• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.185-194
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of short-term foresters on brain waves and pulse waves. For this purpose, 484 foresters who visited the natural recreation forest located in Cheongpyeong city, Gyeonggi province, measured the before and after experiences of EEG and pulse waves, and the following results were obtained. First, foresters have been shown to be effective on concentration, brain activity, and brain stress. Second, foresters had positive effects on cardiac health and autonomic health. In other words, when various substances released from the forest come into the body through the respiratory system, it firstly affects the heart activity positively, and it seems to be able to expect various improvements by acting on the emotional side of the brain. Therefore, based on the scientific basis of the forest experience, it is expected that the experience of forests will be widely used as a guide for healthy life by creating conditions for participation by many people. In addition, the mechanism of respiration, heartbeat, and brain interaction is also possible, and various experimental studies on the forest experience in the future are important.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.261-269
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• 2018

The fractional anisotropy value of the basal ganglia fibers in the brain gray matter region was analyzed by Tract-Based Spatial Statics(TBSS) method after acquiring the diffusion tensor image to identify the presence or absence of brain white matter damage to smoking in male. As a result of measurement analysis, the fractional anisotropy measurement value was lower in smokers than non-smokers in all areas, and the FA value was statistically significant. smoking significantly affects all the anatomic micro structural changes in the brain gray matter and damages the nerve fiber tract. As a result, it can affects functional abnormalities related to the minute changes of the brain due to smoking.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.352-356
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• 2007

The present study was investigated the anti-oxidative effects of aloe vera ingestion on brain and kidney in aged rats by monitoring several oxidative-related parameters. Male specific pathogen-free Fischer 344 rats were randomly divided into four groups of five rat each: Group A was fed test chow without aloe supplementation; Group B was fed a diet containing a 1% freeze-dried aloe filet; Group C was fed a diet containing a 1% charcoal-processed, freeze-dried aloe filet; and Group D was fed a diet containing a charcoal-processed, freeze-dried, whole leaf aloe in drinking water. Analyses of tissues were done at 4 months and 16 months of age. Results showed that a long-term intake of aloe, regardless of the preparation used, enhanced antioxidant defenses against lipid peroxidation, as indicated by reduced phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide levels in both brain and kidney. The additional benefit of aloe intake on the anti-oxidative action was evidenced by enhanced superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in all aloe-ingested groups. Another beneficial effect of aloe shown in this study, although not an anti-oxidative parameter, was its cholesterol-lowering effect as detected in brain and kidney with significant decreases at age16 months of aloe-fed rats. Based on these findings, we conclude that a long-term dietary aloe supplementation modulated the anti-oxidative defense systems and cholesterol level.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.69-85
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• 2023

Depression is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders and is associated with dysfunction of the neuroendocrine system and alterations in specific brain proteins. Boophone disticha (BD) is an indigenous psychoactive bulb that belongs to the Amaryllidacae family, which is widely used in Southern Africa to treat depression, with scientific evidence of potent antidepressant-like effects. The present study examined the antidepressant effects of BD and its mechanisms of action by measuring some behavioural parameters in the elevated plus maze, brain content of corticosterone, brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampus of Balb/c mice exposed to the five day repeated forced swim stress (5d-RFSS). Male Balb/c mice were subjected to the 5d-RFSS protocol to induce depressive-like behaviour (decreased swimming, increased floating, decreased open arm entry, decreased time spent in the open arms and decreased head dips in the elevated plus maze test) and treated with distilled water, fluoxetine and BD. BD treatment (10 mg/kg/p.o for 3 weeks) significantly attenuated the 5d-RFSS-induced behavioural abnormalities and the elevated serum corticosterone levels observed in stressed mice. Additionally, 5d-RFSS exposure significantly decreased the number of neuroblasts in the hippocampus and BDNF levels in the brain of Balb/c mice, while fluoxetine and BD treatment attenuated these changes. The antidepressant effects of BD were comparable to those of fluoxetine, but unlike fluoxetine, BD did not show any anxiogenic effects, suggesting better pharmacological functions. In conclusion, our study shows that BD exerted antidepressant-like effects in 5d-RFSS mice, mediated in part by normalizing brain corticosterone and BDNF levels.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.310-314
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• 2004

This is the re-arrangement of the 2004 Asia Nutrition & Dietary Supplement Conference organized by ABF(The Asia Business Forum) in Singapore, especially regulatory view of point of health functional foods for Korea, Japan, and China. Foods that may have health benefits beyond the traditional nutrients that they contain are often called 'Functional Foods'. The concept of functional foods has become popular in recent years, first in Japan and later in other countries, including the USA. In USA, The functional foods was controlled by ACSH (the American Council on Science and Health). In Korea, 'Functional Foods'. was defined on the 'The Law for the Health Functional Foods'(Law No. 6727 : effective as of $26^{th}$, Aug. 2002). KFDA(Korea Food and Drug Administration) is the only authority body for approval, advertisement and claims for the Health Functional Foods in Korea. In Japan, the Japan Health Food and Nutrition Food Association controls the approval, regulate functional foods' advertisement and claims under the name of FOSHU (Foods for Specified Health Uses). In China, the State Food and Drug Administration(SFDA) is the only authoritative organization for the application, supervision and administration of health related products. Asia, especially Korea, Japan and China, is one of the leader in the vitamins and dietary supplement(VDS) market. Regulatory issues on restrictions are the most important how to tap into the health functional foods market including Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 2021

