• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2023

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) involves multi-factorial conditions linked to an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Pre-metabolic syndrome (pre-MetS) possesses two MetS components but does not meet the MetS diagnostic criteria. Although cardiac autonomic derangements are evident in MetS, there is little information on their status in pre-MetS subjects. In this study, we sought to examine cardiac autonomic functions in pre-MetS and to determine which MetS component is more responsible for impaired cardiac autonomic functions. A total of 182 subjects were recruited and divided into healthy controls (n=89) and pre-MetS subjects (n=93) based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. We performed biochemical profiles on fasting blood samples to detect pre-MetS. Using standardized protocols, we evaluated anthropometric data, body composition, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), heart rate variability (HRV), and autonomic function tests (AFTs). We further examined these parameters in pre-MetS subjects for each MetS component. Compared to healthy controls, we observed a significant cardiac autonomic dysfunction (CAD) through reduced BRS, lower overall HRV, and altered AFT parameters in pre-MetS subjects, accompanied by markedly varied anthropometric, clinical and biochemical parameters. Furthermore, all examined BRS, HRV, and AFT parameters exhibited an abnormal trend and significant correlation toward hyperglycemia. This study demonstrates CAD in pre-MetS subjects with reduced BRS, lower overall HRV, and altered AFT parameters. Hyperglycemia was considered an independent determinant of alterations in all the examined BRS, HRV, and AFT parameters. Thus, hyperglycemia may contribute to CAD in pre-MetS subjects before progressing to MetS.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.143-153
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• 2023

Objective: Men's sexual health plays an important role in male fertility and childbearing, as it is associated with factors such as sexual desire, healthy spermatogenesis, and erectile function. In various cultures, medicinal plants have been utilized to address male sexual issues, including infertility and erectile dysfunction. Despite recent advancements in medical science for treating male impotence, some men opt for herbal supplements as an alternative, given that numerous herbs have the potential to enhance male sexual performance. The Apiaceae family is one of the oldest plant families used for medicinal purposes. Ferula, a genus within this family, comprises approximately 170 different species worldwide. Members of this genus possess numerous therapeutic properties due to the presence of various compounds. This article aims to explore the potential impacts of Ferula plants on the male reproductive system. Methods: This review article was prepared by searching for terms including Ferula and "aphrodisiac," Ferula and "spermatogenesis," and Ferula and "male reproductive system." Relevant information was gathered through electronic databases, including ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Results: The findings indicated that relatively comprehensive studies have been conducted in this area, revealing that certain Ferula species have been employed in folk medicine to boost fertility and libido. Recent research has corroborated these effects. Conclusion: It is hoped that new aphrodisiac compounds with fewer side effects can be isolated from Ferula plants in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.930-943
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of HongYi pharmacopuncture monotherapy on female voiding dysfunction. Methods: Korean medical practitioners who used HongYi pharmacopuncture to treat female patients complaining of dysuria were surveyed. They performed a retrospective chart review of 31 female patients who visited their Korean medical clinic for dysuria. General characteristics, marital status, urologic medical history, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS), and related adverse events were examined. Results: Of 31 cases received, 29 were selected for analysis. Two cases were excluded because treatment was not continued through four weeks. In all cases, IPSS and ICIQ-FLUTS scores were significantly decreased after treatment. Adverse reactions occurred during treatment in four cases. Conclusions: These results suggest that treatment by HongYi pharmacopuncture is effective in improving lower urinary tract symptoms in women. Further studies will be needed for evaluation of clinical responses, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HongYi pharmacopuncture treatment for female patients complaining of dysuria.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2006

