• International Journal of Contents
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2015

One of the biggest problems of skeletonization is the occurrence of distortions at the junction point of the final binary image. At the junction area, a single point usually becomes a small stroke, and the corresponding trajectory task, as well as the OCR, consequently becomes more complicated. We therefore propose an adaptive post-processing method that uses an adaptive threshold technique to correct the distortions. Our proposed method transforms the distorted segments into a single point so that they are as similar to the original image as possible, and this improves the static handwriting images after the skeletonization process. Further, we attained promising results regarding the usage of the enhanced skeletonized images in other applications, thereby proving the expediency and efficiency of the proposed method.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.47-59
• /
• 2022

Background and Objectives: The influence of pre-intervention coronary physiologic status on outcomes post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not well known. We sought to investigate the prognostic implications of pre-PCI fractional flow reserve (FFR) combined with post-PCI FFR. Methods: A total of 1,479 PCI patients with pre-and post-PCI FFR data were analyzed. The patients were classified according to the median values of pre-PCI FFR (0.71) and post-PCI FFR (0.88). The primary outcome was target vessel failure (TVF) at 2 years. Results: The risk of TVF was higher in the low pre-PCI FFR group than in the high pre-PCI FFR group (hazard ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.87; p=0.011). In 4 group comparisons, the cumulative incidences of TVF at 2 years were 3.8%, 4.1%, 4.8%, and 10.2% in the high pre-/high post-, low pre-/high post-, high pre-/low post-, and low pre-/low post-PCI FFR groups, respectively. The risk of TVF was the highest in the low pre-/low post-PCI FFR group among the groups (p values for comparisons <0.05). In addition, the high pre-/low post-PCI FFR group presented a comparable risk of TVF with the high post-PCI FFR groups (p values for comparison >0.05). When the prognostic value of the post-PCI FFR was evaluated according to the pre-PCI FFR, the risk of TVF significantly decreased with an increase in post-PCI FFR in the low pre-PCI FFR group, but not in the high pre-PCI FFR group. Conclusions: Pre-PCI FFR was associated with clinical outcomes after PCI, and the prognostic value of post-PCI FFR differed according to the pre-PCI FFR.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.220-226
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of treadmill gradient training on lower limb muscle activity in chronic stroke patients. The subject were 32 stroke patients.. Subjects were randomly divided into three group which were control group($0^{\circ}$treadmill training(n=10)) and experimental group($5^{\circ}$treadmill training (n=10) and $10^{\circ}$treadmill training(n=12)). Three groups received treadmill gradient training for 30 minutes while 3 times per week for 6 weeks in addition to conventional physical therapy. Muscle strength was measured by EMG on rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnenius for muscle activities. In comparison of activity of rectus femoris and gastrocnemius between pre and post value, the activity of rectus femoris was significant in the experimental and control group(p<.05) and the activity of biceps femoris was significant in the $5^{\circ}$treadmill gait training group and $10^{\circ}$treadmill gait training group(p<.05). The activity of tibialis anterior was significant in the $5^{\circ}$treadmill gait training group and $10^{\circ}$treadmill gait training group(p<.05). In comparison of the difference of activity of rectus femoris among 3 groups, there was a significant difference between the $5^{\circ}$treadmill gait training group and control group(p<.05). and difference of activity of tibialis anterior was significant difference between the $10^{\circ}$treadmill gait training group and control group(p<.05). These findings suggest that $5^{\circ}$treadmill gait training group and $10^{\circ}$treadmill gait training group can be used to improve lower limb muscle activity in chronic stroke patient. In conclusion, these treadmill gradient training helped improving function of gait ability in chronic stroke patient.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.14 no.11
• /
• pp.5730-5736
• /
• 2013

