The number of healthy older adults is rapidly increasing recently owing to the increase of the elderly population. Therefore, programs for improving the cognitive functions of these healthy seniors are actively being expanded. This study aimed to prevent the decline of cognitive function due to aging by applying a program enhancing cognitive functions to healthy older adults. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Korean computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program (CoTras), which is commonly used in cognitive therapy for the aging, on the memory of the elderly. The subjects had scored at least 24 points in MMSE-K. CoTras was applied once a week (30 minutes) for one month. Electronic pegboard programs were used as an evaluation tool: order memory (difficulty=low) and location memory (difficulty=medium). The order and location memories were compared before and after the intervention. The Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test was used for the study at the significance level of α=.05. The results showed that CoTras significantly improved order memory and location memory. Therefore, CoTras can be applied to the healthy elderly for improving that memory improvement training has a positive impact on healthy older adults result in the development of memory enhancement programs can be expanded in the future.

The objective of this study was to examine the changes in reaction velocity and visual perception between genders participating in driving simulator training. Driving simulator training was performed on 46 adults (male: 20, female: 26) twice a week, 20 minutes per time, 8 times for a month. The results showed that after driving simulator training was significantly more effective for males than females (p<.01). Additionally, the difference in visual perception was also larger in males than in females and it was significantly more effective in males than females (p<.01). This study is expected to contribute to the understanding of differences in reaction velocity and visual perception between adults and handicapped persons of the same gender. The results of this study will also provide a guideline for driving rehabilitation education for handicapped persons in our society and, thereby, help implement driving rehabilitation training systematically.

c-Fos is known to related to synaptic plasticity and apoptosis in damage from ischemia or external injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether needle electrode electrical stimulation(NEES) is effective in increasing the number of c-Fos response cells and c-Fos expression in striatum after global ischemia in rats. There were no treatment and occlusion in the control group, global ischemia(GI) group were no treatment after carotid artery occlusion, and needle electrode electrical stimulation(NEES) group were treated with NEES after GI induced. The number of striatum c-Fos response cells and c-Fos protein expression significantly decreased in the NEES group compared to the GI group after 12, 24, 48 hours. The results of the present study suggest that NEES is ineffective in improving global ischemia in rats and may also be ineffective in the globally ischemic human brain.

This neurological damage accelerates the infection reaction of cells and apoptosis at the time of reperfusion after ischemia occurs. BCL-2/BCL-2 allogeneic begeminum has a function of suppressing the apoptosis of cells, and thus it is inferred that the susceptibility of cells to apoptosis is determined by the amount of allogeneic begeminum present which is determined based on the amount of BAX. Ischemia was induced in SD mice by occluding the common carotid artery for 5 minutes, after which blood was re-perfused. NEES was applied to acupuncture points, at 12, 24, and 48 hours post-ischemia on the joksamri, Hapgok. Protein expression was investigated through BAX antibody immuno-reactive cells in the cerebral nerve cells and Western blotting. The results were as follows: In the present study as well, as a result of observation of the change in the number of the BAX reaction cells after the inducement of GI, there was the aspect of most of the BAX reaction cells being observed in the corpus striatum area of the GI group 24 hours after the inducement of ischemia. This revealed the same results as those of previous studies in which the change in the number of BAX reaction cells occurred in all areas while ischemia was in progress. The change in the expression of BAX protein after 24 hours showed that there was a very significant reduction in the NEES group compared to the GI group (p<.01). As a result, a greatest amount of change in the number of BAX immunoreactive cells related to apoptosis 24 hours after ischemia appeared in the NEES group. This study that ischemia increases the expression of BAX that induces apoptosis. Thus, it is determined that ischemia is the main cause of the apoptosis of neurons, and this study reveals that low frequency needle electrode electrical stimulation has the effect of blocking the apoptosis of neurons by reducing protein related to the apoptosis of cells that has increased after ischemia has occurred.

Based on dual coding theory, this study predicted that pictorial typography (PT), a device involving direct visual integration of a written word into a picture of its referent, is more effective for ESL children’s pre-literacy skills, than the non-integrated paring of word and picture on flashcards (FC). The two types of instruction were given to thirty-two Korean children aged six and seven, both embedded within the WordWorld (WW) episodes, an animated TV series developed by PBS. Results from the pre- and post-test design were as follows. PT was more beneficial than FC for the two upperlevel skills, vocabulary and reading fluency, while they were equally beneficial for the two lower-level skills, letter recognition and phonemic awareness. The two mediating variables, gender and age, were shown to have partial effects as well. Dual coding theory and the importance of instructional intervention have been supported by this study.

