Effects of Lower Rib Expansion Limitation on Maximal Respiratory Pressure and Abdominal Muscle Activity During Maximal Breathing in Healthy Subjects

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to determine the effects of lower rib cage lateral expansion limitation on the maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures and on abdominal muscle activity during maximal respiratory breathing in healthy subjects. @*Methods@#Fifteen healthy male subjects voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study. During maximal breathing, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures were measured, and abdominal muscle activity was determined with using surface electromyography. Also, the measurement was repeated with using a non-elastic belt to the lower rib cage for limiting of lateral expansion. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed for obtaining the statistical difference with a significance level of 0.05. @*Results@#The findings of this study are as follows: 1) There were no significant differences in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure with and without lower rib cage lateral expansion (p>0.05), 2) There was no significant difference in abdominal muscle activity during the maximal inspiratory phase (p>0.05). However, right external oblique muscle activity decreased significantly during maximum exhalation with lower rib expansion limitation (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#The results of the current study indicate that a non-elastic belt was effective in decreasing right external oblique muscle activity during forced expiratory breathing in healthy subjects.

Effects of Lower Rib Expansion Limitation on Maximal Respiratory Pressure and Abdominal Muscle Activity During Maximal Breathing in Healthy Subjects

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to determine the effects of lower rib cage lateral expansion limitation on the maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures and on abdominal muscle activity during maximal respiratory breathing in healthy subjects. @*Methods@#Fifteen healthy male subjects voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study. During maximal breathing, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures were measured, and abdominal muscle activity was determined with using surface electromyography. Also, the measurement was repeated with using a non-elastic belt to the lower rib cage for limiting of lateral expansion. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed for obtaining the statistical difference with a significance level of 0.05. @*Results@#The findings of this study are as follows: 1) There were no significant differences in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure with and without lower rib cage lateral expansion (p>0.05), 2) There was no significant difference in abdominal muscle activity during the maximal inspiratory phase (p>0.05). However, right external oblique muscle activity decreased significantly during maximum exhalation with lower rib expansion limitation (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#The results of the current study indicate that a non-elastic belt was effective in decreasing right external oblique muscle activity during forced expiratory breathing in healthy subjects.

Amelioration of Cognitive Dysfunction in APP/PS1 Double Transgenic Mice by Long-Term Treatment of 4-O-Methylhonokiol

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease without known ways to cure. A key neuropathologic manifestation of the disease is extracellular deposition of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta). Specific mechanisms underlying the development of the disease have not yet been fully understood. In this study, we investigated effects of 4-O-methylhonokiol on memory dysfunction in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice. 4-O-methylhonokiol (1 mg/kg for 3 month) significantly reduced deficit in learning and memory of the transgenic mice, as determined by the Morris water maze test and step-through passive avoidance test. Our biochemical analysis suggested that 4-O-methylhonokiol ameliorated Abeta accumulation in the cortex and hippocampus via reduction in beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 expression. In addition, 4-O-methylhonokiol attenuated lipid peroxidation and elevated glutathione peroxidase activity in the double transgenic mice brains. Thus, suppressive effects of 4-O-methylhonokiol on Abeta generation and oxidative stress in the brains of transgenic mice may be responsible for the enhancement in cognitive function. These results suggest that the natural compound has potential to intervene memory deficit and progressive neurodegeneration in AD patients.

In vitro antioxidant properties of a ginseng intestinal metabolite IH-901 / 한국실험동물학회지

IH-901 (20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol or compound K) is a final intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginseng in humans. It has various pharmacologic effects such as antiaging, immunopotentiation, antistress, and antimetastatic activities. We analyzed the antioxidant activities of IH-901 using several assays including: total antioxidant activity, reductive potential, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl, hydroxyl, superoxide and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays, a nitric oxide scavenging assay and a lipid peroxidation assay. At concentrations of 25 and 100 microg/mL, IH-901 inhibited lipid peroxidation of a linoleic acid emulsion with a potency comparable to ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxyanisole. The reductive potential of IH-901 increased in a concentration-dependent manner. IH-901 exhibited strong DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide and ABTS radical scavenging activities. IH-901 was also an effective inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, although IH-901 had only a mild scavenging activity against nitric oxide. These results suggest that IH-901 may be a useful antioxidant agent against reactive oxygen species.

