• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.64-69
• /
• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that induces symptoms such as a decrease in motor function and cognitive impairment. Increases in the aggregation and deposition of amyloid beta protein ($A{\beta}$) in the brain may be closely correlated with the development of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, the effects of an adzuki bean extract on the aggregation of $A{\beta}$ were examined; moreover, the anti-Alzheimer's activity of the adzuki extract was examined. MATERIALS/METHODS: First, we undertook thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to evaluate the effect of an adzuki bean extract on $A{\beta}_{42}$ aggregation. To evaluate the effects of the adzuki extract on the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in vivo, $A{\beta}_{42}$-overexpressing Drosophila were used. In these flies, overexpression of $A{\beta}_{42}$ induced the formation of $A{\beta}_{42}$ aggregates in the brain, decreased motor function, and resulted in cognitive impairment. RESULTS: Based on the results obtained by ThT fluorescence assays and TEM, the adzuki bean extract inhibited the formation of $A{\beta}_{42}$ aggregates in a concentration-dependent manner. When $A{\beta}_{42}$-overexpressing flies were fed regular medium containing adzuki extract, the $A{\beta}_{42}$ level in the brain was significantly lower than that in the group fed regular medium only. Furthermore, suppression of the decrease in motor function, suppression of cognitive impairment, and improvement in lifespan were observed in $A{\beta}_{42}$-overexpressing flies fed regular medium with adzuki extract. CONCLUSIONS: The results reveal the delaying effects of an adzuki bean extract on the progression of Alzheimer's disease and provide useful information for identifying novel prevention treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
• /
• 제12권1호
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2005

We assessed whether the use of a symmetrical upper limb motion trainer in daily repetitive training for a 6-week period reduced spasticity and improved motor function in three chronic hemiparetic patients. Upper limb motor impairment and disability were measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Manual Muscle Test (MMT), respectively. The electromyography (EMG) of the affected hand was recorded during isometric wrist flexion and extension. In all patients, FMA and MMT scores were significantly improved after the 6-week training. However, MAS scores of the affected wrist spasticity did not change considerably. Onset and Offset delays in muscle contraction significantly decreased in the affected wrist. The co-contraction ratio of flexor and extensor muscles significantly increased after the 6-week training. Onset and offset delays of the muscle contraction and co-contraction ratio correlated significantly with the patients' FMA. This study showed that repetitive, symmetric movement training can improve upper limb motor functions and abilities in chronic hemiparetic patients. Also, the EMG assessment of motor response is likely to provide insights into mechanisms and treatment strategies for motor recovery in chronic hemiparetic patients.

• 로봇학회논문지
• /
• 제8권4호
• /
• pp.273-282
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of robot-assisted hand rehabilitation(Amadeo(R)) on hand motor function in chronic stroke patients. This study used a single-subject experimental design with multiple baselines across individuals. Three chronic stroke survivors with mild to sever motor impairment took part in study. Each participants had 2 weeks interval of starting intervention. Participants received robot-assisted therapy(45min/session. 3session/wk for 6wks). Finger active range of motion(AROM) was assessed by Range of Assessment program in Amadeo(R), and test-retest reliability was verified using Pearson correlation analysis. To investigate effect of Amadeo(R), finger AROM was measured immediately after each sessions and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper extremity, Motor Activity Log, Nine hole peg board test and Jebsen-Taylor hand motor function test were assessed at pre-post intervention. Results were analyzed by visual analysis and comparison of pre-post tests. The test-retest reliability of Range of Assessment was good(r=.99). After robot-assisted therapy, finger AROM of participant 1, 2, and 3 was respectively improved by 18%, 3.6%, and 6% each. Hand motor function of participant 1, 3 was improved on all four tests, but not effect in participant 2. Robot-assisted hand rehabilitation could improve finger AROM and effect on hand motor function in chronic stroke patients.

