• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2016

Astrocytes play a critical role in normal brain functions and maintaining the brain microenvironment, and defects in astrocytogenesis during neurodevelopment could give rise to severe mental illness and psychiatric disorders. During neuro-embryogenesis, astrocytogenesis involves astrocytic differentiation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) induced by signals from ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) or pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP). However, in contrast to the CNTF signaling pathway, the exact mechanism underlying astrocytic differentiation induced by PACAP is unknown. In the present study, we aimed to verify a signaling pathway specific to PACAP-induced astrocytogenesis, using exchange protein directly activated by cAMP2 (Epac2)-knockout mice. We found that PACAP could trigger astrocytic differentiation of NPCs via Epac2 activation and an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration via a calcium ion influx. Taken together, we concluded that astrocytogenesis stimulated by PACAP occurs through a novel signaling pathway independent from CNTF-JAK/STAT signaling, that is the well-known pathway of astrocytogenesis.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 2013

One of hypothesis is that sleep loss related to a decrease in serotonergic activity plays a significant role in attempted suicide. A growing evidence suggests that central serotonergic activity plays a key role in the etiology of suicide. It has been reported that the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the main metabolite of serotonin, were reduced in suicide attempters. In addition, there is evidence that tryptophan hydroxylase is associated with suicide. The association between sleep and suicide was also suggested by some researchers. Several recent studies have showed the association between sleep disturbance and suicide rates in patients with mental disorders and in a general population. In addition, it has been suggested that serotonin plays a role in maintaining arousal and regulating muscle tone and in regulating some of the phasic events of REM sleep. Especially, it is well-known that 5-HT2 receptors are related to slow wave sleep. In conclusion, it is clear that sleep, serotonin activity, and suicide are linked, although the direction of causation needs clarification. In future, large population-based cohort studies are needed to demonstrate the direction of causation in the relationships between sleep, serotonin activity, and suicide.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.227-244
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• 2011

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression via degradation or translational repression of their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Recent studies have clearly demonstrated that miRNAs play critical roles in several biologic processes, including cell cycle, differentiation, cell development, cell growth, and apoptosis and that miRNAs are highly expressed in regulatory T (Treg) cells and a wide range of miRNAs are involved in the regulation of immunity and in the prevention of autoimmunity. It has been increasingly reported that miRNAs are associated with various human diseases like autoimmune disease, skin disease, neurological disease and psychiatric disease. Recently, the identification of miRNAs in skin has added a new dimension in the regulatory network and attracted significant interest in this novel layer of gene regulation. Although miRNA research in the field of dermatology is still relatively new, miRNAs have been the subject of much dermatological interest in skin morphogenesis and in regulating angiogenesis. In addition, miRNAs are moving rapidly center stage as key regulators of neuronal development and function in addition to important contributions to neurodegenerative disorder. Moreover, there is now compelling evidence that dysregulation of miRNA networks is implicated in the development and onset of human neruodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Tourette's syndrome, Down syndrome, depression and schizophrenia. In this review, I briefly summarize the current studies about the roles of miRNAs in various autoimmune diseases, skin diseases, psychoneurological disorders and mental stress.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 2006

Self-injurious behavior is defined as deliberated harm to one's own body without suicidal intent. It usually occurs as head banging or hitting, body hitting, skin cutting, or finger biting and includes ocular, genital, and self-inflicted oral mutilation. Self-injurious behavior can occur with mental retardation, comatose status, psychotic problem, poisoning, or character disorders. In pediatric patients, self-injurious behavior usually is reported to lip, cheek and tongue biting, and many kinds of dental management methods have been introduced to prevent self-injurious behavior patients from self biting. This report presents some self-inflicted oral mutilation patients who were all treated successfully with several appliances.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.622-631
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the factors that influence the life satisfaction of the elderly according to their cognitive impairment level. Methods: This study was conducted by dividing 3,012 elderly residents of a regional community into three groups based on the scores of the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination: a normal group without any cognitive impairment, a suspicious group with a mild level of cognitive impairment, and a high risk group with a high level of cognitive impairment. Researchers made phone calls, house calls, and personal visits to health centers and shelters for the elderly to gather the information required for this study. Results: The results of this study revealed that social relationships, depression, and activities of daily living had a significant impact on life satisfaction for the normal group, while social relationships and depression had a high impact on life satisfaction for the suspicious group, and social relationships had high impact on the life satisfaction of the high risk group. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we suggest that programs that promote development of the social relationship networks of the elderly should be established to promote their life satisfaction.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2005

