• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1987.06a
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• pp.59-66
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• 1987

Psychotropic actions of crude ginseng saponins(CGS), pure ginsenoslue Rbl(GS-bl) and gin- senoside Rgl(GS-gl) isolated from the root of Panax ginseng, were evaluated by determining their effects on agonistic behavior in male(Experiment 1) and female(Experiment 2) mice, using a biologically relevant method. The results of experiment 1 demonstrated that CGS and GS-bl significantly suppressed aggressive episodes (offensive sideways posture and attack bite) in a dose-dependent manner when the resident was drugged, whereas G5-gl was ineffective. However, when the intruder was treated with one of three ginseng saponins, agonistic behavior between resident and intruder males was not altered. In experiment 2, acute administration of CGS and G5-bl significantly suppressed maternal aggression, whereas GS-gl was ineffective. As compared with the vehicle-treated group, chronic treatment with CGS and GS-bl significantly suppressed maternal aggression, while GS-gl showed a tendency to increase the frequency of attack bite by females. These findings clearly indicate that the root of Panax ginseng contains psychoactive ingredient, which can suppress both intermale and maternal aggression in mice. We suggest that the present results have important implications for the clinical usefulness of ginseng saponins in psychiatric medicine.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.162-165
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• 1998

The serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SRIs) and the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) are considered the first choice agents for pharmacologic treatment of obsessive-compulsive disordr(OCD). However, many patients with OCD experience little or no improvement in their symptoms when treated with SRIs or SSRIs. Patients who have experienced a partial or no response to an SRI/SSRI at 10 to 12 weeks are often considered for augmentation strategies. Nearly every class of psychotropic medications has been tried in an open fashion, though augmentation strategies have been somewhat disappointing.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2011

Objectives In the current study, we quantitatively estimated changes in appetite and eating behavior of bipolar disorder patients during the pharmacotherapy. We also investigated their contribution to the weight gain and their association with specific food-craving characteristics of the patients. Methods Subjects included forty-one bipolar disorder patients and fifty-six controls. Currently sustained natures of food craving were assessed using the General-Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait (G-FCQ-T) and changes in appetite and eating behavior were measured using the Drug-Related Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DR-EBQ). Results Compared to the control group, the patients' group showed significantly higher body mass index (t=2.028, p=0.045). The patients' group had significantly higher 'Preoccupation with food' factor score of G-FCQ-T (p=0.016) than that of the control group. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that only 'preoccupation with food' factor independently predicted psychotropic medication-induced appetite change. Conclusions Appetite change while receiving psychotropic medication seems to be related to the weight-gain and associated with craving natures of 'preoccupation with food' in bipolar disorder. Appetite and/or eating behavioral changes measured by G-FCQ-T and DR-EBQ could be regarded as an important mediating factor in future studies exploring biological mechanisms of weight gain related with pharmacotherapy for bipolar disorder.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2014

Objectives Previous literature on the prescription change among patients with schizophrenia mainly focused on antipsychotics. This study investigated chronological change in the patterns of discharge medication among inpatients with schizophrenia at a psychiatric inpatient unit of a university-affiliated hospital. Methods All admission records at a psychiatric unit of Hanyang University Guri Hospital with discharge diagnosis of schizophrenia during two different five-year time frames (1996-2000 and 2006-2010) were reviewed including the demographic and clinical data and discharge medications. The data were gathered from a total of 207 patients (95 in 1990s and 112 in 2000s). Results The frequency in use of atypical antipsychotics (p < 0.01), antidepressants (p < 0.05), beta-blockers (p < 0.01), and benzodiazepine (p < 0.01) was significantly higher in 2000s. Anticholinergic drugs were less likely used in 2000s (p < 0.01). We did not find significant differences in the equivalent dose of antipsychotic drugs, the use of mood stabilizers and cholinergic drugs between two time frames. Conclusions Increased proportion of atypical antipsychotics and decreased use of anti-parkinsonian drugs are in line with literature. Our results show that more diverse classes of psychotic medications are used for schizophrenia in recent years. It is likely that psychiatrists are becoming more conscious of negative symptoms, anxiety, and depression in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia as well as positive symptoms of the illness.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.311-315
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of various natural flavonoids against growth of psychotropic Bacillus cereus strains, which cause dairy food outbreaks. Flavonoids were first screened for their ability to inhibit growth of B. cereus strains using the paper-disc diffusion test. Second, the growth inhibitory effect of selected flavonoids was evaluated in tryptic soy broth supplemented with 0.6% yeast extract, and the bactericidal effect of the flavonoids was measured in 0.8% (w/v) NaCl solution. Based on the paper-disc diffusion test, kaempferol was effectively active against B. cereus P14 and B. cereus KCCM 40935. Kaempferol had an antimicrobial effect at concentrations greater than 100 ${\mu}M$, and the numbers of B. cereus P14 and B. cereus KCCM 40935 decreased by 3.55 and 1.5 log cycles, respectively. The cell numbers of B. cereus P14 and B. cereus KCCM 40935 treated with 50 ${\mu}M$ kaempferol were reduced by 4.18 and 2.84 log cycles during a 24 h incubation to test the bactericidal effect of kaempferol (p<0.05). The results indicate that kaempferol had the greatest antimicrobial effect among the psychotropic B. cereus strains and the natural flavonoids tested.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.1 s.17
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• pp.55-60
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• 1975

