Revisiting Loré's retrograde thyroidectomy from the perspective of preserving the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

Background: Injury to the external branches of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) is the main reported cause of inexplicable post-thyroidectomy dysphonia (PTD) without recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury. Loré proposed a retrograde thyroidectomy (RT) technique in which the superior pole is dissected as a final step after the Berry ligament division, making this approach advantageous for protecting the EBSLN. However, evidence of this protective effect remains insufficient.

Substituting sedentary time with physical activity in youngest-old to oldest-old community-dwelling older adults: Associations with body composition.

Introduction: Several studies have suggested that physical activity and sedentary behavior are strongly and independently associated with body composition and obesity. However, few studies have investigated whether substituting sedentary time with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with body composition in older adults, especially among those older than 75 years.

Methods: This study examined the associations between replacing sedentary time with physical activity and obesity indices in a sample of 199 community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults (52.

Dark Solar Wind.

We study the solar emission of light dark sector particles that self-interact strongly enough to self-thermalize. The resulting outflow behaves like a fluid which accelerates under its own thermal pressure to highly relativistic bulk velocities in the solar system. Compared to the ordinary noninteracting scenario, the local outflow has at least ∼10^{3} higher number density and correspondingly at least ∼10^{3} lower average energy per particle.

Domain-specific Physical Activity and the Risk of All-cause Mortality Among Middle-aged and Older Adults in Taiwan: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The impact of meeting leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) recommendations and household physical activity (HPA) on all-cause mortality in the Taiwanese population is unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between sufficient LTPA and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older Taiwanese adults and the role of HPA in those with insufficient LTPA.

Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study included 4,960 participants aged ≥50 years from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging (TLSA) survey.

Effects of ICT-Based Multicomponent Program on Body Composition and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study.

Purpose: Information and communication technology (ICT)-based training devices for older adults' care related to dementia are being developed to enhance older adults' cognitive functions. Older adults who require bicycle training devices can improve muscle strength and balance of lower limbs by continuously contracting and relaxing lower-limb muscles and improving cognitive function to prevent dementia. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of an ICT-based multicomponent program on body composition and cognitive function in older adults.

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.

Long-lived particles at the energy frontier: the MATHUSLA physics case.

We examine the theoretical motivations for long-lived particle (LLP) signals at the LHC in a comprehensive survey of standard model (SM) extensions. LLPs are a common prediction of a wide range of theories that address unsolved fundamental mysteries such as naturalness, dark matter, baryogenesis and neutrino masses, and represent a natural and generic possibility for physics beyond the SM (BSM). In most cases the LLP lifetime can be treated as a free parameter from the [Formula: see text]m scale up to the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis limit of [Formula: see text] m.

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).

Is cricothyroid muscle twitch predictive of the integrity of the EBSLN in Thyroid Surgery?

Objective: Cricothyroid (CT) muscle twitch inspection with neurostimulation is a widely accepted method to identify the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) and its integrity in thyroid surgery. However, there has been no large-scale research to evaluate the diagnostic values of CT muscle twitch inspection based on postoperative electromyography (EMG) results, which are considered the gold standard. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the diagnostic value of CT muscle twitch inspection based on postoperative EMG.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Symptom Checklist-Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale.

The Symptom Checklist - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (SCL-PTSD), also known as Crime-Related PTSD Scale has been validated in survivors of interpersonal trauma in the general population. However, the psychometric properties have not been investigated in a clinical setting for patients with PTSD from diverse traumatic events. This study investigates the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the SCL-PTSD among 104 psychiatric outpatients with PTSD, caused by interpersonal (n = 50) or non-interpersonal trauma (n = 54).

Care Status of the ALS Patients With Long-Term Use of Tracheostomy Tube.

Objective: To evaluate the care status of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with long-term use of tracheostomy tube by caregivers of ALS patients.

Methods: A survey was conducted in the form of questionnaires to ALS patients and their caregivers. All measurements were performed by two visiting nurses.

Efficacy of Systemic Postoperative Pulmonary Rehabilitation After Lung Resection Surgery.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of systemic pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) after lung resection in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: Forty-one patients undergoing lung resection were enrolled and classified into the experimental (n=31) and control groups (n=10). The experimental group underwent post-operative systemic PR which was conducted 30 min/day on every hospitalization day by an expert physical therapist.

Neuroanatomical correlation of urinary retention in lateral medullary infarction.

