• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.393-401
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• 2020

Purpose: In recent years, there has been increasing interest in using blood flow-restricted exercise (BFRE) or KAATSU training. The KAATSU training method, which partially restricts arterial inflow and fully restricts venous outflow in the working musculature during exercise at reduced exercise intensities, has been proven to result in substantial increases in both muscle hypertrophy and strength. The purpose of this study was to investigate the proper level of pressure for KAATSU training using compound muscle action potential (CMAP) analysis. Methods: Twenty-two healthy adults voluntarily participated in this study. CMAP was conducted by measuring the terminal latency and amplitude using a motor nerve conduction velocity test. For reference-line, supramaximal electrical stimulation was applied to the median nerves of the participants to obtain CMAP for the abductor pollicis brevis. For baseline, the intensity of the electrical stimulation was decreased to a level at which the CMAP amplitude was about a third of the CMAP amplitude obtained by the supramaximal electrical stimulation. The pressure levels for the KAATSU were set as a systolic blood pressure (strong pressure), the median values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (intermediate pressure), and diastolic blood pressure (weak pressure). In the KAATSU condition, CMAP was performed under the same conditions as baseline after low-intensity thumb abduction exercises were performed at the subjects' own pace for one minute. Results: As the pressure increased, the CMAP amplitude was significantly increased, signifying that more muscle fibers were recruited. Conclusion: This study found that KAATSU training recruited more muscle fibers than low-intensity exercise without the restriction of blood flow.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.55-64
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• 2022

Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of acupotomy for carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods Based on seven domestic and foreign databases. We analyzed the randomized controlled trials using acupotomy for carpal tunnel syndrome. The treatment group was treated with acupotomy and the control group was no restrictions on treatment methods. Results In this study, the effect of acupuncture treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome was investigated. Each study reported that acupotomy could be an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. However, as a result of meta-analysis of Levine carpal tunnel syndrome questionnaire scores, visual analog scale, and sensory nerve conduction velocity, the results were more clinically significant than those of the control group. Due to the small number of randomized controlled trial studies and the nature of acupotomy treatment, blinding of interventions was impossible, resulting in a high risk of bias. Conclusions In this regard, it is thought that well-planned randomized controlled studies on patients with carpal tunnel syndrome are needed in the future to secure the clinical evidence for acupotomy treatment.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.237-245
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• 2022

