• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.69-75
• /
• 2007

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with progressive loss of cognitive function and memory. Amyloid beta peptide ($A{\beta}$) is the major component of senile plaques and is known to exert its cytotoxic effect mainly by producing $H_2O_2$. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain of AD patients, and $H_2O_2$ is one of the factors that induce VEGF. Therefore, we tested whether $A{\beta}$ might be responsible for the increased VEGF synthesis. We found that $A{\beta}$ induced the production of $H_2O_2$ in vitro. Comparison of the amount of $H_2O_2$ required to induce VEGF synthesis in HN33 cells and the amount of $H_2O_2$ produced by $10{\mu}M\;A{\beta}_{1-42}$ in vitro suggested that a toxic concentration of $A{\beta}$ might induce VEGF synthesis in these cells. However, toxic concentrations of $A{\beta}$ failed to induce VEGF synthesis in several cell systems. They also had no effect on antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and peroxiredoxin in HN33 cells. $Cu^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ are known to accumulate in the brains of AD patients and promote aggregation of $A{\beta}$, and $Cu^{2+}$ by itself induces synthesis of VEGF. However, there was no synergistic effect between $Cu^{2+}$ and $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ in the induction of VEGF synthesis and $Zn^{2+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ also had no effect on the synthesis of VEGF, alone or in combination with $A{\beta}$.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.224-230
• /
• 2011

In order to develop silk peptide (SP) preparations possessing cognition-enhancing effect, several candidates were screened through in vitro assays, and their effectiveness was investigated in facilitated brain aging model rats. Incubation of brain acetyl-cholinesterase with SP-PN (1-1,000 ${\mu}g/ml$) led to inhibition of the enzyme activity up to 35%, in contrast to a negligible effect of SP-NN. The expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA of neural stem cells expressing ChAT gene (F3.ChAT) was increased by 24-hour treatment with 10 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ SP-NN (1.35 and 2.20 folds) and SP-PN (2.40 and 1.34 folds). Four-week subcutaneous injections with D-galactose (150 mg/kg) increased activated hippocampal astrocytes to 1.7 folds (a marker of brain injury and aging), decreased acetylcholine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid by 45-50%, and thereby impaired learning and memory function in passive avoidance and water-maze performances. Oral treatment with SP preparations (50 or 300 mg/kg) for 5 weeks from 1 week prior to D-galactose injection exerted recovering activities on acetylcholine depletion and brain injury/aging as well as cognitive deficit induced by D-galactose. The results indicate that SP preparations restore cognitive functions of facilitated brain aging model rats by increasing the release of acetylcholine, in addition to neuroprotective activity.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• 제23권3호
• /
• pp.229-235
• /
• 2016

최근 전 세계적으로 메티실린내성 황색포도알균(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA])에 의한 감염성 심내막염의 빈도가 증가하는 추세이다. 저자들은 12세 여아가 침습적 치과 치료 이후에 발생한 MRSA에 의한 감염성 심내막염 1예를 경험하였기에 보고하는 바이다. 환아가 경부강직을 나타내어 시행한 뇌척수액 검사상 세포 증가증 소견이 보였고 세균성 수막염을 의심하여 항생제 치료를 시작하였으며, 입원 3병일째 혈액 배양검사에서 MRSA가 검출되었다. 심장 초음파상 승모판막의 전엽에 붙어있는 증식조직이 증명되어 항생제 치료 후 호전되어 퇴원하였다. 개정된 심내막염 예방을 위한 가이드라인에서는 오직 고위험군에서만 치과 처치 전에 예방적 항생제 요법을 권장하고 있다. 본 증례는 승모판 탈출증 이외에 고위험군이 없었던 환아에서 잇몸의 출혈을 유발하는 치과 치료를 받은 이후에 발병한 감염성 심내막염의 경우로서, 이후 12개월간 감염성 심내막염의 재발은 없었다.

