• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.219-226
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the response of the human body to stress induced by wall recording of subway stations in the city center. The experiment was conducted as a simulation exercise, and six images were selected and produced based on Subway Line 2, a representative underground space in Seoul. The study participants included 24 male and female college students. A three-minute experiment was conducted, during which the participants were shown the control image and green wall image once each. To measure psychological status, the following measurement indicators were used: Semantic Differential, Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Physiological changes were investigated by tracking participants' heart rate and blood pressure. Results showed that parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves were activated in the presence of the green wall in the subway station. The psychological evaluation analysis revealed that negative affect toward underground space decreased, while positive affect increased. This study found that the green wall in subway stations has a stable effect on the human body, both psychologically and physiologically. In the future, green walls in underground spaces can be used to reduce psychological stress and increase physiological relaxation.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.584-593
• /
• 2023

This study attempted to develop repetitive impact sources similar to real-life floor impact noise and to find an assessment approach corresponding to this new impact source. The necessity for the development of the new impact source arises from the fact that issues related to floor impact noise in actual residential buildings mainly stem from children running. However, the standard impact sources which have been used for measuring and evaluating floor impact noise are of single-impulse type, which differs from the actual problematic impact sources. The study encompassed 18 evaluation items, and the results suggest that items applicable for assessing floor impact noise include psychological effects (annoying, becoming angry), disturbances to daily life (interference with sleep, disruption of relaxation), and physiological effects (elevated blood pressure). These items can be employed individually and, depending on the type of evaluation for floor impact noise, can be selectively utilized. By doing so, more comprehensive evaluations of auditory experiments in laboratories or assessments of residential noise in living environments related to floor impact noise could be conducted.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.53-63
• /
• 2024

Objectives This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of manual therapy for the treatment of plantar fasciitis by reviewing existing randomized controlled trials. Specifically, it seeks to identify various manual therapy techniques and evaluate their applicability in clinical settings. Methods The study reviewed literature from six databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, ScienceON, Research Information Sharing Service, Korean studies Information Service System) up to April 2024. Studies were selected based on criteria including randomized controlled trials involving manual therapy for plantar fasciitis. Results An analysis of ten studies involving 714 patients revealed the use of techniques such as joint mobilization, muscle relaxation, and pressure point techniques. Manual therapy was found to be more effective in reducing pain than both extracorporeal shock wave therapy and routine physical therapy alone. However, caution is needed in generalizing these results due to the limited number of studies analyzed. No significant adverse effects were reported. Conclusions Manual therapy demonstrates potential as an effective treatment for plantar fasciitis, offering benefits in pain management and functional recovery. However, further high-quality randomized controlled trials are necessary to strengthen the clinical evidence and establish standardized treatment protocols.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.113 no.1
• /
• pp.107-117
• /
• 2024

This study investigated temporal changes in forest physical variables and their effects on thermal comfort and physiological and psychological responses. Environmental factors (air temperature, mean radiant temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity), the predicted mean vote (PMV), and the predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) visitors were continuously measured between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. We assessed the physiological and psychological responses (heart rate variability, heart rate, oral temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, thermal sensation vote, comfort sensation vote, and subjective feelings) of 30 male university students (average age: 21.7±1.9 years), who closed their eyes and relaxed for 5 minutes every hour. Examination of correlations between environmental factors and physiological responses showed that ① the mean radiant temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity significantly changed with time; ② PMV and PPD also showed significant changes over time, and the thermal sensation vote corresponded with PMV; however, the comfort sensation vote did not correspond with PPD; ③ Among the physiological responses, parasympathetic nerve activity, sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate, and diastolic blood pressure significantly varied with time, with parasympathetic nerve activity having the lowest value and sympathetic nerve activity the highest at the highest air temperature (2:00-4:00 PM); and ④ Air temperature, mean radiant temperature, and wind speed showed a negative correlation with parasympathetic nerve activity and a positive correlation with sympathetic nerve activity. These findings indicate that the relaxation effects of the forest environment depend on what time of day people are exposed to it, and the changes occurring in forest environmental factors over time modulate these effects.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.214-221
• /
• 2012

