• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.428-433
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• 2012

Probiotics and their products, such as yogurt and cheese have been widely consumed in many countries with proven health benefits including anti-microbial activity and anti-diarrheal activity. LHFM (Lactobacillus helveticus - fermented milk) is a processed skim milk powder, fermented by a probiotics, L. helveticus IDCC3801. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects and the cognitive improvements of LHFM. LHFM itself did not show any cytotoxicity to the human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y; however, it dose-dependently protected against glutamate-induced neuronal cell death. LHFM also attenuated scopolamine-induced memory deficit in Y-maze and Morris-water maze. In the analysis of hippocampus after a behavior test, LHFM significantly increased the acetylcholine level and also inhibited acetylcholine esterase activity. Therefore, the raised acetylcholine release partially contributes to the improvement of learning and memory by a treatment with LHFM. These results suggest that LHFM is an effective material for prevention or improvement of cognitive impairments caused by neuronal cell damage and central cholinergic dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.8-19
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine whether the MMPI-2-RF serves as a useful tool to differentiate between the subtypes of high risk of suicide among psychiatric outpatients. Methods : Patients were recruited from the department of psychiatry of university hospital. Participants were diagnosed using DSM-5 criteria by board certified psychiatrists. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. And participants were put into 4 groups (Suicide ideation, Suicide attempt, Non-suicidal self-injury, and general psychiatric diagnosis as a control group). For statistical comparison, the MANCOVA with gender as a covariate was used. Results : The results indicated that as previous research with non-clinical sample suggested, psychiatric outpatients with high suicide risk also have significantly higher Emotional/Internalizing Dysfunction, Helplessness/Hopelessness, Suicidal/Death Ideation, Demoralization, Cognitive complaints, Cynicism, Dysfunctional negative thoughts than general psychiatric patients group. But group differences within the high suicide risk patients have not been observed. However, suicide attempt group and NSSI group has higher Behavioral/Externalizing Dysfunction, RC4, AGG than general psychiatric patients group. But there was no difference between suicidal idea group and general psychiatric patients group. Conclusions : There was no group difference observed between all three subtypes, which mean the MMPI2-RF may not be the useful diagnostic tool to navigate high suicide risk subtypes. Even though there was no difference observed in the suicide ideation group, suicide attempt group and NSSI group have higher aggression and externalization. So those indexes could serve as a useful marker to investigate riskiness of suicide related symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.438-444
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• 2005

Purpose: Anhedonia has been proposed to be the result of a basic neurophysiologic dysfunction and a vulnerability marker that precede and contribute to the liability of developing schizophrenia. We hypothesized that anhedonia, as a construct reflecting the decreased capacity to experience pleasure, should be associated with decreased positive hedonic affect trait. This study examined the relationship between anhedonia and positive hedonic affect trait and searched for the brain legions which correlate with anhedonia in normal subjects. Materials and Methods: Using $^{18}F$-FDG PET scan, we investigated the brain activity of twenty one subjects during resting state. Questionnaires were administrated after the scan in order to assess the self-rated individual differences in physical/social anhedonia and positive/negative affect traits. Results: Negative correlation between physical anhedonia score and positive affect trait score was significant (Pearson coefficient =-0.440, p<0.05). The subjects physical and social anhedonia scores showed positive correlation with metabolic rates in the cerebellum and negative correlation with metabolic rates in the inferior temporal gyrus and middie frontal gyrus. In addition, the positive affect trait score positively correlated with various areas, most prominent with the inferior temporal gyrus. Conclusion: These results suggest that neural substrates, such as the inferior temporal gyrus and prefrontal-cerebellar circuit, which dysfunction has been proposed to be involved with the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia, may also play a significant role in the liability of affective deficits like anhedonia.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2019

Hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder. HHH is caused by a deficiency of the mitochondrial ornithine transporter protein, which is encoded by the solute carrier family 25, member 15 (SLC25A15) gene. Recently, government supported Korean newborn screening has been expanded to include a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) measurement of ornithine level. We report a case of a neonate with HHH syndrome showing a normal MS/MS measurement of ornithine level. A female newborn was admitted to neonatal intensive unit due to familial history of HHH syndrome. Her parents were consanguineous Parkistani couple. The subject's older sister was diagnosed with HHH syndrome at age of 30 months based on altered mental status and liver dysfunction. Even though the subject displayed normal ammonia and ornithine levels based on MS/MS analysis, a molecular test confirmed the diagnosis of HHH syndrome. At 1 month of age, amino acid analysis of blood and urine showed high levels of ornithine and homocitrulline. After 11 months of follow up, she showed normal growth and development, whereas affected sister showed progressive cognitive impairment despite no further hyperammonemia after protein restriction and standard therapy. Our report is in agreement with a previous Canadian study, which showed that neonatal samples from HHH syndrome patients demonstrate normal ornithine levels despite having known mutations. Considering the delayed rise of ornithine in affected patients, genetic testing, and repetitive metabolic testing is needed to prevent patient loss in high risk patients.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2005

