The Safety and Efficacy of Balance Training on Stroke Patients With Reduced Balance Ability: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

To investigate the safety and efficacy of balance training for stroke patients with reduced balance ability by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched up to February 2022. Quality assessment was performed using the using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Sum rule for fluctuations of work.

We study the fluctuations of work caused by applying cyclic perturbations and obtain an exact sum rule satisfied by the moments of work for a broad class of quantum stationary ensembles. In the case of the canonical ensemble, the sum rule reproduces the Jarzynski equality. The sum rule can also be simplified into a linear relationship between the work average and the second moment of work, which we numerically confirm via an exact diagonalization of a spin model system.

Distal blocking screw augmentation in ulnar intramedullary nail fixation of adult forearm diaphyseal fractures.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of distal blocking screws on the stability and healing of ulnar diaphyseal fractures treated with intramedullary (IM) nails. The primary research question was whether the addition of distal blocking screws enhanced fracture stabilization and promoted faster healing than the standard IM nailing techniques.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed medical records of 30 patients with ulnar diaphyseal fractures treated from February 2018 to September 2023.

Critical Impact of Working Distance on OCT Imaging: Correction of Optical Distortion and Its Effects on Measuring Retinal Curvature.

Purpose: To assess the impact of working distance (WD) on optical distortion in optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and to evaluate the effectiveness of optical distortion correction in achieving consistent retinal Bruch's membrane (BM) layer curvature, regardless of variations in WD.

Methods: Ten subjects underwent OCT imaging with four serial macular volume scans, each employing distinct WD settings adjusted by balancing the sample and reference arm of the OCT interferometer (eye length settings changed). Either of two types of 30° standard objectives (SOs) was used.

Association Between Body Mass Index Changes and All-Cause Mortality in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Whether body weight changes are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) mortality remains uncertain.

Objective: To investigate the association between changes in body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality in patients with PD.

Methods: This nationwide cohort study enrolled 20,703 individuals with new-onset PD (ICD-10 code: G20 and a rare intractable disease registration code: V124) who underwent health screening program by the Korean National Health Insurance Service within two years from pre- and post-PD diagnosis.

Impact of COVID-19 on brain connectivity and rehabilitation outcome after stroke.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may induce neurological issues, impacting brain structure and stroke recovery. Limited studies have explored its effects on post-stroke rehabilitation. Our study compares brain structure and connectivity, assessing rehabilitation outcomes based on pre-stroke COVID-19 infection.

Association Between Frequency of Rehabilitation Therapy and Long-Term Mortality After Stroke: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated conflicting results regarding the effects of rehabilitation therapy on poststroke mortality. We aimed to investigate the association between rehabilitation therapy, including both inpatient and outpatient treatment, within the first 6 months after stroke and long-term all-cause mortality in patients with stroke using the Korean National Health Insurance System data.

Methods: A total of 10 974 patients newly diagnosed with stroke using the , , codes (I60-I64) between 2003 and 2019 were enrolled and followed up for all-cause mortality until 2019.

Robot-Assisted Gait Training in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation emphasizes locomotion. Robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) is widely used in clinical settings because of its benefits; however, its efficacy remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy of RAGT in patients with SCI.

Clinical Utility of the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 for Acute Cholangitis in the Emergency Department and Comparison with Novel Markers (Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Blood Nitrogen Urea-to-Albumin Ratios).

: The Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG2018) is a scoring system used to recommend the clinical management of AC. However, such a scoring system must incorporate a variety of clinical outcomes of acute cholangitis (AC). In an emergency department (ED)-based setting, where efficiency and practicality are highly desired, clinicians may find the application of various parameters challenging.

Deep learning algorithm for the automated detection and classification of nasal cavity mass in nasal endoscopic images.

Nasal endoscopy is routinely performed to distinguish the pathological types of masses. There is a lack of studies on deep learning algorithms for discriminating a wide range of endoscopic nasal cavity mass lesions. Therefore, we aimed to develop an endoscopic-examination-based deep learning model to detect and classify nasal cavity mass lesions, including nasal polyps (NPs), benign tumors, and malignant tumors.

Searching for a partially absorbing target by a run-and-tumble particle in a confined space.

A random search of a partially absorbing target by a run-and-tumble particle in a confined one-dimensional space is investigated. We analytically obtain the mean searching time, which shows a nonmonotonic behavior as a function of the self-propulsion speed of the active particle, indicating the existence of an optimal speed, when the absorption strength of the target is finite. In the limit of large and small absorption strengths, respectively, asymptotes of the mean searching time and the optimal speed are found.

