• Title/Summary/Keyword: Finger

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Somatotopic Mapping of the Supplementary Motor Area (부운동영역의 뇌지도화)

  • Han Young Min;Jeong Su-Hyun;Lee Heon;Jin Gong Yong;Lee Sang Yong;Chung Gyung Ho
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.9-16
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    • 2004
  • Purpose : The purpose of this study was to assess supplementary motor area (SMA) activation during motor, sensory, word generation, listening comprehension, and working memory tasks using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Materials and Methods : Sixteen healthy right-handed subjects (9M, 7F) were imaged on a Siemens 1.5T scanner. Whole brain functional maps were acquired using BOLD EPI sequences in the axial plane. Each paradigm consisted of five epochs of activation vs. the control condition. The activation tasks consisted of left finger complex movement, hot sensory stimulation of the left hand, word generation, listening comprehension, and working memory. The reference function was a boxcar waveform. Activation maps were thresholded at an uncorrected p=0.0001. The thresholded activation maps were placed into MNI space and the anatomic localization of activation within the SMA was compared across tasks. Results : SMA activation was observed in 16 volunteers for the motor task, 11 for the sensory task, 15 for the word generation task, 5 for the listening comprehension task, and 15 for the working memory task. The rostral aspects of the SMA showed activity during the word generation and working memory tasks, and the caudal aspects of the SMA showed activity during the motor and sensory tasks. Right (contralateral) SMA activation was observed during the motor and sensory tasks, and left SMA activation during the word generation and memory tasks. Conclusion : Our results suggest that SMA is involved in a variety of functional tasks including motor, sensory, word generation, and working memory. The results obtained also support the notion that functionally specific subregions exist within the region classically defined as the SMA.

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A Study on the Establishment of Management Methods about Occupational Dermatoses (직업성 피부질환에 대한 현황 파악 및 관리 대책 수립을 위한 연구)

  • Lim, Hyun-Sul;Cheong, Hae-Kwan;Choi, Byung-Soon;Kim, Ji-Yong;Sung, Yeol-Oh;Kim, Yang-Ho
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.29 no.3 s.54
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    • pp.617-637
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    • 1996
  • Occupational dermatosis is one of the most prevalent occupational disorders. However, the extent of the occupational dermatoses including incidences and prevalencies of each disease entity, and etiologic materials are not yet welt stated in Korea. Authors reviewed the literatures on the statistic data and reports on the occupational dermatoses, and surveyed on the occupational dermatoses in two factories, and surveyed the physicians responsible to the occupational dermatoses with formed questionnaire. The results are as follows; 1. Among medical journals published since 1964, there were 31 articles on the occupational dermatoses. Of 31 articles, 18 were case reports and all others were review articles. Of 18 case reports, 9 were epidemiologic survey. The Workers' Periodic Health Examinations revealed that prevalence of the occupational dermatoses was highest(4.36 per 10,000 workers) in 1974, but number of the cases reported were decreased sharply since 1978 with some tendency to increase since 1981. There were 2,240 reported cases of occupational dermatoses between 1966 and 1992, which is 1.90% of all the reported occupational diseases. Skin infection and injuries due to chemicals were most frequent and there were 6 cases of skin cancer. 2. In an epidemiological survey on the dermatoses among 995 workers in a metal product manufacturing factory and 225 workers in a coal chemical factory, there were 794 with dermatomycosis, 296 workers with acne, 130 workers with scar, 123 workers with deformity of toe nails. Scars, photosensitivity dermatitis, deformity of finger and toe nails, and acne were more prevalent in the metal product manufacturing factory(p<0.05). In the metal prouct manufacturing factory, workers treating organic solvents and oils had more dermatoses than those without treating the materials(p<0.05). On the skin patch performed on 16 workers in the metal product manufacturing factory, there were 8 cases of irritation dermatitis and 5 cases of contact dermatitis. Prevalence of contact dermatitis in the metal product manufacturing factory was 1.3%. 3. On the questionnaire survey, 34 dermatologists, 29 doctors of preventive medicine, and 22 family physician replied. The proportion of occupational etiology among all dermatoses assumed by the physicians were below 9%, and the most important occupational dermatosis in Korea was contact dermatitis. Main etiologic materials related to the occupational dermatosis were organic solvent, acid and alkali, and metals. The reason for the scarcity of report of occupational dermatoses were difficulty in diagnosis and physician's ignorance of the occupational etiology. They replied that to prevent the occupational dermatoses in the workplace, the use of protective devices was most important, and development of diagnostic criteria on the occupational dermatoses is urgent. Above results shows us that there is many workers with occupational dermatoses, but they are mostly unreported. Measures to prevent and manage the occupational dermatoses are not satisfactory at present. Hence, authors suggest measures for the precise diagnosis, report and prevention of the occupational dermatoses. a. Dermatologist, preventive physician, and industrial hygienist should work as a team to examine the high risk group and establish the preventive measures. b. Disease entities, diagnostic criteria of occupational dermatoses should be listed, criteria for the compensation and job fitting at recruitment should be established, and manual for the proper treatment and effective prevention of each occupational dermatosis should be developed. c. Patch test antigens against each occupational category should be developed and it should be available to any physicians responsible. d. To facilitate the diagnosis of occupational dermatoses by the doctors responsible for the Workersr Periodic Health Examination, development of standardized questionnaire, education on the techniques of the patch test, and cooperation with the dermatologist in diagnosis of occupational dermatoses is essential.