Objective: Viscoelasticity is an essential feature of nerves, although little is known about their viscous properties. The discovery of shear wave dispersion (SWD) imaging has presented a new approach for the non-invasive evaluation of tissue viscosity. The present study investigated the feasibility of using SWD imaging to evaluate diabetic neuropathy using the sciatic nerve in a diabetic rat model. Materials and Methods: This study included 11 diabetic rats in the diabetic group and 12 healthy rats in the control group. Bilateral sciatic nerves were evaluated 3 months after treatment with streptozotocin. We measured the nerve cross-sectional area (CSA), nerve stiffness using shear wave elastography (SWE), and nerve viscosity using SWD imaging. The motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) was also measured. These four indicators and the histology of the sciatic nerves were then compared between the two groups. The performance of CSA, SWE, and SWD imaging in distinguishing the two groups was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Nerve CSA, stiffness, and viscosity in the diabetic group was significantly higher than those in the control group (all p < 0.05). The results also revealed a significantly lower MNCV in the diabetic group (p = 0.005). Additionally, the density of myelinated fibers was significantly lower in the diabetic group (p = 0.004). The average thickness of the myelin sheath was also lower in the diabetic group (p = 0.012). The area under the ROC curve for distinguishing the diabetic neuropathy group from the control group was 0.876 for SWD imaging, which was significantly greater than 0.677 for CSA (p = 0.030) and 0.705 for SWE (p = 0.035). Conclusion: Sciatic nerve viscosity measured using SWD imaging was significantly higher in diabetic rats. The viscosity measured using SWD imaging performed well in distinguishing the diabetic neuropathy group from the control group. Therefore, SWD imaging may be a promising method for the evaluation of diabetic neuropathy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to comparatively evaluate thermal and water transmission properties of several vapor permeable water repellent (VPWR) fabrics and synthetic battings that became available in recent years. Five VPWR fabrics evaluated were Hipora in three coating variants, $Gore-Tex^{\circledR}$ and $Aitace^{\circledR}$. Battings evaluated were $Viwarma^{\circledR}$, $Uniwarmr^{\circledR}$, $Thinsulate^{\circledR}$, and $Airseal^{\circledR}$ Thermal resistance and water vapor transmission were measured for each fabric and batting and in all combinations. Thermal resistance at zero and 37 cm/sec air velocity was determined by the Thermo Labo II technique for simultaneously measuring conduction and radiation heat transfer. Water vapor transmission over 24 hours was measured by a modified weight-gain method in a compact humid chamber at conditions simulating the clothing climate under heavy exercise ($40{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, $90{\pm}2\%$ R.H., and 0.5 m/sec air velocity). Fabric porosity was calculated from fiber density and fabric weight, thickness, and area. Thermal resistance results for the fabrics showed the effectiveness of coatings in inhibiting heat transfer. Measurements taken in wind were: $31.1\~37.6\%$ for $Hipora^{\circledR}$ variants; $31.0\%$ for $Gore-Tex^{\circledR}$; and $18.4\%$ for $Aitaca^{\circledR}$ Measurements without wind were higher but in the same order. Water vapor transmission results were in reverse order: $Aitac^{\circledR}$, $8.8 kg/m^{2};\;Gore-Tex^{\circledR}$, 6.4 kg/$m^{2}$; and $Hipora^{\circledR},\;4.4\~6.0\;kg/m^{2}$. In general thermal resistance increased with porosity. For battings, the thermal resistance with wind results were: $Viwarmu^{\circledR}$, $65.0\%;\; Thinsulate^{\circledR}$, $62.0\%$; $Uniwarm^{\circledR}$, $61.0\%$; and $Airseala^{\circledR},\;53.1\%$. Thermal resistance was proportional to thickness. Thermal resistance of fabric-batting combinations were $20\%$ higher than those of the battings only. Water vapor transmission for combinations was mainly affected by that for the VPWR fabric used.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.181-194
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• 1990

Antidromically activated spinoreticular tract (SRT) cell units in the lumbosacral enlargement of ${\alpha}-chloralose$ anesthetized cats were classified as medial and lateral SRT units according to the location of their axonal termination. Identified SRT units were tested fer antidromic conduction velocity, laterality of their axonal projection, the location in spinal gray, peripheral receptive field, the response pattern to graded mechanichal stimulation and the responsiveness to $A{\delta}$ and C volley of the peripheral nerve. 1) The 59% of 34 medial SRT units were recorded in ipsilateral side to the antidromic stimulation site, but 60% of the 47 lateral SRT units projected to contralateral side. 2) Most of the medial SRT cells and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM)-projecting lateral SRT cells were recorded in lamina VII & VIII. The LRN (lateral reticular nucleus)-projecting SRT cells, however, distributed through all the laminae except superficial ones (I & II). 3) The identified SRT units were classified as low theshold (LT), deep, high threshold (HT), wide dynamic range (WDR) cells, based on the response patterns to graded mechanical stimuli. The proportion of SRT units which receive noxious input was 37.5%, 25% and 75% in the medial, LRN-projecting and RVLM SRT group, respectively. 4) There was no significant difference in the mean conduction velocities between the 3 groups. But the deep cells had significantly higher velocity than that of the HT cells. The above results show that the peripheral inputs to the SRT units are different in the 3 groups: medial, LRN & RVLM SRT group. Especially in case of the SRT cells projecting to RVLM which is a probable candidate fur the integration center of various pressor reflexes such as somatosympathetic reflex, the noxious informations occupy higher proportion of input to them than in other groups. Therefore the noxious information transmitted through the lateral SRT destined for RVLM is expected to play a role in somatosymapthetic reflex.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

