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This case report describes a severe nerve injury to the right ulnar nerve, caused by bee venom acupuncture. A 52-year-old right-handed man received bee venom acupuncture on the medial side of his right elbow and forearm, at a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) clinic. Immediately after acupuncture, the patient experienced pain and swelling on the right elbow. There was further development of weakness of the right little finger, and sensory changes on the ulnar dermatome of the right hand. The patient visited our clinic 7 days after acupuncture. Electrodiagnostic studies 2 weeks after the acupuncture showed ulnar nerve damage. The patient underwent steroid pulse and rehabilitation treatments. However, his condition did not improve completely, even 4 months after acupuncture.
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To establish the reliability and validity the Korean version of the Stroke Impact Scale (K-SIS) 3.0.
A total of 70 post-stroke patients were enrolled. All subjects were evaluated for general characteristics, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Modified Barthel Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The SF-36 and K-SIS 3.0 assessed their health-related quality of life. Statistical analysis after evaluation, determined the reliability and validity of the K-SIS 3.0.
A total of 70 patients (mean age, 54.97 years) participated in this study. Internal consistency of the SIS 3.0 (Cronbach's alpha) was obtained, and all domains had good co-efficiency, with threshold above 0.70. Test-retest reliability of SIS 3.0 required correlation (Spearman's rho) of the same domain scores obtained on the first and second assessments. Results were above 0.5, with the exception of social participation and mobility. Concurrent validity of K-SIS 3.0 was assessed using the SF-36, and other scales with the same or similar domains. Each domain of K-SIS 3.0 had a positive correlation with corresponding similar domain of SF-36 and other scales (HADS, MMSE, and NIHSS).
The newly developed K-SIS 3.0 showed high inter-intra reliability and test-retest reliabilities, together with high concurrent validity with the original and various other scales, for patients with stroke. K-SIS 3.0 can therefore be used for stroke patients, to assess their health-related quality of life and treatment efficacy.
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To evaluate respiratory muscle strength in healthy Korean children in order to establish the criteria for normal reference values for future applications. In contrast with the other parameters for testing pulmonary function, normal values for respiratory muscle strength in healthy Korean children have not been assessed to date.
We conducted a complete survey of 263 students at Sinmyung Elementary School in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, and measured their height and body weight, performed pulmonary function tests, and evaluated maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) as measures of respiratory muscle strength. We excluded the subjects with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases that could affect the results. The subjects were children aged 8–12 years, and they consisted of 124 boys and 139 girls.
The MIP and MEP values (mean±standard deviation) for the entire subject group were 48.46±18.1 cmH2O and 47.95±16 cmH2O, respectively. Boys showed higher mean values for MIP and MEP in every age group. Korean children showed lower mean values for MIP and MEP compared to those in previous studies conducted in other countries (Brazil and USA).
Our results showed that boys generally have greater respiratory muscle strength than girls. We found a significant difference between the results of our study and those of previous studies from other countries. We speculate that this may be attributed to differences in ethnicity, nutrition, or daily activities.
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To describe the longitudinal characteristics of unintentional fall accidents using a representative population-based sample of Korean adults.
We examined data from the Korean Community Health Survey from 2008 to 2013. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify the characteristics of fall accidents in adults.
Between 2008 and 2013, the incidence rate of fall accidents requiring medical treatment increased from 1,248 to 3,423 per 100,000 people (p<0.001), while the proportion of indoor fall accidents decreased from 38.12% to 23.16% (p<0.001). Females had more annual fall accidents than males (p<0.001). The major reason for fall accidents was slippery floors (33.7% in 2011 and 36.3% in 2013). Between 2008 and 2010, variables associated with higher fall accident risk included specific months (August and September), old age, female gender, current drinker, current smoker, diabetes, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and depression. A high level of education and living with a partner were negatively associated with fall accident risk. In 2013, people experiencing more than 1 fall accident felt more fear of falling than those having no fall accidents (odds ratio [OR] for 1 fall, 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04–2.12; OR for more than 2 falls, 2.97; 95% CI, 2.83–3.10).
