• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1988.08a
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• pp.55-62
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• 1988

The effect of panaxadiol (PD). an active component of Korean ginseng saponins on the secretion of catecholamines (CA) from the rabbit adrenal gland and its mode of action were investigated. PD ($400\;{\mu}g$) increased significantly the secretion of CA from the isolated perfused rabbit adrenal gland. PD-induced secretion of CA was reduced markedly by treatment with atropine. CA secretion induced by Ach or PD was potentiated by physostigmine treatment. Chlorisondamine inhibited CA secretion of PD or Ach. Perfusion of PD ($400\;{\mu}g$) for 30 minutes enhanced the secretory activity of CA by Ach. Ouabain weakened the secretory rsponse caused by PD but enhanced the response by Ach. Adenosine treatment resulted in marked increase in CA secretion by PD or Ach. Perfusion with calcium free Krebs solution containing 5 mM EDTA for 30 minutes completely blocked the secretory effect induced by Ach and also weakened that evoked by PD. It is suggested that PD causes the secretion of CA from the rabbit adrenal gland by a calcium dependent exocytotic process. The secretory effect of PD is due to the stimulation of cholinergic muscarinic and nicotinic-receptors present in the adrenal gland partly by direct action on the chromaffin cell.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1024-1031
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• 2006

The role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the decreased contractile response to phorbol ester in aortic smooth muscle strips from deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats was examined. Norepinephrine (NE) evoked greater contractility in aortic strips from DOCA rats than in those of sham-operated rats. 12-Deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB) induced contraction in $Ca^{2+}-free$ medium, which was diminished in strips from DOCA rats compared to sham-operated rats. Vasoconstrictions induced by these stimulants were inhibited by SB203580 and PD098059, inhibitors of p38 MAPK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, respectively, in both strips. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 induced by NE was greater in strips from DOCA rats compared to those from sham-operated rats, and this phosphorylation was inhibited by the kinase inhibitors. DPB increased the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 in strips from both animals, and the increment of p38 MAPK phosphorylation by the stimulant was diminished in strips from DOCA rats compared to sham-operated rats. These findings suggest that the $Ca^{2+}-independent$ contraction evoked by DPB results from the activation of MAPKs in rat aortic smooth muscle and that the attenuated contractility by DPB in DOCA rat appears to be associated with diminished p38 MAPK activity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.375-381
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• 2005

Phospholipase C-${\beta}$ (PLC-${\beta}$) hydrolyses phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and generates inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in response to activation of various G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Using glial cells from knock-out mice lacking either PLC-${\beta}1$ [PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-)] or PLC-${\beta}3$ [PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-)], we examined which isotype of PLC-${\beta}$ participated in the cellular signaling events triggered by thrombin. Generation of inositol phosphates (IPs) was enhanced by thrombin in PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-) cells, but was negligible in PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-) cells. Expression of PLC-${\beta}3$ in PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-) cells resulted in an increase in pertussis toxin (PTx)-sensitive IPs in response to thrombin as well as to PAR1-specific peptide, while expression of PLC-${\beta}1$ in PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-) cells did not have any effect on IP generation. The thrombin-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase was delayed and attenuated in PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-) cells, but normal in PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-) cells. Pertussis toxin evoked a delayed $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-) cells as well as in PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-) cells. These results suggest that activation of PLC-${\beta}3$ by pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins is responsible for the transient $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in response to thrombin, whereas the delayed $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase may be due to activation of some other PLC, such as PLC-${\beta}4$, acting via PTx-insensitive G proteins.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.265-275
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• 2006

Objectives : Electrical acupoint stimulation(EAS) has been used to treat motor dysfunction of stroke patients with reportedly effective results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the EAS with different frequencies in treating motor dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients. Methods : The subject of this study were forty-two ischemic stroke patients with motor dysfunction in Kyunghee oriental medicine hospital who were hospitalized for one week to one month from onset. They were treated with 2Hz or 120Hz EAS for two weeks, and motor evoked potentials(MEP) were measured before and after EAS treatment. To compare the effect of 2Hz EAS with 120Hz, the number of patients who showed MEP responses after two weeks among those who had no previous response was checked. Also measured were latency, central motor conduction time(CMCT), amplitude of MEP before and after EAS treatment. Results : After two weeks of treatment, 4 out of 15 patients(27%) in the 2Hz EAS group and lout of 19 patients(5%) in the 120Hz group showed potential responses. Yet there was no significant difference between the two groups. When MEP data of the affected side between the 2Hz group and the 120Hz group was compared, the former showed more significant improvement than the latter in latency, CMCT and amplitude(P=0.040, 0.019,0.021). When the proportion of the affected side and unaffected side in MEP data was examined, the 2Hz group showed improvement on only latency and CMCT with significant differences(P=0.040, 0.014). Conclusions : These results show that EAS with low frequency is more helpful for motor recovery after ischemic stroke than that with high frequency. This suggests that low frequency EAS activates the central motor conduction system better than high frequency EAS.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.299-311
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• 1994

