• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2007

The failure of injured axons to regenerate in the mature central nervous system (CNS) has devastating consequences for victims of spinal cord injury (SCI). Traditional strategies to treat spinal cord injured people by using drug therapy and assisting devices that can not help them to recover fully various vital functions of the spinal cord. Many researches have been focused on accomplishing re-growth and reconnection of the severed axons in the injured region. Using cell transplantation to promote neural survival or growth has had modest success in allowing injured neurons to re-grow through the area of the lesion. Strategies for successful regeneration will require tissue engineering approach. In order to persuade sufficient axons to regenerate across the lesion to bring back substantial neurological function, it is necessary to construct an efficient biocompatible bridge (cell-free or implanted with different cell lines as hybrid implant) through the injured area over which axons can grow. Therefore, in this paper, spinal cord and its injury, different strategies to help regeneration of an injured spinal cord are reviewed. In addition, different aspects of designing a biocompatible bridge and its applications and challenges surrounding these issues are also addressed. This knowledge is very important for the development and optimalization of therapies to repair the injured spinal cord.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1569-1575
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• 2007

In oriental medicine, Sukjihwang (SJH, Rehmanniae radix preparat) has been used as one of the key ingredients for the prescription of several herbal decoctions and applied clinically for the treatment of several diseases including nervous system and cardiovascular disease. Here, possible growth-promoting effects of SJH on injured spinal cord axons were investigated in the rats. SJH administration increased levels of active form of ERK1/2 protein and Cdc2 proteins in the injured spinal cord tissue. Anterograde DiI-tracing of corticospinal tract axons showed that SJH-treatment enhanced axonal arborization in the injury area and extensive axonal extension into the caudal area. In SJH-treated group, glial scar formed after spinal cord injury was confined in a smaller area compared to the control group, and the trabecula structure was well observed within the injury cavity. Furthermore, increased proliferation and migration of astrocytes in the injury cavity were observed by SJH treatment. Thus, these present data provide a biological evidence on potential importance of SJH therapy for the treatment of injured spinal cord.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1640-1646
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• 2005

An oriental medicinal drugs Jahageo (JHG, Hominis placenta) were examined to determine its effects on the responsiveness of central nervous system neurons after injury. We found that JHG was involved in neurite outgrowth of DRG sensory axons. JHG treatment also increased expression of axonal growth-associated protein GAP-43 in DRG sensory neurons after sciatic nerve injury and in the injured spinal cord. JHG treatment during the spinal cord injury increased induction levels of cell division cycle 2 (Cdc2) protein in DRG as well as in the spinal cord. Histochemical investigation showed that induced Cdc2 in the injured spinal cord was found in non-neuronal cells. These results suggest that JHG regulates activities of non-neuronal cells such as oligodendrocyte and astrocyte in responses to spinal cord injury and protects neuronal responsiveness after axonal damage.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.235-242
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• 2008

Purpose: Due to increasing interest in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, many histopathological studies have been conducted to prove that many neurotrophic factors including growth hormone are important for regeneration of the injured spinal cord. Growth hormone has to be given everyday, however, and this negatively affects compliance in clinical trials. Recently, the invention of sustained release growth hormone (SRGH) that can be given just once a week may both help the regeneration of injured spinal cord and, at the same time, be more compliant and convenient for clinical patients. Methods: In this study, thirty 7-week-old female Spraque-Dawley rats were subjected to a weight-driven impact spinal cord injury. They were divided into 3 groups and Group I and II were injected with SRGH once a week for 4 weeks; Group I were injected into the injured spinal cord area, while Group II were injected into the peritoneal cavity. Meanwhile, Group III were injected with normal saline solution. The functional outcome was evaluated using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan motor rating score and the inclined plane test was done 4 weeks after the first injection. Histopathological examination was performed at the same time and the amount of residual white matter was measured in all groups. Results: After 4 weeks, Groups I and II showed greater improvement than Group III(the control group) in the functional test. In the control group, invasion of atypical phagocytes, axonal degeneration, edema and cavity formation in the posterior site of spinal cord gray matter was observed in histopatholgical examination. The rate of residual white matter in Group III was less than in the other groups. Conclusion: Data showed significant functional and histopathological improvement in the groups treated with SRGH into the spinal and peritoneal cavity compared with the control group. SRGH is therefore beneficial because it helps with regeneration of the injured spinal cord and improves the compliance and convenience of patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.19-39
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• 2008

Objectives : It has been reported that CG was effective in decreasing injury to neural tissues. To investigate neural responses in the injured spinal cord, an extract of CG was examined to determine its effect on neural responses in the injured spinal cords of rats. Methods : After CG treatment was applied to the spinal cord of rats given a contusion injury, the re-growth responses of injured neural tissues and corticospinal tract axons was observed by measuring the number of GAP-43, Cdc2, and phospho-Erk1/2 proteins, CST axons, GFAP-stained astrocytes, and Glial scarring in the injured spinal cord. Results : Levels of GAP-43, Cdc2, and phospho-Erk1/2 proteins were found to have increased in the injured spinal cord region. The number of GFAP-stained astrocytes also increased within and around the injury cavity. Glial scarring, which was identified by CSPG immunofluorescence staining, was reduced by CG treatment. Anterograde tracing by Dil dye showed that the elongation of the CST axons in the dorso-medial white matter area was almost completely prevented at the injury site. Collateral sprouting was observed in the spinal cord rostrally close to the injury site, and CG treatment further increased axonal arborization in the corresponding region. In vivo migration of CST axons and astrocytes using an implanted polymer tube system showed more of an increase in enhanced migration of axons and astrocytes in CG-treated group compared to the injury control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that CG activated neural responses - including astrocyte migration - and promotes axonal regenerative activity in the injured spinal cord area.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.279-283
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• 2021

