• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2006

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemakers in gastrointestinal tracts, regulating rhythmicity by activating nonselective cation channels (NSCCs). In the present study, we investigated the general characteristics and pH-mediated regulation of pacemaker activity in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal. Under voltage clamp mode and at the holding potential of -60 mV, the I-V relationships and difference current showed that there was no reversal potential and voltage-independent inward current. Also, when the holding potentials were changed from +20 mV to -80 mV with intervals of 20 mV, there was little difference in inward current. In pacemaker activity, the resting membrane potential (RMP) was depolarized (In pH 5.5, $23{\pm}1.5$ mV depolarized) and the amplitude was decreased by a decrease of the extracellular pH. However, in case of increase of extracellular pH, the RMP was slightly hyperpolarized and the amplitude was decreased a little. The melastatin type transient receptor potential (TRPM) channel 7 has been suggested to be required for intestinal pacemaking activity. TRPM7 produced large outward currents and small inward currents by voltage ramps, ranging from +100 to -100 mV from a holding potential of -60 mV. The inward current of TRPM7 was dramatically increased by a decrease in the extracellular pH. At pH 4.0, the average inward current amplitude measured at -100 mV was increased by about 7 fold, compared with the current amplitude at pH 7.4. Changes in the outward current (measured at +100 mV) were much smaller than those of the inward current. These results indicate that the resting membrane potential of pacemaking activity might be depolarized by external acidic pH through TRPM7 that is required for intestinal pacemaking activity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.337-342
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• 2006

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that activate the periodic spontaneous depolarization (pacemaker potentials) responsible for the production of slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscle. The effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. Addition of VIP (50 nM-$1{\mu}M$) decreased the amplitude of pacemaker potentials and depolarized resting membrane potentials. To examine the type of receptors involved in ICC, we examined the effects of the $VIP_1$ agonist and found that it had no effect on pacemaker potentials. Pretreatment with $VIP_1$ antagonist ($1{\mu}M$) for 10 min also did not block the VIP (50 nM)-induced effects. On the other hand exposure to 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-A)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, $100{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, prevented VIP inhibition of pacemaker potentials. Similarly KT-5823 ($1{\mu}M$) or RP-8-CPT-cGMPS ($10{\mu}M$), inhibitors of protein kinase G (PKG) blocked the effect of VIP (50 nM) on pacemaker potentials as did N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA, $100{\mu}M$), a non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. These results imply that the inhibition of pacemaker activity by VIP depends on the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.603-607
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Carthami Flos on interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract. Many regions of the tunica muscularis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract display spontaneous contraction. These spontaneous contractions are mediated by periodic generation of electrical slow waves. Recent studies have shown that the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) act as pacemakers and conductors of electrical slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscles. We investigated the cytotoxicity activity, antioxidant activity, and pacemaking activity. The cytotoxicity activity was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH (1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity assay and DCFH-DA (2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate) method. The effects of Carthami Flos on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques at $30^{\circ}C$. The addition of Carthami Flos (5, 10, $30{\mu}g$/ml) depolarized the resting membrane potentials in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the GI tract can be targets for Carthami Flos, and their interaction can affect intestinal motility.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.287-296
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• 2020

Purpose: The study aims were to develop a wearable inertial sensor-based gait analysis device that uses machine learning algorithms, and to validate this novel device using temporal gait parameters. Methods: Thirty-four healthy young participants (22 male, 12 female, aged 25.76 years) with no musculoskeletal disorders were asked to walk at three different speeds. As they walked, data were simultaneously collected by a motion capture system and inertial measurement units (Reseed®). The data were sent to a machine learning algorithm adapted to the wearable inertial sensor-based gait analysis device. The validity of the newly developed instrument was assessed by comparing it to data from the motion capture system. Results: At normal speeds, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for the temporal gait parameters were excellent (ICC [2, 1], 0.99~0.99), and coefficient of variation (CV) error values were insignificant for all gait parameters (0.31~1.08%). At slow speeds, ICCs for the temporal gait parameters were excellent (ICC [2, 1], 0.98~0.99), and CV error values were very small for all gait parameters (0.33~1.24%). At the fastest speeds, ICCs for temporal gait parameters were excellent (ICC [2, 1], 0.86~0.99) but less impressive than for the other speeds. CV error values were small for all gait parameters (0.17~5.58%). Conclusion: These results confirm that both the wearable inertial sensor-based gait analysis device and the machine learning algorithms have strong concurrent validity for temporal variables. On that basis, this novel wearable device is likely to prove useful for establishing temporal gait parameters while assessing gait.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2009