An animal which is placed in a new environment displays a complex behavioral pattern consisting of locomotion, grooming and rearing. This behavioral pattern is influenced by endogenous and exogenous stimuli, such as hormonal secretion, level of neurohumoral transmitters, drugs and light. It is widely known that the most tranquilizers depressed spontaneous motor activity although their mechanisms of action were different, while antidepressants stimulated except imipramine which showed various action. Until the present time, the hole-board apparatus, which gives rather subjective data, has been used extensively to study the effects of drugs on general activity and exploratory behavior in mice. Recently a new apparatus for mobility measurements, called a 'Selective Activity Meter' has been introduced. This instrument supposedly produces more objective data on activity and behavior. The purpose of the present experiment was to study the influence of psychotropics on motor activity using the Selective Activity Meter. In the experiment, various psychotropic agents such as major tranquilizers(chlorpromazine, haloperidol); minor tranquilizers(meprobamate, diazepam); and antidepressants(amphetamine, imipramine) were used. In each experiment, the drug was administered to five mice and their activity was recorded. Each experiment was run five or more times and the results are based on the mean of each trial. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The group of mice treated with chlorpromazine showed markedly inhibited motor activity in comparison with controls and the inhibitory action of chlorpromazine was shown to be more intense than any of the other drugs used in the test. Haloperidol administration yielded similar results until 60 minutes, but mice showed less inhibition of motor activity than with chlorpromazine after 90 minutes. 2. In the group treated with diazepam, there was strong inhibition of motor activity until 30 minutes, but after 60 minutes the mice showed less inhibition than with chlorpromazine. In the meprobamate group, motor activity was inhibited in a manner similar to that of other tranquilizers, but the inhibition was less than that of diazepam. 3. In the group treated with imipramine, the inhibition developed gradually after ten minutes. 4. The effects of amphetamine did not appear until 30 minutes after administration, but then there was a significant increase in the motor activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 1993

We have examined the functional role of central dopaminergic processes on the behavioral pharmacological effects induced by psychotropics and red ginseng saponins of normal rats and compared with that of brain damaged rats. Desipramine and clomipramine produced, a significant depression of the locomotor activity in normal rats, but in brain damaged rats, they did not have any effect throughout the experimental period of 4 hours. Total saponin (50~200 mg/kg), PT (25~50 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), $Rg_1$(12.5~25 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5~50 mg/kg) did not change, and high concentrations of PT (100 mg/kg), PD (100 mg/kg) and $Rg_1$ (50 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in the locomotor activity of one hour after administration but total saponin (100 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), Rgl (12.5 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5 mg/kg) markedly increased the locomotor activity of four hour after administration in normal rats. On the other hand, total saponin (50 mg/kg), PT (100 mg/kg) and PD (100 mg/kg) Produced a prominent stimulation of the locomotor activity in brain damaged rats. These results suggest that the inhibition of the locomotor activity induced by antidepressants was not affected by the sensitivity of cerebral DA system, whereas red ginseng saponin showed antifatigue effect and also the stimulation of the locomotor activity induced by red ginseng saponin was mediated by the inhibition of cerebral DA system. These psychotropic action of red ginseng saponins could be responsible for the beneficial effects on conditions of fatigue and decreased alertness.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 1995

