ABSTRACT
Antiviral activity against Influenza virus of 14 Lactobacillus species isolated from food was monitored. Lactobacillus species were isolated from traditional Korean fermented food. Each live Lactobacillus was administered into the nasal cavity of SPF 6-week-old BALB/c mice. After the Lactobacillus treatment, Influenza virus (A/NWS/33/H1N1) was inoculated to each mouse. Clinical signs and mortality was monitored for 21 days. Each Lactobacillus strain showed various level of antiviral activity against Influenza virus. As a result of this study, this mouse experiment model, including intranasal treatment of live Lactobacillus species, could be effective model in evaluating immunomodulatory response of probiotics against respiratory viruses.
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Administration, Intranasal , Influenza, Human , Lactobacillus , Models, Animal , Mortality , Nasal Cavity , Orthomyxoviridae , ProbioticsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate erectile dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury and the relationship between patient's subjective answers and the results of objective tests regarding erectile dysfunction. METHOD: Twenty-one male patients with erectile dysfunction after spinal cord injury were administered with nocturnal penile tumescense and rigidity testing (NPTR) using Rigiscan(R) over 2 consecutive nights. NPTR using Rigiscan(R) at second night was performed after oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg. Answer of the global efficacy question (GEQ) after oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg and the parameters of NPTR were compared. RESULTS: After oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg, number and duration of erectile episodes, and duration of rigidity greater than 60% on NPTR improved significantly (p< 0.05). Sixteen out of seventeen patients (94.1%) who showed improved nocturnal erection after oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg answered that they had an improved erectile function after sildenafil. All four patients (100%) who showed no improvement in nocturnal erection after sildenafil answered that their erectile function was not improved after oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg. CONCLUSION: We expect NPTR using Rigiscan(R) might be useful for the evaluation of erectile dysfunction in men with spinal cord injury.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Administration, Oral , Erectile Dysfunction , Piperazines , Purines , Spinal Cord , Spinal Cord Injuries , Sulfones , Sildenafil CitrateABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of oral desmopressin administration for nocturia and sleeping in brain injured patients and to confirm its safety. METHOD: 20 brain injured patients waking up more than twice a night for urination during sleeping have been subjected to take 0.1 mg of desmopressin at 9 p.m. everyday for 30 days. To analyze the effect of the drug before and after its administration, the frequency of patient's awakening for urination, duration of time to first urination after sleeping, total urination volume during sleeping and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were evaluated. All newly found symptoms one month after taking the medication were recorded to confirm the safety of the drug. RESULTS: After taking the medication, the mean urination frequency of 20 patients was reduced from 2.4 to 1.4, the mean duration of time to the first urination after sleeping was increased from 3.4 hours to 4.9 hours (p<0.01). The mean PSQI score of 20 patients was decreased from 9.7 to 4.8 (p<0.01). 2 patients had side effects (hyponatremia, headache). CONCLUSION: The oral administration of desmopressin was relatively safe and effective on brain injured patients with nocturia.
Subject(s)
Humans , Administration, Oral , Brain , Deamino Arginine Vasopressin , Nocturia , UrinationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of Cognitive Perceptual Assessment for Driving (CPAD) through the on-road test in predicting the actual road driving skills in brain injured patients. METHOD: 25 brain injured patients with actual driving experience before the occurrence of diseases participated in the handicapped driving adaptation training program of our hospital as the subjects of the study, and one round of CPAD and on-road test were performed. CPAD evaluations and on-road tests for all patients were evaluated by the same therapist. RESULTS: 11 patients passed the CPAD and all of them passed the on-road test. 3 patients failed from CPAD and they turned out to be failed at the on-road test. The mean CPAD score of the on-road test passed group was 53.6 which was significantly different from the mean 43.6 CPAD score acquired by the on-road test failed group by showing a significant difference between two groups (p<0.05). Among the 11 patients who received the borderline CPAD score, 9 patients passed the on-road test. CONCLUSION: CPAD is considered to be useful in predicting the actual road driving skills of brain injured patients who previously had driving experiences before the occurrence of the diseases.
