• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.104-104
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• 1997

본 실험은 신경독성물질을 이용하여 선조체도파민신경찰성을 충분하게 손상시키고 도파민효능약물투여 후 유발되는 특정행동이 basal ganglia에서 발생되는 진행성이며 퇴행성신경질환인 파킨슨씨 질환(Parkinson's disease : PD)의 연구에 기여할 수 있는지의 타당성을 검토하고자 하였다. 흰쥐의 왼쪽선조체에 6-OHDA 8,16 and 24$\mu\textrm{g}$/2${\mu}\ell$(in 0.1% ascorbic acid)를 각각 투여하여 효율적으로 상동행동을 발현하는 신경독성물질의 투여 용량을 검토하고 도파민신경에 작용하는 약물의 투여방법(반복투여), 관찰기간(수술후 1주부터 4주간) 및 투여시기(7,21 및 35주령)에 따른 행동발현의 특성을 비교검토하고 아울러 성별의 영향도 검토하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.54-76
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• 2024

Facet joint arthrosis is a progressive degenerative disease that is frequently associated with other spinal degenerative disorders such as degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis. Lumbar facet joint arthrosis can induce pain in the proximal lower extremities. However, symptoms and imaging findings of "facet joint syndrome" are not specific as they mimic the pain from herniated discs or nerve root compression. Currently, evidence for therapeutic intra-articular lumbar facet joint injections is still considered low, with a weak recommendation strength. Nevertheless, some studies have reported therapeutic effectiveness of facet joint injections. Moreover, the use of therapeutic facet joint injections in clinical practice has increased. This review article includes opinions based on the authors' experience with facet joint injections. This review primarily aimed to investigate the efficacy of lumbar facet joint injections and consider their associated safety aspects.

• Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.154-159
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• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective radiographic study. Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of concurrent degenerative cervical and lumbar spondylolisthesis. Summary of Literature Review: Concurrent degenerative cervical and lumbar spondylotic diseases have been reported. Given that severe spondylosis can result in spondylolisthesis, one might expect that concurrent spondylolisthesis of the cervical and lumbar spines might also be prevalent. However, the incidence of spondylolistheses in the lumbar and cervical spines might differ due to anatomical differences between the 2 areas. Nonetheless, there is minimal information in the literature concerning the incidence of concurrent cervical and lumbar spondylolisthesis. Material and Methods: We evaluated standing cervical and lumbar lateral radiographs of 2510 patients with spondylosis. Concurrence, age group, gender, and direction of spondylolisthesis were evaluated. Lumbar spondylolisthesis was defined as at least Meyerding grade I and degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis was defined as over 2 mm of displacement on standing lateral radiographs. Results: Lumbar spondylolisthesis was found in 125 patients (5.0%) and cervical spondylolisthesis was found in 193 patients (7.7%). Seventeen patients had both degenerative cervical and lumbar spondylolistheses (0.7%). Lumbar spondylolisthesis is a risk factor for coexisting cervical spondylolisthesis. Lumbar spondylolisthesis was more common in females than males, independent of advancing age. In contrast, degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis was more common in older patients, independent of gender. Anterolisthesis was more common in the lumbar spine. Retrolisthesis was more common in the cervical spine. Conclusions: There was a higher prevalence of degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.250-257
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• 2023

Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter distributed in the central nervous system of mammals. However, high concentrations of glutamate are known to cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke by causing nerve cell death. In this study, the antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effect of subtropical natural products were analyzed. Among 11 subtropical plant extracts mainly tested, Sallacca wallichiana extract (SE) showed the greatest free radical scavenging activity. Then, we confirmed through WST-1 assay that SE protected HT22 cells against glutamate-induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. The protective effects of SE against glutamate-induced apoptosis in HT22 cells were also confirmed by flow cytometry analysis using Annexin V/PI double staining. We also confirmed using H₂DCF-DA single staining that SE inhibits glutamate-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species. And we were confirmed through that SE inhibited glutamate-induced phosphorylation of Mitogen-activated Protein kinases. Consequently, our results propose that SE may contribute to the development of therapeutics to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.209-221
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• 2008

목적 : 구절초는 국화과에 속하는 다년생 초본으로 가을에 줄기와 잎을 가을에 채취한 것을 한약재로 사용하여 대한, 월경불순 등 각종 여성질환과 함께 위냉증, 소화불량, 감고, 폐렴, 기관지염, 배뇨장애 및 신경퇴행성 질환에 활용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 LPS로 염증유도된 대식세 포주를 활용하여 구절초의 항염증효능을 확인하고자 하였다. 방법 : 구절초 추출물의 항염증효과를 관찰하기 위하여 RAW264.7 대식세포주에서 MTT cytotoxic assay, iNOS 및 COX-2 발현, NO와 PGE2 생성 및 $NF-{\kappa}B$ 활성실험을 수행하였다. 결과 : 세포독성실험을 통하여 구절초 추출물의 안전성이 확인되었으며 LPS로 염증유도된 RAW264.7 대식세포주에서 증가된 iNOS의 발현이 감소되었음을 확인하였다. 또한 NO 및 PGE2의 생성을 억제하였다. 이러한 결과는 구절초가 염증매개물질의 생성을 억제하는 효과가 있음을 확인할 수 있었으며, $NF-{\kappa}B$ 활성도를 감소시킴을 관찰하였다. 결론 : 이러한 결과는 구절초가 $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway를 조절해 줌으로써 항염증효과를 나타내는 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.611-621
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• 2022

