• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.687-694
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• 2017

Plumbagin, a hydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinone compound from plant metabolites, exhibits anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal activities via modulating various signaling molecules. However, its effects on vascular functions are rarely studied except in pulmonary and coronary arteries where NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibition was suggested as a mechanism. Here we investigate the effects of plumbagin on the contractility of skeletal artery (deep femoral artery, DFA), mesenteric artery (MA) and renal artery (RA) in rats. Although plumbagin alone had no effect on the isometric tone of DFA, $1{\mu}M$ phenylephrine (PhE)-induced partial contraction was largely augmented by plumbagin (${\Delta}T_{Plum}$, 125% of 80 mM KCl-induced contraction at $1{\mu}M$). With relatively higher concentrations (>$5{\mu}M$), plumbagin induced a transient contraction followed by tonic relaxation of DFA. Similar biphasic augmentation of the PhE-induced contraction was observed in MA and RA. VAS2870 and GKT137831, specific NOX4 inhibitors, neither mimicked nor inhibited ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ in DFA. Also, pretreatment with tiron or catalase did not affect ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ of DFA. Under the inhibition of PhE-contraction with L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker (nifedipine, $1{\mu}M$), plumbagin still induced tonic contraction, suggesting $Ca^{2+}$-sensitization mechanism of smooth muscle. Although ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ was consistently observed under pretreatment with Rho A-kinase inhibitor (Y27632, $1{\mu}M$), a PKC inhibitor (GF 109203X, $10{\mu}M$) largely suppressed ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$. Taken together, it is suggested that plumbagin facilitates the PKC activation in the presence of vasoactive agonists in skeletal arteries. The biphasic contractile effects on the systemic arteries should be considered in the pharmacological studies of plumbagin and 1,4-naphthoquinones.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.49-51
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• 1994

The aims of this study were first to determine the influence of vibration displacement amplitude $(200{\mu}m, 300{\mu}m peak-to-peak)$ at selected frequencies (40-200Hz) on a commonly observed but often undesired motor response elicited bylocal vibratory stimulation, the Tonic Vibration Reflex (TVR). Second, to determine the degree of synchronization of motor unit (MU) activity with vibratory stimuli. Vibration was applied to the distal tendons of the hand flexor muscles. Changes in root- mean-square electromyographic (EMG) activity of the finger and wrist flexor muscles were analyzed both as a function of their initial contraction level (0%, 10%, 20% of the maximal voluntarycontraction: MVC) and as a function of the vibration parameters. The results indicate that the TVR increased with the initial muscle contraction up to 10% MVC: The TVR increased with vibration frequency up to 100-150 Hz and decreases beyond; A significant increase of the TVR with vibration displacement amplitude was observed only for the wrist flexor muscle; MU synchronization at vibration frequency (VF) was found more often in the low frequency range $(f{\leq}100 Hz)$ and tended todecrease beyond; In the high frequency range $(f{\geq}120 Hz)$, MU activity at subharmonic frequency was predominant; The "cut-off" frequency of the synchronization with VF was neither affected by the vibration displacement amplitude nor initial muscle contraction level. The surface EMG turned out to be a useful means to analyze MU synchronization since it is noninvasive, and it can be easily used for analysis of different muscle contraction levels, while single MU technique might have some difficulties at high muscle contraction levels. Furthermore, these results indicate that high frequencyvibration (f>150 Hz) tends to induce less muscle/tendon stress and MU synchronization. Such remarks are of importance for the design of hand-held vibrating tools.ing tools.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.517-526
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• 2019

Background: The root of Panax ginseng, a member of Araliaceae family, has been used as herbal medicine and functional food in Asia for thousands of years. According to Traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng is the most widely used "Qi-invigorating" herbs, which provides tonic and preventive effects by resisting oxidative stress, influencing energy metabolism, and improving mitochondrial function. Very few reports have systematically measured cell mitochondrial bioenergetics after ginseng treatment. Methods: Here, H9C2 cell line, a rat cardiomyoblast, was treated with ginseng extracts having extracted using solvents of different polarity, i.e., water, 50% ethanol, and 90% ethanol, and subsequently, the oxygen consumption rate in healthy and tert-butyl hydroperoxideetreated live cultures was determined by Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer. Results: The 90% ethanol extracts of ginseng possessed the strongest antioxidative and tonic activities to mitochondrial respiration and therefore provided the best protective effects to H9C2 cardiomyocytes. By increasing the spare respiratory capacity of stressed H9C2 cells up to three-folds of that of healthy cells, the 90% ethanol extracts of ginseng greatly improved the tolerance of myocardial cells to oxidative damage. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that the low polarity extracts of ginseng could be the best extract, as compared with others, in regulating the oxygen consumption rate of cultured cardiomyocytes during mitochondrial respiration.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.83-92
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review systemically journals on the studies for complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of endometriosis. Methods: Through medical websites, foreign clinical literatures about complementary and alternative medicines of endometriosis were searched. The cite used was http://www.Pubmed.gov. And then they were divided into three groups. In vitro, in vivo, clinical studies. Results: 1. We researched 2 papers about in vitro. Both were used extract of herbal mixture. And they used CCL5, SE-1, COUP-TF, 17-$\beta$-HSD1, 17-$\beta$-HSD2 which were not commonly used in Korea. 2. We researched 8 papers about in vivo. Most of them used blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicine, just few used tonic medicine. And they used acupuncture which were not used in Korea. Most of Korean paper also used blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicine and rarely used tonic medicine. 3. We researched 19 papers about clinical studies. They had much more cases(average=60) than Korean paper. They were also used western medicine randomized sham-controlled trial. Conclusion: Afterward we need to study for comparing western medicine and herb medicine. And we concern about acupuncture therapy.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2024

Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) is a rare X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder with abnormal thyroid function caused by mutation in the solute carrier family 16 member 2 (SLC16A2) gene. Clinical manifestations of AHDS are global or axial hypotonia, a variety of movement disorders, severe intellectual disability, quadriplegia or spastic diplegia, growth failure, and seizures. A 10-year-old boy visited our hospital with the chief complaint of newly onset generalized tonic seizures with vocalization of weekly to daily frequency. He showed early infantile hypotonia, severe intellectual disability, and frequent respiratory infections. He could not walk independently and was non-verbal. Electroencephalogram revealed generalized slow spike and waves with multifocal spikes and slow background rhythms. His tonic seizures were controlled with more than two anti-seizure medications (ASMs). At 11 years of age, he was evaluated for thyroid function as part of regular screening for ASM maintenance and was found to have abnormal thyroid function. We performed whole exome sequencing for severe global developmental delay, drug-resistant epilepsy, and abnormal thyroid function. The hemizygous c.940C>T (p.Arg314Ter) variant in the SLC16A2 gene (NM_006517.5) was identified and confirmed based on Sanger sequencing. Herein, we describe a case of an AHDS patient with late-onset drug-resistant epilepsy combined with congenital hypotonia, global developmental delay, and abnormal thyroid function results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the oldest adolescent among AHDS cases reported in Korea. In this report, clinical characteristics of a mid-adolescence patient with AHDS were presented.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.214-219
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• 2007

The roots of Pseudarthria viscida (L.) Wight and Arnott. (Leguminosae) are used against various disorders in Indian systems of medicine, namely as anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, rejuvenating, tonic and as a remedy for cough, asthma, tuberculosis, diarrhoea and alternate fever. The present communication deals with the detailed pharmacognostical evaluation of the root sample using light and confocal microscopy, WHO recommended physico-chemical determinations and authentic phytochemical procedures. he physico-chemical, morphological and histological parameters presented in this paper may be proposed as parameters to establish the authenticity of P. viscida root and may possibly help to differentiate the drug from its other species.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.11-15
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• 1981

Antler, deer horn, occupies a particular place in oriental folk medicine as so called tonic remedy. In order to study on the effects of Antler water extract on stress resistance in mice, quantitative response was measured for the change of spontaneous activity by chemical stress drugs in the control group or the Antler water extract pretreated group. Spontaneous activity in mice was measured by counting the number of interruptions of light. The results of experiment were summerized as follows; I) In case of administrating Antler water extract 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, 50mg/kg, and 100mg/kg, no significant change was observed in spontaneous activity in comparison with the control group. II) In case of administrating Antler water extract for 5 days or 10 days, no significant change was observed in spontaneous activity by chemical stress drugs, caffein and chloropromazine, in comparison with the control group.

• ALGAE
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2004

An ectoparasitic din flagellate infesting plank tonic chaetognath, Sagitta crassa Tokioka was found, for the first time, from Korean coasts. In order to identify the species, we investigated detailed morphology of the din flagellate using Nomarski interference optics as well as epifluorescent microscopes. The parasitic din flagellate consists of an oval to rod-shaped cell with a peduncle, by which the organism attaches to the host. The cell is covered with polygonal thecal plates. The nucleus displays two different shapes according to cell cycle stages: in young trophont the nucleus is elongated and shows typical din flagellate nucleus (dinokaryon), while in matured trophont, the nucleus is dome-shaped and non-dinokaryotic. The peduncle is variable in length and is ornamented with the longitudinal striations. All these characteristics point to identity that the ectoparasitic din flagellate infecting Sagitta crassa in Korean coasts is Oodinium inlandicum Horiguchi et Ohtsuka, originally described from the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. Relationship between prevalence and host sizes differed from those in Japan.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.329-331
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• 2020

Negative myoclonus (NM) is a shock-like jerky involuntary movement caused by a sudden, brief interruption of tonic muscle contraction. NM is observed in patients diagnosed with epilepsy, metabolic encephalopathy, and drug toxicity and in patients with brain lesions. A 55-year-old man presented with NM in both his arms and neck. He has taken medications containing tramadol at a dose of 80-140 mg/day for 5 days due to common cold. He had no history of seizures. Acute lesions were not observed during magnetic resonance imaging, and abnormal findings in his laboratory tests were not noted. His NM resolved completely after the discontinuation of tramadol and the oral administration of clonazepam. Our case report suggests that tramadol can cause NM in patients without seizure history or metabolic disorders, even within its therapeutic dose.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2008

A 57-year-old man was transferred to our emergency department with decreased mental status after organophosphate intoxication. He had a four year history of benzodiazepine and hypnotic medication use for chronic insomnia and a depressive mood disorder. He had no previous history of seizures, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. By hospital day 5, the patient was noted to be awake and to have repetitive jerking movements involving the left upper extremity, and appeared apathetic, depressed and less responsive to external stimuli. A benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome was subsequently apparent when he developed several generalized tonic clonic seizures and status epilepticus. Using a continuous midazolam intravenous infusion, we successfully controlled the refractory seizure without complications. We present a rare case of status epilepticus from a benzodiazepine withdrawal that developed during the treatment for organophosphate intoxication.