• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.66-84
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• 2003

Objectve : Recent stuides suggested that there is a strong correlation between acupuncture stimulation and its cortical activation. Another study showed that either positive or negative BOLD effects could be observed depending on anatomical structure in acupuncture. Methods : 1) Subjects and paradigms: Two separate stimulation paradigms were performed in this study. To see the effects of electro-acupuncture stimulation on K7(Fuliu), the experiment was carried out on six healthy volunteers, using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body MRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right K7(Fuliu), 2 Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds, repeated five times, with 30 seconds' intervals. During the intervals while there was no electro-stimulation, the subjects performed motor task as a reference. The image analysis including motion correction, talairach transformation, and smoothing was done using SPM99. Results: The electro-acupuncture stimulation on K7(Fuliu) activated Brodmann's Areas of 9, 19, 23, 24, 31, 32, 39 which may be the central pathways of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on K7(Fuliu) and those brain areas may be related with the function of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on K7(Fuliu).

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2004

Background: In the thymus, developing thymocytes continually interact with thymic epithelial cell components. Self MHC restriction of mature T cells are imposed in the thymus through interaction of immature double positive thymocytes and thymic cortical epithelial cells. The site of negative selection, however, is a matter of debate. Through systemic injection of anti-TCR antibody or antigenic peptides, investigators suggested that most of the negative selection occurs in the thymic cortex. But the requirements for negative selection, i.e cellular counterparts and costimulatory molecules are more available in the medulla or cortico-medullary junction rather than in the thymic cortex. Methods: The direct and indirect pathways of thymocyte death after systemic anti-TCR antibody injection were separated through several experimental systems. B6 mice were either adrenalectomized or sham-adrenalectomized to evaluate the role of endogenous glucocorticoids from adrenal gland. Role of TNF were evaluated through using TNF receptor double knockout mice. Results: We found that without indirectly acting mediators such as $TNF-\alpha$ or corticosteroid, double positive thymocyte death were minimal by systemic injection of anti-TCR antibody in TNF receptor double knockout neonatal mice. Also by analyzing neonatal wild-type mice with adoptively transferred mature T cells, only peripheral activation of mature T cells could induce extensive double positive thymocyte death. Conclusion: Thus, systemically injected anti-TCR antibody mediated thymocyte death are mostly induced through indirect pathway.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.121-134
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this in vivo study is to observe anti-amnesic effects of Yeongkyekamjotanggayonggolmoryo (YGYM), a novel mixed herbal prescription, Ossis Mastodi and Ostreae Testa added Yeongkyekamjo-tang, on scopolamine induced amnesia in C57BL/6 mice through acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expression, and antioxidant effects. Methods: Six groups, total 20 intact or 100 Sco treated mice were used in this study after one week of acclimatization period. Half the animals were used for passive avoidance task tests and hippocampus ACh content, AChE activity, and ChAT mRNA expression were measured. The other half was subjected to an underwater maze test and then the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense system was measured. Results: In the passive avoidance experiment, there was significant decrease in residence time in the bright room and in the underwater maze test, escape latency to escape from the esophagus significantly increased compared with the normal control group. At the final sacrifice, ACh content and ChAT mRNA expression decreased, AChE activity increased, and cerebral cortical MDA increased GSH content, SOD and CAT activity in Sco control mice, as compared to intact vehicle control mice. However, these Sco treatment-related memory loss through AChE activation destroyed the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense system, and was inhibited dose-dependently by 28 days consecutive oral pretreatments of YGYM extracts 500, 250, 125 mg/kg. Conclusions: In the above results, YGYM extract that oral administration of YGYM extracts alleviates the antioxidant defense system, through preservation of ACh mediated by upregulation of ChAT mRNA expression, and increase of AChE inhibition and brain antioxidant defense systems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.352-355
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not acupuncture of GB34 produces a significant response of the modulation of somatomotor areas by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. The acupoint, GB34, located in the back of the knee, is known to be effective in recovering motor function after stroke. Using 3T MRI scanner, functional MR imaging of the whole brain was performed in 12 normal healthy subjects during two stimulation paradigms; acupuncture manipulation on GB 34 and sham points. This study investigates the activation of the mortor cortex elicited by a soft and an intensified stimulation of GB 34. Three different paradigms were carried out to detect any possible modulation of the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) response in the somatomortor area to motor stimulation through acupuncture. Group analysis from seven individuals showed that bilateral sensorimotor areas (BA 3,4,6 and 7) showed stimulation related BOLD signal contrast of approximately 6% whereas very few areas were activated when sham stimulation is given. The present study shows that acupuncture fMRI study can be safely conducted in 3T MRI environment, and acupuncture stimulation in GB34 modulates the cortical activities of the somatomotor area in human. The present findings may shed light on the CNS mechanism of motor function by acupuncture and form a basis for future investigations of motor modulation circuits in the stroke patients.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.11-22
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• 2016

