• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.209-219
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• 1997

Objectives: Anterior approach to achieve arthrodesis of the cervical spine has become a widely accepted and often-used approach since its earliest reports by Bailey and Badgley, Smith and Robinson and Cloward. However, anterior interbody fusion in the presence of the posterior instability may be complicated by the bone graft dislodgement, kyphotic defomity or nonunion. As an attemp to prevent this undesirable complication, additional methods such as skeletal traction, halo appratus or even posterior fusion has been utilized. Therefore, The cervical spine locking plate(CSLP) with the anterior intervertebral body bone grafting provide immediate cervical stabilization and widely successful in achieving fusion. Material and methods: This study analysed 14 patients who underwent a single anterior procedure and application of CSLP for the treatment of the cervical spinal disorder. Eleven patients were disc herniations and three patients were traumatic lesion. The average age of the patient was 47 years and the mean follow up periods was 20 months ranging from 13 to 27 months. Results: Ambulation was started 2nd day after the operation with the aid of the Philadelpia orthoses. Bone union was observed 13 cases on average 12 weeks after operation. The one case was nonunion with plate breakage without clinical symptom. Conclusion: Anterior fusion with CSLP are thought to be a safe and valuable method for treating cervical spine disorder.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2009

Purpose: We report mid to long - term results of meniscal transplantation and evaluate the important factors for successful outcomes. Materials and Methods: Between December 1999 and September 2002, 25 meniscal transplantations were performed using fresh frozen allograft. The lateral meniscus was transplanted in 19 cases and medial meniscus in 6 cases. The mean age was 34 years (range, 17~50 years) and the mean follow up was 54.8 months (range, 6~85 months). Preoperative measurements were made using a ruler graded in millimeters. Lateral meniscus was fixed by keyhole technique and medial meniscus was fixed by double bone plug technique with suturing the periphery of the meniscal transplant. All patients were evaluated with Knee Assessment Scoring System (KASS), Lysholm knee score, and Tegner activity scale for daily activity. Results: Symptoms improved in all cases. The average KASS score increased from 61.7 preoperatively to 83.8 postoperatively. The average Lysholm knee score increased from 77.7 preoperatively to 87.7 postoperatively (excellent in 3 cases, good in 17 cases, fair 4 cases, poor 1 case). But painful swellings were 3 cases, numbness in 1 case, and granuloma due to non-absorbable suture material in 1 case. Peroneal nerve palsy in 1 case was recovered after 6 weeks postoperatively. Conclusion: Meniscal allograft transplantation after subtotal or total menisectomy can significantly relieve pain and improve function of the knee joint. The exact preoperative sizing and secure fixation are essential for successful outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.309-338
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• 2010

In this paper, we studied the brain-computer interface (BCI). BCIs help severely disabled people to control external devices by analyzing their brain signals evoked from motor imageries. The findings in the field of neurophysiology revealed that the power of $\beta$(14-26 Hz) and $\mu$(8-12 Hz) rhythms decreases or increases in synchrony of the underlying neuronal populations in the sensorymotor cortex when people imagine the movement of their body parts. These are called Event-Related Desynchronization / Synchronization (ERD/ERS), respectively. We implemented a BCI-based mouse interface system which enabled subjects to control a computer mouse cursor into four different directions (e.g., up, down, left, and right) by analyzing brain signal patterns online. Tongue, foot, left-hand, and right-hand motor imageries were utilized to stimulate a human brain. We used a non-invasive EEG which records brain's spontaneous electrical activity over a short period of time by placing electrodes on the scalp. Because of the nature of the EEG signals, i.e., low amplitude and vulnerability to artifacts and noise, it is hard to analyze and classify brain signals measured by EEG directly. In order to overcome these obstacles, we applied statistical machine-learning techniques. We could achieve high performance in the classification of four motor imageries by employing Common Spatial Pattern (CSP) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) which transformed input EEG signals into a new coordinate system making the variances among different motor imagery signals maximized for easy classification. From the inspection of the topographies of the results, we could also confirm ERD/ERS appeared at different brain areas for different motor imageries showing the correspondence with the anatomical and neurophysiological knowledge.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.353-356
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• 2006