• 대한물리의학회지
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to confirm whether the Swiss Ball exercise program is effective to improve lower extremity function and activity of daily living of elderly women with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This study was a double blind control study. Subjects participated 34 female elderly women who were assigned to exercise group (n=17) and control group (n=17). The Swiss Ball exercise program was performed 2 times a week during the 12 weeks. Pre-and post-exercise various measurements were made: lower extremity function (OLS, TUG, STS). Results: In exercise group, There showed statically significance improve between pre-and post-exercise in OLS (7.29${\pm}$1.10 and 7.64${\pm}$1.32), TUG (10.47${\pm}$2.03 and 10.05${\pm}$2.04), STS (7.71${\pm}$1.04 and 7.94${\pm}$.82)(p<.05). ADL also showed statically significance improve between pre-and post-exercise (13.76${\pm}$3.54 and 12.82${\pm}$3.39, p<.05). There showed statically significance difference between two groups (p<.05). Conclusion: The Swiss Ball exercise program improved lower extremity function and ADL of elderly women with MCI. Further studies are required to examine the significance of the assessment of motor function of lower extremities.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• 제11권2호
• /
• pp.48-53
• /
• 2009

Background: Bell's palsy produces a complex problem that involves not only facial motor weakness, but also psychiatric issues. However, the relationship between facial neuromotor system impairment and psychological adjustment has not been well understood. Methods: We have performed psychological evaluations in patients with acute unilateral Bell's palsy within 2 weeks after onset. Thirty patients with Bell's palsy (10 men, 20 women) were included, who were diagnosed by neurologic examination, electrophysiologic study and/or brain MRI. We measured facial motor scale of impairment (House-Brackmann, HB scale) and psychosocial adjustment [Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)] at the time of initial presentation and 1 month after diagnosis. Results: The age of the enrolled patients ranged from 16 to 80 years. The mean grade of initial and follow up HB scale were 3.87 (SD: 0.63, range 2~5) and 1.77 (SD: 1.10, range 1~5). The mean score of initial and follow up BAI, BDI were 11.93 (range; 0 to 47, SD: 9.65, very low anxiety), 14.73 (range; 0 to 41, SD: 9.21 minimal depression) and 7.5 (range; 0 to 36, SD: 8.58, very low anxiety), 9.33 (range; 0 to 30, SD: 8.19 minimal depression). There was positive correlation between improvement of HB scale and improvement of BAI and BDI score. Conclusions: Bell's palsy is associated with the psychological problems such as depression and anxiety, and the improvement of motor symptom is associated with the improvement of these psychological problems.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제40권3호
• /
• pp.180-185
• /
• 2006

Objective : Middle cerebral artery occlusion[MCAO] has widely been used to produce ischemic brain lesions. The lesions induced by MCAO tend to be variable in size because of the variance in the collateral blood supply found in the mouse brain. To establish a less invasive and reproducible focal ischemia model in mice, we modified the technique used for rat photo thrombosis model. Methods : Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia by photothrombosis of cortical microvessels. Cerebral infarction was produced by intraperitoneal injection of Rose Bengal, a photosensitive dye and by focal illumination through the skull. Motor impairment was assessed by the accelerating rotarod and staircase tests. The brain was perfusion-fixed for histological determination of infarct volume four weeks after stroke. Results : The lesion was located in the frontal and parietal cortex and the underlying white matter was partly affected. A relatively constant infarct volume was achieved one month after photothrombosis. The presence of the photothrombotic lesion was associated with severe impairment of the motor performance measured by the rotarod and staircase tests. Conclusion : Photothrombotic infarction in mice is highly reproducible in size and location. This procedure can provide a simple method to produce cerebral infarction in a unilateral motor cortex lesion. In addition, it can provide a suitable model for study of potential neuroprotective and therapeutic agents in human stroke.

• 한국임상약학회지
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.285-292
• /
• 2018