The study was conducted to determine the effect of trunk pattern training in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF) and weight-shift training on the muscle activity and static balance in patients with hemiplegia due to stroke. Twenty patients with hemiplegia due to stroke were assigned to the trunk pattern training in PNF group(n=10) or weight-shift training group(n=10). Both groups were executed conventional treatment for 5 times per week for 6 weeks 30 minutes per session. Each group performed additional training for 20 minutes. Post training, compared to the weight-shift training group, trunk pattern training in PNF group showed significantly increased on muscle activity of rectus femoris, gastrocnemius and static balance(p<.05). These results support the perceived benefits of trunk pattern training in PNF to augment on the static balance and muscle activity of stroke patients. Therefore, trunk pattern training in PNF is feasible and suitable for stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of the study was to examine if a respiratory muscle strengthening training in patients with stroke can improve their pulmonary function. Methods : Volunteers were included for the study if a patient diagnosed stroke more than 6 months and had 24 points or higher in MMSE-K scores. Twenty-eight subjects participated in this study and were randomly divided into two groups; a breathing exercise group(n=14) and a control group(n=14). The intervention for all subjects was conducted for 20minutes, three times a week for 4 weeks. Subjects for the breathing exercise group had the respiratory muscle strengthening training using spiro-tigers, where-as subjects in the control group got their usual treatment ie a postural training. The six-minute walking test(6MWT) and the pulmonary function tests(FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, VC, Vt, IRV and ERV) were employed to assess treatment effects at baseline and after their intervention. Results : Twenty-four subjects finished their 4-week treatment programs. The general characteristics between groups were found to be similar (p>0.05). The pulmonary function between groups were also observed no difference across groups at the baseline measurement (p>0.05). In the post treatment group comparison, subjects in the breathing exercise group showed an increase in lung function with VC ($2.73{\pm}0.80{\ell}$) and Vt ($0.87{\pm}0.38{\ell}$) than those in the control group ($1.91{\pm}0.80{\ell}$ and $0.48{\pm}0.22{\ell}$ respectively) (p<0.05). However, there was no difference found in 6MWT, FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, IRV, and ERV across groups (p>0.05). Conclusion : A significant increase in VC and Vt was found in subjects with stroke, who had four-week training on respiratory muscle strengthening. However, respiratory muscle strengthening showed no effect on walking speed and FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, IRV, and ERV in patients with stroke.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.1491-1496
• /
• 2009

Stroke is usually associated with the cerebral blood flow of the central nervous system. However, studies concerning the effects of neurologic sysmptoms induced from stroke on the peripheral blood flow has not taken place sufficiently. To ascertain the feasibility of a blood flow meter adopting to use doppler ultrasonogrphy, under the prospect that hemiparesis induced from stroke may have effect on the peripheral blood flow, the peripheral blood flow velocity was observed. The control group made up of healthy people without any factors capable of effecting the peripheral blood flow velocity, and patient group which consist of hemiparetic people induced from stroke, were recruited. Volumes of recruitment are 21 persons in the patient group, and 29 persons in the control group, but the final numbers of people are 17 and 21 respectively because of the inconsistancy in the method of the test. The non-invasive method of Doppler effect of Ultrasound was used to measure the blood flow velocity. The blood flow velocity in the peripheral part of left and right fourth fingers:dorsal branches of proper palmar digital artery to dorsum of distal phalanges, was measured in the control group and patient group through Doppler Ultrasound. In comparison of the control group and the patient group, the systolic blood flow velocity from the peripheral part of the upper extremity was lower in the patient group than that of the control group. According to such results, it is concluded that hemiparesis induces the reduction of the peripheral blood flow velocity in the systolic phase.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.349-355
• /
• 2019

The virtual reality training has been suggested as an intervention to improve physical function. But, the effects of virtual reality training focused on improving ADL in patients with acute stroke are unclear. Purpose of this study was to examine the effect of virtual reality training on hand function and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with acute stroke. Sixteen patients with acute stroke were included in this study. The experimental group (VRA group) received 30 minutes of virtual reality training focused on ADL for each session, while the control group received 30 minutes of conventional virtual reality training. To examine the hand function and ADL of the subjects, the study used Jebsen-Tylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) and Korean Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), respectively. Both groups showed significant improvements in hand function of affected and unaffected sides, and in K-MBI total score before and after the intervention. The experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in the self-care domain of K-MBI after intervention than the control group. These findings suggest that the virtual reality training focused on ADL may have a better effect on self-care than conventional virtual reality training in patients with acute stroke.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.64 no.5
• /
• pp.732-739
• /
• 2021

