• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.7-22
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of virtual reality interventions (VRIs) on cognitive function in individuals with stroke through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Methods : We reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) the last 10 years using academic databases. PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL were used for international studies, and DBpia, KISS, Kyoboscholar, and e-article were used for Korean studies. For the quantitative meta-analysis, subgroups of outcomes were classified into general cognitive function (G-CF), attention and memory (A&M), and executive function (EF). Results : Nine RCTs were analyzed. The total number of participants was 271 (140 in the experimental group). The effect size (Cohen's d) was estimated using a random effects model. The effect sizes of the outcome subgroups of were as follows: small to medium for G-CF (d=0.422; 95% CI: 0.101~0.742; p=0.010), small for A&M (d=0.249; 95% CI: -0.107~0.605; p=0.170), and medium for EF (d=0.666; 95% CI: 0.136~1.195; p=0.014). Conclusion : Considering the various stimuli provided by the virtual environment and the results from available research, virtual reality should be applied to interventions for integrated cognitive functions. In addition, it would be appropriate to be used as an additional intervention to traditional cognitive rehabilitation for stroke.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.87-97
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on the lower extremity function of stroke patients. Methods : Domestic data were gathered from studies that conducted clinical trials associated with transcranial direct current stimulation and its impact on lower extremity function of stroke patients. A total of 592 studies published between 2012 and 2020 were identified, with 7 studies satisfying the inclusion data. The studies consisted of patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) data. The search outcomes were items associated with muscle activity, balance, muscle strength and walking ability. Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) was used to evaluate the quality of 3 randomized control trials. The quality of 4 non-randomized control trials was evaluated using risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized studies (RoBANS). Effect sizes in this study were computed as the corrected standard mean difference (SMD). A random-effect model was used to analyze the effect size because of the high heterogeneity among the studies. Egger's regression and 'trim-and-fill' tests were carried out to analyze the publishing bias. Results : The following factors had a large total effect size (Hedges's g=2.10, 95 %CI=1.54~2.66) involving transcranial direct current stimulation on stroke patients: muscle activity (Hedges's g=2.38, 95 %CI=1.08~3.68), balance (Hedges's g4=2.41, 95 %CI=1.33~3.60), walking ability (Hedges's g=1.54, 95 %CI=0.49~2.59), and muscle strength (Hedges's g=2.45, 95 % CI: 0.85~4.05). Egger's regression test showed that the publishing bias had statistically significant differences but 'trim-and-fill' test showed that there was still statistical difference. Conclusion : This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation on the lower extremity in terms of muscle activity, balance, walking ability, and muscle strength in stroke patients. However, due to the low quality of studies and high heterogeneity factors, the results of our study should be interpreted cautiously.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.7-23
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this article was to analyze the effects of tDCS on the recovery of upper limb function in stroke patients. Methods : We searched for papers published in journals between 2009 to 2018, using NDSL and RISS. A total 14 experimental research papers were selected for analysis. The quality of the 14 articles was evaluated using the PEDro scale and 12 articles were analyzed through the Comprehensive Meta Analysis 3.0 program. Results : All of the 14 articles that were systematically reviewed in this study were published in foreign journals. The effect sizes for upper extremity(U/Ex) strength and U/Ex motion were 0.19(small size effect) and 0.49(medium size effect) respectively. Furthermore, the effect sizes of anode mode and cathode mode were 0.71(large size effect) and 0.41(medium size effect), respectively. The effect size of U/Ex motion and the anode mode were statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusion : We identified that tDCS can be a useful rehabilitation technique for stroke patients with limited upper body function. These findings are expected to help with suggestions for basic data on new rehabilitation techniques for stroke patients and the planning of effective interventions.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.277-289
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aims to confirm the clinical usefulness of computerized cognitive therapy program for patients with brain diseases in Korea and to present basic data that can confirm the effectiveness of computerized cognitive therapy program to experts related to rehabilitation in the future. Methods : A systematic review and meta-analysis research method was used to confirm the clinical effectiveness of computerized cognitive therapy applied to patients with brain diseases in Korea. Based on the national institute of health and medical colleges association (NECA) systematic literature manual and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for conducting research through systematic review and meta-analysis methods. Systematic review was PICOST-SD was used to research and select papers. For meta-analysis, the data was input and analyzed separately by literature result using the revman manager 5.3 program and the results were presented visually through tables and forest, funnel plot figure. Results : As a result of comprehensive analysis of the contents of the finally selected literature, it as found that studies on stroke and dementia were mainly conducted. In addition, through the evaluation of the quality of the literature, most of the existing computerized cognitive therapy studies were identified as high-quality studies, but the results were insufficient for randomization and blinding. And through meta-analysis, the clinical effectiveness of computerized cognitive therapy on cognitive function, activities of daily living, and visual perception function of patients with brain disease was found. Conclusion : The research literature that applied computerized cognitive therapy to brain disease subjects was comprehensively analyzed and identified. It is thought that this could be used as basic data on the characteristics of cognitive therapy that should be applied to patients with brain diseases in the future and the usefulness of computerized cognitive therapy program in actual clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 2021

