• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.7
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• pp.324-329
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• 2024

The aim of the present study is to provide a rational background for silencing the V-set and transmembrane domain containing 2 like (VSTM2L) in consort with recognising soluble VSTM2L against cholangiocarcinoma. A therapeutic target against cholangiocarcinoma was selected using iterative patient partitioning (IPP) calculation, and it was verified by in vitro and in silico analyses. VSTM2L was selected as a potential therapeutic target against cholangiocarcinoma. Silencing the VSTM2L expression significantly attenuated the viability and survival of cholangiocarcinoma cells through blockade of the intracellular signalling pathway. In silico analysis showed that VSTM2L affected the positive regulation of cell growth in cholangiocarcinoma. Liptak's z value revealed that the expression of VSTM2L worsened the prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma patients. In addition, soluble VSTM2L was significantly detected in the whole blood of cholangiocarcinoma patients compared with that of healthy donors. Our report reveals that VSTM2L might be the potential therapeutic target and a soluble prognostic biomarker against cholangiocarcinoma.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.179-189
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• 2022

The orexin 2 receptor plays a central role in maintaining sleep and wakefulness. Recently, it has been shown that sleep and wakefulness orchestrate the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocytes. Here, we explored the role of a selective orexin 2 receptor antagonist (JNJ-10397049) in proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). We evaluated the proliferation potential of NPCs after exposure to different concentrations of JNJ-10397049 by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and neurosphere assays. Moreover, the expression of differentiation markers was assessed by immunocytochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. JNJ-10397049 significantly increased the proliferation of NPCs at lower concentrations. In addition, orexin 2 receptor antagonist facilitated progression of differentiation of NPCs towards oligodendroglial lineage by considerable expression of Olig2 and 2',3'-cyclicnucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase as well as decreased expression of nestin marker. The results open a new avenue for future investigations in which the production of more oligodendrocytes from NPCs is needed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1400-1410
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• 2000

Purpose : To determine whether there is a discrepancy between the medical professions perception of what patients should know and that of the patients themselves, we studied patients need to be informed about different aspects of epilepsy and compared findings with medical personnels perceptions of the issue. Methods : Our study population consisted of 39 patients with epilepsy from the inpatient epilepsy unit, and 51patients from the outpatients clinic of the S. University Hospital between July and November 1997. However, the patients who declined to participate or who were not able to understand the directions and content of the questionnaire were excluded. The medical personnel participated in this study were 56 residents or nurses who were working in either Neurology or Neuro surgery Units. The questionnaire with 5 indicating the highest need. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, students t-tests, and chi-square. Results : Of the 90 patients and 56 medical personnel studied, the need for lifestyle information such as smoking, drinking, sleep, driving, employment, and marriage was significantly higher from medical personnel than that of the patients(p=0.00). Regarding medical knowledge about epilepsy, the patients group had higher scores in the need for information on the structure of the brain (p=0.00), whereas medical personnel had higher scores on the symptoms of epilepsy. There was no correlation between the length of epilepsy and the need for information on every item on the questionnaire. The patients had higher rank regarding diet, although it was not significantly different from the medical personnel. Regarding antiepileptic drugs and what to do when there is an attack, medical personnel scored higher. The items on which the patients group scored higher than 4.5 were the possibility of inheritance, the factors that might reduce the number of attacks, the period of usage of AED, and the food they have to avoid or the food they have to take to reduce seizure attacks. Conclusions : Our study indicates that the patients group requires higher educational need in the structure of the brain, diet, and surgical treatment, but less in lifestyles and what to do when there is an attack. The educational program for the patients with epilepsy should emphasize medical knowledge with regard to brain anatomy, what to eat and what to avoid, and details of surgical treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-66
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• 2001

The purpose of this morphological studies was to investigate the central neural pathway projecting to the acupoints $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ using the neuroanatomical method following injection of transsynaptic neurotropic virus, pseudorabies virus(PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga) into the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$. After survival times of 96 hours following injection into the twenty rats with PRV-Ba(Bartha strain) and PRV-Ga(Bartha strain, ${\beta}$-galacidodase insertion). They were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned($30{\mu}m$). These sections were stained by X-gal histochemical and PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope. The results were as follows : 1. In spinal cord, overlaped PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga labeled neurons projecting to the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ were founded in thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. In thoracic spinal segments, Densely labeled areas were founded in lamina IV, V, VII(intermediolateral nucleus) and X areas. In lumbar segemnts, labeled areas were founded in lamina II, IV, V and X areas. In sacral spinal segments, labeled areas were founded in lamina IV, V and VI areas. 2. In brain, overlaped PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga labeled neurons projecting to the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ were founded in the $A_1$ noradrenalin cells/$C_1$ adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, rostroventrolateral reticular nuclens, nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema, raphe obscurus nucleus, raphe paltidus nucleus, raphe magnus nucleus, lateral paragigantoceltular nucleus, lateral rcticular nucleus, gigantocellular nucleus, locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus, motor trigeminal nucleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, $A_5$ cell group, central gray matter, oculomotor nerve, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, median eminence, amygdaloid nucleus, frontal cortex, forelimb area, hindlimb area, 1, 2 areas of parietal cortex and granular and agranular cortex. This results were suggest that overlaped PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga labeled areas projecting to the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ may be related to the emotional relay pathway in the central autonomic center.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.95-117
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• 2000

