• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.337-342
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• 2007

This paper proposes a helmet-type whole-head brain stimulator system considering a realistic head geometry. For more accurate design and computer simulations, a realistic volume conductor model was adopted and the current evoked on human cerebral cortex was analyzed using the boundary element method (BEM). To obtain a more focalized evoked current around the target points, various coil configurations were tested and an average targeting error of about 10 mm was obtained.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.213-220
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• 2010

Since the hypothalamus immediately reacts to a nerve by processing all the information from the human body and the external stimulus being conducted, it performs a significant role in internal secretion; thus, a diverse and rapid stimulus pulse is required. By detecting Zero Detector accurately via the application of AVR on-Chip (ATMEL) using commercial electricity, chopping generates a stimulus pulse to the brain using an IGBT gate to designate a new magnetic stimulation following treatment and diagnosis. To simplify and generate a diverse range of stimuli for the brain, chopping can be used as a free magnetic stimulator. Then, commercial frequency (60Hz) is chopped precisely at the first level of the leakage transformer to deliver an appropriate stimulus pulse towards the hypothalamus when necessary. Discharge becomes stable, and the chopping frequency and duty-ratio provide variety after authorizing a high-pressure chopping voltage at the second level of the magnetic stimulator. These methods have several aims. The first is to apply a variable stimulus pulse via accurate switching frequency control by a voltaic pulse or a pulse repetition rate, according to the diagnostic purpose for a given hypothalamus. Consequently, the efficiency tends to increase. This experiment was conducted at a maximum of 210 W, a magnetic induced amplitude of 0.1~2.5 Tesla, a pulse duration of $200{\sim}350\;{\mu}s$, magnetic inducement of 5 Hz, stimulus frequency of 0.1~60 Hz, and a duration of stimulus train of 1~10 sec.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.153-161
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• 2007

Stroke is the second most significant disease leading to death in Korea. The conventional therapeutic approach is mainly based on physical training, however, it usually provides the limited degree of recovery of the normal brain function. The electric stimulation therapy is a novel and candidate approach with high potential for stroke recovery. The feasibility was validated by preliminary rat experiments in which the motor function was recovered up to 80% of the normal performance level. It is thought to improve the neural plasticity of the nerve tissues around the diseased area in the stroked brain. However, there are not so much research achievements in the electric stimulation for stroke recovery as for the Parkinson's disease or Epilepsy. This study aims at the developments of a wireless variable pulse generator using ZigBee communication for future implantation into human brain. ZigBee is widely used in wireless personal area network (WPAN) and home network applications due to its low power consumption and simplicity. The developed wireless pulse generator controlled by ZigBee can generate various electric stimulations without any distortion. The electric stimulation includes monophasic and biphasic pulse with the variation of shape parameters, which can affect the level of recovery. The developed system can be used for the telerehabilitation of stroke patient by remote control of brain stimulation via ZigBee and internet. Furthermore, the ZigBee connection used in this study provides the potential neural signal transmission method for the Brain-Machine Interface (BMI).

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1998년도 Proceedings of UNESCO-internetwork Cooperative Regional Seminar and Workshop on Bioassay Guided Isolation of Bioactive Substances from Natural Products and Microbial Products
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• pp.197-197
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• 1998

Chronic electroconvulsive shock(ECS) was shown to Increase phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate(PIP$_2$) breakdown and the activity of PLC with the accumulation of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate(IP3). The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of ECS on the expression of phospholipase C(PLC) isotypes in rat brain. Two groups of animals were prepared: sham and ECS treated groups. Rats in ECS treated groups received maximal ECS(70mA, 0.5second, 60㎐) by constant current stimulator through ear-clip to induce tonic extension seizures for 12 consecutive days. The expression of PLC isotypes in rat brain was determined by immunohistochemical procedure using sagital section of rat brain. The immunoreactivity of PLC${\beta}$1 was observed in corpus striatum, hippocampus, thalamus and that of PLC${\gamma}$1 in corpus striatum, hippocampus, thalamus, frontal cortex, parietooccipital cortex, limbic forebrain, pons, medulla, superior colliculus, inferior colliculus, rest of midbrain. The amount of PLC was analyzed by Western blot using antibodies against PLC${\beta}$1 and PLC${\gamma}$1. Chronic ECS reduced the immunoreactivity of PLC${\beta}$1 in corpus striatum, hippocampus, thalamus but had little effect on PLC${\gamma}$1. To quantify this change, quantitative Western blot using antibodies against PLC${\beta}$1 and PLC${\gamma}$1 was conducted. The immunoreactivity of PLC${\beta}$1 in ECS treated rat whole brain was decreased by 40 % in cytosolic fraction and 26 % in membrane fraction. This different effect of ECS on PLC isotypes may results from the difference of their activation mechanisms and the different effects of ECS on them. The results from the present study suggest that chronic ECS primalily affects neurotransmitter receptors related IP$_3$ signaling in rat brain.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.267-279
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• 2018

