• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.248-261
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• 1994

허혈성 뇌졸중 환자에서 운동장애의 판단 및 예후 판정에 운동유발전위 (motor evoked potential : MEP)의 유용성을 알아보기 위해 정상대조군 24례와 허혈성 뇌졸중 환자 24례를 대상으로 대뇌피질 및 척추부위에 자기자극을 가하며 단모지외전근 및 무지외전근에서 MEP를 기록하였고 각각의 근육에서 대뇌피질을 자극하여 기록된 MEP의 잠복기에서 척추부위를 자극하여 기록된 MEP의 잠복기를 감한 차이로 CMCT를 산출하였다. 대조군은 24례 모두에게 MEP를 유발할 수 있었고 환자군에서는 24폐 중 무반응을 나타낸 경우가 각 근육에서 11례였다. 정상대조군과 MEP를 유발할 수 있었던 뇌졸중 환자에서 단모지외전근에서의 평균 CMCT는 각각 $8.6{\pm}1.4$msec, $9.4{\pm}2.3$msec로 통계적 유의성은 없었고, 무지외전근에서는 $15.1{\pm}2.1$msec, $18.8{\pm}3.9$msec로 유의한 차이를 보였다(p<0.01). 허혈성 뇌졸중 환자에서 추체로 또는 중심피질 병변일 때 혹은 급성기의 운동장애가 심할 때 대뇌피질 자기자극에 무반응을 보인 경우가 많았고, 추체로를 제외한 피질하 병변일 때 혹은 경한 운동장애를 보일 때 CMCT가 정상인 경우가 많았다. 운동장애를 보였던 환자중 급성기의 CMCT가 정상인 경우는 1~2개월 후 상당한 운동회복을 보였고 대뇌피질 자기자극에 반응이 없을 때 운동회복은 미약하였다. 이로 미루어 MEP는 안전하고 간편한 중추성 운동신경계 전달경로의 전기생리학적 검사로써 뇌졸중환자의 운동장애를 판단하는 데 도움을 주고 급성기 운동장애의 예후를 예측하는 데 하나의 지표가 될 수 있을 것이라 사료된다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.177-186
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• 2004

Introduction : Recent studies Suggested that there is a strong correlation between acupuncture stimulation and its related cortical activation. Anther study showed that either positive or negative BOLD effects could be observed depending on anatomical structure in acupuncture stimulation. In ttis study, we investigated a new acupoint $KI_6$ (照海), which was known as motor-related acupoint and obtained an evidence that the stimulation of $KI_6$ resulted in either negative or positive BOLD response to stimulation. Methods & Results : 1. Subjects and paradigms : Two separate stimulation paradigms were performed on five healthy (aged 22-23 yrs) in this study. First, the paradigm of acupuncture stimulation was that the acupuncture needle was inserted in acupoints $KI_6$, which is located in lateral side of the foot and then continuously twisted(補瀉를 除外한 捻轉法) for 70 seconds for 10 cycles of activation. During rest period (70 seconds), the needle was completed removed from acupoint. Total 60 cycles were performed and 10 images were obtained per cycle. Second, nonacupoint was randomly selected and the same paradigm was performed as acupoint stimulation. The stimulation protocol comprised 10 cycles of alternating. activation and rest (10 images per cycle). Total 60 cycles were performed and each cycle take about 1.5 sec for motor task. Subjects take an at least 15 minutes break before starting anther paradigm. 2. fMRI mapping : Multi-slice functional images were obtained on a 1.5T Magnetom Vision MRI scanner (Simens Medical, Erlangen, Germany) equipped with high performance whole-body gradients. The BOLD T2 * - weighted images were acquired with acho planar imaging sequence (TR = 1.2 sec, TE = 60 msec, and flip angle = $90_{\circ}$). The other sequence parameter are : FOV = 210 mm, matrix=$64{\times}128$ or $64{\times}64$, slice number=10 and slice thickness = 5 or 8 mm. the anatomic images were obtained with Spin-echo T1-weighted images. The resulting images were then anaiyzed with STIMULATE (CMRR, U. of Minnesota) to generate functional maps using a student T-test (p < 0.005) and cluster analysis. Both positive and negative response were evaluated. Conclusions : We have observed the activation of the motor cortex by stimulating motor-related acupoint ($KI_6$). Among five subjects, negative BOLD response was shown in four and positive response in one. All subjects showed positive response to conventional finger flexion-extension task. To understand the detailed mechanisms of correlation between acupuncture stimulation and BOLD fMRI changes and two typs of response, further study strongly required.

