• Title/Summary/Keyword: contractility

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Effects of Bombesin on Electrical and Mechanical Activities of Gastric Smooth Muscle Strips of Cats (적출한 고양이 위(胃) 평활근 절편의 전기적 및 기계적 활동에 미치는 Bombesin의 영향과 그 작용기전)

  • Park, Hyoung-Jin;Kwon, Hyeok-Yil;Suh, Sang-Won;Kim, Jeong-Mi;Lee, Tae-Hyung
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.39-49
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    • 1990
  • It has been reported that bombesin induces contraction of the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, the present investigation was undertaken to see an influence of bombesin on electrical activity of the gastric smooth muscle, since electrical activity is associated with contractile activity in the smooth muscle of the stomach. Smooth muscle strips $(5\;{\times}\;1.5\;cm)$ that included the corpus and antrum were prepared from the ventral and dorsal portion of the feline stomach along the greater curvature. Circular muscle strips $(1\;{\times}\;0.3\;cm)$ of the corpus were also obtained. Electrical activity of the corpus and antrum of the muscle strip was monophasically recorded by using Ag-AgCl capillary electrodes placed on the circular muscle layer. Contractile activity of the circular muscle strip was also recorded. The recordings were performed in Krebs-Ringer solution that was continuously aerated with $O_{2}$ containing 5% $Co_{2}$, and kept at $36^{\circ}C$. Dose-related responses of electrical activity and contractility to bombesin was studied after frequency of slow waves and contraction of each strip reached to a steady state. An action of $D-leu^{13}-{\psi}\;(CH_{2}NH)-D-leu^{14}-bombesin,\;D-pro^{2}-D-trp^{7,9}-substance\;P$, tetrodotoxin, hexamethonium, atropine, phentolamine or propranolol on the effect of bombesin was also observed. 1) Bombesin increased frequency of slow waves and contractions dose-dependently at concentrations from $10^{-9}\;M\;to\;3\;{\times}\;10^{-8}\;M$. 2) The bombesin analogue at a concentration of $3\;{\times}\;10^{-7}\;M$ antagonized the effect of bombesin on frequency of slow waves. 3) The effect of bombesin on frequency of slow waves was inhibited by tetrodotoxin $(10^{-6}\;M)$ and hexamethonium $(10^{-3}\;M)$ but unaffected by atropine $(10^{-6}\;M)$, phentolamine $(10^{-5}\;M)$ and propranolol $(10^{-5}\;M)$. 4) The effect of bombesin on frequency of slow waves was blocked by the substance P analogue at a concentration of $10^{-5}\;M$. 5) Substance P at a concentration of $10^{-5}\;M$ failed to change frequency of slow waves. It is concluded from the above results that bombesin increases the frequency of slow waves as well as contractions of the smooth muscle strip from the feline stomach, and the effect of bombesin might be mediated by non-cholinergic or non-adrenergic mechanism at neuromuscular junction. However, enteric nerves that have substance P as a neurotransmitter do not appear to participate in the action of bombesin on frequency of slow waves.

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Midwives' Perceptions of the Importance of Teaching the Lamaze Method of Childbirth Preparation, Their Practice of it and Inhibiting Factors. (조산사의 라마즈 산전교육에 대한 중요성 인식과 수행정도 및 저해요인에 관한 연구)

