• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.345-356
• /
• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of physical therapy combined with a virtual reality (VR) game on pain, quality of life (QOL), engagement, and knee function in post-knee-surgery patients. Methods: Twenty-four patients who had undergone knee surgery four weeks or more before the study were recruited. Two withdrew from the study during the four-week experimental period, and a total of 22 patients were included in the final analysis. Routine physical therapy consisting of electrostimulation (10 min.) and therapeutic massage (10 min.) was the base intervention for all groups. The experimental group (n = 10) was additionally exposed to a VR game intervention, while the control group (n = 12) underwent an intervention involving similar motions as the experimental intervention but with no VR. The intervention for the experimental group used the game Rig Fit Adventure on Nintendo switch. Both groups underwent their respective interventions 3 times a week (35 min. per session) for 4 weeks. Pain was assessed using the numeric rating scale (NRS), and QOL was assessed using the EuroQol five-dimensional five-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). Engagement was assessed using the Korea flow state scale (K-FSS). Finally, knee movement and function were assessed based on knee flexion and extension, range of motion (ROM), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Results: After the four-week physical therapy, both groups showed significant reductions in pain (on the NRS), increased knee ROM (flexion), better WOMAC scores, and increased EQ-5D-5L scores (p < 0.05), with the experimental group showing significantly better improvements in EQ-5D-5L and K-FSS scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that a VR-game-integrated intervention is effective for improving pain, QOL, engagement, and knee function in post-knee surgery patients and that VR-game-integrated interventions could be therapeutic alternatives for patients bedridden for prolonged periods with little motivation for rehabilitation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.427-440
• /
• 1993

The paucity of donor hearts for transplantation can be remedied by distant heart procurement. Prolonging donor heart preservation is essential for successful clinical cardiac transplantation. Thirty-two isolated rat hearts were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer solution for 15 minutes, arrested and preserved at 4 oC for 4 hours, and then reperfused for 25 minutes. The following three groups were prepared and hemodynamic changes, creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme levels and ultrastructural changes of the myocardium were analysed before and after cardiac arrest. ; Group I : the heart was arrested with the cardioplegic solution [Plegisol, potassium : 16 mM, sodium : 120 mM] and then stored in a solution with ionic compositions of the extracellular fluid [Hartman, potassium : 4 mM, sodium : 130 mM] ; Group II : the heart was arrested with the cardioplegic solution and stored in a solution with ionic compositions of the intracellular fluid [Modified Euro-Collins, potassium : 108 mM, sodium : 10 mM] ; Group III : the heart was arrested with the cardioplegic solution containing adenosine 20 uM, and then stored in a solution with ionic compositions of the intracellular fluid [Modified University of Wisconsin solution, potassium : 119 mM, sodium: 23 mM]. Left ventricular developed pressure at 20 minutes of the reperfusion was significantly higher in group III [64.3 $\pm$ 3.12 mmHg, p<0.01] and group II [58.3 $\pm$ 1.55 mmHg, p<0.05] as compared with group I [51.4$\pm$ 2.78 mmHg]. The time to induce cardiac arrest after infusion of cardioplegic solution with adenosine 20 uM [5.3 $\pm$ 0.30 second, p<0.005] was significantly shorter than without adenosine [10.6$\pm$ 0.55 second]. Coronary flow at 20 minutes of the reperfusion was augmented significantly in group III [9.6$\pm$ 0.50 ml/min, p<0.05, p<0.05] as compared with group I [8.0 $\pm$ 0.41 ml/min] and group II [8.1$\pm$ 0.51 ml/min]. Percentage recovery of left ventricular developed pressure at 20 minutes of the reperfusion was significantly higher in group III [94.6$\pm$ 2.51 %, p<0.005] as compared with group II and in group II [83.1 $\pm$ 1.22 %, p<0.005] as compared with group I [69.9 $\pm$ 1.73 %], and also percentage recovery of coronary flow at 20 minutes of the reperfusion was significantly higher in group III [82.3 $\pm$ 3.86 %, p<0.05] as compared with group II [71.4 $\pm$ 3.46 %] but there was no significant difference between group I and group II. Measured level of creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme at 15 minutes of the reperfusion was significantly lower in group III [1.23 $\pm$ 0.16 ng/ml, p<0.025] and group II [1.42$\pm$ 0.10 ng/ml, p<0.05] as compared with group I [1.79 0.14 ng/ml]. In the semiquantitative evaluation of the ultrastructural changes of the myocardium, mitochondrial score was lower in group III [0.7 $\pm$ 0.21] than in group I [3.1$\pm$ 0.28] and group II [1.7 $\pm$ 0.19], and also the other structural score was lower in group III [2.7$\pm$ 0.99] than in group I [7.9 $\pm$ 0.89] and group II [5.0 $\pm$ 1.22]. In conclusion, the solution with ionic compositions of the intracellular fluid is appropriate for prolonged cardiac preservation, and it appears to be better preserving method for distant procurement when the donor heart is rapidly arrested with cardioplegic solution containing adenosine 20 uM, and then stored with Modified University of Wisconsin solution.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.21-31
• /
• 2015

