• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.939-946
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• 2020

Stroke is one of the leading causes of neurological disability worldwide and stroke patients exhibit a range of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric impairments. GPR88 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is highly expressed in striatal medium spiny neurons; its deletion results in poor motor coordination and motor learning. There are currently no studies on the involvement of GPR88 in stroke or in post-stroke brain function recovery. In this study, we found a decrease in GPR88 protein and mRNA expression levels in an ischemic mouse model using Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. In addition, we observed that, among the three types of cells derived from the brain (brain microvascular endothelial cells, BV2 microglial cells, and HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells), the expression of GPR88 was highest in HT22 neuronal cells, and that GPR88 expression was downregulated in HT22 cells under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions. Moreover, pretreatment with RTI- 13951-33 (10 mg/kg), a brain-penetrant GPR88 agonist, ameliorated brain injury following ischemia, as evidenced by improvements in infarct volume, vestibular-motor function, and neurological score. Collectively, our results suggest that GPR88 could be a potential drug target for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including ischemic stroke.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2010

Purpose: Industrial punch accidents involving fingers cause segmental injuries to tendons and neurovascular bundles. Although multiple-level segmental amputations are not replanted to regain function, most patients with an amputated finger want to undergo replantation for cosmetic as much as functional reason. The authors describe four cases of digital amputation by an industrial punch that involved the reinstatement of the amputated finger involving a joint and neurovascular bundle. Amputated segments were replanted to restore amputated surfaces and distal segments. Methods: A single institution retrospective review was performed. Inclusion criteria of punch injuries requiring replantation were applied to patients of all demographic background. Injury extent (size, tissue involvement), operative intervention, pre- and postoperative hand function were recorded. Result: Four cases of amputations were treated at our institute from 2004 to 2008 from industrial punch machine injury. Average patient age was 32.5 years (25~39 years) and there were three males and one female. Sizes of amputated segments ranged from $1.0{\times}1.0{\times}1.2\;cm^3$ to $3{\times}1.5{\times}1.6\;cm^3$. Tenorrhaphy was conducted after fixing fractured bone of the amputated segments with K-wire. Proximal and distal arteries and veins were repaired using the through & through method. The average follow-up period was thirteen months (2~26 months), and all replanted cases survived. Osteomyelitis occurred in one case, skin grafting after debridement was performed in two cases. Because joints were damaged in all four cases, active ranges of motion were much limited. However, a secondary tendon graft enhanced digit function in two cases. The two-point discrimination test showed normal values for both static and dynamic tests for three cases and 9 mm and 15 mm by dynamic and static testing, respectively, in one case. Conclusion: Though amputations from industrial punch machines are technically challenging to replant, our experience has shown it to be a valid therapy. In cases involving punch machine injury, if an amputated segment is available, the authors recommend that replantation be considered for preservation of finger length, joint mobility, and overall functional recovery of the hand.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.349-355
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• 2021

This study applied aquatic and land-based exercises to breast cancer patients for comparative analysis and elucidation of their effects on the rehabilitation of cancer patients. Participants included 40 breast cancer patients who were divided into two groups: 20 participants in the experimental group using aquatic exercise and 20 participants in the control group using land-based exercise. After the addition of aquatic or land-based exercises five times per week for eight weeks, differences in each group's shoulder and pulmonary functions as well as their quality of life were compared and analyzed. The results showed a statistically significant difference (p<.001) for shoulder dysfunction, with the experimental group showing a greater improvement than the comparison group. Statistically significant differences (p<.05 and p<.001, respectively) were also observed for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), with the experimental group showing greater improvements. Finally, a statistically significant difference (p<.001) was observed for change in the quality of life, with greater improvements in the experimental group than in the control group. The results of further research in this field are expected to indicate the most efficient method for the recovery and management of physical, psychological, and social health impacts of breast cancer on patients. Furthermore, the research aims to provide fundamental resources for breast cancer rehabilitation in South Korea by conducting studies on patients with lung cancer or colorectal cancer and the application of various aquatic exercise methods.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.23-39
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• 2022