  • Yoon, Gui-Nam;Cho, Mi-Young
    • 모자간호학회지
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.21-33
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    • 1992
  • This study was done to investigate how importantly midwives thought of Lamaze Method of Childbirth, how satisfactorily they performed their Lamaze Method of Childbirth and what inhibited their activities from being performed if not done satisfactorily. The subjects of this study were 76midwives at midwifery in Pusan, Deagu, Kyungnam and Kyungbok. Data were collected by using questionaire from Sep. 1 to Sep.30, 1991. The measurement tools was maded by the researcher based on Kim's scale for prenatal nursing activities. The statistical analysis was done with based statistical values likes frequencies, means, standard deviations and advanced methods such as Pearson's correlation coefficient, 1-test, F-test, F-test by using SPSS package program. The results of this study can be summarized as follows ; 1. The results of Investigating perception according to importance degree and performance degree of Lamaze Method of Childbring showed that midwives were slightly below both perception according to importance(2.17) and performance(2.16) of Lamaze Method of Childbirth 2. Inhibiting factors of Lamaze Method of Childbirth were abscence of husband(3.08), lack of teaching room(2.71), and lack of books or literature of Lamaze Method (2.58). 3. There appears to be a positive relation between perception according to importance degree and performance degree of Lamaze Method of Childbirth (r=0.69, P<0.01). There appears to be a negative relation between perception according to importance degree and inhibit factors of performance (r=-0.38, P<0.01). There appears to be a negative relation between performance and inhibit factors of performance (r=-0.22. P<0.01). 4. The item of highest perception defree in prenatal education is 1st, Consultation about sexual life (2.53), End, illustration of the importance of a bath and perinal cleanliness and Avoidance of excessive respiration method and also its comfortable application during uterine contractility(2.45). The item of lowest perception degree is about pregnant symptom sign and predicted date of birth (E.D.C.). On the other hand, The item of highest performance degree is education about nurtrition during pregnacy. 2nd, Illustration of the Importance of a bath and perineal cleanness(2.45). The lowest one is leaching the pregnant woman and her family about the role of husband and her family and also teaching the couple to learn exercise and respiration method (1.84). Though importance perception degree and performance degree is low. Midwives who wert subject in this research shoves that they perform general items concerning prenatal education well. 5. In the relationship between perception according to importance degree of Lamaze Method of Childbirth and the general characteristics of subjects, the differences in mean number of visiting pregnacies for 1 month. 6. In the relationship between performance degree of Lamaze Method of Childbirth and the general characteristics of subjects, the differences in age, marriage, and mean number of visiting pregnancies for 1 month. With the above information we see the importance of midwife prenatal care education and high correlation between performance degree and perception degree. When Lamaze prenatal education is well performed the number of pregnant woman who have follow-up, check-ups increase. Therefore in this research we can validity that there is a relation between Lamaze prenatal education and patient follow-up. This research showes in a situation where if one does not maximally perform a prenatal education there is a possibility that the popular use of midwife activities may encounter obstacles so the education to save new knowledge and training for prenatal education is needed as a function of Lamaze prenatal education, when a special Lamaze education is well performed for the pregnant woman, who follows-up at amidwife clinic. With the above conclusion we can suggest : 1. Continued research which minimized obstacles to Lamaze prenatal education is needed. 2. The official method of midwives is necessary.

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The Effect of Hypoxia on the Release of Endothelium-derived Relaxing Factor in Rabbit Thoracic Aorta (토끼 대동맥 혈관내피세포에서 저산소증이 내피세포성 이완인자의 분비에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi, Soo-Seung
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.42 no.5
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    • pp.588-596
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    • 2009
  • Background: To clarify the effect of hypoxia on vascular contractility, we tried to show whether hypoxia induced the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) and the nature of the underlying mechanism for this release. Material and Method: Isometric contractions were observed in rabbit aorta, and the released EDRF from the rabbit aorta was bioassayed by using rabbit denuded carotid artery. The intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in the cultured rabbit aortic endothelial cells was recorded by a microfluorimeter with using Fura-2/AM. Hypoxia was evoked to the blood vessels or endothelial cells by eliminating the $O_2$ in the aerating gases in the external solution. Chemical hypoxia was evoked by applying deoxyglucose or $CN^-$. Result: Hypoxia relaxed the precontracted rabbit thoracic aorta that had its endothelium, and the magnitude of the relaxation was gradually increased by repetitive bouts of hypoxia. In contrast, hypoxia-induced relaxation was not evoked in the aorta that was denuded of endothelium. In a bioassay experiment, hypoxia released endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) and the release was inhibited by L-NAME or the $K^+$ channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA). In the cultured endothelial cells, hypoxia augmented the ATP-induced increase of the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) and this increase was inhibited by TEA. Furthermore, chemical hypoxia also increased the $Ca^{2+}$ influx. Conclusion: From these results, it can be concluded that hypoxia might induce the release of NO from rabbit aortic endothelial cells by increasing $[[Ca^{2+}]_i$.

