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The purpose of this case report was to document the efficacy of Korean medicine as a treatment for Ophthalmoplegia of Miller-Fisher Syndrome. A 57-year-old male patient was treated with acupuncture, electropuncture, pharmacopuncture, and cupping treatments for 2 months. Symptom changes were evaluated using the Scott and Kraft score, photographs of eyeball movement, and the Yanagihara score. Korean medicine treatment significantly improved the eye movements, ncreased the Scott and Kraft score from -4 to 0, and improved the Yanagihara score from 20 to 32. Korean medicine treatment could effectively and quickly treat Ophthalmoplegia of Miller-Fisher Syndrome.

Objective: To examine the effects of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maximowicz extract (TE) and Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxi mowicz Cheonghyeol Plus Phellinus linteus Cheonghyeol plus (TCP) on anti-inflammatory factor expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).Methods: HUVECs were activated with TNF-α and then treated with TE and TCP. The expression levels were then measured for intracellular genes (KLF2, eNOS, MCP-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1), proteins (KLF2, eNOS, MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, ERK, and JNK, p38), and extracellular biomarkers (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MCP-1).Results:1. TCP at concentrations of 100 μg/mL or greater significantly increased the expression of KLF2 and eNOS intracellular genes and significantly decreased the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MCP-1 genes compared to the control group.2. TCP at concentrations of 100 μg/mL or greater significantly increased the expression of KLF2, eNOS proteins compared to the control group, and significantly reduced the expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, MCP-1, ERK, and p38 proteins. However, JNK protein phosphorylation showed no significant change compared to the control group.3. TCP at concentrations of 100 μg/mL or more significantly decreased the production of MCP-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 extracellular biomarkers compared to the control group.4. TE at a concentration of 100 μg/mL did not cause any significant change in the expression of intracellular genes or proteins, in the production of the extracellular biomarker MCP-1, or in the amount of JNK protein compared to the control group. Other intracellular genes, proteins, and extracellular biomarker expression showed the same trend as observed with TCP exposure.Conclusion: This study experimentally confirmed that TE and TCP could be effective in preventing or inhibiting various inflammatory vascular diseases due to their anti-inflammatory effects.

Objective: The aim of this study is to report the improvement of a basal ganglia infarction patient with left hemiplegia and gait disturbance after treatment with Korean medicine.Methods: The patient was treated using acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. To evaluate the effect on clinical symptoms, a manual muscle test, the Modified Functional Ambulation Classification, and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index were used.Results: After 118 days of treatment, scores for all three scales improved.Conclusion: Treatment with Korean medicine appears to be effective for improving the clinical symptoms of basal ganglia infarction with hemiplegia and gait disturbance, but further research is needed to verify this.

Objective: The aim of this study is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine for a patient with dizziness following anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction.Methods: The patient was treated with traditional Korean methods including acupuncture, herbal therapy, moxibustion, and vestibular rehabilitation exercise during an admission period of seven days. The patient’s dizziness was assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory (K-DHI), Korean Activities-specific Balance Confidence (K-ABC), Korean Vestibular Disorders Activities of Daily Living (K-VADL), the modified Rankin scale (mRS), and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI).Results: After seven days of combined treatment with traditional methods and vestibular rehabilitation, the patient’s dizziness was reduced from NRS 6-7 to NRS 2. In addition, K-DHI decreased from 84 to 22; K-ABC improved from 52% to 78.125%; K-VADL reduced from 175 to 37; the mRS score changed from 4 to 1; and the K-MBI score increased from 86 to 98. No adverse events were observed during treatment.Conclusion: This study suggests that combined therapy of Korean medicine and vestibular rehabilitation can be effective treatment for anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction patients.

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of Pyung-Hyung acupuncture and herbal medicine for a hemiplegic patient diagnosed with intracerebral hemorrhage.Methods: The patient was treated with Pyung-Hyung acupuncture and herbal medicine for one month. Intracerebral hemorrhage symptoms were evaluated using the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), the Manual Muscle Test (MMT), and brain CT images.Results: Following Pyung-Hyung acupuncture and herbal medicine, K-MBI, MMT, and brain CT image results improved.Conclusion: This case showed that Pyung-Hyung acupuncture and herbal medicine effectively treated intracerebral hemorrhage with hemiplegia.

Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture and herbal medicine (Gami-banhabakchulchunma-tang) for post-stroke visual impairment.Methods: A 79-year-old male with headache, dizziness, visual field defects, and blurred vision caused by a posterior cerebral infarction was treated with acupuncture and Gami-banhabakchulchunma-tang for three months. We used the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for each symptom and measured the patient’s eye-movement range.Results: Following treatment, the NRS score for headache decreased from 5 to 0, and for dizziness and blurred vision, it decreased from 5 to 1. The NRS score for visual field defects decreased from 5 to 2. The range of the patient’s left and right eye movements both improved, and no adverse side effects were observed during the admission period.Conclusions: Korean medical treatment with acupuncture and herbal medicine (Gami-banhabakchulchunma-tang) could effectively treat post-stoke visual impairment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment for a patient with lateral medullary infarction who presented with central dizziness and hypoesthesia.Methods: The patient was treated with Korean medicine treatment, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. We measured the progress of the case using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS).Results: After the treatment, the NRS scores for dizziness and hypoesthesia decreased.Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine treatment might be effective for lateral medullary infarction in patients who present with central dizziness and hypoesthesia.

Salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) is a trait carrying strong prognostic implications for various cardiovascular diseases. To test the hypothesis that excessive maternal salt intake causes SSBP in offspring through a mechanism dependent upon arginine-vasopressin (AVP), we performed a series of experiments using offspring of the rat dams salt-loaded during pregnancy and lactation with 1.5% saline drink (“experimental offspring”) and those with normal perinatal salt exposure (“control offspring”). Salt challenge, given at 7–8 weeks of age with either 2% saline drink (3 days) or 8% NaCl-containing chow (4 weeks), had little or no effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in female offspring, whereas the salt challenge significantly raised SBP in male offspring, with the magnitude of increase being greater in experimental, than control, rats. Furthermore, the salt challenge not only raised plasma AVP level more and caused greater depressor responses to V1a and V2 AVP receptor antagonists to occur in experimental, than control, males, but it also made GABA excitatory in a significant proportion of magnocellular AVP neurons of experimental males by depolarizing GABA equilibrium potential. The effect of the maternal salt loading on the salt challenge-elicited SBP response in male offspring was precluded by maternal conivaptan treatment (non-selective AVP receptor antagonist) during the salt-loading period, whereas it was mimicked by neonatal AVP treatment. These results suggest that the excessive maternal salt intake brings about SSBP in male offspring, both the programming and the expression of which depend on increased AVP secretion that may partly result from excitatory GABAergic action.

Aim Abundant evidence indicates that estrogen (E2) plays a protective role against hypertension. Yet, the mechanism underlying the antihypertensive effect of E2 is poorly understood. In this study, we sought to determine the mechanism through which E2 inhibits salt-dependent hypertension. Methods and results To this end, we performed a series of in-vivo and in-vitro experiments employing a rat model of hypertension that is produced by deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt treatment after uninephrectomy. We found that E2 prevented DOCA-salt treatment from inducing hypertension, raising plasma arginine-vasopressin (AVP) level, enhancing the depressor effect of the V1a receptor antagonist (Phenylac1, D-Tyr(Et)2, Lys6, Arg8, des-Gly9)-vasopressin, and converting GABAergic inhibition to excitation in hypothalamic magnocellular AVP neurons. Moreover, we obtained results indicating that the E2 modulation of the activity and/or expression of NKCC1 (Cl- importer) and KCC2 (Cl- extruder) underpins the effect of E2 on the transition of GABAergic transmission in AVP neurons. Lastly, we discovered that, in DOCA-salt-treated hypertensive ovariectomized rats, CLP290 (prodrug of the KCC2 activator CLP257, intraperitoneal injections) lowered blood pressure and plasma AVP level and hyperpolarized GABA equilibrium potential to prevent GABAergic excitation from emerging in the AVP neurons of these animals. Conclusion Based on these results, we conclude that E2 inhibits salt-dependent hypertension by suppressing GABAergic excitation to decrease the hormonal output of AVP neurons. Translational perspective Numerous studies have shown that sex steroids can impact blood pressure (BP) and premenopausal women have a lower incidence of hypertension than age-matched men. Postmenopausal women no longer enjoy this beneficial difference. The causal mechanisms are not clear and hormone replacement therapy with estradiol (E2) does not consistently lower BP in postmenopausal women. In this study we showed that rats treated with CLP290 to control GABAergic excitation in AVP neurons have the same phenotype as E2-supplemented rats in BP and plasma AVP level. This result indicates that CLP290 leverages the same pathway of E2 protective effects against salt-dependent hypertension, and therefore, raises the possibility that classes of drugs like CLP290 may have some utility as alternative antihypertensives in persons resistant to or contraindicated for E2 therapy.

