• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2015

Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is a major pathogen in laboratory mice that usually leads to fatal diseases, such as hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, and respiratory disease. MHV has a high infection rate, and it needs to be detected as soon as possible to prevent its spread to other facilities. However, MHV detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) often gives false positives; thus, it is very important that the results are confirmed as true positives in the early infection stage or distinguished as false positives with more accurate, reliable methods. Under microbiological screening, MHV ELISA-positive mice were found in four GFP-tagging transgenic mice. To verify the detection of the MHV antigen directly, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed, and the mice were determined to be MHV negative. Additional serum antibody-based screening was conducted with three different ELISA kits, and multiplexed fluorometric immunoassay (MFIA) was performed to confirm their accuracy/sensitivity. In brief, the ELISA kit for A59 nucleocapsid protein (MHV-A59N) revealed MHV ELISA positivity, while other ELISA kits (MHV-S lysate and MHV-JHM lysate) demonstrated MHV negativity. In MFIA, only the test for the recombinant A59 nucleocapsid antigen was MHV positive, which was consistent with the ELISA results. These results suggest that the ELISA kit with the recombinant A59 nucleocapsid antigen might induce non-specific MHV ELISA positivity and that confirmation is therefore essential.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3429-3443
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• 2013

Chemokine receptor (CCR2) is a G protein-coupled receptor that contains seven transmembrane helices. Recent pharmaceutical research has focused on the antagonism of CCR2 and candidate drugs are currently undergoing clinical studies for the treatment of diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we analyzed the time dependent behavior of CCR2 docked with a potent 4-azetidinyl-1-aryl-cyclohexane (4AAC) derivative using molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) for 20 nanoseconds (ns). Homology modeling of CCR2 was performed and the 4AAC derivative was docked into this binding site. The docked model of selected conformations was then utilized to study the dynamic behavior of the 4AAC enzyme complexes inside lipid membrane. MDS of CCR2-16b of 4AAC complexes allowed us to refine the system since binding of an inhibitor to a receptor is a dynamic process and identify stable structures and better binding modes. Structure activity relationships (SAR) for 4AAC derivatives were investigated and reasons for the activities were determined. Probable binding pose for some CCR2 antagonists were determined from the perspectives of binding site. Initial modeling showed that Tyr49, Trp98, Ser101, Glu291, and additional residues are crucial for 4AAC binding, but MDS analysis showed that Ser101 may not be vital. 4AAC moved away from Ser101 and the hydrogen bonding between 4AAC and Ser101 vanished. The results of this study provide useful information regarding the structure-based drug design of CCR2 antagonists and additionally suggest key residues for further study by mutagenesis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1013-1021
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• 2015

Most of the axons in the vertebrate nervous system are surrounded by a lipid-rich membrane called myelin, which promotes rapid conduction of nerve impulses and protects the axon from being damaged. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the CNS characterized by infiltration of immune cells and progressive damage to myelin and axons. One potential way to treat MS is to enhance the endogenous remyelination process, but at present there are no available treatments to promote remyelination in patients with demyelinating diseases. Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating drug that is used in rheumatology and inflammatory bowel disease. Its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties prompted us to test the ability of sulfasalazine to promote remyelination. In this study, we found that sulfasalazine promotes remyelination in the CNS of a transgenic zebrafish model of NTR/MTZ-induced demyelination. We also found that sulfasalazine treatment reduced the number of macrophages/microglia in the CNS of demyelinated zebrafish larvae, suggesting that the acceleration of remyelination is mediated by the immunomodulatory function of sulfasalazine. Our data suggest that temporal modulation of the immune response by sulfasalazine can be used to overcome MS by enhancing myelin repair and remyelination in the CNS.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.150-162
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• 2009

Objectives: Inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ playa critical role in inflammatory immune response. Therefore, intervention of inflammatory mediator production promises therapeutic benefit for treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases, such as allergic asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, septic shock and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, the pharmacological effects of the flower MeOH extract Panax notoginseng (Notoginseng Flos; NF) on inflammation were investigated to address potential therapeutic or toxic effects. Methods: RA W264.7 cells were treated with different concentrations of NF methanol (NF-M) extract in the presence or absence of LPS ($1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Results: NF-M extract significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of NO, $PGE_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, NF-M extract suppressed mRNA expressions and protein levels of iNOS, COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated RA W264.7 cells. Conclusion: These results indicated that NF-M extract inhibits LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators in macrophages and demonstrated that NF-M extract possesses anti-inflammatory properties in vitro.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.117-121
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• 1999

