• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.129-139
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• 2016

Curcumin plays a protective role in brain injury through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Moreover, peroxiredoxin-5 exerts a protective effect against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether curcumin modulated the peroxiredoxin-5 expression in focal cerebral ischemic animal model. Middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) was performed to induce cerebral ischemic injury in rats. Adult male rats were injected intraperitoneally with vehicle or curcumin(50mg/kg B.W.) 1 h after MCAO and cerebral cortex tissues were collected 24 h after MCAO. Photographs of hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that MCAO induced necrotic changes with scalloped shrunken form and apoptotic changes with nuclear chromatin condensations. However, curcumin treatment attenuated MCAO-induced histopathological changes. Moreover, this study clearly showed that peroxiredoxin-5 expression was decreased in MCAO operated animal with vehicle using a proteomics approach. However, this decrease in peroxiredoxin-5 expression was attenuated by curcumin treatment. Reverse-transcription PCR and Western blot analyses confirmed that curcumin treatment alleviated the MCAO injury-induced decrease in peroxiredoxin-5 expression(p<0.05). These results demonstrated that curcumin regulates peroxiredoxin-5 expression in MCAO animal model. In conclusion, our findings suggest that curcumin exerts a neuroprotective effect in cerebral ischemia by attenuating the MCAO-induced decrease in peroxiredoxin-5 expression.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1875-1885
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• 2021

Objective: Central nervous system involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been increasingly reported. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of radiologically demonstrated neurologic complications and detailed neuroimaging findings associated with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE databases was performed up to September 17, 2020, and studies evaluating neuroimaging findings of COVID-19 using brain CT or MRI were included. Several cohort-based outcomes, including the proportion of patients with abnormal neuroimaging findings related to COVID-19 were evaluated. The proportion of patients showing specific neuroimaging findings was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were also conducted focusing on critically ill COVID-19 patients and results from studies that used MRI as the only imaging modality. Results: A total of 1394 COVID-19 patients who underwent neuroimaging from 17 studies were included; among them, 3.4% of the patients demonstrated COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed (23.1%). The predominant cerebral neuroimaging finding was white matter abnormality (17.6%), followed by acute/subacute ischemic infarction (16.0%), and encephalopathy (13.0%). Significantly more critically ill patients had COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings than other patients (9.1% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.029). The type of imaging modality used did not significantly affect the proportion of COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Conclusion: Abnormal neuroimaging findings were occasionally observed in COVID-19 patients. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed finding. Critically ill patients showed abnormal neuroimaging findings more frequently than the other patient groups. White matter abnormalities, ischemic infarctions, and encephalopathies were the common cerebral neuroimaging findings.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.724-728
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• 2002

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism, which consists of presence (insertion, I) or absence (deletion, D) of a 250-bp fragment, is associated with ischemic heart disease, renovascular disease, systemic lupus erythematosus. Subjects with the DD genotype have higher levels of circulating ACE than subjects with the II genotype and show an increased tendency towards vascular wall thickness and contribute to the development of vascular disease. But the association between I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and cerebrovascular disease is still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine whether the DNA polymorphism of the ACE are associated with cerebrovascular disease in Korean population. The study group comprised 377 Korean patients admitted to Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center in the year of 2000 for the treatment of brain infarction or brain hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) was performed for each patient to determine the stroke phenotype, infarction or hemorrhage. The 183 subjects without evidence of brain infarction or brain hemorrhage were selected from the some ethnical population(control group). Venous blood samples were drawn from each subject for the extraction of DNA. Genotypes of ACE were determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the genomic DNA. Case and control genotype frequencies were compared by chi-square testing. Both the patients and the controls were classified respectively into 4 groups: age less than forty years, age forty one to fifty, age fifty one to sixty, age greater than sixty years. There were no significant differences in the distributions of ACE genotypes among the patients with infarction, with hemorrhage and controls (Infarction: D/D 15.8%, I/D 46.7%, I/I 37.5%, Hemorrhage: D/D 15.1%, I/D 46.5%, I/I 38.4%, Control: D/D 18.6%, I/D 50.3%, I/I 31.2%). There was a significant difference in the distribution of ACE genotypes between the age greater than sixty year subgroup of patient with brain hemorrhage and the control (Hemorrhage: D/D 0%, I/D 55.6%, I/I 44.4%, Control: D/D 13.0%, I/D 63.0%, I/I 23.9%; Pearson Chi-Square value 5.956, P<0.05). Furthermore, the frequency of the ACE D/D type declined with increasing age both in the patient and control group (Patient group: age < 50 D/D 21.5%, age > 50 D/D 14.42%; Control group: age < 50 D/D 21.0%, age > 50 D/D 14.2%). In conclusion there is no clear association between ACE polymorphism and cerebrovascular disease in Korean population. Although, there was a tendency for the frequency of the ACE D/D type declined with increasing age in both patients and controls.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.77-81
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• 2004

