• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2023

Background: Bulgarian split squat (BSS) is beneficial to improve dynamic balance ability and muscle activity of lower extremities, however its effects have not been fully investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to compare changes in dynamic balance ability and muscle properties according to various modifications of BSS exercises. Methods: Thirty healthy male volunteers participated in this study, and they were randomly divided into three different groups. The subjects performed the BSS exercise either on a stable surface with the eyes opened (n=10) or eyes closed (n=10), and on an unstable support plane with eyes opened (n=10) conditions, respectively. Dynamic balance ability was measured via Biodex balance system under the eyes-opened and closed conditions. Additionally, muscle properties of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) were evaluated. Results: Dynamic balance ability did not show the significant differences among the groups that performed the BSS exercises. However, in the Unstable group, there were significant differences in the overall stability index and anterior posterior stability index under the eyes-closed condition between pre-exercise and post-exercise. In comparison of muscle properties according to the groups, RF muscle showed a significant difference in amount of change of elasticity (p=.038). Additionally, there were significant changes in post measurements of VM muscle tone (p=.016), stiffness (p=.012) and elasticity (p=.002). VL muscle, however had no significant differences in muscle properties. Conclusion: These results indicate that BSS exercises could induce the alteration of RF and VM muscle properties, in particular VM muscle which is susceptible to weakness. Thus, BSS could be applied in various ways as an effective rehabilitation exercise.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2009

The bioequivalence of two pioglitazone tablets, Actos$^{(R)}$ tablet (Takeda Chemical Industries, reference drug) and Pioglitazone tablet (Boryung Company, test drug) was evaluated according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration. Twenty-eight healthy male Korean volunteers received each medicine (pioglitazone dose of 30 mg) in a $2{\times}2$ crossover study with one week washout interval. After drug administration, blood samples were collected at specific time intervals from 0-36 hours. The plasma concentrations of pioglitazone were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The total chromatographic run time was 5 min and calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 5-2000 ng/mL for pioglitazone. The method was validated for selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, accuracy and precision. The pharmacokinetic parameters were determined from the plasma concentration-time profiles of both formulations. The primary calculated pharmacokinetic parameters were compared statistically to evaluate bioequivalence between the two preparations. The 90% confidence intervals of the $AUC_t$ ratio and the $C_{max}$ ratio for Pioglitazone tablet and Actos$^{(R)}$ tablet were log0.9422~log1.1040 and log0.9200~log1.1556, respectively. Based on the statistical considerations, we can conclude that the test drug, Pioglitazone tablet was bioequivalent to the reference drug, Actos$^{(R)}$ tablet.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2007

A simple and rapid HPLC method with fluorescence detection(FLD) for quantitation of penciclovir in human plasma using a monolithic column was developed and validated. Penciclovir and ganciclovir(internal standard, I.S.) were separated on a Chromolith column RP-18e ($4.6{\times}100mm$) with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of (A) methanol/50 mM sodium phosphate buffer containing 200 mg/L sodium dodecyl sulfate (3/97, pH 2.5) and (B) methanol/50 mM sodium phosphate buffer containing 200 mg/L sodium dodecyl sulfate (50/50, pH 2.5) at a flow gradient of $1.6{\sim}4.0mL/min$. The retention times of penciclovir and internal standard were less than 4.0 min. Calibration curve was linear ($R^2=0.9994$) over a concentration range of $0.1{\sim}5{\mu}g/mL$. Intra-day precision, accuracy and inter-day precision were 1.36~8.55 %, 92.8~100.0 % and 0.93~5.62 %, respectively with a limit of quantitation at $0.1{\mu}g/mL$. The present HPLC-FLD method is sensitive, precise and accurate. The method described herein has been successfully used for the bioequivalence study of a famciclovir formulation product after oral administration to healthy Korean volunteers.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1251-1259
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• 2022

