• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.57-62
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• 2009

Kinematic analysis of MTC (Muscle-Tendon Complex) units is a key indicator for diagnosis of patients with musculoskeletal disorders because the contracture or shortening of musculo-tendinous units is known to produce pathological gaits. Therefore, the principal objective of this study was to assess the length change in the triceps surae prior to and after wearing an AFO (Ankle-Foot Orthoses) in patients with musculoskeletal disorders during a gait. In this study, analyses were conducted using a Muscle Tendon Complex model coupled with the trajectory data from markers attached to anatomical landmarks. As a result, the maximum length change in the triceps surae during a gait was 4.87% when a barefoot walking group and a walking group with AFO were compared. In particular, the difference in length changes between both groups in Soleus MTC units was found to be statistically significant in all gait phases. Our results revealed that MTC length in the AFO walking group was clearly increased over that of the barefoot walking group. In the future, further studies will be required in order to more adequately assess musculoskeletal disorders using many cases studies with regard to agricultural working conditions because this study deals with the kinematic analysis of musculo-tendinous units in the case of clinical experiments.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.223-229
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• 2000

Limbs and supporting structures of an organism experience a full weight of its own when it lands from water, because neutral buoyancy in the aquatic habitat will be no longer available in the terrestrial world. Metamorphosis of anuran amphibians presents 8 good research model to examine how this transition from non-loading to weight-loading affects development of motor capacity at the time of their first emergence on land. Our video analysis of the transitional anurans, Rana catesbeiana, at Gosner stage 46 (the stage of complete transformation) demonstrated that the take-off speed increased 1.23-fold after the first six hours of weight-loading on the wet ground. It did not increase further during the following three days of loading, and was close to the level of mature frogs with different body mass. During development of larvae in deep water with no chance of landing through metamorphosis, both tension and power of a hindlimb anti-gravity muscle increased 5-fold between stages 37 and n. However, the muscle contractility increased more rapidly when the larvas could access the wet ground by their natural landing behavior after stages 41-42. Muscle power, one of major factors affecting locomotory speed, was 1.29-fold greater in the loaded than in the non-loaded larvae at the transitional stage. Thus, weight-loading had a potentially significant effect on the elevation of motor capacity, with a similar extent of increment in locomotory speed and muscle power during the last stages of metamorphosis. Such a motor adjustment of the froglets in a relatively short transitional period would be important for effective ecological interactions and survival in their inexperienced terrestrial life.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.131-139
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• 2023

Background: Massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are complicated by muscle atrophy, fibrosis, and intramuscular fatty degeneration, which are associated with postoperative tendon-to-bone healing failure and poor clinical outcomes. We evaluated muscle and enthesis changes in large tears with or without suprascapular nerve (SN) injury in a rat model. Methods: Sixty-two adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into SN injury (+) and SN injury (-) groups (n=31 each), comprising tendon (supraspinatus [SSP]/infraspinatus [ISP]) and nerve resection and tendon resection only cases, respectively. Muscle weight measurement, histological evaluation, and biomechanical testing were performed 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Ultrastructural analysis with block face imaging was performed 8 weeks postoperatively. Results: SSP/ISP muscles in the SN injury (+) group appeared atrophic, with increased fatty tissue and decreased muscle weight, compared to those in the control and SN injury (-) groups. Immunoreactivity was only positive in the SN injury (+) group. Myofibril arrangement irregularity and mitochondrial swelling severity, along with number of fatty cells, were higher in the SN injury (+) group than in the SN injury (-) group. The bone-tendon junction enthesis was firm in the SN injury (-) group; this was atrophic and thinner in the SN injury (+) group, with decreased cell density and immature fibrocartilage. Mechanically, the tendon-bone insertion was significantly weaker in the SN injury (+) group than in the control and SN injury (+) groups. Conclusions: In clinical settings, SN injury may cause severe fatty changes and inhibition of postoperative tendon healing in large RCTs. Level of evidence: Level Basic research, controlled laboratory study.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.313-320
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between vibration exposure and skeletal muscle mass index through a single university health check-up. Methods: We used data from 134,067 male subjects who received a general health check-up or vibration exposure health check-up out of the 1,515,322 people who underwent medical check-up at a local university hospital from 2002 to 2018. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted for comparing the association between skeletal muscle mass index and demographic and hematological variables in both groups. Mixed linear model analysis after controlling demographic and hematological variables was used to analyze the differences in skeletal muscle mass index between groups at every visit over 10 years. Results: In the Pearson correlation test, the variables that showed different results when comparing the two groups were C-reactive protein (p=0.001) and glycated hemoglobin (p=0.002) in the vibration exposure group and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p<0.001) and vitamin D (p<0.001) in the general group. After the adjustment of demographic and hematologic variables, the skeletal muscle mass index at every visit was markedly decreased in the vibration exposure group (p<0.001). Conclusions: In the vibration exposure group, the skeletal muscle mass index showed a tendency to decrease markedly over time compared to the general health check-up group, which showed that C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin would have an influence on skeletal muscle index in male workers exposed to vibration.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.117-123
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• 2022

