• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.57-71
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• 2004

Objective : Physiological evidence regarding acupuncture's effect in human patients is not yet well established, despite considerable evidence for its therapeutic efficacy. Besides target or disease specificity of acupuncture, acupuncture analgesia (AA) appears to be another large subclass that poses many questions, such as whether there is point specificity with respect to which acupoint is most effective for a particular condition. Methods : We observed brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a set of stimuli that consist of pain, pain following Meridian acupuncture, and pain following Sham acupuncture. Results : Among the new observations, the most interesting fact is that data sets of both Meridian acupuncture and Sham acupuncture show decreased activation of the same brain areas related to the pain processing signals. Present functional MRI study demonstrate two important biological observations that could elucidate AA mechanism in human participants: the effects of acupuncture occur through mediation of the higher brain areas. Sham acupuncture stimulation appears to be almost as effective as traditional Meridian acupoint stimulation, suggesting that acupuncture is not entirely point specific. Decreased activation in the limbic paleo cortical areas appears to be the probable neurological manifestation of AA and strongly implies that acupuncture stimulation inhibits the transmission of ascending pain signals to the higher cortical areas by the previously known descending pain inhibitory circuit. Conclusion : We, therefore, a hypothesized that this pain inhibitory circuit is initiated and mediated via the broad sense Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (BS HPA) axis in conjunction to the "sensory stimulation."

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.17-27
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of occupational therapy intervention using a fully immersive virtual reality device on the upper extremity function of patients with chronic stroke. Methods : This study used a single subject (ABA) design. The study subjects was a chronic stroke patient with left lateral deviation. Four baseline periods, 12 intervention periods, and 4 baseline regression periods were performed for a total of 20 sessions for 10 weeks. OT intervention with a fully immersive virtual reality device was used every 30 minutes. BBT and WMFT evaluations were performed at each session and the results were displayed in a line graph. Results : The patient's upper limb function has improved. During baseline recurrence, efficacy of treatment was confirmed after removal of intervention, but no significant changes were observed. Conclusion : It has been found that OT intervention with a fully immersive virtual reality device for upper limb function in chronic stroke patients is an effective intervention. However, the effectiveness of maintaining treatment is not important, so we need to develop an easy-to-use home intervention program.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.23-33
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• 2018

Objective : This systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of focal muscle vibration in patients with post-stroke spastic hemiplegia. Methods : We searched literature published between April 2009 and October 2017 using PubMed and RISS databases. The main search terms were Vibration therapy, Focal vibration, Somatosensory, Upper limb, and Spasticity after stroke. Based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, 6 articles were selected. Results : Articles on focal muscle vibration intervention ranged from evaluation of application-only vibration to muscle vibration with task-oriented activity. Intervention effects on upper extremity spasticity and function and activities of daily living were assessed. There were significant effects on upper extremity spasticity, function, and cortical excitability. Conclusions : This study can provide information on focal muscle vibration for use by clinical therapists. However, further studies are needed to identify the optimal stimulation site and frequency/amplitude of application to maximize the effects of focal muscle vibration.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.79-88
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• 2018

Objective : Localized vibration has been shown to have a positive effect on recovery of upper-limb motor function in patients with hemiparetic stroke, but there has been little research on kinematic analysis for qualitative changes in movement. This study investigated kinematic changes in elbow motion during reaching after localized vibration in persons with hemiparetic stroke. Methods : This study used a one-group, cross-over trial design. Ten chronic stroke patients randomly received localized vibrations on the affected biceps brachii for 5, 10, or 20 min, at 70 Hz. Kinematic analysis of reaching was measured using a 3-D motion analysis system. Variables included peak angular velocity, time to peak angular velocity, and movement units during elbow motion. Result : Affected side elbow motion during reaching was faster, smoother, and more efficient after 20 min localized vibration. Peak angular velocity increased (p<0.05), and time to peak angular velocity (p<0.05) and the movement unit were significantly decreased (p<0.05) during elbow motion for reaching. Conclusion : Localized vibration can improve kinematic components during reaching motion in persons with hemiparetic stroke.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.43-55
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• 2018

Objective: This study aims to discover how tongue self-resistance exercise affects the swallowing function of patients with stroke. Method: The subjects of this study were two patients who were treated at the Y hospital in Gyeonggido. Data were gathered by VFSS regarding the degree of swallowing disability and oral intake before and after intervention. This study analyzed case studies of two patients. One patient's intervention was applied in September 2012 for three weeks. The other's intervention was applied in February 2014 for three weeks. At the first session, the VFSS examination was administered. Then, intervention began after the patients gave their consent for participation. Each session was practiced 10 times per set, but one session had 3 sets. Intervention frequency consisted of five sessions per week, and it was conducted for three weeks. Tongue self-resistance exercise included tongue protrusion, tongue lateralization, and tongue elevation on the hard palate. Results: The first tongue self-resistance exercise had a positive effect on swallowing function because of the decrease in VFS score. The second tongue self-resistance exercise showed improved oral intake based on FOIS scores. Conclusion: This study's results suggest that there are many benefits of tongue self-resistance exercise on the swallowing function when it is applied to patients with stroke.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.461-467
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• 1990

