• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.12a
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• pp.87-94
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• 2005

Results from previous studies revealed that metal level in the body is related to certain types of diseases. For example. serum copper level with chronic heart failure, iron and transferrin in the blood serum with acute cerebral vascular diseases, Zn in the CNS, lead with neurotoxicity, hypertension, genetic damage, arsenic with cancer skin lesion, Al with neurobehavioral function (cognitive impairment and memory disorder), and etc. The rate of stroke has increased in recent years and several metals were found to be responsible for causing stroke. This study compared several blood metal concentrations between stroke and non-stroke patients. Patients with stroke (116 samples) and non-stroke (111 samples including lowback pain and others) participated in this study. Total of 227 blood samples were collected and participants completed questionnaires regarding age, gender, occupation, residence, alcohol, smoking, and etc. To be qualified into the stroke group, patients have never experienced stroke previously. Subjects only included ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage patients diagnosed by brain CT and brain MRI. Patients with high risk of metal exposure such as herbal intake and job related exposure were excluded. 10ml of blood samples were analyzed by ICP-MS method at the Center of Nature and Science at Sangji University. Metal geometric mean (SD) concentrations in blood of study subjects showed higher values, 2.64-36.12%, than WHO reference values in Mn, Ni, Hg, Se, and As. Metal concentration in blood of stroke patients non-adjusted for potential confounders was higher except for Hg and also higher except for Ni in adjusted for potential confounders. Co was significantly higher in stroke patients (p=0.002) than non-stroke patients adjusted for potential confounders. Regression coefficient values of stroke patients was 0.17-8.25 in each metals. Odd ratio of stroke patients had 0.96 (Ni)-2.68 (Co) compared to non-stroke cases. This result means that Co increase of 1 raises the risk ratio of stroke by 2.86 times. Based on the results, metal concentration in blood seems to affect incidence of stroke.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.304-313
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• 2015

Purpose: Aspiration pneumonia (AP) is the major complication of dysphagia in patients with acute stroke. Nursing management for dysphagia influences on patients' health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the effects of Dysphagia Nursing Protocol (DNP) for patients with acute stroke. We aimed to examine the incidence of AP and the dependency rate at the discharge. Methods: We used a non-equivalent control group posttest only design in this study. DNP was developed with content validity index > 0.75 in all items. This protocol was composed of the evaluation, education, complication prevention, and checking phases. After training the staff nurses, we applied DNP protocol to the experimental group. The control group was enrolled from June to August 2013 (n=80), and the experimental group was June to August 2014 (n=64). Results: The incidence of AP was 16.3% in control group while 4.7% in experimental group (p=.028), and the Odds Ratio (OR) was 0.26 (p=.045). The dependency ratio was 66.3% in control group while 43.8% in experimental group (p=.011), and the OR was 0.33 (p=.011). Conclusion: DNP was beneficial for the reducing the risk of AP and the improved the functional status.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.462-469
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• 2022

