• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.390-400
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• 2006

Purpose: To develop & to examine the effect of a Tailored Exercise Program (TEP) on physical fitness in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Method: In a two-group pre-and post-test design, from a total 41 participants. 21 were assigned th the experimental group find the remainder to the control group. The experimental group participated in a 4-day a week, 8 week program in which one session a week was by direct instruction with the self-help group and two sessions a week were by videotaped instruction at home by themselves. The control group did not receive any intervention. Results: The eight week TEP in patients with PD was found to be significantly effective in enhancing muscle strength, ankle flexibility, and balance. However instrumental activities of daily living was not changed by the intervention. Conclusion: These results suggest that TEP can have an effect on physical fitness in patients with PD. Further research with a larger sample and for a longer follow up period is needed to expand our understanding of the effects of TEP for patients with PD.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.467-474
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• 2008

Purpose: To examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise (TCE) on depression, quality of life and self-efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Method: A nonequivalent control-group pre and posttest design was used. Of the 30 participants 15 were assigned to the experimental group and 15 to the control group. The experimental group participated in 8 weeks of TCE which included one day of exercise with instructor on site and 3 days of self-exercise at home guided by a videotape. Results: The 8 weeks of TCE were found to be significantly effective in enhancing quality of life and self-efficacy. However there was no significant difference in the level of depression. Conclusion: These results suggest that TCE has positive effect on quality of life and self-efficacy in patients with PD. Research over an extended period with the TCE intervention is recommended to identify further effects.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.636-648
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the health-illness transition of patients with Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD). Methods: From June to November 2011, 17 patients with YOPD who visited a neurologic clinic in a tertiary hospital participated in the study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using the grounded theory of Strauss and Corbin. Results: The core category of the participants' health-illness transition emerged as 'reshaping identity following uncontrollable changes'. The participants' health-illness transition process consisted of six phases in sequence: ego withdrawal, loss of role, frustration, change of thought, modification of life tract, and second life. Although most participants proceeded through the six phases chronologically, some returned to the frustration phase and then took up the remaining phases. Conclusion: The study results provide an in-depth understanding of health-illness transition experiences in the participants. These findings suggest a need to develop appropriate nursing intervention strategies according to the different phases in the health-illness transition of patients with YOPD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.233-244
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• 2010

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and 5-10% of the PD cases are genetically inherited as familial PD (FPD). LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) was first reported in 2004 as a gene corresponding to PARK8, an autosomal gene whose dominant mutations cause familial PD. LRRK2 contains both active kinase and GTPase domains as well as protein-protein interaction motifs such as LRR (leucine-rich repeat) and WD40. Most pathogenic LRRK2 mutations are located in either the GTPase or kinase domain, implying important roles for the enzymatic activities in PD pathogenic mechanisms. In comparison to other PD causative genes such as parkin and PINK1, LRRK2 exhibits two important features. One is that LRRK2's mutations (especially the G2019S mutation) were observed in sporadic as well as familial PD patients. Another is that, among the various PD-causing genes, pathological characteristics observed in patients carrying LRRK2 mutations are the most similar to patients with sporadic PD. Because of these two observations, LRRK2 has been intensively investigated for its pathogenic mechanism (s) and as a target gene for PD therapeutics. In this review, the general biochemical and molecular features of LRRK2, the recent results of LRRK2 studies and LRRK2's therapeutic potential as a PD target gene will be discussed.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.4367-4385
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• 2016

With millions of people across the globe suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD), an objective, confirmatory test for the same is yet to be developed. This research aims to develop a system which can assist the doctor in objectively saying whether the patient is normal or under risk of PD. The proposed work combines the eye-hand co-ordination behaviour with the DaTscan images in order to determine the risk of this disorder. Initially, eye-hand coordination level of the patient is assessed through a hardware module. Then, the DaTscan image is analysed and used to extract certain geometrical parameters which shall indicate the presence of PD. These parameters are then finally fed into a Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Network using Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) Back propagation training algorithm. Experimental results indicate that the proposed system exhibits an accuracy of around 93%.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.246-251
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• 2016

