Clinical Practice Guidelines for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia.

Objective: Dysphagia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing. It is sub-classified into oropharyngeal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the mouth and pharynx, and esophageal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the esophageal body and esophagogastric junction. Dysphagia can have a significant negative impact one's physical health and quality of life as its severity increases.

Microprocessor-Controlled Prostheses for a Bilateral Transtibial Amputee with Gait Analysis and Satisfaction: A 1-Year Followup Case Report.

Bilateral amputees are disadvantaged as they lack healthy leg support. We present the rare case of a bilateral transtibial amputee (BTA), in which we compared the first South Korean-made microprocessor-controlled prosthesis (MPA) to a conventional prosthetic ankle (CPA) with gait analysis and a patient questionnaire for long-term outcomes. A 70-year-old man presented with bilateral transtibial amputations from injury.

Pandemic and employment: Evidence from COVID-19 in South Korea.

Using two complementary approaches, this study examines the deterioration of the Korean labor market during the first 10 months of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Applying the synthetic control method, we first find that the COVID-19 outbreak has eliminated 1.1 million jobs (4.

Diagnostic Performance of Three-Phase Bone Scintigraphy and Digital Infrared Thermography Imaging for Chronic Post-Traumatic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of three-phase bone scintigraphy (TPBS) and digital infrared thermography imaging (DITI) in the chronic post-traumatic CRPS and propose new imaging diagnostic criteria that combine the two tests. We retrospectively enrolled 44 patients with suspected symptoms of CRPS from various injuries during obligatory military service. We analyzed the following findings: (1) uptake pattern on TPBS, (2) uptake ratios of affected and unaffected sides in each phase of TPBS, (3) difference in body skin temperature on DITI.

Customized Power Wheelchair Joysticks Made by Three-Dimensional Printing Technology: A Pilot Study on the Environmental Adaptation Effects for Severe Quadriplegia.

Background: Power wheelchair joysticks are often available as standardized ready-made products for patients with severe hand dysfunction. However, standardized joysticks have limitations in accommodating the individualized features of hand dysfunctions. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has facilitated active research on the development of joysticks that can overcome such limitations.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Postoperative Rehabilitation in Older Patients With Hip Fractures.

Objective: The incidence of hip fractures is increasing worldwide with the aging population, causing a challenge to healthcare systems due to the associated morbidities and high risk of mortality. After hip fractures in frail geriatric patients, existing comorbidities worsen and new complications are prone to occur. Comprehensive rehabilitation is essential for promoting physical function recovery and minimizing complications, which can be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach.

Computer-aided detection and abnormality score for the outer retinal layer in optical coherence tomography.

Background: To develop computer-aided detection (CADe) of ORL abnormalities in the retinal pigmented epithelium, interdigitation zone and ellipsoid zone via optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: In this retrospective study, healthy participants with normal ORL, and patients with abnormality of ORL including choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) or retinitis pigmentosa (RP) were included. First, an automatic segmentation deep learning (DL) algorithm, CADe, was developed for the three outer retinal layers using 120 handcraft masks of ORL.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Three Lumbosacral Orthoses on Early Spine Surgery Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To compare the convenience and effectiveness of the existing lumbosacral orthoses (LSO) (classic LSO and Cybertech) and a newly developed LSO (V-LSO) by analyzing postoperative data.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was performed from May 2019 to November 2019 and enrolled and analyzed 88 patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease scheduled for elective lumbar surgery. Three types of LSO that were provided according to the time of patient registration were applied for 6 weeks.

Nonsurgical treatments for patients with radicular pain from lumbosacral disc herniation.

Background Context: Lumbosacral disc herniation (LDH) is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal diseases causative of sick leave in the workplace and morbidity in daily activities. Nonsurgical managements are considered as first line treatment before surgical treatment.

Purpose: This clinical practice guideline (CPG) is intended to provide physicians who treat patients diagnosed with LDH with a guideline supported by scientific evidence to assist in decision-making for appropriate and reasonable treatments.

