• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.84-91
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of submerged relaxation therapy for the spasticity on the affected side in three subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis. A single-subject alternating design with multiple baselines across individuals was employed in this study. Each subject alternately participated in a range of motion exercises on the mat and in the pool, and relaxation exercises in the pool. The muscle tone of the affected side was measured using the tone assessment scale (TAS). Measurements were made immediately and one hour following the intervention. The findings showed a therapeutic effect of submerged relaxation exercise on reducing spasticity for all subjects. The effect of submerged relaxation exercise on decreasing muscle tone was maintained for one hour measurements after the submerged relaxation exercise, although the mean TAS score assessed one hour after intervention was higher than that assessed immediately. The results of this study suggest that submerged relaxation exercise has a positive effect on decreasing spasticity on the affected side in persons suffering from post-stroke hemiparesis. Future research on submerged relaxation exercise should focus on objective evaluation and functional the aspects relevant to activities of daily living.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.527-538
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• 2002

Body antioxidant status is an important factor in the prevention of many chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress, especially in the elderly and is affected by health-related habits, such as smoking, drinking and regular physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between these health-related habits and plasma antioxidant status in the elderly. Plasma antioxidant status was examined by determining plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, A, E, $\beta$ -carotene), total antioxidant status (TAS) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) . The subjects included 225 elderly persons aged over 60 yews (63 males, 162 females) living in the Ulsan area. They were interviewed to collect data on their general characteristics and health behaviors such as smoking, exercise and alcohol consumption by means of questionnaires. Their dietary intakes were obtained by means of semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) The study population was divided into two or three groups according to their smoking, drinking, and exercise status. The ratio of smoker, drinker and exerciser was 16.7%, 31.0% and 44.2% respectively. The dietary antioxidant vitamin intakes were not significantly different among groups of smoking and drinking status, but tended to be higher in non-smokers and non-drinkers than in smokers and drinkers. Plasma vitamin C and $\beta$ -carotene levels were significantly higher in non-smokers, but Plasma vitamin A and TBARS levels were significantly lower in non-smokers than in smokers. Plasma TAS was not significantly different among the smoking groups, but showed a tendency to decrease with an increase in the number of packyear. Plasma vitamin C and $\beta$ -carotene levels of the non-drinkers were higher than those of drinkers and past-drinkers, but plasma vitamin A, C, E, TAS and TBARS showed no difference among the groups of drinker. All vitamin intakes of the exercisers were slightly higher than those of the non-exercisers, but vitamin C intake was significantly higher in female exercisers than in non-exercisers. Plasma $\beta$ -carotene levels were significantly higher in male exercisers and plasma vitamin A, C, E, TAS and TBARS levels tended to be higher in exercisers than in non-exercisers. These results suggested that change to non-smoker, modulation of alcohol consumption and regular exercise could enhance antioxidant defences against reactive oxygen species and might increase the likelihood of a healthier life span.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1090-1096
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of p. Linteus and C. militaris supplement on lactate, phosphorous, ammonia, MDA(malondialdehyde), GPX(glutathione peroxidase) and TAS(total antioxidant status) following $VO_{2max}$, and 85% $VO_{2max}$ exercise. The 15 male college students were divided into three groups: 5 P. liteus supplied(PL), 5 C. militaris supplied(CM), and 5 placebos supplied(PB) and compared the differences between supplement before and after. Obtained results were as follows: In the exercise performance time, there were no differences in PL, CM and PB groups. Regular supplement of P. linteus or C. militaris partially reduces fatigue induction factors. Also, P. linteus or C. militaris supplement decreases MDA, increases GPX and TAS. Therefore, it can be concluded that P. linteus or C. militaris supplement not only have a pharmacological effect for clinical treatment, but also have a maintenance effects on the tissue oxidant-antioxidant system after exercise.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.59-70
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to propose a task-related circuits program for stroke patients and to test the difference in functional improvements between patients undergoing conventional physical therapy and those participating in a task-related circuits exercise program. The subjects were 10 stroke in-patients of the Korea National Rehabilitation Center in Seoul. We measured the following variables: Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Tone Assessment Scale (TAS), speed of gait, rate of step, physiological costs index, age, weight, height, site of lesion, onset day and whether the subject participated in an exercise program. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 10.0/PC using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Spearman's correlation. The results of the experiment were as follows: (1) In the pre-test and post-test for function, there was not a statistical significance between the group partaking in a task-related circuits program and the group of conventional physical therapy (p>.05). (2) In the MAS, BBS and speed of gait test, the group undergoing conventional physical therapy showed a statistical significance (p<.05). (3) In the MAS, BBS, speed of gait, PCI, TAS (passive, associated reaction, TAS total score), the group of task-related circuits program showed a statistical significance (p<.05). As a result, the group participating in a task-related circuits program had a more functional improvement than the group participating in conventional physical therapy. Therefore, an intervention recommended for a stroke patient would be a task-related circuits program consisting of a longer session of each task for a more improved functional recovery.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of soybean peptide on antioxidant enzymes, cortisol hormone and inflammatory cytokine levels. 19 high school male judo athletes participated in the experiments. They were randomly divided into two groups, one group took soybean peptide (S-peptide, n=10) 4 g a day for 4 weeks and the other group placebo (placebo group, n=9) for the same time. Blood samples were collected before intake, after 2 weeks intake and 4 weeks intake and these were analyzed for total antioxidant status (TAS), catalase (CAT), levels of cortisol hormone, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). As a result, the S-peptide group was significantly increased in TAS and CAT (P<0.05). The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels showed decrease after soybean peptide intake but there was no significant difference. In the levels of plasma cortisol which reflect stress status, there was significantly decreased in the S-peptide and placebo group after 4 weeks (P<0.05). There were significant decreases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 after 4 weeks in S-peptide group (P<0.05). These results suggest that the intake of soybean peptide can activate antioxidant defenses and decrease exercise-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2008

This study was performed to identify association between nutritional status and health risks of the elderly. This was a cross-sectional study involving low income elderly women in Gwangju, Korea (${\geq}$65y, n = 92). Socio-demographics, life style characteristics, health conditions, dietary intakes based on 24h-recall method, anthropometric measures, and clinical biochemistry parameters were examined. Anthropometric and clinical parameters included wt, ht, waist, hip, body protein, body fat, abdominal fat, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose, ferritin, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, CRP, TAS, TBARS, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. The subjects were divided into three groups based on age (65-74y, 75-84y, 85y${\leq}$) and were divided into two groups according to the sum of the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist score (adequate nutritional status, NSI score ${\leq}$3; at risk of malnutrition, NSI score >3). Mean and frequency of variables were estimated. Analysis of Variance, Tukey test, Chi-square test, and Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Mean BMI and body fat were 25.1 $kg/m^2$ and 40.0%, respectively. However, for over 80% of subjects, the intakes of energy, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, Ca, K, and Zn were less than the Korean DRI (EAR or AI). The subjects who had lower NSI score tended to have better health status, eat meals frequently, have less depression, and exercise regularly. The subjects who had higher NSI score tended to have tooth problems, to eat alone most of time, and to be physically unable to cook or feed. Serum IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly related with nutritional status which suggested higher tendency of inflammatory response. Serum IL-2, TAS, and glucose were significantly correlated with body fat (%) or abdominal fat (%). These results suggest that improving the nutritional status, increasing regular exercise, maintaining normal weight are beneficial to health care of low income elderly women.