The loss of neurons and synaptic contacts following cerebral ischemia may lead to a synaptic plastic modification, which may contribute to the functional recovery after a brain lesion. Using synapsin I and GAP-43 as markers, we investigated the neuronal cell death and the synaptic plastic modification in the rat hippocampus of a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Cresyl violet staining revealed that neuronal cell damage occurred after 2 h of MCAO, which progressed during reperfusion for 2 weeks. The immunoreactivity of synapsin I and GAP-43 was increased in the stratum lucidum in the CA3 subfield as well as in the inner and outer molecular layers of dentate gyrus in the hippocampus at reperfusion for 2 weeks. The immunoreactivity of phosphosynapsin was increased in the stratum lucidum in the CA3 subfield during reperfusion for 1 week. Our data suggest that the increase in the synapsin I and GAP-43 immunoreactivity probably mediates either the functional adaptation of the neurons through reactive synaptogenesis from the pre-existing presynaptic nerve terminals or the structural remodeling of their axonal connections in the areas with ischemic loss of target cells. Furthermore, phosphosynapsin may play some role in the synaptic plastic adaptations before or during reactive synaptogenesis after the MCAO.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2007

Temporary occlusion of the parent artery or feeding artery is an useful method in microsurgery for cerebrovascular diseases. The advantages of the temporary clipping for intracranial aneurysm surgery have already been proven by many experimental and clinical reports. Currently, there are two methods of temporary clipping: 1) intermittent clipping, 2) continuous clipping. In many previous studies, the intermittent, repeated clipping technique was reported to reduce ischemic damage to the brain, but it is still debated. On the other hand, a comparison of the histological changes on the arterial wall between each clipping method has not been sufficiently reported yet. So the authors performed experimental temporary clipping on the common carotid and femoral arteries of about 25 rats using the Sugita temporary mini-clip. The specimens were divided into two major groups and seven subgroups: Group I (I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, intermittent clippings for 5 minutes were done once, twice, three times, and few times), and Group C (C-10, C-15, C-20, continuous clippings for 10, 15, 20 minutes, respectively). The reperfusion time after the temporary clipping was the same as the clipping duration. Under light microscope, the histological findings by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining were examined in all specimens, which were obtained at each time interval after temporary clipping. Then the histological changes of the arterial walls by two different methods were compared with the normal specimen. The results suggest that intermittent temporary clipping is less damaging on the arterial wall than single continuous clipping.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1733-1739
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• 2004

The water extract of Hwangryunhaedog-tang(HRHDT} has been traditionally used for treatment of ischemic heart and brain damage in oriental medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which the water extract of HRHDT rescues cells from these damages. This study was designed to investigate the protective mechanisms of HRHDT on hypoxia-induced cytotoxicity in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. Hypoxia, markedly decreased the viability of H9c2 cells, which was characterized with apparent apoptptic features such as chromatin condensation as well as fragmentation of genomic DNA and nuclei. However, HRHDT significantly reduced hypoxia-induced cell death and apoptotic characteristics. Also, HRHDT prevented the mitochondrial dysfunction including the disruption of mitochondria membrane permeability transition (MPT) and an increase in expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins in hypoxia-H9c2 cells. Taken together, this study suggests that the protective effects of the water extract of HRHDT against hypoxic damages may be mediated by the modulation of Bcl-2 and Bak expression.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.993-999
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• 2008

Ischemic brain injury such as cerebral infarction is characterized by acute local inflammatory response mediated by cytokines. The mechanism of cytokines involved in cerebral infarction progression are uncompletely revealed yet. We investigated to find out the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of interleukin 4 receptor(IL4R) and Oriental Medicine therapy efficacy in patients with cerebral infarction for 2 weeks. Oriental Korean Medicine therapies (herbal medicine and acupuncture) were applied daily and motor functions of patients were assessed using the modified cerebral vascular accident (MCVA) scores. Genotyping for IL4R polymorphism was done by pyrosequencing analysis. In IL4R genotypes and the frequency of alleles, there was no significant difference between cerebral infarction patients (n=124) and controls group (n=175). And there was also no significant difference among good and bad responders in cerebral infarction patients. In this study the IL4R genotype might not be the risk factor or a good predictive genetic marker for good and bad responders in cerebral infarction patients in Korean. Further studies including different cytokine genes will be necessary for the exact genetic markers.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.610-614
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• 1998

