• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of horse riding simulator exercise on the thickness changes in the transverse abdominis in normal adults. Methods: Forty-five healthy adults were recruited and randomized to a horseback riding simulation exercise group (n=15), a sling exercise group (n=15), and a trunk stabilization exercise group (n=15). A horseback riding simulator offers the indoor experience of horseback riding and mimics the rhythmic movement of horseback riding, thereby provided a virtual environment, such as riding a real horse on the front screen. The velocity of the horse riding simulator exercise was regulated within the subject's ability to control the exercise on the horse riding simulator. A sling exercise group performed sling exercise under the inspection of the experimenter. In the trunk stabilization exercise group, the subjects were instructed to perform the exercise accurately and pause the session when pain occurred during the intervention. The subjects in each group carried out the interventions three times per week for six weeks. The thickness of the transverse abdominis was measured using a pressure biofeedback unit and the ultrasound. Results: Significant differences in the thickness of transverse abdominis within the groups were observed between before and after the interventions. On the other hand, there were no differences in the parameters among the groups. Conclusion: Horse riding simulator exercise can be an alternative to trunk stabilization exercise by increasing the thickness of the transverse abdominis in healthy adults.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2020

In this paper, we introduce a method to visualize the contrast diffusion patterns and the dynamic vascular patterns in a contrast-enhanced ultrasound image sequence. We present an imaging technique to visualize parameters such as contrast arrival time, peak intensity time, and contrast decay time in contrast-enhanced ultrasound data. The contrast flow pattern and its velocity are important for characterizing focal liver lesions. We propose a method for representing the contrast diffusion patterns as an image. In the methods, respiratory motion may degrade the accuracy of the parametric images. Therefore, we present a respiratory motion tracking technique that uses dynamic weights and a momentum factor with respect to the respiration cycle. Through the experiment using 72 CEUS data sets, we show that the proposed method makes it possible to overcome the limitation of analysis by the naked eye and improves the reliability of the parametric images by compensating for respiratory motion in contrast-enhanced ultrasonography.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the radial bone strength, sitting balance ability and global self-esteem of wheelchair martial arts practitioners and healthy control participants. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Nine wheelchair martial art practitioners with physical disabilities and 28 able-bodied healthy individuals participated in the study. The bone strength of the distal radius was assessed using the Sunlight Mini-Omni Ultrasound Bone Sonometer; sitting balance was quantified using the modified functional reach test (with reference to a scale marked on the wall); and the self-administered Rosenberg self-esteem (RSE) scale was used to measure the global self-esteem of the participants. The velocity of the ultrasound wave (speed of sound, m/s) traveling through the outer surface of the radial bone was measured and was then converted into a T-score and a Z-score. These ultrasound T-score and Z-score that represent bone strength; the maximum forward reaching distance in sitting (cm) that represents sitting balance; and the RSE total self-esteem score that indicates global self-esteem were used for analysis. Results: The results revealed that there were no statistically significant between-group differences for radial bone-strength, maximum forward reaching distance, or self-esteem outcomes. Conclusions: The wheelchair martial arts practitioners had similar radial bone strength, sitting balance performance and self-esteem to able-bodied healthy persons. Our results imply that wheelchair martial arts might improve bone strength, postural control and self-esteem in adult wheelchair users. This new sport-wheelchair martial arts-might be an exercise option for people with physical disabilities.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.403-411
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• 2023

Functional ultrasound imaging, such as elasticity imaging and micro-blood flow Doppler imaging, enhances diagnostic capability by providing useful mechanical and functional information about tissues. However, the implementation of functional ultrasound imaging poses limitations such as the storage of vast amounts of data in Radio Frequency (RF) data acquisition and processing. In this paper, we propose a sub-Nyquist approach that reduces the amount of acquired axial samples for efficient shear-wave elasticity imaging. The proposed method acquires data at a sampling rate one-third lower than the conventional Nyquist sampling rate and tracks shear-wave signals through RF signals reconstructed using band-pass filtering-based interpolation. In this approach, the RF signal is assumed to have a fractional bandwidth of 67 %. To validate the approach, we reconstruct the shear-wave velocity images using shear-wave tracking data obtained by conventional and proposed approaches, and compare the group velocity, contrast-to-noise ratio, and structural similarity index measurement. We qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrate the potential of sub-Nyquist sampling-based shear-wave elasticity imaging, indicating that our approach could be practically useful in three-dimensional shear-wave elasticity imaging, where a massive amount of ultrasound data is required.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2001

