• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.7-20
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• 2020

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effect of simultaneous application of peripheral nerve sensory stimulation and task-oriented training on the improvement of upper extremity motor function after stroke. Methods : This study included 29 patients with hemiplegia. The 14 subjects were in the peripheral nerve sensory stimulation and task-oriented training group for 4 weeks (30 min/d, 5 d/wk), while the 15 control group subjects underwent only task-oriented training for the same duration. The outcome measures were the percentage of voluntary baseline muscle contractions of the wrist and shoulder and Box and Block Test, grip and pinch strength, and Action Research Arm Test. Results : After 4 weeks, muscle activity of extensor carpi radialis, flexor carpi radialis and grip strength and Action Research Arm Test were significantly higher in the experimental group. Conclusion : Simultaneous application of the peripheral nerve sensory stimulation and task-oriented training was found to be superior to task-oriented training for improving upper extremity motor function of adults with stroke.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2007

The term, "food safety", has traditionally been viewed as a practical science aimed at assuring the prevention acute illnesses caused by biological microorganisms, and only to a minor extent, chronic diseases cause by chronic low level exposures to natural and synthetic chemicals or pollutants. "food safety" meant to prevent microbiological agents/toxins in/on foods, due to contamination any where from "farm to Fork", from causing acute health effects, especially to the young, immune-compromised, genetically-predisposed and elderly. However, today a broader view must also include the fact that diet, perse (nutrients, vitamins/minerals, calories), as well as low level toxins and pollutant or supplemented synthetic chemicals, can alter gene expressions of stem/progenitor/terminally-differentiated cells, leading to chronic inflammation and other mal-functions that could lead to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, atherogenesis and possibly reproductive and neurological disorders. Understanding of the mechanisms by which natural or synthetic chemical toxins/toxicants, in/on food, interact with the pathogenesis of acute and chronic diseases, should lead to a "systems" approach to "food safety". Clearly, the interactions of diet/food with the genetic background, gender, and developmental state of the individual, together with (a) interactions of other endogenous/exogenous chemicals/drugs; (b) the specific biology of the cells being affected; (c) the mechanisms by which the presence or absence of toxins/toxicants and nutrients work to cause toxicities; and (d) how those mechanisms affect the pathogenesis of acute and/or chronic diseases, must be integrated into a "system" approach. Mechanisms of how toxins/toxicants cause cellular toxicities, such as mutagenesis; cytotoxicity and altered gene expression, must take into account (a) irreversible or reversal changes caused by these toxins or toxicants; (b)concepts of thresholds or no-thresholds of action; and (c) concepts of differential effects on stem cells, progenitor cells and terminally differentiated cells in different organs. This brief Commentary tries to illustrate this complex interaction between what is on/in foods with one disease, namely cancer. Since the understanding of cancer, while still incomplete, can shed light on the multiple ways that toxins/toxicants, as well as dietary modulation of nutrients/vitamins/metals/ calories, can either enhance or reduce the risk to cancer. In particular, diets that alter the embryo-fetal micro-environment might dramatically alter disease formation later in life. In effect "food safety" can not be assessed without understanding how food could be 'toxic', or how that mechanism of toxicity interacts with the pathogenesis of any disease.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2006

PURPOSE: Previous studies have documented the lack of ultrasound's non-thermal effects on nerve conduction using frequencies of 1 MHz and 870 kHz. The purpose of this study was to determine the biophysical effects of continuous ultrasound on median local forearm temperature and motor nerve conduction velocities using frequencies of 3.0 MHz. SUBJECTS: Twelve healthy subjects (6 males, 6 females, age $22.30{\pm}2.41$ yrs, weight $61.33{\pm}10.16$ kg, height $167.58{\pm}8.04$ cm) without a history of neurological or musculoskeletal injury to their dominant arm volunteered for this study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Each subject received a total of five treatments, one each at .0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 W/$cm^2$ of 3 MHz continuous ultrasound on the anterior surface of the middle area of dominant forearm for 10 minutes. Dependent measures for forearm local temperature and median motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were taken pretreatment and immediately post-treatment. One-way ANOVA were used for each dependent measure. RESULTS: The posttreatment forearm local temperature were differed significantly (p<0.001) between intensities of ultrasound. The posttreatment forearm local temperature of the ultrasound treated with 1.0 w/$cm^2$, 1.5 w/$cm^2$ and 2.0 w/$cm^2$ were significantly higher than 0.5 w/$cm^2$ and 0.0 w/$cm^2$ of ultrasound (p<0.05). The posttreatment median MNCV were differed significantly from the respective pretreatment velocities (p<0.001). The MNCV of the ultrasound treated with 0.0 w/$cm^2$ and 0.5 w/$cm^2$ were significantly (p<0.05) slower than that observed pretreatment, while the three ultrasound intensities produced significantly increased posttreatment MNCV: 1.0 w/$cm^2$ and 1.5 w/$cm^2$ and 2.0 W/$cm^2$. The posttreatment MNCV at 2.0 w/$cm^2$ and 1.5 w/$cm^2$ was significantly faster than that at 0 w/$cm^2$, 0.5 w/$cm^2$ and 1.0 w/$cm^2$ (p<0.05), the MNCV at 1.0 w/$cm^2$ was significantly faster than that associated with 0 w/$cm^2$ and 0.5 w/$cm^2$ of ultrasound (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The decreased median motor forearm local temperature and MNCV of the ultrasound treated with 0.0 w/$cm^2$ and 0.5 w/$cm^2$ were attributed to the cooling effect by ultrasound transmission gel. Local forearm temperature and nerve conduction velocity were directly related to the intensity of ultrasound. Alterations in MNCV from ultrasound on healthy nerves appeared to be related to temperature changes induced by thermal effects of ultrasound.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.459-465
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• 2012

