• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2010

The cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) is a periodic EEG activity in NREM sleep, characterized by sequences of transient electrocortical events that are distinct from background EEG activities. A CAP cycle consists of two periodic EEG features, phase A and subsequent phase B whose durations are 2-60 s. At least two consecutive CAP cycles are required to define a CAP sequence. The CAP phase A is a phasic EEG event, such as delta bursts, vertex sharp transients, K-complex sequences, polyphasic bursts, K-alpha, intermittent alpha, and arousals. Phase B is repetitive periods of background EEG activity. The absence of CAP more than 60 seconds or an isolated phase A is classified as non-CAP. Phase A activities can be classified into three subtypes (A1, A2, and A3), based on the amounts of high-voltage slow waves (EEG synchrony) and low-amplitude fast rhythms (EEG desynchrony). CAP rate, the percentage of CAP durations in NREM sleep is considered to be a physiologic marker of the NREM sleep instability. In insomnia, the frequent discrepancy between self-reports and polysomnographic findings could be attributed to subtle abnormalities in the sleep tracing, which are overlooked by the conventional scoring methods. The conventional scoring scheme has superiority in analysis of macrostructure of sleep but shows limited power in finding arousals and transient EEG events that are major component of microstructure of sleep. But, it has recently been found that a significant correlation exists between CAP rate and the subjective estimates of the sleep quality in insomniacs and sleep-improving treatments often reduce the amount of CAP. Thus, the extension of conventional sleep measures with the new CAP variables, which appear to be the more sensitive to sleep disturbance, may improve our knowledge on the diagnosis and management of insomnia.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.373-380
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• 1996

Recently we reported that GS 386, 1-(4'-methoxybenzyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline, inhibited amplitude of the $Ca^{2+}$ current by reducing the probability of $Ca^{2+}$ channel opening without changing channel kinetics in isolated rabbit atrial myocyte. In the present study, further investigation of the mechanism of action of GS 386 was performed using isolated rat trachealis. GS 386 concentration-dependently relaxed rat trachealis contracted by carbachol $(0.3{\mu}M)$ and high $K^+$(65.4 mM) with $IC_{50}$ 5.24 and 5.67 ${\mu}M$, respectively. Verapamil inhibited more effectively the high $K^+-contracted$ tissues than those with carbachol in the rat trachealis muscle. In $Ca^{2+}-free$ media, $Ca^{2+}-induced$ contraction was inhibited by GS 386. Furthermore, high concentration of GS 386 $(100{\mu}M)$ but not verapamil, attenuated a phasic contraction induced not only by carbachol but also caffeine, indicating that GS386 can enter into the cytoplasm where it may exert secondary actions on internal sites of the muscle, such as sarcoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, GS 386 showed verapamil-resistant component of relaxation and increased cAMP levels in rat trachal smooth muscle. These results suggest that the mechanism of action of GS 386 attributes to not only $Ca^{2+}$ antagonistic action but also weak phosphodiesterase inhibitory action.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to develop EMG triggered FES system for restoration of upper extremity function in chronic hemiplegic patients and to identify the optimal location of electrode application for the EMG triggered FES system which produces effective muscle contraction and detects EMG activity for extension in the wrist and finger joints. The stimulus system was composed of EMG measuring component, constant current component and the program for muscle contraction by EMG triggered FES and passive FES. Parameter of electrical stimulation was 35 ㎐ in frequency, 150 ${\mu}\textrm{s}$ in pulse width and symmetric bi-phasic wave. In 15 hemiplegic patients, EMG triggered FES was applied to the proximal half of forearm which was divided into 12 areas. The most sensitive area for measuring EMG activities during extension of the wrist and fingers was area 4, 5 and the optimal location of electrical stimulation for producing extension of the wrist and fingers was area 4, 5, 7, 8. These results suggest that the area 4 and 5 was considered as the most optimal location of electrode application for measuring EMG activities as well as producing extension of the wrist and fingers by EMG triggered FES system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.277-289
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• 1989

The effects of noradrenaline on the contractile and electrical activities were investigated using the circular muscle strips with intact mucosa prepared from the antrum and fundus of guinea-pig stomach. Electrical responses of circular muscle cells were recorded using glass capillary microelectrodes filled with 3 M KCI. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% $O_2\;and\;kept\;at\;35^{\circ}C$. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The spontaneous contractions recorded from the antral and fundic circular muscle strips with intact mucosa were suppressed dose-dependently by the application of noradrenaline, whereas those recorded from the mucosa-free strips were potentiated in a dose-dependent manner. 2) The inhibitory influences on the contractile activities in the normal intact strips were developed via both ${\alpha}-adrenoceptors\;and\;{\beta}-adrenoceptors$, while the excitatory influences in the mucosa-free strips resulted from the strong excitatory effect via ${\alpha}-adrenoceptors$ and the weak inhibitory effect via ${\beta}-adrenoceptors$. 3) Noradrenaline produced hyperpolarization of membrane potential, and increased the amplitude and the maximum rate of rise of slow waves in the mucosa-free strips of antral and fundic circular muscle. 4) Apamin blocked the appearance of the component of initial suppression of spontaneous phasic contractions observed in the mucosa-free strips of antral circular muscle after the application of noradrenaline. 5) The inhibitory influences on the contractile activities in the normal strips with intact mucosa remained unaffected even in the strip with separate mucosa, in which mucosa and muscle layer were mechanically disconnected . From the above results, following conclusions could be made. (1) There are no regional differences between the effects of noradrenaline on the antral circular muscle and those on the fundic circular muscle. (2) Excitatory responses to noradrenaline observed in the mucosa-free strip result from the dominant ${\alpha}-excitatory$ and tile weak ${\beta}-inhibitory$ action of noradrenaline. (3) Inhibitory responses to noradrenaline in the normal strips with intact mucosa develop via both ${\alpha}-inhibitory\;and\;{\beta}-inhibitory$ actions.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.382-395
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• 1992

