• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.327-335
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• 2023

Background: Pain control is a crucial aspect of pediatric dentistry for patient management. Thermo-mechanical devices (Buzzy^TM Pain Care Labs, USA) work on the concept of vibration and cooling and have shown promising results in pain control during local anesthesia in pediatric dentistry. On the other hand, audio distraction has also been used for pain management. The amount of pain endured is determined by the patient's perception and attentiveness. Thus, if audio function is added to the thermomechanical device it might increase its efficiency. Hence, the present study aimed to compare pain on injection using a thermo-mechanical device with and without audio during inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) injection in children aged 5-10 years old. Methods: Twenty-eight children aged between 5 and 10 indicated for IANB were included in this randomized study. Children who were undergoing the dental procedure were divided into 2 groups, with 14 children in each group. The study group was the thermo-mechanical device with audio distraction; the control group was the thermo-mechanical device without audio distraction. IANB was administered. Subjective pain evaluation was performed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFPR) and objective pain evaluation was done using the Faces, Leg, Activity, Consolability, Cry (FLACC) scale. Results: The outcome depicted a significant reduction in pain on injection for both objective and subjective evaluations in the thermo-mechanical device with an audio distraction group. Conclusions: Less pain on injection was observed, when a thermo-mechanical device was used with audio distraction for IANB procedures.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.100-108
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• 2024

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of mechanical traction therapy on pain, symptom severity, and functional status in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Design: Randomized controlled trial study. Methods: The 24 participants in this study were randomly assigned to either the Mechanical traction therapy (MTT) group (n=12) or the placebo group (n=12). Both groups performed tendon and neural gliding exercise. Both groups underwent mechanical traction therapy with their forearms placed on a traction device. However, in the placebo group, the device was turned off, and a placebo treatment was administered without any mechanical stimulation. All the participants underwent 18 sessions of intervention (10 minutes, 3 days per week for 6 weeks). Both groups were assessed for pain using the numerical pain rating scale and for symptom severity and functional status using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ), which includes two additional scales: the Boston Symptom Severity Scale (BSSS) and the Boston Functional Status Scale (BFSS). Results: The muscle activation, pain, symptom severity, and functional status in the MTT group were significantly improved compared to the placebo group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that traction therapy combined with tendon and neural gliding exercise. are a beneficial method for improving pain, symptom severity, and functional status in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.137-150
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• 2007

Objectives : To find effects of acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, low level He-Ne laser therapy(LLLT) at $TE_5$, $GB_{41}$ in the neuropathic pain. We made experiment on rats ligated L5 spinal nerve like general herniation of nucleus pulposus(HNP). Methods : A model of neuropathic pain was made by isolating Left 5th lumbar spinal nerve of rats. Three days after the neuropathic surgery, acupuncture and LLLT, electro-acupuncture was injected at $TE_5$, $GB_{41}$ one time a day for a week. Each group was divided two. one is opposite side performed the surgery which is right, another is left side performed the surgery. After that, the author examined the withdrawal response of neuropathic rats' legs by van Frey filament and acetone stimulation. And also the author examined c-Fos, Nociceptin and KOR-3 in the midbrain central gray of neuropathic rats. Results : As we have observed the effect of mechanical allodynia, LT-R group were diminished on 6th day compared with control group, EA-L group, EA-R group and LT-L group were diminished on 7th day compared with control group. As we have observed the effect of cold allodynia, EA-R group were diminished on 6th day, 7th day compared with control group. As we have observed the effect of activity of c-Fos in the central gray part, EA-R group and LT-R group were diminished compared with control group. As we have observed the effect of activity of Nociceptin in the central gray part, EA-R group were a little increased compared with control group but it is not reliability. As we have observed the effect of activity of KOR-3 in the central gray part, EA-R group were significantly increased compared with control group. Conclusions : We have noticed that effect of acupuncture at opposite side of sickness and powerful stimulation could be more effective, because of EA-R group have more controllable effect all test we have done on the other hand EA-L group have only effect on mechanical allodynia. This study can be used in clinical therapy for neuropathic pain. But it is not reliability that Nociceptin have effectively to control pain. Therefore We have to follow up about that.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1991.10b
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• pp.1681-1686
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• 1991

In robotics and other fields of engineering, techniques for artificial reality or virtual reality are focused on and studied extensively, e.g., virtual existence for tele-operator systems in robotics, and virtual reality of designed objects in architecture. In order to realize the system we should create physical stimulations according to internal models created by experiences in a human brain. The internal model does not have to have direct connections to the real world, however, the stimulation must be signals such that the internal model are retrieved in a human brain. In this paper we propose a technique for tele-virtual reality of dynamic mechanical models, which means that one dynamic mechanical model can be shared by peoples in distant places. Since a stability issue due to time delays arises in the system, we employed a scattering technique developed for a tele-operator system and a kind of passive adaptive controllers. Furthermore, restrictions due to a simple digital implementation of the scattering transformation are discussed and some conditions for stability are shown. The proposed method is applied to a remote tug of war system and the effectiveness is verified.