The study attempted to systematically and comprehensively analyze individual studies in which proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) was performed with chronic stroke patients. Selection criteria included type of participants (stroke patients), intervention (PNF), comparison (intervention group or non-intervention group), outcomes (effect on dynamic balance), and study design (randomized controlled trial). We searched seven literature databases, and selected 17 papers that met our selection criteria. For meta-analysis, effect size of each individual study was extracted using the R project for Statistical computing version 4.0.3. Rob 2.0 tool, developed by the Cochrane group, was used to evaluate the quality of each individual study. The overall effect size PNF with dynamic balance was 0.59 (95% CI=0.41-1.77), which was significantly different than the median effect size (p<0.05). The sub-group for dynamic balance was analyzed, for effect sizes of BBS (0.50), TUG (0.78), and FRT (0.51). Thus, PNF intervention has a positive impact on improve of dynamic balance by chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2019

Objective : Mechanical thrombectomies with balloon-guide catheters (BGC) are thought to improve successful recanalization rates and to decrease the incidence of distal emboli compared to thrombectomies without BGC. We aimed to assess the effects of BGC on the outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic strokes. Methods : Studies from PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library database from January 2010 to February 2018 were reviewed. Random effect model for meta-analysis was used. Analyses such as meta-regression and the "trim-and-fill" method were additionally carried out. Results : A total of seven articles involving 2223 patients were analyzed. Mechanical thrombectomy with BGC was associated with higher rates of successful recanalization (odds ratio [OR], 1.632; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.293-2.059). BGC did not significantly decrease distal emboli, both before (OR, 0.404; 95% CI, 0.108-1.505) and after correcting for bias (adjusted OR, 1.165; 95% CI, 0.310-4.382). Good outcomes were observed more frequently in the BGC group (OR, 1.886; 95% CI, 1.564-2.273). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality did not differ significantly with BGC use. Conclusion : Our meta-analysis demonstrates that BGC enhance recanalization rates. However, BGC use did not decrease distal emboli after mechanical thrombectomies. This should be interpreted with caution due to possible publication bias and heterogeneity. Additional meta-analyses based on individual patient data are needed to clarify the role of BGC in mechanical thrombectomies.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.223-237
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• 2001

