• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise intensity and initial timing on functional recovery following sciatic nerve injury in rats. METHODS: Total of 80 Sprague-Dawley rats was used and randomly divided 6 groups. Under deep anesthesia, the sciatic nerve was nipped by adapted hemostatic tweezers for 30 seconds and the injured nerve was transparent under naked eyes. Acute exercise groups was applied treadmill after sciatic nerve crush injury during 5days with three type intensity. Late exercise groups was also applied treadmill during 5 days with three type intensity after 5 days break. Values of sciatic functional index were measured and analyzed in each group after exercise period. RESULTS: The sciatic functional index values between control groups 1, acute low-intensity group, acute middle-intensity group in acute phase showed statistical significant (p<.05). The sciatic functional index values between control groups 2, late low-intensity group, late middle-intensity group and late high-intensity in late phase showed statistical significant (p<.05). The comparison in acute and late phase, sciatic functional index values of each low-intensity group and each high-intensity group showed statistical significant (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Whether at acute or late phase, treadmill exercise as a therapy obtained beneficial effects of functional recovery and exercise training at low speed is more beneficial effects on the recovery of motor function in acute phase.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.125-142
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• 2011

Objectives : Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered clinical problems and often result in severe functional deficits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) extract on functional recovery and pain release in the sciatic nerve after crushed sciatic nerve injury in rats. Methods : 1. Sciatic functional index(SFI) were performed on functional recovery. 2. c-Fos immunohistochemistry were performed on c-Fos expressions in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray(vIPAG). 3. Neurofilament immunohistochemistry were performed on neurofilament regeneration. 4. Western blot were performed on brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and nerve growth factor(NGF) expression. Results : 1. Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) extract significantly enhanced the SFI value in the sciatic nerve injury and 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group. 2. Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) extract significantly suppressed the sciatic nerve injury-induced increment of c-Fos expressions in the PVN and vIPAG in the sciatic nerve injury and 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group. 3. Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) extract significantly increased neurofilament expression in the sciatic nerve injury and 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group. 4. Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) extract significantly controled the sciatic nerve injury-induced increment of BDNF and NGF expressions in the sciatic nerve injury and 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group. Conclusions : These results suggest that Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) treatment after sciatic nerve injury is effective for the functional recovery by enhancing of axonal regeneration and suppressing of pain.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.33-48
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• 2013

Objectives : Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered clinical problems and often result in severe functional deficits. Sukjiyanggeun-Tang(shudiyangjin-tang), in oriental medicine, has been used to treat various musculoskeletal disorders. Methods : In the present study, the effects of aqueous extract of Sukjiyanggeun-Tang(shudiyangjin-tang) on functional recovery, severity of pain, and expressions of neurofilament, cycloxygenease-2(COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats were investigated. For this study, walking tract analysis, plantar test, western blot analysis for COX-2 iNOS, and TNF-${\alpha}$, and Immunofluorescence test for neurofilament were performed. Results : In the present results, sciatic functional index(SFI) in walking tract analysis was significantly decreased following sciatic crushed nerve injury, and pain severity in plantar test was significantly increased. COX-2, iNOS and TNF-${\alpha}$ expressions were increased whereas neurofilament expression was decreased by sciatic crushed nerve injury, In contrast, treatment with Sukjiyanggeun-Tang(shudiyangjin-tang) improved SFI in walking tract analysis and suppressed the pain severity in sciatic crushed nerve injury. Sukjiyanggeun-Tang(shudiyangjin-tang) treatment also suppressed COX-2, iNOS, and TNF-${\alpha}$ expressions and enhanced the neurofilament expression in sciatic crushed nerve injury. Conclusions : In the present study, we have shown that Sukjiyanggeun-Tang(shudiyangjin-tang) is the effective therapeutic modality to ameliorate the symptoms of sciatic crushed nerve injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.143-158
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• 2011

Objectives : Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in severe functional deficits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of Achyranthes japonica(AJ) on functional recovery in sciatic nerve after crushed sciatic nerve injury. Methods : In the present study, the animals in the AJ-treated groups received the aqueous extract of AJ at the respective doses orally for 13 consecutive days. In order to assess the effects of the aqueous extract of AJ on function recovery in crushed sciatic nerve injury, sciatic functional index(SFI) was performed. c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray(vIPAG), and neurofilament, and the expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), nerve growth factor(NGF) following crushed sciatic nerve injury in rats were investigated. For this, immunohistochemistry and western blot were performed. Results : In the present study, crushed sciatic nerve injury showed characteristic gait changes showing decrease of SFI value and treatment with the aqueous extract of AJ significantly enhanced the SFI value. Neurofilament expression in the sciatic nerve was decreased by crushed sciatic nerve injury and treatment with the AJ increased neurofilament expression. The expressions of BDNF and NGF in the sciatic nerve were increased following crushed sciatic nerve injury and treatment with the AJ significantly controlled the sciatic nerve injury-induced increment of BDNF and NGF expressions. c-Fos expressions in the PVN and vIPAG were increased following crushed sciatic nerve injury and treatment with the AJ significantly suppressed the sciatic nerve injury-induced increment of c-Fos expressions. Conclusions : These results suggest that AJ treatment after crushed sciatic nerve injury is effective in the functional recovery by enhancing axonal regeneration and suppressing of pain.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-30
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• 2008

