Inhibitory characteristics of flavonol-3-O-glycosides from Polygonum aviculare L. (common knotgrass) against porcine pancreatic lipase.

Pancreatic lipase (PL) is an enzyme that plays an essential role in the digestion of dietary lipids and is a suitable target for an anti-obesity dietary supplement. The objective of this study was to find a novel source of PL inhibitors from Korean medicinal plants and investigate the PL-inhibitory properties of the active constituents. From among 34 kinds of methanolic crude extracts, Polygonum aviculare L.

Changes of plantar pressure distributions following open and closed kinetic chain exercise in patients with stroke.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate whether progressive resistive training with closed-kinetic chain (CKC) and open-kinetic chain (OKC) exercises could change plantar pressure distribution during walking in patients with stroke.

Methods: Thirty-nine stroke patients were recruited and randomly divided into a CKC exercise group (n = 13), an OKC exercise group (n = 13), and a control group (n = 13). Both CKC and OKC exercise groups performed their own respective training programs 5 times per week for 6 weeks, whereas no training was done in the control group.

Functional role of the corticoreticular pathway in chronic stroke patients.

Background And Purpose: The corticoreticular pathway (CRP) is known to be an important extrapyramidal tract for walking ability. However, little is known about the functional role of the CRP in recovery of walking ability. We investigated relation between the CRP and walking ability in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients.

The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on the motor suppression in stop-signal task.

Purpose: This study examined whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex alters the response time in motor suppression using the stop-signal task (SST).

Methods: Forty healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. The subjects were assigned randomly to either the tDCS condition or sham control condition.

Adverse effects of motor-related symptoms on the ipsilateral upper limb according to long-term cane usage.

Objective: Although the cane is prescribed to aid in daily living and social participation in stroke patients, this study aimed to identify whether long-term cane usage affected sensorimotor functions in the distal part of the non-affected upper limb in relation to a tracking task, a nine-hole pegboard test, and proprioceptive joint sense.

Patient And Method: Forty stroke patients who were divided into a cane using group (CUG) or a non-cane using group (NCUG) participated in this study. Subjects were evaluated in a tracking task for visuomotor coordination, a nine-hole pegboard test for dexterous hand motion, and a joint reposition test for proprioceptive sense integrity.

Differences of ground reaction forces and kinematics of lower extremity according to landing height between flat and normal feet.

The study compared lower extremity kinematics and kinetics between male subjects with flat and normal feet when landing on both feet from platforms at different heights. Ten subjects with a flat feet arch and 10 subjects with a normal foot arch were recruited. They performed a double limb drop landing from 20, 40, and 60 cm onto a force-plate.

Use of virtual reality to enhance balance and ambulation in chronic stroke: a double-blind, randomized controlled study.

Objective: To examine an additive effect of virtual reality on balance and gait function in patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke.

Design: Twenty-four adults with hemiparetic stroke were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 12) or a control group. Both groups underwent conventional physical therapy, 40 mins a day, 4 days a week for 4 wks.

The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on the cortical activation by motor task in the human brain: an fMRI study.

Objectives: We attempted to evaluate whether cortical activation resulting from hand movements is changed by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied on the primary motor cortex for the hand in the human brain, using functional MRI (fMRI).

Methods: Fourteen normal subjects were recruited; subjects were randomly assigned to either the tDCS group (n=7) or the sham group (n=7). fMRI was performed with hand grasp-release movements at 1Hz before and after 20 min of intervention (the tDCS group: anodal tDCS, the sham group: sham stimulation).

Ipsi-lesional motor deficits in hemiparetic patients with stroke.

Previous studies have proven that motor deficits are expressed in the ipsi-lesional limbs of the injured hemisphere in a variety of motor tasks. However, it still remained controversial for the distinct characteristics of the motor deficits according to the dysfunction of each hemisphere related to motor control. We evaluated the performance of the ipsi-lesional limb in stroke patients and age-sex matched normal controls.

Plant virus cDNA chip hybridization for detection and differentiation of four cucurbit-infecting Tobamoviruses.

A plant virus cDNA chip was developed by using viral cDNA clones and microarray technology. The cDNA chip was designed for detection and differentiation of the four species of selected cucurbit-infecting tobamoviruses [target viruses: Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV); Cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus (CFMMV); Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus (KGMMV); and Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV)]. The chip consisted of cDNA clones of the four cucurbit-infecting tobamoviruses, two target-related tobamoviruses, and another three unrelated plant viruses.