• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.3 s.39
• /
• pp.36-44
• /
• 1999

Objectives: It has been well known that electroacupuncture(EA) has an analgesic effect and there is a pain control system in the central nervous system(CNS). The pain control system is composed of three major nuclei, which are periaqueductal gray(PAG), raphe nuclei, and the pain inhibitory complex located in the spinal cord. It has been suggested that the analgesic effect of EA might be the result of activation of the pain control system in the CNS. However, there may be a possibility that other nuclei are also involved in this pain modulation. Thus, we investigated whether the posterior intralaminar thalamic nuclei (PTIN) are involved in the pain modulation. Methods: To measure the level of pain, the jaw opening reflex (JOR) was used as a pain index. The magnitude of JOR is estimated by averaging the area of 10 successive responses. JOR was evoked by tooth-pulp stimulation with bipolar electrode carrying stimulus with the following parameters: intensity ranging from 420uA to 680ulA, 0.3ms duration of square pulse, and 0.5 Hz. Hapkog($LI_4$) and Taechung ($LR_3$) were the chosen acupoints. The Hapkog point was stimulated ipsilaterally at 5V, 3 Hz, for 15min in total, and the Taechung was stimulated at 2-3 V, 3 Hz, and for a total of 15 or 30 minutes. Different intensities of stimulation were given the PITN; one was given at $300{\mu}A$ and the other was at 500uA. The position stimulated in these nuclei by Paxinos Atlas was AP; from bregma $-4.0{\sim}-4.3mm,\;L; 0.5{\sim}1.8mm,\;D;\;4.8{\sim}6.3mm$. Results: The Hapkog point had a significant analgesic effect (P<0.05). However, the Taechung point had no effect. Both types of stimulation in the PITN did not reveal any analgesic effects. Conclusions: From these results, it was suggested that the posterior intralaminar thalamic nuclei are not involved in the modulation of pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.83-92
• /
• 2011

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease and is led to physical disability. Yet the development of effective disease-modifying treatments has lagged. In this study, I examined the effect of physical therapeutic intervention through microcurrent stimulation and attempt to find which degree of intensity, either 25 ${\mu}A$ or 500 ${\mu}A$ with a regular 5 pps pulse, is more effective in the osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis was induced with a mixture of 2% carrageenan and 2% kaolin in 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats. The mixture (0.1 $m{\ell}$) was injected into the intra-articular capsule of knee joint once a week for three weeks. Five animals did not show degenerative changes by radiological findings and excluded in the following experiment. Osteoarthritic animals were randomly divided into 3 groups ($n_1$, $n_2$, $n_3$=7/each): untreated, treated with 25 ${\mu}A$, treated with 500 ${\mu}A$. All experimental groups received microcurrent stimulation for four weeks (15 min/day, 5 days/week). The ethological inspection of foot print analysis on the walking corridor was accomplished every week. Histological preparations and immunohistochemical staining with insulin-like growth factor-1 were also done in the articular cartilages. All of these parameters were compared with those of osteoarthritic control group (n=7). The ethological inspection of foot print analysis revealed that changes of walking track (paw width) and stride length was significantly increased in both experimental groups. The better results were observed in experimental group treated with 25 ${\mu}A$ intensity without significance than group treated with 500 ${\mu}A$. Histological preparations disclosed that routine hyaline cartilage of articular surface were altered to fibrous cartilage in untreated group and experimental group treated with 500 ${\mu}A$ intensity. But a little changes were seen in experimental group treated with 25 ${\mu}A$ intensity. Immunolocalization of insulin-like growth factor-1 was simultaneously decreased according to the duration of osteoarthritis, and did not show significant difference among the groups. In this study discovered that the microcurrent stimulation, especially 25 ${\mu}A$ intensity, had a positive effect by the ethological inspection, histological and immunohistochemical stainings. These results suggest that microcurrent stimulation with low-intensity might be effective in the promotion of healing process for the osteoarthritis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 2006

