• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.346-352
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• 2007

Background: Pulmonary hypertension is one of the cardiovascular complications of in COPD. However, a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension requires an invasive test, such as right heart catheterization. NT-proBNP is a cardiac hormone that is elevated when a cardiac volume or pressure overload is present. It was hypothesized that NT-proBNP might play a role in detecting of pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients. Method: The 31 COPD patients, who underwent all of NT-proBNP, echocardiography, and spirometry in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital during the period from November 2003 to July 2005, were retrospectively analyzed. Result: Of the 31 COPD patients, 9 patients had pulmonary hypertension. A significant positive correlation was observed between the NT-proBNP and pulmonary arterial pressure (r=0.589, p=0.002). However, there was no significant correlation observed between the $FEV_1$ and NT-proBNP and $FEV_1$ and pulmonary arterial pressure. Conclusion: NT-proBNP might indicate the presence of pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.783-788
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• 2004

Cheonmabanhwa- Tang (CBT) has been used in the Oriental Medicine for many centuries as a therapeutic agent for dizziness due to Poong-Dam, We reported that CBT had effects on the cerebral hemodynamics [regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), pial arterial diameter (PAD), and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP)] in normal and cerebral ischemic rats. Therefor we designed to determine the mechanism of action of CBT. The changes of rCBF and MABP were determinated by laser-Doppler flowmetry(LDF), and the change of PAD was determinated by video-microscopy. The results were as follows: The CBT-induced increase in rCBF was significnatly inhibited by pretreatment with indomethacin (IDN, 1 ㎎/㎏, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, or methylene blue (MTB, 10 ㎍/㎏, i.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase. The CBT-induced increase in PAD was also significantly inhibited by pretreatment with IDN or MTB. The CBT-induced increase in MABP was also significantly inhibited by pretreatment with IDN or MTB. In conclusion, it is suggested that CBT causes a diverse effect on cerebral hemodynamics via mediation of cyclooxygenase and guanylate cyclase.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.29-41
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• 2004

Objective : This experimental studies were performed in order to prove the effect of Hirudin Herbal-acupuncture by using rats that had neuronal damage due to the Middle Cerebral Artery Occulsion(MCAO). Method : We observed the change of extracellular concentrations(${\mu}M$) of dopamine, DOPAC, HVA, HIAA, glutamate, aspartate, GABA, glysine, taurine, alanine, and tyrosine as extracted by vivo microdialysis, in the Hirudin Herbal-acupuncture administrated rats($240{\sim}260g$, Sprague-Dawley) subjected to the MCAO. The dialysates were extracted three times before the MCAO and six times after the MCAO every 20 minutes, and analysed by highperformance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Results : Hirudin Herbal-acupuncture significantly inhibited glutamate, aspartate, and tyrosine which are stimulant neurotransmitters at brain ischemia, and it significantly decreased glycine, GABA, taurine, and alanine which are inhibitory neurotransmitters at brain ischemia. Conclusion : Hirudin Herbal-acupuncture may prevent delayed neuronal death(DND) in selectively vulnerable focal areas of the brain effectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.306-315
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• 1997

In order to investigate pharmacological properties of ι -muscone, effects of ι-muscone and musk on cerebral ischemia and central nervous system were compared. Cerebral ischemia insult was performed using unilateral carotid artery occlusion in Mongolian gerbils. The histological observations showed a preventive effect of the ι-muscone treatment with ischemia-induced brain damage. The ATP in brain tissue was decreased in vehicle-treated ischemic gerbils. This decrease was prevented by the ι-muscone treatment. In contrast to what was seen with ATP, the lactate and lipid peroxide were both elevated in vehicle-treated ischemic gerbils.˙ This elevation was prevented by the ι-muscone treatment. While ι-muscone had no effects on the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and the convulsions induced by electric shock, pentetrazol and strychnine, it had effect on rotarod test and spontaneous activity test. Respiration rate and depth were increased by the ι-muscone treatment. Furthermore, ι-muscone showed anti-stress effect. Our findings suggest that the pharmacological profile of ι-muscone on cerebral ischemia and central nervous system are similar to that of musk.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.596-604
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• 2005

Objectives : Geopungjeseub-tang(Gufengchushi-tang) has been used in oriental medicine for many centuries as a therapeutic agent for hemiplegia caused by deficiency of qi(氣虛) and damp phlegm(濕痰). This study was performed to evaluate effects of Geopungjeseub-tang extract(GJT) on hemodynamics[regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF), pial arterial diameter(PAD), mean arterial blood pressure(MABP), heart rate(HR)] in normal rats and in rats with cerebral ischemia by middle cerebral artery(MCA) occlusion. Also, effects of adrenergic ${\beta}-receptor$, cyclooxygenase on response to GJT were evaluated. Methods : Laser-doppler flowmetry(LDF) measured changes of rCBF, MABP and HR. Video microscope and width analyzer measured changes in PAD. Results : rCBF and PAD increased after treatment with GJT(10mg/kg, i.v.) during the period of cerebral reperfusion, and pretreatment with indomethacin raised rCBF and PAD increased after treatment with GJT during the same period as above. Pretreatment with propranolol decreased rCBF, but increased after GJT treatment, but raised PAD increased after GJT treatment during this period of reperfusion. Conclusion : CR caused diverse responses were observed in rCBF and PAD after treatment with GJT. ACF action is mediated by adrenergic ${\beta}-receptor$ and cyclooxygenase. Result suggest that GJT has an anti-ischemic effect through the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics and has theraputic potential for cerebral apoplexy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.467-475
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• 2003

