• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.32-39
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• 2013

Abdominal curl-up exercise may excessively increased superficial neck flexor such as sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. Also, the muscle activity of the abdominal muscles haven't investigated during abdominal curl-up with craniocervical flexion (CCF). Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine the effect of CCF on the muscle activity of the abdominal and SCM muscles during abdominal curl-up. Twelve healthy subjects (six men and six women) with no history of abdominal or lower back pain within 6 weeks were recruited. Surface electromyographic signals were collected on SCM, rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles bilaterally during performing the traditional abdominal curl-up and the abdominal curl-up with CCF. Paired t-tests were used to compare the differences in the muscle activity of the bilateral SCM, RA, EO, and IO muscles between the traditional abdominal curl-up and the abdominal curl-up with CCF (p<.05). There was significantly lower electromyogram (EMG) activity of the both SCMs during the abdominal curl-up with CCF (Right SCM, $39.50{\pm}15.29%MVIC$; Left SCM, $38.24{\pm}17.31%MVIC$) than with the traditional abdominal curl-up (Right SCM, $54.85{\pm}20.05%MVIC$; Left SCM, $53.18{\pm}26.72%MVIC$) (p<.05). The activity of abdominal muscles were not significantly different between the traditional abdominal curl-up and the abdominal curl-up with CCF. The abdominal curl-up with CCF requires significantly less muscle activity of SCM. Consequently, the abdominal curl-up with CCF is recommended to prevent excessive activation of superficial cervical flexors during abdominal curl-up exercise.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.584-590
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• 2019

Luteolin, a widespread flavonoid, has been known to have neuroprotective activity against various neurologic diseases such as epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease. However, little information is available regarding the hypnotic effect of luteolin. In this study, we evaluated the hypnotic effect of luteolin and its underlying mechanism. In pentobarbital-induced sleeping mice model, luteolin (1, and 3 mg/kg, p.o.) decreased sleep latency and increased the total sleep time. Through electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) recording, we demonstrated that luteolin increased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep time and decreased wake time. To evaluate the underlying mechanism, we examined the effects of various pharmacological antagonists on the hypnotic effect of luteolin. The hypnotic effect of 3 mg/kg of luteolin was not affected by flumazenil, a GABAA receptorbenzodiazepine (GABAAR-BDZ) binding site antagonist, and bicuculine, a GABAAR-GABA binding site antagonist. On the other hand, the hypnotic effect of 3 mg/kg of luteolin was almost completely blocked by caffeine, an antagonist for both adenosine A1 and A2A receptor (A1R and A2AR), 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), an A1R antagonist, and SCH-58261, an A2AR antagonist. From the binding affinity assay, we have found that luteolin significantly binds to not only A1R but also A2AR with $IC_{50}$ of 1.19, $0.84{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. However, luteolin did not bind to either BDZ-receptor or GABAAR. From these results, it has been suggested that luteolin has hypnotic efficacy through A1R and A2AR binding.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.209-215
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aims to understand the effect of balance training on ankle muscle activity and static balance in stroke patients. Methods: The subjects were composed of 12 patients who were admitted with chronic stroke in H, K, and R hospitals located in Gangwon-do from August to October 2014. This study conducted balance training on the subjects for 20 min a session, twice a day, five times a week for six weeks. This study measured the surface electromyogram (EMG) of the paretic side's tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius for muscle activity. Static balance was measured as a TETRAX stability index. The measurements were conducted before the experiment and six weeks after. The result was statistically analyzed using paired t-test at the significance level of 0.05. Result: Muscle activity of the paretic side's tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius did not show a significant difference in the comparison between pre- and post-balancing training. However, the stability index showed a significant difference (p<0.05) between standing with eyes open (NO) and standing on a sponge with eyes open (PO). Conclusion: Although balance training did not affect the muscle activity of chronic stroke patients, it had an effective influence on the stability index. That is, balance training was effective at the functional level, but it did not change the structure level in terms of the ICF evaluation standard. Balance training becomes more effective when it is applied in relation to task.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.80-84
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• 2023