Objective: T1 mapping provides valuable information regarding cardiomyopathies. Manual drawing is time consuming and prone to subjective errors. Therefore, this study aimed to test a DL algorithm for the automated measurement of native T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) fractions in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with a temporally separated dataset. Materials and Methods: CMR images obtained for 95 participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 54.5 ± 15.2 years), including 36 left ventricular hypertrophy (12 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 12 Fabry disease, and 12 amyloidosis), 32 dilated cardiomyopathy, and 27 healthy volunteers, were included. A commercial deep learning (DL) algorithm based on 2D U-net (Myomics-T1 software, version 1.0.0) was used for the automated analysis of T1 maps. Four radiologists, as study readers, performed manual analysis. The reference standard was the consensus result of the manual analysis by two additional expert readers. The segmentation performance of the DL algorithm and the correlation and agreement between the automated measurement and the reference standard were assessed. Interobserver agreement among the four radiologists was analyzed. Results: DL successfully segmented the myocardium in 99.3% of slices in the native T1 map and 89.8% of slices in the post-T1 map with Dice similarity coefficients of 0.86 ± 0.05 and 0.74 ± 0.17, respectively. Native T1 and ECV showed strong correlation and agreement between DL and the reference: for T1, r = 0.967 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.951-0.978) and bias of 9.5 msec (95% limits of agreement [LOA], -23.6-42.6 msec); for ECV, r = 0.987 (95% CI, 0.980-0.991) and bias of 0.7% (95% LOA, -2.8%-4.2%) on per-subject basis. Agreements between DL and each of the four radiologists were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] of 0.98-0.99 for both native T1 and ECV), comparable to the pairwise agreement between the radiologists (ICC of 0.97-1.00 and 0.99-1.00 for native T1 and ECV, respectively). Conclusion: The DL algorithm allowed automated T1 and ECV measurements comparable to those of radiologists.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2024

Purpose: Foot pressure measurement devices are used widely in clinical settings for plantar pressure assessments. Despite the availability of various devices, studies evaluating the inter-device reliability are limited. This study compared plantar pressure measurements obtained from HR Mat (Tekscan Inc.) and EMED-n50 (Novel GmbH). Materials and Methods: The study involved 38 healthy male volunteers. The participants were categorized into two groups based on the Meary's angle in standing foot lateral radiographs: those with normal feet (angles ranging from -4° to 4°) and those with mild flatfeet (angles from -8° to -15°). The static and dynamic plantar pressures of the participants were measured using HR Mat and EMED-n50. The reliability of the contact area and mean force was assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Furthermore, the differences in measurements between the two devices were examined, considering the presence of mild flatfoot. Results: The ICC values for the contact area and mean force ranged from 0.703 to 0.947, indicating good-to-excellent reliability across all areas. EMED-n50 tended to record higher contact areas than HR Mat. The mean force was significantly higher in the forefoot region when measured with EMED-n50, whereas, in the hindfoot region, this difference was observed only during static measurements with HR Mat. Participants with mild flatfeet exhibited significantly higher contact areas in the midfoot region for both devices, with no consistent differences in the other parameters. Conclusion: The contact area and mean force measurements of the HR Mat and EMED-n50 showed high reliability. On the other hand, EMED-n50 tended to record higher contact areas than HR Mat. In cases of mild flatfoot, an increase in contact area within the midfoot region was observed, but no consistent impact on the differences between the two devices was evident.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.402-409
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• 2002