In the primary sensory neuron of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MTN), the peripheral axon supplies a large number of annulospiral endings surrounding intrafusal fibers encapsulated in single muscle spindles while the central axon sends only a few number of synapses onto single ${\alpha}-motoneurons({\alpha}-MNs)$. Therefore, the ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ linkage is thought to be very crucial in the jaw-closing movement. Spike activity in a ${\gamma}-motoneuron\;({\gamma}-MN)$ would induce a large number of impulses in single peripheral axons by activating many intrafusal fibers simultaneously, subsequently causing an activation of ${\alpha}-MNs$ in spite of the small number of synapses. Thus, the activity of ${\gamma}-MNs$ may be vital for modulation of jaw-closing movements. Independently of such a spindle activity modulated by ${\gamma}-MNs$, somatic depolarization in MTN neurons is known to trigger the oscillatory spike activity. Nevertheless, the trafficking of these spikes arising from the two distinct sources of MTN neurons is not well understood. In this short review, switching among multiple functional modes of MTN neurons is discussed. Subsequently, it will be discussed which mode can support the ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ linkage. In our most recent study, simultaneous patch-clamp recordings from the soma and axon hillock revealed a spike-back-propagation from the spike-initiation site in the stem axon to the soma in response to a somatic current pulse. The persistent $Na^+$ current was found to be responsible for the spike-initiation in the stem axon, the activation threshold of which was lower than those of soma spikes. Somatic inputs or impulses arising from the sensory ending, whichever trigger spikes in the stem axon first, would be forwarded through the central axon to the target synapse. We also demonstrated that at hyperpolarized membrane potentials, 4-AP-sensitive $K^+$ current ($IK_{4-AP}$) exerts two opposing effects on spikes depending on their origins; the suppression of spike initiation by increasing the apparent electrotonic distance between the soma and the spike-initiation site, and the facilitation of axonal spike invasion at higher frequencies by decreasing the spike duration and the refractory period. Through this mechanism, the spindle activity caused by ${\gamma}-MNs$ would be safely forwarded to ${\alpha}-MNs$. Thus, soma spikes shaped differentially by this $IK_{4-AP}$ depending on their origins would reflect which one of the two inputs was forwarded to the target synapses.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.102-108
• /
• 1996

This was an open trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moclobemide twice daily for treatment of Korean patients with major depressive disorder(DSM-III-R). The duration of the trial was 6 weeks with the initial dose of moclobemide being fixed lor the first two weeks at 300mg/day(150mg twice daily, each token after morning and evening meals). Thereafter, when necessary, the dose was allowed to increase to 600mg/day or decrease to 150mg/day according to the seventy of the depression and/or the tolerability of the drug. Hypnotics and/or sedatives from a benzodiazepine group could be concomitantly administered at usual dosage. Patients were assessed at baseline and at days 14, 28 and 42. Efficacy was primarily judged on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAM-D) and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI). Patients had to score at least 17 respectively an both scales to enter the trial. Secondary efficacy parameters included Clinical Global Impression(CGI) for severity of illness and improvement. Safety and tolerability were judged on reported adverse events, vital signs and laboratory parameters. In addition, there was a series of questions and assessments for the psychiatrists and patients to complete at the end of the trial Twenty nine patients completing trial were included in the analysis of efficacy : of thirty one patients participating in the safety and tolerability analysis, those who withdraw voluntarily without particular reasons or violated the treatment schedule were not included. The efficacies as determined by HAM-D, BDI or CGI were found to be significant compared to baseline. The number of responders defined as patients with a total score of 10 or less or with a total score of 50% or less of the baseline score on HAM-D and BDI were 17(59%) and 18(62%) respectively. Regarding safety and tolerability, nine patients(29%) reported mild adverse events probably related to moclobemide : of these one patient dropped out because of poor tolerability : however, there were no appreciable changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, body weight or laboratory parameters for all patients over the trial period. Furthermore, the physicians' and patients' opinions at final evaluation showed that moclabemide has a good antidepressant effect as well as a favorable tolerability. In conclusion, a twice-daily dosage schedule with maclobemide is recommendable for the treatment of Korean patients with major depressive disorder since its efficacy and safety were demonstrated in this study.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.268-280
• /
• 1991

