Protective effect of maltol on pathological response of cardiomyocyte in dystrophic mice.

Heart diseases are a significant contributor to global morbidity and mortality, and despite their diverse and complex mechanisms, treatment options remain limited. Maltol, a natural compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, exhibits potential for addressing this need. This study evaluates the cardioprotective effects of maltol in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac stress models and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Weisheng-tang protects against ischemic brain injury by modulating microglia activation through the P2Y12 receptor.

Stroke, a leading cause of death and disability, lacks effective treatments. Post-stroke secondary damage worsens the brain microenvironment, further exacerbating brain injury. Microglia's role in responding to stroke-induced damage in peri-infarct regions is crucial.

Transcriptome Analysis of the Striatum of Electroacupuncture-treated Naïve and Ischemic Stroke Mice.

Objectives: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been demonstrated to aid stroke recovery. However, few investigations have focused on identifying the potent molecular targets of EA by comparing EA stimulation between naïve and disease models. Therefore, this study was undertaken to identify the potent molecular therapeutic mechanisms underlying EA stimulation in ischemic stroke through a comparison of mRNA sequencing data obtained from EA-treated naïve control and ischemic stroke mouse models.

Therapeutic effects of a novel electrode for transcranial direct current stimulation in ischemic stroke mice.

Non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a promising stimulation tool to modulate a wide range of brain disorders, has major limitations, such as poor cortical stimulation intensity and focality. We designed a novel electrode for tDCS by conjugating a needle to a conventional ring-based high-definition (HD) electrode to enhance cortical stimulation efficacy. HD-tDCS (43 µA/mm, charge density 51.

Effect of Combination Electroacupuncture and Tenuigenin on the Migration and Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells following Ischemic Stroke.

Objectives: Since stroke is a serious health issue, novel therapeutic strategies are required. In a mouse model of ischemic stroke, this study analyzed the potential of electroacupuncture (EA) and tenuigenin (TE) to improve the efficacy of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) transplantation.

Methods: Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with reperfusion was used to generate ischemic stroke.

Therapeutic Potential of Active Components from and in Neurological Disorders and Their Application in Korean Medicine.

Neurological disorders represent a substantial healthcare burden worldwide due to population aging. Solander (AG) and Schott (AT), whose major component is asarone, have been shown to be effective in neurological disorders. This review summarized current information from preclinical and clinical studies regarding the effects of extracts and active components of AG and AT (e.

Transcranial alternating current stimulation rescues motor deficits in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease via the production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor.

Background: Therapeutic effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) are limited to modulating abnormally synchronized oscillations; however, long-lasting tACS effects may involve non-neuronal mechanisms like the regulation of neurotrophic factors.

Objectives/hypothesis: We investigated whether tACS exerts neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of PD by regulating endogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).

Methods: Repeated high-definition tACS (HD-tACS, 20 min, 89.

Benefits of a Skull-Interfaced Flexible and Implantable Multilight Emitting Diode Array for Photobiomodulation in Ischemic Stroke.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) has received attention due to its potential for improving tissue function and enhancing regeneration in stroke. A lightweight, compact, and simple system of miniaturized electronic devices consisting of packaged light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that incorporates a flexible substrate for in vivo brain PBM in a mouse model is developed. Using this device platform, the preventive and therapeutic effects of PBM affixed to the exposed skull of mice in the photothrombosis and middle cerebral artery occlusion stroke model are evaluated.

Effects of electroacupuncture on the functionality of NG2-expressing cells in perilesional brain tissue of mice following ischemic stroke.

Neural/glial antigen 2 (NG2)-expressing cells has multipotent stem cell activity under cerebral ischemia. Our study examined the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) therapy (2 Hz, 1 or 3 mA, 20 minutes) at the Sishencong acupoint on motor function after ischemic insult in the brain by investigating the rehabilitative potential of NG2-derived cells in a mouse model of ischemic stroke. EA stimulation alleviated motor deficits caused by ischemic stroke, and 1 mA EA stimulation was more efficacious than 3 mA EA stimulation or positive control treatment with edaravone, a free radical scavenger.

Contralesional Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Functional Improvement in Ischemic Stroke Mice.

Background And Purpose: The therapeutic use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), an adjuvant tool for stroke, induces long-term changes in cortical excitability, for example, the secretion of activity-dependent growth factors. We assessed the proper therapeutic configuration of high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) in the subacute stage of ischemic stroke and its underlying expression profiling of growth factors to propose a new method for ensuring better therapeutic effects.

Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion, after which repetitive HD-tDCS (20 minutes, 55 µA/mm, charge density 66 000 C/m) was applied from subacute phases of their ischemic insult.

AIM2 inflammasome contributes to brain injury and chronic post-stroke cognitive impairment in mice.

