• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2005

Background: Guillain-Barre syndrome is defined as a recognizable clinical entity that is characterized by rapidly evolving symmetric limb weakness, the loss of tendon reflexes, absent or mild sensory signs, and variable autonomic dysfunctions. This study evaluated the clinical and electrophysiological findings retrospectively. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, who were admitted to the Yeungnam University Hospital for six years from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1999 were investigated. The correlation between the clinical manifestation and the electrophysiological study was evaluated. Results: The male to female ratio was 1.8:1 and there was a peak seasonal incidence in the winter. A preceding illness was noted in 66.7 % of cases, and an upper respiratory tract infection was the most common one. The most common clinical manifestations were a loss of tendon reflex and ascending muscle weakness and paralysis. The cerebrospinal fluid examinations revealed, albuminocytologic dissociation in 33 cases (73.3 %). Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy was performed in 29 cases (64.4 %). The sequential electrophysiological abnormalities were most marked at 2 to 4 weeks after onset. At that time the most significant change was a decrease in the compound muscle action potential amplitude. These 45 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome were subclassified using the clinical and electrophysiological data. Conclusion: The result in this study, concured with other research on the clinical and electrophysiological data of Guillain-Barre syndrome. However, an extensive and dynamic investigation is necessary to determine the reason for the peak seasonal incidence in winter.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 1996

Controlled Ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) is generally used to obtain synchronous high quality oocytes in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET). Many investigators have studied the relationship between serum hormone levels and outcomes of IVF-ET because there is no accurate estimation method of oocyte quality. Early premature luteinization of follicles before oocyte retrieval is the most troublesome problem in COH for IVF-ET. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists(GnRH-a) are used as adjuncts with gonadotropins for COH in patients undergoing in IVF. The possible benefits of GnRH-a pretreatment include improving oocyte quality, allowing a more synchronous cohort of follicles to be recruited, and preventing premature lueinization hormone surges. In COH of IVF cycles, we investigated whether an elevated progesterone(P4) level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) administration indicates premature luteinization and is associated with a lower fertilization rate. Many investigators have studied that the lower fertilization rates seen in patients with elevated P4 levels might result from an adverse effect of P4 on the oocytes. We hypothesizes that serum P4 levels around the day of hCG may be helpful prediction of out come in IVF-ET cycles. Success rates after COH of IVF-ET cycles are dependent upon many variable factors. Follicular factors including the number of follicles, follicular diameters and especially serum estradiol(E2) levels as an indirect measurement of follicular function and guality have been thought to influence the outcomes of IVF-ET. To assess whether serum P4 and E2 levels affect the fertilization and pregnancy rate, we reviewed the stimulation cycles of 113 patients (119 cycles) undergoing IVF-ET with short protocol with GnRH-a, from March 1993 to August 1994 retrospectively. The serum P4 and E2 levels were compared on the day of hCG in the pregnant group, 45 patients(47 cycles) and in the non-pregnant group, 68 patients (72 cycles) respectively. The serum E2 level in non-pregnant group was $1367{\pm}875.8$ pg/ml which was significantly lower than that of pregnant group, $1643{\pm}987.9$ pg/ml( p< 0.01 ). And the serum P4 level in non-pregnant group was $2.1{\pm}1.4$ ng/ml which was significantly higher than that of pregnant group, $1.0{\pm}0.7$ ng/ml( p< 0.001 ). The fertilization rate was $61.3{\pm}21.3%$ in pregnant group which was higher than that of non-pregnant group, $41.1{\pm}20.2%$ (p< 0.01). We suggest that the serum levels of P4 and E2 on the day of hCG administration are additional parameters that predict the outcomes of IVF-ET cycles.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.613-620
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• 1999

Background: Recently, regional or isolated organ perfusion is being studied again as a drug administration modality which is able to reduce systemic toxicity while delivering high-dose chemotherapeutic agents. This research was planned to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and long-term pathologic changes of the lung in isolated lung perfusion (ILP) with cisplatin. Material and Method: Twenty-five New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 2 groups (Group I: 10, Group II: 15). The groups were then subdivided into 2 and 3 subgroups of 5 rabbits. In group I, tissue samples of the lung and kidney, and systemic blood for platinum concentration measurement were taken 30 minutes after systemic intravenous infusion of cisplatin (5 mg/kg) and isolated lung perfusion in each 5 rabbits. In 2 subgroups of group II, lung tissues for pathologic exams were taken 30 minutes and 1 week after ILP in each 5 rabbits, which received 10% pentastarch solution only and cisplatin, respectively. In the other subgroups, lung biopsy was undertaken 4 weeks after ILP with cisplatin. Result: When cisplatin was infused via systemic vein, the platinum concentration in the lung, kidney and plasma were 1.50${\pm}$0.43 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g, 7.65${\pm}$2.49 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g, 1.19${\pm}$0.03 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively. However, the platinum concentration in the lung was about 50 times higher (75.43${\pm}$11.47 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g) than that of intravenous infusion group, and those in the kidney and plasma were decreased (1.30${\pm}$ 0.35 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g, 0.13${\pm}$0.02 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) when cisplatin was introduced through ILP. Pathologic change in the treated lung with ILP was characterized by the medial hypertrophy of the pulmonary arterioles and interstitial eosinophilic infiltration, which was not dependent on cisplatin

