• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.183-187
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• 2008

Nerve injury can lead to neuropathic pain, which is often resistant to current analgesics and interventional therapeutic methods. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) plays important role in the induction of neuropathic pain. We explored the antinociceptive effect of curcumin and its effect on ERK in the spinal cord in the neuropathic pain model of rats induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. In injured rats, mechanical allodynia, which is one of characteristics of neuropathic pain developed and the activation of ERK in spinal cord significantly increased compared with control group. However, administration of curcumin (50 mg/kg/day p.o) for 7 days started from one day before the injury prevented the development of mechanical allodynia and increase of ERK phosphorylation. These results indicate that curcumin can be a new therapeutic agent in the treatment of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권3호
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• pp.329-339
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• 2021

It has been recognised for over a century that the events of gastrulation are fundamental in determining, not only the development of the neuraxis but the organisation of the entire primitive embryo. Until recently our understanding of gastrulation was based on detailed histological analysis in animal models and relatively rare human tissue preparations from aborted fetuses. Such studies resulted in a model of gastrulation that neurosurgeons have subsequently used as a means of trying to explain some of the congenital anomalies of caudal spinal cord and vertebral development that present in paediatric neurosurgical practice. Recent advances in developmental biology, in particular cellular biology and molecular genetics have offered new insights into very early development. Understanding the processes that underlie cellular interactions, gene expression and activation/inhibition of signalling pathways has changed the way embryologists view gastrulation and this has led to a shift in emphasis from the 'descriptive and morphological' to the 'mechanistic and functional'. Unfortunately, thus far it has proved difficult to translate this improved knowledge of normal development, typically derived from non-human models, into an understanding of the mechanisms underlying human malformations such as the spinal dysraphisms and anomalies of caudal development. A paediatric neurosurgeons perspective of current concepts in gastrulation is presented along with a critical review of the current hypotheses of human malformations that have been attributed to disorders of this stage of embryogenesis.

• 재활복지공학회논문지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.89-103
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• 2015

본 연구는 척수손상 환자를 대상으로 병원기반 사회복귀 지원프로그램을 개발하고, 프로그램 시행 전 후를 비교 분석함으로써 프로그램의 효과성을 평가하고자 하였다. 재활병원에 입원해 있는 25명의 척수손상 환자를 대상으로 2~3개월 동안 일주일에 2번 평균 6.1개의 프로그램을 실시하였다. 프로그램 시행 전, 후 COPM, HADS, AD-R, WHOQOL-BREF를 통해 작업 수행도 및 만족도, 불안과 우울, 장애수용, 삶의 질을 비교하였으며, 퇴원 시 CIQ로 지역사회통합 수준과 퇴원 후의 사회복귀여부를 측정하였다. 자료분석은 기술통계와 대응표본 t검정(paired t-test)을 실시하였다. 연구결과 병원기반 사회복귀 지원프로그램 실시 후 작업 수행도 및 만족도, 장애수용, 삶의 질에 향상을 보였다(p<0.05). 또한 퇴원 후 25명의 척수손상 환자 중에서 10명이 가정, 학업, 직업으로 복귀하였다. 이를 통해 병원기반 사회복귀 지원프로그램이 척수손상 환자들이 퇴원 후 그들이 속한 지역사회로 돌아가는데 효과적임을 알 수 있었다. 척수손상 환자들이 가정과 사회로의 빠른 복귀를 위해서는 사회복귀를 위한 다양한 프로그램 개발과 더불어 체계적인 사회복귀 연계시스템이 이루어져야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.79-85
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• 2010

