Muscle Pathology Associated With Cardiac Function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Objective: To compare the progression of muscle fibrosis of various site and its relation between cardiac deterioration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In this study aimed to examine the associations between echocardiogram-based cardiac function indices and fibrosis of the abdominal and lower extremity muscles in patients with DMD to facilitate early detection of cardiac dysfunction and identify its predictors.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with DMD patients were enrolled in the study.

Usefulness of oxygen uptake efficiency slope in a 6 min walk test in chronic heart failure.

Aims: Frailty is an obstacle to performing cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). We evaluated the usefulness of oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) using a 6 min walk test (6MWT) with portable gas analysis compared with CPET-derived parameters in patients with CHF.

Methods And Results: Patients with CHF who underwent both the 6MWT with portable gas analysis and CPET between December 2016 and May 2020 were retrospectively investigated.

Exercise-induced desaturation during a six-minute walk test is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is an established exercise test for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), affording insight into both exercise intolerance and overall prognosis. Despite the widespread application of the 6MWT, the prognostic implications of exercise-induced desaturation (EID) during this test has been inadequately studied in PAH patients. Thus, we evaluated the occurrence of EID and its prognostic significance in PAH patients.

Home-Based Remote Rehabilitation Leads to Superior Outcomes for Older Women With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To examine the effects of a home-based lower-extremity strengthening exercise program in community-dwelling older women with knee osteoarthritis.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting And Participants: Women aged ≥60 years with knee osteoarthritis and Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1 or 2 on anteroposterior/lateral radiographs of both knee joints.

A study on skin mobility according to joint movement: Variations in mobility according to joint motion range and correlation and influence with hydrica composition.

Background: Skin structures arranged in an advantageous structure for skin stretching to facilitate movement of the human body, and have structural functions to help the movement of the joints by changing the position of the skin, such as the stretch that occurs incidentally. Proper movement of the skin is required to be efficient owing to the nature of the skin that covers the entire human body with a single connected tissue layer.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to quantify the skin mobility that occurs during joint motion and to identify the correlation and influence with hydrica composition.

Battery-Free, Wireless, Ionic Liquid Sensor Arrays to Monitor Pressure and Temperature of Patients in Bed and Wheelchair.

Repositioning is a common guideline for the prevention of pressure injuries of bedridden or wheelchair patients. However, frequent repositioning could deteriorate the quality of patient's life and induce secondary injuries. This paper introduces a method for continuous multi-site monitoring of pressure and temperature distribution from strategically deployed sensor arrays at skin interfaces via battery-free, wireless ionic liquid pressure sensors.

Early cardiac rehabilitation after heart transplantation in a patient with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy: A case report.

Rationale: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after heart transplantation (HT) decreases the mortality rate and increases exercise capacity of patients. Dilated cardiomyopathy develops in most patients with muscular dystrophy (MD), leading to advanced heart failure, necessitating the use of left ventricular assist devices or HT. As the clinical outcomes of left ventricular assist devices and HT in patients with myopathy differ from those in patients without myopathy, CR adapted to patients with MD should be considered.

Is Age-Predicted Maximal Heart Rate Applicable in Patients With Heart or Lung Disease?

Objective: To compare the predicted and actual maximal heart rate (HRmax) values in the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET).

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 1,060 patients who underwent a CPET between January 2016 and April 2020 at our institution's cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center. The following patients were included: those aged >20 years, those tested with a treadmill, and those who underwent symptom-limited maximum exercise testing- reaching ≥85% of the predicted HRmax (62% if taking beta-blockers) and highest respiratory exchange ratio ≥1.

Cardiac rehabilitation in a heart failure patient after left ventricular assist device insertion and subsequent heart transplantation: A case report.

Background: Insertion of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and heart transplantation (HT) improve the survival of patients with heart failure. In addition, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) further increases the functional capacity. This case report describes a successful case of CR after LVAD insertion and subsequent HT.

Angiosarcoma secondary to postirradiation and chronic lymphedema: Case reports.

Introduction: Angiosarcoma secondary to post-irradiation and lymphedema is rare, but it is aggressive with a poor prognosis. It is essential to understand these patients' clinical features and distinguish them from benign diseases or other malignant tumors.

Patient Concerns: Three patients who had radiotherapy for cancer treatment and chronic lymphedema admitted to the hospital with specific skin lesions at upper or lower extremities.

Role of early short-term cardiac rehabilitation in patients undergoing pacemaker implantation.

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves the clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, few data exist regarding the role of early short-term CR in patients undergoing pacemaker (PM) implantation. We assessed whether short-term CR following PM implantation was sufficient to improve both physical function and quality of life (QOL).

Technical note: Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and proteinase-K improve the efficiency of DNA extraction from Japanese larch wood and PCR success rate.

