• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 1994

Many evidences are compatible with the correlation between the inhibition of [$^3H$] imipramine([$^3H$]IMI) and [$^3H$]paroxetine([$^3H$]PAT) binding to the 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) transporter complex and the 5-HT uptake of 5-HT neurons and platelets, and most antidepressants have been shown to inhibit the [$^3H$]IMI and [$^3H$]PAT binding and the neuronal 5-HT uptake. However, several paradoxical research findings led to doubt about the pharmacological significance of the [$^3H$]IMI and [$^3H$]PAT binding sites. This study was carried to clarify the correlation between the [$^3H$]IMI and [$^3H$]PAT binding parameters and the tissue 5-HT content or/and [$^3H$]5-HT uptake in the rabbit platelet, which contains 40 times ad much 5-HT as that of human platelet and shows the 10 fold higher $B_{max}$ of the 5-HT transporter binding to a 5-HT uptake inhibitor. The rabbits were treated for 28 days with amitriptyline(4mg/kg/day : AP), fluoxetine(0.5mg/kg/day : FO), and sertraline(0.5mg/kg/day : SA) via an Alzet osmotic pump implanted for constant infusion. The [$^3H$]IMI binding $B_{max}$ and $K_d$ of the rabbit platelets were $6.4{\pm}1.2$pmol/mg protein and $10.9{\pm}2.1$nM and those in the [$^3H$]PAT binding were $8.6{\pm}1.1$pmol/mg protein and $1.6{\pm}0.3$nM, respectively. AP slightly increased $B_{max}$ of [$^3H$]IMI binding and both [$^3H$]IMI binding and [$^3H$]PAT binding $K_d$, and i contrast, it slightly decreased $B_{max}$ of [$^3H$]PAT binding. FO Slightly increased $K_d$ of both and [$^3H$]IMI and [$^3H$]PAT binding and slightly decreased $B_{max}$ of [$^3H$]IMI and [$^3H$]PAT binding. SA produced the significant increase of [$^3H$]PAT binding $B_{max}$ and the slight increase of both [$^3H$]IMI and [$^3H$]PAT binding $K_d$ and in contrast, it slightly decreased $B_{max}$ and of [$^3H$]IMI binding. And, the $V_{max}$ and $K_m$ of platelet [$^3H$]5-HT uptake were $24.2{\pm}2.4$pmol/$10^8$ platelets/min and $3.3{\pm}0.3$nM, respectively. The $V_{max}$ was little affected by AP, FO, or SA, but the [$^3H$]5-HT uptake $K_m$ value was moderately increased by FO. However, the platelet 5-HT content was moderately decreased by all of the 5-HT uptake inhibitors used in this study. These results seem to be consistent with the allosterical and competitive interaction of 5-HT uptake inhibiting antidepressants with each other as well as 5-HT in the 5-HT transporter binding, and provide no support for the view that the potencies of 5-HT uptake inhibitors to inhibit the [$^3H$]IMI or [$^3H$]PAT binding with 5-HT transporter complex correlate with their antidepressant potencies.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.461-464
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• 1999

Background: Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy is an effective method for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Not only are the symptoms of hyperhidrosis abolished but also the temperature of the ipsilateral palm is elevated due to the sympatholytic vasodilation after the completion of the sympathicotomy on the first side. However little is known about the temperature changes in the contralateral palm. This study was performed to evaluate the changes in both palmar temperatures during the thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy for palmar hyperhidrosis. Material and Method: Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy was performed in 15 patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis. Surface temperatures of both palms were monitored continuously and were recorded simultaneously during the 7 different stages of the operation. Result: When T2 sympathicotomy was performed on the first(left) side, an ipsilateral increase with a contralateral decrease of temperature was observed. The difference in the temperature of both palms was greatest just before the sympathicotomy on the contralateral(right) side(Lt. 34.6$\pm$0.9$^{\circ}C$ vs. Rt. 31.6$\pm$1.3$^{\circ}C$, P<0.0001). After the sympathicotomy on the second(right) side, temperature of the right palm was elevated. The difference in the temperature of both palms was abolished at the end of the operation(Lt.34.7$\pm$0.9$^{\circ}C$ vs. Rt.34.4$\pm$1.$0^{\circ}C$, P=0.415). Conclusion: When T2 sympathicotomy was performed on the first side, an ipsilateral palmar temperature increased due to the sympatholytic vasodilation. However contralateral palmar temperature decreased due to a vasoconstriction. Although the mechanism of vasoconstriction is still unknown, it is postulated that there may be a cross- inhibitory effect by the post-ganglionic neurons innervating blood vessels of the palm.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.558-564
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• 2006

