2.The pedunculopontine nucleus: its role in the genesis of movement disorders.
Myung Sik LEE ; Juha O RINNE ; C David MARSDEN
Yonsei Medical Journal 2000;41(2):167-184
The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is located in the dorso-lateral part of the ponto-mesencephalic tegmentum. The PPN is composed of two groups of neurons: one containing acetylcholine, and the other containing non-cholinergic neurotransmitters (GABA, glutamate). The PPN is connected reciprocally with the limbic system, the basal ganglia nuclei (globus pallidus, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus), and the brainstem reticular formation. The caudally directed corticolimbic-ventral striatal-ventral pallidal-PPN-pontomedullary reticular nuclei-spinal cord pathway seems to be involved in the initiation, acceleration, deceleration, and termination of locomotion. This pathway is under the control of the deep cerebellar and basal ganglia nuclei at the level of the PPN, particularly via potent inputs from the medial globus pallidus, substantia nigra pars reticulata and subthalamic nucleus. The PPN sends profuse ascending cholinergic efferent fibers to almost all the thalamic nuclei, to mediate phasic events in rapid-eye-movement sleep. Experimental evidence suggests that the PPN, along with other brain stem nuclei, is also involved in anti-nociception and startle reactions. In idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) and parkinson plus syndrome, overactive pallidal and nigral inhibitory inputs to the PPN may cause sequential occurrences of PPN hypofunction, decreased excitatory PPN input to the substantia nigra, and aggravation of striatal dopamine deficiency. In addition, neuronal loss in the PPN itself may cause dopamine-r esistant parkinsonian deficits, including gait disorders, postural instability and sleep disturbances. In patients with IPD, such deficits may improve after posteroventral pallidotomy, but not after thalamotomy. One of the possible explanations for such differences is that dopamine-resistant parkinsonian deficits are mediated to the PPN by the descending pallido-PPN inhibitory fibers, which leave the pallido-thalamic pathways before they reach the thalamic targets.
Animal
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Basal Ganglia/cytology
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Human
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Mesencephalon/physiology*
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Mesencephalon/cytology
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Movement Disorders/etiology*
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Pons/physiology*
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Pons/cytology
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Thalamus/cytology
3.Effect of Characteristics of Joint Motion of Lower Extremity according to Aging on Balance in Elderly.
Young Keun WOO ; Ji Hye HWANG ; Juha AN ; Heedong PARK ; Yun Hee KIM ; Peter KW LEE ; Nam Gyun KIM
Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2005;29(1):109-118
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and the correlation of characteristics of joint motion of lower extremity according to aging on balance in elderly. METHOD: There were thirty nine healthy elderly subjects aged 60 and older. The subjects were divided into 3 groups by their age. Each group was measured with joint motion of bilateral lower extremities by goniometer. The subjects were evaluated with clinical balance tests [(Berg balance scale (BBS), Functional reach test (FRT), Tinetti's performance oriented mobility assessment (POMA), and one leg standing (OLS)]. RESULTS: The flexibilities of lower extremities were decreased according to the increase in age. The balance ability was also decreased according to the increase in age by tested clinical balance scores. The flexibility of the ankle joints showed the strongest correlation with clinical balance scores (BBS, FRT, POMA and OLS) according to the increase in age, and the flexibility of hip joints also correlated with clinical balance scores (POMA and OLS). CONCLUSION: Among clinically validated balance tests, the decline of balance performance related with aging. Correlation exists between ankle ROM and balance in healthy elderly people. Additional research is needed to add the ankle ROM to reflect the excise for balance tests and balance ability.
Aged*
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Aging*
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Ankle
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Ankle Joint
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Hip Joint
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Humans
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Joints*
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Leg
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Lower Extremity*
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Pliability
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Range of Motion, Articular
4.Static Posturographic Characteristics during Balance Control under Virtual Moving Surround in Patients with Chronic Ankle Sprain.