The first heart-lung transplantation in Korea was successfully performed. The recipient was a 11 year old girl with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. She had been catheterized at the ages of 4 months, 3 years, 7 years and 10 years, which revealed that neither Fontan nor biventricular repair was feasible. The donor was a traffic accident victim, a 9 year-old boy with the same blood type. The donor was pronounced dead according to the guidelines of the Korean Medical Association's Brain Death Committee. The operation was performed on April 20, 1997. The native heart-lung block was explanted segmentally and donor one was placed above the phrenic nerve using the Arizona technique. After the tracheal anastomosis with single continuous 4-0 prolene, both vena cavae were anastomosed, followed by aortic anastomosis. The graft ischemic time was 145 minutes. The postoperative course was complicated by fever and tracheal stenosis at the anastomosis site. The fever was controlled by anti-tuberculous medications and the tracheal stenosis was relieved by stent(Palmaz 8 mm, 30 mm in length) placement on POD #71. The patient is doing well and is very active in her 7th postoperative month.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.281-294
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• 1977

Superior vena cava to pulmonary arterial shunting operation was made between the superior vena cava and the right pulmonary artery in the fashion of end-to-end anastomosis in 20 mongrel dogs. The experimental animals were divided into three group and blood flow in the superior vena cava was occluded for 20, 30 and 60 minutes respectively, and observations were made for the changes in caval pressure and cerebrospinal fluid pressure. And pathologic examinations were also performed. On occluding the caval blood flow, the superior vena caval pressure was sharply and immediately elevated from $103.5{\pm}19.8mmH_2O$ at thoracotomy to $556.4{\pm}86.lmmH_2O$ within 2 minutes to make its plateau thereafter, and the cerebrospinal fluid pressure followed closely the changes of the superior vena caval pressure in its level and pattern being elevated from $102.0{\pm}19.9mmH_2O$ to $490.5{\pm}79.9mmH_2O$. The drops of both the caval and cerebrospinal fluid pressures were definite and marked on opening the shunt flow through the anastomosis, but these postoperative pressures retained still higher ones above their levels measured at thoracotomy. The pathological examinations of the brain and the spinal cord were also performed in six animals. Characteristic changes uniformly seen in all area and in all animals were the findings of capillary congestion and perivascular edema. On the other hand, ischemic nerve cell changes were rather evident, revealing their degrees and extents being related to the prolongation of the time of caval occlusion which has followed by the sustained high pressures in both the superior vena and the cerebrospinal fluid. The experiment suggests the safety of this surgical procedure with minimal, if any, permanent damage as long as the occlusion of the caval blood flow is not prolonged beyond the expected.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2009

Most of the cholesterol is synthesized by liver in the body while about one of third is taken via dietary. The main functions of cholesterol is to protect membranes in cell surface, avoid the arterial bleeding by hypertension, and prolong the life of erythrocytes, and so on. However, overload of cholesterol leads to arteriosclerosis associated with leading death cause. Lack of physical activity, emotional and environmental stress, and low intake of protein or vitamin E induce the unbalance between HDL- and LDL-cholesterol so become a basis of ischemic disorders in heart, brain and elsewhere in the body. So far, four major classes of medications for hyperlipidemia are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), bile acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid, and fibric acids. The statins can lower LDL and levels triglyceride, but may induce myopathy and an elevation of liver enzyme levels. The bile acid sequestrants lower LDL levels and raise HDL levels with no effect on triglyceride levels but side effects of gastrointestinal (GI) distress, constipation, and a decrease in the absorption of other drugs. Nicotinic acid and fibric acids lower LDL and triglyceride levels with showing flushing, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, GI distress, and hepatotoxicity dyspepsia, gallstones, myopathy, and unexplained noncardiac death as adverse effects. Above western drugs lower cholesterol by 15 to 30% while all have notable adverse effects. In traditional medicine, hyperlipidemia is regarded as retention of phlegm and fluid disease. Etiology and pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia is basically based on Spleen-Deficiency and Phlegm-Stagnation, accumulation and stasis of -heat, and Qi & blood stagnation induced by Phlegm-damp, water-dampness, and blood stasis. Thereby, strengthening Spleen and dissolving Phlegm, clearing away heat and diuresis, and supplementing Qi and activating blood circulation are commonly used therapeutic methods for hyperlipidemia. The traditional herbal medicine, have been used for patients with CVA, hypertension or hyperlipidemia in Oriental hospital or Oriental clinic. The lock and key theory is used to develop most of western medicine, however many diseases are caused by mixed factors in body-complex system. We expect that Oriental pharmacological theory could be newborn as a novel drug showing high advantage of blood levels of lipidsand QOL of performance without side effects.