• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2015

It is widely accepted that Parkinson's disease(PD) is the most common cause of hypokinetic dysarthria, and its characteristics of 'short rushes of speech' have become more evident along with the severity of motor disorders. Speech alternate motion rates (AMRs) are particularly useful for observing not only rate abnormalities but also deviant speech. However, relatively little is known about the characteristics of 'short rushes of speech' in terms of AMRs of PD except for the perceptual characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine which acoustic features of 'short rushes of speech' in terms of AMRs are a robust indicator of Parkinsonian speech. Numbers of syllabic repetitions (/pə/, /tə/, /kə/) in AMR tasks were analyzed through acoustic methods observing a spectrogram of the Computerized Speech Lab in 9 patients with PD. Acoustically, we found three characteristics of 'short rushes of speech': 1) Vocalized consonants without closure duration(VC) 76.3%; 2) No consonant segmentation(NC) 18.6%; 3) No vowel formant frequency(NV) 5.1%. Based on these results, 'short rushes of speech' may affect the failure to reach and maintain the phonatory targets. In order to best achieve the therapeutic goals, and to make the treatment most efficacious, it is important to incorporate training methods which are based on both phonation and articulation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.242-245
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• 2005

The most common feature of neurodegenerative disease (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, AD) is the increased number of activated microglial cells nearby the pathogenic area of the brain, such as amyloid plaque in AD. An abnormality of protein regulation and an imbalance of clearance against ${\beta}-amyloid\;(A{\beta})$ produced amyloid precursor protein (APP) can turn microglia into the activated feature out of the ramified resting phase. We examined the possibility that ginsenoside Rb1 could attenuate the microglial activation induced by massive $A{\beta}$ that has known to induce a chronic inflammation, which is a major cause of AD by damaging neuronal cells (i.e. apoptosis or necrosis). Aggregated $A{\beta}42\;(5\;{\mu}M)$ peptide was used with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) ($10\;{\mu}g$) for a comparative control up to 48hours. We found that Rb1 reduced the production of nitric oxide as well as proinflammatory cytokines, such as $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.11
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• pp.371-373
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• 2018

Scabies is a highly contagious skin infestation caused by the mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Complex responses to scabies mites in the innate, humoral, and cellular immune systems can cause skin inflammation and pruritus. Diagnosis can be challenging because scabies resembles other common skin conditions. We report the first Korean case of scabies in a hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipient, initially suspected of skin graft versus host disease (GVHD). A T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia patient underwent a sibling-matched allogeneic HCT and developed pruritus after cell engraftment. Treatment for GVHD did not improve the symptoms. He was diagnosed with scabies 30 days after the onset of symptoms.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1450-1455
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• 2005

Tremor is an most common abnormal movements disease which is to-and-fro shaking. It is caused by problems -with the nerves supplying certain muscles. It can affect the whole body or just certain areas. Parkinson's disease, Brain disease like injury of Frontal lobe, Cerebellum and Brainstem, drug and alcohol caused this symptom. It could be occured by physiological and Essential cause. In this paper, authors report three cases who showed tremor after Cerebral infarction. And we suggest that 'Ssanghwa-Tang' should be helpful for tremor patients.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.127-129
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• 2018

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS) is characterized by inflammation of the perihepatic capsules associated with the pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). FHCS is not a serious disease, but if not treated properly, it can result in increased medical costs, prolonged treatment, and dissatisfaction with treatment. However, early recognition of FHCS in the emergency department can be difficult because its symptoms or physical findings may mimic many other diseases. Although contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is the useful imaging modality for recognition of FHCS, it is available only when a high suspicion is established. We performed point-of-care ultrasonography in an 18-year-old woman who had a sharp right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain without PID symptoms and found a thickened or three-layer hepatic capsule. These findings coincided with areas showing increased hepatic capsular enhancement in the arterial phase of CECT. These results show that if the thickened or three-layer hepatic capsule without evidence of a common cause of RUQ pain is observed on ultrasonography in women of childbearing age with RUQ abdominal pain, the physician can consider the possibility of FHCS.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2023

