• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.61.1-61.8
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• 2019

Background: The prognosis of recovery following microneurosurgery for injured lingual nerves varies among individual cases. This study aimed to investigate if recovery ratios of sensory and taste functions are improved by the microneurosurgery within 6 months after lingual nerve injury. Methods: We retrospectively assessed 70 patients who underwent microneurosurgery at the Wakayama Medical University Hospital for lingual nerve injuries between July 2004 and December 2016. Sensory and taste functions in lingual nerves were preoperatively evaluated using a static two-point discrimination test, an intact superficial pain/tactile sensation test, and a taste discrimination test. They were evaluated again at 12 and at 24 months postoperatively. The abundance ratio of Schwann cells in the excised traumatic neuromas was analyzed with ImageJ software following immunohistochemistry with anti S-100β antibody. Results: In early cases (microneurosurgery within 6 months after the injury), recovery ratios of sensory and taste functions were not significantly different at 24 months after microneurosurgery compared with later cases (microneurosurgery more than 6 months after the injury). Meanwhile, the ratio of patients with taste recovery within 12 months after microneurosurgery was significantly decreased in late cases compared with early cases. The abundance ratio of Schwann cells in traumatic neuroma was also significantly lower in later cases. Conclusion: Microneurosurgery more than 6 months after lingual nerve injury did not lead to decreased recovery ratio of sensory and taste functions, but it did lead to prolonged recovery of taste. This delay may be associated with a decrease in the abundance ratio of Schwann cells in traumatic neuromas.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.464-471
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• 2006

Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in severe functional deficits. In the present study, the effects of treadmill exercise on neurotrophin expressions and functional recovery following sciatic crushed nerve injury were investigated. Animals were randomly assigned into four groups: the sciatic nerve injury group, the sciatic nerve injury and 3-day-exercise, the sciatic nerve injury and 7-days-exercise, and the sciatic nerve injury and 14-days-exercise groups. Sciatic nerve injury was caused by crushing the right sciatic nerve for 30 s using a surgical clip. A the light-exercise was applied to each of the exercise group over the respective number of days. In the present results, we identified enhanced axonal re-growth in the distal stump of the sciatic nerve 3-14 days after crush injury with treadmill training. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron when cultured from animals with nerve injury and treadmill training showed more enhanced neurite outgrowth than that of sedentary animals. Nerve growth factor (NGF) protein levels in low-intensity treadmill training group were highly induced in the injured sciatic nerves 3, 7 and 14 days after injury compared with sedentary group, and brain-derived neurotrophin factor (BDNF) protein levels in treadmill exercise group were highly induced in the injured sciatic nerve 3 days after injury compared with sedentary group. Then, treadmill exercise increased neurotrophic factors induced in the regenerating nerves. We further demonstrate that motor functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury was promoted by treadmill exercise. Thus, the present data provide a new evidence that treadmill exercise enhanced neurotrophins expression and axonal regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in rats.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.395-402
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• 1993

For the purpose of evaluation of clinical characteristics and histopathological properties in mediastinal tumor, and to provide the guidelines of surgical management of mediastinal tumor,238 patients with mediastinal tumors treated during the period from January 1983 to December 1991 were reviewed at Seoul National University Hospital. There were 106 males & 132 females, and their ages ranged from 3 months to 73 years, with average 33.6 years. The most frequently encountered tumor site was anterosuperior mediastinum followed by posterior, and middle mediastinum. In the pathological viewpoint, thymoma was the most frequent type followed by neurogenic tumor. 81% of the tumor were benign and 19% were malignant. Half of the malignant tumors were neurogenic tumors. Malignancy rate was high in pediatric patients compared to adults as 40% and 19% respectively. 65% of patients were asymptomatic at diagnosis.There was no operative mortality. Post operative complications were occurred in 35 cases. Most frequent complications were adjacent peripheral nerve injuries. But other usual operative complications, such as bleeding, chylothorax, infection, were relatively rare.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.79-97
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• 2010

