• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.299-315
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• 1993

Koreans are one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in America. Stress responses and stressors among this large cultural minority has been rarely been studied by nursing researchers. Adjusting to life in foreign country produces a great deal of stress. Differences in culture, language, expectations and social behavior can lead to misunderstandings between health care providers and clients. These misunderstandings are not well accounted for in health assessment. This study investigated the relationship between life events or / and daily activities as a stressor and the symptoms of stress among a sample of Korean immigrants in America. The symptoms of stress scale (SOS) was used to identify stress responses and open-ended questions were used to identify life events and daily activities considered by the respondents to be stressful. A simple random sample of 283 subjects was selected from the Directory of the Korean Society of Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Seattle. Demographically, the subjects ranged in age from 20 to 69 years, and the percentage of women and men was approximately 50% each. Almost ninety percent of the subjects were highly educated, 17% owners of business, 19% white collar professionals, 14% employed in sales or as skilled /unskilled labor, 27% as housewives and students and 3％ had no occupation. The total group SOS mean was 0.8042 ; the SOS men for man was 0.7371, and for women was 0.8713. The stress response of this subject group was high, -the stress response of women higher than that for men. In an earlier study(June, 1992) with another sample, the total mean SOS score was similar to this one. The main stressful life events or / and daily activities were, in order, economic problems (N=97), interpersonal problems (N=68), children care problems (N=258), health problems (N=49), communication problems (N=42), family problems (N=38), worry about future career (N=36), and religious problems (N=25). There was a significant difference in the SOS means between the group that expressed life events or / and daily activities to be stressful and the group that did not. Interpersonal relationships and economic and family problems were stressors for those who complained about peripheral manifestations. cardiopulmonary symptoms, central-neurological symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, muscle ten-sion, habitual patterns, depression, anxiety, emotional irritability and cognitive disorganization. In summary, interpersonal relationships and economic and family problems influenced stress response manifestations. Income, the number of people in the family, the year of immigration. the level of education, and marital status were related to physiological and psychosocial stress responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2020

The present study was aimed to explore the neuroprotective role of imatinib in global ischemia-reperfusion-induced cerebral injury along with possible mechanisms. Global ischemia was induced in mice by bilateral carotid artery occlusion for 20 min, which was followed by reperfusion for 24 h by restoring the blood flow to the brain. The extent of cerebral injury was assessed after 24 h of global ischemia by measuring the locomotor activity (actophotometer test), motor coordination (inclined beam walking test), neurological severity score, learning and memory (object recognition test) and cerebral infarction (triphenyl tetrazolium chloride stain). Ischemia-reperfusion injury produced significant cerebral infarction, impaired the behavioral parameters and decreased the expression of connexin 43 and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in the brain. A single dose administration of imatinib (20 and 40 mg/kg) attenuated ischemia-reperfusion-induced behavioral deficits and the extent of cerebral infarction along with the restoration of connexin 43 and p-STAT3 levels. However, administration of AG490, a selective Janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3 inhibitor, abolished the neuroprotective actions of imatinib and decreased the expression of connexin 43 and p-STAT3. It is concluded that imatinib has the potential of attenuating global ischemia-reperfusion-induced cerebral injury, which may be possibly attributed to activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway along with the increase in the expression of connexin 43.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2016

Objective : To investigate the current international researches which identify the effect of stroke with hemiplegia after dual-task training Methods : We systematically examined journals published from 2007 to 2015, searching PubMed. Total 5 researches were selected for the analyses. Results : Selected studies were all in international journal and they used two group experimental design. In addition, all the paper got PEDro scores above 6. They conducted gait task for motor task, at the same time used various domain of cognitive task such as from sustain attention to working memory. The outcome measure tools used for evaluation by the standardized assessment tool and operational definition, further also included the assessment tool designed for the dual-task training such as a variety of tools make possible to assess various aspects of effect. Discussion : Dual-task training in this study was found to give a positive effect on the dual-task performance, as well as improving the motor and cognitive function in patients with stroke. However there were also limitation to the studies conducted so far. In order to apply the occupational therapy, this results can consider as the preliminary data which suggest supplement point and can be a evidence for effective treatment for stroke with hemiplegia.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 2017

