• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.20.1-20.21
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• 2024

The brain and lungs, vital organs in the body, play essential roles in maintaining overall well-being and survival. These organs interact through complex and sophisticated bi-directional pathways known as the 'lung-brain axis', facilitated by their close proximity and neural connections. Numerous studies have underscored the mediation of the lung-brain axis by inflammatory responses and hypoxia-induced damage, which are pivotal to the progression of both pulmonary and neurological diseases. This review aims to delve into how pulmonary diseases, including acute/chronic airway diseases and pulmonary conditions, can instigate neurological disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Additionally, we highlight the emerging research on the lung microbiome which, drawing parallels between the gut and lungs in terms of microbiome contents, may play a significant role in modulating brain health. Ultimately, this review paves the way for exciting avenues of future research and therapeutics in addressing respiratory and neurological diseases.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.230-234
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• 2014

Automatic detection of disease helps medical institutions that are introducing digital images to read images rapidly and accurately, and is thus applicable to lesion diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to apply a symmetry contribution algorithm to unsharp mask filter-applied MR images and propose an analysis technique to automatically recognize brain tumor and edema. We extracted the skull region and drawed outline of the skull in database of images obtained at P University Hospital and detected an axis of symmetry with cerebral characteristics. A symmetry contribution algorithm was then applied to the images around the axis of symmetry to observe intensity changes in pixels and detect disease areas. When we did not use the unsharp mask filter, a brain tumor was detected in 60 of a total of 95 MR images. The disease detection rate for the brain was 63.16%. However, when we used the unsharp mask filter, the tumor was detected in 87 of a total of 95 MR images, with a disease detection rate of 91.58%. When the unsharp mask filter was used in the pre-process stage, the disease detection rate for the brain was higher than when it was not used. We confirmed that unsharp mask filter can be used to rapidly and accurately to read many MR images stored in a database.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.395-398
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• 1996

A retrospective analysis of 175 patients who were suffering from trigeminal neuralgia was done. We found 21 cases (12.0%) of abnormal findings including brain tumors and cerebrovascular disease on brain MRI. All patients were transferred to department of neurosurgery for operation. Among them, 7 patients refused or gave up operation and received nerve blocks with pure alcohol. Their MRI findings were meningioma, arachnoid cyst, arteriovenous malformation, venous angioma, and frontal sinus cancer This study demonstrates that peripheral nerve block or trigeminal nerve block with pure alcohol would be possible in case of elderly patients, patients who have poor general condition, patients who refuse operation, and brain tumor or cerebrovascular disease which located in dangerous area to be operated.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.280-290
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• 2017

Several lines of evidence suggest that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is known to regulate the ER stress signaling pathway, but its role in neuronal systems in terms of ER stress remains largely unknown. Here, we showed that rotenone-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma cell lines and mouse primary cortical neurons was ameliorated by PTP1B inhibition. Moreover, the increase in the level of ER stress markers ($eIF2{\alpha}$ phosphorylation and PERK phosphorylation) induced by rotenone treatment was obviously suppressed by concomitant PTP1B inhibition. However, the rotenone-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was not affected by PTP1B inhibition, suggesting that the neuroprotective effect of the PTP1B inhibitor is not associated with ROS production. Moreover, we found that MG132-induced toxicity involving proteasome inhibition was also ameliorated by PTP1B inhibition in a human neuroblastoma cell line and mouse primary cortical neurons. Consistently, downregulation of the PTP1B homologue gene in Drosophila mitigated rotenone- and MG132-induced toxicity. Taken together, these findings indicate that PTP1B inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic approach for ER stress-mediated neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.964-968
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to select the major pulse indicators and evaluate their significance in discriminating the subtypes of Pattern Identifications (PI) from stroke patients. Decision tree analysis was carried out using clinical data collected from 835 stroke patients with the same subtypes diagnosed identically by two experts with more than 3 year clinical experiences. Among the 10 pulse indicators, 6 major pulse indicators (slow, rapid, strong, weak, slippery, and fine pulse) were selected by decision tree analysis. The accumulated distributions of six pulse indicators in each PI showed that strong was major pulse indicator in Fire-Heat pattern, slippery in Dampness Phlegm pattern, weak in Qi Deficiency pattern. But there were two major combinations in Yin deficiency pattern, weak or fine with rapid pulse and weak or fine without rapid pulse. Therefore, it is suggested that 6 pulse indicators can be used for discrimination of PI in stroke patients, though the combination studies between these pulse indicators and the other PI indicators are left for further study.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.475-481
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• 2009