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The Factors Related to Musculoskeletal Symptoms of Family Care-Givers who Have a Patient with Brain Damage (뇌손상 가족 간병인의 근골격계 자각증상과 관련요인)

  • Jeon, Eun-Mi;Lee, Seong-A;Gu, Jung-Whan
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.336-344
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    • 2017
  • This study was conducted to identify factors related to the musculoskeletal symptoms of 340 family caregivers who have a patient with brain damage based on self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires included general characteristics, characteristics of care activities and caregivers' musculoskeletal symptoms. Data were collected from many long-term care hospitals and rehabilitation centers during March 17 to March 21, 2014. The results indicated that complaint rates of work-related musculoskeletal systems of the body sites differed. Factor analysis revealed that neck complaints were related to education (under mid), while shoulder complaints were related to sex (female), age (50-59), education (mid) and duration of care (< 2 years). Arm/elbow complaints were related to age (40-49), education (high) and duration of care (12-24). Complaints regarding the hand/wrist/finger were related to age (50-59) and duration of care (12-24), while those associated with the legs/feet were related to age (50-59) and duration of care (< 6[ED highlight - years? Please specify.]). Back problems were related to education (under mid, mid stage, high) and gait. The complaint rate regarding musculoskeletal symptoms during daily life was not statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis of significant factors related to subjective musculoskeletal symptoms identified ambulation and gait as having the greatest influence and complaint factor among family caregivers. The complaint rate of family caregivers differed among body parts. Being a caregiver for less than one year was found to have a significant impact on pain. Overall, long term family caregivers could be faced with risk factors for musculoskeletal problems, but there are many different factors that affect musculoskeletal symptoms with regards to their activities. Accordingly, comprehensive and systematic prevention plans for family caregivers who have patients with brain damage should be developed.

A Study on Hepatomegaly and Facial Telangiectasia in a Group of the Insured (간종대(肝腫大)와 안면모세혈관확장(顔面毛細血管擴張)의 보험의학적연구(保險醫學的硏究))