The nursing intervention for the prevention of the pulmonary complication and of the function lowering of pulmonary ventilation which emerge with high generation frequency during the nursing of operation patient is necessary for performing the qualitative nursing for operation patient. So, this researcher tried this study so as to obtain the data which can be utilized for the trial of nursing intervention, by grasping the effect that the deep breathing with Incentive Spirometer has on the function of pulmonary ventilation, analysing the factor to have influence on the function of pulmonary ventilation, and applying the effective method of deep breathing to the clinic. By making 42 patients who underwent the operation of upper abdomen after admitting G Hospital in Seoul from Mar. 7, 1991 to Apr.30, 1991 as the object, they were classified into the experiment group that the deep breathing was made with the use of Incentive Spiromenter and the comparison group that the deep breathing exercise was made without the use of Incentive Spirometer. And then, by measuring Tidal Volume and Forced Vital Capacity with Respirometer and $O_2$ Saturation with Pulse Oximeter at preoperation postoperation 24 hours, 72 hours, and 120 hours data were collected. The collected data were analyzed with of, average, standard deviation, x$^2$-test, t-test and ANOVA by SPSS. The result of this study is as follows : 1. As for the hypothesis that the function of pulmonary ventilation at postoperation 24 hours, 72 hours and 120 hours will be better in the experiment group that the deep breathing was made with the use of Incentive Spirometer, in comparison with the comparison group that deep breathing was made without the use of Incentive Spirometer, experiment group and comparison group didn't show the significant difference in Tidal Volume, Foreced Vital Capacity and $O_2$ Saturation at postoperation 24 hours and 72 hours. But experiment group and comparison group showed the significant difference in Tidal Volume at postoperation 120 hours (p＜0.01). So, this hypothesis was supported partially. 2. The variables that there were the significant differences about the function of pulmonary ventilation in experiment group at postoperation 24 hours stastically were smoking existence (p＜0.05), and the variables that there were not significant differences about the function of pulmonary ventilation were distinction of sex, age, anesthetic duration, smoking extent, body weight, surface area of body, existence of narcotic use, regular exercise existence, and past experience existence of respiratory disease. As above result, it appeared that the method of deep breathing with the use of the Incentive Spirometer is more effective for the function recovery of pulmonary ventilation, in comparison with the deep breathing without use of Incentive Spirometer and that smoking existence was the factor to have influence on the function of pulmonary ventilation. In the aspect of clinic, the trial of nursing intervention of deep breathing with use of Incentive Spirometer is expected. And, in the aspect of study, the study through various operative site patients about the effect of Incentive Spirometer use at the clinic will have to be confirmed.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.499-508
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study were to evaluate the effect on the reversion of sedation induced by midazolam with flumazenil and to determine the plasma concentration of flumazenil according to the method of administration. Intranasal and intravenous flumazenil were administered to sedated health volunteers aged from 23 to 25 years, in doses typical of those used clinically to induce sedation with midazolam and for reversal with flumazenil. Objective assessment for degree of sedation and vital signs, plasma concentration were made for 2 hours period. 1. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, $SpO_2$ were not changed by adminstration of flumazenil in sedated subject with midazolam, but pulse rate was increased temporarily. 2. Flumazenil showed the reversal of the sedative effect induced by midazolam regardless of administration methods. But intravenous administration showed more effect on the degree and the duration of reversion than intranasal administration with the exception of on set time. 3. Peak plasma concentration of flumazenil administered by intranasal route reached after 2 min and that of flumazenil administered by intravenous route was 4 min. Thus uptake of flumazenil did not showed any difference in accordance with the adminstration route. 4. Administration of flumazenil resulted in the temporary increase of midazolam plasma concentration.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2009

The use of portable devices has created the need for new reliability criterion of drop impact tests because of the tendency to accidentally drop in the use of these devices. The effects of different PCB surface finishes (organic solderability preservative (OSP) and electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG)) and high temperature storage (HTS) test on the drop reliability were studied. Various drop test conditions were used to evaluate a drop reliability of assemblies to endure such impact and shock load. In the case of the as-reflowed samples (no HTS test), the SAC/OSP boards exhibited a better drop impact reliability than that of SAC/ENIG. However, the reverse was true if HTS test is performed. In addition, significant decrease of drop reliability was observed for both SAC/ENIG and SAC/OSP assemblies after HTS test. It was also observed that the thickness of intermetallic compound layer do play an important role in the brittle fracture of drop test.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1999

