• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.103-107
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• 2015

Objective: Pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) form the base of the abdomino-pelvic cavity and also the PFMs function is important for urinary continence. PFMs training (PFMT) is considered to be the first method for PFM dysfunction. This study demonstrated correct PFMs contraction among commonly used different contraction methods for PFMT. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: In this study, nineteen middle-aged (40-70 years) women participated. To evaluate PFM function, ultrasonography was used to measure the distance of the bladder base movement. The distance of the PFM movements were calculated at rest and during the other contractions. The following four different contraction methods were performed randomly: (1) PFM contraction, (2) abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), (3) anal contraction, and (4) hip adductor muscle contraction. The participants held the contraction for 3 seconds for a total of 3 times with a 30 seconds rest period between each trial. The mean of three measurements in each position were obtained and compared with that in the resting position. Results: The bladder base movement values were significantly greater when comparing PFM with ADIM and hip adductor contractions (p<0.05). The bladder base movement values were significantly greater when comparing ADIM and anal contractions with hip adductor contractions (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that performing PFM contractions is the best method among the common methods for PFMT. Performing PFM contractions was more effective than the other contraction methods.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.143-147
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• 2011

Defensins, cysteine-rich cationic polypeptides released from neutrophils, are known to have powerful antimicrobial properties. In this study, we sacrificed 30 rats to investigate the effects of ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 on detrusor muscle contractions in isolated rat bladder. From the experiments we found relaxing effects of ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 on the contractions induced by phenylephrine (PE) but not by bethanechol (BCh) in the detrusor smooth muscles. To determine the mechanisms of the effects of ${\alpha}$-defensin 1, the changes of effects on PE-induced contraction by ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 pretreatment were observed after pretreatment of Rho kinase inhibitor (Y-27632), protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (Calphostin C), potent activator of PKC (PDBu; phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate), and NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitors (PDTC; pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and sulfasalazine). The contractile responses of PE ($10^{-9}{\sim}10^{-4}$ M) were significantly decreased in some concentrations of ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 ($5{\times}10^{-9}$ and $5{\times}10^{-8}$ M). When strips were pretreated with NF-kB inhibitors (PDTC and sulfasalazine; $10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-6}$ M), the relaxing responses by ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 pretreatment were disappeared. The present study demonstrated that ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 has relaxing effects on the contractions of rat detrusor muscles, through NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Further studies in vivo are required to clarify whether ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 might be clinically related with bladder dysfunction by inflammation process.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.193-200
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• 2021

Sophora flavescens Ait. (Fabaceae) is a medicinal plant widely founded in Northeast Asia, and its dried root (Kushen) has been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The therapeutic effects of Kushen in micturition disorder was not investigated comprehensively yet. In the present study, we examined and compared the efficacy of three batches of Kushen extract using different ethanol content through an in vitro cell-based assay. Among them, we chose the batch with the highest efficacy and augmented the volume of extract for industrial purpose. The bulk extract was examined in its efficacy in the in vitro cell-based assay, and the therapeutic effects through an in vivo behavioral assay of OAB rats. The main components of the extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was investigated by MTT assay. The overall efficacy of the extract was as much as, or more than, kurarinone, a potent BK_Ca channel activator. Thus, the extract was a potent relaxant of urinary smooth muscle by upregulating the activity of BK_Ca channel. The Kushen extract could be explored as an alternative medicine against overactive bladder patients indicating severe dysfunction of BK_Ca channel.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.468-471
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• 2009

Objective : The adolescent presentation of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is well-recognized, but continues to pose significant diagnostic and management controversies. The authors conducted a retrospective study of clinical outcomes after surgical intervention in 24 school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults with TCS. Methods : All 83 patients with a lipomyelomeningocele (LMMC) underwent untethering surgery for caudal cord tethering between 1987 and 2007. The clinical charts and follow-up data were reviewed. Of these patients, 24 school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults with TCS were studied with respect to the clinical, radiologic, pathologic features, and surgical outcomes. Results : Untethering procedures were performed in 24 patients (age range, 7-25 years) for TCS of various origins (lipoma, lipomyelomeningocele, and tight filum terminale). Specific circumstances involving additional tugging of the already tight conus, and direct trauma to the back precipitated the onset of symptom in 50% of the patients. Diffuse and non-dermatomal leg pain, often referred to the anorectal region, was the most common presenting symptom. Progressive sensorimotor deficits in the lower extremities, as well as bladder and bowel dysfunction, were also common findings, but progressive foot and spinal deformities were noted less frequently. The most common tethered lesions were intradural lipomas, thickened filum and fibrous band adhesions into the placode sac. The surgical outcome was gratifying in relation to pain and motor weakness, but disappointing with respect to resolution of bowel and bladder dysfunction. Of the 24 patients with TCS, pre-operative deficits improved after surgery in 14 (58.3%). remained stable in 8 (33.4%). and worsened in 2 (8.3%). Conclusion : The pathologic lesions of tethered cord syndrome in school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults, are mostly intradural lipomas and tight filum. It is suggested that the degree of cord traction results in neurologic dysfunction in late life due to abnormal tension, aggravated by trauma or repeated tugging of the conus during exercise. Early diagnosis and adequate surgical release might be the keys to the successful outcome in school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults with TCS.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.52-61
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• 2006

