• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.116-124
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• 2006

Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in chronic pain and severe functional deficits. At the Dept. of Oriental Rehab. Medicine, we have used for pain control a herbal bath containing the following herbs: Harpagophytum radix, Atractylodes japonica and Corydalis tuber. In the present study, we investigated the effects of this herbal bath on the recovery rate of the locomotor function and the expression of c-Fos in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vIPAG) region of the brain following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. In the present study, characteristic gait change with decreasing of the sciatic function index (SFI) was observed and c-Fos expression in the vIPAG was suppressed following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Immersion into herbal bath enhanced SFI value and restored c-Fos expression in the vIPAG to the control value. These results suggest the herbal bath might activate neurons in the vIPAG, and could facilitate functional recovery from peripheral nerve injury.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2004

Repeated administration of psychostimulants such as amphetamines increases locomotor activity in rodents. These drugs, including methamphetamine, enhance dopaminergic neurotransmission and result in hyper-locomotion and behavioral sensitization. It is well known that the existence of a complex balance between the cholinergic and dopaminergic systems in the central nervous system. Thus, behavioral sensitization by methamphetamine may be related to the expression of the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors gene. The present study investigated the changes of M1R mRNA in hyperlocomotor activity and behavioral sensitization by methamphetamine (2 mg/kg) in mice. Our results showed that M1R mRNA expression was increased in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus region (the CA2 region) in the acute methamphetamine administered group compared to the saline administered group. In the chronic group, M1R mRNA expression was increased in the frontal cortex ill1d the hippocampus regions (CA2 and DG regions) in melt1amphetamine administered group compared to saline control group. These results indicate that acute or chronic treatment of mathamphetamine leads to the region-specific changes in mRNA expression levels of M1R. Therefore, Therefore, the present result suggests that M1R may play a role in modulating of methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization in mice.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.263-269
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• 2016

Rhynchophylline (RP) is a major tetracyclic oxindole alkaloid of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus which has been used to treat hypertension, seizures, pain and anxiety in the oriental countries. A recent report revealed that RP attenuated ischemia-induced neuronal damage and kainite-induced convulsions in animals. This study was performed to investigate whether RP enhances pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors and modulates sleep architecture in mice. Locomotor activity was significantly inhibited by RP at 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg, similar to 2 mg/kg diazepam (a benzodiazepine agonist) in mice. RP shortened sleep latency and increased total sleep time in a dose-dependent manner when administrated with pentobarbital (42 mg/kg, i.p.). RP also increased the number of sleeping mice and total sleep time by concomitant administration with the sub-hypnotic dosage of pentobarbital (28 mg/kg, i.p.). On the other hand, RP (0.25 mg/kg, p.o.) itself significantly inhibited sleep-wake cycles, prolonged total sleep time, and rapid eye movement in rats. In addition, RP also increased chloride influx in the primary cultured hypothalamic neuronal cells. In addition, we found that glutamic acid decarboxylase ($GAD_{65/67}$) was activated by RP. In conclusion, RP augments pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors, and can be a candidate for treating insomnia.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 1999

Changes in certain fish behaviors are known to be very sensitive indicators of sublethal exposure to environmental contaminants. Therefore, behavioral toxicity tests, if properly designed, can be very useful to assess the influence of hazardous chemicals on fish. However, quantitative analysis of xenobiotic-mediated changes in locomotor behavior in fishes are rare, due mainly to the methodological difficulties. In general, fish movement has been known to be hypertrophic or hypotrophic according to the chemicals. As a study of fish behavioral toxicities, we qualified the swimming movement of Oryzias latipes using computer-automated video tracking system. Oryzias latipes was exposed to cadmium of 128 mg/L for 1 hour in a limited aquaria, then the total swimming distance, the average swimming velocity, the histogram of turning angles, and the turning frequency were analyzed. Fish treated with cadmium showed decreased swimming activities, decreased velocity, and decreased turning frequency, which means hypotrophic activity. From these results, the computer-automated video tracking system of this study seems to be a good tool for the evaluation of the potential ecotoxicological studies.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.93-98
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• 2000

This study has been carried out to investigate general pharmacological action of bamboo salt (jukyom) in terms of effects on central nervous system and cardiovascular system in experimental animals. After bamboo salt, crude salt or reagent-grade NaCl were orally administered into male ICR mice with dose of 2.0 g/kg, general behavioural syndromes such as body weight and locomotor activity, spontaneous motor activity, pento-barbital-induced sleeping time, muscle incoordination, electroshock-induced convulsion, body temperature and writhing response caused by 0.6% acetic acid solution were observed. Bamboo salt had no influences in these indices for examinition of effect on central nervous system. Additionally, conscious male Sprague Dawley rats fastened overnight won ere treated with bamboo salt, crude salt or reagent-grade NaCl (2.0 g/kg, p.o.) to examine the effect of these salts cardiovascular system. Systolic, median and diastolic food pressure and heart rate were dertemined using tail cuff indirect method. Treatment with Hydralazine (50 mg/kg, p.o) as a positive control produced the decreases in systolic, median and diastolic blood treasure and an increase in heart rate. whereas no changes were observed in bamboo salt, crude salt and reagent-grade NaCl treated groups. These results strongly suggest that bamboo salt may have no effects on general pharmacology of central nervous systems and cardio-vascular systems.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 2016