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine the intertester and intratester reliabilities of the Lateral Scapular Slide Test (LSST) method, and to examine if significant differences existed in scapular positions among the pain groups (right-shoulder pain group, left-shoulder, pain group and both-shoulders pain group). 27 female subjects (mean age = 51.6, mean height = 157.7 cm, mean weight = 57.5 kg) with shoulder pain were recruited for this study. Methods: The bilateral distances between the root of the scapular spine and T3/4 (RSS), and between the inferior scapular angle and T7/8 (IA), were recorded. Subjects were tested at three positions: the with arms with abducted at 0, 45 and 90 degrees in the coronal plane. The LSST measurements were performed by two testers, selected randomly. Results: The results were as follows: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the intertester reliability were excellent (ICC 0.78-0.94). And the ICCs for the intratester reliability were excellent (ICC 0.83-0.99). In the right-shoulder and both-shoulders pain groups, the right-side RSS and IA values of right side were significantly greater than of the left-side RSS values left side for the arms abducted at 0 degrees of right shoulder pain group and both shoulder pain group (p<.05). However, the side-to-side difference was less than 1.5 cm. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the LSST is highly reliable in identifying the abnormal scapular position of patients with shoulder problems. Future research should be continued to clarify the clinical usefulness of this method.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.120-130
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to identify the clinical usefulness, validity, and reliability of the Spirokit, a device that combines the pulmonary function test (PFT) and respiratory muscle strength (RMS) test. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty young adults (male: 23, female: 17) participated in a PFT and a RMS test. The concurrent validity for pulmonary function was assessed by comparing data obtained from MicroQuark and the Spirokit and the agreements between the MicroRPM and the Spirokit for RMS were compared. The test-retest reliability of the Spirokit was determined by comparing data obtained from the first and second sessions. The test and retest were performed at the same time after one day for the PFT and RMS test. Validity was estimated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and by calculating 95% limits of agreement (LoA). To estimate interrater reliability, ICCs were calculated. Results: The Spirokit showed a high agreement intra class coefficient (ICC [2, 1]): 0.978-0.999, 95% limits of agreements (95% LOA): -0.798 to 0.847 with MicroQuark. It also showed a high level of concordance ICC (2, 1): 0.992 to 0.993, 95% LOA: -9.313 to 11.169 with MicroRPM. The test-retest reliability of the Spirokit was analyzed using ICC (2, 1), and showed a high level of reliability (ICC [2,1]=0.960 to 0.998). Standard error of measurement % (SEM%) was 0.12% to 3.39%, and minimum detectable change% (MDC%) was 0.02% to 3.79%, indicating high level of reliability. Conclusions: The Spirokit is a device with high validity and reliability that can be used to simultaneously measure PFT and RMS tests.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.441-447
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• 2017

Objective : Computed tomography (CT)-based method of three dimensional (3D) analysis ($MIMICS^{(R)}$, Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) is reported as very useful software for evaluation of OPLL, but its reliability and reproducibility are obscure. This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of $MIMICS^{(R)}$ system, and inter- and intra-observer reliability in the measurement of OPLL. Methods : Three neurosurgeons independently analyzed the randomly selected 10 OPLL cases with medical image processing software ($MIMICS^{(R)}$) which create 3D model with Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) data from CT images after brief explanation was given to examiners before the image construction steps. To assess the reliability of inter- and intra-examiner intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 3 examiners measured 4 parameters (volume, length, width, and length) in 10 cases 2 times with 1-week interval. Results : The inter-examiner ICCs among 3 examiners were 0.996 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.987-0.999) for volume measurement, 0.973 (95% CI, 0.907-0.978) for thickness, 0.969 (95% CI, 0.895-0.993) for width, and 0.995 (95% CI, 0.983-0.999) for length. The intra-examiner ICCs were 0.994 (range, 0.991-0.996) for volume, 0.996 (range, 0.944-0.998) for length, 0.930 (range, 0.873-0.947) for width, and 0.987 (range, 0.985-0.995) for length. Conclusion : The medical image processing software ($MIMICS^{(R)}$) provided detailed quantification OPLL volume with minimal error of inter- and intra-observer reliability in the measurement of OPLL.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.359-364
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• 2019

