• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.873-881
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• 2021

Objective : Peripheral nerve injuries occur mostly as a result of mechanical trauma. Due to the microvascular deterioration in peripheral nerve damage, it becomes challenging to remove free oxygen radicals. Gallic acid is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects and a free radical scavenger. The purpose of the study is to show that gallic acid contributes to the restorative effect in mechanical nerve damage, considering its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods : Thirty male Sprague Dawley albino mature rats were included in the study. Ten of them constituted the control group, 10 out of 20 rats for which sciatic nerve damage was caused, constituted the saline group, and 10 formed the gallic acid group. Post-treatment motor functions, histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical parameters of the rats were evaluated. Results : Compared to the surgery+saline group, lower compound muscle action potential (CMAP) latency, higher CMAP amplitude, and higher inclined plane test values were found in the surgery+gallic acid group. Similarly, a higher nerve growth factor (NGF) percentage, a higher number of axons, and a lower percentage of fibrosis scores were observed in the surgery+gallic acid group. Finally, lower tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and higher heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) values were determined in the surgery+gallic acid group. Conclusion : Gallic acid positively affects peripheral nerve injury healing due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It has been thought that gallic acid can be used as a supportive treatment in peripheral nerve damage.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.217-228
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• 2022

Vigabatrin (VGB) is an effective antiepileptic drug used mainly to treat infantile spasms and refractory complex partial seizures. However, using VGB was restricted as it was known to cause retinal toxicity that appears as a severe peripheral visual field defect. Accordingly, this study was conducted to examine the histopathological and biochemical effects of VGB on the retina in adult male albino rats and assess the possible therapeutic role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) against this potential toxicity. The rats were divided into three groups (control group, VGB group, and VGB/MSCs group), one week after 65 days of VGB treatment ±MSCs. The right eyeballs were prepared for histological and immunohistochemical examination, whereas the left eyeballs were prepared for real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Our results demonstrated that MSCs ameliorated retinal pathological changes and downregulated the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, vascular endothelial growth factor, and synaptophysin after VGB administration suggesting MSCs function and vascular modulating effect. Moreover, MSCs regulate retinal tissue gene expression of BAX, Bcl-2, BDNF, NGF, synapsin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and occludin suggesting MSCs antiapoptotic and immunomodulating effect. In conclusion, MSCs administration could be a suitable therapeutic line to ameliorate VGB-induced retinopathy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.337-341
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• 2013

Objective : After spinal cord injury (SCI), functional and structural reorganization occurs at multiple levels of brain including motor cortex. However, the underlying mechanism still remains unclear. The current study was performed to investigate the alterations in the expression of the main regulators of neuronal development, survival and death, in the brain following thoracic contusive SCI in a mouse model. Methods : Eight-week-old female imprinting control region mice (n=60; 30-35 g) were used in this study. We analyzed the expression levels of regulators such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 in the brain following thoracic contusive SCI. Results : The expression of BDNF levels were elevated significantly compared with control group at 2 weeks after injury (p<0.05). The expression of NGF levels were elevated at 2, 4 weeks compared with control group, but these difference were not significant (p>0.05). The GDNF levels were elevated at 2 week compared with control group, but these differences were not significant (p>0.05). The difference of HDAC1 levels were not significant at 2, 4 and 8 weeks compared with control group (p>0.05). Conclusion : These results demonstrate that the upregulation of BDNF may play on important role in brain reorganization after SCI.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.52-67
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of Jokyeongjongok -Tang(JJT) on the progression of the estradiol valerate(EV)-induced polycystic ovaries(PCO) in rats. Methods: PCO was induced by single intramuscular injection with estradiol valerate(EV)(4 mg) in female rats. Normal group(n=8) were injected with sesame oil and orally administrated distilled water for sixty days. PCO control group (n=8) were injected with EV and orally administrated distilled water for sixty days. JJT treated group(n=8) were injected with EV and orally administrated JJT for same duration. At the end day of experiment, we measured weights of body, ovaries, adrenal glands and uterus. The histopathological changes of ovaries were also evaluated. And we observed the NGF and CRF expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: The results were as follows - The weights(mg) of ovaries of JJT treated group($58.4{\pm}9.4$) were significantly increased(p<0.01) compared with PCO control group($42.3{\pm}8.5$). - The numbers of mature follicles of JJT treated group($10.1{\pm}2.5$) were significantly increased(p<0.01) compared with PCO control group($6.1{\pm}2.1$). - The numbers of cystic follicles of JJT treated group($1.8{\pm}1.4$) were significantly decreased(p<0.05) compared with PCO control group($3.8{\pm}1.5$). - The expressions of NGF-immunoreactive cells in the ovaries of JJT treated group were weaker than PCO control group. Conclusions: From the above results, we concluded that Jokyeongjongok-Tang (JJT) contributes to a normal maturation of follicles and has the effects of promoting a normal ovulation. And these effects may be related with the decreased NGF activities in the ovaries.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.159-168
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• 2020

