• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2003

Purpose: To investigate whether or not acupuncture of GB34 produces a significant response of the modulation of somatomotor areas by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. Methods: The acupoint, GB34, located in the back of the knee, is known to be effective in recovering motor function after stroke. Using 3T MRI scanner, functional MR imaging of the whole brain was performed in 12 normal healthy subjects during two stimulation paradigms; acupuncture manipulation on GB 34 and sham points. This study investigates the activation of the motor cortex elicited by a soft and an intensified stimulation of GB 34. Three different paradigms were carried out to detect any possible modulation of the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) response in the somatomortor area to motor stimulation through acupuncture. Results: Group analysis from seven individuals showed that bilateral sensorimotor areas (BA 3,4,6 and 7) showed stimulation related BOLD signal contrast of approximately 6% whereas very few areas were activated when sham stimulation is given. Conclusions: The present study shows that acupuncture fMRI study can be safely conducted in 3T MRI environment, and acupuncture stimulation in GB34 modulates the cortical activities of the soma- to motor area in human. The present findings may shed light on the CNS mechanism of motor function by acupuncture and form a basis for future investigations of motor modulation circuits in the stroke patients. Acknowledgement: This study was supported by a grant of the Mid and Long Term Nuclear RID Plan Program, Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.352-355
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not acupuncture of GB34 produces a significant response of the modulation of somatomotor areas by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. The acupoint, GB34, located in the back of the knee, is known to be effective in recovering motor function after stroke. Using 3T MRI scanner, functional MR imaging of the whole brain was performed in 12 normal healthy subjects during two stimulation paradigms; acupuncture manipulation on GB 34 and sham points. This study investigates the activation of the mortor cortex elicited by a soft and an intensified stimulation of GB 34. Three different paradigms were carried out to detect any possible modulation of the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) response in the somatomortor area to motor stimulation through acupuncture. Group analysis from seven individuals showed that bilateral sensorimotor areas (BA 3,4,6 and 7) showed stimulation related BOLD signal contrast of approximately 6% whereas very few areas were activated when sham stimulation is given. The present study shows that acupuncture fMRI study can be safely conducted in 3T MRI environment, and acupuncture stimulation in GB34 modulates the cortical activities of the somatomotor area in human. The present findings may shed light on the CNS mechanism of motor function by acupuncture and form a basis for future investigations of motor modulation circuits in the stroke patients.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2010

Clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is a widespread disease that causes serious problems in many brassica growing areas. To establish more simple and reliable clubroot screening method of Chinese cabbage to P. brassicae using soil-drenching inoculation, the development of clubroot on Chinese cabbage according to several conditions such as soil type, inoculum concentration of P. brassicae GN-1 (race 9), plant growth stage and incubation period was studied. In a commercial horticulture nursery media soil (CNS), disease severity of the seedling according to inoculum concentration increased in a dose-dependent manner, but did not in mixture of CNS and upland soil (1:1, v/v). To facilitate and acquire precise result of resistance screening of Chinese cabbage to clubroot, 10-day-old seedlings should be inoculated by drenching the spore suspension of P. brassicae to give inoculum density of $4.0{\times}10^8$ spores/pot. To develop the disease, the inoculated seedlings were incubated in a growth chamber at $20^{\circ}C$ for 3 days, and then cultivated in a greenhouse ($25{\pm}5^{\circ}C$) for five weeks. Under the optimum conditions, 25 clubroot-resistant (CR) and 3 clubroot-susceptible (CS) cultivars were tested for resistance to P. brassicae. All CR cultivars showed very clear resistance response, on the other hand all CS cultivars severly infected with the pathogen. The results suggest that this method is efficient screening method of Chinese cabbage for resistance to clubroot disease.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.31-40
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• 2001

This experimental studies was to investigate location of labeled neurons in CNS following injection of pseudorabies virus(PRV), Bartha strain, into the uterus and Sanyinjiao(Sp6) of rats. After survival times of 4-5 days following the injection of PRV, the rats were perfused, and their brain and spinal cord were frozen sectioned($30\mu\textrm{m}$). These sections were stained by PRV immunohistochemical staining methods, and observed with light microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In the spinal cord, overlap areas of PRV labeled neurons projecting to uterus and Sp6 were observed in lamina VII, IX and X areas of cervical segments. In thoracic segments, overlap areas were observed in lamina IV, VII, X and intermediolateral n.. In lumbar segments, overlap area of PRV labeled neurons were observed in lamina I, V-VII, IX, X and intermediolateral n.. In sacral segments, overlap areas of PRY labeled neurons were observed in lamina N, V, VII, X and sacral parasympathetic n.. 2. In the brain, overlap areas of PR V labeled neurons projecting to the uterus and Sp6 were observed in lateral paragigantocellular n., rostroventrolateral reticular n., raphe obscurus n., raphe pallidus n., raphe magnus n., locus coeruleus n., Barrington's n., A5 cell group, central gray n., paraventricular hypothalamic n. and arcuate n. This results suggest that overlap areas of PRV labeled neurons of the spinal cord projecting to the uterus and Sp6 might be the first-order neurons related to the viscera-somatic sensory and sympathetic preganglionic neurons. PRV labeled neurons of the brain may be the second and third-order neurons response to the movement of smooth muscle of uterus. These PRV labeled neurons may be central autonomic center related to the integration and modulation of reflex control linked to the sensory and motor system monitoring the internal environment. These overlap areas of spinal cord and brainmay be related to autonomic centers related to regulation of uterus.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2013