Early Changes of Left Ventricular Geometry and Function after Surgical Ventricular Restoration and Mitral Valve Annuloplasty: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (외과적 심실 복원과 승모판 고리성형 후 좌심실 형태와 기능의 초기 변화: 자기공명영상)

  • Choi, Byoung-Wook;Chang, Byung-Chul;Kim, Young-Jin;Hur, Jin;Lee, Hye-Jeong;Kim, Tae-Hoon;Choe, Kyu-Ok
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.40-48
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    • 2008
  • Purpose : We sought to determine the early change of ventricular geometry and function after concomitant surgeries of modified Dor procedure and mitral valve annuloplasty by using magnetic resonance imaging. Materials and Methods : We enrolled 21 patients with dilated heart failure who underwent modified Dor procedure (n=8), mitral valve annuloplasty (n=6), or both surgeries (n=7). Cine MRI was used to assess left ventricular dimensions and function before and after surgery. We measured the left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and the dimensions of the left ventricular long-axis and short-axis. Left ventricular stroke volume, ejection fraction, and sphericity index were calculated from these measurements. These parameters were analyzed and compared between three different surgery groups to explain the combined effect of the concomitant surgeries. Results : MRI was performed within average $12\;{\pm}\;15$ days (range 1-58 days) before and $38\;{\pm}\;50$ days (range 7- 231 days) after the surgery. The patients who underwent concomitant surgeries had more profound enlargement of left ventricle and decreased contractility prior to surgery than those in the patients who underwent single surgical procedure. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume and endsystolic volume significantly decreased in all patients regardless of surgery type after surgery. Ejection fraction significantly increased only in the patients who got modified Dor procedure without mitral valve annuloplasty (25.4% to 40.7%). Sphericity index increased in patients with modified Dor procedure but decreased in patients with mitral valve annuloplasty (0.65 to 0.78 vs. 0.75 to 0.65). In the patients who underwent concomitant surgeries showed no significant change in sphericity index after surgery. Conclusion : The early change of the left ventricular geometry and function after the concomitant surgeries with modified Dor procedure and mitral valve annuloplasty in patients with dilated heart failure includes a marked reduction in left ventricular volume and in stroke volume. The shape of the left ventricle does not change because the effect of sphericity index decrease from mitral valve annuloplasty is counteracted by the effect of sphericity index increase from modified Dor procedure. Improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction is not the early change after the concomitant surgeries.

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Relationship of Hemodynamic Changes during Off-Pump Coronary Bypass Grafting and Their Effects on Postoperative Outcome (심폐바이패스 없이 시행하는 관상동맥 우회수술 중의 혈역학적 변수들의 변화양상 및 수술 후 결과에 미치는 영향)

  • 허재학;장지민;김욱성;장우익;이윤석;정철현
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.36 no.8
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    • pp.576-582
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    • 2003
  • During the Off-Pump Coronary Arterial Bypass surgery (OPCAB), the manipulation of the heart can depress cardiac contractility and cause hemodynamic instability. In this study, hemodynamic parameters were measured during operation and the laboratory and clinical data were investigated to evaluate their effects on postoperative outcome. Material and Method: From March 2001 to August 2002, 50 consecutive patients who underwent OPCAB were included in this study. During the same period, total number of CABG was 71 The blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, mixed venous oxygen saturation, and cardiac index were measured before manipulation, after application of stabilizer, and at the end of anastomosis. Postoperatively, we measured the cardiac enzymes such as CK-MB, troponin 1 and checked the amount of inotropes required, chest tube drainage, the amount of transfusion, duration of ventilator support, and duration of ICU stay. Result: The number of mean distal anastomoses was 2.8$\pm$0.9 per patient. On elevation and stabilization of the heart, systolic blood pressure was depressed and pulmonary artery pressure was elevated significantly, but during each anastomosis no significant changes were detected. The peak level of cardiac markers was 29.2$\pm$46.7 for CK-MB, 0.69$\pm$0.86 for troponin 1 on postoperative day f. Among the intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, the ischemic change of EKG and bolus injection of inotropes significantly affected the posteroperative cardiac enzymes. But, no difference other than the level of cardiac enzymes between the two groups with or without the ischemic change of EKG and bolus injection of inotropes was noticed. Conclusion: The significant hemodynamic changes occurred when the heart was elevated and stabilized, however during anastomoses there were no significant changes. Serum cardiac enzymes rose significantly in the group that showed the ischemic charge of EKG or needed the bolus injection of inotropes for maintaining hemodynamic stability intraoperatively, but it did not affect the postoperative outcome. In conclusion, the ischemic change of EKG and the need for bolus injection of intropes during operation may be very indicative for probable ischemia.

