• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2011

Objectives : The goal of this study was to investigate the antidepressant effects of Mixture of Lycii Radicis Cortex and Moutan Cortex on the change of HPA-Axis and Catecholamic system. Methods : We were performed the Forced Swimming Test. The expressions of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) and c-Fos at paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) at ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC) were evaluated by immunohistochemical method. Results : The duration of immobility in the Forced Swimming Test was significantly decreased in A100, A400(p<0.05~p<0.01). CRF expressions at PVN was significantly decreased in A400(p<0.05).No other group showed significant difference in expression of c-Fos at PVN comparing with control group. TH expressions at VTA was significantly decreased in A100 and A400, respectively(p<0.001). TH expressions at LC was significantly decreased in A100(p<0.01). Conclusions : According to the above results, Mixture of Lycii Radicis Cortex and Moutan Cortex has antidepressant effects via the reduction of CRF expression and the Catecholamine System activity.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to examine the difference in toddlers' accumulated cortisol levels based on childcare experience in toddlerhood and the relationship between temperament and accumulated cortisol levels. Methods: Hair sample were collected for measure accumulated cortisol level in 87 toddlers. The Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire (ECBQ) was used to measure temperament. Results: First, toddlers in childcare showed higher accumulated cortisol levels than in-home toddlers. Second, toddlers in childcare, exhibited a significant correlation between accumulated cortisol levels and surgency. Third, the accumulated cortisol levels of in-home toddlers exhibited a significant correlation with negative affect. In this research, there was significant range in the accumulated cortisol level according to childcare use, and the factors related to accumulated cortisol levels were different in each context. Conclusion: The results of this research support the "susceptibility to context of HPA axis" and imply a needed discussion about the effect of childcare experiences in toddlerhood.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.162-175
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• 2005

Backgrounds : Two stress pathways, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, regulate immune system responses through release of corticosteroids, norepinephrine and epinephrine. respectively. These neuromediators act on immune cells via specific receptors on their surface to modulate the production of key regulatory cytokines. Objectives : To evaluate the preventive effects of oriental medicine Hyeolbuchukyeo-tang (HC) on stress. Methods : Mice were divided into three groups: nounal group, control group under immobilization stress and HC group which received Hyeolbuchukyeo-tang (HC) under immobilization stress. following sacrifice, their splenocytes were isolated and splenocyte surface markers were determined. The brains were removed and mRNA determined. In vivo, we separated RNA Iron cultured macrophages (RAW264.7). Results : In our study, immune functions were decreased in stress due mainly to changes of various neuromediators, cytokines and macrophage activities, and the treatment of HC increased those expressions. Conclusions : In summary, the present study documents the anti-stress effects of HC through stress-immune regulation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 1998

Changes of lipocortin 1 (LC1) in the brain induced by immobilization stress were investigated in rats. Rats were immobilized for 0,1,2,3,4, and 5 h, and the brain slices were immunostained with anti-human LC1 antibodl (anti-LC1). Immunoreactivity of LCI (iLC1) was most prominent in neuronal cell bodies and processes of hippocampal CA regions and dentate gyrus. At rest without stress, most of the LC1 in the neuron located in the cytoplasm with the nuclei exhibiting relatively scarce immunoreactivity. Immobilization stress changed this intracellular distribution of LC1 by increasing nuclear LC1. The change was apparent in 1 h and reached the peak by 3 h. However, by 5 h of immobilization, the distribution pattern returned to that of the resting state. This transient nuclear translocation of LC1 was most prominent in $CA_1$ pyramidal neurons, and was not observed in areas other than the hippocampus. Adrenalectomy abolished this transient translocation of LC1. The roles of hippocampal LC1 as a mediator of glucocorticoid feedback signal and/or as an intracellar stress signaling protein could be suggested.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2016

Endotoxemia induces production of inflammatory mediators and acute phase proteins, leading to multiorgan injury and systemic inflammation. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and glucocorticoids (GCs) release modify endotoxemia-induced inflammatory responses. In the present study, we investigated whether pre-exposure of GCs influences endotoxin-induced production of inflammatory mediators in hepatocytes. Hepa1c1c-7 cells were pretreated with low concentrations of corticosterone for 24 h and then cultured without corticosterone in the presence or absence of LPS. Our results demonstrated that LPS alone significantly enhanced production of IL-6 and CRP but reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared to controls. Combination of corticosterone pretreatment and LPS significantly upregulated production of IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, and VEGF but downregulated CRP compared to those in LPS alone. These findings suggest that in low concentration of corticosterone-preexposed hepatocytes, endotoxemia may induce upregulation of IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, VEGF and but downregulation of CRP.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.57-71
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• 2004

Objective : Physiological evidence regarding acupuncture's effect in human patients is not yet well established, despite considerable evidence for its therapeutic efficacy. Besides target or disease specificity of acupuncture, acupuncture analgesia (AA) appears to be another large subclass that poses many questions, such as whether there is point specificity with respect to which acupoint is most effective for a particular condition. Methods : We observed brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a set of stimuli that consist of pain, pain following Meridian acupuncture, and pain following Sham acupuncture. Results : Among the new observations, the most interesting fact is that data sets of both Meridian acupuncture and Sham acupuncture show decreased activation of the same brain areas related to the pain processing signals. Present functional MRI study demonstrate two important biological observations that could elucidate AA mechanism in human participants: the effects of acupuncture occur through mediation of the higher brain areas. Sham acupuncture stimulation appears to be almost as effective as traditional Meridian acupoint stimulation, suggesting that acupuncture is not entirely point specific. Decreased activation in the limbic paleo cortical areas appears to be the probable neurological manifestation of AA and strongly implies that acupuncture stimulation inhibits the transmission of ascending pain signals to the higher cortical areas by the previously known descending pain inhibitory circuit. Conclusion : We, therefore, a hypothesized that this pain inhibitory circuit is initiated and mediated via the broad sense Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (BS HPA) axis in conjunction to the "sensory stimulation."

