• Speech Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.173-184
• /
• 2004

This study aims to discuss the test methodologies that evaluate the speech intelligibility of hearing-impaired adults using various contexts. Seven adults with severe hearing loss participated in the experiment. The context of the speech intelligibility consists of 77 pairs of one-syllable words with phonemic contrasts, 30 two-syllable words and the list of each 12 and 10 sentences. The speech intelligibility of various contexts had significant correlation, and both one-syllable words with phonemic contrasts and the sentence 1 had higher correlation than other tests. The one-syllable words with phonemic contrasts took longer to test than others, and it demanded more effort to select the pair of words. However, from the point of view of the identification of segmental difficulties, the one-syllable words with phonemic contrasts that reflected segmental factors contributing to the intelligibility was useful.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.381-388
• /
• 2020

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive psychostimulant and one of the most widely abused drugs worldwide. The continuous use of METH eventually leads to drug addiction and causes serious health complications, including attention deficit, memory loss and cognitive decline. These neurological complications are strongly associated with METH-induced neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation, which leads to neuronal cell death. The current review investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying METH-mediated neuronal damages. Our analysis demonstrates that the process of neuronal impairment by METH is closely related to oxidative stress, transcription factor activation, DNA damage, excitatory toxicity and various apoptosis pathways. Thus, we reach the conclusion here that METH-induced neuronal damages are attributed to the neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory effect of the drug. This review provides an insight into the mechanisms of METH addiction and contributes to the discovery of therapeutic targets on neurological impairment by METH abuse.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.394-397
• /
• 2021

Sodium hydroxide or caustic soda is a corrosive agent that can cause extensive damage to the oral mucosa, lips, and tongue when ingested either accidentally or intentionally. These injuries include microstomia, shallow vestibule, ankyloglossia, speech impairment, loss of teeth and impairment in facial expression. In the present article, we report a unique case of tongue adhesion to the mouth floor and its surgical management in a 66-year-old female patient, who had a history of caustic soda ingestion.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2023

Parkinson's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of Parkinson's disease, including classification of Parkinson's disease, impairment due to impairment, how disability is assessed, and how it is treated. Major symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremors, stiffness, bradykinesia, and postural instability, and treatment methods include rehabilitation through drugs, surgical procedures, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Early diagnosis, individualized treatment interventions, and comprehensive treatment involving a multidisciplinary medical team will be essential to manage Parkinson's disease and improve patients' quality of life. In conclusion, this study will provide comprehensive information on the complex nature of Parkinson's disease and serve as a useful guide for healthcare providers designing treatment plans for Parkinson's patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 2013

Objectives Non-major depression with fewer symptoms than required for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) has consistently been found to be associated with functional impairment. In this study, we aim to estimate the cognitive impairment and the quality of life in elderly patients with subsyndromal depression (SSD) compared with non-depressive elderly (NDE). Methods The Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was administered to 194 outpatients with depression and 108 normal controls. SSD is defined as having five or more current depressive symptoms with core depressive symptoms (depressive mood or loss of interest or pleasure) during more than half a day and more than seven days over two weeks. Depression was evaluated by the Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale of a 15-item short version. Global cognition was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination in the Korean version of CERAD assessment packet (MMSE-KC). Subjective cognitive impairment was assessed by the Subjective Memory Complaint Questionnaire. Quality of life was evaluated by the Korean Version of Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey. Results The mean score of the MMSE-KC in the SSD group was lower than that in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education [F = 4.270, p = 0.04, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)]. If we defined those having Z-score of MMSE-KC < -1.5 as a high risk group of cognitive impairment, the odds ratio for the high risk group of cognitive impairment was 1.86 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.04-3.34] in SSD and 7.57 (95% CI 3.50-16.40) in MDD compared to NDE. The scores of physical component summary (F = 9.274, p = 0.003, ANCOVA) and mental component summary (F = 53.166, p < 0.001, ANCOVA) in the SSD group were lower than those in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education. Conclusions The subjects with SSD, as well as those with MDD, showed impairment of global cognition and also experienced low quality of life in both physical and mental aspects, compared to the NDE group.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.30-37
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Preterm infants are at high risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proposed as a means of predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in this population. It is controversial whether diffuse excessive high signal intensity (DEHSI) represents damage to the white matter or delayed myelination in preterm infants. This study investigated MRI findings for predicting the severity of neurodevelopmental outcomes and assessing whether preterm infants with DEHSI near term-equivalent age have abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes. Materials and Methods: Preterm infants (n = 64, gestational age at birth < 35 weeks) undergoing brain MRI near term-equivalent age and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated between 18 and 24 months of age. The associations of MRI findings and the risk of severe cognitive delay, severe psychomotor delay, cerebral palsy (CP), and neurosensory impairment were analyzed. The associations of DEHSI with risks of severe cognitive delay, severe psychomotor delay, CP, and neurosensory impairment (hearing or visual impairment) were analyzed. Outcome data were evaluated by logistic regression and the Fisher's exact test. Results: There were significant associations between abnormal white matter findings and delayed mental development, delayed psychomotor development, neurosensory impairment, and presence of CP. The presence of DEHSI was not correlated with delayed neurodevelopmental outcomes or presence of CP. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, cystic encephalomalacia, punctate lesion, loss of white matter volume and ventricular dilation were significantly associated with CP. Conclusion: Abnormal MRI findings near term-equivalent age in preterm infants predict adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. No significant association between DEHSI and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes was demonstrated.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1997 no.11
• /
• pp.63-66
• /
• 1997

