• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.34-46
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• 2007

Objectives: This study was to assess characteristics in acute stroke patients according to Sasangconstitution (SC). Methods : We assessed the type of SC of acute stroke patients in $2^{nd}$ Department of Internal Medicine at KyungHee University Oriental Hospital from October 2005 to September 2006. Each subject's SC type was confirmed when the result of QSCC II+ was in accordance with the opinion of the Sasangconstitutional medicine specialist. We investigated general characteristics, stroke type, blood test results, alcohol drinking, smoking and dietary preferences according to SC. Results: 108 subjects were included in the final analysis. This study showed that out of the total patients, the proportion of So-yang to Tae-eum to So-eum was equal to 5.5 to 3.5 to 1. Especially, men were higher proportion So-yang while women recorded a more significant ratio of Tae-eum. Also, the BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and WC/HC ratio recorded significantly high results. The result indicated that even though the Tae-eum let on the highest numerical value in the aspect of their past history and the final diagnosis, no significant difference was revealed according to SC. The ratio of cerebral infarction to cerebral hemorrhage was 9 to 1. SVO, LAA, SUE are the 3 types of cerebral infarction classified by TOAST; SVO ranked the highest while SUE ranked the lowest in all constitutions. The blood test result displayed that averages of both TL and the T-chol were the highest in Tae-eum while that of hematocrit in So-yangand that of HDL-chol in So-eum. However, there was no significant difference. There were no significant differences classified by gender or by SC in the aspect of the alcohol drinking and smoking history. The majority of So-yang and Tae-eum demonstrated a preference for meat while So-eum and So-yang displayed high preferences for sea food. Conclusions : With respect to these results. we could observe the general disposition of various characteristic distributions according to SC of acute stroke patients. For further research in this field. it seems necessary to construct fundamental databases for the prevention and treatment of stroke by increasing the number of patients observed and by analyzing delicate characteristics of each constitution type.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2015

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the persistence and adherence to secondary preventive medication of stroke patients after discharge and to assess the reasons for persistence and nonadherence. Methods: Four hundred twenty-nine patients with stroke were surveyed to determine their behaviors from discharge. Reasons for stopping medications were ascertained. Persistence was defined as continuation of all secondary preventive medications prescribed at hospital discharge, and adherence as continuation of prescribed medications according to health care provider instructions. Results: Of the 429 patients, 86.5% were treatment persistent and 41.2%(non-intentional nonadherence=39.4%, intentional nonadherence=19.4%) were adherent. Independent predictors of persistence included having experience about health education. Independent predictors of non-intentional nonadherence were modified Rankin Scale(mRS) (Exp(B)=2.858, p=0.001) and health education experience (Exp(B)=0.472, p=0.032), and independent predictors of intentional nonadherence were mRS (Exp(B)=2.533, p=0.006), depressive symptoms (Exp(B)=1.113, p=0.016), beliefs about medications questionnaire(necessity, Exp(B)=0.879, p=0.011, concern, Exp(B)=1.098, p=0.019). Conclusions: Although up to one-ninth of stroke patients continued secondary prevention medications, nonadherence is common. Several potentially modifiable patient, provider, and system-level factors associated with persistence and adherence may be targets for future interventions. Specially, interventions to improve adherence should target patients' beliefs about their medication.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) may be beneficial for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events (CVEs), especially in patients with myocardial infarction or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. For this purpose, one to two seafood meals per week is preferentially recommended. Omega-3 fatty acids with a high-dose EPA formula (4 g/day) may be more effective than EPA+DHA mixed supplements for the secondary prevention of CVE. Krill oil also contains omega-3 fatty acids, but at a much lower dose compared to fish oil. Supplemental vitamins and minerals have not shown the preventive effects on CVE in prospective, and randomized clinical trials, except for one Chinese study showing the stroke prevention effects of folic acid. The clinical benefit of chelation therapy in reducing CVEs is uncertain.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.109-113
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fall experience and task complexity on gait performance in community-dwelling persons with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty-three persons who had a history of stroke participated in this study. The participants included 18 persons (aged mean 54.0, mean score of 24.6 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) with fall experience (faller group) and 15 persons (aged mean 53.7, mean score of 24.7 points on the MoCA) without fall experience (non-faller group) in the previous six months. This study measured balance and gait performance at two different conditions (with/without 70% of water filled in a 200 cc cup). The participants were clinically assessed using the 10-meter walk test (10MWT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Berg Balance scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test. Results: After analyzation, persons in the faller group performed significantly better on the 10MWT, 6MWT, BBS, DGI, and the TUG test in the no-cup-carrying condition than those in the cup-carrying condition (p<0.05). The persons in the non-faller group also performed significantly better in all outcome measures with the no-cup-carrying condition than those in the cup-carrying condition (p<0.05). However, there was no interaction between fall experience and task complexity in the two groups. Conclusions: Our results showed that balance and gait performance depended on fall experience and task complexity but fall experience did not interact with task complexity. Clinicians should consider fall prevention and task complexity during therapeutic approaches in persons with hemiparetic stroke.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2001