Inhibition of Viability and Genetic Change in Hypoxia-treated Lung Pericytes (허파혈관주위세포에서 저산소증에 의한 생존능의 억제와 유전자 발현의 변화)

  • Shin, Jong Wook;Kim, Kae-Young;Lee, Young Woo;Jung, Jae Woo;Lee, Byoung Jun;Kim, Jae-Yeol;Jo, Inho;Park, In Won;Choi, Byoung Whui
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.57 no.1
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    • pp.37-46
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    • 2004
  • Background : Lung pericytes are important constituent cells of blood-air barrier in pulmonary microvasculature. These cells take part in the control of vascular contractility and permeability. In this study, it was hypothesized that change of lung pericytes might be attributable to pathologic change in microvasculature in acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was how hypoxia change proliferation and genetic expression in lung pericytes. Methods : From the lungs of several Sprague-Dawley rats, performed the primary culture of lung pericytes and subculture. Characteristics of lung pericytes were confirmed with stellate shape in light microscopy and immunocytochemistry. 2% concentration of oxygen and $200{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$ were treated to cells. Tryphan blue method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were done. Results : 1. We established methodology for primary culture of lung pericytes. 2. Hypoxia inhibited cellular proliferation in pericytes. 3. Hypoxia could markedly induce vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and smad-2. 4. Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$(HIF-$1{\alpha}$) was also induced by 2% oxygen. Conclusion : Viability of lung pericytes are inhibited by hypoxia. Hypoxia can stimulate expression of hypoxia-responsive genes. Pericytic change may be contributed to dysfunction of alveolar-capillary barrier in various pulmonary disorders.

Modification of the Cox-Maze Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation with Large Left Atrium ; Development of Surgical Technique to Increase the Left Atrial Contractility (좌심방 확장을 동반한 심방세동에 대한 Cox-Maze 수술법의 변형 -수술후 좌심방 수축력의 증진을 위한 수술법의 개량-)

  • 강창현;김기봉;손대원
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.249-254
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    • 1999
  • Background: Recovery of the left atrial contractile function after the Cox-Maze procedure is related to the size of the left atrium. We have postulated that if too wide area of the atrium were isolated electrically, then the atrial contractile function would be impaired postoperatively. We have modified the Cox-Maze procedure to dissect each pair of the pulmonary veins separately instead of the conventional pulmonary vein encircling incision, and compared the atrial contractile function after each procedure. Material and Method: From February 1995 to October 1997, 55 cases of the Cox-Maze procedure were performed in mitral valvular heart disease. We excluded the cases that did not covert to sinus rhythm. The patient groups were divided according to the interpulmonary vein distance(IPVD) and the procedure performed. Group I was IPVD under 6.5 cm(n=30), group II was IPVD over 6.5cm and the conventional Cox-Maze III procedure was performed(n=16), and group III was IPVD over 6.5cm and the modified Cox-Maze procedure was performed(n=9). Result: Atrial contractile function was evaluated by the echocardiography follow-up between 6 months to 12 months. The right atrial contractile function recovered gradually, the recovery rate after long-term follow-up was 90% in group I, 81% in group II, and 100% in group III(p>0/05). In the left atrium the recovery rate was 63% in group I, 31% in group II(p=0.03), and 66% in group III(p>0.05). Conclusion: The modified Cox-Maze procedure may have beneficial effects on the recovery of the left atrial contractile function, however, there are no statistically significant values. Therefore, further evaluation of this procedure is necessary.

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Cardioprotective Effect by Preconditioning with Calcium-free Solution (칼슘결핍용액 투여 전처치에 의한 심근보호 효과)

