• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.82-91
• /
• 2020

Electroencephalography (EEG) produces time-series data of neural oscillations in the brain, and is one of the most commonly used methods for investigating both normal brain functions and brain disorders. Quantitative EEG analysis enables identification of frequencies and brain activity that are activated or impaired. With studies on the structural and functional networks of the brain, the concept of the brain as a complex network has been fundamental to understand normal brain functions and the pathophysiology of various neurological disorders. Functional connectivity is a measure of neural synchrony in the brain network that refers to the statistical interdependency between neural oscillations over time. In this review, we first discuss the basic methods of EEG analysis, including preprocessing, spectral analysis, and functional-connectivity and graph-theory measures. We then review previous EEG studies of brain network characterization in several neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Identifying the EEG-based network characteristics might improve the understanding of disease processes and aid the development of novel therapeutic approaches for various neurological disorders.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 2014

Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation includes induction of inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-8 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which are mediated by oxidant-sensitive transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$. High levels of lipid peroxide (LPO) and increased activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), a biomarker of neutrophil infiltration, are observed in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa. Panax ginseng Meyer, a Korean herb medicine, is widely used in Asian countries for its biological activities including anti-inflammatory efficacy. The present study aims to investigate whether Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) inhibits H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation in Mongolian gerbils. One wk after intragastric inoculation with H. pylori, Mongolian gerbils were fed with either the control diet or the diet containing RGE (200 mg RGE/gerbil) for 6 wk. The following were determined in gastric mucosa: the number of viable H. pylori in stomach; MPO activity; LPO level; mRNA and protein levels of keratinocyte chemoattractant factor (KC, a rodent IL-8 homolog), IL-$1{\beta}$, and iNOS; protein level of phospho-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$(which reflects the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$); and histology. As a result, RGE suppressed H. pylori-induced mRNA and protein levels of KC, IL-$1{\beta}$, and iNOS in gastric mucosa. RGE also inhibited H. pylori-induced phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and increases in LPO level and MPO activity of gastric mucosa. RGE did not affect viable H. pylori colonization in the stomach, but improved the histological grade of infiltration of poly-morphonuclear neutrophils, intestinal metaplasia, and hyperplasia. In conclusion, RGE inhibits H. pyloriinduced gastric inflammation by suppressing induction of inflammatory mediators (KC, IL-$1{\beta}$, iNOS), MPO activity, and LPO level in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa.

• Journal of the Korea Computer Graphics Society
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.101-111
• /
• 2022

Conditional autonomous vehicles should hand over control to the driver according on driving situations. However, if the driver is immersed in a non-driving task, the driver may not be able to make suitable decisions. Previous studies have confirmed that the cues enhance take-over performance with a directional information on driving. However, studies on the effect of take-over cues on the driver's brain activities are rigorously investigated yet. Therefore, this study we evaluates the driver's brain activity according to the take-over cue. A total of 25 participants evaluated the take-over performance using a driving simulator. Brain activity was evaluated by functional near-infrared spectroscopy, which measures brain activity through changes in oxidized hemoglobin concentration in the blood. It evaluates the activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the brain region. As a result, it was confirmed that the driver's PFC was activated in the presence of the cue so that the driver could stably control the vehicle. Since this study results confirmed that the effect of the cue on the driver's brain activity, and it is expected to contribute to the study of take-over performance on biomakers in conditional autonomous driving in future.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.617-624
• /
• 2007

Protein arginine methylation is a posttranslational modification involved in various cellular functions including cell signaling, protein subcellular localization and transcriptional regulation. We analyze the protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) that catalyze the formation of methylarginines in porcine brain. We fractionated the brain extracts and determined the PRMT activities as well as the distribution of different PRMT proteins in subcellular fractions of porcine brain. The majority of the type I methyltransferase activities that catalyze the formation of asymmetric dimethylarginines was in the cytosolic S3 fraction. High specific activity of the methyltransferase was detected in the S4 fraction (high-salt stripping of the ultracentrifugation precipitant P3 fraction), indicating that part of the PRMT was peripherally associated with membrane and ribosomal fractions. The amount and distribution of PRMT1 are consistent with the catalytic activity. The elution patterns from gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography also indicate that the type I activity in S3 and S4 are mostly from PRMT1. Our results suggest that part of the type I arginine methyltransferases in brains, mainly PRMT1, are sequestered in an inactive form as they associated with membranes or large subcellular complexes. Our biochemical analyses confirmed the complex distribution of different PRMTs and implicate their regulation and catalytic activities in brain.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.535-539
• /
• 2015