Objective : We wanted to examine the differences of symptoms of stroke by seasons and age groups. Methods : We recorded the symptoms of 254 stroke patients for 1 year and statistically analyzed the results. The Chi-Square test was used for the analysis.(p<0.05). Results : There was no difference of symptoms by age, but the symptoms were different by seasons. In spring and autumn, there was a large amount of Hwa. In summer, there was a large amount of Kihuh, and in winter, there was a large amount of Hwa and Dahm. Conclusions : We have concluded that these differences should be considered in the management and the prevention of stroke.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2010

Gait initiation is a transitional process from the balanced upright standing to the beginning of steady-state walking. Dysbalanced gait initiation often causes stroke patients to fall. The net center of pressure, measured by two triaxial force plates from twenty healthy subjects and two stroke patients, was investigated to assess asymmetry of gait initiation in hemiparetic subjects. The time interval and distance of the net center of pressure(CoP) moved from the initiation point to the toe off(S1) and from the toe off to the initial contact(S2) were calculated during gait initiation of normal and stroke patients. When the patient with right hemiplegia(A) initiated his gait with right foot, the time interval and the distance of the net CoP in S1 and S2 were smaller than that of normal subjects' values. However, he initiated the gait with left foot(unaffected side) the time interval and the distance of net CoP in S1 were larger than normative values. Differently, the patient with left hemiplegia(B) has shown that larger time interval and distance in S1 and smaller time interval and distance in S2 in both sides. His asymmetry(with which side the gait initiated) was not significant. It is too early to conclude that these results could be general characteristics of the stroke patients because the variations were large and moreover, the level of motor recovery of the patients was different. However, it is expected that these trials could help to set up the strategy of the therapy for the rehabilitation or prevention of fall in stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.729-738
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• 1998

Background and purpose : Stroke is a leading cause of death in Korea. Early measures to prevent stroke are extremely important since it has no cure. Korean might have different risk factors since their dietary habits and socio-economical status differ from most western countries. However, the risk factors for stroke in Korea have not yet been identified. Moreover, the lifestyle of healthy Korean adults has not been investigated. In this study we investigate the lifestyle of healthy adults living in Seoul and rural areas and compare the lifestyles of the two. Methods : One hundred seventy one subjects were studied. Among the subjects studied, 128 were from Seoul, the other 43 were from the country area. The age of the subjects was limited to over 40 years. Blood pressure, fast blood sugar, and cholesterol were measured. The subjects' height, weight, body mass index, total body fat, skinfolds thickness of triceps, subscapular and abdomen were measured to determine obesity. Using a structured interview, we assessed : sodium intake, physical activity and exercise, consumption of vegetables, fat, fish and fruits. The results of the two groups were compared. Results : There were no statistical differences in age and education between the two groups of subjects. The mean age of the subjects were 66 years old. The subjects residing in rural areas had a higher intake of sodium(p<0.05), lower physical activity(P<0.05), and higher BMI and body fat (p<0.05) as compared to the subjects in Seoul. Subjects with hypertension were between 24% and 33% and the prevalence of hypertension was the highest when compared to the prevalence of DM or hypercholesterolemia. However, the prevalence of hypertension, DM, hypercholesterolemia, were not significantly different in these areas. Conclusion : Our results show that subjects living in rural areas eat more salty food, exercise less, and tend to be obese. The finding of this study lead to speculation that Korean living in rural areas have less information about the effects of diet on health than city dwellers do. General health and nutrition education programs aimed at the prevention of stroke and other such conditions for rural area Koreans may close the risk factor gap between rural and urban dwellers.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.65-72
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• 2011

