Background: Patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) functionally adapt to decreased postural control due to impaired processing of sensory information. Standing postural control has been the focus of recent research in CLBP. Change in postural control may be a risk factor for CLBP, although available studies are not conclusive. Objects: This study aimed to identify the role of partial weight supported treadmill training (PWSTT) in improving balance, dysfunction, and pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: The study included 22 patients with CLBP. Patients in the control group (n1=8) performed three 20 min stabilization exercise sessions per week, for 4 weeks. Patients in the full weight treadmill training group (n2=7) performed treadmill training for 30 min after stabilization exercise. Patients in the PWSTT group (n3=7) performed PWSTT with 20% of their body weight unloaded after stabilization exercises. By using the Biodex balance system, the dynamic balance abilities of the patients in the three groups were assessed in the quiet standing position under combined conditions of visual feedback (eyes open and closed) and platform stability (level 8). The Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index and visual analogue scale score were used as the main measure. Results: The results of this study showed that dysfunction and pain were significantly improved in all groups. Although dynamic postural stability with eyes closed was significantly improved only in the PWSTT group (p<.05), no significant difference was found in the other groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that PWSTT improved balance, dysfunction and pain in the patients with CLBP. Thus, this intervention is necessary for patients with CLBP with decreased postural control.

This study was to investigate the needs of the functional abnormality of the Temporomandibular joint. The purpose of this study was to find out basic concept for the Chiropractic-care necessity of the neuromuscular skeletal patients with functional abnormality of the temporomandibular joint. I evaluated the change of the range of motion, neck pain, headache by post xray, orthopedic test and patient's charts. The range of motion at temporomandibular joint was improved and the necessity of chiropractic care was recognized in the neuromuscular skeletal patients with having temporomandibular joint problems.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a fatal disorder wherein patients suffer from sensory, motor, and cognitive loss. Currently, the identification and validation of biomarkers for diagnosing AD and other forms of dementia are increasingly important. Olfactory dysfunction is present in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Alzheimer’s patients show neuropathological changes in areas of the brain central to the olfactory processing center, suggesting the theoretical importance and potential diagnostic utility of investigating functional changes in olfaction in these patients. However, the usefulness of olfactory screens to serve as informative indicators of Alzheimer’s is precluded by the lack of knowledge regarding neural and molecular mechanisms underlying olfactory dysfunction onto Alzheimer's diseases. To test these ultimate questions, we used molecular and electrophysiological recording techniques to find out the difference of olfactory responses and AD related protein expression patterns by using fly model, Drosophila melanogaster that over-expresses the human β -amyloid, tau protein. We postulated that such flies would present with progressive olfactory impairments compared with age-matched wild type control flies. In this study, our hypothesis is that there is a correlation between olfactory deficits and the spatial expression pattern of β-amyloid and tau protein deposition. Therefore, we demonstrate a specific concentration of lesions in central olfactory structures such as antenna and Maxillary palps. Our study indicates that deficits on olfactory identification may occur in AD, which will be valuable as an indicator of neuropathogenesis.

To examine the effect of Codium fragile on blood cholesterol and lipid metabolism, hyperlipidemia was induced in experimental animal rats through the administration of a hypercholesterolemic diet. Codium fragile powder was then administered to the rats fo

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a disease-specific exercise (DSE) on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function and neck mobility in TMJ dysfunction associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Ten AS patients (seven males and three females) with TMJ dysfunction were recruited for this study. The DSE included exercises to correct head and neck posture and to improve the flexibility of the neck and TMJs. The patients attended treatment three times a week for 4 weeks, averaging 1 hour each session. Assessments were performed pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6 weeks after the completion of treatment. General physical status was assessed by four clinical measures (tragus-to-wall distance, modified Schober test, lumbar side flexion, and intermalleolar distance), the Bath ankylosing spondylitis function index (BASFI), and the Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index. The main outcome measures included TMJ function (craniomandibular index (CMI)), and neck mobility (flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral rotation). None of the measures of general physical status, with the exception of BASFI, were significant1y different between the pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6-week follow-up (p>.05). However, CMI and all neck movements, except for extension, significant1y improved after the treatment (p<.05). These improvements were maintained during the follow-up period. The DSE used in the present study seems to be a clinical1y useful method for managing patients with symptoms from the stomatognathic system in AS. Further studies with more subjects and longer treatment times, including the follow-up period, will be conducted to validate these findings.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of virtual moving surround (VMS) on static balance in the patients with balance dysfunction. Eighty three subjects who were admitted or treated as an outpatient, or a family member, at the department of rehabilitation unit of university hospital were recruited to participate. Subjects were three groups based on their overall medical status: healthy, diabetic neuropathy and stroke. Each group was tested for static balance with a forceplate during static standing with VMS. The virtual movement was simulated with a head mounted display. The parameters for static balance were total sway path. In this study, the parameters of postural control for patients with diabetic neuropathy and stroke subjects were significantly increased in conditions elicited with the VMS. In the healthy elderly participants, the total sway path was not significantly different under virtual movement conditions. Therefore, VMS could be used in the evaluation and treatment of the patients with balance dysfunction.