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.135-146
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• 2001

Background : One of the important mechanisms responsible for a tumor escaping the immune response is an absence of the tumor associated antigen (TAA) on the cancer cell surface. To overcome this, combination gene therapy using a herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSTK) gene, prototype of drug sensitizing gene, was conducted to enhance T AA release by cell destruction, as well as the cytokine genes for immune cell attraction. Methods : We investigated whether or not transduction with the adenovirus-HSTK (Ad-HSTK) enhanced the sensitivity of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) to ganciclovir (GCV) and induced a bystander effect. A Tumor vaccine trial was performed using LLC with ad-HSTK$\pm$ad-GM-CSF$\pm$ad-IL-2 to determine if they exhibit some antitumor effect on established lung cancer xenografts. Results : LLC with ad-HSTK revealed a much higher sensitivity to ganciclovir (GCV). LLC transduced with ad-HSTK and/or ad-IL-2, ad-GM-CSF showed a lower in vivo tumorigenicity. In the treatment experiment, vaccination with LLC transduced with ad-HSTK, ad-IL-2, or ad-GM-CSF alone modestly suppressed the growth of an established tumor. Combined transduction with HSTK and GM-CSF induced stronger growth suppression of a established lung cancer, while HSTK and IL-2 combination transduction did not have any antitumor effect on individual transduction. Vaccination with LLC-HSTK-GM-CSF increased the infiltration of dendritic cells in the spleen. Conclusion : It was concluded that a tumor vaccine transduced with HSTK and GM-CSF induces strong antitumor immunity by activating the dendritic cells.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.441-446
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• 2001

Flumazenil is a competitive antagonist of benzodiazepines. It is usually administered intravenously. However, if the intravenous route is not available then other routes of drug administration should be considered. This study was designed to evaluate the reversal effects of flumazenil after nasal administration. Twenty-five young, healthy adult volunteers participated in this clinical trial. The dosage of 0.08mg/kg midazolam was administered intravenously to induce deep sedation. Ten minutes after midazolam administration, 0.5mg of flumazenil was dropped nasally, over a period of one minute. Blood samples were taken to measure the concentration of midazolam and flumazenil at 0, 5, 10, and 20min after nasal administration of flumazenil, using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The degree of sedation was evaluated with sedation score and bispectral index (BIS), Statistical analysis was performed by multivariate ANOVA and correlation analysis (P<0.05). Peak serum flumazenil concentration was reached in 10min. Sedation score decreased after midazolam administration and showed a significant increase after flumazenil administration. However, BIS decreased during the first 10min after midazolam administration and then no significant changes after flumazenil administration. There were two instances representing rapid and complete reversal of midazolam after intranasal administration of flumazenil. In conclusion, intranasal flumazenil administration may be effective in some patients when intravenous route is not available in condition of benzodiazepine overdose.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2006

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of combined extract of safflower seed with herbs on the improvement of blood glucose, lipid peroxides, lipids in the plasma and liver of strpetozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Rats in the experimental group were orally administered with combined extract of safflower seed (100 mg, 200 mg/kg B.W.) with herbs (Ophiopogon japonicus Ker-Gaqler, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Mori Folium, Poria cocos, Rehmannia glutinosa, Eriobtrya japonica, Aralia continentalis Kitagawa, Zizyphus jujuba var, Cornus officinalis, Paeonia suffruticosa, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim and Schizandra chinensis Baill) for 4 weeks. Body weight gain and food efficiency ratio were significantly lower in diabetic groups than those of control group. These were no protective effect of the supplementation of combined extract of safflower seed with herbs. Concentration of blood glucose was significantly higher in the diabetic groups than those in the control group. Blood glucose concentration was remarkably lower supplementation of combined extract of safflower seed (200 mg/kg B.W.) with herbs. There was no significant difference of plasma lipid peroxides among experimental groups, while liver lipid peroxides of diabetic group was significantly higher in control group. But supplementation of combined extract of safflower seed with herbs was induced markedly lower in liver lipid peroxides in diabetic rats. Diabetic groups had markedly higher levels in triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index, while had lower HDL-cholesterol level. Triglyceride levels of plasma and liver were significantly lower with combined extract of safflower seed with herbs. But total cholesterol, phospholipid and free fatty acid were no differing significantly among experimental groups.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.307-316
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• 2015