이상의 결과를 종합하면, 인삼 총사포닌은 본 실험의 조건에서 배뇨개선 효과가 있으며 이에 관여하는 총사포닌의 주 효능은 근위부요도를 이완시킴으로써 이루어지는 것으로 생각된다. 그리고 인삼 총사포닌은 혈류역동학적으로 안전하게 음경해면체 평활근을 이완시켜 음경발기를 유발시키는 것으로 생각된다.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.114-122
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• 2003

본 저자들은 상기도 감염 후 발열과 배뇨곤란, 하지의 근력저하를 주소로 내원한 7세 환아에서, 급성 횡단성 척수염 증상으로 시작하여 의식 변화와 호흡부전의 급성 파종성 뇌척수염으로 진행한 1례에서 enterovirus 71을 증명하고 고용량 methylprednisolone 정주 후 증상의 호전을 경험하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• 전자통신동향분석
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.98-110
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• 2020

Precise detection and modulation of electrical signal patterns passing through peripheral nerves connecting organs and brainstems, referred to as electroceuticals or bioelectronic medicines, have emerged as a new type of treatments for neural disorders and chronic diseases. With the rapid advancements in neural interface technologies, electroceuticals are the focus of treatments for these disorders or diseases. In this paper, we introduced electroceuticals as an extension of neuromodulation for the treatment of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and bladder dysfunction, without side effects that are unavoidably elicited when conventional drugs are taken. Further, this paper reviewed the anatomy of the peripheral nervous system, treatment examples for chronic diseases, technological demands for peripheral nerve interfacing, global R&D programs and market trends for electroceuticals, and prospects on electroceuticals.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.208-209
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• 2005

Interstitial cystitis is an extremely painful and distressing condition, characterized by severe suprapubic pain, which increases with bladder filling and is relieved by voiding. The daily frequency of micturition may approach 100 times, but no incontinence is observed. The symptoms persist throughout the night, which consequently affects sleep. The etiology of this condition is still unknown, but includes infection, autoimmune response, allergic reaction, neurogenic inflammation, epithelial dysfunction and inherited susceptibility. Herein, a case of interstitial cystitis, with severe symptoms, which was successfully treated with lumbar sympathetic block, is reported.

• 대한한의학원전학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

Objective & Method : By investigating physiological function of tri-energizer, symptoms, and organ coordination, we obtained following conclusion. Tri-energizer is the membrane structure that surrounds the five visceral organs and six hollow organs, and filled with fluid. Tri-energizer acts as the passage for the flow of qi energy. Result & Conclusion : Therefore, dysfunction of the tri-energizer is caused by abnormal evaporation and metabolism. Upper-energizer regulates cardiopulmonary function, middle-energizer regulates spleen and stomach functions, and lower-energizer regulates liver, kidneys, small and large intestines, and bladder functions. Such a functional specialization is possible by receiving the source of qi through the wall wrapping around the internal organs. Tri-energizer represents the exterior and interior relationship by acting as the membrane structure supporting the five visceral organs and six hollow organs and at the same time, as the pericardium surrounding the heart.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

Since many years, continuous low dose antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP) has been used for children at a risk for recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), especially those with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). The incidence of recurrent UTI has been shown to be higher in children with VUR with bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) than in those with VUR without BBD. Therefore, CAP has been recommended for children with BBD and VUR because of the increased risk of UTI. However, the use of CAP has become highly controversial because of bacterial resistance developed due to antibiotic over-usage. The preventive effects of probiotics have been proved in various adult urogenital infections, and the antimicrobial activities of lactobacilli against uropathogens have been demonstrated in previous in vitro studies. However, a critical assessment of their efficacy in children with UTI is lacking. The importance of the use of urogenital probiotics is that it is a natural approach that replenishes the depleted normal flora to create a better environment to fight off uropathogens. Probiotics have a great potential, particularly today with the increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.