A Retrospective Study on the Gender Differences in Clinical Manifestations of Bell's Palsy.

Objectives: Although many studies have assessed the clinical features and the factors affecting treatment outcomes of Bell's palsy, few have analysed differences between men and women. This study therefore evaluated whether the clinical features and treatment results, and the factors affecting them, differ between men and women with Bell's palsy.

Methods: This retrospective study included 1708 patients (791 men and 917 women) who presented with facial palsy to the otolaryngology department between January 1986 and December 2022.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Selective Nerve Block on Chronic Cervical Radiculopathy.

: Cervical radiculopathy (CR) manifests as pain and sensorimotor disturbances in the upper extremities, often resulting from nerve root compression due to intervertebral disc herniation, degenerative changes, or trauma. While conservative treatments are initially preferred, persistent or severe cases may require surgical intervention. Ultrasound-guided selective nerve root block (SNRB) has emerged as a promising intervention for alleviating symptoms and potentially obviating the need for surgery.

The Association of Free Testosterone with Sarcopenic Obesity in Community-Dwelling Older Men: A Cross-Sectional Study.

: Sarcopenic obesity, a clinical condition coexisting with obesity and sarcopenia, is associated with a high risk of functional impairment, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality. A decline in age-related free testosterone (FT) levels has been reported to be associated with decreased muscle mass and muscle strength and increased fat mass. However, the association between low FT levels and risk of sarcopenic obesity has not been well studied.

Expression of ChAT, Iba-1, and nNOS in the Central Nervous System following Facial Nerve Injury.

Facial nerve injury can cause significant functional impairment, impacting both the peripheral and central nervous systems. The present study evaluated changes in facial motor function, numbers of cholinergic neurons and microglia, and nNOS levels in the facial nucleus of the central nervous system (CNS) following peripheral facial nerve injury. Facial nerve function, as determined by eyeblink and whisker-movement reflexes, was evaluated at baseline and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after inducing facial nerve injury through compression or axotomy.

A 42-year-old patient with renal cell carcinoma presenting as low back pain: A case report.

Rationale: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common renal neoplasm, accounting for 2.4% of all cancers in Korea. Although the usual clinical manifestations of RCC include flank pain, hematuria, and palpable mass, RCC is generally characterized by a lack of early warning signs and is mostly discovered incidentally in advanced stage.

Obesity, Physical Performance, Balance Confidence, and Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study.

Obesity affects physical functions in numerous ways. We aimed to evaluate the association between obesity and falls, physical performance, and balance confidence in community-dwelling older adults. Using first-year baseline data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study, 979 older adults were included.

The Impact of the Physical Activity Level on Sarcopenic Obesity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Previous studies have reported that low levels of physical activity result in sarcopenic obesity (SO). However, the effects of specific intensities of physical activity on SO and the optimal amount of physical activity for lowering the prevalence of SO have not been well studied. This study aimed to identify the effects of physical activity levels and intensity on SO and the optimal amount of physical activity related to a lower prevalence of SO.

Acute cricopharyngeal achalasia after general anesthesia in myotonic dystrophy: A case report.

Rationale: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM-1) is a progressive multisystem genetic disorder that causes myotonia and both distal limb and facial/neck muscle weakness by expanding the CTG repeats of the DMPK gene in chromosome 19q13.3. General anesthesia is indicated in DM-1 patients owing to their sensitivity to anesthetic drugs such as opioids, hypnotics, and neuromuscular blocking agents.

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Spine Pain, 1990-2019: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Objective: To describe the global, regional, national, and temporal trends in neck pain (NP) and low back pain (LBP) from 1990 to 2019 and analyze associations with age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI).

Design: Temporal trends analyses of the Global Burden of Disease 2019 data for global, regional, and national prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disabilities (YLDs) of NP and LBP from 1990 to 2019.

Setting: Not applicable.

National trends in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis prevalence in South Korea, 1998-2021.

Studies on the trends in the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are limited, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to analyze the temporal trend of RA and OA in South Korean adults from 1998 to 2021, including the COVID-19 pandemic period. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data on adults aged ≥ 19 years were analyzed to investigate the prevalence of RA and OA from 1998 to 2021.

Expression and Role of Toll-like Receptors in Facial Nerve Regeneration after Facial Nerve Injury.

Facial nerve palsy directly impacts the quality of life, with patients with facial nerve palsy showing increased rates of depression and limitations in social activities. Although facial nerve palsy is not life-threatening, it can devastate the emotional and social lives of affected individuals. Hence, improving the prognosis of patients with this condition is of vital importance.

Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Facial Paralysis Recovery after Facial Nerve Injury: A Review on Preclinical and Clinical Studies.

Various methods have been used to improve function and manage facial nerve injury. Although electrical stimulation therapy is frequently used to treat facial paralysis, its effects have been found to vary and no clear standards have been developed. The current review describes the results of preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of electrical stimulation therapy in promoting the recovery of a peripheral facial nerve injury.

Central Facial Nervous System Biomolecules Involved in Peripheral Facial Nerve Injury Responses and Potential Therapeutic Strategies.

Peripheral facial nerve injury leads to changes in the expression of various neuroactive substances that affect nerve cell damage, survival, growth, and regeneration. In the case of peripheral facial nerve damage, the injury directly affects the peripheral nerves and induces changes in the central nervous system (CNS) through various factors, but the substances involved in these changes in the CNS are not well understood. The objective of this review is to investigate the biomolecules involved in peripheral facial nerve damage so as to gain insight into the mechanisms and limitations of targeting the CNS after such damage and identify potential facial nerve treatment strategies.

