• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.155-164
• /
• 1996

In the clinical environment, measurements of some characteristics of the skeletal muscle are currently used to assess the severity of a neuromuscular disease or in some cases to assist in making a diagnosis. But a quantitative method of evaluation has not yet been introduced satisfactorily. In this paper, the skeletal EMG(biceps muscle, masseter muscle) analysis has been processed both in the time and in the frequency domain by designing the digital signal processing system based on pentium PC and transputer (IMS 7805). The experiment have been performed in five normal subjects, and various parameters have been statistically tested and compare4 As a results, the effective parameters obtained for the evaluation of skeletal EMG electrical activity are turn analysis, MiTi, MiTa, IEMG, PDF in the time domain, and are mean frequency, median frequency, skewness, kurtosis, muscle fatigue slope in the frequency domain. The designed H/W and S/W in this study can be used effectively for the establishment of EMG data base and for clinical research.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.7-17
• /
• 2014

Objective of this paper is to introduce a new technology known as prognostics and health management (PHM) which enables a real-time life prediction for safety critical systems under extreme loading conditions. In the PHM, Bayesian framework is employed to account for uncertainties and probabilities arising in the overall process including condition monitoring, fault severity estimation and failure predictions. Three applications - aircraft fuselage crack, gearbox spall and battery capacity degradation are taken to illustrate the approach, in which the life is predicted and validated by end-of-life results. The PHM technology may allow new maintenance strategy that achieves higher degree of safety while reducing the cost in effective manner.

• International Journal of Reliability and Applications
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 2003

Rail breaks and derailments can cause a huge loss to rail players due to loss of service, revenue, property or even life. Maintenance has huge impact on reliability and safety of railroads. It is important to identify factors behind rail degradation and their risks associated with rail breaks and derailments. Development of mathematical models is essential for prediction and prevention of risks due to rail and wheel set damages, rail breaks and derailments. This paper addresses identification of hazard modes, estimation of probability of those hazards under operating, curve and environmental condition, probability of detection of potential hazards before happening and severity of those hazards for informed strategic decisions. Emphasis is put on optimal maintenance and operational decisions. Real life data is used for illustration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.3903-3907
• /
• 2013

Background: Patients with colorectal cancer are usually treated with chemotherapy, which reduces the number of blood cells, especially white blood cells, and consequently increases the risk of infections. Some research studies have reported that aromatherapy massage affects the immune system and improves immune function by, for example, increasing the numbers of natural killer cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes. However, there has been no report of any study which provided good evidence as to whether aromatherapy with Thai massage could improve the immune system in patients with colorectal cancer. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the use of aromatherapy with light Thai massage in patients with colorectal cancer, who have received chemotherapy, can result in improvement of the cellular immunity and reduce the severity of the common symptoms of side effects. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six patients with colorectal cancer in Phichit Hospital, Thailand, were enrolled in a single-blind, randomised-controlled trial. The intervention consisted of three massage sessions with ginger and coconut oil over a 1-week period. The control group received standard supportive care only. Assessments were conducted at pre-assessment and at the end of one week of massage or standard care. Changes from pre-assessment to the end of treatment were measured in terms of white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, CD4 and CD8 cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio and also the severity of self-rated symptom scores. Results: The main finding was that after adjusting for pre-assessment values the mean lymphocyte count at the post-assessment was significantly higher (P=0.04) in the treatment group than in the controls. The size of this difference suggested that aromatherapy with Thai massage could boost lymphocyte numbers by 11%. The secondary outcomes were that at the post assessment the symptom severity scores for fatigue, presenting symptom, pain and stress were significantly lower in the massage group than in the standard care controls. Conclusions: Aromatherapy with light Thai massage can be beneficial for the immune systems of cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy by increasing the number of lymphocytes and can help to reduce the severity of common symptoms.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.325-331
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the self-perceived fatigue among 262 dental hygiene students, who have recently experienced clinical practice. In this study, a structured self-reported questionnaire was used to assess and analyze the severity of fatigue among the population. This study was performed from January to September in 2013 to effectively encompass clinical practice. The results are as follows: The self-perceived fatigue of the subjects was significantly higher in a subjective unhealthy group than a subjective healthy group (p=0.000), in a group that was unsatisfied with their program than a group that was satisfied with it (p=0.000), in a group that had dissatisfaction in clinical practice than a group that had satisfaction with it (p=0.000), in a group that had over five weekly of clinical practice than a group that didn't (p=0.000), in a group that had more than 100 patients a day than a group that didn't (p=0.000), in a group that had conflicts between fellow staff than those who didn't (p=0.000), in a group that did not exercise regularly than a group that did (p=0.016). The result of using multiple regression analysis revealed that the variable factors affecting the degree of the self-perceived fatigue were; subjective health status, satisfaction with a clinical practice, the length of clinical practice, the number of patients, and staff conflicts. These variable factors have the explanatory power of 44.5%. In conclusion, to decrease fatigue and allow students in clinical practice to perform effectively, clinical practice educators need to actively participate as a community and develop programs that will decrease the fatigue of students. In addition, in-depth research is needed on the effects of outside factors and variables affecting fatigue.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.297-302
• /
• 2007