Purpose : To provide data on exercise prescription for obesity management and prevention of cardiovascular disease in girl's high school and to prepare basic data for more effective exercise program for lifestyle improvement and prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. This study examines the effects on brain nerve growth factor and inflammatory factors, and the relationship between obesity factor and brain neuron cell production factor and inflammatory factor changes by complex exercise. Methods : The subjects of the study were obese students with a body fat percentage of 30 % or higher after obtaining body fat percentage of high school girls in C-city. Among them, 20 students who wanted to participate in the program of this study and did not participate in special exercise and diet therapy within the last 6 months were radio-sampled into groups of exercise group and control group, but attendance rate was low and The final exercise group (9) and control group (9) were measured, except for one student who did not respond. Results : Analysis of the range of variation in body composition, BMI, lean body mass, and the interaction between the groups showed significant differences (p<.05). TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C as variables of blood lipids, TC and TG were not significantly different and TG was significantly different (p<.05) in interactions. HDL-C showed a significant difference (p<.01) in interactions, an increase in exercise group, and a significant decrease in control group (p<.05). There was a significant difference (p<.05) in BDNF interaction, an increase in the exercise group and a decrease in the control group, but no significant difference. NGF tended to increase in both exercise and control groups. IL-6 had a significant difference in timing (p<.05) and significantly decreased (p<.01) in the exercise group, and TNF-α interacted with timing (p<.05), and a significant increase in the control group. Conclusion : This study confirmed 12-week compound exercise program was effective in increasing the expression of basal fitness or CNS factor, but not enough to actually improve brain function. Fat mass and obesity are also affecting vascular inflammatory factors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.699-705
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• 1997

Although it is known that neuronal cell death during development occurs by apoptosis, the mechanisms underlying excitatory amino acid-induced neuronal cell death remain poorly understood. In this study we have examined the mechanism by which L-glutamate, an excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter, induces cell death in PC12 cell lines. To characterize cell death, we employed sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method for cellular DNA fragmentation, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and chromatin staining by acridine orange and ethidium bromide after treating the PC12 cells with L-glutamate. L-Glutamate caused dose-dependent cell death with a maximum at 24 hrs after the treatment. These cellular fragmentation was blocked by pretreatment of MK-801, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid(NMDA) receptor antagonist, and nerve growth factor(NGF). Analysis of DNA integrity from L-glutamate-treated cells revealed cleavage of DNA into regular sized fragments, a biochemical hallmark of apoptosis. The PC12 cells that were induced to die by L-glutamate treatment exhibited classical chromatin condensation under the light microscopy after acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining. These results suggest that apoptosis is one of the key features that are involved in L-glutamate-induced excitotoxic cell death in PC12 cells, and these cell death are mediated by NMDA receptor and depend on NGF.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1850-1855
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• 2004

