• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.130-137
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• 2010

Objectives: So far it has been reported that acupuncture increases cerebral blood supply and stimulates the functional activity of brain nerve cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that frequently used electro-acupuncture (EA) therapies for stroke increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal volunteers. Though ST 36-ST 41 EA is another prevailing therapy for stroke, there had been no report about its effect on rCBF. This study was to evaluate the effect of ST 36-ST 41 EA on rCBF in normal volunteers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Methods: In the resting state, $^{99m}Tc$-ECD brain SPECT scans were performed on 10 normal volunteers (5 males, 5 female, mean age $23.6{\pm}0.5$ years). On the other study day, 7 days after the resting examination, 15 minutesEA were applied at ST 36 and ST 41 on the right side of the subjects. Immediately after ST36-ST41 EA, the second SPECT images were obtained in the same manner as the resting state. Significant increases and decreases of rCBF after EA were estimated by comparing their SPECT images with those of the resting state using paired t statistics at every voxel, which were analyzed by SPM with a threshold of p = 0.01, uncorrected (extent threshold: k=100 voxels). Results: EA applied at the right ST36-ST41 significantly increased rCBF in the right inferior parietal lobule (Brodmann area [BA] 40), right retrosubicular area (BA 48), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), left middle temporal gyrus (BA 21), left fusiform gyrus (BA 37), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 39), left inferior temporal gyrus (BA 20), and left somatosensory association cortex (BA 7). However, right ST36-ST41 EA significantly decreased rCBF in the right parahippocampal gyrus (BA 35), right cerebellum, left frontopolar area (BA 10), left orbitofrontal area (BA 11), left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 9), and left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (BA 32). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that rightST36-ST41 EA increased rCBF prominently in both inferior parietal lobule (BA 40) and right retrosubicular area (BA 48), which suggest that there be correlation between specific EA and corresponding rCBF.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.187-207
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• 2003

Objective: Recently, many studies have showed the evidences of the effect of the acupuncture treatment through scientific methods. One of these methods is functional MRI. We performed electro-acupuncture on Liv3 and observed the change of brain activation using fMRI. Methods: To see the effect of electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3. the experiment was carried out on 12 healthy volunteers. using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body MRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right Liv3. 2 Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds. repeated five times. with 30 seconds' intervals. The Image analysis including motion correction, talairach transformation. and smoothing was done with SPM99. Results : 1. Group averaged brain activation induced by bilateral electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3 activates Brodman Area 6, 13, 18, 19, 22, 31, 39, 44, 2. Group averaged brain deactivation induced by bilateral Electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3 activates Brodman Area 4, 6, 9, 19, 36, 37, 39. 3. Group averaged brain activation induced by unilateral(right side) electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3 activates Brodman Area 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 22, 40, 42, 43. 4. Group averaged brain deactivation induced by unilateral(right side) electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3 activates Brodman Area 6, 18, 19, 28, 30, 31, 35, 37. 5. Brain region activated by motor stimulation activates Brodman Area 4, 6, 13, 19, 42.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2006

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is rare X-linked genetic disorder involving absence of the enzyme hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) related to purine metabolism. The deficiency of HGPRT activity leads to an excesscive uric acid production and consequent hyperuricemia. It occurs almost exclusively in males, and the incidence is estimate to be 1/100,000~380,000. Clinical presentation is characterized by developmental delay, mental retardation, choreoathetosis, spastic cerebral palsy, nephrolithiasis, obstructive nephropathy and acute gouty arthritis. A characteristic feature of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is the appearance of intractable self-mutilation behavior. Self-mutilation behavior is complicated by secondary infection and tissue loss as well as pain. The dental management of self-mutilation includes presertive methods of using appliances such as lip bumper or soft mouthguard and radical methods such as extraction of all teeth or orthognathic surgery. A case of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome patient with self-mutilation and severe lower lip injury is presented. He was treated successfully with soft mouthguard.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.338-343
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• 2007