The occurrence of fall accidents has consistently increased in Korea from 2008 to 2013. Future intervention studies are needed to reduce the increasing incidence rates of fall accidents in community dwelling adults.
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To translate the English version of the Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) into Korean and to investigate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the PDQ (K-PDQ) in patients suffering chronic disabling musculoskeletal disorders (CDMDs).
The English version of the PDQ was translated into Korean. Ten patients with CDMDs were randomly selected for a pilot study to assess the comprehensibility of the pre-final version. One hundred and thirty-nine patients suffering from CDMDs for more than 3 months were enrolled in this study. Follow-up questionnaires were obtained to examine the test-retest reliability. Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparing the K-PDQ with the visual analogue scale (VAS). Construct validity was evaluated by comparing the K-PDQ with the brief form of the World Health Organization quality of life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) using Pearson correlation coefficient. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and internal consistency was determined by Cronbach's alpha.
Test-retest reliability was assessed in 70 patients, with an average time interval of 12 days. The ICC was 0.958 (p<0.001). Internal consistency reached Cronbach's alpha of 0.933 for the functional component and 0.870 for the psychosocial component. The correlation coefficient for the K-PDQ when compared with the VAS was 0.834 in the first assessment and 0.831 in the second assessment. All domains of the WHOQOL-BREF showed a significant negative correlation with the K-PDQ.
The K-PDQ is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring disability and can be used to assess disability and treatment outcomes in Korean patients with CDMD.
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To compare the voice onset time (VOT) differences of Korean stops in the initial and intervocalic positions between the aphasic patients with peculiarities of aspiration and a control group.
We examined 15 aphasic patients (nine males, six females) who had suffered a stroke (average age 49.7 years) and 15 healthy controls (average age 47.4 years). An aphasia examination was made by an aphasia battery of three standard tests and VOT was analyzed instrumentally. Stop consonants in the initial and intervocalic position were measured to categorize them according to aphasia types, place of articulation, and manner of articulation.
VOT of the aphasic patients with peculiarities of aspiration had a greater difference than that of the controls, indicating that the temporal non-coordination between the laryngeal adjustment and oral articulators of aphasic patients happens due to the VOT of stops in the initial and intervocalic positions (p<0.05).
VOT of stop consonants in the initial position produced by aphasic patients tends to be proportional to their breathing. It can cause glottal width and make aphasic patients' VOT duration longer. Lastly, the method to measure the VOT of aphasic patients is more significant for the types of phonation than for the places of articulation, and makes it possible to induce abnormal VOT.
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To evaluate concurrent validity between the Korean-Ages and Stages Questionnaires (K-ASQ) and the Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST II), and to evaluate the validity of the K-ASQ as a screening tool for detecting developmental delay of Korean children.
A retrospective chart review was done to examine concurrent validity of the screening potentials for developmental delay between the K-ASQ and the DDST II (n=226). We examined validity of the K-ASQ compared with Capute scale (n=141) and Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) (n=69) as a gold standard of developmental delay. Correlation analysis was used to determine the strength of the associations between tests.
A fair to good strength relationship (k=0.442, p<0.05) was found between the K-ASQ and the DDST II. The test characteristics of the K-ASQ were sensitivity 76.3-90.2%, specificity 62.5-76.5%, positive likelihood ratio (PLR) 2.41-3.40, and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) 0.16-0.32.
Evidence of concurrent validity of the K-ASQ with DDST II was found. K-ASQ can be used for screening of developmental delay.
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Method: Fifty subjects with brain injury were enrolled and classified into two groups, experimental (n=25) and control group (n=25). Control group received conventional reha bilitation therapy including physical and occupational therapy. Experimental group received additional computer- assisted cognitive training using CogRehabKⰒ software consisted of 10 level-completing programs, 3 times per week, 30 minutes per session, for 4 to 6 weeks. All patients were assessed their cognitive functions using Seoul Computerized Neuropsychological Test (SCNTⰒ, Maxmedica, 2001), minimental status examination (MMSE), digit span, and Wechsler memory scale before and after treatment. Functional independence measure and geriatric depression scale were also applied for evaluation of functional and mood status.