To investigate the neurological effect of acrylamide, whole brain of Intoxicated mouse induced early hindlimbs ataxia was examined by using the methods of SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional electrophoresis. In the gel patterns by SDS-PAGE, when the patterns of each group were compared relatively, there were no remakable changes but in the patterns of 2D-PAGE, some protein alterations were observed. Especially, the spots containing 20 (14,500, 5.64) and 21 (19,900, 6.78) were disappeared, and the spots 9 (31,300, 5.82), 11 (31,300, 5.36) and 19 (16,400, 5.42) showed marked decrease relatively in the case of treatment group. Among these changed spots, the spot 20 (14,500, 5.64) showed higher quantity than that of control group but several spots containing the spots 11 (31,300, 5.36), and 19(16.400, 5.42) were identical or equal to those of control In quantity in the case of recovery group. It seems that acrylamide might already inhibit the brain protein synthesis mechanism at the time of onset of distal neuropathy by participation in the protein metabolism so as to impair the brain regulation ability followed by a malfunction of mouse central nervous system (CNS) and recovery is gradually progressed with the dose and duration dependence after the cessation of acrylamide administration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 한국응용약물학회 1996년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.19-29
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• 1996

The neurological manifestations of AIDS include dementia, encountered even in the absence of opportunistic superinfection or malignancy. The AIDS Dementia Complex appears to be associated with several neuropathological abnormalities, including astrogliosis and neuronal injury or loss. How can HIV-1 result in neuronal damage if neurons themselves are only rarely, if ever, infected by the vitus\ulcorner In vitro experiments from several different laboratiories have lent support to the existence of HIV- and immune-related toxins. In one recently defined pathway to neuronal injury, HIV-infected macrophages/microglia as well as macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 appear to secrete excitants/neurotoxins. These substances may include arachidonic acid, platelet-activating factor, free radicals (NO - and O$_2$), glutamate, quinolinate, cysteine, cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL1-B, IL-6), and as yet unidentified factors emanating from stimulated macrophages and possibly reactive astrocytes. A final common pathway for newonal suscepubility appears to be operative, similar to that observed in stroke, trauma, epilepsy, and several neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This mechanism involves excessive activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-operated channels, with resultant excessive influx of Ca$\^$2+/ leading to neuronal damage, and thus offers hope for future pharmacological intervention. This chapter reviews two clinically-tolerated NMDA antagonists, memantine and nitroglycerin; (ⅰ) Memantine is an open-channel blocker of the NMDA-associated ion channel and a close congener of the anti-viral and anti-parkinsonian drug amantadine. Memantine blocks the effects of escalating levels of excitotoxins to a greater degree than lower (piysiological) levels of these excitatory amino acids, thus sparing to some extent normal neuronal function. (ⅱ) Niuoglycerin acts at a redox modulatory site of the NMDA receptor/complex to downregulate its activity. The neuroprotective action of nitroglycerin at this site is mediated by n chemical species related to nitric oxide, but in a higher oxidation state, resulting in transfer of an NO group to a critical cysteine on the NMDA receptor. Because of the clinical safety of these drugs, they have the potential for trials in humans. As the structural basis for redox modulation is further elucidated, it may become possible to design even better redox reactive reagents of chinical value. To this end, redox modulatory sites of NMDA receptors have begun to be characterized at a molecular level using site-directed mutagenesis of recombinant subunits (NMDAR1, NMDAR2A-D). Two types of redox modulation can be distinguished. The first type gives rise to a persistent change in the functional activity of the receptor, and we have identified two cysteine residues on the NMDARI subunit (#744 and #798) that are responsible for this action. A second site, presumably also a cysteine(s) because <1 mM N-ethylmaleimide can block its effect in native neurons, underlies the other, more transient redox action. It appears to be at this, as yet unidentified, site on the NMDA receptor that the NO group acts, at least in recombinant receptors.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used to treat a wide range of neurological disorders (e.g., paralysis and stroke) and skin problems (e.g., atopic dermatitis and eczema) in oriental medicine. This study was designed to investigate whether GEB extract inhibits melanogenesis activity in murine B16F10 melanoma. MATERIALS/METHOD: Murine B16F10 cells were treated with 0-5 mg/mL of GEB extract or $400{\mu}g/mL$ arbutin (a positive control) for 72 h after treatment with/without 200 nM alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) for 24 h. Melanin concentration, tyrosinase activity, mRNA levels, and protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (Trp)1, and Trp2 were analyzed in ${\alpha}$-MSH-untreated and ${\alpha}$-MSH-treated B16F10 cells. RESULTS: Treatment with 200 nM ${\alpha}$-MSH induced almost 2-fold melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity along with increased mRNA levels and protein expression of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1 and Trp2. Irrespective of ${\alpha}$-MSH stimulation, GEB extract at doses of 0.5-5 mg/mL inhibited all these markers for skin whitening in a dose-dependent manner. While lower doses (0.5-1 mg/mL) of GEB extract generally had a tendency to decrease melanogenesis, tyrosinase activity, and mRNA levels and protein expression of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1, and Trp2, higher doses (2-5 mg/mL) significantly inhibited all these markers in ${\alpha}$-MSH-treated B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These inhibitory effects of the GEB extract at higher concentrations were similar to those of $400{\mu}g/mL$ arbutin, a well-known depigmenting agent. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that GEB displays dose-dependent inhibition of melanin synthesis through the suppression of tyrosinase activity as well as molecular levels of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1, and Trp2 in murine B16F10 melanoma. Therefore, GEB may be an effective and natural skin-whitening agent for application in the cosmetic industry.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.316-322
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation of lower extremity such as rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and soleus according to 0cm(bare foot), 4cm and 7cm heel height of shoe on the rocking surface in older women. 20 older women who did not have any lower musculoskeletal and neurological disorders in the past were participated in this study. Each subject was standing for 15 seconds on the level 8 of Biodex Stability System (BSS) while wearing 4cm and 7cm heel height shoes including bare foot. Electromyography was used to measure muscle activation of lower extremity, and the muscle activation was expressed as a percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (% MVIC). We measured % MVIC of three muscles during 5 seconds except for the first 5 seconds and last 5 seconds. SPSS 12.0 program was used for this study. Repeated one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) was performed to compare the significant difference among the muscles of lower extremities according to heel heights of shoe on the rocking plate. % MVIC of each muscle such as rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and soleus regarding heel heights of shoe had statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The results of contrast test were as follows; 1) % MVIC of rectus femoris had significant differences between barefoot and 4cm, and barefoot and 7cm. 2) % MVIC of tibialis anterior had significant differences between barefoot and 4cm, barefoot and 7cm, and 4cm and 7cm. 3) % MVIC of soleus had significant differences between barefoot and 7cm, 4cm and 7cm. The results indicate that all commonly responsive muscle on the conditions of barefoot, 4cm, and 7cm shoe height on the rcoking surface is tibialis anterior muscle. We found out that the more heels of shoe high, the more muscle activation increases. High-heeled shoes above 7cm remarkably increase the muscle activation of lower extremity and may result in muscle fatigue. Thus, these shoes may summate risk factors of falls in older women. We can acknowledge that the heels above 4 cm affect each muscle activation in lower extremity on the rocking surface.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.239-248
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• 2016

