• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of spinal-Z, derived from Peganum harmala seeds and Dracocephalum Kotschyi Boiss leaves, in patients with esophageal and stomach adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Methods: Sixty-one patients with malignancies of the upper gastrointestinal tract were randomly assigned to one of two groups (treatment or control) in a double-blind fashion. Six capsules of Spinal-Z were prescribed to the patients with the regimen of 600 mg/m2/day, and placebo to the control group, for six months. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, sex, duration of cancer, type of cancer and family history of cancer. There were significant differences in abdominal pain, heartburn, constipation and vomiting between the two groups, following spinal-Z therapy. Evaluation of drug side effects showed no difference in cough or other respiratory symptoms, itching, headache or dizziness between the two groups, both before and after treatment. Conclusion: This study indicates that Spinal-Z is safe and efficacious in the management of patients with upper gastrointestinal tract cancers.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2012

Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) has been applied successfully to treat chronic migraine, dystonia, spasticity and temporomandubular disorders(TMDs) as well as frontal wrinkle and glabella wrinkle. Recently it has been reported that BoNT-A, reversibly blocks presynaptic acetylcholine release, also inhibits the release of substance P, CGRP(calcitonin gene related peptide) and glutamate related to peripheral sensitization and neurogenic inflammation in sensory nerve, In this study we reviewed animal nerve injury model such as rat and rabbit and identify the analgesic effect and mechanism of nerve injury pain after dental treatment.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.45-57
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• 1999

Melanocytes, derived from neural crest, make melanin and protect skin from the hazardous ultraviolet light. Melanocytes with dendritic process has similar morphology with neurogenic cells and share growth factor receptors such as neurotrophin receptors. Melanogenesis can be regulated by ultraviolet light and inflammation of the skin. In addition, several factors such as hormone, cytokines, arachidonic acid can affect the proliferation and melanogenesis of melanocytes. For melanogenesis, melanocytes need expression of various genes including tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2. In addition, melanin need to be transferred from melanocytes to surrounding keratinocytes. The biology of melanocytes is complex and mechanism of melanocytes proliferation and melanogenesis is still under the investigation.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.123-126
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• 2012

It is often presumed that apical periodontitis follows total pulp necrosis, and consequently root canal treatment is commonly performed. Periapical lesion development is usually caused by bacteria and its byproduct which irritate pulp, develop pulpitis, and result in necrosis through an irreversible process. Afterwards, apical periodontitis occurs. This phenomenon is observed as an apical radiolucency in radiographic view. However, this unusual case presents a spontaneous healing of periapical lesion, which has developed without pulp necrosis in a vital tooth, through conservative treatment.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2020

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common and multifactorial inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by skin barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and chronic pruritus. AD has a complex etiology that includes genetic, immunological, and environmental factors that cause skin barrier abnormalities and immune dysfunctions. Sophora flavescens (SF) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, but little research has been conducted on its anti-AD efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of SF extract (SFE) on improving skin barrier function and immune abnormalities, which are the main symptoms of AD. SFE has the capacity to enhance the formation of cornified envelope (CE) that plays an important role in the skin barrier function. In addition, it was confirmed that SFE increased the expression of hyaluronic acid related to skin moisture. The effect of SFE against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which increases specifically in AD lesions, confirmed that SFE inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by S. aureus. Furthermore, SFE was shown to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by substance P (SP), the cause of skin neurogenic inflammation. These results demonstrate that SFE could be one of potential candidate agent for the treatment of AD by improving the skin barrier function and immune responses.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 1997

