• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.185-192
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• 2013

Objectives : Weight loss and loss of appetite in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients are common symptoms, these are associated with survival as well as nutritional condition. The changes in weight and appetite were reported after treatment using Megestrol acetate and Korean medical treatments. Methods : Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient with weight loss and loss of appetite were treated by administering megestrol acetate a known anti-malignant tumor agent and Korean medical treatments such as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and herbal medicine. The changes in weight and appetite were checked using body mass index(BMI) and simplified nutritional appetite questionnaire(SNAQ). Results : There was a more than 17 kg increase in weight. BMI increased from 15.94 $kg/m^2$ to 21.97 $kg/m^2$ and SNAQ score increased from 7 to 16. Owing to several side effects, Megestrol acetate was stopped after which only Korean medical treatments were provided. After which the lasting effects in BMI and appetite could be seen. Conclusion : There are few studies on weight loss and loss of appetite in ALS patients. Using only megestrol acetate can cause several considerable side effects. Which respect to this, the findings in this study could open up new clinical guideline possibilities.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.119-128
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• 2010

Objectives : The objective of this study is to report the change of progress in symptoms and various scales after treated with Mountain Ginseng Pharmacopuncture(MGP) on the patients of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS). Methods : The three ALS patients who treated with MGP, were checked the change of progress by ALS Functional Rating Scale(ALSFRS), ALS Severity Score(ALSSS), grasping power on both arms and circumference of both thighs and calves. Results : After MGP treatment on three ALS patients, first case did not grow worse during MGP treated whereas she got worse rapidly during none treated period. Second case did not grow worse during treated period and third case got worse in progress by slow degrees despite of MGP treatment. Conclusions : Although MGP could not control the progress of ALS completely, MGP may help the improving of quality of life(QOL) in ALS patients and have the effect of delayed ALS progression.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.193-198
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• 2019

This study analyzed the changes of vowel formant, voice intensity, and fundamental frequency of vowels for 11 months using acoustochemical spectrogram analysis of women diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The test word was a vowel /a, i, u/ and a diphthong /h + ja + da/, /h + wi + da/, and /h +ɰi+ da/. Speech data were collected through the word reading task presented on the monitor using 'Alvin' program, and the recording environment was set to 5,500 Hz for the nyquist frequency and 11,000 Hz for the sampling rate. The records were analyzed by using spectrograms to vowel formants, voice intensity, and fundamental frequency. As a result of analysis, the fundamental frequency and intensity of the ALS process were decreased and the formant slope of the diphthong was decreased rather than the formant change in the vowel. This result suggests that the vowel distortion of ALS due to disease progression is due to the decrease of tongue and jaw co morbidity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.498-505
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• 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal neurological disorder characterized by the deterioration of motor neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate alteration of cationic amino acid transporter (CAT-1) activity in the transport of lysine and the pretreatment effect of lysine on pro-inflammatory states in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cell line. The mRNA expression of cationic amino acid transporter 1 was lower in NSC-34/hSOD1^G93A (MT) than the control cell line (WT), lysine transport is mediated by CAT-1 in NSC-34 cell lines. The uptake of [³H]L-lysine was Na⁺-independent, voltage-sensitive, and strongly inhibited by inhibitors and substrates of cationic amino acid transporter 1 (system y⁺). The transport process involved two saturable processes in both cell lines. In the MT cell line, at a high-affinity site, the affinity was 9.4-fold higher and capacity 24-fold lower than that in the WT; at a low-affinity site, the capacity was 2.3-fold lower than that in the WT cell line. Donepezil and verapamil competitively inhibited [³H]L-lysine uptake in the NSC-34 cell lines. Pretreatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased the uptake of [³H]L-lysine and mRNA expression levels in both cell lines; however, the addition of L-lysine restored the transport activity in the MT cell lines. L-Lysine exhibited neuroprotective effects against pro-inflammatory states in the ALS disease model cell lines. In conclusion, studying the alteration in the expression of transporters and characteristics of lysine transport in ALS can lead to the development of new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.89-102
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• 2015

