• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.77-88
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• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the levels and influencing factors of the perceived stress and life-satisfaction among mothers of children with disability. Methods : 55 mothers were selected for this study and the self-reporting method to the structured questionnaire were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed with the frequency, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Duncan test using SPSS 14.0 for window programs. Results : Firstly, the level of total perceived stress of the mothers of children with cerebral palsy was 44.28/75, and the average of the items of the perceived stress was 2.95/5. The highest level of subcategory of the perceived stress, 10.82/15, was in parent role stress, and the lowest level of subcategory of the perceived stress, 3.88/10, was in children developmental stress. There were statistically significant differences in the mother's level of stress according to their ages, employment, occupation, and daily activity time and sleeping time. Secondly, the level of life-satisfaction was 3.17/7, and statistically significant difference was found by the treatment cost. Conclusions : We suggest that these variables need to be considered when the stress intervention programs for the mothers of children with cerebral palsy are developed.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.415-425
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• 2000

It is well known that the lifetime incidence of low back pain is extraordinarily high, but those who incur the majority of the cost, both personally and financially, are the chronic pain. Stabilization programmers attracted our interest, with their aims of using the muscle system to protect spinal joint structures from further repetitive microtrauma, recurrent pain and degerative change. In overviewing the stabilizing role of the trunk and back mucles our attention became focused on muscles which controlled the lumbar and lumbosacral joints rather than on muscles which span the spine from the thorax to pelvis. It was considered that muscles such as the lumbar multifidus, transversus abdominis, and possibly also parts of the obliquus internus abdominis, would most likely function to stabilize the segments of the lumbar spine. In order to check if these muscles were functioning in low back pain patients, it was necessary to devise specific muscle tests. The new concept involves exercises using only relatively low activity levels in the muscles. More emphasis is placed on a motor skill which has to be relearned, practised and then gradully incorporated back into functional movement.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate applicability of the GMFM-88 in planning intervention for CP children. Specifically, this study assessed functional improvement after a four-week GMFM-88 item-based training in CP children divided into three age groups (${\leq}24$ months, 25-48 months, and >48 months) and five levels of the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS). Methods: Subjects were 264 children with CP (mean age 32.90 months) recruited from one CP clinic. The GMFM-88 item-based training was planned for each child, after an interview with its caregiver. To investigate functional improvement after the intervention, minimum important difference (MID) and MID proportion for the change in scores of GMFM-88 were calculated. Results: The GMFM-88 scores increased after the interventions in all three age groups (p<0.05). In particular, children with CP aged ${\leq}24$ months and at the GMFCS level II showed greater functional improvement after training. Conclusion: This study found that the GMFM-88 item-based training would be used to plan activity-oriented intervention both in clinic and home in each CP child.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1706-1715
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• 2018

Several non-methylotrophic bacteria have been reported to improve the growth and activity of methanotrophs; however, their interactions remain to be elucidated. We investigated the interaction between Methylocystis sp. M6 and Microbacterium sp. NM2. A batch co-culture experiment showed that NM2 markedly increased the biomass and methane removal of M6. qPCR analysis revealed that NM2 enhanced both the growth and methane-monooxygenase gene expression of M6. A fed-batch experiment showed that co-culture was more efficient in removing methane than M6 alone (28.4 vs. $18.8{\mu}mol{\cdot}l^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$), although the biomass levels were similar. A starvation experiment for 21 days showed that M6 population remained stable while NM2 population decreased by 66% in co-culture, but the results were opposite in pure cultures, indicating that M6 may cross-feed growth substrates from NM2. These results indicate that M6 apparently had no negative effect on NM2 when M6 actively proliferated with methane. Interestingly, a batch experiment involving a dialysis membrane indicates that physical proximity between NM2 and M6 is required for such biomass and methane removal enhancement. Collectively, the observed interaction is beneficial to the methanotroph but adversely affects the non-methylotroph; moreover, it requires physical proximity, suggesting a tight association between methanotrophs and non-methylotrophs in natural environments.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.23-37
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• 2004