  • Im, Young-Hoon
    • The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.110-132
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    • 1987
  • A study on hepatomegaly detected by abdominal palpation, and facial telangiectasia in a total of 3,418 insured persons medically examined at the Honam Medical Room of Dong Bang Life Insurance Company Ltd. from February, 1984 to August, 1985 was undertaken. The results were as follows: 1) Hepatomegaly was found in 383 cases(27.5%) among the 1,395 insureds of male and in 163 cases(8.1%) among the 2,023 insureds of female. The difference of incidence of hepatomegaly between all males and females showed statistical significance(p<0.001). In each age group, the incidence of hepatomegaly in :nale was higher than that in female. The incidence of hepatomegaly in each age group in male increased cnosiderably with age; it showed 11.6%,16.2%, 42.6% and 52.9% from second to sixth decade in order, thereafter in seventh decade it decreased to 26.7%, While the incidence of hepatomegaly in female increased slightly in each age group. 2) Facial telangiectasia was found in 318 cases(22.8%) among all males and in 157 cases(7.8%) among all females. The difference of incidence of telangiectasia between all males and females showed statistical significance(p<0.001). In each age group, the incidence of telangiectasia in male was higher than that in female, except of second decade. The incidence of facial telangiectasia in each age group in male increased considerably with age; while it increased slightly in female. 3) Facial telangiectasia accompanied by hepatomegaly was found in 235 cases(61.4%) among 383 cases of hepatomegaly in male and in 69 cases(42.3%) among 163 cases of hepatomegaly in female. The difference of incidence of telangiectasia between males and females show ed statistical significance(p<0.001). 4) Facial telangiectasia without spider angiomata accompanied by hepatomegaly was found in 201 cases(52.5%) among 383 cases of hepatomegaly in all males and in 67 casgs(41.4%) among 163 cases of hepatomegaly in all females; facial spider angiomata accompanied by hepatomegaly was found in 34 cases(8.9%) among 383 cases of hepatomegaly in all males and in 2 cases(1.2%) among 163 cases of hepatomegaly in all females. 5) Abnormal SGOT activity was found in 19 cases(7.9%) among 242 cases of hepatomegaly in all males and in one case(1.5%) among 67 cases of hepatomegaly in all females. The difference of incidence of abnormal SGOT activity showed statistical significance(p<0.001). The incidence of abnormal SGOT activity by the size of hepatomegaly, that is, palpated <1 finger's breadth, <2 fingers' breadth and ${\geqq}2$ fingers' breadth, revealed 2.2%, 6.0% and 60.0% respectively in all males, while abnormal SGOT activity was found only one case in fifth decade among 67 cases of hepatomegaly in all females. 6) In ordinary medical examination(the insured amount is low) abnormal SGOT activity was found in 7 cases(4.8%) among 146 cases of hepatomegaly palpated $1\frac{1}{2}$ fingers' breadth and under, while it was not found in 37 cases of the same sized hepatomegaly in all females. Above mentioned 7 cases are thought to be very significant because 7 cases occupy 35% in 20 cases of abnormal SGOT activity with hepatomegaly. 7) Abnormal SGOT activity was found in 12 cases(4.4%) among 273 cases of hepatomegaly of "not firm" consistency, while it was found in 8 cases(22.2%) among 36 cases of hepatomegaly of "firm" consistency. The difference of incidence of abnormal SGOT activity showed statistical significance(p<0.05). 8) Abnormal SGOT activity was found in 5 cases(17.9%) among 28 cases of spider angiomata with hepatomegaly, while it was found in 10 cases(7.3%) among 166 cases of telangiectasia without spider angiomata with hepatomegaly. Owing to a small number of cases, statistical significance was not recognized, but the incidence of abnormal SGOT activity in spider angiomata cases with hepatomegaly is apt to be higher than that in telangiectasia cases without spider angiomata with hepatomegaly. 9) The incidence of abnormal SGOT activity is apt to be higher with age in male group; abnormal SGOT activity was not found among 4 cases of hepatomegaly in second decade and it was 3.8% in third decade, 4.5% in fourth decade, 9.3% in fifth decade, 17.5% in sixth decade and 33.3% in seventh decade, while the incidence of it was only one case among 67 cases in all females. 10) It is believed that the performance of liver function test to the subjects with hepatomegaly even in ordinary medical examination(the insured amount is low) will give considerable contribution for medical selection of hepatomegaly risk. 11) Age of the insured(young or old), presence of facial telangiectasia or spider angiomata especially and their severity, and consistency of enlarged liver(firm or not) should be considered to increase accuracy in evaluating hepatomegaly risk.

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비만(肥滿) CLINIC 내원환자(來院患者) 453 CASES에 대(對)한 임상적(臨床的) 고찰(考察)

