• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제44권1호
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2023

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is known to be effective in improving symptoms of numerous diseases such as depression and epilepsy by increasing vagus nerve activity through electrical stimulation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on the activity of autonomic nervous system and the changes in postprandial blood glucose levels. Seven healthy adults participated in a non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation experiment. taVNS (25 Hz, 200 ㎲, biphasic pulse) was applied to the cymba concha (taVNS group) or the earlobe (Sham-taVNS group) of the left ear. As autonomic nervous system signals, skin conductance level, skin temperature, and heart rate were recorded during the application of taVNS. Postprandial blood glucose changes due to food intake were recorded at 5 min intervals for 25 minutes after taVNS or sham-taVNS. The taVNS showed a significantly lower skin conductance level than the shamtaVNS (p < 0.05). The increase rate of postprandial blood glucose was significantly lower in the taVNS than in the sham-taVNS (p < 0.05). These results showed that taVNS reduced the activity of the sympathetic nerve system and alleviated early rise in postprandial blood glucose. Although further studies in diabetic patients are needed, this study suggest that taVNS has a potential for clinical use to improve postprandial blood glucose.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제44권5호
• /
• pp.336-345
• /
• 2023

The present study was designed to evaluate changes in neuromuscular properties and the structural and qualitative characteristics of muscles during submaximal isometric contractions at low-to-relatively vigorous target forces and to determine their influence on force steadiness (FS). Thirteen young adult males performed submaximal isometric knee extensions at 10, 20, 50, and 70% of their maximal voluntary isometric contraction using their non-dominant legs. During submaximal contractions, we recorded force, EMG signals from vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF), and ultrasound images from the distal RF (dRF). Force and EMG standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) values were used to measure FS and EMG steadiness, respectively. Muscle thickness (MT), pennation angle (PA), echo intensity (EI), and texture features were calculated from ultrasound images to assess the structural and qualitative characteristics of the muscle. FS, neuromuscular properties, and texture features showed significant differences across different force levels. Additionally, there were significant differences in EMG_CV among the quadriceps at the 50% and 70% force levels. The results of correlation analysis revealed that FS had a significant relationship with EMG_CV in VM, VL, and RF, as well as with the texture features of dRF. This study's findings demonstrate that EMG steadiness and texture features are influenced by the magnitude of the target force and are closely related to FS, indicating their potential contribution to force output control.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.61-73
• /
• 2024

Objective: The main objective of this study was to define molecular mechanisms associated with thermal stress responses of chickens from commercial broilers (BR, Ross 308), Thai native chickens (NT) and crossbreeds between BR×NT (H75). Methods: Twenty days before reaching specific market age, chickens from each breed were divided into control and thermal-stressed groups. The stressed groups were exposed to a cyclic thermal challenge (35℃±1℃ for 6 h, followed by 26℃±1℃ for 18 h) for 20 days. Control group was raised under a constant temperature of 26℃±1℃. Pectoralis major (n = 4) from each group was collected for transcriptome analysis using HiSeq Illumina and analysis of glycogen and lactate. Gene expression patterns between control and thermal-stressed groups were compared within the same breeds. Results: Differentially expressed transcripts of 65, 59, and 246 transcripts for BR, NT, and H75, respectively, were revealed by RNA-Seq and recognized by Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes database. Pathway analysis underlined altered glucose homeostasis and protein metabolisms in all breeds. The signals centered around phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling, focal adhesion, and MAPK signaling in all breeds with slight differences in molecular signal transduction patterns among the breeds. An extensive apoptosis was underlined for BR. Roles of AMPK, MAPK signaling and regulation of actin cytoskeleton in adaptive response were suggested for H75 and NT chickens. Lower glycogen content was observed in the breast muscles of BR and NT (p<0.01) compared to their control counterparts. Only BR muscle exhibited increased lactate (p<0.01) upon exposure to the stress. Conclusion: The results provided a better comprehension regarding the associated biological pathways in response to the cyclic thermal stress in each breed and in chickens with different growth rates.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제25권5호
• /
• pp.421-430
• /
• 2004