Acute transverse myelitis (TM) is a neurological syndrome caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. TM is rare but is frequently caused by viral or bacterial infections. TM caused by tuberculosis (TB) is extremely rare and there are no reports of TM caused by multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). We report a case of acute TM due to MDR-TB in a 40-year-old man. The patient had been diagnosed with pulmonary TB and was started on the first-line anti-TB treatment. However, the chest radiographic findings were aggravated and neurological symptoms such as weakness in both lower extremities, sensory changes, and voiding difficulty were newly developed. The T2-weighted magnetic resonance image of the spine showed diffusely increased signal intensity in the spinal cord, particularly at the lower cervical and upper thoracic levels, without any definite evidence of myeloradicular compression, which is consistent with a diagnosis of TM. A drug susceptibility test revealed MDR and second-line anti-TB drugs were prescribed. The chest radiographic findings showed improvement after treatment, the mycobacterial culture converted to negative, the MRI findings improved, and there was partial improvement in the low extremity weakness. The patient has been prescribing second-line anti-TB medications for 14 months.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.5741-5747
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to find correlation between the Berg Balance Scale which is most commonly used and the equilibrium scores from Smart Balance Master System which is used for the test of the balance ability for the patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke to predict their falling risk though examining the postural control. Twenty-two subjects who had first stroke participated in this study. Participants were measured the Berg Balance Scale and the Smart Balance Master System. The study found that there was a significant correlation between the Berg Balance Scale and the equilibrium scores from Smart Balance Master System. And there was no significant correlation at all "eye-closed and sway of surfaces" in the 6 conditions of Smart Balance Master System and there was a significant correlation with over median in the other 5 conditions. The study was uncovered that there was no meaningful correlation between the Berg Balance Scale and "eye-closed and sway of surfaces" because chronic hemiparetic stroke patients heavily relied on their vision to maintain their balance ability and the Berg Balance Scale did not properly exam it. Thus to predict their falling risk in clinical practice for the patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke, it would be more efficient ways for us to consider all the effects of sensory organs with more than one clinical evaluation method.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of self-sit-to-stand training on balance ability and sit-to-stand ability in hemiplegic stroke patients using a multisensory feedback device. Methods: A total of 19 stroke patients participated in this study, and they were divided into two groups: 10 underwent self-sit-to-stand training using a multisensory feedback device, and 9 underwent sit-to-stand training with a physical therapist. In both groups, sit-to-stand training was performed for 30 min, 3 times a week, for 6 weeks. The subjects also underwent physical therapy twice a day for 30 min, 10 times a week, for a total of 60 sessions. Balance ability was evaluated using the AFA-50 and Berg Balance Scale. Sit-to-stand ability was evaluated using the five times sit-to-stand test. Results: Sway length, pressure, and total pressure all significantly increased in both groups, and there was no difference between the two groups. The Berg Balance Scale results showed that balance ability significantly increased in both groups, and there was no difference between the two groups. The five times sit-to-stand test results showed that sit-to-stand ability significantly increased in both groups, and there was no difference between the two groups. It was found that the self-sit-to-stand training using a multisensory feedback device had a positive effect on balance control and sit-to-stand ability. When the two groups were compared, no difference in balance ability or sit-to-stand ability was observed. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that self-sit-to-stand training using a multisensory feedback device is as effective as sit-to-stand training with a physical therapist. Hence, self-sit-to-stand training using a multisensory feedback device could be an effective home-based exercise protocol for hemiplegic stroke patients to improve their balance and sit-to-stand abilities.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.345-350
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• 2003

Purpose : Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection of childhood associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. Repeated cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) examination is a useful prognostic indicator and a delayed sterilization is associated with a higher incidence of neurologic abnormalities. In this study we tried to determine the prognostic value of repeated CSF latex agglutination testing. Methods : We retrospectively evaluated 19 patients admitted to Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital for bacterial meningitis from January 1997 to June 2002. Bacterial meningitis was confirmed by a positive CSF culture and a positive CSF latex agglutination test. Repeated CSF examinations were done at three, seven, 14, 21 and 28 days after antibiotics therapy. Neuroradiologic studies were performed. Results : The mean age was $10.6{\pm}12.3months$(range; two to 33 months). The male to female ratio was 2.8 : 1. The causative organisms were Haemophilus influenzae type b 57.9%, Group B Streptococcus 21.1%, Streptococcus pneumoniae 15.7% and Escherichia coli 5.3%. Three days after the initiation of antibiotics therapy, repeated CSF latex agglutination tests persisted as positive in nine (47.4%) out of 19 cases, but all CSF cultures became negative. In those cases with negative latex agglutination tests three days after antibiotics therapy, neuroradiologic findings were completely normal. But, in cases with positive latex agglutination tests three days after antibiotics therapy, neuroradiologic abnormalities such as cerebral infarction, encephalomalasia occurred in 44.4%. Conclusion : Repeated CSF latex agglutination testing was valuable as a prognostic factor in bacterial meningitis. Neuroradiologic abnormalities may occur in cases with delayed clearance of CSF latex agglutination tests more often than in cases with negative latex agglutination tests three days after antibiotics therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 1999

Background : Massive and untreated hemoptysis is associated with a mortality of greater than 50 percent. Since the bleeding is from a bronchial arterial source in the vast majority of patients, embolization of the bronchial arteries(BAE) has become an accepted treatment in the management of massive hemoptysis because it achieves immediate control of bleeding in 75 to 90 percent of the patients. Methods: Between 1990 and 1996, we treated 146 patients with hemoptysis by bronchial artery embolization. Catheters(4, 5, or 7F) and gelfoam, ivalon, and/or microcoil were used for embolization. Results: Pulmonary tuberculosis and related disorders were the most common underlying disease of hemoptysis(72.6%). Immediate success rate to control bleeding within 24hours was 95%, and recurrence rate was 24.7%. The recurrence rate occured within 6 months after embolization was 63.9%. Initial angiographic findings such as bilaterality, systemic-pulmonary artery shunt, neovascularity, aneurysm were not statistically correlated with rebleeding tendency(P>0.05). Among Initial radiographic findings, only pleural lesions were significantly correlated with rebleeding tendency(P<0.05). At additional bronchial artery angiograpy done due to rebleeding, recanalization of previous embolized arteries were 63.9%, and the presence of new feeding arteries were 16.7%, and 19.4% of patients with rebleeding showed both The complications such as fever, chest pain, headache, nausea and vomiting, arrhythmia, paralylytic ileus, transient sensory loss (lower extremities), hypotension, urination difficulty were noticed at 40 patients(27.4%). Conclusion: We conclude that bronchial artery embolization is relatively safe method achieving immediate control of massive hemoptysis. At initial angiographic findings, we could not find any predictive factors for subsequent rebleeding. It may warrant further study whether patients with pleural disease have definetely increased rebleeding tendency.