Background: Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered clinical problems and often result in severe functional deficit. Bee venom acupuncture has traditionally been used to treat several inflammatory diseases and chronic pain conditions. Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the effects of bee venom (general bee venom, BV) and sweet bee venom (allergen-removed bee venom, SBV) acupuncture on the recovery rate of locomotor function, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the sciatic nerve, and the expression of c-Fos in the brain following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats, and to evaluate differences due to administration areas. Method: Walking track analysis, Western blot for BDNF and tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB), and immunohistochemistry for c-Fos were performed. In this study, comparative analyses of the effects of BV and SBV acupuncture in relation to administration sites, contralateral side or ipsilateral side, were conducted. Results: In the present result, sciatic function index (SFI) in walking track analysis significantly decreased following sciatic crushed nerve injury. The expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the sciatic nerve increased after induction of sciatic crushed nerve injury. C-Fos expression in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) also increased. BV and SBV acupuncture treatment improved the SFI in walking track analysis. Treatment with SBV at 1mg/kg showed more potent enhancing effect on SFI compared to BV. Treatment with 1mg/kg BV or 1mg/kg SBV acupuncture suppressed the BDNF and TrkB expression in the sciatic nerve. BV and SBV acupuncture treatment also suppressed c-Fos expression in the PVN and vlPAG regions. Treatment with SBV at 1mg/kg showed more potent suppressing effect on c-Fos expression compared to BV when injected into the contralateral side of the injured nerve. Generally we could not find significant difference in the effects between contralateral side and ipsilateral side of the injured nerve. Conclusion: We have shown that BV and SBV acupuncture treatment can be used as the effective therapeutic modality to ameliorate the symptoms of sciatic crushed nerve injury.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.192-194
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• 2022

The trophic factor Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) plays a critical role in the development of the peripheral nervous system and the repair of nerve injuries. The regulation of neutrophil apoptosis by cytokine secretion from structural cells is an important process in inflammatory diseases, including asthma. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NRG-1 and the alteration of neutrophil apoptosis by the regulation of cytokine release in the human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) induce the increase in the release of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). NRG-1 alone had no effect on the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1. However, co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 inhibited the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 that had been increased by TNF-α and IFN-γ. Treatment with NRG-1 did not have a direct effect on neutrophil apoptosis. Co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 was not effective on suppression of neutrophil apoptosis due to TNF-α and IFN-γ. The supernatant of BEAS-2B cells after co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 suppressed the inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis that had been caused due to the supernatant treated with TNF-α and IFN-γ. Taken together, NRG-1 has an anti-inflammatory effect in an inflammatory milieu by the regulation of cytokine secretion and neutrophil apoptosis.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2009

Purpose: The mortality and the amputation rates due to vascular trauma remain high despite advanced vascular surgical techniques and supportive management. The clinical features of patients with vascular trauma have not been well studied in the Korean population. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with vascular trauma and to develop a database and guidelines for improving the outcomes of treatment. Methods: The medical records of 37 patients with traumatic vascular injuries who had visited in an emergency center between January 2002 and December 2006 were retrospectively reviewed and statistically analyzed. Results: The mean age was 37.8 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 5.2 : 1. The mechanism of vascular trauma was penetrating in 18 patients and blunt in 19 patients. Upper extremities were most frequently injured (39.4%). The treatment methods were primary repair in 21 patients, exploratory laparotomies in 7, radiological interventions in 3, resections and graft interpositions of the pseudoaneurysm in 3, observations in 3 and a bypass graft in 1. Four out of the 37 patients died, and three of these who died had injuried abdominal vessels. Twenty-five of the patients recovered completely, four expired, seven had neuropathy in the course of treatement, one had his limb amputated, and one experienced wound necrosis. Conclusion: Peripheral vessel injuries are commonly accompanied by nerve, muscle, or tendon injuries. Patients without associated fractures or compartment syndrome had good prognosis. Although the time intervals from hospital arrival to definite treatment were the shortest among patients with blunt abdominal vascular injuries, three expired. Therefore, we offer a 'ritical pathway'to improve the outcomes of patients with blunt abdominal vascular injury.