Although anejaculation is a relatively uncommon occurrence in the general population, over 12,000 new cases are reported annually. Anejaculation may result from spinal cord injury, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, diabetes mellitus, transverse myelitis, multiple sclerosis, or psychogenic disorders. At least 30% of men with this problem are or will be married and many will seek help to remedy their infertile state. The evolution of technique and instrumentation over the last 30 years has made electroejaculation an accessible and acceptable form of therapy. Recent successes in inducing ejaculation by means of rectal probe electrostimulation or vibratory stimulation combined with assisted reproductive techniques, such as zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), and in vitro fertilization (IVF), have provided these men means of producing their own biologic offspring. We have experienced a successful pregnancy with electroejaculation and in vitro fertilization in a infertile patient whose husband had an ejaculatory disturbance due to a spinal cord injury. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.502-510
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• 2006

In this paper, we describe implementation of a computer access device for the severly motor-disability. Many people with severe motor disabilities need an augmentative communication technology. Those who are totally paralyzed, or 'locked-in' cannot use conventional augmentative technologies, all of which require some measure of muscle control. The forehead is often the last site to suffer degradation in cases of severe disability and degenerative disease. For example, In ALS(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and MD(Muscular dystrophy) the ocular motorneurons and ocular muscles are usually spared permitting at least gross eye movements, but not precise eye pointing. We use brain and body forehead bio-potentials in a novel way to generate multiple signals for computer control inputs. A bio-amplifier within this device separates the forehead signal into three frequency channels. The lowest channel is responsive to bio-potentials resulting from an eye motion, and second channel is the band pass derived between 0.5 and 45Hz, falling within the accepted Electroencephalographic(EEG) range. A digital processing station subdivides this region into eleven components frequency bands using FFT algorithm. The third channel is defined as an Electromyographic(EMG) signal. It responds to contractions of facial muscles and is well suited to discrete on/off switch closures, keyboard commands. These signals are transmitted to a PC that analyzes in a time series and a frequency region and discriminates user's intentions. That software graphically displays user's bio-potential signals in the real time, therefore user can see their own bio-potentials and control their physiological signals little by little after some training sessions. As a result, we confirmed the performance and availability of the developed system with experimental user's bio-potentials.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2004

Acute spinal cord injury can produce neurologic injury with many physical, psychological and social ramifications. It has been shown that two separate components combine to produce neurologic damage in acute spinal cord injury : the primary and secondary injuries. The primary mediators of spinal cord injury include the actual mechanical tissue disruption which is a passive process that occurs immediately following the trauma. A secondary injury cascade follows which appears mediated by cellular and molecular processes working through complex mechanisms. Both the primary and secondary injury cascades produce cell death both in neuronal and supporting cell tissues. Recovery from central nervous system(CNS) disorders is hindered by the limited ability of the vertebrate CNS to regenerate injured cells, replace damaged myelin sheath, and re-establish functional neuronal connections. Of many CNS disorders including multiple sclerosis, stroke, and other trauma, spinal cord injury is one of the important diseases because of the direct association with the functional loss of the body. Previous studies suggest that substantial recovery of function might be achieved through regeneration of lost neuronal cells and remyelination of intact axon in spinal cord injury which is occurred frequently. As a therapeutic approach in spinal cord injury, recently, cell transplantation provides a potential solution for the treatment of spinal cord injury. This review describes the characteristics of spinal cord injury and presents some evidence supporting functional recovery after cell transplantation following spinal cord injury.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.157-180
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• 2022

