• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.247-258
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• 2023

Objective: To localize the neuroanatomical substrate of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and to investigate the neuroanatomical locational relationship between RBD and α-synucleinopathy neurodegenerative diseases. Materials and Methods: Using a systematic PubMed search, we identified 19 patients with lesions in different brain regions that caused RBD. First, lesion network mapping was applied to confirm whether the lesion locations causing RBD corresponded to a common brain network. Second, the literature-based RBD lesion network map was validated using neuroimaging findings and locations of brain pathologies at post-mortem in patients with idiopathic RBD (iRBD) who were identified by independent systematic literature search using PubMed. Finally, we assessed the locational relationship between the sites of pathological alterations at the preclinical stage in α-synucleinopathy neurodegenerative diseases and the brain network for RBD. Results: The lesion network mapping showed lesions causing RBD to be localized to a common brain network defined by connectivity to the pons (including the locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, central superior nucleus, and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray), regardless of the lesion location. The positive regions in the pons were replicated by the neuroimaging findings in an independent group of patients with iRBD and it coincided with the reported pathological alterations at post-mortem in patients with iRBD. Furthermore, all brain pathological sites at preclinical stages (Braak stages 1-2) in Parkinson's disease (PD) and at brainstem Lewy body disease in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) were involved in the brain network identified for RBD. Conclusion: The brain network defined by connectivity to positive pons regions might be the regulatory network loop inducing RBD in humans. In addition, our results suggested that the underlying cause of high phenoconversion rate from iRBD to neurodegenerative α-synucleinopathy might be pathological changes in the preclinical stage of α-synucleinopathy located at the regulatory network loop of RBD.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.14-29
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• 2013

Objectives: Samul-tang and Rhizome of Cyperus rotundus L. have been frequently used in gynecologic disease. The purpose of the present study is to explore the behavioral and neurobiological effects of Samul-tanggahyangbuja (SGH) on ovariectomized rats and to form a basis for clinical treatment. Methods: Ovariectomized rats were repeatedly stressed for over 2 weeks. After orally medicated with SGH (200 or 400 mg/kg/day), the anxiety response was tested using the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) in rats. The serum levels of estradiol and IL-4, and immunohistochemical changes of IL-4 in the Locus coeruleus (LC) and Paraventricular Nucleus (PVN) were measured. Results: 1. In the EPM, SGH 400 mg significantly increased time spent on the open arms and decreased time spent on the closed arms, compared with the control group (p<0.05). 2. SGH tended to increase numbers of crossings in the open and closed arms in the EPM. However, it did not reach statistical significance. 3. SGH significantly increased the serum levels of estradiol compared with the control group (p<0.05). 4. SGH 400 mg significantly increased the serum levels of IL-4 compared with the control group (p<0.05). 5. IL-4 immunoreactivity was reduced in the control group compared with the normal group (p<0.05). However, SGH groups (200 and 400 mg) did not produce any significant effects on levels of IL-4 in the LC and PVN. Conclusions: These results suggest that SGH possesses the anti-depressant and immuno-modulatory effects on ovariectomized rats.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.23-38
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this morphological studies was to investigate the relations between Sanyinjiao(Sp6), Yinlingquan(Sp9) and pancreas of rats using peudorabies virus(PRV). Methods : We observed labeled neurons following the injection of PRV, Bartha strain, into the Sanyinjiao(Sp6), Yinlingquan(Sp9) and pancreas of rats. After survival times of 4 days following the injection of PRV, the rats were perfused, and their spinal ganglia, spinal cord and brain stem were frozen sectioned($35{\mu}m$). These sections were strained by PRV immunohistchemical staining methods and observed with light microscope. Results : The results were as follows. 1. In the spinal ganglia, the overlap areas of PRV labeled neurons projecting to Sanyinjiao(Sp6), Yinlingquan(Sp9) and pancreas were observed in T10-13 dorsal root ganglia. 2. In the spinal cord, the overlap areas of PRV labeled neurons projecting to Sanyinjiao(Sp6), Yinlingquan(Sp9) and pancreas were lamina I, IV, V, VII, IX, X, intermediolateral nucleus(IML), intermediomedial nucleus(IMM) in thoracic segments. In lumbar segments, the overlap areas of PRV labeled neuron were lamina I, IV, V, VI, IX, X and IMM. In sacral segments, the overlap areas of PRV labeled neuron were lamina I, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X. 3. In the brain, the overlap areas of PRV labeled neurons projecting to Sanyinjiao(Sp6), Yinlingquan(Sp9) and pancreas were area postrema, nucleus tractus solitarius, caudoventrolateral reticular nu., medullary reticular nu., lateral paragigantocellular nu., C3 adrenalin cells, gigantocellular nu., raphe pallidus nu., raphe obscurus nu., ambiguus nu., raphe magnus nu., pontine reticular formation, A5 cell group, subcoeruleus nu., locus coeruleus, Barringnton's nu., $K{\ddot{o}}lliker$-Fuse nu., dorsal raphe nu., Edinger-Westphal nu., central gray matter, perifornical nu., dorsomedial hypothalamic nu., arcuate nu., lateral hypothalamic nu., paraventricular hypothalamic nu., hindlimb area. Conclusions : In conclusion, these results suggest that the interrelationship of meridian(spleen meridian), acupoints(Sp6 and Sp9) and viscera(pancreas) may be related the central autonomic centers.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.3-14
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• 2002