목적 : 작업치료사가 교육 프로그램의 주요한 형식인 집단교육 프로그램에 다전문적 접근영역의 일원으로 참여하였을 때, 작업수행에 대한 평가 및 치료프로그램을 적용하고 이를 타전문가와 부모에게 전달 및 공유할 수 있도록 하기 위해 AMPS(Assessment of Motor and Process Skills)를 실시하고, 그 유용성을 알아보고자 한다.연구방법 : 만 5세의 발달장애아동 6명을 대상으로 5개월간 다전문적 집단교육프로그램을 실시하였다. 아동의 장애군은 뇌성마비 1명, 발달장애 2명, 정신지체 1명, 다운증후군 2명이었다. 집단 프로그램은 매회 2시간 30분씩 주 4회 실시하였고, 이 중 작업치료 프로그램은 주 2회 45분씩 실시되었다. 특수교사 2명, 언어치료사와 작업치료사가 각각 1명씩 참여하여 평가내용과 치료프로그램 과정을 의논하고 결정하였다. 작업수행능력의 변화를 알아보기 위한 측정도구로는 AMPS를 적용하였다.결과 : AMPS 평가를 통한 작업수행능력치의 변화는 운동기술에서는 5명의 아동이, 처리기술에서는 4명의 아동이 유의미한 차이를 나타내었다.결론 : AMPS 평가에 의해 작업수행능력치를 수치로 제시할 수 있었고, 기술항목의 변화도 질적으로 평가할 수 있었다. 이러한 내용들이 프로그램에 적용되고 타전문가와 공유되었으며, 부모에게 전달함에 있어서도 유용하였다. 향후 보다 폭 넓은 연령과 대상자, 연구방법을 통한 연구가 진행되어야 할 것이다.

In most of the medical literature that discusses the common problem of movement in patients with cerebral lesions. This critical problem is ascribed to a mechanism involving uninhibited neural activity. The goals of neurological physical therapy are focus on reduce of muscle hypertonicity, facilitates muscle activities, and improve of performance in living environment. A variety of studies suggest that spasticity is a distinct problem and separate from the muscle weakness. It has become increasingly recognized that the major functional deficits following brain damage are largely due to negative features such as muscle weakness and loss of performance rather than spasticity. Adequate recruitment of prime mover, not release was able to carry out the movement tasks well. The strengthening exercise of spastic limbs on changes in muscle properties and performance skill, the repeated motor practice has been identified as crucial for motor recovery. This article support the concept that strengthening is an appropriate intervention to improve the quality of physical function in patients with central nervous system lesions. Further studies and therapeutic approaches should be efforts at improving motor neuron recruitment in agonist rather than reducing activity in antagonists while retraining muscle strengthening.

This paper offers an approach to physical therapy and rehabilitation procedure for the temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). Forms of physical therapy are used in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions that include TMD joint disorders. However, there still remains a void in the study as to the various rehabilitative protocols used on those patients with TMD. Recent evidence in clinical trials show that physical therapy is helpful for patients with TMD. Exercise programs designed to improve physical fitness had beneficial effects on TMD pain and dysfunction. This study establishes treatment procedures of physical therapy and provides a method of evaluation for patients with TMD disorders.

