• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.145-153
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• 2019

Objectives: This case is significant as a rare observational record at the Korean medical practice field. This case reports progression of co-administration of Korean herbal medicines and conventional medicines for cough in patients with myocardial infarction relapse suspected of developing acute respiratory infection. Methods: First, the chest radiography, CBC count and urinalysis were performed to estimate patient's systematic condition. After the estimated diagnosis, the patient was treated with modified Dingchuan decoction, antibiotics, and complex syrup for cough. We used the Cough-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (CQLQ) to assess patient's respiratory symptoms. Results: Co-administration of Korean herbal medicines and conventional medicines resulted improving of cough and sputum symptoms. Laboratory analysis items and total score of CQLQ also showed significantly improved results. Adverse effects were not observed. Conclusions: In this case, we concluded that co-administration of Korean herbal medicine and conventional medicine may be an effective therapy for the treatment of cough in patients with myocardial relapse of developing acute respiratory infection.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.63.2-63.2
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• 2019

Eight hundred thousand asteroids in the solar system have been identified so far under extensive sky surveys. Kilometer to sub-km sized asteroids, however, are still waiting for discovery, and their size and orbital distribution will provide a better understanding of the collisional and dynamical evolution of the solar system. In order to study the number of asteroids which is detectable with 1.6 m telescope and their orbital distribution, we conducted a small observation campaign as a part of Deep Ecliptic Patrol of the Southern Sky (DEEP-South) project, which is an asteroid survey in the southern hemisphere with Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). We observed the ecliptic plane near opposition ($2^{\circ}{\times}2^{\circ}$ field of view centering on ${\alpha}=22h40m31s$, ${\delta}=-08^{\circ}22^{\prime}58^{{\prime}{\prime}}$) in August 2018, and identified 464 moving objects by visual inspection. As a result, 266 of 464 moving objects turn out to be previously unknown asteroids, and their signal to noise ratio is below two on numerous occasions. Most of the newly detected objects are main belt asteroids (MBAs), while three Hildas, one Jupiter trojan, and two Hungarias are also identified. In this meeting, we report the differences in the orbital distributions between the previously known asteroids and newly discovered ones using statistical methods. We also talk about the observational bias of this survey and suggest future works.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.99-118
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze trends of posture pattern in Korean literature. Methods : We searched four Korean databases (NDSL, RISS, OASIS, and KISTI) and classified the studies according to publication year and the study type. Additionally, we analyzed clinical research papers according to the predominant reported posture pattern, the type of study, assessment for clinical outcomes. Results : In total, 50 published studies were included in our analysis, and we determined the following: By study type, there were 37 interventional studies, 6 observational studies and 7 non-clinical research papers. In the interventional studies, the most common posture pattern was the forward head posture pattern, which was investigated in 22 studies. As a tool for evaluating posture pattern, cervical vertebral angle and the height of the scapula inferior angle are used most. Conclusions : Although this study has provided insight into the commonly investigated posture patterns types in Korean clinical studies, further research is required and future studies should include randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in their analyses.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2020

Purpose: This was a descriptive observational study examining the reasons for, frequency of, and factors affecting work interruption among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. Methods: Convenience sampling was used to recruit 46 regular nurses who had been working in an ICU at D tertiary hospital in B metropolitan city for at least six months. To measure the degree of work interruption, this study revised a tool used by Brixey et al. (2007) for analyzing the type of work interruption. Results: A total of 1,787 work interruptions occurred during 368 hours of observation, i.e., at an average of 4.85 times per hour. Communication-related factors caused work interruption most frequently, followed by environmental, work-related, and personal factors. As for the work-related characteristics of nurses, participants experienced work interruption more frequently while working on weekdays, when the medical staff were stationed, than on weekends. Conclusion: ICU nurses experienced work interruption frequently. With the health care system expected to become more complicated in the future, efforts should be made to reduce unnecessary work interruptions to improve the operation efficiency of ICUs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.346-368
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• 2021