Background: In 2018, the government increased the fee for the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image deciphering services of the external hospital to discourage the redundant MRI scan and to induce appropriate use of the MRI services. It is important to evaluate the effect of the policy to provide the basis for establishing other MRI-related policies. Methods: The healthcare data of the patients who had brain MRI scans were organized by episode and analyzed using the panel study in order to find out the effect of the MRI-related policy on the substitution effect and the medical expenses. Results: As a result of the increase in the fee of deciphering the MRI image, there has been an uplift in deciphering the MRI scan of the external hospital. It implies that more hospitals chose to use the MRI scan taken by other clinics or hospitals, rather than the MRI scan taken at their own facilities. Conclusion: The research results imply that a policy that facilitates the exchange of the medical image data between the hospitals is needed in order to establish an efficient management system of the healthcare resources. Such improvement is expected to reduce the social cost and contribute to the stability in the finance of national health insurance.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.354-360
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• 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in children. Survivors of severe TBI are more susceptible to functional deficits, resulting in disability, poor quality of life, cognitive decline, and mental health problems. Despite this, little is known about the pathophysiology of TBI in children and how to manage it most effectively. Internationally, efforts are being made to expand knowledge of pathophysiology and develop practical clinical treatment recommendations to improve outcomes. Here we discuss recently updated evidence and management of severe pediatric TBI.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.348-353
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• 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health issue that causes significant morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Pediatric minor TBIs are the most common and are widely underreported because not all patients seek medical attention. The specific management of these patients is distinct from that of adult patients because of the different physiologies in these age groups. This article focuses on minor TBIs, particularly growing skull fractures, traumatic cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and concussion.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.231-247
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• 1993

This study was designed to confirm the effect of dietary protein level and oral administration of tryptophan on brain serotonin metabolism. Two animal experiments were conducted. The objectives and results of research were as follows : In the first experiment, it was investigated whether administration of reserpine to Sprague-Dawley rats fed 6% or 20% casein diet induced decrease in serum tryptophan and large neutral amino acid(LNAA) concentrations, tryptophan/LNAA concentration ratio, brain tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) contents. Brain serotonin content of 6% casein diet group was lower than those of 20% casein diet group. Both 6% and 20% casein diet groups administered with reserpine to induce the analogous depression, showed the notable decrease in brain serotonin content when they were compared with 20% casein diet group not administered with reserpine. Serum tryptophan/LNAA ration and brain 5-HIAA content showed a tendency similar to the change of serotonin content, but the mean difference among all groups was not significant. From these results, it could be said that when the dietary protein level was low, brain serotonin content was decrease. The second experimnt was to see the change in serum tryptophan concentration and tryptophan/LNAA ratio and brain tryptophan, serotonin and 5-HIAA content when tryptophan was administered orally to the animals treated with reserpine. Serum tryptophan concentration tended to increase in both reserpine-treated 6% and 20% casein diet groups administered with tryptophan, especially in the 6% casein diet group. Serum tryptophan/LNAA concentration ratio tended to incrase in reserpine-tteated 6% casein diet group, while decrease in reserpine-treated 20% casein diet group. Brain tryptophan content was increased in both reserpine-treated 6% and 20% casein diet groups. However, brain serotonin content of reserpine-treated 6% casein diet group showed a tendency to decrease, while that of reserpine-treated 20% casein group increase. Consequently, the effect of tryptophan administration on increase of brain tryptophan and serotonin content in animals treated with reserpine was far more excellent in 20% casein diet groups. It was concluded that dietary protein intake and tryptophan administration increase brain serotonin level. Accordingly, it was possible to confirm that brain function, particularly in aspect of behavior related to the serotonin, was changed with manipulation of dietary composition.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 1996

To investigate the effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) and environmental enrichment on brain fatty acid composition and acetylcholinesterase(AChE) activity, two groups of was fed isocaloric diets containing 10 or 12% dietary lipids for 7 weeks. A third group was fed 10% (w/w) dietary lipids with supplemented 2% DHA-rich fish oil. Each diet group was housed either in a stainless steel cage individually or in a large enriched cage with toys where 7 rats were kept together. The fatty acid composition of plasma and brain was significantly affected by dietary lipid composition but not by environmental enrichment. Fish oil supplementation significanlty decreased plasma levels of monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA) and increased polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA). Fish oil supplemented groups also maintained lower plasma n-6 fatty acids and higher n-3 fatty acids levels than unsupplemented groups. The fish oil supplementation significantly decreased arachidonic acid and increased eicosapentaenic, docosapentaenoic acids, and DHA in brain fatty acid composition. In addition, brain DHA level in supplemented groups tended higher than the unsupplemented. Brain, AChE activity significantly increased by the environmental enrichment but not by the fish oil supplementation. These finding suggest that the 2% fish oil (0.57% DHA & 0.31% EPA, per diet weigth) supplementation is enough to accumulate n-3 fatty acids and to change the n-6 n-3 ratio in brain and environmental enrichment might promote the learning ability.