• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.75-84
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of whole-body tilt exercise with visual feedback on trunk control, strength, and balance in patients with acute stroke. METHODS: The study included 18 patients with acute stroke who were randomly allocated to a Whole Body Tilt Exercise Group (WBTEG, N=9) and a General Trunk Exercise Group (GTEG, N=9). The WBTEG conducted whole-body tilt exercises with visual feedback, and the GTEG performed general trunk exercises. Both groups performed the exercises five times a week for 4 weeks. Outcomes were assessed using the trunk impairment scale (TIS), the trunk flexor and extensor strength test, the static balance test, and the Brunel Balance Assessment. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of intervention, both groups showed significantly improved TIS scores, muscle strength, and balance components (p<.05 in both groups). However, the improvement in TIS, muscle strength, and static balance in the WBTEG was significantly better than that in the GTEG (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Although both groups in this study showed post-intervention improvement, patients from the WBTEG who received visual feedback demonstrated more improvement. These findings indicate that whole-body tilt exercise with visual feedback may be effective at improving trunk control, trunk muscle strength, and balance in patients with acute stroke. Further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of whole-body tilt exercise in patients with acute stroke.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.733-740
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• 2007

Objective : This study investigated the relationship between warning signs and Sasang constitution (SC) in acute stroke patients. Methods : From October in 2005 to March in 2007, 629 acute stroke patients were studied. Patients were hospitalized within 14 days after the onset ofstroke at one of 3 oriental medical hospitals in Seoul and Kyong-gi province. We assessed the type of SC of acute stroke patients by Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Classification II (QSCC II). We investigated warning signs (motor weakness, blindness, dysarthria, sensory disturbance, finger dullness, facial & eyelid spasm, neck stiffness), general characteristics, etc. Results : This study showed a higher proportion of Tae-eum & So-eum experience upper extremity sensory disturbance but So-yangexperience lower extremity sensory disturbance. Smoker So-eumexperience 1st & 2nd finger dullness more than non-smoker So-eum. So-eum women experience motor weakness more than So-eum men. Conclusion : Besides these results, we could observe almost no relationship between warning signs and Sasang constitution (SC) in acute stroke patients. More data from prospective cohort studies will help people better understand the relationship between warning signs and Sasang constitution (SC) in acute stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.42-50
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• 2001

Objectives : Dysphagia is common and severe problems of acute stroke determining the prognosis of stroke only second to mental change, and results in secondary fatal complications such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, etc. Therefore, we were to investigate the clinical characteristics of dysphagia accompanied by acute ischemic stroke. Methods : We selected subjects through clinical notes retrospectively, whose main problems included dysphagia resulted from acute stroke within 72 hours from onset who were admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of Wonkwang Oriental Medicine Hospital from Jan. 2000 to Apr. 2001. We assessed the severity of dysphagia from admission to discharge using a staging method : stage 0 is normal without dysphagia, stage 1 is nearly normal except for intermittent dysphagia, stage 2 is compensated abnormal swallowing requiring adjusted diets or delayed feeding time, stage 3 is uncompensated abnormal swallowing resulted in weight loss down to 10% of initial and daily aspiration, coughing, and vomiting, stage 4 is uncompensated abnormal swallowing resulting in weight loss beyond 10% and recommended for non-oral feeding, and stage 5 is 100% non-oral feeding by L-tube, or gastrostomy or NPO state. Results : Dysphagia was improved statistically significantly from the mean stage of $3.6{\pm}0.29$ on admission to $1.88{\pm}0.32$ on discharge (P<0.05). On average $7.1{\pm}1.48$ days were required for improving more than one stage level. As patients were older and the stage of dysphagia was worse on admission, severity of dysphagia was more difficult to improve (correlation coefficiency was 0.55 and 0.77 respectively, P<0.05). Aspiration pneumonia was complicated in 13 patients of the total 25 at mean dysphagia stage of $3.36{\pm}0.37$. However, any specific values such as lesion size, lesion site, sex, age, past history and NIH Stroke Scale on admission did not affect it (P>0.05). Conclusion : Clinical course of dysphagia was determined about I week from the onset. Aspiration pneumonia was mainly complicated during oral feeding periods. If there were no improvement of dysphagia over 2-3 weeks, then non-oral feeding such as Levin tube or gastrostomy must be considered.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2021