Objective : Early successful reperfusion is associated with favorable outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The purpose of this study was to achieve successful recanalization by a combined mechanical thrombectomy technique, the Aspiration-Retriever Technique for Stroke (ARTS), which is composed of a flexible large lumen distal access catheter and a retrievable stent as the first-line strategy of mechanical thrombectomy. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 62 patients with AIS who underwent mechanical thrombectomy from 2018 to 2019 at our institute by a senior neurointerventionalist. Among them, patients who were treated using the ARTS technique with the soft torqueable catheter optimized for intracranial access (SOFIA^®; MicroVention-Terumo, Tustin, CA, USA) as the first-line treatment were included. Patients who had tandem occlusions or underlying intracranial artery stenosis were excluded. The angiographic and clinical outcomes were evaluated. The angiographic outcome was analyzed by the rate of successful recanalization, defined as a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 2b or 3 at the end of all procedures and the rate of successfully achieving the first pass effect (FPE), defined as complete recanalization with a single pass of the device. The clinical outcomes included the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and mortality. Results : A total of 27 patients (mean age, 59.3 years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The successful recanalization rate was 96% (n=26) while the FPE rate was 41% (n=11). The mean post-procedural NIHSS change was -3.0. Thirteen patients (48%) showed good clinical outcomes after thrombectomy with the ARTS technique (mRS at 90 days ≤2). Postoperative complications occurred in seven of 25 patients : hemorrhagic transformation in six patients (22%) and distal embolization in one patient (4%). Mortality was 15% (n=4). Conclusion : Although the clinical outcomes using the ARTS technique with a flexible large lumen distal access catheter performed as the frontline thrombectomy in patients with AIS were not significantly superior than those of other studies, this study showed a high rate of successful endovascular recanalization which was comparable to that of other studies. Therefore, ARTS using the SOFIA^® catheter can be considered as the first choice of treatment for AIS due to large vessel occlusion.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
• /
• v.14 no.8
• /
• pp.397-405
• /
• 2020

The purpose of study was to compare respiratory function and quadriceps muscle activity in stroke patients by applying inspiratory muscle training combined with whole body vibration. In addition, the purpose of study is to present an exercise method for improving the respiratory function of stroke patients and the function of the lower limb muscles of stroke patients. Totally, 21 patients with Stroke patients were randomly assigned to two groups through clinical sampling. 11 patients who applied whole body vibration combined with respiratory exercise were randomly assigned to Experiment Group I, and 10 patients who applied placebo exercise combined with breathing exercise were randomly assigned to Experiment Group II. And for 5 weeks, 4 days/week, 1 time/day, 4 sets/1 time intervention program was implemented. Before intervention, the respiratory function was measured with a maximum inspiratory pressure meter, the lower extremity muscle activity was measured using the surface EMG, and the balance ability was measured using a bug balance test. And after 5 weeks, the post-test was re-measured and analyzed in the same way as the pre-test. In the comparison of changes within the group of experimental group I, there were significant differences in the activity and balance of the respiratory muscle strength, the biceps femoris, and the anterior tibialis muscle (p<.05). In the comparison of the changes in the experimental group I, there was a significant difference in respiratory strength and balance (p<.05). In the comparison of changes between groups, there was a significant difference in the activity of the biceps femoris and anterior tibialis (p<.01). In the future, research on protocols for respiratory exercise and whole body vibration to improve neuromuscular function is considered to be necessary.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.207-215
• /
• 2019

This study examines the effect of the height of cane that hemiplegic patients due to stroke use on their plantar pressure in standing position, gait speed. The study suggests a new standard for appropriate cane height that considers the change of average height of population. Research subjects included 12 patients hospitalized in S Medical Care Hospital located in Gwangju Metropolitan City in South Korea who were diagnosed with stroke. Group A uses a cane of the height of the greater trochanter of femur, group B uses a cane of 5cm above the height of the greater trochanter of femur, and group C is a cane of 10cm above the height of the greater trochanter of femur. In the study result, non-affected side plantar pressure and affected side plantar pressure showed a significant difference among the cases where the cane height was the same as the A group, B group, C group. In the post-hoc analysis result, a significant difference was observed between the case of A group and C group. Gait speed showed no significant difference among the case of the A group, B group, C group. The asymmetry of the stroke affects not only the posture but also the walking that is related to daily life. Changes in the height of the cane did not affect walking speed. The change in the height of the cane showed a change in the weight support ratio, which is thought to have a positive effect on the asymmetry. In future clinical setting, this study result will be able to provide fundamental data regarding the cane height in the standing or walking therapy for hemiplegic patients due to stroke with cane application.