• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.258-265
• /
• 2001

Objectives : Chronic alcohol consumption has been known to result in various neurocognitive deficits. Many neuropsychological studies revealed that the major disturbances occurred in the executive function, learning and short-term memory, visuospatial performance function, perceptuo-motor skills, and abstraction and problem solving abilities. This study was done to identify which cognitive areas might be mainly affected. Methods : The cognitive disturbance was evaluated using the Korean Version of the Mini Mental State Examination(MMSEK) and the 7 Minute Screen(7MS) in male inpatients with alcohol dependence(N=3 : as well as in age and education level matched healthy male controls(N=30). Four individual tests of the 7MS were consisted of the Benton Temporal Orientation Test, the Enhanced Cued Recall, the Clock Drawing and the Category Fluency. Results : 1) The average scores of four individual test of the 7MS for the alcoholics were $2.77{\pm}4.38$ for the Benton Temporal Orientation Test, $13.90{\pm}2.02$ for the Memory Test(the Cued Recall $6.77{\pm}1.94$, the Uncued Recall $7.10{\pm}2.45$), $5.84{\pm}1.86$ for the Clock Drawing, and $12.58{\pm}3.29$ for the Category Fluency. Except the Benton Temporal Orientation Test, there were statistically significant differences between test scores of alcoholics and those of controls(p<0.01). 2) The alcoholics who had MMSE-K score <24 were 9.68%. The average(${\pm}S.D.$) score of the MMSE-K for the patient group($27.23{\pm}2.62$) was significantly(p<0.001) lower than that of the healthy controls($29.20{\pm}1.24$). There were no statistically significant differences between four individual test scores of the 7MS of alcoholics with the MMSE-K score <24(N=3) and those of alcoholics with the MMSE-K score ${\geq}24$(N=28). 3) Four individual test scores of the 7MS seemed to have statistically significant association with such variables as MMSE-K, duration of alcohol drinking, blood magnesium concentration, liver function and thyroid function. Conclusion : Mild deficits of cognitive areas such as orientation, memory, visuospatial abilities and verbal fluency could be found in alcohol dependence.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.11-26
• /
• 2018

Objective : This case study was to verify effects of cognitive rehabilitation and swallowing rehabilitation on Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury patient by Suicidal Attempt. Methods : The subject was a 32-year old Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury patient by suicidal attempt. He received treatment once a day five times a week, for a half an hour for each session from September 8th to December 16th, 2016. Treatment were cognitive and swallowing rehabilitation. He was assessed based on Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean (MMSE-K), Korean-Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), Computerized Neurocognitive Function Test (CNT), Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale (VDS), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcomes Measurements System (ASHA-NOMS). Results : The patient's total MMSE-K score increased from 25 to 27. His K-MBI score increased from 74 to 88. His memory, attention span, and executive function (DST, VST, SWCT, WCST) by CNT scores were improved. VDS score has no changes to 34, 44.5 and 34. ASHA-NOMS score also has no change to 6, 2 and 6. Conclusion : The study showed that the application of the treatment of cognitive and swallowing in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury patient by suicidal attempt results has positive effects on cognitive functions, and swallowing function.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.513-518
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was to investigate color distortion by colors and luminous transmittance of lenses with word-color test included in computerized neurocognitive function test (CNT). Methods: 32 subjects aged $21.97{\pm}1.58$ years with no ocular disease and color vision deficiency were selected. Four colors of tinted lenses, which were red, green and blue included in the primary colors of light and pink, and word-color test in CNT to evaluate changes in cognitive function by color distortion were used. Results: Response time was not significantly increased in green, blue, and pink among four colors, but significantly increased in only red color. And response time was significantly increased below 46% of luminous transmittance in red color. Conclusions: It should be cautious and careful of the red-tinted lens choice because red color with below 46% of luminous transmittance can distort colors of objects, and it could be related to safety problem. It is suggested that word-color test could be extensively used for further studies on color recognition.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.351-359
• /
• 2019

Neurocognitive testing commonly uses the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) to evaluate the overall cognitive function of patients at outpatient clinics, but the MMSE has recently been extensively used in the SNSB II (Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery II) for making diagnoses. We retrospectively investigated the results of routine neurocognitive tests and the results of the blood tests of 120 elderly patients who had been referred to a South Central Medical Center from 2017 to 2018 and who had been examined at a public health center. These subjects' space-time capability was high on the sub-region of the global deterioration scale (GDS). GDS showed a significant increase as the Na decreased on the electrolyte analysis. The subjects' concentration, their language-based orientation for space and time, their memory, and their scores for the frontal lobe function on GDS showed statistically significant reductions (P<0.001) For the normal and abnormal groups according to the ALT and creatinine levels, the frontal/execute function areas showed statistically significant differences (P<0.001) as well as negative correlation between GDS and ALT (P<0.01). In conclusion, this study provides basic information to develop test items that are important for patient screening and diagnosis, and several routine blood chemistry factors provide basic information for diagnosing and assessing the status and progress of cognitively impaired patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.10
• /
• pp.1075-1081
• /
• 2009

Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for children with end-stage renal disease. The outcome of pediatric kidney transplantation has improved dramatically in recent years, with lower acute rejection rates, superior graft survival, and low mortality. These improvements have allowed increased attention to other aspects of care for long-term survivors. Taking this into consideration, this review article will focus on the key issues related to pediatric kidney transplantation such as growth, neurocognitive function, nonadherence, and posttransplantation infectious complications, including lymphoproliferative disease, to broaden the understanding of pediatricians who provide pre-and postoperative care to children with end-stage renal disease.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.111-112
• /
• 2019