Objective : Several studies have reported inconsistent findings among countries on whether off-hour hospital presentation is associated with worse outcome in patients with acute stroke. However, its association is yet not clear and has not been thoroughly studied in Korea. We assessed nationwide administrative data to verify off-hour effect in different subtypes of acute stroke in Korea. Methods : We respectively analyzed the nationwide administrative data of National Emergency Department Information System in Korea; 7144 of ischemic stroke (IS), 2424 of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and 1482 of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), respectively. "Off-hour hospital presentation" was defined as weekends, holidays, and any times except 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality in different subtypes of acute stroke. We adjusted for covariates to influence the primary outcome using binary logistic regression model and Cox's proportional hazard model. Results : In subjects with IS, off-hour hospital presentation was associated with unfavorable outcome (24.6% off hours vs. 20.9% working hours, p<0.001) and in-hospital mortality (5.3% off hours vs. 3.9% working hours, p=0.004), even after adjustment for compounding variables (hazard ratio [HR], 1.244; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.106-1.400; HR, 1.402; 95% CI, 1.124-1.747, respectively). Off-hours had significantly more elderly ≥65 years (35.4% off hours vs. 32.1% working hours, p=0.029) and significantly more frequent intensive care unit admission (32.5% off hours vs. 29.9% working hours, p=0.017) than working hours. However, off-hour hospital presentation was not related to poor short-term outcome in subjects with ICH and SAH. Conclusion : This study indicates that off-hour hospital presentation may lead to poor short-term morbidity and mortality in patients with IS, but not in patients with ICH and SAH in Korea. Excessive death seems to be ascribed to old age or the higher severity of medical conditions apart from that of stroke during off hours.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Background: The aim of this randomized controlled pilot study was to determine the effect of trunk training in wheelchair on fall efficacy, fall risk and activities of daily living in acute stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled pilot trial. Methods: The study included 18 patients with acute stroke who were randomly allocated to an experimental group (EG) (n=9) and a control group (CG) (n=9). Patients in the EG group received general rehabilitation therapy combined with trunk training in wheelchair for 20min, whereas CG group received general rehabilitation therapy combined with bicycle training for 20min. Both groups performed the exercise 5 times a week for 3 weeks. Outcomes were assessed using Korean-Fall Efficacy Scale (K-FES), Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale (FAB) and Korean-Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). Results: After 3 weeks of training, both groups showed significantly improved K-FES, FAB and K-MBI (p<.05 in both groups). However, the K-FES, FAB and K-MBI in the experimental group was significantly improving than in the control group (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that trunk training in wheelchair may be effective at decreasing fall risk and improving activities of daily living in acute stroke patients. Therefore, trunk training in wheelchair may be recommended as an intervention in reducing the incidence of fall risk in acute stroke patient.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigated the relationship between warning signs and stroke subtype in acute stroke patients. Methods : From Oct. in 2005 to Oct. in 2006, 409 acute stroke patients were included. Patients were hospitalized within 14 days after the onset of stroke in DongGuk University International Hospital, Kyungwon University In-cheon Oriental Medical Hospital, Department Cardiovascular and Neurologic Diseases(Stroke center) Kyung Hee University Oriental hospital. We investigated general characteristics, stroke subtype, and warning signs(facial spasm, neck stiffness). Results : Hemorrhagic stroke had more facial spasm than ischemic stroke. (odds ratio 3.60) Small vessel occlusion had more neck stiffness than others. (odds ratio 2.03) Conclusion : To acquire more concrete conclusions on warning signs, we need further and large scale of prospective researches.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.385-394
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the status of regional variations in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treatment and investigate the association between the presence of a thrombectomy-capable stroke center (TSC) and the case fatality rate (CFR) of AIS within hospital service areas (HSAs). Methods: This observational cross-sectional study analyzed acute stroke quality assessment program data from 262 hospitals between 2013 and 2016. TSCs were defined according to the criteria of the Joint Commission. In total, 64 HSAs were identified based on the addresses of hospitals. We analyzed the effects of structure factors, process factors, and the presence of a TSC on the CFR of AIS using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Among 262 hospitals, 31 hospitals met the definition of a TSC. Of the 64 HSAs, only 20 had a TSC. At hospitals, the presence of a stroke unit, the presence of stroke specialists, and the rate of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) treatment were associated with reductions in the CFR. In HSAs, the rate of EVT treatment (odds ratio [OR], 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97 to 0.99) and the presence of a TSC (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88 to 0.99) significantly reduced the CFR of AIS. Conclusions: The presence of a TSC within an HSA, corresponding to structure and process factors related to the quality of care, contributed significantly to lowering the CFR of AIS. The CFR also declined as the rate of treatment increased. This study highlights the importance of TSCs in the development of an acute stroke care system in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.437-448
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• 2018