The cerebellum is known to control balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone. If the cerebellum becomes damaged, the body is unable to retain its balancing functions or involuntary muscle movement. This is why, in stroke patients, there is a high risk of functional disability, as well as a myriad of other disabilities secondary to stroke. Ischemia was induced in SD mice by occluding the common carotid artery for 5 minutes, after which blood was reperfused. Needle electrode electrical stimulation(NEES) was applied to acupuncture points, at 12, 24, and 48 hours post-ischemia on the joksamri. Protein expression was investigated through caspase-3 antibody immuno-reactive cells in the cerebral nerve cells and Western blotting. The results were as follows: The number of caspase-3 reactive cells in the corpus cerebellum 12 and 24 hours post-ischemia was significantly (p<.05) smaller in the NEES group compared to the GI group. caspase-3 expression 12 and 24 hours post-ischemia was significantly(p<.05) smaller in the NEES group compared to the GI group. Based on these results, NEES seems to have a significant effect on Caspase-3 in the cerebellum in an ischemic state at 12 and 24 hours post ischemia, NEES delays the occurrence of early stage apoptosis-inducing Caspase-3, delaying and inhibiting apoptosis. Further systematic studies will have to be conducted in relation to the application of this study’s results on stroke patients.

Ischemia, the leading cause of strokes, is known to be deeply related to synaptic plasticity and apoptosis in tissue damage due to ischemic conditions or trauma. The purpose of this study was to research the effects of NEES(needle electrode electrical stimulation) in brain cells of ischemiainduced rat, more specifically the effects of Poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase(PARP) on the corpus striatum. Ischemia was induced in SD mice by occluding the common carotid artery for 5 minutes, after which blood was re-perfused. NEES was applied to acupuncture points, at 12, 24, and 48 hours post-ischemia on the joksamri, and at 24 hours postischemia on the hapgok. Protein expression was investigated through PARP antibody immuno-reactive cells in the cerebral nerve cells and western blotting. The number of PARP reactive cells in the corpus striatum 24 hours post-ischemia was significantly(p<.05) smaller in the NEES group compared to the global ischemia(GI) group. PARP expression 24 hours post-ischemia was very significantly smaller in the NEES group compared to the GI group. Results show that ischemia increases PARP expression and stimulates necrosis, making it a leading cause of death of nerve cells. NEES can decrease protein expression related to cell death, protecting neurons and preventing neuronal apoptosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of handicraft activities on hand promptness and grasp in the elderly. Subjects were comprised of 14 senior citizens between the ages of 70-85, with 7 subjects in the experiment group and 7 in the control group. Subjects in the experiment group practiced various handicrafts twice a day, while those in the control group did not participate in any special activity. The Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test was used to evaluate the results, while a dynamometer and pinch gauge were used to measure hand promptness and grasp. The 7 senior citizens in the experiment group were able to increase their hand promptness and grasping skills. Conclusively, handicrafts can help improve hand promptness and grasp in the elderly. Furthermore, the development and improvement of such skills can have a positive influence on the daily lives of senior citizens. Such skills are expected to improve the overall neuro-function in the elderly population.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of gait training using functional electrical stimulation on the improvement of hemiplegic patients' functions for balance and gait velocity. The subjects of the experiment were determined to be 10 each hemiplegic patients who had been diagnosed with stroke or brain damage six months or longer earlier assigned to an experimental group and a control group respectively. The subjects were evaluated before the experiment using Tetrax and 10M gait tests, received gait training five times a week for four weeks using functional electrical stimulation and were evaluated after the experiment in the same method as used in the evaluation before the experiment. In order to examine differences between the experimental group that received gait training using functional electrical stimulation and the control group that was treated by functional electrical stimulation and received gait training thereafter, differences between before and after the experiment were analyzed using paired sample t-tests and differences in changes after the experiment between the experimental group and the control group were analyzed using independent sample t-tests in order to compare the two groups with each other. Experimental results showed significant differences in weight bearing, balance and gait velocity between before and after the experiment in the experimental group(p<.05). In the control group, whereas weight bearing and gait velocity did not show any significant difference between before and after the experiment(p>.05), balance showed significant differences(p<.05). Weight bearing, balance and gait velocity change rates showed significant differences between the experimental group and the control group(p<.05). In conclusion, it was indicated that gait training using functional electrical stimulation is effective for enhancing stroke patients' weight bearing rates, balance abilities and gait velocity.

