• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.283-299
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• 1999

1. Purpose : Systemic injection of kainic acid in experimental animals induces the limbic seizure and structural damages in hippocampus and amygdala which resembles the changes in human temporal lobe epilepsy. The author performed this study to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Yuldahansotang, on the neurotoxicity induced by kainic acid in the hippocampus in rats. 2. Method : Kainic acid was administered intraperitoneally. And feeding with Yuldahansotang for 3 weeks after kainic acid administration. Seizure were induced in male mice (kainate 10-40 mg/kg i.p) and animals were sacrified at various time-points after injection. The experimental animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 3day and 1, 3weeks while Yuldahansotang administrations. Seizure were graded using a behavioral scale developed in our laboratory. c-fos belong to immediate early genes(IEGs) known to have rapid and brief responses. And neuronal injury was assayed by examining DNA fragmentation using in situ nick translation histochemistry. 3. Results & Conclusion : Seizure severity paralled kainate dosage. At higher doses DNA fragmentation is seen mainly in hippocampus in area CA3, and variable in CA1, thalamus, amygdala within 24 h, is maximal within 72 h, and is large gene by 7 days after administration of kainate. And we can't see the expression of DNA fragmentation and c-fos in the mice what feeded by Yuldahansotang after 7 days from kainic acid administration. It is consequently suggested that Yuldahansotang may attenuate the kainic acid-induced neuronal degeneration and increase the immunoreactivity of hippocampus in mouse.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 1995

Sympathomimetic amines, especially ephedrine, are a major ingredient in proprietary medications for symptomatic treatment of upper respiratory infections. Their frequent uses can lead to occasional instances of abuse and habituation. The clinical symptoms of ephedrine abuse are similar to that of amphetamine psychosis and resemble closely that of schizophrenia. Because both amphetamine psychosis and schizophrenia are thought to be mediated primarily through the action on catecholamines, ephedrine-induced changes of the biogenic amines can be suspected. However, there were few studies about the central effects of ephedrine because of the milder central action than peripheral. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to elucidate the relations between the effects of single or repeated administration of ephedrine on the regional levels of biogenic amines in rat brain and ephedrine-induced CNS stimulation. The male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $100{\sim}200\;g$ were used. After single or repeated administrations of ephedrine, blocks of tissue were obtained from frontal cortex, corpus striatum, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra and cerebellum. The concentration of biogenic amines(norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)) and their metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid(HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA)) were measured by means of high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD). The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the normal rat, the concentration of norepinephrine was the highest in hypothalamus. Dopamine, DOPAC and HVA were highest in corpus striatum, and 5-HT and 5-HIAA were highest in substantia nigra. Epinephrine was not detectable in any part of the brain tissue. 2) In a single administration of ephedrine, the concentration of DOPAC was decreased in corpus striatum. However, the other biogenic amines and their metabolites were not changed. 3) In repeated administration of ephedrine, the concentration of norepinephrine was decreased in all brain region checked. Dopamine was decreased in corpus striatum and substantia nigra and, increased in hypothalamus, and HVA was decreased in corpus striatum. 5-HT was decreased in all brain region except cerebellum and, 5-HIAA was decreased only in frontal cortex. The ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT was increased in corpus striatum, thalamus, hypothalamus and substantia nigra. These data indicated that, although a single administration of ephedrine did not change the central neurotransmitters, repeated administration of ephedrine caused the decreases of norepinephrine and 5-HT in the most regions of brain, which may be responsible for the emergence of abnormal behavioral effect after ephedrine abuse.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.831-841
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• 2001

Objective : Somatosensory evoked potentials(SSEPs) have been used widely both experimentally and clinically to monitor the function of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Studies of SSEPs have reported the various recording techniques and patterns of SSEP. The previous SSEP studies used scalp recording electrodes, showed mean vector potentials which included relatively constant brainstem potentials(far-field potentials) and unstable thalamocortical pathway potentials(near-field potentials). Even in invasive SSEP recording methods, thalamocortical potentials were variable according to the kinds, depths, and distance of two electrodes. So they were regarded improper method for monitoring of upper level of brainstem. The present study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of somatosensory evoked field potentials(SSEFPs) of the cerebral cortex that evoked by hindlimb stimulation using ball electrode and the pathways of SSEFP by recording the potentials simultaneously in the cortex, VPL nucleus of thalamus, and nucleus gracilis. Methods : In the first experiment, a specially designed recording electrode was inserted into the cerebral cortex perpendicular to the cortical surface in order to recording the constant cortical field potentials and SSEFPs mapped from different areas of somatosensory cortex were analyzed. In the second experiment, SSEPs were recorded in the ipsilateral nucleus gracilis, the contralateral ventroposterolateral thalamic nucleus(VPL), and the cerebral cortex along the conduction pathway of somatosensory information. Results : In the first experiment, we could constantly obtain the SSEFPs in cerebral cortex following the transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the hind limb, and it revealed that the first large positive and following negative waves were largest at the 2mm posterior and 2mm lateral to the bregma in the contralateral somatosensory cortex. The second experiment showed that the SSEPs were conducted by way of posterior column somatosensory pathway and thalamocortical pathway and that specific patterns of the SSEPs were recorded from the nucleus gracilis, VPL, and cerebral cortex. Conclusion : The specially designed recording electrode was found to be very useful in recording the localized SSEFPs and the transcutaneous electrical stimulation using ball electrode was effective in evoking SSEPs. The characteristic shapes, latencies, and conduction velocities of each potentials are expected to be used the fundamental data for the future study of brain functions, including the hydrocephalus model, middle cerebral artery ischemia model, and so forth.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.39-47
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• 2022

