• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

Objectives : Sesamin, a major lignan in sesame seeds, has been reported to have neuroprotective effects against in vitro ischemia and in vivo MCAo-reperfusion cerebral ischemia model, however, there is no reports in an in vivo global cerebral ischemia model. The purpose of the study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of sesamin in global cerebral ischemia induced by four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) in rats through inhibition of microglial activation in this model. Methods : The neuroprotective effects were investigated using a 10 min of 4-VO ischemia rat model by measuring intact pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus using Nissle staining. The antiinflammatory or reducing neurotoxicity effect was investigated using immunohistochemisty, RT-PCR and western blot analysis of inflammatory or neurotoxic mediators. Results : Intraperitoneal injection of sesamin at doses of 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 10.0 mg/kg at 0 min and 90 min after ischemia conferred 26.6%, 30.1%, 42.5%, and 30.5% neuroprotection, respectively, compared to the vehicle-treated control group. A 3.0 mg/kg dose of sesamin inhibited microglia activation and consequently, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide, and interleukine-$1{\beta}$ expressions at 48 h after reperfusion. Conclusions : Sesamin protects neuronal cell death through inhibition of microglial activation or the production of neurotoxic metabolites and proinflammatory mediators by microglia such as COX-2, iNOS and IL-$1{\beta}$ in global cerebral ischemia.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.4 s.51
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• pp.911-923
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• 1995

With increased use of neurotoxic agents in manufacturing industries, hazardous effects of neurotoxic agents pose significant problems in protecting health of workers who work in these industries. A normal range of neurobehavioral performance is required to study hazardous effects of neurotoxic agents among workers. However, such reference for Korean population is not available yet. The objective of this study is to estimate a normal range of neurobehavioral test performance of female workers in Korea. Data for neurobehavioral test performance developed by the World Health Organization were obtained from 165 female workers. Study subjects, 140 production workers and 25 clerks, who voluntarily participated in this study were not occupationally exposed to neurotoxic agents. The mean age and the mean education years of them were 32 years and 10.9 years, respectively Santa Ana dexterity, pursuit aiming, digit symbol, simple reaction time, and Benton visual retention tests among the Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery(NCTB) were included in the evaluation. Subjects were interviewed by a trained interviewer for their detailed occupational history $Mean({\pm}SD)$ performance of the participants were: $45.7{\pm}7.1\;and\;41.9{\pm}6.4$ in the Santa Ana dexterity test of the preferred and non-preferred hands; $45.7{\pm}7.1\;and\;41.9{\pm}6.4$ in correct dot of the pursuit aiming test; $57.7{\pm}16.0$ in the digit symbol test; $274.8{\pm}44.6$ msec in the mean simple reaction time and $70.5{\pm}69.0$ msec in the mean standard deviation of it; and $7.8{\pm}1.7$ in the Benton visual retention test. Most neurobehavioral performance scores were correlated significantly with age and educational level. Educational level was found to be a significant independent variable which was associated with all test scores. Age was significantly associated with scores of pursuit aiming and digit symbol tests.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.303-310
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• 2002

Ancient Korean physicians have used several oriental herbs to cure dementia and these effects were described in the Korean herbal books. Some cognitive-enhancing oriental herbs have been widely used as a herbal medicine against dementia. However, few of studies have proved their efficacy in treatment for dementia. In the present study, we investigated the effects of herbal compounds, which are mainly consisted of Uncaria sinensis, Corydalis yanhusuo and Acorus gramineus on learning and memory in Mortis water maze task and the central cholinergic system of the rats with neurotoxic medial septum lesion. In water maze test, the animals were trained to find a platform in a fixed position during 6 days and then received a 60-s probe trial in which the platform was removed from the pool on the 7th day. Ibotanic and 192 saporin lesion of the medial septum (MS) impaired the performance of maze test and degenerated choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the brain, which is a marker of the central cholinergic system. Daily administrations of herbal medicine (100mg/kg, p.o.) for 21 consecutive days produced significant reversals of the neurotoxic-induced deficit in learning and memory. These treatments also reduced the loss of cholinergic immunoreactive neurons in the brain induced by neurotoxin. These results demonstrated that herbal compounds ameliorated learning and memory deficits through effects on the central nervous system, partly through effect on the acetylcholine system. Our studies suggest an evidence of these herbs as treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.111-111
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.113-113
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.142.1-142.1
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• 2003

