• BMB Reports
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.238-243
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• 2022

Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a behavioral syndrome characterized by persistent deficits in social interaction, and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The gene encoding Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is one of a few exceptional genes of established causal effect in ASD. Although genetically engineered mice studies may shed light on how MeCP2 loss affects synaptic activity patterns across the whole brain, such studies are not considered practical in ASD patients due to the overall level of impairment, and are technically challenging in mice. For the first time, we show that hippocampal MeCP2 knockdown produces behavioral abnormalities associated with autism-like traits in rats, providing a new strategy to investigate the efficacy of therapeutics in ASD. Ketamine, an N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) blocker, has been proposed as a possible treatment for autism. Using the MeCP2 knockdown rats in conjunction with a rat model of valproic acid (VPA)-induced ASD, we examined gene expression and ASD behaviors upon ketamine treatment. We report that the core symptoms of autism in MeCP2 knockdown rats with social impairment recovered dramatically following a single treatment with ketamine.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.79-90
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• 2006

Social deficits are the most critical and core deficits of the children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder(ASD) and they are qualitatively as well as qualitatively different from typically developing children. It is proposed that the attachment between the mother and the autistic child should be promoted foremost and early as possible, to improve social deficits, just like early social developments in normal children depend largely on interactions between the mother and the child who are attached to each other we have developed an interventional program, 'Attachment Promotion Therapy', largely based on the attachment theory. The Attachment promotion Therapy mandates the participation of both the mother and the autistic child, and consists of mutually enjoying play activities, close physical contacts and parental training on intense mother-child interactions, focusing on improving maternal sensitivity, responsiveness, and nurturing behaviors during their interactions. The program was found to be effective in improving attachment behaviors, attachment security and acquiring joint attention skills. Attachment Promotion Therapy is therefore proposed here as the important earliest intervention method for children with ASD and could become the base for many other educational and therapeutic interventions.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• 제15권12호
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• pp.1144-1153
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• 2018

Objective One of the areas of social cognition is Theory of Mind (ToM) is defined as the capacity to interpret, infer and explain mental states underlying the behavior of others. When social cognition studies on neurodevelopmental disorders are examined, it can be seen that this skill has not been studied sufficiently in children with Specific Learning Disorder (SLD). Methods In this study, social cognition skills in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), SLD or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) evaluated before puberty and compared with controls. To evaluate the ToM skills, the first and second-order false belief tasks, the Hinting Task, the Faux Pas Test and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task were used. Results We found that children with neurodevelopmental disorders as ADHD, ASD, and SLD had ToM deficits independent of intelligence and language development. There was a significant correlation between social cognition deficits and problems experienced in many areas such as social communication and interaction, attention, behavior, and learning. Conclusion Social cognition is an important area of impairment in SLD and there is a strong relationship between clinical symptoms and impaired functionality.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.118-127
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• 2014

Along with language, socialization is a unique feature of the human being. There is a continuous debate regarding whether the development of socialization is innate, and conducted by the environment in the growing process, or the result of the interaction of both aspects. If socialization is the result of the interaction with the environment or is an acquired developmental process, the following question rises. "Is there a 'critical period' for the development of socialization?" Although there are a huge number of studies seeking for treatment and solutions for developmental delay or deficits of socialization, it is very complicated question to answer. Historical figures such as 'Hugh Blair' of Borgue in England, and 'the wild boy of Aveyron' in France, seem to have innate socialization deficits. Nowadays patients with non-verbal learning disorder, social communication disorder, or autism spectrum disorder seem to have genetic defects. On the other hand, Harry Harlow's monkey experiments, hikikomori of Japan, Romanian orphans and patients with reactive attachment disorder seem to display social deficits due to environmental factors. However, it is not easy to clearly draw a line between innate or acquired factors. Therefore, rather than subdividing the diseases for etiological and pathophysiological approach to heterogenous groups with the common denominator of social deficit, and for the research of pathophysiology and treatment development, the authors suggest a comprehensive concept of "social dysfunction spectrum."

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.320-327
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• 2022

Neurodevelopmental disorders are complex conditions that pose difficulty in the modulation of proper motor, sensory and cognitive function due to dysregulated neuronal development. Previous studies have reported that an imbalance in the excitation/inhibition (E/I) in the brain regulated by glutamatergic and/or GABAergic neurotransmission can cause neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric behavioral deficits such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). NMDA acts as an agonist at the NMDA receptor and imitates the action of the glutamate on that receptor. NMDA however, unlike glutamate, only binds to and regulates the NMDA receptor subtypes and not the other glutamate receptors. This study seeks to determine whether NMDA administration in mice i.e., over-activation of the NMDA system would result in long-lasting behavioral deficits in the adolescent mice. Both gender mice were treated with NMDA or saline at early postnatal developmental period with significant synaptogenesis and synaptic maturation. On postnatal day 28, various behavioral experiments were conducted to assess and identify behavioral characteristics. NMDA-treated mice show social deficits, and repetitive behavior in both gender mice at adolescent periods. However, only the male mice but not female mice showed increased locomotor activity. This study implies that neonatal exposure to NMDA may illicit behavioral features similar to ASD. This study also confirms the validity of the E/I imbalance theory of ASD and that NMDA injection can be used as a pharmacologic model for ASD. Future studies may explore the mechanism behind the gender difference in locomotor activity as well as the human relevance and therapeutic significance of the present findings.

