• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.633-638
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• 2018

The number of individuals with spinal cord injuries in the most countries is rising each year. However, it is reported that most of them have sexual problem, however lack of research on deal with the issues related to sex identity and maladjustment in rehabilitation counseling setting. The purpose of this article: (a) to possess an adequate knowledge of the sexual problems facing individuals with spinal cord injuries; (b) to review past research on sexuality counseling with people who have spinal cord injuries; and (c) to present for some strategies for people with spinal cord injuries in order to sexuality adjustment, through Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Some suggestions are presented.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.80-97
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to identify and describe a process of sexual adjustment of individuals with spinal cord injury: and to describe and explore positive and negative influences on the adjustment process. This qualitative study was conducted with 10 Korean individuals with spinal cord injury who had been physically disabled for more than one year. Data were collected and analysed at a same time using grounded theory method. Major categories of this study showed a process how the individuals with spinal cord injury adjust to their individual life as sexual beings. The process included and individual responses to the behavioral efforts including and . Initially physical aspects of sexuality seemed to be affected by spinal cord injuries. The changed physical aspects then influenced other aspects of their sexual life. Life satisfaction of each individual as a sexual being revealed as very subjective. It could be defined according to how the individual approved their sexual life no matter what and how much behavioral effort the person had done. In this study 3 types of sexual adjustment aspects were explored: 'Active adjustment' 'Passive adjustment' 'Maladjustment'. There were negative and positive factors influencing the adjustment process of individuals with spinal cord injury. Those factors might come from themselves, from families, or from social situations. Findings of this study suggested that sexual life of individuals with spinal cord injury should not be understood as a physical or behavioral matter. It was a combination of physical, psychological and social aspects of life. Therefore, appropriate rehabilitation programs for the sexual adjustment of individuals with spinal cord injury need to concern heterogeneous life values of them and obtain individualized services for each individual at a different stage of the sexual adjustment process.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2011

Objective : Minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline-class antibiotic, has been well established to exert a neuroprotective effect in animal models and neurodegenerative disease through the inhibition of microglia. Here, we investigated the effects of minocycline on motor recovery and neuropathic pain in a rat model of spinal cord injury. Methods : To simulate spinal cord injury, the rats' spinal cords were hemisected at the 10th thoracic level (T10). Minocycline was injected intraperitoneally, and was administered 30 minutes prior surgery and every second postoperative day until sacrifice 28 days after surgery. Motor recovery was assessed via the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan test Mechanical hyperalgesia was measured throughout the 28-day post -operative course via the von Frey test Microglial and astrocyte activation was assessed by immunohistochemical staining for ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (lba1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) at two sites: at the level of hemisection and at the 5th lumbar level (L5). Results : In rats, spinal cord hemisection reduced locomotor function and induced a mechanical hyperalgesia of the ipsilateral hind limb. The expression of lba1 and GFAP was also increased in the dorsal and ventral horns of the spinal cord at the site of hemisection and at the L5 level. Intraperitoneal injection of minocycline facilitated overall motor recovery and attenuated mechanical hyperalgesia. The expression of lba1 and GFAP in the spinal cord was also reduced in rats treated with minocycline. Conclusion : By inhibiting microglia and astrocyte activation, minocycline may facilitate motor recovery and attenuate mechanical hyperalgesia in individuals with spinal cord injuries.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-42
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of sexual adjustment and quality of life in married men with spinal cord injuries and to furnish primary data to sexuality rehabilitation nursing practice which can lead to ideal sexual life and quality of life those men with SCI. Seventy married men with SCI were conveniently sampled in Kwangju, Suncheon, Mokpo and Seoul for responding the questionnaire, which was based on this research. With the research scale, SIS (Sexual interest and satisfaction) by Siosteen et al.(1990) and SB(Sexual behaviour) by Kreuter et al.(1996) were used for the measurement of sexual adjustment. And, for measuring quality of life was used SCI QL-23(Spinal cord injury of life-23) scale by Lundqvist et al.(1997). Data were collected from January 20 to March 20, 1999, using a structured questionnaire. A hundred volumes of questionnaire were used. and 85 volumes were collected, 70 volumes were used as research data after excluding 15 volumes unsuitable to data analysis. The obtain data were analysed using percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, and Pearson's correlation by SAS PC+ program. The results were as follows: 1. The mean score of sexual interest and satisfaction of the subjects was 8.42. out of 18. The ways of their sexual behavior after spinal cord injuries were embracing and caressing (62.9%), kissing(58.6%), caressing breast with hands (55.7%), caressing breast with hands (52.9%), caressing genitals with hands (37.2%), caressing genitals with mouth(30.0%) and sexual intercourse (18.6%). The mean score of quality of life was 52.53 out of 100. 2. Age(F=3.24, p=.045) and caregiver (F=4.02, p=.022)were major variables which reveals significant differences in terms for sexual interest and satisfaction. The later results on Duncan's test showed that subjects who were in their 30s or 40s were significant higher than subjects whose age were in their 50s in their sexual interest and satisfaction. Also subjects with their spouse's care or mother's care were higher than those with other's care. 3. Subjects with incomplete paraplegia were higher than those with the complete paraplegia in sexual interest and satisfaction (F=3.01, p=.036). 4. Variables that showed the significant differences in the quality of life were education(t=2.860, p=.007) and period of marriage(t=2.125, p=.037). and occupational status(t=-2.161, p=.034). High school graduates, those who married before spinal cord injuries and those who didn't have occupation were higher than the other subjects. 5. Variables that revealed significant differences in the quality of life were time passage after spinal cord injuries(F=8.72, p=.001) and injured level of spinal cord(F=3.32, p=.042). Duncan's test showed that subjects who had lived for less than 4 years were higher those with time passage of 5-9 years and 10 years. Also subjects with lumbar injuries were higher than those with thoracic injuries in terms of quality of life. 6. There was negatively correlated between sexual interest and satisfaction and quality of life(r=-.256, p<.05). As a result of these findings sexuality rehabilitation for individuals with SCI was very important issue for their quality of life. Thus, registered nurses who care clients with SCI should activily participate in the client's sexual needs. Also, various sexual behaviors as well as sexual intercourse should be encouraged for the sexual adjustment of client's with SCI.

• Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.448-454
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• 2018

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a tragic event that has a major impact on individuals and society as well as the healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the strength of association between surgical treatment timing and neurological improvement. Methods: Fifty-six patients with neurological impairment due to traumatic SCI were included in this study. From January 2013 to June 2017, all their medical records were reviewed. Initially, to identify the factors affecting the recovery of neurological deficit after an acute SCI, we performed univariate logistic regression analyses for various variables. Then, we performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis for variables that showed a p-value of < 0.2 in the univariate analyses. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to determine the goodness of fit for the multivariate logistic regression model. Results: In the univariate analysis on the strength of associations between various factors and neurological improvement, the following factors had a p-value of < 0.2: surgical timing (early, < 8 hours; late, 8-24 hours; p = 0.033), completeness of SCI (complete/incomplete; p = 0.033), and smoking (p = 0.095). In the multivariate analysis, only two variables were significant: surgical timing (odds ratio [OR], 0.128; p = 0.004) and completeness of SCI (OR, 9.611; p = 0.009). Conclusions: Early surgical decompression within 8 hours after traumatic SCI appeared to improve neurological recovery. Furthermore, incomplete SCI was more closely related to favorable neurological improvement than complete SCI. Therefore, we recommend early decompression as an effective treatment for traumatic SCI.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 2000

A properly prescribed wheelchair may be able to normalize tone. decrease pathologic reflex activity, improve postural symmetry, enhance range of movement, maintain and/or improve skin conduit)n. increase comfort and sitting tolerance, decrease fatigue, and improve function of the autonomic nervous system. Whereas a poorly prescribed one can actually exacerbate the problems associated with a disability. Maintained for longer without relief, pressure concentrations may also lead to tissue breakdown. Pressure sores continue to be a major problem for many disabled individuals. Many groups of disabled individuals have a very high incidence of pressure sores, including those individuals with spinal cord injuries. hemiplegia, multiple sclerosis. cancer. and the disabled geriatric population. It is important to understand the factors which predispose an individuals to the development of a pressure sores. Those factors can divided into extrinsic factors, related to the individual's immediate environment and intrinsic factors. related to their medical or physical condition. Pressure sores are generally preventable through sensible pressure management based on an understanding of the causes of pressure sores, risk factors and methods of redistributing pressure.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.162-170
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• 2015

This paper describes the development of a hand module of NREX (National Rehabilitation Center Robotic Exoskeleton) designed to assist individuals with sustained neurological impairments such as stroke and spinal cord injuries. To construct a simple and lightweight hand module, the robotic hand adopts a mechanism driven by a motor and moved by two four-bar linkages. The motor facilitates the flexion-extension movements of the thumb and the other four fingers simultaneously. Thus, an individual using the robotic hand module can effectively grip and release objects related to daily life activities. The robotic hand module has been designed to cover the range of motion with respect to its link distance. This hand module can be used in therapeutic rehabilitation as well as for daily life assistance. In addition, this hand module can either be mounted on an NREX or used as a standalone module.