• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.185-193
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the neurophysiological mechanisms, assessment of muscle spasm and treatments that could apply to clinical field. Spasm is a painful pattern of contraction of muscle caused by chronic or acute trauma, excessive tension, or organic disorders. Aside from pain, muscle spasm creates shortenning of muscles and limits motion. Untreated spasm and protective immobility due to pain lead to decreased local blood flow in the muscles and result in a vicious cycle of muscle spasm and paul. The assessment of muscle spasm involve muscle tone assessment, tissue compliance, and joint ROM. Each of these aessessments utilize as a part of the patient's condition Clinical managements involve drug management and physical therapy. Expecially, physical therapy is one of the most important techniques to reduce muscle spasm. Physical therapy includes applying heat and cold, electrical stimulation, massage, and traction. This investigation should entourage phisical therapists to experiment further with various techniques to reduce muscle spasm.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.187-199
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• 1999

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is used for muscle reeducation, reduction of spasticity, delay of atrophy, and muscle strengthening. FES stronger stimulation than other forms of electrical stimulation. The efficacy of FES in improving function has been substantiated in the literature. Treatment programs employing FES - activation of muscular tissue through the intact peripheral nervous system - can be broken into five major categories, according to the goal of treatment. These broad areas would include the use of FES to: (1) a direct excitation onto the alpha motoneuron, through peripheral stimulation of the Ia myotatic sensory system and ascending afferent information, which will be integrated at conscious and subconscious level of the CNS. (2) The quality of a stimulated muscle contraction is determined by combination of many parameters, including stimulus amplitude, pulse duration, stimulus frequency, and duty cycle. (3) A unit that has a pulse duration between 200 and $400{\mu}sec$ will be more than adequate for FES applications. (4) The neuromuscular plasticity is critically important to return of function using muscle re-education and facilitation applications. (5) Prior to using FES as an electrical orthosis, the patient should build up endurance in the muscles to be stimu1ated during the gait cycle.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2007

Bacopa monnieri is being used in the traditional system of medicine for a variety of ailments. In the present study, the ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri aerial parts has been studied for its wound healing activity using various models in rats. Significant increase in wound contraction and skin breaking strength were observed in the excision and incision wound models respectively. There was also significant increase in hydroxyproline content, DNA content, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, glutathione level and decrease in the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the $12^{th}$ day post wounding tissue of experimental rats in the ethanol extract treated groups with respect to the control group. The effect of the extract was found to be comparable with the standard drug nitrofurazone. From the results it may be concluded that the plant Bacopa monnieri is endowed with significant wound healing activity, thereby justifying its use in the traditional medicine. Saponins may be responsible for the observed wound healing activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.297-302
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• 1997

Higenamine was widely used as traditional remedy for the treatment of rhumatoid arthritis. Nitric oxide(NO) may be a critical mediator in this inflammatory disease. Synovial tissue from humans with inflammatory arthritis expresses NOS2(iNOS) mRNA and protein, and generates NO in vitro. We therefore, investigated the effect of higenamine on the induction of nitric oxide synthase(NOS) promoted by lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Prophylactic application of higenamine selectively prevented LPS-primed initiation of L-arginine-induced relaxation and restored rhenylephrine(PE)-induced contraction in rat aorta. LPS-stimulated nitrite production in the incubation medium was reduced by higenamine. Furthermore, RT-PCR and Northern analysis indicated that higenamine reduced iNOS expression primed by LPS in rat aorta. These results suggest that higenamine prevents LPS-promoted induction of NOS in vascular smooth muscle.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2006