  • An, Gyeong-Sun;Seong, Nak-Gi
    • Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.219-246
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    • 1993
  • In 1991, Obesity rate of South Korea has reached to 18.7%. Because of economical development, the pattern of diet is exchanged from carbohydrate to rich protein and fat. The more problem is not only obesity of adult but also one of little child. Obesity is induced to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, artherosclerosis, hyperlipoidemia. heart and C.V.A disease, etc. In Woman, special important ploblem is the complex of beauty about Woman's figure. In Oriental Medicine, the factor of obesity is mainly regarded as dampness. And there are many treatments and methods to body weight loss, but obesity patients dislike to use them because of their side effects and inconvenience, intolerance. Now ear acupuncture is applied on so many disease because of its easy handly, non-side effect and high efficiency in clinics. Here obesity acupuncture is used to ear and whole body acupuncture. Because they react eachother for lack point. Therefore, in order to investigate the effect of obesity acupuncture and develop non-drug, non-starvation etc, we analyzed 453 the cases of body weight loss patients treated with ear and whole body acupuncture in Oriental Medicine Hospital of Jeon-Ju Woo-Sug University from April.1.1992. to March.17. 1993. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Distribution of sex ; male (4.4%), Female(95.6%) 2. Distribution of age in descending order ; 30s, 20s, 40s, 10s, 50s, below 10s, abowe 60s. The 20s-30s are group made up 60.7% of the group. 3. Distribution of occupation in descending order; housewife, student, service, salaried, merchant, teacher, farmer, inoccupation. 4. Distribution of human coporal constitution in descending order : Tae-Eum-In, So-Eum-In, So-Yang-In. 5. Distribution of body height and weight, 155-164cm ; 71.1%, 60-70kg, 74.6% are majority. 6. Distribution of weight variation, 2-6kg(71.0%) is majority, also 13-14kg(0.4%). 7. Distribution of duration in descending order ; 1-3 years, 3-6 years, 1-12months, above 10 years but in success, 1-12 months, 1-3 years, 3-6 years, above 10 years. Therefore, we know that the shorter duration of obesity is, the more loss of body weight. 8. Past experiences to body weight loss; Yes(69.5%), No(30.5%). The success rate accordant with the past temporary experiences shows that the cases without experience is higher than the ones with experience. 9. In distribution of times(treatments), 10 times is top. The rate of body weight loss is the highest in 14 times. Therefore, I think that one would need at least 10 times. in order lose body weight 10. Distribution of body weight variation in treatments times is at 2 times(3-4kg loss), and surprisingly is 14kg loss at above 15 times. 11. Distribution of symptoms improvement, in descending order ; heavy sense in body, dec. of appetite, inc.of exercise, lumbago, edema, knee pain, inc.of urine, inc. of fullness sense, thirsty, disease of gynecology, white tung, chest burning, heart burning, dec.of tobacco, drink taste. motion sickness, allergy, water eczema, arthma, belching. 12. Distribution of snack; Yes(87.4%), No(78.6%) 13. Distribution of exercise; Yes(21.4%), No(78.6%) 14. Distribution of sleeping times, above 7 hours(79.0%) 15. Distribution of the reason to body loss, the complex of beauty(68.7%) is top. 16. Distribution of side effect in obesity acupuncture, constipation (17.4%) is top. 17. Distribution of method in body weight loss ; dietary treatment (31.1%), sauna(26.7%), exercise(19.7%), the center of body weight loss (15.0%) herb-med and starvation treatments (5.1%), hand-finger acupuncture (hand-foot acupuncture) is 1.6%, diet pill(0.3%), etc(0.6%).

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A 1.1V 12b 100MS/s 0.43㎟ ADC based on a low-voltage gain-boosting amplifier in a 45nm CMOS technology (45nm CMOS 공정기술에 최적화된 저전압용 이득-부스팅 증폭기 기반의 1.1V 12b 100MS/s 0.43㎟ ADC)

  • An, Tai-Ji;Park, Jun-Sang;Roh, Ji-Hyun;Lee, Mun-Kyo;Nah, Sun-Phil;Lee, Seung-Hoon
    • Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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    • v.50 no.7
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    • pp.122-130
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    • 2013
  • This work proposes a 12b 100MS/s 45nm CMOS four-step pipeline ADC for high-speed digital communication systems requiring high resolution, low power, and small size. The input SHA employs a gate-bootstrapping circuit to sample wide-band input signals with an accuracy of 12 bits or more. The input SHA and MDACs adopt two-stage op-amps with a gain-boosting technique to achieve the required DC gain and high signal swing range. In addition, cascode and Miller frequency-compensation techniques are selectively used for wide bandwidth and stable signal settling. The cascode current mirror minimizes current mismatch by channel length modulation and supply variation. The finger width of current mirrors and amplifiers is laid out in the same size to reduce device mismatch. The proposed supply- and temperature-insensitive current and voltage references are implemented on chip with optional off-chip reference voltages for various system applications. The prototype ADC in a 45nm CMOS demonstrates the measured DNL and INL within 0.88LSB and 1.46LSB, respectively. The ADC shows a maximum SNDR of 61.0dB and a maximum SFDR of 74.9dB at 100MS/s, respectively. The ADC with an active die area of $0.43mm^2$ consumes 29.8mW at 100MS/s and a 1.1V supply.