• 재활치료과학
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.7-18
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• 2019

목적 : 경두개 직류 자극과 강제 유도 운동 치료의 결합된 중재를 적용한 뇌졸중 환자의 회복과 관련된 연구 동향을 알아보고, 중재 계획 시, 도움이 될 수 있는 정보 및 근거를 제시하는 데 목적이 있다. 연구방법 : 전자 데이터베이스 PubMed, NDSL 등을 이용하여 2009년 1월부터 2018년 12월까지 10년간 온라인 데이터에 등록된 논문을 검색하였다. 주요 검색어로 'Transcranial direct current stimulation' or 'tDCS', 'Constraint-induced movement therapy' or 'CIMT', 'Upper extremity function', 'Upper limb', 'Stroke'을 혼용하여 사용하여 본 연구의 선정기준과 배제기준에 부합하는 6편의 논문을 최종 선정하여 분석하였다. 결과 : 경두개 직류 자극의 적용 전류의 세기, 적용시간 등과 강제 유도 운동 치료의 프로토콜은 다양한 방법으로 이루어져 있었지만, 경두개 직류 자극 직 후 CIMT를 시행하는 중재 절차는 동일하게 시행되었다. 중재 효과를 알아보기 위해 상지기능, 일상생활동작, 대뇌피질 활성도 평가 등이 사용되었다. 경두개직류 자극과 강제 유도 운동 치료의 결합된 중재는 뇌졸중 환자의 상지기능과 일상생활동작 개선에 효과적인 것으로 나타났으며, 대뇌피질의 활성화에도 유의미한 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 결론 : 본 연구를 통해 경두개 직류 자극과 강제 유도 운동 치료의 결합된 중재 적용에 필요한 정보 제공 및 근거를 마련하였다. 추후 연구를 통해, 경두개 직류 자극의 자극시간과 전류의 세기, 전극의 부착 위치 등에 대한 일반화가 필요할 것이며 가장 적절한 강제 유도 운동 치료 프로토콜을 사용하여 큰 모집단을 대상으로 장기간 추적 관찰을 포함한 무작위 대조군 실험연구가 필요하다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.209-215
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• 2011

Objective : The authors investigated the changes of cortical sensorimotor activity in functional MRI (fMRI) and functional recovery in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients who had been treated by bone marrow cell transplantation. Methods : Nineteen patients with SCI were included in this study; ten patients with clinical improvement and nine without. The cortical sensorimotor activations were studied using the proprioceptive stimulation during the fMRI. Results : Diagnostic accuracy of fMRI with neurological improvement was 70.0% and 44.4% for sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Signal activation in the ipsilateral motor cortex in fMRI was commonly observed in the clinically neurological improved group (p-value=0.002). Signal activation in the contralateral temporal lobe and basal ganglia was more commonly found in the neurological unimproved group (p-value<0.001). Signal activation in other locations was not statistically different. Conclusion : In patients with SCI, activation patterns of fMRI between patients with neurologic recovery and those without varied. Such plasticity should be considered in evaluating SCI interventions based on behavioral and neurological measurements.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.98-103
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• 2022

