• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.258-264
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• 2007

Spatiotemporal changes of brain rhythmic activity at a certain frequency have been usually monitored in real time using scalp potential maps of multi-channel electroencephalography(EEG) or magnetic field maps of magnetoencephalography(MEG). In the present study, we investigate if it is possible to implement a real-time brain activity monitoring system which can monitor spatiotemporal changes of cortical rhythmic activity on a subject's cortical surface, neither on a sensor plane nor on a standard brain model, with a high temporal resolution. In the suggested system, a frequency domain inverse operator is preliminarily constructed, considering the individual subject's anatomical information, noise level, and sensor configurations. Spectral current power at each cortical vertex is then calculated for the Fourier transforms of successive sections of continuous data, when a single frequency or particular frequency band is given. An offline study which perfectly simulated the suggested system demonstrates that cortical rhythmic source changes can be monitored at the cortical level with a maximal delay time of about 200 ms, when 18 channel EEG data are analyzed under Pentium4 3.4GHz environment. Two sets of artifact-free, eye closed, resting EEG data acquired from a dementia patient and a normal male subject were used to show the feasibility of the suggested system. Factors influencing the computational delay are investigated and possible applications of the system are discussed as well.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.405-409
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• 2011

The present study demonstrated that valproic acid (VPA) transcriptionally regulates human GM3 synthase (hST3Gal V), which catalyzes ganglioside GM3 biosynthesis in ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells. For this, we characterized the promoter region of the hST3Gal V gene. Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the hST3Gal V gene revealed that the -177 to -83 region functions as the VPA-inducible promoter and that the CREB/ATF binding site at -143 is crucial for VPA-induced expression of hST3Gal V in ARPE-19 cells. In addition, the transcriptional activity of hST3Gal V induced by VPA in ARPE-19 cells was inhibited by SP600125, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor. In summary, our results identified the core promoter region in the hST3Gal V promoter and for the first time demonstrated that ATF2 binding to the CREB/ATF binding site at -143 is essential for transcriptional activation of hST3Gal V in VPA-induced ARPE-19 cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.423-430
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• 2020

Telmisartan is an angiotensin-II receptor blocker and acts as a selective modulator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Several studies have demonstrated that telmisartan ameliorates depression and memory dysfunction and reduces brain inflammation. We hypothesized that the beneficial effects of telmisartan on brain could be due to modulation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) function. Here, we examined the effect of telmisartan on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) which plays an important role in leukocyte transcytosis through the BBB. Telmisartan blocked TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and leukocyte adhesion in U87MG human glioma cells but showed no effect on human brain microvascular endothelial cells. In U87MG cells, a PPAR antagonist, GW9662 did not block the effect of telmisartan on ICAM1 expression but rather potentiated. Moreover, GW9662 caused no change in TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression, suggesting no implication of PPARγ in the telmisartan effect. Further studies showed that telmisartan blocked TNF-α-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38, and nuclear factorkappa B (NF-κB). In contrast, inhibitors of JNK, ERK1/2 and NF-κB but not p38, blocked ICAM-1 expression induced by TNF-α. Thus, our findings suggest that the beneficial effect of telmisartan is likely due to the reduction of astrocytic ICAM1 expression and leukocytes adhesion to astrocytes, and that this response was mediated by the inhibition of JNK/ERK1/2/NF-κB activation and in the PPAR-independent manner. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of the mechanism by which telmisartan exerts the beneficial brain function.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2013

Objects : Baicalein is a major bioactive flavonoid component of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi that shows a wide range of biological activities, including neuroprotections and anti-inflammatory actions. Hence it is a potential therapeutic material for the treatment of neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated the modulatory effect of baicalein on neuroinflammation. Method : Pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 mRNA), COX-2 mRNA expression and microglial activation in the brain tissue is induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment in C57BL/6 mice. Baicalein was treated orally with 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg 1 hour prior to the LPS (3 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and COX-2 mRNA expression in the brain tissue was measured by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method. Iba1 expression in the brain was measured by western blotting method. Microglia was observed with immunohistochemistry. Results : Baicalein 30 mg/kg significantly attenuated the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and COX-2 mRNA in the brain tissue. Baicalein 20 mg/kg significantly attenuated the expression of IL-6 mRNA in the brain tissue. Baicalein 30 mg/kg significantly attenuated the expression of Iba1 protein expression in the brain tissue. Baicalein 30 mg/kg significantly decreased the number and cell size of microglia in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamic region and the area percentage of Iba1-expressed microglia in the hippocampus. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that baicalein attenuates LPS induced neuroinflammation in the mice via reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6), COX-2 mRNA expression and microglial activation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.464-472
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• 2022

Background: Gut microbiota influence the central nervous system through gut-brain-axis. They also affect the neurological disorders. Gut microbiota differs in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), as a potential factor that leads to progression of AD. Oral intake of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) improves the cognitive functions. Therefore, it can be proposed that KRG affect the microbiota on the gut-brain-axis to the brain. Methods: Tg2576 were used for the experimental model of AD. They were divided into four groups: wild type (n = 6), AD mice (n = 6), AD mice with 30 mg/kg/day (n = 6) or 100 mg/kg/day (n = 6) of KRG. Following two weeks, changes in gut microbiota were analyzed by Illumina HiSeq4000 platform 16S gene sequencing. Microglial activation were evaluated by quantitative Western blot analyses of Iba-1 protein. Claudin-5, occludin, laminin and CD13 assay were conducted for Blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation demonstrated through Aβ 42/40 ratio was accessed by ELISA, and cognition were monitored by Novel object location test. Results: KRG improved the cognitive behavior of mice (30 mg/kg/day p < 0.05; 100 mg/kg/day p < 0.01), and decreased Aβ 42/40 ratio (p < 0.01) indicating reduced Aβ accumulation. Increased Iba-1 (p < 0.001) for reduced microglial activation, and upregulation of Claudin-5 (p < 0.05) for decreased BBB permeability were shown. In particular, diversity of gut microbiota was altered (30 mg/kg/day q-value<0.05), showing increased population of Lactobacillus species. (30 mg/kg/day 411%; 100 mg/kg/day 1040%). Conclusions: KRG administration showed the Lactobacillus dominance in the gut microbiota. Improvement of AD pathology by KRG can be medicated through gut-brain axis in mice model of AD.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2016

