• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2022

Background: Maternal Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection during pregnancy has been associated with various mental illnesses in the offspring. Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is a major bioactive compound obtained from ginseng that has an anti-T. gondii effect and attenuates microglial activation through toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. GRh2 also alleviated tumor-associated or lipopolysaccharide-induced depression. However, the effects and potential mechanisms of GRh2 on depression-like behavior in mouse offspring caused by maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy have not been investigated. Methods: We examined GRh2 effects on the depression-like behavior in mouse offspring, caused by maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy, by measuring depression-like behaviors and assaying parameters at the neuronal and molecular level. Results: We showed that GRh2 significantly improved behavioral measures: sucrose consumption, forced swim time and tail suspended immobility time of their offspring. These corresponded with increased tissue concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine, and attenuated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase or enhanced tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the prefrontal cortex. GRh2 ameliorated neuronal damage in the prefrontal cortex. Molecular docking results revealed that GRh2 binds strongly to both TLR4 and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that GRh2 ameliorated the depression-like behavior in mouse offspring of maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy by attenuating the excessive activation of microglia and neuroinflammation through the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. It suggests that GRh2 could be considered a potential therapy in preventing and treating psychiatric disorders in the offspring mice of mothers with prenatal exposure to T. gondii infection.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2020

Objectives : Postpartum depression is known to occur in 10-15% of mothers. The concentration of cytokine varies depending on stress, depression, pregnancy and general medical conditions. We hypothesized that the concentration of cytokines may be related to reproduction and childbirth, and that women with postpartum depression would show alterations in cytokines levels. Methods : A total of 104 pregnant women were selected as subjects, and 60 non-pregnant women were selected as normal controls. Symptoms of depression were evaluated in the pregnant study subjects using the diagnostic criteria outlined in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The pregnant subjects were divided into three groups perinatal non-depression controls (n=61), postpartum depression-recovery (n=18), and postpartum depression (n=25). Results : The plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1 was higher in the pregnant group than in non-pregnant controls (TGF-β1 ; p<0.01, IGF-1 ; p=0.026). At 24 weeks of pregnancy and 6 weeks of delivery, there were no significant differences in the plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1, β-NGF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α between the three groups. There was no statistically significant difference in all three groups during the course of depression in pregnant women. Conclusions : This study found significant difference in plasma cytokines concentrations between non-pregnant controls and perinatal non-depression controls.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was perfomed to investigate the antioxidant activity and serotonin activity of Gami-guibi-tang on P815 Mast Cell. Methods: The effects of Gami-guibi-tang on activation of TPH-1 mRNA and AAADC mRNA in P815 mast cell were investigated. The effect of Gami-guibi-tang on content of serotonin in P815 mast cell was investigated. The effects of Gami-guibi-tang on activation of DPPH radical scavenging and SOD in P815 mast cell were investigated. Results: 1. The Gami-guibi-tang increased SOD activity and DPPH radical scavenging activity. 2. The Gami-guibi-tang increased the intracellular concentration of serotoninin 60 ${\mu}g/ml$, 80 ${\mu}g/ml$ experiment group. 3. The Gami-guibi-tang increased menaingful the manifestation TPH mRNA. 4. The manifestation of AAADC and MAO mRNA have not made menaingful changes on Gami-guibi-tang. Conclusions: This experiment shows that Gami-guibi-tang had significant anti-oxidative effect. And Gami-guibi-tang increased the intracellular concentration of serotonin. Therefore, Gami-guibi-tang can be used by the medication of major depression disorder. But Study on mechanism of increased serotonin and clinical research of Gami-guibi-tang is suggested for future research.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 1991

The water extract of Gamisamryungbaekchool-San increased the lifespan of mice implanted intraperitoneally with sarcoma 180. Significant depression of lethal toxicity of cis-platin $(45{\mu}M/kg,\;s.c)$ and renal toxicity (indicated by an increase in blood urea nitrogen value and creatinine value) of cis-platin $(35{\mu}M/kg,\;s.c)$ were observed in mice and rats treated with Gamisamryungbaekchool-San. RBC and WBC were significantly decreased in rats treated with cis-platin, and significant depression of hematologic toxicities of cis-platin $(35{\mu}M/kg,\;s.c)$ in rats treated with Gamisamryungbaekchool-San. After all, alleviative effect of the side actions of cis-platin was acknowledged by combined usage of Gamisamryungbaekchool-San and cis-platin.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.461-468
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• 2018

Objective: Cognitive disturbance is one of the major symptoms of depression and may be improved by treatment with antidepressants. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of cognitive improvement in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who were taking antidepressants. Methods: This study included 86 patients with MDD who completed 12 weeks of antidepressant monotherapy. Cognitive symptoms were assessed using the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Korean version (PDQ-K), which addresses four domains of cognitive functioning (attention/concentration, retrospective memory, prospective memory, and organization/planning) and was administered at study entry and at the 12-week end point. A variety of demographic, clinical, and treatment-related variables were evaluated as predictors of changes in total and domain scores. Results: All PDQ-K domains showed significant improvement after 12 weeks of antidepressant treatment. More severe initial depressive symptoms, fewer sick-leave days at study entry, and reduced use of concomitant anxiolytics/hypnotics during treatment were significantly associated with greater cognitive improvement. Conclusion: Cognitive symptoms are more responsive to antidepressant treatment in patients with severe MDD. Reduced use of anxiolytics and hypnotics could improve the cognitive functioning of patients with MDD taking antidepressants.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare characteristics of two groups (pruritus and non pruritus group), in hemodialysis patients. Method: The degree of ichting in 130 patients treated at the D Medical Center Hemodialysis Unit was examined by itching severity & sites tool, itching observation tool and itching NRS tool. The data were collected from October 1 to 12, 2007 and analyzed by student t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Result: Sixty three patients (48.3%) of hemodialysis patients had pruritus. The severity and number rating scale score of pruritus in one day before hemodialysis was higher than during and after hemodialysis. The frequency of dialysis and usage of anti-histamine drug were significantly lower in nonpruritis group than in pruritus group (F=5.209, p=.022, F=6.549, p=.010). The other general characteristics, hemodialysis-related characteristics and laboratory data were not significantly different between the two groups. The depression score was significantly higher in pruritus than in nonpruritus group (t=-2.505, p=.017). But there were no significant differences in hostility and anxiety between the two groups. Conclusion: Residual renal function and depression were associated with pruritus in hemodialysis patients. Efforts for preservation of residual renal function and emotional support may decreased severity and frequency of pruritus in hemodialysis patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7629-7634
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• 2014

