• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2009

Purpose: The pathophysiology of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is that the sternoclavicularmastoid (SCM) is shortened on the involved side by fibrosis, leading to an ipsilateral tilt and contralateral rotation of the face and chin. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of physical therapy and develop a mass diameter prediction model for infants with CMT. Methods: Fifty six patients were diagnosed with CMT between April 2003 and December 2008. Infants with neurological complications, and spasmodic and ocular torticollis were excluded. Physical therapy was applied to those masses in the SCM muscles of those infants after checking their physical findings and the diameter of the mass with ultrasonography. Their physical findings and mass diameter was reevaluated when their neck tilt was under $5^{\circ}$. Results: The mean age when physical therapy was started was 35 days. After a mean 90 days of treatment, the subjects showed improvement in the neck tilt. Subjects whose neck tilted above $15^{\circ}$ showed significant improvement in neck tilt decreased their mass diameter (p<0.01). Facial symmetric infants showed a shorter recovery duration than the facial asymmetric infants (p<0.05). A mass decreasing model based on the diameter of the mass, facial symmetry or not and the physical therapy start day after birth was developed by linear regression. Conclusion: Physical therapy is an effective treatment for CMT. The change in the diameter of the mass on the SCM muscles after treatment can be predicted.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.118-125
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• 1999

Background and Aims : Nerve conduction study is invaluable in clinical neurology, especially for assessing peripheral neuropathies. Abnormal nerve conduction studies may result not only from peripheral nerve dysfunction itself, but also from other various mechanical, technical, and physiological factors such as age, sex, height and temperature. So we conducted this study to establish the our own normal values. Methods : In this study, from March. 1997 to July. 1998, 40 Korean adults among person came to Health Promotion Center over the age of 20 without any suspicion of neurological deficits were analysed to determine the effect of compound effects of several physiological factors. Results : The nerve conduction velocities of the upper extremity and proximal segments were faster than those of the lower extremity and distal segments. Physiological factors such as age, height and temperature affect the results of nerve conduction studies in multiple regression analysis. The sex difference is recognized over peroneal motor nerve. There are no sex differences in amplitude transformed into normal distribution. The significant physiological factor affecting the amplitude of nerve conduction is age, whereas height and temperature play no role. Conclusions : In multiple regression analysis, height is widespread variable for the nerve conduction velocities and temperature is important variable for lower extremities. The parametric statistical analysis cannot be applied to the amplitude of the compound muscle or nerve action potentials because of marked left shift in distribution. Sqareroot transformation of the CMAP and CNAP may be useful in normalizing the distribution. The most significant physiological factor affection the amplitude is age. Sex differences are not seen in nerve conduction study.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.72-83
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• 2003

Objective : The goal of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of Gamiheechum-tang (Jiaweixiqian-tang; GHCT) on brain tissue damage from chemical or ischemic insults. Methods : Levels of cultured cortical neuron death caused by toxic chemicals were measured by LDH release assay. Neuroprotective effects of GHCT on brain tissues were examined in vivo by ischemic model of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Results : Animal groups treated with GBCT showed significantly decreased hypertension, and reduced levels of aldosterone, dopamine, and epinephrine in the plasma. GHCT treatments ($l0-200\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) significantly decreased cultured cortical neuron death mediated by AMPA, kainate, BSO, or Fe2+ when measured by LDH release assay. Yet, cell death mediated by NMDA was effectively protected by GHCT at the highest concentration examined ($200\mu\textrm{g}/ml$). In the in vivo experiment examining brain damage by MCA occlusion, affected brain areas by ischemic damage and edema were significantly less in animal groups administered with GHCT compared to the non-treated control group. Neurological examinations of forelimbs and hindlimbs showed that GHCT treatment improved animals' recovery from ischemic injury. Moreover, the extent of injury in cortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons in ischemic rats was much reduced by GHCT, whose morphological features were similarly observed in non-ischemic animals. Conclusion : The present data suggest that GBCT may play an important role in protecting brain tissues from chemical or ischemic injuries.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.69-79
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• 2012

