• Title/Summary/Keyword: neuroscience

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Brain Activation in Generating Hypothesis about Biological Phenomena and the Processing of Mental Arithmetic: An fMRI Study (생명 현상에 대한 과학적 가설 생성과 수리 연산에서 나타나는 두뇌 활성: fMRI 연구)

  • Kwon, Yong-Ju;Shin, Dong-Hoon;Lee, Jun-Ki;Yang, Il-Ho
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.93-104
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    • 2007
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate brain activity both during the processing of a scientific hypothesis about biological phenomena and mental arithmetic using 3.0T fMRI at the KAIST. For this study, 16 healthy male subjects participated voluntarily. Each subject's functional brain images by performing a scientific hypothesis task and a mental arithmetic task for 684 seconds were measured. After the fMRI measuring, verbal reports were collected to ensure the reliability of brain image data. This data, which were found to be adequate based on the results of analyzing verbal reports, were all included in the statistical analysis. When the data were statistically analyzed using SPM2 software, the scientific hypothesis generating process was found to have independent brain network different from the mental arithmetic process. In the scientific hypothesis process, we can infer that there is the process of encoding semantic derived from the fusiform gyrus through question-situation analysis in the pre-frontal lobe. In the mental arithmetic process, the area combining pre-frontal and parietal lobes plays an important role, and the parietal lobe is considered to be involved in skillfulness. In addition, the scientific hypothesis process was found to be accompanied by scientific emotion. These results enabled the examination of the scientific hypothesis process from the cognitive neuroscience perspective, and may be used as basic materials for developing a learning program for scientific hypothesis generation. In addition, this program can be proposed as a model of scientific brain-based learning.

Establishment Status of the Mandatory Courses for the Qualification of Sensory Developmental Rehabilitation Specialist - Within Curriculums of Baccalaureate Occupational Therapy Programs (감각발달재활사 자격기준 관련 필수과목 개설현황 조사연구 - 4년제 작업치료학과를 중심으로)

  • Kim, Ji-Hyun
    • The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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    • v.7 no.3
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    • pp.23-34
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    • 2017
  • Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate establishment status of the mandatory courses designated by Ministry of Health & Welfare for qualification of sensory developmental rehabilitation specialist(SDRS), within curriculum of baccalaureate occupational therapy(BOT) programs in Korea Methods : This is a narrative study to investigate and analyze certain courses established in curriculums of all 4-years occupational therapy(OT) programs, which is 32 schools. Results : 1) The shared mandatory subject, 'Understanding Children with Disabilities(UDC)', has been established at 9 schools. For the branch mandatory subjects, 'Neuroscience(NS) or Neuroanatomy' has been established at all 32 schools, 'Sensory Processing Dysfunctions and Intervention(SPDI)' or 'Sensory Integration' has been established at 31 schools, and each of 'Assessment & Evaluation for Children(AEC)' and 'Practicum of Sensory Rehabilitation(PSR)' has been established 7 schools for same. 2) For the mandatory courses, all 32 schools were offering designated- and alternative courses of NS, SPDI, AEC, but there was no change in the number of schools offering the practicum course since there was no case of alterative for it. 3) In terms of general provision score, there were 4 schools for score 7, 4 schools for score 6, 2 schools for score 5, 1 schools for score 4, 2 schools for score 3, and 19 schools for score 2. Conclusion : Establishment of the mandatory courses required to the qualification of SDRS among the BOT programs in nation were investigated. Including alternative courses, all the branch mandatory courses except practicum course are established in all the 32 schools. However, the shared mandatory subject, UDC and the practicum subject were established in only few schools. In the provision level evaluation of BOT programs for the SDRS qualification, it is shown that many schools has been started the provision already but still many schools' curriculum did not reflect the willingness and accuracy well. For the schools planning successful accreditation in near future, it is recommended that they prioritize the establishment of the shared mandatory course and the practicum course since these two subjects are recognized as critical factors for that. In addition, it is also needed of comparative inspections for course title and syllabi based on the guideline provided by Ministry of Health & Welfare.