Subject(s)
Humans , Brain , Disabled PersonsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of motivation for treatment and to find out causes of dropping out from treatment in performing the constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). METHOD: Forty six stroke patients were treated with CIMT for 2 weeks. Prior to and after treatment, Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA), Wolf motor function test (WMFT), box and block test (BBT), and 9 hole peg test, motor activity log (MAL) were performed, and for the evaluation of treatment motivation, motivation score (MS) was assessed in 24 patients. RESULTS: After 2 weeks of CIMT treatment, the mean value of FMA increased by 15.1%, WMFT by 19.5%, BBT by 35.8%, the time of 9 hole peg test decreased by 20.2%, and the "How well" sub-score of the increased MAL was 59.6% (p<0.05). Larger improvement of FMA score was observed in patients with high MS (p<0.05). Twelve out of 46 patients were dropped, 5 patients (18.5%) among 27 right side hemiplegic patients and 7 patients (38.9%) of 19 left side hemiplegic patients gave up the treatment in the middle, and the MS score of the quitted patients (35.3 point) was lower than that of patients who did not quit (40.5 point) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: After 2 weeks of CIMT treatment, larger improvement of movement capacity was observed in patients with high motivation. Among patients with low treatment motivation and old age, many patients were dropped out during CIMT.
Subject(s)
Humans , Motivation , Motor Activity , Paresis , Stroke , WolvesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To suggest the standard tool for the selection of exercise stress tests (EST) by analysis of the initial evaluation factors affecting EST. METHOD: Twenty-two hemiplegic patients carried out treadmill, arm and bicycle ergometer ESTs. Treadmill EST using modified Harbor protocol was performed without taking off AFO. The velocity of the arm and bicycle ergometer was set in 50 rpm, and the resistance was increased up to 5 W at each stage. Each EST was completed at 80% of maximal heart rate. RESULTS: Brunnstrom stage of lower extrimity, Medical Research Council (MRC) scores [hip flexor, knee extensor, finger flexor] and standing balance of twelve patients completing treadmill EST were superior to those of failed group (p<0.05). Twelve patients completing bicycle ergometer EST showed significant differences in MRC scores [hip flexor, knee extensor] and sitting balance (p<0.05). Brunnstrom stage of lower extremity hip flexor and knee extensor power contributed mostly to the completion of treadmill EST (p<0.01). The completion of bicycle ergometer EST was mostly dependent on hip flexor and knee extensor power (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: For bicycle ergometer EST, hip flexor and knee extensor power should be higher than 3 and 4, respectively. Treadmill EST can be suggested when Brunnstrom stage of lower extremity, hip flexor and knee extensor power are above 4, 4 and 3, respectively. The completion rate of treadmill EST can be increased when standing balance ability and Brunnstrom hand score higher than 4 and 2, respectively.
Subject(s)
Humans , Arm , Exercise Test , Expressed Sequence Tags , Fingers , Hand , Heart Rate , Hemiplegia , Hip , Knee , Lower Extremity , StrokeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify the effect of the 'disability prevention program' for elementary school students. METHOD: Our disability prevention program was a 60 minutes program composed of watching an education video for disability prevention and having a conversation with disabled speakers in wheelchairs. A questionnaire to measure the effect of the education was administered among 5,315 students in the 4th to 6th grades. The questionnaire was administered at 7 days before and after education. The questionnaire was to measure the changes in self-efficacy and in confidence to follow safety regulation. Also the questions on satisfaction about program were asked. RESULTS: The result showed that only 9.7% of bicycle owners, 18.9% of inline skate owners wore helmets, 9.3% of quick board (or skateboard) owners wore helmets, and only 47.6% of students fastened seat-belts in a car. After the program was conducted, there were significant improvements in self-efficacy and practice-confidence to wear protective device and to fasten seat belt in a car (p<0.01). The most impressive part of the program for students was 'conversation with disabled speaker' and the next was 'watching the video'. After program was conducted, 51.5% of students answered "I will keep safety regulations in mind and practice it" and 10.1% of students answered "I could learn a better understanding of the disabled and I also want to help them". CONCLUSION: The 'disability prevention program with disabled speakers in wheelchair' was effective in improving the self-efficacy and practice-confidence for safety regulation.