Neurolathyrism is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by spastic paraplegia resulting from the excessive consumption of Lathyrus sativus (Grass pea). ${\beta}$-N-Oxalyl-L-${\alpha},{\beta}$-diaminopropionic acid (L-ODAP) is the primary neurotoxic component in this pea. The present study attempted to evaluate the proteome-wide alterations in chick brain 2 hr and 4 hr post L-ODAP treatment. Proteomic analysis of chick brain homogenates revealed several proteins involved in cytoskeletal structure, signaling, cellular metabolism, free radical scavenging, oxidative stress and neurodegenerative disorders were initially up-regulated at 2 hr and later recovered to normal levels by 4 hr. Since L-ODAP mediated neurotoxicity is mainly by excitotoxicity and oxidative stress related dysfunctions, this study further evaluated the role of L-ODAP in apoptosis in vitro using human neuroblastoma cell line, IMR-32. The in vitro studies carried out at $200{\mu}M$ L-ODAP for 4 hr indicate minimal intracellular ROS generation and alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential though not leading to apoptotic cell death. L-ODAP at low concentrations can be explored as a stimulator of various reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated cell signaling pathways not detrimental to cells. Insights from our study may provide a platform to explore the beneficial side of L-ODAP at lower concentrations. This study is of significance especially in view of the Government of India lifting the ban on cultivation of low toxin Lathyrus varieties and consumption of this lentil.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.166-174
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• 2012

To determine the effects of Mahaengeuigam-tang(MHEGT) on obesity, the obesity-related factors (gastrin, CGRP, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1, insulin, orexin, leptin, serotonin, NPY) were investigated in the stomach, pancreas, brain of mice by immunohistochemical methods for 4 weeks after Mahaengeuigam-tang(MHEGT) administration. The change of boy weight decreased in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of the gastrin and CGRP positive cells on pylorus of stomach increased in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The number of ghrelin immunoreactive cells on stomach decreased in MHEGT administered groups than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of GLP-1 in the pancreas decreased in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of insulin positive cells in the pancreas decreased in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of orexin and NPY positive neurons in the diencephalon was slightly stronger in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of serotonin and leptin positive neurons was stronger in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. These results demonstrate that Mahaengeuigam-tang(MHEGT) increased the immunohistochemical density of factors related to appetite inhibitors, and decreased the immunohistochemical density of factors related to stimulator of food intake in stomach, pancreas and brain.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.155-162
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• 2013

Objective: Stress is known to be an inhibitor of the reproductive hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. However, the neural and molecular connections between stress and reproduction are not yet understood. It is well established that in both humans and rodents, kisspeptin (encoded by the kiss1 gene) is a strong stimulator of the HPG axis. In the present study we hypothesized that endocannabinoids, an important neuromodulatory system in the brain, can act on the HPG axis at the level of kiss1 expression to inhibit reproductive function under stress. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were unilaterally implanted with an intracerebroventricular cannula. Afterwards, the animals were exposed to immobilization stress, with or without the presence of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (1 ${\mu}g/rat$). Blood samples were collected through a retro-orbital plexus puncture before and after stress. Five hours after the stress, brain tissue was collected for reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction measurements of kiss1 mRNA. Results: Immobilization stress (1 hour) resulted in a decrease in the serum luteinizing hormone concentration. Additionally, kiss1 gene expression was decreased in key hypothalamic nuclei that regulate gonadotrophin secretion, the medial preoptic area (mPOA), and to some extent the arcuate nucleus (ARC). A single central administration of AM251 was effective in blocking these inhibitory responses. Conclusion: These findings suggest that endocannabinoids mediate, at least in part, immobilization stress-induced inhibition of the reproductive system. Our data suggest that the connection between immobilization stress and the HPG axis is kiss1 expression in the mPOA rather than the ARC.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.128-133
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• 2004