Background: Recalcitrant disc herniation may result in chronic lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica. Fluoroscopically directed epidural injections and other conservative modalities may provide inadequate improvement in some patients. In these cases, percutaneous neurolysis with targeted delivery of medications is often the next step in pain management. Methods: An evidence-based system of methodologic assessment, namely, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used. Multiple databases were searched from 1966 to January 2021. Principles of the best evidence synthesis were incorporated into qualitative evidence synthesis. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with significant pain relief and functional improvement (≥ 50%). Duration of relief was categorized as short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (≥ 6 months). Results: This assessment identified one high-quality randomized controlled trial (RCT) and 5 moderate-quality non-randomized studies with an application of percutaneous neurolysis in disc herniation. Overall, the results were positive, with level II evidence. Conclusions: Based on the present systematic review, with one RCT and 5 non-randomized studies, the evidence level is II for percutaneous neurolysis in managing lumbar disc herniation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.445-452
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analysis of the association between upper extremity function and the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) for chronic hemiparetic stroke patients and investigate the evidence of the WMFT as a clinical tool of upper extremity function in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Methods: This study applied an observational, cross-sectional design in outpatients at three local rehabilitation units in Seoul. Forty-nine individuals who had a diagnosis of first stroke participated in this study. All participants were analyzed for four clinical measures, including the Box and Block Test (BBT), the WMFT, grip strength, and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Results: Upon analysis, a significant relationship was found between the WMFT scores and BBT scores as well as the grip strength. The WMFT score was statistically and positively associated with the COPM satisfaction score; however, it was not related to the COPM performance score. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the WMFT is positively related to simple tasks, such as hand muscle strength and manual dexterity. However, the WMFT does not have a relationship with complex tasks, which are measured by COPM performance abilities.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.243-250
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe office workers' postural behaviors during computer work to identify the risk factors for head and thorax postural behaviors. Methods: The participants included 57 office workers who worked longer than 20 hours on a computer. Postural behaviors during computer work were measured using 3-D wearable motion sensors on the forehead and sternum. A multivariate linear regression model evaluated the association between various risk factors (neck pain, demographics, and environmental factors) and non-head and thorax postural behaviors. Results: The participants maintained their head and thorax in neutral postures (defined as 10° extension~10° flexion and 5° extension~10° flexion, respectively) for 24.7% and 39.3% of the total recorded time. Those who reported neck pain at the measurement of postural behaviors showed less time spent in thorax postures. Current neck pain, high desk height, and the distance between the keyboard and the edge of the desk (cm) were found to be related to less time spent in a neutral thorax posture. Conclusion: Office environment factors and current neck pain might affect workers' thorax postures, which might also determine the orientation of head postures during computer work.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.329-334
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• 2022

Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a symptom that accounts for a large proportion of musculoskeletal pain. Among them, non-specific LBP (NSLBP) means that the pathological cause is unknown, and belongs to the most common LBP. Studies on the mechanism of muscle control in LBP are insufficient, and quantitative studies are needed. Design: Observational cross-sectional study design Methods: A Thirty participants with NSLBP symptoms were enrolled, and their pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and muscle and fat thickness were measured. Participants measured the paraspinal muscles (PM) of the thoracic and lumbar spine and medial hamstring (semitendinosus) on the dominant and non-dominant sides in the prone position. Results: Among the variables that were significant in the correlation analysis, PM of the thoracic and lumbar spine showed a significant relationship in the PPT ([thoracic spine PM]=1.141+0.912 [lumbar spine PM]). Also, there was a significant relationship between the lumbar spine PM in the PPT and the thoracic spine PM in the muscle thickness ([lumbar spine PM of PPT]=4.057+0.117 [thoracic spine PM of muscle thickness]) Conclusions: Although there was no muscle imbalance according to the dominant and non-dominant side, there is a correlation between the pressure pain threshold and the muscle thickness between the paraspinal muscles of the thoracic spine and the lumbar spine.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.296-303
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• 2022

Objective: In general, macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma generally cause visual injury in clinical settings. This study aimed to examine the effects of low visual acuity simulations on hand manual dexterity function and brainwaves in healthy young adults. Design: Cross-sectional study design Methods: This study was an observational, cross-sectional study. Seventy healthy young adults participated in this study. To evaluate the effects of low visual acuity simulations on hand function and brain waves, this study involved four different visual conditions including (1) normal vision, (2) simulated cataracts, (3) simulated glaucoma, and (4) simulated macular degeneration. The hand function was measured to use the Minnesota manual dexterity test (MMDT), and the brainwaves was also measured to use the electroencephalography. Results: In hand function, placing and turning performance on the MMDT in the normal visual condition was significantly different than that in the cataract and macular degeneration conditions (p<0.05), and the placing performance was significantly differred in the normal condition than that in the simulated glaucoma. However, turning was not significantly different in the normal condition than that in the simulated glaucoma. The alpha, beta, and gamma waves did not significantly differ among the four visual conditions (p>0.05). Conclusions: The results suggest that limited visual information negatively affects the ability to perform tasks requiring arm-hand dexterity and eye-hand coordination. However, the effectiveness of low visual acuity on the brainwaves should be further studied for rehabilitative evidence of visual impairment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the Korean medical examination protocol, which included 14 questionnaires and 20 medical examination devices. Methods: We conducted a pilot observational study of 90 subjects to measure the time required to fulfill each item of the Korean medical examination, to evaluate patient satisfaction, and to report improvements that can be made to the Korean medical examination protocol based on clinical coordinator and subject feedback. Results: Among the 90 subjects included in the study (59 women and 31 men; mean [standard deviation] age, 37.2 [12.3] years), over 80% intended to receive a Korean medical examination if hospitals provided it and would recommend a Korean medical examination to others. The average time spent on the overall Korean medical examination was approximately 88.0 (21.4) minutes. Three areas for improvements were reported: survey issues, including the number of items, understanding, and readability; error issues in device measurements; and environmental issues affecting the sequence of medical examinations and temperature. Conclusions: Most subjects were satisfied with the Korean medical examination. Future studies should be conducted with larger samples to collect data continuously.