BOLD T2*-weighted MR images reflects cortical blood flow and oxygenation alterations. fMRI study relies on the detection of localized changes in BOLD signal intensity. Since fMRI measures the very small modulations in BOLD signal intensity that occur during changes in brain activity, it is also very sensitive to small signal intensity variations caused by physiologic noise during the scan. Due to the complexity of movement of various organs associated with heart beat, it is important to reduce cardiac related noise rather than other physiological noise which could be required with relatively simple method. Therefore, a number of methods have been developed for the estimation and reduction of cardiac noise in fMRI study. But, each method has limitation. In this study, we proposed a new estimation method for brain activities influenced by blood pulsation effect using regression analysis with blood pulsation signal and the correspond slice of fMRI. We could find out that the right anterior cingulate cortex and right olfactory cortex and left olfactory cortex were largely influenced by blood pulsation effect for new method. These observed areas are mostly on the structure of anterior cerebral artery in the brain. That is convinced with that our method would be valid and our new method is easier to apply in practice and reduce computational burden than the retrospective method.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2009

The dried roots of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and Sanchi (Panax notoginseng) have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation as well as various other bodily functions. Here we investigated the effects of a mixture of aqueous extracts of Danshen and Sanchi, named PASEL, on blood pressure and vascular contractility in rats. Orally administered PASEL (62.5 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, for 5 weeks) lowered the blood pressure of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) but this was not observed in normal Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKR). We then investigated the effects of PASEL on the arterial contraction of the small branches of cerebral arteries (CAs) and large conduit femoral arteries (FAs) in rats. PASEL did not affect high-K (KCI 60 mM)- or phenyleprine (PhE)-induced contracture of FAs. The myogenic response, a reactive arterial constriction in response to increased luminal pressure, of small CA was dose-dependently suppressed by PASEL in SHR as well as control rats. Interestingly, the KCI-induced contraction of small CAs was slowly reversed by PASEL, and this effect was more prominent in SHR than control WKR. PASEL did not inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. These results demonstrated that the antihypertensive effect of PASEL might be primarily mediated by altering the arterial MR, not by direct inhibition of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels or by ACE inhibition.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.794-799
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• 2000

Objectives : The purpose of our study was to compare findings of brain SPECT representing crossed cerebellar diaschisis(CCD) with brain MRI, to evaluate relation between CCD and location of lesions on MRI and to elucidate clinically apparent cerebellar sign in patients with CCD. Methods : The study population was 20 patients representing CCD on SPECT. Percentage differences(${\triangle}%$) of activity on each cerebellar hemisphere were obtained from ipsilateral and contralateral cerebellum[${\triangle}%cbll=(IL-CL)/IL{\times}100$] and from cerebrum [${\triangle}%cbr=(CL-IL)/CL{\times}100$]. From MR studies, the percentage differences of signal intensity were also calculated as the same method. We compared the degree of percentage differences with location of cerebral lesions and with clinical cerebellar signs of the patients. Results : Among those representing CCD, the parietal lesions were the most common. There was significant correlation of the percentage differences in cerebellum between SPECT($18.8{\pm}7.22$) and MRI($4.4{\pm}3.38$) (p<0.05) and in cerebrum between SPECT($28.7{\pm}15.35$) and MRI($42.8{\pm}10.94$) (p<0.05). Cerebellar signs were observed in 3 of the 20 patients. However, there was no statistically significance between degree of percentage differences of each cerebellar hemisphere on SPECT and clinical cerebellar sign(p>0.05). Conclusion : Using the percentage differences in the cerebellum, the CCD evaluation can be easily done. On MRI, the signal changes of cerebellum were not as definite as SPECT. Despite of our assumption, there was no significant correlation between clinical cerebellar signs and CCD on SPECT.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.293-297
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• 2002

The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine $(5-HT)_1A$ receptor activity in prenatal ischemia was studied, by injecting 8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetraline (8-OH-DPAT; $50{\mu}g/kg,$ s.c.), a $5-HT_1A$ agonist on gestation day 17, and 30 min later inducing transient ischemia by ligating the uterine vessels for 30 min. On postnatal day 95, rats that had experienced prenatal ischemia showed impaired motor coordination and reduced concentration of 5-HT in the cerebellum compared with Sham-operated controls. In addition, they showed increased $5-HT_1A$ receptor densities in the cerebral cortex. Pretreatment with 8-OH-DPAT ameliorated the behavioral and neurochemical sequelae measured in the present study. The results suggest that $5-HT_1A$ receptors protect the brain from ischemic insult and/or facilitate recovery after prenatally experienced ischemia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.86-103
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• 2003

