• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.79-88
• /
• 2018

Objective : Conventional therapy approaches for stroke survivors have required considerable demands on therapist's effort and patient's expense. Thus, new robotics rehabilitation therapy technologies have been proposed but they have suffered from less than optimal control algorithms. This article presents a novel technical healthcare solution for the real-time, simultaneous and propositional myoelectric control for stroke survivors' upper limb robotic rehabilitation therapy. Methods : To implement an appropriate computational algorithm for controlling a portable rehabilitative robot, a linear regression model was employed, and a simple game experiment was conducted to identify its potential of clinical utilization. Results : The results suggest that the proposed device and computational algorithm can be used for stroke robot rehabilitation. Conclusion : Moreover, we believe that these techniques will be used as a prominent tool in making a device or finding new therapy approaches in robot-assisted rehabilitation for stroke survivors.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.49-58
• /
• 1987

Hypertermia for the treatment of cancer has been introduced for a long time and the biological effect for the use of hyperthermia to treat malignant tumors has been well established and encouraging clinical results have been obserbed. Unfortunately, however, the engineering or technical aspects of hyperthermia for the deep seated tumors has not been satisfactory. We developed the radiofrequency capactive hyperthermia device (Greenytherm-GY8) in cooperation with Yonsei Cancer Center and Green Cross Medical Corporation. It was composed with $8{\sim}10MHz$ RF generator, capacitive electrode, matching system, cooling system, temperature measuring system and control PC computer. The thermal profile was investigated in agar phantom, animals and in human tumors, heated with capactivie RF device. Deep and homogeneous heating could be achieved in a large phantom of 25cm diameter and 19cm thick when heated with a pair of 23cm diameter electrodes, coupled to both bases of the phantom, when the size of the two electrodes was not the same, the region near the smaller electrode was preferentially heated. It was, therefore, possible to control the depth of heating by choosing proper size of electrodes. Therapeutic temperature $(42^{\circ}C{\sim}43^{\circ}C)$ could be obtained in the living animal experiments. Indications are that deep heating of humn tumors might be achieved with the capacitive method, provided that subcutaenous fat layer is cooled by temperature controlled bolus and large size of electrodes.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 2012

Introduction : This study reviews the main areas of cognitive rehabilitation including executive dysfunction, memory dysfunction, perceptual dysfunction, attention deficit, and dysfunctions in activities of daily living in order to apply to the adaptation of occupational therapy. Body : Cognition programs based on the virtual reality are being used not only to evaluate but to train the overall components of human's cognition. Because the cognitive program is concentrating on the real environment, it is known to bring a remarkable transitional effect to the actual environment, compared to the basic computer-based evaluation and training. Applying virtual reality to the rehabilitation program can develop and advance the high technology and can result in a major effect on the innovative treatment technology. Conclusions : In this process, virtual reality is expected to be researched more in the near future. Particularly in the cognitive realm, it is imperative for researchers to pay attention to the improved transitional effect of the virtual reality toward the actual environment, rather than the already existing method of evaluations. Therefore, application of the virtual reality for the cognitive training should be researched for various types of subjects in the diverse aspects of congnitive function. Application of the virtual reality in the cognitive function has its unlimited potential, thus the rehabilitation program integrated with not only evaluation but training and education is expected extensively in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.87-94
• /
• 2017

Monte Carlo simulations were used to assess dose enhancement effects for 60-, 90-, 120-, and 150-kV X-rays, and for 6- and 15-MV X-rays. The MCNPX code was used for a computer simulation of the ICRU slab phantom, and gold, gadolinium, and iron oxide (Fe2O3) were employed as dose enhancement agents. In consideration of the buildup region of the incident energy, agent concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/g were inserted on the surface of the phantom at a depth of 5 cm. Based on baseline values obtained in the absence of dose enhancement agents, a quantitative analysis was performed by evaluating depth-dependent changes in the absorbed energy and the dose enhancement factor (DEF). A higher concentration of dose enhancement agents led to a greater dose enhancement effect with iron oxide, gadolinium, and gold in descending order. For kilovoltage (kV) X-rays, as the incident energy was decreased and as the energy became closer to the ionization potential of the atoms in the enhancement agent, the dose enhancement effect increased. In the megavoltage (MV) X-ray range, dose enhancement was higher at 6 MV compared with 15 MV. However, the overall dose enhancements were significantly lower compared to the results obtained with kV X-rays.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.40-46
• /
• 2006