Analysis of attachment, proliferation and differentiation response of human mesenchymal stem cell to various implant surfaces coated with rhBMP-2 (다양한 rhBMP-2 코팅 임플란트 표면에서의 인간 간엽 줄기세포의 부착, 증식, 분화반응 분석)

  • Lee, In-Ku;Han, In-Ho;Hwang, Sun-Wook;Ryu, Jae-Jun
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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    • v.50 no.1
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    • pp.44-52
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    • 2012
  • Purpose: In this paper we tried to evaluate the most appropriate surface for rhBMP-2 coating among 4 rough titanium surfaces. Materials and methods: We used machined surface as a control group and anodized, RBM and SLA surfaces as test groups. We coated rhBMP-2 on the 4 surfaces and with uncoated surfaces for each case, we cultured human mesenchymal stem cells on all 8 surfaces. 24 hours after we measured the stem cell' attachment with SEM, and on 3rd, 7th, and 14th days, we checked the cell proliferation and differentiation by using MTT and ALP activity assay. And on the 7th day after the culture, we performed RT-PCR assay to determine whether the expression levels of Type I collagen, osteocalcin, osteopontin were changed. Results: We observed with SEM that 4 rhBMP-2 coated surfaces exhibited wider and tighter cell attachment and more cell process spreading than uncoated surfaces. The anodized rhBMP-2 surface caused robustest effects. In MTT assay we could not find any meaningful difference. In ALP assay there was a significant increase (P<.05) in the ALP activity of anodized rhBMP-2 coated surface compared with that of the control (3rd and 14th days) and with that of the RBM rhBMP-2 coated surface (14th day). In RT-PCR assay there was increased expressions in the anodized rhBMP-2 coated surface for osteocalcin, and osteopontin. Conclusion: We found that the anodized rhBMP-2 coated surface were most prominent stem cell attachment and differentiation in compared to control and Machined rhBMP-2 coated, RBM rhBMP-2 coated surface.

Comparative study between proportional method and directional method in locating acupoints at forearm (전완부(前腕部) 경혈(經穴) 취혈(取穴)에서 골도분촌법(骨度分寸法)과 일부법(一夫法)의 비교(比較) 연구(硏究))

  • Park, Hi-Joon;Chae, Youn-Byoung;Cha, Wung-Seok;Park, Jong-Bae;Lee, Hye-Jung;Lee, Hyang-Sook;Yin, Chang-Sik;Koh, Hyung-Kyun;Kim, Su-Young;Choe, Il-Hwan;Kim, Kang-Sik;Moon, Jung-Bae;Bae, Ki-Tae;Rheu, Kyoung-Hwan;Yook, Keun-Yung;Jeong, Byeong-Ju;Sohn, In-Chul;Lim, Sabina
    • Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.31-41
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    • 2004
  • Background : The cun measurement system, an essential and convenient method in locating acupoints, has been widely used in the practice of acupuncture. However, traditional cun measurement has been criticized for its lack of reliability. Objectives : The purposes of this study are to determine if one cun measured by the directional methods have a consistency with that of proportional methods and to investigate which factors are related with these differences, especially in forearm. Methods : The distance between the elbow crease and the wrist crease of forearm was compared to a reference value of one cun obtained by the directional method. In this method, one cun is one third of the distance between index finger and small finger of a subject, measured at proximal interphalangeal joint. In addition, to investigate the factors influencing the differences between these two methods, we measured the height and body weight and calculated body mass index (BMI). Finally we analyzed the factors correlated with these lengths by linear regression test. Results : The results showed that one cun obtained by the directional methods were significantly different from one cun by the proportional methods in forearm. It was demonstrated that the length acquired with the directional method was more correlated with body weight and body mass index, while the length obtained by the proportional method was more correlated with the height. Conclusion : These findings suggest that the directional method is less likely dependable in locating acupoints than the proportional method because the influencing factors are different.

