• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.861-869
• /
• 2022

In patients with Tourette's syndrome, a tic occurs when Mu wave synchronization is broken. Conversely, when Mu wave synchronization is achieved, a tick does not occur. When the tic is suppressed, the cognitive control response process is changed, and if the neurofeedback training that adjusts the EEG frequency power is performed with the changed, the patient will be treated autonomously without artificially suppressing the tic. The results of the research test suggest that if the tic patient does not artificially synchronize mu waves in the premotor cortex (Frontal Cortical 3 site), and if EEG control is performed autonomously like neurofeedback training, as a result, tics do not occur. Cognitive control response processes are altered when a subject is inhibited from tics. By training the altered cognitive control with neurofeedback that modulates EEG frequency power, the patient can be treated autonomously without artificially suppressing the tic.Mu-wave synchronizationcan now be added to existing neurofeedback treatment protocols such as SMR reinforcement, theta-beta-wave imbalance correction, and alpha-wave reinforcement. This study will be used in follow-up studies and clinical trials to more scientifically verify the neurofeedback treatment protocol, a treatment for patients with Tourette's syndrome.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.64-70
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of herbal complex HPL-01 on dextran sodium sulfate(DSS) induced ulcerative colitis in rat. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized and divided into six groups. Five groups, excluding the normal group, were orally administered orally HPL-01(50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) for 21 days, and acute colitis was induced during the last 7 days by 4% DSS in the drinking water. The HPL-01 administered DSS-treated rats exhibited significantly reduced colon macroscopic damage index and increased body weight and colonic length 7 days after DSS treatment. Additionally, these rats showed lower serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 than those treated only with DSS. HPL-01(100 or 200 mg/kg) also attenuated the DSS-induced increase in the number of white blood cells, granulocytes, and mid cells and improved intestinal damage. Taken together, these results suggest that HPL-01 is a promising anti-inflammatory agent that may be in the treatment of colitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.103-109
• /
• 2022

Background and Objectives The Voice Perceived Present Control scale (VPPC) has been developed to provide better insight into patients' perceived control over their thoughts or behaviors related to voice disorders. The objective of the present study was to validate the Korean VPPC (K-VPPC) by evaluating its internal consistency and reliability. Materials and Method All items of the English VPPC were translated into Korean. Content validity was analyzed through three Delphi survey rounds by an expert panel (n=44) with active clinical and research experience in treating dysphonic patients. Twenty-three patients with a heterogeneous diagnosis of dysphonia and twenty-three gender-matched vocally normal controls (total n=46) were asked to complete the K-VPPC and the Korean Voice Handicap Index-10 (KVHI-10). Psychometric properties including internal consistency and reliability were evaluated to examine the appropriateness of cross-cultural use of K-VPPC. Results Cronbach's alpha coefficient of K-VPPC was 0.89 for dysphonic patients, indicating good internal consistency in clinical samples. Furthermore, patients with dysphonia scored significantly lower on the total score of K-VPPC and higher on voice handicap than the vocally normal controls. Spearman's correlation coefficients indicated an inverse and moderate association between the K-VPPC and all domains of KVHI-10 (Spearman's r=-0.44- -0.68). Conclusion The findings of the current study indicated that the K-VPPC is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of perceived control in Korean patients with dysphonia. Therefore, the K-VPPC could be a useful and complementary tool for the comprehensive evaluation of dysphonia, thereby improving care in Korean patients with voice disorders.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.277-285
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Gastrodia elata (GE) has been used to treat cognition impairment, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of GE water extracts (GEE) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AD model in mice. (Aβ). Methods: We classified six groups as follow; group 1: control (CON), group 2: LPS (0.5 mg/kg/day, four times), group 3: 4 mg/kg donepezil (DP), group 4: 100 mg/kg GEE+LPS, group 5: 200 mg/kg GEE+LPS, group 6: 500 mg/kg GEE+LPS. Results: We found that GEE has an effect that inhibits decrease of discrimination index in object recognition test, as well as spontaneous alteration in the Y-maze test by LPS. Treatment with LPS increased amlyloid-β (Aβ) concentration, and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in cerebral cortex of mice. However, GEE significantly protected against LPS-induced Aβ and BDNF changes. Our findings also showed that the inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] mRNA and protein were up-regulated by the LPS injection. But GEE significantly suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines increase in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: This study suggests that the GEE may be an effective AD therapeutic agent, in treating neurodegenerative diseases including AD.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.396-405
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study evaluated the predictive role of fecal calprotectin (FC) measured at an early stage of treatment for monitoring clinical remission (CR) after six months and endoscopic remission (ER) after one year of treatment in pediatric Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: This retrospective study included 45 patients who simultaneously underwent ileocolonoscopy and FC testing during follow-up. FC levels were measured before and after six weeks of treatment. CR was assessed after six months of treatment using Pediatric Crohn' s Disease Activity Index and acute-phase reactants. ER was assessed after one year using the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease. Results: Twenty-nine (64.4%) patients used oral prednisolone for remission induction and 16 (35.6%) patients used anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Thirty (66.7%) patients achieved CR, while 24 (53.3%) achieved ER. The FC level measured after six weeks of treatment could predict CR (χ²=9.15, p=0.0025) and ER (χ²=12.31, p=0.0004). The δFC could predict CR (χ²=7.91, p=0.0049), but not ER (χ²=1.85, p=0.1738). With a threshold of ≤950.4 ㎍/g, FC at week six could predict CR with 76.7% sensitivity and 73.3% specificity. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.769 (standard error 0.0773, p=0.0005). The same threshold predicted ER with 87.5% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity. The AUC was 0.774 (standard error 0.074, p=0.0002). Conclusion: FC assay at an early stage of treatment can be used as a surrogate marker to predict CR and mucosal healing in pediatric CD.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.32-47
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) characterized by an enlarged prostate gland is common in elderly men. Corni Fructus (CF) and Schisandrae Fructus (SF) are known to have various pharmacological effects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory efficacy of CF, SF, and their mixture (MIX) on the development of BPH using an in vivo model of testosterone-induced BPH. MATERIALS/METHODS: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups. To induce BPH, testosterone propionate (TP) was injected to rats except for those in the control group. Finasteride, saw palmetto (SP), CF, SF, and MIX were orally administered along with TP injection. At the end of treatment, histological changes in the prostate and the level of various biomarkers related to BPH were evaluated. RESULTS: Our results showed that BPH induced by TP led to prostate weight and histological changes. Treatment with MIX effectively improved TP-induced BPH by reducing prostate index, lumen area, epithelial thickness, and expression of BPH biomarkers such as 5α-reductase type 2, prostate-specific antigen, androgen receptor, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen compared to treatment with CF or SF alone. Moreover, MIX further reduced levels of elevated serum testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and prostate-specific antigen in BPH compared to the SP, a positive control. BPH was also improved more by MIX than by CF or SF alone. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, MIX is a potential natural therapeutic candidate for BPH by regulating 5α-reductase and AR signaling pathway.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2023.05a
• /
• pp.487-487
• /
• 2023