Objective: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) requires time-dependent reperfusion therapy, and early recognition of AIS is important to patient outcomes. This study was conducted to identify the clinical features and risk factors of AIS patients that are missed during the early stages of diagnosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed AIS patients admitted to a hospital through the emergency department. AIS patients were defined as ischemic stroke patients who visited the emergency department within 6 hours of symptom onset. Patients were classified into two groups: an activation group (A group), in which patients were identified as AIS and the stroke team was activated, and a non-activation group (NA group), for whom the stroke team was not activated. Results: The stroke team was activated for 213 of a total of 262 AIS patients (81.3%), while it was not activated for the remaining 49 (18.7%). The NA group was found to be younger, have lower initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, lower incidence of previous hypertension, and a greater incidence of cerebellum and cardio-embolic infarcts than the A group. The chief complaints in the A group were traditional stroke symptoms, side weakness (61.0%), and speech disturbance (17.8%), whereas the NA group had non-traditional symptoms, dizziness (32.7%), and decreased levels of consciousness (22.4%). Independent factors associated with missed stroke team activation were nystagmus, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, gait disturbance, and general weakness. Conclusion: A high index of AIS suspicion is required to identify such patients with these findings. Education on focused neurological examinations and the development of clinical decision tools that could differentiate non-stroke and stroke are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of thoracic self mobilization on balance and gait of acute stroke patients. Methods: Patients (n=10) with acute stroke applied to thoracic self mobilization. There are two thoracic self mobilization of both extension and rotation. Each thoracic self mobilization was performed ten times per direction in a total of three sets and the total time required for two thoracic self mobilization was twenty minutes. The break time between sets was one minute. Balance ability was measured using the timed up and go test and the five times sit to stand test for patients. The 10 meter walk test and the functional gait assessment were used for measurement of gait ability for patients. Results: Significant improvements were observed on balance ability (p<.05) and gait ability (p<.05). Conclusion: These results show that thoracic self mobilization is immediate effective on balance and gait ability. Thus, thoracic self mobilization will help recovery of balance and gait ability in acute stroke patients.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2013

Purpose: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model was proposed by the World Health Organization for enhancing interdisciplinary communication. The purpose of this study was to examine the functional status of acute stroke patients using ICF core sets-short form. Methods: A set of 15 ICF items on functional status was used by nurses for their daily nursing assessment on functional status in 44 acute stroke patients in a university hospital. Results: The highest level of function was "consciousness", while the lowest was "defecation". Compared with functional status on the first day, consciousness, ingestion, language (mental), and defecation functions were significantly improved on the 14th day. However, there was no significant changes in items on activity and participation or environmental functions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the function-specific nursing interventions for acute stroke patients need to be developed. Future research needs to test the usefulness of ICF items as an measurement tool.