• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.209-214
• /
• 2009

The striatum receives glutamatergic afferents from the cortex and thalamus, and these synaptic transmissions are mediated by ${\alpha}$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) and N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The purpose of this study was to characterize glutamate receptors by analyzing NMDA/AMPA ratio and rectification of AMPA and NMDA excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) using a whole-cell voltage-clamp method in the dorsal striatum. Receptor antagonists were used to isolate receptor or subunit specific EPSC, such as (DL)-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), an NMDA receptor antagonist, ifenprodil, an NR2B antagonist, CNQX, an AMPA receptor antagonist and IEM-1460, a GluR2-lacking AMPA receptor blocker. AMPA and NMDA EPSCs were recorded at - 70 and + 40 mV, respectively. Rectification index was calculated by current ratio of EPSCs between + 50 and - 50 mV. NMDA/AMPA ratio was 0.20${\pm}$0.05, AMPA receptor ratio of GluR2-lacking/GluR2-containing subunit was 0.26${\pm}$0.05 and NMDA receptor ratio of NR2B/NR2A subunit was 0.32${\pm}$0.03. The rectification index (control 2.39${\pm}$0.27) was decreased in the presence of both APV and combination of APV and IEM-1460 (1.02${\pm}$0.11 and 0.93${\pm}$0.09, respectively). These results suggest that the major components of the striatal glutamate receptors are GluR2-containing AMPA receptors and NR2A-containing NMDA receptors. Our results may provide useful information for corticostriatal synaptic transmission and plasticity studies.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.248-260
• /
• 2020

Objective : To investigate the efficiency of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fiber-tracking based neuronavigation and assess its usefulness in the preoperative surgical planning, prognostic prediction, intraoperative course and outcome improvement. Methods : Seventeen patients with cerebral masses adjacent to corticospinal tract (CST) were given standard magnetic resonance imaging and DTI examination. By incorporation of DTI data, the relation between tumor and adjacent white matter tracts was reconstructed and assessed in the neuronavigation system. Distance from tumor border to CST was measured. Results : The sub-portion of CST in closest proximity to tumor was found displaced in all patients. The chief disruptive changes were classified as follows : complete interruption, partial interruption, or simple displacement. Partial interruption was evident in seven patients (41.2%) whose lesions were close to cortex. In the other 10 patients (58.8%), delineated CSTs were intact but distorted. No complete CST interruption was identified. Overall, the mean distance from resection border to CST was 6.12 mm (range, 0-21), as opposed to 8.18 mm (range, 2-21) with simple displacement and 2.33 mm (range, 0-5) with partial interruption. The clinical outcomes were analyzed in groups stratified by intervening distances (close, <5 mm; moderated, 5-10 mm; far, >10 mm). For the primary brain tumor patients, the proportion of completely resected tumors increased progressively from close to far grouping (42.9%, 50%, and 100%, respectively). Five patients out of seven (71.4%) experienced new neurologic deficits postoperatively in the close group. At meantime, motor deterioration was found in six cases in the close group. All patients in the far and moderate groups received excellent (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score, 0-1) or good (mRS score, 2-3) rankings, but only 57.1% of patients in the close group earned good outcome scores. Conclusion : DTI fiber tracking based neuronavigation has merit in assessing the relation between lesions and adjacent white matter tracts, allowing prediction of patient outcomes based on lesion-CST distance. It has also proven beneficial in formulating surgical strategies.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.77-93
• /
• 2010

The aim of this study was to identify neural correlates underlying the detection of faux pas, a test of theory of mind (ToM), in Korean healthy adults. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we compared the brain activities associated with faux pas stories and the activities associated with control stories. Faux pas stories compared with the control stories produced activations bilaterally in the superior frontal gyrus (BA 9) and in the precuneus (BA 7). The left medial frontal gyrus (BA 9), the left superior temporal gyrus (BA 38), the left inferior temporal gyrus (BA 20) and the right inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), the right postcentral gyrus (BA 1), the right lingual gyrus (BA 18), the right transverse temporal gyrus (BA 41) were also activated. The orbitofrontal cortex and the amygdala were not found to be involved in the detection of faux pas. This result suggests that brain activations associated with ToM are dependent on the type of mental state drawn by the task.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2005

