• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.85-100
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the effect of four common types of Qigong position (standing, sitting, supine, and horse-riding position) on the autonomic nervous system. Method : Thirty healthy subjects participated in this study once a week for four weeks. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was measured three times (before, during, and after the position) while the subject maintained one of four positions for ten minutes. Result : There were significant changes HRV in the standing position. In the sitting position, both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves were activated. On the other hand, in the spine position, heart rate (HR) was decreased. Activation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves was also observed in this position. Significant increases of indices related to awakening and concentration were observed accompanied by increase of HR and a sympathetic nerve was activated in the riding-horse position. Conclusions : In the present study, it was shown that each Qigong position caused various and significant changes in autonomic nervous system. It would be expected that these results can be applied to choose appropriate Qigong position according to objective of Qigong therapy although it is remained to further evaluate the effects of long-term maintenance of Qigong positions and repeated Qigong training.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.39-52
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• 2009

Objectives : Cue reactivity is a key factor that modulates motivational goal-directed behavior associated with compulsive drug-taking and relapse. We investigated whether acupuncture attenuated the skin conductance response and the heart rate response to smoking-related visual cues in smokers. Methods : Twenty-nine smokers were treated with real acupuncture (RA) or sham acupuncture (SA). The stress response inventory was measured on the 5th day after quitting smoking. The skin conductance response and the heart rate were measured to evaluate the autonomic changes to the smoking related visual cues on the same day. Results : The sympathetic alterations in skin conductance and the heart rate induced by the smoking-related visual cues were significantly lower in the RA group, as compared to the SA group. The stress response inventory, such as somatization and frustration, in the RA group was significantly lower than that of the SA group. Conclusions : Acupuncture ameliorated the stress symptoms as well as the sympathetic activation to smoking cues during withdrawal. These findings indicate that acupuncture might be a useful tool in smoking cessation by inhibiting smoking cues-induced autonomic responses.

• 감성과학
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.23-31
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• 2001

Psychological and physiological effects from simulator sickness could be an important bias factor for sensibility evaluation. The present experiment investigated the effects of simulator sickness on sensibility evaluation in the controlled condition of driving a car for 60 minutes on a constant speed (60km/h) in graphic simulator. The simulator sickness was measured and analysed for every five minutes using their subjective evaluation and physiological signals. Results of the subjective evaluation showed that there was significant difference between rest and driving condition at 10 minutes from the start of driving, and the level of difference was increased linearly with time. The analysis on central and autonomic nervous systems showed the significant difference between rest and driving conditions after 5 minutes from the start of the driving on the parameters $\alpha$/total and $\beta$/total, and increased level of sympathetic nervous system. But there was no significant difference between different time conditions. The results indicates that physiological changes from simulator sickness can be a bias factor in objective evaluation of human sensibility which also, uses physiological signals. That is, the changes on the parameter $\alpha$/total and $\beta$/total, and on activation level of sympathetic nervous system from simulator sickness can be a bias factor for evaluation of the level of pleasantness and tension. Therefore the effort on improving the analysis by minimizing or eliminating the bias factors should be done for better and accurate sensibility evaluation in simulator environments.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.165-176
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of mental stress stimulation and acupucnture applied at HT7 point on heart rate variability (HRV) in normal subjects. Methods : Thirty seven healthy volunteers participated in this study. The volunteers were randomly allocated into two groups. Both groups performed a mental arithmetic stress test and stroop color-word test for 10 minute. Then, acupuncture needles were inserted on HT7 for the study group and on non-acupucnture point for the control group. HRV was recorded three times at test time and before and after acupuncture stimulation. Results : After giving mental stress stimulation to both groups, LF and LF!HF ratio were increased and HF was decreased significantly. After giving acupuncture to study group, LF and LF/HF ratio were decreased and HF was increased, but it was not significant. After giving acupuncture to control group, LF and LF/HF ratio were increased and HF was decreased, but it was not significant. Conclusions : This results show that mental arithmetic stress test and stroop color-word test contribute to activation of the sympathetic nervous system Acupuncture at HT7 could be relatively useful to decrease sympathetic activity and balance autonomic nervous system for those who are under stress.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.116-129
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• 2018

생물체는 스트레스에 대처하기 위한 항상성 유지 기작을 가지고 있으나, 만성적이고 반복적인 스트레스는 카테콜아민과 같은 스트레스 호르몬의 과도한 방출로 인해 인체에 해로운 영향을 미친다. 교감신경계와 암과의 관련성을 분석하는 연구는 스트레스가 암을 악화시킬 수 있다는 오랜 가설을 바탕으로 이루어졌다. 다수의 전임상연구와 역학 연구결과는 교감신경계의 주요 신호전달경로인 ${\beta}$-adrenergic signaling을 조절하는 것이 암의 진행을 억제할 수 있음을 보여주고 있다. 교감신경계의 활성화는 암세포의 oncogene과 DNA repair 유전자 조절, 생존과 사멸 조절, EMT 및 전이 조절, 면역계와 혈관신생 조절, 세포외기질과 간엽세포 조절, 지방세포 조절 등을 통해 암세포와 종양미세환경에 광범위하게 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 오늘날 암의 성장과 관련된 분자적 기전을 차단하는 표적항암치료가 각광받고 있으나, 보상경로의 활성화와 항암제 내성 출현 및 여러 부작용으로 말미암아 임상적 실패를 거듭하면서 암의 생병리를 다방면에서 조절하는 전략이 새로운 치료법으로 대두되고 있다. 본 총설에서는 이러한 암의 전신적 조절인자로서 교감신경계가 암의 형성과 발전에 미치는 영향을 요약하고, 향후 새로운 암 치료전략으로서 ${\beta}$-adrenergic signaling을 조절하는 약물의 임상적 활용가능성에 대해 논의하고자 한다.

