PURPOSE: The neural processing of children with overweight/obesity (CWO), may affect their eating behavior. We investigated the visual information processing of CWO under response control condition, by event-related potential (ERP) study, an electrophysiologic study for cognitive mechanism. METHODS: Seventeen CWO (mean age: 10.6±1.9), and 17 age-matched non-obese children (NOC), participated in the study. Neurocognitive function tests and visual ERP under Go/NoGo conditions, were implemented. Area amplitudes of major ERP components (P1, N1, P2, N2, and P3) from four scalp locations (frontal, central, parietal, and occipital), were analyzed. RESULTS: For Go and NoGo conditions, CWO had significantly greater occipital P1, fronto-central N1, and P2 amplitudes compared with NOC. P2 amplitude was significantly greater in CWO, than in NOC, at the frontal location. N2 amplitude was not significantly different, between CWO and NOC. For CWO and NOC, Go P3 amplitude was highest at the parietal location, and NoGo P3 amplitude was highest at the frontal location. In Go and NoGo conditions, P3 amplitude of CWO was significantly less than in NOC. CONCLUSION: The greater P1, N1, and P2 suggested hyper-vigilance to visual stimuli of CWO, but the smaller P3 suggested insufficient mental representation of them. Such altered visual processing, may affect the eating behavior of CWO.
Automatic Data Processing ; Child ; Evoked Potentials ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Obesity ; Rabeprazole ; Scalp

OBJECTIVES: Insomnia is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders. Recent studies suggest that cognitive and physical arousal play an important role in the generation of primary insomnia. Studies have also shown that information processing disorders due to cortical hyperactivity might interfere with normal sleep onset and sleep continuity. Therefore, focusing on central nervous system arousal and normalizing the information process have become current topics of interest. It has been well known that neurofeedback can reduce the brain hyperarousal by modulating patients' brain waves during a sequence of behavior therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of neurofeedback therapy on electroencephalography (EEG) characteristics in patients with primary insomnia. METHODS: Thirteen subjects who met the criteria for an insomnia diagnosis and 14 control subjects who were matched on sex and age were included. Neurofeedback and sham treatments were performed in a random order for 30 minutes, respectively. EEG spectral power analyses were performed to quantify effects of the neurofeedback therapy on brain wave forms. RESULTS: In patients with primary insomnia, relative spectral theta and sigma power during a therapeutic neurofeedback session were significantly lower than during a sham session (13.9 ± 2.6 vs. 12.2 ± 3.8 and 3.6 ± 0.9 vs. 3.2 ± 1.0 in %, respectively; p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant changes in other EEG spectral bands. CONCLUSION: For the first time in Korea, EEG spectral power in the theta band was found to increase when a neurofeedback session was applied to patients with insomnia. This outcome might provide some insight into new interventions for improving sleep onset. However, the treatment response of insomniacs was not precisely evaluated due to limitations of the current pilot study, which requires follow-up studies with larger samples in the future.
Arousal ; Automatic Data Processing ; Behavior Therapy ; Brain ; Brain Waves ; Central Nervous System ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Neurofeedback ; Pilot Projects ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sleep Wake Disorders

It is known that top-down associative inputs terminate on distal apical dendrites in layer 1 while bottom-up sensory inputs terminate on perisomatic dendrites of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons (L2/3 PyNs) in primary sensory cortex. Since studies on synaptic transmission in layer 1 are sparse, we investigated the basic properties and cholinergic modulation of synaptic transmission in layer 1 and compared them to those in perisomatic dendrites of L2/3 PyNs of rat primary visual cortex. Using extracellular stimulations of layer 1 and layer 4, we evoked excitatory postsynaptic current/potential in synapses in distal apical dendrites (L1-EPSC/L1-EPSP) and those in perisomatic dendrites (L4-EPSC/L4-EPSP), respectively. Kinetics of L1-EPSC was slower than that of L4-EPSC. L1-EPSC showed presynaptic depression while L4-EPSC was facilitating. In contrast, inhibitory postsynaptic currents showed similar paired-pulse ratio between layer 1 and layer 4 stimulations with depression only at 100 Hz. Cholinergic stimulation induced presynaptic depression by activating muscarinic receptors in excitatory and inhibitory synapses to similar extents in both inputs. However, nicotinic stimulation enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission by ~20% in L4-EPSC. Rectification index of AMPA receptors and AMPA/NMDA ratio were similar between synapses in distal apical and perisomatic dendrites. These results provide basic properties and cholinergic modulation of synaptic transmission between distal apical and perisomatic dendrites in L2/3 PyNs of the visual cortex, which might be important for controlling information processing balance depending on attentional state.
Animals ; Automatic Data Processing ; Dendrites ; Depression ; Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Kinetics ; Pyramidal Cells ; Rats ; Receptors, AMPA ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; Synapses ; Synaptic Transmission ; Visual Cortex