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is used to treat carotid stenosis, which is associated with cerebral infarction and may result in neurologic deficits such as stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and local nerve injury. To decrease surgery-related complications and improve patient satisfaction with esthetic outcomes, efforts have been made to minimize incision size instead of using a standard longitudinal incision. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 151 cases of CEA, of which 110 used conventional incisions and 41 used high mini-skin incisions (HMIs), from March 2015 to December 2021 at a single institution. Short-term (30-day) postoperative results were evaluated for rates of mortality, stroke, TIA, and cranial/cervical nerve injuries. Risk factors for nerve injury were also assessed. Results: The HMI group showed significantly (p<0.01) shorter operative and clamp times than the conventional group. The HMI group also had significantly shorter incision lengths (5.3±0.9 cm) than the conventional group (11.5±2.8 cm). The rates of stroke, TIA, and death at 30 days were not significantly different between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the rate of cranial and cervical nerve injuries, and all injuries were transient. A high lesion level (odds ratio [OR], 9.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.21-28.42; p<0.01) and the clamp time (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03-1.12; p<0.01) were found to be risk factors for nerve injuries. Conclusion: Use of the HMI in CEA for carotid stenosis was advantageous for its shorter operative time, shorter internal carotid artery clamp time, reduced neurologic complications, and improved esthetics.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.405-416
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate factors related to the degree of disability of stroke patients in a rural community. Methods: The study subjects included 641 patients selected from 975 stroke patients over the age of 50 with brain lesion-related disabilities living in Gyeongju, Korea, an urban-rural consolidated community. The data were obtained by interviews from July to October 2008. The subjects were divided into a seriously disabled group (1st and 2nd disability grade) and mildly disabled group (3th, 4th, 5th and 6th disability grade) by degree of disability according to registered disability grade. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 14.0 statistical package. Results: The study subjects included 379 males (59.1%) and 262 females (40.9%), and most patients were in their 70s (256 cases, 39.9%). The seriously disabled group included 287 patients (44.8%) and the mildly disabled group included 354 persons (55.2%). Age, prehospital delayed time and number of related chronic diseases were risk factors for serious disability (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the degree of disability can be reduced by decreasing prehospital delayed time. We suggest that education of high risk groups and establishment of emergency services as well as a transport system for stroke patients are required to reduce the degree of disability due to stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2019

Background: Scapular dyskinesis is one of the risk factors for upper extremity injury in patients with chronic stroke. Taping can used as an adjunctive treatment for this. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rigid tape in conjunction with elastic tape and elastic tape only on shoulder pain, proprioceptor, and function of chronic stroke patients with scapular dyskinesis. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to elastic tape (ET) group (n=10) and both tape (BT) group (n=10). Both ET and BT groups performed therapeutic exercise on the upper extremity with taping applied for 4 weeks. Therapeutic exercise was performed 30min/day, 5 times/week. Clinical outcome measures used Numerical pain rating scale with a faces pain scale for pain, angle at shoulder join position sense (JPS) for proprioceptor, and Fugl-meyer assessment upper extremity for function. Results: Clinical outcomes were measured at initial baseline, after 4weeks. There were statistically significant differences in pain, JPS, and function after 4 weeks in both groups (p<.05). There was no significant difference in pain and JPS between the groups, and There was a statistically significant difference in function in the BT group compared to the ET group (p<.05). Conclusions: This results suggest that accurate clinical assessment and appropriate taping can improve proprioceptor and function of the upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.277-283
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors influencing stroke. The research method was used two-stage stratified cluster sampling using data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (2016-2018). This study subjects performed a complex sample logistic regression analysis on adults aged 19 or older. Risk factors affecting stroke were shown as follows: in age groups, odds ratio were conformed when people are in their 70s, the rate is 8.861 times higher; when they are in their subjective health conditions, the odds ratio are 4.501 times higher in the bad groups; odds ratio was 3.158 times higher in the group diagnosed with hypertension and 1.598 times higher in the group diagnosed with diabetes. The result of this study found that chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes and the management of senior citizens are important because stroke is dangerous and can be managed through prevention.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1950-1953
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• 2020

Background: Ankle instability usually occurs after stroke, and contributes to unsafe walking and associated risk of falling in the affected patients. Objective: To investigate the effects of kinesiology taping (KT) on gait and balance ability (center of pressure, CoP) in patients with ankle instability after stroke. Design: One group, pre-post design. Methods: A total of 11 patients with ankle instability after stroke were enrolled. In all subjects, the gait and balance ability were assessed under 2 conditions: KT and barefoot. Gait and balance ability was assessed using GAITRite system and FDM-S platform. Results: Comparison between KT and barefoot condition, KT condition was significantly higher in velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length than barefoot condition (P<.05). KT condition was significantly lower in CoP path length and sway speed than barefoot condition (P<.05). Conclusion: KT indicated potential as a helpful method for walking and balancing ability in patients with ankle instability after stroke. Therefore, this study recommends KT as an option applicable to the stroke with ankle instability.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.578-585
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• 2010