The techniques of joint mobilization and traction are used to improve joint mobility or to decrease pain by restoring accessory movements to the shoulder joints and thus allowing full, nonrestriced, pain-free range of motion. In the glenohumeral joint, the humeral head would be the convex surface, while the glenoid fossa would be the concave surface. The medial end of the clavicle is concave anterioposteriorly and convex superioinferiorly, the articular surface of the sternum is reciprocally curved. The acromioclavicular joint is a plane synovial joint between a small convex facet on lateral end of the clavicle and a small concave facet on the acromion of the scapula. The relationship between the shape of articulating joint surface and the direction of gliding is defined by the Convex-Concave Rule. If the concave joint surface is moving on a stationary convex surface, gliding occur in the same direction as the rolling motion. If the convex surface is moving on a stationary concave surface, gliding will occur in an opposite direction to rolling. Hypomobile shoulder joints are treated be using a gliding technique.

Alcoholic fatty liver disorder has become a frequent health concern worldwide. To investigate the effects of Brassica oleracea (B. oleracea) sprout extract (BOE), the present study was designed with alcoholic fatty liver in the rat. Initially, the effects of BOE on liver parameters were examined. Male rats were divided into five groups. The normal control group was fed the normal diet, and the BOE group was fed the high fat diet and ethanol with/without BOE for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks feeding period, rats were sacrificed and their livers and blood were used for fatty liver-related biomarkers analyses. As a result, BOE ameliorated fatty liver-related enzymes profiles in liver tissues and also reduced blood alcohol concentration in rat model. We demonstrated that BOE protected the high fat diet and alcohol-induced fatty liver in rat model. Furthermore, BOE increased detoxificative abilities against alcohol.

Background : Scopolamine induces cholinergic dysfunction and oxidative stress, and the impairment of memory function. Therefore, oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction are important role of the brain pathology of amnesia. In this study, we investigated the impact of Safflower seed against oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction on scopolamine-induced amnesic mice. Methods and Results : Mice were orally pretreated with safflower seed (100 ㎎/㎏ body weight) or vehicle for 7 days, and scopolamine (1 ㎎/㎏ body weight) was injected intraperitoneally, 30 min before the behavior tests such as T-maze and novel objective recognition test on first day. To evaluate learning and memory function, the Morris water maze task was performed for 5 days, consecutively. The results showed that spatial perceptive ability and novel object recognition was significantly increased by preadministration of safflower seed compared with scopolamin-induced control mice in the behavior tests. Consistently, immuno blot revealed the elevated expression of superoxide dismutase 1 in the safflower seed pretreated mice, compared to the control mice. Moreover, protein expression of acetylcholinesterase was decreased in safflower seed pre-treated group. Conclusion : Subsequently, our results suggests that the Safflower seed extract improved memory impairment through inhibition of cholinergic dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the inability to attain and sustain an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Frequent ED may be a symptom of health problems including heart disease, obesity, alcoholism, stress, smoking, and depression, that need treatment. This study aimed to effect of complex extract (CPL) including Cornus officinalis on sexual function factor in the erectile dysfunction rat model. The erectile dysfuction rat model was induced by cimetidine (500 ㎎/㎏ in 5% ethanol, oral injection 2 weeks). Rats were oral administered with different concentration of CPL in rat erectile dysfunction model. As a results, sexual function factors (NO, cGMP) significantly improved in CPL treated groups (CPL-300, 600, 900 ㎎/㎏) compared to CON group. Serum testosterone was increased in a dose-dependent manner after CPL treatment. Furthermore, administrations of CPL restored lumen areas of the prostate in the erectile dysfunction rat model. These results indicated that CPL alleviated erectile dysfunction by increasing sexual function factor and testosterone in rat model. CPL could be used to natural treatement for erectile dysfunction. However, further study is required to identify active ingredient and its mechanism of erectile dysfunction.