The majority of strokes are caused by ischemia and result in brain tissue damage, leading to problems of the central nervous system including hemiparesis, dysfunction of language and consciousness, and dysfunction of perception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) on necrosis in neuronal cells that have undergone needle electrode electrical stimulation(NEES) prior to induction of ischemia. Ischemia was induced in male SD rats(body weight 300g) by occlusion of the common carotid artery for 5 min, after which the blood was reperfused. After induction of brain ischemia, NEES was applied to Zusanli(ST 36), at 12, 24 and 48 hours. Protein expression was investigated using immuno-reactive cells, which react to PARP antibodies in cerebral nerve cells, and Western blotting. The results were as follows: In the cerebral cortex, the number of PARP reactive cells after 24 hours significantly decreased(p<.05) in the NEES group compared to the GI group. PARP expression after 24 hours significantly decreased(p<.05) in the NEES group compared to the GI group. As a result, NEES showed the greatest effect on necrosis- related PARP immuno-reactive cells 24 hours after ischemia, indicating necrosis inhibition, blocking of neural cell death, and protection of neural cells. Based on the results of this study, NEES can be an effective method of treating dysfunction and improving function of neuronal cells in brain damage caused by ischemia.

Supposing that somatotype evaluation results would have significant differences between the public group with less amounts of exercises and the special group with intensive exercises for three to four times a day, this study aimed at comparing the mutual consistency between the results determined by somatotype evaluation tools such as visually calculated index(VCI), Rohrer's Index(RI) and Body Mass Index(BMI). The public, taekwondo players and judo players groups were com˗ posed of fifty persons, taekwondo players and judo players passed through VCI determination, respectively. Their height and weight were examined and analyzed with somatotype evaluation tools. Comparison of somatotype dispersion of RI and VCI showed that most women were determined by VCI as lean type but were deter˗ mined by RI as normal type. And that women were determined by VCI as fat type but were determined by RI as normal type. Therefore both men and women showed significant differences in VCI and RI. Comparison of somatotype dispersion of VCI and BMI showed that both men and women were overestimated or underestimated by VCI rather than by BMI. Comparison of somatotype dispersion of RI and BMI showed that men were less determined by BMI as lean type compared with women; both men and women less determined by BMI rather than by RI as normal type; and both men and women, in particular, were more determined by BMI as fat type but men were more determined by BMI rather than by RI as fat type. Total somatotype consistency by tools showed that VCI has the greatest possibility of determining the public group, compared with other groups as lean type and that the consistency of the three tools were relatively higher for the taekwondo players and judo players groups, compared with the public.

The purpose of this study was to investigate perceived health status, activities of daily living and depression of the elderly in nursing facil˗ ities and to identify correlations among them. The collected data is to improve healthy life for the aged people in communities. This study was performed by using of questionnaire which was consisted of perceived health status, activity of daily living(ADL) and depression. The survey was conducted by 180 aged people at nursing homes. The results of perceived health status show that 64.9% of elderly feel very bad or bad, 61.6% of elderly have a degree of independent level of activity of daily living(ADL) and 48.6% of elderly have a degree of depression. There were statically revealed meaningful correlation between ability of activity of daily living(ADL) and perceived health status, ability of activity of daily living(ADL) and depression. This study about connection among perceived health status, activity of daily living(ADL) and depression is necessary for number of the affil˗ iation function of elderly at nursing homes and development of inter˗ vention programs concerned about depression are necessary.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Needle Electrode Electrical Stimulation(NEES) on ischemia-induced cere˗ brovascular accidents. After obstruction and reperfusion of arteries in white mice, the amounts of necrosis and inflammation related sub˗ stances Bax, IL-6, Caspase-3, and COX-2 were measured in neurons of the fore-brain. The following results were obtained. This study used 21 male specific pathogen free(SPF) SD rats, 8 weeks of age and approximately 300g in weight. Each exposed artery was completely occluded with non-absorbent suture thread and kept in that state for 5 minutes. The sutures were then removed to allow reperfusion of blood. Test group is control group(common carotid artery occlusion models), a GI(underwent common carotid artery occlusion), and NEES(underwent NEES after artery occlusion). The GI and NEES groups were given 12, 24, or 48 hours of reperfusion before NEES. NEES device(PG6, ITO, Japan, 9V, current, 2Hz) was used to stimulate the bilateral acupoint ST36 of the SD rats for 30 minutes while they were sedated with 3% isoflurane. An immuno-his˗ tochemistry test was done on the forebrains of the GI induced rats. Both Bax and Caspase-3 immuno-reactive cells, related to apoptosis, were greater in the GI than the NEES group. Cox-2 and IL-6 immuno-reactive cells, related to inflammation, were greater in the GI and NEES groups than the control group. We can expect that applying NEES after ischemic CVA is effective for preventing brain cells from being destroyed. And we can conclude NEES should be applyed on early stage of ischemic CVA.