임상적으로 의사가 청진기를 이용해 초기 혈전이 생긴 기계식 판막 음향신호의 변화를 구분하기는 쉽지 않다. 기계식 판막의 이상은 환자의 죽음을 의미하기 때문에 기계식 판막의 신뢰성과 초기 혈전 현상을 비관혈적으로 조기 진단하는 방법은 매우 중요하다. 이 논문은 컴퓨터 보조진단 시스템과 음향신호의 주파수 스펙트럼의 이동을 관찰하여 기계식 판막의 혈전 현상을 비관혈적으로 평가하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 혈전 모델은 상용화된 기계식 판막에 폴리우레세인과 실리콘을 이용하여 제작하였다. 판막의 표면에는 폴리우레세인을 코팅하고, 봉합링에는 실리콘을 코팅하였다. 봉합링의 주위에서 혈전이 발생하고, 20％, 40％, 60％로 자라나는 현상은 실리콘을 이용하여 제작하였다. 실험 시스템에서 판막의 음향 신호는 마이크로폰과 증폭기를 사용하여 측정하였고, 마이크로폰에는 주위잡음을 제거하기 위해 커플러를 장착하였다. 측정된 음향신호는 A/D 컨버터를 이용하여 샘플링하고, 스펙트럼을 분석하였다. 정상적인 판막과 혈전이 형성된 판막의 주파수 구분을 위해 인공신경망을 구성하였고, 연속적으로 판막의 운동 주기성을 확인하기 위하여 return map을 사용하였다. 생체 내 실험에서는 기계식 판막을 사용하는 순환장치를 장착한 동물과 기계식 판막을 치환 받은 지 1년 이내와 1년이 넘은 환자에게서 데이터를 채집하였다. 실험에서 얻은 데이터 스펙트럼은 두 가지 형태의 첨두치를 보였고, 이중에서 두 번째 첨두치는 혈전의 모델에 따라 변화를 보였다. 생체 내, 외 실험에서 얻은 데이터를 인공신경망에 적용한 결과 정상 판막과 혈전이 생성된 판막을 구분하였고, 환자를 대상으로 한 실험에서는 10명 중 1명이 두 번째 첨두치가 이동하는 결과를 보였지만 다른 방법으로 확인하지는 못했다. 본 논문의 결과는 기계식 판막의 혈전현상을 비침습적으로 조기 진단하고, 상태를 지속적으로 감시할 수 있는 기술적 토대를 제공할 것이다.

• 미생물학회지
• /
• 제43권3호
• /
• pp.151-158
• /
• 2007

유전자치료W터의 주입시 생식세포를 통한 다음 세대로의 전달 가능성은 안전성 측면에서 관심을 중대시키고 있다. 특히 전립선암이나 난소암의 치료시 바이러스를 생식기관에 인접한 부위에 주입하여야 하므로 그 가능성이 높다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 유전자치료에 많이 이용되는 아데노바이러스를 매개로하여 tumor suppressor 유전자인 p53을 발현하는 아데노바이러스 벡터를 제조하여 이를 투여시 생식장기를 포함한 주요장기조직에의 분포와 germ cell을 통한 차세대로의 전달 가능성 등의 생식독성을 조사하였다. In vivo biodistribution study를 위하여 $Ad-CMV-{\beta}-gal$흑은 Ad-CMV-p53를 마우스 암 수의 복강에 주사한 후 생식장기를 포함한 주요 장기에서 아데노바이러스 유래 DNA검출 및 RNA발현 여부를PCR과 RT-PCR로 각각 확인하였다. 그 결과 간 및 비장과 같은 일반 장기에서도 주입한 외부유전자의 DNA가 검출되거나RNA가 발현되었을 뿐만 아니라, 정낭, 전립선, 부고환, 난소 및 자궁 등의 생식장기에서도 주입한 외부유전자가 검출되거나 발현되는 것으로 나타났다. Real-time PCR을 이용하여 각 장기에서의 투여된 아데노바이러스 벡터는 시간 의존적으로 감소되는 것을 정량하였다. Ad-CMV-p53를 암 수 마우스의 난소와 고환에 각각 직접 주사하여 교배시킨 후 그 후세대의 DNA를 분리하여 주입한 아데노바이러스 유래의 DNA를 검색한 결과, 어떠한 차세대에서도 주입한 아데노바이러스 유래의 DNA가 검출되지 않았다. 한편 생식장기에서의 PCR및 RT-PCR signal유래 vector의 위치를 확인하기 위해 매우 감도가 높은 in-situ PCR로 조사한 결과 고환의 경우 간질조직으로의 전달은 일어나나 정세관 내에는 아데노바이러스 벡터가 전달되지 않으며, 난소에서도 아데노바이러스벡터는 난포내의 난자에 전달되지 않고 기질조직에 존재하는 것으로 확인되었다. 결론적으로 복제 능력 이 결여된 아데노바이러스를 매개로 한 유전자치료제는 생식 장기에서 검출되더라도 다음 세대로 전달될 가능성은 대단히 낮음을 제시한다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제32권2호
• /
• pp.165-176
• /
• 2011