Purpose : Transcranial electromagnetic stimulation(TMS) is a noninvasive method which stimulates the central nervous system through pulsed magnetic fields without direct effect on the neurons. Although the neurobiologic mechanisms of magnetic stimulation are unknown, the effects on the brain are variable according to the diverse stimulation protocols. This study aims to observe the effect of the magnetic stimulation with two different stimulation methods on the cultured hippocampal slices. Methods : We obtained brains from 8-days-old Spague-Dawley rats and dissected the hippocampal tissue under the microscope. Then we chopped the tissue into 450 µm thickness slices and cultured the hippocampal tissue by Stoppini's method. We divided the inserts, which contained five healthy cultured hippocampal slices respectively, into magnetic stimulation groups and a control group. To compare the different effects according to the frequency of magnetic stimulation, stimulation was done every three days from five days in vitro at 0.67 Hz in the low stimulation group and at 50 Hz in the high stimulation group. After N-methyl-D-aspartate exposure to the hippocampal slices at 14 days in vitro, magnetic stimulation was done every three days in one and was not done in another group. To evaluate the neuronal activity after magnetic stimulation, the $NeuN/{\beta}$-actin ratio was calculated after western blotting in each group. Results : The expression of NeuN in the magnetic stimulation group was stronger than that of the control group, especially in the high frequency stimulation group. After N-methyl-D-aspartate exposure to hippocampal slices, the expression of NeuN in the magnetic stimulation group was similar to that of the control group, whereas the expression in the magnetic non-stimulation group was lower than that of the control group. Conclusion : We suggest that magnetic stimulation increases the neuronal activity in cultured hippocamal slices, in proportion to the stimulating frequency, and has a neuroprotective effect on neuronal damage.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1997

As it has been reported that the depolarization induced acetylcholine (ACh) release is modulated by activation of presynaptic $A_1$ adenosine heteroreceptor and various evidence suggest that indicate the $A_2$ adenosine receptor is present in the striatum, this study was undertaken to delineate the role of adenosine receptors on the striatal ACh release. Slices from the rat striatum were equilibrated with $[^3H]$choline and then the release amount of the labelled product, $[^3H]$ACh, which was evoked by electrical stimulation (rectangular pulses, 3 Hz, 2 ms, 24 mA, $5\;Vcm^{-1}$, 2 min), was measured, and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium outflow was investigated. And also, quantitative receptor autoradiography and drug-receptor binding assay were performed in order to confirm the presence and characteristics of $A_1$ and $A_2$ adenosine receptors in the rat striatum. Adenosine $(10{sim}100\;{mu}M)$ and $N^6$-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, $1{sim}100\;{mu}M)$ decreased the $[^3H]$ACh release in a dose-dependent manner without changing the basal rate of release in the rat striatum. The reducing effects of ACh release by adenosine and CPA were abolished by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropy-Ixanthine (DPCPX, 2 ${mu}M$), a selective $A_1$, adenosine receptor antagonist, treatment. The effect of adenosine was potentiated markedly by 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX, 10 ${mu}M$), a specific $A_2$ adenosine receptor antagonist. 2-P-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamimo-5'-N- ethylcarboxamidoadenosine hydrochloride (CGS-21680C), in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 ${mu}M$, a recently introduced potent $A_2$ adenosine receptor agonist, increased the $[^3H]$ACh release in a dose related fashion without changing the basal rate of release. These effects were completely abolished by DMPX $(10\;{mu}M)$. In autoradiograrhy experiments, $[^3H]$2-chloro-$N^6$-cyclopentyladenosine ($[^3H]$ CCPA) bindings were highly localized in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. Additionally, lower levels of binding were found in the striatum. However, $[^3H]$CGS-21680C bindings were highly localized in the striatal region with the greatest density of binding found in the caudate nucleus and putamen. Lower levels of binding were also found in the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle. In drug-receptor binding assay, binding of $[^3H]$ CCPA to $A_1$ adenosine receptors of rat striatal membranes was inhibited by CPA ($K_i$ = 1.6 nM) and N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA, $K_i$ = 12.9 nM), but not by CGS-21680C ($K_i$ = 2609.2 nM) and DMPX ($K_i$ = 19,386 nM). In contrast, $[^3H]$CGS-21680C binding to $A_2$ denosine receptors was inhibited by CGS-21680C ($K_i$ = 47.6 nM) and NECA ($K_i$ = 44.9 nM), but not by CPA ($K_i$ = 2099.2 nM) and DPCPX ($K_i$ = 19,207 nM). The results presented here suggest that both types of $A_1$ and $A_2$ adenosine heteroreceptors exist and play an important role in ACh release in the rat striatal cholinergic neurons.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.382-395
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• 1992