Capsaicin is known to be an analgesic agent, affecting the synthesis, storage, , transport and release of substance p, the principal neurotransmitter of pain from periphery to the central nervous system(CNS). DA-5018, a newly synthesized capsaicin derivative has shown potent analgesic effect comparable to that of morphine in various rat models of experimentally inducted acute pairs. In this study the mechanism of analgesic actlvity of DA-5018 was examined. First, the electrically-evoked contraction of guinea pig trachea was inhibited by DA-5018 and these inhibition was recovered by incubation with capsafepine(3$\muM$), capsaicin receptor antagonist and this result suggested that DA-5018 has affinity on capsaicin receptor. The correlation between the norciceptive threshold and the release of substance P was evaluated. In vivo perfusion of slices of the rat spinal cord with DA-5018(10, 100$\muM$) produced a significant increase of the release of substance P and this increase was less than that of capsaicin(10$\muM$). The norciceptive threshold of rat treated with DA-5018(1 mg/kg, p.o) in tall pinch test increased from 2.9$\pm$0.3 to 23.5 $\pm$6.61. Tail pinch latency increased to a maximun at 15 min after DA-5018 treatment and then declined to control values by 120 min. The capsaicin-evoked release ot substance P from the spinal cord slices of rat treated with DA-5018 reduced from 2.38$\pm$ 0.79 to 0.69$\pm$ 0.26 pg/mg wet weight. This reduction reached to a minium at 15 min after DA-5018 treatment and then recovered to control value by 120 min. These results mean that analgesic activity of DA-5018 is due to release of substance P The effect of DA-5018 cream on electrically-evoked neurogenic inflammation of rat saphenous nerve was compared with capsaicin (zostrix-HP). DA-5018 showed 34% inhibition of the neurogenic extravasation while capsaicin showed significant 67% inhibition. This result indicates that the potency of DA-5018 in the release of substance P is less than that of capsaicin. These results suggest that the release of substance P is partially involved in the mechanism of analgesic action of DA-50l8.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.375-384
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional involvement of sympathetic nerve in the control of the microcirculation in the dental pulp with the aim of elucidation of the involvement of neuropeptides and sympathetic nerve in neurogenic inflammation. Experiments were done on the 7 cats anesthetised with sodium pentobarbital, and sympathetic nerve to the' dental pulp was stimulated electrically (10 Hz, 4 V, 1.5 ms, 3.5 mins). Ana-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine and a neuropeptide Y antagonist D-myo-inositol-1,2,6-trisphosphate (PP56) were injected close intra-arterially into the dental pulp without changing the systemic blood pressure. The probe of laser Doppler flowmeter was placed on the buccal surface of ipsilateral canine teeth to the stimulation, and pulpal blood flow was measured. Stimulation of the sympathetic nerve decreased pulpal blood flow by $55.24{\pm}7.74\;%$ (mean${\pm}$SEM, n = 13). Stimulation of the sympathetic nerve following the injection of the ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine ($0.1{\mu}g$/kg) caused decrease of pulpal blood flow by $14.35{\pm}3.43%$ (mean${\pm}$SEM, n=5). Phentolamine attenuated the sympathetic nerve-induced pulpal blood flow decrease by $74.02{\pm}9.32%$ (mean${\pm}$SEM) Stimulation of the sympathetic nerve following the injection of the neuropeptide Y antagonist PP56 (2.3 mg/kg) caused decrease of pulpal blood flow by $30.64{\pm}7.92%$ (mean${\pm}$SEM, n=6). PP56 attenuated the sympathetic nerve-induced pulpal blood flow decrease by $44.37{\pm}11.01%$ (mean${\pm}$SEM). These data provide evidences of the co-contribution of nerepinephrine and neuropeptide Y on the sympathetic nerve-induced vasoconstriction in the feline dental pulp. In addition, they show functional evidences that sympathetic nerve plays an active role in controlling the microcirculation of the dental pulp.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.366-374
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether D-myo-inositol-l,2,6-trisphosphate (PP56) can effectively antagonize vasoconstriction caused by neuropeptide Y in the dental pulp, and to understand involvement of neuropeptide Y in the regulation of microcirculation in the dental pulp with the aim of elucidating neurogenic inflammation. Experiments were performed on 7 cats anesthetised with sodium pentobarbital, and neuropeptide Y and a neuropeptide Y antagonist PP56 were injected close intra-arterially into the dental pulp. The probe of laser Doppler flowmeter was placed on the buccal surface of ipsilateral canine teeth to the drug administration and pulpal blood flow was measured. Intra-arterial injection of neuropeptide Y (1.3-$2.0\;{\mu}g$/kg) resulted in pulpal blood flow decrease of $37.73{\pm}5.73%$(mean${\pm}$SEM) (n=9). Intra-arterial injection of PP56(0.3 mg/kg) alone changed pulpal blood flow little by 1.03 % reduction. The effect of neuropeptide Y in the presence of PP56 resulted in significantly less decreases in pulpal blood flow ranging from $27.17{\pm}5.37$ to $16.63{\pm}3.48%$ from control as compared with neuropeptide Y alone(n = 13). In effect, PP56 attenuated pulpal blood flow caused by neuropeptide Y. Results of the present study have provided evidences that a non-peptide PP56 is capable of antagonizing vasoconstriction caused by neuropeptide Y in the feline dental pulp. In addition, they show functional evidences that neuropeptide Y plays an active role in modulating the microcirculation of the dental pulp.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections have been used not only in the field of cosmetic surgery such as forehead and eye wrinkle treatment but also in the treatment of chronic migraine, dystonia, spasticity, temporomandibular disorders (TMD). BoNT injections are the only approved therapies to date for prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine patients. Unlike the previously known paralysis of motor neurons, the mechanism of action for migraine is to block the release of non-cholinergic neurotransmitters such as substance P, CGRP, and glutamate, which are associated with peripheral sensitization and neurogenic inflammation in the sensory nerve, it is hypothesized that the signal is blocked. This review focuses on the analgesic effects of BoNT and suggests the direction for the development of injection methods for chronic migraine patients.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.543-551
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• 2002

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small molecule (mol. wt. 30 Da) and oxidative free radical. It is uncharged and can therefore diffuse freely within and between cells across membrane. Such characteristics make it a biologically important messenger in physiologic processes such as neurotransmission and the control of vascular tone. NO is also highly toxic and is known to acts as a mediator of cytotoxicity during host defense. NO is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) through L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway which is a dioxygenation process. NO synthesis involves several participants, three co-substrates, five electrons, five co-factors and two prosthetic groups. Under normal condition, low levels of NO are synthesized by type I and III NOS for a short period of time and mediates many physiologic processes. Under condition of oxidant stress, high levels of NO are synthesized by type II NOS and inhibits a variety of metabolic processes and can also cause direct damage to DNA. Such interaction result in cytostasis, energy depletion and ultimately cell death. NO has the potential to interact with a variety of intercellular targets producing diverse array of metabolic effects. It is known that NO is involved in hemodynamic regulation, neurogenic inflammation, re-innervation, management of dentin hypersensitivity on teeth. Under basal condition of pulpal blood flow, NO provides constant vasodilator tone acting against sympathetic vasoconstriction. Substance P, a well known vasodilator, was reported to be mediated partly by NO, while calcitonin-gene related peptide has provided no evidence of its relation with NO. This review describes the roles of NO in dental pulp in addition to the known general roles of it.