Effects of isoflurane anesthesia on addictive behaviors in rats.

Rationale: Recently, it has been suggested that isoflurane might reduce dopamine release from rat midbrain dopaminergic neurons, the neurobiological substrate implicated in the reinforcing effects of abused drugs and nondrug rewards. However, little is known about effects of isoflurane on neurobehavioral activity associated with chronic exposure to psychoactive substances.

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of isoflurane on cocaine-reinforced behavior.

Efficacy and safety of thread embedding acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled pilot trial.

Background: Thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) is a widely used clinical procedure for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. However, few clinical studies have been conducted on the efficacy and safety of TEA for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and data from randomized controlled trials are lacking. This randomized controlled pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting large-scale studies on the efficacy and safety of TEA for KOA.

Evaluation of Dose-Dependent Obesity and Diabetes-Related Complications of Water Chestnut (Fruit of ) Extracts in Type II Obese Diabetic Mice Induced by 45% Kcal High-Fat Diet.

: The currently used pharmacological agents for metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes have several limitations and adverse effects; thus, there is a need for alternative therapeutic drugs and health functional foods. : This study investigated the pharmacological effects of water chestnut (fruit of ) extracts (WC: 50-200 mg/kg) for type II diabetes using a 45% Kcal high-fat diet (HFD)-fed type II obese diabetic mice model for a period of 84 days, and the effects were compared to those of metformin (250 mg/kg). : Increases in body weight, serum biochemical indices such as triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and blood urea nitrogen, increases in antioxidant defense system enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione, and mRNA expressions (such as AMPKα1 and AMPKα2) in the liver tissue and mRNA expressions (such as AMPKα2 mRNA, leptin, and C/EBPα) in the adipose tissue were observed in the HFD control group.

Effects of acupuncture stimulation on brain activation induced by cue-elicited alcohol craving.

Acupuncture has been shown to be effective on alcohol use disorder. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. To investigate the effects of Shenmen (HT7) acupoint on brain activation induced by cue-elicited alcohol craving, 30 right-handed healthy light to moderate alcohol drinkers were recruited from the community.

Efficacy and Safety of Miniscalpel Acupuncture on Knee Osteoarthritis: - A randomized controlled pilot trial.

Objectives: We investigated the efficacy and safety of miniscalpel acupuncture (MA) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in an assessor-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial; this would provide information for a large-scale randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Participants (n = 24) were recruited and randomly allocated to the MA group (experimental) or acupuncture group (control). The MA group received treatment once a week for 3 weeks (total of 3 treatments), while the acupuncture group received treatment two times per week for 3 weeks (total of 6 treatments).

Effects of Platycodin D on Reflux Esophagitis due to Modulation of Antioxidant Defense Systems.

Aims: The effects of platycodin D (PD) pretreatment were examined in reflux esophagitis (RE) induced rats.

Methods: Sham, control, and omeprazole (OMP) group were pretreated with distilled water or OMP as a reference, respectively, and PD pretreated groups were given 3 different PD doses once a day for 7 days. One hour after last pretreatment, RE was induced by ligation of the forestomach and pylorus.

Efficacy and safety of combined treatment of miniscalpel acupuncture and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: an assessor-blinded randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Chronic neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disease during the lifespan of an individual. With an increase in dependence on computer technology, the prevalence of chronic neck pain is expected to rise and this can lead to socioeconomic problems. We have designed the current pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of miniscalpel acupuncture treatment combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with chronic neck pain.

Bathing effects of east saline groundwater concentrates on allergic (atopic) dermatitis-like skin lesions induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene in hairless mice.

In the present study, it was evaluated whether east saline groundwater concentration solution (ESGWc) exerted a favorable inhibitory effect on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced allergic/atopic-like dermatitis (AD). AD was induced and boosted by sensitization with DNCB via topical application on the dorsal back skins. Mice with DNCB-induced AD were bathed in 100-, 200- and 400-fold diluted ESGWc.

Promoting Wound Healing Using Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan in a Full-Thickness Dermal Excision Rat Model.

