• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.21-43
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• 2006

This study was designed to assess Effects of jingansikpungtanggagam-bang on Central Nerve System. Method : jingansikpungtanggagam-bang, a Korean traditional prescription, was evaluated for its anticonvulsant effect, hypnotic activity, analgesic action, anxiolytic effect, memory enhancement, and MAO inhibitory activity and detennined the content of neurotransmitter in brain by HPLC method. Result : 1. The extract increased potently anticonvulsant effect at 1g/kg by 5.6-fold extention of onset time against control group. 2. The extract increased hvrmsis at 500mg/kg by over twofold length of sleeping time compared to control. 3. The extract showed a significant analgesic effect with 86.0% inhibition on writhing frequency at 500mg/kg by phenylquinone-induced writhing test. 4. The extract inhibited dose-dependently the activity of monoamine oxidase in vitro. 5. This prescription increased the brain levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid by 3.3% and 1.4%, respectively. 6. the extract exhibited the anxiolytic effect with 21.3% decrease of the immobility duration against control group. 7. the extract enhanced memory recovery on scopolamine-induced impairment of passive avoidance performance at 1g/kg pretreatment with 20.2% increase of latency time. Conclusion : The result sugguest that jiugansikpungtanggagam-bang can be used effectively as a sedative prescription in Korean traditional medicine.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the injury of putative parvalbumin positive interneurons defined by molecular marker and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), a marker of neural plasticity following acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Methods: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 1100 ppm CO for 40 minutes followed by 3000 ppm CO for 20 minutes. Animals received daily intraperitoneal injection of NAC (150 mg/kg) for 5 days after CO exposure. Changes in learning and spatial memory were evaluated by Y-maze test 5 days after the poisoning. In vivo LTP in hippocampal CA1 area was evaluated by using extracellular electrophysiological technique. Immunohistochemical staining were adopted to observe expressional damages of parvalbumin (PV) immunoreactive interneurons in the hippocampus following the poisoning. Results: Acute CO intoxication resulted in no changes in memory performance at Y-maze test but a significant reduction of LTP in the in hippocampal CA1 area. There was also a significant reduction of PV (+) interneurons in the hippocampal CA1 area 5 days after CO poisoning. Daily treatment of NAC significantly improved hippocampal LTP impairment and reduced immunoreactivity for PV in the hippocampus following the acute CO poisoning. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that reduction of hippocampal LTP and PV (+) interneurons in the hippocampus is sensitive indicator for brain injury and daily NAC injections can be the alternative therapeutics for the injury induced by acute CO poisoning.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-53
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• 2024

Background and purpose: The anti-aging standard forest healing program (ASFHP), which uses forest therapy, was reported to be effective in improving psychological, physical, and cognitive functions. However, there are several challenges to directly visiting the forest. This study aimed to investigate the impact of multi-session ASFHP with forest visit on the mental and physical health of the older people with visits to forest facilities and compared them with those of the same program conducted indoors. Methods: Individuals aged over 70 years with concerns about cognitive decline were recruited at dementia relief centers and divided into control and experimental groups. A total of 33 people were administered ASFHP under the supervision of a forest therapy instructor. The control group stayed indoors, while the experimental group visited a forest healing center and repeated the program 20 weeks. Results: The multiple-session ASFHP positively affected cognitive impairment screening test (CIST) total scores (p=0.002), memory (p=0.014), Korean version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status total scores (p<0.001), immediate recall (p=0.001), visuospatial/construction (p<0.001), language (p<0.001), forest healing standard questionnaire total scores (p=0.002), and cognitive function (p=0.019), regardless of location. The forest visits during the ASFHP showed positive effects on orientation (p=0.035), delayed recall (p=0.042), emotional stability (p=0.032), physical activity (p=0.005), and health (p=0.022). The CIST scores of the memory domain were the strongest indicator of the multiple-session ASFHP effects. Conclusions: The 20-week multi-session ASFHP with forest visit showed effects on cognitive improvement and physical and emotional stability compared to indoor education.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2013

Objectives: Cognitive impairment in restless legs syndrome (RLS) patients can be affected by sleep deprivation, anxiety and depression, which are common in RLS. The objective of this study is to investigate relationship between cognitive impairment and RLS in the non-medicated Korean elderly with controlling for psychiatric conditions. Method: The study sample for this study comprised 25 non-medicated Korean elderly RLS patients and 50 age-, sex-, and education- matched controls. All subjects were evaluated with comprehensive cognitive function assessment tools- including the Korean version of Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet (CERAD-K), severe cognitive impairment rating scale (SCIRS), frontal assessment battery (FAB), and clock drawing test (CLOX). Sleep quality and depression were also assessed with Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and geriatric depression scale (GDS). Results: PSQI and GDS score showed no difference between RLS and control group. There was no significant difference between two groups in nearly all the cognitive function except in constructional recognition test, in which subjects with RLS showed lower performance than control group (t=-2.384, p=0.02). Subjects with depression ($GDS{\geq}10$) showed significant cognitive impairment compared to control in verbal fluency, Korean version of Mini Mental Status Examination in the CERAD-K (MMSE-KC), word list memory, trail making test, and frontal assessment battery (FAB). In contrast, no difference was observed between subjects who have low sleep quality (PSQI>5) and control group. Conclusions: At the exclusion of the impact of insomnia and depression, cognitive function was found to be relatively preserved in RLS patients compared to control. Impairment of visual recognition in RLS patients can be explained in terms of dopaminergic dysfunction in RLS.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.502-507
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• 2006

