• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.332-337
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• 2013

Microglial activation plays an important role in the development and progression of various neurological disorders such as cerebral ischemia, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Thus, controlling microglial activation can serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for such brain diseases. In the present study, we showed that kalopanaxsaponin A, a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Kalopanax pictus, inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia, while kalopanaxsaponin A increased anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 expression. Subsequent mechanistic studies revealed that kalopanaxsaponin A inhibited LPS-induced DNA binding activities of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1, and the phosphorylation of JNK without affecting other MAP kinases. Furthermore, kalopanaxsaponin A inhibited the intracellular ROS production with upregulation of anti-inflammatory hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Based on the previous reports that JNK pathway is largely involved in iNOS and proinflammatory cytokine gene expression via modulating NF-${\kappa}B$/AP-1 and ROS, our data collectively suggest that inhibition of JNK pathway plays a key role in anti-inflammatory effects of kalopanaxsaponin A in LPS-stimulated microglia.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.95-99
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• 2008

Eosinophil degranulation plays a crucial role in tissue inflammatory reactions associated with helminth parasitic infections and allergic diseases. Paragonimus westermani, a lung fluke causing human paragonimiasis, secretes a large amount of cysteine proteases, which are involved in nutrient uptake, tissue invasion, and modulation of hos's immune responses. There is, however, limited information about the response of eosinophils to direct stimulation by cysteine proteases (CP) secreted by P. westermani. In the present study, we tested whether degranulation and superoxide production from human eosinophils can be induced by stimulation of the 2 CP (27 kDa and 28 kDa) purified from excretory-secretory products (ESP) of P. westermani newly excysted metacercariae (PwNEM). A large quantity of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) was detected in the culture supernatant when human eosinophils isolated from the peripheral blood were incubated with the purified 27 kDa CP. Furthermore, the 27 kDa CP induced superoxide anion production by eosinophils in time- and dose-dependent manners. In contrast, the purified 28 kDa CP did not induce superoxide production and degranulation. These findings suggest that the 27 kDa CP secreted by PwNEM induces superoxide production and degranulation of human eosinophils, which may be involved in eosinophil-mediated tissue inflammatory responses during the larval migration in human paragonimiasis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.114-122
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• 2003

본 저자들은 상기도 감염 후 발열과 배뇨곤란, 하지의 근력저하를 주소로 내원한 7세 환아에서, 급성 횡단성 척수염 증상으로 시작하여 의식 변화와 호흡부전의 급성 파종성 뇌척수염으로 진행한 1례에서 enterovirus 71을 증명하고 고용량 methylprednisolone 정주 후 증상의 호전을 경험하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.59-64
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• 2014

부비동염은 흔하고 일반적으로 소아에서는 양성질환인 경우가 많다. 경험적으로 사용하고 있는 항생제로 인해 소아의 부비동염의 두 개강 내 합병증은 드물지만, 발생할 경우 생명에 위협적일 수 있다. 두 개강 내 합병증은 정맥동 혈전, 안와 합병증, 뇌수막염, 뇌수막하 농양 등이 있다. 이러한 합병증은 소아에서 심각한 예후를 보일 수 있다. 따라서 뇌수막하 농양을 초기에 정확하게 진단하여 치료를 시작하는 것이 중요하다. 저자들은, 급성 부비동염 치료 중이던 15세 남아가 3일간의 발열, 두통을 동반한 편마비 증상으로 내원하여 뇌 전산화 단층촬영에서 뇌수막하 농양으로 진단되어 항생제 투여 및 신경학적 수술로 치료된 증례를 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• 생약학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.17-22
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• 2014

Grapes has long been used for food, and reported as containing polyphenol which has antioxidant and anti-cancer effects. Neuroinflammation is chronic inflammation at the brain, lead to neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (QG) isolated from the leaf of Vitis labruscana has anti-neuroinflammatory effects. QG were investigated using MTT assay, western blot, nitric oxide (NO) assay, prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) assay, cytokine assay in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in BV2 cells. QG dose-dependently attenuated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), accordingly inhibited the production of NO and $PGE_2$. QG decreases the levels of proinflammatory cytokine such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interlukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$). Thereby, QG may offer therapeutic potential for treatment of neurodegenerative disease related to neuroinflammation.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2001

Background & Objectives : Fractal Dimension(FD) could be an index of correlation between variable parameters in non-linear chaotic signals. We tried to demonstrate that EEG wave is compatible with chaotic waves by measuring the Lyapunov exponent index and compared the difference of FD between variable age groups(teens, 30's, 50's) Methods : We estimated the Lyapunov exponent index and the FD from digital EEG data among five persons in each normal age groups by using the software which is programmed in our laboratory. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS win 8.0. The statistical differences of Lyapunov exponent index and FD between each electrodes and each age groups were done with ANOVA and paired sample t-test. Result : The Lyapunov exponent indexes were larger than 1 in each electrode and age group. There is no statistical difference in FD between each electrodes and each age groups. Except in 30th age group. In this group the FD of right hemisphere is larger than that of left hemisphere. Conclusion : The result of Lyapunov exponent index means EEG wave is a non-linear chaotic signal. And the results of FD suggest that chaotic parameters of right hemisphere is larger than those of left hemisphere at rest at least in younger people. We think that chaotic parameters can be a useful tool in investigating the variable diseases or brain states.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.371-376
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• 2010