Objective: It is important to assess the participation and understand the characteristics of participation for setting goal of the child's treatment and strengthening participation. In this study, we verified the validity of the LIFE-H 1.0, so that domestic occupational therapists can systematically evaluate children's participation. Methods: This study was conducted for about 2 months from February to April 2016 in 47 children with disabilities and non-disabled children. We divided the children into two groups aged 0-4 years and 5-13 years old and conducted a self-report questionnaire to parents. The collected data were verified by SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Science) statistical analysis program. Results: There was no difference between the two groups in general characteristics. In comparison of two groups, a significant difference(p<.05) was found in the LIFE-H 1.0 total performance and satisfaction score and the high discriminant validity was verified. Conclusion: The ultimate goal of occupational therapy is to increase participation. Therefore, the occupational therapist must be able to assess the level of participation and than set the goal of intervention. This study confirms the high level of validity and expects that Korean version of LIFE-H 1.0 will be widely used in clinical field and research.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.265-275
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of Yang Eui Gongjin-dan (YEGJD), a traditional Korean medicine, on severe pain or numbness, including acute and chronic non-cancer pain. Methods: Records of patients visiting the Department of Traditional Korean Internal Medicine, Stroke and Neurological Disorders Center, from March 2011 to January 2015, were searched. Their chief complaint was severe numbness or pain (NRS≥7). We compared the NRS of pain pre- and post-YEGJD treatment in 34 patients; and analyzed changes in pain severity pre- and post-YEGJD treatment in 17 chronic non-cancer pain patients. We also investigated other accompanying symptoms, such as insomnia, anorexia, dyspepsia, fatigue, coldness, and excessive sweating, related to the deficiency state (虛症) in traditional Korean medicine. Results: The average pain NRS for the 34 patients significantly decreased from 8.04±1.08 to 3.75±2.54 after YEGJD treatment. The average pain NRS score in chronic non-cancer pain patients also significantly declined from 7.91±0.97 to 3.29±2.29. Conclusions: The traditional Korean medicine Yang Eui Gongjin-dan has an analgesic effect and is useful for treating severe pain or numbness. We recommend a randomized controlled trial using objective assessment scales and a large patient sample to further test the effects of Yang Eui Gongjin-dan.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.51-61
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was performed to modify the performance-based assessment tool, Melbourne Low-Vision ADL Index (MLVAI) had been developed in Australia to suit the Korea culture to verify the reliability and validity. Methods: The subjects were only over the age of 20 living in communities, 26 with low-vision and 42 normal persons. The Korean MLVAI was completed through the expert translation verification and validation of the configuration tool. The validity of the Korean MLVAI was established through the content, discriminant, and convergent validity. Also, the reliability was analyzed through internal consistency reliability for the items, test-retest, and interrater reliability. Results: The Content Validity Index(CVI) was more than .78. There was a statically significant low in low-vision. Also, there was a statically significant low in low-vision. The convergent validity was determined the correlation coefficient of .751 analyzing LVQOL and Korean MLVAI total score, had a significant correlation(p<.05). Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficient indicated an internal consistency of .983(p<.05). Test-retest reliability had a high, significant correlation of .976 and interrater reliability had a high, an intraclass correlation coefficient of .91(p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study mean that the Korean MLVAI which was modified to fit the Korean is the ADL assessment tool with both validity and reliability. Based on this study, the Korean MLVAI can be used as a useful ADL assessment for OT interventions in low vision.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.59-78
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of robot-assisted therapy on upper extremity function. Methods : This study used a single-subject experimental A-B-A' design. Three Parkinson's disease patients took part. Each subject received a robot-assisted therapy intervention (45 min/session, 5 sessions/week for 4 weeks). Upper extremity movement was evaluated with the Reo Assessment tool in Reogo. The Jebsen-Taylor hand motor function test, Fugle-Mayer Assessment score, Box and Block Test, and Nine-hole pegboard test were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results : After intervention, all subjects underwent 3D motion analysis of reaching function. There was overall improvement in resistance, smoothness, direction accuracy, path efficiency, initiation time, and time to moving target with robot-assisted therapy. Robot-assisted therapy may have a positive effect on upper extremity movement in Parkinson's disease. Conclusion : Robot-assisted therapy is considered an alternative in clinical occupational therapy to improve upper extremity function in Parkinson's disease.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.67-77
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an occupational therapy intervention program of arts and crafts on the activities of daily living and quality of life of outpatients after a stroke. Methods: Using an experimental pretest-posttest control group design, we conducted the following with ten participants diagnosed with stroke: one retest session, 10 intervention sessions, and one posttest session. MMSE-K (Korean version of the Mini-mental State Examination), COPM (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure), and WHOQOL-BREF (The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF) scores were obtained before and after the intervention. The results were analyzed using descriptive and nonparametric statistics. Results: As a result of comparing the pretest-posttest scores of the experimental and control groups, there was no significant difference in K-MBI score improvement in terms of activities of daily living. There was a significant difference in COPM scores between the experimental and control groups. There was a significant difference between the WHOQUP-BREF scores of the experimental group before and after the experiment, as well as between the groups. Conclusions: The results suggest that an arts and craft group occupational therapy intervention program for stroke patients may have a positive impact on activities of daily living and quality of life. Although an arts and craft group occupational therapy intervention program appears to be a promising approach, further studies are required to confirm these findings.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.43-55
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• 2018

