• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1782-1793
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• 1989

Stroke crossing number, syntactic pattern recognition procedure, top down recognition structure, and heuristic approach are studied for the Korean text recognition. We propose new algorithms: 1)Korean vowel seperation using limited scanning method in the Korean characters, 2) extracting strokes using stroke width method, 3) stroke crossing number and its properties, 4) average, standard deviation, and mode of stroke crossing number, and 5) classification and recognition methods of limited chinese character. These are studied with computer simuladtions and experiments.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.69-78
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• 2001

Objectives : It is known that cigarette smoking is associated with increased risk of both thrombotic and hemorrhagic stroke. However, in Korea, especially in the academic world of Korean Medicine, there is a lack of study about the relation between cigarette smoking and stroke. We carried out a case-control study to clarify the relation between cigarette smoking and stroke. Method : We interviewed 441 stroke patients (236 men, 205 women) as a case group and 432 non-stroke patients (208 men, 224 women) as a control group. We investigated the smoking pattern of all patients and stroke-subtype of the case group. Smoking pattern is classed into two (Class I), four (Class II) and five groups (Class III). Class I consists of current non-smokers and current smokers. Class II consists of non-smokers, former smokers, current light smokers and current heavy smokers. Class III consists of never smoked, secondhand smokers, former smokers, Current light smokers and current heavy smokers. Stroke-subtype consists of cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage. Results : The percentage of current smokers of case group is higher significantly than that of control group. The number of cigarettes smoked per day is associated positively with the risk of stroke. According to our study, generally cigarette smoking is related with ischemic stroke. The percentage of secondhand smokers of the case group is lower than that of the control group. According to our study, characteristically secondhand smoking is associated with hemorrhagic stroke. Conclusions : From the above results we found that cigarette smoking is an important risk factor of stroke - especially cerebral infarction - and the number of cigarettes smoked per day is associated positively with the risk of stroke. Characteristically according to our study, secondhand smoking is associated with hemorrhagic stroke. Overall we conclude that cigarette smoking may be an important preventable factor for stroke.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.53
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• pp.343.1-343.8
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• 2018

Background: Linkage of public healthcare data is useful in stroke research because patients may visit different sectors of the health system before, during, and after stroke. Therefore, we aimed to establish high-quality big data on stroke in Korea by linking acute stroke registry and national health claim databases. Methods: Acute stroke patients (n = 65,311) with claim data suitable for linkage were included in the Clinical Research Center for Stroke (CRCS) registry during 2006-2014. We linked the CRCS registry with national health claim databases in the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Linkage was performed using 6 common variables: birth date, gender, provider identification, receiving year and number, and statement serial number in the benefit claim statement. For matched records, linkage accuracy was evaluated using differences between hospital visiting date in the CRCS registry and the commencement date for health insurance care in HIRA. Results: Of 65,311 CRCS cases, 64,634 were matched to HIRA cases (match rate, 99.0%). The proportion of true matches was 94.4% (n = 61,017) in the matched data. Among true matches (mean age 66.4 years; men 58.4%), the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 3 (interquartile range 1-7). When comparing baseline characteristics between true matches and false matches, no substantial difference was observed for any variable. Conclusion: We could establish big data on stroke by linking CRCS registry and HIRA records, using claims data without personal identifiers. We plan to conduct national stroke research and improve stroke care using the linked big database.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.130-137
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• 2022

