• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.250-257
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of training using the slime on the hand function and problem behavior in adults with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Five adults with intellectual disabilities who were judged as Level 1 or Level 2 were selected. The training consisted of one session (50 min)/day, one day/week for 10 weeks (preparatory activities: 5 min, slime activities: 40 min, finishing activities: 5 min) The functions of the hand (Purdue Pegboard Test [PPT], grip strength test [GST]) and problem behavior (Korean Behavior Problems Inventory [KBPI]) were assessed three times (first assessment; pre, second assessment; post-5 weeks, third assessment; post-10 weeks). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to analyze changes in the subjects' performance before and after the intervention. Results: In the PPT, the use of the non-dominant hand was increased significantly (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the remaining results, but the mean value increased. In addition, although the problem behavior was not statistically significant, an increase in the problem behavior score was noted. Conclusion: The training using the slime for adults with intellectual disabilities is effective in hand function improvement and reducing problem behavior.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.229-240
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this report is to show the effect of complex traditional Korean medical care focused on warm needling(WN) and bee venom(BV) injection for a patient suffering from traumatic brachial plexus injury(BPI). Methods : A 51-year-old female patient with BPI was suffering from paresis and hypoesthesia with upper-extremity impairment. The patient had been treated once a day from 4 Feb to 11 Apr of 2015 mainly with WN and BV injection on the acupoints near the distribution of the brachial plexus. Improvement of the symptoms was measured by range of motion(ROM), manual muscle test(MMT) grip strength, and with the numeric rating scale(NRS) of tactile and pain sensitivity. Results : After 67 days of treatment, all obtained results showed remarkable improvement. The patient's satisfaction declaration was recorded through an interview at the end of the treatment. Conclusions : The results suggest that anatomically concerned WN and BV treatment can be a valuable option in reducing or normalizing pains from traumatic BPI.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.253-259
• /
• 2016

Background: This study investigated the effects of zoledronic acid (ZA) on radiation-induced bone loss in C3H/HeN mice. Materials and Methods: C3H/HeN mice were divided into sham control and three irradiated groups (3 Gy, gamma ray). The irradiated mice were treated for 12 weeks with vehicle, amifostine (intraperitoneal injection), or ZA (subcutaneous injection). Grip strength, uterus weight, and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) levels were measured. Tibiae were analyzed using micro-computed tomography. Results and Discussion: Treatment of ZA ($100{\mu}g{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}week^{-1}$) significantly preserved trabecular bone volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, trabecular separation, bone mineral density of proximal tibia metaphysic, and cortical bone volume, but did not alter the uterus weight of the mice. The administration of ZA for 12 weeks lowered serum ALP and TRAP levels in irradiated mice, suggesting that ZA can reduce the bone turnover rate in mice. No differences were apparent between the amifostine-treated group and the irradiation control group. Conclusion: The results indicate that ZA can prevent radiation-induced bone loss in mice.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.82-89
• /
• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on exercise capacity and quality of life as well as barriers to participation in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in South Korea. Design: One-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: A total of 14 patients were enrolled in this study in an 8-week PR program with two 60-minute sessions per week. The program included: flexibility exercises, breathing techniques, strengthening exercises, and aerobic exercises. The outcomes were defined as changes in the variables before and after the PR program. A change in the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) was defined as the primary outcome, and changes in pulmonary function test, respiratory and grip strength, and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) about quality-of-life results were secondary outcomes. A dropout was defined as missing >3 of the 16 sessions. Results: Patients who completed the program showed a significant improvement of 43.57±39.43 m in the 6MWD (p<0.05), but no significant differences were noted for the other function tests. The SGRQ showed a significant improvement in the activity and total score (p<0.05). The total dropout rate was 53.3%. Newly developed symptoms, exacerbation of COPD, transport problems, and lack of motivation were major barriers to PR. Conclusions: Our study showed that an 8-week hospital-based PR program improved exercise capacity and quality of life but had a high dropout rate in individuals with COPD. Since comprehensive PR has only recently been established in South Korea, patient motivation and education are critical.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 1998

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common systemic inflammatory disease which DMARDS have been widely used as a treatment modality both as monotherapy and combination therapy Bucillamine, one of newer DMARDS, has recently proven its efficacy as monotherapy in the treatment of RA. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and the safety of bucillamine monotherapy and bucillamine plus methotrexate combination therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Forty-nine mild RA patients were enrolled in this prospective, open-trial and were assigned to receive bucillamine 200 mg/day (n=18) or bucillamine 200 mg/day and methotrexate 7.5-15 mg/week (n=31) orally for 16 weeks. Concomitant use of NSAID and prednisolone <5 mg/day or equivalent dose of steroid were allowed. Both monotherapy group and combination therapy group have shown significant improvement in disease activities (Ritchie index, painful joints, swollen joints, morning stiffness, grip strength, ESR, RF, CRP, patient's self assessment of pain, physician's global assessment of disease activity) from the baseline. However, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups. The adverse effects were more frequently shown in combination therapy group than monotherapy group. In conclusion, in patients with mild RA monotherapy has shown to be equally efficacious as combination therapy with less side effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.435-441
• /
• 2013