Background: Push-up are effective exercises for shoulder stability. Previous studies have documented the effects of support plane and hand position and width on muscle activities during a push-up. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the changes in muscle activities in the upper extremity when performing the standard and the knee-flexed push-up with different hand shapes. Methods: A total of twenty-six healthy males participated in this study. Three different hand shapes (finger abduction, finger adduction, and fists) and two types of push-up posture (standard and knee-flexed push-up) were set as the independent variables. Electrograms were used to measure the muscle activity of the upper trapezius (UT), triceps brachii (TB), pectoralis major (PM), and serratus anterior (SA). Each participant performed the randomly assigned push-up to the sound of the metronome. The mixed-effect linear regression model was used to detect the changes in muscle activities after changing the hand shape and push-up posture. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: The UT muscle activity was statistically significantly higher when performing push-up with fists than finger abduction (p = 0.035) or finger adduction (p = 0.044). During the standard push-up, the muscle activity in all muscles was that the push-up with fists showed the highest muscle activity compared to the finger abduction (p < 0.01) and finger adduction (p < 0.01). Regardless of the shape of the hand, UT had the lowest muscle activity compared to other muscles (p < 0.001). In contrast, the SA muscle had the highest muscle activity among four muscles during the standard push-up. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we suggest hand shape is related to the difficulty level of push-up either in the standard or the knee-flexed push-up, especially in the push-up with fists. In addition, knee push-up can be recommended as shoulder muscle-strengthening exercises for individuals with low shoulder muscle strength.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.520-527
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor on muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of affected and unaffected hindlimb muscles in rats with neuropathic pain induced by unilateral peripheral nerve injury. Methods: Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation and cutting of the left L5 spinal nerve. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: The NOSI group (n=19) had NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) injections daily for 14 days, and the Vehicle group (n=20) had vehicle injections daily for 14 days. Withdrawal threshold, body weight, food intake and activity were measured every day. At 15 days all rats were anesthetized and soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected from hindlimbs. Muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of the dissected muscles were determined. Results: The NOSI group showed significant increases as compared to the Vehicle group for body weight at 15 days, muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of the unaffected soleus and gastrocnemius. The NOSI group demonstrated a higher pain threshold than the vehicle group. Conclusion: NOSI for 14 days attenuates unaffected soleus and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy in neuropathic pain model.

• 대한산업공학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.261-278
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• 1998

The paper represented the lower extremity muscle model as four rigid-body segments: trunk, shank, and foot. We transformed their tibial data into our shank data by rotating their tibial X and Y axes by 5.483 degrees, so the revised coordinate data used to translating the origin of their tibial reference frame to our shank reference frame. According to weight of subject, physiological cross-setional area(PCSA) of each lower extremity muscle was calculated by scaling those data by Brand. The objectives of this paper are to investigate the variations of the recruitment patterns of the lower extremity muscles, and to analyze the changes of the role assigned to each muscle during the seated foot operation. For exertion levels, the transition point of type F motor unit of each muscle is inferred by analyzing the electromyogram at the seated postures. Also, for predetermined seated foot operations exertion levels, the recruitment pattern and the changes of the role assigned are identified in the continuous exertion, by analyzing the electromyogram changes due to the accumulated muscle fatigue. This study can be used to design and to assess the pedals and foot-related equipments design.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.44-47
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• 2000

Cell growth and DNA synthesis were studied from a cultured early- and late- pas- sage mouse aorta smooth muscle cell (MASMC) because the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is a key factor in development of atherosclerosis. In this study, the cells were cultured in fetal bovine serum (FBS) and stimulated by growth factors such as thrombin and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). Compared to the number of early-passage MASMC (passage 3 to 9) the number of late-passage MASMC (passage 30 to 40) in a normal serum state was increased 2 fold at Day 1, 3 and 6 in culture, respectively. Incorporation of $[^3H]$ thymidine into DNA induced by serum, PDGF and thrombin in late-passage MASMC was greater than those in early-passage MASMC. We also examined whether intracellular zinc levels would be an aging factor or not. The intracellular zinc level in early- and late-passage MASMC was monitored by using the zinc probe dye N-(6-methoxy-8-quinolyl)-p-toluenesulfonamide. It is interested that late-passage MASMC increased the intracellular fluorescence level of zinc, more than the early passage MASMC did. The alterations of intracellular zinc level occur concurrently with changes in MASMC proliferation rate during aging. This data suggest that the age-associated changes in zinc concentrations may provide a new in vitro model for the study of smooth muscle cell differentiation.

• 한국정밀공학회지
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.207-212
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• 2005

The purpose of this work is to develop the FES controller that can cope with the muscle fatigue which is one of the most important problems of current FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation). The feasibility of the proposed FES controller was evaluated by simulation. We used a fitness function to describe the effect of muscle fatigue and recovery process. The FES control system was developed based on the biological neuronal system. Specifically, we used PD (Proportional and Derivative) and GC (Gravity Compensation) control, which was described by the neuronal feedback structure. It was possible to control of multiple joints and muscles by using the phase-based PD and GC control method and the static optimization. As a result, the proposed FES control system could maintain the cycling motion in spite of the muscle fatigue. It is expected that the proposed FES controller will play an important role in the rehabilitation of SCI patient.

• BMB Reports
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.160-165
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• 2023

Vascular calcification is common in cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, and is associated with an increased risk of pathological events and mortality. Some semaphorin family members play an important role in atherosclerosis. In the present study, we show that Semaphorin 4D/Sema4D and its Plexin-B1 receptor were significantly upregulated in calcified aorta of a rat chronic kidney disease model. Significantly higher Sema4D and Plexin-B1 expression was also observed during inorganic phosphate-induced calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells. Knockdown of Sema4D or Plexin-B1 genes attenuated both the phosphate-induced osteogenic phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells, through regulation of SMAD1/5 signaling, as well as apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells, through modulation of the Gas6/Axl/Akt survival pathway. Taken together, our results offer new insights on the role of Sema4D and Plexin-B1 as potential therapeutic targets against vascular calcification.