Most suicides(about 90%) occur in the context of psychiatric disorders. Prediction of suicide risk in patients with mental illness is very important in preventing suicide attempts. However, current approaches to predict suicidality are based on clinical history and have low specificity and biological markers are not yet included. Many studies have explored the association between different biological parameters and suicidality. Studies of cerebro-spinal fluid(CSF) demonstrated that 5-HIAA and HVA levels were lower in patients with a history of suicide. Platelet serotonin transporter and the 5-HT2 serotonin receptor have also been studied in relation to violence and suicide. Depressive patients with greater suicidal tendency had significantly lower cholesterol concentrations but some researchers failed to find the correlation. DST non-supression is reported to predict suicidality in major depression. Several studies demonstrated a relationship between intron 7 polymorphism of tryptophan hydroxylase and suicidal behavior. Since suicide is not occurred in a single disease, the systematic and comprehensive study in large samples with various diagnoses is necessary to find the biological and genetic predictors of suicidal behavior.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-97
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the clinical effects of neurofeedback training on reducing anxiety. Methods: Eight databases were used to extract clinical reports on neurofeedback intervention for anxiety reduction published until 2016. We analyzed the characteristics of selected studies and evaluated biases using the Risk of Bias (RoB) assessment. Results: A total of 22 clinical trials were extracted for the analysis. The risk of bias in most studies was high or unclear. The Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders-3 (CCMD-3) was the most frequently used diagnostic criteria, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA) was the most frequently used assessment tool, and the alpha wave activity increase, sensorimotor rhythm (SMR), and theta wave training were the most frequently used intervention methods. All papers showed a statistically significant decrease of anxiety symptoms; however, significant adverse events were not reported. Conclusions: Neurofeedback intervention might be beneficial for reducing anxiety. However, the quality of the studies used in the analysis was low, and the heterogeneity of the population and interventions was revealed. Therefore, more scientifically designed clinical studies regarding neurofeedback training are required.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2008

Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with a frequency of one per 20,000~50,000 live births. It is caused by a deletion of one elastin allele located within chromosome subunit 7q11.23(long arm). This syndrome is frequently accompanied by disorders such as congenital heart disease, facial anomalies, mental retardation, and so on. The characteristic facial appearance includes full lips, rounded cheeks, broad forehead, periorbital fullness, flattened bridge of nose, small nose with anteverted nostril, long filtrum and low-set ears. In oral features, hypodontia, high prevalence of dental caries, microdontia, enamel hypoplasia, delayed eruption, and malocclusions have been found. Most adult patients with Williams syndrome lack social adaptability and lead seclusive lives, however, young patients are rather very friendly and talkative, and seem smarter than their actual intellectual quotients. They also tend to favor staying with grown-ups rather than mixing with their peers, and tend to present problematic temper tantrum during dental treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.743-747
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• 2001

Hepatic encephalopathy is caused by disorders affecting the liver. The exact cause of the disorder is unknown. It occurs changes in mental state, consciousness, behavior, personality and changes in mood include forgetfulness, confusion, disorientation, delirium, dementia, decreased alertness, daytime sleepiness, decreased responsiveness, progressive stupor, coma. As 3 admission patients into oriental hospital of daejeon university include 2 cases of cerebral infarction, 1 case of liver cirrhosis, we found those are all hepatic encephalopathy. But until the diagnosis is made, we have many mistakes to find correct. Among the mistackes, specialy mixed thing is to compare hepatic encephalopathy and cerebral infarction. So, we report these cases with a brief review of related literatures.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.303-318
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• 2017

Objectives: To establish a base for further research by reviewing studies on traditional Chinese medicine treatment for Tourette Syndrome. This is the purpose of this study. Methods: Clinical studies involving the effects of traditional Chinese medicine treatment for Tourette Syndrome, published January 2010~June 2017, were obtained from CNKI, Pubmed. Selected Studies were evaluated by the Jadad Scale. Results: Among a total of 252 articles, 39 articles that meet the criteria were selected. 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV)' was most frequently used as diagnosis criteria. 'Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS)' was primarily used for outcome measurements. Most of the studies showed effective results of traditional Chinese medicine therapy. However, the quality of a selected clinical studies was low. Conclusions: Despite several limitations, various studies to prove limited yet effective traditional Chinese medicine treatment on Tourette Syndrome provides much significance. Subsequent studies conducted by the complementary systematic review and well-designed clinical trials using the methodological quality will be needed to more firmly validate the effect of traditional Chinese medicine therapy.