• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.25-29
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a new designed splint on the hand function. A new design splint that enlarges the area between thumb and index finger was manufactured using 3D printing. After wearing a new splint the patient was possible to open thumb and hold a small object. She showed improvement in overall hand function and could move eight blocks in box and block test. But grasping a cup without a handle has become more difficult than before. Also there is a disadvantage that it could not be fixed by water. This study is meaningful in that it is the first splint application study using 3D printing. In the future, we expect that various patient-specific splints will be developed through 3D printing in the field of occupational therapy.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1997

The methods of clinical applications of the foot as a free-flap donor site includes microvascular toe-to-finger transfer, free neurovascular flap transfer, first web space flap transfer, and osteocutaneous free flap transfer. We have evaluated the results of treatment for 35 patients to be undergone a microvascular reconstructive procedure with the foot as a donor site from January 1982 to June 1996. The performed operations were 16 cases of thumb reconstruction with wrap around procedure, 3 cases of tenocutaneous flap transfer, 10 cases of dorsalis pedis flap transfer, 2 cases of first web space free flap and 4 cases of toe-to-finger transfer. The follow up study was 69 months in average. Regarding to the various donor sites, morbidity was divided into five different categories: Cosmesis, Functional loss, Sensory loss, Wound complication, and Pain. According to the results of examination(35 patients), the results was excellent(25), good(9), fair(1), and poor(0). Among the categories, morbidity was higher at cosmesis. The patients under 50 years were better outcome. Among the operative methods from the foot as a donor site, thumb reconstruction with wrap around procedure showed poorest outcomes. So, We conclude that the foot as a free flap donor site is a good source for the microvascular reconstructive surgery. But, Preoperative donor site evaluation, adequate operative technique and post operative management are essential to decrease the morbidity of donor site.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2003

Purpose: MEPs elicited by transmagnetic stimulations of the motor cortex are facilitated by voluntary muscle contraction. We evaluated the effects of the imagination of the movements on latencies of MEPs and reciprocal inhibition by using transmagnetic stimulations. Methods: Twenty two healthy volunteers(eight men and fourteen women) were studied. TMSs were delivered at rest and during imagining abducting or adducting right thumb. A stimulator with a round coil and a fixed intensity of 80% of maximum was used to evoke MEPs. MEPs were evoked by magnetic stimulations over the scalp and cervical spine(C7-T1), and central motor conduction times(CMCT) were calculated by subtracting the latency of compound muscle action potentials(CMAPs) obtained by stimulating over the cervical spine from that obtained by stimulating over the scalp. The motor evoked potentials were recorded from right abductor pollicis brevis muscle(APB) and adductor pollicis muscle(AP) simultaneously. Results: Imagination of abduction resulted in a shortened latency of the CMAPs in APB, and a prolonged latency in AP. Imagination of adduction resulted in a shortened latency in AP, and a prolonged latency in APB. But the imagination caused no significant change in the latency of CMAPs elicited by stimulation over cervical spine. Therefore, the changes of the CMCTs account for these latency changes with imagination of movement. With the imagination of abduction, there are significant reduction of the CMCT's in APB(10.8%) and prolongation in AP(5.8%). On the other hand, with the imagination of adduction, prolongation of the CMCT's in APB(7.3%) and reduction in AP(5.9%) were observed. Conclusion: These findings indicate that imagination of muscle contraction increases the excitability of the human corticospinal system. Reciprocal inhibition may be accountable for the prolonged latency in the antagonist muscle.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.367-374
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• 1999

Biological specimens contain several components and multilinear models are very useful in analyzing these data. After fitting the model the number of components are determined by the change of mean squared error however this method is quite rule of thumb. in this paper we suggest a measure to decide the number of components based on the relative change of to mean squared error. Simulations are done and applications to real data set are given as illustrations.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.07e
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• pp.34-37
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• 2003

The purpose of this paper is the development of portable body fat meter. Bioelectrical impedance method for measuring human body composition is based upon the principle that the electrical conductivity of the fat mass is far greater than that of the fat. Finally measurement of percent body fat was made possible using a developed impedance measuring device which measure impedance between the thumb and ring finger.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.780-783
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• 2006

Purpose: Rupture of a collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint is rare except in the thumb. The injured digit became flexed and deviated toward ulna side by the hypothenar intrinsic musculature. Incomplete rupture of a collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint can be often managed by splinting the affected digit in flexion position, however, in the case of complete tears that distraction of the ends of the ruptured collateral ligament is too great to allow repositioning by splinting. Primary repair of the ruptured collateral ligament or reattachment to bone by a pull-out wire, or tendon graft technique appears to be adequate. Methods: We report a case of instability of fifth metacarpophalangeal joint due to complete rupture of radial collateral ligament. This 18-year-old male presented pain in his right outstretched hand after trauma. The diagnosis was obtained by physical examination and simple radiography. Because of persistent instability after the initial conservative treatment, open reduction and repair surgical treatment was required. Results: The fifth metacarpophalangeal joint became free of pain and stable under forced lateral deviation. Postoperative results showed good metacarpophalangeal joint function and stability during 8 months follow-up period. Conclusion: Because of the interposition of the sagittal band between the ruptured ends of radial collateral ligament such as Stener-like lesion of the thumb, surgical repair of metacarpophalangeal joint collateral ligament of the finger was justified in case of complete laxity in full flexion.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.229-246
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• 2008

