• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.36-48
• /
• 2013

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of several fractions obtained from methylene chloride ($CH_2Cl_2$) extract of self-fermented pine needle (SFPNE) on the acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked CA release from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla and to establish the mechanism of the most active fraction (Fr.)-induced inhibitory action on the CA release. We obtained 6 fractions from $CH_2Cl_2$ extract of self-fermented pine needle. For the ACh (5.32 mM)-evoked CA release, the following rank order of inhibitory potency was obtained: Fr.4-5 > Fr.8-11 ${\gg}$ Fr.3 > Fr.6 = Fr.7 > Fr.1-2. Fr. 4 - 5 (60 ${\mu}g/mL$) perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min produced relatively time-dependent inhibition of the CA secretory responses to ACh (5.32 mM), DMPP (100 ${\mu}M$), McN-A-343 (100 ${\mu}M$) and high $K^+$ (56 mM). Fr. 4 - 5 itself did not affect basal CA secretion. Also, in the presence of Fr. 4 - 5 (60 ${\mu}g/mL$), the CA secretory responses to angiotensin II (AngII, 0.1 ${\mu}M$), veratridine (50 ${\mu}M$), Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}M$), and cyclopiazonic acid (10 ${\mu}M$) were significantly reduced, respectively. In the simultaneous presence of Fr. 4 - 5 (60 ${\mu}g/mL$) and L-NAME (30 ${\mu}M$), the inhibitory responses of Fr. 4 - 5 on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, DMPP, high $K^+$, AngII, Bay-K-8644 and veratridine were considerably recovered to the extent of the corresponding control secretion compared with that of Fr. 4 - 5-treatment alone. The level of NO released from adrenal medulla after the treatment of Fr. 4 - 5 (60 ${\mu}g/mL$) was greatly elevated compared with the basal level. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Fr. 4 - 5 inhibits the CA secretion from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla evoked by stimulation of cholinergic receptors as well as by direct membrane-depolarization. It seems that this inhibitory effect of Fr. 4 - 5 is mediated by blocking the influx of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ into the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which is evoked at least partly through the increased NO production due to the activation of NO synthase. Based on these results, it is also thought that Fr. 4 - 5 isolated from $CH_2Cl_2$ extract of pine needle may contain beneficial antihypertensive components to prevent or treat hypertension.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.771-778
• /
• 2009

We aimed to determine the effect of heel height on foot pressure by comparing and analyzing data on foot pressure in shoes with different heel heights. Qn the basis of a previous study, we selected 3cm and 7cm as the shoe heel heights preferred by female college students. We divided 10 female students into forefoot and hindfoot to measure vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure. The average pressure on the forefoot was higher and that on the hindfoot was lower in the case of 7cm high-heeled shoes. The maximum pressure on the forefoot was significantly higher in the case of the 7cm heel height (p<.05). The vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure on the hindfoot were also significantly higher in the case of the 7cm heel height (p<.05). The results showed that wearing 7cm high-heeled shoes exerted greater maximum pressure on the forefoot and greater vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure on the Hndfoot. This leads to increase in confining pressure caused by high pressure distribution over the forefoot and increase in the pressure on the hindfoot, which may cause deformation of toes and heel pain over a long period. Therefore, female college students who wish to wear high heels are recommended to wear 3cm high-heeled shoes rather than 7cm high-heeled shoes.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.655-661
• /
• 2009