Alginate, a polymer of guluronic and mannuronic acid, is used as a scaffolding material in biomedical applications. The research was to produce highly-purified alginate from seaweeds and to evaluate the efficacy of alginate as dermal substrate. Our alginate purification method showed a production rate as high as 25%. The purified alginate contained little polyphenol contents and endotoxin, proteins. For study of wound healing, full thickness skin defects were made on the dorsal area of the animal models. And then alginate, fibroblast-growth-factor mixed alginate, alginate-collagen complex, vaseline gauze as control were applied on the wound, respectively, and were evaluated grossly and histopathologically. For biocompatibility test, alginate and alginate-collagen complex discs were implanted on the back of Sprague-Dawly rats. Four weeks after implantation, the animals were examined immunologically against alginate and collagen. Alginate and FGF-mixed alginate, alginate-collagen complex group showed statistically higher percentage of wound contraction and wound healing than control group(p<0.05). Alginate-collagen complex group and FGF-mixed alginate group showed statistically higher percentage of wound healing than alginate group. The experiment of biocompatibility and immunologic reaction against impanted alginate or collagen needs more investigation. Highly-purified alginate from seaweeds by our purification method, showed the effect of wound healing, and addition of FGF or collagen increases the alginate's wound healing effect. It shows the possibility of alginate as a dermal substrate.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.3
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• pp.172-179
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• 2011

Background: Statins can regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibit MMP production or activation in a variety of types of cells. This study evaluated whether statins would inhibit MMP release from human lung fibroblasts, which play a major role in remodeling processes. Methods: This study, using an in-vitro model (three-dimensional collagen gel contraction system), evaluated the effect of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, TNF-a and interleukin-$1{\beta}$, IL-1b) on the MMP release and MMP activation from human lung fibroblasts. Collagen degradation induced by cytokines and neutrophil elastase (NE) was evaluated by quantifying hydroxyproline. Results: In three-dimensional collagen gel cultures (3D cultures) where cytokines (TNF-a and IL-1b) can induce the production of MMPs by fibroblasts, it was found that simvastatin inhibited MMP release. In 3D cultures, cytokines together with NE induced collagen degradation and can lead to activation of the MMP, which was inhibited by simvastatin. Conclusion: Simvastatin may play a role in regulating human lung fibroblast functions in repair and remodeling processes by inhibiting MMP release and the conversion from the latent to the active form of MMP.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.232-237
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• 2003

The present study examined functional effects of a new selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, 1-[4-ethoxy-3-(6,7-dihydro-1-methyl-7-thioxo-3-propyl-1H-pyrazolo[ 4,3]pyrimidin-5-yl)phenylsulphonyl]-4-methyl piperazine (KJH-1002), in the isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum (RCC). Relaxing effects of KJH-1002 were also compared with those of sildenafil, which is currently used as an oral therapy for penile erectile dysfunction. In the isolated RCC precontracted with phenylephrine, both KJH-1002 and sildenafil in the concentration range of 1 to 1000 nM, produced a comparable potentiation of the electical field stimulation-induced relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner. In the sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced relaxation, the $IC_{50}$/ values, concentrations of SNP required to produce a 50％ relaxation of the phenylephrine-induced contraction, were significantly decreased to the similar extent by treatments with KJH-1002 and sildenafil. The results suggest that a new selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, KJH-1002, has an augmentative effect on penile erection comparable to that of sildenafil and can be useful for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.282-286
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• 2021

Recent reports have described several cases of double muscle transfers to restore natural, symmetrical smiles in patients with long-standing facial paralysis. However, these complex procedures sometimes result in cheek bulkiness owing to the double muscle transfer. We present the case of a 67-year-old woman with long-standing facial paralysis, who underwent two-stage facial reanimation using two superficial subslips of the serratus anterior muscle innervated by the masseteric and contralateral facial nerves via a sural nerve graft. Each muscle subslip was transferred to the upper lip and oral commissures, which were oriented in different directions. Furthermore, a horizontal fascia lata graft was added at the lower lip to prevent deformities such as lower lip elongation and deviation. Voluntary contraction was noted at roughly 4 months, and a spontaneous smile without biting was noted 8 months postoperatively. At 18 months after surgery, the patient demonstrated a spontaneous symmetrical smile with adequate excursion of the lower lip, upper lip, and oral commissure, without cheek bulkiness. Dual-innervated muscle transfer using two multivector superficial subslips of the serratus anterior muscle may be a good option for long-standing facial paralysis, as it can achieve a symmetrical smile that can be performed voluntarily and spontaneously.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.21-25
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• 1996