Objective : This study investigated brain functional connectivity in male firefighters who showed subclinical post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Methods : We compared the data of 17 firefighters who were not diagnosed with PTSD and 18 healthy controls who had no trauma exposure. The following instruments were applied to assess psychiatric symptoms: Korean version of the Post-traumatic stress disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5-K), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). For all subjects, functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed, and functional connectivity was compared between the two groups (family-wise error-corrected p<0.05). Additionally, correlations between psychiatric symptoms and functional connectivity were explored. Results : The following connectivity was higher than that of healthy controls: 1) the central opercular cortex-superior temporal gyrus, 2) planum polare-parahippocampal gyrus, 3) angular gyrus-amygdala, and 4) temporal fusiform cortex-parahippocampal gyrus. The functional connectivity of 1) the lateral occipital cortex-inferior temporal gyrus, 2) superior parietal lobule-caudate, and 3) middle temporal gyrus-thalamus were lower in firefighters. In firefighters, the connectivity of the planum polare-parahippocampal gyrus showed a negative correlation with the severity of arousal symptoms (rho=-0.586, p=0.013). The connectivity of the middle temporal gyrus-thalamus showed a positive correlation with the severity of intrusion (rho=0.552, p=0.022) and arousal symptoms (rho=0.619, p=0.008). The connectivity of the temporal fusiform cortex-parahippocampal gyrus was negatively correlated with intrusion (rho=-0.491, p=0.045) and arousal (rho=-0.579, p=0.015). Conclusion : Our results indicate that the brain functional connectivity is associated with occupational trauma exposure in firefighters without PTSD. Therefore, this study provides evidence that close monitoring and early intervention are important for firefighters with traumatic experience even at a subthreshold level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.682-690
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• 2024

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a rare immune-mediated complication of a viral infection commonly involving the bilateral thalamus and has been reported mainly in children. Here, we describe the MRI findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated ANE in two pediatric patients, including a 7-year-old girl with fever and mental change, and a 6-year-old girl with fever and generalized seizures. Brain MRI revealed symmetrical T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery high-signal intensity lesions in the bilateral thalamus with central hemorrhage. In one patient, the thalamic lesions showed a tri-laminar pattern on the apparent diffusion coefficient map. This report emphasizes the importance of creating awareness regarding these findings in patients with COVID-19, particularly in children with severe neurological symptoms. Furthermore, it provides a literature review of several documented cases of COVID-19 presenting with bilateral thalamic hemorrhagic necrosis, suggesting a diagnosis of ANE.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.553-558
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• 2013

Spinal dorsal horn nociceptive neurons have been shown to undergo long-term synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). Here, we focused on the spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons that are the main nociceptive neurons projecting from the spinal cord to the thalamus. Optical technique using fluorescent dye has made it possible to identify the STT neurons in the spinal cord. Evoked fast mono-synaptic, excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) were measured in the STT neurons. Time-based tetanic stimulation (TBS) was employed to induce long-term potentiation (LTP) in the STT neurons. Coincident stimulation of both pre- and postsynaptic neurons using TBS showed immediate and persistent increase in AMPA receptor-mediated EPSCs. LTP can also be induced by postsynaptic spiking together with pharmacological stimulation using chemical NMDA. TBS-induced LTP observed in STT neurons was blocked by internal BAPTA, or $Ni^{2+}$, a T-type VOCC blocker. However, LTP was intact in the presence of L-type VOCC blocker. These results suggest that long-term plastic change of STT neurons requires NMDA receptor activation and postsynaptic calcium but is differentially sensitive to T-type VOCCs.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2000