PDiabetic neuropathy is one of the most common diabetes related complications including diabetic nephropathy and retinopahty. In clinical practices, nerve conduction velocity (NCV) has been used as a standard method for diagnosing diabetic neuropathy. However, it applies maximum current of 100mA to nerves causing stress and pain to patients. In this study, as a non-invasive method, $TcpO_2$ was utilized to investigate the difference and relationship between $TcpO_2$ and $SpO_2$ of normal and diabetic neuropathy subjects. In addition, a new method of diagnosing diabetic neuropathy using $TcpO_2$ is suggested. 50 normal subjects and 50 diabetic patients with neuropathy diagnosed by NCV participated in this study. Parameters used in this study were $TcpO_2$, $TcpCO_2$, and $SpO_2$. As a result of the $TcpO_2$ measurements, statistical significances were found from $TcpO_2$ of hands and feet from normal and patients group(p<0.01). $SpO_2$ measured from index finger of normal and patient groups showed no statistical significance(p>0.05). On the other hand, $SpO_2$ measured from great toes of normal and patient groups showed statistical significance(p<0.01). Correlation coefficient between $SpO_2$ of finger and $TcpO_2$ of hand was 0.400 (p<0.01) and $SpO_2$ of toe and $TcpO_2$ of foot was 0.471(p<0.01). Both correlation values were statistically significant. Sensitivities and specificities of the $TcpO_2$ method were found to be 66 % and 92 %, respectively. If the suggested $TcpO_2$ method is used periodically, prevention and early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy would be possible.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.603-611
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• 1997

The motor evoked potentials (MEPs) have been advocated as a method of monitoring the integrity of spinal efferent pathways in various injury models of the central nervous system. However, there were many disputes about origin sites of MEPs generated by transcranial electrical stimulation. The purpose of present study was to investigate the effect of major extrapyramidal motor nuclei such as lateral vestibular nucleus (VN) and medullary reticular nucleus (mRTN) on any components of the MEPs in adult Sprague-Dalwey rats. MEPs were evoked by electrical stimulation of the right sensorimotor cortex through a stainless steel screw with 0.5mm in diameter, and recorded epidurally at T9 - T10 spinal cord levels by using a pair of teflon-coated stainless steel wire electrodes with 1mm exposed tip. In order to inject lidocaine and make a lesion, insulated long dental needle with noninsulated tips were placed stareotoxically in VN and mRTN. Lidocaine of $2{\sim}3\;{\mu}l$ was injected into either VN or mRTN. The normal MEPs were composed of typical four reproducible waves; P1, P2, P3, P4. The first wave (P1) was shown at a mean latency of 1.2 ms, corresponding to a conduction velocity of 67.5 m/sec. The latencies of MEPs were shortened and the amplitudes were increased as stimulus intensity was increased. The amplitudes of P1 and P2 were more decreased among 4 waves of MEPs after lidocaine microinjection into mRTN. Especially, the amplitude of P1 was decreased by 50% after lidocaine microinjection into bilateral mRTN. On the other hand, lidocaine microinjection into VN reduced the amplitudes of P3 and P4 than other MEP waves. However, the latencies of MEPs were not changed by lidocaine microinjection into either VN or mRTN. These results suggest that the vestibular and reticular nuclei contribute to partially different role in generation of MEPs elicited by transcranial electrical stimulation.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.43 no.3 s.309
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• pp.60-66
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to suggest a new detection method for early diagnosing diabetic neuropathic foot by obtaining a ratio of toe to finger blood flow using photoplethysmography(PPG) and Laser Doppler(LD). Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) has been routinely used for diagnosing neuropathic foot, but it applies strong electric stimulus to peripheries resulting in stress and pain. The blood flow ratio of 50 neuropathic diabetes($0.96{\pm}0.20$) was significantly higher than that of 64 normal person($0.46{\pm}0.15$)(p<0.000). It also showed that toe temperature of neuropathic diabetes($30.5{\pm}1.4^{\circ}C$) was significantly higher than that of normal group($29.3{\pm}2.0^{\circ}C$)(p<0.000). The optimal boundary value of the blood flow ratio was found to be 0.678 and the sensitivity and specificity of this proposed method resulted in 95.3% and 95.3% respectively. Lastly, there were no neuropathic diabetes whose temperature difference between finger and toe was higher than $4.5\;^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.3 s.54
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• pp.507-519
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• 1996

