• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 2014

Ambient air pollution (AAP) and particulate matters (PM) have been closely associated with adverse health effects such as respiratory disease and cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have examined the adverse health effects associated with short- and long-term exposure to AAP and outdoor PM on respiratory disease. However, the effect of PM size ($PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$) on cardiovascular disease has not been well studied. Thus, it remains unclear how the size of the inhalable particles (coarse, fine, or ultrafine) affects mortality and morbidity. Airborne PM concentrations are commonly used for ambient air quality management worldwide, owing to the known effects on cardiorespiratory health. In this article, we assess the relationship between cardiovascular diseases and PM, with a particular focus on PM size. We discuss the association of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$, nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$), and elemental carbon with mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and altered blood pressure, based on epidemiological studies. In addition, we provide evidence that the adverse health effects of AAP and PM are more pronounced among the elderly, children, and people with preexisting cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Finally, we critically summarize the literature pertaining to cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and stroke, and introduce potential studies to better understand the health significance of AAP and PM on cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.27-37
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• 2004

The propose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the partial body weight support during treadmill training on the ambulation in elderly with chronic stroke. Fourteen hemiplegic volunteers participated and were divided into an experimental and control groups. In the experimental group, the body weight support during treadmill training was performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks. In the control group, usual treadmill training was applied. Before and after experiments, temporal-spatial gait parameters were measured. The date of 14 patients who carried out the whole experimental course were statistically analyzed. The results of the study were : 1. In the comparison of gait velocity before and after experiment, the gait velocity was significantly increased in the experimental group and the control group(p<.05). In the comparison of difference of the gait velocity between groups, there was not significant difference between the experimental group and the control group(p>.05). 2. In comparison of gait cadence before and after experiment, the gait cadence was significantly increased in both groups(p<.05). In the comparison of difference of the gait cadence between groups, there was not significant difference between the experimental group and the control group(p>.05). 3. In the comparison of step length before and after experiment, the step length was significantly increased in the experimental group and the control group(p<.05). In the comparison of difference of the step length between groups, there was not significant difference between the experimental group and the control group(p>.05). 4. In the comparison of vastus medialis root mean square(RMS) before and after experiment, the vastus medialis RMS was significantly increased in the experimental group(p<.05). In the comparison of vastus medialis root mean square(RMS) before and after experiment, the vastus medialis RMS was not significantly increased in the experimental group(p>.05). In the comparison of difference of the vastus medialis RMS between groups, there was not significant difference between the experimental group and the control group(p>.05). 5. In the comparison of latency of somatosensory evoke potential(SSEP) before and after experiment, the latency of SSEP was significantly increased in the experimental group(p<.05). In the comparison of latency of somatosensory evoke potential(SSEP) before and after experiment, the latency of SSEP was significantly decreased in the control group(p>.05). In the comparison of difference of the latency of SSEP between groups, there was not significant difference between the experimental group and the control group(p>.05). 6. In the comparison of functional ambulation profile(FAP) before and after experiment, the FAP was not significant difference in the experimental group and the control group(p>.05). In the comparison of difference of the FAP between groups, there was not significant difference between the experimental group and the control group(p>.05).

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.111-120
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• 2019

This study is a quasi experimental study to investigate the effects of stroke prevention education program of Oriental Nursing on self-health perception, health behavior change, self-care and physiological index of adults over 55 years old and elderly people. The data were collected from August 12 to November 29, 2017. The 53 study subjects comprised 26 experimental subjects who agreed to participate in the education program and 27 control subjects. In the results, there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in general characteristics and research variables before the program; further, the two groups were homogenous. In the hypothesis test, the change in self-health perceptions of the experimental and control groups was t = -5.28 (p <.001), health behavior change was t = -4.24 (p <.001), self-care was t = -5.28 (p <.05), systolic blood pressure was t = 2.48 (p <.05), diastolic blood pressure was t = 2.78 (p <.05), and cholesterol was t = -3.94 (p <.001). There were statistically significant differences between the two groups and all four hypotheses were supported, which demonstrated the effectiveness of the program. These study results suggest that it is an effective program to change the self-perception of health and health behavior, improve self-care ability, and control the physiological index. It is expected that these findings will be useful in developing a future effective oriental nursing intervention. The education program should be continuously carried out, and the area needs to be expanded.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.463-468
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• 2014