Objective : COVID-19 has spread worldwide since the first case was reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Our institution is a regional trauma and emergency center in the northern Gyeonggi Province. The changing trend of patient care in the emergency room of this hospital likely reflects the overall trend of patients in the area. In the present study, whether changes in the surrounding social environment following the outbreak of COVID-19 changed the incidence of neurosurgical emergency patients and whether differences in practice existed were investigated. Methods : The overall trend was analyzed from January 2020 which is before the outbreak of COVID-19 to September 2020. To remove bias due to seasonal variation, the previous 2 year's records during the same period were reviewed and compared. Confirmed COVID-19 patients in the northern Gyeonggi Province were identified using data released by the government. And patients who came to the emergency department with head trauma and stroke were identified. Results : Based on the present study results, the total number of neurosurgery emergency patients decreased over the study period. In the trauma patient group, the number of patients not involved in traffic accidents significantly decreased compared with patients involved in traffic accidents. Among the stroke cases, the rate of ischemic stroke was lower than hemorrhagic stroke, although a statistically significant difference was not observed. Meanwhile, an increase in the risk of mortality associated with trauma or stroke cases was not observed during the COVID-19 outbreak compared with the same time period in the previous year. Conclusion : Due to the occurrence of COVID-19, non-essential activities have decreased and trauma cases not associated with traffic accidents appeared to decrease. Due to the decrease in overall activity, the number of stroke patients has also decreased. This trend is expected to continue even in the post-COVID-19 era, and accordingly, the results from the present study are relevant especially if the current situation continues.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Objective: The present study was to investigate the discrimination capacity of the Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment-Gait Scale (POMA-GS), for predicting falls in stroke survivors. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Data including the characteristics and number of falls of 52 chronic stroke patients from a rehabilitation center were collected. The number of falls each subject had experienced in the previous year were investigated through interviews. The subjects were divided into two groups depending on the number of falls: if falls occurred twice or more on the basis of the time of study after stroke, they were defined as the falls group and if there was no fall experience or one fall, they were defined as the non-falls group. The subjects were examined with the POMA-GS, and physical functions were examined using by the One Leg Stand Test (OLST), Sit to Stand Test (SST), 10-m Walk Test, Lower Extremity in Fugl-Meyer assessment (FM-LE), and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS). The validity of POMA-GS for falls prediction was analyzed. Results: In the POMA-GS, which predicts falls in stroke survivors, the cut-off value was 8.5 (sensitivity 72%; specificity 65%) and the area under the curve was 0.75 (95% confidence interval: 0.60-0.90, p<0.007). There was a significant difference in the OLST, SST, FM-LE, and TIS between the subjects with POMA-GS >8.5 and the subjects with POMA-GS ${\leq}8.5$. Conclusions: The POMA-GS could be a useful tool in predicting falls in stroke survivors, as its discrimination capacity and predictive validity is proven satisfactory.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2009

Background: Community ambulation has been recently recognized as one of the most essential factors of activities of daily living in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. This study aimed to compare walking velocity and step number in 5 community situations in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. Methods: Ten chronic stroke patients volunteered for this study. The main variables analyzed were walking speed and step number, and these were measured in 5 different community situations: a physical therapy room, a parking lot, a bank, a crosswalk, and a hospital lobby. The measurements obtained for walking in the physical therapy room were measured using a 10m walk test and were used as baseline data for comparison with each option. The ambulation distance was set at 300m for the parking lot and the bank and 150m for the crosswalk and hospital lobby. For data analysis, walking speed and step number were standardized with the distance options of each ambulation. Results: Compared to the walking speed in the physical therapy room, those in the other situations, except for the parking lot, were significantly different (p<.05). Moreover, there were significant differences in the speeds between the bank and the parking lot and between the parking lot and the crosswalk (p<.05). Compared to the step number in the physical therapy room, those in all situations except for the crosswalk were significantly different (p<.05). Further, there was a significant difference in the step number between the bank and the crosswalk (p<.05). Conclusion: The walking ability of patients with hemiparesis in real environments within a community could be different from that in a physical therapy room. Therefore, the evaluation of walking should be performed in a variety of community situations.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.19-28
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• 2008

