Long-term effect of botulinum toxin A on the hip and spine in cerebral palsy: A national retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of botulinum toxin A (BTA) on the development of hip dislocation and scoliosis, surgical rates for hip and spine, and mortality in cerebral palsy (CP).

Study Design: A cohort study was conducted using CP data from a Taiwan National Insurance Health Research Database. Diagnoses were defined using the International Classification of Diseases codes, 9th revision.

Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Mechanisms: A Systemic Review.

Objective: The objective of this review is to investigate the detailed existing scientific information about the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) conditions and to reveal the proposed mechanisms.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine), NCCAM (The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases to identify relevant monographs and related references from 1974 to 2018. Chinese journals and theses/dissertations were hand searched.

Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Risk Factors: A Nationwide Study in Taiwan.

Aims: To investigate the association between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as potential risk factors for TMD and the preventive effect of medications on TMD, by using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Methods: In total, 17,317 patients newly diagnosed with RA and 17,317 matched controls without RA were followed up from 2000 to 2010. Cox regression was used to determine risk factors for developing TMD.

Ultrasound-Guided Pulsed Radiofrequency Stimulation of Posterior Tibial Nerve: A Potential Novel Intervention for Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic benefit of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation at the posterior tibial nerve (PTN) in patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis (PF).

Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (12-wk follow-up).

Setting: Outpatient local medical center settings.

The dose-dependent efficiency of radial shock wave therapy for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: a prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Recently, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been shown to be a novel therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, previous studies did not examine the diverse effects of different-session ESWT for different-grades CTS. Thus, we conducted a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Effect of Radial Shock Wave Therapy on Spasticity of the Upper Limb in Patients With Chronic Stroke: A Prospective, Randomized, Single Blind, Controlled Trial.

Recently, studies have reported that extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a safe, noninvasive, alternative treatment for spasticity. However, the effect of ESWT on spasticity cannot be determined, because most studies to date have enrolled small patient numbers and have lacked placebo-controlled groups and/or long-term follow-up. In addition, whether varying the number of ESWT sessions would affect the duration of the therapeutic effect has not been investigated in a single study.

Retrospective study using MRI to measure depths of acupuncture points in neck and shoulder region.

Objectives: There are safety issues associated with acupuncture treatment. Previous studies regarding needling depth of acupuncture points revealed inconsistent results due to vague depth definition, acupuncture point localisation and measuring tools. The objective of this study is to find and compare the differences of the mean depths of 11 acupuncture points in the neck and shoulder region between subjects, with variables including gender and body mass index (BMI).

Short-term effects of self-massage combined with home exercise on pain, daily activity, and autonomic function in patients with myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome.

[Purpose] The aim of the present was to investigate the short-term effects of a program combining self-massage and home exercise for patients with myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS). [Subjects and Methods] In this retrospective study, 63 patients were allocated to the experimental (n = 32) and control (n = 31) groups. Both groups received 6 sessions of treatment with physical modalities over the course of two weeks.

Trapping particles using waveguide-coupled gold bowtie plasmonic tweezers.

We propose and demonstrate a trapping configuration integrating coupled waveguides and gold bowtie structures to form near-field plasmonic tweezers. Compared with excitation from the top, waves coupled through the waveguide can excite specific bowties on the waveguide and trap particles precisely. Thus this scheme is more efficient and compact, and will assist the circuit design on a chip.

An exploration of the needling depth in acupuncture: the safe needling depth and the needling depth of clinical efficacy.

Objective. To explore the existing scientific information regarding safe needling depth of acupuncture points and the needling depth of clinical efficacy. Methods.

Concomitance of cervical intramedullary traumatic neuroma and cervical cord herniation in a tetraplegic woman.

We present the first case of concomitant intramedullary traumatic neuroma and spinal cord herniation. A 57-year-old woman injured her cervical spine with subluxation and cord compression at the C5-C6 level. After the operation, the patient received intensive rehabilitation for one year with well response.

Predictors of first-week mortality in patients with acute spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage.

