• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.147-157
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to explore the current research trend on acupuncture treatment for nerve regeneration and recovery effect. Methods : We investigated the researches so far, on acupuncture treatment for the nerve regeneration and recovery via searching Pubmed from 2005 up to October 2014. Data were extracted from the included studies regarding the authors, countries, type of nerve injury, type of acupuncture, treatment period, acupuncture points, assessment tool and results. Results and Conclusions : Twenty-four research papers were included in the review. Outcomes were measured by immunohistochemical results, motor behavior scores, and electrocphysiological results. All but one study favored acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatment for nerve regeneration and recovery regardless of type of nerve injury and acupuncture modality. Acupuncture treatment may have a potential for nerve regeneration and recovery and further research is required.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.384-404
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• 2013

Objectives : Effects of Bogijetong-tang (BJT) on peripheral nerve regeneration have been reported in a previous study on BJT but additional study on a damaged peripheral neuropathy where its damage level is physically and chemically more severe was needed. Plus, this study was conducted because there haven't been any studies for BJT on central nerve regeneration. Methods : In order to check the effect on central nerve regeneration, the study on cerebellum cells was started and the sciatic nerve was used to observe the effects on a peripheral nerve which was severely damaged both physically and chemically. Nerve recovery effects were observed by analyzing target proteins such as phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ${\beta}1$ integrin, neurofilament 200, growth-associated protein-43, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, phospho-vimentin, phospho-Smad, and caspase 3. Results : The significant changes of target protein in cerebellum neurons have been observed. The changes of index protein on the axon regeneration and the nerve recovery in the sciatic nerve have been observed and the effects on cell protection were observed, as well. Conclusions : This study confirmed that BJT made a significant influence on nerve protection and recovery of a damaged peripheral neuropathy and it also made a possibility of its regeneration in a damaged central nerve injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.25-37
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• 2008

Objectives : Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san) has been used for many years as a treatment for sciatica in oriental medicine. And electrical acupuncture also has been used as a treatment for sciatica in recent study. By the way, it is hard to find the study that apply two treatments in the same time. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san) and electrical acupuncture on nerve regeneration after crush injury in rat sciatic nerve in the same time. Methods : This study was designed with 4 subgroups to evaluate the effects of Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san) and electrical acupuncture on nerve regeneration. As control groups, group I has not been treated during 3 weeks after crush injury in rat sciatic nerve. Group II has been treated Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san), Group III has been treated electrical acupuncture, and Group IV has been treated both during 3 weeks. This study has been estimated sciatic function index and change of GAP-43 immunoreactivity about sciatic nerve regeneration. Results : 1. The test for nerve regeneration had significantly good result of sciatic function index in the experimental groups as compared with control groups(p<.05). Especially, Group IV has the greatest result of sciatic function index. 2. GAP-43, the marker of nerve regeneration, more increased in the experimental groups as compared with control groups. Especially, Group IV has the greatest result of GAP-43. Conclusions : Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san) and electrical acupuncture have good effects on nerve regeneration after crush injury in rat sciatic nerve.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2006

Although the peripheral nerve system has a relatively good regenerating capacity compared to the central nerve system, peripheral nerve repair remains a clinical challenge as restoration of normal nerve function is highly variable. Synthetic tubular nerve conduits were designed as an alternative repair method in order to replace the need for an isograft. These nerve conduits guide regenerating axons from the proximal toward the distal end, maintain within growth-promoting molecules released by the nerve stumps, and protect regenerating axons from infiltrating scar tissue. In this work, we prepared cinnamoylated alginate (CA)-collagen-chitosan nerve conduit using the lyophilization method to generate a controllable parallel channel in the center and then investigated its influence on peripheral nerve regeneration in an animal study. At 12 weeks after implantation, histological study showed that tissue cable was continuously bridging the gap of the sciatic nerve in all rats. Our newly developed nerve conduit is a promising tool for use in peripheral nerve regeneration and provides a suitable experimental model for future clinical application.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2001

Recovery of nerve injury is conditioned by various factors including physical state, injured site, cause of injury, and neurorrhaphy Many researchers have reported on regeneration of nerve using end to side neurorrhaphy. The purpose of this study was to examine regeneration of nerve in various conditioned side to side neurorrhaphy. Total of 25 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220 to 250 gm were divided into five groups of five rats each. The group 1, sham group, composed of dissection only without nerve transaction. The group 2, control group, composed of nerve division only without neurorrhaphy or sural nerve graft. The group 3 composed of one segmental sural nerve graft between the tibial and peroneal nerve after division. Group 4 had two segment graft, and the group 5 with three segment graft, each segment being 6mm long and 5 mm apart. The side to side neurorrhaphy was performed between peroneal nerve and tibial nerve using segmental sural nerve graft in rats. We exposed the sciatic nerve, tibial nerve, peroneal nerve, and sural nerve on left side with prone position. The peroneal nerve was cut on the bifurcation site from tibial nerve and the side to side epineurial neurorrhaphy was performed between peroneal nerve and tibial nerve through 6 mm sural nerve segment graft with 11-0 nylon under operating microscope. The electromyography and the weight from ipsilateral tibialis anterior muscle was performed at one month after neurorrhaphy Peroneal and tibial nerve was examined at distal and proximal to the neurorrhaphy site by methylene blue stain under light microscope for histologic appearance. The number of nerve fibers were counted using the image analyzer. Statistically, both in electromyography and number of nerve fibers, the differences in values between the groups were significant.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.99-108
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• 2016

