• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.123-136
• /
• 2004

Objective : Because the cause and etiology of chronic headache is not yet fully explained, the treatment of this symptom is not simple. This study compares the effects of aroma acupuncture and normal acupuncture applied on chronic headache patients, in order to establish a primary data for further studies of new treatments and developments of new practical acupunctures. Methods : 38 clinical experiment participants were gathered and through a questionnaire patients who experienced headache for more than 4 hours a day and more than 15 days per month were qualified as Chronic Headache patients. The qualified patients were classified in to two groups, aroma acupuncture group(Aroma AT group, n=23) and normal acupuncture group(AT group, n=15). Treatment was applied 2 times a weeks for 8 weeks. The acupoints, GV20, HN23, ST8, HN46, TE17, GB20, LI20, LI11, LI14, ST36, and LR3 were stimulated for 20 minutes in both the groups. The effects of both groups were analyzed using VAS scores and BPI (Brief Pain Inventory). Results : The VAS pain scores improved significantly in both groups. The decrease rate was larger in the Aroma AT group(p<0.05). The BPI scores for the both groups also decreased. The improvement in the Aroma AT group was larger(p<0.05). Conclusion : Aroma acupuncture applied on chronic headache patients showed effects of relieving pain, improving general activities, changing the mood, and improving sleeping behaviors. These effects were analyzed using VAS scores and BPI. The Aroma AT group showed significant changes of VAS and BPI compared to the AT group, suggesting that this new practical acupuncture is very effective when treating chronic headaches. Further researches are needed to evaluate the distinct functional mechanism of aroma acupuncture, but this study is meaningful in the sense that it will act as a fundamental study to build on.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제41권2호
• /
• pp.194-203
• /
• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the gait patterns of cerebellar infarction patients with those of corticospinal tract stroke patients through a follow-up of patients with ataxic gait due to cerebellar infarction and corticospinal tract stroke. Methods: We investigated two cases of patients with cerebellar infarction and two cases each of acute or chronic corticospinal tract stroke who were hospitalized at Wonkwang University Gawangju Medical Center from September 1, 2017 to February 15, 2020 based on medical records and gait analyses. The spatiotemporal gait parameters of each patient were measured three times at 2-week intervals except those of the chronic corticospinal tract stroke patients, which were measured twice at a 1-month interval. Results: Spatiotemporal gait parameters, which include velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, and single support, were consistently increased in the cerebellar infarction patients in comparison to the corticospinal tract stroke patients. The stance phase was decreased in all the patients. Conclusions: The cerebellar infarction patients' gait spatiotemporal parameters were found to consistently improve. Moreover, gait analysis can be used to effectively measure improvement of ataxic gait.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제17권3호
• /
• pp.829-836
• /
• 2003

Seogakjihwang-tang (SJT) was widely used to treat patients suffering from cerebral infarction. But scientific investigation has been carried out very little. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of SJT on the production of various cytokines in the patients with cerebral infarction (CI). We investigated interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-1 in the sera of 27 patients with cerebral infarction under consciousness disorders and 10 normal controls using an originally devised sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found that plasma levels of IL-4 were slightly elevated in patients with cerebral infarction, whereas plasma levels of IL-10 (P<0.001) and TGF-1 were reduced. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from the patient with CI were cultured for 24 h in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). The amount of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-1, in culture supernatant, was significantly increased in the LPS or PHA treated cells compared to unstimulated cells (P<0.05), We also show that increased cytokines IL-4, and IL-10 level was significantly inhibited by SJT in a dose-dependent manner. Maximal inhibition rate of IL-4 and IL-10 production by SJT was 45.63.3% and 614.7% for LPS-stimulated cell and 27.31.2% and 83.62% for PHA-stimulated cells, respectively (P<0.05). On the other hand, SJT significantly increased the LPS or PHA-induced TGF-1 production (P<0.05). These data suggest that SJT has a regulatory effect on the cytokines production, which might explain its beneficial effect in the treatment of CI.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.122-129
• /
• 2017

A diversity of synthetic cathinones has flooded the recreational drug marketplace worldwide. This variety is often a response to legal control actions for one specific compound (e.g. methcathinone) which has resulted in the emergence of closely related replacement. Based on recent trends, the nitrogen atom is one of the sites in the cathinone molecule being explored by designer type modifications. In this study, we designed and synthesized two new synthetic cathinones, (1) ${\alpha}-piperidinopropiophenone$ (PIPP) and (2) ${\alpha}-piperidinopentiothiophenone$ (PIVT), which have piperidine ring substituent on their nitrogen atom. Thereafter, we evaluated whether these two compounds have an abuse potential through the conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice and self-administration (SA) in rats. We also investigated whether the substances can induce locomotor sensitization in mice following 7 days daily injection and challenge. qRT-PCR analyses were conducted to determine their effects on dopamine-related genes in the striatum. PIPP (10 and 30 mg/kg) induced CPP in mice, but not PIVT. However, both synthetic cathinones were not self-administered by the rats and did not induce locomotor sensitization in mice. qRT-PCR analyses showed that PIPP, but not PIVT, reduced dopamine transporter gene expression in the striatum. These data indicate that PIPP, but not PIVT, has rewarding effects, which may be attributed to its ability to affect dopamine transporter gene expression. Altogether, this study suggests that PIPP may have abuse potential. Careful monitoring of this type of cathinone and related drugs are advocated.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제30권sup1호
• /
• pp.85-90
• /
• 2001

