Importance of Bilateral Hip Assessments in Unilateral Lower-Limb Amputees: A Retrospective Review Involving Older Veterans.

This study aimed to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) discordance and its implications in veterans with unilateral lower-limb amputation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive hip assessments. Data were collected from 84 male veterans, and BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine, intact hip, and amputated hip. The T-scores for the lumbar spine, intact hip, and amputated hip were -0.

Effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for mild knee osteoarthritis: A pilot study.

Background: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been widely used for various musculoskeletal disorders, including knee osteoarthritis (OA), and has been shown in several studies to be a safe treatment. Although some studies have confirmed the pain-relieving effect of ESWT for knee OA, research on objectivity for structural changes in knee OA is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ESWT treatment mechanisms in patients with knee OA by means of clinical symptoms and ultrasound techniques as objective measures.

Age-dependent effect of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health in chronic spinal cord injury patients: A pilot study.

Objective: To determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on changes in body composition associated with musculoskeletal health status in patients with chronic SCI and vitamin D deficiency as a response to age.

Design: Prospective drug-intervention study.

Setting: Department of rehabilitation medicine, Veterans Health Service Medical Center.

Utility of Diffusion and Magnetization Transfer MRI in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Pilot Study.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetization transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help detect spinal cord pathology, and tract-specific analysis of their parameters, such as fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD) and MT ratio (MTR), can give microstructural information. We performed the tract-based acquisition of MR parameters of three major motor tracts: the lateral corticospinal (CS), rubrospinal (RuS) tract, and lateral reticulospinal (RS) tract as well as two major sensory tracts, i.e.

Diagnostic Performance for Differential Diagnosis of Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes from Parkinson's Disease Using Quantitative Indices of F-FP-CIT PET/CT.

We are aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performances of quantitative indices obtained from dual-phase F-FP-CIT PET/CT for differential diagnosis of atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS) from Parkinson's disease (PD). We analyzed 172 subjects, including 105 non-Parkinsonism, 26 PD, 8 PSP, 1 CBD, 8 MSA-P, 9 MSA-C, and 15 DLB retrospectively. Two sequential PET/CT scans were acquired at 5 min and 3 h.

Structural Connectivity Affecting Aspiration After Stroke.

Aspiration after stroke is associated with pneumonia and mortality. In this study, we investigated brain structural connectivity associated with aspiration after unilateral supratentorial stroke. Patients on oral feeding after stroke were divided into liquid aspiration (22 patients) and normal (18 patients) groups based on videofluoroscopic swallowing studies.

The clinical ability of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to predict treatment outcomes for lumbar facet joint pain.

Background: Several radiologic imaging techniques have been used to predict the effects of treatment on lumbar facet joint (LFJ) pain. However, there are no reports on the use of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the management of LFJ pain. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical ability of contrast-enhanced MRI to predict treatment outcomes for LFJ pain.

Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging correlates of motor outcome after stroke using machine learning.

This study applied machine learning regression to predict motor function after stroke based on multimodal magnetic resonance imaging. Fifty-four stroke patients, who underwent T1 weighted, diffusion tensor, and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging were retrospectively included. The kernel rigid regression machine algorithm was applied to gray and white matter maps in T1 weighted, fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity maps in diffusion tensor, and two motor-related independent component analysis maps in resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging to predict Fugl-Meyer motor assessment scores with the covariate as the onset duration after stroke.

Changes in etiology and severity of dysphagia with aging.

Purpose: To investigate characteristics of dysphagia in the oldest-old population and the effect of aging on swallowing physiology.

Methods: 418 (364 men, 54 women) patients who underwent videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) for dysphagia were included. The patients were divided into an older group, group I (60-79 years old, n = 275) and the oldest-old group, group II (80-96 years old, n = 143).

Differences in Gait Patterns of Unilateral Transtibial Amputees With Two Types of Energy Storing Prosthetic Feet.

Objective: To evaluate if there is a difference in gait pattern when applying two different shapes of energy storing prosthetic feet for trainstibial amputation we conducted a comparative study. Energy storing prosthetic feet for transtibial amputation are increasing in use, but there are few studies that evaluate the effects of the shape of energy storing feet on gait patterns.

Methods: Ten unilateral transtibial amputees were recruited.

Effects of Lumbar Strengthening Exercise in Lower-Limb Amputees With Chronic Low Back Pain.

Objective: To analyze the effect of lumbar strengthening exercise in lower-limb amputees with chronic low back pain.

Methods: We included in this prospective study 19 lower-limb amputees who had experienced low back pain for longer than 6 months. Participants were treated with 30-minute lumbar strengthening exercises, twice weekly, for 8 weeks.

Lesion Characteristics of Chronic Dysphagia in Patients With Supratentorial Stroke.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between brain lesion location and type of chronic dysphagia in patients with supratentorial stroke.

Methods: Data from 82 chronic stroke patients who underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing studies at >6 months after an initial stroke event were retrospectively analyzed. Delayed oral transit time, delayed pharyngeal transit time, and the presence of aspiration were extracted.

