improved from 61.6 to 82.1 postoperatively. The active forward flexion and external rotation at the side of the involved shoulder was an average of $8^{\circ}$ and $16^{\circ}$ less than that of the uninvolved shoulder. The muscle strength of the involved shoulder measured 78.7% in forward flexion and 82.5% in external rotation, as compared with that of the uninvolved shoulder. There was 1 case of dislocation, 1 transient subluxation, 2 fibrotic unions, 1 resorption of the transferred coracoid process, 1 intraoperative broken bone, 1 transient musculocutaneous nerve injury and 1 case of stiffness. Conclusion: The Latarjet procedure for treating anterior shoulder instability combined with a significant glenoid defect effectively restores function and stability through extending the articular arc at the expense of external rotation. We should be cautious to avoid or detect complications when performing coracoid transfer.