This study has investigated the effect of isometric contractile force and muscle activity applying ice and hot according to the time from the biceps brachii muscle. In this study, 20 university students participants without musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. By applying a hot pack 5 min, 10 min, 20 min and 30 min respectively and ice pack for 5 min, 10 min, and 20 min respectively. After that measurement are skin temperature, contractile force and muscle activity. Skin temperature of the hot and cold 5 min applied that rapidly changing. Increasing the time it takes to apply a variance has been reduced(p<.001). Isometric contractile force was not statistically significant but highest when applying the hot pack 5 minutes and lowest when applying the hot pack 30 minutes(p<.001). Muscle activity and median frequency was highest when applying the hot pack 5 minutes. To analyze the above results, it was found that isometric contractile force and muscle activity changed according to the applying time. These result lead us to the conclusion that this study will be more evidence for changes in muscle contraction to apply hot pack and ice pack on clinic.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.656-662
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• 2015

Natural products and natural product structures play a general and highly significant role in drug discovery and development process because it has various merits and potentials for new drug source that have extensive clinical experience, development time contraction, excellent stability and safety. In several neurological disorders, neuronal death and excessive activation of microglia (neuro-inflammation) are observed. A number of drug discovery-related neuronal cell death and neuro-inflammation was studied from natural products, respectively. However, until now, it has not been possible to study dual-protection molecules recorded in the Natural Product library. In the present study, using the natural product-derived library of the Institute for Korea Traditional Medical Industry, we investigated dual-protective molecules against glutamate (a classical excitatory neurotransmitter)-induced oxidative stress mediated neuronal cell death and LPS-induced excessive activated microglial cells (immune cells of the brain). Chrysophanol, extracted from Rheum palmatum, had dual-protective effects against both glutamate-induced neuronal cell death and LPS-induced NO production, triggering proinflammatory cytokines and microglia activation and resulting in neuroinflammation. Flow-cytometry analysis revealed that chrysophanol had a scavenger effect, scavenging glutamate- and LPS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by neuronal and microglial cells, respectively. Based on the present study, chrysophanol may have an important protective role against neuronal cell death and neuroinflammation in the brain. The results may be helpful for studying drug development candidates for treating central nervous system disorders.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.96-102
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Korean Medicine on postural instability and gait difficulty(PIGD) in patient with parkinsonism. Methods: We reviewed the charts of patients with parkinsonism who were admitted to the department of Korean internal medicine, stroke and neurological disorders center, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong from October 2009 to May 2017. We analyzed the data of UPDRS (Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale) and calculated PIGD related UPDRS before and after the admission. Results: The average of PIGD score for the 23 patients of Parkinsonism significantly decreased from $8.35{\pm}5.13$ to $4.52{\pm}3.68$ after treatment. The average of PIGD score for the 16 patients of idiopathic parkinson's disease and 7 patients of atypical Parkinsonism decreased from $9.13{\pm}4.46$ to $4.63{\pm}4.15$ and from $6.57{\pm}6.45$ to $4.29{\pm}2.56$ after treatment, respectively. Conclusions: These results provide that Korean Medicine has an effect on the motor function of patients who suffer from Parkinsonism with Postural Instability and Gait Difficulty. Furthermore it could be effective for improving activities of daily life.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