■ Objectives This study aimed to investigate the domestic research trend about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) treated with Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). ■ Methods Searches of two major TKM databases were conducted for articles published up to July 2015. Searching keyword was "Lou Gehrig's disease" OR "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis". Studies dealt TKM for ALS were included. ■ Results 18 studies were met our inclusion criteria(two prospective studies, one retrospective study, one follow-up study, 14 case reports). Complex TKM intervention of herbal medication, acupuncture and pharmacopuncture was the most frequently used treatment. Individually, herbal medication was the most frequent followed by acupuncture. Short-term assessment showed improvement in ALS symptoms but long-term assessment showed progression of disease. Accessory symptoms including depression, anxiety and insomnia were improved in four studies. ■ Conclusion For more definite evidence, larger studies with long-term follow-up period are needed. Moreover, benefits that TKM can provide for ALS patients as a part of multi-disciplinary approach should be studied in depth.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 2016

Objectives : The serum creatine kinase(CK) level of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) patients suggests that it may be an independent prognostic factor for the survival of ALS. We report the changes of serum CK level of ALS patients treated by administering processed Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts and Korean medical treatments. Methods : We provided an ALS patient with processed Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts and Korean medical treatments including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and herbal medicine. The serum CK level was checked every month. The changes of ALSFRS-R and MRC grade were checked every month for additional result. Results : The serum CK level as the prognostic factor for the survival of ALS gradually decreased for three months. However, ALSFRS-R decreased by two points at the second trial. MRC rate had no change for three months. Conclusion : Combined administration of processed Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts and Korean medical treatment could be meaningful possibilities in the treatment of ALS. We should conduct further studies to solve the limitations of this case study.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.454-464
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing psychosocial well-being in family caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: A descriptive correlational design was used. The transactional model of stress and coping was used to investigate the psychosocial well-being of 137 family caregivers of patients with ALS. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires from January to November 2016. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis with the SPSS WIN 21.0 program. Results: The regression model had an adjusted $R^2$ of .49, which indicated that meaning-focused coping, social support, ALS patient-family caregiver relationship (especially a spousal relationship), and tracheostomy were significant predictors of caregivers' psychosocial well-being. Conclusion: Meaning-focused coping and social support significantly influenced caregivers' psychosocial well-being. Therefore, interventions to improve caregivers' psychosocial well-being must focus on increasing meaning-focused coping and social support resources.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2005

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by progressive impairment of motor functions up to a complete loss of autonomy, and most of ALS patients are associated with the total preservation of mental state like depression. A patient in this case report had ALS and during progress of ALS had undergone depression and Hwabyung's Symptoms. This patient was treated with herb medication, acupuncture, psychotherapy(relaxation & councelling) primarily. During the 18 days of treatment from admission, the patient experienced much improvement of depression and Hwabyung's Symptoms. and ALS's symptom like weakness & numbness of lower limb had improved considerably, too.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.37-39
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• 2001

Although the etiology and pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) is unknown, increasing evidence supports a role for autoimmune mechanisms in motor neuron degeneration. The coexistence of immune disease in ALS supports that an altered immune system may contribute to disease pathogenesis. A 55-year-old woman was admitted to our department due to dysarthria and gait disturbance. On physical and neurologic examination, she showed thyroid enlargement, tongue atrophy, muscle weakness, fasciculation, and increased deep tendon reflex. The electrophysiological studies are compatible with motor neuron disease. Cytological findings of thyroid were compatible with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Thus, we report a case of ALS combined with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. And the simultaneous presentation with ALS and Hashimoto's thyroiditis led us to consider whether this was simply a chance association or not.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.661-665
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• 2000

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) is a fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness resulting in paralysis. ALS is characterized by both upper and lower motor neuron damage. Diagnostic tests include magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) electromyogram(EMG), muscle biopsy, and blood tests. In order for a definitive diagnosis of ALS to be made, damage must be evident in both upper and lower motor neurons. When three limbs are sufficiently affected, the diagnosis is ALS. There is no cure for ALS. We recently experienced one case of ALS, The patients was diagnosed as ALS by EMG and Symptoms. We diagnosed her as Wea jeung and treated by Herbal-medication based on the differentiation of symtoms. we report change of his symptoms through both western medical treatment and oriental medical treatment.