Glycyrrhizae radix (GR) is an herbal medicine that is commonly used in the East Asia for treating a variety of diseases, including stomach disorders. The objective of the present study was to examine the anti-stress effects of GR on repeated stress-induced alterations of anxiety, learning and memory in rats. Restraint stress was administered for 14 days (2 h/day) to the rats in the Control and GR groups (400 mg/kg/day, PO). Starting on the eighth day, the rats were tested for spatial memory on the Morris water maze test (MW) and for anxiety on the elevated plus maze (EPM). We studied the changes of the expressions of cholineacetyl transferase (ChAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the locus coerleus (LC) using immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the rats treated with GR had significantly reduced stress-induced deficits on their learning and memory on the spatial memory tasks. In addition, the ChAT immunoreactivities were increased. Gor the EPM, treatment with GR increased the time spent in the open arms (p<0.001) as compared to that of the control group. Moreover, GR treatment also normalized the increases of the TH expression in the LC (p<0.001). In conclusion, administration of GR improved spatial learning and memory and reduced stress-induced anxiety. Thus, the present results suggest that GR has the potential to attenuate the behavioral and neurochemical impairments caused by stress.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.393-397
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECFTIVES: Artemisinin, a natural product isolated from Gaeddongssuk (artemisia annua L.) and its main active derivative, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), have long been used as antimalarial drugs. Recent studies reported that artemisinin is efficacious for curing diseases, including cancers, and for improving the immune system. Many researchers have shown the therapeutic effects of artemisinin on tumors such as breast cancer, liver cancer and kidney cancer, but there is still insufficient data regarding glioblastoma (GBM). Glioblastoma accounts for 12-15% of brain cancer, and the median survival is less than a year, despite medical treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of DHA and transferrin against glioblastoma (glioblastoma multiforme, GBM). MATERIALS/METHODS: This study was performed through in vitro experiments using C6 cells. The toxicity dependence of DHA and transferrin (TF) on time and concentration was analyzed by MTT assay and cell cycle assay. Observations of cellular morphology were recorded with an optical microscope and color digital camera. The anti-cancer mechanism of DHA and TF against GBM were studied by flow cytometry with Annexin V and caspase 3/7. RESULTS: MTT assay revealed that TF enhanced the cytotoxicity of DHA against C6 cells. An Annexin V immune-precipitation assay showed that the percentages of apoptosis of cells treated with TF, DHA alone, DHA in combination with TF, and the control group were $7.15{\pm}4.15%$, $34.3{\pm}5.15%$, $66.42{\pm}5.98%$, and $1.2{\pm}0.15%$, respectively. The results of the Annexin V assay were consistent with those of the MTT assay. DHA induced apoptosis in C6 cells through DNA damage, and TF enhanced the effects of DHA. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that DHA, the derivative of the active ingredient in Gaeddongssuk, is effective against GBM, apparently via inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by a pharmacological effect. The role of transferrin as an allosteric activator in the GBM therapeutic efficacy of DHA was also confirmed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.113-117
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• 2000

Objective : Asymptomatic cyst of the pineal gland is a common incidental finding in adults on computerized tomography or magnetic resonance image(MRI) or at postmortem examination. This study was conducted to identify MRI findings of the benign pineal cysts and to determine the proper management of asymptomatic pineal cysts. Methods : From January 1995 to March 1999, 13 cases of asymptomatic pineal cysts were diagnosed incidentally on MRI. The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 43 years(ranged 8 to 69 years). Five patients were females and eight patients were males. We analyzed the clinical presentations and MRI findings. Results : Clincal features were not related to pineal cysts in all 13 cases included posttraumatic headache in seven cases, headache related to brain tumor in two cases, one of facial palsy, one of diabetic neuropathy, and two of other diseases. MRI demonstrated a well-demarcated mass lesion(mean 1.3cm in diameter) of low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI, performed in 10 cases, demonstrated a rim enhancement. Hydrocephalus was not present in all cases. Follow-up MRI(ranged 12 to 36 months) obtained in 3 of the 13 patients showed stability of cyst size. After symptomatic treatment, presenting symptoms were resolved in all patients and symptom related to pineal cysts have not been developed during follow up period(mean 27 months). Conclusion : The long-term behavior of asymptomatic pineal cysts is still unknown. But we advocate conservative management of these benign pineal cysts that may be developmental variants of normal pineal gland.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.458-463
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• 1994

A thirty two year-old male was referred with a chief complaint of mouth opening limitation, and maxillofacial pain including left TMJ area. The patient had been treated in a private clinic with medications and conservative treatments, without any improvements in symptoms. MRI findings showed a limitations in condylar head movements, and signs of disc adhesion without the Positional change. Panoramic views showed elongation of stylohyoid process. Brain C-T was taken due to the patient's complaint of headache, facial pain, and paresthesia of tongue, and the result showed no abnormalities. The first surgery included meniscoplasty and the removal of disc adhesion of left TMJ under the preliminary diagnosis of internal derangement with adhesion, and the patient displayed marked improvements in opening movements despite of persistent hemiparesthesia of left facial areas and tongue, and mild dysphasia. Therefore, the second surgery was carried out with the preliminary diagnosis of Eagle's Syndrome, and a resolution of neurologic symptoms was obtained. The final diagnosis of this case was Eagle's Syndrome with internal derangement, and the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment might be due to the existence of two separate diseases with similar symptoms.