• Title/Summary/Keyword: Brain function

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Memory Enhancing and Neuroprotective Effects of Selected Ginsenosides

  • Sao Hai Ying;Zhang Jing;Yeo Soo Jeong;Myung Chang Seon;Kim Hyang Mi;Kim Jong Moon;Park Jeong Hill;Cho Jung Sook;Kang Jong Seong
    • Archives of Pharmacal Research
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.335-342
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    • 2005
  • The effects of ginsenosides Rg$_3$(R) , Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ (a mixture of Rg$_5$ and Rk$_1$ 1:1, w/w), which are components isolated from processed Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae), on memory dysfunction were examined in mice using a passive avoidance test. The ginsenosides Rg3(R), Rg3(S) or Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$, when orally administered for 4 days, significantly ameliorated the memory impairment induced by the single oral administration of ethanol. The memory impairment induced by the intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine was also significantly recovered by ginsenosides Rg3(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$. Among the three ginsenosides tested in this study, Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ enhanced the memory function of mice most effectively in both the ethanol­and scopolamine-induced amnesia models. Moreover, the latency period of the Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$­treated mice was 1.2 times longer than that of the control (no amnesia) group in both models, implying that Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ may also exert beneficial effects in the normal brain. We also evaluated the effects of these ginsenosides on the excitotoxic and oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell damage in primary cultured rat cortical cells. The excitotoxicity induced by glutamate or N­methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) was dramatically inhibited by the three ginsenosides. Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ exhibited a more potent inhibition of excitotoxicity than did Rg$_3$(R). In contrast, these ginsenosides were all ineffective against the H$_2$O$_2$- or xanthine/xanthine oxidase-induced oxidative neuronal damage. Taken together, these results indicate that ginsenosides Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ significantly reversed the memory dysfunction induced by ethanol or scopolamine, and their neuroprotective actions against excitotoxicity may be attributed to their memory enhancing effects.

Immunohistochemical studies on the relationship between pineal body and superior cervical ganglia of the Korean native goat (한국재래산양 송과체와 앞쪽목신경절의 관계규명을 위한 면역조직화학적 연구)

  • Lee, Heungshik S.;Lee, In-Se;Song, Seung-hoon;Yoon, Sung-tae;Hwang, In-koo;Lee, Choong-hyun
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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    • v.40 no.2
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    • pp.197-211
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    • 2000
  • The pineal body have been known to be affected by superior cervical ganglia, and most of its nerve fibers containing peptidergic neurotransmitters have been considered to be originated from this ganglia. To confirm this relationships, some peptidergic neurotransmitters were identified in both of pineal body and superior cervical ganglia of the Korean native goat, which were divided into two group; breeding season and non-breeding season. The localizations of two catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes; tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), were investigated by immunohistochemistry in the superior cervical ganglia and the pineal body of adult Korean native goats. Substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (GAL) were also identified in these organs by immunohistochemical and double immunofluorescent methods. In superior cervical ganglia, immunoreactivities for TH and DBH were confirmed in the same ganglion cells. The immunoreactivites for SP, VIP(only in male), NPY and GAL were identified in both of ganglion cell bodies and nerve fibers in the ganglia. CGRP immunoreactivity, however, was observed only in nerve fibers. Most NPY- and VIP-immunoreactive(IR) ganglion cells also contained TH. SP and TH were colocalized in the cell bodies, but not in the nerve fibers. TH immunoreactivity was shown in almost all of ganglion cells in the superior cervical ganglia. The immunoreactivity for NPY had some seasonal variation and was stronger in breeding season than in non-breeding season. In pineal body, lots of TH-IR fibers were observed throughout the parenchyma including the pineal stalk and most of them also contained DBH. SP- and NPY-IR fibers were also immunostained with TH or DBH. But a few SP- and NPY-IR fibers were not colocalized with TH or DBH. Exceptionally, a bipolar neuron-like cell was observed to be immunostained with NPY in the pineal body. A few CGRP and GAL-IR fibers were observed, while VIP-IR fibers were not present. It is concluded that most TH- and DBH-IR fibers as well as the peptidergic immunoreactive fibers of the pineal body might be originated from the superior cervical ganglia. Some peptidergic immunoreactive fibers, however, might be come from other regions of brain. We also suggest that NPY in pineal body plays a important role for pineal function. The seasonal variation of NPY immunoreactivity indicates that the synthesis and use of NPY may be different between in breeding and non-breeding seasons.

