This study examines cognitive impairment, which is one of the results from social exclusion and leads to logical reasoning disorders. This study also investigate how cognitive errors called abductive inference error occur due to cognitive impairment. Present study was performed with 81 college students. Participants were randomly assigned to the group who has experienced social exclusion or to the group who has not experience the social exclusion. We analyzed how the degree of error of abductive inference differs according to the social exclusion experience. The group who has experienced social exclusion showed a higher level of abductive inference error than the group who has not experience. The abductive condition inference value of the group who has experienced social exclusion was higher in the group with the deduction condition inference value of 90% than in the group with the deduction condition inference value of 10%, and the difference was also significant. This study extended the concepts of cognitive impairments, escape theory, cognitive narrowing which are used to explain addiction behavior to human cognitive bias. Also this study confirmed that social exclusion experience increased cognitive impairment and abductive inference error. Future research directions and implications were discussed and suggested.

목적: 본 연구는 인지기능저하를 보이는 경도인지장애(MCI)노인과 경증 알츠하이머 노인(AD)의 신체적 어포던스 지각 특성을 알기 위하여 정상 노인과 비교 하였다. 방법: 정상 노인 10명, MCI 노인 10명, AD 노인 11명을 대 상으로, 판지로 만든 크기 3.2cm에서 18.2cm의 정육면체 상자(한 변의 길이가 1cm씩 증가) 총 16개의 상자를 한 손 또는 양손으로 잡아 5cm 높이의 장애물을 넘겨 30cm 떨어진 목표 지점으로 옮기는 과제를 수행하였다. 수집된 자료로 일원배치 분산분석을 실시한 결과는 다음과 같다. 결과: 첫째, 지각판단 오류는 정상-0%, MCI- 22.5%, AD- 37.5%으로 AD 노인이 가장 높았다. 둘째, MCI, AD 노인 중 지각판단오류를 나타낸 노인은 오류를 나타내지 않은 노인과 정상 노인과 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 나타났다. 셋째, MCI, AD 노인 중 지각판단 오류가 나타 나지 않은 노인은 정상 노인과 비교하여 인지척도 비율에서는 차이가 나타지 않았으나 신체척도 비율에서는 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 나타났다. 결론: MCI와 AD 노인들은 정상 노인과 비교해 인지기능 뿐 아니라 신체적 어포던스 지각의 차이가 있는 것으로 보여지며, 본 연구 결과를 통하여 MCI와 AD 노인들의 인지기능 향상 프로그램에 행동의 변화를 일으키는 신체적 어포던스 지각을 고려한 변인이 포함되어야함을 제시하고자 한다.

Background : Oxidative stress and inflammatory response are important features of the brain pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to the antioxidant activity and biochemical characterization of safflower seed. Moreover, we investigated the impact of Safflower seed on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. Methods and Results : First, in order to determine active ingredient contents of safflower seed extract, we were carried out total phenol content and total flavonoid content analyses. As a result, dried safflower seed were found to contain 35.4 ± 0.4 ㎎·GAE/g dry weight and 45.3 ± 7.5 ㎎·NE/g dry weight in boiling water extraction. Also, the major compounds of safflower seed from HPLC analysis were identified as serotonin and serotonin derivatives [N- (p-coumaroyl)serotonin and N-feruloylserotonin]. In addition, the antioxidant activity of safflower seed showed IC50 values of 331.4 and 168.2, respectively, against DPPH and ABTS in vitro. Finally, with regard to the memory improvement activity, the administration of Safflower seed extract significantly restored memory impairments induced by scopolamine in the behavior tests such as novel object recognition and Morris water maze test. Conclusion : The results of our study suggest that the safflower seed extract possess potent memory improvement activity and are also a good source of natural antioxidants. Further study is needed to identify the mechanism responsible for their memory improvement activity.