Background: It had been reported by authors that linear polarized infrared light radiation (Superizer: SL) near the stellate ganglion had a similar effect on the change of skin temperature of hand compared with the stellate ganglion block (SGB). We hypothesized that this was due to dilatation of vessels and an increased blood flow. The aim of this study was to measure the velocity of blood flow in peripheral vessels after linear polarized infrared light radiation near the stellate ganglion and to compare the effect of SL with that of SGB using local anesthetics. Methods: Forty patients whose clinical criteria were matched for the symptoms of SGB were selected for study. We radiated the stellate ganglion by linear polarized infrared light radiation and measured the blood flow of radial artery using Ultrasound Doppler blood flow meter before and after 10, 20 and 30 minutes post-radiation. After 3 days, SGB was performed using 8 ml of 1% mepivacaine to the same patient, and the radial artery blood flow was measured in the same manner. Results: The blood flow velocity was increased by 40% and 27% at 10 min and 20 min after SL and by 42% and 41% at 10 min and 20 min after SGB. However, there was no statistically significant difference in blood flow velocity between SGL and SGB. Conclusions: We could conclude that linear polarized radiation is a clinically simple and useful noninvasive therapeutic tool in clinical area.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2002

This study was conducted to determine the effects of deep breathing exercise and ankle exercise on blood flow velocity in the femoral vein. Sixteen healthy male students were recruited from Yonsei University, at Wonju. The blood flow velocities in the femoral vein were measured under three different conditions: resting, deep breathing, and ankle exercise. All subjects were given a 5-minute relaxing time in supine position prior to the study. Using a doppler ultrasound with a 8 MHz probe, the peak blood flow velocities were collected in a twenty-second-period at each condition. The subjects took a rest in between trials for the blood flow to return to its resting levels. The result showed a significant difference in peak blood flow velocities under those three conditions (p<.001). The peak blood flow velocity was highest in ankle exercise condition. The peak blood velocity was significantly higher in deep breathing condition compared with the resting condition. As a result, it is revealed that not only the muscular contractions but also the deep breathing exercises induced facilitating effects of venous return. Either of the exercise methods can be recommended to prevent blood stasis in patients with risk of deep vein thrombosis after cardiac or lower extremity surgery.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.401-411
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• 2009

In this paper, we correct pulse wave velocity(PWV) with heart-rate and derive regression equations to estimate intima-media thickness(IMT). Widely used methods for diagnosis of arteriosclerosis are IMT and PWV. Arterial wall stiffness determines the degree of energy absorbed by the elastic aorta and its recoil in diastole but there is not correlation between sclerosis and IMT in an existing study. In this study, we will correct PWV with heart-rate and get regression equation to estimate IMT using heart-rate correction index(HCI). We executed experiments for this study. Made up question of physical condition and measured electrocardiogram(ECG), photoplethysmogram (PPG) of finger-tip and toe-tip and ultrasound image of carotid artery. Calculated PWV and IMT using ECG, PPG and ultrasound image. We found that every p-value between PWV and IMT is not significant(<0.05). But p-value between IMT and HCI which is a corrected PWV using heart-rate is significant(>0.01). We use HCI and various measured parameter for estimating regression equation and apply backward estimation to select parameters for regression analysis. Result of backward estimation, found that only HCI is possible to derive proper regression equation of IMT. Relationship between PWV and IMT is the second order. Result of regression equation of E-H PWV is $R^2$=0.735, adj $R^2$=0.711. This is the best correlation value. We calculate error of its analysis for verification of earlobe PWV regression equation. Its result is RMSEP=0.0328, MAPE(%) = 4.7622. Like this regression analysis, we know that HCI is useful parameter and relationship between PWV, HCI and IMT. In addition, we are able to suggest possibility which is that we can get different parameter of prediction throughout just one measurement.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.497-503
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• 2004