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PRIP, a Novel Ins(1,4,5)P3 Binding Protein, Functional Significance in Ca2+ Signaling and Extension to Neuroscience and Beyond

  • Kanematsu, Takashi;Takeuchi, Hiroshi;Terunuma, Miho;Hirata, Masato
    • Molecules and Cells
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.305-314
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    • 2005
  • Investigation of chemically synthesized inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [$Ins(1,4,5)P_3$] analogs has led to the isolation of a novel binding protein with a molecular size of 130 kDa, characterized as a molecule with similar domain organization to phospholipase C-${\delta}1$ (PLC-${\delta}1$) but lacking the enzymatic activity. An isoform of the molecule was subsequently identified, and these molecules have been named PRIP (PLC-related, but catalytically inactive protein), with the two isoforms named PRIP-1 and -2. Regarding its ability to bind $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$ via the pleckstrin homology domain, the involvement of PRIP-1 in $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ signaling was examined using COS-1 cells overexpressing PRIP-1 and cultured neurons prepared from PRIP-1 knock-out mice. Yeast two hybrid screening of a brain cDNA library using a unique N-terminus as bait identified GABARAP ($GABA_A$ receptor associated protein) and PP1 (protein phosphatase 1), which led us to examine the possible involvement of PRIP in $GABA_A$ receptor signaling. For this purpose PRIP knock-out mice were analyzed for $GABA_A$ receptor function in relation to the action of benzodiazepines from the electrophysiological and behavioral aspects. During the course of these experiments we found that PRIP also binds to the b-subunit of $GABA_A$ receptors and PP2A (protein phosphtase 2A). Here, we summarize how PRIP is involved in $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and $GABA_A$ receptor signaling based on the characteristics of binding molecules.

An Optimized V&V Methodology to Improve Quality for Safety-Critical Software of Nuclear Power Plant (원전 안전-필수 소프트웨어의 품질향상을 위한 최적화된 확인 및 검증 방안)

  • Koo, Seo-Ryong;Yoo, Yeong-Jae
    • Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.1-9
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    • 2015
  • As the use of software is more wider in the safety-critical nuclear fields, so study to improve safety and quality of the software has been actively carried out for more than the past decade. In the nuclear power plant, nuclear man-machine interface systems (MMIS) performs the function of the brain and neural networks of human and consists of fully digitalized equipments. Therefore, errors in the software for nuclear MMIS may occur an abnormal operation of nuclear power plant, can result in economic loss due to the consequential trip of the nuclear power plant. Verification and validation (V&V) is a software-engineering discipline that helps to build quality into software, and the nuclear industry has been defined by laws and regulations to implement and adhere to a through verification and validation activities along the software lifecycle. V&V is a collection of analysis and testing activities across the full lifecycle and complements the efforts of other quality-engineering functions. This study propose a methodology based on V&V activities and related tool-chain to improve quality for software in the nuclear power plant. The optimized methodology consists of a document evaluation, requirement traceability, source code review, and software testing. The proposed methodology has been applied and approved to the real MMIS project for Shin-Hanul units 1&2.

The Expression changes of AMPK, ERK-1/2, and p38 protein associated with Exercise in the Mouse hippocampus exposed to Radiofrequency Radiation (전자파(電磁波)에 노출된 생쥐의 해마에서 운동이 AMPK, ERK-1/2, p38 단백 발현 변화에 미치는 생체 영향)

  • Lee, Min-Sun;Park, Oak Jin;Kim, Hyun Taeg;Kim, Myeung Ju
    • Journal of Digital Convergence
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.267-273
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    • 2020
  • To determine the biological effects of exercise on hippocampus in mice brain exposed to radiofrequency radiaton (RF), the expression of AMPKα, p-AMPKα, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p38, and p-p38 protein in the mouse exposed to RF were investigated in the hippocampal tissues, Western blot method was used to compare the protein expression levels for each molecule. Significant increases in protein expression of individual and phosphorylated molecules were observed in the spontaneous exercise group, and the expression of these molecules was notably decreased in the RF exposure and spontaneous exercise group. This study shows that neuroplasticity can be increased by exercise in hippocampus that is responsible for memory, but memory and cognitive function may be affected by exposure to RF. We may expect clinically interesting results on dementia or Alzheimer disease if we proceed further investigation on the effect of RF.