The effects of protein-bound polysaccharides (A-PBP and L-PBP) that were extracted from the mycelia of two edible mushrooms, namely Agaricus blazai and Lentinus edodes, on serum cholesterol and body weight were investigated in mice and female volunteers. Six groups of Male Balb/c mice were fed six kinds of diet supplement- solutions composed of L-PBP, A-PBP, chitosan, and other fiber constituents, for 30 days under the normal diet. Ninety female volunteers were also supplemented for 8 weeks with six kinds of capsules including control and five test groups as the same manners (two times a day, 4 capsules). From 12 days after feeding of L-PBP (Group I) and A-PBP (Group II), the weight of mice began to reduce as compared with control, whereas that of Group III fed chitosan was decreased 15 days after feeding. Group W and Group V which were fed mixture of L-PBP, A-PBP, chitosan, and other dietary fiber, were more significant in lowering weight. After 4 weeks of the supplementation in women, their serum LDL-cholesterol level and body weights in Group I and II were reduced, but Croup 111 taken with chitosan capsule showed weaker effect than Group I and II. After 8 weeks, LDL-cholesterol content in the sera of Group I (132.5 mg/dL) and II(131.5 mg/dL) was decreased to ideal level (125.4 and 122.8 mg/dL) for healthy blood vessel. In the case of Group W supplemented with mixture of L-PBP, A-PBP, and chitosan, the weight-reduction effect (11.8%) and hypocholesterolemic effect (11.0%) was most significant, indicating their synergistic action. These data suggested that the weight-controlling and hypolipidemic effect of L-PBP and A-PBP was involved, at least in part, in absorption of cholesterol as their role of dietary fiber, as well as cholesterol metabolism.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2002

Objective: Stress is known to be a common cause of short-term insomnia and insomniacs often complain that stress induces sleep problems. However, previous studies on the correlation between stress and sleep do not show consistent results. We aimed to investigate the effects of minor stressful events on sleep among college students. Method: Physically and mentally healthy college student volunteers filled out a self-assessment questionnaire to evaluate their stress and sleep. To find out the status of average stress and sleep, the volunteers filled out K-DSI and daily sleep assessments on three consecutive days. In addition, we surveyed the amount of caffeine beverage intake and assessed the degree of depression and anxiety. Results: The total number of students participating in this study was 202, 101 men and 101 women. Minor stress turned out to significantly affect non-restorative sleep and secondary symptoms of insomnia (awakening difficulty, displeasure, feeling of dissatisfaction with sleep, physical uneasiness or pain at awakening, daytime sleepiness, depressive moods, tiredness and concentration difficulty). However, global PSQI score, self-reported sleeping hours, sleep latency, awakening frequency, frequency and duration of napping, were not explained by stress scores. Conclusion: In this study, minor stresses seemed to affect sleep, especially secondary symptoms caused by non-restorative sleep. We can thus infer that minor stresses impair the restorative effects of sleep by inducing arousal, and the direct relationship the two can be confirmed by polysomnogram.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.267-276
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• 2008

The 25 healthy male volunteers aged from 20 to 50years old have been employed in this study. 2D-PC MRA was performed to measure the velocity of the blood flow in the internal carotid artery and internal jugular veins using 3.0T MRI Whole body (signa VH/i GE). ECTRICKS-CEMRA was performed to evaluate the pattern of blood circulation from internal carotid artery to internal jugular vein. Using 2D-PC MRA, the cross-section of the 4th and 5th cervical discs was scanned with 24cm FOV. Then the speed of blood flow was measured for internal carotid artery and internal jugular vein when the subject wears a necktie tightly and no tie. The average of maximum velocity of internal carotid arteries without a necktie was 72.13cm/sec in the right side and 74.96cm/sec in the left side(average 73.54cm/sec in both sides) while the average of maximum velocity of internal jugular veins without a necktie was -34.45cm/sec in the right side and -24.99cm/sec in the left side (-29.72cm/sec in both sides). However, when wearing a necktie tightly, the average of maximum velocity of internal carotid arteries was 61.35cm/sec in the right side and 65.19cm/sec in the left side(average 63.27cm/sec in both sides) while the average of maximum velocity of internal jugular veins was -22.14cm/sec in the right side and -17.93cm/sec in the left side(-20.03cm/sec in both sides). With the necktie tightly knotted, the average blood flow speed of both internal carotid arteries slightly decreased to 86% (63.27/73.54cm/sec) compared to no tie case in which both internal jugularveins significantly went down to 67% (-20.03/-29.72 cm/sec). Thus it is suggested that wearing a necktie affects the circulation of internal jugular veins(33% decrease in blood flow speed) more significantly than that of internal carotid artery(14% decrease in blood flow speed). Without a necktie, ECTRICKS-CEMRA showed natural blood circulation patterns of internal carotid arteries and internal jugular veins without any disturbances or compressions. However, when wearing a necktie tightly, ECTRICKS-CEMRA showed severe compression onto both internal jugular veins in all 25 volunteers. In conclusion, the result of the study showed that the tightly worn necktie instantly presses more internal jugular veins than internal carotid arteries, thereby significantly reducing the blood flow speed and leading to the temporary occlusion. Thus, the defecation or washing the face under the tightly tied necktie situations can cause the unexpected and temporary compression or occlusion of the internal jugular veins, subsequently leading to the occurrences of the stroke due to the secondary intracranial venous hypertension.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.302-308
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• 2006