Olfactory stimulation activates multiple signaling cascades in order to mediate activity-driven changes in gene expression that promote neuronal survival. To date, the mechanisms involved in activity-dependent olfactory neuronal survival have yet to be fully elucidated. In the current study, we observed that olfactory sensory stimulation, which caused neuronal activation, promoted activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and the expression of Bcl-2, which were responsible for olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) survival. We demonstrated that Bcl-2 expression increased after odorant stimulation both in vivo and in vitro. We also showed that odorant stimulation activated Akt, and that Akt activation was completely blocked by incubation with both a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and Akt1 small interfering RNA. Moreover, blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway diminished the odorantinduced Bcl-2 expression, as well as the effects on odorant-induced ORN survival. A temporal difference was noted between the activation of Akt1 and the expression of Bcl-2 following odorant stimulation. Blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway did not affect ORN survival in the time range prior to the increase in Bcl-2 expression, implying that these two events, activation of the PI3K pathway and Bcl-2 induction, were tightly connected to promote post-translational ORN survival. Collectively, our results indicated that olfactory activity activated PI3K/Akt, induced Bcl-2, and promoted long term ORN survival as a result.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.274-280
• /
• 1998

An inositol monophosphatase (IMPase) was purified to homogeneity from rat duodenal mucosa for the first time and its enzymatic properties were investigated. Rat duodenal mucosa peculiarly exhibited the highest IMPase activity among various rat tissues examined. By means of ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by Q-Sepharose, polylysine agarose, reactive-red agarose column chromatography, Uno-Q FPLC, and Bio-Silect FPLC, duodenal IMPase was purified 223-fold to a specific activity of 13.6 U/mg protein. The molecular mass of the native enzyme was estimated to be 48,000 Da on gel filtration. The subunit molecular mass was determined by SDS-PAGE to be 24,000 Da. These results indicate that duodenal IMPase is a dime ric protein made up of identical subunits. Rat duodenal IMPase has distinct properties from brain IMPase. It has a broad spectrum of substrate specificity and is insensitive to $Li^+$. Duodenal IMPase does not absolutely require $Mg^{2+}$ for its catalytic activity. Furthermore, duodenal IMPase is less stable to heat than brain enzyme. It is suggested that the rat duodenal mucosa needs a large amount of IMPase whose properties are quite different from that of the brain enzyme.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.71-83
• /
• 1999

This study was to investigate the effects of SUNGSIMJIHWANGTANG(SSJHT) on the blood and brain tissues of aged rats. For the experiment, the aged rats were divided into three groups : Non treated group(NC), distilled water fed group(PC), SSJHT fed group(SSJHT). Each group was fed for ten days before administration of scopolamine. Then, we injected scopolamine intraperitoneally to PC and SSJHT group for 5 days. We observed the changes of their blood cell(WBC, RBC, platelet), blood serum(BUN, creatinine, glucose, uric acid), erythrocyte hemolysis, and the activities of cholinesterase and measured the amounts of malondialdehyde in the serum, catalase, and SOD in the brain tissue. The main results of this investigation are as follows. 1. In respect of the number of WBC, SSJHT group exhibited significant increase in comparison with PC. 2. In respect of the amount of creatinine and uric acid in the blood serum, SSJHT group exhibited significant decrease in comparison with PC. 3. In respect of erythrocyte hemolysis, SSJHT group exhibited significant suppression in comparison with PC. 4. In respect of the activity of cholinesterase in the serum, SSJHT group exhibited significant activation in comparison with PC. 5. In respect of the amounts of malondialdehyde in the serum, SSJHT group exhibited significant decrease in comparison with PC. 6. In respect of the activity of catalase in brain tissue, SSJHT group didn't exhibit significant change in comparison with PC. 7. In respect of the activity of SOD in brain tissue, SSJHT group exhibited significant activation in comparison with PC. As a result of this study, SSJHT is expected to have antiaging effect by suppressing the formation of free radicals, the accumulation of antioxidants and further study needs to be carried on about SSJHT.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.71-85
• /
• 1998