This study reviewed the quality addition rate, calculation, and application criteria needed to identify the possibility of additional medical technologists in the field for new certification and professional manpower to provide a superior laboratory. The six institutions that participated in the study were the size of large hospitals with more than 1,000 beds, with an average of five full-time laboratory physicians (also called clinical pathologists) and an average of 53 medical technologists, with 10.6 per laboratory physician. An analysis of the time required for each activity category of medical technologists revealed decreasing behavior during the analysis. In contrast, the ratio of the com-prehensive pre-analysis activities was high due to the strengthening of laboratory operations and quality control. During the analysis, the proportion of biochemistry tests was high, and post-analysis of most of the results was performed. Hence, improving the quality of sample testing requires significant time, and appropriate personnel are required. In conclusion, the recruitment of medical technologists is also a key component to improving the sample quality, and corresponding personnel regulations are necessary.

This study examines and presents reasonable improvement measures for the operation and revision of the relative value scoring system, and the basis for performance of a medical technologist. Seven hospitals were enrolled in the study, and included 5 resident laboratory medicine specialists and 53 medical technologists, giving a ratio of 10.6 technologists per laboratory medicine specialist. The average of professional manpower scores was 18, and the average of each medical institution's total score was 78. Ratings and additional rates were in the range 2∼3%, and quality-added ratios were 2∼3%, with no significance. Excluding pathological testing and assessing physiological functions, the average number of diagnostic tests for health insurance claims were 9,618,062, including 4,378,146 points for 5% of the total relative value scores. According to the DEA, the appropriate number of medical technologist is one person per 49,974 points of relative value. In conclusion, our study results indicate that it would be desirable to set the appropriate workforce for medical technologist to one person per 50,000 points of relative value. Our data could be used as a basis for enhancing productivity of the workforce and balancing health care resources.

In mammals, photic information delivered to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) via the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT) plays a crucial role in synchronizing the master circadian clock located in the SCN to the solar cycle. It is well known that glutamate released from the RHT terminals initiates the synchronizing process by activating ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) on retinorecipient SCN neurons. The potential role of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in modulating this signaling pathway has received less attention. In this study, using extracellular single-unit recordings in mouse SCN slices, we investigated the possible roles of the Gq/11 protein-coupled mGluRs, mGluR1 and mGluR5, in photic resetting. We found that mGluR1 activation in the early night produced phase advances in neural activity rhythms in the SCN, while activation in the late night produced phase delays. In contrast, mGluR5 activation had no significant effect on the phase of these rhythms. Interestingly, mGluR1 activation antagonized phase shifts induced by glutamate through a mechanism that was dependent upon CaV1.3L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs). While both mGluR1-evoked phase delays and advances were inhibited by knockout (KO) of CaV1.3L-type VGCCs, different signaling pathways appeared to be involved in mediating these effects, with mGluR1 working via protein kinase G in the early night and via protein kinase A signaling in the late night. We conclude that, in the mouse SCN, mGluR1s function to negatively modulate glutamate-evoked phase shifts.

BackgroundHerbal medicine is widely recommended to treat viral infectious diseases. Over 123,000,000 individuals have been infected with the coronavirus since a worldwide pandemic was declared in March 2020. We conducted this research to confirm the potential of herbal medicine as a treatment for coronavirus.MethodsWe infected the A549 cell line with beta coronavirus OC43 then treated with 100 μg/mL Hyunggaeyungyo-tang (HGYGT) or distilled water with a control of HGYGT. We measured the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) to confirm the effectiveness of HGYGT upon coronavirus infection.ResultsWe found the effects of HYGYT decrease the expression level of pPKR, peIF2α, IFI6, IFI44, IFI44L, IFI27, IRF7, OASL and ISG15 when administered to cells with coronavirus infection. The expressions of IL-1, TNF-α, COX-2, NF-κB, iNOS and IKK mRNA were also significantly decreased in the HGYGT group than in the control group.ConclusionThrough the reduction of the amount of coronavirus RNA, our research indicates that HGYGT has antiviral effects. The reduction of IKK and iNOS mRNA levels indicate that HGYGT reduces coronavirus RNA expression and may inhibits the replication of coronavirus by acting on NF-kB/Rel pathways to protect oxidative injury. In addition, decreases in mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines indicate that the HGYGT may relieve the symptoms of coronavirus infections.

