• 한국전자현미경학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.53-53
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• 2004

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2021

According to International Associating for the Study of Pain (IASP) definition, neuropathic pain is a disorder characterized by dysfunction of the nervous system that, under normal conditions, mediates virulent information to the central nervous system (CNS). This pain can be divided into a disease with provable lesions in the peripheral or central nervous system and states with an incorporeal lesion of any nerves. Both conditions undergo long-term and chronic processes of change, which can eventually develop into chronic pain syndrome, that is, nervous system is inappropriately adapted and difficult to heal. However, the treatment of neuropathic pain itself is incurable from diagnosis to treatment process, and there is still a lack of notable solutions. Recently, several studies have observed the responses of CNS to harmful stimuli using image analysis technologies, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and optical imaging. These techniques have confirmed that the change in synaptic-plasticity was generated in brain regions which perceive and handle pain information. Furthermore, these techniques helped in understanding the interaction of learning mechanisms and chronic pain, including neuropathic pain. The study aims to describe recent findings that revealed the mechanisms of pathological pain and the structural and functional changes in the brain. Reflecting on the definition of chronic pain and inspecting the latest reports will help develop approaches to alleviate pain.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2008

The efficient strategies to cope with unpredictable and/or harmful environmental changes have been developed by every organism in order to ensure its survival and continuity of it's own species. As a results, all living things on earth maintain dynamically internal stability via a process termed 'homeostasis' among physiological parameters despite of external environment changes. Stress is an emotional and physical response to threat homeostasis. Stress may have not only transient but rather permanent effect on the organism; recent evidence clearly show that prenatal stress could organize or imprint permanently physiological systems without any change in genetic codes, a process known as 'epigenetic programming'. In this review, a series of reproduction-associated events occurred in prenatally stressed male rats such as alteration in the structure of sexually dimorphic brain regions, modification of neurotransmitter metabolism, changes in reproductive endocrine status, and finally, disorders of sexual behavior will be introduced. The fetal brain is highly sensitive to prenatal programming and glucocorticoids in particular have powerful brain-programming properties. The chronic hyperactivation of fetal brain by maternal stress-induced glucocorticoid input will provide new program via increasing the neuroplasticities. This 'increased neuroplasticities' will be the basis for the 'increased phenotypic plasticities' rendering the organism's better adaptation to environmental challenges. In conclusion, organism who experienced 'harsh' environment in his fetal life seems to give up a certain portion of reproductive competence to make good chance of survival in his future life by epigenetic (re)programming.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.448-462
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• 2020

Dietary nutrition is a critical lifestyle factor that can reduce the risk of future cognitive impairments caused by dementia. Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary supplementation with Sulforaphane may help the prevention of cognitive impairments and dementia. Thus, Sulforaphane-enriched broccoli extract would hold promise to improve cognitive impairments of dementia patients. Here, we have used broccoli extracts, prepared from broccoli cultivated in Magma Seawater, to test if the broccoli extracts can be dietary supplement to improve cognitive impairments. Magma Seawater originated from Jeju Island, Korea is unique in terms of containing high concentrations of usable minerals (Zinc, Vanadium and Germanium etc.). Broccoli, grown in Magma Seawater, would contain Sulforaphane and the extra amount of usable minerals. The chemical compositions of the broccoli extracts were analyzed using LC-Q-orbitrap to detect Sulforaphane and Glucoraphanin. Analysis method based on HPLC was developed for measurement of sulforaphane levels in the broccoli extracts. We have tested if the broccoli extracts have anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects on neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, we examined if the broccoli extracts are able to upregulate expression of synaptic plasticity-associated proteins (BDNF and phospho-CREB) and to inhibit acetylcholine esterase (AchE) activity. We have shown that the broccoli extracts inhibited the apoptotic pathway and inflammatory responses. Finally, we present evidence showing that AchE activity was inhibited by the broccoli extracts, but expression of BDNF and phospho-CREB was upregulated. Taken together, these findings suggest that the broccoli extracts from Magma Seawater-grown broccoli would be a good source of dietary nutrition to improve cognitive impairments in the future.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.656-664
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• 2009

The purposes of this study were to examine whether aquatic exercise has influence on the neuroplasticity and vestibulo-motor function in diffuse brain injury rats. 80 Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups; Group I: control group (n=20), Group II: aquatic exercise (n=20), Group III: treadmill exercise with change of velocity and inclination (n=20), Group IV: simple treadmill exercise (n=20). And we applied exercise each groups for 3 weeks except Group I. Before the rats were sacrificed to identify immunohistochemistry study at each time of measurement day, Rota-Rod test was given to assess changes in vestibulomotor function. then, the immunohistochemistry study of GAP-43 in discrete regions of the rat brain was performed to measure changes in neuroplasticity. The results demonstrate that aquatic exercise group is more effective than other groups. expression of GAP-43 and vestibulo-motor function were increased most in aquatic exercise group. Therefore, this study suggest that aquatic exercise may effective therapeutic approach to increase neuroplasticity and vestibulo-motor function in traumatic brain injury.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2011

