• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.111-123
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• 2010

Backgrounds : Stroke is characterized by loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain, and classified into hemorrhage and ischemia. Stroke is known to be affected by genetic factors and other diseases such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. However, the distinctive association between stroke and genetic variations has not discovered yet. Objectives : This study investigated the effects of fibrinogen level and genetic variations in FGA (Fibrinogen alpha chain) gene on stroke in Korean stroke patients and controls. Methods : DNA samples from 674 stroke patients diagnosed by Oriental medical hospitals and 267 controls were used in this study. Two common single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) with high minor allele frequency(MAF), rs2070011G/A of promoter region and nonsynonymous rs6050A/G of exon 5 in FGA gene, were targeted for Taqman genotyping. Because the TOAST classification is important to the factors and symptoms of stroke, ischemic patients were further classified into five subtypes using diagnosis and clinical data. One-way ANOVA and chi-square test were used for clinical data and genetic association, respectively. Haploview v4.1 program was used for linkage disequilibrium(LD), haplotype and haplotype block analysis. Results : The levels of red blood cells and fibrinogen from clinical data were shown to be significant factors for the sub-groups of TOAST classification. No significant associations of stroke, hemorrhage, ischemic and subtypes of TOAST with rs2070011 and rs6050 of FGA gene were found(P > 0.05). However, rs2070011 in promoter region and nonsynonymous rs6050 in exon 5 which produce the amino acid change from threonine to alanine showed a haplotype block and three haplotypes of A-G, G-A, A-A, suggesting that rs2070011 and rs6050 might be co-segregated in generic recombination. Although A-A haplotype of stroke patients showed 64-69% low frequency compared to controls, there was no significant association between stroke and haplotype(P > 0.05). Conclusion : This study showed that there was no significant association between stroke and two SNP of rs2070011G/A and nonsynonymous rs6050A/G in FGA gene. However, these two SNP compose a haplotype block and three haplotypes of A-G, G-A, A-A. This finding suggests that rs2070011 and rs6050 are so close as to be positioned as linkage disequilibrium. Nevertheless, no significant association between haplotypes and stroke was found.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.265-275
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• 2006

Objectives : Electrical acupoint stimulation(EAS) has been used to treat motor dysfunction of stroke patients with reportedly effective results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the EAS with different frequencies in treating motor dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients. Methods : The subject of this study were forty-two ischemic stroke patients with motor dysfunction in Kyunghee oriental medicine hospital who were hospitalized for one week to one month from onset. They were treated with 2Hz or 120Hz EAS for two weeks, and motor evoked potentials(MEP) were measured before and after EAS treatment. To compare the effect of 2Hz EAS with 120Hz, the number of patients who showed MEP responses after two weeks among those who had no previous response was checked. Also measured were latency, central motor conduction time(CMCT), amplitude of MEP before and after EAS treatment. Results : After two weeks of treatment, 4 out of 15 patients(27%) in the 2Hz EAS group and lout of 19 patients(5%) in the 120Hz group showed potential responses. Yet there was no significant difference between the two groups. When MEP data of the affected side between the 2Hz group and the 120Hz group was compared, the former showed more significant improvement than the latter in latency, CMCT and amplitude(P=0.040, 0.019,0.021). When the proportion of the affected side and unaffected side in MEP data was examined, the 2Hz group showed improvement on only latency and CMCT with significant differences(P=0.040, 0.014). Conclusions : These results show that EAS with low frequency is more helpful for motor recovery after ischemic stroke than that with high frequency. This suggests that low frequency EAS activates the central motor conduction system better than high frequency EAS.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.91-105
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• 2017

Objectives : This study analyzed the differences in length of stay(LoS), total hospital charges(THC), and cost of rehabilitation(CoR) between two types of stroke patients, intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) and cerebral infarction(CI). Factors associated with these differences were also assessed. Methods : Data were obtained from the 2011 National Inpatient Sample data of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We used propensity score matching to match the characteristics of the two types of stroke patients, and conducted a regression analysis to analyze their associations. Results : The differences between THC, LoS, and CoR by stroke and hospital types were shown. Each type of hospital showed different results. Conclusions : A rapidly aging population will accelerate the number of stroke patients requiring effective management. Studies evaluating healthcare utilization of stroke patients will provide evidence for both healthcare resources allocation and healthcare policy decisions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.91-97
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• 2018

PURPOSE: Stroke patients have reduced balance ability due to a lack of motion in the ankle joint. Elastic taping assists movement, and joint mobilization, a form of passive movement, enhances mobility. The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects on balance ability after anterior-to-posterior (A-P) talocrural joint mobilization combined with elastic taping in stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty stroke patients were divided into two groups: a joint mobilization with taping group (experimental group, n=10) and an elastic taping only group (control group, n=10). The experimental group underwent anteroposterior mobilization of the talus and elastic tape was applied to the calf and tibialis anterior muscles. The control group had elastic tape applied. Dynamic balanced abilities were assessed by using the BioRescue system. After 30 minutes of intervention, the forward, backward, left side, and right side sway areas ($mm^2$) were measured. RESULTS: Only the experimental group showed a significant increase in forward sway area after intervention. However, no significant differences were detected between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that A-P talocrural joint mobilization combined with elastic taping has a positive effect, producing an immediate increase in the forward balance ability of stroke patients. However, this study did not examine joint mobilization alone. In subsequent studies, it is necessary to examine the effect of joint mobilization only on balance in stroke patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1873-1878
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• 2019