Objective : Unexpected Solitaire stent detachment can occur during mechanical Solitaire thrombectomy. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the influencing factors causing unexpected Solitaire stent detachment and the clinical outcomes. Methods : Between October 2011 to December 2013, 232 cases of mechanical Solitaire thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke were performed in 3 stroke centers. During this period, we encountered unexpected Solitaire stent detachments during mechanical Solitaire thrombectomies in 9 cases. Results : Solitaire stents unexpectedly detached in 9 cases (3.9%) during the retrieval of Solitaire stents. The median patient age was 76 years. The occlusion sites of the unexpected stent detachment were the proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 7 cases and the internal carotid artery in 2 cases. The sizes of the stents that unexpectedly detached were $6{\times}30$ mm in 7 cases, $5{\times}30$ mm in 1 case, and $4{\times}20$ mm in 1 case. Four patients had unexpected detachment at the first retrieval, 1 patient at the second, 3 patients at the third, and 1 patient at the fifth. In all of the cases of unexpected detachment at the first retrieval, the stent deployment site was the proximal MCA. After detachment, a proximal marker of the Solitaire stent was observed in 3 patients. However, no marker was visible in the remaining 6 patients. Conclusion : Unexpected Solitaire stent detachment should be considered in the first instance of stent retrieval for a relatively large-diameter stent, especially in elderly patients with MCA occlusions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2007

Purpose : This study is to determine effects of cane-shape which influenced on the change of muscle activation, gait component in hemiplegic patients caused by cerebrovascular accident. Methods : Twenty one stroke patients using T-shape cane(TCG) and twenty one stroke patients using I-shape cane(ICG) participated in this study. Surface electromyography(SEMG) of erector spinae, transvers abdominis, tibialis anterior, soleus of both side were measured during walking without cane and walking with cane. Results : The activation of tibialis anterior was significantly increased in affected side of ICG. The activation of tibialis anterior was significantly decreased in affected side of TCG. The activation of soleus was significantly increased in affected side of ICG. The activation of soleus was significantly decreased in affected side of TCG. The activation of erector spinae was significantly increased in nonaffected side of ICG and TCG. The activation of transvers abdominis was significantly increased in nonaffected side of ICG and TCG. Conclusion : From the finding of this study, it was suggested that I-shape cane increase weight bearing of affected side in hemiplegic patient. Therefore, I-shape cane can be applied to improve gait asymmetry of hemiplegic patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.54-60
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• 2018

Objective: Persons with chronic stroke fall more often than healthy elderly individuals. The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is used as a fall prediction tool, but only provides a result for the total measurement time. This study aimed to determine the optimal cut-off values for each of the 6 components of the TUG. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Thirty persons with chronic stroke participated in the study. TUG evaluation was performed using a wearable miniaturized inertial sensor. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for the measured values in each section. Optimal values for fall risk classification were determined. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk of future falls based on TUG. Results: The cut-off values of the 6 sections of the TUG were determined, as follows: sit-to-stand >2.00 seconds (p<0.05), forward gait >4.68 seconds (p<0.05), mid-turn >3.82 seconds (p<0.05), return gait >4.81 seconds (p<0.05), end-turn >2.95 seconds (p<0.05), and stand-to-sit >2.13 seconds (p<0.05). The risk of falling increased by 2.278 times when the mid-turn value was >3.82 seconds (p<0.05). Conclusions: The risk of falls increased by 2.28 times when the value of the mid-turn interval exceeded 3.82 seconds. Therefore, when interpreting TUG results, the predictive accuracy for falls will be higher when the measurement time for each section is analyzed, together with the total time for TUG.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.749-758
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• 2001

