• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1422-1425
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• 2002

Subcutaneous fat necrosis in neonates is a rare disease characterized by skin lesions, which may be single or multiple, poorly circumscribed and often tender erythematous nodules or plaques on cheeks, buttocks, back, arms, and thighs. These symptoms are usually self-limited; resolution occurs over a period of weeks to months. Subcutaneous fat necrosis affects full term and healthy-appearing infants who have experienced perinatal distress such as hypoxic insult, birth trauma and hypothermia. Most skin lesions appear within the first two weeks of life. We experienced a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis in a neonate with hypoxic insult and report the case with a brief review of the literature.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.1337-1347
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• 2009

Purpose:Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a simple sulfur-containing amino acid. It is abundantly present in tissues such as brain, retina, heart, and skeletal muscles. Current studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of taurine, but limited data are available for such effects during neonatal period. The aim of this study was to determine whether taurine could reduce hypoxic-ischemic (HI) cerebral injury via anti-apoptosis mechanism. Methods:Embryonic cortical neurons isolated from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 18 days gestation were cultured in vitro. The cells were divided into hypoxia group, taurine-treated group before hypoxic insult, and taurine-treated group after HI insult. In the in vivo model, left carotid artery ligation was performed in 7-day-old SD rat pups. The pups were exposed to hypoxia, administered an injection of 30 mg/kg of taurine, and killed at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after the hypoxic insult. We compared the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 among the 3 groups by using real- time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting. Results:The cells in the taurine-treated group before hypoxic insult, although similar in appearance to those in the normoxia group, were lesser in number. In the taurine-treated group, Bcl-2 expression increased, whereas Bax and caspase-3 expressions reduced. Conclusion:Taurine exerts neuroprotective effects onperinatal HI brain injury due to its anti-apoptotic effect. The neuroprotective effect was maximal at 1-2 weeks after the hypoxic injury.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.898-908
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• 2010

Purpose: The neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin (EPO) have been recently shown in many animal models of brain injury, including hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy, trauma, and excitotoxicity; however, limited data are available for such effects during the neonatal periods. Therefore, we investigated whether recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) can protect against perinatal HI brain injury via an antiapoptotic mechanism. Methods: The left carotid artery was ligated in 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat pups ($in$ $vivo$ model). The animals were divided into 6 groups: normoxia control (NC), normoxia sham-operated (NS), hypoxia only (H), hypoxia+vehicle (HV), hypoxia+rHuEPO before a hypoxic insult (HE-B), and hypoxia+rHuEPO after a hypoxic insult (HE-A). Embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture of SD rats at 18 days gestation ($in$ $vitro$ model) was performed. The cultured cells were divided into 5 groups: normoxia (N), hypoxia (H), and 1, 10, and 100 IU/mL rHuEPO-treated groups. Results: In the $in$ $vivo$ model, Bcl-2 expressions in the H and HV groups were lower than those in the NC and NS groups, whereas those in the HE-A and HE-B groups were greater than those of the H and HV groups. The expressions of Bax and caspase-3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were in contrast to those of Bcl-2. In the $in$ $vitro$ model, the patterns of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were similar to the results obtained in the in vivo model. Conclusion: rHuEPO exerts neuroprotective effect against perinatal HI brain injury via an antiapoptotic mechanism.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of Sohaphyang-won (SH) on the alteration in gene expression in a hypoxia model using cultured rat cortical cells. Methods : E18 rat cortical cells were grown in neurobasal medium containing B27 supplement. On 12 DIV, SH was added ($20\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) to the culture media for 24 hrs. On 14 DIV, cells were given a hypoxic insult (2% O2/5% CO2, $37^{\circ}C$, 3 hrs), returned to normoxia and cultured for another 24 hrs. Total RNA was prepared from SH-untreated (control) and -treated cultures and alteration in gene expression was analyzed by microarray using rat 5K-TwinChips. Results : Effects on some of the genes whose functions are implicated in neural viability are as follows: 1) For most of the genes altered in expression, the global M values were between -05 to +0.5, Among these, 1517 genes were increased in their expression by more than global M +0.1, while 1480 genes were decreased by more than global M -0.1. 2) The expression of apoptosis-related genes such as Bad (global M =0.35), tumor protein p53 (T53) (global M =0.28) were increased, while v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (Akt1) was decreased. 3) The expression of hemoglobin alpha 1 (probably neuroglobin) was increased by about 3.2-fold (global M =1.7). 4) The expression of antioxidation-related catalase gene was increased (global M =0.26). 5) The expression of PKCzeta (prkcz), an upstream kinase of MAPK, was increased (global M =0.29). 6) The expression of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR), which may regulate transcription in hypoxic stress, was increased (global M =10.27). Conclusions : In summary, the microarray data suggest that SH doesn't increase the expression of oxygen capture-, anti-oxidation- and 'response to stress' -related genes but decreases some anti-apoptosis genes which would help protect the hypoxic cells from apoptosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.301-321
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of Coptidis chinesis FRANCH. on the alteration of gene expression in a hypoxic model using cultured rat cortical cells. Methods : E18 rat cortical cells were grown in neurobasal medium containing B27 supplement. On 12 DIV, water extract from Coptidis chinesis FRANCH. was added ($20{\mu}g/ml$) to the culture media 4 hrs. On 14 DIV, cells were given hypoxic insult (2% $O_2$/5% $CO_2$, $37^{\circ}C$, 3 hrs), returned to normoxia and cultured for another 24 hrs. Total RNA was extracted from Coptidis chinesis FRANCH. treated and untreated cultures and alterations in the gene expression were analysed by microarray using rat 5K-TwinChips. Results : Effects on some of the genes whose functions were implicated in neural viability were as follows: the expression of apoptosis-related genes such as Clu (Global M = 1.3), of presynaptic inhibition's genes such as Penk-rs (Global M = 1.97), and of innate immuniti's such as Crp (Global M = 1.95), Defensin (Global M = 2.14), and Dnase1l3 (Global M = 1.57) increased. The expression of neurotrophic genes such as S100b (Global M = 1.42), and $NF{\kappa}B$ (Global M = 2.04) increased. Conclusions : Analysing the genes expressed on microarray, shows Coptidis chinesis FRANCH.protects cells by increasing viability and neural nutrition.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.686-693
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• 2007