Purpose: New therapeutic approaches have emerged to improve gait ability in patients with brain damage, such as action observation learning (AOT), auditory cueing, motor imagery etc. We attempted to investigate the effects of AOT with auditory cueing (AOTAC) on gait function in patients with stroke. Methods: The eighteen stroke patients with a unilateral hemiparesis were randomly divided into three groups; the AOTAC, AOT, and control groups. The AOTAC group (n=8) received training via observing a video that showed normal gait with sound of footsteps as an auditory cue; the AOT group (n=6) receive action observation without auditory stimulation; the control group (n=5) observed the landscape video image. Intervention time of three groups was 30 minutes per day, five times a week, for four weeks. Gait parameters, such as cadence, velocity, stride length, stance phase, and swing phase were collected in all patients before and after each training session. Results: Significant differences were observed among the three groups with respect to the parameters, such as cadence, velocity, stride length, and stance/swing phase. Post-hoc analysis indicated that the AOTAC group had a greater significant change in all of parameters, compared with the AOT and control groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that AOTAC may be an effective therapeutic approach to improve gait symmetry and function in patients with stroke. We believe that this effect is attributable to the change of cortical excitability on motor related to cortical areas.

• 감성과학
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.13-22
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• 1998

The sense of touch has both objective and subjective characteristics. During hand evaluation of the fabrics. psycho physiological processes such as emotion and stimulation. On other site, the mode of touch (passive vs. active) is also capable to modulate somatosensory responses. I.e., suppress somatocensory perception during active electrocortical responses to passive and active touch of the textiles with different subjective emotional preference. The study was carried out on 36 female college students. Physiological signals were acquired by Grass and BIOPAC 100 systems with AcqKnowledge variables, namely heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), pulse transit time (PTT), respiration rate (RSP) and skin conductance parameters (SCL, amplitude, risetime and number of SCRs) were analyzed for baseline and stimulation conditions. Analysis was manifested in a form of moderate HR acceleration. RSP increase, RSA decrease (lowered vagal tone), decreased PTT and increased electrodermal activity (increased SCL, several SCRs) that reflects general sympathetic activation. Parietal EEG effects (on contra-lateral side to stimulated hand)were featured by short-term alpha-blocking, slightly reduced theta, significantly increased delta and enhanced fast beta activity with few variations across stimuli. The main finding of the study was that most and least preferred textures exhibited significant differences in autonomic (HR, RSP, PTT, SCR, and at less extent in RSA and SCL) and electrocortical responses (delta, slow and fast alpha, fast beta relative power). These differences were recorded both in passive and active stimulation modes, thus demonstrating reproducibility of distinction between most and least emotionally preferred tactile stimuli, suggesting influence of psychological factors, such as emotional property of stimulus, on physiological outcome.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.377-383
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• 2023

Purpose: There is increasing attention to the application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for enhancing cognitive functions in subjects to aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite varying treatment outcomes in tDCS which depend on the amount of current reaching the brain, there is no general information on the impacts of anatomical features associated with AD on tDCS-induced electric field. Objective: The objective of this study is to examine how AD-related anatomical variation affects the tDCS-induced electric field using computational modeling. Methods: We collected 180 magnetic resonance images (MRI) of AD patients and healthy controls from a publicly available database (Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative; ADNI), and MRIs were divided into female-AD, male-AD, female-normal, and male-normal groups. For each group, segmented brain volumes (cerebrospinal fluid, gray matter, ventricle, rostral middle frontal (RMF), and hippocampus/amygdala complex) using MRI were measured, and tDCS-induced electric fields were simulated, targeting RMF. Results: For segmented brain volumes, significant sex differences were observed in the gray matter and RMF, and considerable disease differences were found in cerebrospinal fluid, ventricle, and hippocampus/amygdala complex. There were no differences in the tDCS-induced electric field among AD and normal groups; however, higher peak values of electric field were observed in the female group than the male group. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated the presence of sex and disease differences in segmented brain volumes; however, this pattern differed in tDCS-induced electric field, resulting in significant sex differences only. Further studies, we will adjust the brain stimulation conditions to target the deep brain and examine the effects, because of significant differences in the ventricles and deep brain regions between AD and normal groups.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.39-47
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• 2010