Purpose: The intention of this study was to investigate the effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) with bilateral arm training (BAT) on the motor performance and daily activity performance of individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Methods: Sixteen subjects one year after stroke participated in this study with a control group; the pretest-posttest method was used. The subjects were randomly allocated into two groups: combination of bilateral arm training and modified constraint-induced movement therapy (n=8), and modified constraint-induced movement therapy (n=8). The mCIMT group received therapy for 90 minutes in 3 sessions per week over a period of 4 weeks. The patients receiving a combination of mCIMT and BAT were treated for the same period and frequency. The results were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and Motor Activity Log-Amount of Use, and Quality of Movement (MAL-AOU, QOM) assessment tools. Results: The Fugl-Meyer Assessment showed that hand and wrist performance improved significantly more in the mCIMT group than in the Combination group (p<0.05). Result from the ARAT assessment showed greater scores for gross movement in the combined group than in the mCIMT group (p<0.05). The MAL-AOU showed that there was greater improvement in the combined group than in the mCIMT group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The forced use of the more affected side can be important for the enhancement of upper extremity performance for chronic hemiparetic stroke patients during their daily activities.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.433-440
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• 2022

Recently, owing to global warming, average summer temperatures are increasing and the number of hot days is increasing is increasing, which leads to an increase in heat stroke. In particular, outdoor workers directly exposed to the heat are at higher risk of heat stroke; therefore, preventing heat-related illnesses and managing safety have become important. Although various wearable devices have been developed to prevent heat stroke for outdoor workers, applying various sensors to the safety helmets that workers must wear is an excellent alternative. In this study, we developed a smart helmet that measures various vital signs of the wearer such as body temperature, heart rate, and sweat rate; external environmental signals such as temperature and humidity; and movement signals of the wearer such as roll and pitch angles. The smart helmet can acquire the various data by connecting with a smartphone application. Environmental data can check the status of heat wave advisory, and the individual vital signs can monitor the health of workers. In addition, we developed an algorithm that classifies the risk of heat-related illness as normal and abnormal by inputting a set of vital signs of the wearer using a support vector machine technique, which is a machine learning technique that allows for rapid binary classification with high reliability. Furthermore, the classified results suggest that the safety manager can supervise the prevention of heat stroke by receiving feedback from the control system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.133-139
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• 2022

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a group exercise program with competitive games on balance in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects were chronic stroke patients living at home after their discharge from the hospital. A total of 32 subjects were divided into two groups. The experimental group performed a group exercise program with competitive games, and the control group performed individual exercises. The exercise program duration was one hour, and it comprised 10 minutes of stretching, 40 minutes of the main exercise, and 10 minutes of stretching at the end. The experimental group was divided into two teams of 8 players each and played competitive games (transfer a gym ball to another person, relay 10 m walking and return, transfer an object to the next person using both arms while sitting). The control group performed an arm/trunk exercise for 15 minutes and gait training for 25 minutes. These exercises were conducted twice a week (4 weeks). The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and timed up-and-go (TUG) tests were performed to confirm the change in balance. RESULTS: In the experimental group, BBS showed a significant increase (p < .05) and TUG showed a significant decrease (p < .05). In the control group, there was no statistically significant change in the BBS. However, the TUG showed a significant decrease (p < .05). The BBS and TUG both showed statistically significant differences (p < .05) in the between-group comparison of the change in pre-post intervention values. CONCLUSION: A group exercise program with competitive games to improve the balance ability for fall prevention in chronic stroke patients could be used as a good intervention method.