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Occupation-based Occupational Therapy for an Youth With Sensory Integrative Dysfunction - A Single Case Study (감각통합기능장애를 가진 청소년의 작업수행에 초점을 맞춘 작업치료 사례)

  • Ji, Seok-Yeon;Lee, Kyoung-Min;Kim, Mi-Sun
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.47-62
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    • 2008
  • Introduction : Sensory Integration(SI) theory, science it is developed by an occupational therapist A. Jean Ayres, is the one of the most popular frames of reference used in occupational therapy(OT) intervention. It has been proved as a scientific theory especially in neuroscience discipline through abundant research and practice. Occupational therapists apply the SI therapy with strong clinical reasoning to improve adaptive behaviors of their clients and try to link the adaptive behaviors with occupational performance in the clients' everyday life. One of the manners regarding clinical reasoning is Top-down approach. In occupational therapy discipline, Top-down approach is well-reflected within two evaluation tools; Canadian Occupational Performance Measure(COPM) and Assessment of Motor and Process Skills(AMPS) and two models of practice; Canadian Model of Occupational Performance(CMOP) and Occupational therapy intervention process model(OTIPM). Objective : The purpose of this paper demonstrates how SI therapy can be employed within OTIPM and how the OT process (evaluation-intervention-outcome) can be structuralized based on the Top-down approach. This single-case study recognizes the impact of a SI therapy for a male adolescent on his occupational performance. Intervention Examined : "P" was 16 years old male adolescent with no diagnosis and junior of the high school when he was referred. P was always with mouth opened, showed difficulties in gathering things need to be prepared and managing and paying money for shopping, and his colleges dislike getting close to him because he can't was his body well. AMPS was administrated in initial evaluation and reevaluation of P's occupation performance, Bruininks-Oserestky Test of Motor Proficiency-2(BOT-2) was carried out to assess motor functions and perception skills related in sensory integration, and occupational therapist performed clinical observation in order to complement the evaluation quantitatively and quantitatively. Based on the evaluation, it is concluded that the SI therapy is primary means to improve P's occupational performance, and three therapeutic approaches were constructed; restorative, acquired and compensatory approach. P showed improved motor and process skills in occupational performance after undergone the occupational therapy. Conclusions : The sensory integration therapy was practical enough to build the bridge between the occupational performance(Top) and the underlying component problems (Bottom). The OTIPM was helpful to identify meaningful occupation for P and P's family within P's contexts, and the AMPS was valuable to analyze and clarify the cause of difficulties in the chosen occupational performance.

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Evaluation of Antidepressant Drug Effect in a Depressive Animal Model by Proton MR Spectroscopy (양성자 자기공명분광법을 이용한 우울증 동물모델에서의 항우울제 약물 효능 평가)

  • Kim, Sang-Young;Choi, Chi-Bong;Lee, Sung-Ho;Woo, Dong-Cheol;Yoon, Seong-Ik;Hong, Kwan-Soo;Lee, Hyun-Sung;Cheong, Chae-Joon;Jee, Bo-Keun;Hong, Sung-Tak;Kim, Hwi-Yool;Choe, Bo-Young
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.95-101
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    • 2008
  • In this study, we observed the alteration of choline signal intensity in hippocampus region of the depressive rat model induced by forced swimming test (FST). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antidepressant efficacy in the depressive animal model using MR spectroscopy. Fourteen experimentally naive male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting $160{\sim}180\;g$ were used as subjects. Drug injection group was exposed to the FST except for control group. The drugs were administered subcutaneously (SC) in a volume equivalent to 2ml/kg. And three injections were administered 23, 5, and 1h before beginning the given test. 1H MR spectra were obtained with use of a point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) localization sequence performed according to the following parameters: repetition time, 2500 ms; echo time, 144 ms; 512 average; 2048 complex data points; voxel dimensions, $1.5{\times}2.5{\times}2.5\;mm^3$ ; acquisition time, 25min. There were no differences in NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratio between the right and the left hippocampus both normal control rats and antidepressant-injected rats. Also, no differences were observed in NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratio between the normal control rats and the antidepressant-injected rats both the right and the left hippocampus. In this study, we found the recovery of choline signals in the depressive animal model similar to normal control groups as injecting desipramine-HCl which was antidepressant causing anti-immobility effects. Thus, we demonstrated that MR spectroscopy was able to aid in evaluating the antidepressant effect of desipramine-HCl.