Objective: This study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with diabetes in Korea and to compare them with the HRQoL of individuals without diabetes history. Methods: The study subjects were 17,655 adults aged over 19 who participated in the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012). The EuroQoL-5Dimension was used to evaluate HRQoL. Chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were performed to test the difference of HRQoL in diabetic subjects and controls. Results: The mobility dimension was the highest reported problem: 36.4% for diabetic subjects. The proportion of any reported problem was significantly high among diabetic subjects compared with two controls in terms of mobility [reference group: diabetic subjects, chronic controls: adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.77, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=0.66-0.91, healthy controls: aOR=0.61, 95% CI=0.50-0.75], self-care [reference group: diabetic subjects, chronic controls: aOR=0.68, 95% CI=0.55-0.83, healthy controls: OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.51-0.94]. and usual activities [reference group: diabetic subjects, chronic controls: aOR=0.85, 95% CI=0.72-0.99, healthy controls: OR=0.79, 95% CI=0.62-0.98]. Also, EQ-5D index were significantly low in subjects with diabetes compared to two controls. Conclusions: Subjects with diabetes had a significantly lower HRQoL compared with two controls. To improve the quality of life of diabetics, it is necessary to study various variables related to the quality of life, and develop and manage various health programs or welfare policies reflecting socio-demographic characteristics and health related features that affect the quality of life.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.17-30
• /
• 2020

In the shipping industry, it is essential to engage in the preemptive prediction of freight rate volatility through market monitoring. Considering that freight rates have already started to fall, the loss of shipping companies will soon be uncontrollable. Therefore, in this study, factors affecting the freight rates of bulk carriers, which have relatively large freight rate volatility as compared to container freight rates, were quantified and analyzed. In doing so, we intended to contribute to future shipping market monitoring. We performed an analysis using a vector error correction model and estimated the influence of six independent variables on the charter rates of bulk carriers by Handy Size, Supramax, Panamax, and Cape Size. The six independent variables included the bulk carrier fleet volume, iron ore traffic volume, ribo interest rate, bunker oil price, and Euro-Dollar exchange rate. The dependent variables were handy size (32,000 DWT) spot charter rates, Supramax 6 T/C average charter rates, Pana Max (75,000 DWT) spot charter, and Cape Size (170,000 DWT) spot charter. The study examined charter rates by size of bulk carriers, which was different from studies on existing specific types of ships or fares in oil tankers and chemical carriers other than bulk carriers. Findings revealed that influencing factors differed for each ship size. The Libo interest rate had a significant effect on all four ship types, and the iron ore traffic volume had a significant effect on three ship types. The Ribo rate showed a negative (-) relationship with Handy Size, Supramax, Panamax, and Cape Size. Iron ore traffic influenced three types of linearity, except for Panamax. The size of shipping companies differed depending on their characteristics. These findings are expected to contribute to the establishment of a management strategy for shipping companies by analyzing the factors influencing changes in the freight rates of charterers, which have a profound effect on the management performance of shipping companies.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.361-368
• /
• 2002