Purpose : Mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active metabolite of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), is a potent inhibitor of inosine-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), a new immunosuppressive drug used. It was reported that MPA protected neurons after excitotoxic injury, induced apoptosis in microglial cells. However, the effects of MPA on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury has not been yet evaluated. Therefore, we examined whether MPA could be neuroprotective in perinatal HI brain injury using Rice-Vannucci model (in vivo) and in rat brain cortical cell culture induced by hypoxia (in vitro). Methods : Cortical cells were cultured using a 18-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and incubated in 1% $O_2$ incubator for hypoxia. MPA ($10{\mu}g/mL$) before or after a HI insult was treated. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 hours of hypoxic exposure (8% $O_2$). MPA (10 mg/kg) before or after a HI insult were administrated intraperitoneally. Apoptosis was measured using western blot and real-time PCR for Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3. Results : H&E stain revealed increased brain volume in the MPA-treated group in vivo animal model of neonatal HI brain injury. Western blot and real-time PCR showed the expression of caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 were decreased in the MPA-treated group In in vitro and in vivo model of perinatal HI brain injury, Conclusion : These results may suggest that the administration of MPA before HI insult could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via anti-apoptotic mechanisms, which offers the possibility of MPA application for the treatment of neonatal HI encephalopathy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.324-336
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI on alteration in gene expression in a hypoxia model using cultured rat cortical cells. Methods : E18 rat cortical cells were grown in a Neurobasal medium containing B27 supplement. On 12 DIV, Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI(20 ug/ml) was added to the culture media and left for 24 hrs. On 11 DIV, cells were given a hypoxic insult $(2%\;O_2/5%\;CO_2,\;37^{\circ}C,\;3\;hrs)$, returned to normoxia and cultured for another 24 hrs. Total RNA was prepared from Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI-untreated (control) and -treated cultures and alteration in gene expression was analysed by microarray using rat 5K-TwinChips. Results : For most of the genes altered in expression, the Global M values were between -0.5 to +0.5. Among these, 1143 genes increased in their expression by more than Global M +0.1, while 1161 genes decreased by more than Global M -0.1. Effects on some of the genes whose functions are implicated in neural viability are as follows: 1) The expression of apoptosis-related genes such as Bad (Global M = 0.39), programmed cell death-2(Pdcd2) (Global M = 0.20) increased, while Purinergic receptor P2X(P2rxl) Global M = -0.22), Bc12-like1(Bc1211)(Global M = -0.19) decreased. 2) The expression of 'response to stress-related genes such as antioxidation-related AMP-activated protein kinase subunit gamma 1 gene (Prkag1) (Global M = 0.14), catalase gene (Global M = 0.14) and Heme Oxygenase(Hmoxl) increased. 3) The expression of Fos like antigen 2 (Fos12) expressed in neurons that survive ischemic insult increased (Global M = 0.97). Conclusions : these data suggest that Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI increases the expression of antiapoptosis- and antioxidation- related genes in a way that can not yet be explained.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.142-147
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of mild hypoxia in the mature and immature brain. Methods: We prepared organotypic slice cultures of the hippocampus and used hippocampal tissue cultures at 7 and 14 days in vitro (DIV) to represent the immature and mature brain, respectively. Tissue cultures were exposed to 10% oxygen for 60 minutes. Twenty-four hours after this hypoxic insult, propidium iodide fluorescence images were obtained, and the damaged areas in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1), CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) were measured using image analysis. Results: In the 7-DIV group compared to control tissue, hypoxia-exposed tissue showed decreased damage in two regions (CA1: $5.59%{\pm}2.99%$ vs. $4.80%{\pm}1.37%$, P=0.900; DG: $33.88%{\pm}12.53%$ vs. $15.98%{\pm}2.37%$, P=0.166), but this decrease was not statistically significant. In the 14-DIV group, hypoxia-exposed tissue showed decreased damage compared to control tissues; this decrease was not significant in the CA3 ($24.51%{\pm}6.05%$ vs. $18.31%{\pm}3.28%$, P=0.373) or DG ($15.72%{\pm}3.47%$ vs. $9.91%{\pm}2.11%$, P=0.134), but was significant in the CA1 ($50.91%{\pm}5.90%$ vs. $32.30%{\pm}3.34%$, P=0.004). Conclusion: Although only CA1 tissues cultured for 14 DIV showed significantly less damage after exposure to hypoxia, the other tissues examined in this study showed a tendency towards less damage after hypoxic exposure. Therefore, mild hypoxia might play a protective role in the brain.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.170-180
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• 2008

