Arapid increase in the elderly population has raised social awareness for maintaining the health of the elderly and initiated intense research in neurodegenerative diseases. Exercise can improve not only cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness, but also suppresses the symptoms of depression and anxiety, suggesting a possible role of exercise in the regulation of brain function. Based on a substantial body of literature, here we introduce the effects of exercise on the structural and functional changes in the aging brain, and also discuss the molecular and cellular effects of exercise and motor learning. Studies show that regular exercise in the elderly promotes neurocognitive function, prevents loss of brain tissue, and reduces the risk for neurodegenerative diseases and brain injury. Although the molecular mechanisms, by which exercise regulates brain function, has not been fully understood, recent cell biological and biochemical studies reveal that exercise increases neurogenesis in the hippocampus, elevates the levels of neurotrophins such as BDNF and IGF-1 to promote the survival of newly generated neurons. Exercise also induces angiogenesis in the motor cortex and cerebellum to enhance delivery of glucose and oxygen to neurons. Furthermore, complex motor skill learning increases the number of synapses to improve cognitive and motor function. Taken together, these findings clearly demonstrate that exercise serves as a behavioral intervention to prevent cognitive decline as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Thus long-term regular exercise in parallel with various learning experiences will be required to prepare successful aging. This study will provide fundamental insights into research in neurodegenerative diseases and a better understanding of the exercise effects in brain function.
Aged ; Aging ; Anxiety ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Cerebellum ; Depression ; Glucose ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Learning ; Motor Cortex ; Motor Skills ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons ; Oxygen ; Synapses

Cerebellum is a key structure involved in motor learning and coordination. In animal models, motor skill learning increased the volume of molecular layer and the number of synapses on Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the analogous change of cerebellar volume occurs in human population who learn specialized motor skills and practice them intensively for a long time. Magnetic resonance image (MRI)-based cerebellar volumetry was performed in basketball players and matched controls with V-works image software. Total brain volume, absolute and relative cerebellar volumes were compared between two groups. There was no significant group difference in the total brain volume, the absolute and the relative cerebellar volume. Thus we could not detect structural change in the cerebellum of this athlete group in the macroscopic level.
Neuronal Plasticity ; Motor Skills/physiology ; Models, Anatomic ; Male ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Humans ; Cerebellum/*anatomy & histology/physiology ; Basketball/*physiology ; Animals ; Adult

Voltage dependent calcium channels (VDCC) participate in regulation of neuronal Ca2+. The Rolling mouse Nagoya (Cacna1a(tg-rol) ) is a spontaneous P/Q type VDCC mutant, which has been suggested as an animal model for some human neurological diseases such as autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (SCA6), familial hemiplegic migraine and episodic ataxia type-2. Morphology of Purkinje cell (PC) dendritic spine is suggested to be regulated by signal molecules such as Ca2+ and by interactions with afferent inputs. The amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic current was decreased in parallel fiber (PF) to PC synapses, whereas apparently increased in climbing fiber (CF) to PC synapses in rolling mice Nagoya. We have studied synaptic morphology changes in cerebella of this mutant strain. We previously found altered synapses between PF varicosity and PC dendritic spines. To study dendritic spine plasticity of PC in the condition of insufficient P/Q type VDCC function, we used high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM). We measured the density and length of PC dendritic spines at tertiary braches. We observed statistically a significant decrease in spine density as well as shorter spine length in rolling mice compared to wild type mice at tertiary dendritic braches. In proximal PC dendrites, however, there were more numerous dendritic spines in rolling mice Nagoya. The differential regulation of rolling PC spines at tertiary and proximal dendrites in rolling mice Nagoya suggests that two major excitatory afferent systems may be regulated reciprocally in the cerebellum of rolling mouse Nagoya.
Animals ; Ataxia ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Cerebellum ; Dendrites ; Dendritic Spines ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Humans ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron ; Migraine with Aura ; Models, Animal ; Neurons ; Plastics ; Spine ; Sprains and Strains ; Synapses

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonographic imaging is very useful tool to determine various neoplasms and inflammatory changes of the human body. In addition, thanks to the use of various frequencies in ultrasonography, subcutaneous and some dermal lesions can be evaluated without invasive procedures such as a biopsy. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of subcutaneous nodules. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 29 patients with subcutaneous nodules and analyzed the correlation between ultrasonographic findings and final biopsy findings. The HDI-5000 ultrasonography system (Philips, Eindhoven, Netherlands) with variable probes (from 5 to 12 MHz) was used in this study. RESULTS: In 27 patients, ultrasonographic findings were matched with final biopsy findings. One pilomatricoma was misdiagnosed as a cyst and one hemangioma as lipoma. It was very interesting to find that two malignant tumors and one subcutaneous granuloma annulare were detected by ultrasonographic examination in the absence of any clinical clues. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is a very useful, noninvasive, easy to apply, and relatively predictive tool for the evaluation of subcutaneous nodules. Although a skin biopsy is necessary for final diagnosis, ultrasonography would be a good substitute in the diagnosis of subcutaneous nodules when the patient refuses a skin biopsy and the nodule is located in a highly cosmetic area.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Granuloma Annulare ; Hemangioma ; Human Body ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Medical Records ; Pilomatrixoma ; Skin ; Ultrasonography*