Clinical Significance of MR Imaging for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Subungual Glomus Tumor in the Fingers (수지 조갑하 사구종의 진단 및 치료에서 자기 공명 영상의 임상적 의미)

  • Kim, Byoung-Suck;Kim, Woo-Sig;Han, Kyoung-Jin;Cho, Jae-Hyun;Lee, Kyi-Beom;Ha, Heon-Kyo;Kang, Shin-Young
    • The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.28-35
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    • 2001
  • Purpose : Authors investigated the efficiency of preoperative MRI in suspicious glomus tumor and the clinical outcomes after marginal excision. Materials and Methods : In 10 cases of glomus tumors in the fingers, authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, including previous trauma, treatment history, preoperative symptoms, physical examination, plain radiography, MRI (9 cases), pathological findings and postoperative complications. Results : The patients had pain in 10 cases, tenderness in 9 cases, cold sensitivity in 3 cases and edema in one case. MRI showed low signal (3 cases) or iso-signal (5) intensity on T1 weighted image, high signal intensity (8) on T2 weighted image, and all the lesions were enhanced in gadolinium enhancement images. The exact locations of glomus tumors were median in 6 cases, lateral in 5, lateral fold in 2 and pulp in 3 in transverse section and nail bed in 5 cases and nail matrix in 5 in sagittal section. Marginal excision was performed by lateral approach in one case and transungual in 9 cases. Histologically, all 10 cases were composed of solid sheets of round cells interrupted by thin-walled blood vessels. Most of clinical symptoms were disappeared in all cases after operation. Nail deformity was found in one case, which was originated from nail matrix, however, there was no recurrence. Summary : Clinical symptom was the most impotant factor in diagnosis of glomus tumor in the fingers. However, preoperative MRIs were helpful in patients, who had obscure pain or prolonged clinical symptoms with suspicious glomus tumors. Preoperative MRI might be one of the most useful tools for establishing the exact diagnosis and detecting the location of glomus tumors, in spite of the relatively high expenses.

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Ethanol Extract of Mori Folium Inhibits AICAR-induced Muscle Atrophy Through Inactivation of AMPK in C2C12 Myotubes (C2C12 근관세포에서 상엽에 의한 AMPK의 불활성화와 AICAR로 유도된 근위축 억제의 연관성에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Yu Sung;Kim, Hong Jae;Jeong, Jin-Woo;Han, Min-Ho;Hong, Su Hyun;Choi, Yung Hyun;Park, Cheol
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.435-443
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    • 2018
  • AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a metabolic master through regulating and restoring cellular energy balance. In skeletal muscle, AMPK increases myofibril protein degradation through the expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases. Mori Folium, the leaf of Morus alba, is a traditional medicinal herb with various pharmacological functions; however, the effects associated with muscle atrophy have not been fully identified. In this study, we confirmed the effects of AMPK activation by examining the effects of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, on the induction of atrophy and expression of atrophy-related genes in C2C12 myotubes. We also investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of Mori Folium (EEMF) on the recovery of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. It was found that exposure to AICAR resulted in the stimulation of Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a); an up-regulation of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases such as Muscle Atrophy F-box (MAFbx)/atrogin-1 and muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF1), and a down-regulation of muscle-specific transcription factors, such as MyoD and myogenin; with the activation of AMPK. In addition, AICAR without cytotoxicity indicated a decrease in diameter of C2C12 myotubes. However, treatment with EEMF significantly suppressed AICAR-induced muscle atrophy of C2C12 myotubes in a dose-dependent manner as confirmed by a decrease in myotube diameter, which is associated with a reversed stimulation of FOXO3a by the inhibition of AMPK activation. These results indicate that the activation of AMPK by AICAR induces muscle atrophy, and EEMF has preeminent effects on the inhibition of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy through the AMPK signaling pathway.