Emerging data demonstrate pivotal roles for brain insulin resistance and insulin deficiency as mediators of cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). Insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) regulate neuronal survival, energy metabolism, and plasticity, which are required for learning and memory. Hence, endogenous brain-specific impairments in insulin and IGF signaling account for the majority of AD-associated abnormalities. However, a second major mechanism of cognitive impairment has been linked to obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Human and experimental animal studies revealed that neurodegeneration associated with peripheral insulin resistance is likely effectuated via a liver-brain axis whereby toxic lipids, including ceramides, cross the blood brain barrier and cause brain insulin resistance, oxidative stress, neuro-inflammation, and cell death. In essence, there are dual mechanisms of brain insulin resistance leading to AD-type neurodegeneration: one mediated by endogenous, CNS factors; and the other, peripheral insulin resistance with excess cytotoxic ceramide production.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.111-112
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• 2019

Although many studies have reported that the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents one of the major pathological changes in aging, the mechanism underlying this process remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we described that acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) derived from endothelial cells plays a critical role in BBB disruption in aging. ASM levels were elevated in the brain endothelium and plasma of aged humans and mice, resulting in BBB leakage through an increase in caveolae-mediated transcytosis. Moreover, ASM caused damage to the caveolae-cytoskeleton via protein phosphatase 1-mediated ezrin/radixin/moesin dephosphorylation in primary mouse brain endothelial cells. Mice overexpressing brain endothelial cell-specific ASM exhibited acceleration of BBB impairment and neuronal dysfunction. However, genetic inhibition and endothelial specific knock-down of ASM in mice improved BBB disruption and neurocognitive impairment during aging. Results of this study revealed a novel role of ASM in the regulation of BBB integrity and neuronal function in aging, thus highlighting the potential of ASM as a new therapeutic target for anti-aging.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.123-131
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• 2006

Objectives : This research was investigated the effect of the Ginseng Radix plus Crataegi Fructus on the injury of brain tissue in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}A$. Methods : Observed a change of the injury of brain tissue and reduced the infarction area of hippocampus in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}A$. Results : 1. The Gin-CF extract reduced the infarction area of hippocampus, and controlled the injury of brain tissue in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}A$. 2. The Gin-CF extract reduced the Tau protein, GFAP protein, and presenilin1/presenilin2 protein (immunohistochemistry) of hippocampus in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}A$. Conclusion : These results suggest that the Ginseng Radix plus Crataegi Fructus extract may be effective for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Investigation into the clinical use of the Ginseng Radix plus Crataegi Fructus extract for Alzheimer's disease is suggested for future research.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2013

Objective : Subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment of choice for patients with advanced idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) who have motor complication with medication. The objectives of this study are to analyze long-term follow-up data of STN DBS cases and to identify the factors related to outcomes. Methods : Fifty-two PD patients who underwent STN DBS were followed-up for more than 3 years. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and other clinical profiles were assessed preoperatively and during follow-up. A linear regression model was used to analyze whether factors predict the results of STN DBS. We divided the study individuals into subgroups according to several factors and compared subgroups. Results : Preoperative activity of daily living (ADL) and the magnitude of preoperative levodopa response were shown to predict the improvement in UPDRS part II without medication, and preoperative ADL and levodopa equivalent dose (LED) were shown to predict the improvement in UPDRS part II with medication. In UPDRS part III with medication, the magnitude of preoperative levodopa response was a predicting factor. Conclusion : The intensity of preoperative levodopa response was a strong factor for motor outcome. And preoperative ADL and LED were strong factors for ADL improvement. More vigorous studies should be conducted to elucidate how levodopa-induced motor complications are ameliorated after STN DBS.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.739-746
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• 2019

Significant knowledge about the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been gained in the last century; however, the understanding of its causes of onset remains limited. Late-onset AD is observed in about 95% of patients, and APOE4-encoding apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is strongly associated with these cases. As an apolipoprotein, the function of ApoE in brain cholesterol transport has been extensively studied and widely appreciated. Development of new technologies such as human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tools have enabled us to develop human brain model systems in vitro and readily manipulate genomic information. In the context of these advances, recent studies provide strong evidence that abnormal cholesterol metabolism by ApoE4 could be linked to AD-associated pathology. In this review, we discuss novel discoveries in brain cholesterol dysregulation by ApoE4. We further elaborate cell type-specific roles in cholesterol regulation of four major brain cell types, neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, and how its dysregulation can be linked to AD pathology.