In recent years, some researchers reported that myofascia was innervated by the autonomic nervous system. However, there is no neurophysiological explanation and evidence for the effects of myofascial release(MFR). Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether the excitability of the autonomic nervous system is modulated by MFR. In this study, thirty healthy subjects in their 20s were randomly assigned to a myofascial release group(MG) and a placebo control group(PCG); each group had 15 subjects. The MG conducted 5 minutes of cranial base release in supine position, and the PCG performed sham cranial base release. Muscle flexibility was measured with the neck range of motion and the changes of the autonomic nervous system excitability was measured by heart rate, blood pressure, and concentration of plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine. The results were as follows: 1. The percentage changes in the cervical range of motion for extension and side flexion were significantly increased in the MG, signifying that more muscle relaxation. 2. There was no significant percentage changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and concentration plasma epinephrine between MG and PCG. 3. The percentage change in concentration plasma norepinephrine was significantly different between MG and PCG. The result of this study suggests that there is no evidence that MFR can modulate the autonomic nervous system excitability.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.95-100
• /
• 2016

The aim of the present study is to investigate the hypotensive effect of Mantidis ootheca (WMO), Rosa laevigata (WIC), and Imperata cylindrica (WRL) in renovascular hypertension rats. Experimental hypertension model is 2-kidney and 1-clip (2K1C) induced rats. 2K1C rats were treated with WMO, WIC, and WRL at dose of 100 mg/kg/day orally for 3 weeks, respectively. Treatment groups with WMO, WIC, and WRL significantly lowered blood pressure. Interestingly, WMO, WIC, and WRL ameliorated endothelium-dependent and independent vascular relaxation in the phenylephrine-precontracted thoracic aorta in hypertension models. In addition, 2K1C-induced hypertension model increased plasma renin activity, however, WMO, WIC, and WRL attenuated those activities. These results suggest that WMO, WIC, and WRL ameliorates vascular dysfunction in 2K1C-induced hypertension models via the regulation of nitric oxide and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.87-100
• /
• 2010

Background : Recently a discussion about Qi including a study about the effect or the theory of acupuncture is getting prevailing in various angles. In most of studies about acupuncture stimulus, 'Filiform acupuncture'(毫鍼) is used. A study about Nine kinds of acupuncture(九鍼), except 'Filiform acupuncture'(毫鍼) has not been reported yet, and there is no study about using a special acupuncture made for controling Qi either. Objectives : 'Dong Chu Gold Chim(DCG-chim, 東樞金鍼)' can be used for patients who are scared of a pain because it is a medical Qi-gong tool and non-invasive stimulus one. To assess a effect of Qi-gong operation using DCG-chim objectively Methods : The present study was performed to elucidate the effects of DCG-chim stimulation of an acupuncture point Baihui($GV_{20}$) on the Electroencephalogram(EEG). Twenty healthy subject were treated with DCG-chim one time accompanied by the light and vertical pressure and EEG were measured during five minutes for three times (before, during and after treatment). The EEG results of DCG-chim treatment were compared with those of 'Filiform acupuncture(毫鍼)'. Results : EEG power spectra changed significantly after both kind of acupuncture stimulation. Significant increase of $\alpha$ wave and decrease of $\beta$ wave were observed but interestingly, Mid-$\beta$ and SMR of $\beta$ wave which mean the state of concentration were increased with statistically significant. According to these results, DCG-chim stimulation of Baihui($GV_{20}$) seems to lead to relaxation with antianxietic effect and improvement of concentration at the same time. Conclusions : It would be expected that the doctor can apply DCG-chim for treating anxiety, tension, symptom caused by stress and also can use it clinically for patients who have needlphopia or children as a non-invasive procedure. It is suggested that additional studies about the effect of DCG-chim on other acupuncture points and comparison study about the effect of DCG-chim with those of the finger-pressure treatment using other tool should be done in the future.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.11
• /
• pp.4348-4358
• /
• 2022