Objective : To summarize clinical and demographic variables and machine learning uses for predicting functional outcomes of patients with stroke. Methods : We searched PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science to identify published articles from 2010 to 2021. The search terms were "machine learning OR data mining AND stroke AND function OR prediction OR/AND rehabilitation". Articles exclusively using brain imaging techniques, deep learning method and articles without available full text were excluded in this study. Results : Nine articles were selected for this study. Support vector machines (19.05%) and random forests (19.05%) were two most frequently used machine learning models. Five articles (55.56%) demonstrated that the impact of patient initial and/or discharge assessment scores such as modified ranking scale (mRS) or functional independence measure (FIM) on stroke patients' functional outcomes was higher than their clinical characteristics. Conclusions : This study showed that patient initial and/or discharge assessment scores such as mRS or FIM could influence their functional outcomes more than their clinical characteristics. Evaluating and reviewing initial and or discharge functional outcomes of patients with stroke might be required to develop the optimal therapeutic interventions to enhance functional outcomes of patients with stroke.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.7-22
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• 2021

Objective : This study aimed to analyze the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive function recovery in patients with stroke. Methods : Data published in Korean and foreign academic journals from 2009 to 2019 were searched using the NDSL, RISS, PubMed, and CINAHL databases. A total of 11 experimental research articles were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A qualitative assessment was conducted, and a meta-analysis of nine results from seven of the stuides was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3.0 program. Results : Based on the results of the meta-analysis, the attention and memory effect sizes were 0.725 and 0.796, respectively, which were both considered a "medium effect size". Statistically significant changes were observed in both the areas (p<0.05). Conclusion : The results of this study confirmed that tDCS can be useful in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke with limited cognitive function. In addition, the application methods differed, indicating that a formalized tDCS protocol is required.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 1999

To investigate the effects of Angelica gigas Nakai diet on lipid metabolism, alcohol metabolism and liver function of rats administered with chronic ethanol, Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed either AIN-76 diet (control), control diet with ethanol, control plus Angelica gigas Nakai diet, or control plus Angelica gigas Nakai diet with ethanol for 30 days. On the 21st day, all of the rats were given an oral dose of ethanol and blood-ethanol concentration was monitored for the next 5 hours. The results obtained were: 1) Upon ethanol administration, the blood ethanol concentration was decreased from 2 hr significantly in the group of control plus Angelica gigas Nakai diet compared with control diet group; 2) The blood ethanol oxidation rate was increased in the group of control plus Angelica gigas Nakai diet with ethanol compared with control diet group or control plus Angelica gigas Nakai diet group. After 30 days, rats were sacrificed and then lipid and enzyme determinations in blood and liver were carried out. The results obtained were: 1) LDL-cholesterol in the blood of control plus Angelica gigas Nakai diet group was decreased significantly compared with control diet group; 2) Angelica gigas Nakai diet decreased liver triglyceride and total lipid and blood ${\gamma}-GTP$ level increased due to the chronic ethanol administration. These data suggest that Angelica gigas Nakai can have a recovery function on the symptoms of alcohol related diseases.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.47-58
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study is to observe effects of Occupation-Based bilateral UE training for chronic stroke. Methods : 4 patients with hemiplegic stroke were divided into two groups: experimental group and control group. From May to August 2016, we conducted a occupation - based bilateral UE training and a traditional bilateral UE training for 5 weeks, 3 times a week, and 60 minutes per session for each subject. EMG, accelerometer, ARAT, Y-BAT, SIS, and COPM were performed before and after the intervention. Results : The experimental group showed a large changes before and after intervention in ECR, DA and all items except for hand function and memory of SIS, compared with the control group. Also, the experimental group showed a large change before and after the intervention compared to the control group in the accelerometer measuring the amount used of bilateral hand and grasp, pinch, and gross movement items of ARAT and COPM, Y-BIT. Conclusions : Occupation-based bilateral upper extremity training was effective in the recovery of upper limb function and social participation through neurological changes. Future research will be required development studies to ensure a high content validity of the Occupation-based bilateral upper extremity training protocol.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.417-424
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• 2020

