• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.103-109
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• 1997

The effects of ginseng total saponins (GTS) on hypoxic damage of primary cultures of astrocytes were studied. Hypoxia was created by placing cultures in an air tight chamber that was flushed with 95% $N_2/5%CO_2$ for 15 min before being sealed. Cultures showed evidence of significant cell injury after 24 h of hypoxia (increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in the culture medium, cell swelling and decreased glutamate uptake and protein content). Addition of GTS (0.1, 0.3 mg/ml) to the cultures during the exposure to hypoxic conditions produced dose-dependent inhibition of the LDH efflux. GTS (0.1, 0.3 mg/ml) also produced significant inhibition of the increased cell volume of astrocytes measured by $[^3H]$ O-methyl-D-glucose uptake under the hypoxic conditions. Decreased glutamate uptake and protein content was inhibited by GTS. These data suggest that GTS prevents astrocytic cell injury induced by severe hypoxia in vitro.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제63권2호
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• pp.153-162
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• 2020

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating conditions and many SCI patients suffer neurological sequelae. Stem cell therapies are expected to be beneficial for many patients with central nervous system injuries, including SCI. Adult stem cells (ASCs) are not associated with the risks which embryonic stem cells have such as malignant transformation, or ethical problems, and can be obtained relatively easily. Consequently, many researchers are currently studying the effects of ASCs in clinical trials. The environment of transplanted cells applied in the injured spinal cord differs between the phases of SCI; therefore, many researchers have investigated these phases to determine the optimal time window for stem cell therapy in animals. In addition, the results of clinical trials should be evaluated according to the phase in which stem cells are transplanted. In general, the subacute phase is considered to be optimal for stem cell transplantation. Among various candidates of transplantable ASCs, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are most widely studied due to their clinical safety. MSCs are also less immunogenic than neural stem/progenitor cells and consequently immunosuppressants are rarely required. Attempts have been made to enhance the effects of stem cells using scaffolds, trophic factors, cytokines, and other drugs in animal and/or human clinical studies. Over the past decade, several clinical trials have suggested that transplantation of MSCs into the injured spinal cord elicits therapeutic effects on SCI and is safe; however, the clinical effects are limited at present. Therefore, new therapeutic agents, such as genetically enhanced stem cells which effectively secrete neurotrophic factors or cytokines, must be developed based on the safety of pure MSCs.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.233-240
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• 2019

Trigeminal nerve injury as a consequence of lower third molar surgery is a notorious complication and may affect the patient in long term. Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) injury result in different degree of neurosensory deficit and also other neurological symptoms. The long term effects may include persistent sensory loss, chronic pain and depression. It is crucial to understand the pathophysiology of the nerve injury from lower third molar surgery. Surgery remains the most promising treatment in moderate-to-severe nerve injuries. There are limitations in the current treatment methods and full recovery is not commonly achievable. It is better to prevent nerve injury than to treat with unpredictable results. Coronectomy has been proved to be effective in reducing IAN injury and carries minimal long-term morbidity. New technologies, like the roles of erythropoietin and stem cell therapy, are being investigated for neuroprotection and neural regeneration. Breakthroughs in basic and translational research are required to improve the clinical outcomes of the current treatment modalities of third molar surgery-related nerve injury.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.353-361
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• 2022

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a multifactorial, heterogeneous disease characterized by persistent inflammation of the sinonasal mucosa and tissue remodeling, which can include basal/progenitor cell hyperplasia, goblet cell hyperplasia, squamous cell metaplasia, loss or dysfunction of ciliated cells, and increased matrix deposition. Repeated injuries can stimulate airway epithelial cells to produce inflammatory mediators that activate epithelial cells, immune cells, or the epithelial-mesenchymal trophic unit. This persistent inflammation can consequently induce aberrant tissue remodeling. However, the molecular mechanisms driving disease within the different molecular CRS subtypes remain inadequately characterized. Numerous secreted and cell surface proteins relevant to airway inflammation and remodeling are initially synthesized as inactive precursor proteins, including growth/differentiation factors and their associated receptors, enzymes, adhesion molecules, neuropeptides, and peptide hormones. Therefore, these precursor proteins require post-translational cleavage by proprotein convertases (PCs) to become fully functional. In this review, we summarize the roles of PCs in CRS-associated tissue remodeling and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting PCs for CRS treatment.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.140-146
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• 2024