Background: A critical features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is cognitive dysfunction, which partly arises from decreased in acetylcholine levels. AD afftected brains are characterized by extensive oxidative stress, which is thought to be primarily induced by the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide. In a previous study, Cinnamomum loureiroi tincture inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity. That study identified AChE inhibitor in the C. loureiroi extract. Furthermore, the C. loureiroi extract enhanced memory in a trimethyltin (TMT)-induced model of cognitive dysfunction, as assessed via two behavioral tests. Rosa laevigata extract protected against oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity. Administrating R. laevigata extracts to mice significantly reversed Aβ-induced learning and memory impairment, as shown in behavioral tests. Methods and Results: We conducted behavioral to examine the synergistic effects of C. loureiroi and R. laevigata extracts in inhibiting AChE and counteracting TMT-induced learning and memory losses. We also performed biochemical assays. The biochemical results showed a relationship between increased oxidative stress and cholinergic neurons damage in TMT-treated mice. Conclusions: A diet containing C. loureiroi and R. laevigata extracts ameliorated learning and memory impairments in the Y-maze and passive avoidance tests, and exerted synergistic inhibitory effect against AChE and lipid peroxidation.

Background : Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal loss and extracellular senile plaque, whose major constituent is β-amyloid (Aβ), a 39-43 amino acid peptide derived from amyloid precursor protein. In cultures, Aβ directly induce neuronal cell death and can include excessive generation of free radicals and peroxidative injury to proteins, lipids, and other macromolecules. Actinidia arguta, generally called hardy kiwifruit, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antioxidative properties. The present study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effect of the leaves and stems of A. arguta using in vitro cultured neurons and in vivo experimental animals. Methods and Results : Primary cortical neuronal cultures were prepared using Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat fetuses on embryonic days 15. Neurotoxicity experiments were performed on neurons after 3-4 days in culture. Cultured neurons were treated with 10 μM Aβ (25-35) for 24 h to produce neurotoxicity. In addition, cultured neurons were treated with H2O2 (100 μM) for 15 min and then incubated for 12 h in H2O2-free medium. Viability of cultured neurons was measured by a colorimetric MTT assay. Hoechst 33342 staining of neurons was carried out to examine Aβ (25-35)-induced apoptotic neuronal death. A. arguta over the concentration of 10 to 50 ㎍/㎖ prevented Aβ (25-35) (10 μM)-induced apoptotic neuronal death, and inhibited H2O2-induced decrease of MTT reduction rate. These results suggest that oxidative stress is implicated in Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal apoptotic death. Memory impairment was produced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) microinjection of 15 nmol Aß (25-35) and examined using passive avoidance test in ICR mice. Chronic treatments with A. arguta (14 days, p.o.) protected memory impairment induced by Aß (25-35). Conclusion : The present study suggests that A. arguta has a therapeutic role for preventing the progression of neurodegenerative disease such as AD.

Background : Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive impairment and personality defects accompanied by diffuse structural abnormalities in the brain. The major pathological hallmarks of AD include beta amyloid (Aß) protein deposition, presence of neurofibrillary tangles and neurodegeneration of cholinergic neurons. Aß, a 39-43 amino acid proteolytic fragment of amyloid precursor protein, is the major constituent of the senile plaques. Rice bran, the major byproduct of the rice milling industry, is the source of a high quality vegetable oil. Rice bran oil (RBO) has attracted much medicinal attention for its strong hypocholesterolemic properties because of its balanced fatty acid composition and high levels of antioxidant phytochemicals such as oryzanols, tocopherols and tocotrienols. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of RBO against Aß (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity in in vitro and in vivo. Methods and Results : Memory impairment was produced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) microinjection of 15 nmol Aß (25-35) and measured by passive avoidance test in ICR mice. Glutathione concentration, lipid peroxidation rate and acetylcholine esterase activity were measured in mice brain. The expression levels of phosphorylated mitogen activated proteins kinases (MAPKs), inflammatory factors, and anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins in mice brains were detected by Western blot. Cerebral cortical neuronal cells were cultured from 15-days-old fetus. Cortical neurons were incubated with 10 μM Aß (25-35) for 36 h. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Chronic treatments of RBO (0.1-1 ml/kg, 8 days, p.o.) protected against memory impairment induced by Aß (25-35). Depletion of glutathione level, lipid peroxidation and increased acetylcholine esterase activity by the treatment with Aß (25-35) were inhibited by administration of RBO. The increase of phosphorylated MAPKs, inflammatory factors, and proapoptotic proteins and the decrease of antiapoptotic protein in Aß (25-35)-administered mice brain were significantly inhibited by treatment with RBO. RBO (0.1-5ul/ml) inhibited 10μM Aß (25-35)-induced neuronal cell death in cultured cortical neurons. Conclusion : The present study suggests the role of RBO as a promising therapeutic for neurodegenerative diseases like AD and stroke.

