• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.69-82
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• 2004

Objectives : In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to hand yang meridian on the ankle sprain model was examined. Methods & Results : A common source of persistent pain in humans is the lateral ankle sprain. To model this condition, the rat's right ankle was bent repeatedly, overextending lateral ligaments, for 4 min under halothane anesthesia. The rat subsequently showed swelling of the ankle and a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful ankle. EA was applied to the several acupuncture point on the contralateral forelimb for 30 min under gaseous anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 4 h. EA applied to SI-6 point produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the sprained foot lasting for at least 2 h. However, neigher LI-4 point nor TE-3 point produced any significant increase of weight bearing force. The improvement of stepping pressure was interpreted as an analgesic effect. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on the ankle sprain pain model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a nearby point, LI-4 or TE-3. The analgesic effect of EA applied to SI-6 was more powerful when EA was applied by low-frequency and high-intensity stimulation. In addition, this effect need to be stimulated more than 15 min. Conclusions : These data suggest that EA produces a potent analgesic effect on the ankle sprain pain model in the rat. This analgesic effect is produced by applying EA to a Tae-Yang meridian at opposite side from the painful area in a stimulus point-specific way.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.275-301
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• 2016

Attentional blink (AB) refers to the phenomena where conscious report for a target (T2) subsequent to the first target (T1) in a stream of items under rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) becomes difficult if the T2 follows no later than 500ms after the T1. The present study examined the effect of T1 visibility on T2 AB strength according to the bottleneck account proposing that the amount of allocated resources for T1 memory consolidation determines the strength of AB against T2. In the low-visibility condition, the T1 had a gray color for a low stimulus contrast against the black background whereas had a bright and saturated color in the high-visibility condition. In both visibility conditions, the T1 was also highly distinct from the remaining distractors. A multi-RSVP method was also used for increasing location uncertainty of the targets supposedly consuming on average attentional resources for the targets. Two experiments revealed that AB strength was more intense in the low-visibility than high-visibility condition, and the pattern of difference went more pronounced if T2 visibility was improved. The results indicate that T1 visibility can affect more strongly when attentional resources are relatively lacking for resolving the T1 bottleneck, and support for the bottleneck account proposing that the level of T1's visibility can determine the intensity of the T1 bottleneck.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2009

Objectives : N100 amplitude slope(the intensity dependence of the cortical auditory evoked potentials) is widely considered as an indirect indicator of central serotonergic neurotransmission. However, there are only a few studies about N100 amplitude slopes of major psychiatric disorders. In this study, we examined N100 amplitude slope differences among major depressive disorder(MDD), bipolar disorder(BD), schizophrenia (SCZ) and normal controls(NC). Methods : We measured the N100 amplitude slopes of 35 patients with MDD, 33 patients with BD, 27 patients with SCZ and 35 NC subjects. Amplitude differences from N1 to P2 at the five different sound intensities(55, 65, 75, 85 and 95dB) were examined at Cz electrode. The N100 amplitude slope was calculated as the linear regression of five N1/P2 peak-to-peak amplitudes across stimulus intensities. Results : BD patients showed significantly reduced N100 amplitude slope compared with NC(0.54${\pm}$0.70 vs. 0.96${\pm}$0.72, p=0.035). N100 amplitude slope of SCZ patients was significantly reduced compared with NC(0.50${\pm}$0.47 vs. 0.96${\pm}$0.72, p=0.027). N100 amplitude slope of BD patients was significantly lower than that of MDD patients(0.54${\pm}$0.70 vs. 0.94${\pm}$0.60, p=0.046). SCZ patients also showed significant reduction of N100 amplitude slope compared with MDD patients(0.50${\pm}$0.47 vs. 0.94${\pm}$0.60, p=0.036). There was no significant difference of N100 amplitude slope between MDD patients and NC(0.94${\pm}$0.60 vs. 0.96${\pm}$0.72, p=1.000). Conclusion : Interestingly, the N100 amplitude slopes of BD and SCZ were reduced compared to NC and MDD patients. Our results suggest the predictive use of N100 amplitude slope in making differential diagnoses of major psychiatric disorders. Clinical implications of N100 amplitude slope in major psychiatric disorders were discussed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2009