Purpose: Despite the high incidence of abdominal stab injuries, the rate of nontherapeutic laparotomies and the predictors of therapeutic laparotomies have rarely been studied in low-income settings. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study involved three of the largest academic medical centers in central Ethiopia. All patients who sustained an anterior abdominal stab injury and underwent exploratory laparotomy, regardless of the intraoperative findings, were included over the 3-year course of the study. Results: Of the 117 patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy, 35 patients (29.9%) underwent nontherapeutic laparotomies. Three factors predicted therapeutic laparotomy: hollow viscus evisceration (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-28.64; P=0.032), localized and generalized peritonitis (AOR, 4.77; 95% CI, 1.90-11.93; P=0.001), and white blood cell count ≥11,500/mm³ (AOR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.002-7.650; P=0.049). The overall positive predictive value of the therapeutic predictors was 80.2%, while the negative predictive value of all predictor-negative patients was 58.1%. The predictors would have prevented 51.4% of the nontherapeutic laparotomies. Conclusions: Close to one-third of the patients had a nontherapeutic laparotomy. The clinical predictors of therapeutic laparotomy were shown to have a high positive predictive value despite a lower negative predictive value. Further prospective studies that involve all patients who sustain anterior abdominal stab injuries are needed to potentially improve on the negative predictive value of the predictors suggested by our study.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.42.1-42.22
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• 2020

Regenerative medicine using stem cells from various sources are emerging treatment modality in several refractory diseases in veterinary medicine. It is well-known that stem cells can differentiate into specific cell types, self-renew, and regenerate. In addition, the unique immunomodulatory effects of stem cells have made stem cell transplantation a promising option for treating a wide range of disease and injuries. Recently, the medical demands for companion animals have been rapidly increasing, and certain disease conditions require alternative treatment options. In this review, we focused on stem cell application research in companion animals including experimental models, case reports and clinical trials in dogs and cats. The clinical studies and therapeutic protocols were categorized, evaluated and summarized according to the organ systems involved. The results indicate that evidence for the effectiveness of cell-based treatment in specific diseases or organ systems is not yet conclusive. Nonetheless, stem cell therapy may be a realistic treatment option in the near future, therefore, considerable efforts are needed to find optimized cell sources, cell numbers and delivery methods in order to standardize treatment methods and evaluation processes.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제45권7호
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• pp.948-957
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• 2016

본 연구팀에서는 방사선에 의한 면역조혈계 및 위장관계 손상에 대한 방호를 위하여 당귀, 천궁, 작약 혼합물의 열수 추출물로부터 그 다당체 함량을 강화한 생약조성물 Hemo HIM을 개발한 바 있다. 본 연구에서는 열수 추출물에 기반을 두어 제조된 HemoHIM에 비하여 지용성 폴리페놀 성분을 강화함으로써 더 뛰어난 생리활성을 갖는 생약조성물을 개발하고자 30% 에탄올 추출과 열수 추출을 함께 시행하여 얻은 추출물을 기반으로 생약조성물 MH-30을 제조하였다. MH-30과 HemoHIM의 에탄올 분획 내의 성분을 HPLC로 비교 분석한 결과 수용성 성분에는 큰 차이가 없었으나 여러가지 지용성 성분이 MH-30에서 크게 증가하는 것을 확인하였으며, 특히 decursin의 함량은 8.7배로 크게 증가하였다. 다음으로 MH-30의 시험관 내 항산화 및 면역세포 활성화 효과와 방사선 조사 마우스에서 면역조혈계 및 재생조직의 방호 효과를 HemoHIM과 비교하여 관찰하였다. 항산화 활성을 비교하기 위한 시험관 내 hydroxyl radical 및 superoxide anion 소거 활성 평가에서 MH-30이 HemoHIM보다 높은 항산화 활성을 보였다. 림프구 증식능을 이용한 시험관 내 면역세포 활성화 시험에서는 MH-30과 Hemo HIM은 거의 비슷한 활성을 나타내었다. 방사선 조사 마우스에서 MH-30은 내재성 비장 조혈세포 집락수를 증가시키고 골수조직 내 세포사멸을 줄였으며, 위장관 재생조직인 소장움의 생존율을 증가시키는 등 방사선에 의한 면역조혈계와 재생조직 손상을 방호하는 효과를 보여주었다. 또한, 종합적인 방사선 방호 효과를 평가하는 지표인 방사선 조사 마우스의 30일 생존율도 MH-30 투여로 유의하게 증가함을 확인하였다. 특히 상기한 모든 마우스 실험에서 MH-30은 Hemo HIM보다 더 뛰어난 방호 효과가 있음을 관찰할 수 있었다. 이상의 결과들은 새롭게 개발한 생약조성물 MH-30이 면역 조혈계와 재생조직의 방사선 손상을 줄여주는 효과가 있으며 기존에 개발된 HemoHIM에 비해 더 뛰어난 활성을 갖고 있음을 보여주었다. 따라서 MH-30은 방사선 사고 또는 암환자의 방사선치료 시 발생할 수 있는 면역조혈계 및 재생조직의 손상을 경감시킬 수 있는 방사선 방호 물질로서 유용하게 활용될 수 있을 것으로 생각한다.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.84-93
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• 2001