Purpose : The pathophysiology of essential tremor(ET) remains unknown. PET studies of ET showed some conflicting data. One study reported significant glucose hypermetabolism of the medulla and thalami, but other studies reported abnormal bilateral overactivity of cerebellar and red nuclear connections. The previous experimental studies suggested that each PET finding reflects a part of neural circuit which is responsible for ET. So it can be imagined that olivocerebellar oscillation may be transmitted by the way of cerebellar projections to the thalamus in ET. It has been reported that the cerebellar dentate nucleus neurons are involved in the generation and/or guidance of movement based on visual cues. The purpose of this study is to clarify the role of dentato-thalamic tract in ET. Methods : Tremor amplitudes were recorded as each patient perform two kinds of task, one involving sensory-guided movement and the other involving memory-guided movement. Each patient was asked to move his/her index finger following a smoothly moving target. He/She also was asked to perform the same movements with his/her eyes closed ET. Results : The results showed that average amplitudes of tremor were significantly higer during visually guided task than during memory guided task in ET patients. Conclusions : Our results led us to conclude that dentato-thalamic tract might be related to the control of tremor in ET.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.175-181
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• 2001

본 연구의 목적은 사람들이 언어과제와 공간지각과제을 수행하는 동안 활성화되는 뇌 영역의 차이를 규명하는 것이다. 428명의 대학생을 대상으로 집단 심리실험을 수행하여, fMRI 연구를 위한 실험참여자로 17명의 오른손잡이 여대생을 선정하였다. 17명 중 8명은 언어능력은 뛰어나지만 공간지각능력이 떨어지고, 나머지 9명은 언어능력은 빈약하지만, 공간지각능력이 우수한 사람들이었다. fMRI 실험에 사용된 패러다임에는 언어과제와 공간지각과제가 각각 8block으로 구성되었으며, 각 block은 동일한 과제 3문항을 포함하였다. fMRI 이미징은 1.5T Siemens Vision Scanner로 수집되었으며, Single-shot EPI 기법으로 (TR/TE : 3840/40ms, flip angle : 90, FOV : 220, 64x64 matrix) 이미지를 스캔하였다. 자료분석은 SPM-99 소프트웨어를 사용하였다. 감산(subtraction)분석결과, 언어능력이 뛰어난 집단에서는 양측 대상회(bilateral cingulate gyri)와 좌측 상두정엽 (left superior parietal lobe)이 더 많이 활성화되었고, 언어능력이 떨어지는 집단에서는 양측 전두엽 (both frontal lobes)이 더 많이 활성화되었다. 공간지각능력이 떨어지는 집단에서는 우측 시상 (right thalamus)과 좌측 측-후두엽 (left temporooccipital)이 더 많이 활성화되었다. 언어능력이나 공간지각능력이 우수한 집단에서는 공통적으로 대상회 (cingulate gyri)가 활성화되었다.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.569-581
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• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate the pathogenesis of canine herpesvirus(CHV) infection in dogs. The 17 puppies, one day old, delivered from CHV seronegative 3 dams were divided into two groups. The 13 puppies were inoculated intranasally with 1ml of CHV-KK inoculum($5{\times}10^{5.6}TCID_{50}/ml$) and 4 puppies were served as control. And then the puppies were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6 and 7 days after the treatment, and collected blood, nasal mucosa, trigeminal nerve, trigeminal ganglion, bone marrow, eye, brain and other major organs. These organs were examined histopathologically and electron microscopically. The platelets of puppies infected with CHV were dramatically decreased because of the damages of vascular endothelial cells. Histopathologically, necrotizing vasculitis and neuritis were proceeded the generalized focal necrosis of all organs. Necrotic changes in trigeminal ganglion, trigeminal nerve and ventroposteriomedial nucleus of thalamus were observed in 4 puppies infected with CHV. Herpesviral particles, various forms of maturation, were observed in endothelial cells of the alveolar capillary and hepatic sinusoid with electron microscopy. These results suggest that the generalized focal necrcsis of all organs including brain and eyes in canine herpesvirus infection were resulted from generalized vasculitis, and also the hemonecrotizing meningoencephalitis was related to the necrosis of trigeminal nerve pathway.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.765-771
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• 2000

Objectives : To evaluate the pain control effect of combination treatment of Oriental Medicine on patients who suffered from thalamic pain syndrome caused by thalamic stroke. Methods : We reviewed the medical records and brain imaging data of all patients with thalamic stroke from September 1998 to August 2000 who visited to Department of Oriental Internal Medicine, National Medical Center. We evaluated clinical features of thalamic pain syndrome, including incidence, onset interval from stroke, nature, pain distribution, and assessed the pain control effect of combination treatment by Visual Analog Scale(VAS). Results : 64 cases were selected under the inclusion criteria, and 17 patients(26.5%) with thalamic pain syndrome were identified from 64 thalamic strokes. VAS proved combination treatment effective to control pain of thalamic pain syndrome. In 12 cases(70.5%), pain onset was within the first week poststroke. The patients with allodynia were 6(35.3%). In 12 cases(70.5%), the lesion was mainly located in the posterolateral areas of thalamus. Conclusion : We conclude that combination treatment of the Oriental Medicine modalities have pain control effectiveness on thalamic pain syndrome.(t=-5.47, p=0.0001)