Background: In the brain, the dominant primary motor cortex (M1) has a greater hand representation area, shows more profuse horizontal connections, and shows a greater reduction in intracortical inhibition after hand exercise than does the non-dominant M1, suggesting a hemispheric asymmetry in M1 plasticity. Methods: We performed a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) study to investigate the hemispheric asymmetry of paired associative stimulation (PAS)-induced M1 plasticity in 9 right-handed volunteers. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured in the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscles of both hands, and MEP recruitment curves were measured at different stimulation intensities, before and after PAS. Results: MEP recruitment curves were significantly enhanced in the dominant, but not the non-dominant M1. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the dominant M1 has greater PAS-induced plasticity than does the non-dominant M1. This provides neurophysiological evidence for the asymmetrical performance of motor tasks related to handedness.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2023

Many psychiatric disorders are associated with brain functional dysfunctions and neuronal degeneration. According to the research so far, enhanced brain plasticity reduces neurodegeneration and recovers neuronal damage. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most extensively studied neurotrophins in the mammalian brain that plays major roles in neuronal survival, development, growth, and maintenance of neurons in brain circuits related to emotion and cognitive function. Also, BDNF plays an important role in brain plasticity, influencing dendritic spines in the hippocampus neurogenesis. Changes in neurogenesis and dendritic density can improve psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functions. BDNF has potent effects on brain plasticity through biochemical mechanisms, cellular signal pathways, and epigenetic changes. There are pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to increase the expression of BDNF and enhance brain plasticity. Non-pharmacological interventions such as physical exercise, nutritional change, environmental enrichment, and neuromodulation have biological mechanisms that increase the expression of BDNF and brain plasticity. Non-pharmacological interventions are cost-effective and safe ways to improve psychiatric symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 2017

Phthalates, known as typical endocrine disruptors, are plasticizers used to soften plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Because of their material properties, phthalates are used extensively in the production of toys, flooring, wood processing, detergents, and even cosmetics as lubricants and perfume solvents. Due to their endocrine disrupting effect and other adverse health effects published, recently, phthalates have been regulated in many countries. Besides, in an effort to replace phthalates, several chemical plasticizers such as trioctyltrimellitate (TOTM) and dioctylterephthalate (DIOP) have been used instead of the existing harmful phthalates, and novel alternatives are continuously being developed. Nonetheless, phthalates are still being detected in several plastic products, and the safety of alternatives that are considered safe is being questioned. In this review, we describe the adverse health effects of phthalates, their regulation and the current status of their alternatives.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.24-35
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• 2013

The Purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effectiveness of mirror therapy for stroke. Moreover, this paper was designed to summarize clarified information of neurological plasticity by mirror therapy to finally define the neurological mechanism. Mirror therapy improves the stroke patients' hand and arm motor function. It also has a positive influence on recovering performance of activities of daily living and relieving pain. However, it is not evident that mirror therapy restores visual neglect. There are various ways of recovering stroke. Fundamentally, all the theories are on a bases of restoration of premotor area. Premotor area which is associated with motor control increases the activation of primary motor area and finally improves patients' motor function. If primary motor area is completely damaged, premotor area and supplementary motor substitute for primary motor area. In summary of literature survey, there are not enough evidence to verify the effectiveness and neurological mechanism of mirror therapy. In future, more researches should be conducted to verify the neurological recovery through mirror therapy. Then, mirror therapy will be acknowledged as a clinically effective treatment.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2013

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy(CIMT) is considered as one of the most interesting upper extremity rehabilitation in the field of neurorehabilitation. CIMT is an intensive training provided in the affected upper limb for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 2 weeks, while unaffected arm is restrained for 90% of waking hours. Recently, instead of CIMT, modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy(mCIMT) has been applied because of the clinical limitations of CIMT. CIMT or mCIMT studies have used various outcome instruments to measure different aspects of upper limb function after intervention. There are various kinds of evaluation tools to measure different aspects of upper limb function after CIMT intervention. It has been proven that Pediatric Motor Activity Log(PMAL), Quality of Upper Extremities Skills Test(QUEST), Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function(MAULF), Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) are effective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cortical change in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy after CIMT. As a result, use-dependent cortical reorganization was revealed. Also, increased activity of the contralateral motor cortex and decreased activity of the ipsilateral cortex were found. It supports the mechanism of cortical reorganization, the principles of neural plasticity and specifically activation of the contralateral cortex, for improving upper limb function after CIMT.