농업 분야에서 미생물은 영양분 가용화, 유기물 분해 등 토양 영양분 공급에 중요한 역할을 하며, 토양 건강성 증진, 식량 안보 및 식품 건강 면에서 많은 활용 가능성을 지니고 있다. 최근 유역 환경 건강성, 생물 다양성 보존, 효율적인 고품질 농산물 생산에 대한 관심이 커져, 지속 가능한 농업 중 하나인 유기농업과 관행농업 토양의 이화학적 및 생물학적 특성에 관한 비교 연구가 진행되고 있다. 미생물은 지속 가능한 농업 발전의 중요한 요소 중 하나로써, 미생물 다양성이 풍부할수록 토양 비옥도, 작물 성장 면에서 긍정적인 영향을 미친다고 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 이에 대한 기초 데이터를 제공하기 위해 논 경작지를 대상으로 유기 및 관행농업 토양의 미생물 군집조성과 Alpha diversity analysis(Chao1, Shannon, Simpson index)을 통해 비교하였다. 경기도 양평군에서 유기 및 관행 논 지역을 각각 1지점씩 선정하였으며, 8월부터 11월까지 총 4회 현장 조사를 진행하였다. 미생물 분석은 차세대염기서열분석을 실시하였으며, bacteria는 16S rRNA V3-4 영역, fungi는 ITS 3-4 영역을 sequencing 하였다. 미생물 군집조성은 문수준에서는 큰 차이가 없었으나, 속수준에서는 fungi 군집조성에 차이를 보였다. 예로 Ustilaginoidea 속은 관행 논 토양에서만 발견되었으며, 벼 이삭누룩병을 일으키는 병원균으로 과도한 질소 비료 시비가 원인으로 추정된다. 종 다양성은 bacteria diversity의 경우 관행 논 토양에서 높게 측정되는 반면, fungi diversity의 경우 유기 논 토양에서 높게 측정되었다. 결론적으로 체계적인 시비 관리 통해 미생물 군집은 조절될 수 있으며, 관행농업은 적절한 시비를 통해 토양 건강성 및 식품 건강성 면에서 유기농업과 비슷한 효과를 보여줄 가능성이 있다고 판단된다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.41-51
• /
• 2022