Autologous collagen induced chondrogenesis (ACIC) is a single-stage arthroscopic procedure and we developed this method using micro-drilling with atelocollagen injection to the articular cartilage defects. Atelocollagen can provide biocompatibility and a chondrogenic environment for functional cartilage regeneration. We introduce this ACIC techniques in the clinical aspect.

Nighttime light pollution is linked to metabolic and cognitive dysfunction. Many patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) show disturbances in their sleep/wake cycle, and may be particularly vulnerable to the impact of circadian disruptors. In this study, we examined the impact of exposure to dim light at night (DLaN, 5lx) in a model of ASD: the contactin associated protein-like 2 knock out (Cntnap2 KO) mice. DLaN was sufficient to disrupt locomotor activity rhythms, exacerbate the excessive grooming and diminish the social preference in Cntnap2 mutant mice. On a molecular level, DLaN altered the phase and amplitude of PER2:LUC rhythms in a tissue-specific manner in vitro. Daily treatment with melatonin reduced the excessive grooming of the mutant mice to wild-type levels and improved activity rhythms. Our findings suggest that common circadian disruptors such as light at night should be considered in the management of ASD.

본 연구는 임상병리사의 3년제 교육과정, 4년제 교육과정, 임상실습현황, 해외 교육과정 및 실습을 조사 분석하여 급변하는 우리나라의 임상병리분야에 대처할 수 있는 정책의 기초 자료를 제공하고자 하였다. 교육커리큘럼의 분석은 3년제 25개 대학 및 4년제 25개 대학의 2017학년도 기준 교육과정을 요청하여 전수 조사하였다. 임상실습은 설문조사를 실시하여 대학 76건, 산업체 1142건을 분석하였다. 교육과정의 분석결과 3년제 대학의 교육과정은 임상병리사 국가시험위주의 교육과정의 편성을 파악할 수 있었으며, 4년제 교육과정은 미래변화를 반영한 과목이 다양하게 개설되어 있었지만 일부 대학에 불과했다. 또한, 자율적인 수강신청으로 전공과목 중 학생들이 어렵게 여기는 과목에 대해서는 수강하지 않고서도 국가시험을 볼 수 있는 문제점이 발견되었다. 임상실습의 경우 다양한 실습기관과 실습시기, 실습학점으로 현실적으로 표준화가 어려운 것이 실정이었다. 실무중심의 교육을 위하여 교내실습교육도 강화되어야 하겠지만, 현장에서의 실무교육 또한 중요하므로 임상실습의 기간과 교육시간에 따른 학점의 편성이 표준화되고, 적절하게 산출되어야 할 필요가 있을 것이다. 임상병리사 직무분석 및 임상현장을 고려하여 현장실무형 교육과정 개정이 필요하며, 이는 임상병리사평가원을 통해 교육과정과 임상실습모델의 표준화 작업이 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Yuk-Mi-Jihwang-Tang (YJT) has been popularly prescribed to treat aging related disorders over than hundreds of years in East Asia countries. Aim of the study To investigate possible modulatory actions of YJT on chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced neurodegeneration on hippocampus neuronal injuries. Materials and methods Mice were orally administered with YJT (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) or ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg) before 4 h of stress for 28 days. Morris water maze task was completed from day 24th to 28th, and stress hormones and biochemical analyzes were measured. Results Four weeks of the CRS abnormally affected memory impairments by measurement of escape latency and time spent in the target quadrant. Additionally, neurotransmitters were also drastically altered in serum or hippocampus protein levels by CRS. Gene expressions for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor, 5-HT-transport, and tryptophan hydroxylase were also altered, whereas YJT led to normalize the above alterations. Additionally, YJT also beneficially worked on endogenous redox system as well as inflammatory reactions in the hippocampal neurons. We observed that hippocampal excitotoxicity was induced by CRS which were evidenced by depletion of phosphor-cAMP response element-binding protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1 and abnormally increases of acetylcholine esterase activities in hippocampus protein levels; however, YJT considerably improved the above pathological conditions. Conclusions Our findings supported YJT enhance memory function via regulation of hippocampal excitotoxicity-derived memory impairment, stress hormone, and endogenous redox, respectively.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether several phytophenolic ingredients isolated from Maclura tricuspidata (Carr.) Bur fruits inhibit the activity of obesity-related enzymes including pancreatic lipase, α-amylase, β-glucosidase, phosphodiesterase IV, alkaline phosphatase, and citrate synthase, and the compounds play as an inhibitor against the target enzymes in kinetic studies. The enzyme assays indicated that the fruit extract and its phytophenolic compounds inhibited significantly the enzymatic activity of the five target enzymes. The kinetic studies demonstrated that the inhibitory properties of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HA), protocatechuic acid (PA), and isovanillic acid (IA) against pancreatic lipase, β-glucosidase, citrate synthase, or alkaline phosphatase. Our results suggested that the compounds detected from Maclura tricuspidata (Carr.) Bur fruit extract may regulate carbohydrate/lipid/energy metabolism by obesity-related enzymes' inhibition. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The obesity-related metabolizing enzymes affect (in)directly the metabolites absorption on carbohydrate/lipid/energy metabolism. Accordingly, it is an important strategy to treat obesity through target pathways and enzymes which include the reduction in energy intake and consumption. In our results, Maclura tricuspidata (Carr.) Bur fruit extract and its phytophenolic compounds inhibited significantly the enzymatic activity of the five target enzymes, in particular, 4-HA, PA, and IA have each specific inhibition type on pancreatic lipase, β-glucosidase, citrate synthase, and alkaline phosphatase. Therefore, M. tricuspidata (Carr.) Bur fruit may be a strong candidate as a food material or therapeutic agent for obesity improvement.

We aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Yuk-Mi-Jihwang-Tang (YJT) against acute restraint stress-induced brain oxidative damage. A water extract of YJT was prepared and subjected to high performance liquid chromatography - diode array detector-mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS). Thirty-six heads of C57BL/6J male mice (7 weeks) were divided into six groups (n = 6/group). The mice were orally administrated YJT (0, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) or vitamin C (100 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days before 6 h of acute restraint stress. In the brain tissue, lipidperoxidation, antioxidant components, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured, and the serum corticosterone level was determined. Acute restraint stress-induced notably increased lipid peroxidation in brain tissues, and pretreatment with YJT showed a significant decreased the lipid peroxidation levels (p 0.05). The levels of antioxidant components including total glutathione contents, activities of SOD and catalase were remarkably depleted by acute restraint stress, whereas these alterations were significantly restored by treatment with YJT (p 0.05 or p 0.01). The restraint stress markedly increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6 in the gene expression and protein levels (p 0.05 or p 0.01). Pretreatment with YJT significantly attenuated serum corticosterone (200 mg/kg, p 0.05). YJT drastically attenuated the levels of 4- HNE, HO-1, Nox 2 and iNOSwhich were elevated during acute restraint stress, whereas the Nrf2 level was increased in brain tissue protein levels. Our data suggest that YJT protects the brain tissue against oxidative damage and regulates stress hormones.

The generation of induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) from somatic cells using defined factors provides new avenues for basic research and cell therapies for various neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and spinal cord injuries. However, the transcription factors used for direct reprogramming have the potential to cause unexpected genetic modifications, which limits their potential application in cell therapies. Here, we show that a combination of four chemical compounds resulted in cells directly acquiring a NSC identity; we termed these cells chemically-induced NSCs (ciNSCs). ciNSCs expressed NSC markers (Pax6, PLZF, Nestin, Sox2, and Sox1) and resembled NSCs in terms of their morphology, self-renewal, gene expression profile, and electrophysiological function when differentiated into the neuronal lineage. Moreover, ciNSCs could differentiate into several types of mature neurons (dopaminergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic) as well as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that stably expandable and functional ciNSCs can be directly reprogrammed from mouse fibroblasts using a combination of small molecules without any genetic manipulation, and will provide a new source of cells for cellular replacement therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.