Results: Before the treatment, two groups showed no difference in their cognitive functions. After 4 to 6 weeks of treatment, the experimental group showed significantly higher performance in forward digit span, forward visual span, auditory continuous performance test, and visual continuous performance test in CNT and MMSE than control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: We conclude that the CogRehabKⰒ may be useful as an additional tool for the cognitive rehabilitation in patients with brain injury. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 830-839)
Method: To assess the status of arthritis-related information on the internet sites in Korea, we searched for Korean words which meant and were related with 'arthritis' using the 10 most famous Korean internet search engines. Identified internet site were assessed regarding the quality of content, authorship, design, and functionality.
Results: The number of identified web sites ranged from 24 to 214. The average search yielded around 83 web sites listing for 'arthritis'. The number of web sites listed for 'arthritis' was as many as that for 'hypertension', 'diabetes', 'cancer' or 'hepatitis and hepatoma'. The frequency of appearance in a search did not correlate well with the quality of associated web sites.
Conclusion: The quality of arthritis-related web sites in Korea varied. It is essential to develop a high quality information supplying web sites and to set up an evaluation tool for qualifying the medical information on internet.
Objective: To obtain reference values of early potential latency and amplitude of pudendal SEP in Korean normal women and to correlate those values with height and age.
Method: Twenty-three normal female with mean age of 45.27 years were evaluated for pudendal SEP. Stimulation was applied on the dorsal aspect of the clitoris with a bar electrode. Onset, P1, N1, P2 latencies and P0-P1, P1-N1, N1-P2 amplitudes were measured and those of both sides were analyzed.
Results: The mean latency of P0, P1, N1, P2 were 29.0⁑2.83 msec, 35.5⁑2.91 msec, 45.1⁑4.10 msec, 56.3⁑5.20 msec by the right pudendal nerve, and 28.6⁑3.11 msec, 35.2⁑2.93 msec, 45.0⁑3.83 msec, 56.5⁑5.33 msec by the left pudendal nerve. The amplitude ranges of P0-P1, P1-N1, N1-P2 were 0.31∼2.45 uV, 0.11∼2.24 uV, 0.21∼2.62 uV by the right pudendal nerve, and 0.29∼2.46 uV, 0.25∼2.21 uV, 0.12∼5.07 uV by the left pudendal nerve. There was tendency of prolongation of the latency with increasing the height. There is no difference of amplitude according to the height and the age. There was no significant difference between right and left sides in mean latency and range of amplitude of pudendal nerve SEPs, and between premenopause and postmenopause.
Conclusion: Normal reference of female pudendal SEP were established. We suggest that pudendal SEP can be used as one of useful diagnostic tools for female urogenital and neurologic disease.
Objective: To find out the characteristics of gait maturation process in Korean normal children.
Method: Three dimensional kinematic gait analysis using Vicon 370 system from Oxford Metrics Company was performed for 72 children (33 females) without known gait anomalies aging between one and six years old. The data were compared with those from 41 normal adults which were collected previously using the same method, and with those from study by Sutherland et. al.
Results:
1. The initial heel contact, initial flexion wave of the knee joint during the early stance phase and reciprocal arm swing were found before the age of 3.5.
2. Pelvic motion in transverse plane, hip joint motion in all the three planes, knee joint motion in coronal plane, and ankle joint motion in transverse plane remained greater than those of Caucasian children of Sutherland et. al.
3. Single stance period remained shorter than that of Caucasian children.
4. Internal rotation of hip joint and varus motion of the knee joint remained greater than those of Caucasian children.
Conclusion: The difference between Korean and Caucasian children were
1. Development of muscles' ability which stabilize the large leg joints during gait seems slower among Korean children than Caucasian children.
2. These differences are probably from the anthropometrical characteristics of Korean and Caucasian growing children. Also, the different definition of angle systems between the Korean and Caucasian data might case some erroneous effect on the interpretation of result.