Importance of the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) has been increasing in the hospital industry such as health care industry and financial industry. This study investigated in order to identify the factors like general, occupational and ergonomically characteristics of the subjects related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of physical therapists (PTs). Ergonomic tools of rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) were used for evaluation workload of the tasks. Prevalence of MSDs were 13 PTs (26.0%) for neck, 31 PTs (62.0%) for shoulder, 9 PTs (18.0%) for arm/elbow, 27 PTs (54.0%) for hand/wrist, 28 PTs (56.0%) for back, 14 PTs (28.0%) for leg/foot. The analysis of the rate of the pain intensity showed that 53.5% subjects experience moderate pain and 14.0% subjects experience severe pain. Factors which were general characteristics, for example, height, ergonomically characteristics such as 'Posture Score A' were related musculoskeletal subjective symptoms in logistic analysis (p<.05). Among physical therapists, action level of RULA were action level 2 (6.0%), action level 3 (52.0%), action level 4 (42.0%). Physical therapists were estimated one of the highest risk factor in this study. This study suggested that the need of preventive education and program for PTs (physical therapists). Comprehensive and systematic management plans should be established to include both ergonomic and sociopsychological aspects.

• 대한기관식도과학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.29-32
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• 2007

Background and Objectives: Improvements in the fields of neonatology and surgical subspecialities make tracheotomy possible to the younger population. But complication rates for infantile tracheotomy are significantly higher than that for the other pediatric tracheotomy. This study was designed to present our 9-year experiences of infantile tracheotomy and to evaluate the effect of several factors of complications. Materials and Methods: From 1996 through 2004, 60 tracheotomies were performed. Charts were reviewed with respect to indications for tracheotomy, underlying diseases, success rate in decannulation and length of support time until decannulation, complication and mortality rate. Results: There were 41 male patients and 19 female patients. Ventilatory support for neurological impairment(38.3%) was the leading indication for tracheotomy, followed by subglottic stenosis(36.7%), laryngomalacia(13.3%). Decannulation was accomplished in 60.0% of infants with an average of 56.5momths with tracheotomy. Complications occurred in 43.3%. There was one tracheotomy-related mortality in case of tracheal atresia. Most common complication was subglottic stenosis. Conclusion: Infantile tracheotomy had significant morbidities and its outcomes are thought to be usually related to the underlying disease and age. To prevent complication, early decannulation is advisable, and for long-term tracheotomy patients, regulation of reflux and infection may be necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권6호
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• pp.521-527
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• 2001

Diclofenac, a phenylacetic acid derivative, is a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to provide effective relief of inflammation and pain. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been implicated as a mediator of inflammation. We examined the inhibitory effects of diclofenac on the induction of iNOS in RAW 264.7 macrophages which were activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interferon-gamma $(IFN-{\gamma}).$ Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with diclofenac and other NSAIDs (aspirin and indomethacin) significantly inhibited NO production and iNOS protein expression induced by LPS plus $IFN-{\gamma}.$ Also, diclofenac but not aspirin and indomethacin, inhibited iNOS mRNA expression and nuclear factor-kappa B $(NF-{\kappa}B)$ binding activity concentration-dependently. Furthermore, transfection of RAW 264.7 cells with iNOS promoter linked to a CAT reporter gene revealed that only diclofenac inhibited the iNOS promoter activity induced by LPS plus $IFN-{\gamma}$ through the $NF-{\kappa}B$ sites of iNOS promoter. Taken together, these suggest that diclofenac may exert its anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting iNOS gene expression at the transcriptional level through suppression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2016

Background: A number of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases share impaired cognition as a common symptom. Therefore, the development of clinically applicable therapies to enhance cognition has yielded significant interest. Previously, we have shown that activation of lysophosphatidic acid receptors (LPARs) via gintonin application potentiates synaptic transmission by the blockade of $K^+$ channels in the mature hippocampus. However, whether gintonin may exert any beneficial impact directly on cognition at the neural circuitry level and the behavioral level has not been investigated. Methods: In the current study, we took advantage of gintonin, a novel LPAR agonist, to investigate the effect of gintonin-mediated LPAR activation on cognitive performances. Hippocampus-dependent fear memory test, synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal brain slices, and quantitative analysis on synaptic plasticity-related proteins were used. Results: Daily oral administration of gintonin for 1 wk significantly improved fear memory retention in the contextual fear-conditioning test in mice.We also found that oral administration of gintonin for 1 wk increased the expression of learning and memory-related proteins such as phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element binding (CREB) protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In addition, prolonged gintonin administration enhanced long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Conclusion: Our observations suggest that the systemic gintonin administration could successfully improve contextual memory formation at the molecular and synaptic levels as well as the behavioral level. Therefore, oral administration of gintonin may serve as an effective noninvasive, nonsurgical method of enhancing cognitive functions.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권11호
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• pp.767-776
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• 2014