Objectives : Cerebral ischemia resulting from transient or permanent occlusion of cerebral arteries leads to neuronal cell death and eventually causes neurological impairments. Scrophulariae radix is the roots of Scrophularia buergeria. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the aqueous extract of Scrophulariae radix on apoptotic cell death in the hippocampal dentate gyrus following transient global ischemia in gerbils. Methods : For this study, step-down avoidance task, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 were performed. Results : The present results showed that apoptotic cell death in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was significantly increased following transient global ischemia in gerbils. Treatment with the aqueous extract of Scrophulariae radix suppressed the ischemia-induced apoptosis in the dentate gyrus and thus facilitated the recovery of short-term memory impairment induced by ischemic cerebral injury. Conclusions : Here in this study, we have shown that Scrophulariae radix has a positive effect on-and possesses protective qualities against ischemia-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death, and it can be used for the treatment of ischemic brain diseases.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.7-18
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• 2019

Objective : This systematic review aimed to investigate the impact of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in patients with stroke Methods : PubMed and NDSL databases were employed to review literature published between January 2009 and December 2018. The main search terms were "Transcranial direct current stimulation" or "tDCS," "Constraint-induced movement therapy" or "CIMT," "Upper extremity function," "Upper limb," and "Stroke." Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 6 articles were selected. Furthermore, intervention effects on upper extremity function, activities of daily living, and cortical activity were assessed. Results : The current intensity, application time, and protocol of the CIMT varied the between studies. However, the intervention procedures to perform CIMT immediately after transcranial direct current stimulation was the same. Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with CIMT was effective in improving upper limb function and activities of daily living in patients with stoke and had a significant effect on cerebral cortex activation. Conclusions : This study provides information on transcranial direct current stimulation combined with CIMT for use by clinical therapists. Further studies are needed to standardize the stimulation time, current intensity, and electrode attachment position. Furthermore, randomized controlled trials, including long-term follow up, are needed for larger populations using the most appropriate CIMT protocol.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.33-39
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of successful intervention program on SOC strategy and successful aging of the elderly. Methods : Three elderly individuals aged ${\geq}65$ living in W-si, Gangwon-do, were included. A successful aging program using an SOC strategy was conducted twice a week for 6 sessions. To verify the effectiveness of the program, the Korean versions of the SOC scale and the successful aging scale were used. Descriptive statistics were used for general characteristics, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare successful aging and SOC strategies. Results : After 3 weeks for successful aging program, the SOC strategy levels of the subjects were constant or improved. In addition, the average score of successful aging level increased by 11.4 points. Conclusion : This study show that the successful aging program using the SOC strategy improved the level of SOC strategy and the level of successful aging. The results of this study can be used as basic data to develop programs that can promote SOC strategy and successful aging. Also, the result of this study can be used as a basic data for the development of guidelines for occupational therapists in the future.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.437-446
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• 2021

Objective : To investigate the radiographic characteristics of the uppermost instrumented vertebrae (UIV) and UIV+1 compression fractures that are predictive of revision surgery following long-segment spinal fixation. Methods : A total 27 patients who presented newly developed compression fracture at UIV, UIV+1 after long segment spinal fixation (minimum 5 vertebral bodies, lowest instrumented vertebra of L5 or distal) were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to following management : revisional surgery (group A, n=13) and conservative care (group B, n=14). Pre- and postoperative images, and images taken shortly before and after the occurrence of fracture were evaluated for radiologic characteristics Results : Despite similar degrees of surgical correction of deformity, the fate of the two groups with proximal junctional compression fractures differed. Immediately after the fracture, the decrement of adjacent disc height in group A (32.3±7.6 mm to 23.7±8.4 mm, Δ=8.5±6.9 mm) was greater than group B (31.0±13.9 mm to 30.1±15.5 mm, Δ=0.9±2.9 mm, p=0.003). Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging indicated that group A patients have a higher grade of disc degeneration adjacent to fractured vertebrae compared to group B (modified Pfirrmann grade, group A : 6.10±0.99, group B : 4.08±0.90, p=0.004). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that decrement of disc height was the only associated risk factor for future revision surgery (odds ratio, 1.891; 95% confidence interval, 1.121-3.190; p=0.017). Conclusion : Proximal junctional vertebral compression fractures with greater early-stage decrement of adjacent disc height were associated with increased risk of future neurological deterioration and necessity of revision. The condition of adjacent disc degeneration should be considered regarding severity and revision rate of proximal junctional kyphosis/proximal junction failures.