  • 조대윤;이종화;김호덕
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.32 no.9
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    • pp.773-780
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    • 1999
  • Background: It has been demonstrated that brief periods of calcium depletion and repletion (calcium-free preconditioning, CP) have cardioprotective effects as seen in ischemic preconditioning(IP) which enhances the recovery of post-ischemic contractile dysfunction and reduces the incidence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmia or infarct size after a prolonged ischemia. In the present study, we tested this paradoxical phenomenon in isolated rabbit hearts. Material and Method: Hearts isolated from New Zealand white rabbits(1.5∼2.0 Kg body weight) were perfused with Tyrode solution using the Langendorff technique. After stabilizing the baseline hemodynamics, the hearts were subjected to 45 minutes of global ischemia followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion with IP(IP group, n=7) or without IP (ischemic control group, n=7). IP was induced by a single episode of 5 minutes global ischemia and 10 minutes reperfusion. In the CP group(n=7), the hearts were subjected to perfusion with Tyrode solution with calcium depletion for 5 minutes and repletion for 10 minutes, and 45 minutes of ischemia and 120 minutes of reperfusion. Left ventricular function including developed pressure, dP/dt, heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and coronary flow was measured. Infarct size was determined by staining with 1% triphenyltetrazolium chloride and planimetry. Data were analyzed by a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post-hoc test. Result: In comparison with the ischemic control group, IP significantly enhanced the recovery of the left ventricular function including the left ventricular developed pressure, contractility, and coronary flow; in contrast, these functional parameters of the CP group tended to be lower than those of the ischemic control group. However, the infarct size was significantly reduced by IP or CP(p<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that in isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart model, CP(induced by single episode of 5 minutes calcium depletion and 10 minutes repletion) could not improve the post-ischemic contractile dysfunction(after a 45-minute global ischemia) but it has an infarct size-limiting effect.

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Comparison and Review of GBEF% on the Anterior and Right Lateral Images of Nuclear Hepatobiliary Scan (핵의학 간담도 스캔 시, 전면상과 우측 측면상에서의 담낭박출률에 대한 비교 및 고찰)

  • Lee, Eun-Byeol;Kim, Jae-Il;Do, Yong-Ho;Llm, Jung-Jin;Cho, Sung-Wook;Noh, Gyeong-Woon
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.92-96
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    • 2018
  • Purpose In case of nuclear medical hepatobiliary scan, To quantitatively evaluate contractility of a gallbladder, gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF%) is calculated from anterior images using fatty meal. However, when a gallbladder and other organs overlap on an anterior image, the gallbladder ejection fraction is not accurately evaluated. In order to reduce this error, the objective of our study was to figure out whether there is a significant difference in GBEF% calculated from the anterior and right lateral images. Materials and Methods After intravenous injection of 99mTc-Mebrofenin 370 MBq to randomly 50 patients who visited our hospital, we started to examine nuclear hepatobiliary scan. Using skylight(Philips, United States), we acquired anterior and right lateral image at 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90minutes after injection. Using images at 60 and 90 minutes, gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF%) was calculated from the anterior and right lateral images using JETstream workspace. For drawing more accurate ROI, CT images were referenced and 4 radiologists calculated the GBEF% in the same image and calculated the average value. We assessed whether there was a significant difference in GBEF% calculated from the anterior and right lateral images using SPSS program(Statistical Package for the Social Science, SPSS Ver.18 Inc. USA). Results About randomly 50 patients, the average value of the GBEF% calculated from the anterior image was 63.212 and the average value of the GBEF% calculated from the right lateral image was 62.666. GBEF% decreased 0.433% on the right lateral image compared with anterior image. Result of paired sample t-test, p value is over 0.05. So, there was no significant difference in GBEF% calculated from the anterior and right lateral images. Conclusion In the case that a gallbladder and other organs are not separated on an anteior image, Right lateral image would be better to acquire more accurate GBEF% than using anterior image.