Low molecular weight fucoidan (LMF) has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Thus, we examined the effects of LMF extracted from on dermal wounds. Five round dermal wounds were created on the dorsal back of rats, and they were then treated topically with distilled water (DW), Madecasol Care™ (MC) or LMF at 200, 100 and 50 mg/mL, twice a day for a week.

The Effects of Acupuncture Stimulation for Brain Activation and Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy: Functional MRI Study.

We attempted to investigate whether acupuncture stimulation at HT7 can have an effect on brain activation patterns and alcohol abstinence self-efficacy. Thirty-four right-handed healthy subjects were recruited for this study. They were randomly assigned into two groups: the HT7 (Shenmen) group and the LI5 (Yangxi) group.

Therapeutic Effects of Blue Honeysuckle on Lesions of Hyperthyroidism in Rats.

Hyperthyroidism is a hypermetabolic syndrome characterized by an overproduction of thyroid hormones, which enhances the hormone-induced oxidative stress responsible for some complications in the liver, heart and muscle. Blue honeysuckle (BH) is an edible berry, rich in polyphenols, especially flavonoids or anthocyanins, known as strong antioxidants. The chemo-protective activities of the berry have been connected to the improvement of symptoms in cancer, diabetes mellitus, tumor or cardiovascular diseases.

Polycan, a β-glucan from SM-2001, mitigates ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats.

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Polycan, a β-glucan from SM-2001, in a rat model of ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were orally administered 31.25, 62.

Genotoxicity testing of Persicariae Rhizoma ( H. Gross) aqueous extracts.

Persicariae Rhizoma (PR) has been used as an anti-inflammatory and detoxification agent in Korea, and contains the biologically active dyes purple indirubin and blue indigo. Despite synthetic indigo showing genotoxic potential, thorough studies have not been carried out on the genotoxicity of PR. The potential genotoxicity of an aqueous extract of PR containing indigo (0.

Fermentation of Green Tea with 2% Aquilariae lignum Increases the Anti-Diabetic Activity of Green Tea Aqueous Extracts in the High Fat-Fed Mouse.

Anti-diabetic effects on the metabolomic differences between green tea (GT) and Aquilariae lignum-fermented green tea (fGT) were investigated in the high fat-fed mouse. To prove the differences, hypoglycemic (blood glucose, insulin and glycated hemoglobin levels, pancreas weights and histopathological-immunohistochemistrical analysis of pancreas-insulin/glucagon cells), hepato- and nephron-protective (the changes in liver and kidney weight, histopathology of liver and kidney, serum aminotransferases (AST and ALT) levels, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine levels), and hypolipidemic (the changes of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low- and high-density lipoprotein levels with fecal total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) contents) effects were evaluated. In addition, liver lipid peroxidation, the glutathione contents, and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were measured according to the hepatic glucose-regulating enzyme activities of glucokinase (GK), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) for action mechanisms.

Dried pomegranate potentiates anti-osteoporotic and anti-obesity activities of red clover dry extracts in ovariectomized rats.

Red clover (RC) shows potential activity against menopausal symptoms and pomegranates have antioxidative and beneficial effects on postmenopausal symptoms; thus, we investigated whether the anti-climacteric activity of RC could be enhanced by the addition of dried pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) extracts in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Regarding the anti-osteoporotic effects, bone mineral density increased significantly in OVX induced rats treated with 60 and 120 mg/kg of an RC:PCP 2:1 mixture, respectively, compared with OVX control rats. Additionally, femoral, tibia, and L4 bone resorption was decreased in OVX induced control rats treated with the RC:PCP 2:1 mixture (60 and 120 mg/kg), respectively, compared with OVX control rats.

Anti-skin-aging benefits of exopolymers from Aureobasidium pullulans SM2001.

Background: There have been many attempts to search for affordable and effective functional cosmetic ingredients, especially from natural sources.

Objectives: As research into developing a functional cosmetic ingredient, we investigated whether exopolymers from Aureobasidium pullulans SM2001 (E-AP-SM2001) exert antioxidant, antiwrinkle, whitening, and skin moisturizing effects.