This study was investigated the effects of pain and functional recovery when low frequency electrical stimulation and aquatic exercise applied to sciatic nerve injured rats. The rats were assigned into four groups; Group I(n=20, control group), Group II(n=20, low frequency electrical stimulation group), Group III(n=20, aquatic exercise group), Group (n=20, applied low frequency electrical stimulation and aquaatic exercise group). Each IV group measured hot plate examination, sciatic nerve functional index(SFI), c-fos.. In hot plate examination, group II, IV showed effect than group Iat 14 days after injured(p<0.01) and group III, Ⅳ showed effect than group I at 21, 28 days after in-jured(p<0.01, p<0.001). In SFI, group II, III, IV showed effect II, III, IV than group I and group IV showed effect than group II at 14, 21 days after injured(p<0.001). group II, III, IV showed effect than group I at 28 days after injured(II = p<0.01, III and IV = p<0.001). Effects of pain and function recovery when low frequency electrical stimulation and aqua-exercise applied to sciatic nerve injured rats, group Ⅳ were most effected to sciatic nerve injured rats. As well as group II and III were effected to sciatic nerve injured rats.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.39-50
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• 2009

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Aconiti ciliare tuber on the descending pain and the recovery of locomotor function that results from sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Method : In order to assess the effects of the aqueous extract of Aconiti ciliare tuber on the recovery rate of locomotor function, we investigated the walking track analysis, and for the effects on the pain control we investigated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in the sciatic nerve and on the expressions of c-Fos in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) region resulting from the sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Result : Treatment with Aconiti ciliare tuber significantly enhanced the SFIvalue, enhanced BDNF expression, decreased iNOS expression, and suppressed c-Fos expression. The present results showed that Aconiti ciliare tuber facilitated functional recovery following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. The recovery mechanisms of SFI by Aconiti ciliare tuber might be ascribed to the increase of BDNF expression for nerve regeneration and reinnervation and to the suppression of iNOS expression for inhibiting nerve inflammation. Conclusion : In this process it has been shown that Aconiti ciliare tuber can be used for pain control and functional recovery from peripheral nerve injury.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.556-563
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• 2008

Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in a chronic pain and severe functional deficits. The expression of c-Fos is sometimes used as a marker of increased neuronal activity. We have prepared the aqueous extract of amygdalin from Armeniacae semen for pain control. In the present study, we investigated the effects of amygdalin on the recovery rate of the locomotor function and on the expression of c-Fos in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) region following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Walking track analysis for the evaluation of functional recovery and immunohistochemistry for the c-Fos expression were used in this study. In the present results, characteristic gait change with dropping of the sciatic function index (SFI) was observed and c-Fos expression in the vlPAG was suppressed following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Amygdalin enhanced SFI value and restored c-Fos expression in the vlPAG to the control value. The present our study indicated that amygdalin activates neurons in the vlPAG, and it facilitates functional recovery following peripheral nerve injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.17-31
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• 2013

Objectives : Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered clinical problems and often result in serve functional deficit. Bee venom and scolopendra subspinipes have been traditionally used in oriental medicine to treat several inflammatory diseases and chronic pain conditions. Methods : In the present study, the effects of bee venom pharmacopuncture and scolopendra subspinipes pharmacopuncture on functional recovery, severity of pain, and expressions of neurofilament, cycloxygenease-2(COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats were investigated. For this study, walking tract analysis, plantar test, western blot for COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$, and immunohistochemistry for neurofilament were performed. Results : In the present results, sciatic functional index(SFI) in walking tract analysis was significantly decreased following sciatic crushed nerve injury, and pain severity in plantar test was significantly increased. COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ expressions were increased whereas neurofilament expression was decreased by sciatic crushed nerve injury. On the other hand, bee venom pharmacopuncture and scolopendra subspinipes pharmacopuncture improved SFI in walking tract analysis and suppressed the pain severity in sciatic crushed nerve injury. Bee venom pharmacopuncture and scolopendra subspinipes pharmacopuncture suppressed COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ expression and enhanced the neurofilament expression in sciatic crushed nerve injury. Conclusions : In the present study, we have shown that treatment with bee venom or scolopendra subspinipes is the effective therapeutic modality to ameliorate the symptoms of sciatic crushed nerve injury. The efficacies of bee venom and scolopendra subspinipes were similar.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.569-578
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• 2001

The purpose of the present study was to examine the functional recovery of the crushed sciatic nerve of rats after low-power laser irradiation applied to the corresponding segments of the spinal cord. After a crushed injury on the left sciatic nerve in rats. low-power laser irradiation was applied transcutaneously to corresponding segments of the spinal cord immediately after suture the wound by using 2000 mW, 2000Hz, 830 nm CaAIAs(Gallium-aluminum-arsenide) semiconductor diode laser. The laser treatment was performed with 10 minutes daily for 4 successive weeks. Functional recovery was evaluated per weekly following injury by sciatic function index(SFI),using data obtained by walking track analysis. For four weeks after crush injury, experimental group had significantly greater functional improvement than control group(${\alpha}$=0.05). In a experimental group, SFI was significantly increased for three weeks, but control group not increased for two weeks. This study suggests that low-power laser irradiation applied directly to the spinal cord can improve functional recovery of the crushed sciatic nerve in rats.