• International Journal of CAD/CAM
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

This study analyzes the characteristics of two different kinds of squat exercise through physical experiments and a computer simulation, i.e. one with a free weight and the other with a Smith machine are studied. This study also proposes a new design for the Smith machine, which has both the advantages of each type based on the results of the analysis. The muscle force and level of stimulation of the lower extremities during squatting were calculated by running an inverse dynamics analysis program on a musculoskeletal model together with the measured motion data. The calculated results were verified by comparing with the measured EMG data. The analysis showed that squatting using free weight is more effective than squatting using the Smith machine. Meanwhile, in order to design an improved Smith machine, which is the final goal of this study, the trajectory of the barbell of the subjects during free weight squatting was measured on the sagittal plane. The measurement showed that the average slope of the trajectory of the barbell is tilted backward by $10.7^{\circ}$. Based on this measurement, this study proposes a tilted design for an improved Smith machine.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.111-116
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• 2014

This study investigates the developmental pattern of adhesive discs (ADs) to highlight the ontogeny and structural changes that occur during the growth of Boston ivy. Initiation to postmortem features of ADs were examined through light and scanning electron microscopy. The study also reveals a new finding of the dislocation of peripheral tissues of adaxial origin. Four phases of attachment are suggested with regards to its climbing behavior: 1) pre-attachment, 2) upon attachment, 3) after attachment, and 4) final attachment. During initiation, several ADs originate from tendril primordia without epidermal differentiation. However, different growth rates in the epidermis results in completely different ADs. ADs were discerned by size, shape, and color during expansion, but cells in the adaxial surface remained alive longer than the other side. Upon contact, the ADs demonstrate simultaneous growth and deterioration, but once attachment is established the latter process subdues to final stages. Epidermal transformation, adhesive secretion, cellular disruption, and mechanical stress were essential for the self-clinging nature of Boston ivy. The post-attachment sequence is also believed to be critical in achieving maximum mechanical strength to provide extensive support. The developmental process of ADs is prompted by tactile stimulation but in a highly organized and systematic manner.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.503-509
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• 2015

In this paper, we designed and tested an ankle joint mechanism for a gait rehabilitation robot. Gait rehabilitation programs are designed to improve the natural leg motion of patients who have lost their walking capabilities by accident or disease. Strengthening the muscles of the lower-limbs and stimulation of the nervous system corresponding to walking helps patients to walk again using gait assistive devices. It is an obvious requirement that the rehabilitation system's motion should be similar to and as natural as the normal gait. However, the system being used for gait rehabilitation does not pay much attention to ankle joints, which play an important role in correct walking as the motion of the ankle should reflect the movement of the center of gravity (COG) of the body. Consequently, we have designed an ankle mechanism that ensures the safety of the patient as well as efficient gait training. Also, even patients with low leg muscle strength are able to operate the ankle joint due to the direct-drive mechanism without a reducer. This safety feature prevents any possible adverse load on the human ankle. The additional degree of freedom for the roll motion achieves a gait pattern which is similar to the normal gait and with a greater degree of comfort.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.853-858
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• 2014

We propose a fabrication method for polydiacetylene (PDA)-embedded hydrogel microfibers on a microfluidic chip. These fibers can be applied to the detection of cyclodextrines (CDs), which are a family of sugar and aluminum ions. PDA, a family of conjugated polymers, has unique characteristics when used for a sensor, because it undergoes a blue-to-red color transition and nonfluorescence-to-fluorescence transition in response to environmental stimulation. PDAs have different sensing characteristics depending on the head group of PCDA. By taking advantage of ionic crosslinking-induced hydrogel formation and the 3D hydrodynamic focusing effect on a microfluidic chip, PCDA-EDEA-derived diacetylene (DA) monomer-embedded microfibers were successfully fabricated. UV irradiation of the fibers afforded blue-colored PDA, and the resulting blue PDA fibers underwent a phase transition to red and emitted red fluorescence upon exposure to CDs and aluminum ions. Their fluorescence intensity varied depending on the CDs and aluminum ion concentrations. This phase transition was also observed when the fibers were dried.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2008

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play an indispensable role in activation of the myogenic program, which is responsive to mechanical stimulation. Although there is accumulating evidence of mechanical force-mediated cellular responses, the role of MAPK in regulating the myogenic process in myoblasts exposed to cyclic stretch is unclear. Cyclic stretch induced the proliferation of C2C12 myoblasts and inhibited their differentiation into myotubes. In particular, it induced persistent phosphorylation of p38 kinase, and decreased the level of phosphorylation of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK). Partial inhibition of p38 phosphorylation increased cellular levels of MyoD and p-ERK in stretched C2C12 cells, along with increased myotube formation. Treatment with $10{\mu}M$ PD98059 prevented myogenin expression in response to a low dose of SB203580 ($3{\mu}M$) in the stretched cells, suggesting that adequate ERK activation is also needed to allow the cells to differentiate into myotubes. These results suggest that cyclic stretch inhibits the myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells by activating p38-mediated signaling and inhibiting ERK phosphorylation. We conclude that p38 kinase, not ERK, is the upstream signal transducer regulating cellular responses to mechanical stretch in skeletal muscle cells.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.466-469
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• 2016

External volume expansion of the recipient site by suction has been proposed as a way of improving fat graft survival. The objective of this study was to present an innovative and simple intraoperative external expansion system to enhance small-volume autologous fat grafting (40-80 mL) and to discuss its background and its mechanism of action. In this system, expansion is performed using a complete vacuum delivery system known as the Kiwi VAC-6000M with a PalmPump (Clinical Innovations). The recipient site is rapidly expanded intraoperatively 10 times for 30 seconds each with a negative pressure of up to 550 mm Hg before autologous fat injection. During this repetitive stimulation, the tissues become grossly expanded, developing macroscopic swelling that regresses slowly over the course of hours following the cessation of the stimulus. The system sets various mechanisms in motion, including scar release, mechanical stimulation, edema, ischemia, and inflammation, which provide an environment conducive for cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In order to maintain the graft construct in its expansive state, all patients are encouraged postoperatively to use the Kiwi three times daily for one minute per session over the course of three days. The handling of this system is simple for both the patients and the surgeon. Satisfactory clinical outcomes have been achieved without significant complications.