Purpose: TThis study examined the effect of repetitive magnetic stimulation (RMS) on the viability and proliferative response of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (hATSCs) in vitro. Methods: The hATSCs were cultured primarily from human adipose tissue harvested by liposuction and incubated in a $37^{\circ}C$ plastic chamber. The cells were exposed to a repetitive magnetic field using a customized magnetic stimulator (Biocon-5000, Mcube Technology). The RMS parameters were set as follows: repetition rate=10Hz, 25Hz (stimulus intensity 100%= 0.1 Tesla, at 4cm from the coil), stimulated time= 1, 5, and 20 minutes. Twenty four hours after one application of RMS, the hATSCs were compared with the sham stimulation, which were kept under the same conditions without the application of RMS. The cells were observed by optical microscopy to determine the morphology and assessed by trypan blue staining for cell proliferation. The apoptosis and viability of the hATSCs were also analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of Annexin V and MTT assay. Results: After RMS, the morphology of the hATSCs was not changed and the apoptosis of hATSCs were not increased compared to the sham stimulation. The viability of the cells was similar to the cells given the sham stimulation. Interestingly, the level of hATSC proliferation was significantly higher in all RMS groups. Conclusion: The application of RMS may not cause a change in morphology and viability of hATSCs but can increase the level of cell proliferation in vitro. RMS might be useful as an adjuvant tool in combination with stem cell therapy without adverse effects.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.57-64
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• 2019

Anger is the most common emotional trigger causing relapses in individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The present study intended to investigate the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses induced by anger in individuals with AUDs. The participants in this study included twelve individuals with AUDs and 14 non-frequent drinkers. Anger was induced in the participants via a 120-second film clip. Before the presentation of this audio-visual stimulus, the ANS responses of the participants were measured for 60 seconds to ascertain their resting state. Subsequently, the participants' ANS responses were measured again for 120 seconds when they were in an emotional state during the presentation of the clip. After the ANS measurements were taken, participants were asked to rate the type of emotion they had experienced as they viewed the film and to report its intensity. The results indicated that the levels of anger experienced by the AUD group were not significantly different from the emotion registered by the control group. However, the ANS responses induced in AUD participants when they were in an emotional state showed blunted skin conductance levels (SCL) and skin conductance responses (SCR) compared to the control group participants. Individuals with AUDs evinced lower emotional arousal than the participants of the control group. These results can help clinicians understand the psychological and physiological responses of individuals with AUDs to anger in order to design effective interventions that would reduce chances of anger and relapse.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3 s.39
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• pp.36-44
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• 1999

Objectives: It has been well known that electroacupuncture(EA) has an analgesic effect and there is a pain control system in the central nervous system(CNS). The pain control system is composed of three major nuclei, which are periaqueductal gray(PAG), raphe nuclei, and the pain inhibitory complex located in the spinal cord. It has been suggested that the analgesic effect of EA might be the result of activation of the pain control system in the CNS. However, there may be a possibility that other nuclei are also involved in this pain modulation. Thus, we investigated whether the posterior intralaminar thalamic nuclei (PTIN) are involved in the pain modulation. Methods: To measure the level of pain, the jaw opening reflex (JOR) was used as a pain index. The magnitude of JOR is estimated by averaging the area of 10 successive responses. JOR was evoked by tooth-pulp stimulation with bipolar electrode carrying stimulus with the following parameters: intensity ranging from 420uA to 680ulA, 0.3ms duration of square pulse, and 0.5 Hz. Hapkog($LI_4$) and Taechung ($LR_3$) were the chosen acupoints. The Hapkog point was stimulated ipsilaterally at 5V, 3 Hz, for 15min in total, and the Taechung was stimulated at 2-3 V, 3 Hz, and for a total of 15 or 30 minutes. Different intensities of stimulation were given the PITN; one was given at $300{\mu}A$ and the other was at 500uA. The position stimulated in these nuclei by Paxinos Atlas was AP; from bregma $-4.0{\sim}-4.3mm,\;L; 0.5{\sim}1.8mm,\;D;\;4.8{\sim}6.3mm$. Results: The Hapkog point had a significant analgesic effect (P<0.05). However, the Taechung point had no effect. Both types of stimulation in the PITN did not reveal any analgesic effects. Conclusions: From these results, it was suggested that the posterior intralaminar thalamic nuclei are not involved in the modulation of pain.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2014