Electrodes are one of the types of biosensors capable of measuring bio signals, such as electrocardiogram (ECG) and electromyogram (EMG) signals. These electrodes are used in various fields and offer the advantage of being able to measure ECG signals without the need for skin attachment, compared to Ag/AgCl electrodes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of conductive textile electrodes in collecting ECG signals in a bed-like environment. Three adult participants were involved, and a total of 30 minutes of ECG signals were collected for each participant. The collected ECG signals were analyzed to determine the heart rate, normLF and a comparison was made between the conductive textile electrodes and Ag/AgCl electrodes. As a result, the change in heart rate and normLF could be observed, and in particular, the difference between the two electrodes decreased. This study confirmed that conductive textile electrodes can effectively collect ECG signals in a bed-like environment. It is hoped that this research will lead to the development of a system that can detect various sleep-related diseases through the use of these electrodes.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.81-92
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• 2011

In this paper, a new method to estimate the number of MU (motor unit) related to the widths and distribution of end plate in NMJ (neuromuscular junction) of biceps brachii is proposed by varying muscle parameter statistically in EMG model. This work is done by designing MU-simulator and EPZ-simulator. The proposed method was compared with the results of previous researchers. The proposed MU-simulator generates SMUAP (single motor unit action potential) and CMAP (compound muscle action potential) signal similar to detected SMUAP and CMAP signal obtained from muscle. The EPZ-simulator estimate the numbers of MU by varying the widths and distribution of end plate in neuromuscular junction of muscle. The results shows that the numbers of MU was estimated about 450 ea. and muscle fibers was about 340 ea., end plate widths was about 6 mm, and end plate was randomly distributed. The proposed method may be comparable with the method of anatomical studies.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.247-255
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the maximum core muscle activation angle according to core-strengthening exercises. Method: Twenty-six young female football players (age: $17.84{\pm}0.80years$, height: $163.08{\pm}5.25cm$, weight: $54.96{\pm}7.41kg$) registered in the Korea Football Association from D High School located in Seoul were the subjects of this research. An electromyogram (Noraxon, USA) was used for monitoring the maximum core muscle contraction activity. Results: The angle for the maximum core muscle strength per core exercise and muscle was the smallest for the upper rectus abdominis in the windshield wiper exercise. The angle of the vastus medialis was significantly the largest. The range of angles at which the maximum strength was observed for each core exercise were as follows: 1) abdominal flutter kicks ($11{\sim}40^{\circ}$), 2) leg raises ($21{\sim}34^{\circ}$), 3) scissors ($45{\sim}66^{\circ}$), 4) knee to elbow sit-ups ($42{\sim}64^{\circ}$), 5) reverse crunches ($9{\sim}40^{\circ}$), 6) butt-ups ($24{\sim}32^{\circ}$), 7) V sit-ups ($5{\sim}24^{\circ}$), 8) windshield wipers ($11{\sim}20^{\circ}$), 9) bird dog ($11{\sim}18^{\circ}$), and 10) raised leg plank ($38{\sim}50^{\circ}$). Conclusion: Four kinds of motion could be classified according to the range of angles at which the core muscles were maximally activated. The first group involves the range of motion that gives the maximum muscle strength when the lower extremity and ground angle was between $5^{\circ}$ and $24^{\circ}$, such as the V sit-ups, windshield wipers, and bird dog. The second group comprised the flutter kicks and reverse crunches at an angle between $9^{\circ}$ and $40^{\circ}$. The third group comprised the leg raise and butt-up exercises at an angle between $21^{\circ}$ and $34^{\circ}$. The fourth group included the scissors, knee to elbow sit-ups, and raised leg plank at an angle between $38^{\circ}$ and $66^{\circ}$. These results may be useful as basic data for core movement and core muscle training according to the purpose of exercise.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.35-51
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to prove the analgesic effects of apitoxin and its mechanism via jaw-opening reflex(JOR) and measuring expression of mRNA in Phospholipase and Tryptophan hydroxylase(TPH) using RT-PCR. The experiments were carried out on Sprague-Dawley rats(300-400g) and mastocytoma(P-185 HTR) for JOR and RT-PCR, respectively. Rats anesthetized with thiopental sodium (80mg/kg) were used in the Tooth Pulp stimulation induced JOR. The amplitude of a digastric electromyogram (dEMG) was recorded during the stimulation at an intensity of 1.5 times the threshold for JOR. Apitoxin used in this experiment was diluted with normal saline by 1:1000. Apitoxin was injected intravenously into the test group while normal saline to the control group. However, it was injected directly into the cell of mastocytoma. We referred to base sequence registered in Genbank in designing primers for RT-PCR. The results were as follows; (1)Compared with control group, analgesic effect started to show right after Sprague-Dawely rats were treated with apitoxin($71.50{\pm}8.08$) and lasted for 50 minutes. (2)As a result of the experiment of RT-PCR, we witnessed significant changes in the degree of expression of phospholipase or rate-limiting enzyme of biosynthesis of prostaglandins with $10{\mu}g/ml$ apitoxin.($31.74{\pm}18.98%$, P<0.05) (3)As a result of the experiment of RT-PCR, we witnessed significant changes in the degree of expression of TPH or rate-limiting enzyme in biosynthesis of serotonin with $10{\mu}g/ml$ apitoxin.($131.37{\pm}16.87%$, P<0.05). These results suggest that $10{\mu}g/ml$ apitoxin have the most analgesic effects. This study showed that apitoxin has analgesic effects and held good for 50 minutes. The injection of apitoxin has brought out changes in the degree of expression of phospholipase and TPH. These results strongly suggest that analgesic mechanism by apitoxin is closely related to prostaglandins and serotonin.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2022