Objective : Recently, many studies have showed the evidences of the effect of the acupunture treatment through scientific methods. One of these methods is functional MRI. We performed electro-acupunture on Sp6 and observed the changes of brain activation using fMRI. Methods : To see the effect of electro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6, the experiment was carried out on 12 healthy volunteers, using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body MRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right Sp6, 2Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds, repeated five times, with 30 seconds' intervals. The Image analysis including motion correction, talairach transformation, and smoothing was done with SPM99. Results : 1. Group averaged brain activation induced by bilateral eletro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6 activates Brodman Area 3, 7, 13. 2. Group averaged brain deactivation induced by bilateral eletro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6 activates Brodman Area 6, 38, 47. 3. Group averaged brain activation induced by unilateral(right side) eletro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6 activates Brodman Area 5, 6, 13, 17, 18, 19, 31, 38, 40 ptoms, back pain(32.5%) was the 4. Group averaged brain deactivation induced by unilateral(right side) eletro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6 activates Brodman Area 3, 4, 18, 21, 36, 38, 39. 5. Brain region activated by motor stimulation activates Brodman Area 3, 4, 6, 18, 19.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.164-179
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• 2002

Object: Death rate due to hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease and cerebral infarction induced by Westernized diet and increased average life span is on the rise. Decrease in blood circulation, activation of thrombus generation and intravascular lipid accumulation, cited as the principal causes of the above mentioned diseases in recent studies, result in circulatory disturbance and blood vessel obstruction leading to ischemic cell death of heart, brain and peripheral vessels. Method: We investigated the biochemical changes in microvascular permeability, aggregation of platelet and the intravascular lipid accumulation in induced-diabetic rat using Streptozotocin. We also studied the effects of Woohwangcheongsirn-won after oral administration on blood circulation, platelet function and lipid metabolism. The results are as follows: I. Woohwangcheongsim-won increased blood circulation in microvessels. 2. Woohwangcheongsim-won increased the reduced erythrocyte deformability in diabetes. 3. Woohwangcheongsim-won induced the reduction of contents of 2, 3-DPG, but failed to affect the reduced contents of ATP in erythrocyte in diabetes. 4. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the activity of Ca/sup 2+/-ATPase in the membrane of erythrocyte. 5. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the platelet aggregation evoked by platelet agglutinin factor. 6. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the production of platelet-derived granules. 7. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the production of metabolites of arachidonic acid in diabetes, and also reduced the production of increased thromboxane B2. 8. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the synthesis of oxidized LDL-cholesterol. In conclusion, Woohwangcheongsim-won enhanced blood circulation in microvesseles, erythrocyte deformability and inhibited the increased platelet aggregation and the synthesis of oxidized LDL-cholesterol in diabetes. Therefore Woohwangcheongsim-won is believed to positively affect blood circulation (J Korean Oriental Med 2002;23(2):164-179)

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 1997

Many factors are known to be responsible for cerebral ischemic injury, such as excitatory neurotransmitters, increased intraneuronal calcium, or disturbance of cellular energy metabolism. Recently, oxygen free radicals, formed during ischemia/reperfusion, have been proposed as one of the main causes of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, to investigate the role of oxygen free radical during ischemia/reperfusion, in the present study the effect of endogenous oxygen free radical scavenger, superoxide dismutase / catalase(SOD / catalase) on the release of [$^3$H]-5-hydroxytryptamine([$^3$H]-5-HT) during hypoxia/reoxygenation in rat hippocampal slices was measured. The hippocampus was obtained from the rat brain and sliced 400 gm thickness with manual chopper. After 30 min's preincubation in the normal buffer, the slices were incubated for 20 min in a buffer containing [$^3$H]-5-HT(0.1 $\mu$M, 74 $\mu$Ci) for uptake, and washed. To measure the release of [$^3$H]-5-HT into the buffer, the incubation medium was drained off and refilled every ten minutes through a sequence of 14 tubes. Induction of hypoxia for 20 min (gassing it with 95% N$_2$/5% CO$_2$) was done in the 6th and 7th tube, and oxygen free radical scavenger, SOD / catalase was added 10 minutes prior to induction of hypoxia. The radioactivity in each buffer and the tissue were counted using liquid scintillation counter and the results were expressed as a percentage of the total activity. When slices were exposed to hypoxia for 20 min, [$^3$H]-5-HT release was markedly decreased and a rebound release of [$^3$H]-5-HT was observed on the post-hypoxic reoxygenation period. SOD / catalase did not changed the release of [$^3$H]-5-HT in control group, but inhibited the decrease of [$^3$H]-5-HT release in hypoxic period and rebound increase of [$^3$H]-5-HT in reoxygenation period. This result suggest that superoxide anion may play a role in the hypoxic-, and reoxygenation-induced change of [$^3$H]-5-HT release in rat hippocampal slices.