This study examined the influence of a Mindfulness Based Compassion Meditation Program on the brain activation and stress of elderly women who experienced loss of spouse using 2 channel EEG (Electroencephalography). The total number of subjects was 60, consisting of elderly women aged from 65~75years of in Y county; 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group who were checked by EEG before and after the study. The study was conducted from August to November, 2015. The Mindfulness Based Compassion Meditation Program was designed for the convergence of body and mind integration with compassion meditation for the purpose of developing love, sympathy, and compassion. The treatment was conducted once a week, for 60 minutes at a time, over a period of 16 weeks. The results in the experimental group showed an increase in the Activity Quotient (ATQ) Rt(82.51/85.83, p<.013) and AntiStress Quotient (ASQ) Lt (74.711/71.17, p<.050). The Activity Quotient shows the mental function and behavior tendency in the brain, while the AntiStress Quotient shows the state of physical and mental relaxation. The Mindfulness Based Compassion Meditation Program was shown to influence the brain activation and stress of the elderly women using the practical application of neuroscience.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.425-432
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• 2016

In addition to classical synaptic transmission, information is transmitted between cells via the activation of extrasynaptic receptors that generate persistent tonic current in the brain. While growing evidence supports the presence of tonic NMDA current ($I_{NMDA}$) generated by extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (eNMDARs), the functional significance of tonic $I_{NMDA}$ in various brain regions remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that activation of eNMDARs that generate INMDA facilitates the ${\alpha}$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionate receptor (AMPAR)-mediated steady-state current in supraoptic nucleus (SON) magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs). In $low-Mg^{2+}$ artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), glutamate induced an inward shift in $I_{holding}$ ($I_{GLU}$) at a holding potential ($V_{holding}$) of -70 mV which was partly blocked by an AMPAR antagonist, NBQX. NBQX-sensitive $I_{GLU}$ was observed even in normal aCSF at $V_{holding}$ of -40 mV or -20 mV. $I_{GLU}$ was completely abolished by pretreatment with an NMDAR blocker, AP5, under all tested conditions. AMPA induced a reproducible inward shift in $I_{holding}$ ($I_{AMPA}$) in SON MNCs. Pretreatment with AP5 attenuated $I_{AMPA}$ amplitudes to ~60% of the control levels in $low-Mg^{2+}$ aCSF, but not in normal aCSF at $V_{holding}$ of -70 mV. $I_{AMPA}$ attenuation by AP5 was also prominent in normal aCSF at depolarized holding potentials. Memantine, an eNMDAR blocker, mimicked the AP5-induced $I_{AMPA}$ attenuation in SON MNCs. Finally, chronic dehydration did not affect $I_{AMPA}$ attenuation by AP5 in the neurons. These results suggest that tonic $I_{NMDA}$, mediated by eNMDAR, facilitates AMPAR function, changing the postsynaptic response to its agonists in normal and osmotically challenged SON MNCs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2022

Brain computed tomography (CT) is useful for brain lesion diagnosis, such as brain hemorrhage, due to non-invasive methodology, 3-dimensional image provision, low radiation dose. However, there has been numerous misdiagnosis owing to a lack of radiologist and heavy workload. Recently, object detection technologies based on artificial intelligence have been developed in order to overcome the limitations of traditional diagnosis. In this study, the applicability of a deep learning-based YOLOv5s model was evaluated for brain hemorrhage detection using brain CT images. Also, the effect of hyperparameters in the trained YOLOv5s model was analyzed. The YOLOv5s model consisted of backbone, neck and output modules. The trained model was able to detect a region of brain hemorrhage and provide the information of the region. The YOLOv5s model was trained with various activation functions, optimizer functions, loss functions and epochs, and the performance of the trained model was evaluated in terms of brain hemorrhage detection accuracy and training time. The results showed that the trained YOLOv5s model is able to provide a bounding box for a region of brain hemorrhage and the accuracy of the corresponding box. The performance of the YOLOv5s model was improved by using the mish activation function, the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) optimizer function and the completed intersection over union (CIoU) loss function. Also, the accuracy and training time of the YOLOv5s model increased with the number of epochs. Therefore, the YOLOv5s model is suitable for brain hemorrhage detection using brain CT images, and the performance of the model can be maximized by using appropriate hyperparameters.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.671-680
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• 2016

Accumulating evidence indicates many brain functions are mediated by epigenetic regulation of neural genes, and their dysregulations result in neuronal disorders. Experiences such as learning and recall, as well as physical exercise, induce neuronal activation through epigenetic modifications and by changing the noncoding RNA profiles. Animal models, brain samples from patients, and the development of diverse analytical methods have broadened our understanding of epigenetic regulation in the brain. Diverse and specific epigenetic changes are suggested to correlate with neuronal development, learning and memory, aging and age-related neuronal diseases. Although the results show some discrepancies, a careful comparison of the data (including methods, regions and conditions examined) would clarify the problems confronted in understanding epigenetic regulation in the brain.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.359-359
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• 2002

Brain Stimulator processes both visual and audible stimulus and send them human sensory organ. The stimulus was accepted by our sensory organ effect upon human mental function. In this study, we examine the actual effect of commercial brain stimulator using tMRI system.