• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.95-101
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• 2016

Objectives : This study aims to overview the therapeutic mechanism of back-shu points in terms of sympathetic visceral motor nervous system. Methods : Studies about autonomic nervous system, and studies and ancient texts about back-shu points were reviewed. We interpreted possible mechanism of back-shu points considering similarities of anatomical and physiological characteristics of back-shu points and visceral motor nervous system. Results : Afferent signals for organ lesions that can develop the symptoms of autonomic neurological symptoms, pain, hyperalgesia through the skin segment. Through a physical examination of the myotome and dermatome, it is possible to diagnose segmental disorders. Treatment stimulation of the thick fibers of the disorder segment skin can reduce abnormal autonomic influence over the sympathetic reflex mechanism. In addition, if spinal muscles are relaxed, the pressure on the nerve roots could be reduced and consequently the hyperactivity of the sympathetic visceral motor signal would be suppressed. Conclusions : The back-shu points treatments work through the mechanism of the sympathetic nervous reflex. Moreover, segmental acupuncture can reduce tension of the spinal muscles, thereby improving pathological conditions of the sympathetic nervous system.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in sympathetic nervous system responses of healthy adult women with changes in stimulus intensity of high frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Methods: Twenty-four healthy subjects (women) received high frequency electrical stimulation of the forearm. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups; a low intensity stimulation group (n=12) and a high intensity stimulation group (n=12). The electrode attachment was arranged on the forearm of the dominant arm and the electricity stimulus time was 20 minutes. Measured items included skin conductance, pulse rate, skin temperature, and respiration rate. Each was measured at 4 times. Results: Skin conductance and skin temperature showed significant group by time interactions, though there were no significant group and time effects. There were no significant differences according to time, group effect, and a group by time interaction in pulse and respiration rates. Conclusion: High frequency and high intensity electrical stimulation may be helpful for the improvement of sudomotor function through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Also, high frequency and low intensity electrical stimulation may be helpful for the reduction of sudomotor function via inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.181-185
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• 2003

Whether there exists a sympathetic neural regulation on the aquaporin (AQP) channels in the kidney was examined. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. They were renal nerve denervated by stripping the nervous and connective tissues passing along the renal artery and vein, and painting these vessels with 10% phenol solution through a midline abdominal incision. Three days later, the expression of AQP1-4 proteins in the denervated kidneys was determined. The content of norepinephrine was found significantly decreased following the denervation. Accordingly, the expression of AQP2 proteins was markedly decreased. The expression of AQP3 and AQP4 was also slightly but significantly decreased, while that of AQP1 was not. Neither the basal nor the AVP-stimulated accumulation of cAMP was significantly affected in the denervated kidney. It is suggested that the sympathetic nervous system has a tonic stimulatory effect on AQP channels in the kidney.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.74-77
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of Chamaecyparis obtusa essential oil on the activity of autonomic nervous system. Heart rate variability (HRV), as an indicator of autonomic nervous system activity and blood pressure were measured before and after inhalation of Chamaecyparis obtusa essential oil. The systolic blood pressure was decreased by inhalation of Chamaecyparis obtusa essential oil (p<0.05). The diastolic blood pressure was not changed significantly by Chamaecyparis obtusa. High frequency (HF) power level was not changed but High frequency/Low frequency (HF/LF) ratio was decreased by Chamaecyparis obtusa essential oil (p<0.05), meaning that parasympathetic nervous system activity was not affected but sympathetic nervous system activity was decreased. These results indicate that Chamaecyparis obtusa essential oil has a modulatory effect on the autonomic nervous system activity.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2022

Background: The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia (FM) involves many mechanisms including central nervous system sensitization theory, autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction, and recently small fiber neuropathy. While the small fiber neuropathy itself can cause ANS dysfunction and neuropathic pain (NP), it is still unknown whether ANS problems have an association with severity of disease and NP in patients with FM. The aim of this study was to evaluate ANS dysfunction in FM patients and to explore possible associations of ANS dysfunction with disease severity and NP. Methods: Twenty-nine FM patients and 20 healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants were tested using sympathetic skin responses (SSR) and R-R interval variation analyses for sympathetic and parasympathetic ANS dysfunction, respectively. Disease severity and somatic symptoms of patients with FM were evaluated using the ACR-2010 scales and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and NP symptoms were evaluated using the Pain Detect Questionnaire and Douleur Neuropathique questionnaire. Results: FM patients were found to have ANS dysfunction characterized by increased sympathetic response and decreased parasympathetic response. SSR amplitudes were found to be correlated with a more severe disease. Although nonsignificant, NP severity tended to be associated with a decrease in sympathetic and parasympathetic activities. Conclusions: ANS dysfunction may play a role in the pathophysiology of FM. The trend of decreased ANS functions in FM patients exhibiting NP contradicts the notion that FM is a sympathetically maintained NP and may be explained with small fiber involvement.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2008