Hepatoma is one of 3 most common malignancies in Korea, the survival rate is not improved since last decades because of delayed diagnosis and limited treatment conditions. Radiation was one of treatment options but the impact on the survival is not remarkable. High dose exposure to target area was suggested for improved effect but low tolerance dose of normal liver tissue is the main limited factor. IMRT is the advanced form of 3DCRT, for focusing high dose on target with minimal dose to surrounding normal tissues. Motion of the tumor by respiration, cardiac pulsation and peristalsis is the main treatment harrier of IMRT for treatment of hepatoma patients. Development of QA technique for acceptable geometrical uncertainties and dose error on target volume is essential for IMRT in clinical treatment but proper QA technique is not yet developed. This study compared the verification film dosimetry with measured dose in phantom and calculated dose in planning computer on exactly same conditions of patient treatments. Within 3% dose differences between 3 groups were confirmed. We suggest that our verification QA technique is easy, economic, iterative and acceptable in clinical application for advanced hepatoma patients.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea TE
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.34-43
• /
• 2002

In this paper, with the reference of the pulse wave acquired by the pulse-checking device, it is measured the impedance on the key measuring points of the 12 kyungmaks of the human body's left and right by using 24-channels Yangdorak machine. Then, based on the Fuzzy theory, this study diagnosed the each meridian's strength and weakness. After that, both the strengthening and weakening stimulus of magnetic fields are applied to the dominant direction to find out how the degree of strength and weakness of the meridian changed. Ultimately, the magnetic therapy that can stimulate the magnetic field at the time of diagnosis and thereby balancing the interactive of five-system(O-hang) have been materialized. For the stimulation of magnetic fields, a stimulating device which can change the direction and time on a specific part of the key measuring points of the limbs of 24 kyungmaks have been developed and used. The therapeutic methods are as follows. First, the strength and weakness of the meridian have been determined. Second, both the extremely weak meridian of Yin(Shade) and Yang(Shine), and the extremely strong meridian of Yin and Yang were adjusted by applying appropriate ascending and descending stimuli respectively. All these adjusting processes can now be carried out automatically on a personal computer(PC). 

