• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2012

Methylphenidate is a widely used stimulant for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition to core symptoms of attention and behavioral symptoms, methylphenidate is even effective for executive functions. However, abuse and misuse of stimulants, including methylphenidate, for the purpose of cognitive enhancement is an issue of concern worldwide. Some prejudices and misunderstandings against methylphenidate are popular ; however, little attention has been given to the neuropsychiatric evidence of methylphenidate for enhancement of cognitive function among healthy populations. In this article, our aim was to conduct a review of previous studies investigating the effect of methylphenidate in healthy populations. Findings from several recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of methylphenidate for enhancement of cognitive function in healthy populations. The mechanisms of cognitive enhancement are thought to be associated with motivation and the reward circuit in the brain. However, when considering the risk to benefit, an official discussion of the use of methylphenidate among healthy members of the population would be premature. Instead, investigation of epidemiological studies of the prevalence of misuse of stimulants among healthy members of the population, particularly adolescents and college students, is needed. In addition, based on achievements reported in previous studies, investigation of the effect of an approach using non-pharmacological enhancing motivation, which will in turn result in increased cognitive function would be helpful.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.156-164
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• 2014

Cancer is the most dreaded disease in human and also major health problem worldwide. Despite its high occurrence, the exact molecular mechanisms of the development and progression are not fully understood. The existing cancer therapy based on allopathic medicine is expensive, exhibits side effects; and may also alter the normal functioning of genes. Thus, a non-toxic and effective mode of treatment is needed to control cancer development and progression. Some medicinal plants offer a safe, effective and affordable remedy to control the cancer progression. Nimbolide, a limnoid derived from the neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves and flowers of neem, is widely used in traditional medical practices for treating various human diseases. Nimbolide exhibits several pharmacological effects among which its anticancer activity is the most promising. The previous studies carried out over the decades have shown that nimbolide inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. This review highlights the current knowledge on the molecular targets that contribute to the observed anticancer activity of nimbolide related to induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest; and inhibition of signaling pathways related to cancer progression.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.225-240
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of reminiscence therapy on depressive symptoms in older adults with dementia using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2000 to January 2018 were searched through Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), Korean Medical Database (KMbase), KoreaMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Ovid MEDLINE. Two researchers independently performed the search, selection, and coding. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3.0 was used for meta-analysis, and Review Manager program 5.3 was used for quality assessment. Results: Out of the 1,250 retrieved articles, 22 RCTs were selected for analysis. The overall effect size of reminiscence therapy for mitigating depressive symptoms in older adults with dementia was -0.62 (95% Cl: -0.92 to -0.31). The effect size was greater in older adults under 80, those with less disease severity, and those for whom the therapy session lasted less than 40 minutes. Conclusion: Reminiscence therapy is an effective non-pharmacological therapy to improve depressive symptoms in older adults with dementia. Because its effectiveness is also influenced by age, disease severity, and application method, it is necessary to consider treatment designs based on individual characteristics as well as methodological approaches.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.124-133
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• 2024

Objective: This study aims to investigate the immediate effects of myofascial release and Duoball assisted self-relaxation (DASR) techniques on pain and muscle tension in patients experiencing chronic cervical pain. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study is a randomized controlled experimental study. Eighteen patients with chronic neck pain who met the selection criteria were randomly assigned to myofascial release group and myofascial release group using Duoball. Results: The frequency results for assessment muscle tension showed a decrease of about 10% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS in both the MFR and DASR groups, and the stiffness results showed a decrease in all muscles except the upper trapezius in the MFR group and the DASR group. All were found to decrease by about 10% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS, and the decrement results showed an increase of about 15% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS in both the MFR and DASR groups(p<0.05). Conclusions: In patients experiencing chronic neck pain, application of MFR and duoball assisted self relaxion was shown to be effective on pain and muscle tension. MFR is a non-pharmacological intervention method with few potential side effects and is considered a universal and easily applicable treatment method.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2011

