• Food Science and Industry
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.23-32
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• 2013

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.5-48
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• 2014

Introduction : One of the important domains in OT is performance skills which include sensory perceptual skills, motor and praxis skills, emotional regulation skills, cognitive skills, and communication/social skills. All of these skills are support ed by integrated neurological processes. Body : Stereology robust tool when employed to investigate morphological changes in neurons, cortex area, and specific parts of brain involved in special brain function. Stereology is an interdisciplinary field focused or analyzing biological tissue with the three-dimensional interpretation of planer sections by using estimating method and mathematically unbiased sampling. With the unbiased stereological method based on probability theory, researchers can estimate morphological and anatomical changes in biological reference areas accurately and efficiently. Changes in anatomical and cytoarchitectural parameters, such as volume, number, and length, affect specific brain function related to the brain area. Occupational therapists provide treatment to improve functions for participation of occupation in neurological disorder. The functional improvements in neurological disorder reflect neurobiological changes because functional difficulties, such as motor cognitive disorder, are due to neurological disturbances. Thus, combination of two kinds of evidence, neurological changes and functional improvement, provide fundamental evidence for OT intervention in neurological disorder. Even though most of stereological studies are in animal model and in postmortem human because of practical and ethical issues, stereology provides fundamental knowledge to support OT theory and practice. Conclusion : Therefore, stereology informs translation from neuroscience to OT based on structure-function relationship in performance skills and experience-dependent neural plasticity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.5
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• pp.273-279
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• 2010

Background: Pulmonary hypertension is considered as a poor prognosis factor in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There has been reported brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) is related with increased right ventricular (RV) workloads. However, there are few studies that evaluate the relationship between BNP and pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), RV function and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score in patients with COPD, and the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on these parameters. Methods: Pulmonary function test, echocardiography, blood BNP, and SGRQ score were evaluated in stabilized moderate degree COPD patients ($FEV_1$/FVC< 70%, $50%{\leq}FEV_1$ < 80%) aged 45 years and over, without worsening of symptoms within recent 3 months. After treating with ramipril 10 mg for 3 months, the same evaluation was repeated. Results: Twenty-two patients were included in this study. BNP was significantly correlated with PAP (Pearson coefficient ${\rho}=0.51$, p=0.02), but not with RV ejection fraction (EF) and predicted $FEV_1%$. The values for predicted $FEV_1%$ showed significant correlation with SGRQ total score and activity score, but not with BNP or PAP. After ramipril treatment, PAP showed significant decrease ($42.8{\pm}8.1$ vs. $34.5{\pm}4.5mm$ Hg p=0.0003), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion significant increase ($21.5{\pm}3.3$ vs. $22.7{\pm}3.1mm$ p=0.009). BNP showed a tendency to decrease without statistical significance ($40.8{\pm}59.6$ vs. $18.0{\pm}9.1pg/mL$ p=0.55). SGRQ scores showed no significant change. Conclusion: BNP showed significant correlation with resting PAP, which means BNP could be used as markers for pulmonary hypertension. Treatment with ACEI didn't show significant change in the level of BNP, while pulmonary hypertension and RV function were improved.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.69-76
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• 2018

Objective : The study was to investigate the neurophysiological approach to the effect of complex exercise on memory, one of brain functions, and the degree of sleep disorder using experimental animals with sleep disorders. Methods : This study carried out a complex exercise that designed in an animal laboratory for 4 days to 16 sleep - disordered model rats. After the exercise, brain function was confirmed with the changes of BDNF in the hippocampus and the change of sleep level was confirmed with the concentration of melatonin in the blood. Results : First, the effect of the complex exercise program on brain function was significantly increased in the experimental group(p<0.01). Second, the effect of complex exercise program on sleep disturbance was significantly increased in the experimental group and control group(p<0.01)(p<0.05). Conclusion : The rate of increase of the elderly in the community is rapidly increasing, and the sleep disorder of the elderly can affect the quality of life of these elderly people. Secondary memory impairment due to sleep disturbances can also be a problem. Although there are many ways to improve sleep disturbance, it has been scientifically proven through experimental animals that sleep and memory can be improved with complex exercise that is not economically, spatially burdensome.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1386-1395
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• 2018