Purpose: This study seeks to examine the effect of a program with functional taping and CLT on the program on fall efficacy and balance of stroke patients with knee pain on the non-affected side, as well as to develop effective programs and training methods to improve the functions of such patients. Methods: The subjects included 31 patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 15), which participated in a program for functional taping and CLT, and a control group (n = 16), which participated in general exercise therapy. The control group underwent general exercise therapy for 30 minutes, three days per week for a six-week period. VAS, FES and TUG were conducted to evaluate changes in pain degree, fall efficacy, and balance. Results: After the intervention, significant differences (p < 0.05) were seen in the VAS, FES and TUG in both groups. The experimental group showed more significant improvement than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results from this study indicate that the CLT program is extremely effective for improving fall efficacy and balance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.47-53
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• 2010

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of electroacupuncture stimulation on changes in blood biochemistry in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats whose cords were damaged by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Methods: Twenty-one Sprague-Dawley adult male rats were assigned to one of three groups: normal (n=7), control (n=7) and experimental group (n=7). The experimental group received electroacupuncture (Es-160, ITO, Japan) for 15 minutes in the form of low frequency (2 Hz) stimulation to the zusanli point. After treatment, we observed motor behavior recovery using the inclined plane test. We also measured serum and CNS concentrations and activities of enzymes including creatine kinase (CK), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and Immunoglobulin G (IgG). Statistical analysis was done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Concentrations of CK, ALP and IgG were lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Functional recovery was evaluated by the maximal angle of the inclined board on which rats could maintain their initial position. This allowed us to monitor progressive locomotor recovery. The maximal angles of the inclined plane test were higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that electroacupuncture to the zusanli point has a therapeutic effect on functional recovery after SCI.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2012

Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (ZSS) have been widely used for the treatment of insomnia in Asia. This experiment was performed to investigate whether methanol extract of ZSS (MEZSS) has hypnotic effects through the ${\gamma}$-amino butyric acid (GABA)ergic systems. MEZSS inhibited the locomotor activity. MEZSS enhanced pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors. However, MEZSS itself did not induce sleep at higher dose, similar to muscimol. On the other hand, both pentobarbital and MEZSS increased the non rapid eye move (NREM) sleep, especially reducing the -wave electroencephalogram (EEG) activity in REM sleep. MEZSS showed similar effects with muscimol on potentiating chloride influx induced by pentobarbital. MEZSS significantly increased GABAA receptors ${\gamma}$-subunit expression and slightly decreased ${\beta}$-subunit expression in hypothalamus and thalamus, showing that subunit-expression was similar to diazepam. In addition, MEZSS enhanced the expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). In conclusion, it is suggested that MEZSS might augment pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors through the modification of GABAergic systems.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2017

Perillae Herba has been traditionally used for the sedation in the oriental countries. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine whether Perillae Herba ethanol extract (PHEE) enhances pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors in animals. In addition, the possible mechanisms are demonstrated. PHEE (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg. p.o.) reduced the locomotor activity in mice. PHEE reduced sleep latency and augmented the total sleep time in pentobarbital (42 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced sleep in mice. Furthermore, the number of sleeping mice treated with sub-hypnotic pentobarbital (28 mg/kg, i.p.) increased. PHEE (50 mg/kg. p.o.) decreased the sleep/wake cycles and wakefulness, and increased total sleeping time and NREM sleep in electroencephalogram (EEG) of rats. In addition, PHEE (0.1, 1.0 and $10{\mu}g/ml$) increased the intracellular $Cl^-$ level through the GABA receptors in the hypothalamus of rats. Moreover, the protein of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) was overexpressed by PFEE. It was found that PHEE enhanced pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors through $GABA_A-ergic$ transmissions.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a task-specific obstacle crossing rehabilitation program on functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Overall, we sought to provide ataxia-specific locomotor rehabilitation guidelines for use in clinical practice based on quantitative evidence using relevant analysis of gait kinematics including valid clinical tests. Methods: Patients with cerebellar disease (n=13) participated in obstacle crossing training focusing on maintenance of dynamic balance and posture, stable transferring of body weight, and production of coordinated limb movements for 8 weeks, 2 times per week, 90 minutes per session. Throughout the training of body weight transfer, the instructions emphasized conscious perception and control of the center of body stability, trunk and limb alignment, and stepping kinematics during the practice of each walking phase. Results: According to the results, compared with pre-training data, foot clearance, pre-&post-obstacle distance, delay time, and total obstacle crossing time were increased after intervention. In addition, body COM measures indicated that body sway and movement variability, therefore posture stability during obstacle crossing, showed improvement after training. Based on these results, body sway was reduced and stepping pattern became more consistent during obstacle crossing gait after participation in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that task-relevant obstacle crossing training may have a beneficial effect on recovery of functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar disease.