This study investigated the effects of (-)-sesamin on memory deficits in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioned mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). MPTP lesion (30 mg/kg/day, 5 days) in mice showed memory deficits including habit learning memory and spatial memory. However, treatment with (-)-sesamin (25 and 50 mg/kg) for 21 days ameliorated memory deficits in MPTP-lesioned mouse model of PD: (-)-sesamin at both doses improved decreases in the retention latency time of the passive avoidance test and the levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and homovanillic acid, improved the decreased transfer latency time of the elevated plus-maze test, reduced the increased expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and increased the reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB). These results suggest that (-)-sesamin has protective effects on both habit learning memory and spatial memory deficits via the dopaminergic neurons and NMDA receptor-ERK1/2-CREB system in MPTP-lesioned mouse model of PD, respectively. Therefore, (-)-sesamin may serve as an adjuvant phytonutrient for memory deficits in PD patients.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.565-572
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• 1998

The present study was to evaluate the protective effects of bromocriptine, which is known as $D_2$ dopamine receptor agonist and used for the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde; MDA) produced by the administration of 6-OHDA was profoundly reduced following the treatment of bromocriptine in a dose-dependent manner in rabbit brain homogenate. Quinone formation by 6-OHDA autoxidation was also attenuated, and its effect was as potent as other antioxidants. Pretreatment of bromocriptine reduced the cytotoxicity of 6-OHDA on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines dose-dependently. The loss of striatal dopamine and its metabolite, DOPAC (dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) as well as increase of MDA production caused by intrastriatal injection of 6-OHDA was significantly recovered following the treatment of bromocriptine. The present study clearly showed that bromocriptine had a protective action against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity. These results suggest that bromocriptine has the antioxidant properties, which could be another advantage for delaying the progress of Parkinson's disease.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.55-60
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• 2010

Clinical measures that Quantify falling risk factors are needed for the accurate evaluation of patients and to plan an intervention strategy. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest and interrater reliability of the dynamic gait index (DGI) for persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). A total of 22 idiopathic PD patients were recruited from rehabilitation hospital, Korea in this study. The DGI was assessed in two sessions that were, three days apart. We also measured Berg balance test (BBT) and geriatric depression scale (GDS) for concurrent validity with DGI. Intrarater and interrater reliability (.96 and .98 respectively) for DGI were high. indicating good agreement. The DGI was showed a good positive correlation with the BBS (r=.852). but not GDS (r=-.462). Intrarater and interrater reliability of DGI were high in people with PD. The DGI could be a reliable measure to evaluate functional postural control during gait activities in the PD population, and the ability of DGI to detect real change is acceptable in research and clinical settings.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2016

Background: Losing balance during locomotive actions becomes an increasing threat to both the community-dwelling elderly and elderly with Parkinson disease (PD). Those with PD may be at a high risk of fall due to particular characteristics during the turn. Turning around during locomotive actions may be one of problematic factors causing losing balance. Objects: This study is part of a larger study, which in part aims to identify turning strategies, to compare the strategies in the elderly with and without idiopathic PD aged 51 years and older and to distinguish whether the turning strategies can predict the elderly at risk of falls. Methods: A total of 22 community-dwelling elderlies (10 elderlies with idiopathic PD and 12 healthy elderlies) were investigated for the turning strategies during the timed up and go test. Results: There were some significant differences between the two groups during turning (p<.05). The idiopathic PD group had a tendency of challenging on taking more number of steps, more time to accomplish and staggering more for the turn relative to the control group. Conclusion: Taking more number of steps and more time to turn may be useful for distinguishing the characteristics of PD from that of the healthy elderly in turning strategy.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.95-105
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• 2006

The primary goal of therapeutic intervention in dysarthric speakers is to increase the speech intelligibility. Decision of critical features to increase the intelligibility is very important in speech therapy. The purpose of this study is to know the effects of pitch increasing training (PIT) on speech of a subject with Parkinson's disease (PD). The PIT program is focused on increasing pitch while a vowel is sustained with the same loudness. The loudness level is somewhat higher than that of the habitual loudness. A 67-year-old female with PD participated in the study. Speech therapy was conducted for 4 sessions (200 minutes) for one week. Before and after the treatment, acoustic, perceptual and speech naturalness evaluation was peformed for data analysis. Speech and voice satisfaction index (SVSI) was obtained after the treatment. Results showed Improvements in voice quality and speech naturalness. In addition, the patient's satisfaction ratings (SVSI) indicated a positive relationship between improved speech production and their (the patient and care-givers) satisfaction.