The valley forests located at the east-facing slope and the west facing slope in Hambaeksan area were studied to investigate forest structure in relation to aspect and altitude of the slope. There was little difference in density. mean DBH and basal area of the tree layer between east-facing slope and west-facing slope. The importance percentages of Tilia amurensis and Betula costata in west-facing slope were higher than those in east-facing slope. However, the importance percentages of Quercus mongilica and Fraxinus rhynchophylla in the west facing slope were lower than those in east-facing slope. Species diversity of the west-facing slope was 1.415 and that of the east-facing slope was 1.328. Elevation trends were also found for forest structure. As elevation Increased basal area and mean height of the tree layer decreased in both of east-facing slope and west-facing slope. There was a tendency that number of species, species diversity and evenness decreased with increasing elevation. The importance percentage of Quercus mongolica increased with increasing elevation while those of Betula costata and Maackia amurensis decreased. The result of cluster analysis for the tree and subtree layer indicated that the studied forests were classified into the mixed forest community of broad-leaved tree species at west-facing slope and the low and middle elevation belts of east-facing slope and Quercus mongolica community at the high elevation belt of east-facing slope. Quercus mongolica was significantly and positively correlated with Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa, Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes and deutzia glabrata. Betula costata was significantly and negatively correlated with Quercus mongolica and Acer pseudo-sieboldianum.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the instrument on pattern identification for insomnia (PIT-Insomnia) and verify the correlation between PIT-Insomnia and psychological tests. Methods: Two evaluators examined the pattern identification of the participants who met insomnia disorder diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and took the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score over 15 once manually and twice using the PIT-Insomnia to measure the inter-rater and test-retest reliability. We also conducted the following surveys: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Korean version of Beck's depression inventory (K-BDI), the Korean version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-K), the Korean Symptom checklist-95 (KSCL-95), and the EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D), to measure concurrent validity and correlation between the PTI-Insomnia and psychological tests. Results: 1. The test-retest reliability analysis of the pattern identification results showed moderate agreement, and test-retest reliability analysis of each pattern identification score showed agreements from poor to moderate. 2. The inter-rater reliability analysis of the pattern identification results via manual showed slight agreement, when analysis was performed with calibration, the inter-rater reliability analysis of the pattern identification results via manual showed fair agreement. 3. The concordance analysis between results via manual and the PIT-Insomnia showed poor agreement, when the analysis was performed with calibration, concordance analysis showed fair agreement. 4. The concordance analysis between the PIT-Insomnia and the PSQI showed positive linear correlation. 5. The concordance analysis between the PIT-Insomnia and the PSQI, K-BDI, STAI-K, KSCL-95, and EQ-5D showed that non-interaction between the heart and kidney have positive linear correlation with the K-BDI, anxiety item of KSCL-95, dual deficiency of the heart-spleen have positive linear correlation with somatization item of KSCL-95, paranoia item of KSCL-95, heart deficiency with timidity have positive linear correlation with stress vulnerability item of KSCL-95, parania item of KSCL-95, phlegm-fire harassing the heart have positive linear correlation with K-BDI, paranoia item of KSCL-95, depressed liver qi transforming into fire have positive linear correlation with the anxiety item of KSCL-95, parania item of KSCL-95, all pattern identification have negative linear correlation with EQ-5D. Conclusions: The PIT-Insomnia has moderate agreement of reliability and reflects the severity of insomnia since it has some concurrent validity with the PSQI. There are some correlations between the PTI-Insomnia with specific psychological tests, so we could suggest it can be used appropriately in the clinical situation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.512-522
• /
• 1999

Background: Due to the paucity of suitable donor organs for lung allotransplantation, a number of techniques have been developed to improve the lung preservation. Ultrastructural studies of the morphologic changes of the flushing, preservation and reperfusion injury in donor lungs have rarely been reported. Methods: Adult dogs (n=46) were matched as donors and recipients for the single lung transplantation. The donor lungs were preserved after flushing with preservation solution and transplanted after 20-hours of preservation at $10^{\circ}C$. Ultrastructural features of the lung were examined after flushing, preservation and 2 hours after lung transplantation (reperfusion) respectively. Results: Electron microscopy after flushing showed focal alveolar collapse and mild swelling of type I epithelial cells. After preservation both type I epithelial cells and endothelial cells were swollen and destroyed focally. The endothelial cells showed protrusion of tactile-like structures into the lumina, blebs or vacuoles of the cytoplasm After reperfusion the lung tissue showed fibrin material in the alveoli, prominent type I epithelial cell swelling with fragmented cytoplasmic debris and marked endothelial cell swelling with vacuoles or tactile-like projections. The alveolar macrophages showed active phagocytosis. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the pulmonary parenchyma showed focally alveolar collapse and focal consolidation after the preservation and more prominent changes after the reperfusion procedure. The lungs preserved with low potassium dextran glucose solution, with additional prostaglandin $E_1(PGE_1)$ and verapamil(VP) showed relatively well preserved ultrastructures compared with those which were preserved with modified Euro-Collins or University of Wisconsin, and with additional $PGE_1$ and/or VP. Conclusion: The ultrastructural changes associated with flushing were mild in severity, the donor lungs were injured during the preservation, and further damage was occurred during the reperfusion. The reperfusion injury resulted in prominent pulmonary parenchymal alterations with a pattern of acute lung injury.

