Search

Introduction Memory problems are more common with ageing and are related to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This study investigated whether the intake of lactobacillus fermented Saccharina japonica (FSJ) extract improved the cognitive function during working memory processing and whether biomarkers were associated with task performance. Methods Eligible participants were assigned to either a control group or an experimental group by computerized randomization. Participants were asked to take either 2 capsules, once a day for 4 weeks of lactobacillus FSJ for the experimental group or placebo control capsules for the control group. The cognitive function was determined using the Beck depression inventory (BDI), Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS), operation-word span task and Raven’s test-based quantitative EEG test. Levels of amyloid-β, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the serum using the ELISA were also measured. Results There was no significant difference between these two groups in all cognitive function tests using the independent sample t-test. However, the experimental group showed a significant difference in the correct answer percentage, concentration and left and right brain activity of space perception as assessed by the Raven test-based quantitative EEG test by a paired-sample t-test. Biochemical measurements showed, a slightly decreasing trend in amyloid-β, whereas SOD level was not significantly different between groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion These results suggest that FSJ may have the potential to improve cognitive function as evaluated by the Raven’s test via, regulation of SOD antioxidant system. Our findings provide preliminary evidence of the safety of FSJ and its potential to improve memory.

Background: During the aging process, skin shows visible changes, characterized by a loss of elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles due to reduced collagen production and decreased elasticity of elastin fibers. Panax ginseng Meyer has been used as a traditional medicine for various diseases due to its wide range of biological activities including skin protective effects. Ginsenosides are the main components responsible for the biological activities of ginseng. However, the protective activities of an enzymatic preparation of red ginseng against human skin aging have not been investigated. Methods: The efficacy of an enzyme-treated powder complex of red ginseng (BG11001) in preventing human skin aging was evaluated by oral administration to 78 randomized individuals. All patients were requested to take three daily capsules containing either 750 mg of BG11001 or a placebo vehicle for 24 wk; at the end of the testing period, skin roughness, elasticity, and skin water content were measured. Results: BG11001 significantly reduced the average roughness of eye wrinkles and the Global Photo Damage Score compared with the placebo, although there were no significant differences in arithmetic roughness average between the groups. In addition, gross elasticity and net elasticity values increased, and transepidermal water loss level decreased, indicating improved skin elasticity and moisture content. Conclusion: In conclusion, enzyme-treated red ginseng extract significantly improved eye wrinkle roughness, skin elasticity, and moisture content. Moreover, enzyme-treated red ginseng extract would be useful substance as a bio-health skin care product.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Recently, bee venom was reported to protect dopaminergic neurons in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine induced mice PD model, however, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The objective of the present study is to investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of bee venom against Parkinsonian toxin, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP+), in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Our results revealed that bee venom pretreatment (1–100 ng/ml) increased the cell viability and decreased apoptosis assessed by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity assays in MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Bee venom increased the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression and decreased the pro-apoptotic Bax, cleaved PARP expressions. In addition, bee venom prevented the MPP+-induced suppression of Akt phosphorylation, and the neuroprotective effect of bee venom against MPP+-induced cytotoxicity was inhibited by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002. These results suggest that the anti-apoptotic effect of bee venom is mediated by the cell survival signaling, the PI3K/Akt pathway. These results provide new evidence for elucidating the mechanism of neuroprotection of bee venom against PD.

Summary Objectives In smokers, smoking-associated cues produce smoking urges and cravings, which are accompanied by autonomic dysfunction in response to these cues. We investigated whether or not acupuncture ameliorated cigarette withdrawal symptoms, as well as attenuated the autonomic responses to smoking-related visual cues in smokers using a power spectrum analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Interventions Fifteen subjects were treated with real acupuncture (RA) at HT7 and 14 subjects received sham acupuncture (SA) at LI10 using the Park Sham Device. Main outcome measure The cigarette withdrawal scale (CWS) was measured on the third day after the subjects had quit smoking. We compared the low-frequency/high-frequency (HF/LF) ratio in the HRV of the RA and SA groups during a distraction task using neutral and smoking visual cues. Results The CWS of the RA group was significantly lower than that of the SA group. The increase in the LF/HF ratio of HRV induced by the smoking-related visual cues was also significantly lower in the RA group when compared with the SA group. Acupuncture not only ameliorated cigarette withdrawal, but also weakened the autonomic responses to smoking cues during withdrawal. Conclusions These findings suggest that acupuncture might help in smoking cessation by attenuating withdrawal symptoms and smoking cues-induced autonomic responses.