While axons in the peripheral nerve can regenerate and lead to functional recovery to a certain extent after injury, its efficacy varies depending on the severity and duration of the injury. Here, we investigated the effects of Boyanghwano-tang (BYHOT) treatment on the regenerative responses in the sciatic nerves after prolonged transection and coaptation surgery. In mice given crush injury, axonal regeneration was completed when analyzed 1 week later and did not show any difference in regenerative reponses in the distal portion of the nerve between saline- and BYHOT-treated groups. In animal models with transection and reconnection, axonal regeneration was markedly retarded compared to animals with crush injury. Regenerating axons were extended into the reconnected distal portion of the nerve more actively in animals treated with BYHOT than saline controls. Cdc2 protein was similarly induced in nerves with crush injury and with transection and recollection, and its level was lower in BYHOT-treated animal than saline control when measured 2 weeks after nerve reconnection. These results suggest that BYHOT may be useful to promote axonal regeneration in the peripheral nerve after severe injury.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.431-437
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• 2008

Sengmaek-san(Shengmai-san; SMS) is used in oriental medicine as one of the key herbal medicine for treating diverse symptoms including cardiovascular and neurological disorders. In the present study, the effects of SMS on axonal regeneration were investigated in the rat model given sciatic nerve injury. SMS treatment enhanced axonal regrowth into and the number of non-neuronal cells in the distal area after crush injury. GAP-43 protein levels were increased in the injured sciatic nerve compared to intact nerve and further upreguated by SMS treatment. GAP-43 protein was increased similarly in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) at lumbar 4 - 6 by nerve injury and SMS treatment, suggesting GAP-43 induction at gene expression level. SMS-mediated increase in phospho-Erk1/2 protein was observed in the DRG as well as in the injured nerve implying its retrograde transport into the cell body as the process of lesion signal transmission. The present findings suggest that SMS may be involved in enhanced axonal regeneration via dynamic regulation of regeneration-associated proteins.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.492-495
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• 2005

The role of cultured bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in peripheral nerve regeneration was examined using an established rabbit peroneal nerve regeneration model. A 15-mm peroneal nerve defect was bridged with a vein filled with BMSCs $(1{\times}10^6)$, which had been embedded in collagen gel. On the contralateral side, the defect was bridged with a vein filled with collagen gel alone. When the regenerated tissue was examined 4, 8 and 12 weeks after grafting, the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers in the side with the BMSCs were significantly higher than in the control side without the BMSCs. This demonstrates the potential of using cultured BMSCs in peripheral nerve regeneration.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2001

This study was performed to investigate the changes of nerve after the injection of alcohol and glycerol at the infraorbital nerve in rats. Using the eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing $200{\sim}250g$, 99% alcohol, pure glycerol, and sterile saline was injected to the epineurium of the infraorbital nerve. Glycerol injected rats were devided into 0.01ml, 0.03ml and 0.05ml groups. The alcohol and control group were injected 0.03ml at the left infraorbital nerve. The following results were obtained by histopathological examination after 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. A few inflammatory cell infiltration and no signs of nerve degeneration were noted in control group. Total nerve degeneration was noted in the alcohol group and no regeneration was noted in 1month, and partial regeneration was noted at 3month. The nerve degeneration was noted at the periphery of nerve bundle in 0.01ml glycerol injection group. Total degeneration was noted in the 0.03ml and 0.05ml glycerol injection group and the degree was propotional to dose. These results suggest that injection of alcohol and glycerol are effective to nerve blockage by nerve degeneration, and nerve degeneration by glycerol injection is propotional to dose and nerve regeneration by glycerol injection is inversely propotional to dose.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.308-316
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• 2006

Objectives Despite considerable advances in technique, experience and skill, the precise place of surgery in the treatment of facial nerve injury remains uncertain. We designed a facial nerve crush injury model in rats and evaluated the recovery of crushed nerve which is the most common injury type of facial nerve using adenovirus vector mediated in vivo gene transfer of Brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF). Materials and methods In 48 Sprague Dawley rats, we made a facial nerve crush injury model to main trunk before the furcation, and injected a $10^{11}$pfu adenoviral BDNF in experimental group(BDNF adenoviral injection group; ad-BDNF) and $3{\mu}l$ saline in control group(Saline injection group; saline). After a period of regeneration from 10 to 40 days, nerve regeneration was evaluated with functioinal test (vibrissae and ocular movement), electrophysiologic study(threshold, peak voltage, conduction velocity) and histomorphometric study of axon density. Results Vibrissae and ocular movement, threshold and conduction velocity improved as time elapse in both group, however axon density was increased significantly only in experimental group. Functional test in 10 days and 20 days showed no difference between experimental group and control group. Vibrissae movement, threshold, conduction velocity and axon density in 30 days revealed that the regeneration in quality of experimental group was significantly superior to that of control group. Conclusion In general, there is tendency for nerve regeneration in experimental group (BDNF-adenovirus injection group) during 40 days, functional recovery was detected successfully after facial nerve crush in 30 days postoperatively.