The present study was attempted to investigate whether pentazocine, which is known to possess both opioid agonistic and antagonistic properties, produces catecholamines (CA) secretion from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland, and to establish the mechanism of its action, and also to compare its action with that of some opioids. Pentazocine (30 to 300 ug) injected into an adrenal vein caused a dose-dependent secretory response of CA from the rat adrenal medulla. The pentazocine-evoked secretion of CA was remarkably diminished by the preloading with chlorisondamine $(10^{-6}\;M)$, naloxone $(1.22{\times}10^{-7}\;M)$, morphine $(1.7{\times}10^{-5}\;M)$, met-enkephalin $(9.68{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$, nicardipine $(10^{-6}\;M)$ and TMB-8 $(10^{-5}\;M)$ while was not influenced by the pretreatment of pirenzepine $(2{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$. The perfusion of $Ca^{++}$-free Krebs solution for 30 min into the gland also led to the marked reduction in CA secretion evoked by pentazocine. Furthermore, the CA release evoked by ACh and/or DMPP was greatly inhibited by the pretreatment with pentazocine $(1.75{\times}10^{-4}\;M)$ for 20 min. From these experimental results, it is thought that pentazocine causes markedly the increased secretion of CA from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla by a calcium-dependent exocytotic mechanism. The secretory effect of pentazocine appears to be mediated through activation of opioid receptors located on adrenal chromaffin cells, which may be also associated with stimulation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2014

Previously, we reported that lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), a lyso-type metabolite of phosphatidylethanolamine, can increase intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) via type 1 lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ($LPA_1$) and CD97, an adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Furthermore, LPE signaling was suggested as like $LPA_1/CD97-G_{i/o}$ proteins-phospholipase $C-IP_3-Ca^{2+}$ increase in these cells. In the present study, we further investigated actions of LPE not only in the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increasing effect but also in cell proliferation and migration in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We utilized chemically different LPEs and a specific inhibitor of $LPA_1$, AM-095 in comparison with responses in SK-OV3 ovarian cancer cells. It was found that LPE-induced $Ca^{2+}$ response in MDA-MB-231 cells was evoked in a different manner to that in SK-OV3 cells in terms of structural requirements. AM-095 inhibited LPE-induced $Ca^{2+}$ response and cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231 cells, but not in SK-OV3 cells, supporting $LPA_1$ involvement only in MDA-MB-231 cells. LPA had significant effects on cell proliferation and migration in MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas LPE had less or no significant effect. However, LPE modulations of MAPKs (ERK1/2, JNK and p38 MAPK) was not different to those by LPA in the cells. These data support the involvement of LPA1 in LPE-induced $Ca^{2+}$ response and cell proliferation in breast MDA-MB-231 cells but unknown GPCRs (not $LPA_1$) in LPE-induced responses in SK-OV3 cells. Furthermore, although LPE and LPA utilized $LPA_1$, LPA utilized more signaling cascades than LPE, resulting in stronger responses by LPA in proliferation and migration than LPE in MDA-MB-231 cells.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2010