Illegal distribution of timber disrupts the timber market and depletes forest resources. DNA markers are used to verify the legal distribution of wood. However, it is difficult to obtain the quantity and quality of DNA suitable for genetic analysis because of the physicochemical properties of wood; therefore, an efficient wood DNA extraction method is required.

Battery-free, wireless soft sensors for continuous multi-site measurements of pressure and temperature from patients at risk for pressure injuries.

Capabilities for continuous monitoring of pressures and temperatures at critical skin interfaces can help to guide care strategies that minimize the potential for pressure injuries in hospitalized patients or in individuals confined to the bed. This paper introduces a soft, skin-mountable class of sensor system for this purpose. The design includes a pressure-responsive element based on membrane deflection and a battery-free, wireless mode of operation capable of multi-site measurements at strategic locations across the body.

The Effect of Convergence Gamification Training in Community-Dwelling Older People: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: It is necessary to improve the health of older adults through exercise, but there is no concrete way to implement it or an environment in which they can exercise continuously. Our objective was to confirm the safety and efficacy of information technology (IT) convergence gamification exercise equipment for older adults. We tried to demonstrate equivalence to conventional exercise by comparing the functional improvement.

Gold Standard? Method of Citric Acid Solution Swallowing Test as a Screening Test for Patients with Tracheostomy.

This study aimed to apply various ranges of citric acid levels in the mouth and T-cannula to compare the validity with instrumental aspiration measures in patients with tracheostomy. Sixty-one patients underwent the citric acid cough reflex test (CRT) and videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). Citric acid was delivered via facemask and T-cannula at concentrations of 0.

Identification of acquired tracheoesophageal fistula after tracheostomy decannulation by videofluoroscopic swallowing study: A case report.

Rationale: Videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) is a noninvasive radiographic procedure that examines the oral, pharyngeal, and cervical esophageal stages of swallowing. Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is difficult to diagnose depending on its size and location. However, how VFSS can be of benefit in the diagnosis of TEF has not been reported yet.

A novel assessment of abdominal pseudohernia after thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures using surface electromyography and ultrasonography: A case report.

Rationale: An abdominal pseudohernia is a protrusion of the abdominal wall that there is no actual muscular disruption. This report presents a case in which abdominal muscle activities were accurately and quantitatively measured using ultrasonography (US) and surface electromyography in a patient with abdominal pseudohernia.

Patient Concerns: A 62-year-old man presented with a marked protrusion on the left abdomen with increasing abdominal pressure.

Thoracic pyogenic infectious spondylitis presented as pneumothorax: A case report.

Background: Pyogenic infectious spondylitis (PIS) is a rare condition, with an incidence between 0.2 and 2 cases per 100000 per annum. It's most common symptom-back or neck pain-occurs in more than 90% of cases.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea: Recommendations for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention after Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Though clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are an effective and widely used treatment method worldwide, they are as yet not widely accepted in Korea. Given that cardiovascular (CV) disease is the second leading cause of death in Korea, it is urgent that CR programs be developed. In 2008, the Government of Korea implemented CR programs at 11 university hospitals as part of its Regional Cardio-Cerebrovascular Center Project, and 3 additional medical facilities will be added in 2019.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea.

Objective: Though clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are an effective and widely used treatment method worldwide, they are as yet not widely accepted in Korea. Given that cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in Korea, it is urgent that CR programs be developed. In 2008, the Government of Korea implemented CR programs at 11 university hospitals as part of its Regional Cardio-Cerebrovascular Center Project, and three additional medical facilities will be added in 2019.

Revisiting respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function in spinal cord injury: The effect of body positions.

Objectives: In the subjects with high cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), The difference of respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function according to supine and sitting position were investigated whether there are changes in the tendency.

Methods: Twenty-three subjects with high cervical SCI and 23 subjects with low cervical and thoracic SCI were evaluated. The reference neurological level of injury for dividing the groups was fifth cervical vertebrae (C5).

Rhabdomyolysis with Peripheral Neuropathy: A Case Series and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome characterized by muscle necrosis and secretion of intracellular muscle components into the blood circulation. Acute compartment syndrome is a potential complication of severe rhabdomyolysis. CASE REPORT We report 3 cases of compartment syndrome-related peripheral neuropathy in alcoholic individuals with rhabdomyolysis.

Effect of Squat Exercises on Lung Function in Elderly Women with Sarcopenia.

We explored whether a mechanically-assisted squat exercise improved muscle mass, muscle function, and pulmonary function in elderly women with or without sarcopenia. In total, 76 community-dwelling elderly subjects (>60 years of age) were screened. We ultimately included 30 subjects who completed more than 80% of the six-week course of mechanically-assisted squat exercises (three days per week, 30 min per day).