• 감성과학
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.509-516
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• 2013

본 연구는 3D 산업의 안전성 문제인 3차원 콘텐츠로 유발된 시각피로를 안면 온도 변화로 정량화하는 방법을 제안하고자 한다. 콘텐츠 시청 전과 후에 각 1분간 열화상 카메라를 이용하여 안면온도를 측정하였고 주관설문과 인지부하 실험을 통해 시각피로를 판단하였다. 2D와 3D의 시청 전과 후를 비교하여 3D 콘텐츠 시청에 따른 시각피로 유발 시 안면 온도에 차이를 확인하였다. 시청 전과 후에 차이를 비교한 결과 주관 설문과 인지부하 실험은 유의한 차이를 보였고 ERP latency는 3D 시청 시 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 안면 온도의 경우 미간(forehead)과 코끝(tip of the nose) 영역의 최대값을 비교 결과 유의한 차이를 보였다. 선행 연구에서 3D 시각피로 발생 시 교감신경계가 항진됐던 결과와 비교해보면 교감신경계가 항진되면 심박 수가 증가하고 목동맥계(carotid arteries system)를 통한 안면으로의 혈류량이 증가하게 된다. 2D와 3D 시청 시 교감신경계 항진 정도에 따라서 혈류량 변화로 안면 온도에 영향을 미치는 것으로 확인되었다. 본 연구는 열화상이미지를 이용한 3D 시각피로 측정 가능성을 확인하는데 의의가 있다.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.75-86
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• 1994

선천성 고혈압 흰쥐(SHR)와 정상혈압 흰쥐에서 교감신경성 신경전달에 미치는 부신수질 및 renin-angiotensin계의 역할을 알아보기 위해, 부신수질을 제거하거나 angiotensin 변환 효소 억제제를 장기간 처치한 뒤 중추신경계가 파괴된 상태에서 절전신경을 자극했을 때 나타나는 승압반응과 대동맥의 catecholamine농도 및 angiotensin 변환 효소 활성도의 변화를 비교 검토하였다. 부신수질을 제거하더라도 중추신경계를 파괴하기 전후의 혈압에는 영향을 주지 못했으며, 절전 신경 자극에 의한 승압반응은, 자극 주파수에 의존적으로 증가하였으며 prazosin 전처치로서 거의 완전히 억제되었다. 정상혈압 흰쥐에서와는 달리, 선천성 고혈압 흰쥐에서는 부신수질을 제거했을 때는 절전신경 자극에 의한 승압반응이 부신수질을 제거하지 않는 군(이하 대조군)에 비하여 유의하게 약화되었다. SHR에서 부신수질 제거로 부신 catecholamine 함량은 현저히 감소되었고, 혈청의 angiotensin 변환 효소 활성도는 감소되는 경향을 나타내었다. 그러나 혈장 및 대동맥 절편의 catecholamine 함량, 대동맥 절편의 angiotensin 변환 효소의 활성도는 대조군과 유의한 차이가 없었다. 그러나 WKY에서는 부신수질이 제거된 군에서 대동맥 절편의 angiotensin 변환 효소의 활성도와 catecholamine함량이 대조군에 비해 유의하게 증가되어 있었다. Enalapril처치에 의해서 선천성 고혈압 흰쥐 평균 혈압은, 부신 catecholamine 함량 및 대동맥 절편의 angiotensin 변화 효소의 활성도와 함께 현저히 저하되어 정상혈압 흰쥐와 유사하였다. 그리고 선천성 고혈압 흰쥐에서 부신수질의 제거로 절전신경 자극에 의한 승압반응이 대조군에 비하여 약화되는 현상은 enalapril을 처치하였을 때는 관찰되지 않았다. 이상의 결과로 미루어보아 교감신경성 신경전달을 항진시키는 부신수질의 작용은 renin-angiotensin계의 활성화에 의존적이었으며, 부신수질의 제거로 정상혈압 흰쥐에서는 renin-angiotensin계가 보상적인 조절이 일어났으나, 선천성 고혈압 흰쥐에서는 보상적인 조절이 일어나지 않았다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.219-225
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• 2004