The purpose of the study was to analyze the functional status of low income elderly living at home according to their socio-economic factors, sensory function, health status, medical service utilization, commodity and types of chronic disease. Method: Functional status was defined by the level of mobility, ADL and IADL categorized as independently functional, mildly impaired, moderately disabled, and severely disabled. The data was collected by home-visit interviews with 567 community dwelling adults who were 65 years of age or more with low a income status subsidized by government in ChonAn. Results: 9.9% of community dwelling older adults were severely disabled, and 44.4% were moderately disabled in their functional status. There were significant differences in the functional status by age, education, religion, and types of family structure. The older adults with hearing impairment or dental problems had a significantly higher rate of severe disability. Self-rated health status and medical service utilization were also significant factors to the differences in functional status. The functional status of older adults was also significantly related to the presence of chronic health problems such as chronic back pain, stroke, and Alzheimer-dementia. Conclusion: The results confirmed that community dwelling older adults with low income status were more functionally disabled in comparison to general older adults at national level, while the relating factors to their functional status seemed similar to other studies on older adults. Further studies were suggested to look into functional status longitudinally and focus on the changes of functional status by managing modifiable influencing factors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.22 no.3_1spc
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• pp.587-592
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• 2013

Until recently, the primary users of wheelchairs were people with lower body disabilities. However, the number of patients recovering from accidents or surgery, as well as the number of elderly people using wheelchairs, is constantly increasing. This study examined the design and manufacture of standing and gait assist wheelchairs that assist temporary gait disturbed patients to take rehabilitation training and elderly people to engage in walking exercise. A kinematic analysis was used to select a drive motor and design a four-bar linkage mechanism for lifting the backrest vertically. Using a multibody dynamic simulation, detailed design was performed taking into consideration the spatial motion and partial interference, and the necessary push force and stroke of the linear actuator were also calculated. To ensure structural safety, the von-Mises equivalent stresses of the upper and lower brackets of the linear actuator were verified through a finite element analysis. The manufactured wheelchair was shown to operate successfully as intended, using the developed controller for the drive motors and linear actuator.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2015

Purpose: Confronting the growing burden of dementia requires understanding the causes and predictors of dementia in order to develop preventive strategies. In Korea a large proportion (71%) of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, and the risk factors have not yet been elucidated. Dietary factors may be possible risk factors, however research on the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and dietary behaviors has been insufficient. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between compliance with the "Dietary Guidelines for Elderly (The Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2011)" and Alzheimer's disease among Korean elderly. Methods: Elderly persons who visited a University hospital or a dementia center of Seoul and agreed to participate in the examinations were selected. Among 277 subjects, 89 Alzheimer patients were selected with diagnosis and 118 subjects were assigned to the control group. Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was based on Alzheimer's disease criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) and criteria of National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer's Disease and related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA). Information on the general characteristics, health related behaviors and compliance with the dietary guidelines for Korean elderly was collected by face to face interview using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric variables were measured during the survey. Results: Total compliance score of dietary guidelines was significantly lower in the Alzheimer's disease group than in the control group (p = 0.0001). The odds ratio of Alzheimer's disease was significantly decreased in the group with the highest dietary guideline compliance score (OR = 0.47, 95 % CI = 0.18~1.09) compared to the group with the lowest compliance score. Conclusion: The results indicate that increasing compliance with the dietary guidelines could be an effective strategy to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease among Korean elderly.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.231-244
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• 2020

Background: As the population is aging, chronic diseases and depression are becoming the main problems in a country's healthcare system. In this study, we aimed to explore the associations between chronic diseases and depression among the elderly in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed 9,975 (men, 4,147; women, 5,828) respondents obtained from the 2014 National Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons. Our dependent variable was either 1 or 0 according to whether a respondent had depression or not, where depression was defined when the Short Form of Geriatric Depression Scale score was 8 or more points. Variables of interest were 24 types of chronic diseases and covariates included various socio-demographic and health behavior characteristics. We performed Rao-Scott chi-square tests and hierarchal logistic regression analyses by gender, reflecting the characteristics of the survey. Results: A significant difference was found in the proportion of having depression between genders (men 18.9% vs. women 23.4%). According to fully adjusted, multivariable analyses, for elderly men, relative to those without any chronic disease, the odds ratio of depression was 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-2.22) in the stroke patients group and 1.82 (95% CI, 1.01-3.25) in the osteoporosis patients group. For elderly women, the odds ratio was 1.96 (95% CI, 1.28-3.00) in the fracture/dislocation and aftereffects patients group and 1.30 (95% CI, 1.03-1.64) in the group of patients with other diseases. Conclusion: Even after being adjusted for diverse characteristics, some chronic diseases were significantly associated with depression in the elderly and the association differed between genders. Therefore, public health and medical interventions are needed to manage such chronic diseases together with curing depression symptoms.