Comparison of Clinical Efficacy of Epidural Injection With or Without Steroid in Lumbosacral Disc Herniation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Epidural injection is performed for treatment of back and radicular pain in patients with lumbosacral disc herniation (LDH). Steroids are usually administered to effectively remove inflammatory mediators, and local anesthetics or saline also contribute to pain reduction by washing out chemical mediators or blocking the nociceptor activity. Controversy exists regarding whether steroids produce superior clinical effects compared with local anesthetics or saline.

Comparison of Clinical Efficacy Between Transforaminal and Interlaminar Epidural Injections in Lumbosacral Disc Herniation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Epidural injection (EI) is used to treat back or radicular pain from lumbosacral disc herniation (LDH). Although several reports have stated that the transforaminal approach in EI (TFEI) has an advantage in target specificity and yields better clinical efficacy than the interlaminar approach in EI (ILEI), other studies have indicated that the clinical efficacy of ILEI was not inferior to that of TFEI and that ILEI also has the ability to spread medication into the ventral space to a degree similar to that of TFEI. There has been controversy about whether TFEI is superior to ILEI in clinical efficacy.

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.

Effect of reducing assistance during robot-assisted gait training on step length asymmetry in patients with hemiplegic stroke: A randomized controlled pilot trial.

Background: An assist-as-needed robot-assisted gait training protocol was recently developed. It allows active movement during training, but its exact criteria remain unknown. Asymmetric step length is a common abnormal gait pattern in hemiplegic stroke patients.

Comparison of clinical efficacy of transforaminal and caudal epidural steroid injection in lumbar and lumbosacral disc herniation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Context: Epidural steroid injection has been used to treat back or radicular pain from lumbar and lumbosacral disc herniation (LDH). However, the superiority of transforaminal injection (TFESI) to caudal injection (CESI) remains controversial.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether TFESI was more useful than CESI for achieving clinical outcomes in patients with LDH.

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.

Bilateral hemispheric changes and language outcomes in chronic left hemisphere stroke.

The role of the right hemisphere in recovery of language function after left hemisphere stroke remains unclear. This prospective study aimed to determine the relationship between bilateral hemispheric changes and severity of aphasia in patients with chronic left hemisphere stroke. Twenty-three patients with left hemisphere stroke with aphasia and 10 healthy control patients underwent high-resolution T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging.

Analysis of the peptides detected in atopic dermatitis and various inflammatory diseases patients-derived sera.

Serum proteomics has been applied for the discovery and analysis of biomarkers related to human disease. Serum is an optimal source to identify proteins derived from diseased-tissue compartments. We recently established an integrative method to analyze highly basic proteins that remain unresolved by the general 2D-PAGE method.

Rhododendrin inhibits toll-like receptor-7-mediated psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice.

Many active compounds present in Rhododendron brachycarpum have been used in traditional Oriental medicine for the treatment of various skin diseases. However, the precise mechanism of action of the compounds isolated from R. brachycarpum and their relevance as therapeutics for the treatment of psoriasis remain elusive.

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.

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).

Inter-rater Reliability of Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale.

Objective: To investigate the inter-rater agreement using the Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale (VDS).

Method: The present study was designed as a multicenter, single-blind trial. A Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) was performed using the protocol described by J.

Surgical treatments on patients with anterior cervical hyperostosis-derived Dysphagia.

Anterior cervical hyperostosis may be a cause of dysphagia. For anterior cervical hyperostosis, medical or surgical treatments can be adhibited in view of the causative mechanisms and intensities of dysphagia. We report 3 cases of cervical hyperostosis-derived progressive dysphagia that underwent operation.

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.

Mesoporous CuO particles threaded with CNTs for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes.

Mesoporous CuO particles threaded with carbon nanotubes are suggested as a novel class of nanocomposite material for a high-performance anode in the lithium-ion batteries. The nanocomposite electrode exhibits a highly reversible capacity (650 mA h g(-1) at 0.1 C rate) and an excellent C rate capability (580 mA h g(-1) at 5 C, and 500 mA h g(-1) at 10 C).