Childhood psychic trauma appears to be a crucial factor in the development of serious disorders both in childhood and in adulthood. Traumatized children show strong tendency to revisualize or re-feel a traumatic events. Play and behavioral reenactments are frequent manifestations of both the single blow and the long-standing traumas in childhood. Those children who suffer the results of single, intense terror appear to exhibit detailed memory, retrospective reworkings and misperceptions. In long-standing or repetitive trauma, children would show psychic numbing, self-hypnosis, dissociation and rage. Child's brain is undergoing critical and sensitive periods of differentiation. During this time, developing central nervous system is exquisitely sensitive to stress. Stressor-activated neurotransmitters and hormones can play major roles in neurogenesis, migration, synaptogenesis, and neurochemical differentiation. Internal opiate system operates in some trauma and causes the victim to fail to respond, to avoid, to shut off feelings. Evidence is also accumulating in traumatology that dysfuntion of locus coeruleus and ventral tegmental neucleus system leads to catecholamine receptors hypersensitivity. This change result in hypervigilance, increased startle, affective lability, and increased autonomic nervous system hyperreactivity. Another site of action of trauma on the brain is hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Individuals with PTSD do not have enough cortisol to halt the alarm reaction. When children are exposed to long-standing extreme events, massive attempts to protect the psyche and to preserve the self are put into gear. These developmental traumas mobilize various kinds of defense mechanisms. Massive denial, dissociation, self anesthesia, identification with aggressor and aggression turned against the self often lead to profound character changes in the youngsters.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.47-62
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• 2010

Objectives: Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by colonic mucosal inflammation and chronic relapsing events represents. The purpose of this study is to evaluate effects of pharmacopuncture of anti-inflammatory herbal compound (AiC) applied to the different acupoints in the acute colitis induced by trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) intracolonic injection in rats. Methods: In Male Sprague - Dawley rats, weighing 250~400g, TNBS (5 mg/kg) was infused intrarectally through a silicon rubber catheter into the anus under isoflurane anaesthesia. Acupoints of LI4 (Hapkok), ST25 (Cheonchu), ST36 (Joksamni), and BL25 (Daejangsu) were intramuscularly injected by AiC, respectively (injection volume & times: 0.2 ml / acupoint, twice times on the 2nd & 3rd day). Expressions of cFos protein in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), locus coeruleus (LC), nucleus of solitary tract (Sol), and the 6th lumbar spinal cord (L6 s.c.) were observed at 24 hr after TNBS induced colitis by immunohistochemistry. Results: The expression of c-Fos protein in the L6 s.c., Sol, LC and PAG increased 24 hr after TNBS injection into colorectum as compared to normal and 50% ethanol treated group. AiC to LI4 inhibited the expression of c-Fos protein in Sol and PAG but not L6 s.c. and LC. AiC to ST36 showed significant inhibition the c-Fos expression in L6 s.c., Sol and PAG. AiC to ST25 only showed the effects in L6 s.c. and PAG. AiC to BL25 inhibited significantly the expression of c-Fos protein all over the areas. To investigate whether or not endogenous opioids are involved, intrathecal injection of naltrexone (30ug/30ul) was applied before the 2nd pharmacopuncture treatment 24 hr after TNBS-induced colitis in rat. Naltrexone reversed the inhibition of c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord and brainstem. Conclusions: These data show that pharmacopuncture of Aic potently inhibits signal pathways ascending hypersensitivity of colorectum after TNBS induced colitis and depends on the endogenous opioids according to acupoints.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-66
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• 2001