Objectives：This study was conducted to develop a Korean algorithm of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its specific comorbid disorders (e.g. tic disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder). Methods：Based on a literature review and expert consensus, both paper- and web-based survey tools were developed with respect to a comprehensive range of questions. Most options were scored using a 9-point scale for rating the appropriateness of medical decisions. For the other options, the surveyed experts were asked to provide answers (e.g., duration of treatment, aver-age dosage) or check boxes to indicate their preferred answers. The survey was performed on-line in a self-administered manner. Ultimately, 49 Korean child & adolescent psychiatrists, who had been considered experts in the treatment of ADHD, vol untarily completed the questionnaire. In analyzing the responses to items rated using the 9-point scale, consensus on each option was defined as a non-random distribution of scores as determined by a chi-square test. We assigned a categorical rank (first line/preferred choice, second line/alternate choice, third line/usually inappropriate) to each option based on the 95% confidence interval around the mean rating score. Results：Specific medication strategies for key clinical situations in ADHD and its comorbid disorders were indicated and described. We organized the suggested algorithms of ADHD treatment mainly on the basis of the opinions of the Korean experts. The suggested algorithm was constructed according to the templates of the Texas Child & Adolescent medication algorithm Project (CMAP). Conclusion：We have proposed a Korean treatment algorithm for ADHD, both with and without comorbid disorders through expert consensus and a broad literature review. As the tools available for ADHD treatment evolve, this algorithm could be reorganized and modified as required to suit updated scientific and clinical research findings.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2011

Quercetin mainly exists in the skin of colored fruits and vegetables as one of flavonoids. Recent studies show that quercetin, like other flavonoids, has diverse pharmacological actions. However, relatively little is known about quercetin effects in the regulations of ligand-gated ion channels. In the previous reports, we have shown that quercetin regulates subsets of homomeric ligand-gated ion channels such as glycine, 5-$HT_{3A}$ and ${\alpha}7$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In the present study, we examined quercetin effects on heteromeric neuronal ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes after injection of cRNA encoding bovine neuronal ${\alpha}3$ and ${\beta}4$ subunits. Treatment with acetylcholine elicited an inward peak current ($I_{ACh}$) in oocytes expressing ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Co-treatment with quercetin and acetylcholine inhibited $I_{ACh}$ in oocytes expressing ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The inhibition of $I_{ACh}$ by quercetin was reversible and concentration-dependent. The half-inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of quercetin was $14.9{\pm}0.8\;{\mu}M$ in oocytes expressing ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The inhibition of $I_{ACh}$ by quercetin was voltage-independent and non-competitive. These results indicate that quercetin might regulate ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and this regulation might be one of the pharmacological actions of quercetin in nervous systems.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.1-11
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• 1998

Ameliorating mechanisms of red ginseng on learning deficits were investigated in the following 3 experiments; its effects on 1) place learning deficits in aged rats and in young rats with selective hippocampal lesions (behavioral study), 2) long-term potentiation in the hippocampal formation (neuro- physiological study), and 3) ChAT (choline acetyl transferase) activity in various brain regions of aged rats (pharmacological study). In the behavioral study, first, performance in the place learning tasks were compared among 3 groups of young and aged rats; control young intact rats (10-12 week old) treated with water, aged rats (28-32 month old) treated with water, and aged rats (28-32 month old) treated with red ginseng (100 mghglday) suspended in water. Second, performance in the place learning tasks was compared among 3 groups of young rats; control intact rats treated with water, rats with bilateral hippocampal lesions treated with water, and rats with bilateral hippocampal lesions treated with red ginseng (100 mg/kg/day). Each rat in these 2 behavioral experiments was tested with the 3 types of the place learning tasks in a circular open field using intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) as reward. The ICSS reward was delivered if the rat (1) moved distance of 100-160 cm (DMT): (2) entered an experiment-determined reward place within the open field, and this place was randomly varied in sequential trials (RRPST); or (3) entered 2 specific places, and did a shuttle behavior between the 2 places (PLT). Performance of the aged rats in the ginseng group was not significantly different from that of control young rats in ICSS (current intensity, bar press rates), DMT and RRPST. However, treatment with red ginseng significantly ameliorated place-navigation learning deficits in aged rats in the PLT. Similarly, red ginseng ameliorated learning and memory deficits in young rats with hippocampal lesions in the same tasks. In the neurophysiological study using young rats, perfusion of hippocampal slices with non-sapon in fraction of red ginseng significantly enhanced magnitudes of the long-term potentiation (LfP) in the CA3 subfield. In the pharmacological study, treatment with red ginseng did not affect ChAT activity in aged rat brain including the hippocampal formation. These results strongly suggest that red ginseng ameliorates learning and memory deficits in aged rats through actions on the CA3 subfield of the hippocampal formation, which were independent of the presynaptic components of the cholinergic system