Over recent years, it has become evident that the central nervous system bidirectionally interacts with the gastrointestinal tract along the gut-brain axis. A series of preclinical studies indicate that the gut microbiota can modulate central nervous system function through a multitude of physiological functions. Polyphenols are ubiquitous plant chemicals included in foods such as fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee and wine, and their consumption is directly responsible for beneficial health effects due to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, anticancer, vasodilating, and prebiotic-like effects. There is increasing evidence that dietary polyphenol can contribute to beneficial effects in neuronal protection acting against oxidative stress and inflammatory injury as well as in cognitive functions. In this paper, we overview the neuroprotective role of dietary polyphenols especially focusing on the neuroinflammation and neurovascular function by interaction with the gut microbiome. Polyphenol metabolites could directly act as neurotransmitters crossing the blood-brain barrier and modulating the cerebrovascular system or indirectly modulating gut microbiota. In addition, evidence suggests that dietary polyphenols are effective in preventing and managing neurological disorders, such as age-related cognitive decline and neurodegeneration, through a multitude of physiological functions. Dietary polyphenols are increasingly envisaged as a potential nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders, because they possess the ability to reduce neuroinflammation, to improve memory and cognitive function and to modulate the gut microbiota.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.559-565
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• 2008

Members of the TGA family of basic domain/leucine zipper transcription factors regulate defense genes through physical interaction with NON-EXPRESSOR OF PR1 (NPR1). Of the seven TGA family members, TGA4/octopine synthase (ocs)-element-binding factor 4 (OBF4) is the least understood. Here we present evidence for a novel function of OBF4 as a regulator of flowering. We identified CONSTANS (CO), a positive regulator of floral induction, as an OBF4-interacting protein, in a yeast two-hybrid library screen. OBF4 interacts with the B-box region of CO. The abundance of OBF4 mRNA cycles with a 24 h rhythm under both long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions, with significantly higher levels during the night than during the day. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that OBF4 binds to the promoter of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene, a direct target of CO. We also found that, like CO and FT, an OBF4:GUS construct was prominently expressed in the vascular tissues of leaf, indicating that OBF4 can regulate FT expression through the formation of a protein complex with CO. Taken together, our results suggest that OBF4 may act as a link between defense responses and flowering.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.2 s.20
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• pp.43-49
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• 1976

The facts that $PGE_2$ produced diuresis in the rabbit when given into a lateral ventricle of the brain and that $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ is abundantly found in the brain prompted us to investigate the effects of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ introduced directly into the ventricle on the renal function. $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ given intraventriculary in doses of $10{\mu}g\;and\;100{\mu}g$ elicited prompt diuresis, 10-fold increase of sodium excretion and two-fold increment of potassium excretion. Free water reabsorption also increased along with the increased osmolar clearance. Neither renal plasma flow nor glomerular filtration rate did change significantly. This, along with the fact that the percentage of reabsorbed sodium filtered decreased from 99.5 to 93.9, indicates the tubular site of the diuretic and natriuretic action. Atropine pretreatment did not influence the renal effects of intraventricular $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$. Intravenously administered $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ in doses of 30 to $100{\mu}g$ did not produce any significant change in renal function. Intraventricular $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ had no effect on the systemic blood pressure, whereas intravenous administration brought about a transient hypotension. These observations suggest that $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ induces diuresis and natriuresis via central mechanism, that the site of the action resides in renal tubules, and that the reabsorption of sodium is inhibited in the proximal tubule, possibly through mediation of certain humoral agent. Overall, it is suggested that $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ might play a roll in regulating renal function through the center.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2015