Objective : DREZotomy is effective for the treatment of deafferentation pain as a consequence of root avulsion, postparaplegic pain, posttraumatic syrinx, postherpetic neuralgia, spinal cord injury, and peripheral nerve injury. We performed microsurgical DREZotomy to the patients with deafferentation pain and relieved pain without any serious complication. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the microsurgical DREZotomy for deafferentation pain. Methods : We evaluated 4 patients with deafferntation pain who were intractable to medical therapy. Two of them were brachial plexus injury with root avulsion owing to trauma, one was axillary metastasis of the squamous cell carcinoma of the left forearm, and the last was anesthesia dolorosa after surgical treatment(MVD and rhizotomy) of trigeminal neuralgia. Preoperative evaluation was based on the neurologic examination, radiologic imaging, and electrophysiological study. In the case of anesthesia dolorosa, we produced two parallel lesions in cephalocaudal direction, 2mm in distance, from the C2 dorsal rootlet to the 5mm superior to the obex including nucleus caudalis, after suboccipital craniectomy and C1-2 laminectomy, with use of microelectrode. In the others, we confirmed lesion site with identification of the nerve root after hemilaminectomy. We performed arachnoid dissection along the posterolateral sulcus and made lesion with microsurgical knife and microelectrocoagulation, 2mm in depth, 2mm in distance, to the direction of 30-45 degrees in the medial portion of the Lissauer's tract and the most dorsal layers of the posterior horn at the one root level above and below the lesion. Results : Compared with preoperative state, microsurgical DREZotomy significantly diminished dosage of the drugs and relieved pain meaningfully. One patient showed tansient ipsilateral ataxia, but recovered soon. There was not any serious complication. Conclusion : It may be concluded that microsurgical DREZotomy is very useful and safe therapeutic modality for deafferentation pain, especially segmentally distributed intermittent or evoke pain. Complete preoperative evaluation and proper selection of the patients and lesion making device are needed to improve the result.

• 대한중풍순환신경학회지
• /
• 제14권1호
• /
• pp.71-79
• /
• 2013

■ Objectives The goal of this pilot study is to observe the change of stroke gait by auditory cue training. ■ Methods An intracranial hemorrhage patient was trained for 4 weeks. For the 1^st consecutive 6days(the 1^st week), the patient was trained to walk with auditory cue, what was called auditory cue gait training condition. For the 2^nd consecutive 6days(the 2^nd week), the patient was trained to walk naturally without auditory cue, what was called free gait training condition. For the 3^rd consecutive 6days(the 3^rd week), the patient was trained to walk under auditory cue gait training condition. For the 4^th consecutive 6days(the 4^th week), the patient was trained to walk under free gait training condition. We analyzed the gait using a treadmill gait analysis system 3 hours after the 6^th gait training. ■ Results Auditory cue gait training showed effects on gait parameters, which were increasing walking velocity, step length, stride length, decreasing cadence, step time and stride time. ■ Conclusion Auditory cue gait training improved gait parameters of a stroke patient.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제46권1호
• /
• pp.52-55
• /
• 2009

Writer's cramp is a type of idiopathic focal hand dystonia characterized by muscle cramps that accompany execution of the writing task specifically. There has been renewed interest in neurosurgical procedures for the treatment of dystonia over the past several years. In particular, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has received increasing attention as a therapeutic option for patients with dystonia. However, to date, limited reporters made investigations into DBS in relation to the Writer's cramp. In this case, unilateral Ventro-oralis complex (Vo) DBS resulted in a major improvement in patient's focal dystonic movement disorders. Her post-operative Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating (BFMDR) scale demonstrated 1 compared with pre-operative BFMDR scale 4. We conclude that thalamic Vo complex DBS maybe an important neurosurgical therapeutic option for Writer's cramp.

• 생물정신의학
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.113-117
• /
• 2015

Psychiatry has progressed with neurobiological basis, providing individually tailored treatment, preventing mental illness, and managing public mental health. Foundational knowledge that may contribute to the development of psychiatry and neuroscience has been attained through continual national and international investment in research. However, this knowledge obtained from neurobiological research is not being applied to clinical practice proactively. This may be due to a lack of support for translational research connecting neuroscience with clinical practice, and a lack of development and availability of educational programs for clinical psychiatrists. To solve these problems, it is essential to support translational research conducted by clinicians and to establish an appropriate reward system. Considering the direction of progress in psychiatry and the demand from clinicians, appropriate investment in research and education programs that provide neurobiological knowledge applicable to clinical practice is required. Researchers and educators must also communicate and collaborate to deliver neurobiological findings effectively.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제38권6호
• /
• pp.1007-1020
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate whether a prescription's composition varies according to the disease being caused by wind, which is one of the migratory pathogenic factors. Methods: An initial database and binary matrix of Pungmun in Dongui-Bogam, including its herbs and prescription, was constructed. With this data, a network map about wind stroke, arthralgia, acute arthritis, and tetanus in Dongui-Bogam was constructed. Results: Analysis of the network map about Pungmun in Dongui-Bogam revealed that the complete prescription network has more isolated nodes than does each disease's network map. Conclusions: The composition of prescriptions in Dongui-Bogam Pungmun differ according to the disease being caused by wind.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.81-85
• /
• 2002

Conventional views of synaptic transmission generally overlook the possibility of 'postfusional-control' the regulation of the speed or completeness of transmitter release upon vesicular fusion. However, such regulation often occurs in non-neuronal cells where the dynamics of fusion-pore opening is critical for the speed of transmitter release. In case of synapses, the slower the transmitter release, the smaller the size and rate-of-rise of postsynaptic responses would be expected if postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptors were not saturated. This prediction was tested at hippocampal synapses where postsynaptic AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPAR) were not generally saturated. Here, we found that the small miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) showed significantly slower rise times than the large mEPSCs when the sucrose-induced mEPSCs recorded in cyclothiazide (CTZ), a blocker for AMPAR desensitization, were sorted by size. The slow rise time of the small mEPSCs might result from slow release through a non-expanding fusion pore, consistent with postfusional control of neurotransmitter release at central synapses.