Purpose: Although several neuroanatomical models of panic disorder have been proposed, little is known regarding the neurological mechanisms underlying cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in patients with panic disorder. This study was performed to identify the brain structures that show changes of regnioal cerebral blood flow (rCBF) after CBT in patients with panic disorder. Materials and Methods: Seven patients who were diagnosed as panic disorder by DSM-IV were treated with CBT for 8 weeks and twelve healthy volunteers joined in this study. Serial $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ brain perfusion SPECT images were acquisited and PDSS-SR (Self-Report version of Panic Disorder Severity Scale) and ACQ (Agoraphobic Cognitive Question) scores were measured just before and after CBT in all patients. Data were analyzed using SPM2. Results: Subjective symptoms were improved, and PDSS-SR and ACQ scores were significantly reduced ($14.9{\pm}3.9\;vs.\;7.0{\pm}1.8$, p<0.05; $30.3{\pm}8.5\;vs.\;21.6{\pm}3.4$, p<0.05, respectively) after CBT in panic patients. Before CBT, a significant increase of rCBF was found in the cingulate gylus, thalamus, midbrain, both medial frontal and temporal lobes of the panic patients compared to the normal volunteers. After CBT, we observed a significant rCBF decrease in the left parahippocamus, right insula and cingulate gyrus, both frontal and temporal lobes, and a significant rCBF increase in both the occipital lobes, left insula, both frontal and left parietal lobes. Conclusion: These data suggested that CBT is effective for panic disorder and diminish the activity of the brain areas associated with fear in panic disorder.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2008

Purpose : There is debate concerning the observation of metabolite changes on MRS at the designated cortex during some tasks. The purpose of this study is to assess the change of the lactate content at the motor cortex during hand-grasping tasks with performing real-time fMRI-guided fMRS. Materials and Methods : Seven healthy volunteers (23-28 years old) underwent realtime fMRI during right hand grasping tasks with using a 1.5 T system. After confirming the activating area, single voxel MRS was preformed at 1) the baseline, 2) during the task and 3) after the task on the activating cortex. The three consecutive spectra were compared for observing the changes of the lactate content by the tasks. The Cho/Cr, NAA/Cr and Lac/Cr ratios were calculated manually from those spectra. Results : MRS during the tasks revealed the lactate peaks at the 1.33 ppm resonance frequency with great conspicuity at the activated area, which was identified on the real-time fMRI. After the task scan, the lactate peaks completely disappeared and the spectra recovered to the values of the baseline scan in all volunteers. At baseline, during the task and after the task, the Cho/Cr ratios were 0.81, 0.76 and 0.77, respectively, and the NAA/Cr ratios were 1.68, 1.65 and 1.72, respectively, and the Lac/Cr ratios were 0.28, 0.41 and 0.30, respectively. During the task, Lac was significantly increased by 46%. Conclusion : We observed prominent lactate peaks on MRS during hand-grasping tasks at the activated area, as was shown on the real-time fMRI. We suggest that fMRS can be used as a sensitive tool for observing the metabolite changes of the functioning brain.