• 한국동물위생학회지
• /
• 제42권4호
• /
• pp.275-278
• /
• 2019

Blindness was observed in five calves born from cattle fed only a commercial feed of growing stage and dried rice straws for about two years in a farm in Gyeongsangbuk-do province. Three of them died within a month after birth, and a body and sera of his mother and other 19 cattle were submitted for diagnosis. At necropsy, the calf was very weak and filled with cerebrospinal fluid in the cerebrum. Any histopathological lesion including atrophy of death of optic nerve cells was not observed, but the irregular proliferation such as lace pattern of choroidal cells and lymphocytic infiltration just below choroid was observed. No pathogen was detected as a result of the etiological tests on the internal organs of calves and bloods. In addition, the levels of serum vitamin A in different affected and his mother cattle were all lower than normal. Finally, we determined this case as an encephalopathy caused by maternal vitamin A deficiency in a calf. This report is an extreme example of how important it is to supply adequate s diets and a good quality of hay for each stage of growth in cattle.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제43권3호
• /
• pp.332-335
• /
• 2010

악성 고립성 섬유종은 비교적 드문 종양으로 흉막, 횡격막, 후복막 및 심낭 등에서 발생할 수 있으며, 남녀 발생 빈도는 비슷하고 60~70세 사이에 호발하나 10대의 어린 나이에도 발생하는 경우가 있다. 17세 남자에서 악성 고립성 섬유종에 의해 인접한 좌측 9번째 늑골의 형태학적 변화가 있어 섬유종의 제거 및 늑골 근위부의 부분적 절제술을 시행하였다. 술 후 뇌척수액의 흉강 내로의 누출을 CT myelography로 확인 후 뇌척수액의 배액 및 부분적 반측 추궁 절제술 및 경질막 복원술을 통한 교정을 치험하여 발표하고자 한다.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제31권1호
• /
• pp.43-47
• /
• 2014

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a rare disease that occurs in 3% to 5% of patients with plasma cell disorder. It occurs most commonly in the upper respiratory tract and the oral cavity. Very few EMP cases have been reported in the central nervous system (CNS). We report herein an unusual case of EMP in the nasal cavity that recurred in the CNS without systemic involvement. A 67-year-old man visited our hospital due to a month-long bout with exophthalmos. He was diagnosed with EMP in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, and orbital cavity. He received radiotherapy to which he had complete responses. After 2 years, he visited our hospital because of a month-long headache. He was diagnosed with EMP recurrence in the CNS via brain magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. He was treated with whole brain radiotherapy and intrathecal chemotherapy with methotrexate, but he expired due to pneumonia.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2015

Alzheimer's disease is a common form of dementia occurring among the elderly population and can be identified by symptoms such as cognition impairments, memory loss and neuronal dysfunction. Alzheimer's disease was found to be caused by the deposition of $\beta$-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, mutation in the APP (Amyloid precursor protein), Presenilin 1 (PSEN1) and Presenilin 2 (PSEN2) genes were also found to contribute to Alzheimer's disease. Since the potential conformational diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease requires histopathological tests on brain through autopsy, potential early diagnosis still remains challenging. In recent years, several researches have proposed the use of biomarkers for early diagnosis. In cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), $\beta$-amyloid(1-42), phosphorylated-tau and total tau were suggested to be effective biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. However, a single biomarker might not be sufficient for potential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Thus, the use of RNA interference (RNAi) through microRNAs (miRNAs) has been proposed by several researchers for simultaneous analysis of several biomarkers using microarray technology. These miRNA based biomarkers can be analysed from both blood and CSF, but miRNAs from blood are advantageous over CSF as they are non-invasive and simple for collection. Moreover, the RNAi based therapeutics by siRNA (short interference RNA) or shRNA (short hairpin RNA) have also been proposed to be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This review describes the promising application of RNAi technology in therapeutics and as a biomarker for both Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제59권sup1호
• /
• pp.133-138
• /
• 2016

