• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.148-160
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• 2023

Depression is a neuropsychiatric disorder associated with persistent stress and disruption of neuronal function. Persistent stress causes neuronal atrophy, including loss of synapses and reduced size of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These alterations are associated with neural dysfunction, including mood disturbances, cognitive impairment, and behavioral changes. Synaptic plasticity is the fundamental function of neural networks in response to various stimuli and acts by reorganizing neuronal structure, function, and connections from the molecular to the behavioral level. In this review, we describe the alterations in synaptic plasticity as underlying pathological mechanisms for depression in animal models and humans. We further elaborate on the significance of phytochemicals as bioactive agents that can positively modulate stress-induced, aberrant synaptic activity. Bioactive agents, including flavonoids, terpenes, saponins, and lignans, have been reported to upregulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression and release, suppress neuronal loss, and activate the relevant signaling pathways, including TrkB, ERK, Akt, and mTOR pathways, resulting in increased spine maturation and synaptic numbers in the neuronal cells and in the brains of stressed animals. In clinical trials, phytochemical usage is regarded as safe and well-tolerated for suppressing stress-related parameters in patients with depression. Thus, intake of phytochemicals with safe and active effects on synaptic plasticity may be a strategy for preventing neuronal damage and alleviating depression in a stressful life.

• 한국학교ㆍ지역보건교육학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of five personality factors and perceived stress on psychological well-being of college students. This study also examines the mediating role of perceived stress in the relationship between the five personality factors and psychological well-being of college students. Methods: The subjects of the study were 210 college students (94 males and 116 females), and a self-report questionnaire was conducted. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Results: Three personality factors(openness, neuroticism, and agreeableness) and perceived stress were found to have a significant effect on college students' psychological well-being. Perceived stress partially mediated the relationship between personality factor 2(neuroticism and agreeableness) and psychological well-being. Conclusions: This study should be supported by health education or related efforts that can improve individual personality characteristics and cognitive flexibility by exploring intrapersonal factors that can affect psychological well-being of college students.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.77-88
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was founded to identify the differences of stress responses, according to Sasang Constitutions (the Taeyangin, Taeumin, Soyangin and Soumin) of highly stressed oriental medicine college students. Methods : The subjects were 76 students who majored in oriental medicine. We processed 'University students Stress Scale', and 'Medical Stress Scale'. We selected 30 students who stressed higher than average. We then processed 'QSCC II (Questionnare for the Sasang Constitution Classification II)' and 'Scale for the Stress Response'. Collected data was analyzed with the SPSS 19.0 for windows statistical program. Results : The university students stress score of oriental medicine students was 1.97 that was higher than the other college students. The medical stress score was 2.77, which was similar with other medical college students. The symptoms of stress score was 2.53, which was higher than the others. Particularly, the depressive syndrome and rage syndrome were highly ranked. The frequently appearing symptoms of each type of Sasang Constitutions (the Taeyangin, Taeumin, Soyangin and Soumin) showed as follows. The Soyangin's symptoms of stress showed in order of Anxiety, Depression, and Emotional irritability. The Soumin's symptoms of stress showed in order of Depression, Emotional irritability, and cognitive disorganization. The Taeumin's symptoms of stress showed in order of Anxiety, Depression, and Emotional irritability. However, there was were no significant differences among the results of each constitution. Conclusions : The results show that oriental medicine students have as much stress as other medical college students and there was tendency of showing different patterns of stress response, according to Sasang Constitution, but it's not significantly different.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.219-226
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• 1999