Methods: Antioxidant effects of E-AP-SM2001 were determined by measuring free radical scavenging capacity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity.

Fermentation with Aquilariae Lignum enhances the anti-diabetic activity of green tea in type II diabetic db/db mouse.

The major components of tea may be significantly influenced according to the type of fermentation, and consequently the effects of different teas will differ. We examined whether green tea fermented with Aquilariae Lignum (fGT) shows a stronger anti-diabetic effect than unfermented green tea (GT) on mice with type 2 diabetes. To evaluate the anti-obesity effect of fGT, we assessed body weight, fecal excretion, serum leptin levels, exocrine pancreatic zymogen granule contents, and periovarian fat weight and adiponectin contents.

Inhibition of UVB-induced skin damage by exopolymers from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 in hairless mice.

Because antioxidants from natural sources may be an effective approach to the treatment and prevention of UV radiation-induced skin damage, the effects of purified exopolymers from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 ('E-AP-SM2001') were evaluated in UVB-induced hairless mice. E-AP-SM2001 consists of 1.7% β-1,3/1,6-glucan, fibrous polysaccharides and other organic materials, such as amino acids, and mono- and di-unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids) and shows anti-osteoporotic and immunomodulatory effects, through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Preventive effect of pretreatment with intravenous nicorandil on contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with renal dysfunction undergoing coronary angiography (PRINCIPLE Study).

Purpose: To investigate the effect of pretreatment with intravenous nicorandil on the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with renal dysfunction undergoing coronary angiography.

Materials And Methods: This randomized controlled multicenter study enrolled a total of 166 patients (nicorandil n=81; control n=85) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min. Nicorandil 12 mg dissolved in 100 mL of 0.

Mouse single oral dose toxicity test of bupleuri radix aqueous extracts.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the single oral dose toxicity of Bupleuri Radix (BR) aqueous extracts, it has been traditionally used as anti-inflammatory agent, in male and female mice. BR extracts (yield = 16.52%) was administered to female and male ICR mice as an oral dose of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg (body weight) according to the recommendation of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) Guidelines.

Single oral dose toxicity test of platycodin d, a saponin from platycodin radix in mice.

The object of this study was to evaluate the single oral dose toxicity of platycodin D, a saponin from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum in male and female mice. Platycodin D was administered to female and male mice as an oral dose of 2000, 1000, 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg (body wt.).

Effect of acupuncture on naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome in morphine-experienced rats: the mediation of GABA receptors.

Repeated morphine administration increases extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens, which results in behavioral sensitization that can be suppressed by acupuncture at Shenmen (HT7) points. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of acupuncture at HT7 on morphine withdrawal syndrome as well as to explore the role of GABA receptors in mediating the effects of HT7 acupuncture. We induced morphine withdrawal by injecting naloxone to rats that self-administer morphine and evaluated the effects of acupuncture and/or GABA receptor antagonists on their withdrawal symptoms.

Acupuncture suppresses morphine self-administration through the GABA receptors.

The neurobiological substrate for morphine self-administration in animals is believed to involve the dopamine system of the nucleus accumbens. Our previous study has shown that acupuncture at the acupoint Shenmen (HT7) reduced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and behavioral hyperactivity induced by systemic administration of morphine. Here we investigated the effect of acupuncture on morphine self-administration and potential roles of GABA receptors in the mechanisms behind acupuncture.

Role for GABA agonists in the nucleus accumbens in regulating morphine self-administration.

In the present study, functional roles of GABA receptors in the nucleus accumbens on morphine self-administration behavior were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to press lever for morphine (0.1 mg/kg per infusion) during daily 1-h self-administration session.

Differential involvement of GABA system in mediating behavioral and neurochemical effect of acupuncture in ethanol-withdrawn rats.

In our previous study we demonstrated that acupuncture at Shenmen (HT7) points suppressed a decrease of accumbal dopamine (DA) release in ethanol-withdrawn rats. Furthermore, here we found that it inhibited behavioral withdrawal signs of ethanol. In an effort to better understand the mechanisms underlying this inhibition, the potential role of GABA receptor system in acupuncture was investigated.