Health practitioners’ understanding and use of Relaxation Techniques (RTs), Mindfulness Meditation (MM) and Relaxation Music (RM) in the UK and South Korea: A qualitative case study approach

Background:The information exchange between healthcare practitioners in South Korea and the UK has so far been limited and cross-cultural comparisons of Relaxation techniques (RTs) and Mindfulness meditation (MM) and Relaxation music (RM) within the healthcare context of Korea and the UK have previously been unexplored. This has been the inspiration for this qualitative case study focussing on understanding and use of RTs/MM and RM within the respective healthcare contexts. Methods:Data were collected through qualitative semi-structured interviews with six Korean and six UK healthcare practitioners in three professional areas: medical practice, meditation, and music therapy. The interviews were transcribed and a thematic analysis was undertaken. The topics explored include: a) the value and use of RTs/MM and RM; b) approaches and methods; c) practitioners’ concerns; d) responses of interventions; e) cultural similarities and differences; and f) the integration of RTs/MM and RM within healthcare. Underlying cultural factors have been considered, including education systems and approaches, practitioner-client relationships and religious influences alongside the background of cultural change and changing perspectives within healthcare in the UK and Korea. Findings: A great variety of approaches to RTs/MM and RM were discussed among the sample group. Across a wide client spectrum common therapeutic purposes included stress reduction, emotional support and regulation, rehabilitation, personal transformation and spiritual development. The participants were both discerning and creative in terms of mind-body interventions they use. Practitioners’ training, personal experience and insights gained through practice inform their professional work and they were keen to share knowledge among colleagues. Nevertheless, practitioners’ level of competency and abilities with respect to the use of RTs/MM and RM were a common concern; training opportunities exist to varying degrees in both countries, however, and growth in the use of mind-body interventions is a significant trend. Nation-specific and cultural factors can affect the use of interventions, settings and client group. Similarities (focus on individual and subjective factors, client acceptance and practical concerns) and differences (related to historical background, educational culture, prevailing religious outlooks and the respective health services) were found between Korea and the UK.Conclusion:The value of cross-cultural and multidisciplinary research and integrated health is increasingly recognised and the use of RTs/MM and RM as mind-body interventions considered to be useful integrated treatment within healthcare context. This study shows the difference in range of RTs/MM and RM resources and the approaches in integrating practice and these may lead to cross-fertilisation within therapeutic practice. The value of knowledge sharing and integrated medicine is increasingly recognised across the globe and this study opens up a number of themes that might be taken up again and built on by future researchers. More generally, the study contributes to cross-cultural qualitative research between Korea and UK and integrating theory and practice with respect to RTs/MM and RM

Relaxation Music (RM), Mindfulness Meditation (MM) and Relaxation Techniques (RTs) in healthcare: A qualitative case study of practices in the UK and South Korea

Relaxation Music (RM), Mindfulness Meditation (MM) and Relaxation Techniques (RTs) are widely used in healthcare contexts and these interventions have been investigated for integrated healthcare, psychotherapy treatment and collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches. However, the information exchange between healthcare practitioners in the UK and South Korea has so far been limited and cross-cultural comparisons of RM, MM and RTs within the healthcare context of the UK and Korea have previously been unexplored. The aim of this paper is to present a summary of the key aspects from an unpublished PhD study (Hwang, 2018). The focus of this paper is to explore the similarities and differences in understanding the use of RM, MM and RTs between practitioners in the UK and Korea. Qualitative case study methodology was used and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six Korean and six UK healthcare practitioners in three professional areas: medical practice, meditation, and music therapy. Similarities (in outlooks and purposes, methods, interests and concerns, responses and approaches) and differences (in historical and traditional influences, behavioural patterns and particular emphases) were identified. The value of cross-cultural and multidisciplinary research is increasingly recognised and the use of RM, MM and RTs as mind-body-spirit interventions are considered to be useful integrated treatments. This paper contributes to cross-cultural qualitative research between Korea and the UK and integrating theory and practice with respect to RM, MM and RTs