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2012

Suicide is a complex behavior associated with various neurobiological and psychosocial factors. It is considered that genetic polymorphism combined with environmental stress such as child-adolescent trauma make differences in neurobiological systems, which cause psychiatric disorders or pessimistic personality, impulse-aggressive behaviors, lack of judgment, and finally result in suicidal behavior. Much progress in the neurobiology of suicide has been made over the several decades. There seems to be a hereditary disposition to suicide independent of psychiatric disorder. The changes in neurotransmitters, neurohormones, neurotrophic factors, cytokines, lipid metabolisms related with their genetic polymorphism can contribute to disturbance of signal transductions and neuronal circuits vulnerable to suicide. It is likely that the main factors are dysfunctions of serotonin (5-HT) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Our understanding about the neurobiology of suicide is still limited. However, clinical practice could be assisted by neurobiological findings capable of making the detection of risk populations with higher sensitivity and the development of new treatment interventions. The settlement of biological markers in suicidal behaviors and their relationships is required.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2013

스트레스로 인한 인체의 반응은 중추신경계, 시상하부, 변연계 및 기타 표적기관으로부터 시작되는데, 자율신경계 반응, 내분비계 반응, 면역계 반응 등을 통하여 복합적인 신체 증상으로 발현되며, 스트레스 상황에서는 시상하부-뇌하수체-부신 축 (HPA axis)과 교감신경계의 작용으로 여러 신경전달물질 방출에 변화가 생기며 이러한 변화는 면역기전에 중요한 역할을 하고 일부는 면역세포의 활성에 직접적으로 영향을 미쳐 신체 각종 질병의 원인이 될 것으로 추정된다. 한의학에서는 천인상응(天人相應)의 관점에서 육기(六氣)를 생체자극의 외적 요인으로 간주하고, 생체내적 현상인 정신이 외적 자극을 통하여 나타나는 생체반응을 칠정(七情)으로 보았으며, 이러한 관점에서 스트레스는 신체에 오장(五臟)의 허실(虛實), 혈허(血虛), 정손(精損), 기역(氣逆), 기(氣)의 순환장애, 담연(痰涎), 화(火) 등의 병적인 요인을 만들어 준다. 본 연구에서 재료로 사용된 호초 (Piper nigrum Linne)는 후추나무의 과실을 말린 것으로서 세계적으로 널리 사용되는 향신료이며, 한의학에서는 온중제한하기(溫中除寒下氣), 쾌격소담(快膈消痰), 해독(解毒)등의 효능으로 한담식적(寒痰食積) 완복냉통(脘腹冷通) 곽란(癨亂) 토사(吐瀉)등의 치료에 활용되어 왔다. 특히 쾌격소담(快膈消痰)하는 작용은 정신적 스트레스에 유효할 것으로 생각되므로 본 연구에 이용하게 되었다. 실험동물은 ICR계 생쥐를 이용하였으며, 심리적 스트레스는 옆쪽 cage에서 다른 마우스의 신체에 가해지는 전기 충격을 하루 1시간 동안 지켜보게 하는 것으로 유발하였으며, 이 상태에서 약물을 투여한 그룹을 실험군, 그렇지 않은 그룹을 대조군으로 하였다. 정상군은 아무런 자극 없이 하루 1시간 동안 일정 공간에 가두어 두는 것으로 하였다. 실험 결과, 호초(胡椒) 추출물을 100mg/kg/day 용량으로 5일간 투여한 실험군은 아무런 처치를 하지 않은 대조군에 비해 혈장 중 corticosterone 함량이 유의하게 감소되었고, 뇌에서의 noradrenalin 분비량이 유의하게 증가되었으며, plus maze test에서의 머무름 시간이 연장되는 것으로 나타나 호초(胡椒)가 심리적 스트레스를 효과적으로 억제하고 진정작용이 있는 것으로 사료되나 구체적인 작용기전 및 인체에서의 효과에 대해서는 향후의 보다 자세한 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2008

Stress activates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and subsequently increases the systemic levels of glucocorticoids. It also inhibits the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from hypothalamus. Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng CA Meyer) has been proven as an anti-stress agent. However, most of the anti-stress effects of ginseng on stresses such as immobilization, electronic foot shock, and cold swim, which subsequently cause oxidative damage in brain, were obtained by using ginseng extract or ginseng total saponin. Moreover, anti-stress and anti-oxidative effects of ginseng were demonstrated by determination of enzyme or hormone levels but not mRNA as well as transcriptome. Further studies on transcriptome, proteomics, and systems biology as well as signal transduction would be required to elucidate molecular action mechanisms of ginseng on stresses.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2016

Purpose: Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and induces the release of glucocorticoids. Saccharin is 300 times sweeter than sucrose, but does not increase blood insulin levels. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of saccharin intake in restraint-induced stress response reduction in rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats had stress induced by restraint for 2 hours/day for 1 week. Saccharin was provided in sufficient amounts to allow them to intake it voluntarily at 0.1% diluted in water. The Y-maze test and forced swim test (FST) were performed to evaluate cognitive function and the depressive behavior of the rats. The protein expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in hippocampal cornu ammonis (CA) 1 was investigated by using immunohistochemistry. Results: It was found that, the percentage of alternation in the Y-maze test was significantly (p<.01) higher in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Immobility time in the FST was significantly (p<.01) lower in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Also, the positive cells of GR in hippocampus CA1 were significantly (p<.05) lower in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Conclusion: This study showed that there was an effect of saccharin intake in restraint-induced stress response reduction in rats.