• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2024

Introduction: In this case report, we describe the clinical effectiveness of Yigan-san-gami in improving symptoms in a patient with worsening Alzheimer's dementia after COVID-19 infection. Case presentation: Symptoms of dementia worsened in a patient with Alzheimer's disease after COVID-19 infection. Western medicines were added following neurological consultation. However, there was no medicinal effect. The patient was treated with Korean medicine (Yigan-san-gami) three times a day. We used daily charts, the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination-2 (K-MMSE-2), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), and Short Version Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS) to assess the patient's symptoms. Cognitive decline and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) improved following the treatment with Yigan-san-gami. Conclusion: The results suggest that Yigan-san-gami may be effective in improving symptoms of Alzheimer's disease that worsen after COVID-19 infection.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.270-282
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Menkes disease (MNK) is a rare X-linked recessive disease, caused by mutations in the copper transporting ATP7A gene that is required for copper homeostasis. MNK patients experience various clinical symptoms including neurological defects that are closely related to the prognosis of MNK patients. Neural stem cells (NSCs) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) produce new neurons throughout life, and defects in DG neurogenesis are often correlated with cognitive and behavioral problems. However, neurodevelopmental defects in the DG during postnatal period in MNK have not been understood yet. Methods and Results: Mottled-brindled (Mo^Br/y) mice (MNK mice) and littermate controls were used in this study. In vivo microCT imaging and immunohistochemistry results demonstrate that blood vasculatures in hippocampus are abnormally decreased in MNK mice. Furthermore, postnatal establishment of NSC population and their neurogenesis are severely compromised in the DG of MNK mice. In addition, in vitro analyses using hippocampal neurosphere culture followed by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting suggest that neurogenesis from MNK NSCs is also significantly compromised, corresponding to defective neurogenic gene expression in MNK derived neurons. Conclusions: Our study is the first reports demonstrating that improper expansion of the postnatal NSC population followed by significant reduction of neurogenesis may contribute to neurodevelopmental symptoms in MNK. In conclusion, our results provide new insight into early neurodevelopmental defects in MNK and emphasize the needs for early diagnosis and new therapeutic strategies in the postnatal central nerve system damage of MNK 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.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.162-172
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• 2024

To analyse the overall research trends in digital therapeutics, this study conducted a quantitative bibliometric analysis of articles published in the last 10 years from 2014 to 2023. We extracted bibliographic information of studies related to digital therapeutics from the Web of Science (WOS) database and performed publication status, citation analysis and keyword analysis using R (version 4.3.1) and VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) software. A total of 1,114 articles were included in the study, and the annual publication growth rate for digital therapeutics was 66.1%, a very rapid increase. "health" is the most used keyword based on Keyword Plus, and "cognitive-behavioral therapy", "depression", "healthcare", "mental-health", "meta-analysis" and "randomized controlled-trial" are the research keywords that have driven the development and impact of digital therapeutic devices over the long term. A total of five clusters were observed in the co-occurrence network analysis, with new research keywords such as "artificial intelligence", "machine learning" and "regulation" being observed in recent years. In our analysis of research trends in digital therapeutics, keywords related to mental health, such as depression, anxiety, and disorder, were the top keywords by occurrences and total link strength. While many studies have shown the positive effects of digital therapeutics, low engagement and high dropout rates remain a concern, and much research is being done to evaluate and improve them. Future studies should expand the search terms to ensure the representativeness of the results.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2002

Objectives : Numbers of patients who have chronic pain seem to be increasing in the psychiatric practice. Many investigators have used models of stress and coping to help explain the differences in adjustment found among persons who experience chronic pain. Coping strategies appear to be associated with adjustment in chronic pain patients. The objectives of this study were to develop a self-report questionnaire which is the most widely used measures of pain coping strategies, Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) into Korean version and to study the different coping strategies with which chronic pain patients frequently use when their pain reaches a moderate or greater level of intensity. Methods : One hundred twenty-eight individuals with chronic pain conditions and two hundred fifty-two normal controls were administered the Korean version-Coping Strategies Questionnaire(KCSQ) to assess the frequency of use and perceived effectiveness of a variety of cognitive and behavioral pain coping strategies. We also obtained their clinical features in chronic pain patients. Reliability of the questionnaire were analyzed and evaluated differences of coping strategies between two groups. Results : Data analysis revealed that the questionnaire was internally reliable. Chronic pain patients reported frequent use of a variety of pain coping strategies, such as coping self-statements, praying and hoping, catastrophizing, and increase behavior scales which were higher compared to the normal controls. Conclusion: K-CSQ revealed to be a reliable self-report questionnaire which is useful for the assessment of coping strategies in clinical setting on chronic pain. And analysis of pain coping strategies may be helpful in understanding pain for chronic pain patients. The individual K-CSQ may have greater utility in terms of examining coping, appraisals, and pain adjustment. A consideration of pain coping strategies may allow one to design pain coping skills training interventions so as to fit the individual chronic pain patient. Further research is needed to determine whether cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to decrease maladaptive coping strategies can reduce pain and improve the physical and psycho-social functioning of chronic patients.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.649-658
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• 2017

