Clinical evaluation of usefulness and effectiveness of sitting-type continuous passive motion machines in patients with total knee arthroplasty: a dual-center randomized controlled trial.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a treatment option for osteoarthritis of the knee. After undergoing TKA, patients can be treated with continuous passive motion (CPM); however, inconsistent results have been reported on the effectiveness of CPM as part of a rehabilitation strategy. This discrepancy may be due to the difference between the set-arc of CPM and real arcs of knee motion.

The Effect of Oral Diet Training in Indwelling Nasogastric Tube Patients with Prolonged Dysphagia.

Patients with severe dysphagia are usually fed using a nasogastric tube (NGT). Many patients who receive long-term NGT feeding are unable to obtain sufficient nutrients orally immediately after NGT removal. Thus, a transitional period involving oral diet training is required to transition from NGT feeding to exclusive oral feeding.

Association between Smoking Habit Changes and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Smoking is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke (IS). While the relationship between smoking and the risk of cardiovascular diseases is established, the impact of changing smoking habits post-IS on the risk of subsequent MI remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the effects of alterations in smoking behavior following an IS diagnosis on the likelihood of experiencing an MI.

Cardiomyopathy in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and Methamphetamine Use: Relevance for Cardioembolic Stroke and Outcome.

Background: Methamphetamine use has emerged as a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association of methamphetamine use with cardioembolic stroke.

Methods And Results: We performed a retrospective study of patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted at our medical center between 2019 and 2022.

First Report of from a Red Fox () Released for the Re-Introduction Project in South Korea.

The red fox () is a known host for various parasites, including numerous helminths and protozoans. Among these, certain species in the genus (phylum Apicomplexa) have been documented to possess the capability to infect red foxes as definitive hosts. In South Korea, red foxes have been introduced and released as part of a re-introduction program.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea-Part 1: Rehabilitation for Motor Function (2022).

This clinical practice guideline (CPG) is the fourth edition of the Korean guideline for stroke rehabilitation, which was last updated in 2016. The development approach has been changed from a consensus-based approach to an evidence-based approach using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) method. This change ensures that the guidelines are based on the latest and strongest evidence available.

Methamphetamine use increases the risk of cerebral small vessel disease in young patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methamphetamine use causes spikes in blood pressure. Chronic hypertension is a major risk factor for cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). The aim of this study is to investigate whether methamphetamine use increases the risk of cSVD.

The effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on large neurogenic heterotopic ossification in a patient with pontine hemorrhage: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Heterotopic ossification (HO), an ectopic bone formation in soft tissue around the joint, is a complication observed in stroke patients. HO around the hip joint causes a reduction in the functional ability of patients by generating pain and limiting range of motion (ROM). In addition, it results in impaired mobility, ultimately affecting quality of life and increasing the mortality of patients.

Genetic Testing on Patients with Developmental Delay: A Preliminary Study from the Perspective of Physicians.

This study aimed to discover and propose solutions to various decision-making problems, including obtaining consent, encountered by physicians when administering genetic testing to patients with disabilities. A preliminary survey and focus group interviews (FGIs) were conducted with 27 specialists who had 5-25 years of clinical experience in rehabilitation medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology, regarding their experience in providing genetic testing to people with developmental disabilities. This included the "role of medical staff in the patient's decision-making process", "difficulty of the consent process for genetic testing", and so forth.

Clinical evaluation of usefulness and effectiveness of sitting type continuous passive motion machines in patients with total knee arthroplasty: a study protocol for a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an important management strategy for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) refractory to conservative management. Postoperative range of motion (ROM) exercise is important to recover patients' activities of daily living. Continuous passive motion (CPM) is a machine that provides passive ROM exercises of the knee joint in a pre-defined arc of motion.

The Effect of Branched Chain Amino Acid Supplementation on Stroke-Related Sarcopenia.

Background: Stroke-related sarcopenia is caused by various factors, such as brain damage, systemic catabolic state, skeletal muscle imbalance, and malnutrition. In the long-term care plan after stroke, appropriate rehabilitation strategies to achieve maximum functional improvement and prevent the development of sarcopenia are important. This study has investigated the effect of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on sarcopenia after stroke.

Double Eyelid Tape as a Treatment Option for Severe Ptosis in Patients With Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1.