The objectives of this study are to investigate the prevalence of occupation related carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) among workers in a condom industry : to analyse the sensitivity and specificity of clinical signs or symptoms such as hand diagram, Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign in carpal tunnel syndrome : and to test vibration threshold test using audiometry as a technically easy and noninvasive method in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in stead of nerve conduction velocity (NCV). The study group was divided into exposed group(39 cases) and non-exposed group(48 cases) based on whether or not excessive use of wrist movements exsist. 1. There are stastically significant differences in symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome such as hand diagram, Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign between exposed and non-exposed group(p<0.05). 2. Six cases(9 hands) were comfirmed as carpal tunnel syndrome by NCV. Five cases(7 hands) belonged to exposed group, 1 case(2 hands) to nonexposed group. As there are significant differences in prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome between two groups(p<0.05), excessive use of wrist in occupation is a risk factor of carpal tunnel syndrome. 3. When we use NCV as a gold standard in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, sensitivity and specificity of hand diagram, Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign is as followed; hand diagram , sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 84.2% Tinel's sign ; sensitivity 55.6%, specificity 72.8% Phalen's sign ; sensitivity 14.3%, specificity 88.4%. Among above clinical signs and symptoms, hand diagram is the best clinical screening test. 4. The differences of vibration threshold between median and ulnar nerve at the same time are useful in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome but the time change of vibration threshold of median nerve over time are not sensitive enough. It is concluded that vibration threshold between median and ulnar nerve at the same time can be used as a supplementary or alternative criterion to indicate that the nerve dysfunction is located in the carpal tunnel.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.679-700
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• 1996

Inferior alveolar nerve dysfunction may be the result of trauma, disease, or iatrogenic injury. Inferior alveolar nerve injury is inherent risk in endodontic therapy, orthognathic surgery of the mandible, and extraction of mandibular teeth, particularly the third molars. The sensory disturbances of inferior alveolar nerve associated with such injury have been well documented clinical problem that is commonly evaluated by several clinical sensory test including Tinels sign, Von Frey test(static light touch detection), directional discrimination, two-point discrimination, pin pressure nociceptive discrimination, and thermal test. These methods used to detect and assess inferior alveolar nerve injury have been subjective in nature, relying on the cooperation of the patients. In addition, many of these techniques are sensitive to differences in the examiners experience and skill with the particular technique. Data obtained at different times or by different examiners are therefore difficult to compare. Prior experimental studies have used electro diagnostic methods(sensory evoked potential) to objectively evaluate inferior alveolar nerve after nerve injury. This study was designed with inferior alveolar nerve of rabbit. Several types of injury including mind, moderate, severe compression and perforation with 19 gauze, 21 gauze needle and 6mm, 10mm traction were applied for taking the sesory evoked ppterntial. Latency and amplitude of injury rabbit inferior alveolar nerve were investigated with sensory evoked potential using unpaired t-test. The results were as follows : 1. Intensity of threshold (T1) was $128{\pm}16{\mu}A$ : latency, $0.87{\pm}0.07$ microsecond : amplitude, $0.4{\pm}0.1{\mu}V$ : conduction velocity, 23.3 m/s in sensory evoked potential of uninjured rabbit inferior alveolar nerve. 2. Rabbit inferior alveolar nerve consists of type II and III sensory nerve fiber. 3. Latency was increased and amplitude was decreased in compression injury. The more injured, the more changed in latency and amplitude. 4. Findings in perforation injury was similar to compression injury. Waveform for sensory evoked potential improved by increasing postinjured time. 5. Increasing latency was prominent in traction injury rabbit inferior alveolar nerve. 6. In microscopic histopathological findings, significant degeneration and disorganization of the internal architecture were seen in nerve facicle of severe compression and 10mm traction group. From the above findings, electrophysiological assessment(sensory evoked potential) of rabbit injured inferior alveolar nerve is reliable technique in diagnosis and prognosis of nerve injury.