Objectives : The aims of this study were to evaluate changes in plasma superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities in alcohol depedence, to find out variables to influence on the SOD activities, and finally to identify the correlation of SOD activities with the alcohol-associated cognitive disorders. Methods : For 24 male alcoholics and 21 healthy male controls, plasma SOD activities were measured by spectrophotometry on 1-2 wks after alcohol withdrawal. Structured interviews and laboratory tests were also performed. Results : 1) Upon comparing SOD activities between controls and alcoholics, the SOD activities were significantly(p<0.01) lower in alcoholics($0.308{\pm}0.140$ units/mL) than in healthy controls($0.313{\pm}0.086$ units/mL). 2) Upon comparing SOD activities according to the presence of alcohol-related cognitive disorders, the SOD activities were significantly(p<0.05) lower in alcoholics with cognitive disorders($0.247{\pm}0.049$ units/mL) than in alcoholics without cognitive disorders($0.317{\pm}0.148$ units/mL). 3) Upon comparing SOD activities according to the presence of alcoholic polyneuropathy or alcohol withdrawal seizure, the SOD activities showed no significant differences between alcoholics with polyneuropathy or epilepsy and those without. 4) Upon analyzing variables influencing on the SOD activities in alcoholics, the SOD activities had the negative correlation with hemoglobin(${\gamma}=-0.433$) and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms(${\gamma}=-0.375$). 5) Upon comparing variables according to the presence of alcohol-related cognitive disorders, the occurrence of alcoholic polyneuropathy(p<0.05) and blood phosphorus concentrations(p<0.01) were significantly higher in alcoholics with cognitive disorders than those without. 6) Upon analyzing an association between SOD activities and variables in alcoholics with cognitive disorders, the SOD activities were positively correlated with the onset age(${\gamma}=0.995$), and negatively correlated with the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms(${\gamma}=-0.996$). Conclusions : Lower SOD activities in alcohol dependence suggested alcohol-associated cognitive disorders and alcohol withdrawal symptoms might be caused by oxidative stress.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2007

Objectives : Allergic children have known to have multiple behavior problems. Among them, attentional ability disorder is one of the most common problems. This study is to examine relationship between learning ability and allergic rhinitis by analyzing EEG status of children. Methods : We analyzed cognitive functions of two different children groups; 21 children with allergic rhinitis and 19 normal children with CANS 3000(Central & Autonomic Nervous System, LAXTHA Inc., Korea), cognitive functions assessment program by EEG. Results : 1. According to mean active EEG rhythm of Theta, Alpha, SMR, M-beta, there were no significant difference between allergic rhinitis and the normal group. 2. According to mean active EEG rhythm of right H-beta, Gamma wave allergic rhinitis group's value was significantly higher than that of the normal group. 3. According to mean cognitive strength, response, concentration, left / right brain activity and learning ability score, there were no significant difference between allergic rhinitis and the normal group. 4. According to mean workload score, allergic rhinitis group's value was significantly higher than that of the normal group. Conclusions : It is likely that allergic rhinitis group, which showed relatively high frequency EEG rhythm, is more fragile to stress and less active on mental processing. Along side with physical examination, psychological assessment should also be conjugated on treating children with allergic rhinitis.

• 생약학회지
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.41-46
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• 2013

Alzheimer's disease (AD), most common form of dementia is characterized that memory deficit and loss of cognitive function. The Codonopsis lanceolata (C.lanceolata) was treated by high hydrostatic pressure process and fermentation. This study was evaluated cognitive enhancing effect C.lanceolata extract by high hydrostatic pressure process and fermentation and compared with common C.lanceolata extract using Morris water maze and passive avoidance test. And their neuroprotective effect on glutamate induced oxidative stress in HT22 cell was investigated by MTT assay. High hydrostatic pressure process and fermented C.lanceolata extract (HFCE) and common C.lanceolata extract (CCE) (100 and 300 mg/kg) were administered to mice. Results showed HFCE enhanced cognitive function than CCE as shown by decrease in escape latency time. HFCE increased the latency time of the passive avoidance test compared to CCE. Furthermore, HFCE showed significant neuroprotective effect against glutamate cytotoxicity in HT22 cells. These results indicate that high hydrostatic pressure process and fermented more improve spatial cognitive ability of C. laanceolata.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.347-355
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• 2020

