• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2012

Purpose: This study is to identify the effect of Ankle Joint Taping applied to patients with chronic hemiplegia on their gait velocity and joint angles. Methods: We randomly extracted a clinical sample from 30 patients with hemiplegia resulting from stroke and classified them into two groups of a control group including 15 patients offered a regular therapeutic exercise and a test group including 15 patients offered taping. We also conducted the comparative analysis and pretest of the affected ankle joint angles by the normal characteristics of all subjects, Time to up and go test (TUG), 3D movement analyzer before the intervention. We applied taping to a test group for eight hours a day, five days a week during two weeks and conducted the comparative analysis of the gait velocity and the affected ankle joint angles by a comparison between and within two groups of before and after the intervention by conducting a posttest after the intervention. The result is as followings. Results: It indicated that there was a significantly decreased time with the increased gait velocity that a test according to a result of comparing the gait velocity within two groups (p<0.05). It indicated that there was a significantly increased angle in a comparison within two groups of test that inversion angle of a control group according to a result of comparing the ankle joint angles by 3D movement analyzer within groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: We found that TUG will help patients walk independently because it met a test group's need in the change of the gait velocity between two groups by recording less than 14 seconds which is the standard of using assistive aids and also found that ankle joint taping will help the joints prevent their function change considering that a control group showed an increased inversion angle in the change of the ankle joint within two groups.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2002

Background : Nowadays asthma is considered to be an inflamatory disease characterized by airborne hyper-responsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Objective : We aimed to identify the effects of Sochongryongtang on blood eosinophil, serum IgE and T lympocyte subpopulation in asthmatic patients. Material and Methods : The subjects consisted of fifteen patients with asthma who had been treated with Sochongryongtang for two weeks from February 2001 through June 2001. Sochongryongtang is herbal decoction which has been used for the traditional therapeutic agent of asthma. Results : The blood eosinophil and serum IgE in a normal controlled group. However, the T lympocyte subpopulation in asthmatic patients was not significantly different from the T lympocyte subpopulation in a normal group. The patients were treated with Sochongryongtang for two weeks. No significant difference in the blood eosinophil, serum IgE and T Iympocyte in the sub population. After treatment with Sochongryongtang for two weeks, FEV 1 increased significantly over 0.5 points out of total scores. Conclusion : This study shows that Sochongryongtang has effects on improvement of pulmonary function and quality of life in asthmatic patients. However, the patients who were treated with Sochongryongtang for two weeks showed no significant difference in the blood eosinophil, serum IgE and T lympocyte subpopulation. Further long-term studies must be made on a large number of asthmatic patients.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.53-68
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• 2010

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Sopungsungj-won(Shufengshunqjvuan) (SSEx1, SSEx2) on the metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet induced obese mice. Methods: 8 weeks old, high fat diet induced obese male mice were divided into 4 groups: C57BL/6 lean control, obese vehicle control, SSEx1, SSEx2. After mice were treated with SSExl, SSEx2 for 12 weeks, we measured body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, fat weight, plasma leptin, insulin, glucose and lipid levels. We also observe the morphology and count for the numbers of Adipocyte and evaluate the weight of organs and it's function. Results: 1. Compared to Obese Control Group, SSEx1 gained significantly lower body weight and showed lower Feeding Efficiency Ratio. 2. Compared to Obese Control Group, SSEx1 showed lower weights of epididymal adipose tissue, troperitoneal adipose tissue, inguinal adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue. SSEx2 showed higher weights of epididymal adipose tissue, troperitoneal adipose tissue, inguinal adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue. 3. Compared to Obese Control Group, the size of adipocytes was significantly decreased by SSEx1, whereas the number of adipocites per unit was significantly increased. Hepatic lipid accumulation was decreased significantly by SSEx1. 4. Concerning the weights of Liver, Heart, Spleen, Kidney and Pancreas, SSEx1, SSEx2 showed little differences with those of Lean Control, Obese Control. 5. Compared to Obese Control Group, SSEX1, SSEx2 showed lower level of plasma triglyceride, but SSEx1 had significance only. SSEx1, SSEx2 showed little lower level of plasma HDL-cholesterol. LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, but had no significances. 6. Concerning the levels of plasma glucose, insulin and leptin, SSEx1 and SSEx2 showed littele changes with those of Lean Control, Obese Control. 7. The leves of Plasma AST, AST, ALT, free fatty acid, BUN, creatinine were in the physiological range at 4 groups all: Lean Control, Obese Control, SSEx1, SSEx2. Conclusions : These results showed SSEx1 can be used as therapeutic agent for Obesity and metabolic syndrome caused by long-period high fat diet.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.684-691
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• 2008