The pelvic ganglia provide autonomic innervations to the various urogenital organs, such as the urinary bladder, prostate, and penis. It is well established that both sympathetic and parasympathetic synaptic transmissions in autonomic ganglia are mediated mainly by acetylcholine (ACh). Until now, however, the properties of ACh-induced currents and its receptors in pelvic ganglia have not clearly been elucidated. In the present study, biophysical characteristics and molecular nature of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) were studied in sympathetic and parasympathetic major pelvic ganglion (MPG) neurons. MPG neurons isolated from male rat were enzymatically dissociated, and ionic currents were recorded by using the whole cell variant patch clamp technique. Total RNA from MPG neuron was prepared, and RT-PCR analysis was performed with specific primers for subunits of nAChRs. ACh dose-dependently elicited fast inward currents in both sympathetic and parasympathetic MPG neurons $(EC_{50};\;41.4\;{\mu}M\;and\;64.0\;{\mu}M,\;respectively)$. ACh-induced currents showed a strong inward rectification with a reversal potential near 0 mV in current-voltage relationship. Pharmacologically, mecamylamine as a selective antagonist for ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nAChR potently inhibited the ACh-induced currents in sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons $(IC_{50};\;0.53\;{\mu}M\;and\;0.22\;{\mu}M,\;respectively)$. Conversely, ${\alpha}-bungarotoxin$, ${\alpha}-methyllycaconitine$, and $dihydro-{\beta}-erythroidine$, which are known as potent and sensitive blockers for ${\alpha}7$ or ${\alpha}4{\beta}2$ nAChRs, below micromolar concentrations showed negligible effect. RT-PCR analysis revealed that ${\alpha}3$ and ${\beta}4$ subunits were predominantly expressed in MPG neurons. We suggest that MPG neurons have nAChRs containing ${\alpha}3$ and ${\beta}4$ subunits, and that their activation induces fast inward currents, possibly mediating the excitatory synaptic transmission in pelvic autonomic ganglia.

• 한국감성과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국감성과학회 2000년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.81-87
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• 2000

Beat-to-beat changes in heart period (heart period variability, HPV) are mediated by fluctuations in autonomic activity. Spectral analysis is used to quantify such fluctuations in the range of 0.15-0.40 Hz (high frequency, HF), which are influenced primarily by parasympathetic factors. These fluctuations are often referred to as RSA (respiratory sinus arrhythmia), the physiological phenomenon extracted by spectral analysis and other methods including histograms of heart rate ( HR), deviations of HR etc. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia indexing with peak-to-valley method suggested by Grossman et at., (1981) yields a simple range statistic and is quantified on breath-by-breath basis, thus being quite sensitive and less dependent on recording time as compared to spectral analysis. It is strongly recommended to use at least 1 min epoch to asses HF component of HPV and at least 2 min fer low frequency (LF) of HPV and even 5 min far valid clinical assessment. Peak-to-valley statistic is limited to RSA index only, but has its pragmatic advantages. Most important is possibility of its application far relatively small epoch analysis. We used short periods (20,30, 40 sec only) and off-line analysis of RSA using ECG and respiration curve this method of assessment and proved that this method is more practically effective. The RSA index was not so far dependent on respiration pattern differences and reflected actual vagal control of HR and were accompanied by low HR under some high stress conditions and in an aversive affective visual stimulation experiments. Another factor that might modulate cardiac chronotropic response is the interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic inputs on sino-atrial (SA) node level, because responses to vagal influences are known to be proportional to ongoing sympathetic activity, that is so called accentuated antagonism. Since sympathetic outflow (increment of influences on SA) under negative emotions or stress was high in almost all physiological responses, vagal effects on HR could be therefore potentiated, leading to masking of output cardiac response seen in HPV, In the case of moderate sympathetic activation, on the other hand, autonomic interactions in cardiac control appear to be minimal. Thus RSA index appears to be an effective alternative method to assess and measure spectral HPV.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.1163-1170
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• 2017

Clostridium difficile releases two exotoxins, toxin A and toxin B, which disrupt the epithelial cell barrier in the gut to increase mucosal permeability and trigger inflammation with severe diarrhea. Many studies have suggested that enteric nerves are also directly involved in the progression of this toxin-mediated inflammation and diarrhea. C. difficile toxin A is known to enhance neurotransmitter secretion, increase gut motility, and suppress sympathetic neurotransmission in the guinea pig colitis model. Although previous studies have examined the pathophysiological role of enteric nerves in gut inflammation, the direct effect of toxins on neuronal cells and the molecular mechanisms underlying toxin-induced neuronal stress remained to be unveiled. Here, we examined the toxicity of C. difficile toxin A against neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y). We found that toxin A treatment time- and dose-dependently decreased cell viability and triggered apoptosis accompanied by caspase-3 activation in this cell line. These effects were found to depend on the up-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the subsequent activation of p38 MAPK and induction of $p21^{Cip1/Waf1}$. Moreover, the N-acetyl-$\text\tiny L$-cysteine (NAC)-induced down-regulation of ROS could recover the viability loss and apoptosis of toxin A-treated neuronal cells. These results collectively suggest that C. difficile toxin A is toxic for neuronal cells, and that this is associated with rapid ROS generation and subsequent p38 MAPK activation and $p21^{Cip1/Waf1}$ up-regulation. Moreover, our data suggest that NAC could inhibit the toxicity of C. difficile toxin A toward enteric neurons.