This study investigated the effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on radiation-induced bone loss in C3H/HeN mice. C3H/HeN mice were divided into sham and irradiation (3 Gy, gamma-ray) groups. The irradiated mice were treated for 12 wk with vehicle, KRG (per os, p.o.) or KRG (intraperitoneal). Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, estradiol level, and biomechanical properties were measured. Tibiae were analyzed using micro-computed tomography. Treatment of KRG (p.o., 250 mg/kg of body weight/d) significantly preserved trabecular bone volume, trabecular number, structure model index, and bone mineral density of proximal tibia metaphysic, but did not alter the uterus weight of the mice. Serum ALP level was slightly reduced by KRG treatment. However, grip strength, mechanical property, and cortical bone architecture did not differ among the experimental groups. The results indicate that KRG can prevent radiation-induced bone loss in mice.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.115-120
• /
• 2019

Hemiplegic patients who suffered from a stroke struggle with a deterioration in upper limb functions, which can both be psychologically and physically discomforting; this can also limit patients' daily tasks involving any upper limb motions. In this study, we developed an assistive device for hemiplegic patients to improve their upper limb functions. It was manufactured to train patients by using their grip strength and the range of motion of the arm. Furthermore, we produced game contents in virtual reality to induce users' immersion and interaction. It was configured as a multi-player game to help ease the mental burden of receiving the training alone, hence allowing the patient and the caregiver to join the rehabilitation training simultaneously. The assistive device and game contents developed in this study enables patients and caregivers to easily check the degree of improvements in upper limb function by viewing quantitative analysis and visualized results.

• The Korean journal of sports medicine
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.189-196
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the difference of body mass index (BMI) to smart phone proficiency in men and women over the age of 60. Methods: Patients were divided into three groups with high (n=33), average (n=34), and low (n=33) smart phone proficiency. Fitness characteristics related to smart phone usage were evaluated by measuring cardiorespiratory endurance, grip strength, eye-hand coordination. As well, smart phone proficiency was evaluated by a self-reported questionnaire and a smart phone usability task that was composed of two categories: usage of the smartphone device itself and usage of phone applications. The differences in BMI of the subjects was analyzed by analysis of covariance adjusting for independent variables including age, smartphone usage period, eye-hand coordination, education and income. Results: There was a significant difference in BMI among the three groups after adjustment of age, eye-hand coordination, smartphone usage period, education and income. The results showed that the self-reported questionnaire showed a significant difference in BMI between high proficiency and low proficiency groups (high $24.88{\pm}2.46$, low $23.37{\pm}2.56$; p=0.037). Smart phone usability test results also showed a significant difference in BMI among the three groups (high $25.18{\pm}2.58$, low $23.15{\pm}2.6$; p=0.000 and high $25.18{\pm}2.58$, middle $23.57.7{\pm}1.69$; p=0.010). Conclusion: Our results suggest that high smart phone proficiency shows increased BMI in the elderly. This study suggests that people over the age of 60 who have high smartphone proficiency should be cautious of an increased BMI score.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.109 no.4
• /
• pp.544-552
• /
• 2020

This study investigated the effectiveness of "Healing Stay in Forest," a long-term stay forest therapy program implemented by National Center for Forest Therapy in 2019 with 49 participants by measuring pre- and post-questionnaire responses and physical changes, such as blood pressure, body composition, and HRV. Results confirmed statistically significant reduction in negative emotions and enhancement of autonomic nerve balance in the participants. Regarding the changes in the evaluation of physical fitness based on medical history, some significant differences were observed in grip strength and standing high jump, in which participants with no medical history showed better results than those with medical history. These findings are important for verifying the effectiveness of long-term stay forest therapy (6 nights and 7 days).

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.114-126
• /
• 2022

The relationship between mortality and the Korean Healthy Eating Index ("KHEI") is well established. This study was to investigate the associations between health habits, mental health, and nutritional status and KHEI in older Koreans (aged≥65 years). A total of 4,247 subjects (1,842 men and 2,405 women) that participated in the 2016~2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in the analysis. The lowest scoring KHEI item was milk and milk products. KHEI tertile groups were classified by total KHEI score. Tertile group percentages were related to general characteristics such as gender, residential area, educational level, income level, number of family members, and age. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for general characteristics, showed that ex-smokers (OR: male 1.53 female 2.29), smokers (OR: male 2.90), low hand grip strength (OR: male 1.42 female 1.90), poor self-rated health status (OR: female 1.83), stressful mental status (OR: female 1.51), poor health-related quality of life (OR: female 1.64), poor nutritional status (OR: male 2.88~37.20 female 1.98~16.12), and food insecurity (OR: male 6.87 female 2.03) were significantly related to a lower KHEI. This study suggests that gender-specific associations exist between mental health status and KHEI.