This study investigated the effects of different types of shouting actions on the strength of the human body. Both H-reflex and MVIC measures of the rectus femoris muscle were used to investigate effects on impact force and motor performance, in order to find optimum shouting methods. The H-reflex of the soleus muscle gave an electric stimulus to the curve of the knee that contains the tibial nerves. Surface electromyelography was used to collect muscle activity the amplitude increased 28% at action with shouting and 29% at the one immediately after short-time shouting than the one without shouting was. To assess the myoelectric activity of the rectus femoris, a surface electrode was attached to the right side of the lower extremity and to increase 10% and 1% depending upon shouting type. The findings were as follows. Shouting affected not only motor efficiency (H-reflex), but also the amplitude of MVIC, with a positive effect on increased muscle strength. Further comprehensive studies are needed to investigate the many variables of increased muscle strength for general purposes, for instance, shouting and breathing, brain waves, and so on.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine whether hormone levels change knee laxity in healthy females. Twenty three healthy females were recruited for the study. Serum estradiol and progesterone levels were recorded three times during the subjects' menstrual cycles. The first measurements were taken between day 3 and 7 of the follicular phase and the second data collection coincided with ovulation, 24 to 48 hours after the estrogen surge detected by an ovulation predictor kits. Based on a 28 day cycle, the third data collection occurred approximately 7 days later during the luteal phase. Knee joint laxity was recorded at the same intervals with a KT 2000 arthometer. Hormone levels and phases were compared to passive knee joint laxity with multiple regression analysis. Estradiol and progesterone levels differed significantly across the three tests. Knee joint laxity increased during ovulation. Based on a multiple regression analysis, estradiol and progesterone levels predicts 77.9% to 80.9% of the laxity at 20lb and 30lb loads. An antagonistic relationship between estradiol and progesterone was found when testing for knee laxity. Serum hormone levels have moderate power in predicting knee joint laxity. Individual hormonal profiling in female athletes would allow researchers to access the structural properties of the ACL, such as the laxity which may provide beneficial information to understand female ACL injury mechanism in sports activity.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.890-897
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of BCAA and additional OKG or albumin supplementation on energy metabolism and hormone changes in prolonged submaximal exercise. The subjects of this study were 5 male college students, and they took participated in each experiment. In each experiment (control, BCAA, BCAA+OKG, BCAA+albumin), the subject ran for 90 minutes on the treadmill. Blood was drawn and analyzed as glucose, FFA, ammonia, growth hormone, insulin, cortisol, $T_3$, and $T_4$. The obtained results were analyzed via two-way repeated ANOVA using SPSS program. A value of p<.05 was considered statistically significant. The concentration of glucose was the lowest in the BCAA supplement group, and there was significant difference between times of exercise (p<.05). In concentration of FFA, there was a significant difference between times of exercise and supplemented groups (p<.05). The concentration of blood ammonia was the lowest in the BCAA+albumin supplement group, and was the highest in the BCAA supplement group. Concentration of growth hormone, cortisol, $T_3$ and $T_4$ were increased as exercise progressed and decreased after all exercise. But concentration of insulin was decreased as exercise progressed. In these results, BCAA and additional OKG or albumin supplement with BCAA may make better effect to the increasing energy generation and inhibiting protein degradation during prolonged submaximal exercise.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.1532-1540
• /
• 2011