We prospectively recruited 10 patients who presented with urinary retention as a neurological deficit that was attributable to lateral medullary infarction. Of these, 9 patients underwent a urodynamic study, which demonstrated detrusor underactivity of the bladder in 7 patients. Urinary retention developed mainly when the lesions involved the lateral tegmentum of the middle or caudal medulla.

Differences in urodynamic variables for vesicoureteral reflux depending on the neurogenic bladder type.

Objective: To compare the urodynamic study variables at the onset of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) between the overactive and underactive bladders in patients with spinal cord injury who presented with VUR.

Methods: A total of 28 (13 cases of detrusor overactivity and 15 detrusor underactivity) men were enrolled. We compared the urodynamic variables between the two groups; detrusor pressure and bladder compliance, the infused volume at the onset of VUR measured on a voiding cystourethrography and cystometric capacity, maximum detrusor pressure, and bladder compliance during filling cystometry were recorded.

Effects of Botulinum Toxin on Reducing the Co-contraction of Antagonists in Birth Brachial Plexus Palsy.

Birth brachial plexus palsy (BBPP) is usually caused by plexus traction during difficult delivery. Although the possibility of complete recovery is relatively high, 5% to 25% of BBPP cases result in prolonged and persistent disability. In particular, muscle imbalance and co-contraction around the shoulder and elbow cause abnormal motor performance, osseous deformities, and joint contracture.

Botulinum toxin in the treatment of drooling in tetraplegic patients with brain injury.

Objective: To investigate the effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) injection into the salivary gland and to evaluate the changes of drooling in varied postures in tetraplegic patients with brain injury.

Methods: Eight tetraplegic patients with brain injury were enrolled. BTA was injected into each parotid and submandibular gland of both sides under ultrasonographic guidance.

Autonomic dysreflexia-induced reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in patients with spinal cord injury: two case reports.

Background/objectives: To report two cases of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Rehabilitation Inpatient Unit, Pusan National University Hospital, Yangsan-si, Korea.

A case of generalized auditory agnosia with unilateral subcortical brain lesion.

The mechanisms and functional anatomy underlying the early stages of speech perception are still not well understood. Auditory agnosia is a deficit of auditory object processing defined as a disability to recognize spoken languages and/or nonverbal environmental sounds and music despite adequate hearing while spontaneous speech, reading and writing are preserved. Usually, either the bilateral or unilateral temporal lobe, especially the transverse gyral lesions, are responsible for auditory agnosia.

The Correlation between Modified Ashworth Scale and Biceps T-reflex and Inter-rater and Intra-rater Reliability of Biceps T-reflex.

Objective: To establish a correlation between the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and amplitude and latency of T-reflex and to demonstrate inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the T-reflex of the biceps muscle for assessing spasticity after stroke.

Method: A total of 21 patients with hemiplegia and spasticity after ischemic stroke were enrolled for this study. The spasticity of biceps muscle was evaluated by an occupational therapist using the MAS.

Screening for the coexistence of congenital muscular torticollis and developmental dysplasia of hip.

Objective: To investigate the coexistence rate and related factors of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and congenital muscular torticollis (CMT), and to determine whether ultrasonography (US) gives good value for screening of DDH in CMT.

Method: We prospectively examined 121 infants (73 males and 48 females) diagnosed with CMT to determine the incidence of DDH by US. We also assessed the relationship between neck US findings and DDH occurrence, and investigated the clinical features of CMT related to DDH.

Candida esophagitis with fever alone in a patient with stroke.

Background: Candida esophagitis is a rare disease, but its incidence is higher in patients with impaired immunity due to an underlying disease. Patients with candida esophagitis usually present with lower retrosternal pain or dysphagia, but they are sometimes asymptomatic. Several risk factors, including diabetes mellitus, malignancies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and steroid therapy, have been shown to be associated with candida esophagitis.

Isolated bilateral abducens nerves palsy due to traumatic delicate arteriovenous fistula.

Background: Ocular motor dysfunction is common in patients with head trauma. Also, traumatic lateral gaze palsy is usually associated with brain stem lesion, peripheral nerve injury with or without basilar skull fracture and lateral rectus muscle injury or entrapment. However, isolated bilateral abducens nerve palsy is extremely rare.

Hyperthyroidism as a cause of autonomic dysreflexia.

A 25-yr-old female tetraplegic patient experienced autonomic dysreflexia episodes involving hypertension, headache, facial flushing, and tachycardia. The symptoms were not related to the bladder or bowel. The episodes did not seem to be linked to any mechanical cause.