• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2012

Purpose : This study is to examine the effect of electrode size during transcranial direct current stimulation on hand function. Methods : By randomly assigning 26 right hand dominant subjects to two groups (I: carbon rubber electrode / II: disposable circular self-adhesive electrodes) with 13 subjects in each group depending on the electrode size, a positive electrodeof transcranial direct current stimulation was placed on the primary motor area (C4) and a negative electrode was placed on the left primary motor area (C3) and the stimulation was applied for 20 minutes.Hand function assessment before and after transcranial direct current stimulation were measured with JTT (Jebsen-Taylor hand function test). Results : According to hand function assessment by JTT, there were no interactions on both hands, and statistically significant differences according to time appeared in the main effect test. Conclusion : Regardless of the electrode size, it appears that transcranial direct current stimulation on the primary motor area activated hand function affected.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.97-101
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• 2010

Purpose: Sensory input is very important for proper performance of human. Two-point discrimination is the most widely used tactile sensory test. The purpose of this study was to find the changes in cortical activation patterns between tactile stimulation and two-point discrimination. Methods: Two healthy subjects participated in our study. fMRI scanning was done during 4 repeated blocks of tactile stimulation and two point discrimination of the right index finger tip. In one block, stimuli were repeated 10 times every three seconds. To determine the changes of cortical neurons during sensory input, intensity index was analyzed. Results: When tactile stimulation of the right index finger tip was completed, only contralateral primary somatosensory area was activated. In contrast, during two-point discrimination, both the primary somatosensory area and ipsilateral supplementary sensory area were activated. Conclusion: During two point discrimination, both primary somatosensory area and ipsilateral supplementary sensory area were activated. Therefore, two-point discrimination is required more complex and conscious activity than tactile stimulation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2005

A 9-year old female Shih Tzu dog was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Seoul National University with a history of chronic intermittent anorexia and vomiting of 4-year duration. She visited 3 years ago with the same clinical signs but has not been treated regularly due to waxing-waning course. On the physical examination, no specific findings were found. CBC, serum chemistry, radiography, ACTH stimulation test, evaluation of serum T4 and TSH concentration were performed. Hypoadrenocorticism was diagnosed with the ACTH stimulation test. And then, secondary hypoadrenocorticism was diagnosed with ACTH stimulation test, pre-ACTH aldosterone concentration, endogenous ACTH concentration. As electrolyte concentrations were normal, glucocorticoid (0.15 mg/kg bid PO) alone was administered. She has recovered from the clinical signs and has been doing well. It is suggested that the differentiation of secondary hypoadrenocorticism from primary hypoadrenocorticism is important as the secondary hypoadrenocorticism occurs rarely and the symptoms are non-specific with normal electrolyte concentrations.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2005

Purpose: This study is to examine the effect of electrical muscle stimulation therapy on chronic knee pain for aged. Method: Design was randomized one-group pretest-posttest design. Samples were total 15 elderly on 60 years old and above with chronic knee pain. Measures were S-F McGill Pain Questionnaire and Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale for knee pain. Electrical muscle stimulation therapy, experimental treatment was applied on chronic knee pain for 4 weeks, 3 times/week, 15 min/time. Data were collected from half March 2005 to May 2005. Data were analyzed using SPSS PC+ 12 version. Descriptive statistics was used for analysis of general characteristics in sample, and paired t-test was used to analysis the effect of electrical muscle stimulation therapy. Results: After receiving the electrical muscle stimulation therapy chronic knee pain was significantly decreased (t=-29.163, P=.000 in S-F MPQ; t=-37.005, P=.000 in AIMS). Conclusion: Electrical muscle stimulation therapy can be a better effective primary nursing intervention on chronic knee pain for aged in community.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.386-390
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• 2014

Purpose: We aimed to investigate whether visuomotor function would be modulated, when healthy subjects performed tracking task after tDCS application over the primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1) in the non-dominant hemisphere. Methods: Thirty four right-handed healthy participants were enrolled, who randomly and evenly divided into two groups, real tDCS group and sham control group. Direct current with intensity of 1 mA was delivered over SM1 for 15 minutes. After tDCS, tracking task was measured, and their performance was calculated by an accuracy index (AI). Results: No significant difference in AI at the baseline between the two groups was observed. The AI of the real tDCS group was significantly increased after electrical stimulation, compared to the sham control group. Two way ANOVA with repeated measurement showed a significant finding in a large main effects of time and group-by-repeated test interaction. Conclusion: This study indicated that application of the anodal tDCS over the SM1 could facilitate higher visuomotor coordination, compared to sham tDCS group. These findings suggest possibility that tDCS can be used as adjuvant brain modulator for improvement of motor accuracy in healthy individuals as well as patients with brain injury.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2015