Myotonic dystrophy is a systemic disorder associated with progressive muscle weakness of the limbs and multiorgan dysfunction. This condition commonly affects the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, which leads to ptosis and eventually affects patients' activities of daily living. The effects of ptosis on activities of daily living are usually overlooked; therefore, the importance of treatment is underestimated, and surgical procedures are considered infeasible in patients with preexistent levator palpebrae superioris muscle weakness.

Comprehensive, multisystem, mechanical decolonization of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus and Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriacease without the use of antibiotics.

Among multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have become major nosocomial pathogens that are endemic worldwide. If VRE/CRE are present as colonizing organisms but do not act as pathogens, these organisms do not cause symptoms and do not require antibiotic use. However, once gastrointestinal colonization with VRE/CRE occurs, it can persist for long periods and serve as a reservoir for transmission to other patients.

Genetically confirmed limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B with DYSF mutation using gene panel sequencing: A case report.

Rationale: The limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness and have more than 30 different subtypes linked to specific gene loci, which manifest as highly overlapping and heterogeneous phenotypes.

Patient Concerns: A 59-year-old male presented for evaluation of progressive muscle weakness since his late twenties. When he was 38 years old, he had muscle weakness in the upper extremities and had a waddling gait, hyper lordosis of lower back, and anterior pelvic tilt.

Preoperative physical factors that predict stair-climbing ability at one month after total knee arthroplasty.

Objective: To identify preoperative physical performance factors that predict stair-climbing ability at 1 month after total knee arthroplasty.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: University-based rehabilitation centre.

Coexistence of digenic mutations in the collagen VI genes (COL6A1 and COL6A3) leads to Bethlem myopathy.

Introduction: Bethlem myopathy is a kind of collagen VI related myopathy which affects proximal skeletal muscles and leads to gait disturbance and multiple joint contractures with an onset in the first two decades of life. Lung function impairment (respiratory muscle and diaphragmatic weakness, ventilatory restriction, hypoxaemia and hypercapnia) and respiratory failure are part of the clinical spectrum and can occur in ambulatory patients.

Methodology: We carried out whole exome sequencing (WES) in combination with neuromuscular diseases-associated genes-filtering to detect the possible causative mutation(s) in a Korean family with Bethlem myopathy.

A novel SYNE2 mutation identified by whole exome sequencing in a Korean family with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) also known as humeroperoneal muscular dystrophy, is a skeletal myopathy characterized by the clinical triad of progressive muscular weakness, joint contractures, and cardiac disease.

Methodology: Herein, we reported a family including two patients (the proband and his son) affected with progressive muscular dystrophy manifested by joint contractures without cardiac involvement ("EDMD-like" phenotype). Interestingly, electodiagnostic study results of the proband showed a neuropathic pattern different from the myopathic pattern in most muscular dystrophy patients.

Effect of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors versus Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors on Cardiovascular Function in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Randomized controlled trials demonstrated lowering risks of cardiovascular events with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and high cardiovascular risk. We analyzed the effects of cardiovascular function on SGLT2 inhibitors compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors in T2DM with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or heart failure (HF).

Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, single center study.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea: Recommendations for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention after Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Though clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are an effective and widely used treatment method worldwide, they are as yet not widely accepted in Korea. Given that cardiovascular (CV) disease is the second leading cause of death in Korea, it is urgent that CR programs be developed. In 2008, the Government of Korea implemented CR programs at 11 university hospitals as part of its Regional Cardio-Cerebrovascular Center Project, and 3 additional medical facilities will be added in 2019.

The therapeutic effect and complications of oro-esophageal tube training in stroke patients.

Patients with severe dysphagia after stroke are usually fed using a nasogastric tube. However, this method is inconvenient and causes complications. The oro-esophageal (OE) tube has been used as an alternative parenteral feeding method for patients for whom safe oral feeding is impossible.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea.

Objective: Though clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are an effective and widely used treatment method worldwide, they are as yet not widely accepted in Korea. Given that cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in Korea, it is urgent that CR programs be developed. In 2008, the Government of Korea implemented CR programs at 11 university hospitals as part of its Regional Cardio-Cerebrovascular Center Project, and three additional medical facilities will be added in 2019.

Impact of volume reduction in giant left atrium during surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: An enlarged left atrium (LA) is a well-known risk factor for ablation failure of atrial fibrillation (AF). We analyzed the result of concomitant AF ablation in patients with a giant LA and evaluated the effect of LA volume reduction.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2011, 116 patients with a giant LA (antero-posterior dimension ≥70 mm) who underwent surgical AF ablation during MV surgery were retrospectively reviewed.