Vibrating test of vehicle component can be possible in lab-based simulators instead of field testing owing to the development of technology in control algorithm as well as computational process. Currently, Multi-Axial Simulation Table(MAST) is recommended as a vibrating equipment, which excites a target component for 3-directional translation and rotation motion simultaneously and hence, vibrational condition can be fully approximated to that of real road test. But, the vibration-free performance of target component is not guaranteed with MAST system, which is only simulator subjective to the operator. Rather, the reliability of multi-axial vibration test is dependent on the quality of input profile which should cover the required severity of vibrating condition on target component. In this paper, multi-axial vibration testing methodology of vehicle component is presented here, from data acquisition of vehicle accelerations to the obtaining the input profile of MAST using severe data at proving ground. To compare the severity of vibration condition, between real road test and proving ground one, energy principle of equivalent damage is proposed to calculate energy matrices of acceleration data and then, it is determined the optimal combination of special events on proving ground which is equivalent to real road test at the aspects of vibration fatigue using sequential searching optimal algorithm. To explain the vibration methodology clearly, seat and door component of vehicle are selected as a example.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2020

■ Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of non-cardiac chest pain. ■ Methods The patient with non-cardiac chest pain was treated with herbal medicine, Insambaekhaokwanjung-tang, and Jungsongouhyul pharmacoacupuncture. The severity of symptom was assessed by daily chest pain frequency, Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) of chest pain. ■ Results After the treatment, the severity of chest pain was reduced from NRS 9 to NRS 0 and the palpitation intensity was reduced from 9 to 0. The chest pain frequency was reduced from 7 to 0. In addition, other symptoms such as anorexia, sleep disturbance, and fatigue have shown improvements. ■ Conclusion The findings of this study suggests that treatment with Korean medicine can be an effective option in treating non cardiac chest pain.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2012

Many risk factors exist for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). This study utilized a multivariate projection technique to identify which risk factors were predictive of CINV in clinical practice. A single-centre, prospective, observational study was conducted from January 2007~July 2010 in Singapore. Patients were on highly (HECs) and moderately emetogenic chemotherapies with/without radiotherapy. Patient demographics and CINV risk factors were documented. Daily recording of CINV events was done using a standardized diary. Principal component (PC) analysis was performed to identify which risk factors could differentiate patients with and without CINV. A total of 710 patients were recruited. Majority were females (67%) and Chinese (84%). Five risk factors were potential CINV predictors: histories of alcohol drinking, chemotherapy-induced nausea, chemotherapy-induced vomiting, fatigue and gender. Period (ex-/current drinkers) and frequency of drinking (social/chronic drinkers) differentiated the CINV endpoints in patients on HECs and anthracycline-based, and XELOX regimens, respectively. Fatigue interference and severity were predictive of CINV in anthracycline-based populations, while the former was predictive in HEC and XELOX populations. PC analysis is a potential technique in analyzing clinical population data, and can provide clinicians with an insight as to what predictors to look out for in the clinical assessment of CINV. We hope that our results will increase the awareness among clinician-scientists regarding the usefulness of this technique in the analysis of clinical data, so that appropriate preventive measures can be taken to improve patients' quality of life.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.147-153
• /
• 2018

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection can be presented with various clinical manifestations and different levels of severity when infected. Infectious mononucleosis, which is most commonly caused by EBV infection in children and adolescents, is a clinical syndrome characterized by fatigue, malaise, fever, sore throat, and generalized lymphadenopathy. But rarely, patients with infectious mononucleosis may present with gastrointestinal symptoms and complicated by gastritis, splenic infarction, and splenic rupture. We encountered a 16-year-old girl who presented with fever, fatigue, and epigastric pain. Splenic infarction and EBV-associated gastritis were diagnosed by using esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdominal computed tomography. Endoscopy revealed a generalized hyperemic nodular lesion in the stomach, and the biopsy findings were chronic gastritis with erosion and positive in situ hybridization for EBV. As splenic infarction and acute gastritis are rare in infectious mononucleosis and are prone to be overlooked, we must consider these complications when an infectious mononucleosis patient presents with gastrointestinal symptom.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 2024

Background: This study compared orthopedic physiotherapists from different working institutions regarding their health status and burnout syndrome to understand the work-related factors that affect health status and burnout syndrome Methods: This study was conducted from October 28 to November 13, 2022, focusing on physiotherapists working in medical institutions located in metropolitan areas, such as Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. A total of 591 questionnaires were analyzed. The questionnaire consisted of questions related to the basics of physical therapy, general matters, types of working institutions, health conditions, and burnout syndrome. Results: No significant difference was detected in health self-awareness status whether the working institution was a clinic, nursing hospital, hospital, oriental hospital, general hospital, or university hospital. Among the burnout factors, nursing hospitals showed the highest scores for retirement demands, work unfavorability, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, and reasons for work because of salary. By contrast, university hospitals showed the highest enthusiasm and other institutions showed the lowest enthusiasm for work. In particular, in terms of enthusiasm, scores were significantly more positive in university hospitals than in other institutions. Conclusion: A management plan for burnout for orthopedic manual physiotherapists working in nursing hospitals is needed, and future research will examine the health status of orthopedic manual physiotherapists and work that may affect burnout syndrome. An exploration of management measures, such as health promotion and burnout syndrome prevention, is needed that adds other items, such as differences in environment and differences in the number and disease severity of patients