Objective : There have not been studies on the oriental medicine research trends and qualitative analysis of Korean oriental medicine articles in Korea, particularly in the oriental medicine area. This study's purpose is to appreciate Korean oriental medicine's research trends and assess the quality of the Korean oriental medical journals' level. This study will help upgrade Korean oriental medical journals. Method : We found 93 stroke-related articles in the Journal of Korean Oriental Medicine, published between 1980(Volume 1) and 2001(Volume 45). We surveyed the institutes involved in each study, and the number of people in each study. We seperated by epidemiological study design, the studies into categories. Campbell and Stanley's study design into 6 categories, statistical methods into 13 categories. Next, we assessed the 41 articles by a checklist, which had 10 categories. The quality score was analyzed by survey variables over the period, which were divided by the date of publication: the 1980s, the first half of the 1990s, second half of the 1990s and 2000s. Results : 46.3% od the studies didn't use statistical methods. 56.1%, were case series studies by classification of epidemiological study design, and 53.6% were one-shot case studies designed by Campbell and Stanley's study design. The quality score was 58.33 point 60 is average. In quality level by Browman GP etc.'s, 83.0% of the studies were included in V levels. But, the quality scores were significant by presence of reviewer system, statistical method's usage, and over the period. Conclusion : The Journal of Korean Oriental Medicine needs to improve the quality its articles. To improve the quality of oriental medicine related articles, the following are necessary: working together, joint work of inter-educational system, strengthening of reviewer system, use of statistical methods, and consulting to the expert of research at the stage of study design.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1-17
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to review randomized controlled trials of acupuncture performed in South Korea that used sham acupuncture as a control group. Methods : The following databases were searched through the end of September 2011: Koreanstudies information service system (KISS), Korean medical database (KMbase), national discovery OR science leaders (NDSL), oriental medicine advance searching integrated system (OASIS), and research information service system (RISS). The following search terms were used: acupuncture AND (sham or placebo). The reference lists of searched articles and Korea institute of oriental medicine (KIOM) reports(2005~2009) were identified. The following data were extracted: year/first author, disease, number of participants, blinding, intervention, outcome, and result. Where appropriate, we performed meta-analysis. The methodological quality was assessed according to the Jadad scale and 'risk of bias' by Cochrane Handbook procedure. Results : Twenty-nine studies were included in this review. In eighteen studies, penetrating sham controls were used as the control intervention, whereas the remaining eleven studies adopted non-penetrating sham controls such as the Park Sham Device or blunt auricular acupuncture. Nine studies showed statistically significant difference in outcomes. Twelve studies concerning insomnia after stroke, chronic tension-type headache, idiopathic Parkinson's disease, Hwa-Byung, and smoking cessation were included in meta-analysis. A meta-analysis of insomnia after stroke only found significant difference(MD -4.31, 95% Cl -6.19 to -2.42, $p$<0.00001). In general, all of the studies showed low methodological quality(Jadad score: mean 2.1). Risk of bias by Cochrane Handbook procedure varied. Conclusions : The results of this study could not suggest conclusive evidence that acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture in several diseases. In the future, more studies with rigorous acupuncture trials using sham controls should be conducted.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.30-39
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• 2018

Introduction: The aim of this study protocol is to share and disclose the methodology used to develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) of therapeutic interventions used in Korean medicine for patients with stroke. Methods: The CPG development process will consist of two phases. In phase I, a development committee will be established, and they will decide the key questions to be answered. A systematic review and meta-analysis will be performed to answer these key questions by searching relevant randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Draft recommendations will be developed according to the evidence level and recommendation grades primarily determined using the GRADE methodology. Panels comprised of external experts will be formed, and surveys and a face-to-face meeting will be conducted to reach a consensus on the recommendations. A preliminary guideline will be created after final review by the development committee. In phase II, we will conduct clinical trials and economic analysis to supplement the lack of evidence found in the phase I. Conclusion: The CPG is expected to help doctors practicing Korean medicine in clinics or hospitals with making decisions based on the most reliable evidence, ultimately leading to the provision of optimal care for patients with stroke.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.256-264
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• 2022

Ischemic stroke is caused by an occlusion by a thrombus or embolus in a cerebral artery, preventing oxygenated blood from reaching the brain and causing the necrosis of nerve cells. This paper summarizes the serum candidate markers associated with cardiovascular disease and atrial fibrillation (AF) disease that enable an early diagnosis of ischemic stroke studied thus far and compares the odds ratio (OR) of each marker. This study examined the effect size of these serum candidate markers using meta-analysis techniques. The academic database search screening for articles containing the keywords "cardiovascular disease," "atrial fibrillation," "ischemic stroke," and "serum marker" was limited to results for patients with ischemic stroke. The most derived markers in this study were N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the rest being investigated individually. In conclusion, NT-pro-BNP appears to be very useful for the early diagnosis of ischemic stroke. Primarily, it is a marker of AF, and more AF markers will be uncovered and studied in the future.