The femoral nerve innervates the quadriceps muscles and its dermatome supplies anteromedial thigh and medial foot. Paralysis of the quadriceps muscles due to the injury of the femoral nerve results in disability of the knee joint extension and loss of sensory of the thigh. A child could walk independently even though he had injured his femoral nerve severely due to the penetrating wound in the medial thigh. We measured and analyzed his gait performance in order to find the mechanisms that enabled him to walk independently. The child was eleven-year-old boy and he could not extend his knee voluntarily at all during a month after the injury. His gait analysis was performed five times (GA1~GA5) for sixteen months. His temporal-spatial parameters were not significantly different after the GA2 or GA3 test, and significant asymmetry was not observed except the single support time in GA1 results. The Lower limb joint angles in affected side had large differences in GA1 compared with the normal normative patterns. There were little knee joint flexion and extension motion during the stance phase in GA1 The maximum ankle plantar/dorsi flexion angles and the maximum knee extension angles were different from the normal values in the sound side. Asymmetries of the joint angles were analyzed by using the peak values. Significant asymmetries were found in GA1with seven parameters (ankle: peak planter flexion angle in stance phase, range of motion; ROM, knee: peak flexion angles during both stance and swing phase, ROM, hip: peak extension angle, ROM) while only two parameters (maximum hip extension angle and ROM of hip joint) had significant differences in GA5. The mid-stance valleys were not observed in both right and left sides of vertical ground reaction force (GRF) in the GA1, GA2. The loading response peak was far larger than the terminal stance peak of vertical ground reaction curve in the affected side of the GA3, GA4, GA5. The measured joint moment curves of the GA1, GA2, GA3 had large deviations and all of kinetic results had differences with the normal patterns. EMG signals described an absence of the rectus femoris muscle activity in the GA1 and GA2 (affected side). The EMG signals were detected in the GA3 and GA4 but their patterns were not normal yet, then their normal patterns were detected in the GA5. Through these following gait analysis of a child who had selective injuries on the knee extensor muscles, we could verify the actual functions of the knee extensor muscles during gait, and we also could observe his recovery and asymmetry with quantitative data during his rehabilitation.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제33권1호
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2012

Electrical impedance tomography(EIT) can produce functional images with conductivity distributions associated with physiological events such as cardiac and respiratory cycles. EIT has been proposed as a clinical imaging tool for the detection of stroke and breast cancer, pulmonary function monitoring, cardiac imaging and other clinical applications. However EIT still suffers from technical challenges such as the electrode interface, hardware limitations, lack of animal or human trials, and interpretation of conductivity variations in reconstructed images. We improved the KHU Mark2 EIT system by introducing an EIT electrode interface consisting of nano-web fabric electrodes and by adding a synchronized biosignal measurement system for gated conductivity imaging. ECG and respiration signals are collected to analyze the relationship between the changes in conductivity images and cardiac activity or respiration. The biosignal measurement system provides a trigger to the EIT system to commence imaging and the EIT system produces an output trigger. This EIT acquisition time trigger signal will also allow us to operate the EIT system synchronously with other clinical devices. This type of biosignal gated conductivity imaging enables capture of fast cardiac events and may also improve images and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by using signal averaging methods at the same point in cardiac or respiration cycles. As an example we monitored the beat by beat cardiac-related change of conductivity in the EIT images obtained at a common state over multiple respiration cycles. We showed that the gated conductivity imaging method reveals cardiac perfusion changes in the heart region of the EIT images on a canine animal model. These changes appear to have the expected timing relationship to the ECG and ventilator settings that were used to control respiration. As EIT is radiation free and displays high timing resolution its ability to reveal perfusion changes may be of use in intensive care units for continuous monitoring of cardiopulmonary function.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제22권5호
• /
• pp.385-392
• /
• 2001

본 연구에서는 회전자계역수신코일(quadrature typed inside-out receiver coil)을 제작하고 이를 이용하여 코일 바깥 영역인 팬텀 관벽에 대한 자기공명영상(Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 이하 MRI라 함)을 얻었다. 자기공명영상법에 있어서 역 솔레노이드코일이나 8극 코일과 같은 기존의 역수신코일(inside-out receiver coil)은 영상영역(Imaging region)이 좁을 뿐만 아니라 영상영역 내의 영상신호가 불균일 (inhomogeneous)하다는 단점들이 있었다. 본 연구에서는 이들을 보완하면서 신호대잡음비(S/N ratio)도 이론적으로 약 1.4배 높일 수 있는 회전자계역수신코일(quadratic inside-out receiver coil)을 제안하여 관벽의 영상을 얻을 수 있는 코일을 개발하였다. 코일은 두 개의 안장코일 (saddle coil)을 서로 수직 방향으로 배치하여 서로 간섭을 일으키지 않으면서 최대의 신호를 수신할 수 있게 하였다. 코일에 대한 컴퓨터 모의실험(simulation)을 8극코일. 단일안장코일과 회전자계코일에 대해서 수행하였고 이들 각각 코일을 제작하여 팬텀 관벽의 영상 실험을 1.5T와 0.3T MRI 장치에서 수행하였다. 회전자계역수신코일의 성능은 단일안장코일과 8극코일보다 감도의 균일도가 우수하였고 신호대 잡음비도 단일안장코일에 비하여 약 36% 높게 측정되어 이론적인 41%와 근사한 결과를 얻었다