Purpose: We analyzed the incidence of falls and the related factors, circumstances, and consequences associated with falls in stroke patients. Methods: We recruited 127 stroke patients and used a self-reported questionnaire to measure fall prevalence rates and the related factors, circumstances, and consequences of falls. The chi-square test was used to establish associations between related factors. Results: The prevalence of falls in stroke patients was 69.3%, and was associated with gender and time since the stroke. Falls occurred 2-5 times (55.4%) poststroke and most subjects first fall in the 2$\sim$6 month (46.5%) after the stroke. Most (55%) falls occurred at the hospital. Walking was the most frequent circumstance for falls (38.5%). Most (54.4%) falls led to consequences such as fractures, ligament strains, bruises, or abrasions. Conclusion: Fall-prevention strategies decrease the number of falls and the severity of fall-related injuries. These data support the concept of preventive strategies for falls in stroke patients who are at risk.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to quantify one of the useful upper extremity movements to evaluate motor control abilities between the groups of people with mild and moderate arm impairments performing a door handling task. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-one healthy participants and twenty-one persons with chronic stroke (9 mild stroke and 12 moderate stroke) were recruited for this study. Stroke participants were divided into 2 groups based on Fugle-Meyer Assessment scores of 58-65 (mild arm) and 38-57 (moderate arm). All they performed door handling task including the pronation and supination phases 3 times. We measured some movement factors which were reaction time, movement time, hand of peak velocity, hand of movement units to perform door handling task using the three-dimensional motion analysis. Results: The majority of kinematic variables showed significant differences among study groups (p<0.05). The reaction time, total and phase of movement time, hand of peak velocity, the number of movement units discriminated between healthy participants and persons with moderate upper limb stroke (p<0.05). In addition, reaction time, total and phase of movement time, the number of movement units discriminated between those with moderate and mild upper limbs of stroke patients (p<0.05). Conclusions: Three-dimensional kinematic motion analysis in this study was a useful tool for assessing the upper extremity function in different subgroups of people with stroke during the door handling task. These kinematic variables may help clinicians understand the arm movements in door handling task and consist of discriminative therapeutic interventions for stroke patients on upper extremity rehabilitation.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of depression within two weeks after stroke. Methods : A total of 362 stroke patients were recruited. Depression (major and minor depressive disorders) was diagnosed by applying DSM-IV criteria. Data on socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, marital state, living state, religion, occupation, income, life event, and social support), stroke severity (NIHSS), disability (BI), stroke hemisphere and location, vascular risk and disease, and previous history of stroke and depression were obtained. Results : Depression was present in 90 (24.9%) patients: major depression 29 (8%) and minor depression 61 (16.9%) patients. In the univariate analyses, depression was associated with older age, higher number of stressful life event, poorer social support, severe disability, anterior stroke location, previous history of stroke and depression. In the multivariate analyses, depression was independently associated with higher number of stressful life events and poorer social support. Conclusion : Depression was common and was determined by premorbid levels of stress and social support in stroke patients at acute stage. More intensive psychiatric care and intervention is needed for the high risk group.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2005

This study was done to research the general information, causes of stroke, risk factors, complications during admission of geriatric CVA inpatients. We retrospectively studied 208 above 65 years old geriatric CVA inpatients treated in Ajou university hospital from 1994 to 2003 by medical record. These were divided into two groups by following years. We were gathered information about sex, onset age, cause of stroke, number of stroke, complications, housing, family, insurance, smoking, alcohol. Most of incidence of the stroke was noted in the group of young old age (65~74 years old) and old age (75~84 years old). The occurrence rate of male stroke (38.5%) was less than of female stroke (61.5%) and the ratio of male to female was 1:1.6. The occurrence rate of ischemic stroke (72.6%) was higher than of hemorrhagic stroke. The occurrence rate of ischemic stroke increased more and more at the late stage. The most common risk factors for stroke was hypertension and complications during hospitalization were neurogenic bowl and bladder. These results of epidemiologic study may help above 65 years old geriatric CVA early treatment and prevention, rehabilitation and use basic data for multiple prospective study using stroke registry.