The purpose of this morphological studies was to investigate the relation between the meridian, acupoints and viscera using neuroanatomical tracers. The common locations of the spinal ganglia, sympathetic chain ganglia, spinal cord and brain projecting to the large intestine meridian were observed following injection of transganglionic tracer, WGA-HRP and transsynaptic neurotropic virus, pseudorabies virus(PRV), Bartha strain(Ba) and PRV-Ba-Gal (Galactosidase)) into the the large intestine(cecum, colon and rectum), ST37 and LI4. After survival times of 96 hours following injection into the thirty rats with WGA-HRP, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal. They were perfused, and their spinal ganglia, sympathetic chain ganglia, spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned($30{\mu}m$). These sections were stained by HRP and X-gal histochemical and PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with a light microscope. The results were as follows : 1. WGA-HRP labeled neurons innervating the large intestine were observed bilaterally within the T13-L4 sympathetic chain ganglia, and T9-11 spinal ganglia. WGA-HRP labeled neurons innervating ST37 were observed within the L3-5 sympathetic chain ganglia, and L2-4 spinal ganglia. WGA-HRP labeled neurons innervating LI4 were observed in the middle cervical ganglion and stellate ganglion, and C5-8 spinal ganglia. 2. In spinal cord, PRV-Ba labeled neurons projecting to the large intestine, ST37 and LI4 were found in thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. Densely labeled areas of each spinal cord segment were founded in lamina N, V, VII(intermediolateral nucleus), Ⅸ, X and dorsal nucleus. 3. In medulla oblongata, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled neurons projecting to the large intestine, ST37 and LI4 were commonly found in the A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus nerve, nucleus tractus solitarius, raphe obscurus nucleus, raphe pallidus nucleus, raphe magnus nucleus and gigantocellular nucleus. 4. In pons, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled neurons were commonly found in locus coeruleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucieus and A5 cell group. 5. In midbrain, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled neurons were commonly found in central gray matter. 6. In diencephalon, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled neurons were commonly found in paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus. These results suggest that PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled common areas projecting to the large intestine may be correlated to that of the large intestine meridian, ST37 and LI4. Especially, These morphological results provide that interrelationship of meridian-acupoints -viscera may be related to the central autonomic pathways.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.161-174
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• 2001

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effect of Chungpesagan-Tang Extracts on reversible forebrain ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : the volume of cerebral infarction and edema, the pathohistological change of neurons, the number of survived neurons, neurotransmitters through immunohistochemical methods, proteins connected with neurotransmitters through immunohistochemical methods and the pathohistological change of neurons through electro-microscopy were investigated. From these reseach data, the protection of neurons and the activity of brain cells were examined. Results : 1. The infaction volume of the control group was 23.9%, and that of the sample group was 16%. 2. The brain edema volume of the control group increased by 17% compared to the normal group and that of the sample group increased by 10%. 3. The light microscopy revealed that the neurons in the ischemia-induced area and CA1 area of hippocampus were most heavily damaged and that the sample group was less damaged compared with the control group. Most pyramidal neurons died in 7 days when brain ischemia was induced. 4. The number of survived pyramidal neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus were studied. The normal group had 93 neurons/mm, survived the control group(after 3 days) had 21/mm, the control group(after 7 days) had 3/mm and the sample group 33/mm. 5. The immunohistochemical methods revealed that: (1) In the control group, the sensitivity of GABA, NOS, DBH were increased, and those of Synapsin, eEF-$1{\alpha}$ decreased. NOS and DBH had positive reactions in the control group, but negative in the normal group. (2) In thd sample group, the sensitivity of GABA, NOS, DBH were attenuated, and those of NPY, Synapsin, CaMKII, eEF-$1{\alpha}$ increased when compared to the control group. 6. The electro-microscopy revealed that most neurons died by necrosis and some neurons died by apoptosis. Several imflammation cells appeared in the injured area of neurons. The number of neurons in the sample group that died by ischemia decreased. But, the number that died by apoptosis did not significantly change. Conclusions : The data shows that the effect of Chungpesagan-Tang Extracts on reversible forebrain ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats is significant.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.990-998
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• 2019

