• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2014

Objective : The aims of our study are to evaluate the effect of curcumin on spinal cord neural progenitor cell (SC-NPC) proliferation and to clarify the mechanisms of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways in SC-NPCs. Methods : We established cultures of SC-NPCs, extracted from the spinal cord of Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 g to 350 g. We measured proliferation rates of SC-NPCs after curcumin treatment at different dosage. The immuno-blotting method was used to evaluate the MAP kinase signaling protein that contains extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), p38, c-Jun $NH_2$-terminal kinases (JNKs) and ${\beta}$-actin as the control group. Results : Curcumin has a biphasic effect on SC-NPC proliferation. Lower dosage (0.1, 0.5, $1{\mu}M$) of curcumin increased SC-NPC proliferation. However, higher dosage decreased SC-NPC proliferation. Also, curcumin stimulates proliferation of SC-NPCs via the MAP kinase signaling pathway, especially involving the p-ERK and p-38 protein. The p-ERK protein and p38 protein levels varied depending on curcumin dosage (0.5 and $1{\mu}M$, p<0.05). Conclusion : Curcumin can stimulate proliferation of SC-NPCs via ERKs and the p38 signaling pathway in low concentrations.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2017

The pupillary size and movement are controlled dynamically by the autonomic nervous system; the parasympathetic system constricts the iris, while the sympathetic system dilates the iris. Under normal conditions, these constrictions and dilations occur identically in both eyes. Asymmetry in the pupillomotor neural input or output leads to impaired pupillary movement on one side and an unequal pupil size between both eyes. Anisocoria is one of the most common signs in neuro-ophthalmology, and the neurological disorders that frequently cause anisocoria include serious diseases, such as vascular dissection, fistula, and aneurysm. A careful history and examination can identify and localize pupillary disorders and provide a guide for appropriate evaluations.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2008

In order to measure bio-signals, it is desirable to build a fully implantable system which connects directly to neural pathways or body tissue. A design scheme for fully implementable measurement system is proposed in this paper. Consisting of an implanted module and an external system, the proposed scheme delivers power and data between the two modules. The external module sends power via inductive link using a simple H-bridge type oscillator. Also, the implanted module sends measured data to the external system utilizing R/F communication technique at a frequency of ISM band. A stable communication and operation is achieved as the two types of channels are separated. Implemented in a compact size enough to be implanted in human body, the system exhibits good performance in experimental studies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.126-137
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• 2005

New insights in the complex metabolic pathways and its control mechanism for energy homeostasis have refined our understanding of the pathophysiology of obesity. It is now recognized that there are several additional regulatory mechanism such as peripheral signals including leptin, ghrelin, GLP-1 and PYY and cellular signals including uncoupling proteins and ${\beta}$ Adrenergic receptors, which contribute to the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure, respectively. In addition, the function of adipocyte as an endocrine organ in energy homeostasis has been recently emphasized. Recent findings suggest that elevated levels of adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin and TNF-${\alpha}$, in addition to increased free fatty acid level could be related to the pathophysiology of insulin resistance in obesity. For effective treatments and prevention of obesity, further studies on the circuits of neural and endocrine interactions in the regulation of energy homeostasis are needed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.201-203
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• 2014

Patients with Horner's syndrome exhibit a variety of symptoms, including miosis, palpebral ptosis, and anhidrosis. This syndrome is caused by interruptions of the sympathetic neural pathways. This paper describes two cases of patients with Horner's syndrome who experienced a first rib fracture after crushing injuries.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.134-154
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• 1998

This paper first reviewed the definition, criteria, and neurological theories concerning the etiology of AD/HD, and the empirical studies dealing with the comorbidity of AD/HD with other psychiatric disorders. Secondly, results of studies using various neuropsychological tests for assessing the cognitive and behavioral problems in AD/HD children were examined, which suggest the possibility that dysfunction may exist in neural pathways involving many areas of the brain in AD/HD. However, because most of neuropsychological test used in Korea for ADHD children had been developed abroad, further study involving AD/HD, normal control, and other psychiatric control groups is needed to obtain developmental norms for interpreting the results, and to make more accurate diagnosis, and to clarify comorbidity of AD/HD with other disorders.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.104-109
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• 2020