Background: Long-term levodopa therapy relieves the motor dysfunction associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), but has various effects on non-motor symptoms, including cognitive dysfunction, hallucinations, and affective disorders, and can exacerbate certain aspects of dementia-like cognitive dysfunction. Here, we investigated the relationship between levodopa treatment and development of dementia in patients with PD. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 76 consecutive patients with PD who had taken levodopa between 2011 and 2015. The participants were initially free of dementia and had initial daily levodopa doses of below 600 mg. Patients who did and did not develop comorbid dementia were compared in terms of potential predictor variables, including PD onset age, sex, levodopa doses, and non-dementia comorbidities. Results: Of the 76 patients, 21 (27.6%) developed dementia, which was followed by hallucinations and insomnia. The independent predictors of incident dementia were PD onset age and second-year and third-year average levodopa doses that were higher than the first-year average levodopa dose. Patients who developed dementia had significantly higher average daily levodopa doses and levodopa dose increases over the 6-year treatment period than those who did not develop dementia. In addition, patients with higher levodopa doses were more likely to experience hallucinations. Conclusion: These results suggest that increases in levodopa doses may be associated with a greater risk of cognitive impairment in patients with PD. Therefore, motor and cognitive functions and levodopa dose increases should be evaluated regularly during long-term levodopa therapy in patients with PD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제49권10호
• /
• pp.1019-1025
• /
• 2006

Motor delay, when present, is usually the first concern brought by the parents of children with developmental delay. Cerebral palsy that is the most common motor delay, is a nonspecific, descriptive term pertaining to disordered motor function that is evident in early infancy and is characterized by changes in muscle tone, muscle weakness, involuntary movements, ataxia, or a combination of these abnormalities. A wide range of causative disorders and risk factors have been identified for cerebral palsy, and broadly classified into 5 groups; perinatal brain injury, brain injury related to prematurity, developmental abnormalities, prenatal risk factors, and postnatal brain injury. Delay in attaining developmental milestones is the most distinctive presenting complaint in children with cerebral palsy. A detailed history and thorough physical and neurologic examinations are crucial in the diagnostic process. The clinician should be cautious about diagnostic pronouncement unless the findings are unequivocal. Several serial examinations and history review are necessary. All children with cerebral palsy should undergo a neuroimaging study, preferably MRI, because an abnormality is documented on head MRI(89%) and CT(77%). The high incidence rates for mental retardation, epilepsy, ophthalmologic defects, speech and language disorders and hearing impairment make it imperative that all children with cerebral palsy be screened for mental retardation, ophthalmologic and hearing impairments, and speech and language disorders; nutrition, growth, and swallowing also should be closely monitored.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제55권12호
• /
• pp.621-626
• /
• 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord. Main symptoms are manifested as weakness, muscle loss, and muscle atrophy. Some studies have reported that alterations in sphingolipid metabolism may be intimately related to neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), a sphingolipid-metabolizing enzyme, is considered an important mediator of neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we show that ASM activity increases in samples from patients with ALS and in a mouse model. Moreover, genetic inhibition of ASM improves motor function impairment and spinal neuronal loss in an ALS mouse model. Therefore, these results suggest the role of ASM as a potentially effective target and ASM inhibition may be a possible therapeutic approach for ALS.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
• /
• 제9권10호
• /
• pp.206-217
• /
• 2009

이 연구는 뇌성마비 아동의 운동손상, 손기능, 대동작 기능과 일상생활동작 수행능력 간의 인과관계를 구조방정식 모형 검증을 통해 알아보기 위해 실시되었다. 이를 위해 만 6~12세 뇌성마비 아동 105명을 대상으로 근긴장도, 근력, 관절가동범위, 선택적 운동조절 능력, 손기능, 대동작 기능, 일상생활동작 수행능력 평가를 실시하였다. 이 연구의 결과는 다음과 같았다: 첫째, 운동손상 변인 중 근긴장도, 근력, 선택적 운동조절 능력은 일상생활동작 수행능력의 하위 영역과 상관이 유의한 것으로 나타났다(p < .05); 둘째, 대동작 기능과 손기능은 일상생활동작 하위 영역과 유의한 상관이 있는 것으로 나타났다(p < .05); 셋째, 뇌성마비 아동의 운동손상, 손기능, 대동작 기능과 일상생활동작 수행능력과의 관계를 알아보기 위해 구조방정식 모형 검증을 실시한 결과, 이 연구의 모형은 적합도가 양호한 것으로 나타났다. 이 연구는 뇌성마비 아동의 운동손상, 손기능, 대동작 기능과 일상생활동작 수행능력 간의 관계를 구조방정식 모형 검증을 통해 규명하였다는데 의의가 있다.