Hypercapnia Caused by a Therapeutic Dosage of Pregabalin in a Tetraplegic Patient With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

Pregabalin is often used for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). We reported a patient with C5 [S(C5/C6)] ASIA Impairment Scale C SCI due to cervical myelopathy who presented CO2 retention when taking a therapeutic dosage of pregabalin. An 88-year-old patient with cervical SCI was transferred to the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Structural and functional improvements due to robot-assisted gait training in the stroke-injured brain.

Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) can improve walking ability after stroke. Because the underlying mechanisms are still unknown, we analyzed changes in post-stroke injured brains after RAGT. Ten non-ambulatory patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation were examined within 3 months of stroke onset.

Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Chronic Stroke Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) on pain, function, and ultrasonographic features of chronic stroke patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A total of 18 chronic stroke patients (33 knee joints) with unilateral or bilateral knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥1) were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly allocated to an experimental group receiving ESWT (n=9) or a control group receiving sham ESWT (n=9).

Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Neurography for Diagnosis of Piriformis Muscle Syndrome and Verification of the Effect After Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection: Two Cases.

Piriformis muscle syndrome (PMS) is a controversial neuromuscular disorder that is presumed to involve compression neuropathy of the sciatic nerve at the level of the piriformis muscle. Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection into the piriformis muscle is widely used as a treatment aimed at relieving sciatic nerve compression. In 2 patients with PMS, magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) was taken before and after BTX-A injection.

Efficacy and safety of NABOTA in post-stroke upper limb spasticity: a phase 3 multicenter, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Botulinum toxin A is widely used in the clinics to reduce spasticity and improve upper limb function for post-stroke patients. Efficacy and safety of a new botulinum toxin type A, NABOTA (DWP450) in post-stroke upper limb spasticity was evaluated in comparison with Botox (onabotulinum toxin A). A total of 197 patients with post-stroke upper limb spasticity were included in this study and randomly assigned to NABOTA group (n=99) or Botox group (n=98).

Predictive value of sympathetic skin response in diagnosing complex regional pain syndrome: a case-control study.

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of the sympathetic skin response (SSR) in diagnosing complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) by comparing three diagnostic modalities-SSR, three-phasic bone scans (TPBS), and thermography.

Methods: Thirteen patients with severe limb pain were recruited. Among them, 6 were diagnosed with CRPS according to the proposed revised CRPS clinical diagnostic criteria described by the International Association for the Study of Pain.

Herniated Lumbar Disks: Real-time MR Imaging Evaluation during Continuous Traction.

Purpose: To assess the morphologic changes in herniated lumbar intervertebral disks and surrounding structures during lumbar traction by using real-time magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Forty-eight consecutive patients with lumbar disk herniation (13 men and 35 women) were treated with continuous lumbar traction by using a nonmagnetic traction device.

Diagnostic Value of Facial Nerve Antidromic Evoked Potential in Patients With Bell's Palsy: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: To assess the practical diagnostic value of facial nerve antidromic evoked potential (FNAEP), we compared it with the diagnostic value of the electroneurography (ENoG) test in Bell's palsy.

Methods: In total, 20 patients with unilateral Bell's palsy were recruited. Between the 1st and 17th days after the onset of facial palsy, FNAEP and ENoG tests were conducted.

Clinical significance of urodynamic study parameters in maintenance of renal function in spinal cord injury patients.

Objective: To analyze association between urodynamic study (UDS) parameters and renal function in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity.

Methods: Patients with a suprasacral SCI, who underwent UDS and radioisotope renogram at least twice between January 1, 2006 and January 31, 2013, were included. UDS (cystometric capacity, reflex volume, compliance, and maximal detrusor pressure) and radioisotope renogram (total effective renal plasma flow [ERPF] of both kidneys) data were collected.

Epidemiologic change of patients with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiologic change of patients with spinal cord injury who were admitted to a Rehabilitation Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, during 1987-1996 and 2004-2008.

Methods: Medical records of 629 patients with spinal cord injury admitted to the Rehabilitation Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, from 2004 to 2008 were collected and reviewed retrospectively.

Results: The male-to-female ratio decreased to 2.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Therapy for Dysphagia Caused by Wilson's Disease.

Wilson's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder of abnormal copper metabolism. Although dysphagia is a common complaint of patients with Wilson's disease and pneumonia is an important cause of death in these patients, management of swallowing function has rarely been reported in the context of Wilson's disease. Hence, we report a case of Wilson's disease presenting with dysphagia.

A survey on activities of daily living and occupations of upper extremity amputees.

Objective: To assess prosthetic use by upper extremity amputees, and their difficulties with prostheses in activities of daily living and occupations.

Method: This study is based on a survey of 307 subjects, who were using prostheses manufactured in the Center of Prosthetics and Orthotics. The survey questionnaire included items about general demographic characteristics, side and level of amputation, type of prosthesis and its use, and difficulties in the activities of daily living, employment and driving.