Purpose : Some antibiotics were known to exert neuroprotective effects in the animal model of hypoxic-ischemic (H-I) brain injury, but the mechanism is still unclear. A recent study reported that geneticin (G418), an aminoglycoside antibiotic, increased survival of human breast cancer cells by suppressing apoptosis. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of systemically administrated geneticin via anti-apoptosis following the H-I brain injury Methods : Seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were subjected to unilateral (left) common carotid artery occlusion followed by 2.5 hours of hypoxic exposure and the cortical cell culture of rat brain was done under a hypoxic incubator. Apoptosis was measured in the injured hemispheres 7 days after H-I insult and in the injured cells from hypoxic chamber using morphologic analysis by Terminal dUTP Nick-end Labeling(TUNEL) assay and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3, and cytologic analysis by western blot and real time PCR for bax, bcl-2, and caspase-3. Results : The gross appearance and hematoxylin and eosin stain revealed increased brain volume in the geneticin-treated animal model of perinatal H-I brain injury. The TUNEL assay revealed decreased apoptotic cells after administration of geneticin in the cell culture model of anoxia. Immunohistochemistry showed decreased caspase-3 expression in geneticin-treated cortical cell culture. Western blot and real-time PCR showed decreased caspase-3 expression and decreased ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 expression in geneticin-treated animal model. Conclusion : Geneticin appears to exert a neuroprotective effect against perinatal H-I brain injury at least via anti-apoptosis. However, more experiments are needed in order to demonstrate the usefulness of geneticin as a preventive and rescue treatment for H-I brain injuries of neonatal brain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.537-546
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• 2001

목적: 고양이 대뇌피질 절편을 사용하여 저산소 발작을 유발한 뒤, 성향정기산이 세포의 이온 환경과 대사의 변화와 관련하여 어떤 영향을 미치는지 연구하였다. 방법: 고양이의 대뇌 피질 절편에 저산소 발작을 유발한 뒤 flame photometry scintillation, Spectrophotometry, method of Jorgensen and Skou, method of Fiske and Subbarow, oxygen monitor, luciferin-luciferase assay 등을 이용하여 세포내 이온함량과 세포대사를 측정하였다. 결과: 성향정기산은 저산소증으로 유발된 세포내의 $K^+$와 $Na^+$의 함량의 변화를 현저하게 지연시켰다. 성향정기산은 Na-K-ATPase의 억제제인 와바인 또는 대사억제제인 2.4-DNP로 유발된 세포내 $K^+$함량의 변화에 어떤 효과도 보이지 않았다. 또한, 정상 상태의 절편뿐만 아니라 저산소 상태의 절편에서 분리된 과립체의 분설에 있어서 Na-K-ATPase의 활동도에 영향을 미치지 않았다. 성향정기산은 저산소 발작하에서 산소 소비량과 세포의 ATP함량이 떨어지는 것을 현저하게 막았다. 또한 ATP를 생산하는 기능을 보호하는 저산소 조직의 사립체를 돕는데 효과적이었다. 결론: 성향정기산은 대뇌 조직의 저산소 발작하에서 세포의 이온 환경과 대사를 보호하는 유익한 효과가 있음을 알 수 있다.