Lomerizine inhibits LPS-mediated neuroinflammation and tau hyperphosphorylation by modulating NLRP3, DYRK1A, and GSK3α/β

IntroductionLomerizine is a calcium channel blocker that crosses the blood–brain barrier and is used clinically in the treatment of migraines. However, whether lomerizine is beneficial in modulating neuroinflammatory responses has not been tested yet.MethodsTo assess the potential of lomerizine for repurposing as a treatment for neuroinflammation, we investigated the effects of lomerizine on LPS-induced proinflammatory responses in BV2 microglial cells, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) excitatory neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and in LPS-treated wild type mice.ResultsIn BV2 microglial cells, lomerizine pretreatment significantly reduced LPS-evoked proinflammatory cytokine and NLRP3 mRNA levels. Similarly, lomerizine pretreatment significantly suppressed the increases in Iba-1, GFAP, proinflammatory cytokine and NLRP3 expression induced by LPS in wild-type mice. In addition, lomerizine posttreatment significantly decreased LPS-stimulated proinflammatory cytokine and SOD2 mRNA levels in BV2 microglial cells and/or wild-type mice. In LPS-treated wild-type mice and AD excitatory neurons differentiated from iPSCs, lomerizine pretreatment ameliorated tau hyperphosphorylation. Finally, lomerizine abolished the LPS-mediated activation of GSK3α/β and upregulation of DYRK1A, which is responsible for tau hyperphosphorylation, in wild-type mice.DiscussionThese data suggest that lomerizine attenuates LPS-mediated neuroinflammatory responses and tau hyperphosphorylation and is a potential drug for neuroinflammation- or tauopathy-associated diseases

Cytosolic calcium regulates cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43 through Calpain-A and Importin alpha 3

Cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43 in motor neurons is the most prominent pathological feature in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A feedback cycle between nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) defect and TDP-43 aggregation was shown to contribute to accumulation of TDP-43 in the cytoplasm. However, little is known about cellular factors that can control the activity of NCT, thereby affecting TDP-43 accumulation in the cytoplasm. Here, we identified via FRAP and optogenetics cytosolic calcium as a key cellular factor controlling NCT of TDP-43. Dynamic and reversible changes in TDP-43 localization were observed in Drosophila sensory neurons during development. Genetic and immunohistochemical analyses identified the cytosolic calcium-Calpain-A-Importin α3 pathway as a regulatory mechanism underlying NCT of TDP-43. In C9orf72 ALS fly models, upregulation of the pathway activity by increasing cytosolic calcium reduced cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43 and mitigated behavioral defects. Together, these results suggest the calcium-Calpain-A-Importin α3 pathway as a potential therapeutic target of ALS. © Park et al.1

Intra-host competition and interactions between Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) strains in mixed-infected soybean

Abstract Over the past two decades, the dominant Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) strain in South Korea has changed from G5 to G7H. To examine the dominance of G7H, intra-host competition between G7H and G5 was evaluated in soybean plants infected with a mixture of SMV strains. The distribution patterns of the two SMV strains in soybean plants inoculated with G7H, G5 and G7H/G5 were investigated at designated time points by RT-PCR/RFLP analysis, which enables the specific differentiation of low concentrations of SMV strains and the detection of mixed infection at any given time. When leaves of 'Kwangankong' and 'Tawonkong' were infected with both strains, the upper leaves had only the G7H strain in simultaneous infections. In sequential inoculations, the leaves exhibited mosaic symptoms caused by G7H, and the G5 strain was not detected in plants pre-inoculated with the G7H strain before inoculation with the G5 strain. In the reverse treatment, both G5 and G7H were present at every vegetative stage. In addition, interactions between the virulence and dominance of G7H, G5, and G1, a less virulent strain, were investigated. Three landrace soybeans were co-inoculated with G7H/G5, G7H/G1, G5/G1, and G7H/G5/G1 sets. There was no significant difference between virulence and dominance. These results demonstrate the dominance of G7H in mixed infections and could explain the prevalence of G7H in South Korea