3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic acid (THC) is a derivative of hydroxycinnamic acids, which have been reported to possess a variety of biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective activities. However, biological activity of THC has not been extensively examined. Recently, we reported that THC possesses anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. However, its precise mechanism by which THC exerts anti-inflammatory action has not been clearly identified. Therefore, the present study was carried out to understand the anti-inflammatory mechanism of THC in BV2 microglial cells. THC effectively suppressed the LPS-induced induction of pro-inflammatory mediators such as NO, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$. THC also suppressed expression of MCP-1, which plays a key role in the migration of activated microglia. To understand the underlying mechanism by which THC exerts these anti-inflammatory properties, involvement of Nrf2, which is a cytoprotective transcription factor, was examined. THC resulted in increased phosphorylation of Nrf2 with consequent expression of HO-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. THC-induced phosphorylation of Nrf2 was blocked with SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, indicating that p38 MAPK is the responsible kinase for the phosphorylation of Nrf2. Taken together, the present study for the first time demonstrates that THC exerts anti-inflammatory properties through the activation of Nrf2 in BV2 microglial cells, suggesting that THC might be a valuable therapeutic adjuvant for the treatment of inflammation-related disorders in the CNS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.355-360
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• 1992

Nocardiosis is an acute, subacute or chronic infection, which usually introduced through the respiratory tract resulting pneumonia, and may develop a disseminated infection, especially subcutaneous abscess and/or CNS infection. It is usually affects the immunocompromized host and may be fatal unless early diagnosis and adequate treatment are performed. There have been only several case reports of nocardial infection in Korea. Nocardiosis is so unfamiliar to many physicians that may be misdiagnosed as pneumonia, tuberculosis, or neoplasm. We have experienced a case of nocardiosis from a patient who had been treated as pneumonia and tuberculosis at first. The 57-year-old male patient had fever, chill, dyspnea and blood tinged purulent sputum for 20 days. Under the impression of bacterial pneumonia, broad spectrum antibiotics were administered for more than 3 weeks without clinical improvement. Although antituberculous drugs began to be administered after acid fast bacilli were found in bronchial aspirate by bronchoscopy, the nocardial infection was suspected due to no clinical response toward antituberculous therapy and the occurrence of multiple subcutaneous abscesses on scalp. The diagnosis was made by modified Ziehl-Neelson stain and culture of the sputum and pus. Nocardia asteroides was identified. After 25 days of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole treatment, the patient was much improved and discharged.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.276-281
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• 2011

Oxidative stress or the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads neuronal cellular death and dysfunction, and it contributes to neuronal degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke. Glutamate-induced oxidative injury contributes to neuronal degeneration in many central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as epilepsy and ischemia. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) enzyme plays an important role of cellular antioxidant system against oxidant injury. The expression of HO-1 has cytoprotective effects in glutamate-induced oxidative cytotoxicity in HT22 cells. The induction of HO-1 is primarily regulated at the transcriptional level, and its induction by various inducers is related to the nuclear transcription factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 is a master regulator of the antioxidant response. NNMBS008, the water-insoluble fraction of the 70% EtOH extract of roots of Sophora flavescens, showed dominant neuroprotective effects on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells by induced the expression of HO-1 and increased HO activity. In mouse hippocampal HT22 cells, NNMBS008 makes the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 pathway. In conclusion, the waterinsoluble fraction of the 70% EtOH extract of roots of S. flavescens (NNMBS008) significantly protect glutamate-induced oxidative damage by induction of HO-1 via Nrf2 pathway in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. These results suggest that these extracts could be the effective candidates for the treatment of ROS-related neurological diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 1995