The Correlation between Perceived Social Support and Hope of Stroke Survivors (뇌졸중 환자가 지각하는 사회적 지지와 희망과의 관계)

  • Kim, Kyung-Ok;Cho, Bok-Hee
    • The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.58-72
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    • 2001
  • A Cerebrovascular accident(CVA), or Stroke is a medical emergency that occurred when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or blocked. The stroke causes physical function disorder due to hemiparalysis and emotional disorder. Also the stroke patients experience helplessness, powerlessness, sense of alienation and loss of hope. These feelings make the rehabilitation difficult because they lose the will of life. The purpose of this study is to identify the correlation between perceived social support and hope of stroke survivors. The subjects for this study were 100 out-patients with stroke in one general hospital and oriental medicine hospital located in Mokpo. The data were analysed by frequency, t-test, ANOVA. Duncan test, Pearson's correlation, using the SPSS WIN 9.0 program. Data were collected from July 11 to September 9, 2000, using a structured questionnaire. The instruments used for this study : The social support scale developed by Park, Ji-won(1985) and the hope scale developed by Miller(1988). The results were as follows. 1. It was found that the higher the degree of perceived social support, the higher the degree of hope(r=.726, p=.000). Therefore hypothesis was supported. 2. The mean score of perceived social support was 77.8(SD=21.0) with a score range from 27.0 to 104.0. 3. The mean score of perceived hope was 117.0(SD=25.7) with a score range from 57.0 to 160.0. 4. The level of social support depending on general characteristics were significantly different in variables such as marital status(t=3.131, p=.010). degree of income satisfaction(F=16.027, p=.000). 5. The level of hope depending on general characteristics were significantly different in variables such as marital status(t=2.681, p=.040). current job(t=-2.055, p=.043) degree of income, satisfaction(F=11.363, p=.000). For these subjects, there was a significant relationship between social support and hope. The stroke survivors need social support to inspire their hope. Nurses should plan interventions to enhance social support for patients with stroke. The above results may be used as the basic data to seek more efficient way of elevating nursing practice and rehabilitation for the patients with stroke.

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Nutrition Knowledge and Eating Behaviors of Elementary School Children in Seoul (서울 일부지역 초등학교 고학년생의 영양지식, 식태도와 식행동)

  • Jeong, Na-Young;Kim, Kyung-Won
    • Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.55-66
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    • 2009
  • This study was aimed to examine nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes, and eating habits of elementary school students and to examine if their characteristics differ by gender. Subjects were 5th and 6th graders of an elementary school (n = 317) in Seoul, and the survey was done during July 2007. Mean height, weight, BMI of subjects was 148.1 cm. 41.7 kg, 19.0, and 14.3% of subjects were categorized as the overweight/obese group. Anthropometric data were not significantly different by gender. Mean score of nutrition knowledge was 14.9 out of 20 showing moderate knowledge levels, and girls scored higher on nutrition knowledge than boys (p < 0.05). Subjects showed knowledge deficit in areas such as nutrients, food groups and specific weight control information. The percentages of correct answers regarding meals for brain function were significantly higher in girls than in boys (p < 0.05). They got nutrition information mainly from mass media and family/relatives. The mean score of dietary attitudes was 41.2 (possible score: 10-50) indicating somewhat positive attitudes, and the score of eating behaviors was 34.8 (possible score: 15-45). Subjects showed problems in eating habits such as having unbalanced diets and snack foods. 82.6% of subjects had unbalanced meals, and these percentages were higher in girls (87.2%) than in boys (78.1%, p < 0.05). Vegetables and fish/shellfish were the most disliked foods. Specific eating behaviors, such as eating slowly, eating grains and having processed foods less frequently, were better in girls than in boys (p < 0.05). Results also showed that majority of subjects need to improve specific behaviors including having diverse foods, eating meals slowly, having meals at regular times, having adequate foods in each food groups, and eating sweets or salty foods less frequently. Only 52.7% of subjects perceived their body images as normal, and 56.4% had experience of weight control. Reasons for weight control were different by gender (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, nutrition education for school children should focus on modifying eating habits or eating behaviors, by suggesting practically applicable methods and providing nutrition information that is interesting and suitable to school-aged children.

Effect of Physical Therapy on the Motor Function and Mental State Recovery in Stroke Patients (뇌졸중 환자에 있어서 물리치료가 운동기능과 인지기능의 회복에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Hee-Han;Kim, Yoo-Sup;Lee, Hye-Jin;Song, Myung-Soo
    • Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.15-23
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    • 2002
  • In order to find the effects of physical therapy on the recovery of motor functions and mental state, a survey was conducted to 63 patients who, diagnosed as stroke by brain CT, had been hospitalized in a university medical center located in Jeonbuk provincial area from December 2000 to August 2001. The outcomes of the survey are as follows: 1. The subjects of the study were composed of 35 males(55.6%) and 28 females(44.4%), with 34(54.0%) below 60 in age and 29(46.0%) older than 60 years. 2. As to type of lesion, the surveyed patients were divided into 28(44.4%) with cerebral infarction, 24(38.1%) with cerebral hemorrhage, and 11(17.5%) with subarachnoid hemorrhage. In terms of size of lesion, they were divided into 29(46.0% with less than tan 1cm, 15 (23.8%) with $1{\sim}2cm$ and 19(30.2%) with longer than 2cm. Thirty-five patients(55.7%) reported paralysis in their right side, while 28(44.8%) complained paralysis in their left side. No recidivation was reported by 51(81.1%) while recidivation was asserted by 12(19%). Among them, 27(42.9%) had no past history but 36(57.1%) had such. 3. Regarding the time hour onset to admission to physical therapy, 46patients(73.0%) experienced it for less than one month, while 17(27.0%) for longer than one month. In terms of period of physical therapy, 30(47.6%) underwent the therapy for less than one month, 18(28.6%) for 1-2 months and 15(23.8%) for longer than 2 months. As is shown in the above study, the longer the period of physical therapy is, the more changes might occur in points of MMSE-K and MMAS. It may, therefore, be concluded that sufficiently longer period of physical therapy ensures the increased recovery of physical functions from stroke.