This paper describes the effect of a robot cognitive rehabilitation program on cognitive functions for the elderly with mild cognitive impairment, and compares it with traditional cognitive therapy programs. Three experiment groups including cognition therapy group, robot cognitive rehabilitation group, and hybrid group have been sampled and one comparative group has been organized for this research. 32 old people whose ages are between 61 and 88 with mild cognitive impairment participated in the programs with an admission of W care hospital. According to the program results, the cognitive therapy program alone had shown a positive effect on the attention function, and the robot cognitive rehabilitation program alone had a positive effect on the total intelligence and memory function. However, a simultaneous operation with both programs had shown a positive effect on the three intelligence areas such as total, basic, and management quotients as well as attention and memory functions as subsidiary factors. This paper has verified that the proposed robot cognitive rehabilitation program makes a positive effect on a cognitive function and plays a complementary role with traditional cognitive therapy programs.

본 연구는 경도인지장애가 동반된 파킨슨병 환자에 대하여 인지 기능 평가를 위한 서울신경심리검사와 뇌 자기공명영상에서 영역별 뇌실에 대한 체적 변화를 분석하여 경도인지장애가 동반된 파킨슨병에 대한 진단적 기준을 판단할 수 있는 가이드라인을 제시하고자 하였다. 이를 위하여 파킨슨병으로 진단 받은 환자(경도인지장애군: 34명, 비인지장애군: 34명)를 대상으로 주의력, 언어, 기억력, 시공간, 그리고 전두엽 집행 기능에 대한 서울신경심리검사와 뇌 자기공명영상 검사를 시행하였다. 또한 영역별 뇌실에 대한 체적 변화를 비교하기 위하여 정상인 32명(정상 대조군)을 추가 선정하여 추가적으로 뇌 자기공명영상 검사를 시행하였으며 영역별 뇌실에 대한 체적 분석은 프리서퍼(Freesurfer Ver. 5.1, Boston MA, USA)를 통해 수행되었다. 결과적으로 경도인지장애군은 시공간 및 기억력에 대한 수행 능력이 비인지장애군과 비교하여 통계적으로 유의하게 감소되었다(p<0.05). 영역별 뇌실에 대한 체적 변화는 좌‧우측뇌실, 좌‧우하측뇌실, 제3뇌실에서 통계적으로 유의한 체적 변화를 나타내었으며 객관화된 비교를 위하여 정규화한 백분율을 적용한 체적의 변화는 비인지장애군보다 경도인도장애군에서 확장되어 나타났다. 특히 경도인지장애를 동반한 파킨슨병 환자의 좌‧우측뇌실의 확장은 서울신경심리검사에서 시공간 및 기억력 영역에 대하여 뚜렷한 양적 선형관계를 보였다(r>0.5, p<0.05). 따라서 뇌 자기공명영상에서 프리서퍼를 이용하여 영역별 뇌실의 체적 변화를 관찰하고 서울신경심리검사와 상관관계를 분석함으로써 경도인지장애를 동반한 파킨슨병 환자의 진단적 기준을 마련할 수 있을 것으로 판단되었다.

본 연구는 경도인지장애가 동반된 환자를 대상으로 뇌 자기공명영상에서 인지 영역에 대한 대뇌 피질 두께를 측정하고 신경심리검사 결과와 비교하여 신경해부학적 상관관계를 규명하고자 하였다. 이를 위하여 파킨슨병으로 최초 진단 받고 신경심리검사를 시행한 78명(경도인지장애군: 39명; 비인지장애군: 39명)과 정상인 그룹 32명을 선정하였다. 신경심리검사에서 경도인지장애군과 비인지장애군의 상관관계와 신경심리검사와 뇌 자기공명영상에서 대뇌 피질 두께의 상관관계는 독립표본 T 검증 또는 피어슨 상관분석을 실시하였으며 수집된 자료의 유의 수준은 p<0.05에서 검증하였다. 결론적으로 경도인지장애를 동반한 파킨슨병 환자는 뇌 자기공명영상에서 양측 쐐기압소엽과 우하측두엽의 대뇌 피질 두께가 통계적으로 유의하게 감소하였으며 인지 기능 평가를 위한 신경심리검사에서 시공간 기능, 언어 및 시각 기억력 기능이 저하되었다. 특히 언어 및 시각 기억력 영역에 대한 신경심리검사와 신경해부학적으로 좌측 쐐기앞소엽에서 상관관계가 있었다.

