Evaluation of Reliability of Tensiomyography Measurement / 대한스포츠의학회지

PURPOSE: This study is designed to evaluate the reliability for studies of tensiomyography (TMG). TMG can evaluate muscle function noninvasively and selectively. METHODS: We measured 12 male volunteers (age, 26.5±7.6 years; height, 175.3±4.7 cm; weight, 78.8±13.3 kg) in this study and measured TMG during three occasions over 3 consecutive days. None of the participants has had any history of neuromuscular disorders or muscle diseases. Vastus lateralis, vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF) in quadriceps and biceps femoris, semitendinosus in hamstrings muscles were measured. Coefficient of variation (CV%) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) have been calculated about maximal displacement (Dm, mm) and contraction time (Tc, ms) which are main parameters. RESULTS: Most of the ICC of Dm were over 0.8 and the highest among the muscles except both VM. And, most ICC of Tc was lower than Dm except both BF (right, 18.31; left, 15.03). But, the ICC of Tc was lower than Dm except left RF (0.890) and VM (0.859). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the Dm is high levels of the ICC and CV(%) in thigh muscle except VM. In the future, we plan to establish the method of measurement more clearly for reducing the errors of measurements. The technique of correct palpation of measurable muscles using TMG devices is also necessary.

Variations in gait features in elderly adults during walking considering their balance

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of balance on the spatiotemporal features, lower-limb kinematics, and center of mass (COM) of the non-faller elderly during walking. In this study, 20 healthy elderly women (age, 76.2 ± 5.6 years; height, 150.1 ± 3.2 cm; weight, 55.8 ± 9.0 kg) were enrolled. Based on the Berg balance scale (BBS), the elderly were classified into two groups: poor balance (PB; BBS scores 0.05). The ROM of the mediolateral COM was greater in PB than in GB. Hip transversal movements in the two groups were different. The impairment of the lateral balance function might contribute to an increase in the incidence of fall events in the elderly with poor balance.

Comparison of E. coli Infiltration between New Synthetic Absorbable Sutures

PURPOSE: The proper selection of suture is very important to minimize infection after gastrointestinal anastomosis and closure, which is one of the causes of postoperative complications such as leakage and stricture, etc, in the surgical field. Thus this study focuses on which suture can reduce bacterial infection after surgical operation by comparing in vitro microbial infiltration rates of three synthetic absorbable sutures and that of silk - a relatively absorbable material, using E. coli. METHODS: Four different, sterilized kinds of absorbable sutures were used for two experiments. In experiment 1, the cut-off suture was directly applied to the standard method agar plate and cultured for observation. In experiment 2, the cut-off suture was diluted with 1 ml of tryptic soy broth to be smeared and cultured in the standard method agar plate and counted using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: The first experiment revealed that bacterial growth was not observed in the monofilament and antibiotic-coated multifilament sutures, while the other sutures of multifilament structure were invaded by bacteria. In the second experiment, counting and averaging the colony from five plates of each test showed that the number of E. coli of monofilament suture, antibiotics-coated polyglactin, polyglactin and silk were 0+/-0, 39.3+/-14.4, 208.6+/-76.6, 59.4+/-26.7, respectively. CONCLUSION: Sutures of monofilament structure are believed to be a relatively safe material that can be used for gastrointestinal anastomosis and closure since it has lower bacterial infiltration rates than sutures of multifilament structure.

Gene Delivery to the Rat Liver Using Cationic Lipid Emulsion/DNA Complex: Comparison between Intra-arterial, Intraportal and Intravenous Administration

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of intra-arterial, intraportal, and intravenous administration of cationic lipid emulsion/DNA complex, as used for gene transfer to rat liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA-carrier complex for the in-vivo experiment was prepared by mixing DNA and a cationic lipid emulsion. According to the administration route used (intra-arterial, intraportal, or intravenous), the animals were assigned to one of three groups. The heart, lung, liver, spleen and kidneys were removed and assayed for total protein and luciferase concentration. RESULTS: The cationic lipid emulsion/DNA complex used successfully transfected the various organs via the different administration routes employed. Luciferase activity in each organ of untreated animals was negligible. Liver luciferase values were significantly higher in the groups in which intra-arterial or intraportal administration was used. CONCLUSION: The intra-arterial or intraportal administration of cationic lipid emulsion/DNA complex is superior to intravenous administration and allows selective gene transfer to the liver.