The purpose of this report is to investigate the electroacupuncture effect on the cholinergic neuronal activation in the hippocampal CA1 section. The electroacupuncture was performed on S36 of white rats and its consequencies were investigated by immunohistochemical method. Hippocampal CA1 sections of Sprague Dawley white male rats electroacupunctured on S36 at 20㎐ and 100㎐ are stained by cresyl violet to show that the values of 100㎐ and 20㎐ group increased significantly compared to sham group's one. Especially, 100㎐ group shows stronger neuronal activation compared to 20㎐ group. Induction of AChE, a neurotransmitter, in hippocampal CA1 is increased significantly in 100㎐ and 20㎐ group compared to sham group. Especially 20㎐ group shows higher AChE immunoreaction than 100㎐ does, although it wasn't significant enough. Induction of NGF(Nerve Growth Factor) in hippocampal CA1 sections was observed higher in 20㎐ and 100㎐ group than in sham group. Especially, 20㎐ group shows higher NGF immunoreaction compared to 100㎐. The facts above indicate that the eletroacupucture is effect to the cholinergic neuronal activation of hippocampus induced by focal ischemia.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-19
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effects of Gaeullijin-Tang(GIT) on the progression of the estradiol valerate(EV)-induced polycystic ovaries(PCO) in rats. Methods: PCO was induced by single intramuscular injection with estradiol valerate(EV)(4mg) in female rats. Normal group(n=8) were injected with sesame oil and orally administrated distilled water for sixty days. PCO control group (n=8) were injected with EV and orally administrated distilled water for sixty days. GIT treated group(n=8) were injected with EV and orally administrated GIT for same duration. At the end day of experiment, we measured weights of body, ovaries, adrenal glands, uterus and contents of serum androsternedione (ADD) and total estrogen. The histomorphometrical changes of ovaries were also evaluated. And we observed the NGF and CRF expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: The results were as follows - The weights(mg) of ovaries in GIT treated group($75.5{\pm}4.3$) were significantly increased(p<0.001) compared with PCO control group($54.3{\pm}4.5$). - The numbers of mature follicles in GIT treated group($5.3{\pm}1.2$) were significantly increased(p<0.05) compared with PCO control group($3.5{\pm}1.2$). - The numbers of corpora lutea in GIT treated group($1.8{\pm}1.3$) were significantly increased(p<0.05) compared with PCO control group($0.3{\pm}0.7$). Conclusion: From the above results, we concluded that Gaeullijin-Tang(GIT) contributes to stimulating normally ovulation by decreasesing ovarian NGF concentrations.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.250-255
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• 2011

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Nerve growth factor (NGF) may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. In this study, we investigated the effect of Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) on the ovarian morphology and NGF expression in an estradiol valerate (EV)-induced rat model. Polycystic ovaries were induced by a single intramuscular injection of estadiol valerate (4 mg, dissolved in sesame oil) in adult cycling rats. KRGE was administered orally (200 mg/kg body weight/day) for 60 consecutive days, beginning 60 days after the induction. Ovarian morphology was almost normalized and NGF was normalized in the EV+KRGE group. KRGE lowered the high numbers of antral follicles and increased the number of corpora lutea in the polycystic ovaries. The results are consistent with a beneficial effect of KRGE in the treatment of PCOS.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2020

Objectives : Postpartum depression is known to occur in 10-15% of mothers. The concentration of cytokine varies depending on stress, depression, pregnancy and general medical conditions. We hypothesized that the concentration of cytokines may be related to reproduction and childbirth, and that women with postpartum depression would show alterations in cytokines levels. Methods : A total of 104 pregnant women were selected as subjects, and 60 non-pregnant women were selected as normal controls. Symptoms of depression were evaluated in the pregnant study subjects using the diagnostic criteria outlined in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The pregnant subjects were divided into three groups perinatal non-depression controls (n=61), postpartum depression-recovery (n=18), and postpartum depression (n=25). Results : The plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1 was higher in the pregnant group than in non-pregnant controls (TGF-β1 ; p<0.01, IGF-1 ; p=0.026). At 24 weeks of pregnancy and 6 weeks of delivery, there were no significant differences in the plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1, β-NGF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α between the three groups. There was no statistically significant difference in all three groups during the course of depression in pregnant women. Conclusions : This study found significant difference in plasma cytokines concentrations between non-pregnant controls and perinatal non-depression controls.