Purpose: Accuracy and variability of movement in daily life require synchronization of muscular activities through a specific chronological order of motor performance, which is controlled by higher neural substrates and/or lower motor centers. We attempted to investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary sensorimotor areas (SM1) could influence movement variability in healthy subjects, using a tapping task. Methods: Twenty six right-handed healthy subjects with no neurological or psychiatric disorders participated in this study. They were randomly and equally assigned to the real tDCS group or sham control group. Direct current with intensity of 1 mA was delivered over their right SM1 for 15 minutes. For estimation of movement variability before and after tDCS, tapping task was measured, and variability was calculated as standard deviation of the inter-tap interval (SD-ITI). Results: At the baseline test, there was no significant difference in SD-ITI between the two groups. In two-way ANOVA with repeated measurement no significant differences were found in a large main effect of group and interaction effect between two main factors (i.e., group factor and time factor (pre-post test)). However, significant findings were observed in a large main effect of the pre-post test. Conclusion: Our findings showed that the anodal tDCS over SM1 for 15 minutes with intensity of 1 mA could enhance consistency of motor execution in a repetitive-simple tapping task. We suggest that tDCS has potential as an adjuvant brain facilitator for improving rhythm and consistency of movement in healthy individuals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.415-424
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and San-Yin-Jiao (SP6) acupressure on primary dysmenorrhea. Furthermore, the difference in effectiveness between the two methods were compared. METHODS: Twenty-six students participated in this study, and were randomly assigned to a high-frequency TENS group(experimental 1, n=9), a San-Yin-Jiao (SP6) acupressure group(experimental 2, n=9), and no treatment group(control, n=8). They were assessed and treated on the first day of their menstruation. The TENS protocol included applying 20 minutes of stimulation with a frequency of 100Hz, $100{\mu}sec$ pulse width. Four electrodes were placed on the skin 3 cm from midline at T12-L1 and S2-3 paravertebral muscles. San-Yin-Jiao (SP6) acupressure should be applied with the thumb for 10 minutes(8 seconds pressure and 2 seconds rest) on the SP6 acupoint. This procedure should be repeated for the other foot. Dysmenorrheal pain measured two pain assessment tools (VAS, DPT) pre-treatment; immediate post-treatment; 30minutes, 1, 2hours; and 3, 4, 5, 6, 24 hours after the VAS test were added. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in pain assessments (VAS, DPT) after treatment for subjects of experimental group1 (p<.05) and experimental group2 (p<.05), whereas the between-group comparison found no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: This result supports the idea that using two methods could be effective in pain reduction among students who suffered from primary dysmenorrhea.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory technique that delivers low-intensity direct current to cortical areas, thereby facilitating or inhibiting spontaneous neuronal activity. This study was designed to investigate changes in various sensory functions after tDCS. We conducted a single-center, single-blinded, randomized trial to determine the effect of a single session of tDCS with the current perception threshold (CPT) in 50 healthy volunteers. Nerve conduction studies were performed in relation to the median sensory and motor nerves on the dominant hand to discriminate peripheral nerve lesions. The subjects received anodal tDCS with 1 mA for 15 minutes under two different conditions, with 25 subjects in each groups: the conditions were as follows tDCS on the primary motor cortex (M1) and sham tDCS on M1. We recorded the parameters of the CPT a with Neurometer$^{(R)}$ at frequencies of 2000, 250, and 5 Hz in the dominant index finger to assess the tactile sense, fast pain and slow pain, respectively. In the test to measure CPT values of the M1 in the tDCS group, the values of the distal part of the distal interphalangeal joint of the second finger statistically increased in all of 2000 Hz (p=.000), 250 Hz (p=.002), and 5 Hz (p=.008). However, the values of the sham tDCS group decreased in all of 2000 Hz (p=.285), 250 Hz (p=.552), and 5 Hz (p=.062), and were not statistically significant. These results show that M1 anodal tDCS can modulate sensory perception and pain thresholds in healthy adult volunteers. The study suggests that tDCS may be a useful strategy for treating central neurogenic pain in rehabilitation medicine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.276-286
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• 2022

Objective : Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for chronic neuropathic pain. However, its clinical efficacy in regard to specific types of pain has not been well studied. The primary objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical outcomes of paddle-type SCS according to the type of neuropathic pain. Methods : Seventeen patients who underwent paddle-lead SCS at our hospital were examined. Clinical outcomes were evaluated pre- and postoperatively (3 months, 1 year, and last follow-up) using the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI). The NPSI categorizes pain as superficial, deep, paroxysmal, evoked, or dysesthesia and assess the duration of the pain (pain time score). Changes in NPSI scores were compared with change in Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. Results : After SCS, the pain time score improved by 45% (independent t-test, p=0.0002) and the deep pain score improved by 58% (independent t-test, p=0.001). Improvements in the pain time score significantly correlated with improvements in the VAS score (r=0.667, p=0.003, Spearman correlation). Additionally, the morphine milligram equivalent value was markedly lower after vs. before surgery (~49 mg, pared t-test, p=0.002). No preoperative value was associated with clinical outcome. Conclusion : The NPSI is a useful tool for evaluating the therapeutic effects of SCS. Chronic use of a paddle-type spinal cord stimulation improved the deep pain and the pain time scores.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2023

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Thermal stimulation combined virtual reality training (TV) on improvement of upper extremity AROM and function in patient with chronic stroke. Design: Two groups pre-post randomized controlled design. Methods: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 chronic stroke patients. They were randomly allocated two groups; the TV group (n=15) and Virtual Reality training group (VT) (n=15). The TV group received treatment for 30 min - 15 min of Thermal stimulation, and 15 min of VR training. The VT group received 15 min of VR training. Each group performed 30 minutes a day 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome upper extremity AROM and function were measured by a active range of motion test, Manual Function Test (MFT) and Jebsen-Taylor hand function Test (JTT). The upper extremity active range of motion was evaluated using a digital dual inclinometer. MFT and JTT were used to evaluate the hand function. The measurement were performed before and after the 8 weeks intervention period. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of outcome in muscle strength and upper extremity function during intervention period. TV group revealed significant differences in AROM and upper extremity function as compared to the VT groups (p<.05). Our results showed that TV was more effective on upper extremity AROM and function in patients with chronic stroke. Conclusion: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of outcome in muscle strength and upper extremity function during intervention period. TV group revealed significant differences in AROM and upper extremity function as compared to the VT groups (p<.05). Our results showed that TV was more effective on upper extremity AROM and function in patients with chronic stroke.