Cortical reaction and polyspermy block are well defined in most marine invertebrates. In Urechis species, the function of cortical granules (CGs) is not yet known, and there is controversy on whether the cortical reaction occurs, or the fertilization envelope (FE) is attributed to CG releases or functions to prevent polyspermy. This study was carried out to determine the cortical reactions and functions of the FE in Urechis unicinctus. Artificial insemination of the eggs revealed that CG release occurred to give rise to perivitelline space (PS) into the final FE. Both PS and final FE effectively blocked polyspermy. The final FE was accomplished within 10 min after sperm-egg initial binding. No massive release of CGs occurred within the early phase of 5 min after the initial binding, initially and the PS seemed to playa role to prevent polyspermy. The CG massively released its content into the PS in late phase of FE formation, and differentiated PS into five intermediate layers. The layers opened into each other by anastomosis, so that the final FE consisted of two layers, the inner layer ($15{\mu}m$ in thickness) and the outer layer ($1{\mu}m$ in thickness). The outer layer derived from vitelline layer and the inner layer consisted of PS and CG secretions. Immunofluorescence and confocal laser microscopy revealed that the spermatozoon took up residence in the egg cortex during FE formation and successive meioses of the fertilized egg. These results suggest that both PS and final FE of U. unicinctus were equivalent to the early and late block, respectively, of other marine animals.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.38-42
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Accuracy and variability of movement in daily life require synchronization of muscular activities through a specific chronological order of motor performance, which is controlled by higher neural substrates and/or lower motor centers. We attempted to investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary sensorimotor areas (SM1) could influence movement variability in healthy subjects, using a tapping task. Methods: Twenty six right-handed healthy subjects with no neurological or psychiatric disorders participated in this study. They were randomly and equally assigned to the real tDCS group or sham control group. Direct current with intensity of 1 mA was delivered over their right SM1 for 15 minutes. For estimation of movement variability before and after tDCS, tapping task was measured, and variability was calculated as standard deviation of the inter-tap interval (SD-ITI). Results: At the baseline test, there was no significant difference in SD-ITI between the two groups. In two-way ANOVA with repeated measurement no significant differences were found in a large main effect of group and interaction effect between two main factors (i.e., group factor and time factor (pre-post test)). However, significant findings were observed in a large main effect of the pre-post test. Conclusion: Our findings showed that the anodal tDCS over SM1 for 15 minutes with intensity of 1 mA could enhance consistency of motor execution in a repetitive-simple tapping task. We suggest that tDCS has potential as an adjuvant brain facilitator for improving rhythm and consistency of movement in healthy individuals.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.252-264
• /
• 1991

The purpose of this study was to compare the response of adjacent tissue and new bone formation after implantation by different methods of subperiosteal using using Proplast I and II in rabbit mandible. Microstructure of Proplast I and II was observed by scanning electron microscope. And the implantation procedure was carried out by dividing into tow groups, A and B. a group consisted of subperiosteal graft on the cortex, and the other B group was made up onlay graft following artificial decortication in the madibular body of rabbit. The experimental animals were sacrificed on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th week after grafting for macroscopic and histopathologic examination. The samples extracted at the 6th postgrafting week were also used for biometric test. The result ere as follows : 1. By scanning electron microscopic observation, pore size was $50{\sim}180{\mu}m$ in the Proplast I and $100{\sim}220{\mu}m$ in Proplast II. 2. Macroscopically, infection of the graft site, deformation and displacement of the implanted materials were not observed in all experimental groups. 3. In the tissue response, infiltration of inflammatory cells and multinucleated giant cells were observed from the 2nd to the 8th week in Proplast I. Inflammatory cells decreased in number from the 2nd week in Proplast II suggesting that Proplast II is better than Proplast I. 4. Bone formation was not observed until the 8th week in the group A, but new bone formation from the surrounding graft bed and the periostium was appeared from the 4th week in the group B. 5. The maximum mean values of shear stress mere serially $65.5gf/mm^2$ in Proplast II of group B, $32.9gf/mm^2$ in Proplast I of group B, $17.0gf/mm^2$ in Proplast II of group A, and $15.7gf/mm^2$ in Proplast I. of group A.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2013

Purpose : This study was to identify the effect of cognitive reaction following inactive electrode placement when applying anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the primary motor cortex. Methods : For this study a total of 28 stroke patients participated. Before applying transcranial direct current stimulation, cognitive reaction was measured (P300 of event related potential, cognitive reaction time), and subjects were randomly assigned to two group. Transcranial direct current stimulation was applied to the scalp with an intensity of $0.04mA/cm^2$ for 15 minutes. All subjects were given an anode transcranial direct current stimulation over the primary motor area and inactive electrodes over the deltoid muscle (group I) and supra-orbital area (group II). Cognitive reactions were measured after applying transcranial direct current stimulation. Results : For this study a total of 28 stroke patients participated. Before applying transcranial direct current stimulation, cognitive reaction was measured (P300 of event related potential, cognitive reaction time), and subjects were randomly assigned to two group. Transcranial direct current stimulation was applied to the scalp with an intensity of $0.04mA/cm^2$ for 15 minutes. All subjects were given an anode transcranial direct current stimulation over the primary motor area and inactive electrodes over the deltoid muscle (group I) and supra-orbital area (group II). Cognitive reactions were measured after applying transcranial direct current stimulation. Conclusion : Thus transcranial direct current stimulation on the primary motor area may help cognitive reaction regardless of inactive electrode placement.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.76-85
• /
• 2015

