• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.161-168
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• 2002

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (Huang-lian-jie-du-tang, HRHDT, 黃連解毒湯) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine that is formulated with Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex, Scutellariae Radix and Gardeniae Fructus. HRHDT is cold (寒) and bitter (苦) in nature and has general properties of clearing heat and detoxifying (淸熱解毒), strengthening the stomach and settling the liver (健胃平肝), and reducing inflammation, fever and swelling. This formula can prevent and treat artherosclerosis, hyperplasia of the endothelium, cerebral fluid circulation, cerebral vascular deterioration through aging, impairment of neurotransmitters, or disruption of the functioning of the cerebral cortex following infection or trauma. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the neuroprotective effect of HRHDT on global ischemia induced by 4-vessel occlusion in Wistar rats. Methods: HRHDT extract was lyophilized after extraction with 85% methanol and 100% water. Rats were induced to 10 minutes of forebrain ischemia by 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO) and reperfused again. HRHDT was administered with a dose of 100 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg of 85% methanol extracts and 100 mg/kg of 100% water extracts, respectively, at 0 min and 90 min after 4-VO. Rats were killed at 7 days after ischemia and the number of CA1 pyramidal neurons was counted in hippocampal sections stained with cresyl violet. Results: Body temperature of animals showed no significant difference between saline-treated groups and HRHDT extracts-treated groups until 5 hours of reperfusion. This result indicated that neuroprotective effects of HRHDT extracts were not due to hypothermic effects. The administration of HRHDT showed a significant neuroprotective effect on hippocampal CA1 neurons at 7 days after ischemia compared to the saline-treated group (P<0.001). HRHDT methanol extracts of 100 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and HRHDT water extracts of 100 mg/kg showed 88.5%, 98.3% and 95.1 % neuroprotection, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that administration of HRHDT is highly effective in reducing neuronal damage in response to transient global cerebral ischemia. HRHDT may involve many mechanisms that might account for its high degree of efficacy. A number of factors including free radicals, glutamate, calcium overload, NO, and various cytokines have been proposed to have an important role in causing neuronal death after short periods of global ischemia. Further studies are needed to know the neuroprotective mechanisms of HRHDT.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2006

Neuron-derived orphan receptor (NOR-1) is a member of the thyroid/steroid receptor superfamily that was originally identified in forebrain neuronal cells undergoing apoptosis. In addition to apoptotic stimuli, activation of several signal transduction pathways including direct neuronal depolarization regulates the expression of NOR-1. In this study we tested whether the expression of NOR-1 is changed following transient ischemic injury in the adult rat brain. NOR-1 mRNA increased rapidly in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation and piriform cortex 3 h after transient global ischemia and returned to basal level at 6 h. On the other hand, oxygen-glucose deprivation of cultured cerebral cortical neurons did not alter the expression of NOR-1. These results suggest that expression of NOR-1 is differentially regulated in different brain regions in response to globally applied brain ischemia, but that hypoxia is not sufficient to induce its expression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.51-64
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• 2003

Objective : This study investigated the alteration of neural activity and effect of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) on cerebral ischemia of rats. Methods : Considering age-related impact on cerebral ischemia, aged rats (18 months old) were used for this study. Ischemic damage was induced by the transient occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries (BCAO) with hypotension. Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) was administered twice a day orally. Then alterations of neural activities in the brain of aged BCAO rats were measured by the [$^{14}C$]2-deoxyglucose autoradiography method. Results : The BCAO in aged rats led to significant decrease of neural activity in the whole brain. Treatment with Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) significantly attenuated the decrease of neural activity in the whole brain following BCAO ischemia. Treatment significantly attenuated the decrease of neural activity in the CA1, CA2, CA3, dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, activated barrel, barrel cortex, somatosensory cortex, cingulate cortex, caudate putamen, and medial septal nucleus following BCAO in aged rats. Treatment with Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) also significantly attenuated the decrease of neural activity in the anteroventral thalamic nucleus, ventral anterior thalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus, posterior hypothalamic area, medial mammillary nucleus, lateral periaqueductal gray, dorsal raphe nucleus, interpeduncular nucleus, median raphe nucleus, and medial pontine nucleus. Conclusion : It can be suggested that Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) has a neuroprotecuve effect on cerebral ischemia through the control of glucose metabolic rate and cerebral blood flow.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.718-722
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• 2014