Summary This study reviews recent advances in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or masticatory system related neurology, and suggests the TMJ as a neurological window and lever. The TMJ is integrated with the brainstem centers via the sensorimotor system, including the body balance and coordination control systems. A dysfunctioning TMJ may reflect not only local problems, but also the underlying remote or systemic problems. Neurological examination, including balance testing, for example, may reveal the contributing imbalances and provide an additional evaluation of the appropriateness of TMJ therapeutics being attempted. Repetitive or tonic sensory stimulations involving the TMJ may be related to therapeutic interventions, contributing to neural plasticity, which may be adopted as a therapeutic approach in treatment of neurological disorders, including dystonia and movement disorders. TMJ related therapeutics, such as use of an occlusal splint, cranial manipulation, muscle/myofascial therapy, and acupuncture, ideally need to be practiced along with neurological monitoring, to ensure neurologically desirable effects.

Bee venom (BV) has been used traditionally for the control of pain and inflammation in various chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Oriental medicine. However, it is still unclear how BV exerts its beneficial effects on the clinical course of RA patients. To investigate the effect of BV on the treatment of rheumatoid synovitis, we examined the inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis in human rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. Rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts were surgically obtained from patients with RA. Cell proliferation and viability were assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptosis of synovial cells treated with 10 microg/ml BV for 24 h was identified by 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay, DNA fragmentation assay, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis. It was demonstrated that rheumatoid synovial cells treated with 10 microg/ml BV for 24 h exhibited apoptotic features and fragmentation of DNA. In addition, BV induces apoptosis in rheumatoid synovial cells through a decrease in BCL2 expression and an increase in BAX and caspase-3 (CASP3) expression. It is suggested that BV inhibits the proliferation of rheumatoid synovial cells through induction of apoptosis by CASP3 activation.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder, and it has been suggested that treatments promoting survival and functional recovery of affected dopaminergic neurons could have a significant and long-term therapeutic value. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture on the nigrostriatal system in rat unilaterally lesioned with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 4 microg/microl, intrastriatal injection) using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, trkB, immunohistochemistries. Two weeks after the lesions were made, rats presented with asymmetry in rotational behavior (118.3 +/- 17.5 turns/h) following injection with apomorphine, a dopamine receptor agonist (0.5 mg/kg, sc). In contrast, acupunctural treatment at acupoints GB34 and LI3 was shown to significantly reduce this motor deficit (14.6 +/- 13.4 turns/h). Analysis via TH immunohistochemistry revealed a substantial loss of cell bodies in the substantia nigra (SN) (45.7% loss) and their terminals in the dorsolateral striatum ipsilateral to the 6-OHDA-induced lesion. However, acupunctural treatment resulted in the enhanced survival of dopaminergic neurons in the SN (21.4% loss) and their terminals in the dorsolateral striatum. Acupuncture also increased the expression of trkB significantly (35.6% increase) in the ipsilateral SN. In conclusion, we observed that only acupuncturing without the use of any drug has the neuroprotective effects against neuronal death in the rat PD model and these protective properties of acupuncture could be mediated by trkB.

Maternal separation in early life can increase vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders over the lifespan. To investigate the effect of acupuncture on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus (DG), 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-immunohistochemistry was performed in maternally-separated rat pups. Maternal separation, for 7 days from postnatal day 14, induced a significant decrease of BrdU-immunoreactive cells in DG, while acupuncture treatment at acupoint Shenmen (HT7), at the end of the transverse crease of the ulnar wrist, resulted in the significant increase in the number of BrdU-positive cells in DG. However, acupuncture at acupoint ST36, near the knee joint, produced no increase in the number of BrdU-positive cells. These findings indicate that acupuncture at acupoint HT7 appears to stimulate cell proliferation, and we suggested that acupuncture may be useful in the treatment of diseases related to maternal separation.