The Electomyographic (EMG) signals of flexor-extensor muscle pairs were investigated to identify the neural excitation pattern of low-back pain (LBP) patients during a repetitive bending motion. New parameters and EMG normalization technique were developed to quantitatively represent the difference of temporal EMG patterns between ten healthy subjects and ten LBP patients. Flexor-extensor muscle pairs such as rectus abdominis(RA)-erector spinae (ES at LS), external oblique(EO)-internal oblique(IO), rectus femois (quadriceps: QUD)-biceps femoris(hamstrings:HAM), and tibialis anterior(TA)-gastrocnemius(GAS) pairs of muscles were selected in this study. Results indicated that the temporal EMG pattern such as the peak timing difference of QUD-HAM muscle pair and the duration of coexcitation of ES-RA muscle pair showed a statistically isgnificant difference between healthy subjects and LBP patients. These results indicated that the new technique and parameters could be used as a diagnostic tool especially for LBP patients with soft tissue injuries that are rarely dentified by traditional imaging techniques such as X-ray, CT scan or MRI. Improtantly, the new EMG technique did not require the maximal volutary contraction(MVC) measure for normalization that helped patients minimize the pain experience during and after the session. Further study needs to be made to validate and refine this method for clinical application.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-162
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• 1984

The mechanism of the contractile response of longitudial muscle of rabbit ileum to substance P (SP) has been investigated. The contractions in rabbit ileum under various conditions were recorded isometrically The following results were obtained. 1) The contractions by SP increased according to concentrations. SP·induced contraction was not sustained but faded rapidly at $10^{-7}M$. The response to the commutative addition of SP was decreased in comparison to the response to separate administration of each concentration . 2) The response to $10^{-8}M$ SP after 5 min application cf $10^{-7}M$ SP was increased with increasing the time interval between the administration of $10^{-7}$ and $10^{-8}M$ SP. 3) The treatment of rabbit ileum by $10^{-7}M$ SP for 5 min didn't decrease the response to $10^{-6}M$ acetylcholine. 4) $10^{-6}M$ atropine had no effect of the contractile response to $10^{-7}M$ SP. The response to $10^{-7}M$ SP was normal or subnormal in the presence of 3 mM tetraethylammonium(TEA). 5) 100k solution, $10^{-4}M$ ouabain, and Na-free solution inhibited the response to $10^{-8}M$ SP and 3 mM TEA completely, and to $10^{-7}M$ SP incompletely. 3 mM TEA induced a considerable contraction in K-free solution, but $10^{-8}M$ SP didn't induce the contraction. $10^{-6}M$ norepinephrine decreased the contractile responses to SP and TEA. 6) The contractile response to $10^{-7}M$ SP was dependent on the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations to 1.8 mM. 7) The contractile response to $10^{-7}M$ SP remained 15% of the maximal response after bathing the ileum in a Ca-free solution for 2.5 min. 8) The responsiveness to SP was completely lost within 10 min of bathing in Ca-free solution, but was restored by the exposure to $Ca^{2+}$. The restorative effect of $Ca^{2+}$ depended on the concentration of $Ca^{2+}$, and on time for which the tissue exposed to this $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. These results suggest that there are two mechanisms of the action by which the low concentrations of substance P causes the contraction of intestinal smooth muscle: the reduction of K conductance and a mechanism dependent on the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, and that high concentration of SP may elicit a contraction by releasing $Ca^{2+}$ from an intracellular store, which is not as sensitive to removal of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ or as easily accessible to EGTA as the extracellular space of the muscle. The location of this store is not known; it may be associated with the internal side of the cell membrane.