Anti-N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis, recently recognized as a form of paraneoplastic encephalitis, is characterized by a prodromal phase of unspecific illness with fever that resembles a viral disease. The prodromal phase is followed by seizures, disturbed consciousness, psychiatric features, prominent abnormal movements, and autonomic imbalance. Here, we report a case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with initial symptoms of epilepsia partialis continua in the absence of tumor. Briefly, a 3-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital due to right-sided, complex partial seizures without preceding febrile illness. The seizures evolved into epilepsia partialis continua and were accompanied by epileptiform discharges from the left frontal area. Three weeks after admission, the patient's seizures were reduced with antiepileptic drugs; however, she developed sleep disturbances, cognitive decline, noticeable oro-lingual-facial dyskinesia, and choreoathetoid movements. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis was confirmed by positive detection of NMDAR antibodies in the patient's serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and her condition slowly improved with immunoglobulin, methylprednisolone, and rituximab. At present, the patient is no longer taking multiple antiepileptic or antihypertensive drugs. Moreover, the patient showed gradual improvement of motor and cognitive function. This case serves as an example that a diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis should be considered when children with uncontrolled seizures develop dyskinesias without evidence of malignant tumor. In these cases, aggressive immunotherapies are needed to improve the outcome of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.20-24
• /
• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and advantages of an endoscopic endonasal approach for the treatment of pituitary tumors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 31 patients with pituitary tumors having endoscopic endonasal surgery between March 1999 and August 2003. Results: Among 31 patients with pituitary adenomas, 25 (81%) patients exhibited gross total removal of tumor on postoperative MRI within 3 days after surgery. Among 6 patients removed subtotally, 2 had only radiosurgery, 3 have had periodic follow-up MRIs and one patient with large extended tumor (grade IV, Stage E) had secondary transcranial removal of tumor before radiosurgery. Postoperative complications included cerebrospinal fluid leak in 2 patients, sinusitis in 1 patient, and one patient died due to unexpected intracerebral hemorrhage on 5 days after surgery. Besides considerable experiences with this approach are needed because of narrow working channel to the sella turcica, the results of our study showed following advantages of this procedure: visualization of areas not seen with the operating microscope, elimination of oronasal complications, more functional and cosmetic outcome, and shortened operative time and hospital stay. Conclusion: The authors consider that endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach provides good results with minimal invasion for patients with pituitary tumors.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제29권12호
• /
• pp.1634-1641
• /
• 2000

Objective : The cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) pulsates within the craniospinal axis in response to rhythmic cerebral blood volume variation during the cardiac cycle. The aim of this study is to characterize the normal and abnormal CSF flow and its waveforms in the cervical spinal subarachnoid space. Methods : The magnetic resonance(MR) images were obtained with 1.5 T(GE Signa, GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, USA) unit using the 2 dimensional cine PC(phase contrast) sequence with cardiac gating and gradient recalled echo imaging. This pulse sequence yielded 16 quantitative flow-encoded images per cardiac cycle. Sagittal and axial images of the cervical spinal CSF space were obtained, and target sites were analyzed for characteristic CSF flow (TR=50ms, TE=12.5-15ms). The region of interest(ROI) was 1mm 3 in volume. Twenty six persons were included in this study : 10 healthy volunteers and 16 patients with cervical myelopathy. The post-operative cine MR study were also done in five patients. Results : The normal CSF pulsation dynamics in the cervical spine showed discrete systolic and diastolic components. The CSF flow revealed a sine wave pattern, in which the systolic phase was shorter than the diastolic phase(ratio=2 : 3). The patient group revealed decreased amplitudes of the CSF flow and irregularly distored flow waves. The systolic phase was elongated in the ROI above the stenotic level, whereas the diastolic phase was lengthened below the level. In the postoperative images, the abnormal pattern and amplitude were found to be corrected. Conclusion : From these results, the authors believe that the CSF flow study provides valuable informations regarding the extent of cervical stenosis and may be useful for the surgical planning and post-operative evaluation.