Background: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of chronic persistent post-surgical pain (CPPP) and the role of signal transduction genes in patients undergoing staging laparotomy for carcinoma ovary. Methods: The present observational study was undertaken following institutional ethical committee approval and informed consent from all the participants. A total 21 patients of ASA grade I to III with age 20-70 years, scheduled for elective staging laparotomy for carcinoma ovary were included. Patients were excluded if had other causes of pain, cognitive dysfunction or chronic neurological disorders. Statistical analysis of pool data was done using SPSS version-17. For various scales like GPE, PDQ, NPSI, the visual analogue scale (VAS), global perceived effect (GPE), the pain DETECT questionnaire (PDQ), and neuropathic pain symptoms inventory (NPSI), one factor repaeted measure ANOVA applied with simple contrast with baseline as on post-operative day 1 (considered as reference and compared with subsequent time-interval), and the P values were adjusted according to "Bonferroni adjustments". In patients with CPPP, the ${\Delta}ct$ values of mRNA expressions of genes at the end of postoperative day 90 were compared with the baseline control values by one factor repeated ANOVA. P value < 0.005 significant. Results: The present study demonstrates 38.1% (8 out of 21 patients) incidence of CPPP. The functional status and quality of life as were observed to be significantly diminished in all patients with chronic pain. An up-regulation in the mRNA expression of signal transduction and a positive correlation was noted between the mRNA expression of signal transduction genes and VAS score in all patients with CPPP at the end of postoperative day 90. Conclusions: The reported incidence of CPPP in patients with carcinoma ovary was 38.1%. An up-regulation and positive correlation between mRNA expression of signal transduction genes and VAS score depicts its potential role in the pathogenesis of CPPP.