This research was to find out the protective and healing effects of both the Jiguyangwi-tang and the Gamijiguyangwi-tang on the gastric mucosa injuries by cyclophosphamide. At first, Jiguyangwi-tang and Gamijiguyangwi-tang extract were administered to the mice before one week, and then integral administration of those two drugs(each herbal extract and cyclophosphamide) were followed for another one week, respectively. After finishing those treatments, I have examined the state of the both ulcer and inflammation on the damaged gastric mucosa cell and watched the level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), Bcl-2, and apoptosis. These results were as follows, 1. Gastric mucosa inflammation have more significantly reduced in groups of integral administration of Jiguyangwi-tang plus cyclophosphamide, Gamijiguyangwi-tang plus cyclophosphamide and cyclophosphamide then in group of single cyclophosphamide. 2. Gastric ulcer have been reduced in groups of integral administration of Jiguyangwi-tang plus cyclophosphamide, Gamijiguyangwi-tang plus cyclophosphamide and cyclophosphamide then in group of single cyclophosphamide. But the significance have not shown. 3. PCNA level have more significantly elevated in integral administration of Jiguyangwi-tang plus cyclophosphamide and Gamijiguyangwi-tang plus cyclophosphamide and cyclophosphamide then in group of single cyclophosphamide. 4. The significance of both apoptosis induction and bcl-2level have not noticed among all groups. 5. Between Jiguyangwi-tang and Gamijiguyangwi-tang, the differance of effect was not admitted in statistically From these results, it is suggested that Jiguyangwi-tang and Gamijiguyangwi-tang are useful medicines in protecting gastric inflammation and ulcer, that is gastrointestinal side-effect of cyclophosphamide. The preventing effect of Jiguyangwi-tang and Gamijiguyangwi-tang may be through the 'affecting the period of cell division', but not the inhibition of apoptosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권5호
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• pp.493-501
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• 2019

The generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells using gene transfer opens new areas for precision medicine with personalized cell therapy and encourages the discovery of essential platforms for targeted drug development. iPSCs retain the genome of the donor, may regenerate indefinitely, and undergo differentiation into virtually any cell type of interest using a range of published protocols. There has been enormous interest among researchers regarding the application of iPSC technology to regenerative medicine and human disease modeling, in particular, modeling of neurologic diseases using patient-specific iPSCs. For instance, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and spinal cord injuries may be treated with iPSC therapy or replacement tissues obtained from iPSCs. In this review, we discuss the work so far on generation and characterization of iPSCs and focus on recent advances in the use of human iPSCs in clinical setting.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제3권6호
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• pp.597-603
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• 1999

Caldesmon (CaD), one of microfilament-associated proteins, plays a key role in microfilament assembly in mitosis. We have investigated the effects of overexpression of the high molecular weight isoform of CaD (h-CaD) on the physiology of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Rat aortic VSMCs were stably transfected with plasmids carrying a full length human h-CaD cDNA under control of cytomegalovirus promoter. The majority of the overexpressed h-CaD appears to be localized predominantly on cytoskeleton structures as determined by detergent lysis. The overexpression of h-CaD, however, does not decrease the level of endogenous low molecular weight isoform of CaD. h-CaD overexpressing VSMCs (h-CaD/VSMCs) show a decreased growth rate than that of vector-only transfected cells when determined by $[^3H]thymidine$ uptake and cell counting after fetal bovine serum (FBS) stimulation. h-CaD/VSMCs were smaller than vector-transfected cells by 18% in cell diameter. These data suggest that overexpression of h-CaD can inhibit the poliferation and the cell volume of VSMCs stimulated by growth factors and that the gene therapy with h-CaD may be helpful to prevent the conditions associated with hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia of VSMCs after arterial injuries.