BACKGROUND/AIMS: TrueColours ulcerative colitis (TCUC) is a comprehensive web-based program that functions through email, providing direct links to questionnaires. Several similar programs are available, however patient perspectives are unexplored. METHODS: A pilot study was conducted to determine feasibility, usability and patient perceptions of real-time data collection (daily symptoms, fortnightly quality of life, 3 monthly outcomes). TCUC was adapted from a web-based program for patients with relapsing-remitting bipolar disorder, using validated UC indices. A semi-structured interview was developed and audio-recorded face-to-face interviews were conducted after 6 months of interaction with TCUC. Transcripts were coded in NVivo11, a qualitative data analysis software package. An inductive approach and thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: TCUC was piloted in 66 patients for 6 months. Qualitative analysis currently defies statistical appraisal beyond “data saturation,” even if it has more influence on clinical practice than quantitative data. A total of 28 face-to-face interviews were conducted. Six core themes emerged: awareness, control, decision-making, reassurance, communication and burden of treatment. There was a transcending overarching theme of patient empowerment, which cut across all aspects of the TCUC experience. CONCLUSIONS: Patient perception of the impact of real-time data collection was extremely positive. Patients felt empowered as a product of the self-monitoring format of TCUC, which may be a way of improving self-management of UC whilst also decreasing the burden on the individual and healthcare services.
Automatic Data Processing ; Bipolar Disorder ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Patient Participation ; Pilot Projects ; Quality of Life ; Self Care ; Statistics as Topic ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: The processing of emotional visual stimulation involves the processing of emotional and visuoperceptual information. It is not completely revealed how the valence and arousal affect these two aspects. The objective was to investigate the effects of valence and arousal on spatiotemporal characteristics of cortical information processing using distributed source imaging of event-related current density (ERCD). METHODS: Electroencephalograms (64 channels) were recorded from 19 healthy men while presenting affective pictures. Distributed source localization analysis was adopted to obtain the spatiotemporal pattern of ERCD on cortical surface in response to emotional visual stimulation. A nonparametric cluster-based permutation test was used to find meaningful time and space without prior knowledge. RESULTS: Significant changes of ERCD in 400–800 ms among positive, negative, and neutral emotional conditions were found in left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and right inferior temporal cortex (ITC). In the PCC, the stimuli with higher arousal levels showed more negative ERCD than neutral stimuli. In the ITC, the ERCD for negative stimuli was significantly more negative than those of positive and neutral ones. CONCLUSION: Arousal and valence had strong influence on memory encoding and visual analysis at late period. The location and time showing significant change in neural activity according to arousal and valence would provide valuable information for understanding the changes of cortical function by neuropsychiatric disorders.
Arousal ; Automatic Data Processing ; Electroencephalography ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Photic Stimulation ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Temporal Lobe