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic factor involved in neuronal differentiation, plasticity, survival and regeneration. BDNF draws massive attention mainly due to the potential as a therapeutic target in neurological diseases such as depression and Alzheimer's disease. In a primary screening for the natural compounds enhancing BDNF release from cultured rat primary cortical neuron, we found that compounds such as baicalein, tanshinone IIa, cinnamic acid, epiberberine, genistein and wogonin among many others increased BDNF release. All the compounds at $0.1{\mu}M$ of concentration barely showed stimulatory effect on BDNF induction, however, their combination (mixture 1; baicalein, tanshinone IIa and cinnamic acid, mixture 2; epiberberine, genistein and wogonin) showed synergistic increase in BDNF release as well as mRNA and protein expression. The level of BDNF expression was comparable to the maximum BDNF stimulation attainable by a positive control oroxylin A ($20{\mu}M$) without cell toxicity as determined by MTT analysis. Both mixtures synergistically increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) as well as cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), an immediate and essential regulator of BDNF expression. Similar to these results, mixture of these compounds synergistically inhibited the up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induced by lipopolysaccharide treatments in rat primary astrocytes. These results suggest that the combinatorial treatment of natural compounds in lower concentration might be a useful strategy to obtain sufficient BDNF stimulation in neurological disease condition such as depression, while minimizing potential side effects and toxicity of higher concentration of a single compound.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.831-841
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• 2001

Objective : Somatosensory evoked potentials(SSEPs) have been used widely both experimentally and clinically to monitor the function of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Studies of SSEPs have reported the various recording techniques and patterns of SSEP. The previous SSEP studies used scalp recording electrodes, showed mean vector potentials which included relatively constant brainstem potentials(far-field potentials) and unstable thalamocortical pathway potentials(near-field potentials). Even in invasive SSEP recording methods, thalamocortical potentials were variable according to the kinds, depths, and distance of two electrodes. So they were regarded improper method for monitoring of upper level of brainstem. The present study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of somatosensory evoked field potentials(SSEFPs) of the cerebral cortex that evoked by hindlimb stimulation using ball electrode and the pathways of SSEFP by recording the potentials simultaneously in the cortex, VPL nucleus of thalamus, and nucleus gracilis. Methods : In the first experiment, a specially designed recording electrode was inserted into the cerebral cortex perpendicular to the cortical surface in order to recording the constant cortical field potentials and SSEFPs mapped from different areas of somatosensory cortex were analyzed. In the second experiment, SSEPs were recorded in the ipsilateral nucleus gracilis, the contralateral ventroposterolateral thalamic nucleus(VPL), and the cerebral cortex along the conduction pathway of somatosensory information. Results : In the first experiment, we could constantly obtain the SSEFPs in cerebral cortex following the transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the hind limb, and it revealed that the first large positive and following negative waves were largest at the 2mm posterior and 2mm lateral to the bregma in the contralateral somatosensory cortex. The second experiment showed that the SSEPs were conducted by way of posterior column somatosensory pathway and thalamocortical pathway and that specific patterns of the SSEPs were recorded from the nucleus gracilis, VPL, and cerebral cortex. Conclusion : The specially designed recording electrode was found to be very useful in recording the localized SSEFPs and the transcutaneous electrical stimulation using ball electrode was effective in evoking SSEPs. The characteristic shapes, latencies, and conduction velocities of each potentials are expected to be used the fundamental data for the future study of brain functions, including the hydrocephalus model, middle cerebral artery ischemia model, and so forth.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.199-206
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various electroacupuncture stimulation on neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS) in cerebral cortex, brain stem, cerebellum of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Methods : We evaluated the changes of nNOS-positive neurons using a immunohistochemical method. The staining intensity of nNOS positive neurons was assessed in a quantitative fashion using a microdensitometrical method based on optical density by means of an image analyzer. Results : The average optical density of nNOS-positive neurons of 100 Hz (bipolar square wave 0.2 ms duration and 100 Hz frequency) electroacupuncture treatment group significantly decreased in most cortical areas comparison between the manual acupuncture and 2 Hz (bipolar square wave 0.2 ms duration and 2 Hz frequency) electroacupuncture groups. In the brain stem, the optical density of nNOS-positive neuron at superficial gray layer of the superior colliculus area, dorsolateral periaqueductal gray area and paralemniscal nucleus were same as cerebral cortex. Conclusion : We conclude that the morphological evidence for nNOS-positive neurons may be have regional change in cerebral cortex brain stem and cerebellum according to various electroacupuncture stimulations.