Objectives : Coldness of hands and feet has been regarded to be associated with blood circulation. This study was performed to assess the correlation between erythrocyte deformability and coldness of hands and feet. Methods : 145 patients who had taken an erythrocyte deformability test were selected for this study among hospitalized patients within 4 weeks after their cerebral infarction at the Internal Medical Department at Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center from August 2008 to August 2009. We divided the selected patients into two groups, with and without of coldness of hands and feet groups. The two groups were compared on risk factors for atherosclerosis and examined for variables including erythrocyte deformability. Results : 1. On demographic variables of the patients, only body mass index was significantly lower in the coldness of hands and feet group than the control group. There was no significant difference of the rate of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease, smoking, drinking and carotid artery stenosis between the two groups. 2. According to blood test, the coldness of hands and feet group showed significantly lower erythrocyte deformability index than the control group. 3. Body mass index and erythrocyte deformability index showed a close relationship with coldness of hands and feet in multivariate analysis. Conclusions : The correlation between the erythrocyte deformability and coldness of hands and feet in cerebral infarction patients were decreased erythrocyte deformability participated in the mechanism of coldness of hands and feet.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1 s.37
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• pp.66-74
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• 1999

It is known that obesity is associated with chronic adult disease including stroke. However the relationship between stroke and obesity has not been discussed sufficiently, The purpose of this study was to confirm whether the serum Leptin levels related to BMI and these were associated with serum lipid levels and other risk factors in stroke patients. The subjects were 68 stroke patients(male 36. female 32) hospitalized in the Department of Circulatory Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul. Obesity was shown in 16 patients(24%) whose BMI were above 25. and in 15 patients(22%) who represented higher values than normal in serum Leptin levels. BMI correlated with serum Leptin level(p=0.04), with Triglyceride(p=0.019) and with Total lipid(p=0.001) significantly. Meanwhile serum Leptin levels significantly correlated with Total cholesterol(p=0.013) only. BMI in the group with a history of smoking was significantly lower than that of the non-smoking group(p=0.01). Serum Leptin levels were higher in the group with Hypertension than the non-Hypertension group(p=0.026), lower in the non-Drinking group(p=0.006) and the smoking group(p=0.001) than the drinking group and the non-smoking group. respectively. So we concluded that BMI significantly correlates with serum Leptin levels and serum lipid levels in stroke patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.332-337
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• 2011

Background: The optimal timing of surgery for infective endocarditis complicated by embolic stroke is unclear. We compared early versus delayed surgery in these patients. Materials and Methods: Between 1992 and 2007, 56 consecutive patients underwent open cardiac surgery for the treatment of infective endocarditis complicated by acute septic embolic stroke, 34 within 2 weeks (early group) and 22 more than 2 weeks (delayed group) after the onset of stroke. Results: The mean age at time of surgery was $45.7{\pm}14.8$ years. Stroke was ischemic in 42 patients and hemorrhagic in 14. Patients in the early group were more likely to have highly mobile, large (>1 cm in diameter) vegetation and less likely to have hemorrhagic infarction than those in the delayed group. There were two (3.7%) intraoperative deaths, both in the early group and attributed to neurologic aggravation. Among the 54 survivors, 4 (7.1%), that is, 2 in each group, showed neurologic aggravation. During a median follow-up of 61.7 months (range, 0.4~170.4 months), there were 5 late deaths. Overall 5-year neurologic aggravation-free survival rates were $79.1{\pm}7.0%$ in the early group and $90.9{\pm}6.1%$ in the delayed group (p=0.113). Conclusion: Outcomes of early operation for infective endocarditis in stroke patients were similar to those of the conventional approach. Early surgical intervention may be preferable for patients at high risk of life-threatening septic embolism.