Objectives Obesity is the major risk factor of the heart disease and the metabolic disease. The autonomic nervous system is a key contributor in the regulation of energy balance, so the blunted activity may contribute to the maintenance of the obese state. So we evaluated the function of the autonomic nervous system in young overweight and obese women with heart rate variability. Methods The subjects were 26 overweight and obese young women(BMI〉$23kg/m^2$) and 25 lean women who visited Kangnam Kyunghee hospital for obesity management from March 2006 to April 2008. Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA), short-term spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) were performed. Results HRV of obese young group was lower than the lean young group, but there is no statistical significance. BMI had significantly a negative correlation with Low Frequency(LF) of HRV. LF power is mediated by sympathetic nervous system activity. These results indicate a decrease of sympathetic modulation in overweight and obese young women. Conclusions Overweight and obese young women have decreased sympathetic nervous system activity. In clinical practice, an assessement of HRV would be noninvasive and sensitive methods for sympathetic nervous system of young overweight and obese women.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.391-397
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of manual lymph drainage (MLD) on the activity of sympathetic nervous system, anxiety, pain and pressure pain threshold in subjects with psychological stress. Methods: Twenty-nine subjects with psychological stress were randomly assigned to experimental (MLD) and control (rest) groups. This study was performed as a controlled, randomized study using spectral analysis of electrocardiographic (ECG) activities, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT). Results: Heart rate variability differed significantly between the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). Anxiety and pain showed positive change in both group but it were not showed statically differences. The pressure pain threshold in the upper trapezius muscle was increased in the experimental group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that the application of MLD was effective in reducing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, anxiety, pain, and increasing the PPT.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.271-275
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• 2023

The abducens nerve (AN; cranial nerve VI) exits the brainstem at the inferior pontine sulcus, pierces the dura of the posterior cranial fossa, passes through the cavernous sinus in close contact to the internal carotid artery (ICA) and traverses the superior orbital fissure to reach the orbit to innervate the lateral rectus muscle. At its exit from the brainstem, the AN includes only axons from lower motor neurons in the abducens nucleus. However, as the AN crosses the ICA it receives a number of branches from the internal carotid sympathetic plexus. The arrangement, neurochemical profile and function of these sympathetic axons running along the AN remain unresolved. Herein, we use gross dissection and microscopic study of hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections and sections with tyrosine hydroxylase immunolabeling. Our results suggest the AN receives multiple bundles of unmyelinated axons that use norepinephrine as a neurotransmitter consistent with postganglionic sympathetic axons.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.167-184
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• 2023

Objectives This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound therapy at the ST11 for regulation of sympathetic hyperactivity. Methods Forty healthy adult subjects were assigned to experimental group and control group. After taking mental stress, ultrasound therapy was applied at the ST11 in experimental group and sham-ultrasound therapy was applied in control group. The evaluation of sympathetic activity was measured by blood pressure, pulse rate, and heart rate variability at 3 times (Time 1: before the stress stimulation, Time 2: after the stress stimulation, Time 3: after the intervention). The primary end point was consisted of normalized (norm) low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio, LF (norm), HF (norm). The secondary end point was consisted of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, mean heart rate, standard deviation of NN intervals, root mean square of the successive differences, total power (log). Results After the stress stimulation, all subjects showed sympathetic hyperactivity. After the intervention, the experimental group showed lower sympathetic activity than the control group. Comparing the Time 3 and Time 1, the experimental group showed no significantly differences in sympathetic activity while the control group showed higher sympathetic activity in Time 3 than Time 1. Comparing the Time 3 and Time 2, the experimental group showed lower sympathetic activity in Time 3 than Time 2 while the control group showed higher sympathetic activity in Time 3 than Time 2. Conclusions We suggest that the ultrasound therapy at ST11 can decrease sympathetic activity in sympathetic hyperactivity condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2016

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is different with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) possesses an intrinsic nervous plexus that allows the LES to have a considerable degree of independent neural control. Sympathetic control of the LES and stomach stems from cholinergic preganglionic neurons in the intermediolateral column of the thoracic spinal cord (T6 through T9 divisions), which impinge on postganglionic neurons in the celiac ganglion, of which the catecholaminergic neurons provide the LES and stomach with most of its sympathetic supply. Sympathetic regulation of motility primarily involves inhibitory presynaptic modulation of vagal cholinergic input to postganglionic neurons in the enteric plexus. The magnitude of sympathetic inhibition of motility is directly proportional to the level of background vagal efferent input. Recognizing that the LES is under the dual control of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, we refer the reader to other comprehensive reviews on the role of the sympathetic and parasympatetic control of LES and gastric function. The present review focuses on the functionally dominant parasympathetic control of the LES and stomach via the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus.