• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2018

Purpose: This study investigated scoliosis muscle activity after the trunk side shift exercise. Methods: Fifty-eight subjects (control group=30, scoliosis group=28) participated in this study. The patients with idiopathic scoliosis were randomly divided into two groups: the side shift exercise (SSE) group and the trunk stabilization exercise (TSE) group. The SSE group performed SSE with chair training for eight weeks. A one-way ANOVA test was carried out to compare the results within the idiopathic scoliosis patient group prior to and after different exercise methods. Result: The muscle activity differences of the TPS, LPS, and latissimus dorsi muscles significantly decreased in all idiopathic scoliosis exercises groups after training. According to the exercise method, the TPS differed between the control group (CG) and TSE group and between the SSC and TSE groups. The LPS and latissimus dorsi muscles showed differences between the CG and TSE groups. Conclusions: This study found that the side shift exercise effectively improve spine muscles. The side shift exercise was performed using chairs that were designed for this study. Thus, this method is easily accessible for busy students who are exposed to scoliosis or spinal disorders that are caused by a pattern of inactivity.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2021

Objective: Through comparative analysis of muscle activity for whole-body vibration, walking and running movements, it is to verify the training effect of whole-body vibration exercise in terms of amount of exercise and muscle activity characteristics. Method: Flat ground walking and slope walking (10 degrees) at a speed of 5 km/h, flat ground running and slope running (10 degrees) at a speed of 11 km/h for running were performed on treadmill, and squats were maintained at 12 Hz, 20 Hz, and 29 Hz conditions on Whole body vibration exercise equipment (Galileo). Muscle activity was analyzed through EMG analysis device for one minute for each condition. Results: The Anterior Tibialis and Erector Spinae show greater exercise effect in whole-body vibration than walking and running. The Rectus Femoris, Biceps Femoris, and Gluteus Maximus have the best effect of exercise in flat running. Whole-body vibration exercise showed greater muscle activation effect as the frequency increased, and exercise effect similar to walking during the same exercise time. Conclusion: The amount of exercise through Whole-body vibration exercise was similar to that of walking exercise, and the Anterior Tibialis and Erector Spinae shows better exercise effect than walking and running.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Background: Hamstring shortness results in the inappropriate activation of the quadriceps femoris because of the loss of the reciprocal inhibition mechanism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of that activation during lunge exercises on the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, medial, and lateral hamstrings in participants with hamstring shortness and normal length. Design: Quasi-experimental design Methods: Participants were divided into a hamstring shortness group(n=20) and a hamstring normal length group(n=23), based on a hamstring length test. During lunge exercises, muscle activation of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, medial, and lateral hamstrings were measured by electromyography. Results: Each muscle tested was less activated in the hamstring shortness group than in the hamstring normal length group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>.05). Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference between the shortness and normal hamstring groups during short lunge exercise time, longer exercising periods will result in the inappropriate activation of the quadriceps femoris. During lunge exercise, hamstring shortness causes an imbalance activation of quadriceps femoris and hamstring, and continuous hamstring shortness can cause damage on joints of lower limb.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.215-222
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt and active scapular posterior tilt on the muscle activity of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA). Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects performed general arm elevation, arm elevation with passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt, and arm elevation with active scapular posterior tilt. For active scapular posterior tilt, the subjects were trained in this movement using visual biofeedback and a motion sensor. During each arm elevation condition, electromyography was used to measure the muscle activity of the UT, LT, and SA. The measured data were analyzed using a one-way repeated ANOVA. Results: LT muscle activity was significantly increased during arm elevation with active scapular posterior tilt compared to both general arm elevation and arm elevation with passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt (p < 0.05). SA muscle activity was greater during arm elevation with passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt than during general arm elevation (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in UT muscle activity among the tested arm elevation conditions (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Performing arm elevation with active scapular posterior tilt and performing arm elevation with passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt may be useful strategies for increasing muscle activation of the LT and SA, respectively.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2024

This study analyzed the occurrence of abnormal muscle coactivations based on the assistance of upper limb weight during reaching task in stroke patients. Nine chronic stroke survivors with hemiplegia performed reaching tasks using a programmable haptic robot. Electromyography (EMG) coactivation levels in the upper limb muscles were analyzed using a linear model describing the activation levels of two muscles when the patient's upper limb weight was assisted at 0%, 25%, and 50%. As the upper limb weight assistance of the haptic robot decreased, the magnitude of the EMG signal in both the deltoid and biceps muscles increased simultaneously on both the paretic and non-paretic sides. However, no difference was found between the paretic and non-paretic sides when comparing the slope of the linear model describing the activation relationship between the deltoid and biceps. The aforementioned results suggest that in some stroke survivors, the deltoids, triceps, and biceps on the paretic side may not be abnormally coupled when supporting the upper limbs against gravity. Furthermore, these results suggest that the combination of haptic robots and EMG analysis might be utilized for evaluating abnormal coactivations in stroke patients.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2008

A total of 15 different residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in each 20 samples of Pacific oysters, dried laver and rockfish obtained from seafood markets were analyzed. The prevalence of samples in which more than one PAH residues were found was 75% in oyster, 35% in rock fish hepatopancreas, 0% in rockfish muscle and laver, respectively. To estimate factors contributing to this residue level difference among organisms, tissue concentrations were analyzed after exposing three organisms to phenanthrene, a representative PAH, with concentration of 0.01 or $0.1{\mu}g/mL$ for 2 weeks. Phenanthrene levels after exposure were higher in the oyster digestive gland, laver and rockfish hepatopancreas, but were lower in the oyster whole meat or rockfish muscle. This finding disproved that any close relationship between the residue difference of market samples and concentrating properties of PAHs. The second possible factor analyzed was total lipid contents in the three organisms. Although higher lipid level in hepatopancreas of rockfish may contribute accumulation of PAH residues in the rockfish, lipid factor did not affect to PAH levels in other organism samples. Activity of 7-ethyoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), a kind of cytochrome $P_{450}$ enzyme, was measured to evaluate the eliminated amount of PAHs through metabolism. The higher EROD activity in rockfish, compared to that in oyster, was likely to contribute to the lower PAH residues in the rockfish. More factors, such as different exposure history, organisms' ability to escape, ingestion through prey organisms, and post-harvest loss, should be studied in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.790-800
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• 2017

As men get older, total testosterone levels decline gradually, and concentrations of free and bioavailable testosterone decline sharply with each decade beyond their 30s. Andropause or testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is defined as a decrease in sexual satisfaction or decline in general well-being accompanied by low levels of testosterone in older men. This male climacteric is characterized by nervousness, reduced potency, decreased libido, irritability, fatigue, depression, memory problems, sleep disturbances, and hot flushes. Cirsium japonicum (CJ) is used as a traditional medicine for hemorrhage, blood congestion, and inflammation in Korea. However, there is no report on the efficacy of CJ treatment for TDS. In this study, we observed the mitigating effect of CJ extract (CE) and fermented CJ extract (FCE) on symptoms of TDS. In elderly male rats, total and testosterone levels, hind limbs muscles, forced swimming time, and total and motile sperm counts significantly increased after daily intake of CE and FCE for 6 weeks. In contrast, sex hormone binding globulin, retroperitoneal fat, total serum cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in CE and FCE groups. However, there was no difference in prostate specific antigen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels among all groups, which means CE and FCE did not have putative adverse effects. In a cell experiment, we also observed that CE and FCE enhanced expression of genes related to testosterone biosynthesis but reduced genes involved in testosterone conversion. On the whole, these positive effects on TDS were greater in FCE compared to CE. Thus, these results suggest the potential of FCE as a promising natural product for recovering testosterone levels and alleviating TDS.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2023

Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass and function. It is a natural part of aging and can lead to decreased mobility and increased frailty. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which is involved in muscle protein degradation, is closely linked to sarcopenia. Germinated Rhynchosia nulubilis hydrolysate (GRH) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but there have been no reports on its inhibitory effect on muscle reduction. However, no study has yet explored the relationship between GRH and muscle loss inhibition. In this study, we evaluated the effects of GRH on muscle atrophy inhibitory activity in dexamethasone (Dexa)-induced muscle atrophy C2C12 myotubes and mouse models. Moreover, we identified a molecular pathway underlying the effects of GRH on skeletal muscle. May Grunwald-Giemsa staining showed that the length and area of myotubes increased in the groups treated with GRH. In addition, the GRH-treated group significantly reduced the expression of muscle ring finger protein 1 and muscular atrophy F-box (MAFbx) in the Dexa-induced muscular atrophy C2C12 model. GRH also improved muscle strength in C57BL/6 mice with Dexa-induced muscle atrophy, resulting in prolonged running exhaustive time and increased grip strength. We found that muscle strengthening by GRH was correlated with a decreased expression of the MAFbx gene in mouse muscle tissue. In conclusion, GRH can attenuate Dexa-induced muscle atrophy by inhibiting the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway via downregulation of the MAFbx gene expression.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.537-542
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• 2019

Proteins were isolated from four species of edible insects, Bombyx mori, B; Tenebrio molitor, T; Protaetia brevitarsis, P; and Gryllus bimaculatus, G, and their properties were analyzed and compared with those of whey proteins. The yield of the protein isolated from raw materials was 65.0-75.0%. Among three branched chain amino acids (BCAA), the amounts of valine in all the insects were similar to that of the whey protein. The BCAA content was 16.8 and 16.4% in G and T, respectively. The total polyphenolic content and the antioxidant activity of the insect proteins were significantly higher than those of the whey proteins. Based on the sensory test of the protein powder, the whey protein could be replaced by 25% of the isolated protein from the insects, but the taste and flavor needs to be improved. Although the BCAA content of insect proteins was lower than that of the whey protein (by 73-76%), their application could be useful because of high polyphenolic content and the anti-oxidative activity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.245-255
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• 2002

In order to obtain the basic information for seedling production of venus clam, Protothaca jedoensis, the annual reproductive cycle was investigated mainly by histological observation from September 1998 to August 1999. P. jedoensis was dioecious. The gonads are located between the digestive diverticula and muscle tissue of the foot. The ovary was composed of a number of ovarian sacs, and the testis was composed of several testicular tubules. The condition index was reached its maximum (20.0) in February, and then decreased to 11.5 in June. In August, the value was the lowest (9.0) and then increased slowly. Minimum size for the sexual maturation of individuals were 38.4 mm in shell length. One the other hand, the size of mature oocytes was ranged to $50-60\mu{m}$ in diameter and testis-ova was observed in testis of the mature stage. The reproductive cycle of P. jedoensis could be classified into five successive stages: early active (December to February), late active (January to April), ripe (March to July), partially spawned (June to August) and spent/inactive (July to January) stages.