Objective: This entire study has two parts. Study I aimed to develop a psychological assessment scale and the study II aimed to investigate the effects of LFN (low frequency noise) on the psychological responses in humans, using the scale developed in the study I. Background: LFN is known to have a negative impact on the functioning of humans. The negative impact of LFN can be categorized into two major areas of functioning of humans, physiological and psychological areas of functioning. The physiological impact can cause abnormalities in threshold, balancing and/or vestibular system, cardiovascular system and, hormone changes. Psychological functioning includes cognition, communication, mental health, and annoyance. Method: 182 college students participated in the study I in development of a psychological assessment scale and 42 paid volunteers participated in the study II to measure psychological responses. The LFN stimuli consisted of 12 different pure tones and 12 different 1 octave-band white noises and each stimulus had 4 different frequencies and 3 different sounds pressure levels. Results: We developed the psychological assessment scale consisting of 17 items with 3 dimensions of psychological responses (i.e., perceived physical, perceived physiological, and emotional responses). The main findings of LFN on the responses were as follows: 1. Perceived psychological responses showed a linear relation with SPL (sound pressure level), that is the higher the SPL is, the higher the negative psychological responses were. 2. Psychological responses showed quadric relations with SPL in general. 3. More negative responses at 31.5Hz LFN than those of 63 and 125Hz were reported, which is deemed to be caused by perceived vibration by 31.5Hz. 'Perceived vibration' at 31.5Hz than those of other frequencies of LFN is deemed to have amplified the negative psychological response. Consequently there found different effects of low frequency noise with different frequencies and intensity (SPL) on multiple psychological responses. Conclusion: Three dimensions of psychological responses drawn in regard to this study differed from others in the frequencies and SLP of LFN. Negative psychological responses are deemed to be differently affected by the frequency, SPL of the LFN and 'feel vibration' induced by the LFN. Application: The psychological scale from our study can be applied in quantitative psychological measurement of LFN at home or industrial environment. In addition, it can also help design systems to block LFN to provide optimal conditions if used the study outcome, .i.e., the relations between physical and psychological responses of LFN.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of activation method on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction, apoptosis and in vitro development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos. Porcine in vitro matured oocytes were activated by four activation methods; 1) electric stimulus (ES) (E), 2) $ES+10{\mu}M$ Ca-ionophore (A23187) treatment (EC), 3) ES+2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) treatment (ED), or 4) ES+A23187 and 6-DMAP treatments (ECD). Parthenogenetic embryos were sampled to analyze x-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1) mRNA, ER stress-associated genes and apoptosis genes at 3 h after ES and the 1-cell and blastocyst stages. In the EC group, the band intensity of spliced Xbp1 (Xbp1s) mRNA was higher than those of the other groups at the 3 h and 1-cell stage, and higher than that of the E group at the blastocyst stage. Four ER stress-associated genes were expressed at the highest level in the EC group and weakly expressed in the ED group at 3 h after activation. However, most of the genes were highly expressed at the 1-cell and blastocyst stages with some variation in the EC and ECD groups. Expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 mRNA was significantly higher in the EC group than in the other groups at all development stages. The developmental rates to the blastocyst stage were higher in the ED and ECD groups than in the E and EC groups. These results suggest that the intracellular ER stress of parthenogenetic porcine embryos is affected by the activation method and subsequently lead to the apoptosis of embryos.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of direct functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) of affected spinal cord on motor recovery following spinal cord injury in rats. Methods: After a contusion injury at the spinal level T9 using an NYU Impactor, functional magnetic stimulation was delivered by a magnetic stimulator through a round prototype coil (7 cm in diameter). Stimulation parameters were set as follows: repetition rate = 50 Hz (stimulus intensity 100% = 0.18 T), stimulation time = 20 min. Functional magnetic stimulation was administered twice a day, 5 days per week for 8 weeks starting 4 days after spinal cord injury. Functional magnetic stimulationwas delivered directly to the affected spinal cord. Outcomes of locomotor performance were assessed by the Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale and by an inclined plane test weekly for 8 weeks. Results: In the BBB test, hindlimb motor function in the Functional magnetic stimulation group improved significantly more compared to the control group at 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 weeks (p<0.05). In the inclined plane test, the angle of the plane in the functional magnetic stimulation group increased significantly more compared to the control group at 4, 5, 7, and 8 weeks (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that direct Functional magnetic stimulation of the lesional site may have beneficial effects on motor improvement after spinal cord injury.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.91-102
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• 2022

As virtual space activities become more common, human-virtual agents such as avatars are more frequently used instead of people, but the uncanny valley effect, in which people feel uncomfortable when they see artifacts that look similar to humans, is an obstacle. In this study, we explored the uncanny valley effect for celebrity avatars. We manipulated the degree of atypicality by adjusting the eye size in photos of celebrities, ordinary people, and their avatars and measured the intensity of the uncanny valley effect. As a result, the uncanny valley effect for celebrities and celebrity avatars appeared to be stronger than the effect for ordinary people. This result is consistent with previous findings that more robust facial representations are formed for familiar faces, making it easier to detect facial changes. However, with real faces of celebrities and ordinary people, as in previous studies, the higher the degree of atypicality, the greater the uncanny valley effect, but this result was not found for the avatar stimulus. This high degree of tolerance for atypicality in avatars seems to be caused by cartoon characters' tendency to have exaggerated facial features such as eyes, nose, and mouth. These results suggest that efforts to reduce the uncanny valley in the virtual space service using celebrity avatars are necessary.