• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to understand the effects of phone weight on the typing performance and muscle recruitment in the neck and upper extremity while typing a text message with dominant hand. The iPhone4 and iPhone5 were compared due to their 28-gram differences in weight. Background: Too much use of a cellular phone can lead the musculoskeletal disorders in the upper extremity. Phone makers tend to make their new models bigger, lighter, faster and smarter. Method: Fourteen healthy volunteers without any history of neuromuscular disorders or ongoing pain who used their smartphone more than one year were recruited. A 112g phone (iPhone5) and a 142g phone (iPhone4) were used for typing the lyric of the Korean national anthem with their dominant hand. Typing duration, the typing error, the perceived fatigue, and preference was investigated. Muscle recruitment and the resting gap of neck (middle trapezius and levator scapula), shoulder (infraspinatus and mid deltoid), elbow (biceps brachii and brachioradialis), thumb (extensor and abductor policis brevis) were collected using surface electromyography. Typing error was counted and typing speed was calculated in characters per min. The data were analyzed using a paired t-test and chi-square (${\chi}^2$) analysis for the effects of phone weight on the typing performance parameters and muscle recruitment. Results: Typing text message with iPhone5 took longer but had less muscle recruitment in brachioradialis, and extensor policis brevis muscles. Lighter weight of iPhone5 made biceps brachii to rest less without increasing the mean %EMG. Conclusion/Application: Findings of this study can be valuable information for phone designers to develop more productive device and for smartphone users to prevent the musculoskeletal disorders in the upper extremities.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.247-259
• /
• 2000

Objective : The mechanism of acupuncture to increase cerebral blood flow is still uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neural basis of acupuncture by comparing the cerebral regions activated by the stimulation of two different methods of acupunctures at the same acupoint which was suggested by oriental medicine to increase rCBF. Materials and Methods : Thirty-nine healthy volunteers(26 males, 13 females, age $31{\pm}11$ years) were studies by rest/acupuncture Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT using a subtraction method. SPECTs using two methods(needle retention and heated needle with 90% alcohol) at two acupoints (right LI. 4 and ST. 36) were peformed at an interval of three days. For the needle retention method, acupuncture needle was inserted to a depth of about 2 cm into each acupoint 8 minutes after the lst acquisition and continued to retain, and the second injection of Tc-99m ECD was done 15 minutes after the insertion of needle. For the heated acupuncture method, heated needle was inserted in a twinkle within several msec 20 second after the second injection of Tc-99m ECD. The differences of between rest and acupuncture activation state were statistically analyzed using a statistical parametric mapping software. Result : Acupunctures of both methods reveal similar patterns of increase in rCBF. Acupuncture at ST.36 increase rGBF in left anterior temporal, right inferior frontal lobes, and left cerebellum. Acupuncture at LI. 4 increase rCBF in the left frontal cortex, right temporal pole, both inferior frontal cortices and right cerebellum. Conclusion : The effects of two different acupunctures to the same acupoints on rCBF were similar. Therefore, this result suggests Chat the mechanism of acupuncture in the increase of cerebral blood flow have a neural basis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of laser acupuncture at $HT_7$ for reducing mental stress using power spectrum analysis of the heart rate variability. Methods : 36 healthy volunteers(control group: 18, treatment group: 18) participated in this study. After instrumentation and 5-minute rest period, 5-minute metal stress by operation was provided. HRV was recorded before and after the mental stress(1st, 2nd HRV). After 2nd HRV recording, the control group rested for 15 minutes without any treatments. Participants in the treatment group received laser acupuncture to $HT_7$ unilaterally and rested for 15minutes. Points were irradiated for 60seconds, and the intensity was 1.8J(output 20%). And then 3rd HRV was recorded. Results : In simple rest group, LF norm showed a significant change after mental stress. In laser acupuncture group, LF norm, HF norm, LF, HF and LF/HF ratio showed a significant change after mental stress. But there were no significant difference between two groups(ANCOVA test, p>0.05). In laser acupuncture group, LF norm, HF norm, HF and LF/HF ratio showed a significant change after laser acupuncture treatment. And there were significant differences between two groups(p<0.05). Conclusions : This study suggests that laser acupuncture at $HT_7$ can regulate and prevent the alternation of autonomic nervous system due to mental stress.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.57-63
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study is to evaluate salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva of the head and neck cancer patients. Twenty three cancer patients (19 males, 4 females) who had undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy and twenty four healthy volunteers (14 males, 10 females) as a control were included. Salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva were examined. Compared to saliva of the control group, salivary flow rate (p<0.001) and salivary pH (p<0.001) were significantly lower in head and neck cancer patients. The colony counts of Lactobacilli was higher in head and neck cancer patients (p<0.05) than in control group. These salivary factors and cariogenic activity can increase the prevalence of dental caries in head and neck cancer patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.26-36
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The study compared the muscle activity and ratio of upper trapezius (UT) to lower trapezius (LT) activity between acute and chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) patients. Methods: Twelve healthy (male: 7), 14 acute WAD (male: 7), and 11 chronic WAD (male: 3) volunteers participated in this study. Electromyography using a surface EMG recorded the activity of the upper trapezius and lower trapezius of both shoulders (dominant and non-dominant) during $120^{\circ}$ elevation when standing and shoulder depression when sitting. The testing order was selected randomly. Subjects were asked to maintain each experimental position for 5 seconds at end range. EMG activity was normalized using the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) elicited using a manual muscle-testing technique. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the average root mean square (RMS) value of EMG activity for each condition. Results: The EMG activity of the dominant UT for chronic WAD subjects was significantly higher than for acute WAD subjects during $120^{\circ}$ elevation (p<.05). The EMG activity of the dominant LT for acute WAD subjects was significantly lower than for the control group (p<.05) during $120^{\circ}$ elevation. The EMG activity of the dominant LT for WAD patients was significantly lower than for the control group during shoulder depression (p<.05), and the chronic WAD patients scored significantly the lowest (p<.01). The dominant UT/LT for chronic WAD patients was significantly higher than the ratio for acute WAD subjects during shoulder depression (p<.05); this result was higher than for the control group (p<.01). The non-dominant UT/LT (ratio) for chronic WAD patients was significantly higher than the ratio for acute WAD subjects during shoulder depression (p<.05). Conclusion: The UT for chronic WAD subjects was hyperactive when compared to the acute WAD subjects, and the was hypoactive for both acute and chronic patients, therefore intra-trapezius imbalance was more prevalent during shoulder depression.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.9-19
• /
• 2010