Objective: This study is executed systematic review targeted at international journals intended to investigate on effect of peripheral sensory nerve stimulation on upper extremity function for stroke patients. Method: After literature search, researchers selected for 10 studies registered up to October 2015 based on PubMed database, using the following search terms: peripheral nerve stimulation, electrical stimulation, sensory stimulation, somatosensory stimulation, stroke, hemiplegia, hemiparesis and hand, arm, upper limb. Result: There were significant improves of upper extremity function and positive effect on the cortical activation in the use of peripheral sensory nerve stimulation. Conclusion: domestic studies in future requires a study of the method for measuring more accurately the effect of peripheral sensory nerve stimulation in RCT studies applying various intervention.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.181-188
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• 2017

Purpose: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Erythropoietin (EPO) is emerging as a therapeutic candidate for neuroprotection. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the neuroprotective role of recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) and the possible mechanisms by which mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), JNK, and p38 MAPK is modulated in cultured cortical neuronal cells and astrocytes. Methods: Primary neuronal cells and astrocytes were prepared from cortices of ICR mouse embryos and divided into the normoxic, hypoxia (H), and hypoxia-pretreated with EPO (H+EPO) groups. The phosphorylation of MAPK pathway was quantified using western blot, and the apoptosis was assessed by caspase-3 measurement and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Results: All MAPK pathway signals were activated by hypoxia in the neuronal cells and astrocytes (P<0.05). In the neuronal cells, phosphorylation of ERK-1/-2 and apoptosis were significantly decreased in the H+EPO group at 15 hours after hypoxia (P<0.05). In the astrocytes, phosphorylation of ERK-1/-2, p38 MAPK, and apoptosis was reduced in the H+EPO group at 15 hours after hypoxia (P<0.05). Conclusion: Pretreatment with rHuEPO exerts neuroprotective effects against hypoxic injury reducing apoptosis by caspase-dependent mechanisms. Pathologic, persistent ERK activation after hypoxic injury may be attenuateed by pretreatment with EPO supporting that EPO may regulate apoptosis by affecting ERK pathways.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.225-229
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• 1998

The purpose of the current study was comparative analysis of autonomic and electrocortical responses to passive and active touch of the tektites with different subjective emotional preference. Perspective goal of the project is development of a template for classification of tactile stimuli according to subjective comfort and associated physiological manifestations. The study was carried out on 36 female college students. Physiological signals were acquired by Grass and B10PAC 100 systems with AcqKnowledge III software. Frontal, parietal and occipital EEG (relative power spectrum /percents/ of EEG bands - delta, theta, slow and fast alpha, low and fast beta), and autonomic variables, namely heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), pulse transit time (PTT), respiration rate (RSP) and skin conductance parameters (SCL, amplitude, rise time and number of SCRs) were analyzed for rest baseline and stimulation conditions. Analysis of the overall pattern of reaction indicated that autonomic response to tactile stimulation was manifested in a form of moderate HR acceleration, RSP increase, RSA decrease (lowered vagal tone), decreased n and increased electrodermal activity (increased SCL, several SCRs) that reflects general sympathetic activation. Parietal EEG effects (on contra-lateral side to stimulated hand) were featured by short-term alpha-blocking, slightly reduced theta and significantly increased delta and enhanced fast beta activity with few variations across stimuli. The main finding of the study was that most and least preferred textures exhibited significant differences in autonomic (HR, RSP, PTT, SCR, and at less extent in RSA and SCL) and electrocortical responses (delta, slow and fast alpha, fast beta relative power). These differences were recorded both in passive and active stimulation modes, thus demonstrating reproducibility of distinction between most and least emotionally preferred tactile stimuli, suggesting influence of psychological factors, such as emotional property of stimulus, on physiological outcome. Nevertheless, development of sufficiently sensitive .and reliable template for classification of emotional responses to tactile stimulation based on physiological response pattern may require more extensive empirical database.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.152-160
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• 2007