Impact of Vitamin B12 Insufficiency on the Incidence of Sarcopenia in Korean Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study.

The longitudinal effect of B12 insufficiency on sarcopenia has not yet been investigated in older adults. We aimed to study the impact of B12 levels on alterations in muscle mass, function and strength over two years. Non-sarcopenic older adults ( = 926) aged 70-84 were included.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Short-Term Functional Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a systemic inflammatory biomarker, has been associated with poorer outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients. The present study was designed to expand these findings by investigating the association between NLR and short-term functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated patients within 7 days after the onset of acute ischemic stroke.

Association of high body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage with sarcopenia in older women.

Background: Age-related obesity and body composition changes include loss of muscle mass and increased body fat. This study aimed to investigate sex differences in the impact of sarcopenia, defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS), on obesity in Korean older adults.

Methods: In this 2-year longitudinal study, 3014 participants were excluded based on AWGS sarcopenia parameters (if any one of the sarcopenic parameter criteria was satisfied), including low handgrip strength (HGS), low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), and low short physical performance battery (SPPB).

Usefulness of the Blink Reflex in Diagnosing Isolated Infraorbital Neuropathy Following Midface Augmentation with AlloPlastic Facial Implants: A Case Report.

For the preoperative evaluation of infraorbital nerve injury, most clinicians depend on the patient's subjective symptoms or judgements, lacking a generalized and objective evaluation method. Due to the limitations in subjective evaluations for accurate diagnosis of infraorbital nerve injury, we used the blink reflex to objectively evaluate injury to the infraorbital nerve. A 49-year-old female, who had previously undergone midface augmentation with alloplastic implants, presented with sensory loss in the left upper lip, nose tip, and lower palatal area.

Review of Drug Therapy for Peripheral Facial Nerve Regeneration That Can Be Used in Actual Clinical Practice.

Although facial nerve palsy is not a life-threatening disease, facial asymmetry affects interpersonal relationships, causes psychological stress, and devastates human life. The treatment and rehabilitation of facial paralysis has many socio-economic costs. Therefore, in cases of facial paralysis, it is necessary to identify the cause and provide the best treatment.

Central obesity is associated with lower prevalence of sarcopenia in older women, but not in men: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Obesity is a chronic disease that causes various medical health problems, increases morbidity, and reduces the quality of life. Obesity (especially central obesity) in older adults is expected to act with the development of sarcopenia. However, the relationship between obesity, central obesity, and sarcopenia remains controversial.

Intracranial Hemorrhage Due to Potential Rupture of an Arteriovenous Malformation after BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination in a Young Korean Woman: Case Report.

Inoculation with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus infection-19 (COVID-19) vaccine (BNT162b2) has been approved in Korea. Although it is generally safe, several possible side effects have been reported. The present report describes a 28-year-old woman who developed an intracerebral hemorrhage in her right temporal lobe after the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Diagnostic Value of Preoperative Electrodiagnostic Analysis in a Patient with Facial Palsy and a Large Vestibular Schwannoma: Case Report.

Although radiologic methods confirm the diagnosis of patients with large vestibular schwannomas, these methods usually indicate only the size of the tumor and its possible nerve compression. Electrodiagnostic methods can reveal the functional state of the nerves, particularly the trigeminal and facial nerves, as well as providing a basis for objectively evaluating nerve injury. Due to the lack of an established objective evaluation method, electrodiagnostic methods were utilized to assess injury to the cranial nerve in a patient with a large vestibular schwannoma.

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Oxidase 2 Expression and Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid on Recovery in a Rat Model of Facial Nerve Injury.

Background: NOX2 (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2), which is upregulated by a variety of neurodegenerative factors, is neuroprotective and capable of reducing detrimental aspects of pathology following ischemic and traumatic brain injury, as well as in chronic neurodegenerative disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate NOX2 expression and the degree of functional recovery following different types of facial nerve injury and assess the effects of antioxidant intervention on nerve regeneration.

Methods: A total of 40 mature (6-week-old) male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used.

Association Between Clinical Symptoms, Electrodiagnostic Findings, Clinical Outcome, and Prodromal Symptoms in Patients With Bell's Palsy.

Objective: This study aimed to determine which prodromal symptoms frequently occur in patients with Bell's palsy and evaluate the association between these symptoms and clinical severity of paresis or the severity of facial nerve injury.

Materials And Methods: The study included 86 patients with Bell's palsy between August 2018 and April 2020. Severity levels of Bell's palsy and facial nerve damage were evaluated using the House-Brackmann (H-B) grading scale and electrodiagnostic study, respectively.

Does Unilateral Lumbosacral Radiculopathy Affect the Association between Lumbar Spinal Muscle Morphometry and Bone Mineral Density?

Age-related degenerative changes lead to a gradual decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle mass. We aimed to assess the effects of decreased BMD and lumbar denervation on lumbar spinal muscle morphometry and the relationship between BMD and lumbar spinal muscular morphometry, respectively. Eighty-one patients, aged 50-85 years, diagnosed with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy based on electrodiagnostic studies between January 2016 and April 2021 were enrolled.

Impact of Vitamin B12 Insufficiency on Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Korean Adults.

Vitamin B12 (B12) is involved as a cofactor in the synthesis of myelin. A lack of B12 impairs peripheral nerve production, which can contribute to sarcopenia. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between B12 insufficiency and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Korean adults.