Effects of HapKok (LI-4) , SamUmGyo (SP-6) Acupuncture on Uterine Motility and Cyclooxygenase-2 Manifestation in Rats (합곡(合谷), 삼음교(三陰交) 자침(刺鍼)이 백서(白鼠) 자궁(子宮) 운동(運動) 및 Cyclooxygenase-2 발현(發現)에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Lee, Byung-Chul;Lee, Ho-Sub;Kim, Kyung-Sik;Lee, Geon-Mok;Na, Chang-Soo;Kim, Jung-Sang;Hwang, Woo-Jun
    • Journal of Acupuncture Research
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.187-208
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    • 2000
  • By the activation of ovary hormone, many morphological changes occur in the epithelial cell lines and muscle cells in rat uterus. These two cells in uterus are important to the implantation of embryo, maintaining pregnancy and starting parturition. One important change associated with the morphological change of these two cells in uterus is the change on prostaglandin(PG) metabolism. Its presence and synthesis in endometriurn and myometrium in uterus affects estrous cycle and the start of embryo implantation in uterus. It also performs as an important modulator in parturition. So the abnormally weak expression of PG causes difficulty during labor and over-expression causes pre-term labor. PG biosynthesis starts from either free or liberated arachidonic acids from membrane phospholipid by phospholipase. Such arachidonic acids are converted into PG catalyzed by Cyclooxygenase. Under normal physiological condition, Cyclooxygenase-1(COX-1) having 602 units of amino acids controls the synthesis of PG. It acts as a local hormone regulating vasomodulation of blood flow, flexible muscle movement, increasing the blood permeability and contributing the protective role in preserving integrity of the stomach lining and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is induced by the inflammation, pregnancy and increased its expression until parturition. Lipid metabolite like PG is located in uterine and expression of COX-2 increased with pregnancy. Increased expression of COX proteins in epithelial cells and myometrial cells are told to increase the muscle contractility in uterus but decreased right after the labor in rat. It is a good sign indicating that COX proteins are deeply related to the start of labor. Currently, Several studies report the use of PG and COX-2 inhibitor as medication for controlled abortion or to prevent pre-term labor but they entail various side-effects. Our study proposed to suggest use of acupuncture as an another mediator to control abortion or pre-term labor without causing unnecessary side-effects by those medicines. Two acupuncture sites, LI-4 & SP-6 were selected due to their known efficacy. From the immunohistochemical staining of COX-2, normal expression of COX-2 protein in nonpregnant SD rat's uterus revealed that COX-2 protein was primarily detected in the lumina epithelial lining and in the epithelial cell lining contacting the stromal cells. High resolution optical microscopic scanning revealed distinguishable staining in the myometrial mucosa. LI-4 acupuncture administered nonpregnant rat's uterus showed strong expression for COX-2 in endometrium contacted with lumina epithelial lining of rat uterus and in myometrial mucosa. Stromal cells showed more staining than untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus and stronger staining in stromal cells contacting myometrial layer compared to untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus. SP-6 acupuncture administered nonpregnant rat's uterus showed weak expression for COX-2 in myometrial layers and stromal cells but no staining was visible in lumina epitheliai and glandular epithelial cells. Few stromal cells and myometrial mucosa were positively stained for COX-2. Pregnant SD rat's uterus was also immunostained for COX-2 expression after 18 days of pregnancy. Unlike to untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus, luminal epithelial cells were not positively stained for COX-2 but stronger staining for COX-2 was revealed in stromal cells. LI-4 acupunctured SD rat's uterus had very strong expression of COX-2 in luminal epithelial lining. Few stromal cells showed stronger positive COX-2 staining and myometrial layers also showed more expression than untreated pregnant rat. SP-6 acupuncture administered pregnant SD rat's uterus showed positive expression of COX-2 in epithelial cells of luminal mucosa layer but weaker than that of LI-4 acupuncture treatment's case. However, strong positive staining was revealed in stromal mucosa and myometrial layers. Virgin SD rat's uterus motility index during LI-4 acupuncture was 66.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.0197) compared to its motility before the acupuncture treatment but the motility index was slighdy elevated up to 79.58 % (Prob〉T = 0.1175) after the acupuncture. During the SP-6 acupuncture treatment for 30 minutes, uterus motility index was 90.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.1832) showing lesser decrement but consequently reached similar motility index decreasal to 79.95 % (Prob〉T = 0.0215) after the acupuncture treatment as LI-4 showed. LI-4 acupuncture tend to be a quick treatment to reducing the uterus motility in a virgin rat but eventually both two acupuncture administration created very similar reduction of uterus motility seeing the index after the both acupunctures. The uterus movement monitored during the LI-4 acupuncture administered for 30 minutes, Pregnant SD rat showed decreased motility down to 77.90 % (Prob〉 T = 0.0076) compared to uterus motility before the acupuncture and it continuously decreased down to 71.81 %(Prob〉T = 0.0214) after the removal of needle. The statistical analysis using paired t-test showed significance difference for both two motility indexs at =0.05. SP-6 acupuncture administered to pregnant SD rat also had similar pattern of decreasing uterus motility index down to 74.70 % (Prob〉T = 0.1730) during the initial 30 minutes acupuncture administration and it was continuously lowered to 71.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.0155) after the acupuncture. The paired t-test resuit for SP-6 suggest prompt response of uterus motility index to the SP-6 acupuncture treatment but consequently reached same level of inducing the motility reduction as LI-4 at =0.05 level.

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