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Neuropeptides in Clinical Psychiatric Research : Endorphins and Cholecystokinins (정신질환에 있어서의 신경펩타이드 연구 - Endorphin과 cholecystokinin을 중심으로 -)

  • Kim, Young Hoon;Shim, Joo Chul
    • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.34-45
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    • 1998
  • We provide the reader with a brief introduction to the neurobiology of neuropeptides. Several comprehensive reviews of the distribution and neurochemical, neurophysiological, neuropharmacological and behavioral effects of the major neuropeptides have recently appeared. In reviews of the large number of neuropeptides in brain and their occurance in brain regions thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, investigators have sought to determine whether alternations in neuropeptide systems are associated with schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcoholism and neurodegenerative disease. There is no longer any doubt that neuropeptide-containing neurons are altered in several neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the factors that has hindered neuropeptide research to a considerable extent is the lack of pharmacological agents that specifically alter the synaptic availability of neuropeptides. With the exception of naloxone and naltrexone, the opiate-receptor antagonists, there are few available neuropeptide- receptor antagonists. Two independent classes of neuropeptide-receptor antagonists has been expected to be clinically useful. Naltrexone, a potent ${\mu}$-receptor antagonist, has been used successfully to reduce the need for alcohol consumption. And cholecycstokinin antagonists are now in development as a new class of anxiolytics, which would be expected to be free from tolerance and physical dependence and lack of sedation. In this review, we deal with these two kinds of neuropeptide system, the opioid system and cholesystokinins in the brain. The role of opioid systems in the reinforcement after alcohol consumtion and that of cholesystokinins in the pathogenesis of anxiety will be discussed briefly. As we know, the future for neuropeptides in psychiatry remains bright indeed.

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Comparison of the Medication Effects between Milnacipran and Pregabalin in Fibromyalgia Syndrome Using a Functional MRI: a Follow-up Study (섬유근통 환자에 대한 Milnacipran과 Pregabalin 약물치료에 대한 기능적 자기공명영상에서의 후속 영향 비교)

  • Kang, Min Jae;Mun, Chi-Woong;Lee, Young Ho;Kim, Seong-Ho
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.18 no.4
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    • pp.341-351
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    • 2014
  • Purpose : In this study, the medication effects of Milnacipran and Pregabalin, as well known as fibromyalgia treatment medicine, in fibromyalgia syndrome patients were compared through the change of BOLD signal in pain related functional MRI. Materials and Methods: Twenty fibromyalgia syndrome patients were enrolled in this study and they were separated into two groups according to the treatment medicine: 10 Milnacipran (MLN) treatment group and 7 Pregabalin (PGB) treatment group. For accurate diagnosis, all patients underwent several clinical tests. Pre-treated and post-treated fMRI image with block-designed pressure-pain stimulation for each group were obtained to conduct the statistical analysis of paired t-test and two sample t-test. All statistical significant level was less than 0.05. Results: In clinical tests, the clinical scores of the two groups were not significantly different at pre-treatment stage. But, PGB treatment group had lower Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) score than those of MLN treatment group at post-treatment stage. In functional image analysis, BOLD signal of PGB treatment group was higher BOLD signal at several regions including anterior cingulate and insula than MLN treatment group at post-treatment stage. Also, paired t-test values of the BOLD signal in MLN group decreased in several regions including insula and thalamus as known as 'pain network'. In contrast, size and number of regions in which the BOLD signal decreased in PGB treatment group were smaller than those of MLN treatment group. Conclusion: This study showed that MLN group and PGB group have different medication effects. It is not surprising that MLN and PGB have not the same therapeutic effects since these two drugs have different medicinal mechanisms such as antidepressants and anti-seizure medication, respectively, and different detailed target of fibromyalgia syndrome treatment. Therefore, it is difficult to say which medicine will work better in this study.