Numerical simulation of blood flow has been conducted based on real vessel geometries generated front DICOM medical images of abdominal and iliac bifurcated arteries of a healthy man. A program was developed to read cross sectional images of the three dimensional arteries and smoothly extract boundary coordinates of vessels. Commercial programs were employed for mesh generation and flow simulation. Pressures, velocities, and flow distributions were found to lie within normal physiological ranges. Peak velocity measured in the iliac artery by ultrasound was 20% smaller than that obtained by simulation. The trend of velocity variation in a cardiac cycle was fairly similar between the simulation and the ultrasonic measurements. Simulation based on real vessel geometry of individual patient provides information on pressure, velocity, and its distribution in the diseased arteries or arteries to be surgically treated. The results of simulation may help surgeons to better understand hemodynamic status and surgical need of the patient by revealing variation of the hemodynamic parameters. Futhermore, they may serve as basic data for surgical treatment of arteries. This research is expected to develop to a program in the future that early diagnose atherosclerosis by showing distribution of a hemodynamic index closely related to atherosclerosis in arteries.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.85-100
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate diagnostic value of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound about risk factor of stroke by comparing blood flow between patients with metabolic syndrome(MS group) and Normal group. Methods: 62 metabolic syndrome patients and 106 healthy adults were selected who had no cerebrovascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases and other systemic diseases. We measured the mean velocity(Vm), peak systolic velocity(Vs) and pulsatility index(PI) of MCA, ACA, PCA, VA, ICA in two groups using TCD. All subjects were divided by gender and age. Results: In comparing Ms group with normal group, Vm in the MCA, ACA, PCA, ICA and Vs in the MCA, ICA were lower in MS group. In all vessels, PI of MS group were higher than that of Normal group. In all vessels, Vm and Vs revealed negative correlation with age and PI revealed positive correlation with age. In 20-39 year olds, there was decrease in the Vs and Vm and increase of PI of MS group in comparison with normal group. There was significant difference in the Vm of PCA, ICA, Vs of MCA, PCA, ICA and PI of MCA, ACA. In 40-59 year olds, Vm in the MCA, ACA, ICA and Vs in the MCA, ACA were lower in MS group. PI in the MCA, ACA, PCA, ICA were higher in MS group. In 60-79 year olds, Vm of MCA, PCA, ICA was decreased in MS group than Normal group with no statistical signification. Vs in the MCA was lower and PI in the PCA was higher in MS group. In male, Vm of PCA and Vs of MCA were lower and PI of MCA, ACA, PCA, ICA were higher in MS group. In female, Vm of MCA, PCA, ICA and Vs of MCA, ICA were lower and PI of ACA, PCA, VA, ICA were higher in MS group. Conclusions: The significant difference in Vm, Vs, PI between MS group and normal group suggests hemodynamic disorder. Screening and prognosing high risk group can be done through TCD and this can be used to prevent stroke. More detailed study will be needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.241-250
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• 1997

The velocity dispersion of surface acoustical wave(SAW) of Si layer/mesh Au/Si substrate was measured by the frequency analysis technique of backward radiation at liquid/solid interface. The difference of backward radiation patterns depending on used transducers (2, 5, 10MHz) confirmed that the backward radiation phenomenon was caused by the energy radiation from SAW generated in surface region. An ultrasonic goniometer was constructed to measure continuously the angular dependence of backscattered intensity. The angular dependences of backward radiation(5MHz) were measured for Ni layer/Al substrate specimens that were bonded by epoxy involving different content of Cu powder. It was known that the width and pattern of backward radiation had informations such as the velocity dispersion, bonding quality and structure of surface region.