Cognitive impairment is considered to be key research topics in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and in understanding of learning and memory. In the present study, we investigated neuroprotective effects of Schisandra chinensis (SC) and Ribes fasciculatum (RF) extracts in hydrogen peroxide-induced neuronal cell death in vitro and scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in Sprague Dawley^® (SD) rat in vivo. Apoptotic cell death in neuroblastic PC12 cell line was induced by hydrogen peroxide for 1 hour at 100 μM. However, mixture of SC and RF treatment prevented peroxide induced PC12 cell death with no neurotoxic effects. For in vivo experiment, the effect of SC and RF extracts on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in SD rat was evaluated by spontaneous alternation behavior in Y-Maze test. After 30 min scopolamine injection, the scopolamine-induced rats presented significantly decreased % spontaneous alteration and acetylcholine level, compared to non-induced group. However, treatment of SC+RF extracts rescued the reduced % spontaneous alteration with acetylcholine concentration from hippocampus in scopolamine-induced rats. These results suggested that mixture of SC and RF extract may be a potential natural therapeutic agent for the prevention of cognitive impairment.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.173-186
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• 2021

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Due to the increased incidence of dementia, there is a corresponding increase concerning the importance of AD. In this study, we investigated the protective effects conferred by Zizyphus jujuba (Zj) and Zizyphus jujuba fermented by yeast (Zj-Y), on cognitive impairment in an AD mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: AD was induced by injecting amyloid beta25-35 (Aβ25-35) in ICR mice, and subsequently 200 mg/kg Zj or Zj-Y was administered daily for 14 days. The cognitive ability of AD mice was observed through behavioral experiments in T-maze, novel object recognition, and Morris water maze tests. We subsequently measured the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase in either tissues or serum. RESULTS: In behavioral tests, deterioration was revealed in the short- and long-term learning and memory functions in the Aβ25-35-injected control group compared to the normal group, indicating that Aβ25-35 injection impairs cognitive functions. However, administration of Zj and Zj-Y improved cognitive function in mice, as compared to the Aβ25-35-injected control mice. In addition, the Aβ25-35 induced elevations of MDA and NO in the brain, kidney, and liver were suppressed after exposure to Zj and Zj-Y. Especially, Zj-Y showed stronger scavenging effect against MDA and NO, as compared to Zj. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study indicate that Zj-Y exerts a protective effect on cognitive impairment and memory dysfunction, which is exerted by attenuating the oxidative stress induced by Aβ25-35.

• 대한불안의학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.27-34
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• 2024

Objective : Cognitive fusion, or believability, in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), refers to the tendency to become entangled in one's thoughts or feelings. It is an important factor in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. However, there is a lack of validated self-report measures for cognitive fusion and defusion, particularly for individuals with anxiety. To address this gap, this study aimed to evaluate the Korean Version of Believability of Anxious Feelings and Thoughts Questionnaire (K-BAFT). Methods : A total of 608 university students and 85 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) took part in this study. They were asked to complete various psychological measures, including the K-BAFT, other measures of ACT processes, and symptom scales. The researchers then analyzed the psychometric characteristics of the K-BAFT. Results : The results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the three-factor structure of the K-BAFT, which was reported in the original study, was also found in the university sample. Additionally, both the student and the OCD group demonstrated strong internal consistency (α=0.86 and 0.91, respectively). In the university sample, the K-BAFT showed a strong correlation with the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (r_s=0.53, p<0.001). However, it had a weak correlation with symptoms scales for depression, anxiety, and stress (all r_s<0.32). Furthermore, the OCD group had higher scores on the K-BAFT compared to the university sample. Conclusion : K-BAFT is considered to be a reliable and valid self-report tool for measuring cognitive fusion with anxious thoughts and feelings.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.4-13
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• 2017

The seeds of addiction are typically sown years prior to the onset of addictive substance use or engagement in addictive behaviors, due to the priming of the reward pathway (RewP) by alterations in the mechanism of stress-signaling from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and related pathways. Excessive stress from a single-event and/or cumulative life experiences during childhood, such as those documented in the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, is translated into neurobiological toxicity that alters the set-point of the HPA axis and limbic system homeostasis [suggested new term: regulation pathway (RegP)]. The resultant alteration of the RegP not only increases the risk for psychiatric and physical illness, but also that for early onset and chronic addictions by dysregulating the RewP. This paper reviews the interface of these symbiotic pathways that result in the phenotypic pathology of emotional dysregulation, cognitive impairment, and compulsive behaviors, as well as morbidity and shorter life expectancy when dysregulated by chronic stress.