The cerebellum is known to control balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone. If the cerebellum becomes damaged, the body is unable to retain its balancing functions or involuntary muscle movement. This is why, in stroke patients, there is a high risk of functional disability, as well as a myriad of other disabilities secondary to stroke. Ischemia was induced in SD mice by occluding the common carotid artery for 5 minutes, after which blood was reperfused. Needle electrode electrical stimulation(NEES) was applied to acupuncture points, at 12, 24, and 48 hours post-ischemia on the joksamri. Protein expression was investigated through caspase-3 antibody immuno-reactive cells in the cerebral nerve cells and Western blotting. The results were as follows: The number of caspase-3 reactive cells in the corpus cerebellum 12 and 24 hours post-ischemia was significantly (p<.05) smaller in the NEES group compared to the GI group. caspase-3 expression 12 and 24 hours post-ischemia was significantly(p<.05) smaller in the NEES group compared to the GI group. Based on these results, NEES seems to have a significant effect on Caspase-3 in the cerebellum in an ischemic state at 12 and 24 hours post ischemia, NEES delays the occurrence of early stage apoptosis-inducing Caspase-3, delaying and inhibiting apoptosis. Further systematic studies will have to be conducted in relation to the application of this study's results on stroke patients.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

Objectives : This research was performed to investigate protective effect of Sophora Subprostrata against transient global ischemic damage after 5-min two vessel occlusion. Methods : Gerbils were divided into three groups: Normal group, 5-min two vessel occlusion (2VO) group, Sophora Subprostrata administrated group after 2VO. The CCAs were occluded by microclip for 5min. Sophora Subprostrata was administrated orally(12mg/ml) for 7 days after 2VO. The histological and immunohistochemistrical analysis was performed at 72 hours and 7 days after the surgery each. For histological analysis, the brain tissue was stained with 1% cresyl violet solution and Immunohistochemistry for BAX and Bcl-2 was carried out to examine effect of Sophora Subprostrata on ischemic brain tissue. Results : The results showed that (1) Sophora Subprostrata has the protective effect against ischemia in CA1 area of the gerbil hippocampus 7 days after 5-minute occlusion, (2) the treatment of Sophora Subprostrata inhibits the expression of Bax relatively after 2VO-induced ischemia. That protective effect of the Sophora Subprostrata seems to be performed by regulating the proportion of Bax and Bcl-2 protein, (3) in hypoxia/reperfusion model using PC12 cell, the Sophora Subprostrata extract has the protective effect against ischemia in the dose of $2{\mu}/m{\ell}$ and $20{\mu}/m{\ell}$.This study suggests that Sophora Subprostrata has neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia in vivo with a widely used experimental model of cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils and that Sophora Subprostrata regulates the proportion of Bax and Bcl-2 protein following ischemia. And, Sophora Subprostrata extract has protective effects also on a hypoxia/reperfusion cell culture model using PC12 cell. Conclusions : Sophora Subprostrata has protective effects against ischemic brain damage at the early stage of ischemia.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2016

Intravenous administration of mesenchymal stem cells (IV-MSC) protects the ischemic rat brain in a stroke model, but the molecular mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect is unclear. We compared genomic profiles using the mRNA microarray technique in a rodent stroke model. Rats were treated with $1{\times}10^6$ IV-MSC or saline (sham group) 2 h after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). mRNA microarray was conducted 72 h after MCAo using brain tissue from normal rats (normal group) and the sham and MSC groups. Predicted pathway analysis was performed in differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and functional tests and immunohistochemistry for inflammation-related proteins were performed. We identified 857 DEGs between the sham and normal groups, with the majority of them (88.7%) upregulated in sham group. Predicted pathway analysis revealed that cerebral ischemia activated 10 signaling pathways mainly related to inflammation and cell cycle. IV-MSC attenuated the numbers of dysregulated genes in cerebral ischemia (118 DEGs between the MSC and normal groups). In addition, a total of 218 transcripts were differentially expressed between the MSC and sham groups, and most of them (175/218 DEGs, 80.2%) were downregulated in the MSC group. IV-MSC reduced the number of Iba-$1^+$ cells in the peri-infarct area, reduced the overall infarct size, and improved functional deficits in MCAo rats. In conclusion, transcriptome analysis revealed that IV-MSC attenuated postischemic genomic alterations in the ischemic brain. Amelioration of dysregulated inflammation- and cell cycle-related gene expression in the host brain is one of the molecular mechanisms of IV-MSC therapy for cerebral ischemia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.29-38
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to determine the neuroprotective effect of modified Boyanghwano-tang(mBHT), a traditional Korean medicine, on the transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods : Focal ischemia and reperfusion were induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) for 90 min, followed by 144 h reperfusion in rats. mBHT(200mg/kg body weight, p.o.) was administrated in rats once a day during reperfusion. At the end of treatment, brain infarction was measured by TTC staining, and histological change was observed by H&E staining. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and cytochrome c in ischemic brains were determined by immunofluorescent analysis. Results : mBHT significantly reduced the cerebral infarct volumes of the MCAO rats. mBHT also attenuated the neuronal cell death and the expressions of pro-apoptotic molecules, bax and cytochrome c in ischemic brains. Further, mBHT significantly increased the survival time of ischemeic rats and the expression of anti-apoptotic molecule, Bcl-2 in ischemic brains. Conclusions : Our results suggest that mBHT is neuroprotective and may prove to be useful adjunct in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.548-558
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• 2018