In a previous study, an extract of Clavicorona pyxidata DGUM 29005 mycelia demonstrated an inhibitory effect against enzyme-associated perceptual disorders. We have attempted to determine whether this mycelial extract is also capable of inhibiting the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and ${\beta}$-secretase (BACE) activity. Butanol, ethanol, and water extracts of C. pyxidata DGUM 29005 mycelia were shown to inhibit AChE activity by 99.3%, 93.7%, and 91.7%, respectively. The inhibitory value of the butanol extract was more profound than that of tacrine (95.4%). The ethanol extract also exerted an inhibitory effect against BACE activity; this fraction may harbor the potential for development into a pharmocotherapeutic modality for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells in culture were not determined to be susceptible to the cytotoxic activity evidenced by the mycelial extract. The ethanol extract inhibited endogenous AChE activity in PC12 cellular homogenates, with an $IC_{50}\;of\;67.5{\mu}g/ml$, after incubation with intact cells, and also inhibited BACE activity in a dose-dependent fashion. These results suggest that the C. pyxidata mycelial extract has the potential to enhance cholinergic function and, therefore, may perform a function in the amelioration of the cholinergic deficit observed in cases of AD, as well as other types of age-associated memory impairment.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.167-174
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• 2001

A 54-year old male patient who was suffering from bipolar I disorder for 19 years and was admitted to the National Bugok Mental Hospital due to a depressive episode, was referred to the Kosin University Gospel Hospital. On arrival at the emergency room, he had confused mentality with disorientation, memory impairment, hypomania, marked anxiety and hyperirritability. The change of neuromuscular activity such as ataxia, gait disturbance, tremor, shivering, myoclonus and epileptic seizures was also shown. In addition, the symptoms and signs of autonomic instability including diaphoresis, tachycardia, hypotension, fever and facial flushing were noticed. The above symptoms developed after the administration of sertraline successive to the discontinuation of fluoxetine without any washout period. The degree of severity seemed to be severe because he had epileptic seizures, fever and hypotension. He was recovered from the severe serotonin syndrome by the supportive symptomatic treatment with sodium valproate, clonazepam, lorazepam and cyproheptadine after cessation of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during hospitalization. Therefore, this rare case of severe serotonin syndrome was reported and related literatures were also reviewed.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 2003

Objective:The differences of various neurocognitive functions, including attention, memory, motor function, and higher cognitive function were compared between PTSD patients and normal control subjects. Also, correlation with PTSD symptom severity and neurocognitive functions were evaluated between PTSD patients and normal control subjects. Method:We assessed the neurocognitive functions by computerized neurocognitive test(CNT) batteries. The visual continuous performance test(CPT) and digit span test, finger tapping test and Wisconsin card sorting test(WCST) were executed. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised(IES-R) was used in the evaluation of the severity of PTSD. Result:The PTSD patients showed significantly impaired neurocognitive performance in all of the items, compared with normal control subjects. The relation between impairment in neurocognitive functions and symptom severity showed significant correlations. Conclusion:These results imply that PTSD patients have impaired neurocognitive functions concerning with specific brain areas, especially the frontal area. For the thorough evaluation of further neurocognitive functions, more detailed evaluation items of neurocognitive functions and brain imaging studies are necessary in the future study.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1538-1541
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• 2004

Jeon-Kwang(癲狂) is a term of oriental medicine, corresponding to schizophrenia. In detail, Jeon-Kwang is divided into Jeon(癲) and Kwang(狂). The symptoms of Jeon have silence, cry and giggle alternately, muttering, and so on. And those of Kwang have quick-tempered, absurd remarks, slander, and so on. We expierenced a patient who was suffered from headache, auditory hallucination, insomnia, anxiety, delirium, memory impairment and, cognitive disorder. In this case, we gave a diagnosis of Jeon-Kwang(狂) and, treated the patient with acupuncture therapy and sa-ha(瀉下) therapy (Dangguiseunggi-tang, Hwangryunsasim-tang). Sa-ha therapy is an oriental medicine therapy about wha(火) syndrom such as constipation, hydrodipsomania, red face. After three weeks of oriental medicine treatment, the chief complaints were considerablely reduced. This suggested that sa-ha herbal treatment have an effect on psychopathy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.279-283
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• 2005

After initial recovery from acute carbon monoxide(CO) intoxication, some patients occasionally undergo severe neuropsychiatric deterioration, which is called postanomic delayed encephalopathy(sequelae). This is the clinical study about one patient, a 53-year-old woman, diagnosed with delayed encephalopathy after acute CO intoxication. The patient's symptoms were mental dysfunction including memory impairment and disorientation, aphasia, atrophy and weakness throughtout the body. She had completely recovered after an anomic episode, but the neurological symptoms that developed were preceded by an interval of apparent nomality.(the 'lucid interval'). She was characterized as suffering deficiency syndrome of the heart(心虛) and was prescribed for her an Ansinschungnoi-tang(安神淸腦湯), and thereafter her symptoms improved remarkably. For the evaluation of clinical improvement, we use the Modified Barthel Index(MBI).

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.485-491
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• 2010

With an increase in the number of people suffering from ageing-related diseases in our rapidly aging society, interests in natural products such as maca(Lepidium meyenii), which has properties of enhancing cognition and sexual performance, have increased. This study was conducted to assess the effects of 7 weeks of maca extract supplementation(0.5~2.0 g/kg BW) on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice and on sperm count in male mice. All doses of maca supplementation significantly protected against scopolamine-induced amnesia as determined by a Morris water maze, but not according to passive avoidance tests. Maca supplementation did not affect acetylcholinesterase activity in the whole brain, nor the testicular sperm count of male mice. This study suggests that maca may have some neuroprotective properties in mice, which will be further examined by future studies.