Graves disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, accounting for more than 90% of cases in Korea. Patients with GD are treated with any of the following: antithyroid drugs (ATDs), radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy, or thyroidectomy. Most patients begin treatment with ATDs, and clinical guidelines suggest that the appropriate treatment period is 12 to 18 months. While RAI treatment and surgery manage thyrotoxicosis by destroying or removing thyroid tissue, ATDs control thyrotoxicosis by inhibiting thyroid hormone synthesis and preserving the thyroid gland. Although ATDs efficiently control thyrotoxicosis symptoms, they do not correct the main etiology of GD; therefore, frequent relapses can follow. Recently, a large amount of data has been collected on long-term ATDs for GD, and low-dose methimazole (MMZ) is expected to be a good option for remission. For the long-term management of recurrent GD, it is important to induce remission by evaluating the patient's drug response, stopping ATDs at an appropriate time, and actively switching to surgery or RAI therapy, if indicated. Continuing drug treatment for an extended time is now encouraged in patients with a high possibility of remission with low-dose MMZ. It is also important to pay attention to the quality of life of the patients. This review aimed to summarize the appropriate treatment methods and timing of treatment transition in patients who relapsed several times while receiving treatment for GD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2010

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a major foodborne pathogen causing severe disease in humans worldwide. Healthy cattle are a reservoir of E. coli O157:H7, and bovine food products and fresh produce contaminated with bovine waste are the most common sources for disease outbreaks in the United States. E. coli O157:H7 also survives well in the environment. The abilities to cause human disease, colonize the bovine gastrointestinal tract, and survive in the environment require that E. coli O157:H7 adapt to a wide variety of conditions. Three major virulence factors of E. coli O157:H7 have been identified including Shiga toxins, products of the pathogenicity island called the locus of enterocyte effacement, and products of the F-like plasmid pO157. Among these virulence factors, the role of pO157 is least understood. This review provides a board overview of E. coli O157:H7 with an emphasis on pO157.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2013

Freiberg's disease is a osteochondrosis of a metatarsal head that is recognized as primarily a disorder of the second metatarsal. It is seen more often in girls. Pain and limitation of motion of the affected joint is the predominant clincal feature. The radiographic appearance demonstrates from osteosclerosis in the early stage to osteolysis with collapse in the later stage. Conservative therapy may take the form of rest, a stiff shoe, and even a cast support to decrease the stress across the joint. Surgical intervention may also be of benefit. Surgery have been attempted either to modify the diseae process or to salvage the situation once the metatarsophalangeal joint develops degenerative changes. Metatarsophalangeal joint instability is common cause of forefoot pain that can develop in association with a traumatic episode and inflamatory tissue disorders as well as neighboring toe deformities. The second ray is by far the most frequently involved. The diagnosis can be made by clinical observation and physical examination including drawer test. Many surgical procedures have beem recommended when conservative treatment has failed. Procedures described range from soft tissue releases and tendon trasfer to the direct plantar plate repair combined with a Weil osteotomy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.197-200
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• 2011

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory infection in children. Most of the pediatric population have RSV infection before the age of 2, and recurrent infections are common even within one season. Chronic lung disease, prematurity, along with congenital heart disease (CHD) are major risk factors in severe lower respiratory infection. In hemo-dynamically significant CHD patients with RSV infection, hospitalization is usually needed and the possibility of treatment in intensive care unit and the use of mechanical ventilator support are known to increase. Therefore the prevention of RSV infection in CHD patients is mandatory. The current standard for RSV prevention is immunoprophylaxis by palivizumab. Immunoprophylaxis is recommended monthly in hemodynamically significant CHD patients, up to 5 months. Motabizumab, a second generation drug and newly developing RSV vaccines are also expected to play a key role in RSV prevention in the future. The prophylaxis of RSV infection in CHD patients is cost-effective in both the medical aspect of the patients as well as the socio-economic aspect. Therefore an effort to promote prevention should be made by not only the family of the patients but also by the government.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.204-217
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• 2020

In nature, plants are always under the threat of pests and diseases. Pathogenic bacteria are one of the major pathogen types to cause diseases in diverse plants, resulting in negative effects on plant growth and crop yield. Chemical bactericides and antibiotics have been used as major approaches for controlling bacterial plant diseases in the field or greenhouse. However, the appearance of resistant bacteria to common antibiotics and bactericides as well as their potential negative effects on environment and human health demands bacteriologists to develop alternative control agents. Bacteriophages, the viruses that can infect and kill only target bacteria very specifically, have been demonstrated as potential agents, which may have no negative effects on environment and human health. Many bacteriophages have been isolated against diverse plant-pathogenic bacteria, and many studies have shown to efficiently manage the disease development in both controlled and open conditions such as greenhouse and field. Moreover, the specificity of bacteriophages to certain bacterial species has been applied to develop detection tools for the diagnosis of plant-pathogenic bacteria. In this paper, we summarize the promising results from greenhouse or field experiments with bacteriophages to manage diseases caused by plant-pathogenic bacteria. In addition, we summarize the usage of bacteriophages for the specific detection of plant-pathogenic bacteria.