The head thrust maneuver is a simple bedside test of the higher frequency vestibulo-ocular reflex, which is based on Ewald's second law. It is performed by grasping the patient's head and applying a brief, small-amplitude, high-acceleration head turn, first to one side and then to the other. The patient fixates on the examiner's nose and the examiner watches for corrective rapid eye movements (saccades), which are a sign of decreased vestibular response. The "catch-up" saccades after a head thrust in one direction indicate a peripheral vestibular lesion on that side (in the labyrinth or the $8^{th}$ nerve including the root's entry zone in the brain stem). An individual pair of vertical semicircular canals can also be stimulated by turning the head to the right or left by $45^{\circ}$ and then by rotating the head in the pitch plane relative to the body. Recent studies have suggested that assessment of individual semicircular canal function by head thrust test may provide useful information for anatomical and functional details of a variety of peripheral vestibulopathies and for predicting the prognosis of vestibular neuritis. In central vestibulopathy, the head thrust test may also be valuable sign to determine dysfunction of the central pathways from individual semicircular canals and its role for the development of diverse central nystagmus.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objectives : This study used a network pharmacology approach to analyze the treatment mechanisms of Yijin-tang on Meniere's disease, and comparative analysis the treatment mechanisms of drugs recommended in the Meniere's disease treatment guidelines. Methods : We collected information on the recommended drugs from the Meniere's disease treatment guidelines and their target proteins were screened via the STITCH database. The intersection targets were obtained through Venny 2.1.0. Gene Ontology(GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis were performed using ClueGO. Results : The 7 proteins(TNF, CASP9, PARP1, CCL2, CFTR, NOS2, NOS1) were associated with both Yijin-tang and Meniere's disease related genes. The 10 proteins(AQP2, KCNE1, AQP1, AVP, ACE, HRH1, HRH3, NOS1, CA1, CFTR) were associated with both the recommended drugs in the guidelines and Meniere's disease related genes. The 2 proteins(CFTR, NOS1) were common across all three groups. Further, GO/KEGG pathway analysis of the collected proteins revealed that the common mechanisms of action between Yijin-tang and the recommended drugs in the guidelines were related to pathways involving immune dysfunction and disturbances in lymphatic fluid homeostasis. In addition, the recommended drugs in the guidelines appeared to act through mechanisms that improve blood flow through vasodilation. Conclusions : Pharmacological network analysis can help to explain the treatment mechanisms of Yijin-tang on Meniere's disease.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.415-425
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: As aging progresses, the number of patients with cognitive impairment also increases. Cognitive function is not generally correlated with diet, and there is debate over that association. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the association between dietary intake and cognitive function among adults aged 50 years or older. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Between July 2017 and March 2018, 324 adults aged over 50 years from Gwangju Sun-Han hospital participated in a dietary survey. The frequency of food intake and related information were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) and determining the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) level for 276 participants. The association between dietary intake and cognitive function was assessed by performing logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Depending on the MMSE score, the participants' age, education level, inhabitation status, medications, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, physical activity, and short geriatric depression scale score were significantly different (P < 0.05). Moreover, those participant characteristics were associated with either decreased or increased odds ratios (OR) for the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Based on analysis of the participants' intake of 112 detailed food items, which were categorized into 20 food types, intakes of cooked white rice (< 2 times/day compared with ${\geq}3$ times/day) (P < 0.05), properly cooked rice with other grains and legumes (P < 0.001), fruits (P < 0.05), milk (low fat and normal) (P = 0.044), liquid-type yogurt (P = 0.019), and curd-type yogurt (P = 0.015) were found to significantly decrease the OR for the risk of MCI. CONCLUSIONS: Associations were significant between the risk of MCI and the intake of certain food types. Specifically, a moderate intake of cooked white rice and an adequate intake of whole grains, fruits, milk, and dairy products were associated with reduced risks of MCI among adults aged over 50 years.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.147-162
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• 2015

Objectives: The objective of this review was to summarize the primary role of three representative endocrine axes in aquatic vertebrates and discuss the effects on endocrine systems and their interactions in teleost fish after exposure to environmental contaminants. Methods: We summarized individual traits and mechanisms for hormonal and transcriptional interactions between the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG), hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT), and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes in fish. We also provided a brief discussion on the effects of nonylphenol-induced toxicity on endocrine systems and their interactions in fish as a demonstration of holistic explanation. Results: Currently-available data showed that thyroid dysfunction is associated with reproductive toxicity due to changes in steroidogenic gene expressions and sex hormone levels as well as gonad glands in fish. As an example, we demonstrated that exposure to nonylphenol could induce estrogenicity in male fish by decreasing thyroid hormones, which contributes to increased aromatase expression. Although the mechanisms are complicated and involved in multiple ways, a number of studies have shown that sex steroids influence the HPT axis or the HPA axis in fish, indicating bi-directional crosstalk. Critically missing is information on the primary target or toxicity mechanisms of environmental contaminants among the three endocrine axes, so further studies are needed to explore those possibilities. Conclusions: This review highlights the interactions between the HPG, HPT, and HPA axes in fish in order to better understand how these endocrine systems could interact with each other in situations of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2020