PURPOSE: The functional limitations in stroke survivors promote sedentary lifestyles and quality of life inadequacies, but there is increasing evidence that this could be minimized by physical exercise. Therefore, this study examined the effects of physical exercise on the quality of life (QoL) and functional capacity (ability to stand up from a sitting position) among stroke survivors drafted from two tertiary hospitals in Osogbo, Nigeria. METHODS: A purposive sampling technique was used to select 21 registered right or left outpatient hemiplegic stroke survivors in a pre- and post-test experimental research design. The research questions were presented using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, while an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the study hypothesis at the .05 alpha level for significance. RESULTS: Compared to the baseline (week 0), there were significant increases in the general quality of life, healthy well-being, physical exercise, pain perception, and environmental domains of QOL among the survivors in week four. Moreover, a significant increase was observed in these indices in week eight, compared to week four, except for the pain perception domain. Compared to the baseline, there was a significant decrease in the time it took the stroke survivors to stand up from a sitting position in week four. A significant decrease was observed in this index in week eight compared to week four. CONCLUSION: Marked corridor 20 meters brief walking exercise for eight weeks significantly improved the quality of life and ability to stand up from a sitting position in stroke survivors in Osogbo, Nigeria.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.358-367
• /
• 2023

Background: This study aimed to develop and assess the psychometric features of the Physical Activity at Workplace Questionnaire (PAWPQ) based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to evaluate employees' physical activity (PA) behaviors at the workplace. Methods: This psychometric cross-sectional study was conducted on 455 employees working in one of the gas refineries in Iran. The participants were selected using the proportional stratified sampling method in 2019. The data collection tools were a demographic information questionnaire, the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and a questionnaire developed based on the SCT, whose psychometric features were confirmed in terms of validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS₂₂ and AMOS₂₀ software. Results: The first version of PAWPQ-SCT had 74 items. After evaluating content and face validity, nine items were removed. The results of the content validity index (0.98), content validity ratio (0.86), and impact score (3.62) were acceptable for the whole instrument. In exploratory factor analysis, after removing seven items-58-item final version of the scale-six factors could explain 73.54% of the total variance. The results of structural equation modeling showed the acceptable fit of the model into the data (RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.917, NFI = 0.878, TLI = 0.905, IFI = 0.917, CMIN/DF = 2.818). Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Intraclass Correlation were 0.90 and 0.86, respectively. Conclusion: This study confirmed that the psychometric features of the 58-item final version of PAWPQSCT constructs were acceptable in a sample of Iranian employees. This questionnaire can be used as a valid and reliable tool to evaluate Iranian employees' PA behaviors and develop effective educational interventions for workers and managers.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.9-21
• /
• 2011

This study is conducted to know the change in water environment of Lake Hwajinpo from 2000 to 2008 with physico-chemical parameters; salinity, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus and total nitrogen and others. And zooplanktons and phytoplanktons were studied from 2007 to 2008. From the water quality data of Lake Hwajinpo from 2000 to 200S; water temperature, salinity, transparency, chemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen ranges are $2.8{\sim}29.4^{\circ}C$, 0.23~33.2‰, $0.2{\sim}1.8\;m$, $0.2{\sim}20.2\;mg\;L^{-1}$ and $0.1{\sim}17.4\;mg\;L^{-1}$ and the average values are $18.0^{\circ}C$, 15.7‰, 0.7 m, $5.7\;mg\;L^{-1}$ and $8.0\;mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. Total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) ranges are $0.024{\sim}0.869\;mg\;L^{-1}$ (average 0.091) and $0.240{\sim}5.310\;mg\;L^{-1}$ (average 1.235). Average TN/TP ratio is 16.4. The annual variations in COD, TP, TN and Chl.${\alpha}$ are compared. COD in 2000 is $4.83\;mg\;L^{-1}$ and 2008 is $1.80\;mg\;L^{-1}$ which is reduced by $0.34\;mg\;L^{-1}$ every year. TP in 2000 is $0.07\;mg\;L^{-1}$ and 2008 is $0.05\;mg\;L^{-1}$ reduced gradually. Yearly reduction in TN is $0.09\;mg\;L^{-1}$, in 2000 and 2008 the values are $1.54\;mg\;L^{-1}$ and $0.77\;mg\;L^{-1}$ respectivly. Chl.${\alpha}$ in 2000 is $46.30\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ and $5.78\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ in 2008; yearly reduction is $4.50\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. The tropic state index (TSI) in south and north parts of Lake Hwajinpo in 2000 are 67 and 63 which are reduced to 63 and 59 in 2008 respectively. North and south part of Lake Hwajinpo have 67 species of phytoplankton under 47 families in 2007 and 2008. Dominant species in south part in 2007 are; Asterococcus superbus in May, Lyngbya sp. in September and Trachelomonas spp. in November and in 2008 Anabaena spiroides in August are abundant and varies with time. Zooplankton species in Lake Hwajinpo are 25 of 25 families. Dominant species in south part in May and August 2007 and May and November in 2008 Copepoda larvae and in September 2007 Protozoa spp. of Protozoan and Brachionus plicatilis and Brachionus urceolaris of Cladocera in August 2008. Dominant species in north part Asplanchna sp. of Cladecera in August and November 2007 and rest of the time are larvae of Copepoda. In this way, the water quality of Lake Hwajinpo is changing with slow rate in the long period specially nutrients concentration (TP, TN etc) is decreasing.