As part of studies to develop new materials to lower blood glucose levels using crude polysaccharide, this study was attempted to analyze the characteristics of crude polysaccharide obtained from the extracts of a mixed herbal medium(OCM) where Trichloloma matsutake mycelium and Cordyceps militaris mycelium were cultured together and to look into the influence of administering these by concentration upon the blood glucose and serum lipid levels of rats with diabetes which was induced by STZ(Streptozotosin). Experimental group was divided into 6 groups: first, it was divided into normal control group(NC group) and diabetes-induced group, and diabetes-induced group was subdivided into diabetic control group(DC group), acarbose-treated group(PC group), 100 mg/kg/body weight-treated by crude polysaccharide of OCM(UE) group(UE100 group), 200 mg/kg/body weight-treated group(UE200 group), and 300 mg/kg/body weight-treated group(UE300 group). In diabetic-induced groups, after streptozotocin was melted in 0.01M citrate buffer at 50 mg/kg/body weight, when the non-fasting blood glucose level not on an empty stomach was 300 mg/dl or more in blood collected from the tail vein, it was regarded as diabetic induction and then such diabetic-induced experimental animals were used in this experiment. The yield of crude polysaccharide obtained from OCM was found to be 0.31% and the ${\beta}$-glucan content 39.40%. As a result of analyzing NO on immune function, which is known as major physiological activity of crude polysaccharide, high NO viability was shown; when 1 mg/ml LPS was treated at 1 ug/ml, it was found to be 50.77 uM, and when LPS was treated at 10 ug/m, it was found to be 53.78 uM. Also, regarding cancer cells, cell count was decreased by about 26% in proportion to sample concentration, while for normal cells, it was a little decreased in proportion to concentration, however, cell count was maintained in the range of $81.92{\sim}98.16%$ at all concentrations. In case of blood glucose level, it was decreased in all extract-treated groups compared to DC group and in the cases of ALT and AST, they were found to be lower in extract-treated groups compared to PC group and for serum lipid, it was found to be lower in UE100 group compared to PC group. Thus this study tried to utilize these results as fundamental data for development of preventive and therapeutic agents against diabetes as well as functional foods using the crude polysaccharide of mushrooms.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2014

Primary renal artery aneurysm has been estimated to account for an incidence of 0.015-1% with associated morbidities including renovascular hypertension and rupture. Renovascular hypertension associated renal artery aneurysms in children is not a common disease. In patients with complicated renal vascular disease, renal autotransplantation has been used as an alternative to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, which may be hazardous in these situations. We report a case of a renal artery aneurysm in a 13-year-old Korean child presenting hypertension detected during school health examination. Preoperative workup demonstrated a $2.8{\times}2.1{\times}1.9$ cm saccular aneurysm in the right renal hilum that was not amendable to endovascular repair. A surgical strategy including extracorporeal renal artery reconstruction with autotransplantation was applied in order to restore renal artery anatomy and to treat renovascular hypertension. Immediately he complained of severe right flank pain and postoperative doppler sonography revealed lack of perfusion. On the 5th day after autotransplantation, the patient underwent a transplant nephrectomy. He was well postoperatively and was found to have a normal kidney function and stable blood pressure control without antihypertensive medication. This is the first pediatric case of renal artery aneurysm in Korea who underwent extracorporeal repair followed by autotransplantation failure. More pediatric cases with renal artery aneurysm should be reported to identify therapeutic outcome and long term prognosis.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-17
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• 2015

Objective : To investigate the current researches which identify the improvement of bilateral coordination skill of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy after bimanual intensive training. Methods : We systematically examined papers published in journals from 2004 to 2014, using RISS, Pubmed. Total 6 studies were included in the analyses. Result : All of the selected 6 studies were foreign papers, and the Pedro score was 5 or more. Among various interventions, modified CIMT designs were the most. The primary outcome measure tools are AHA and JTTHF for evaluating bilateral coordination and hand functions, and QUEST, ABILHAND-Kids, COPM, GAS, PEDI, 3-D movement kinematics were used for evaluating various aspects of effectiveness of interventions. Conclusion : Through this systematic review, it is identified that bilateral intensive training provides positive effects to not only hand functions but also bilateral coordination. Furthermore, it also provided supports to participate in ADL requiring bilateral coordination. These results will provides evidence concerning the effectiveness of BIT for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1041-1049
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• 2013

The root of Polygala radix has been widely known as an oriental traditional medicinal stuff that improves memory. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, the effect of Polygala radix hot water extracts (PRHWE) on cognitive function related to the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) derived from neural cells (PC12) in addition to antioxidant activity was examined both in a cell-free system and live cells. First, in the study on cell viability using an MTT assay, PRHWE did not exhibit any cell toxicity at 0.1% (w/v) or below. It also was observed that PRHWE increased the scavenging activity of DPPH radical, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, PRHWE had a protective effect on DNA oxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, it inhibited the production of inducible nitric oxide in neuronal cells. Furthermore, the AchE activity decreased with increasing concentrations. In addition, PRHWE increased the expression level of SOD-1 and NOS-2 in PC12 cells. Moreover, the transcriptional activities of p53 and NF-${\kappa}B$ were reduced in the presence of PRHWE in an experiment using a reporter gene assay. Therefore, these results prove that PRHE has antioxidative and protective effects on neuronal cells, suggesting that it may have great potential as a therapeutic agent for human health.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2016