The potential of the ethyl acetate fraction from Pteridium aquilinum (EFPA) to improve the cognitive function in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice was investigated. EFPA-treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the spatial, learning, and memory abilities compared to the HFD group in behavioral tests, including the Y-maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze. The diabetic symptoms of the EFPA-treated groups, such as fasting glucose and glucose tolerance, were alleviated. The administration of EFPA reduced the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in mice brains, but increased the acetylcholine (ACh) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Finally, kaempferol-3-o-glucoside, a major physiological component of EFPA, was identified by using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a hybrid triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometer (QTRAP LC-MS/MS).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.1243-1252
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• 2017

There are limited programs for low sodium intake based on the nutrition education model for housewives who cook family meals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of model-based nutrition programs for low sodium intake among housewives residing in Seoul by incorporating social cognitive theory. A questionnaire survey before and after education was conducted on 140 housewives who participated in the 'Low Sodium Nutritional Education Program' delivered by a district public health center for 12 weeks from November 2015 to January 2016. The contents of the nutrition education program and program evaluation items were based on the action plans for 'Less Sodium Healthy Practice' suggested by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The results show that program participants showed a lower preference for sodium, higher selection of low sodium dishes from restaurants or cafeteria if available, and increased awareness of the need of restaurants to serve low sodium dishes compared to before. In terms of behavioral changes, there were significant improvements in checking nutrition labeling and selection of foods with low sodium, use of low sodium food products, use of natural seasonings to reduce salt intake, and consumption of fast foods and processed foods. On the other hand, requesting less salty meals when ordering and introducing restaurants or cafeterias with healthy and low sodium menus turned out to be difficult to put into practice. In conclusion, the nutrition education program for sodium intake reduction for housewives was effective in increasing knowledge, environment recognition, and behaviors related to low sodium intake but not behaviors related to physical environmental factors. Therefore, further nutrition education programs and practices for sodium intake reduction should be comprehensively implemented with improvement of physical environments for low sodium intake.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2019

Desire for a happy life becomes the will that man instinctively desires. In that the conditions of happiness are subjective and varied, the will of subjective desires has been studied with the attention of objective tendencies. The positive and meaningful will of life in the desire for happiness leads us to be the functionaries who act. These wills can be the driving force of a happy life, which allows one to have a hopeful reflective will in one's inner life, connecting oneself with others, and working in relationships with others. In addition, those who become lazy or lose their orientation in life can instill a will to be the main character of life, and furthermore, to give the ultimate meaning and goals of life. To understand and analyze these wills for happy lives more specifically, structural model compatibility and confirmatory factors were conducted. relatively reliable α=.855 value, the coefficient of correlation between recognition and will **p<.01, *p<.05 statistically significant measuring tool of not less than 05 was used. The study results of the structural model suitability of the factors of will and the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model set by the researcher could reflect the characteristics of the data collected, and that the χ²(Chi-square) value was .126, which was consistent with the model by satisfying the acceptance criteria, and that the comparison of the reference values of the study model showed a relatively high level of suitability. To identify the relationship between cognitive and defined and behavioral factors of subjective will and existent will variables, the results of a verification factor analysis show that the χ²(Chi-square) value is 2.36 and the model and data are consistent with the acceptance criteria, and that the test data is consistent with the model and data set by the researcher are consistent with the model5.0 Through structural model analysis of human will, it was confirmed that the variables of subjective and existential, sensible and reflective will directly and indirectly influence and form a complex relationship. Our will is recognized as the subjective will, and the structure of the subjective will consists of the sensible and reflective will, and the relationship between the cognitive and just action elements and the subjective will of the human life and the will to exist is shown to be very meaningful, so we should conduct the education of the happy will of the emotional and just areas of life as well as the reestablishment of the cognitive educational direction that can lead to action.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.251-260
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• 2015

Propofol is an anesthetic agent that gained wide use because of its fast induction of anesthesia and rapid recovery post-anesthesia. However, previous studies have reported immediate neurodegeneration and long-term impairment in spatial learning and memory from repeated neonatal propofol administration in animals. Yet, none of those studies has explored the sex-specific long-term physical changes and behavioral alterations such as social (sociability and social preference), emotional (anxiety), and other cognitive functions (spatial working, recognition, and avoidance memory) after neonatal propofol treatment. Seven-day-old Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats underwent repeated daily intraperitoneal injections of propofol or normal saline for 7 days. Starting fourth week of age and onwards, rats were subjected to behavior tests including open-field, elevated-plus-maze, Y-maze, 3-chamber social interaction, novel-object-recognition, passive-avoidance, and rotarod. Rats were sacrificed at 9 weeks and hippocampal protein expressions were analyzed by Western blot. Results revealed long-term body weight gain alterations in the growing rats and sex-specific impairments in spatial (female) and recognition (male) learning and memory paradigms. A markedly decreased expression of hippocampal NMDA receptor GluN1 subunit in female- and increased expression of AMPA GluR1 subunit protein expression in male rats were also found. Other aspects of behaviors such as locomotor activity and coordination, anxiety, sociability, social preference and avoidance learning and memory were not generally affected. These results suggest that neonatal repeated propofol administration disrupts normal growth and some aspects of neurodevelopment in rats in a sex-specific manner.