All the pharmacological studies of LB17522 described here were carried out with high doses (fifteen to sixty times of the therapeutic dose) to determine an indication of potential side effects in clinical use in terms of the acute clinical signs, cardiovascular and central nervous system. LB10522 does not produce any observable clinical signs except for the symptoms such as moist eye, skin rash, slight salivation, vomitting, and slightly reduced activity. The effects of LB10522 on the hemodynamics and cardiac function of anesthetized beagle dogs are as follows; heart rates and mean arterial blood pressure had a tendency to increase mildly, which is a normal finding in anesthetized dogs. All the animals except for one showed relatively stable respiratory rates throughout the observation period. Each animal treated with LB10522 showed slight increase in the left cardiac work and left ventricular stroke work which are mainly related to corresponding increases in cardiac output. Femoral blood flow were shown to be increased in some animals treated with LB10522. The epileptogenic activities of various cephalosporins were assessed by a direct intracerebral injection of appropriate concentration of test articles. The CD$_{50}$ values (nmol) obtained from the analysis of the dose-response data are as follows; 78.2, 175.3, 156.3, and 53.5 for cefazolin, cephaloridine, ceftazidime, and LB 10522, respectively. LB10522 seems to be equipotent with cefazolin or to be three times more potent than cephaloridine and ceftazidime in causing adverse CNS stimulation. Taken into consideration all the information obtained, LB10522 is not supposed to induce much changes in the functions examined in these studies in man at therapeutic doses.s.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5273-5280
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• 2016

Objective: To evaluate stromal cells of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) in bone marrow trephine biopsy (BMTB) specimens, with a focus on fibronectin, tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and L-selectin in Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients, before and after therapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 de novo NHL patients, 64 with B-cell lymphomas 80%, (follicular cell lymphoma (FCL) in 32, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) in 12, and diffuse large cell lymphoma in 20) and 16 with T-cell lymphomas (20%) all diagnosed as T-Lymphoblastic lymphomas, were evaluated before and after therapy. For comparison, 25 age and sex matched BM donors, were included as a control group. BMTB material and BM aspirates were taken for morphological assessment of stromal cells, the plasma of these samples being examined for $TNF{\alpha}$ and L-selectin by ELISA, and fibronectin by radial immunodiffusion (RID). Results: BM stromal cells comprising reticular macrophages and fibroblasts were elevated in 53.3% of NHL cases at diagnosis, while BM fibronectin levels were decreased and BM $TNF{\alpha}$ and L-selectin were higher than in controls (p<0.05). In NHL cases, elevated values of BM $TNF{\alpha}$ and BM L-selectin were associated with signs of aggressive disease, including >1 extra nodal sites, detectable B symptoms, high grade, BM and CNS invasion, and a high International prognostic index (IPI) (p<0.05). Conclusion: BMM components, $TNF{\alpha}$, L-selectin and fibronectin, in NHL can be useful in evaluating disease activity, extent and response to treatment and as prognostic markers according to the IPI.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 1998

This study used in vivo intracellular recording in rat hippocampus to evaluate the effect of lidocaine and MK-801 on the membrane properties and the synaptic responses of individual neurons to electrical stimulation of the commissural pathway. Cells in control group typically fired in a tonic discharge mode with an average firing frequency of $2.4{\pm}0.9$ Hz. Neuron in MK-801 treated group (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) had an average input resistance of $3.28{\pm}5.7\;M{\Omega}$ and a membrane time constant of $7.4{\pm}1.8$ ms. These neurons exhibited $2.4{\pm}0.2$ ms spike durations, which were similar to the average spike duration recorded in the neurons of the control group. Slightly less than half of these neurons were firing spontaneously with an average discharge rate of $2.4{\pm}1.1$ Hz. The average peak amplitude of the AHP following the spikes in these groups was $7.4{\pm}0.6$ mV with respect to the resting membrane potential. Cells in MK-801 and lidocaine treated group (5 mg/kg, i.c.v.) had an average input resistance of $3.45{\pm}6.0\;M{\Omega}$ and an average time constant of $8.0{\pm}1.4$ ms. The cells were firing spontaneously at an average discharge rate of $0.6{\pm}0.4$ Hz. Upon depolarization of the membrane by 0.8 nA for 400 ms, all of the tested cells exhibited accommodation of spike discharge. The most common synaptic response contained an EPSP followed by early-IPSP and late-IPSP. Analysis of the voltage dependence revealed that the early-IPSP and late-IPSP were putative $Cl^--and\;K^+-dependent$, respectively. Systemic injection of the NMDA receptor blocker, MK-801, did not block synaptic responses to the stimulation of the commissural pathway. No significant modifications of EPSP, early-IPSP, or late-IPSP components were detected in the MK-801 and/or lidocaine treated group. These results suggest that MK-801 and lidocaine manifest their CNS effects through firing pattern of hippocampal pyramidal cells and neural network pattern by changing the synaptic efficacy and cellular membrane properties.