Purpose: Many trials for new therapeutic approaches such as stem cell-based transplantation have been conducted to improve the repair and regeneration of injured cord tissue and to restore functions following spinal cord injury (SCI) in animals and humans. Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ATSCs) have multi-lineage potential to differentiate into cells with neuron-like morphology. Most studies of stem cell transplantation therapy after SCI are focused on cellular regeneration and restoration of motor function, but not on unwanted effects after transplantation such as neuropathic pain. This study was focused on whether transplantation of ATSCs could facilitate or attenuate hindpaw pain responses to heat, cold and mechanical stimulation, as well as on improvement of locomotor function in a rat with SCI. Methods: A spinal cord injury rat model was produced using an NYU impactor by dropping a 10 g rod from a height of 25 mm on to the T9 segment. Human ATSCs (hATSCs; approximately $5{\times}10^5$ cells) or DMEM were injected into the perilesional area 9 days after the SCI. After transplantation, hindpaw withdrawal responses to heat, cold and mechanical allodynia were measured over 7 weeks. Motor recovery on the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale and on the inclined plane test were also evaluated. Results: The present study demonstrated that increased hindpaw withdrawal responses to cold allodynia was observed in both groups after transplantation, but the development of cold-induced allodynia in the hATSC transplantation group was significantly larger than in the control group. The difference between the two groups in locomotor functional improvement after SCI was also significant. Conclusion: Careful consideration not only of optimal functional benefits but also of unintended side effects such as neuropathic pain is necessary before stem cell transplantation therapy after SCI.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Damage in the periphery or spinal cord induces maladaptive plastic changes along the somatosensory nervous system from the periphery to the cortex, often leading to chronic pain. Although the role of neural circuit remodeling and structural synaptic plasticity in the 'pain matrix' cortices in chronic pain has been thought as a secondary epiphenomenon to altered nociceptive signaling in the spinal cord, progress in whole brain imaging studies on human patients and animal models has suggested a possibility that plastic changes in cortical neural circuits may actively contribute to chronic pain symptoms. Furthermore, recent development in two-photon microscopy and fluorescence labeling techniques have enabled us to longitudinally trace the structural and functional changes in local circuits, single neurons and even individual synapses in the brain of living animals. These technical advances has started to reveal that cortical structural remodeling following tissue or nerve damage could rapidly occur within days, which are temporally correlated with functional plasticity of cortical circuits as well as the development and maintenance of chronic pain behavior, thereby modifying the previous concept that it takes much longer periods (e.g. months or years). In this review, we discuss the relation of neural circuit plasticity in the 'pain matrix' cortices, such as the anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex and primary somatosensory cortex, with chronic pain. We also introduce how to apply long-term in vivo two-photon imaging approaches for the study of pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권3호
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• pp.430-438
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• 2022

Objective : Dermoid cysts are uncommon in spinal cord tumors, and the phenomenon of their spontaneous rupture into the syrinx cavity is quite rare. We aimed to analyze the imaging characteristics and etiologies, and propose some surgical strategies, for this uncommon phenomenon. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 14 cases with spinal dermoid cysts that ruptured into the cervical and thoracic syrinx cavity. There were six male and eight female cases, aged 21 to 46 years, who had lipid droplets in the syrinx cavity from C1 to L3. The dermoid cysts were always located at the conus. Based on patients' complaints, clinical manifestations, and imaging results, we adopted tumor excision and/or syrinx cavity aspiration in one stage or multiple stages. Results : Three patients had only a syrinx cavity aspiration surgery due to a history of dermoid cyst excision. Eight patients had dermoid cyst resection and syrinx cavity aspiration in one stage. One patient was operated upon in two stages due to the development of new symptoms at nine months follow-up. Two patients underwent only tumor resection since they did not show similar symptoms or signs caused by the cervicothoracic syrinx. The axial magnetic resonance imaging indicated that the lipid droplets were always not at the center but were eccentric. The clinical effect was satisfactory during the follow-up period in this group. Conclusion : The lipid droplets filled the spinal syrinx cavity, not entirely confined to the central canal. Based on the chief complaints and associated signs, we adopted different surgical strategies and had satisfactory clinical results.