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is clinically characterized with progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Synaptic dysfunction is an early pathological feature that occurs prior to neurodegeneration and memory dysfunction. Mounting evidence suggests that aggregation of amyloid-${\alpha}$ ($A{\alpha}$) and hyperphosphorylated tau leads to synaptic deficits and neurodegeneration, thereby to memory loss. Among the established genetic risk factors for AD, the ${\varepsilon}4$ allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest genetic risk factor. We and others previously demonstrated that apoE regulates $A{\alpha}$ aggregation and clearance in an isoform-dependent manner. While the effect of apoE on $A{\alpha}$ may explain how apoE isoforms differentially affect AD pathogenesis, there are also other underexplored pathogenic mechanisms. They include differential effects of apoE on cerebral energy metabolism, neuroinflammation, neurovascular function, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. ApoE is a major carrier of cholesterols that are required for neuronal activity and injury repair in the brain. Although there are a few conflicting findings and the underlying mechanism is still unclear, several lines of studies demonstrated that apoE4 leads to synaptic deficits and impairment in long-term potentiation, memory and cognition. In this review, we summarize current understanding of apoE function in the brain, with a particular emphasis on its role in synaptic plasticity and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, involving low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), syndecan, and LRP8/ApoER2.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.32-38
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• 2013

Background: Intrathecal opioid administration has been used widely in patients suffering from severe cancer pain that is not managed with conventional modalities. However, the potential serious neurological complications from the procedure and the side effects of intrathecal opioids have made many clinicians reluctant to employ continuous intrathecal analgesia as a first-line therapeutic option despite its dramatic effect on intractable pain. We retrospectively investigated the efficacy, side effects, and complications of intrathecal morphine administration through intrathecal catheters connected to a subcutaneous injection port (ICSP) in 22 Korean terminal cancer patients with successful intrathecal morphine trials. Methods: Patient demographic data, the duration of intrathecal opioid administration, preoperative numerical pain rating scales (NRS) and doses of systemic opioids, side effects and complications related to intrathecal opioids and the procedure, and the numerical pain rating scales and doses of intrathecal and systemic opioids on the $1^{st}$, $3^{rd}$, $7^{th}$ and $30^{th}$ postoperative days were determined from medical records. Results: Intrathecal morphine administration for $46.0{\pm}61.3$ days significantly reduced NRS from baseline on all the postoperative days. A significant increase in intrathecal opioids with a nonsignificant decrease in systemic opioids was observed on the $7^{th}$ and $30^{th}$ postoperative days compared to the $1^{st}$ postoperative day. The most common side effects of intrathecal opioids were nausea/vomiting (31.8%) and urinary retention (38.9%), which were managed with conservative therapies. Conclusions: Intrathecal morphine administration using ICSP provided immediate and beneficial effects on pain scores with tolerable side effects in terminal cancer patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2011

Purpose: We studied the changes in motor response time and stop signal response time following visuomotor skill learning of a stop signal task in young healthy subjects. This study also was designed to determine what an effective practice is for different stop signals in the stop signal task (SST). Methods: Forty-five right-handed normal volunteers without a history of neurological dysfunction were recruited. They all gave written informed consent. In all subjects, motor reaction time (RT) and stop signal reaction time (SSRT) were measured for the stop signal task. Tasks were classified into three categories: predictable-stop signal task (P-SST) practice group random-stop signal task (R-SST) practice group control group. Results: Motor reaction time in the P-SST was significantly reduced when comparing pre- and post-tests (p<0.05). Stop signal reaction times in the P-SST and the R-SST were significantly reduced following motor skill learning (p<0.05). Also, the reaction time of the R-SST was shorter than that of the P-SST. Conclusion: These findings indicate that practice of an SST improves motor performance and stop function for some stop signals in the SST. P-SST practice was effective in the stop function of regular movement because of faster of the motor prediction and preparation but the R-SST was effective in the stop function of movements because of faster motor selection.