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.133-141
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of active release technique on pain, Oswestry Disability Index, and pelvic asymmetry in chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: Thirty five outpatients diagnosed with chronic low back pain were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into an active release technique therapy group(experimental group; n=18) and myofascial release technique therapy group(control group; n=17). These groups performed their respective therapy for a 40-minute session occurring twice a week over six weeks. The Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) was used to measure the subjects' pain, and the Korean Oswestry Disability Index(KODI) was used to measure the subjects' dysfunction. To assess the patients' pelvic asymmetry, their pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation were measured using X-ray imaging. RESULTS: Both the experimental group and control group exhibited significant decreases in their VAS and KODI scores after the therapy(p<.05). The experimental group exhibited a significant decrease in their pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation after therapy(p<.05). A significant difference was observed between the experimental group and the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that active release technique is effective in decreasing the level of pain and dysfunction in chronic low back pain patients. In addition, the active release technique is considered to be more effective in improving the pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation than myofascial release technique. This can be an effective method for the non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment of chronic low back pain.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4973-4977
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• 2012

Introduction: Tobacco use is a global health care problem. Repetitive exposure to nicotine produces neuroadaptation resulting in nicotine dependence. Smoking is associated with a range of diseases, causing high levels of morbidity and mortality and is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths, with more than 4.6 million smokers worldwide dying each year from smoking related illnesses. Stopping smoking has major health benefits. Quitting at any age provides both short and long term benefits. Materials and methods: 45 patients attending the outpatient department at the Oxford Dental College, Bangalore, were randomly allocated to three groups of interventions namely placebo, counseling and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Initially each one was assessed for carbon monoxide levels using a breath analyser (pico smokerlyser bedfont UK). They were followed up for six months and the carbon monoxide levels were again assessed using the same instrument. The paired t test was used to compare the results before and after the intervention. Results: The scores before the initiation of intervention and after treatment were compared and all three interventions were found to be statistically significant after six months. It was noticed that patients with very low or low dependence followed by high dependence had good response in the placebo group (68% and 47.6% respectively), in the counseling group maximum response was seen in the medium followed by the very low group (61% and 59% respectively), and maximum response was seen in very high followed by the very low group with NRT (78.7% and 60.5% respectively). Conclusion: The inference that can be drawn from the present study is that non-invasive, non pharmacological methods like placebo and counseling are effective in low to medium groups, and NRT is effective with higher nicotine dependence.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2018

Objective: Elevated cholesterol levels contribute to changes of the arterial endothelial permeability. Hyperlipidemia promotes atherosclerosis and is associated with an increased risk of stroke incidence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of having a history of hyperlipidemia prior to a stroke incidence on postural balance, anticipatory dynamic postural control, gait endurance and gait performance in individuals with hemiparetic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifty-two adults who were diagnosed with stroke 6 months ago or more were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two different groups according to hyperlipidemia history before stroke. All participants were assessed with the Activities-specific into Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, Berg Balance scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). An independent t-test was used to analyze the difference between the hyperlipidemia group and non-hyperlipidemia group. Results: After analysis, the BBS, TUG, and 6MWT scores were significantly different between the hyperlipidemia and non-hyperlipidemia group, but not the ABC and DGI scores. Conclusions: The results of this study show that having a history of hyperlipidemia before stroke affects static and dynamic postural balance performance, anticipatory dynamic postural balance, and gait endurance in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Based on the results of this study, we also suggest treatment for hyperlipidemia should be implemented throughout the therapeutic interventions, such as pharmacological or exercise programs, in order to restore the physical function of stroke survivors.