Background: Walking is a complex activity. The main components of walking include balance, coordination, and symmetrical posture. The characteristics of walking patterns of stroke patients include slow walking, measured by gait cycle and walking speed. This is an important factor that reflects post-stroke quality of life and walking ability. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of deep lumbar muscle stabilization exercise on the spatiotemporal walking ability of stroke patients. Design: Quasi-experial study Methods: The experiment was conducted 5 times per week for 4 weeks, with 30 minutes per session, on 10 subjects in the experimental group who performed the deep lumbar muscle stabilization exercise and 10 subjects in the control group who performed a regular exercise. Variables that represent the spatiotemporal walking ability (step length, stride length, step rate, and walking speed) were measured using GAITRrite before and after the experiment and were analyzed. Results: There was a significant difference in the pre- and post-exercise spatiotemporal walking ability between the two groups (p<.05). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the step rate and walking speed between the two groups (p<.05). Conclusions: Deep lumbar muscle stabilization exercise is effective in improving the walking ability of stroke patients. Therefore, its application will help improve the spatiotemporal walking ability of stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.311-316
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• 2019

Purpose: Generally, patients with stroke present with decreased balance and increased spasticity following weakness of the paralyzed muscles. Muscle weakness caused by stroke has two causes. This is caused by a decrease in motor output and an adaptive muscle change, resulting in muscle weakness and muscle paralysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of strengthening exercise on balance and spasticity in chronic stroke patients and to suggest the basis of clinical treatment. Methods: Twenty subjects were divided into two groups: a lower-extremity strengthening group (experimental group) and a general physical therapy group (control group). The sliding stander equipment was used for the experimental group and a regimen of warm-up exercise, the main exercise routine, and cool-down exercise were used for the muscle strengthening exercise program. Balance and spasticity were measured before and after the training period. Balance ability was measured by the Berg balance scale, the Timed up and Go test and the weight distribution of the paralyzed muscles by the Spacebalance 3D. Spasticity was measured by the Biodex system. Results: After the training periods, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in BBS, weight distribution of the paralyzed muscles, and decreased spasticity when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study supported the hypothesis that lower-extremity strengthening exercise improves the balance and decreases the spasticity of stroke patients. If it is combined with conventional neurologic physiotherapy, it would be effective rehabilitation for stroke patients.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2015

This report is about two cases of aphasia without hemiparesis after stroke. Most of aphasia after stroke accompanies hemiparesis. However, aphasia without hemiparesis after stroke occurs rarely and only a few cases have been reported. We used Korean herbal medication, acupuncture, language therapy. To evaluate speech ability we used K-WAB(Korean version of Western Aphasia Battery) and word span test. After treatment, patients' word span abilities and language abilities including reading, writing, speaking were improved. This report suggests that Korean medicine and language therapy could have a therapeutic effect for aphasia without hemiparesis after stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.16-21
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• 2011

The effects of stroke change on turbulent kinetic energy for the in-cylinder flow of a four-valve SI engine were studied. For this study, the same intake manifold, head, cylinder, and the piston were used to examine turbulence characteristics in two different strokes. In-cylinder flow measurements were conducted using three dimensional LDV system. The measurement method, which simultaneously collects 3-D velocity data, allowed a evaluation of turbulent kinetic energy inside a cylinder. High levels of turbulent kinetic energy were found in regions of high shear flow, attributed to the collisions of intake flows. These specific results support the more general conclusion that the inlet conditions play the dominant role in the generation of the turbulence fields during the intake stroke. However, in the absence of two counter rotating vortices, this intake generated turbulent kinetic energy continues to decrease but at a much faster rate.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.196-202
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• 2002

Aphasia is frequent in stroke patients and most patients with aphasia exhibit spontaneous progressive improvement in language abilities over time, but few recover completely. Neurological variables, especially initial severity of aphasia and time post-onset, appear to have influence on improvement. Effect of speech therapy and pharmacotherapy has been studied and some drugs, like amphetamine are proved to be benefit for recovery of aphasia following stroke. But there has been few evidence to facilitate recovery from aphasia by acupuncture or herbal medication therapy. So we report two cases of aphasic stroke patients who treated by combination therapy of acupuncture, herbal medication(Cheongsinhaeo-tang) and speech therapy over 6 months and improved in language abilities. Further clinical studies will be needed to explore the effects of acupuncture and herbal medication therapy for aphasia. Researchers should examine the long term effect of these treatment, and whether it is more effective than speech therapy and western pharmacotherapy or not..

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.236-245
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study is to report the effects of Korean medical treatment with electroacupuncture on post-stroke dysphagia. Methods: Two stroke patients with dysphagia received Korean medical treatment including electroacupuncture for about six months and three months respectively. A Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) were used to confirm efficacy of electroacupuncture therapy as outcome measurements. Results: After treatment, swallowing function was improved, and symptoms related to dysphagia were decreased. NRS, VFSS showed improvement in stroke patients with dysphagia. Conclusions: This study shows that Korean medical treatment with electroacupuncture can be useful for dysphagia.