In recent years, concern has been raised about the technique of controlling electrical breakdown by using laser in many fields. Especially, laser has attracted much attention in the Electro-Discharge Machining(EDM) because of its many rrents. 1berefore, this research has been perfonred to obtain fundarrental data for the discharge guide technology by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser which can be awJied to discharge processing machining. 1be experilnnts of laser-guided de discharge have been carried out at low air pressure ranging from 0.2 to 20 torr. The minimum laser-guided de discharge voltage $V_{G.min}$ at the given pressures P and distances d between an anode and a cathode was rreasured It is found that $V_{G.min}$ is much lower than the natural discharge voltage $V_{ND}$, and the values of VGrrin and $V_{ND}$ as a function of P.d has a similar tendency. The laser output energy $E_{out}$ decreases with input pulse duration $t_p$ increasing, and the rrore the value of $t_p$ increases, the higher that of V$V_{G.min}$ is obtained because the number of photons N decreases with $t_p$ increasing. In addition, the laser-guided de discharge range and the discharge guide characteristics as laser outpIt $E_{out}$ was investigated.igated.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.11B
• /
• pp.1501-1509
• /
• 2001

Recently, the use of wireless communication systems has been rapidly increasing, which results in a difficult problem in efficient control of limited frequency resources. As a way of solving this problem, the ultra wideband time hopping impulse radio system attracts much attention. The impulse radio system communicates pulse position modulated data using Gaussian monocycle pulses of very short duration less than 1 nsec. Thus the transmitted signal has very low power spectral density and ultra wide bandwidth from near D.C. to a few GHz. It is blown that it hardly interferes with the existing communication systems because of its very low power spectral density. The purpose of this paper is to characterize multipath propagation of the impulse radio signal and to evaluate the performance of the correlator-based receiver for the multipath environments. In this paper, we consider the deterministic two-path model and the statistical indoor multipath model of Saleh and Valenzuela. For the two-path model the output of the correlator with the ideal reference waveform varies according to the relative difference between the indirect path delay and the time interval of PPM, and to the indirect path gains. In addition, the characteristics of bit error rates is measured for the two models through computer simulation. The simulation results indicate that the performance of the impulse radio system depends both on the relative difference between the indirect path delay and the time interval of PPM, and on the indirect path gains. Furthermore, it is observed that the reference signal designed for the AWGN channel can not be applied to the multipath channels.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2004

Nitric oxide (NO) system has been implicated in a wide range of physiological functions in the nervous system. However, the role of NO in regulating the neural activity in the gustatory zone of nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) has not been established. The present study was aimed to investigate the role of NO in the gustatory NTS neurons. Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing about 50 g, were used. Whole cell patch recording and immunohistochemistry were done to determine the electrophysiological characteristics of the rostral gustatory nucleus of the tractus solitaries and distribution of NO synthases (NOS). Neuronal NOS (nNOS) immunoreactivity was strongly detected along the solitary tract extending from rostral to caudal medulla. Resting membrane potentials of NTS neurons were $-49.2{\pm}2\;mV$ and action potential amplitudes were $68.5{\pm}2\;mV$ with a mean duration measured at half amplitude of $1.7{\pm}0.3\;ms$. Input resistance, determined from the response to a 150 ms, -100 pA hyperpolarizing current pulse, was $385{\pm}15\;M{\Omega}$, Superfusion of SNAP or SNP, NO donors, produced either hyperpolarization (68%), depolarization (5%), or no effect (27%). The hyperpolarization was mostly accompanied by a decrease in input resistance. The hyperpolarization caused by SNAP or SNP increased the time to initiate the first action potential, and decreased the number of action potentials elicited by current injection. SNP or SNAP also markedly decreased the number of firing neural discharges of the spontaneous NTS neural activity under zero current. Superfusion of L-NAME, a NOS inhibitor, slightly depolarized the membrane potential and increased the firing rate of NTS neurons induced by current injection. ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ameliorated the SNAP-induced changes in membrane potential, input resistance and firing rates. 8-Br-cGMP, a non-degradable cell-permeable cGMP, hyperpolarized the membrane potential and decreased the number of action potentials. It is suggested that NO in the gustatory NTS has an inhibitory role on the neural activity of NTS through activating soluble guanylate cyclase.