• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.484-488
• /
• 2013

Objective : To examine the synergistic effects of both computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation (CACR) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive function in patients with stroke. Methods : The current double-blind, sham-controlled study enrolled a total of 11 patients who were newly diagnosed with stroke. The patients of the tDCS group (n=6) completed sessions of the Korean computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation program five times a week for 30 minutes a session during a mean period of 18.5 days concomitantly with the anodal tDCS over the bilateral prefrontal cortex combined with the CACR. The patients of the control group (n=5) also completed sessions of the sham stimulation during a mean period of 17.8 days. Anodal tDCS over bilateral prefrontal cortex (F3 and F4 in 10-20 EEG system) was delivered for 30 minutes at an intensity of 2 mA. Cathode electrodes were applied to the non-dominant arm. All the patients were evaluated using the Seoul Computerized Neuropsychological Test (SCNT) and the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination. Results : Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significant difference between the two groups. The patients of the tDCS group achieved a significant improvement in the post/pre ratio of auditory continuous performance test and visual continuous performance test on the SCNT items. Conclusion : Our results indicate that the concomitant use of the tDCS with CACR to the prefrontal cortex may provide additional beneficial effects in improving the cognitive dysfunction for patients with stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.409-413
• /
• 2012

Purpose: Rehabilitative devices are used to enhance sensorimotor training protocols, for improvement of motor function in the hemiplegic limb of patients who have suffered a stroke. Sensorimotor integration feedback systems, included with these devices, are very good therapeutic frameworks. We applied this approach using electrical stimulation in stroke patients and examined whether a functional electric stimulation-assisted biofeedback therapy system could improve function of the upper extremity in chronic hemiplegia. Methods: A prototype biofeedback system was used by six subjects to perform a set of tasks with their affected upper extremity during a 30-minute session for 20 consecutive working days. When needed for a grasping or releasing movement of objects, the functional electrical stimulation (FES) stimulated the wrist and finger flexor or extensor and assisted the patients in grasping or releasing the objects. Kinematic data provided by the biofeedback system were acquired. In addition, clinical performance scales and activity of daily living skills were evaluated before and after application of a prototype biofeedback system. Results: Our findings revealed statistically significant gradual improvement in patients with stroke, in terms of kinematic and clinical performance during the treatment sessions, in terms of manual function test and the Purdue pegboard. However, no significant difference of the motor activity log was found. Conclusion: Hemiplegic upper extremity function of a small group of patients with chronic hemiparesis was improved through two weeks of training using the FES-assisted biofeedback system. Further research into the use of biofeedback systems for long-term clinical improvement will be needed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.659-662
• /
• 2008

Video-assisted pulmonary lobectomy was introduced in the early 1990's by several authors, and the frequency of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for lung cancer has been slowly increasing because of its safety and oncologic acceptability in patients with early stage lung cancer However, VATS is limited by 2D imaging, an unsteady camera platform, and limited maneuverability of its instruments. The da Vinci Surgical System was recently introduced to overcome these limitations. It has a 3D endoscopic system with high resolution and magnified binocular views and EndoWrist instruments. We report three cases of da Vinci robot system-assisted pulmonary lobectomy in patients with early stage lung cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
• /
• v.8 no.3B
• /
• pp.262-268
• /
• 1999

Polycarbonate (PC) and Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) surface was modified by ion assisted reaction (IAR) technique to obtain the hydrophilic functional groups and improve the wettability. In conditions of ion assisted reaction, ion beam energy was changed from 500 to 1500eV, and ion dose and oxygen gas blown rate were fixed $1\times10^{16}$ ions/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and 4ml/min, respectively. Wetting angle of water on PC and PMMA surface modified by $Ar^+$ ion without blowing oxygen at 4ml/mon showed $5^{\circ}$ and $10^{\circ}$. Changes of wetting angle with oxygen gas and $Ar^+$ ion irradiation were explained by considering formation of hydrophilic group due to a reaction between irradiated polymer chain by energetic ion irradiation and blown oxygen gas. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows that hydrophilic groups such as -C-O, -(C=O)- and -(C=O)-O- are formed on the surface of polymer by chemical interaction. The polymer surface modification using ion assisted reaction only changed the surface physical properties and sept the bulk properties. In comparison with other modification methods, the surface modification by IAR treatment was chemically stable and enhanced the adhesion between metal and polymer surface. The applications of various kinds of polymer surface modification methods, metal and polymer surface. The applications of various kinds of polymer surface modification could be appled to the new materials about hydrophilic surface properties by IAR treatment. The adhesion between metal film and polymer measured by Scotch tape test whether the hydrophilic surfaces could improve the adhesion strength or not.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.127-131
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The authors used arthroscopy-assisted percutaneous reduction and cannulated screw fixation rather? than conventional arthrotomy for displaced glenoid fracture. Materials and Methods: We used arthroscopy assisted reduction and screw fixation for a 66 year old man who had a clavicle fracture, a displaced glenoid fracture and a scapula fracture. Results: At 9 months postoperatively, the patient had recovered full range of motion and was not inconvenienced by the surgery. Removal of the implant was done 12 months post-operatively under general anesthesia. Conclusion: The advantages of arthroscopy-assisted percutaneous screw fixation are less pain and less bleeding, shorter hospital stay and earlier rehabilitation. Arthroscopic percutaneous screw fixation for a displaced glenoid fracture seems to be a good alternative treatment method.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 1999

Background : Euthanasia is defined as "a deliberate intervention undertaken with express intention of ending a life so as to relieve intractable suffering". There have been keen debates in the medical literatures on the questions relating to the legalisation and the provision of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Methods : Literatures on the debate of euthanasia published during the last several years were reviewed, and the indications used in performing euthanasia were listed. And the results of a more liberal policy on euthanasia in Netherland were introduced. Results : Other clinical practices are sometimes described as euthanasia but can be distinguished by examination of ethical principles involved. The guidelines for the practice of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the Netherlands were inadquate and were abused, while the Remmelink Committee Report said that euthanasia in the Netherland had been adequate. Conclusions : There are no clinical situations necessitating the legalisation of euthanasia or physician assisted suicide. Comprehensive and mutidisciplinary palliative care can effectively relieve much of the suffering of the terminally ill that is presently cited as justification for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.