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of climbing resistance training on GLUT-4 protein and LDH isozyme activities of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles in rats. Each experimental group was randomly divided into a control group (n=6) and a resistance exercise (n=6) group. Sprague-Dawley rats were made to climb a 180 cm tower for 12 wk. Weight changes in the resistance exercise group were significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05). GLUT-4 protein expression of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the resistance exercise group than in the control group. There was no difference in soleus tissue LDHA4 isozyme activity between the groups. In the case of other LDH isozyme, when compared with the control group, the resistance exercise group showed a significantly higher activity (p<0.05). LDHA4 activity of gastrocnemius muscle tissue was not different between the groups. However, the activity of the resistance exercise group of all the other LDH isozymes was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). In summary, based on the results of this study, over 12 weeks of resistance training, the total body weight of the rats was reduced and the GLUT-4 activity in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles was increased. In addition, except for LDH A4 all of the other LDH isozymes activities were increased. These results suggest that climbing resistance training affects the balance of body composition, increases LDH B-type isoenzymes and glucose metabolism capacity, and improves mitochondrial function.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.101-108
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to compare GRF characteristics during walking wearing jogging and roller shoes. Twelve male middle school students (age: $15.0{\pm}0.0\;yrs$, height: $173.6{\pm}5.0\;cm$, weight: $587.6{\pm}89.3\;N$) who have no known musculoskeletal disorders were recruited as the subjects. Kinematic data from six S-VHS camcorders(Panasonic AG456, 60 fields/s) and GRF data from two force platform; (AMII OR6-5) were collected while subjects walked wearing roller and jogging shoes in random order at a speed of 1.1 m/s. An event sync unit with a bright LED light was used to synchronize the video and GRF recordings. GRF data were filtered using a 20 Hz low pass Butterworth. digital filter and further normalized to the subject's body weight. For each trial being analyzed, five critical instants and four phases were identified from the recording. Temporal parameters, GRFs, displacement of center of pressure (DCP), and loading and decay rates were determined for each trial. For each dependent variable, paired t-test was performed to test if significant difference existed between shoe conditions (p <.05). Vertical GRFs at heel contact increased and braking forces at the end of initial double limb stance reduced significantly when going from jogging shoe to roller shoe condition. Robbins and Waked (1997) reported that balance and vertical GRF are closely related It seems that the ankle and knee joints are locked in an awkward fashion at the heel contact to compensate for the imbalance. The DCP in the antero-posterior direction for the roller shoe condition was significantly less than the corresponding value for the jogging shoe condition. Because the subjects tried to keep their upper body weight in front of the hip to prevent falling backward, the DCP for the roller shoe condition was restricted The results indicate that walking with roller shoes had little effect on temporal parameters, and loading and decay rates. It seems that there are differences in GRF characteristics between roller shoe and jogging shoe conditions. The differences in GRF pattern may be caused primarily by the altered position of ankle, knee, and center of mass throughout the walking cycle. Future studies should examine muscle activation patterns and joint kinematics during walking with roller shoes.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate normalized jerk according to shoes, slope, and velocity during walking. Eleven different test subjects used three different types of shoes (running shoes, mountain climbing boots, and elevated forefoot walking shoes) at various walking speeds(1.19, 1.25, 1.33, 1.56, 1.78, 1.9, 2, 2.11, 2.33m/sec) and gradients(0, 3, 6, 10 degrees) on a treadmill. Since there were concerns about using the elevated forefoot shoes on an incline, these shoes were not used on a gradient. Motion Analysis (Motion Analysis Corp. Santa Rosa, CA USA) was conducted with four Falcon high speed digital motion capture cameras. Utilizing the maximum smoothness theory, it was hypothesized that there would be differences in jerk according to shoe type, velocity, and slope. Furthermore, it was assumed that running shoes would have the lowest values for normalized jerk because subjects were most accustomed to wearing these shoes. The results demonstrated that elevated forefoot walking shoes had lowest value for normalized jerk at heel. In contrast, elevated forefoot walking shoes had greater normalized jerk at the center of mass at most walking speeds. For most gradients and walking speeds, hiking boots had smaller medio-lateral directional normalized jerk at ankle than running shoes. These results alluded to an inverse ratio for jerk at the heel and at the COM for all types of shoes. Furthermore, as velocity increased, medio-lateral jerk was reduced for all gradients in both hiking boots and running shoes. Due to the fragility of the ankle joint, elevated forefoot walking shoes could be recommended for walking on flat surfaces because they minimize instability at the heel. Although the elevated forefoot walking shoes have the highest levels of jerk at the COM, the structure of the pelvis and spine allows for greater compensatory movement than the ankle. This movement at the COM might even have a beneficial effect of activating the muscles in the back and abdomen more than other shoes. On inclines hiking boots would be recommended over running shoes because hiking boots demonstrated more medio-lateral stability on a gradient than running shoes. These results also demonstrate the usefulness of normalized jerk theory in analyzing the relationship between the body and shoes, walking velocity, and movement up a slope.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.297-309
• /
• 2009

The study analyzed the mechanism of plantar foot pressure distribution during pitching wedge swinging on a flat, an up hill lie and a down hill lie to provide the fundamental information regarding biomechanical motion data by using plantar foot pressure measuring instrument. In the results, time factor spanning according to slope differences, plantar foot pressure factor and swing motion on the slope could have negative effect on the coiling of lower limbs during back swing, as well as the blocking of the lower limbs to minimize the dispersion of the weight and the release of the lower limbs after the impact during the down swing process. Moreover, since slope is one of many external factors affecting swing motion, address motion on an up hill lie limits the lower limbs movement, therefore, a relatively narrow stance is better on a down hill lie. It is estimated that a relatively wide stance would be better in order to limit the bigger activation of the lower limbs. Not only for the address motion but also during the down swing on an up hill lie it is concluded that the weight should be on the left foot in order to keep the body balance.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.273-286
• /
• 2009

The objective of this research is to evaluate both quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis by comparing vital variable factors of the golf swing successes and the failures. At the moment of swing, each body segment and the movement of the club as well as kinematical parameters were produced by utilizing the 3-D swing analysis for the high school female golfers. As kinematical parameters, it analyzes the 3-D analysis and ground reaction force about the location change, velocity and angle. The 3-D swing analysis and ground reaction force location change, velocity and angle are analyzed for Kinematical parameters. As a result, the stable swing is maintained by club head showing very few front-back movement (X) when the address and the top swing. Also, the center of mass velocity contributes to the momentum increase by showing very rapid velocity when successful comparing with when failed at the time of top swing of left-right(Y) and it is thought that by lessening the cocking angle when successful from the top swing to the impact, it influences the linear velocity increase and has a good effect on a non-distance increase. It shows that Ground reaction force (GRF) is examined by showing the stable approval rating in a front-back(X) direction and left-right(Y) and connected to a successful swing.