With the advent of high speed digital signal processing chips, new digital techniques have been introduced to the hearing instrument. This advanced hearing instrument circuitry has led to the need or and the development of new fitting approach. A number of different fitting approaches have been developed over the past few years, yet there has been little agreement on which approach is the "best" or most appropriate to use. However, when we develop not only new hearing aid, but also its fitting method, the intensive subject-based clinical tests are necessarily accompanied. In this paper, we present an objective method to evaluate and predict the performance of hearing aids without the help of such subject-based tests. In the hearing impairment simulation (HIS) algorithm, a sensorineural hearing impairment model is established from auditory test data of the impaired subject being simulated. Also, in the hearing impairment simulation system the abnormal loudness relationships created by recruitment was transposed to the normal dynamic span of hearing. The nonlinear behavior of the loudness recruitment is defined using hearing loss unctions generated from the measurements. The recruitment simulation is validated by an experiment with two impaired listeners, who compared processed speech in the normal ear with unprocessed speech in the impaired ear. To assess the performance, the HIS algorithm was implemented in real-time using a floating-point DSP.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.22-29
• /
• 2015

Objective : Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and prolonged febrile seizures (pFS) are common neurologic problems that occur during childhood. However, there is insufficient evidence from experimental studies to conclude that pFS directly induces hippocampal injury. We studied cognitive function and histological changes in a rat model and investigated which among pFS, HIE, or a dual pathologic effect is most detrimental to the health of children. Methods : A rat model of HIE at postnatal day (PD) 7 and a pFS model at PD10 were used. Behavioral and cognitive functions were investigated by means of weekly open field tests from postnatal week (PW) 3 to PW7, and by daily testing with the Morris water maze test at PW8. Pathological changes in the hippocampus were observed in the control, pFS, HIE, and HIE+pFS groups at PW9. Results : The HIE priming group showed a seizure-prone state. The Morris water maze test revealed a decline in cognitive function in the HIE and HIE+pFS groups compared with the pFS and control groups. Additionally, the HIE and HIE+pFS groups showed significant hippocampal neuronal damage, astrogliosis, and volume loss, after maturation. The pFS alone induced minimal hippocampal neuronal damage without astrogliosis or volume loss. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that pFS alone causes no considerable memory or behavioral impairment, or cellular change. In contrast, HIE results in lasting memory impairment and neuronal damage, gliosis, and tissue loss. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the developing brain concerning conditions caused by HIE or pFS.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.499-507
• /
• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), a dominant component from the extract of Panax ginseng root, exhibits neuroprotective functions in many neurological diseases. This study was intended to investigate whether Rb1 can attenuate cisplatin-induced memory impairments and explore the potential mechanisms. Methods: Cisplatin was injected intraperitoneally with a dose of 5 mg/kg/wk, and Rb1 was administered in drinking water at the dose of 2 mg/kg/d to rats for 5 consecutive wk. The novel objects recognition task and Morris water maze were used to detect the memory of rats. Nissl staining was used to examine the neuron numbers in the hippocampus. The activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, cholineacetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase, and the levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, acetylcholine, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, and interleukin-10 were measured by ELISA to assay the oxidative stress, cholinergic function, and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus. Results: Rb1 administration effectively ameliorates the memory impairments caused by cisplatin in both novel objects recognition task and Morris water maze task. Rb1 also attenuates the neuronal loss induced by cisplatin in the different regions (CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus) of the hippocampus. Meanwhile, Rb1 is able to rescue the cholinergic neuron function, inhibit the oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in cisplatin-induced rat brain. Conclusion: Rb1 rescues the cisplatin-induced memory impairment via restoring the neuronal loss by reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and recovering the cholinergic neuron functions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.128-135
• /
• 2012

The kidney and cochlea have similar physiological characteristics, specifically the active transport of fluid and electrolytes, similar effects of aminoglycosides and some immunological factors. Several mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) defects have been identified to be associated with hearing impairment either in syndromic or nonsyndromic forms. Dialysis patients had more oxidative stress than healthy subjects and this elevated oxidative stress leads to alterations of the mtDNA. To generate a more comprehensive analysis of the relationship between mitochondrial variation and hearing loss, two SNPs of 10609, 14668 position showed nominal levels of association with hearing loss. In our result, the mean PTA values in the ESRD patients were $28{\pm}13.9\;(mean{\pm}SD)dB$ and $51.0{\pm}23.2dB$ in low and high frequencies, which were significantly higher than those in the normal controls. 10609T>C and 14668C>T were significantly associated with hearing loss in the ESRD patients. In summary, our results suggest that the polymorphisms of the ND4L subunit gene might be association with ESRD patients and hearing loss.