• Journal of Computing Science and Engineering
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.237-245
• /
• 2011

The use of technology within the home has gained wide spread acceptance as one possible approach to be used in addressing the challenges of an ageing society. A number of rudimentary assistive solutions are now being deployed in real settings but with the introduction of these technology-orientated services come a number of challenges, which to date are still largely unsolved. At a fundamental level, the management and processing of the large quantities of data generated from multiple sensors is recognised as one of the most significant challenges. This paper aims to present an overview of the types of sensor technologies used within Ambient Assisted Living. Subsequently, through presentation of a series of case studies, the paper will demonstrate how the practical integration of multiple sources of sensor data can be used to improve the overall concept and applications of Ambient Assisted Living.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.293-299
• /
• 2007

Objective : Thoracoscopic spinal surgery provides minimally invasive approaches for effective vertebral decompression and reconstruction of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine, while surgery related morbidity can be significantly lowered. This study analyzes clinical results of thoracoscopic spinal surgery performed at our institute. Methods : Twenty consecutive patients underwent video-assisted thoracosopic surgery (VATS) to treat various thoracic and thoracolumbar pathologies from April 2000 to July 2006. The lesions consisted of spinal trauma (13 cases), thoracic disc herniation (4 cases), tuberculous spondylitis (1 case), post-operative thoracolumbar kyphosis (1 case) and thoracic tumor (1 case). The level of operation included upper thoracic lesions (3 cases), midthoracic lesions (6 cases) and thoracolumbar lesions (11 cases). We classified the procedure into three groups: stand-alone thoracoscopic discectomy (3 cases), thoracoscopic fusion (11 cases) and video assisted mini-thoracotomy (6 cases). Results : Analysis on the Frankel performance scale in spinal trauma patients (13 cases), showed a total of 7 patients who had neurological impairment preoperatively : Grade D (2 cases), Grade C (2 cases), Grade B (1 case), and Grade A (2 cases). Four patients were neurologically improved postoperatively, two patients were improved from C to E, one improved from grade D to E and one improved from grade B to grade D. The preoperative Cobb's and kyphotic angle were measured in spinal trauma patients and were $18.9{\pm}4.4^{\circ}$ and $18.8{\pm}4.6^{\circ}$, respectively. Postoperatively, the angles showed statistically significant improvement, $15.1{\pm}3.7^{\circ}$ and $11.3{\pm}2.4^{\circ}$, respectively(P<0.001). Conclusion : Although VATS requires a steep learning curve, it is an effective and minimally invasive procedure which provides biomechanical stability in terms of anterior column decompression and reconstruction for anterior load bearing, and preservation of intercostal muscles and diaphragm.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 2015

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of laser-assisted zona thinning (LAZT) at one or four-points on the blastocyst formation and hatching process in mice with respect to female age. Methods: Eight-cell or morula embryos collected from superovulated C57BL female mice with different ages (6-11 and 28-31 weeks) were treated with LAZT at one-point (LAZT1) or four-points (LAZT4). The zona pellucida was thinned to more than 70% of its initial thickness by making two holes of $15-20{\mu}m$. Results: In the young mice, LAZT resulted in a significant increase in early hatching and hatching rates compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, in the old mice, LAZT significantly increased blastocyst formation as well as early hatching and hatching compared to the controls (p<0.05). These effects were more remarkable in LAZT4 than in LAZT1 and in aged mice than in young ones. Conclusion: These results show that multi-point LAZT leads to a significant improvement of blastocyst formation and hatching in mice compared to controls.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.395-395
• /
• 2008

Water-assisted synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been intensively studied in recent years, reporting that water vapor enhances the activity and lifetime of metal catalyst for the CNT growth. While most of these studies has been focused on the supergrowth of CNTs at high temperature, rarely has the similar approach been made for the CNT synthesis at low temperature. Since the metal catalyst are much less active at lower temperature, we expect that the addition of water vapor may increase the activity of catalyst more largely at lower temperature. We synthesized multi-walled CNTs at temperature as low as $360^{\circ}C$ by introducing water vapor during growth. The water addition caused CNTs to grow ~3 times faster. Moreover, the water-assisted growth prolonged the termination of CNT growth, implying the enhancement of catalyst lifetime. In general, a thinner catalyst layer is likely to produce smaller-diameter, longer CNTs. In a similar manner, the water vapor had a greater effect on the growth of CNTs for a smaller thickness of catalyst in this study. To figure out the role of process gases, CNTs were grown in the first stage and then exposed to each of process gases in the second stage. It was shown that water vapor and hydrogen did not etch CNTs while acetylene led to the additional growth of CNTs even faster in the second stage. As-grown CNTs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Raman spectroscopy.