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.160-168
• /
• 2014

Continuous body temperature monitoring is useful and essential in diverse medical procedures such as infection onset detection, therapeutic hypothermia, circadian rhythm monitoring, sleep disorder assessment, and gynecological research. However, the existing thermometers are too invasive or intrusive to be applied to long-term body temperature monitoring. In our previous study, we invented the bi-medium deep body thermometer which can noninvasively and continuously monitor deep tissue temperature. And the ratio of thermal resistances expressed as K-value should be obtained to estimate body temperature with the thermometer and it can be different under various measurement environments. Although the device was proven to be useful through preliminary simulation test and small group of human study, the experimental environment was restrictive in our previous approach. In this study, a finite element simulation was executed to obtain the K-value and evaluate the accuracy of bi-medium thermometer under various measurement environments. In addition, K-value estimation equation was developed by analyzing the influence of 5 measurement environmental factors (medium length, medium height, tissue depth, blood perfusion rate, and ambient temperature) on K-value. The results revealed that the estimation accuracy of bi-medium deep body thermometer based on computer simulation was very high (RMSE < $0.003^{\circ}C$) in various measurement environments. Also, bi-medium deep body thermometer based on K-value estimation equation showed relatively accurate results (RMSE < $0.3^{\circ}C$) except for one case. Although the K-value estimation technology should be improved for more accurate body temperature estimation, the results of finite element simulation showed that bi-medium deep body thermometer could accurately measure various tissue temperatures under diverse environments.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.368-379
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the dosimetric difference between simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), and the clinical outcomes of anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) chemoradiotherapy featuring SIB-IMRT. Materials and Methods: This study included ten patients with ASCC who underwent chemoradiotherapy using SIB-IMRT with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C. SIB-IMRT delivered 54 Gy to each primary tumor plus metastatic lymph nodes and 45 Gy to regional lymph nodes, in 30 fractions. Four patients received additional boosts to the primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes; the median total dose was 54 Gy (range, 54 to 60 Gy). We additionally created 3DCRT plans following the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9811 protocol to allow dosimetric comparisons with SIB-IMRT. Locoregional control, overall survival, and toxicity were calculated for the clinical outcome evaluation. Results: Compared to 3DCRT, SIB-IMRT significantly reduced doses to the external genitalia, bladder, and intestine, delivering the doses to target and elective nodal region. At a median follow-up time of 46 months, 3-year locoregional control and overall survival rates were 88.9% and 100%, respectively. Acute toxicities were treated conservatively. All patients completed radiotherapy with brief interruptions (range, 0 to 2 days). No patient experienced ${\geq}grade$ 3 late toxicity during the follow-up period. Conclusion: The dosimetric advantages of SIB-IMRT appeared to reduce the toxicity of chemoradiotherapy for ASCC achieving high locoregional control in the extended period.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.4
• /
• pp.341-357
• /
• 2019

Acanthamoeba, one of free-living amoebae (FLA), remains a high risk of direct contact with this protozoan parasite which is ubiquitous in nature and man-made environment. This pathogenic FLA can cause sight-threatening amoebic keratitis (AK) and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) though these cases may not commonly be reported in our clinical settings. Acanthamoeba has been detected from different environmental sources namely; soil, water, hotspring, swimming pool, air-conditioner, or contact lens storage cases. The identification of Acanthamoeba is based on morphological appearance and molecular techniques using PCR and DNA sequencing for clinico-epidemiological purposes. Recent treatments have long been ineffective against Acanthamoeba cyst, novel anti-Acanthamoeba agents have therefore been extensively investigated. There are efforts to utilize synthetic chemicals, lead compounds from medicinal plant extracts, and animal products to combat Acanthamoeba infection. Applied nanotechnology, an advanced technology, has shown to enhance the anti-Acanthamoeba activity in the encapsulated nanoparticles leading to new therapeutic options. This review attempts to provide an overview of the available data and studies on the occurrence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members with the aim of identifying some potential contributing factors such as distribution, demographic profile of the patients, possible source of the parasite, mode of transmission and treatment. Further, this review attempts to provide future direction for prevention and control of the Acanthamoeba infection.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.81-94
• /
• 2021

Objective : Response time plays a prominent part in research on cognitive ability and the aging effect. This study aimed to identify the impact of cognitive ability on information processing by conducting cognitive response time (CRT) using a computer program. Methods : This study was conducted in 30 normal elderly (NE) and 30 elderly with amnestic MCI (aMCI), aged 65-79 years old living in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. The results were analyzed using the statistical analysis program R 4.0.2 (University of Auckland, New Zealand). Results : In the three sub-areas of CRT, the total response time showed a significant difference depending on group or age, and the error rate showed a significant difference depending on age or group in some sub-areas. In the aMCI group, the performance of CRT significantly correlated with that of the overall cognition and memory test. Conclusion : Information processing depending on aging or cognitive ability and the differential performance of processing speed could be observed through CRT. The performance of this test was found to be significantly correlated with that of the overall cognition and memory test. Therefore, CRT could be used meaningfully as a simplified tool to predict the initial cognitive disorder of the elderly in the community.