Objectives: Radix Ginseng has been traditionally used as an adaptogen that acts on the adrenal cortex and stimulates or relaxes the nervous system to restore emotional and physical balance and to improve well-being in cases of degenerative disease and/or old age. Radix Ginseng has been used for a long time, but the safety of ginseng pharmacopuncture needs testing. This study was done to analyze the single-dose toxicity of water- soluble ginseng pharmacopuncture (GP) intramuscular injections in rats. Methods: All experiments were performed at Biotoxtech, an institution authorized to perform non clinical studies under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Each group contained 10 Sprague-Dawley rats, 5 males and 5 females. GP was prepared in a sterile room at the Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute under regulations of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). GP dosages were 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mL for the experimental groups; normal saline was administered to the control group. The animals general condition was examined daily for 14 days, and the rats were weighed on the starting day and at 3, 7 and 14 days after administration of the pharmacopuncture. Hematological and biochemistry tests and autopsies were done to test the toxicological effect of GP after 14 days. This study was performed with approval from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of Biotextech. Results: No deaths were found in this single-dose toxicity test of intramuscular injections of GP, and no significant changes in the general conditions, body weights, hematological and biochemistry tests, and autopsies were observed. The local injection site showed no changes. Based on these results, the lethal dose was assumed to be over 1.0 mL/animal in both sexes. Conclusion: These results suggest that GP is relatively safe. Further studies, including a repeated toxicity test, are needed to provide more concrete evidence for the safety of GP.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.540-545
• /
• 2022

Betulin is a triterpenoid natural product contained in several medicinal plants including Betulae Cortex. These medicinal plants have been used for controlling diverse inflammatory diseases in folk medicine and betulin showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anticancer activities. In this study, we tried to examine whether betulin exerts a regulative effect on the gene expression of MUC5AC mucin under the status simulating a pulmonary inflammation, in human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with betulin for 30 min and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h or the indicated periods. The MUC5AC mucin mRNA expression and mucin glycoprotein production were measured by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. To elucidate the action mechanism of betulin, effect of betulin on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway was also investigated by western blot analysis. The results were as follows: 1) Betulin significantly suppressed the production of MUC5AC mucin glycoprotein and down-regulated MUC5AC mRNA expression induced by PMA in NCI-H292 cells. 2) Betulin inhibited NF-κB activation stimulated by PMA. Suppression of inhibitory kappa B kinase (IKK) by betulin led to the inhibition of the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκBα), and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. This, in turn, led to the down-regulation of MUC5AC glycoprotein production in NCI-H292 cells. These results suggest betulin inhibits the gene expression of mucin through regulation of NF-kB signaling pathway, in human airway epithelial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.490-496
• /
• 1998

Purpose: We evaluated brain perfusion SPECT findings of MELAS syndrome and mitochondrial myopathy in correlation with MR imaging in search of specific imaging features. Materials and Methods: Subjects were five patients (four females and one male; age range, 1 to 25 year) who presented with repeated stroke-like episodes, seizures or developmental delay or asymptomatic but had elevated lactic acid in CSF and serum. Conventional non-contrast MR imaging and Tc-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) brain perfusion SPECT were Performed and imaging features were analyzed. Results: MRI demonstrated increased T2 signal intensities in the affected areas of gray and white matters mainly in the parietal (4/5) and occipital lobes (4/5) and in the basal ganglia (1/5), which were not restricted to a specific vascular territory. SPECT demonstrated decreased perfusion in the corresponding regions of MRI lesions. In addition, there were perfusion defects in parietal (1 patient), temporal (2), and frontal (1) lobes and basal ganglia (1) and thalami (2). In a patient with mitochondrial myopathy who had normal MRI, decreased perfusion was noted in left parietal area and bilateral thalami. Conclusion: Tc-99m ECD SPECT imaging in patients with MELAS syndrome and mitochondrial myopathy showed hypoperfusion of parieto-occipital cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and temporal cortex, which were not restricted to a specific vascular territory. There were no specific imaging features on SPECT. The significance of abnormal perfusion on SPECT without corresponding MR abnormalities needs to be evaluated further in larger number of patients.