Proprioception training has been considered a secondary method to facilitate postural control ability. This study investigated the effects of two different proprioception training methods - the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and visual feedback-based joint position and force reproduction (VF) - on postural control advancements. Sixteen healthy people volunteered for this study, and they randomly grouped two. Each group participated in the PNF and VF training for three weeks. We evaluated each subject's proprioception levels and balance ability before and after the training. We used a clinometer and electromyogram (EMG) for VF training. The joint position reproduction test was also used to evaluate the position and force aspects of the proprioception level. We analyzed the trajectory of the center of pressure (COP) while subjects were standing on the firm floor and balance board with one leg using a pressure mat. The improvement of the position aspect of the proprioception level of the VF group (4.93±4.74°) was larger than that of the PNF group (-0.43±2.08°) significantly (p=0.012). The improvement of the anterior-posterior COP velocity of the PNF group (0.01±0.01 cm/s) was larger than that of VF group(0.002±0.01 cm/s) significantly (p=0.046). Changes of position error in the PNF group (rho=0.762, p=0.028) and tibialis anterior force reproduction error in the VF group showed a significantly strong relationship with balance ability variables. These results showed that different PNF and VF have different effects on improving two aspects of proprioception and their relationship with the balance ability. Therefore, these results might be useful for selecting proprioception or balance rehabilitation considering the clinical and patients' situation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.66-78
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• 2014

Objectives : The specificity of acupuncture point has been a highly controversial subject. Existing researches said that ion-distribution differences are observed on the acupuncture point. This study was conducted under the assumption that multiple ionic changes induced by muscle fatigue would be different between the acupuncture point with non-acupuncture point. Methods : To induce the identical fatigue, twenty subjects performed the knee extension/flexion exercise using the Biodex System 3. ST32 and ST33 as well as adjacent non-acupuncture points were selected. We measured blood lactate and analyzed the median frequency(MF) and peak torque. To obtain the information on the extracellular fluid(ECW), intracellular fluid(ICW) and cell membrane indirectly, we used the multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis(MF-BIA) method. Results : MF, peak torque and blood lactate level of all measurement sites were gradually returned to normal. Re resistance of ST32 had a stronger response, but a non-acupuncture point adjacent to ST33 had a larger response up to 20 minutes post exercise. Ri resistances were similar for both acupoints and non-acupoints. The $C_m$ capacitance of ST32 had a stronger response after inducing fatigue, but ST33 had a smaller response than a non-acupuncture point adjacent to it. Conclusions : In comparison with before and after inducing fatigue, the specificity of acupuncture points was not clearly observed. Hence, we concluded that the body composition factors extraction method had the limitation as a method of finding the specificity of acupuncture points by inducing fatigue.