As a degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) constitutes a major cause of disability that seriously affects the quality of life of a large population of people worldwide. However, effective treatment that can successfully reverse OA progression is lacking until now. The present study aimed to determine whether two small non-coding RNAs miR-29a and miR-140, which are significantly down-regulated in OA, can be applied together as potential therapeutic targets for OA treatment. MiRNA synergy score was used to screen the miRNA pairs that potentially synergistically regulate OA. An in vitro model of OA was established by treating murine chondrocytes with IL-$1{\beta}$. Transfection of miR-29a and miR-140 via plasmids was investigated on chondrocyte proliferation and expression of nine genes such as ADAMTS4, ADAMTS5, ACAN, COL2A1, COL10A1, MMP1, MMP3, MMP13 and TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP1). Western blotting was used to determine the protein expression level of MMP13 and TIMP1, and ELISA was used to detect the content of type II collagen. Combined use of miR-29a and miR-140 successfully reversed the destructive effect of IL-$1{\beta}$ on chondrocyte proliferation, and notably affected the MMP13 and TIMP1 gene expression that regulates extracellular matrix. Although co-transfection of miR-29a and miR-140 did not show a synergistic effect on MMP13 protein expression and type II collagen release, but both of them can significantly suppress the protein abundance of MMP13 and restore the type II collagen release in IL-$1{\beta}$ treated chondrocytes. Compared with single miRNA transfection, cotransfection of both miRNAs exceedingly abrogated the suppressed the protein production of TIMP1 caused by IL-$1{\beta}$, thereby suggesting potent synergistic action. These results provided1novel insights into the important function of miRNAs' collaboration in OA pathological development. The reduced MMP13, and enhanced TIMP1 protein production and type II collagen release also implies that miR-29a and miR-140 combination treatment may be a possible treatment for OA.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

Purpose : Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS) is known to have a poor prognosis and a poor response to treatment. We performed a combination therapy of plasmapheresis, steroid pulse and immunoglobulin in 4 patients with relapsed steroid dependent(SD) or steroid resistant(SR) FSGS after steroid pulse therapy. Materials and Methods : 8 cycles of plasmapheresis were performed in 4 patients with biopsy proven FSGS who had relapsed after steroid pulse therapy from March 1988 to July 2002. Clinical findings and treatment courses were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Among the 4 patients, there were 3 males and 1 female. After 8 cycles of plasmapheresis, clinical remissions were obtained. Two of the four patients had two relapses and received 2 more cycles of plasmapheresis which resulted in remissions. One of these patients had two further relapses and was treated with oral steroid resulting in clinical remission. Three patients have maintained normal serum creatinine level and glomerular filtration rates during the follow-up period of 10 years, and the other 1 patient for 5 months. Conclusion : A combination therapy of plasmapheresis, steroid pulse and immunoglobulin led to a complete remission in patients with FSGS who were SD or SR and was effective in maintaining normal renal function.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 1999

Ischemic damage in the selectively vulnerable populations of neurons is thought to be caused by an abnormal accumulation of intracellular calcium. It has been reported that the neurons, expressing specific calcium binding proteins, might effectively control intracellular calcium concentrations because of a high capacity to buffer intracellular calcium in the brain ischemic condition. It is uncertain that parvalbumin, one of the calcium binding proteins, can protect the neurons from the cerebral ischemic damage. Recently, treatment of kappa opioid agonists increased survival rate, improved neurological function, and decreased tissue damage under the cerebral ischemic condition. Many evidences indicate that these therapeutic effects might result from regulation of calcium concentration. This study was designed to analyze the changes of number in parvalbumin-positive neurons after cerebral ischemic damage according to timepoints after cerebral ischemic induction. In addition, we evaluated the effect of GR89696 (kappa opioid agonist) or naltrexone(non selective opioid antagonist) on the changes of number in parvalbumin expressing neurons under ischemic condition. Cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the common carotid artery of experimental animals. The hippocampal areas were morphometrically analyzed at different time point after ischemic induction(1, 3, 5 days) by using immuno-histochemical technique and imaging analysis system. The number of parvalbumin-positive neurons in hippocampus was significantly reduced at 1 day after ischemia(p<0.05). Furthermore, the number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons was dramatically reduced at 3 and 5 days after cerebral ischemic induction(p<0.05) as compared to 1 day group after ischemia, as well as sham control group. Significant reduction of parvalbumin positive neurons in CA1 region of hippocampus was observed at 1 day after cerebral ischemic induction. However, significant loss of MAP2 immunoreactivity was observed at 3 day after cerebral ischemia. The loss of parvalbumin-positive neurons and MAP2 immunoreactivity in CA1 region was prevented by pre-administration of GR89696 compared to that of saline-treated ischemic group. Furthermore, protective effect of GR89696 partially reversed by pre-treatment of naltrexone. These data indicate that parvalbumin-positive neurons more sensitively responded to cerebral ischemic damage than MAP2 protein. Moreover, this loss of parvalbumin-positive neurons was effectively prevented by the pretreatment of kappa opioid agonist. It was also suggested that the changes of number in parvalbumin-positive neurons could be used as the specific marker to analyze the degree of ischemic neuronal damage.