Background: Cigarette smokers have their own motivation and justification to smoke. For example, smoking reduces their stress or enhances their pleasure. This study aimed to identify the (a) prevalence of cigarette smokers among undergraduates in Malaysia, (b) gender differences in nicotine dependence among current smokers, (c) differences in psychological problems (depression, anxiety and stress) based on the status of smoking cigarettes (current, former and non-smokers) and (d) extent to which precipitating factors (tension reduction, addiction, automatism, handling, social interaction, pleasure, and stimulation) predict the smoking behavior among current smokers. Materials and Methods: In this study 780 undergraduate students participated from a private university in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor state in Malaysia. The Depression, Stress and Anxiety Scale, Modified Reason for Smoking Scale and Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Test were used to measure psychological problems, predictors of smoking behavior and nicotine dependency among current smokers. Results: The results showed that 14.7%(n=106) of the students were smokers. Current smokers exhibited more psychological problems (depression, anxiety and stress) compared to former and non-smokers. Addiction, tension reduction, pleasure and automatism were predictors of smoking behavior among the current smoking students. Step wise regression analysis showed that smoking behavior was highly predicted by nicotine dependency or addiction. Smoking students were motivated to smoke cigarettes as they believed that it reduced their tension and enhance pleasure. Conclusions: Hence, there is a need for health promotion and anti-tobacco prevention as cigarette smokers experience more psychological problems. Nicotine dependency or addition was one of the major causes for smoking behavior among the student population in Malaysia.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.121-147
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• 2002

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Quibitang in the chronic mild stress(CMS) model of depression in rats. Chronic exposure to mild unpredictable stress was found to depress the consumption of sucrose solution in rats for 8 weeks. These CMS-treated rats were stratified into Quibitang gruop and saline group. And control rats were also stratified into Quibitang group and saline group. The change of the consumption of sucrose solution and the body weight were measured, and open field test, elevated startle response and plus maze test were performed, to investigate the anti-depression effect of Quibitang. The results were as follows: 1. The consumption of sucrose solution was significantly reversed in Quibitang-treated group at 9th, 11th, 12th week, but there was no significant change at 10th week 2. CMS schedule decreased body weight. CMS-treated groups showed decrease of body weight after 5 weeks. After 10 weeks, Quibitang group showed lower body weight than saline group in CMS-treated groups 3. In open field test, Quibitang group showed significant difference of locomotion, latency. 4. In elevated startIe test, Quibitang group showed no significant change of startle response. 5. In plus maze test, Quibitang group showed no significant change of plus maze-time and plus maze-error.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 2020

In decades, active sonar, which transmits signals and detects incident signals reflected by underwater targets, has been significantly studied since passive sonar in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) detection performance becomes lowered, as underwater threats become their radiated noise reduced. In general, active sonar using Hull-Mounted Sonar (HMS) adjusts vertical tilt (depression) and sequentially transmits multiple Linear Frequency Modulation (LFM) subpulses which have non-overlapped bands, i. e. 1 kHz ~ 2 kHz, 2 kHz ~ 3 kHz, in order to reduce shadow zones. Recently, however, Generalized SFM (GSFM), which is generalized form of SFM, is proposed, and it is confirmed that subpulses of GSFM have orthogonality among each other depending on setting of GSFM parameters. Hence, in this paper, we applied GSFM to active target detection using HMS to improve the performance by the signal processing gain obtained from enlarged bandwidths of GSFM subpulses compared to those of LFM subpulses. Through simulation, we verified that when the number of subpulses is three, the matched filter gain of GSFM is approximately 5 dB higher than that of LFM.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.97-110
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• 2009

Objectives: This study investigated Korean public's beliefs on helpfulness of various resources and preferred ways of addressing symptoms of mental health problems. Methods: A household survey was conducted on a stratified sample of adults aged between 18 and 74 (N=1,584). The participants were asked to provide their opinion on helpfulness of 39 resources for problems presented in the vignette, either depression(DEP) or schizophrenia(SPR). Descriptive statistics and factor analysis were conducted to summarize their opinion and to identify the underlying structure of beliefs about helpfulness of various resources. Results: Counselors/psychologists/social workers, family, psychiatrists, other therapists, and religious leaders were believed to be the most helpful. Methods that require one's initiatives marked percentages much higher than those of 'waiting to get better' or 'dealing with it alone'. The percentages for medications were lower than other methods in general, but higher than those of a western sample especially on antidepressants and anti-psychotics. Psycho/social approach was favored more for SPR than for DEP, and popular/cultural approach was favored much more for DEP than for SPR; physical/medical approach was strongly unfavored against DEP. Conclusion: Strategies need to be developed for utilizing various helpful resources to diversify modality of mental health services and facilitate referrals and gatekeeping. The differences in beliefs on helpfulness of various methods between DEP and SPR point to the need for problem-specific strategies.