• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2009

Effect of whole body vibration exercise on intracerebral hemorrhage in rats. Intracerebral hemorrhage is one of the most devastating types of stroke. This disease is known to cause severe neurological damage and also has a very high mortality rate. In the present study, the effects of whole body vibration exercise on memory capability and apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats were investigated. Intracerebral hemorrhage was induced by injection of collagenase into the hippocampal CA1 region using a stereotaxic instrument. The rats were divided into 5 groups: the sham-operation group, the hemorrhage-induction group, the hemorrhage-induction and 8 Hz vibration exercise group, the hemorrhage-induction and 16 Hz vibration exercise group, and the hemorrhage-induction and 24 Hz vibration exercise group. The animals in the whole body vibration exercise groups received whole body vibration at 8 Hz, 16 Hz, and 24 Hz, respectively for 30 min once a day during 14 consecutive days. In the present results, the apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region was significantly increased following induction of intracerebral hemorrhage, resulting in memory impairment. Whole body vibration exercise suppressed hemorrhage-induced apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region. This suppressive effect of whole body vibration exercise also alleviated hemorrhage-induced memory impairment. Here in this study, we have shown that whole body vibration exercise inhibited intracerebral hemorrhage-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death and thus facilitated recovery of brain function following intracerebral hemorrhage.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the complex anatomical structure and function of the midbrain to better understand the patient's symptoms and plan effective treatment including pharmacological and rehabilitation interventions. Design: A single case study Methods: A 17-year-old girl presented with acute onset of drowsiness, gait disturbance, mutism, and ptosis. Physical examination revealed postural instability, rigidity of all limbs, and limitations in extraocular movement. The brain MRI revealed an isolated acute infarction in the bilateral midbrain. Considering the location of the infarction, the presenting symptoms were the result of an impairment of the dopaminergic pathway in addition to lesions in the nuclei of the oculomotor nerve. Levodopa/carbidopa was prescribed. And the intensive and comprehensive rehabilitation program was done. Results: As a result of the study, through comprehensive intervention, which encompassed assessments such as the manual muscle test, Korean Modified Barthel Index score, and Trail-making test, significant enhancements in the patient's condition were observed. These findings provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of the intervention in promoting the patient's physical functioning and overall well-being. Conclusions: The results of this case highlight the significance of comprehending the intricate anatomical structure and functional aspects of the midbrain, which led us to approach appropriate pharmacological and rehabilitation interventions. Through active communication among the medical team, we were able to establish a therapeutic plan, which demonstrated that effective treatment can be achieved.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.1478-1485
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• 2020

Leigh syndrome or subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy is a rare, rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder. In general, symptoms such as shortness of breath and decreased cardiac function usually occur within 1 year of life. It is a serious disease with a mortality rate of 75% in 2-3 years. The cause of Leigh syndrome is DNA mutation. Approximately 75% of patients have nuclear DNA mutations while 25% have mitochondrial DNA mutations. Clinical symptoms vary depending on the affected brain area. Neuroimaging plays an important role in diagnosing patients with Leigh syndrome. Late-onset Leigh syndrome is rarer and progresses more slowly compared to the classic form. Here, we report a case of late-onset Leigh's syndrome mimicking Wernicke's encephalopathy.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 2016

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that sample their environment and present antigens to naïve T lymphocytes for the subsequent antigen-specific immune responses. DCs exist in a range of distinct subpopulations including plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) and classical DCs (cDCs), with the latter consisting of the cDC1 and cDC2 lineages. Although the roles of DC-specific transcription factors across the DC subsets have become understood, the posttranscriptional mechanisms that regulate DC development are yet to be elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression in a myriad of biological processes, but their contribution to the immune system is just beginning to surface. In this study, our in-house probe collection was screened to identify miRNAs possibly involved in DC development and function by targeting the transcripts of relevant mouse transcription factors. Examination of DC subsets from the culture of mouse bone marrow with Flt3 ligand identified high expression of miR-124 which was able to target the transcript of TCF4, a transcription factor critical for the development and homeostasis of pDCs. Further expression profiling of mouse DC subsets isolated from in vitro culture as well as via ex vivo purification demonstrated that miR-124 was outstandingly expressed in CD24⁺ cDC1 cells compared to in pDCs and CD172α⁺ cDC2 cells. These results imply that miR-124 is likely involved in the processes of DC subset development by posttranscriptional regulation of a transcription factor(s).

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2024

The stomach has emerged as a crucial endocrine organ in the regulation of feeding since the discovery of ghrelin. Gut-derived hormones, such as ghrelin and cholecystokinin, can act through the vagus nerve. We previously reported the satiety effect of hypothalamic clusterin, but the impact of peripheral clusterin remains unknown. In this study, we administered clusterin intraperitoneally to mice and observed its ability to suppress fasting-driven food intake. Interestingly, we found its synergism with cholecystokinin and antagonism with ghrelin. These effects were accompanied by increased c-fos immunoreactivity in nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema, and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Notably, truncal vagotomy abolished this response. The stomach expressed clusterin at high levels among the organs, and gastric clusterin was detected in specific enteroendocrine cells and the submucosal plexus. Gastric clusterin expression decreased after fasting but recovered after 2 hours of refeeding. Furthermore, we confirmed that stomachspecific overexpression of clusterin reduced food intake after overnight fasting. These results suggest that gastric clusterin may function as a gut-derived peptide involved in the regulation of feeding through the gut-brain axis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 2024

