Hye-Sook Shin

Influence of prenatal noise and music on the spatial memory and neurogenesis in the hippocampus of developing rats

During the prenatal period, the development of individual is influenced by the environmental factors. In the present study, the influence of prenatal noise and music on the spatial memory and neurogenesis in the hippocampus of developing rats was investigated. The exposure to the noise during pregnancy caused growth retardation, decreased neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and impaired spatial learning ability in pups. The exposure to music during pregnancy, on the other hand, caused increased neurogenesis in the hippocampus and enhanced spatial learning ability in pups. The present study has shown the importance of the prenatal environmental conditions for the cognition and brain development.

Health Behavioral Patterns Associated with Psychologic Distress Among Middle-Aged Korean Women

PURPOSE Middle aged women are exposed to high levels of psychologic distress due to various factors including health problems of family members, their own declining health, negative outlook towards menopause, loss of significant supportive relationships, and uncertainties regarding the future. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with psychologic distress of middle-aged Korean women in the Seoul metropolitan area. METHODS The data were collected from 277 community-dwelling women between the ages of 40 and 60 years without any known severe illnesses from May 6, 2004 to May 31, 2004. The researcher or two research assistants visited the participants in person, handed out copies of the questionnaire after receiving study permission, and answered if they had any questions. RESULTS Hierarchical multiple regression analysis found that women with low scores of health promoting behaviors for self-actualization, nutrition, and interpersonal relation reported high levels of psychologic distress. In addition, women with low scores of marital satisfaction reported high psychologic distress. CONCLUSION The study found cultural characteristics of middle-aged Korean women in psychologic distress. Health care providers should consider marital satisfaction, self-actualization, nutrition, and interpersonal relations, in particular, among Korean middle-aged women.

Modulation of the aqueous extract of Bupleuri radix on glycine-induced current in the acutely dissociated rat periaqueductal gray neurons

SUMMARY Bupleuri radix (Umbelliferae), the dried root of Bupleurum Chinense DC, has been clinically used tomitigate pain sensation. The descending pain control system consists of three major components,and modulation of pain in the periaqueductal gray is the most extensively studied descendingpain control system. However, the relation of Bupleuri radix on the descending pain controlsystem has not been clarified. In the present study, modulation of the aqueous extract of Bupleuriradix on glycine-induced ion current in the acutely dissociated periaqueductal gray neurons wasinvestigated by using nystatin-perforated patch-clamp technique under voltage-clamp condition.In the present results, the glycine-induced ion current was significantly suppressed by 0.1 mg/mlBupleuri radix, while treatment with 10 -5 M naltrexone, opioid receptor antagonist, alleviatedBupleuri radix-induced inhibition on glycine-induced ion current. The present study showed thatthe aqueous extract of Bupleuri radix may activate descending pain control system throughinhibition on glycine-induced ion current in the periaqueductal gray neurons and this effect ismediated by opioid receptors.Key words: Bupleuri radix; Glycine; Periaqueductal gray; Naltrexone; Patch Clamp