Objectives : Acupoints of LR1(Dadun)${\cdot}$HT9(Shaochong), KI10(Yingu)${\cdot}$HT3(Shaohai) are used as controlling the diseases from heart problems. Especially, when they are used, tonification or sedation techniques method is taken as a controlling the medication for an early stroke in the Korean medicine. So the aim of this study is to investigate the anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects of Acupuncture techniques of tonification or sedation at LR1${\cdot}$HT9, KI10${\cdot}$HT3 on the focal ischemia induced by intraluminal filament insertion in rats. Materials and Methods : The focal ischemia was induced by intraluminal filament insertion into middle cerebral artery. The animals were divided into five groups (n=7 in each group) : Control group, no therapy group after ischemia induced; AT-1; acupuncture therapy group at LR1${\cdot}$HT9, KI10${\cdot}$HT3 after ischemia-induced. AT-2; acupuncture therapy at right LR1, HT9(forward direction), KI10${\cdot}$HT3(opposite direction) inserting to the direction of route of the each meridian. AT3; acupuncture therapy at right LR1, HT9(twirling forward with the thumb of right hand 9 times), KI10${\cdot}$HT3(twirling forward with the forefinger of right hand 6 times) AT-4; acupuncture therapy at right LR1, HT9(forward direction, twirling forward with the thumb of right hand 9 times), KI10${\cdot}$HT3(opposite direction, twirling forward with the forefinger of right hand 6 times) inserting to the direction of route of the each meridian. The anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects of Acupuncture techniques of tonification or sedation at LR1, HT9, KI10${\cdot}$HT3 were observed by Bax, Bcl-2, mGluR5, Cytochrome c, Cresyl violet and ChAT-stain. Results : The intensity of Bax and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were increased in ACU-2 and ACU-4 group but decreased in ACU-3 group. The intensity of mGluR5 was increased in ACU-1, ACU-2, ACU-3 and ACU-4 group. The intensity of cytochrome c was decreased in ACU-3 and ACU-4 group. The density of neurons stained by Cresyl violet and ChAT were increased in ACU-1, ACU-3 and ACU-4 group. Conclusions : Our study suggests that acupuncture therapy of tonification at LR1, HT9 by twirling forward with the thumb of right hand 9times, sedation at KI10${\cdot}$HT3 by twirling forward with the forefinger of right hand 6 times after perpendicularly inserting needle shows anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects on cholinergic neuron in focal cerebral ischemia of the stroke in rats.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2002

From 1994-2001, 25 mutilated digits were reconstructed with immediate toe-to-hand transfer in acute hand injury in 21 patients. There were 15 cases of great toe-to-hand transfer(partial great toe transfer 8 cases, modified wrap-around procedure 2 cases, and trimmed great toe transfer 2 cases) for thumb reconstruction, 2 cases of second toe transfer for index reconstruction, and 4 cases of simultaneous two toe-to-hand transfer(great toe & second toe transfer 1 case, bilateral second-toe transfer 2 cases, combined second & third toe transfer 1 case) for reconstruction of multiple digit amputations. Two cases of emergency exploration(2/25, 8%) were successfully salvaged. The incidence of emergency exploration and postoperative infection was not significantly different from that of the elective toe-to-hand transfer cases. Duration of industrial insurance coverage was 225 days, which is much shorter than that of elective cases. Among 43% of patients maintained their original job even after injury and immediate toe-to-hand transfer. The subjective satisfaction self- assessment scores of aesthetic appearance and function on the new reconstructed thumb were 80 and 88 in average, respectively, over a total score of 100. These were higher than those of reconstruction of other digits, but lower than those of elective reconstruction. The donor site after harvest of the great toe was mostly unsatisfied in a view of appearance. Immediate toe-to-hand transfer provides many advantages over elective procedure in acute hand injuries such as single stage reconstruction, shortened convalescent period, early return to work and efficient socio-economic factor. Furthermore because there were no significant differences in success rate, frequency of complications or ultimate functional result, immediate toe-to-hand transfer is a safe and reliable procedure in case of limited indications for acute digits loss.

• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2014

Recently, many human-friendly communication methods have been studied for human-machine interface(HMI) without using any physical devices. One of them is the vision-based gesture recognition that this paper deals with. In this paper, we define some gestures for interaction with objects in a predefined virtual world, and propose an efficient method to recognize them. For preprocessing, we detect and track the both hands, and extract their silhouettes from the low-resolution hand images captured by a webcam. We modeled skin color by two Gaussian distributions in RGB color space and use blob-matching method to detect and track the hands. Applying the foodfill algorithm we extracted hand silhouettes and recognize the hand shapes of Thumb-Up, Palm and Cross by detecting and analyzing their modes. Then, with analyzing the context of hand movement, we recognized five predefined one-hand or both-hand gestures. Assuming that one main user shows up for accurate hand detection, the proposed gesture recognition method has been proved its efficiency and accuracy in many real-time demos.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.378-383
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• 2016

Diabetic kidney disease is the most common and severe chronic complication of diabetes. The leaf of Diospyros kaki Thumb (persimmon) has been commonly used for herbal tea and medicinal purposes to treat a variety of conditions, including hypertension and atherosclerosis. However, the effect of persimmon leaf on kidney failure has not been investigated. This study aimed to examine the role of persimmon leaf in protecting the diabetes-associated kidney damage in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. Mice were fed either a normal chow diet with or without powered persimmon leaf (5%, w/w) for 5 weeks. In addition to kidney morphology and blood markers of kidney function, we assessed levels of oxidative stress markers as well as antioxidant enzymes activities and mRNA expression in the kidney. Supplementation of the diet with powered persimmon leaf not only decreased the concentration of blood urea nitrogen in the plasma but also improved glomerular hypertrophy. Furthermore, the persimmon leaf significantly decreased the levels of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxide in the kidney. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and the mRNA expression of their respective genes were also increased in the kidney of persimmon leaf-supplemented db/db mice. Taken together, these results suggest that supplementation with the persimmon leaf may have protective effects against type 2 diabetes-induced kidney dysfunction and oxidative stress.