Objectives: To perform a systematic review of placenta pharmacopuncture for treating neuropsychiatric diseases, focusing on its efficacy and the safety so that evidence on its clinical use could be obtained, thus contributing to further studies. Methods: Through Korean, English, and Chinese databases (OASIS, Korean TK, KISS, RISS, ScienceON, Pubmed, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, CNKI, and Wanfang), combinations of keywords (placenta, pharmacopuncture, etc.) were used to select clinical studies published until January 2021 about placenta pharmacopuncture for neuropsychiatric diseases. Interventions included combined treatments. Study design included cases studies, series, and clinical trials. Cohort studies, literature reviews, in vitro and animal experiments were excluded. The primary outcomes involved measurements of symptoms, Visual Analogue Scale, or questionnaires. Data extracted from databases were imported to Endnote X7 to remove duplicates. The quality of the literature was assessed based on CAse REports Guidelines and Cochrane's Risk of Bias (ROB). Results: Twenty-one studies were selected, including ten case reports, three case series, two one-armed clinical trials, one non-randomized clinical trial, and five randomized clinical trials. There were six studies on sleep disorders, five studies on stroke sequela, two on mood disorders, two on enuresis, two on Guillain-Barré syndrome, two on multiple sclerosis, one on neurocognitive disorder, and one on vertigo. The most frequent combined treatment was acupuncture in both the experimental group (n=10) and the control group (n=3). Acupoints were ST36, SP6, BL23, CV4, GB20, GV20, N-HN54, and so on. All studies reported improvement of symptoms. The quality of case studies was relatively high. Assessment of ROBs resulted in low risks. Conclusions: Placenta pharmacopuncture is effective for neuropsychiatric diseases such as sleep disorders, mood disorders, enuresis, and neurocognitive disorders. Regarding insomnia, several studies have reported significant improvements with placenta pharmacopuncture. There was no adverse event associated with placenta pharmacopuncture.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.35.1-35.13
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• 2024

Importance: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis characterized by inflammation within the central nervous system. However, inflammation in non-neuronal tissues, including the lungs, has not been fully evaluated. Objective: This study evaluated the inflammatory response in lungs of EAE mice by immunohistochemistry and histochemistry. Methods: Eight adult C57BL/6 mice were injected with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein_35-55 to induce the EAE. Lungs and spinal cords were sampled from the experimental mice at the time of sacrifice and used for the western blotting, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Histopathological examination revealed inflammatory lesions in the lungs of EAE mice, characterized by infiltration of myeloperoxidase (MPO)- and galectin-3-positive cells, as determined by immunohistochemistry. Increased numbers of collagen fibers in the lungs of EAE mice were confirmed by histopathological analysis. Western blotting revealed significantly elevated level of osteopontin (OPN), cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), MPO and galectin-3 in the lungs of EAE mice compared with normal controls (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed both OPN and CD44 in ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1-positive macrophages within the lungs of EAE mice. Conclusions and Relevance: Taken together, these findings suggest that the increased OPN level in lungs of EAE mice led to inflammation; concurrent increases in proinflammatory factors (OPN and galectin-3) caused pulmonary impairment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.672-680
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• 2023

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), the steamed root of Panax ginseng, has pharmacological activities for immunological and neurodegenerative disorders. But, the role of KRGE in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. Purpose: To determine whether KRG extract (KRGE) could inhibit demyelination in corpus callosum (CC) of cuprizone (CPZ)-induced murine model of MS Methods: Male adult mice were fed with a standard chow diet or a chow diet supplemented with 0.2% (w/w) CPZ ad libitum for six weeks to induce demyelination while were simultaneously administered with distilled water (DW) alone or KRGE-DW (0.004%, 0.02 and 0.1% of KRGE) by drinking. Results: Administration with KRGE-DW alleviated demyelination and oligodendrocyte degeneration associated with inhibition of infiltration and activation of resident microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages as well as downregulation of proinflammatory mediators in the CC of CPZ-fed mice. KRGE-DW also attenuated the level of infiltration of Th1 and Th17) cells, in line with inhibited Mrna expression of IFN-γ and IL-17, respectively, in the CC. These positive effects of KRGE-DW mitigated behavioral dysfunction based on elevated plus maze and the rotarod tests. Conclusion: The results strongly suggest that KRGE-DW may inhibit CPZ-induced demyelination due to its oligodendroglial protective and anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting infiltration/activation of immune cells. Thus, KRGE might have potential in therapeutic intervention for MS.