Brain dopamine systems play a central role in the control of movement, hormone release, and many complex behavior. The action of dopamine at its synapse is terminated predominately by high affinity reuptake into presynaptic terminals by dopamine transporter (DAT). The dopamine transporter(DAT) is membrane protein localized to dopamine-containing nerve terminals and closely related with cocaine abuse, Parkinsonism, and schizophrenia. In present study, the recombinant plasmid pRc/CMV-DAT, constructed by subcloning of a cDNA encoding a bovine DAT into eukaryotic expression vector pRc/CMV, was stably transfected into CV-1 cells(monkey kidney cell line). The DAT activities in the cell lines selected by Geneticin$^{R}$ were determined by measuring the uptake of $[^3H]$-dopamine. The transfected cell lines showed 30-50 fold higher activities than untransfected CV-1 cell line, and this result implies that DAT is well expressed and localized in transfected cells. The transfected cells accumulated $[^3H]$-dopamine in a dose-dependent manner with a $K_{m}$ of 991.6nM. Even though high doses of norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, and choline neurotransmitters inhibited the uptake of $[^3H]$-dopamine, DAT in transfected cell line was proven to be much more specific to dopamine. The psychotropic drugs such as GBR12909, CFT, normifensine, clomipramine, desipramine, and imipramine inhibited significantly the dopamine uptake in tissue culture cells stably transfected with DAT cDNA. Radioactive in situ hybridization was done to map the cellular localization of DAT mRNA-containing cells in the adult rat central nervous system. The strong hybridization signals were detected only in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area. The restricted anatomical localization of DAT mRNA-containing cells confirms the DAT as a presynaptic marker of dopamine-containing cells in the rat brain.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.153-165
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• 2017

Objectives : Recent neuroimaging studies focus on dysfunctions in connectivity between cognitive circuits and emotional circuits: anterior cingulate cortex that connects dorsolateral orbitofrontal cortex and prefrontal cortex to limbic system. Previous studies on pediatric depression using DTI have reported decreased neural connectivity in several brain regions, including the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, superior longitudinal fasciculus. We compared the neural connectivity of psychotropic drug naïve adolescent patients with a first onset of major depressive episode with healthy controls using DTI. Methods : Adolescent psychotropic drug naïve patients(n=26, 10 men, 16 women; age range, 13-18 years) who visited the Korea University Guro Hospital and were diagnosed with first onset major depressive disorder were registered. Healthy controls(n=27, 5 males, 22 females; age range, 12-17 years) were recruited. Psychiatric interviews, complete psychometrics including IQ and HAM-D, MRI including diffusion weighted image acquisition were conducted prior to antidepressant administration to the patients. Fractional anisotropy(FA), radial, mean, and axial diffusivity were estimated using DTI. FMRIB Software Library-Tract Based Spatial Statistics was used for statistical analysis. Results : We did not observe any significant difference in whole brain analysis. However, ROI analysis on right superior longitudinal fasciculus resulted in 3 clusters with significant decrease of FA in patients group. Conclusions : The patients with adolescent major depressive disorder showed statistically significant FA decrease in the DTI-based structure compared with healthy control. Therefore we suppose DTI can be used as a bio-marker in psychotropic drug-naïve adolescent patients with first onset major depressive disorder.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2021

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate datas related to panic attack and treatment in emergency room of panic disorder patients who visited emergency room for panic attack. Methods : A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted on 92 patients with panic disorder who visited Chungju Konkuk university hospital emergency department due to panic attack and had bodily symptoms from 1st January 2010 to 31th December 2019. In addition to demographic characteristics and comorbid disorders, triggering stressors and alcohol consumption were corrected as pre-panic attack datas, bodily symptoms at the time of panic attack were corrected as datas during attack, electrocardiogram trial, consultation with psychiatrist, admission and information of used psychotropic drugs were corrected as post-attack data. Depending on size of data, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used. Collected data was analyzed using R 4.03. Results : Cardiovascular disease was accompanied by 5.4% and depressive disorder was the most common coexisting mental disorder. Among triggering stressors, economic problem/work-related stress was significantly higher in men than women (𝛘²=4.322, p<0.005). The most common physical symptom during attack was circulatory (65.2%), followed by respiratory (57.6%), numbness-paralysis (33.7%), dizziness (19.6%), gastro-intestinal (14.1%) and autonomic symptom (12.0%). Electrocardiogram was taken at higher rate when patients complained circulatory symptom (𝛘²=8.46, p<0.005). The psychotropic drug most commonly used in emergency room was lorazepam, used in 92.1%. Conclusions : The most common bodily symptom during panic attack was circulatory symptom and the most common triggering stressor in men was economic problem/work-related stress. The most commonly used psychotropic for panic attack was lorazepam.