Recently, a large number of clinical experiments have shown that exposure of organic pollutants lead to various cancers through the abnormal cell growth. Environmental pollutants, such as 2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are carcinogen and are known to cause the cognitive disability and motor dysfunction in the developing of brain. The effects of these pollutants on neurodevelopmental disorder is well established, but the underlying mechanism(s) and similarity of gene expression profiles in human brain tumors with organic pollutants still remain unclear. In this study, we first examined the gene expression profiles in glioblastomas compared with meningioma that are kinds of primary human brain tumor by using human cDNA microarray. The results of cDNA microarray analysis revealed that 26 genes were upregulated (Z-ratio>2.0) and 14 genes were downregulated (Z-ratio<-2.0) in glioblastoma compared with meningioma. From the altered gene patterns, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling related genes, such as MAP2K3, MAP3K11 and jun activated domain binding protein, and transcription factors, such as UTF2 and TF12, were upregulated in glioblastoma. Also, we tried to investigate the relation between important genes up- and down-regulated in giloblastoma and various organic pollutants. Therefore, the identification of changes in the patterns of gene expression may provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in human primary brain tumors and of the relation between gene expression profiles and organic pollutants in brain tissue.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.603-609
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• 2001

A transport stress is one of the main causes of economic losses and physiological dysfunction. The present study has been performed to suggest a method to decrease the adverse effects above mentioned from transport. The groups were prepared as follows; (1) Control group : 4 cattle transported for 5 hrs (274 km) without any treatment, (2) Treatment group : 4 cattle treated with electrolyte-mineral solution (I.V.) at 1 hr before the enrollment of transport under same experimental condition with Control group. The blood specimens were collected at 1 hr before transport, 2.3 hrs (135 km) and 5 hrs (274 km) after the enrollment of transport, and 1, 6 and 18 hrs after fulfillment of transport. The collected blood specimens were analyzed for cortisol and epinephrine. Core temperature and heart rate were measured with active biotelemetry in every 30 minutes from 0.5 hr before the start of transport to 18 hrs after the end of transport. In results, the level of cortisol considerably increased to the peak either in Control group ($5.3{\pm}1.3{\mu}g/d{\ell}$) and in Treatment group ($4.0{\pm}2.6{\mu}g/d{\ell}$) at 2.3 hrs in transport. The concentration of epinephrine of Treatment group had been higher than that of Control group from the start of transport to 18 hrs after the fulfillment of transport. Particularly there was the biggest gap between Control and Treatment groups, $424.0{\pm}194.1pg/m{\ell}$ and $209.1{\pm}65.1pg/m{\ell}$ respectively, at 6 hrs after the end of transport. The heart rates were considerably increased either in Control group ($81.5{\pm}18.5$ to $126.3{\pm}7.8beats/min$) and in Treatment group ($114.3{\pm}14.4$ to $140.8{\pm}22.4beats/min$) with the enrollment of transport. These results indicate that the concentration of cortisol and the heart rate were pertinent to cognitive parameters to evaluate physiological responses against stress such as transport. In addition, the intravenous administration of electrolyte-mineral solution could be suggested as the method to decrease the adverse effects from a transport stress.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.462-470
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• 2015

This study examined for which socio-economic difference effects on brain function and Problem behavior syndrome in children. About a children with no disorders, diseases or cognitive dysfunction-30 were from LIC children and another 30, from MC ones, the study was conducted by measuring and analyzing the data using brain function analysis and K-CBCL from January to April, 2013. The results of the study are as follows. First, it was found that the ratio of LIC's theta(${\Theta}$) and SMR waves and that of delta(${\delta}$), high beta(${\beta}h$), alpha(${\alpha}$) and low beta(${\beta}l$) waves showed significantly higher values than MC children. Second, concerning the symptoms of child behavioral problems, LIC showed significantly higher values than MC children in symptoms of the body, depression and anxiety, social immaturity, thinking problems, attention problems, aggression, internalization, externalization, overall behavioral problems, and emotional instability. MC children showed significantly higher values than LIC chidren in symptoms of social, academic-performance, total social skills. In conclusion, the significant difference of the brain functions and the symptoms of child behavioral problems between LIC and MC children showed that the socio-ecnomic difference has an influence on the same functions and symptoms above.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2009