Excessive accumulation of beta-amyloid (A$\beta$) peptides is one of the leading hypotheses to explain neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has been suggested that $A\beta$ toxicity is associated with increases in reactive oxygen species. whose overproduction may in turn initiate neurotoxic events. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.267.2-267.2
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• 2002

MPP$\^$＋/ is known to be a neurotoxic substance that induces the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and a Parkinsonism-like syndrome. MPP$\^$＋/ is retained intracellularly or accumulated in dopaminergic neurons via the dopamine-reuptake system. It inhibits mitochondrial electron transport in dopaminergic neurons. In addition. it generates hydroxyl radicals. which cause the peroxidation of membrane lipid or damage DNA. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.327.2-327.2
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• 2002

Inflammatory as well as oxidative tissue damage has been associated with pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to retard the progress of AD. In this study, we have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying oxidative and inflammatory cell death induced by beta-amyloid (Abeta), a neurotoxic peptide associated with senile plaques formed in the brains of patients with AD, in cultured PC12 cells. (omitted)

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.735-742
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy 20 items (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. Methods: A convenience sample of 249 Korean cancer patients, previously or currently, being treated with peripheral neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0. Construct validity, known-group validity, concurrent validity, and internal consistency reliability of the Korean version of the QLQ-CIPN20 were evaluated. Results: Factor analysis confirmed 3 dimensions of CIPN: sensory, motor, and autonomic. The factor loadings of the 20 items on the 3 subscales ranged from .38 to .85. The 3 subscale-model was validated by confirmatory factor analysis (GFI=.90, AGFI=.86, RMSR=.05, NFI=.87, and CFI=.94), and concurrent validity was demonstrated with the EORTC QLQ-C30. Furthermore, the QLQ-CIPN20 established known-group validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for internal consistency of the subscales ranged from .73 to .89. Conclusion: The Korean version of the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 showed satisfactory construct, concurrent, and known-group validity, as well as internal reliability.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2011

The neuroprotective effects of herbal ethanol extracts from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP-EX) in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease treated with L-DOPA were investigated. Rats were prepared for the Parkinson's disease model by 6-OHDA-lesioning for 14 days. The rats were then treated with L-DOPA (10 and 20 mg/kg) with or without the oral administration of GP-EX (30 mg/kg, daily) for 28 days. L-DOPA (20 mg/kg) treatment for 28 days enhanced dopaminergic neuronal cell death in 6-OHDA-lesioned rat groups, but L-DOPA (10 mg/kg) did not. However, the oral administration of GP-EX (30 mg/kg) for 28 days ameliorated the enhanced neurotoxic effects induced by chronic L-DOPA treatment in 6-OHDA-lesioned rat groups by increasing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunohistochemical staining and the number of TH-immunopositive cells surviving in the substantia nigra. In addition, GP-EX administration (30 mg/kg) for 28 days recovered the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine of the striatum in 6-OHDA-lesioned rat groups, which were markedly reduced by L-DOPA treatment (20 mg/kg). GP-EX (30 mg/kg) did not produce any signs of toxicity, such as weight loss, diarrhea, or vomiting in rats during the 28-day treatment period. These results suggest that GP-EX has protective functions against chronic L-DOPA-induced neurotoxic reactions in dopaminergic neurons in the 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease. Therefore, GP-EX may be beneficial in the prevention of adverse symptoms in parkisonian patients.