This study was to investigate the effects of GONGCHENGWHAN(GCW) on the blood and brain tissues of aged rats. For the experiment, the aged rats were divided into three groups : Non treated group (NC), distilled water feeding group(PC), GCW feeding group(GCW).Each group was treated as the procedure for ten days before administration of scopolamine. After this treating, we injected scopolamine to Pc and GCW group their blood cell(WBc, RBC, platelet), blood serum (BUN, creatinine, glucose, uric acid), erythrocyte hemolysis, and the activities of cholinesterase as well as measured the amounts malondialdehysde in the blood serum, catalase, and SOD in the brain tissue.The main results of this investigation are as follows.1. In respect of the number of WBC, GCW group exhibited the administrated incerase in comparison with PC. In respect of the number of RBC· and platelet, however, the changes was not administrated.2. In respect of the number of BUN, creatinine, glucose and uric and the blood, GCW group exhibited the administrated decrease in comparison with PC.3. In respect of erythrocyte hemolysis, GCW group exhibited the administrated repression in comparison with PC.4. In respect of the activity of cholinestease in the blood serum, GCW group exhibited the administrated improvement in comparison with PC.5. In respect of the amounts of malondialdehyde in the blood serum, GCW group exhibited the administrated dexrease in comparison with PC.6. In respect of the activity of catalase in brain tissue, GCW group didn't exhibit the administrated change in comparison with PC7. In respect of the activity of SOD in brain tissue, GCW group exhibited the administrated improvement in comparison with PC.Results of this study indicates that GCW improves the activities of cholinesterase and SOD, but represses the formation of the free radical and the accumulation of the antioxidant materials such as MDA. It implies that GCW has some effects on antiaging.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.53-69
• /
• 1998

This experiment was done to investigate the effects of GAMIKWYBICHONGTANG(GKCT) on the blood and brain tissues of aged rats. The experimental groups were divided into three groups and treated as follows for ten days before administration of scopolamine ; Non treated group(Normal), Distilled water feeding group (Control), GKCT feeding group(GKCT). After feeding them each, Control and GKCT were injected scopolamine for 5 days.We examined the changes of blood cell(WBC, RBC, platelet), blood serum(BUN, creatinine, glucose, uricacid), erythrocyte hemolysis, the activities of cholinesterase, and measured the amounts of malondialdehyde of the blood serum and checked the activities of catalase, SOD of the brain tissues.The results were as follows;1. GKCT showed significant increase of the number of WBC, but those of RBC and platelet didn't significantly changed in comparison with Control.2. GKCT showed significant decrease of BUN, creatinin, glucose, uric acid in blood serum in comparison with Control.3. Erythrocyte hemolysis were decreased significantly in GKCT in comparison with Control.4. About the activity of cholinesterase of blood serum, GKCT showed no significant increase in comparison with Control.5. In TBA reaction to measure the amount of MDA, oxidant material of blood serum of rats, GKCT showed significant decrease in comparison with Control.6. About the activity of catalase of brain tissue, GKCT showed no significant change in comparison with Control.7. About the activity of SOD of brain tissue, GKCT showed significant increse in comparison with Control.According to the above results, GKCT can reduce the formation of free radical and the accumulation of antioxidant materials, it is suggested that GAMIKWYBICHONGTANG(GKCT) has some effects on antiaging. It is also needed more following studies.

• Journal of Naturopathy
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2022

Background: Exercise influences the generation of brain cells through learning and experience in the process of acquiring motor skills and helps improve brain function. It is necessary to scientifically verify how brain wave activity, a method of analyzing brain function, affects movement. Purposes: We scientifically identify the positive effects on EEG activity when applying complex functional linear ladder movements in an appropriate environment. Methods: After recruiting 30 male university students, we divided them into a linear ladder exercise group, a treadmill exercise group, and a control group, and exercise was applied and measured repeatedly for ten weeks. Results: There was a statistically significant change between groups in the left prefrontal lobe of alpha waves when exercise was applied (p < .05). Conclusions: Although exercise has a positive effect on EEG, line ladder exercise, which applies a complex pattern and produces more leg movement, appears to have a better impact on brain function than traditional aerobic exercise.