Cerebellar hemorrhage (CH) is considered a predictive factor for poor outcome after intracranial hemorrhage because of the high risk of brainstem compression. Hence, predictors of early mortality in patients with spontaneous CH are clinically valuable. However, the predictors of death within 7 days of CH onset have not yet been studied.

Conus medullaris metastasis in breast cancer: report of a case and a review of the literature.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis is quite rare. This report presents the case of a female patient with metastasis of the conus medullaris from breast cancer, presenting with paraplegia and sphincter dysfunction. Bladder dysfunction improved after removal of the conus mass.

Relationship between the interval before high-dose methylprednisolone administration and chronic pain in traumatic spinal cord injury.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the interval before the administration of high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) and pain in traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients.

Methods: We retrospectively studied the medical records of admitted patients with traumatic SCI at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri- Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan from January 2005 to January 2010. We examined the relationship between the interval before the administration of highdose MP, and the severity of pain and the presence of neuropathic pain (NeP).

Hyperglycemia as a predictor of poor outcome at discharge in patients with acute spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage.

Acute stroke patients commonly suffer from hyperglycemia. However, the relationship between hyperglycemia and poor outcome after discharge of patients with acute cerebellar hemorrhage (CH) had not been hitherto investigated.Sixty-two patients with acute spontaneous CH were retrospectively analyzed.

Safe needling depth of acupuncture points.

Objectives: The objective of this review is to investigate the existing scientific information on the safe needling depth of acupuncture points.

Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine), NCCAM (The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases were searched to identify relevant monographs from 1991 to 2009. Additional articles were also identified from the reference list of identified articles.

Recurrent cerebellar hemorrhage: case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of cerebellar hemorrhage (CH) that recurred in other hemisphere after 4 months of the first attack. A 58-year-old man presented with general weakness and computerized tomography (CT) of the brain showed a 41 mm hematoma in the right cerebellum with intraventricular extension. The satisfactory outcome was obtained after emergency surgical intervention and intensive rehabilitation.

Effects of electroacupuncture treatment on impaired cognition and quality of life in Taiwanese stroke patients.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on cognitive function and health-related quality of life in patients who have had a stroke.

Design: This clinical trial employed a prospective, randomized, single-blind design.

Settings/location: The study was conducted at the department of rehabilitation medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Impairment of static upright posture in subjects with undifferentiated arthritis in sacroiliac joint in conjunction with elevation of streptococcal serology.

Background And Objectives: Our latest work has demonstrated a strong correlation between the anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titer and the sacroiliac (SI) joint scintigraphy in subjects with undifferentiated arthritis [Journal of Rheumatology 34 (2007), 1746-1752]. Of a significant percentage in those subjects with sacroiliac disorder reported suffering from postural abnormality. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was an abnormality of upright postural sway in those subjects.

Femoral head resection as a salvage procedure for the severely dysplastic hip in nonambulatory children with cerebral palsy.

Background: Proximal femoral head resection (FHR) has been used as a treatment option in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) who suffer from pain, contractures, and impaired personal hygiene. We analyzed the overall functional outcome following this surgery and associated patient satisfaction.

Methods: This study was a retrospective case series with a follow-on questionnaire.

Contribution of the multifidus muscle for control of upright posture in subjects with spina bifida occulta.

Context: The multifidus muscle plays a role in controlling lumbosacral position and postural sway. One of its attachment sites is the exact site of spina bifida occulta (SBO).

Objective: To investigate the role of the muscle for postural control in SBO.

Efficacy of near-infrared irradiation on intractable hiccup in custom-set acupoints: evidence-based analysis of treatment outcome and associated factors.

Objective: The condition intractable hiccup (IH) is generally an incapacitating disorder indicating neurologic or non-neurologic disorders. Linearly polarized, near-infrared irradiation (SL) is shown to be effective in the treatment of IH where it is applied on custom-set acupoints. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment efficacy of IH by SL on the acupoints and to survey the relationship between IH and comorbid-related factors.