Uhwang Chungsim Won decreases blood oxygen level-dependent fMRI signal response to a motor stimulation task / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the effect of Uhwang Chungsim Won [UC, Niuhuang Qingxin Pill ()] on the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal response to a motor stimulation task using a hand grasping paradigm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten healthy right-handed male volunteers were recruited. Their BOLD fMRI signal characteristics during hand grasping were determined before and 1 h after consuming UC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the administration of UC, BOLD responses to the right hand motor task showed a decrease in both hemispheres including the right cerebellar culmen, right and left medial frontal gyrus, right parahippocampal gyrus, right and left sublobar insula, right and left posterior cingulate, left precuneus, and right precentral gyrus. Decreased BOLD responses to the left hand motor task were shown in the right lingual gyrus, right cerebellar culmen, left superior temporal gyrus, right and left middle frontal gyrus, and right precentral gyrus after UC administration. Increased BOLD responses to the left hand motor task were shown in the left and right posterior cingulate, while there was no increased response to the right hand motor task after UC administration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>UC administration significantly decreased fMRI BOLD signal responses to hand grasping in most of the brain areas including the primary motor cortex, but it is not clear whether these decreased responses were caused by a decrease in neuronal activities or by an increase in cerebral blood flow due to the cerebral vasodilatory effects of UC. Further studies using positron emission tomography or single photon emission computed tomography are needed to fully elucidate these findings.</p>

Neuroprotective effect of Chunghyuldan (Qing Xue Dan) on hypoxia-reoxygenation induced damage of neuroblastoma 2a cell lines / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>Chunghyuldan (CHD), a combinatorial drug that has anti-hyperlipidemic and antiinflammatory activities, has been shown to reduce infarct volume in a focal ischemia-reperfusion rat model. To explore the molecular basis of CHD's neuroprotective effect, we examined whether CHD shows a cell-protective activity and has a regulatory effect on Bax and/or B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression in mouse neuroblastoma 2a (N2a) cells subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In order to evaluate the effects of CHD on the cytotoxicity induced from hypoxia or H/R condition, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was performed. To explore whether the suppression of neural damage when pre-treated with CHD is associated with its anti-apoptotic effect, the CHD effect on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was analyzed by Western blotting analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cytotoxicity of N2a cell line was slightly increased in 42 h hypoxia condition and dramatically increased under the H/R condition. CHD treatment markedly decreased the cytotoxicity in both conditions (P<0.01, P<0.05). H/R markedly increased the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein, Bax, but slightly increased the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, compared with the normoxia or hypoxia group. CHD significantly decreased Bax expression (P<0.01) and slightly decreased Bcl-2 expression (P>0.05), resulted in a reduction of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in N2a cells subjected to H/R.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CHD has neuroprotective effect in N2a cells subjected to H/R, which might be derived at least in part from its ability to decrease the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein, Bax.</p>

Japan-China-Korea communication on acupuncture and moxibustion / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

To improve integrative medicine in Japan, it is important to understand characteristics of Japanese medical care and acupuncture and advance consideration on them. Medical care including acupuncture and moxibustion is affected by society culture and history, so different countries have different characteristics. Many practitioners of acupuncture and moxibustion have few opportunities to know the circumstances of acupuncture and moxibustion in each country. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to contribute to the development of Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion by understanding each country's medical systems, education, instruments used, technical skills, therapeutic approaches, clinical examination methods, and so on. Many people will recognize acupuncture and moxibustion's peculiarities and universalities, and broaden the network of mutual understanding that crosses borders.

The Relation of Somatosensory Evoked Potentials to Central Post-stroke Pain

OBJECTIVE: To find out the clinical features of central post- stroke pain (CPSP) and how somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are affected in patients with CPSP. METHOD: One hundred and one patients with stroke who showed normal results in nerve conduction study, were enrolled. SEPs were evoked by electrical stimulation of the median and tibial nerves. The results of the SEPs in the CPSP group were compared with those in the non-CPSP group. Brain SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) was examined and thalamic involvement in SPECT was compared between the groups. RESULTS: Seventeen patients met the diagnostic criteria of CPSP. Nine patients showed normal findings in SEP. Abnormal findings in SEP were not related to the development of CPSP, but those who showed no response in SEP had significantly higher chance of developing CPSP. Thalamic involvement in SPECT was found in thirteen patients with CPSP, but was not related to the development of CPSP. CONCLUSION: Stroke patients who showed severe abnormality in SEP seem to be more likely to have CPSP. Therefore, SEP is thought to be helpful in the prediction of CPSP.

Effectiveness of Captopril for the Management of Autonomic Dysreflexia in Spinal Cord Injuries

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of captopril comparing with nifedipine for management of hypertensive urgencies in autonomic dysreflexia in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHOD: Twenty-four patients with SCI above T6 were documented and treated with drug therapy in this study whose systolic blood pressure (SBP) was at or above 150 mmHg despite the use of nondrug management during an autonomic dysreflexia episode. They were divided into two groups; captopril group (n=12) and nifedipine group (n= 12). Captopril group was administered captopril 25 mg sublingually and nifedipine group was administered nifedipine 10 mg sublingually. Diastolic blood pressure(DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate and side effects were monitored after administration. RESULTS: Mean DBP and SBP at baseline and 15, 30, 60 minutes after captopril were significantly decreased (p<0.05). There were no significant side effects such as reactive hypotension. The administration of nifedipine also successfully reduced mean SBP and DBP after 15, 30, 60 minutes (p<0.05), but some side effects were reported such as reactive hypotension, tarchycardia and headache. CONCLUSION: For the management of hypertension in autonomic dysreflexia, captopril appears to be one of the safe and effective methods in patients with SCI.