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in central nervous system and produce sedative, antianxiety and muscle reaxing effects via $GABA_A$ receptor or $GABA_B$ receptor. Recently it is known that GABA is widely distributed throughout peripheral organs and may playa physiological role in certain organ. The vas deferens is innervated by species-difference. These study, therefore, was performed to investigate the mode and the mechanism of action of GABA on the norepiniphrine-, ATP- and electric stimulation-induced contraction of vas deferens of rat. Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The smooth muscle strips were isolated from the prostastic portion and were mounted in the isolated muscle bath. PSS in the bath was aerated with 95/5%-$O_2/CO_2$ at $33^{\circ}C$. Muscle tensions were measured by isometric tension transducer and were recorded by biological recording system. 1. GABA, muscimol, a $GAB_A$ agonist, and baclofen, a $GABA_B$ agonist inhibited the electric field stimulation(EFS, 0.2Hz, 1mSec, 80 V, monophasic square wave)-induced contraction with a rank order of potency of GABA greater than baclofen greater than muscimol. 2. The inhibitory effect of GABA was antagonized by delta aminovaleric acid(DAVA), a $GABA_B$ antagonist, but not by bicuculline, a $GABA_A$ mtagonist. 3. The inhibitory effect of baclofen was antagonized by DAVA, but the effect of muscimol was not antagonized by bicuculline. 4. Exogenous norepinephrine(NE) and ATP contracted muscle strip concentration dependently, but the effect of acetylcholine was negligible : and GABA did not affect the NE-and ATP-induced contractions. 5. GABA, baclofen and muscimol did not affect basal tone, and GABA did not affect the NE-and ATP-induced contractionsm 6. EFS-induced contraction was including 2 distinctable components. The first phasic component was inhibited by beta gamma-methylene ATP(mATP), a desensitizing agent of APT receptor and the second tonic component was reduced by pretreatment of reserpine(3 mg/Kg, IP). 7. GABA inhibited the EFS-induced contraction of reserpinized strips, but not the mATP-treated strips. These results suggest that in the prostatic portion of the rat vas deferens, adrenergic and purinergic neurotransmissions are exist, and GABA inhibits the release of ATP via presynaptic $GABA_B$ receptor on the excitatory neurons.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.331-340
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• 2015

Mutations in Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) have been identified in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Pathological FUS is mis-localized to cytosol and forms aggregates associated with stress granules (SG), while FUS is normally localized to nucleus. However, it is largely unknown how pathological FUS forms SG-aggregates and which domains are responsible for this process. In this study, we examined cellular localization and aggregation of ALS-linked FUS missense mutants (P525L, R521C, R521H, R521G), analyzed the domains responsible for cytosolic FUS aggregation in HEK293T cells, and confirmed this in cultured mouse neurons. To do this, we firstly generated missense mutants of FUS and then examined their cellular localization. We found that P525L was mostly mis-localized to cytosol and formed FUS-positive SG aggregates while R521C, R521H, or R521G was localized to both nucleus and cytosol. To further characterize the domains required for aggregate formation of cytosolic FUS, we generated different domain-deletion mutants using FUS-∆17 which has a deletion of nuclear localization signal. Interestingly, cytosolic FUS without SYGQ and RGG1 domain or cytosolic FUS without RGG2-ZnF-RGG3 domain did not form FUS-positive SG aggregates, while cytosolic FUS without RRM domain generated more aggregates compared to FUS-∆17. Taken together, these data suggest that SYGQ-RGG1 or RGG2-ZnF-RGG3 domain contributes to formation of cytosolic aggregate, while RRM domain might interfere with FUS aggregation. Therefore, our studies will provide important insight for understanding cellular pathogenesis of neurodegeneration associated with FUS aggregate as well as finding therapeutic targets for ALS or FTD.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2003