Introduction: Stroke refers to a sudden brain disease that results in disorders in the anatomy of the brain. The cause is a sudden circulatory disorder of the cerebrovascular system that creates a consciousness disorder and hemiplegia. Despite aggressive treatment after the onset, stroke is a social problem because the patient has difficulty in recovering from sequelae that can include limb movement disorders, language disorders, and emotional disorders. In this study, we describe the effect of traditional Korean medicine treatment on the sequelae in a subacute cerebral infarction patient admitted to a Korean medical hospital. Case presentation: A 67-year-old male patient was diagnosed with cerebral infarction circa 2005, and his condition had not improved. Around March 15, 2018, he experienced the sudden onset of a cerebral infarction in his daily life. This was confirmed by a brain MRI, and he was hospitalized at other hospitals, but he showed no improvement. We conducted a manual muscle test (MMT) to evaluate the patient's exercise and strength. His gait level was measured to evaluate his degree of walking. He was treated with Bojungikgi-tang and acupuncture twice a day. After 34 days of inpatient treatment, the patient's exercise strength improved from Grade 2+~Grade 3 to Grade 3+ determined by the MMT, and his walking ability improved from Gait Level 3 to Gait Level 4. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment can help treat patients with hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.433-441
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• 2021

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are primarily characterized as dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Ginsenoside-Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-KRGE) is known to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects on neurological disorders. However, effects of Rg3-KRGE in EAE remain unclear. Methods: Here, we investigated whether Rg3-KRGE may improve the symptoms and pathological features of myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein (MOG)_35-55 peptide - induced chronic EAE mice through improving the integrity of the BBB. Results: Rg3-KRGE decreased EAE score and spinal demyelination. Rg3-KRGE inhibited Evan's blue dye leakage in spinal cord, suppressed increases of adhesion molecule platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, extracellular matrix proteins fibronection, and matrix metallopeptidase-9, and prevented decreases of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, claudin-3, and claudin-5 in spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE repressed increases of proinflammatory transcripts cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but enhanced expression levels of anti-inflammatory transcripts arginase-1 and IL-10 in the spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE inhibited the expression of oxidative stress markers (MitoSOX and 4-hydroxynonenal), the enhancement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOX4, and NADPH activity in the spinal cord of chronic EAE mice. Furthermore, apocynin, a NOX inhibitor, mimicked beneficial effects of Rg3-KRGE in chronic EAE mice. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Rg3-KRGE might alleviate behavioral symptoms and pathological features of MS by improving BBB integrity through modulation of NOX2/4 expression.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2004

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to assess supplementary motor area (SMA) activation during motor, sensory, word generation, listening comprehension, and working memory tasks using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Materials and Methods : Sixteen healthy right-handed subjects (9M, 7F) were imaged on a Siemens 1.5T scanner. Whole brain functional maps were acquired using BOLD EPI sequences in the axial plane. Each paradigm consisted of five epochs of activation vs. the control condition. The activation tasks consisted of left finger complex movement, hot sensory stimulation of the left hand, word generation, listening comprehension, and working memory. The reference function was a boxcar waveform. Activation maps were thresholded at an uncorrected p=0.0001. The thresholded activation maps were placed into MNI space and the anatomic localization of activation within the SMA was compared across tasks. Results : SMA activation was observed in 16 volunteers for the motor task, 11 for the sensory task, 15 for the word generation task, 5 for the listening comprehension task, and 15 for the working memory task. The rostral aspects of the SMA showed activity during the word generation and working memory tasks, and the caudal aspects of the SMA showed activity during the motor and sensory tasks. Right (contralateral) SMA activation was observed during the motor and sensory tasks, and left SMA activation during the word generation and memory tasks. Conclusion : Our results suggest that SMA is involved in a variety of functional tasks including motor, sensory, word generation, and working memory. The results obtained also support the notion that functionally specific subregions exist within the region classically defined as the SMA.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.435-443
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of exercise training [ET, 10~18 m/min (speed), 20~30 min (exercise duration)/a day for 5 day/wk, 6 wk) on PGC-$1{\alpha}$, GLUT-1, Tfam, Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD proteins in brain of STZ-induced diabetic rats. The male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were single-injected intraperitoneally with 50mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ) to produce STZ-induced diabetic rats. Rats were divided into 3 experimental groups with 8 rats in each group, as follows: (1) non-STZ group (n=8), (2) STZ-CON group (n=8), (3) STZ-EXE group (n=8). The results of this study suggest that i) serum glucose level was significantly reduced in STZ-EXE group compared with STZ-CON group (p<0.05), ii) PGC-$1{\alpha}$ (p<0.001), mtPGC-$1{\alpha}$ (p<0.001), GLUT-1 (p<0.001), and mtTfam (p<0.001) proteins in brain of STZ-induced diabetic rats were significantly increased in STZ-EXE group compared with STZ-CON group, iii) Cu,Zn-SOD (p<0.001) and Mn-SOD (p<0.01) proteins in the STZ-induced diabetic rats were significantly increased in STZ-EXE group compared with STZ-CON group. In conclusion, the findings of the present study reveal that treadmill exercise training increases brain GLUT-1 protein level possibly through up-regulation of PGC-$1{\alpha}$ and Tfam proteins which represent key regulatory components of stimulation of brain mitochondrial biogenesis. In addition, treadmill exercise training may prevent oxidative stress by up-regulation of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD proteins in the STZ-induced diabetic rats.