Although over one-third of stroke patients may develop post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), the mechanisms underlying PSCI remain unclear. We explored here, the involvement of post-stroke inflammasomes in long-term PSCI development, using a 45 min-middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion-induced PSCI model. Immunohistological assessment on day 1, 3, and 7 was followed by cognitive function test 28 days post-stroke.

Subacute electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14) promotes post-stroke functional recovery via neurogenesis and astrogliosis in a photothrombotic stroke mouse model.

Objective: To investigate the optimal timing and underlying mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14) for improved long-term functional recovery after focal cerebral ischemia in a photothrombotic stroke mouse model.

Methods: Totally 50 adult male C57BL/6J mice were assigned into 5 groups: (a) the control group, sham-operated mice (n = 10); (b) the vehicle group, focal cerebral ischemia induction without EA (n = 10); (c) the acute EA group, mice received EA immediately post-ischemia, followed by once-daily treatments for 7 consecutive days (n = 10); (d) the subacute EA group, mice received EA 4 days post-ischemia, followed by once-daily treatments for 7 consecutive days (n = 10); (e) the delayed EA group. EA stimulation (2 Hz, 2 V for 20 min) was applied to acupuncture points (acupoints), Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14), once a day for 7 consecutive days beginning immediately (acute treatment), 4 d (subacute treatment) and 10 d (delayed treatment) after focal cerebral ischemia in C57BL/6J mice.

Isolinderalactone suppresses human glioblastoma growth and angiogenic activity in 3D microfluidic chip and in vivo mouse models.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal and highly vascular type of brain tumor. We previously reported that isolinderalactone enhances GBM apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, but its role in tumor angiogenesis is unknown. Here, we investigated the anti-angiogenic activity of isolinderalactone and its mechanisms.

Weisheng-Tang Ameliorates Acute Ischemic Brain Damage in Mice by Maintaining Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity.

Stroke is one of the major causes of death and long-term disability worldwide; the associated breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) aggravates ischemic brain damage. Accordingly, many medicinal herbs and formulas have been used to treat stroke-related symptoms. In this study, we selected two Korean herbal medicine formulas, Weisheng-tang and Tongxuewan, through text-mining analysis, and evaluated their protective effect on BBB disruption and brain damage in stroke.

Selecting Effective Herbal Medicines for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder via Text Mining of Donguibogam.

Objective: Several attempts have been made to reduce the harmful side effects and increase the efficacy of current drugs used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many articles have studied medicinal herbs as an effective supplement in treating ADHD. In a similar manner, this study provides foundational data to identify herbs that are potentially effective in treating ADHD by text mining of Donguibogam, which is a comprehensive summation of the important traditional principles and practices of Korean medicine.

Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase-Dependent Neurotoxic Kynurenine Metabolism Contributes to Poststroke Depression Induced in Mice by Ischemic Stroke along with Spatial Restraint Stress.

Aim: Poststroke depression (PSD), which occurs in approximately one-third of stroke survivors, is clinically important because of its association with slow functional recovery and increased mortality. In addition, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are still poorly understood.

Methods: We used a mouse model of PSD to examine the neurobiological mechanisms of PSD and the beneficial effects of aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic drug.

Isolinderalactone regulates the BCL-2/caspase-3/PARP pathway and suppresses tumor growth in a human glioblastoma multiforme xenograft mouse model.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor, which remains incurable. Plant extracts are a potential source of potent anticancer medicines. In this study, we investigated the effect of isolinderalactone from Lindera aggregata on tumor growth using U-87 human glioblastoma cells.

Positive effects of α-asarone on transplanted neural progenitor cells in a murine model of ischemic stroke.

Background: Some traditional Oriental herbal medicines, such as Acorus tatarinowii and Acorus gramineus, produce beneficial effects for cognition enhancement. An active compound in rhizomes and the bark of these plants is α-asarone.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of α-asarone on the proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in a primary culture and a murine model of ischemic stroke.

Photobiomodulation Using a Low-Level Light-Emitting Diode Improves Cognitive Dysfunction in the 5XFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Photobiomodulation using low-level light-emitting diode can be rapidly applied in neurological and physiological disorders safely and noninvasively. Photobiomodulation is effective for chronic diseases because of fewer side effects than drugs. Here we investigated the effects of photobiomodulation using light-emitting diode on amyloid plaques, gliosis, and neuronal loss to prevent and/or recover cognitive impairment, and optimal timing of photobiomodulation initiation for recovering cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Therapeutic Potential of a Combination of Electroacupuncture and TrkB-Expressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Ischemic Stroke.

We prepared and grafted tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) gene-transfected mesenchymal stem cells (TrkB-MSCs) into the ischemic penumbra and investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) treatment could promote functional recovery from ischemic stroke. For the behavioral test, TrkB-MSCs+EA resulted in significantly improved motor function compared to that obtained with MSCs+EA or TrkB-MSCs alone. At 30 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), the largest number of grafted MSCs was detected in the TrkB-MSC+EA group.