기능적 자기공명영상을 이용하여 진동자의 자극에 따른 감각 피질의 반응에 대하여 연구하였다 주로 40 Hz 이하의 주파수에 반응하는 촉각소체의 혈류반응을 조사하기 위하여 8, 15, 그리고 25 Hz의 주파수를 사용하였다. 사용되고 있는 진동자의 한계를 극복한 공기의 압력을 이용하여 진동할 수 있는 진동자를 특수 제작하였다. 예측한 바와 같이 감각 피질의 촉각소체 부위가 주파수에 따라 반응하는 모습을 볼 수 있었다. 주파수 대 반응 면적을 각 pixel의 개수와 signal percent change로 분석하여 주파수가 증가할수록 signal percent change의 분포는 넓어지고 더 많은 pixel들이 반응한다는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.17-27
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• 2003

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) modulates cortical excitability beyond the duration of the rTMS trains themselves. Depending on rTMS parameters, a lasting inhibition or facilitation of cortical excitability can be induced. Therefore, rTMS of high or low frequency over motor cortex may change certain aspects of motor learning performance and cortical activation. This study investigated the effect of high and low frequency subthreshold rTMS applied to the motor cortex on motor learning of sequential finger movements and brain activation using functional MRI (fMRI). Three healthy right-handed subjects (mean age 23.3) were enrolled. All subjects were trained with sequences of seven-digit rapid sequential finger movements, 30 minutes per day for 5 consecutive days using their left hand. 10 Hz (high frequency) and 1 Hz (low frequency) trains of rTMS with 80% of resting motor threshold and sham stimulation were applied for each subject during the period of motor learning. rTMS was delivered on the scalp over the right primary motor cortex using a figure-eight shaped coil and a Rapid(R) stimulator with two Booster Modules (Magstim Co. Ltd, UK). Functional MRI (fMRI) was performed on a 3T ISOL Forte scanner before and after training in all subjects (35 slices per one brain volume TR/TE = 3000/30 ms, Flip angle $60^{\circ}$, FOV 220 mm, $64{\times}64$ matrix, slice thickness 4 mm). Response time (RT) and target scores (TS) of sequential finger movements were monitored during the training period and fMRl scanning. All subjects showed decreased RT and increased TS which reflecting learning effects over the training session. The subject who received high frequency rTMS showed better performance in TS and RT than those of the subjects with low frequency or sham stimulation of rTMS. In fMRI, the subject who received high frequency rTMS showed increased activation of primary motor cortex, premotor, and medial cerebellar areas after the motor sequence learning after the training, but the subject with low frequency rTMS showed decreased activation in above areas. High frequency subthreshold rTMS on the motor cortex may facilitate the excitability of motor cortex and improve the performance of motor sequence learning in normal subject.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.159-166
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• 2006

기능성 자기공명영상을 이용하여 진동자극에 대한 감각피질의 비선형성에 대하여 연구하였다. 진동자극은 25 Hz의 주파수로 5개의 각기 다른 진동 자극 기간, 2초, 4초, 8초, 12초 그리고 16초와 함께 20초의 무자극 주기와 pseudo-random순서로 구성되었다. 감각피질에 대한 자극 기간의 변화에 따른 선형성을 이해하기 위하여 두 다른 방법(시스템의 선형성 조사법과 gamma-variate 함수를 적용하여 impulse response함수를 구하는 방법)을 사용하여 혈류반응 함수를 분석하였는데, 그 결과는 거의 비슷하였다. 감각피질에서의 BOLD 반응은 8초보다 작은 자극 기간 동안에는 비선형이고 8초 이상일 때는 선형성을 보였다. 자극 기간의 함수로 Impulse response 함수의 진폭, 면적, 피크까지의 시간, FWHM을 계산하였고 진폭과 면적의 크기는 자극 기간이 증가할 때 감소함을 보여줌으로써 자극 기간 8초에서 BOLD 반응이 비선형성에서 선형성으로 변함을 뒷받침해 주었다.