Twenty-six renal allograft biopsies which showed acute rejection and had renal capsule and medulla in the same specimen were selected in order to compare the severity of acute rejection between superficial cortex, deep cortex and medulla. Disregarding the mid cortical region, the superficial cortex was considered as being one-third of the distance from the renal capsule to the medulla and the deep cortex as being that one-third of the cortex which was adjacent to the medulla. Using semiquantitative histologic analysis the following parameters were compared in superficial cortex, deep cortex, and medulla: interstitial inflammation, edema, tubulitis, and acute tubulointerstitial rejection grade. Also, the presence of lymphocyte activation and polymorphonuclear leukocytes was evaluated. Significantly greater histologic changes of acute rejection were found in the deep cortex vs. supeficial cortex for the following parameters: interstitial inflammation(P=0.013), edema (P=0.023) and tubulointerstitial rejection grade(P=0.016). These findings support the view that biopsies in which deep cortex is not included may result in underestimation of the severity of renal allograft rejection.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.13-22
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• 1998

The sense of touch has both objective and subjective characteristics. During hand evaluation of the fabrics. psycho physiological processes such as emotion and stimulation. On other site, the mode of touch (passive vs. active) is also capable to modulate somatosensory responses. I.e., suppress somatocensory perception during active electrocortical responses to passive and active touch of the textiles with different subjective emotional preference. The study was carried out on 36 female college students. Physiological signals were acquired by Grass and BIOPAC 100 systems with AcqKnowledge variables, namely heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), pulse transit time (PTT), respiration rate (RSP) and skin conductance parameters (SCL, amplitude, risetime and number of SCRs) were analyzed for baseline and stimulation conditions. Analysis was manifested in a form of moderate HR acceleration. RSP increase, RSA decrease (lowered vagal tone), decreased PTT and increased electrodermal activity (increased SCL, several SCRs) that reflects general sympathetic activation. Parietal EEG effects (on contra-lateral side to stimulated hand)were featured by short-term alpha-blocking, slightly reduced theta, significantly increased delta and enhanced fast beta activity with few variations across stimuli. The main finding of the study was that most and least preferred textures exhibited significant differences in autonomic (HR, RSP, PTT, SCR, and at less extent in RSA and SCL) and electrocortical responses (delta, slow and fast alpha, fast beta relative power). These differences were recorded both in passive and active stimulation modes, thus demonstrating reproducibility of distinction between most and least emotionally preferred tactile stimuli, suggesting influence of psychological factors, such as emotional property of stimulus, on physiological outcome.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2006

Neuron-derived orphan receptor (NOR-1) is a member of the thyroid/steroid receptor superfamily that was originally identified in forebrain neuronal cells undergoing apoptosis. In addition to apoptotic stimuli, activation of several signal transduction pathways including direct neuronal depolarization regulates the expression of NOR-1. In this study we tested whether the expression of NOR-1 is changed following transient ischemic injury in the adult rat brain. NOR-1 mRNA increased rapidly in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation and piriform cortex 3 h after transient global ischemia and returned to basal level at 6 h. On the other hand, oxygen-glucose deprivation of cultured cerebral cortical neurons did not alter the expression of NOR-1. These results suggest that expression of NOR-1 is differentially regulated in different brain regions in response to globally applied brain ischemia, but that hypoxia is not sufficient to induce its expression.