Fibromyalgia syndrome(FMS) is a chronic pain disorder of unknown etiology characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches and pains, stiffness, and general fatigue, disturbed sleep and sleepiness. Frequently misdiagnosed, FMS is often confused with myofascial pain syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis, hypothyroidism, metastatic carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus, any of which may occur concomitantly with FMS. The management of FMS often begins with a thorough examination and a diagnosis from a physician who is formally trained in tender-point/trigger-point recognition. An initial diagnosis provides reassurance to the patient and often reduces the anxiety and depression patterns associated with FMS. The most common goals in the management of FMS are (1) to break the pain cycle, (2) to restore sleep patterns, and (3) to increase functional activity levels. Because FMS is a multifactorial syndrome, it is likely that the best treatment will encompass multiple strategies. Medication with analgesics and antidepressants and also physiotherapy, are often prescribed and give some relief. The other most effective intervention for long-term management of FS to date is physical exercise. Physical therapists can instruct patients in the use of heat at home (moist hot packs, heating pads, whirlpools, warm showers or baths, and hot pads) to increase local blood flow and to decrease muscle spasm and tension. Also instruct patients in the proper use of cold modalities (ice packs, ice massage, and cool baths) to anesthetize localized areas of pain (tender points) and break the pain cycle. Massage and tender-point massage also may promote muscle relaxation. To date, the two most important interventions for the long-term management of FS are patient education and physical exercise. Lately, is handling FMS and Chronic Fatigue syndrome(CFS) together, becuase FMS and CFS are poorly understood disorders that share similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Because of the clinical similarities between both disorders it was suggested that they share a common pathophysiological mechanism, namely, central nervous system dysfunction.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2019

Background: Compared to healthy people, patients with chronic lower back pain have reduced balance abilities which may cause proprioception problems, patients with chronic lower back pain avoid physical activities due to pain, and reduced activity levels lead to muscle weakening, which can further exacerbate pain. Recently, there have been many studies on the use of sensory stimulation; and among these studies, interventions that use vibrational stimulation have shown functional improvements in the patients. Objects: This study examined the effects of a stabilization exercise with vibration stimulation on the balance ability and disability in patients with chronic back pain. Methods: The subjects of the study were 30 persons who were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group, with 15 subjects in each. The subjects were evaluated before and after intervention via a balance ability test, the Korean Oswestry disability index (KODI) test, a pain test, and a proprioceptive sensory test. Both groups received general physical therapy. The experimental group performed the stabilization exercise with vibration stimulation, and the control group performed a general stabilization exercise, three times a week for six weeks. Results: After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in the balance ability test, the KODI test, the pain test, and the proprioceptive sensory test. The experimental group showed statistically significant, higher improvements than the control group in the balance ability test, the KODI test, and the proprioceptive sensory test. Conclusions: The stabilization exercise with vibration stimulation for patients with chronic back pain has been reported to provide greater functional improvements than the conventional intervention method. Therefore, the stabilization exercise in a vibration stimulation environment could be a useful intervention for patients with chronic back pain.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2009

Purpose: To investigate the physical and biochemical parameters related with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in obese children. Methods: One hundred forty-two obese or overweight children who visited the out-patient clinics of Chungnam National University Hospital between January 2006 and August 2008 were enrolled. Physical measures and biochemical tests were performed in all patients. Liver sonography was performed in 43 patients. They were divided into the following 2 groups based on ALT levels: group I, normal ALT levels (n=65); and group II, elevated ALT levels (n=77). We compared the physical measures, biochemical results, and ultrasonographic findings of the livers in both groups. Other causes of elevated serum ALT levels were ruled out. Results: The male-to-female ratios were 1.6:1 in group I and 7.6:1 in group II. Among physical parameters, the waist circumference-to-height ratio and hip circumference-to-height ratio were significantly higher in group II (p=0.001 and 0.046, respectively). Among biochemical parameters, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase (${\gamma}$-GT), and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in group II (p<0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). The AST/ALT ratio was <1 (mean, 0.55) and statistically lower in group II. There was a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and ${\gamma}$-GT (p<0.001, r=0.750), and a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and the waist circumference-to-height ratio in group II (p<0.001, r=0.401). Conclusion: The results suggest that the waist circumference-to-height ratio and ${\gamma}$-GT may be associated with elevated alanine aminotransferase activity in obese children.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.72-88
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• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the associations between physical activities (PAs) and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and perceived health status (PHS) of cancer survivors. We further examined the interaction effects of PAs and covariates on HRQOL and PHS. Methods: Data sets were obtained from the 2014-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were 1,349 cancer survivors aged over 18 years old. Data were analyzed using R 4.0.3 and SPSS 18.0. Logistic regression analysis was conducted considering only the main terms, or including additional interaction terms between PAs and covariates. Results: Moderate and high PAs showed significantly improved HRQOL related to self-care domain, euro quality of life-5 dimension index, and PHS. Interaction analysis revealed that high PAs resulted in improved HRQOL associated with self-care and pain/discomfort in cancer survivors having depression. Moreover, for low- and middle-income levels, higher PAs served to improve HRQOL associated with depression/anxiety. In contrast, higher PAs rather reduced HRQOL for the high-income group. Conclusions: To improve HRQOL, we recommend PAs higher than the moderate level for cancer survivors. In case of cancer survivors having depression or belonging to the high-income group, it is necessary to manage individual PAs considering the interaction effects.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.57-66
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• 2019