Background Few scales are currently available to evaluate changes in hand volume. We aimed to develop a hand grading scale for quantitative assessments of dorsal hand volume with additional consideration of changes in skin texture; to validate and prove the precision and reproducibility of the new scale; and to demonstrate the presence of clinically significant differences between grades on the scale. Methods Five experienced plastic surgeons developed the Hand Volume Rating Scale (HVRS) and rated 91 images. Another five plastic surgeons validated the scale using 50 randomly selected images. Intra- and inter-rater agreement was calculated using the weighted kappa statistic and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Paired images were also evaluated to verify whether the scale reflected clinical differences. Results The intra-rater agreement was 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.922-0.974). The interrater ICCs were excellent (first rating, 0.94; second rating, 0.94). Image pairs that differed by 1, 2, and 3 grades were considered to contain clinically relevant differences in 80%, 100%, and 100% of cases, respectively, while 84% of image pairs of the same grade were found not to show clinically relevant differences. This confirmed that the scale of the HVRS corresponded to clinically relevant distinctions. Conclusions The scale was proven to be precise, reproducible, and reflective of clinical differences.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.148-155
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• 2018

Background and Purpose: Two conversion scales between the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) have been validated for Korean patients with Parkinson's disease. The aim of the present study was to validate these conversion scales for all patients with cognitive impairments regardless of dementia subtype. Methods: Medical records of 323 subjects who completed both MMSE and MoCA on the same day were retrospectively reviewed. Mean, median, and root mean squared error (RMSE) of the difference between true and equivalent MMSE scores were calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between true and equivalent MMSE scores were also calculated. The validity of MoCA-MMSE conversion scales was evaluated according to educational level (low educated: ${\leq}6$ years; high educated: ${\geq}7$ years) and subtypes of cognitive impairment. Results: The difference between true and equivalent MMSE scores had a median value of 0, a mean value of 0.19 according to the van Steenoven scale, a mean value of 0.57 according to the Lawton scale, RMSE value of 2.2 according to the van Steenoven scale, and RMSE value of 0.42 according to the Lawton scale. Additionally, ICCs between true and equivalent MMSE scores were 0.92 and 0.90 on van Steenovan and Lawton conversion scales, respectively. These results were maintained in subgroup analyses. Conclusions: Findings of the present study suggest that both van Steenovan and Lawton MoCA-MMSE conversion scales are applicable to transforming MoCA scores into MMSE scores in patients with cognitive impairments regardless of dementia subtype or educational level.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.558-568
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• 2019

Objective: To evaluate whether computed tomography (CT) reconstruction algorithms affect the CT texture features of the liver parenchyma. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study comprised 58 patients (normal liver, n = 34; chronic liver disease [CLD], n = 24) who underwent liver CT scans using a single CT scanner. All CT images were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP), hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) (iDOSE⁴), and model-based IR (IMR). On arterial phase (AP) and portal venous phase (PVP) CT imaging, quantitative texture analysis of the liver parenchyma using a single-slice region of interest was performed at the level of the hepatic hilum using a filtration-histogram statistic-based method with different filter values. Texture features were compared among the three reconstruction methods and between normal livers and those from CLD patients. Additionally, we evaluated the inter- and intra-observer reliability of the CT texture analysis by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: IR techniques affect various CT texture features of the liver parenchyma. In particular, model-based IR frequently showed significant differences compared to FBP or hybrid IR on both AP and PVP CT imaging. Significant variation in entropy was observed between the three reconstruction algorithms on PVP imaging (p < 0.05). Comparison between normal livers and those from CLD patients revealed that AP images depend more strongly on the reconstruction method used than PVP images. For both inter- and intra-observer reliability, ICCs were acceptable (> 0.75) for CT imaging without filtration. Conclusion: CT texture features of the liver parenchyma evaluated using the filtration-histogram method were significantly affected by the CT reconstruction algorithm used.