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a test that diagnoses epilepsy and measures brain function. During EEG, the space between the electrode and the skin is filled with a conductive paste to reduce the impedance between the electrode and the scalp, which helps measure the EEG signals. This study compared the artifacts of the two representative conductive pastes (Ten20 and Elefix). The artifacts, noise, and satisfaction were surveyed after using the two conductive pastes. The two conductive pastes had similar artifacts and noise, but the survey results showed that the Elefix conductive paste had better satisfaction and adhesion. This result may be explained by the imprinting effect according to the experience of using the Elefix conductive paste first in the EEG class. Hence, further research is needed.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Background and Purpose: Voice, reflecting cerebral functions, holds potential for analyzing and understanding brain function, especially in the context of cognitive impairment (CI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study used voice data to distinguish between normal cognition and CI or Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD). Methods: This study enrolled 3 groups of subjects: 1) 52 subjects with subjective cognitive decline; 2) 110 subjects with mild CI; and 3) 59 subjects with ADD. Voice features were extracted using Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients and Chroma. Results: A deep neural network (DNN) model showed promising performance, with an accuracy of roughly 81% in 10 trials in predicting ADD, which increased to an average value of about 82.0%±1.6% when evaluated against unseen test dataset. Conclusions: Although results did not demonstrate the level of accuracy necessary for a definitive clinical tool, they provided a compelling proof-of-concept for the potential use of voice data in cognitive status assessment. DNN algorithms using voice offer a promising approach to early detection of AD. They could improve the accuracy and accessibility of diagnosis, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.419-430
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• 2024

Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary condition considered by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, resultant in motor dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Despite current treatment modalities including pharmaceuticals and various therapies, a definitive cure remains elusive. Therefore, this study investigates the therapeutic potential effect of Apelin-13 in HD management. Thirty male Wistar rats were allocated into three groups: a control group, a group with HD, and a group with both HD and administered Apelin-13. Apelin-13 was administered continuously over a 28-day period at a dosage of around 30 mg/kg to mitigate inflammation in rats subjected to 3-NP injection within an experimental HD model. Behavioral tests, such as rotarod, electromyography (EMG), elevated plus maze, and open field assessments, demonstrated that Apelin-13 improved motor function and coordination in rats injected with 3-NP. Apelin-13 treatment significantly increased neuronal density and decreased glial cell counts compared to the control group. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed reduced gliosis and expression of inflammatory factors in the treatment group. Moreover, Apelin-13 administration led to elevated levels of glutathione and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the treated group. Apelin-13 demonstrates neuroprotective effects, leading to improved movement and reduced inflammatory and fibrotic factors in the HD model.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 1985

In view of the facts that dopamine (DA) when given directly into a lateral ventricle (i.c.v.) of the rabbit brain induces antidiuresis and that haloperidol, a non-specific antagonist of DA receptors, produces anti-diuresis in smaller doses and diuresis and natriuresis in larger doses, the present study was undertaken to delineate the roles of various DA receptors involved in the center-mediated regulation of renal function. Bromocriptine (BRC), a relatively specific agonist of D-2 receptors and at the same time a D-,1 antagonist, elicited natriuresis and diuresis when given i.c.v. in doses ranging from 20 to 600 {\mu}g/kg$, roughly in dose-related fashion, while the renal perfusion and glomerular filtration progressively decreased with doses, indicating that the diuretic, natriuretic action resides in the tubules, not related to the hemodynamic effects. These diuresis and natriuresis were most marked with 200 ${\mu}g/kg$, with the fractional sodium excretion reaching about 10%. With 600 ${\mu}g/kg$, however, the diuretic, natriuretic action was preceded by a transient oliguria resulting from severe reduction of renal perfusion, concomitant with marked but transient hypertension. When given intravenously, however, BRC produced antidiuresis and antinatriuresis along with decreases in renal hemodynamics associated with systemic hypotension, thus indicating that the renal effects produced by i.c.v. BRC is not caused by a direct renal effects of the agent which might have reached the systemic circulation. In experiments in which DA was given i.c.v. prior to BRC, 150 ${\mu}g/kg$ DA did not affect the effects of BRC (200 ${\mu}g/kg$), while 500 ${\mu}g/kg$ DA abolished the BRC effect. In rabbits treated with reserpine, 1 mg/kg i.v.,24 h prior to the experiment, i.c.v. BRC could unfold its renal effects not only undiminished but rather exaggerated and more promptly. In preparations in which one kidney is deprived of nervous connection, the denervated kidney responded with marked diuresis and natriuresis, whereas the innervated, control kidney exhibited antidiuresis. These observations suggest that i.c.v. BRC influences the renal function through release of some humoral natriuretic factor as well as by increasing sympathetic tone, and that various DA receptors might be involved with differential roles in the center-mediated regulation of the renal function.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2019

Objectives : The aim of this study was to compare severity, neurocognitive functions, and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) according to the degree of temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) in Korean patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. Methods : Participants were 114 elderly subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment in this cross-sectional study. MTA in brain MRI was rated with standardized visual rating scales (Scheltens scale) and the subjects were divided into two groups according to Scheltens scale. Severity was evaluated with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). Neurocognitive functions was evaluated with the Korean version of Short Blessed Test (SBT-K) and the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease assessment packet (CERAD-K). BPSD was evaluated with the Korean version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (K-NPI). Independent t-test was performed to compare severity, neurocognitive functions, and BPSD between two groups. Results : The group with high severity of MTA showed significantly lower scores in CDR, SBT-K, MMSE-KC, modified Boston naming test, word list recognition, and word list memory (p<0.05). There were no differences in K-NPI scores between two groups. Conclusions : Severity and neurocognitive functions of dementia had significant positive association with MTA, but BPSD had no association with MTA. Evaluating MTA seems to have potential benefit in diagnosing and treating neurocognitive impairments in the elderly. Further evaluation is needed to confirm the association between certain brain structures and BPSD.