좌심실 이완기능 장애는 심근허혈이나 좌심실비대 등과 같은 심근질환이 잇는 환자에서 대부분 관찰되지만 심장질환이 없는 건강한 사람에서도 흔하게 관찰된다. 정상 심박출(수축기능)상태에서 좌심실의 이완기 장애 평가는 심부전의 진행과 예후에 영향을 줄 수 있다. 심장외막지방조직은 생리활성분자를 생성하는 대사활동기관으로 심혈관질환에 직접적으로 연관성이 있으며 이는 심근에 직접적으로 영향을 미쳐 이후 심장의 기능장애를 초래한다. 본 연구목적은 심장외막지방의 두께를 측정하여 정상의 수축기 기능인 상태에서 확장기(이완기) 기능장애의 평가와의 연관성을 연구하고자하였다. 연구결과 심장외막지방두께와 이완기 장애 유무가 통계적으로 유의한 수준에서 높은 연관성이 있는 것으로 분석되었다. 특히 심장외막지방두께 측정단면 EAT2에서 측정된 값과 이완기 장애평가방법 E'는 높은 상관관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 심장외막지방두께변화는 좌심실의 이완기능장애를 평가할 수 있는 예측인자로 사용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Mitochondria are important regulators of both apoptosis and autophagy. One of the triggers for mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which include hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide, and peroxynitrite. Recently, several studies have indicated that ROS may also be involved in the induction of autophagy. In the present study, we used H2O2 to induce mitochondrial stress and examined apoptotic- and autophagic-related gene expression and observed LC3 protein (autophagosome presence marker) expression in porcine parthenotes developing in vitro. In porcine four-cell parthenotes cultured for 5 days in NCSU37 medium containing 0.4% BSA, the developmental rate and mitochondrial distribution did not differ from that of the group supplemented with 100 μM H2O2 but significantly decreased in the group supplemented with 500 μM H2O2 (P<0.05). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that whereas normal shaped mitochondria were observed in blastocysts from the control group, abnormal mitochondria (mitophagy) and autophagic vacuoles were observed in blastocysts from the group that received 500 μM H2O2. Furthermore, addition of H2O2 (100 μM and 500 μM) decreased cell numbers (P<0.05) and increased both apoptosis (P<0.05) and LC3 protein expression in the blastocysts. Real time RT-PCR showed that H2O2 significantly decreased mRNA expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL but increased pro-apoptotic genes, Caspase 3 (Casp3) and Bak, and autophagy-related genes, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (Map1lc3b) and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 (Lamp2). However, the addition of H2O2 had no effect on mRNA expression levels in nuclear DNA-encoded mitochondrial-related genes, cytochrome oxidase (Cox) 5a, Cox5b, and Cox6b1, but decreased mitochondrial DNA-encoded genes, D-loop (Dloop) and cytochrome b (Cytb), in blastocysts. These results suggest that H2O2 leads to mitochondrial dysfunction that results in apoptosis and autophagy, which is possibly related to porcine early embryo development.

본 연구는 오감자극원예치료 프로그램이 정신분열병환자의 정신사회적기능 및 증상, 자기 효능감과 병식에 미치는 영향에 대하여 알아보고자 실시하였다. 대상은 대구시 달서구 신당동에 위치한 대구재활센터에서 정신분열병환자 중에 대조군10명, 실시군 10명으로 2006년 3월6일부터 2006년 6월26일까지 주 1회 총 17회기에 걸쳐 오감자극원예치료프로그램으로 실시하였다오감자극 원예치료의 정신사회적기능 평가결과 실시군은 일상생활수행기능 항목에서 사전 2.93에서 사후 3.55점으로 .62점이 높아졌고 .05수준의 유의차가 있었다. 자신과 타인과의 관계기능항목에서는 사전 2.52점에서 사후3.21점으로 .69점이 높아졌으며 전체적으로는 사전 2.73에서 사후 3.83점으로 1.10점이 높아져서 .001수준의 고도의 유의차를 보여서 오감자극 원예치료가 정신분열병환자의 사회로의 복귀에 중요한 요인인 정신사회적 기능에 영향이 큰 것으로 나타났다. 정신사회적증상 평가결과에서 실시군의 경우는 우울 및 불안, 충동 및 탐닉행동, 정신병적증상, 모든 하위항목에서 점수가 낮아졌고 특히 우울 및 불안항목은 .01수준의 고도의 유의차를 나타냈다. 자기효능감 평가결과에서 대조군과 실시군 모두 일반적인 효능감과 구체적인 효능감에서 점수가 높아지는 경향을 나타내었으나 유의차는 없는 것으로 나타났다. 이와 같이 본 연구에서 사회로의 복귀에 중요한 요인인 자기효능감의 점수가 높아졌지만 유의차가 나타나지 않은 것은 개인과 개인 간의 하위항목의 항목별 차이가 큰 변수로 생각되었고 원예치료가 정신분열병환자의 자기효능감에 영향을 미칠 수 있다는 가능성을 제시하고 있다.