Beetle larvae have been used as a traditional medicine to treat various human liver diseases. To prove the liver protective function of Allomyrina dichotoma larvae (ADL), we induced liver damage by the intraperitoneal injection of a hepatotoxic reagent, diethylnitrosamine (DEN), to C3H/HeN male mice and orally administered freeze-dried ADL powder. ADL powder lessened DEN-induced hepatotoxicity considering the reduced signs of acute and chronic hepatotoxicities, such as the ALP level in the blood serum, TUNEL-positive hepatocytes, ductural reactions, steatotic hepatocytes, and collagen deposition of the Masson’s trichrome staining. In addition to hepatoprotection, the anti-cancer activity of ADL has been examined. The ADL powder was extracted with ethanol and then fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate, and water by a solvent partition technique. The ethyl acetate fraction showed cytotoxicity to various cancer cells through induction of apoptosis and necrosis, as well as the perturbed metabolism of the cancer cell to trigger autophagy. Collectively, ADL contains bioactive substances that can protect hepatocytes from toxic chemicals and trigger cell death in cancer cells. Thus, further purification and analyses of ADL fractions could lead to the identification of novel bioactive compounds.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of green tea polyphenol (GTP) on anticancer treatment with cisplatin (CP), using both an in vitro cell culture model and an in vivo mouse model of established breast tumor. Mouse breast cancer cells (EMT6) were treated with or without GTP and CP followed by determination of the cell viability using an MTT assay. The relative cell viability of CP treated EMT6 cells was 96% at a 20 ${\mu}g/mL$ concentration of cisplatin; however, in combination with GTP (50 ${\mu}g/mL$), the cell viability decreased to 20% at the same concentration of CP (20 ${\mu}g/mL$). For the in vivo study, EMT6 cells were inoculated into Balb/c mice for the establishment of a tumor-bearing mice model. The tumor-bearing mice were treated with CP (5 mg/kg. i.p.) with or without dietary GTP (0.2% drinking water). Tumor growth was monitored by a measurement of tumor size using a digital caliper, and nephrotoxicity was determined by enzymatic and histological examinations. The levels of p53 and caspase-3 in tumor tissues were examined by a Western blot. In tumor-bearing mice treated with GTP plus CP, the increment of tumor volume showed a significant reduction, compared with CP or GTP alone. The levels of p53 and cleaved caspase-3 (caspase-3/p17) in tumor tissues of tumor-bearing mice were increased by CP and GTP compared to CP alone. In CP treated tumor-bearing mice, ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities were decreased, and marked tubular necrosis and dilatation were observed in the kidney. CP-induced enzymatic and histopathological changes in the kidney of tumor-bearing mice were reduced by combinations of GTP with CP. The results of these experiments demonstrated that dietary GTP has a potentiating effect on CP anti-tumor activity and a protective effect against CP-induced renal dysfunction. Therefore, GTP may be used as a modulator in anticancer treatment with CP.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1224-1230
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• 2012

Cancer chemotherapy drugs command a large share of the market, and the development of new therapeutics with high efficacy and specificity is an active area of study. Recently, the development of cancer therapeutics from natural products targeting angiogenesis has drawn attention due to conventional chemotherapeutics showing serious side effects and resistance in cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the pharmacological efficacy of Gomisin A, an active ingredient of Schizandra chinensis baillon, on tumor growth and metastasis. Administration of Gomisin A at 10 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ reduced tumor growth in vivo by $80.5{\pm}8.1%$ and $96.2{\pm}2%$, respectively, compared with positive tumor controls. Treatment of Gomisin A in normal and various tumor cell lines did not exert significant toxicity. Mice treated with Gomisin A at a concentration of 10 and 100 ${\mu}g$/head showed a significant reduction in tumor-induced angiogenesis of $151{\pm}16.9%$ and $98.5{\pm}29.5%$, respectively. Furthermore, tumor metastasis analysis revealed that the administration of Gomisin A at a concentration of 10 and 100 ${\mu}g$/head inhibited tumor metastasis by $13.5{\pm}8.56%$ and $58.3{\pm}9.12%$, respectively. In addition, Gomisin A significantly decreased cell adhesion of the B16BL6 cells to the extracellular matrix. These results demonstrate that Gomisin A inhibits tumor growth via suppression of angiogenesis and tumor metastasis inhibition, without cellular toxicity. The pharmacological efficacy of Gomisin A suggests that it may be a potential candidate for the development of cancer drugs.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2007

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) was known as one of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced products of macrophage. Macrophages play an important role in the development of inflammatory responses by secreting an array of cytokines and chemokines in a tissue microenvironment. To identify the function and relationship between potent growth factors and SLPI after LPS stimulation, we conducted reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blots for the detection of mRNA and protein expression of SLPI and growth factors such as VEGF, PDGF, bFGF after 100 ng LPS stimulation on the RAW264.7 cells. The result of RT-PCR was showed SLPI mRNA expression was increased from 60 min to 48h in RAW 264.7 cells after incubation with LPS. VEGF and PDGF mRNA was expressed highly at initial stage by LPS stimulation. The mRNA of bFGF and type I collagen was very weakly expressed after LPS stimulation. SLPI protein level was increased likely the mRNA levels in RAW 267.7 cells. Additionally, phase contrast and scanning electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the LPS induce the change of morphology of the RAW264.7 cells. From these results, it suggest that expression of SLPI by LPS treatment may associate with VEGF and PDGF expression in RAW264.7 cells.