Objectives : Thyroid function is associated with psychiatric disturbance such as mood symptoms, cognitive functions, anxiety and sleep problem. We evaluate the effects of thyroid dysfunction on negative symptoms of schizophrenia, mood symptoms and somatic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Methods : Sixty five patients with schizophrenia were recruited. The patients were classified into two groups; the patients with the history of abnormal thyroid indices level(group of abnormal thyroid function) and the patients without the history of normal thyroid indices level(group of normal thyroid function). At baseline and 8 weeks later, psychiatric symptoms were assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms(SAPS), and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Somatosensory Amplication Scale(SSAS). Results : During 8 weeks, there were significant differences in the changes of SANS, BDI, SSAS between group of abnormal thyroid function and group of normal thyroid function. Compared to group of normal thyroid function, group of abnormal thyroid function showed greater reduction of the scores of SANS(23.3%), BDI (19.6%), and SSAS(16.2%), respectively. However, there was no significant correlation between the scores of SANS, BDI, and SSAS. Conclusion : Our study suggested that abnormal thyroid indices would predict the prognosis of negative symptoms, mood symptoms, and somatic symtpoms in patients with schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 1996

This study was attempted to investigate reliability and validity of premenstrual assessment form(PAF). PAF was administered to 230 high school students who had reported premenstrual changes. PAF revealed considerable diversity in premenstrual symtom changes of the subjects. The items with most frequent reported premenstrual changes were 21 items out of 95. Cronbach's internal consistency was .95, and test-retest reliability was .80. Validity test was performed by constructional validation analysis. 8 factors(impulsive & unstable factor, depressive factor, withdrawal & social functioning impairment factor, anxiety & cognitive dysfunction factor, physiological factor, general discomfort factor, increased well-being factor, other factor) emerged at factor analysis. Each of them accounted for 33.97, 5.10, 3.70, 2.93, 2.64, 2.46, 2.12, 2.03 of total variance respectively. High school students experienced impulsive & unstable features of premenstrual symptoms more frequently. This study suggests PAF can be a reliable and valid tool as a initial screening and evaluation of premenstrual changes. finally, factor analysis result was compared with PAF typological categories.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.239-248
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• 2016

Background: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of chronic persistent post-surgical pain (CPPP) and the role of signal transduction genes in patients undergoing staging laparotomy for carcinoma ovary. Methods: The present observational study was undertaken following institutional ethical committee approval and informed consent from all the participants. A total 21 patients of ASA grade I to III with age 20-70 years, scheduled for elective staging laparotomy for carcinoma ovary were included. Patients were excluded if had other causes of pain, cognitive dysfunction or chronic neurological disorders. Statistical analysis of pool data was done using SPSS version-17. For various scales like GPE, PDQ, NPSI, the visual analogue scale (VAS), global perceived effect (GPE), the pain DETECT questionnaire (PDQ), and neuropathic pain symptoms inventory (NPSI), one factor repaeted measure ANOVA applied with simple contrast with baseline as on post-operative day 1 (considered as reference and compared with subsequent time-interval), and the P values were adjusted according to "Bonferroni adjustments". In patients with CPPP, the ${\Delta}ct$ values of mRNA expressions of genes at the end of postoperative day 90 were compared with the baseline control values by one factor repeated ANOVA. P value < 0.005 significant. Results: The present study demonstrates 38.1% (8 out of 21 patients) incidence of CPPP. The functional status and quality of life as were observed to be significantly diminished in all patients with chronic pain. An up-regulation in the mRNA expression of signal transduction and a positive correlation was noted between the mRNA expression of signal transduction genes and VAS score in all patients with CPPP at the end of postoperative day 90. Conclusions: The reported incidence of CPPP in patients with carcinoma ovary was 38.1%. An up-regulation and positive correlation between mRNA expression of signal transduction genes and VAS score depicts its potential role in the pathogenesis of CPPP.