Juha AN ; Ji Hye HWANG ; Young Keun WOO ; Yun Hee KIM ; Peter K W LEE ; Nam Gyun KIM
Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2005;29(3):297-302
OBJECTIVE: To investigate static posturographic characteristics during balance control under virtual moving surround (VMS) using force platform and head mount display (HMD) device in patients with chronic ankle sprain as compared with that of normal adults. METHOD: Ten patients with chronic ankle sprain and 24 healthy adults participated. Center of pressure (COP) parameters were obtained for 20 seconds using force platform as total path distance and total sway area in following conditions (1) comfortable standing with opened and closed eyes, (2) VMS delivered using HMD with four different moving patterns. The virtual moving patterns composed of close-far, superior-inferior tilting (pitch), right-left tilting (roll) and horizontal rotation (yaw) movement. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between patients with chronic ankle sprain and healthy adults on comfortable standing with both open and closed eyes. But, patients revealed significantly increased total path distance and sway area of COP on all VMS conditions. CONCLUSION: These results showed that under VMS conditions patients with the weaker balance control problem were more sensitive to balance control than simple comfortable standing conditions with opened and closed eyes.
Adult
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Ankle Injuries*
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Ankle*
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Head
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Humans
5.The First Case of Capillaria hepatica Infection in a Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in Korea.
Jae Hak PARK ; Meliton N NOVILLA ; Juha SONG ; Kyung Sul KIM ; Seo Na CHANG ; Ju Hee HAN ; Byung Hee LEE ; Do Hun LEE ; Hyun Mac KIM ; Young Ha KIM ; Hee Jeong YOUN ; Jihyon KIL
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2014;52(5):527-529
This study reports the first case of Capillaria hepatica infection in a nutria in Korea. Ten nutrias, captured near the Nakdong River, were submitted to our laboratory for necropsy. White-yellowish nodules were found in the liver of 1 of the nutrias at necropsy. Histologically, the lesions were granulomatous, and infiltrations of lipid-laden macrophages, eosinophils, and several multinucleated giant cells were observed. The lesions consisted of numerous eggs and necrotic hepatocytes. The eggs were lemon-shaped and had polar plugs at the ends of both long sides. The eggs were morphologically identified as those of C. hepatica. Worldwide, C. hepatica infection in nutrias is very rare. Nutrias are a kind of livestock, as well as wildlife; therefore, an epidemiological study for parasitic infections needs to be conducted.
Animals
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Capillaria/*isolation & purification
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Enoplida Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary
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Female
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Male
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Republic of Korea/epidemiology
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Rodent Diseases/*parasitology
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Rodentia
6.Detection and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. from Wild Rodents and Insectivores in South Korea.
Juha SONG ; C Yoon KIM ; Seo Na CHANG ; Tamer Said ABDELKADER ; Juhee HAN ; Tae Hyun KIM ; Hanseul OH ; Ji Min LEE ; Dong Su KIM ; Jong Taek KIM ; Hong Shik OH ; Moonsuk HUR ; Jae Hwa SUH ; Jae Hak PARK
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2015;53(6):737-743
In order to examine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in wild rodents and insectivores of South Korea and to assess their potential role as a source of human cryptosporidiosis, a total of 199 wild rodents and insectivore specimens were collected from 10 regions of South Korea and screened for Cryptosporidium infection over a period of 2 years (2012-2013). A nested-PCR amplification of Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene fragment revealed an overall prevalence of 34.2% (68/199). The sequence analysis of 18S rRNA gene locus of Cryptosporidium was performed from the fecal and cecum samples that tested positive by COWP amplification PCR. As a result, we identified 4 species/genotypes; chipmunk genotype I, cervine genotype I, C. muris, and a new genotype which is closely related to the bear genotype. The new genotype isolated from 12 Apodemus agrarius and 2 Apodemus chejuensis was not previously identified as known species or genotype, and therefore, it is supposed to be a novel genotype. In addition, the host spectrum of Cryptosporidium was extended to A. agrarius and Crosidura lasiura, which had not been reported before. In this study, we found that the Korean wild rodents and insectivores were infected with various Cryptosporidium spp. with large intra-genotypic variationa, indicating that they may function as potential reservoirs transmitting zoonotic Cryptosporidium to livestock and humans.
Animals
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Animals, Wild/*parasitology
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Cryptosporidiosis/*parasitology
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Cryptosporidium/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification
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Feces/parasitology
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Genotype
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Insectivora/*parasitology
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Murinae
;
Phylogeny
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Republic of Korea
;
Rodent Diseases/*parasitology