Developmental Standard of the Short Sensory Profile for Korean Children of School Age (7 to 9 years old) (만 7~9세 학령기아동의 감각통합 임상관찰평가의 발달기준에 관한 일연구)

  • Ji, Seok-Yeon;Kim, Mi-Sun;Keum, Hyo-Jin;Kim, Sung-Hee
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.27-36
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    • 2009
  • Introduction : Occupational therapists commonly use clinical observation to assess neuromuscular function witch is a fundamental component of sensory integration function. Clinical Observation of Motor and Postural Skills (COMPS) is a standardized assessment with seven items and used to screen if a child's problem is due to neuromuscular and sensory integration system. However, developmental standard of the test need to be validated with Korean children. Objective : This study is purposed to propose developmental standard of the COMPS for Korean children. Method : Seven to nine years old students (76 male and 70 female) participated in this study. In order to find out any difference by gender and age, the data was analyzed using t-test and ANOVA. Results : There is no significant difference by gender for all other items except Prone Extension Position (PEP). There is significant difference between children who are 7 years old and those who are 9 years old for Slow Motion(SM), Finger-Nose Touching (FNT), Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR), Supine Flexion(SF). There is also significant difference between those who are 8 years old and 9 years old for SM, FNT, ATNR. However, there is no significant difference between those who are 7 years and 8 years old. Conclusions : This study examines any difference in neuromuscular characteristics by age among school-aged children, based on the COMPS. The result of this study will provide a good evidence to establish developmental standard of COMPS for Korean children. It issuggested to continue further standardization work of the COMPS in order to establish a developmental standard for Korean children.

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Minor Physical Anomalies in Patients with Schizophrenia (정신분열병 환자에서 신체미세기형에 관한 연구)

  • Joo, Eun-Jeong;Jeong, Seong Hoon;Maeng, So Jin;Yoon, Se Chang;Kim, Jong Hoon;Kim, Chul Eung;Shin, Youngmin;Kim, Yong Sik
    • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.140-151
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    • 2002
  • Object and Method:Minor physical anomalies(MPAs) are frequently seen in patients with schizophrenia. MPAs are considered to arise from the anomalous development of ectoderm-originated tissues in the developing fetus. Since the central nervous system originates from ectoderm, MPAs can be regarded as externally observable and objective indicators of the aberrant development which might have taken place in the central nervous system. To investigate whether MPAs are more frequent in schizophrenic patients, the frequencies of MPAs were compared between schizophrenic patients and normal controls. Total 245 schizophrenic patients diagnosed with DSM-IV(male : 158, female : 87), and 418 normal control subjects(male : 216, female : 202) were included in this study. The MPAs were measured using the modified Waldrop scale with fifteen items in six bodily regions; head, eye, ear, mouth, hand, and foot. Result:The total scores of Waldrop scale were $4.40{\pm}1.93$($mean{\pm}standard$ deviation) in patients and $3.43{\pm}1.68$ in controls for females, and for males, $4.58{\pm}1.75$ in patients and $4.28{\pm}1.59$ in controls. For females, the excess of MPAs in schizophrenic patients was statistically significant(t-test : p<0.001). For males, schizophrenic patients also showed more MPAs than normal controls, but this tendency did not reach statistical significance (t-test : p=0.094). When the modified Waldrop total scores excluding head circumference were compared, the total scores in schizophrenic patients were significantly higher for both male and female subjects(t-test : male p<0.001, female p=0.001). The individual anomaly items included in Waldrop scale were also investigated. The items of epicanthus, hypertelorism, malformed ears, syndactylia were significantly more frequent in schizophrenic patients. In contrast, the items of adherent ear lobes, asymmetric ears, furrowed tongue, curved fifth finger, single palmar crease and big gap between toes did not show any differences in frequency between schizophrenic patients and normal controls. Since a lot of statistical analyses showed different results between male and female subjects, it seems to be necessary to consider gender as an important controlling variable for the analysis, however only the item of head circumference showed statistically significant gender-related difference according to log-linear analysis. Conclusion:With a relatively large sample size, the frequencies of MPAs enlisted in Waldrop scale were compared between schizophrenic patients and normal controls in this study. MPAs were more frequently seen in schizophrenic patients and, especially, several specific items in the Waldrop scale showed prominent excess in schizophrenic patients. Although definite conclusions cannot be drawn due to the inherent limitation of the study using Waldrop scale, these results seem to support the possibility that aberrant neurodevelopmental process might be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia in some of the patients.

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