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제28권2호
• /
• pp.250-257
• /
• 2007

Functional gastrointestinal disorders affect millions of people of all age regardless of race and sex. There are, however, rare diagnostic methods for the functional gastrointestinal disorders because functional disorders show no evidence of organic and physical causes. Our research group identified recently that the gastrointestinal tract well in the patients with the functional gastrointestinal disorders becomes more rigid than healthy people when palpating the abdominal regions overlaying the gastrointestinal tract. The aim is, therefore, to develop a diagnostic method for the functional gastrointestinal disorders based on quantitative measurement of the rigidity of the gastrointestinal tract well using ultrasound technique. For this purpose, a preliminary ultrasound diagnostic system was developed and verified through phantom tests. The system consisted of transmitter, ultrasonic transducer, receiver, TGC, and CPLD, and verified via a phantom test. For the phantom test, ten soft-tissue specimens were harvested from porcine. Five of them were then treated chemically to mimic a rigid condition of gastrointestinal tract well, which was induced by functional gastrointestinal disorders. Additionally, the specimens were tested mechanically to identify if the mimic was reasonable. The customized ultrasound system was finally verified through application to human subjects with/without functional gastrointestinal disorders(Normal and Patient Groups). It was identified from the mechanical test that the chemically treated specimens were more rigid than normalspecimen. This finding was favorably compared with the result obtained from the phantom test. The phantom test also showed that ultrasound system well described the specimen geometric characteristics and detected an alteration in the specimens. The maximum amplitude of the ultrasonic reflective signal in the rigid specimens $(0.2{\pm}0.1Vp-p)$ at the interface between the fat and muscle layers was explicitly higher than that in the normal specimens $(0.1{\pm}0.0Vp-p)$ (p<0.05). Clinical tests using our customized ultrasound system for human subject showed that the maximum amplitudes of the ultrasonic reflective signals nea. to the gastrointestinal tract well for the patient group$(2.6{\pm}0.3Vp-p)$ were generally higher than those in normal group$(0.1{\pm}0.2Vp-p)$ (p<0.05). These results suggest that newly designed diagnostic system based on ultrasound technique may diagnose enough the functional gastrointestinal disorders.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.13-20
• /
• 2007

암컷 포유동물의 노화 과정에서 생식계는 체내 여러 시스템 가운데 가장 먼저 기능 저하가 나타난다. 생식 노화(reproductive aging) 과정 중인 암컷 포유동물은 비록 종 특이성이 있지만 주기성(cyclicity)의 소실과 같은 생식 능력의 감소와 함께 여러 기능들의 변화가 동반되면서 궁극적으로 인간의 폐경 현상과 같은 생식 능력 상실이 나타난다. 본 증설은 암컷 포유동물의 생식호르몬 축, 특히 신경내분비 회로의 노화에 대한 정보들과 노화 연구에 유용한 설치류 모델들을 소개하고자 한다. 암컷 설치류의 중년(middle age, 생후 $8{\sim}12$개월)은 인간의 폐경기 진입 직전에 해당되는 시기로, 이 시기에 시상하부 GnRH 분비의 맥동성과 급등(surge)이 현저히 지연되기 시작하고, 곧 이어 뇌하수체 LH 분비의 맥동성과 급등이 역시 약화 내지 지연된다. 노화와 관련된 GnRH-LH 신경내분비 활성의 결손은 시상하부 GnRH 뉴런의 활성을 조절하는 여러 자극(예, glutamate)들의 변화와 밀접하게 연관되어 있다. 많은 연구자들이 이러한 '시상하부 결손(hypothalamic defects)'이 생식 노화의 주된 요인임을 지지하지만, inhibin과 같은 난소 요인의 변화 역시 생식 노화의 유도와 관련된 것으로 보인다. 생식 노화를 연구함에 유용한 몇몇 설치류 모델이 있다; FSH 수용체 녹아웃(follitropin receptor knockout; FORKO) 생쥐 모델의 경우는 homozygous(null) 뿐만 아니라 heterozygous(haploinsufficient) 상태도 노화에 따른 난자/난포의 고갈을 나타낸다. Dioxin/aryl hydrocarbon 수용체 녹아웃 (AhRKO) 생쥐 모델도 유사한 상태를 유발할 수 있다. 생식 노화의 기작에 관한 연구는 삶의 질을 높이기 위한 수단들, 예를 들어 호르몬 보충요법(HRT)의 장단점을 평가하고 안전성을 제고하는데 도움이 될 것이다.