본 연구에서는 도라지 추출물에 대한 세포 독성을 확인하였으며, Aβ에 의한 PC12 세포 독성에 대한 보호효과를 관찰하였다. 또한 도라지 추출물과 도라지 추출물 연양갱을 4주간 강제 경구 투여하여 Morris 수중미로시험에서 도달지점까지의 도달시간이 도라지 추출물 및 도라지 추출물 연양갱 투여에 의해서 모두에서 유의하게 감소하였다. 이와 유사하게 수동회피시험에서도 자극이 있는 어두운 방을 나오는 시간이 도라지 추출물 및 도라지 추출물 연양갱 투여에 의해서 현저하게 감소하였다. 따라서 도라지 추출물 및 도라지 추출물 연양갱은 인지능 개선에 도움을 줄 것으로 생각된다.

The present study investigated an ethanol extract of Chaenomeles sinensis fruit (CSF) for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid β protein (Aβ) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and also for antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to 10μM Aβ (25-35) for 36 h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At 0.1-10μg/ml, CSF inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Aβ (25-35) in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons. Memory loss induced by intracerebroventricular injection of mice with 15 nmol Aβ (25-35) was inhibited by chronic treatment with CSF (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o. for 7 days) as measured by a passive avoidance test. CSF (50 mg/kg) inhibited the increase of cholinesterase activity in Aβ (25-35)-injected mice brain. From these results, we suggest that the antidementia effect of CSF is due to its neuroprotective effect against Aβ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that CSF may have a therapeutic role for preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

The present study investigated an ethanol extract (HS0608) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Curcumalongae radix, Phellinus linteus, and Scutellariae radix for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid βprotein (Aβ) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to10µM Aβ (25-35) for 36h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At 1-50㎍/㎖, HS0608 inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intra-cellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Aβ (25-35) in primary cul-tures of rat cortical neurons. Memory loss induced by intracerebroventricular injection of ICR mice with 15 nmol Aβ (25-35) wasinhibited by chronic treatment with HS0608 (25, 50 and 100㎎/㎏, p.o. for 7 days) as measured by a passive avoidance test. Fromthese results, we suggest that the antidementia effect of HS0608 is due to its neuroprotective effect against Aβ (25-35)-inducedneurotoxicity and that HS0608 may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The relationships between subjective symptoms of toluene exposed workers and concentration of their urinary excretion of hippuric acid were investigated. The exposed groups of 146 workers exposed to toluene and the control groups of 47 workers have never been exposed to toluene in Ulsan area were selected and studied. Hippuric acid was measured by HPLC, and counts of blood cells and liver function test were also performed. The mean value of urinary hippuric acid concentration of the control group was 0.322(±0.267) g/L, while that of the exposed group was 1.260(±0.395) g/L. As the concentration of hippuric acid had statistical proximity in 0.1% level, WBC, GOT, and GPT didn't have any proximity(P>0.05). The exposed group showed lower level of leucocyte counts 6522.40(1710.3) than the control group 6891.50(1483.7). The exposed group showed higher level of GOT(25.75), GPT(27.09) than GOT(23.75), GPT(25.21) of the control group. Dried skin was the highest complained symptom of toluene exposed workers, the second strained eye, the third poor auditory function, and the fourth was headache.

After analyzing the correlation between air pollution and visibility, TSP and NO2 is responsible for poor visibility in Pusan. After analyzing the correlation between meteorological factors and visibility, general pattern of humidity has clear negative correlation. The variation of wind speed has a positive correlation. In order to investigate the cause of poor visibility in Pusan area, the Andersen sampler and PM-2.5 are used to collect and analyze aerosol. This study was carried out to monitor the visibility using Forward scattering meter and to find out the characteristics and the cause of good visibility case and poor visibility case by measuring and analyzing a variety of parameters, such as particle size distributions, chemical compositions, and meteorological conditions in Pusan. According to the analysis of intensive sampling, NO3-, NH4+ ion concentration increased together with the mass concentration around 0.5∼2.5㎛ approximately during the case of poor visibility. NH4NO3, NH4Cl, and NaCl were thought to be the major components of fine particles.