Objective: Using biofeedback in instructing pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activation is a great method to provide information on muscle contraction. This study aimed to determine the immediate effectiveness of a mobile game-based instruction with an extracorporeal biofeedback device (EBD) to improve PFM contraction in healthy subjects. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Sixteen healthy subjects (4 men and 12 nulliparous women; age, 31±5 years) were enrolled. The subjects were randomly categorized into two groups, those who were to receive instructions on how to contract the PFM by using the EBD (n=7) and those who were to undergo a transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS; n=9) with biofeedback. PFM function was measured as the displacement (mm) of PFM elevation by using the TAUS before and after the instructions in each group. Results: The EBD and TAUS groups showed a significant increase in the displacement of PFM elevation after the instructions from 5.93±4.03 mm to 7.62±3.77 mm and from 5.27±3.39 mm to 7.47±2.79 mm, respectively (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that instructions for PFM contraction using the EBD and TAUS showed an immediate effect; however, no significant difference in effectiveness was observed between the two instruction methods. Therefore, not only can the TAUS method be used but the EBD method can also be used as a PFM instruction method for noninvasive procedures. However, further studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of training and exercise on larger sample sizes that includes patient populations with PFM dysfunction.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

Background: In patients with forward head posture (FHP), the head is positioned forward, causing increased tension in the muscles and structures of the head, neck, and shoulders. This can result in joint dysfunction that may lead to abnormal afferent information. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect on foot pressure through the isometric hip abduction (IHA) bridge exercise using elastic bands in patients with FHP. Methods: Twenty patients with FHP were randomly assigned to a study group that applied joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, a deep neck flexor strengthening exercise, and the IHA bridge exercise using an elastic band. A control group was also constituted, and members were given joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization therapies, and the deep neck flexor strengthening exercise. Ten patients were assigned to each group. The static foot pressure and dynamic foot pressure of each patient were measured before and after the intervention, and the interventions for each group were applied twice a week for 4 weeks. Results: Both the study group and the control group showed significant differences in static and dynamic foot pressure before and after the interventions (p<.05). There were no significant differences in foot pressure between the study and control groups. Conclusion: : The results of this study revealed that there were no significant differences between the group doing the IHA bridge exercise using the elastic band and the control group. However, the intervention methods applied to both the groups were effective in improving the body center control of FHP patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.79-87
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• 2020

Inherited platelet disorders (IPDs), which manifest as primary hemostasis defects, often underlie abnormal bleeding and a family history of thrombocytopenia, bone marrow failure, hematologic malignancies, undefined mucocutaneous bleeding disorder, or congenital bony defects. Wide heterogeneity in IPD types with regard to the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction, bone marrow failure, and dysmegakaryopoiesis is observed in patients. The individual processes involved in platelet production and hemostasis are genetically controlled; to date, mutations of more than 50 genes involved in various platelet biogenesis steps have been implicated in IPDs. Representative IPDs resulting from defects in specific pathways, such as thrombopoietin/MPL signaling; transcriptional regulation; granule formation, trafficking, and secretion; proplatelet formation; cytoskeleton regulation; and transmembrane glycoprotein signaling are reviewed, and the underlying gene mutations are discussed based on the National Center for Biotechnology Information database and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man accession number. Further, the status and prevalence of genetically confirmed IPDs in Korea are explored based on searches of the PubMed and KoreaMed databases. IPDs are congenital bleeding disorders that can be dangerous due to unexpected bleeding and require genetic counseling for family members and descendants. Therefore, the pediatrician should be suspicious and aware of IPDs and perform the appropriate tests if the patient has unexpected bleeding. However, all IPDs are extremely rare; thus, the domestic incidences of IPDs are unclear and their diagnosis is difficult. Diagnostic confirmation or differential diagnoses of IPDs are challenging, time-consuming, and expensive, and patients are frequently misdiagnosed. Comprehensive molecular characterization and classification of these disorders should enable accurate and precise diagnosis and facilitate improved patient management.