Objective: This study aims to discover how tongue self-resistance exercise affects the swallowing function of patients with stroke. Method: The subjects of this study were two patients who were treated at the Y hospital in Gyeonggido. Data were gathered by VFSS regarding the degree of swallowing disability and oral intake before and after intervention. This study analyzed case studies of two patients. One patient's intervention was applied in September 2012 for three weeks. The other's intervention was applied in February 2014 for three weeks. At the first session, the VFSS examination was administered. Then, intervention began after the patients gave their consent for participation. Each session was practiced 10 times per set, but one session had 3 sets. Intervention frequency consisted of five sessions per week, and it was conducted for three weeks. Tongue self-resistance exercise included tongue protrusion, tongue lateralization, and tongue elevation on the hard palate. Results: The first tongue self-resistance exercise had a positive effect on swallowing function because of the decrease in VFS score. The second tongue self-resistance exercise showed improved oral intake based on FOIS scores. Conclusion: This study's results suggest that there are many benefits of tongue self-resistance exercise on the swallowing function when it is applied to patients with stroke.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.235-242
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• 2008

Purpose: Due to increasing interest in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, many histopathological studies have been conducted to prove that many neurotrophic factors including growth hormone are important for regeneration of the injured spinal cord. Growth hormone has to be given everyday, however, and this negatively affects compliance in clinical trials. Recently, the invention of sustained release growth hormone (SRGH) that can be given just once a week may both help the regeneration of injured spinal cord and, at the same time, be more compliant and convenient for clinical patients. Methods: In this study, thirty 7-week-old female Spraque-Dawley rats were subjected to a weight-driven impact spinal cord injury. They were divided into 3 groups and Group I and II were injected with SRGH once a week for 4 weeks; Group I were injected into the injured spinal cord area, while Group II were injected into the peritoneal cavity. Meanwhile, Group III were injected with normal saline solution. The functional outcome was evaluated using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan motor rating score and the inclined plane test was done 4 weeks after the first injection. Histopathological examination was performed at the same time and the amount of residual white matter was measured in all groups. Results: After 4 weeks, Groups I and II showed greater improvement than Group III(the control group) in the functional test. In the control group, invasion of atypical phagocytes, axonal degeneration, edema and cavity formation in the posterior site of spinal cord gray matter was observed in histopatholgical examination. The rate of residual white matter in Group III was less than in the other groups. Conclusion: Data showed significant functional and histopathological improvement in the groups treated with SRGH into the spinal and peritoneal cavity compared with the control group. SRGH is therefore beneficial because it helps with regeneration of the injured spinal cord and improves the compliance and convenience of patients.