Traumatic spinal cord infarction is a rare condition that causes serious paralysis. The regulation of spinal cord blood flow in injured spinal cords remains unknown. Spinal cord infarction or ischemia has been reported after cardiovascular interventions, scoliosis correction, or profound hypotension. In this case, a 52-year-old man revisited the emergency center with motor and sensory abnormalities in all four extremities 56 hours after a motor vehicle collision. Despite the clinical presentation and imaging examination, there were no specific findings on the patient's first visit to the trauma center. Cervical spine computed tomography angiography showed a narrow vertebral artery, and diffusion-weighted imaging revealed spinal cord infarction from C3 to C5 with high signal intensity. It should be kept in mind that delayed-onset spinal cord infarction may occur in minor or major trauma patients as a result of head and neck injuries.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.182-193
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• 1998

Background: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), identified as a survival factor for developing peripheral neurons is upregulated by reactive astrocytes in the traumatized tissue and in areas of terminal degeneration after a brain lesion. But in the spinal cord, CNTF is expressed in the non-astrocytic phenotypic, maybe oligodendrocytes. The present study was undertaken to determine the upregulation of CNTF expression in reactive astrocytes following spinal cord lesion in the rat. Methods: Unilateral incision of the dorsal funiculus at the thoracic level was performed and rats were sacrificed on days 3, 7, 14 and 28 postlesion. Western blot analysis, immunocytochemical analysis and double immunofluorescence for CNTF and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were performed after spinal cord lesion. Results: A major band with 24 kDa and additional band of higher molecular weight form were detectable, and the intensity of the 24 kDa immunoreactive band increased up to 14 days postlesion and decreased toward laminectomized control values. CNTF immunoreactivity was markedly upregulated in the injured dorsal funiculus and adjacent gray matter. The time course of CNTF expression is coincident with the appearance of reactive astrocytes in the injured spinal cord. Moreover, double immunofluorescence for CNTF and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) revealed that CNTF immunoreactivity was in GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes. Conclusions: These results show that CNTF upregulation occurred in reactive astrocytes following spinal cord lesion, and suggest a role for CNTF in the regulation of astrocytic responses after spinal cord injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.91-102
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• 2015

Two patients, diagnosed as cervical spinal cord injury, were hospitalized and treated by Korean medical interventions with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). The range of motion of the shoulder joint, manual muscle test were adopted to measure the resulting motor recovery after treatment. And the Korean version of Barthel index (K-MBI) was adopted as a method of measuring the improvement of quality of life after treatment. The range of motions and muscle strengths of the shoulder joints were improved. The activities of daily living were slightly improved in case 2, but showed no improvement in case 1. FES was effective for upper extremities rehabilitation of spinal cord injured patients. Further studies are needed to set up an Korean medical protocol for spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.1-13
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• 2008

Objective : This study is investigate the effects of Sagunjatang-Ga-Nokyong(SGJ-NY) treatment on regenerative responses of corticospinal tract(CST) axons in the injured spinal cord. Methods :Using rats, we damaged their spinal cord, and then applied SGJ-NY extract to the lesion. Then we observed GAP-43 and NGF protein, astrcyte, axonal regeneration responses and axonal elongation. Result :Determination of GAP-43 and NGF protein levels were increased. And increased proliferation of astrocyte and enhanced processes in astrocytes were observed by SGJ-NY treatment. Higher number of astrocytes within the injury cavity in SGJ-NY treated group were showed, yet CSPG proteins were a weaker staining in the cavity in SGJ-NY. CST axons extended into the cavity and to the caudal area in SGJ-NY treated group were increased. Conclusion : SGJ-NY treatment might increase neural activity in the injured spinal cord tissue, and improved axonal regeneration responses. In this process, activation of astrocytes may play a role in promoting enhanced axonal elongation. the current study show that SGJ-NY exerts positive activity on inducing nerve regeneration responses by elevating neural tissue migration activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.215-220
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• 2009

Purpose：This study was to analyze the electrolyte such as blood Na+, K+, Ca2+ of aerobic exercise on spinal cord injured rats. Methods：SCI model rats were damaged in L1-L2 injected with 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA). For this study went on classifying the control group without aerobic exercise, experimental group with aerobic exercise. Experimental groups were applied as swimming for 15minutes. Results：The results of this study were follows. 1) The body weight of the experimental group increased significantly after aerobic exercise(p<.05). 2) In the case of sodium(has been decreased significantly after 2 weeks(p<.05). 3) In the case of potassium has been increased significantly after 2 weeks(p<.05). 4) In the case of calcium has been increased significantly after 2 weeks(p<.05). Conclusion：Aerobic exercise were positive effect in body weight and electrolyte of the spinal cord injury. Continued swimming exercise can be recommended as an effective intervention for the spinal cord injury.