Purpose : To identify whether isometric shoulder horizontal extension (ISHE) exercise could sufficiently activate the lumbar multifidus muscle, and to determine appropriate exercise intensity to increase muscle strength. Methods : Twenty healthy volunteers (10 males and 10 females) participated in this study. ISHE exercises on the dominant side were performed with $90^{\circ}$ shoulder abduction held in $90^{\circ}$ elbow flexion so that their arms were in the horizontal plane. Electromyographic (EMG) measurements of multifidus activation were performed in standing and supine positions, and were taken under four strength conditions: 75%, 50% and 25% of maximum shoulder horizontal extension strength, and maximum strength. Results : The EMG activations of both lumbar multifidus increased significantly with ISHE exercises of larger % strength (p<.05). In their multifidus EMG data measured in standing and supine positions, men differed significantly in their 75%, 50% and 25% strength for both sides (p<.05), and women differed significantly in their 75%, 50% and 25% strength on their 5th lumbar vertebrae's left side, but 75% only for their 5th lumbar vertebrae's right side (p<.05). The EMG data of 5th lumbar vertebrae's left and 5th lumbar vertebrae's right sides appeared to differ significantly at all strength levels for men while standing, but only at the 25% level for women in the supine position (p<.05). These findings indicate that ISHE exercises can be considered a beneficial method to enhance the multifidus strength. Conclusion : This study provides useful information for further study in this field.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.187-191
• /
• 2003