The purpose of this morphological studies was to investigate the central neural pathway projecting to the acupoints $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ using the neuroanatomical method following injection of transsynaptic neurotropic virus, pseudorabies virus(PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga) into the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$. After survival times of 96 hours following injection into the twenty rats with PRV-Ba(Bartha strain) and PRV-Ga(Bartha strain, ${\beta}$-galacidodase insertion). They were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned($30{\mu}m$). These sections were stained by X-gal histochemical and PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope. The results were as follows : 1. In spinal cord, overlaped PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga labeled neurons projecting to the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ were founded in thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. In thoracic spinal segments, Densely labeled areas were founded in lamina IV, V, VII(intermediolateral nucleus) and X areas. In lumbar segemnts, labeled areas were founded in lamina II, IV, V and X areas. In sacral spinal segments, labeled areas were founded in lamina IV, V and VI areas. 2. In brain, overlaped PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga labeled neurons projecting to the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ were founded in the $A_1$ noradrenalin cells/$C_1$ adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, rostroventrolateral reticular nuclens, nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema, raphe obscurus nucleus, raphe paltidus nucleus, raphe magnus nucleus, lateral paragigantoceltular nucleus, lateral rcticular nucleus, gigantocellular nucleus, locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus, motor trigeminal nucleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, $A_5$ cell group, central gray matter, oculomotor nerve, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, median eminence, amygdaloid nucleus, frontal cortex, forelimb area, hindlimb area, 1, 2 areas of parietal cortex and granular and agranular cortex. This results were suggest that overlaped PRV-Ba and PRV-Ga labeled areas projecting to the $B_{62}$ and $K_6$ may be related to the emotional relay pathway in the central autonomic center.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.95-117
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• 2000

The purpose of this morphological studies was to investigate the relation between the meridian, acupoints and viscera using neuroanatomical tracers. The common locations of the spinal ganglia, sympathetic chain ganglia, spinal cord and brain projecting to the large intestine meridian were observed following injection of transganglionic tracer, WGA-HRP and transsynaptic neurotropic virus, pseudorabies virus(PRV), Bartha strain(Ba) and PRV-Ba-Gal (Galactosidase)) into the the large intestine(cecum, colon and rectum), ST37 and LI4. After survival times of 96 hours following injection into the thirty rats with WGA-HRP, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal. They were perfused, and their spinal ganglia, sympathetic chain ganglia, spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned($30{\mu}m$). These sections were stained by HRP and X-gal histochemical and PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with a light microscope. The results were as follows : 1. WGA-HRP labeled neurons innervating the large intestine were observed bilaterally within the T13-L4 sympathetic chain ganglia, and T9-11 spinal ganglia. WGA-HRP labeled neurons innervating ST37 were observed within the L3-5 sympathetic chain ganglia, and L2-4 spinal ganglia. WGA-HRP labeled neurons innervating LI4 were observed in the middle cervical ganglion and stellate ganglion, and C5-8 spinal ganglia. 2. In spinal cord, PRV-Ba labeled neurons projecting to the large intestine, ST37 and LI4 were found in thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. Densely labeled areas of each spinal cord segment were founded in lamina N, V, VII(intermediolateral nucleus), Ⅸ, X and dorsal nucleus. 3. In medulla oblongata, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled neurons projecting to the large intestine, ST37 and LI4 were commonly found in the A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus nerve, nucleus tractus solitarius, raphe obscurus nucleus, raphe pallidus nucleus, raphe magnus nucleus and gigantocellular nucleus. 4. In pons, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled neurons were commonly found in locus coeruleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucieus and A5 cell group. 5. In midbrain, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled neurons were commonly found in central gray matter. 6. In diencephalon, PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled neurons were commonly found in paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus. These results suggest that PRV-Ba and PRV-Ba-Gal labeled common areas projecting to the large intestine may be correlated to that of the large intestine meridian, ST37 and LI4. Especially, These morphological results provide that interrelationship of meridian-acupoints -viscera may be related to the central autonomic pathways.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.195-209
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• 2009