Comparisons of Spinal Stabilization Exercise and Lumbar Extensor Strengthening Exercise in Chronic Low Back Pain

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of spinal stabilization exercise against with lumbar extensor strengthening exercise. METHOD: Sixty patients with chronic low back pain were enrolled into the study and randomly classified into three groups. Groups were treated with spinal stabilization exercise (Group 1), lumbar extensor strengthening exercise using a MedX machine (Group 2), or with a combination program (Group 3) for 8 weeks. Patients were not given any other treatment modalities. Isometric peak torque of the lumbar extensors, pain rating score (PRS), Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) score, and the Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (OLBPD-Q) were assessed at 0, 4, and 8 weeks of exercise. RESULTS: 1) After 8 weeks, all groups showed incremental improvements in maximal isometric torque of the lumbar extensors and exhibited improvement in SF-36, PRS, and OLBD-Q scores (p<0.05). 2) There were no significant differences in the degree of improvement among the three groups after 8 weeks of exercise. 3) The percentage of patients with scores of good or excellent in Group 3 was higher than in Groups 1 and 2 according to all evaluation tools. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of chronic low back pain, all exercise groups showed decreased pain, improved quality of life, and increased lumbar extensor strength regardless of the exercise type employed. We suggest that exercise programs in general are effective for the treatment of chronic low back pain and a combination exercise program seems to be most beneficial.

A case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium in a young adult

Spontaneous medialstinal emphysema (pneumomediastinum) and pneumopericardium may be defined as the presence of free air or gas in the mediastinal structures and in the pericardial sac without an apparent precipitating cause. It most frequently occurs in young healthy adults without serious underlying pulmonary disease. Although pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium is often asymptomatic, it may cause pain in the neck and chest, dysphonia and shortness of breath. Treatment is supportive unless the patient has a history of trauma from foreign body aspiration. The course of spontaneous pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium is usually benign and self-limited. A case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium and subcutaneous emphysema in a 20-year-old male is reported in this paper

Primary Gastric Small Cell Carcinoma-Pure Type 1 Case / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Primary gastric small cell carcinoma is very rare, so that its incidence is about 0.1% of all gastric cancer and it was first reported in 1976. The morphologic and biologic features of primary gastric small cell carcinoma are similar to those of small cell carcinoma of the lung. Gastric small cell carcinomas are pathologically classified as a pure type and a composite type combined with adenocarcinoma and/or squamous cell carcinoma. Because the behavior of this cancer is very aggressive and exclusive, it invade lymphatic and/or vascular lumen, and dose distant metastasis easily. We report the case of a 55-yr-old man who developed pure type primary gastric small cell carcinoma. The patient underwent Billroth-II subtotal gastrectomy and recieved a multiagent chemotherapy. He remains free from tumor recurrence 12 months after surgery.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among workers in a condom industry / 예방의학회지

The objectives of this study are to investigate the prevalence of occupation related carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) among workers in a condom industry; to analyse the sensitivity and specificity of clinical signs or symptoms such as hand diagram, Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign in carpal tunnel syndrome; and to test vibration threshold test using audiometry as a technically easy and noninvasive method in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in stead of nerve conduction velocity(NCV). The study group was divided into exposed group(39 cases)and non-exposed group(48 cases) based on whether or not excessive use of wrist movements exist. 1. There are statistically significant differences in symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome such as hand diagram, Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign between exposed and non-exposed group(p<0.05). 2. Six cases(9 hands) were confirmed as carpal tunnel syndrome by NCV. Five cases(7 hands) belonged to exposed group, 1 case(2 hands) to nonexposed group. As there are significant differences in prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome between two groups(p<0.05), excessive use of wrist in occupation is a risk factor of carpal tunnel syndrome. 3. When we use NCV as a gold standard in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, sensitivity and specificity of hand diagram, Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign is as followed; hand diagram; sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 84.2%. Tinel's sign; sensitivity 55.6%, specificity 72.8%. Phalen's sign; sensitivity 14.3%, specificity 88.4%. Among above clinical signs and symptoms, hand diagram is the best clinical screening test. 4. The differences of vibration threshold between median and ulnar nerve at the same time are useful in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome but the time change of vibration threshold of median nerve over time are not sensitive enough. It is concluded that vibration threshold between median and ulnar nerve at the same time can be used as a supplementary or alternative criterion to indicate that the nerve dysfunction is located in the carpal tunnel.