Cognitive impairments and motor dysfunction are commonly observed behavioral phenotypes in genetic animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. JNPL3 transgenic mice expressing human P301L-mutant tau display motor disturbances with age- and gene dose-dependent development of neurofibrillary tangles, suggesting that tau pathology causes neurodegeneration associated with motor behavioral abnormalities. Although gait ignition failure (GIF), a syndrome marked by difficulty in initiating locomotion, has been described in patients with certain forms of tauopathies, transgenic mouse models mirroring human GIF syndrome have yet to be reported. Using the open field and balance beam tests, here we discovered that JNPL3 homozygous mice exhibit a marked delay of movement initiation. The elevated plus maze excluded the possibility that hesitation to start in JNPL3 mice was caused by enhanced levels of anxiety. Considering the normal gait ignition in rTg4510 mice expressing the same mutant tau in the forebrain, GIF in JNPL3 mice seems to arise from abnormal tau deposition in the hindbrain areas involved in locomotor initiation. Accordingly, immunohistochemistry revealed highly phosphorylated paired helical filament tau in JNPL3 brainstem areas associated with gait initiation. Together, these findings demonstrate a novel behavioral phenotype of impaired gait initiation in JNPL3 mice and underscore the value of this mouse line as a tool to study the neural mechanisms and potential treatments for human GIF syndrome.
Animals ; Anxiety ; Brain Stem ; Cognition Disorders ; Gait ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Locomotion ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Models, Animal ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurofibrillary Tangles ; Pathology ; Phenotype ; Prosencephalon ; Rhombencephalon ; Tauopathies

BACKGROUND: Hand eczema is one of the most common skin disorders and negatively affects quality of life. However, a large-scale multicenter study investigating the clinical features of patients with hand eczema has not yet been conducted in Korea. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of various hand diseases, which is defined as all cutaneous disease occurring in hands, and to investigate the clinical features of patients with hand eczema and the awareness about hand eczema in the general population and to compare the prevalence of hand eczema between health care providers and non-health care providers. METHODS: To estimate the prevalence of hand diseases, we analyzed the medical records of patients from 24 medical centers. Patients were assessed by online and offline questionnaires. A 1,000 from general population and 913 hand eczema patients answered the questionnaire, for a total of 1,913 subjects. RESULTS: The most common hand disease was irritant contact dermatitis. In an online survey, the lifetime prevalence of hand eczema was 31.2%. Hand eczema was more likely to occur in females (66.0%) and younger (20~39 years, 53.9%). Health care providers and housewives were the occupations most frequently associated with hand eczema. Winter (33.6%) was the most common season which people experienced aggravation. The 63.0% and 67.0% answered that hand eczema hinders their personal relationship and negatively affects daily living activities, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hand eczema is a very common disease and hinders the quality of life. The appropriate identification of hand eczema is necessary to implement effective and efficient treatment.
Activities of Daily Living ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Eczema* ; Female ; Hand* ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea* ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Seasons ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Since the bioavailability of itraconazole capsule is influenced by patients gastric acidity, it results in treatment failure due to its low dissolution and subsequent low absorption when administered in fasting. Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet has been lately developed in order to improve its dissolution profile. It is the first clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole melt-extrusion tablet 400mg daily for 1 week(pulse therapy) for hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and manus. METHODS: A clinical and mycological investigation was made of 812 outpatients with hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus who had visited at 52 general hospitals under the lead of the Korean Dermatological Association from June to December, 1998. Patients confirmed by clinically and microscopically as hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus were administered 2 tablets twice a day for one week and followed up for 8 weeks from the start of the medication. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows; 1. Clinical symptoms of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea mauns were significantly improved at the end of study, week 8(p<0.001). 2. Clinical response rate, defined as more than 50% decrease of the sum of the clinical symptom scores, was 79.3%(512/646). 3. Mycological cure rate, dafined as both culture and KOH negative at week 8, was 78.2%(244 /312). 4. 40(5.5%) patients, of the 727 patients evaluable for drug safety evaluation, were reported to have adverse event. CONCLUSION: Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet 400mg/day for 1 week (pulse therapy) is effective and safe in the treatment of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus.
Absorption ; Biological Availability ; Fasting ; Gastric Acid ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Tablets ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Treatment Failure