• 생약학회지
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.97-103
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• 2013

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder and characterized by positive symptom (i.e., delusions, hallucinations), negative symptom (i.e., lack of emotion, social withdrawal), and cognitive impairment. Previously, we reported that the ethanolic extract of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina attenuated the MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like behaviors such as prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits and cognitive impairment in mice. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether danshensu isolated from P. vulgaris var. lilacina attenuates MK-801-induced sensorimotor gating dysfunction (PPI deficits), hyperlocomotion, and memory impairment in mice. Acute administration of danshensu (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated the MK-801-induced PPI deficits in the acoustic startle response test. We also observed that the impaired recognition memory induced by MK-801 was attenuated by danshensu (1 mg/kg) in the novel object recognition test. However, danshensu failed to reverse the MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion in the open-field test. Collectively, the present results indicate danshensu would be an active agent for treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.433-437
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• 2016

Consumption of high doses of ethanol can lead to amnesia, which often manifests as a blackout. These blackouts experienced by ethanol consumers may be a major cause of the social problems associated with excess ethanol consumption. However, there is currently no established treatment for preventing these ethanol-induced blackouts. In this study, we tested the ethanol extract of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) for its ability to mitigate ethanol-induced behavioral and synaptic deficits. To test behavioral deficits, an object recognition test was conducted in mouse. In this test, ethanol (1 g/kg, i.p.) impaired object recognition memory, but SM (200 mg/kg) prevented this impairment. To evaluate synaptic deficits, NMDA receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the mouse hippocampal slices were tested, as they are known to be vulnerable to ethanol and are associated with ethanol-induced amnesia. SM (10 and $100{\mu}g/ml$) significantly ameliorated ethanol-induced long-term potentiation and NMDA receptor-mediated EPSP deficits in the hippocampal slices. Therefore, these results suggest that SM prevents ethanol-induced amnesia by protecting the hippocampus from NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity deficits induced by ethanol.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.498-502
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• 2006

Neurological impairment produces cognitive, communicational, physical, and social deficits. Music has the power to help stroke patients to regain speech and overcome other deficits. Rhythm and melody help to rehabilitate memory, muscles, breathing, etc. This article introduces how music therapy approaches stroke patients and helps them. It focuses particularly on speech; however, music affects not only one part of the body but the whole body. In cases in which music therapy is used, we can see how music helps with stroke patients and how to achieve these goals.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.82-89
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• 2009

Objectives: Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) often have difficulties in social behavior. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term training program for improving social skills, self-perception and attention deficits. Methods: The subjects were nine children diagnosed with ADHD with(or without) other mental disorders using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children(DISC-ADHD) module. Children were given eight sessions of a social skills training program. Parents of children simultaneously participated in their own training which was designed to support their children's generalization of skills. Assessments included child, parent and teacher ratings of social skills, self-perception and attention deficit at baseline and post-treatment. Results: Social skills training led to significant improvements in child-reported measures of self-esteem, in teacher reported measures of social skills, and in parent-reported measures of attention deficit. Conclusion: This study suggests that short-term social skills training programs for children with ADHD may improve their social skills, self-perception and attention deficits.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.477-484
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was to identify the relationship between stress, social support and depression in the elderly. Method: The subjects were 283 elderly adults over 60 in Seoul. Data was collected by questionnaire surveys using convenience sampling. The instruments used in this study are the ELSI developed by Aldwin(1990), the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List developed by Cohen & Hoberman (1983), and the Geriatric Depression Scale by Yesavage & Brink(l982). Data was analyzed by the SAS program, using descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, t-test, ANOVA and progressed Multiple Regression. Result: The relationship between stress and depression had a positive correlation (r=0.33), but the relationship between stress and social support had no significant correlations. The relationship between social support and depression had a negative correlation (r=-0.38). The most powerful predictor of depression was the economic status and then a combination of stress, and social support account for 39% of the variance in depression in the elderly. Conclusion: These results suggested that stress and social support deficits can be potential risk factors in old age depression. Therefore, these findings give useful information for constructing an intervention program focused on depression in the elderly.