Purpose: MEPs elicited by transmagnetic stimulations of the motor cortex are facilitated by voluntary muscle contraction. We evaluated the effects of the imagination of the movements on latencies of MEPs and reciprocal inhibition by using transmagnetic stimulations. Methods: Twenty two healthy volunteers(eight men and fourteen women) were studied. TMSs were delivered at rest and during imagining abducting or adducting right thumb. A stimulator with a round coil and a fixed intensity of 80% of maximum was used to evoke MEPs. MEPs were evoked by magnetic stimulations over the scalp and cervical spine(C7-T1), and central motor conduction times(CMCT) were calculated by subtracting the latency of compound muscle action potentials(CMAPs) obtained by stimulating over the cervical spine from that obtained by stimulating over the scalp. The motor evoked potentials were recorded from right abductor pollicis brevis muscle(APB) and adductor pollicis muscle(AP) simultaneously. Results: Imagination of abduction resulted in a shortened latency of the CMAPs in APB, and a prolonged latency in AP. Imagination of adduction resulted in a shortened latency in AP, and a prolonged latency in APB. But the imagination caused no significant change in the latency of CMAPs elicited by stimulation over cervical spine. Therefore, the changes of the CMCTs account for these latency changes with imagination of movement. With the imagination of abduction, there are significant reduction of the CMCT's in APB(10.8%) and prolongation in AP(5.8%). On the other hand, with the imagination of adduction, prolongation of the CMCT's in APB(7.3%) and reduction in AP(5.9%) were observed. Conclusion: These findings indicate that imagination of muscle contraction increases the excitability of the human corticospinal system. Reciprocal inhibition may be accountable for the prolonged latency in the antagonist muscle.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.8
• /
• pp.2425-2430
• /
• 2013

A simple, fast and robust analytical method was developed to determine imatinib in human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization in the positive ion mode. Imatinib and labeled internal standard were extracted from plasma with a simple protein precipitation. The chromatographic separation was performed using an isocratic elution of mobile phase involving 5.0 mM ammonium formate in water-5.0 mM ammonium formate in methanol (30:70, v/v) over 3.0 min on reversed-stationary phase. The detection was performed using a triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in multiple-reaction monitoring mode. The developed method was validated with lower limit of quantification of 10 ng/mL. The calibration curve was linear over 10-2000 ng/mL ($R^2$ > 0.99). The method validation parameters met the acceptance criteria. The spiked samples and standard solutions were stable under conditions for storage and handling. The reliable method was successfully applied to real sample analyses and thus a pharmacokinetic study in 27 healthy Korean male volunteers.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.134-139
• /
• 2005

Warfarin is a widely used oral anticoagulant agent used to treat thromboembolic disease. The purpose of this study was to develop the efficient assay method of warfarin sodium i n human plasma and to assess the pharmacokinetic profile of the warfarin in healthy Korean volunteers. The pharmacokinetics of warfarin administered orally was evaluated after a dose of 10 mg. Warfarin in plasma was assayed using a specific HPLC method with UV absorbance at 304 nm. AUC was 46.33${\pm}9.95{\mu}g/ml.hr$, $C_{max}$ $1.22{\pm}0.22{\mu}g/ml, $T_{max}$$2.50{\pm}1.41$ hr and half-life $43.49{\pm}4.33$ hr. $T_{max}$ was slightly shorter than that in Caucasian (3~9 hr), whereas the half-life was longer than that in Caucasian (10~45 hr, mean: 36 hr). These results suggest that warfarin may have a longer duration in Korean than in Caucasian.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.90-96
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare the joint position sense at the knee joint at 3 different surface conditions by using the active knee joint angle reproduction test in the standing position. Twenty healthy volunteers (10 males and 10 females) age 20~29 years were recruited for this study. The knee joint position senses were assessed at three different surface conditions: on the floor (stable condition), TOGU (soft condition), and seat fit (unstable condition) in a closed kinetic chain. Testing orders were selected randomly. The absolute angle error was defined as the absolute difference between target angles ($30^{\circ}{\sim}45^{\circ}$ knee flexion) and subject perceived angle of the knee flexion. One way ANOVA was used to compare the absolute angle of error among 3 different conditions. The Independent t-test was used to compare the absolute angle of error between male and female. The error angles were significantly different among surface conditions ($1.3^{\circ}{\pm}1.2^{\circ}$ for the floor, $2.1^{\circ}{\pm}0.9^{\circ}$ for the TOGU, and $4.4^{\circ}{\pm}1.8^{\circ}$ for the seat fit, p<.05). There was no significant difference in error angle between male and female. In conclusion, the joint position sense of the knee joint in the closed kinetic chain decreased at unstable surface conditions. The result of this study indicates that surface conditions should be considered when assessing and training the joint position sense of the knee joint in clinical setting.