The Relationship between Hemiplegic Upper Extremity Function and Activities of Daily Living According to Age in Stroke Patients

BACKGROUND: Age is one of the many factors that can influence functional improvement and activities of daily living (ADL) after a stroke. We looked at the effects of functional improvement of hemiplegic upper extremity (HUE) on ADL according to age in stroke patients. METHODS: We recruited 46 stroke patients beginning acute or subacute rehabilitation. They were classified into two groups according to age, the elderly group (> or =65 years, n=18) and the young group (0.05). There were no significant differences in the changes to Pedretti clinical test, MFT, and FIM between the two groups before and after rehabilitation (p>0.05). In the young group, the motor improvement of HUE correlated significantly with FIM (p0.05). CONCLUSION: In our study, elderly stroke patients showed improvement in function and ADL similar to young stroke patients. This potential should be maximized and elderly stroke patients should receive active rehabilitation.

Effect of Regular Exercise Program on Cognitive Function in Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfused Rat

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of regular exercise program on cognitive function in chronic cerebral hypoperfused rat. METHOD: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion was induced by bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO). All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal rats (group A); normal rats with regular exercise program (group B); BCCAO rats (group C); BCCAO rats with regular exercise program (group D). Regular exercise program was composed of daily 30-minute treadmill exercise for 4 weeks. Cognitive function was evaluated by Morris water maze (MWM) test. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were checked. The neurons were microscopically analyzed on Hematoxylin-Eosin and Cresyl violet stains. RESULTS: After regular exercise program, there was significant difference in the escape latency among 4 groups in hidden platform trial of MWM test (p<0.05). There was significant difference in the number of crossings among 4 groups in probe trial of MWM test (p<0.05). The activities of SOD of group A and group D were significantly higher than those of group C, respectively (p<0.05). Histopathological study displayed the formation of apoptotic cell bodies and pyknotic cells in group C and group D. There were more normal neurons in group D than group C. CONCLUSION: Regular treadmill exercise was helpful in improving cognitive function in chronic cerebral hypoperfused rat. Therefore, regular exercise program would be one of the useful strategies for treating chronic neurodegenerative diseases.

Characteristics of posteroanterior cephalometric analysis in children with skeletal Class I malocclusion / 대한치과교정학회지

Three dimensional analysis of malocclusion and craniofacial deformation is essential for the successful orthodontic treatment. But the orthodontists are not familiar with diagnosis and treatment plane based on lateral cephalometric analysis. Since orthodontists do not posses a sufficient knowledge in standard value of posteroanterior cephalometric anaysis and of clinical importance for transverse jaw growth. In this study male(n=130) and female(n=171) aged from 6 to 16 and diagnosed as Class I malocclusion were selected to analysis width of cranium, maxilla and mandible on the posteroanterior cephalogram. The changes as a function of chronologic age and cervical vertebrae maturity index(CVMI) were examined. The proper regression model was selected by sex with polynominal regression models and method of variable selection. Mean of each measurements and 70% confidence interval of individual measurement according to age was assesed and a graphs were made. Results are as follows : 1. All the measurements for the width are gradually incresed as increase in chronologic age and CVMI. From the total amount of change between age 6 and 16, there is a tendency that mandibular width is broader than maxillary width and the width of male is broader than female. 2. There is no statistically significant sexual difference in Mx-Mn difference, Mx-Mn width differential, Mx/Mn ratio according to age and CVMI. 3. Mean of each measurement and 70% confidence interval of individual measurement according to age and sex were assessed and graphs were made for maxillary width, mandibular width, Mx-Mn difference, Mx/Mn ratio. 4. The width of maxilla and mandible in Korean children are broader than Western children during growth period.