Probenecid is a representative drug used in the treatment of gout. A recent study showed that probenecid effectively inhibits oxidative stress in neural cells. In the present study, we investigated whether probenecid can affect osteoclast formation through the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in RAW264.7 cells. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ROS levels were dose-dependently reduced by probenecid. Fluorescence microscopy analysis clearly showed that probenecid inhibits the generation of ROS. Western blot analysis indicated that probenecid affects two downstream signaling molecules of ROS, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). These results indicate that probenecid inhibits ROS generation and exerts antiosteoclastogenic activity by inhibiting the COX-2 and JNK pathways. These results suggest that probenecid could potentially be used as a therapeutic agent to prevent bone resorption.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.877-882
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• 2022

Taste sensation is the process of converting chemical identities in food into a neural code of the brain. Taste information is initially formed in the taste buds on the tongue, travels through the afferent gustatory nerves to the sensory ganglion neurons, and finally reaches the multiple taste centers of the brain. In the taste field, optical tools to observe cellularlevel functions play a pivotal role in understanding how taste information is processed along a pathway. In this review, we introduce recent advances in the optical tools used to study the taste transduction pathways.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.147-151
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• 2009

Repeated psychostimulants induce electroencephalographic (EEG) changes, which reflect adaptation of the neural substrate related to dopaminergic pathways. To study the role of dopamine receptors in EEG changes, we examined the effect of apomorphine, the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH-23390, and the D2 receptor antagonist, haloperidol, on EEG in rats. For single and repeated apomorphine treatment groups, the rats received saline or apomorphine for 4 days followed by a 3-day withdrawal period and then apomorphine (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) challenge after pretreatment with saline, SCH-23390, or haloperidol on the day of the experiment. EEGs from the frontal and parietal cortices were recorded. On the frontal cortex, apomorphine decreased the power of all the frequency bands in the single treatment group, and increased the theta (4.5 ${\sim}$ 8 Hz) and alpha (8 ${\sim}$ 13 Hz) powers in the repeated treatment group. Changes in both groups were reversed to the control values by SCH-23390. On the parietal cortex, single apomorphine treatment decreased the power of some frequency bands, which were reversed by haloperidol but not by SCH-23390. Repeated apomorphine treatment did not produce significant changes in the power profile. These results show that adaptation of dopamine pathways by repeated apomorphine treatment could be identified with EEG changes such as increases in theta and alpha power of the frontal cortex, and this adaptation may occur through changes in the D1 receptor and/or the D2 receptor.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-66
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• 2001

The purpose of this morphological studies was to investigate the central neural pathway projecting to the acupoints $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ using the neuroanatomical method following injection of transsynaptic neurotropic virus, pseudorabies virus(PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga) into the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$. After survival times of 96 hours following injection into the twenty rats with PRV-Ba(Bartha strain) and PRV-Ga(Bartha strain, ${\beta}$-galacidodase insertion). They were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned($30{\mu}m$). These sections were stained by X-gal histochemical and PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope. The results were as follows : 1. In spinal cord, overlaped PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga labeled neurons projecting to the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ were founded in thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. In thoracic spinal segments, Densely labeled areas were founded in lamina IV, V, VII(intermediolateral nucleus) and X areas. In lumbar segemnts, labeled areas were founded in lamina II, IV, V and X areas. In sacral spinal segments, labeled areas were founded in lamina IV, V and VI areas. 2. In brain, overlaped PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga labeled neurons projecting to the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ were founded in the $A_1$ noradrenalin cells/$C_1$ adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, rostroventrolateral reticular nuclens, nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema, raphe obscurus nucleus, raphe paltidus nucleus, raphe magnus nucleus, lateral paragigantoceltular nucleus, lateral rcticular nucleus, gigantocellular nucleus, locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus, motor trigeminal nucleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, $A_5$ cell group, central gray matter, oculomotor nerve, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, median eminence, amygdaloid nucleus, frontal cortex, forelimb area, hindlimb area, 1, 2 areas of parietal cortex and granular and agranular cortex. This results were suggest that overlaped PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga labeled areas projecting to the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ may be related to the emotional relay pathway in the central autonomic center.