• International Commerce and Information Review
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.485-516
• /
• 2011

Republic of Korea is small nation that is comprised of 0.7% of the world population and occupying just 0.07% of the world territory. Despite this, Republic of Korea once again proved herself to be as the world's major economic powerhouse by becoming the world's 7th largest exporter in 2010. However, the reality is that Republic of Korea is still significantly concerned about the volatile economic nature and anxiety that is spread across the globe since the global depression that began at the end of 2008 and the financial crisis that has been threatening the Euro-Zone recently. This has resulted in the nation reaching the limitation in significant economic growth and limited creation of jobs within the nation and due to such circumstances, the nation is becoming more aware of the fact that she needs to pay more attention on the service sector and service exports if she was to see a more positive economic outlook in the upcoming future. This research is aimed to analyse the cost that is associated with the service export sector, by examining a number of enterprises in relation to the MICE(Meeting Incentives Convention Exhibition) industry which certainly has both direct and indirect influences on the service exports of the nation Further, the prime goal of the research is to encourage the SMEs of Korea, who have substandard experience associated to foreign exports, to intensify and increase service exports and also the goal extends to the degree to suggest appropriate assistance measures to aid these enterprises to achieve such goals. This research is fundamentally designed and based on the literature research associated with the MICE industry and also, this research is premeditated through the analysis of the case of exports to Vietnam. As the result of research, it has been found out that SMEs in the MICE industry and those of in service export sector are reluctant or even feel insecure to attempt any kind of export of their services mainly due to; the lack of foreign market information and also the lack of experience associated with service exports. Furthermore, it has also been revealed that the difficulty to estimate the validity and profitability of service the export is a significant factor withholding those enterprises from attempting any service export to the foreign markets. Henceforth, in order to aid and stimulate service export to the foreign markets by these SMEs (including those in association with the MICE industry), it is imperative to prepare an one-stop service export assistance program which would provide the information associated with marketing, law and legislation, taxation system and financial area in regard to the global markets.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.538-555
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the association of the type and frequency of coffee consumption with the health-related quality of life and metabolic bio-markers in adult men and women from the 2013 ~ 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: A total of 11,201 subjects (4,483 men and 6,718 women) were classified according to the type of coffee consumption (non-coffee, black coffee, 3-in-1 coffee) and type and frequency of coffee consumption (non-coffee, ${\leq}2$ times/day of black coffee, > 2 times/day of black coffee, ${\leq}2$ times/day of 3-in-1 coffee, > 2 times/day of 3-in-1 coffee) using food frequency questionnaires. Dietary nutrient intake data were assessed using food frequency questionnaires. The health-related quality of life was measured using the EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) and EQ-5D index score. Data on metabolic bio-markers were obtained from a health examination. Results: Among men and women, the proportion of subjects with an energy intake below the estimated energy requirement (EER) was lower among the 3-in-1 coffee consumption group, and the proportion of subjects with iron intakes below the estimated average requirements (EAR) was lower among the 3-in-1 coffee consumption group. Women (OR: 0.810, 95% CI: 0.657 ~ 0.998) with the ${\leq}2$ times/day of 3-in-1 coffee had a lower risk of impaired health-related quality of life (lowest 20% level in the EQ-5D score) compared to the non-coffee consumers after a multivariable adjustment. In both men and women, the type and frequency of coffee consumption was not associated with metabolic bio-markers risk after multivariable adjustment. Conclusion: These results suggest that 3-in-1 coffee consumption may be associated with a lower risk of impaired health-related quality of life and may not be associated with the metabolic bio-markers risk in adult men and women.