Background: Visual and somatosensory integration processing is needed to reduce pusher behavior (PB) and improve postural control in hemiplegic patients with acute stroke. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of game-based postural vertical training (GPVT) on PB, postural control, and activity daily living (ADL) in acute stroke patients. Methods: Fourteen participants with acute stroke (<2 months post-stroke) who had PB according to the Burke lateropulsion scale (BLS) (score>2) were randomly divided into the GPVT group ($n_1=7$) and conventional postural vertical training (CPVT) group ($n_2=7$). The GPVT group performed game-based postural vertical training using a whole-body tilt apparatus. while the CPVT group performed conventional postural vertical training to reduce PB (30 minutes/session, 2 times/day, 5 days/week for 3 consecutive weeks). The BLS was evaluated to assess the severity of PB. And each subject's postural control ability and ADL level were assessed using the postural assessment scale for stroke (PASS), balance posture ratio (BPR), and Korean-modified Barthel index (K-MBI). Outcomes were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results: Comparison of the pre- and post-intervention assessment results showed that both interventions led to the following significant changes: decreased severity of PB scores and increased PASS, BPR, and K-MBI scores (p<.05). In particular, statistical analysis between the two groups, the BLS score was significantly decreased in the GPVT group (p<.05). And PASS, BPR, and K-MBI scores were significantly improved in the GPVT group than in the CPVT group (p<.01, respectively). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that GPVT lessened PB severity and improved postural control ability and ADL levels in acute stroke patients.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1989

The study was attempted to observe effects of voluntary exercise on energy expenditure and on storage of excessive energy into body fat in adult mice. Mice, body weight 25-30g, were divided into two groups, exercise and sedentary group. Voluntary exercize by running wheel was allowed for former group but not for the mice of the latter group which were restricted by limiting space allowance 13.5$\times$11.5$\times$15.0cm per mouse. During a period of 4 weeks of feeding trial, they were fed ad libitum starch-casein based diet added with $^3\textrm{H}$-glucose (D-[1-$^3\textrm{H}$(N)]-glucose) at a level of 20 nCi per g of diet. Measurements were made to study hematology, lipase activity in epididymal adipose tissue, total contents of body waste and fat, and radiactivity of $^3\textrm{H}$-glucose incoporated into body fat. Dietary intake, body weight gain and amount of voluntary physical activities were also measured. The results obtained ard summarized as follows; 1) Amount of metabolizable energy intake, body weight gain and body fat were not statistically different between the two group. However, mice of the exercise group tended to show lower body weight gain body fat contants, but higher energy expenditure than those of the sedentary group. 2) Radioactivity of $^3\textrm{H}$-glucose incoporated into body fat appeared lower for exercise group expressd on a whole body fat basis. The activity was, however, higher for exercise group when expressed based on per g of fat compared to that of sedentary group. 3) Exercise group showed also higher activity of lipase in epididymal adipose tissue than the other group. 4) Mice whose physical activities were restricted appeared to have lower levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit values than of the exercise group. These results seem to support the theory that turn-over rate of body fat is activated by exercise and to suggest that consumed energy is to be converted primarily into body fat before its use as energy source by oxidation even during a period of continuous energy expenditure by exercise.