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Herbal Acupuncture of Nidus Vespae Suppresses c-Fos Expression by TNBS Induced Colitis in Rats (TNBS로 유도된 흰쥐의 대장염(大腸炎)에 대한 노봉방(露蜂房) 약침(藥鍼)의 효과)

  • Song, Jeong-Bang;Kim, Jae-Hyo;Kim, Yu-Lee;Park, Yu-Ree;Ahn, Seong-Hun;Sohn, In-Chul
    • Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.195-209
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    • 2009
  • Objectives : Transient inflammation has been demonstrated to alter visceral sensory function in animal models and acute mucosal inflammation may precede the manifestation of visceral hyperalgesia. Thus in this study we compared effects of herbal acupuncture of Nidus Vespae (NV) applied to the different acupoints in the acute colitis induced by trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) intracolonic injection in rats. Methods : In Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250 ~ 400 g, TNBS (5 mg/kg) was infused intrarectally through a silicon rubber catheter into the anus under isoflurane anaesthesia. Under general anesthesia, acupoints of LI4 (Hapkok), SI25 (Cheonchu), ST36 (Joksamni), BL25 (Daejangsu) were intramuscularly injected by NV. Expressions of cFos protein in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), locus coeruleus (LC), nucleus of solitary tract (Sol), and the 6th lumbar spinal cord (L6 s.c.) were observed at 24 hrs after TNBS induced colitis by immunohistochemistry. Results : The expression of c-Fos protein in L6 s.c., Sol, LC and PAG increased 24 hrs after TNBS injection into colorectum as compared to normal group. NV herbal acupuncture also inhibited the expression of c-Fos protein in Sol but not L6 s.c., LC, and PAG. NV to ST36 inhibited significantly the c-Fos expression in Sol and PAG. NV to ST25 inhibited the c-Fos protein expression all over the observation area. NV to BL25 showed the inhibitory effects in the areas except LC. Whether or not a role of endogenous opioids, intrathecal injection of naltrexone (30 ug / 30 ul) was applied before the 2nd herbal acupuncture treatment 24 hrs after TNBS-induced colitis in rat. Naltrexone reversed the inhibition of c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord and brainstem under different conditions such as type of herbal acupuncture compound and choice of acupoint. Conclusions : In summary, these data show that herbal acupuncture of NV inhibits signal pathways such as spinal cord and brain stem ascending hypersensitivity of colorectum after TNBS induced colitis. This effect may be mediated by acupoints through the endogenous opioid system involving the pain modulation.

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A Study on the Electrophysiological Response of the Cerebral Cortex by Olfactory Stimulation: Alpha Activity (후각자극에 의한 대뇌겉질의 전기생리학적 반응에 대한 연구: 알파 활동도)

  • Kang, Ji-Hyuk
    • Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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    • v.51 no.4
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    • pp.462-467
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    • 2019
  • Many studies in recent decades have revealed that olfactory stimulation by perfume or malodor inhalation exerts various psychological and physiological effects on humans. The most recent studies have examined the electrophysiological response of olfactory stimulation on the activity of human cortical nerve cells. The purpose of this current study is to quantitatively analyze what changes occur in the alpha activity in healthy participants (N=12) on olfactory stimulation using two types of odors (acacia and butanol). Exposure to the odor of acacia perfume was associated with a significant increase (66.7%) in alpha activity when compared with that of the no-odor background EEG. Exposure to the odor of butanol was associated with a significant reduction (33.3% to 41.7%) in EEG alpha activity when compared with that of the no-odor control. The results of this study demonstrated the potential to alter the cerebral cortex activity by olfactory stimulation. The results also suggest that olfactory perception has stimulatory effects on the function of the nervous system. In other words, it could be concluded from this study that inhalation of olfactory stimulation affected brain wave activities and mood states. Further research is needed to completely understand and describe the electrophysiological effects of different odors on the central nervous system.