The Effectiveness of CT and MRI Contrast Agent for SUV in 18F-FDG PET/CT Scanning (18F-FDG PET/CT 검사에서 정량분석에 관한 CT와 MRI 조영제의 효과)

  • Cha, Sangyoung;Cho, Yonggwi;Lee, Yongki;Song, Jongnam;Choi, Namgil
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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    • v.10 no.4
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    • pp.255-261
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    • 2016
  • In this study, among various factors having influence on SUV, we intended to compare and analyze the change of SUV using CT(4 type) and MRI(3 type) contrast agents which are commercialized now. We used Discovery 690 PET/CT(GE) and NEMA NU2 - 1994 PET phantom as experimental equipment. We have conducted a study as follows; first, we filled distilled water to phantom about two-thirds and injected radioisotope(18F-FDG 37 MBq), contrast agent. Second, we mixed CT contrast agent with distilled water and MRI contrast agent with that water separately. And then, we stirred the fluid and filled distilled water fully not to make air bubble. In emission scan, we had 15minutes scanning time after 40 minutes mixing contrast agent with distilled water. In transmission scan, we used CT scanning and its measurement conditions were tube voltage 120 kVp, tube current 40 mA, rotation time 0.5 sec, slice thickness 3.27 mm, DFOV 30 cm. Analyzing results, we set up some ROIs in 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th slice and measured SUVmean, SUVmax. Consequently, all images mixed 3 types of MRI contrast agent with distilled water have high SUVmean as compared with pure FDG image but there was no statistical significance. In SUVmax, they have high score and there was statistical significance. And other 4 images mixed 4 types of CT contrast agent with distilled water have significance in both SUVmean and SUVmax. Attenuation correction in PET/CT has been executed through various methods to make high quality image. But we figured out that using CT and MRI contrast agents before PET/CT scanning could make distortion of image and decrease diagnostic value. In that reason, we have to sort out the priority of examination in hospital not to disturb other examination's results. Through this process, we will be able to give superior medical service to our customers.

Neural and Cholinergic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from the Human Umbilical Cord Blood (인간 제대혈액에서 유래된 중간엽 줄기세포의 신경 및 콜린성 분화)

  • Kam, Kyung-Yoon;Kang, Ji-Hye;Do, Byung-Rok;Kim, Hea-Kwon;Kang, Sung-Goo
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.235-243
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    • 2007
  • Human umbilical cord blood(HUCB) contains a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cell precursors. Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) in HUCB are multipotent stem cells, differ from hematopoietic stem cells and can be differentiated into neural cells. We studied on transdifferentiation-promoting conditions in neural cells and cholinergic neuron induction of HUCB-derived MSCs. Neural differentiation was induced by addingdimethyl sulphoxide(DMSO) and butylated hydroxyanisole(BHA) in Dulbeco's Modified Essential Medium(DMEM) and fetal bovine serum(FBS). Differentiation of MSCs to cholinergic neurons was induced by combined treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF), retinoic acid(RA) and sonic hedgehog(Shh). MSCs treated with DMSO and BHA rapidly assumed the morphology of multipolar neurons. Both immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of a number of neural markers including $\beta$-tubulin III, GFAP and MBP, was markedly elevated during this acute differentiation. The differentiation rate was about $32.3{\pm}2.9%$ for $\beta$-tubulin III-positive cells, $11.0{\pm}0.9%$ for GFAP, and $9.4{\pm}1.0%$ for Gal-C. HUCB-MSCs treated combinatorially with bFGF, RA and Shh were differentiated into cholinergic neurons. After cholinergic neuronal differentiation, the $\beta$-tubulin III-positive cell population of total cells was $31.3{\pm}3.2%$ and of differentiated neuronal population, $70.0{\pm}7.8%$ was ChAT-positive showing 3 folds higher in cholinergic population than neural induction. Conclusively, HUCB-derived MSCs can be differentiated into neural and cholinergic neurons and these findings suggest that HUCB are alternative cell source of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

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