This studt was investigated to prove the effect of GMYM on the brain damage. The results were as follows; 1. GMYM showed significantly inhibitory effect on LDH release by NMDA. AMPA and Kinate. 2. GMYM showed significantly inhibitory effect on LDH release by BSO and Fe2+. 3. GMYM decreased coma duration time in a infatal dose of KCN and showed 30% of survival rate in a fatal dose. 4. GMYM showed improvement of forelimb and hindlimb test after MCA occulusion in neurological exemination. 5. GMYM decreased ischemic area and edema incited by the MCA blood flow block. These results indicate that GMYM can be used in the brain damage sujected to brain ischemia. Further study will be needed about the functional mechanism and etc.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.402-411
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• 1997

ln order to investigate pharmacological properties of New Woohwangchungsimwon Liquid (NCL) and Woohwangchungsimwon Liquid (CL), effects of NCL and CL on cerebral ischemia and central nervous system were compared. Cerebral ischemia insult was performed using unilateral carotid artery occlusion in Mongolian gerbils. The histological observations showed a preventive effect of NCL and CL treatments with ischemia-induced brain damage. The ATP in brain tissue was decreased in vehicle-treated ischemic gerbils. This decrease was prevented by CL treatment. In contrast to what was seen with ATP, the lactate and lipid peroxide were both elevated in vehicle-treated ischemic gerbils. This elevation was inhibited by NCL and CL treatments. While NCL and CL had no effects on the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time, they prevented the seizures induced by electric shock and pentetrazol. NCL and CL showed sedative effect in rotarod and spontaneous activity test. Respiration rate and depth were increased at the high dose of NCL and CL. Furthermore, NCL and CL showed anti-stress effect. Our findings suggest that the pharmacological profile of NCL on cerebral ischemia and central nervous system are similar to that of CL.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cerebral infarction size, antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation changes after 6 weeks of dietary soybean protein intake in a rat focal brain ischemia model. Method: Weaning Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with either modified AIN-93G diet containing casein 20% (control), 20% soybean protein isolate-based diet (S20), or 40% of soybean protein isolate-based diet (S40) for 6 weeks. The animals were subject to right middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 hr. After 24 hr of recirculation, the rats were sacrificed. Antioxidant enzymes activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level in the right brain were also measured. Result: There were no significant differences in the right cortical infarction volume, TBARS level, SOD and CAT activities among the three groups whereas the GPx activities of the S20 group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p=.02). Conclusion: Our results suggest that 20% of soybean protein may have a modulating effect on GPx and possibly have some protective effect against oxidative stress although it may enough to decrease cerebral infarction volume in rat focal brain ischemia model.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 1999

In order to investigate pharmacological properties of New Wonbang Woohwangchungsimwon Liquid(NSCL) and Wonbang Woohwangchungsimwon Liquid(SCL), the effects of NSCL and SCL on cerebral ischemia and central nervous system were compared. Cerebral ischemia insult was performed using unilateral carotid artery occlusion in mongolian gerbils. The histological observations showed a preventive effect of NSCL and SCL treatments with ischemia-induced brain damage. The ATP in brain tissue was decreased in vehicle-treated ischemic gerbils. This decrease was prevented by NSCL and SCL treatment. In contrast to what was seen with ATP, lipid peroxide were elevated in vehicle-treated ischemic gerbils. This elevation was inhibited by NSCL and SCL treatments. While NSCL and SCL had no effects on the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time, they showed sedative effect in rotarod and spontaneous activity test. NSCL and SCL prevented the seizures induced by electric shock and strychnine, but the effect of NSCL was less than that of SCL. Furthermore, NSCL and SCL showed anti-stress effect. Our findings suggest that the pharmacological profiles of NSCL on cerebral ischemia and central nervous system are similar to those of SCL.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.293-301
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• 2006

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes after successful bypass surgery in patients with atherosclerotic stenosis in ICA using $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ SPECT. Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients (M:F=8:6, mean age; $60{\pm}9$ years) who underwent STA-MCA anastomosis for unilateral atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease were enrolled. $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ basal/acetazolamide perfusion SPECT studies were performed before, 10 days and 6 months after bypass surgery. Perfusion reserve was defined as the % changes after acetazolamide over rest image. Regional cerebral blood flow and perfusion reserve were compared preoperative, early-postoperative and late-postoperative scans. Results: The mean resting perfusion and decrease in perfusion reserve in affected ICA territory on preoperative scan was $52.4{\pm}3.5\;and\;-7.9{\pm}4.7%$, respectively. The resting perfusion was significantly improved after surgery on early-postoperative scan (mean $53.7{\pm}2.7$) and late-postoperative scan (mean $53.3{\pm}2.5$) compared with preoperative images (p<0.05, respectively). Resting perfusion did not showed further improvement on late-postoperative scan compared with early-postoperative scan. The perfusion reserve was $-3.7{\pm}2.6%$ on early-postoperative scan, and $-1.6{\pm}2.3%$ on late-postoperative scan, which was significantly improved after surgery. Additionally, further improvement of perfusion reserved as observed on late-postoperative scan (p<0.05). While, in the unaffected ICA territory, no significant changes in the resting perfusion and perfusion reserve was observed. Conclusion: The improvement of resting perfusion and perfusion reserve in early-postoperative scan reflects the immediate restoration of the cerebral blood flow by bypass surgery. In contrasts, further improvement of perfusion reserve showing on late-postoperative scan may indicate a good collateral development after surgery, which may indicate good surgical outcome after surgery.