1. Objective There has been a few trials to diagnose Sasang Constitution by using EEG, but has not been studied intensively. For the purpose of practical diagnosis, the characteristics of EEG for each constitution should be studied first. Recently it has been shown that Sasang Constitution might be related to harm avoidance and novelty seeking in temperament and character profiles. Based on this finding, we propose a visual stimulation method to evoke a EEG response which may discriminate difference between constitutional groups. Through the experiment with this method, we tried to reveal the characteristics of EEG of each constitutional groups by the method of event-related potentials. 2. Methods: We used facial visual stimulation to verify the characteristics of EEG for each constitutional groups. To reveal characteristic in sensitivity and latency of response, we added several levels of noise to facial images. 6 male subjects(2 Taeeumin, 2 Soyangin, 2 Soeumin) participated in this study. All subjects are healthy 20's. To remove artifacts and slow modulation, we removed EOG contaminated data and renormalization is applied. To extract stimulation related components, normalized event-related potential method was used. 3. Results: From Oz channels, it is verified that facial image processing components are extracted. For lower level noise, components related to the visual stimulation were clearly shown in Oz, Pz, and Cz channels. Pz and Cz channels show differences among 3 constitutional groups in maximum around 200 msec. Especially moderate level of noise looks appropriate for diagnosis. 4. Conclusion: We verified that the visual stimulation with facial emotion might be a good candidate to evoke the differences between constitutional groups in EEG response. The differences shown in the experiment may imply that the process of emotion has distinct tendencies in latencies and sensitivity for each consitutional group. And this distinction might be related to the temperament profile of consitutional groups.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2004

Background: Needle electromyography (EMG) and motor evoked potential (MEP) of the genioglossus (tongue) are difficult to perform in evaluations of the craniobulbar region in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Therefore, we investigated the yields of needle EMG and MEP recorded from the upper trapezius, since it receives innervation from the lower medulla and upper cervical cord. Methods: Needle EMG and MEP of the upper trapezius were obtained in 17 consecutive ALS patients. The needle EMG parameters recorded included abnormal spontaneous activity and motor unit action potential (MUAP) morphology. An upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion was presumed when either response to cortical stimulation was absent, or the central conduction time was delayed (>mean+2SD). Results: Of the five patients with bulbar-onset ALS, four had abnormalities in the upper trapezius and four in the tongue by needle EMG. In contrast, of the 12 patients with limb-onset ALS, 11 had abnormalities in the upper trapezius, and only five in the tongue. When MEP was performed, it was found that three of the five patients with bulbar symptoms and three of the six patients with isolated limb involvement had abnormal MEP findings. Conclusions: Electrophysiological studies of the upper trapezius are more sensitive those of the tongue in patients without bulbar symptoms. Thus, needle EMG and MEP of the upper trapezius are alternative tools for assessing bulbar and rostral neuraxial involvement in the diagnosis of ALS.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

Concerns remain regarding the biocompatibility and adverse effects of dental casting alloys. The aim of this study was to understand the cytopathogenic effect of metal ions, which might be released from dental alloys, on oral squamous carcinoma(OSC) cells. The cellular morphology, viability, the type of cell death and molecular change in response to metal ion salt solutions including aluminum(Al), cobalt(Co), copper(Cu) and nickel(Ni) were examined. The $TC_{50}$ values for the metal ions with the exception of AI were estimated to be between 400 and $600{\mu}M$. The cells treated with the metal ions showed apoptotic change with the exception of Al ions. Metal ion-induced apoptosis was further confirmed using flow cytometric analysis. This study showed that the cytotoxicity and the mode of cell death by metal ions clearly depend on the cell type, the type of metal ion and the duration of exposure. The protein level of Rb, a tumor suppressor that affects apoptosis para-doxically, was higher in the cells treated with Co, Cu and Ni. It is believed that apoptosis and cell damage in the OSC cells treated with Co, Cu or Ni can be evoked by the regulation of Rb.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 1988

Efficacy of praBiquantel (CesocideB injection) by intramuscular (1.M.) route against cestode infections was evaluated. Total 93 domestic or laboratory animals such as dogs, cats, rats, mice, goats, deers and chickens were used. Animals were infected with Dipylidium caninum, Spirometra sp. , Taenia pisiformis, Taenia taeniaeformis, Hymenolepis nana, Moniegia expanse, Moniexia sp. or Raillietina sp. A single dose of prasiquantel, 6 mg/kg of body weight, was highly effective (97.9%) against cestodes of various kinds disregarding the host species or their intensity of infection. At higher dose above 6 mg/kg, the cure rate was 100%. All the cestodes treated were expelled from the host within 48 hours. The discharged proglottides were damaged severely except Hymenolepis nana and Moniegia expanse. Intramuscular injection of this drug evoked a brief pain response in a dog, but no other side reactions were observed.