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in central nervous system and produce sedative, antianxiety and muscle reaxing effects via $GABA_A$ receptor or $GABA_B$ receptor. Recently it is known that GABA is widely distributed throughout peripheral organs and may playa physiological role in certain organ. The vas deferens is innervated by species-difference. These study, therefore, was performed to investigate the mode and the mechanism of action of GABA on the norepiniphrine-, ATP- and electric stimulation-induced contraction of vas deferens of rat. Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The smooth muscle strips were isolated from the prostastic portion and were mounted in the isolated muscle bath. PSS in the bath was aerated with 95/5%-$O_2/CO_2$ at $33^{\circ}C$. Muscle tensions were measured by isometric tension transducer and were recorded by biological recording system. 1. GABA, muscimol, a $GAB_A$ agonist, and baclofen, a $GABA_B$ agonist inhibited the electric field stimulation(EFS, 0.2Hz, 1mSec, 80 V, monophasic square wave)-induced contraction with a rank order of potency of GABA greater than baclofen greater than muscimol. 2. The inhibitory effect of GABA was antagonized by delta aminovaleric acid(DAVA), a $GABA_B$ antagonist, but not by bicuculline, a $GABA_A$ mtagonist. 3. The inhibitory effect of baclofen was antagonized by DAVA, but the effect of muscimol was not antagonized by bicuculline. 4. Exogenous norepinephrine(NE) and ATP contracted muscle strip concentration dependently, but the effect of acetylcholine was negligible : and GABA did not affect the NE-and ATP-induced contractions. 5. GABA, baclofen and muscimol did not affect basal tone, and GABA did not affect the NE-and ATP-induced contractionsm 6. EFS-induced contraction was including 2 distinctable components. The first phasic component was inhibited by beta gamma-methylene ATP(mATP), a desensitizing agent of APT receptor and the second tonic component was reduced by pretreatment of reserpine(3 mg/Kg, IP). 7. GABA inhibited the EFS-induced contraction of reserpinized strips, but not the mATP-treated strips. These results suggest that in the prostatic portion of the rat vas deferens, adrenergic and purinergic neurotransmissions are exist, and GABA inhibits the release of ATP via presynaptic $GABA_B$ receptor on the excitatory neurons.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.103-109
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• 1988

Cyclobuxine D, extracted from Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai, is a steroidal alkaloid. Many pharmacological effects of cyclobuxine D were examined in our Lab. Cyclobuxine D showed a significant bradycardic effect in the rat heart and an inhibitory action on acetylcholine and $Ba^{++}-induced$ contraction of the longitudinal muscle isolated from the rabbit jejunum. In this study, we investigated the effect of cyclobuxine D on the contractile response-elicited by acetylcholine, oxytocin and $Ba^{++}$ in rat uterine. In order to analyse the inhibitory action of cyclobuxine D on the smooth muscle, we examined the inhibitory action of cyclobuxine D against the contractile response of the high potassium-depolarized rat ileum to calcium. Concentration-dependent decrease in the peak tension and duration of the acetylcholine, oxytocin and $Ba^{++}-induced$ contraction in the isolated rat uterus was observed when cyclobuxine D was added to the organ bath. The isolated longitudinal muscle from the rat ileum was immersed calcium-depleted potassium-depolarizing solution. Ten minutes after, 1.8 mM $CaCl_2$ was added to muscle bath and elicited a biphasic increase in muscle tension. Cyclobuxine D $(6.2{\times}10^{-5}\;M)$ produced an appreciable inhibition of both components of the mechanical response. In addition, $3.1{\times}10^{-4}\;M$ cyclobuxine D, introduced at a point when the tonic response had reached its maximum level, caused the muscle to exhibit a rapid lose of tension. Based on these experimental results, we propose the possibility that the inhibitory action of cyclobuxine D on the acetylcholine, oxytocin and $Ba^{++}-induced$ contraction in the isolated rat uterus may be due to blocking potassium-activated calcium channels, voltage-sensitive calcium channels.