Dehydroevodiamine·HCl enhances cognitive function in memory-impaired rat models

Progressive memory impairment such as that associated with depression, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) can interfere with daily life. In particular, AD, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, prominently features a memory and learning impairment that is related to changes in acetylcholine and abnormal β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the brain. In the present study, we investigated the effects of dehydroevodiamine·HCl (DHED) on cognitive improvement and the related mechanism in memory-impaired rat models, namely, a scopolamine-induced amnesia model and a Aβ₁₋₄₂-infused model. The cognitive effects of DHED were measured using a water maze test and a passive avoidance test in the memory-impaired rat models. The results demonstrate that DHED (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and Donepezil (1 mg/kg, p.o.) ameliorated the spatial memory impairment in the scopolamine-induced amnestic rats. Moreover, DHED significantly improved learning and memory in the Aβ₁₋₄₂-infused rat model. Furthermore, the mechanism of these behavioral effects of DHED was investigated using a cell viability assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement, and intracellular calcium measurement in primary cortical neurons. DHED reduced neurotoxicity and the production of Aβ-induced ROS in primary cortical neurons. In addition, similar to the effect of MK801, DHED decreased intracellular calcium levels in primary cortical neurons. Our results suggest that DHED has strong protective effects against cognitive impairments through its antioxidant activity and inhibition of neurotoxicity and intracellular calcium. Thus, DHED may be an important therapeutic agent for memory-impaired symptoms.

Ginsenoside Re Enriched Fraction (GS-F3K1) from Ginseng Berries Ameliorates Ethanol-Induced Erectile Dysfunction via Nitric Oxide-cGMP Pathway

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent disorder that affects millions of men and considered to be an early symptom of atherosclerosis and a precursor of various systemic vascular disorders. The aim of the present study was to prepare ginsenoside Re enriched fraction (GS-F3K1, ginsenoside Re 10%, w/w) from ginseng berries flesh and to investigate the enhanced activities of GS-F3K1 on alcohol-induced ED. GS-F3K1 was prepared by the continuous liquid and solid separating centrifugation and circulatory ultrafiltration from ginseng berries flesh. GS-F3K1 was administered for 5 weeks in ethanol-induced ED rat by oral administration of 20% ethanol. To investigate the effects of GS-F3K1 on ED model, the levels of nitrite expression, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and erectile response of the penile corpus cavernosum of rat were measured. The erectile response of the corpus cavernosum was restored after GS-F3K1 administration, to a level similar to the normal group. The level of nitrite and cGMP expression in the corpus cavernosum of GS-F3K1-administered male rats was increased significantly compared to positive control group. GS-F3K1 from ginseng berries should effectively restore ethanol-induced ED in male rats and could be developed as a new functional food for the elderly men.

Dehydroevodiamine.HCl Improves Stress-Induced Memory Impairments and Depression Like Behavior in Rats

Dehydroevodiamine.HCl (DHED) has been reported to prevent memory impairment and neuronal cell loss in a rat model with cognitive disturbance. We investigated the effect of DHED on memory impairment and behavioral abnormality caused by stress. We demonstrated that DHED can improve stress-induced memory impairments and depression-like behaviors by using open-field test, Y-maze test and forced swimming test. DHED treatment significantly recovered the decreases in the levels of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) proteins caused by stress and the decreases in cell viability. Our results suggested that DHED is a potential drug candidate for neuronal death, memory impairment and depression induced by stress.

Comparison of Speech Patterns According to The Degree of Surgical Setback in Mandibular Prognathic Patients

Immunohistochemical Localization of a Dopamine Releasing Protein in Human Brain / 체질인류학회지

In order to elucidate the existence and locality of DARP in the human brain, immunohistochemical identification was done in the brain tissues. This glycoprotein was distributed in paraventricular nucleus and thalamic reticular nucleus of diencephalon, substantia nigra and inferior colliculus of mesencephalon, medial vestibular nucleus, medial longitudinal nucleus, lateral reticular nucleus of medulla oblongata. And they follows a close distribution to that of catecholamine (CA) rich in either CA fiber or CA neuronal cell groups as previously reported by others using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) as a marker. This striking similarities in the topographic arrangement of the DARP-positive reaction product and the TH-positive reaction product is another argument favoring the view that DARP is involved in the regulation of catecholaminergic neurons.

Holter Monitoring in Symptomatic Idiopathic Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome

The idiopathic mitral valve prolapse(IMVP) syndrome presents with nonspecific cardiovascular symptoms which need to evaluate those clinical meaning. These symptoms should not necessarily be interpreted as suggesting arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities or myocardial ischemia unless the symptoms and the the electrocardiographic changes documented to occur simultaneously. And it will be that ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring is a a very sensitive method to detect the transient arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities of ischemic changes in patients with IMVP. Author undertook a study to systemically evaluate the electrocardiographic findings in symptomatic patients with IMVP by means of 24 hour ambulatory Holter electrocardiographic monitoring for the evaluation of the clincal meaning of those symptoms. The following results were obtained; 1) Twenty five subjects, 15 male and 10 female, with IMVP were studied. The subjects ranged in age from 10 to 50 decades. 2) The presenting complaints were palpitation in 20, atypical chest pain in 17, dizziness and syncope in 9, and lyspnea and fatigue in 7 of 25 studied subjects. 3) There were no correlations the presence of complaints with the routine 12 lead electrocardiographic findings, echocardiographic findings, and phonocardiographic findings. 4) The relationship of symptoms recorded in patient diary to Holter monioring electrocardiographic findings is summarized. (1) 20 patients recorded episodes of palpitation. Seven of these patients was associated with sinus tachycardia, 2 with paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, 3 with atrial fibrillation, 2 with atrial premature contractions, 5 with ventricular premature contractions, and 1 with no changes, (2) 17 patients recorded episodes of atypical chest pain. Three of these patients was associated with sinus bradycardia, 2 with sinus tachycardia, 1 with paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, 2 with atrial finbrillation, 2 with ventricular premature contractions, 3 with nonspecific ST segment change, 1 with first degree AV block, and 3 with no changes. (3) 8 patients recorded episodes of dizziness. Three of these patients was associated sinus bradycardia, 2 with paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, 1 with paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, 1 with ventricular premature contractions, and 1 with no changes. (4) 1 patient recorded episodes of syncope associated with second degree AV block and sinus bradycardia. (5) 3 Patients recorded episodes of dyspnea. One of these patients was associated with sinus bradycardia, 1 with ventricular premature contractions and one with no changes. 5) The prolonged QTc interval revealed in 7 of 25 studied subjects. One of these had frequent ventricular contractions followed by paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. 6) Ectopic beats associated with bradyarrhythmias tend to decrease in frequency and associated with tachyarrhythmias to increase in frequency in patients with atrial premature contractions during exercise, and with ventricular premature contractions during sleeping, respectively. 7) Bradyarrhythmia accounted for the majority of arrhythmias recorded in 15 of 25 symptomatic IMVP patients. It is concluded that Holter monitoring is of considerable value in assessing the clinical meaning of the nonspecific complaints in patinets with IMVP.