Active search for a reactive target in thermal environments.

We study a stochastic process where an active particle, modeled by a one-dimensional run-and-tumble particle, searches for a target with a finite absorption strength in thermal environments. Solving the Fokker-Planck equation for a uniform initial distribution, we analytically calculate the mean searching time (MST), the time for the active particle to be finally absorbed, and show that there exists an optimal self-propulsion velocity of the active particle at which MST is minimized. As the diffusion constant increases, the optimal velocity changes from a finite value to zero, which implies that a purely diffusive Brownian motion outperforms an active motion in terms of searching time.

Comparison of Particulate Steroid Injection vs Nonparticulate Steroid Injection for Lumbar Radicular Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the difference on pain intensity and disability between particulate and nonparticulate steroid injections in patients with lumbar radicular pain. Subgroup analysis by study design, type of particulate steroid, and follow-up duration were performed.

Data Sources: We performed the literature search in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up March, 2023.

Different risks of early-onset and late-onset Parkinson disease in individuals with mental illness.

We aimed to investigate the association of various mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, insomnia, and anxiety, with the risk of early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) (age <50 years) and compare it with that of late-onset PD (LOPD) (age ≥50 years). This nationwide cohort study enrolled 9,920,522 people who underwent a national health screening examination in 2009, and followed up until 31 December 2018. There was a significantly increased risk of EOPD and LOPD in individuals with mental illness, and EOPD showed a stronger association than LOPD (EOPD, hazard ratio (HR) = 3.

Low Phase Angle and Skeletal Muscle Index Increase Hospital-Acquired Infections During Stroke Rehabilitation.

Objectives: Sarcopenia is common in patients with stroke and may increase the risk of medical complications such as infection. However, assessing sarcopenia in stroke patients with consciousness disturbance, aphasia or severe paralysis is challenging. This study aimed to investigate whether a combined assessment of phase angle (PhA) and skeletal muscle index (SMI), estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis, was associated with 2 common nosocomial infections, hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and urinary tract infection (UTI), during inpatient stroke rehabilitation.

Effects of mesenchymal stem cell on dopaminergic neurons, motor and memory functions in animal models of Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, and although restoring striatal dopamine levels may improve symptoms, no treatment can cure or reverse the disease itself. Stem cell therapy has a regenerative effect and is being actively studied as a candidate for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Mesenchymal stem cells are considered a promising option due to fewer ethical concerns, a lower risk of immune rejection, and a lower risk of teratogenicity.

The Effect of Elastic Eyelid Band Application on Bilateral Severe Ptosis in a Patient With Bilateral Incomplete Claude's Syndrome: A Case Report.

Patients with brainstem stroke can present with various oculomotor disorders, including ptosis. Neurogenic ptosis, which results from total or partial dysfunction of the third cranial nerve and/or the Müller muscle, can significantly restrict activities of daily living and participation in rehabilitation. Therefore, surgical intervention is an effective therapeutic strategy.

Depressive Symptoms and the Subsequent Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objective: Only a few studies have focused on depressive symptoms and Parkinson's disease (PD) risk. As a time lag exists from the onset of depressive symptoms to the diagnosis of depression, elucidating the association between depressive symptoms and PD development might be helpful for the early prediction of PD. We investigate the association between depressive symptoms and subsequent PD risk using nationwide population-based cohort database.

Association between lipid levels and the risk of Parkinson's disease in individuals with diabetes mellitus: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Many studies have examined the positive association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). Dyslipidemia has been reported to be prevalent in patients with diabetes; thus, lipid levels and the drugs for dyslipidemia could influence the development of PD in patients with DM. This study aimed to examine the association between lipid levels and the risk of PD in individuals with DM and evaluate whether the association changes with the use of statins.

Association between Low Blood Pressure and Subsequent Risk of Parkinson's Disease in Older Adults Aged ≥75 Years.

Introduction: The association between blood pressure (BP) and incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in older adults remains uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between BP (high or low) and PD incidence in adults aged ≥75 years.

Methods: In this nationwide population-based cohort study, we enrolled participants aged ≥75 years without a prior PD diagnosis who had undergone health examination provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service at least once from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2012.

Association of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Level with Clinical Outcome in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Emergency Department Patients.

Objectives: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is used for outcome assessment of various diseases. We designed this study to investigate whether BNP, which has been proven useful in the risk stratification of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) of cardiac etiology, can also prove to be a valuable prognostic tool for SCA also included with non-cardiac etiology. In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between measured BNP levels and clinical outcomes in SCA, regardless of the cause of SCA.

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.