The thermal-hydraulics phenomena in a containment during an accident will necessarily include radiative heat transfer (i) within the gas mixture due to the high radiative absorption and emission of steam and (ii) between the gas mixture and the surrounding structures. The analysis of some previous PANDA experiments (PSI, Switzerland) demonstrated the importance of the proper modelling of radiation for the benefit of numerical simulations. These results together with dedicated scoping calculations conducted for the present experiments indicated that the radiative heat transfer is considerable, even for a very low amount of steam (≈2%). The H2P2 series conducted in the large-scale PANDA facility at the Paul-Scherrer-Institut (PSI) in the framework of the OECD/NEA HYMERES-2 project is intended to enhance the understanding of thermal radiation phenomena and to provide a benchmark for corresponding numerical simulations. Thus, the test matrix was tailored around the two opposite extremes: either gas compositions with small steam content such that radiative heat transfer phenomena can be neglected. Or gas mixtures containing larger amounts of steam, so that radiative heat transfer is expected to play a dominant role. The H2P2 series consists of 5 experiments designed to isolate the radiation phenomena from convective and diffusive effects as much as possible. One vessel with a diameter of 4 m and a height of 8 m was preconditioned with different mixtures of air / steam at room and elevated temperatures. This was followed by the build-up of a stable helium stratification at constant pressure in the upper part of the vessel. After that, helium was injected from the top into the vessel which leads to an increase of the vessel pressure and a corresponding elevation-dependent and transient rise of the gas temperature. It is shown that even the addition of small amounts of steam in the initial gas atmosphere considerably impacts the radiative heat transport throughout all phases of the experiments and markedly influences i) the monitored gas peak temperature, ii) the temperature history during the compression and iii) the following relaxation phase after the compression was stopped. These PANDA experiments are the first of its kind conducted in a large scale thermal-hydraulic facility.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.309-317
• /
• 1999

Background: Left ventricular diastolic filling is an important determinant for maintenance of cardiac output during hemodialysis. Few investigators have studied the influence of hemodialysis on diastolic function. To evaluate the change of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. we performed M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic studies before and after hemodialysis. Methods: The study population consisted of 30 patients(15 patients were male, mean age $45{\pm}10$ years) with CRF on maintenance hemodialysis. They have normal left ventricular systolic function(Fractional shortening>30%) and no evidence of valvular heart disease or regional wall motion abnormalities. The ejection fraction (EF) was measured using M-mode echocardiography and Doppler indices such as peak E velocity, peak A velocity, isovolumetric relaxation time(IVRT), deceleration time(DT). and left ventricular ejection time(LVET) obtained from Doppler echocardiography. The index of myocardial performance (IMP) was calculated from each of the Doppler velocity indices. Results: The weight reduction after hemodialysis was $2.1{\pm}1.0kg$(p<0.0001), After hemodialysis, there was some decrease in blood pressure(p<0.05), but no significant change in heart rate, EF and fractional shortening, mean VCF, peak A velocity, and DT. And significant reduction in peak E velocity, E/A ratio(p<0.0001. p<0.001), and significant increase in IVRT and IMP(p<0.05, p<0.0001) were noted. Conclusion: In conclusion, preload reduction is the main mechanism that accounts for changes in Doppler diastolic indices after hemodialysis. And an increased IMP suggests that diastolic function may be aggravated after hemodialysis, and that implies impaired left ventricular filling and disturbed left ventricular compliance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.576-587
• /
• 2009

Background: The up-regulation of the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway might be involved in the change of vascular reactivity in rats 3 days after they suffer acute myocardial infarction. However, the underlying mechanism for this has not been clarified. Material and Method: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 30 min (Group AMI), whereas the sham-operated control rats were treated similarly without LAD occlusion (Group SHAM), The concentration-response relationships for phenylephrine (PE), KCl, acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were determined in the endothelium intact E(+) and endothelium denuded E(-) thoracic aortic rings from the rats 3 days after AMI or a SHAM operation. The concentration-response relationships of PE in the E(+) rings from the AMI rats were compared with those relationships in the rings pretreated with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. The plasma nitrite/nitrate concentrations were checked via a Griess reaction. The cyclic GMP content in the thoracic aortic rings was measured by radioimmunoassay and the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was assessed by real time PCR. Result: The mean infarct size (%) in the rats with AMI was $21.3{\pm}0.62%$. The heart rate and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not significantly changed in the AMI rats. The sensitivity of the contractile response to PE and KCl was significantly decreased in both the E(+) and E(-) aortic rings of the AMI group (p<0.05). L-NAME completely reversed these contractile responses whereas indomethacin did not (p<0.05). Moreover, the sensitivity of the relaxation response to Ach was also significantly decreased in the AMI group (p<0.05). The plasma nitrite and nitrate content (p<0.05), the basal cGMP content (p<0.05) and the eNOS mRNA expression (p=0.056) in the AMI rats were increased as compared with the SHAM group. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the increased eNOS activity and the up-regulation of the NO-cGMP pathway can be attributed to the decreased contractile or relaxation response in the rat thoracic aorta 3 days after AMI.