This study aimed to explore the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), produced by engineered immortalized mesenchymal stem cells (imMSC), on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a rat model with neurogenic bladder (NB). Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Sham control, LUTS, LUTS+imMSC (treated with immortalized MSC), and LUTS+BDNF-eMSC (treated with BDNF-expressing MSC) groups. LUTS was induced by a crush injury to the major pelvic ganglion (MPG). Bladder function was tested under anesthesia, and bladder tissue strips were collected thereafter for contractility test and western blot analysis. Western blot results showed that the expression of both Angiopoietin 1 (Ang 1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) increased with MSC injection. The effect of treatment with BDNF-eMSC on LUTS was also evaluated, and the results were found to be better than those with imMSC (P<0.05). BDNF-eMSC prevented fibrosis in the bladder tissue and significantly reduced caspase-3 levels. In conclusion, high expression of BDNF in vivo resulted in recovery of bladder function and contractility, along with the inhibition of apoptosis in a rat model.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.287-291
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare binocular functions such as near point of convergence (NPC), AC/A ratios, heterophoria, accommodation, accommodation lag, positive relative accommodation (PRA), negative relative accommodation (NRA), positive relative convergence (PRC), negative relative convergence (NRC) in normal subjects and convergence insufficiency. Methods: 86 subject (male n=45, female n=41, mean $age{\pm}SD=23.27{\pm}2.85$ years) without amblyopia, strabismus, and ocular pathology were studied. Forty three patients each group were classified as normal subjects and convergence insufficiency group based on AC/A ratio and far and near phoria. Binocular function of the two groups was measured using phoropter. r. Results: The values between normal subjects and convergence insufficiency were 5.71 cm and 7.07 cm for NPC, 5.28 and 2.81 for Heterophria AC/A, 0.92 exo/3.36 exo and 2.17 exo/10.84 exo for far and near phoria, 15.49/23.30/13.30 and 13.50/20.02/9.09 for PRC, respectively. However, there were no significant differences between normal subjects and convergence insufficiency for accommodative amplitude, accommodative lag, PRA, NRA, BI vergence test, BO vergence test, NRC. Conclusions: Both groups were a significant difference for cover test, NPC, Heterophria AC/A, far and near phoria, break point of PRC, and recovery point of PRC.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.29 no.2 s.43
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• pp.205-232
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• 2003

Ursolic acid (UA) and Oleanolic acid (ONA), known as urson, micromerol and malol, are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds which naturally occur in a large number of vegetarian foods, medicinal herbs, and plants. They may occur in their free acid form or as aglycones for triterpenoid saponins, which are comprised of a triterpenoid aglycone, linked to one or more sugar moieties. Therefore UA and ONA are similar in pharmacological activity. Lately scientific research, which led to the identification of UA and ONA, revealed that several pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and anti-hyperlipidemic could be attributed to UA and ONA. Here, we introduced the effect of UA and ONA on acutely barrier disrupted and normal hairless mouse skin. To evaluate the effects of UA and ONA on epidermal permeability barrier recovery, both flanks of 8-12 week-old hairless mice were topically treated with either 0.01-0.1 mg/ml UA or 0.1-1 mg/ml ONA after tape stripping, and TEWL (Transepidermal water loss) was measured . The recovery rate increased in those UA or ONA treated groups (0.1 mg/ml UA and 0.5 mg/ml ONA) at 6 h more than $20\%$ compared to vehicle treated group (p<0.05). Here, we introduced the effects of UA and ONA on acute barrier disruption and normal epidermal permeability barrier function. For verifying the effects of UA and ONA on normal epidermal barrier, hydration and TEWL were measured for 1 and 3 weeks after UA and ONA applications (2mg/ml per day). We also investigated the features of epidermis and dermis using electron microscopy (EM) and light microscopy (LM). Both samples increased hydration compared to vehicle group from f week without TEWL alteration (p<0.005). EM examination using RuO4 and OsO4 fixation revealed that secretion and numbers of lamellar bodies and complete formation of lipid bilayers were most prominent $(ONA{\geq}UA>Vehicle)$. LM finding showed that thickness of stratum corneum (SC) was slightly increased and especially epidermal thickening and flattening was observed (UA>ONA>Veh). We also observed that UA and ONA stimulate epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via $PPAR\;\alpha$. Protein expression of involucrin, loricrin, and filaggrin increased at least 2 and 3 fold in HaCaT cells treated with either $ONA\;(10{\mu}M)$ or UA $(10{\mu}M)$ for 24h respectively. This result suggested that the UA and ONA can improve epidermal permeability barrier function and induce the epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via $PPAR\;{\alpha}$. Using Masson-trichrome and elastic fiber staining, we observed collagen thickening and elastic fiber elongation by UA and ONA treatments. In vitro results of collagen and elastin synthesis and elastase inhibitory activity measurements were also confirmed in vivo findings. These data suggested that the effects of UA and ONA related to not only epidermal permeability barrier functions but also dermal collagen and elastic fiber synthesis. Taken together, UA and ONA can be relevant candidates to improve epidermal and dermal functions and pertinent agents for cosmeseutical applications.