Background: Although it has been reported that both self-myofascial release (SMR) with foam rolling (FR) and active static hamstring stretching (e.g., jackknife stretching) are effective in improving hamstring flexibility, no study has compared the effects of these exercises. Objectives: To compare the effects of SMR with FR and jack-knife stretching on hamstring flexibility. Design: A Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Subjects with hamstring tightness were divided into the SMR with the FR group (n=12) and the jack-knife stretching group (n=12). Subjects groups performed SMR with FR or jack-knife stretching according to group assignment. To identify changes in hamstring flexibility, the finger-to-floor distance (FFD) test, active knee extension (AKE) test, and passive straight leg raising (PSLR) test were performed at pre- and post-exercise. Results: Significant increases occurred in knee extension angle during the AKE test and hip flexion angle during the PSLR test after exercise in both groups (P<.001). Additionally, FFD and anterior pelvic tilt during the FFD test significantly increased (P<.001); however, we observed no significant interaction and main effects for the groups (P>.05). Conclusion: Both SMR with FR and jack-knife stretching are effective in improving hamstring flexibility in subjects with hamstring tightness.

The role of transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor-1 (TRPV1) has been primarily investigated in pain sensory neurons. Relatively, little research has been performed in testicular cells. TRPV1 is abundantly expressed in Leydig cells of young adult mice. This study was conducted to determine the role of the TRPV1 channel in Leydig cells. TRPV1 modulators and testosterone were treated to the mouse Leydig cell line TM3 cells for 24 h. Capsaicin, a TRPV1 activator, dose-dependently induced cell death, whereas capsazepine, a TRPV1 inhibitor, inhibited capsaicin-induced cell death. Testosterone treatment reduced capsaicin-induced cell death. High concentrations of testosterone decreased TRPV1 mRNA and protein expression levels. However, TRPV1 modulators did not affect testosterone production. These results showed that capsaicin induced cell death of Leydig cells and that testosterone reduced capsaicininduced cell death. Our findings suggest that testosterone may regulate the survival of Leydig cells in young adult mice by decreasing the expression level of TRPV1.

Background: Although the scapular posterior tilt movement could facilitate the lower trapezius (LT) muscle activity, no study identified the effects of the scapular posterior tilt movement on the selective activation of the LT muscle during prone shoulder extension. Objectives: To examine the influences of additional scapular posterior tilt on electromyography (EMG) of the upper trapezius (UT) and the LT muscles during prone shoulder extension. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: There were 15 asymptomatic male participants in this study who performed prone shoulder extension with and without scapular posterior tilt movements. For the scapular posterior tilt movements, participants performed visual biofeedback training for scapular movement using motion sensor. During the exercises, the EMG activity of the UT and LT was recorded using surface EMG system. Results: The EMG activity of the LT significantly increased during prone shoulder extension with scapular posterior tilt compared to that of general prone shoulder extension, whereas that of the UT was not significantly different between the two exercises. Moreover, scapular posterior tilt application significantly decreased UT/LT muscle activity ratio. Conclusion: Scapular posterior tilt movement may be emphasized during exercise when facilitating LT muscle activation.

확산강조 영상은 자기공명영상에서 진단에 매우 중요한 역할을 차지하고 있다. 또한, 높은 b-value를 요구하는 검사가 늘어나는 추세로 확산강조 영상을 얻기 위하여 검사 시간이 길어지게 되며 인공물과 전체적인 신호 감소가 동반하게 된다. 본 연구에서는 확산강조 영상에서 확산 방법을 3스캔 추적 확산강조 영상(3-scan trace diffusion weighted image, tDWI) 에서 DTI의 원리를 적용한 대각선 확산강조 영상(diagonal diffusion weighted image, dDWI)로 변경하여 획득 하였을 때, 두 방법 간의 검사 시간의 단축과 영상을 비교 평가하였다. 농도가 0에서 50%까지 10% 간격인 팬텀을 제작하여 제한된 확산(restrict diffusion)을 단발 스핀에코평면영상(single shot spin echo echo planar, SE-EPI) 기법을 사용하여 검사하였다. 확산 방법을 변경하며 tDWI와 dDWI 검사를 진행하였으며, 획득한 영상을 Image J 프로그램을 이용 하여 농도별 동일한 관심 체적을 설정하여 신호를 측정 후 분석방법은 독립 T-test를 이용하고, 통계적 분석은 SAS를 통해 신호 대 잡음 비와 대조도 대 잡음 비를 비교·분석하였다. p-value 0.05를 기준으로 유의성을 검증하였다. b0를 제외한 b100 이상은 전반적으로 신호 대 잡음 비, 대조도 대 잡음 비가 크며, p-value 0.05 이상으로 나타났다. 확산 방법 간 유의하지 않지만, 전반적으로 dDWI이 tDWI에 비해 평균이 높았다. dDWI 방법이 tDWI에 비해 화질의 변화 없이 검사 시간이 18.35% 단축되는 효과가 있으며, 신호 대 잡음 비와 대조도 대 잡음 비가 소폭 향상된 것으로 나타나 다른 부위의 확산강조 영상을 사용하는 검사에 적용 시 유용할 것으로 사료 된다.