Objective : Diagnosing acute cerebral infarction is crucial in determining prognosis of stroke patients. Although many serologic tests for prompt diagnosis are available, the clinical application of serologic tests is currently limited. We investigated whether $S100{\beta}$, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), D-dimer, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) can be used as biomarkers for acute cerebral infarction. Methods : Focal cerebral ischemia was induced using the modified intraluminal filament technique. Mice were randomly assigned to 30-minute occlusion (n=10), 60-minute occlusion (n=10), or sham (n=5) groups. Four hours later, neurological deficits were evaluated and blood samples were obtained. Infarction volumes were calculated and plasma $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, D-dimer, and HSP70 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : The average infarction volume was $12.32{\pm}2.31mm^3$ and $46.9{\pm}7.43mm^3$ in the 30- and 60-minute groups, respectively. The mean neurological score in the two ischemic groups was $1.6{\pm}0.55$ and $3.2{\pm}0.70$, respectively. $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, and HSP70 expressions significantly increased after 4 hours of ischemia (p=0.001). Furthermore, $S100{\beta}$ and MMP-9 expressions correlated with infarction volumes (p<0.001) and neurological deficits (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in D-dimer expression between groups (p=0.843). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) showed high sensitivity and specificity for MMP-9, HSP70 (AUC=1), and $S100{\beta}$ (AUC=0.98). Conclusion : $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, and HSP70 can complement current diagnostic tools to assess cerebral infarction, suggesting their use as potential biomarkers for acute cerebral infarction.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2007

In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (GBB) (total terpene trilactones, 13 ${\pm}$ 3%; biflavone, 4.5 ${\pm}$ 1.5%; flavonol glycoside, < 8%; proanthocyanidine, under detection limit) on ischemia-reperfusion-induced brain injury in the rats. Ischemia was induced by the intraluminal occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 h and reperfusion was continued for 22 h. GBB was orally administered, promptly prior to reperfusion and 2 h after. Total infarction volume in the ipsilateral hemispheres of ischemia-reperfusion rats were significantly reduced by treatment with GBB in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The therapeutic time window of GBB was 3 h in this ischemia-reperfusion rat model. Furthermore, GBB also significantly inhibited increased neutrophil infiltration of ischemic brain tissue, as estimated by myeloperoxidase activity. These findings suggest that GBB plays a crucial protective role in ischemia-induced brain injury, in part, via inhibition of neutrophil infiltration, and suggest that this GBB could serve as a neuroprotective agent following transient focal ischemic brain injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 1998

It has been well documented that transient forebrain global ischemia causes selective neuronal degeneration in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons with a delay of a few days. The mechanism of this delayed hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuronal death (DND) is still controversial. To delineate the mechanisms of the DND, the effects of treatment with MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist, kynurenic acid, a NMDA/non-NMDA receptor antagonist, and/or cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, on the DND were investigated in male Wistar rats. To examine the participation of apoptotic neuronal death in the DND, TUNEL staining was performed in ischemic brain section. Global ischemia was induced by 4-vessel occlusion for 20 min. All animals in this study showed the DND 3 and 7 days after the ischemic insult. The DND that occured 3 days and 7 days after the ischemia were not affected by pretreatment with MK-801 (1 mg/kg), but markedly attenuated by the pretreatment with kynurenic acid (500 mg/kg). Treatment with cycloheximide (1 mg/kg) also markedly inhibited the DND. The magnitudes of attenuation by the two drugs were similar. The magnitude of attenuation by co-treatments with kynurenic acid and cycloheximide was not greater than that with any single treatment. TUNEL staining was negative in the sections obtained 1 or 2 days after the ischemic insults, but it was positive at hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells in sections collected 3 days after the ischemia. These results suggested that the DND should be mediated by the activation of non-NMDA receptor, not by the activation of NMDA receptor and that the activation of AMPA receptor should induce the apoptotic process in the DND.