Some patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) present with cognitive dysfunctions. The pathophysiology underlying this complication is not well understood. Type 1 DM has been associated with a decrease in the speed of information processing, psychomotor efficiency, attention, mental flexibility, and visual perception. Longitudinal epidemiological studies of type 1 DM have indicated that chronic hyperglycemia and microvascular disease, rather than repeated severe hypoglycemia, are associated with the pathogenesis of DM-related cognitive dysfunction. However, severe hypoglycemic episodes may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in high-risk patients with DM. Type 2 DM has been associated with memory deficits, decreased psychomotor speed, and reduced frontal lobe/executive function. In type 2 DM, chronic hyperglycemia, long duration of DM, presence of vascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension and obesity), and microvascular and macrovascular complications are associated with the increased risk of developing cognitive dysfunction. The pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in individuals with DM include the following: (1) role of hyperglycemia, (2) role of vascular disease, (3) role of hypoglycemia, and (4) role of insulin resistance and amyloid. Recently, some investigators have proposed that type 3 DM is correlated to sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. The molecular and biochemical consequences of insulin and insulin-like growth factor resistance in the brain compromise neuronal survival, energy production, gene expression, plasticity, and white matter integrity. If patients claim that their performance is worsening or if they ask about the effects of DM on functioning, screening and assessment are recommended.
Amyloid ; Automatic Data Processing ; Brain ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertension ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Mass Screening ; Memory Disorders ; Neurons ; Plastics ; Pliability ; Research Personnel ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Diseases ; Visual Perception ; White Matter

Electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) are useful measures of information processing that are believed to reflect the cognitive processing of the brain. Recently, these electrophysiological markers have been studied repeatedly to examine patients with schizophrenia. Among the ERPs components, P50, P300, mismatch negativity, loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials, and 40 Hz auditory steady state response are meaningful neurophysiological markers of schizophrenia. The employment of novel ERP paradigms designed to carefully characterize the early spectrum of perceptual and cognitive information processing allows investigators to identify the neurophysiological basis of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and examine the associated clinical and functional impairments. Lately, functional neural networks using resting state EEG have been studied extensively in patients with schizophrenia. In this article, qEEG, several ERP components, and functional neural networks that were considered useful neurophysiological markers of schizophrenia are reviewed and their clinical implications are discussed.
Automatic Data Processing ; Brain ; Electroencephalography ; Employment ; Evoked Potentials ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Schizophrenia

Driven by the development of medical technology and the increasing workload of hospitals, high-cost medical consumables are playing an ever more important role. Operating theatres, as the biggest consumer of high-cost consumables, cannot afford to manage the consumables in a detailed manner under the traditional approaches of management. This article elaborates on the complete management of the high-cost consumables with the help of bar code technology. Information management of high-cost consumables has brought about higher work efficiency, streamlined management process, greater medical safety and higher economic viability of hospitals.
Costs and Cost Analysis ; Electronic Data Processing ; Equipment and Supplies, Hospital ; economics ; Operating Rooms

No abstract available.
Radionuclide Imaging ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Stereolithography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Software ; Technology, Radiologic ; Electronic Data Processing ; Radiology Information Systems

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the role of vestibular input on spatial memory performance in mice that had undergone bilateral surgical labyrinthectomy, semicircular canal (SCC) occlusion and 4G hypergravity exposure. METHODS: Twelve to 16 weeks old ICR mice (n=30) were used for the experiment. The experimental group divided into 3 groups. One group had undergone bilateral chemical labyrinthectomy, and the other group had performed SCC occlusion surgery, and the last group was exposed to 4G hypergravity for 2 weeks. The movement of mice was recorded using camera in Y maze which had 3 radial arms (35 cm long, 7 cm high, 10 cm wide). We counted the number of visiting arms and analyzed the information of arm selection using program we developed before and after procedure. RESULTS: The bilateral labyrinthectomy group which semicircular canal and otolithic function was impaired showed low behavioral performance and spacial memory. The semicircular canal occlusion with CO₂ laser group which only semicircular canal function was impaired showed no difference in performance activity and spatial memory. However the hypergravity exposure group in which only otolithic function impaired showed spatial memory function was affected but the behavioral performance was spared. The impairment of spatial memory recovered after a few days after exposure in hypergravity group. CONCLUSIONS: This spatial memory function was affected by bilateral vestibular loss. Space-related information processing seems to be determined by otolithic organ information rather than semicircular canals. Due to otolithic function impairment, spatial learning was impaired after exposure to gravity changes in animals and this impaired performance was compensated after normal gravity exposure.
Animals ; Arm ; Automatic Data Processing ; Gravitation ; Hypergravity ; Memory ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Otolithic Membrane ; Semicircular Canals ; Spatial Learning ; Spatial Memory