Traditionally, pathologists examine tissue slides under a microscope to find pathological lesions, and have the burden of finding the lesions among so many histopathology slides. Furthermore, inconsistency of diagnoses results differ corresponding to training among researchers. Therefore, accumulated research experience has led to the use of novel tools for increasing accuracy and consistency of diagnoses. With rapid transition from analog to digital methods and new developments in digital pathology, it is possible to use whole slide imaging (WSI) by scanning glass slides. Artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning and deep learning using WSI, is starting to be applied to automatically classify and count microscope images, and this method has been expanded to include the field of medical image analysis. This review aims to define current trends toward AI application in the biomedical area, especially in the field of toxicopathology, outline current future business trends, and discuss multiple issues of diagnosis, quantification, three-dimensional reconstruction, molecular pathological research, and the future direction of AI in toxicopathology. Big data systems including a large amount of welldefined toxicopathological information will be highly useful for accuracy and corrections of diagnoses. In addition, the need for critical peer review is profound in the continuing educational process. Taken together, it is highly promising that AI model based on big data in the toxicopathological field could classify, detect, and segment pathological lesions in numerous organs of experimental animals and could help explain various biological mechanisms. This promising approach will provide an accurate and fast analysis of tissue structure and biological pathways using AI algorithms and big data.

이탈리안벌인 A, C, F계통과 코카시안벌인 D, V계통을 2005년부터 2007년까지 국내에서 수집하였다. 수집한 계통은 육종을 위해 격리 된 섬에서 근친교배를 통해 순계로 분리하였다. 이 연구는 꿀, 로열젤리 다수확계통 선발에 있어 개체군 선발과 육종 효율을 높이기 위해 수행되 었다. 23 개의 형태학적 특성을 평가하고 두 아종의 기존 데이터와 비교한 결과, 이탈리안벌 순계계통은 코카시안벌 순계 계통과 달리8개의 특성이 기존의 이탈리안벌과 유사해 더 많은 특성이 보존되고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 또한 국내에서 유지되고 있는 순계들은 타 지역의 동일 계통과 차 이를 보여 분리된 순계의 형태적인 특징이 확인되었다.

Aquaporin channels (AQPs) are known to play an important role in the development of ovarian follicles through their function in water transport pathways. Compared to other AQPs, research on the role of AQP4 in female reproductive physiology, particularly in cattle, remains limited. In our previous study, gene chip microarray data showed a downregulation of AQP4 in bovine cystic follicles. This study was performed to validate the AQP4 expression level at the protein level in bovine follicles using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and immunoprecipitation assays. Immunostaining data showed that AQP4 was expressed in granulosa and theca cells of bovine ovarian follicles. The ovarian follicles were classified according to size as small (< 10 mm) or large (> 25 mm) in diameter. Consistent with earlier microarray data, semi-quantitative PCR data showed a decrease in AQP4 mRNA expression in large follicles. Western blot analysis showed a downregulation of the AQP4 protein in large follicles. In addition, AQP4 was immunoprecipitated and blotted with anti-AQP4 antibody in small and large follicles. Accordingly, AQP4 exhibited a low expression in large follicles. These results show that AQP4 is downregulated in bovine ovarian large follicles, suggesting that the downregulation of AQP4 expression may interfere with follicular water transport, leading to bovine follicular cysts.

Background: Shoulder horizontal abduction in the prone position (SHAP) has been reported as an effective exercise to strengthen the lower trapezius. However, the effects of pre-emptive scapular posterior tilt on scapular muscle activity and scapulohumeral movements during SHAP have not been examined. Objectives: To examine the effect of the addition of scapular posterior tilt on muscle activity of the trapezius and posterior deltoid, and scapular posterior tilt and shoulder horizontal abduction, during SHAP. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifteen healthy male subjects performed two types of SHAP: general and modified SHAP (SHAP combined with pre-emptive scapular posterior tilt). To perform modified SHAP, pre-emptive scapular posterior tilt training was performed prior to the modified SHAP. Muscle activity of the middle and lower trapezius and posterior deltoid, and the amount of scapular posterior tilt and shoulder horizontal abduction, were measured during two types of SHAP. Results: Muscle activity of the lower trapezius and scapular posterior tilt was significantly increased during the modified SHAP, while muscle activity of the posterior deltoid and the amount of shoulder horizontal abduction were significantly decreased. However, the middle trapezius muscle activity did not change during the modified SHAP. Conclusion: The SHAP with pre-emptive scapular posterior tilt can be useful to strengthen the lower trapezius.