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is commonly used as control or vehicle solvent in preclinical research of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) due to its ability to dissolve lipophilic compounds and cross the blood brain barrier. However, the biochemical effects of DMSO on the outcomes of preclinical research are often overlooked. In the present study, we investigated whether the long-term oral administration of 5% DMSO affects the neurological, functional, and histological disease phenotype of the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase glycine 93 to alanine mutation (SOD1-G93A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. SOD1-G93A transgenic mice showed shortened survival time and reduced motor function. We found that administration with DMSO led to increased mean survival time, reduced neurological scores, and improved motor performance tested using the rotarod and grip strength tests. On the other hand, DMSO treatment did not attenuate motor neuron loss in the spinal cord and denervation of neuromuscular junctions in the skeletal muscle. These results suggest that DMSO administration could improve the quality of life of the SOD1-G93A mouse model of ALS without affecting motor neuron denervation. In conclusion, the use of DMSO as control or vehicle solvent in preclinical research may affect the behavioral outcomes in the SOD1-G93A mouse model. The effect of the vehicle should be thoroughly considered when interpreting therapeutic efficacy of candidate drugs in preclinical research.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.1 s.81
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• pp.12-17
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• 2007

Curcumin is a natural phenolic yellow curry spice, derived from the tumeric, which has been used for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Curcumin is known to have both anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties can be beneficial to protect the brain from the neurodegenerative diseases. We now report the neuroprotective effects of curcumin pretreatment in primary hippocampal neurons to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. Pretreatment of embryonic mouse hippocampal cell cultures with low does of curcumin protected neurons against glutamate-induced death, however, this neuroprotection was not correlated with the modulation of oxidative stress. Interestingly, high dose of curcumin showed the cytotoxicity in primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Immunoblot analyses showed that levels of stress response. protein HSP70 were significantly elevated in neurons exposed to low dose of curcumin, whereas levels of cleaved PARP were increased in neurons exposed to high dose of curcumin. These findings show that curcumin can modulate neuronal responses to glutamate, and suggest possible use of curcumin and related compounds in the prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.59-68
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• 2010

목적 : 최근 한의학에서 널리 사용되며, 신경계 질환에도 응용되고 있는 봉약침의 농도의존적 효과를 알아보기 위하여, 대표적인 신경 퇴행성 질환인 파킨슨병의 동물모델을 통해 세포보호효과와 세포사멸 및 신경염증 기전을 관찰하였다. 방법 : C57BL/6 mice에 신경독소인 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)를 4번 복강내 주입하여 중뇌의 흑질 도파민 신경세포를 파괴하여 Parkinson 질병동물 모델을 만든 후, 2개의 군에는 마지막 MPTP 투여 2시간 후에 1차, 그 후로 48시간이 지날 때마다 양측 신수에 각각 0.06mg/kg 농도와 0.6mg/kg 농도의 봉약침을 시행하여 총 4회 시술한 후, 도파민 세포를 측정하는 TH 면역조직 화학법을 통해 세포의 보존 정도를 관찰하고, 세포사멸과 관련된 양상을 확인하기 위하여 Caspase 3, 신경염증과 관련된 양상을 확인하기 위하여 iNOS의 발현여부를 면역 조직화학법을 이용하여 관찰하였다. 결과 : 관찰결과 MPTP 투여 후 MPTP 투여군의 흑질의 도파민 세포 수는 감소하였으나 0.6mg/kg 봉약침을 투여한 경우에는 유의성 있게 세포 수가 유지되었다. Caspase-3와 iNOS 발현억제 실험에서 0.6mg/kg 봉약침군은 MPTP 투여군과 0.06mg/kg의 봉약침군과 비교하여 Caspase-3, iNOS 발현을 유의하게 억제하였다. 결론 : 봉약침은 MPTP 투여로 인한 신경세포 손상에 대하여 농도에 따라 세포사멸 기전과 신경염증 기전을 억제함으로 신경세포를 보호하는 것으로 추정되며, 추후 적절한 경혈점 및 최적의 봉약침 농도를 찾는데 지속적인 연구가 필요할 것이다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.640-645
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• 2016

Microglial cells are immediately activated in the central nervous system in response to a variety of neuronal environmental changes, such as injuries or inflammation. In addition to the modulation of the intrinsic immune response, a key role of microglial cells is the phagocytosis of dying cells and cellular debris. In this study, the inhibitory effects of epigallocatechine-3-gallate (EGCG), a most abundant and active polyphenol component of green tea, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation are determined. EGCG dose dependently suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide production and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in BV-2 microglial cells. EGCG are potent LPS-induced inhibitors of several pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions, such as TNF-α and IL-1β, in microglial cells. Furthermore, EGCG generally inhibits the induction of LPS-mediated microglial activation and potently inhibits the phagocytosis of LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia. Although the conditioned media from LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells caused the SN4741 cell death, that from the conditioned media of EGCG pretreated BV-2 cells did not diminish the viability of SN4741 cells. These results suggest EGCG, a green tea polyphenol, could be a promising available molecule for the modulation of harmful microglial activation.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2009

Hereditary peripheral neuropathies can be categorized as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies (HMSN), hereditary motor neuropathies (HMN), and hereditary sensory neuropathies (HSN). HMSN, HMN, and HSN are further subdivided into several subtypes. Here, we review the most recent findings in the molecular diagnosis and therapeutic strategy for hereditary peripheral neuropathies. The products of genes associated with hereditary peripheral neuropathy phenotypes are important for neuronal structure maintenance, axonal transport, nerve signal transduction, and functions related to the cellular integrity. Identifying the molecular basis of hereditary peripheral neuropathy and studying the relevant genes and their functions is important to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of these neurodegenerative disorders, as well as the processes involved in the normal development and function of the peripheral nervous system. These advances and the better understanding of the pathogenesis of peripheral neuropathies represent a challenge for the diagnoses and managements of hereditary peripheral neuropathy patients in developing future supportive and curative therapies.