Effects of end-effector robotic arm reach training with functional electrical stimulation for chronic stroke survivors.

Background: Upper-extremity dysfunction significantly affects dependence in the daily lives of stroke survivors, limiting their participation in the social environment and reducing their quality of life.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of end-effector robotic arm reach training (RAT) with functional electrical stimulation (FES) on upper-limb motor recovery in chronic stroke survivors.

Methods: In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial, 28 chronic stroke survivors were randomized to receive RAT-with-FES and RAT-without-FES for 40 min/day, three times per week over a 4-week period, and the data of 26 participants were used in the final analysis.

Mitigating Trunk Compensatory Movements in Post-Stroke Survivors through Visual Feedback during Robotic-Assisted Arm Reaching Exercises.

Trunk compensatory movements frequently manifest during robotic-assisted arm reaching exercises for upper limb rehabilitation following a stroke, potentially impeding functional recovery. These aberrant movements are prevalent among stroke survivors and can hinder their progress in rehabilitation, making it crucial to address this issue. This study evaluated the efficacy of visual feedback, facilitated by an RGB-D camera, in reducing trunk compensation.

Clinician-Driven Reanalysis of Exome Sequencing Data From Patients With Inherited Retinal Diseases.

Importance: Despite advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS), a significant proportion of patients with inherited retinal disease (IRD) remain undiagnosed after initial genetic testing. Exome sequencing (ES) reanalysis in the clinical setting has been suggested as one method for improving diagnosis of IRD.

Objective: To investigate the association of clinician-led reanalysis of ES data, which incorporates updated clinical information and comprehensive bioinformatic analysis, with the diagnostic yield in a cohort of patients with IRDs in Korea.

Effectiveness of Visual Feedback in Reducing Trunk Compensation During Arm Reaching for Home-Based Stroke Rehabilitation.

This study investigates the effectiveness of visual feedback in reducing trunk compensation during one-arm reaching exercises using an end-effector robot. Results suggest that visual feedback is more effective than verbal feedback in suppressing trunk compensation, as evidenced by lower trunk movements. Synchronized target position with respect to trunk motion exhibited a suppressive effect on trunk motion, as observed by a reduction in trunk standard deviation, trunk root mean square, and trunk difference between the starting and ending positions.

Usefulness of one-arm motorized gait device for chronic hemiplegic stroke survivors.

Background: After stroke, gait training is a key component of rehabilitation, and most individuals use a variety of walking aids depending on their physical condition and environment.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of a one-arm motorized gait device for gait assist of chronic hemiplegic stroke survivors through comparison with traditional gait devices (parallel bar and hemi-walker).

Methods: This study was conducted on 14 chronic hemiplegic stroke survivors.

Caregiver burden according to ageing and type of care activity in caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To describe caregiver burden according to the caregivers' general characteristics, especially with ageing, and type of care activities provided by caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury.

Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, health conditions, and caregiver burden.

Setting: A single center study in Seoul, Korea.

A Machine Learning-Based Initial Difficulty Level Adjustment Method for Balance Exercise on a Trunk Rehabilitation Robot.

Trunk rehabilitation exercises such as those for remediating core stability can help improve the seated balance of patients with weakness or loss of proprioception caused by diseases such as stroke, and aid the recovery of other functions such as gait. However, there has not yet been any reported method for automatically determining the parameters that define exercise difficulty on a trunk rehabilitation robot (TRR) based on data such as the patient's demographic information, balancing ability, and training sequence, etc. We have proposed a machine learning (ML)-based difficulty adjustment method to determine an appropriate virtual damping gain (D) of the controller for the TRR's unstable training mode.

Sacral interface pressure can be alleviated by repositioning with a small-angle change using an automated bed in patients with spinal cord injury.

Aim Of The Study: This study aimed to compare interface pressure and total contact area of the sacral region in different positions, including small-angle changes, in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Furthermore, we analyzed the clinical factors influencing pressure to identify the pressure injury (PI) high-risk group.

Materials And Methods: An intervention was conducted for patients with paraplegia (n = 30) with SCI.

Upper-Limb Robot-Assisted Therapy Based on Visual Error Augmentation in Virtual Reality for Motor Recovery and Kinematics after Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke: A Feasibility Study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of upper-limb robot-assisted therapy based on visual error augmentation in virtual reality (UL-RAT-VEAVR) for motor recovery and kinematics after chronic hemiparetic stroke. This study applied a single-group pre- and post-intervention study design. A total of 27 stroke survivors (20 males and 7 females; mean age 54.

Care robot research and development plan for disability and aged care in Korea: A mixed-methods user participation study.

The population of Korea is aging rapidly, and this has led to a care burden for caregivers. Without adequate caregivers to address the increased burden, people with significant disabilities and older adults with disabilities who have greatly reduced mobility are at risk. The aim of this study was to determine suitable types of care robots for care applications in Korea and formulate a strategy for a future care robot R&D plan through a user participation study.

Development of a novel Korean reading chart.

Clinical Relevance: Measuring reading ability is a crucial part of assessing patients who complain of reduced vision. Foreign language versions of such charts need to be developed and validated.

Background: It is difficult to measure or predict Korean reading ability due to a lack of a representative reading charts in Korean, and previous charts have limited capacity to detect deficits in reading ability among Korean patients with eye diseases.