Nowadays, short distance communication systems with low power energy (LPE) are developed for identification and monitoring of site identification of vessel crews and passengers (SIVCP). LPE communication modules, such as Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and Zigbee, are used for short distance communications with LPE. These modules enable 1:N communications and their popularity is growing since the modules can be mounted on movable objects, such as mobile devices and human body. When these modules are used, the important factor that affects their operation time and design are the capacity and size of battery. Therefore, they must be made as small as possible, and the battery should be selected to be slightly smaller than the module. In this study, we calculate the theoretical life of batteries used in SIVCP BLE modules using data sheet and discharge characteristic graph under the condition of a 1/250 transmission-ratio (TR). We thus calculate experimental life by measuring transmission current for the same TR, and low speed mode current for a 1/5000 TR and measure long-term experimental life using 1/25 TR for days. Through these experiments, we verify experimental methods for the prediction and extension of battery life that would enable us to select appropriate sizes of batteries based on vessel usage and passenger types. The selections of the module TR and battery size are important factors affecting the cost reduction of module design, the battery maintenance, and passenger convenience.

Histamine, a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator implicated in the control of arousal state, exerts a potent phase-shifting effect on the circadian clock in the rodent suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). In this study, the mechanisms by which histamine resets the circadian clock in the mouse SCN were investigated. As a first step, Ca(2+) -imaging techniques were used to demonstrate that histamine increases intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+) ]i ) in acutely dissociated SCN neurons and that this increase is blocked by the H1 histamine receptor (H1R) antagonist pyrilamine, the removal of extracellular Ca(2+) and the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker nimodipine. The histamine-induced Ca(2+) transient is reduced, but not blocked, by application of the ryanodine receptor (RyR) blocker dantrolene. Immunohistochemical techniques indicated that CaV 1.3 L-type Ca(2+) channels are expressed mainly in the somata of SCN cells along with the H1R, whereas CaV 1.2 channels are located primarily in the processes. Finally, extracellular single-unit recordings demonstrated that the histamine-elicited phase delay of the circadian neural activity rhythm recorded from SCN slices is blocked by pyrilamine, nimodipine and the knockout of CaV 1.3 channel. Again, application of dantrolene reduced but did not block the histamine-induced phase delays. Collectively, these results indicate that, to reset the circadian clock, histamine increases [Ca(2+) ]i in SCN neurons by activating CaV 1.3 channels through H1R, and secondarily by causing Ca(2+) -induced Ca(2+) release from RyR-mediated internal stores.

The objectives of present study were to investigate whether luteolin affects procoagulant proteinase activity and fibrin clot formation and influences thrombosis and coagulation in Sprague-Dawle rats. Luteolin significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of thrombin and FXa activity by 29.1% and 16.2%. Luteolin also inhibited fibrin polymer formation in turbidity and microscopic analysis using fluorescent conjugate. Coagulation assay of luteolin was found to prolong activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. Moreover, luteolin protected the development of oxidative stress induced thrombosis in the FeCl3 -induced carotid arterial thrombus model. This study demonstrated that luteolin may be useful by reducing or preventing thrombotic challenge and can help us better understand the antithrombotic action of luteolin.

The medicinal plantsArtemisia iwayomogi(A. iwayomogi) andCurcuma longa(C. longa) radix have been used to treat metabolic abnormalities in traditional Korean medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TKM and TCM). In this study we evaluated the effect of the water extract of a mixture ofA. iwayomogiandC. longa(ACE) on high-fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome in a mouse model. Four groups of C57BL/6N male mice (except for the naive group) were fed a high-fat diet freely for 10 weeks. Among these, three groups (except the control group) were administered a high-fat diet supplemented with ACE (100 or 200 mg/kg) or curcumin (50 mg/kg). Body weight, accumulation of adipose tissues in abdomen and size of adipocytes, serum lipid profiles, hepatic steatosis, and oxidative stress markers were analyzed. ACE significantly reduced the body and peritoneal adipose tissue weights, serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol and triglycerides), glucose levels, hepatic lipid accumulation, and oxidative stress markers. ACE normalized lipid synthesis-associated gene expressions (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, PPARγ; fatty acid synthase, FAS; sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c, SREBP-1c; and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, PPARα). The results from this study suggest that ACE has the pharmaceutical potential reducing the metabolic abnormalities in an animal model.