Neurodegenerative disorders are associated with apoptosis as a causing factor or an inducer. On the other hand, it has been reported that epigallocatechin gallate (EUG), one of antioxidants and flavonoids, and z-VAD-fmk, a nonselective caspase inhibitor, suppress oxidative-radical-stress-induced apoptosis. However, it is not yet known what is the effects of EGCG and z-VAD-fmk on the apoptotic pathway is through phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) as well as mitochondria, caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). We investigated the effects of EGCG by using $H_2O_2$ treated N18D3 cells, mouse DRG hybrid neurons. Methods: Following 30 min $100\;{\mu}m\;H_2O_2$ exposure, the viability of N18D3 cells (not pretreated vs. EGCG or z-VAD-fmk pretreated) was evaluated by using MTT assay. The effect of EGCG on immunoreactivity (IR) of cytochrome c, caspase-3, PARP, PI3K/Akt and GSK-3 was examined by using Western blot, and was compared with that of z-Y4D-fmk. Results: EGCG or z-VAD-fmk pretreated N18D3 cells showed increased viability. Dose-dependent inhibition of caspase-3 activation accompanied by PARP cleavage were demonstrated by pretreatment of both agents. However, inhibition of cytochrome c release was only detected in EGCG pretreated N18D3 cells. On the pathway through PI3K/Akt and GSK-3, however, the result of Western blot in EGCG pretreated N18D3 cells showed decreased IR of Akt and GSK-3 and increased IR of p85a PI3K, phosphorylated Akt and GSK-3, and contrasted with that in z-VAD-fmk pretreated N18D3 cells showing no changes on each molecule. Conclusion: These data show that EGCG affects apoptotic pathway through upstream signal including PI3K/Akt and GSK-3 pathway as well as downstream signal including cytochrome c and caspase-3 pathway. Therefore, these results suggest that EGCG mediated activation of PI3K/Akt and inhibition GSK-B could be new potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative injury.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.28 no.3 s.68
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• pp.441-452
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• 1998

The c-fos is known as neuronal marker of second neurons which is activated by noxious peripheral stimulation. To investigate the changes of c-fos el(pression in the trigeminal nucleus complex during tooth movement, immunohistochemical study was performed. Experimental rats(9 weeks old, 210 gm 21 rats) were divided into seven groups(normal, 1 hour group, 3 hour group, 6 hour group, 12 hour group, 1 day group,3 day group). Rats in the normal group were anesthesized without orthodontic force. Rats in the experimental groups were applied orthodontic force (approximately 30 gm) to upper right maxillary molar. Frozen sections of brain stem were immunostained using rabbit antisera. The changes of c-fos expression were observed with respect to rostrocaudal distribution, laminar organization, md duration of orthodontic force application. The study results were as follows $\cdot$The c-fos nuclei in the dorsal part were observed from ipsilateral transition zone of subnucleus interpolaris and subnucleus caudalis to $C_1$ cervical dorsal horn rostrocaudally. The maximal peak point was the rostral part of subnucleus caudalis. The greatest proportion of c-fos cells were located within lamina I and II. $\cdot$The c-fos nuclei in the dorsal Part were observed from the most caudal part of subnucleus interpolaris to the middle part of the subnucleus caudalis. $\cdot$The number of c-fos immunoreactive dot increased at 1 hour group, reached its maximum at the 3 and 6 hour groups, and showed a decreasing trend after 12 hours. These results imply that nociceptive stimulation caused by continuous orthodontic force might be modulated by transition zone of subnucleus interpolaris and subnucleus caudalis, subnucleus caudalis, $C_1$ spinal dorsal hem.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2003

The Principal component analysis (PCA) is a well-known data analysis method that is useful in linear feature extraction and data compression. The PCA is a linear transformation that applies an orthogonal rotation to the original data, so as to maximize the retained variance. PCA is a classical technique for obtaining an optimal overall mapping of linearly dependent patterns of correlation between variables (e.g. neurons). PCA provides, in the mean-squared error sense, an optimal linear mapping of the signals which are spread across a group of variables. These signals are concentrated into the first few components, while the noise, i.e. variance which is uncorrelated across variables, is sequestered in the remaining components. PCA has been used extensively to resolve temporal patterns in neurophysiological recordings. Because the retinal signal is stochastic process, PCA can be used to identify the retinal spikes. With excised rabbit eye, retina was isolated. A piece of retina was attached with the ganglion cell side to the surface of the microelectrode array (MEA). The MEA consisted of glass plate with 60 substrate integrated and insulated golden connection lanes terminating in an 8${\times}$8 array (spacing 200 $\mu$m, electrode diameter 30 $\mu$m) in the center of the plate. The MEA 60 system was used for the recording of retinal ganglion cell activity. The action potentials of each channel were sorted by off­line analysis tool. Spikes were detected with a threshold criterion and sorted according to their principal component composition. The first (PC1) and second principal component values (PC2) were calculated using all the waveforms of the each channel and all n time points in the waveform, where several clusters could be separated clearly in two dimension. We verified that PCA-based waveform detection was effective as an initial approach for spike sorting method.