Excessive manganese (Mn) in the brain promotes a variety of abnormal behaviors, including memory deficits, decreased motor skills and psychotic behavior resembling Parkinson's disease. Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a prevalent genetic iron overload disorder worldwide. Dysfunction in HFE gene is the major cause of HH. Our previous study has demonstrated that olfactory Mn uptake is altered by HFE deficiency, suggesting that loss of HFE function could alter manganese-associated neurotoxicity. To test this hypothesis, Hfe-knockout ($Hfe^{-/-}$) and wild-type ($Hfe^{+/+}$) mice were intranasally-instilled with manganese chloride ($MnCl_2$ 5 mg/kg) or water daily for 3 weeks and examined for memory function. Olfactory Mn diminished both short-term recognition and spatial memory in $Hfe^{+/+}$ mice, as examined by novel object recognition task and Barnes maze test, respectively. Interestingly, $Hfe^{-/-}$ mice did not show impaired recognition memory caused by Mn exposure, suggesting a potential protective effect of Hfe deficiency against Mn-induced memory deficits. Since many of the neurotoxic effects of manganese are thought to result from increased oxidative stress, we quantified activities of anti-oxidant enzymes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Mn instillation decreased superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) activity in $Hfe^{+/+}$ mice, but not in $Hfe^{-/-}$ mice. In addition, Hfe deficiency up-regulated SOD1 and glutathione peroxidase activities. These results suggest a beneficial role of Hfe deficiency in attenuating Mn-induced oxidative stress in the PFC. Furthermore, Mn exposure reduced nicotinic acetylcholine receptor levels in the PFC, indicating that blunted acetylcholine signaling could contribute to impaired memory associated with intranasal manganese. Together, our model suggests that disrupted cholinergic system in the brain is involved in airborne Mn-induced memory deficits and loss of HFE function could in part prevent memory loss via a potential up-regulation of anti-oxidant enzymes in the PFC.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.19-29
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• 2021

High-performing athletes possess the ability to read the game, known as the "sports brain". However, a cognitive battery to measure such sports brain has not been developed yet. The purpose of the study, thus, is to develop a computerized cognitive test battery to measure athletes' cognitive function. Based on a systematic review, information processing speed, execution function, and spatial ability were selected as sports-related cognitive functions. Simple and choice response times test, trail-making test, Flanker test, and mental rotation task were developed. After providing manual and practice trials, main tests were executed and all primary variables were statistically processed and automatically saved. The test battery is expected to aid in the discovery and recruitment of athletes in the future after verifying the validity and reliability of this battery.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2019

Purpose: Cognitive function is a main concern for rehabilitation progression in individuals who have sustained brain damage, even among those whose motor function has returned after brain damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate how cognitive impairment relates to functional independence in postural stability and gait performance in patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Methods: This was an observational design in an outpatient rehabilitation hospital. Twenty-eight adults with chronic hemiparetic stroke, receiving a course in an outpatient rehabilitation program, participated in this study. They were divided into two groups (i.e., non-cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment groups) via a cut-off score of 23 or less on a mini-mental state examination. Functional independence was assessed with the timed up-and-go test (TUG), 10-meter walk test (10mWT), five times sit-to-stand test (FTSST), Berg balance scale (BBS), and modified Barthel index (MBI). The independent t-test was used for statistical analysis when comparing the two groups. Results: The cognitive impairment group had less functional independence, balance, and gait performance than those of the non-cognitive impairment group had. The former also showed a statistically significant decrease in their TUG score, FTSST score, BBS score, and MBI score compared to the latter, but not in their 10mWT score (p<0.05). Although the non-cognitive impairment group walked faster than the cognitive impairment group did, that difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that cognitive impairment relates to functional independence in postural stability and the activities of daily living. In rehabilitation settings, cognitive impairment would be considered a major component in therapeutic rehabilitation to overcome the patients difficult physical problems and to treat for improving functional independence more after stroke.