A full genomic DNA microarray technique was employed to investigate the effects of Dongchunghacho on aortal and hepatic gene expression in apolipoprotein E knockout mice fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet. Male 8- week - old ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into two groups, control(high cholesterol group; HC) and supplementation of Dongchunghacho (SD). All of the mice were fed a high-fet/high cholesterol diet with or without Dongchunghacho supplemented by 1% for 6 weeks. At first, lipid profile of the Dongchunghacho was measured by biochemical analysis. No differences were observed in serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels between the two groups. Antigenotoxic effect of the Dongchunghacho was measured by the single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet assay) and quantified as % fluorescence in tail. Dongchunghacho supplementation decreased significantly leukocytic DNA damage and also there was a tendency of reduction in hepatic DNA damage in Dongchunghacho group compared with the control group. In up regulated genes in liver and aorta of the mice, genes with 0 to 2- fold difference in expression level between the two group (HD and SD) was very much more in liver than in aorta, on the contrary, those with 2-fold to 16-flod difference increased greatly rather in aorta than in liver. Also, almost the same results were observed in down regulated genes in liver and aorta between the two groups. These results suggested that supplementation of Dongchunghacho might be helpful in preventing leukocytic DNA damage induced by high fat diet, and has a more crucial roles in aortal gene expression.

Subterranean termites construct complicated tunnel network for foraging below the ground. Thus, they often encounter a number of tunnel intersections during their moving from place to place in the network. In order to understand how termites respond to the intersections, we artificially excavated two tunnels intersected with 90° degree in soil-filled arenas. The two tunnels had the width of W1 and W2 (=2, 3, and 4mm), respectively. We systematically observed the response behavior of advancing termites to the intersection with the combination of W1 and W2, (W1, W2). For (W1, W2)=(2, 2) and (3, 3), the advancing termites passed the intersection without directional changes because it was difficult for termites to bend their body to change their moving direction due to the small-sized width. For (W1, W2)=(4, 4), the termites statistically-equally chose the three directions, left, right, and straight, which was due to the fact that the intersection provided enough space for termites to bend. For (W1, W2)=(2, 3), (2, 4), and (3, 4), termites, advancing in narrower tunnels, tended considerably to turn right or left, while termites, advancing in wider tunnels, were favorably inclined to go straight. These results can be understood by considering the relationship between termite body length and tunnel width as explained for the cases of W1=W2. In addition, we briefly discussed our findings in relation to termite foraging efficiency.

Although trisomy 16 is commonly detected in spontaneous abortions and accounts for over 30% of cases of autosomal trisomy detected after spontaneous abortion, trisomy 16 mosaicism is rarely detected by amniocentesis in the second trimester. Here, we report a case of level III trisomy 16 mosaicism (47,XX,+16[8]/46,XX[31]) diagnosed by cytogenetic analysis of independently cultured amniotic fluid cells. The female baby was delivered at full term with low birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation, and interestingly, her karyotype was normal (46,XX). Given the difficulty in predicting the outcomes of fetuses with this mosaicism, it is recommended to inform the possibility of mosaicisms including this trisomy 16 mosaicism during prenatal genetic diagnosis and genetic counseling for parents.