• 융합보안논문지
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• 제14권3_1호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2014

본 연구에서는 척수장애인의 신체활동 증가를 위한 피트니스 아바타 모형을 개발하고자 하였다. 해마다 장애인구의 비율은 증가하고 있으며, 이 중 지체장애인에 포함되는 척수장애인의 비율도 증가하고 있는 추세이다. 하지 마비로 인해 체육시설로의 접근이 용이하지 않은 척수장애인들의 신체활동 필요성이 더욱 절실한 상황에서 이들이 용이하게 접근할 수 있는 신체활동 방법으로 가상현실에 기반을 둔 신체활동량 증가 방법은 가장 혁신적이고 미래지향적인 방식으로 떠오르고 있다. 본 연구를 통해 다음과 같은 결과를 도출하였다. 첫째, 척수장애인의 다양한 신체활동을 활성화하고 보급하기 위하여 신체활동 전후로 용이한 방법을 통한 건강 및 체력 검사를 진단받을 수 있는 시스템 구축과 지속적인 신체활동 수행을 위한 지원체제의 확립이 필수적이며, 둘째, 지속적 신체활동을 유지하기 위해서는 동기부여가 매우 중요한 것으로 인식되고 있으므로 이를 위하여 신체활동 변화단계를 고려하고 단계별 수준에 적합한 피드백(feedback)을 제공하며 중재 효과를 검증하는 과정이 반드시 포함되어야 할 것이다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제52권6호
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• pp.627-632
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• 2002

폐암 환자에서 척수에 대한 신경학적 증상이 발생할 경우, 척수 수질 내로의 전이를 고려해야 하며, 조기 진단이 예후에 중요한 영향을 미칠 것으로 사료된다. 자기공명영상 검사는 이러한 병변의 진단에 매우 민감한 검사이나, 임상증상과 원발병변, 타 장기로의 전이 등을 함께 고려하여야 하며, 가능하다면 조직검사를 시행하여 진단할 수 있다. 본 예는 임상양상 및 방사선 검사에 의해 매우 드문 비소세포 폐암의 척수 수질내 전이로 판단된 경우이기에 보고하는 바이다.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.15-25
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• 2014

Objective: This study aims to analyze the factors that affect the ability to maintain dynamic sitting balance (DSB), biomechanical characteristics, and physical characteristics in spinal cord injuries (SCI) patients. Background: Virtual ski training systems, ski equipment, and training protocols for disabled skiers are being studied to spread awareness. However, few studies have been reported on the sitting balance ability associated with chair mono skiing. Method: A dynamic sitting balance border system was built to investigate the ability to maintain dynamic sitting balance in SCI patients. Trunk muscle activity was evaluated by electromyogram while conducting dynamic sitting balance tests. The trunk muscle strength was tested with a portable handheld dynamometer. Physical activity scores were measured with the physical activity recall assessment. Results: There were high levels of correlation between the ability to maintain DSB and trunk flexor strength, extensor strength, rotator strength, and physical activity score. However, height, weight, and injury level in SCI patients were not correlated with the ability to maintain DSB. Additionally, strong negative correlations were found between muscle activities of the external oblique and lumbar erector spinae muscles and the ability to perform the backward tilt test. Trunk extensor muscle activity during the ball lifting test was significantly higher than in other tests. Conclusion: The results indicate that improving trunk muscle strength and physical activity can increase the ability to maintain DSB. Application: The findings of a close relationship between trunk strength, physical activity, and the ability to maintain DSB need to be reflected in the chair mono ski training program.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.337-341
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• 2013

Objective : After spinal cord injury (SCI), functional and structural reorganization occurs at multiple levels of brain including motor cortex. However, the underlying mechanism still remains unclear. The current study was performed to investigate the alterations in the expression of the main regulators of neuronal development, survival and death, in the brain following thoracic contusive SCI in a mouse model. Methods : Eight-week-old female imprinting control region mice (n=60; 30-35 g) were used in this study. We analyzed the expression levels of regulators such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 in the brain following thoracic contusive SCI. Results : The expression of BDNF levels were elevated significantly compared with control group at 2 weeks after injury (p<0.05). The expression of NGF levels were elevated at 2, 4 weeks compared with control group, but these difference were not significant (p>0.05). The GDNF levels were elevated at 2 week compared with control group, but these differences were not significant (p>0.05). The difference of HDAC1 levels were not significant at 2, 4 and 8 weeks compared with control group (p>0.05). Conclusion : These results demonstrate that the upregulation of BDNF may play on important role in brain reorganization after SCI.