Although many studies have reported that the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents one of the major pathological changes in aging, the mechanism underlying this process remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we described that acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) derived from endothelial cells plays a critical role in BBB disruption in aging. ASM levels were elevated in the brain endothelium and plasma of aged humans and mice, resulting in BBB leakage through an increase in caveolae-mediated transcytosis. Moreover, ASM caused damage to the caveolae-cytoskeleton via protein phosphatase 1-mediated ezrin/radixin/moesin dephosphorylation in primary mouse brain endothelial cells. Mice overexpressing brain endothelial cell-specific ASM exhibited acceleration of BBB impairment and neuronal dysfunction. However, genetic inhibition and endothelial specific knock-down of ASM in mice improved BBB disruption and neurocognitive impairment during aging. Results of this study revealed a novel role of ASM in the regulation of BBB integrity and neuronal function in aging, thus highlighting the potential of ASM as a new therapeutic target for anti-aging.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.441-447
• /
• 2019

RAS gene mutations are frequently found in one third of human cancers. Affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 newborns, germline and somatic gain-of-function mutations in the components of RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (RAS/MAPK) pathway has been shown to cause developmental disorders, known as RASopathies. Since RAS-MAPK pathway plays essential roles in proliferation, differentiation and migration involving developmental processes, individuals with RASopathies show abnormalities in various organ systems including central nervous system. The frequently seen neurological defects are developmental delay, macrocephaly, seizures, neurocognitive deficits, and structural malformations. Some of the defects stemmed from dysregulation of molecular and cellular processes affecting early neurodevelopmental processes. In this review, we will discuss the implications of RAS-MAPK pathway components in neurodevelopmental processes and pathogenesis of RASopathies.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.176-188
• /
• 1999

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of alcohol on neurocognitive function, psychomotor performance and subjective response in healthy Korean adults with different ALDH2 genotypes. Method : A total of 24 males, half with active $ALDH2^*1/2^*1$ and the other with inactive $ALDH2^*1/2^*2$, was selected through genotyping using restriction fragment length polymorphism. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design, each subject consumed 0.5g/kg dose of alcohol, given as a mixture of 40% vodka and orange juice, and placebo(orange juice) on two separate occasions on an average of weekly intervals. The blood alcohol concentrations(BACs) were measured using a breath analyzer at baseline and at 30, 60 minutes after drinking. P300s were measured at baseline and at 30 minutes after alcohol and placebo intake. Vital signs and psychomotor performance[Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold(CFFT), Choice Reaction Time (CRT), Digit Symbol Substitution(DSS)] were measured at baseline and at 60 minutes after alcohol and placebo intake. Subjective responses were measured at the end of the study. The statistical analysis focused on whether there were any differences between groups with different ALDH2 genotypes. Results : The major results are as follows. 1) BACs in the inactive group were overall equivalent to those in the active group. Only in terms of time, BACs were significantly higher overall at 30 minutes than at 60 minutes after alcohol intake. 2) Pulse rates were significantly increased after alcohol intake compared with placebo, and the increase was greater in the inactive than in the active group. 3) P300 latencies in leads Fz(frontal), Cz(cental) and Pz(parietal) were significantly increased after alcohol intake compared to placebo, and the increase was greater in the inactive than in the active group. P300 amplitudes in leads Cz and Pz were significantly decreased overall after alcohol intake compared to placebo. 4) Compared with placebo, alcohol produced significant effect on the psychomotor performance : impairment in the inactive group, improvement in the active group. 5) Compared with placebo, alcohol significantly induced a negative or an intense effect on the subjective responses in the inactive group, but little negative and even a somewhat positive effect in the active group. Conclusions : These results suggest that ALDH isozyme variance might be an important factor to determine the effects of acute dose of alcohol on the various psychobehavioural functions and also to determine the alcohol use pattern and to predict the future development of alcohol overuse and/or abuse.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.63-74
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of 3 day Forests healing programs for cognitive improvement, which consists of helpful contents of Korean medicine. Methods : This study examined the effects of forests healing for mild cognitive impairment patients, who visited a Korean medicine hospital neuropsychiatry clinic for outpatients. The Forests healing programs for cognitive improvement was run with 24 participants, in which 9 of them quit in the middle of the program, so excluded in data analysis. The Forests healing programs for cognitive improvement was consisted of 3 day helpful Korean medicine contents. The primary outcome measurement was a Computerized Neurocognitive Test (CNT), which measured the cognitive functions with computer programs. Results : The results of this study showed that CNT scores were not significantly changed after 3 day forests healing. General psychological states, including depression, anxiety, and anger, were also checked. Among them, depressive mood significantly improved. Quality of life (QOL) was also enhanced after 3 day program. These results indicate that the 3 day Forests healing programs for cognitive improvement was effective for depressive mood and QOL of mild cognitive impairment patients, but not enough for cognitive functions directly. Conclusions : The 3 day Forests healing programs for cognitive improvement were shown to be an effective intervention in improving some aspects of mild cognitive impairment patients, including depressive mood, and QOL. We suggest that repeated participation of this program can enhance cognitive function of mild cognitive impairment patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.492-500
• /
• 2018

This study examined the effects of a dual-task virtual reality program on the cognitive function and EEG for patients with mild cognitive impairment. A dual-task virtual reality program was performed in the experimental groups while conventional occupational therapy was carried out in the control group for 30 minutes per session, which was done five days per week for 6 weeks. The results were as follows. First, the memory of the cognitive function and balance was improved significantly in the experimental group with the dual-task virtual reality program compared to the control group with the traditional occupational therapy. Second, EEG was also increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. The results of this study suggest that the dual-task virtual reality program was an effective treatment method for the elderly with mild cognitive impairment and would be a cornerstone of basic data that will be helpful to those suffering from a range of diseases.