Objectives : Transient inflammation has been demonstrated to alter visceral sensory function in animal models and acute mucosal inflammation may precede the manifestation of visceral hyperalgesia. Thus in this study we compared effects of herbal acupuncture of Nidus Vespae (NV) applied to the different acupoints in the acute colitis induced by trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) intracolonic injection in rats. Methods : In Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250 ~ 400 g, TNBS (5 mg/kg) was infused intrarectally through a silicon rubber catheter into the anus under isoflurane anaesthesia. Under general anesthesia, acupoints of LI4 (Hapkok), SI25 (Cheonchu), ST36 (Joksamni), BL25 (Daejangsu) were intramuscularly injected by NV. Expressions of cFos protein in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), locus coeruleus (LC), nucleus of solitary tract (Sol), and the 6th lumbar spinal cord (L6 s.c.) were observed at 24 hrs after TNBS induced colitis by immunohistochemistry. Results : The expression of c-Fos protein in L6 s.c., Sol, LC and PAG increased 24 hrs after TNBS injection into colorectum as compared to normal group. NV herbal acupuncture also inhibited the expression of c-Fos protein in Sol but not L6 s.c., LC, and PAG. NV to ST36 inhibited significantly the c-Fos expression in Sol and PAG. NV to ST25 inhibited the c-Fos protein expression all over the observation area. NV to BL25 showed the inhibitory effects in the areas except LC. Whether or not a role of endogenous opioids, intrathecal injection of naltrexone (30 ug / 30 ul) was applied before the 2nd herbal acupuncture treatment 24 hrs after TNBS-induced colitis in rat. Naltrexone reversed the inhibition of c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord and brainstem under different conditions such as type of herbal acupuncture compound and choice of acupoint. Conclusions : In summary, these data show that herbal acupuncture of NV inhibits signal pathways such as spinal cord and brain stem ascending hypersensitivity of colorectum after TNBS induced colitis. This effect may be mediated by acupoints through the endogenous opioid system involving the pain modulation.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.411-418
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• 2007

Exposure to low frequency noise(LFN) can lead to vibroacoustic diseases(VADs), which include a systemic disease with lesions in a broad spectrum of organs and a psychiatric condition. It is known that VAD is an established risk factor for the development of many psychological conditions in humans and rodents, including major depression and anxiety disorder. The present study investigated the effects of LFN on neuronal stress responses in the rat brain. The neuronal expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) of the hypothalamus and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in the LC was observed. The immunocytochemical detection of the Fos protein and TH has been used as a marker of neuronal activation in response to stress. In addition, corticosterone concentration was evaluated by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The LFN groups were exposed to 32.5Hz and 125Hz of noise(4hr/day for 2days). The numbers of c-fos and TH-immunoreactive cells in the PVN and LC were significantly increased in the LFN groups(32.5Hz and 125Hz) compared to the normal group. Corticosterone concentration in plasma was also increased in LFN groups. The present results demonstrated that exposure with LFN produced a pronounced increase in expression of c-Fos and TH in stress-relevant brain areas. These results suggest that the neural characteristics involved in LFN are similar to those activated by typical processive stressors. These results also suggest that the central and peripheral activations by LFN may be related to LFN-related negative behavioral dysfunctions such as VADs.