Effects of two different robot-assisted arm training on upper limb motor function and kinematics in chronic stroke survivors: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Comparative studies of different robotic types are warranted to tailor robot-assisted upper limb training to patient's functional level.

Objectives: This study aimed to directly compare the effects of high inertia robot arm (whole arm manipulator, WAM) and low inertia robot arm (Proficio) on upper limb motor function in chronic stroke patients.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 40 chronic stroke survivors were randomized into robot-assisted arm training with WAM (RAT-WAM) and robot-assisted arm training with Proficio (RAT-P) groups.

Long-term safety and tolerability of subretinal transplantation of embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium in Asian Stargardt disease patients.

Background: Although human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have been considered a potential therapeutic option for regenerative medicine, there are some concerns regarding tumorigenicity, immunogenicity and ethical considerations. Stargardt macular dystrophy (SMD) is the most common form of juvenile macular degeneration that causes early onset blindness. Therapeutic options for SMD remain limited, although several treatment strategies are currently under investigation.

Endogenous Endophthalmitis Associated with Liver Abscess Successfully Treated with Vitrectomy and Intravitreal Empirical Antibiotics Injections.

Purpose: Klebsiella pneumoniae is the most common pathogen of endogenous endophthalmitis accompanying liver abscess in East Asia. The treatment may be different for the patients with endogenous endophthalmitis from the postoperative endophthalmitis. Prompt administration of both intraocular (vancomycin and ceftazidime) and systemic (ceftriaxone, aminoglycoside, and/or metronidazole) antibiotics have been a mainstay of treatment.

Bilayer Hydrogel Sheet-Type Intraocular Microrobot for Drug Delivery and Magnetic Nanoparticles Retrieval.

By virtue of minimum invasiveness and driving ability using a magnetic field, drug delivery with the aid of a microrobot has an inherent potential for targeted treatment for the eye. The use of microrobots, however, has the limitation of leaving magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the eye that can cause side effects. In this study, a bilayer hydrogel microrobot capable of retrieving MNPs after drug delivery is proposed that overcomes the limitations of existing microrobots.

Presence of corneal crystals confirms an unusual presentation of Bietti's retinal dystrophy.

: Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (BCD) (OMIM 210370) is a rare autosomal recessive retinal dystrophy typically characterized by multiple intraretinal crystals over the posterior pole of the retina. Degeneration of the retina and sclerosis of the choroidal vessels results in progressive night blindness and central visual field loss.: Detailed ophthalmic and genetic testing of the patient and his father were performed.

Robot-Assisted Reach Training With an Active Assistant Protocol for Long-Term Upper Extremity Impairment Poststroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To assess whether robot-assisted reach training (RART) with an active assistant protocol can improve upper extremity function and kinematic performance in chronic stroke survivors.

Design: This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial.

Setting: National rehabilitation center.

Clinical and Genetic Characteristics Analysis of Korean Patients with Stargardt Disease Using Targeted Exome Sequencing.

Purpose: To investigate genetic mutations in Korean patients with Stargardt disease (STGD) using exome sequencing, and to analyze the correlations between genetic mutations and clinical phenotypes.

Methods: Peripheral venous blood was obtained from 24 clinically diagnosed Korean STGD patients, followed by extraction of genomic DNAs. Using exome sequencing we investigated gene mutations for the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette, subfamily A, member 4 (ABCA4) elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids 4 (ELOVL4), and prominin 1 (PROM1), and confirmed gene mutations by the direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products.

Structural analysis of a rehabilitative training system based on a ceiling rail for safety of hemiplegia patients.

The body-weight support (BWS) function, which helps to decrease load stresses on a user, is an effective tool for gait and balance rehabilitation training for elderly people with weakened lower-extremity muscular strength, hemiplegic patients, etc. This study conducts structural analysis to secure user safety in order to develop a rail-type gait and balance rehabilitation training system (RRTS). The RRTS comprises a rail, trolley, and brain-machine interface.

Upper limb robotic rehabilitation for chronic stroke survivors: a single-group preliminary study.

[Purpose] This study aimed to assess whether robotic rehabilitation can improve upper limb function, activities of daily living performance, and kinematic performance of chronic stroke survivors. [Subjects and Methods] Participants were 21 chronic stroke survivors (19 men; 60.8 years; Mini-Mental State Examination score: 28; onset duration: 10.

Perivascular Progenitor Cells Derived From Human Embryonic Stem Cells Exhibit Functional Characteristics of Pericytes and Improve the Retinal Vasculature in a Rodent Model of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Unlabelled: : Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in working-age people. Pericyte loss is one of the pathologic cellular events in DR, which weakens the retinal microvessels. Damage to the microvascular networks is irreversible and permanent; thus further progression of DR is inevitable.

Rhythmic auditory stimulation using a portable smart device: short-term effects on gait in chronic hemiplegic stroke patients.

[Purpose] The effects of various rhythmic auditory stimulation tempos on stroke gait pattern changes when training patients with a smartphone-based rhythmic auditory stimulation application were investigated. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen patients with chronic stroke were included. Cadence during comfortable walking was measured (baseline).

Feedback training using a non-motorized device for long-term upper extremity impairment after stroke: a single group study.

[Purpose] To investigate the effect of feedback training using a non-motorized device on the upper extremity kinematic performance of chronic stroke survivors. [Subjects] This study had a single group design. Thirteen chronic stroke survivors (onset duration: 11.