Development and validation of clinical prediction model for functional independence measure following stroke rehabilitation.

Objectives: To develop and internally validate a clinical prediction model that includes balance ability and nutritional indices for the motor-functional independence measure (M-FIM) at 90 days post-stroke stroke.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 566 patients with stroke undergoing rehabilitation at our rehabilitation hospital. The primary outcome was the M-FIM score of >61 at 3 months post-strokes onset.

Examination of the correlation between the knee extension angles in the sitting and supine positions measured using ImageJ software: a prospective cross-sectional study.

[Purpose] We aimed to examine the correlation between the knee extension angles in the sitting and supine positions measured using ImageJ software. [Participants and Methods] A total of 50 legs in 25 healthy participants (17 males and 8 females) were included in our study. The knee extension angle was measured in the sitting and supine positions with the participants actively and maximally extending their knee joint on one side.

Quantitative evaluation for intravascular structures of vertebral artery dissection with a novel zoomed high-resolution black-blood MR imaging.

Background: Although non-stroke vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is diagnosed using MRI, detecting the subtle intravascular structure remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of quantitative intravascular scanning based on novel zoomed high-resolution black blood (Z-HB) MRI for distinguishing VAD from other vessel pathologies.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with non-stroke VAD and 18 with symptomatic atherosclerotic plaques in their vertebral artery underwent Z-HB MRI and subsequent profile curve processing.

Sequential therapy including regorafenib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Effect of early relative changes in hepatic functional reserve after regorafenib administration on prognosis.

Aim: Regorafenib is a second-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma after sorafenib-refractory treatment. This study examined the effects of regorafenib administration on hepatic functional reserve and the treatment course after regorafenib discontinuation.

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study involved 51 patients treated with regorafenib after sorafenib-refractory treatment for u-HCC at seven institutions before March 2021.

Aesthetic expression of caring in nursing among Japanese undergraduate nursing students.

Background: Caring is the heart of nursing. However, not many understand the significance of caring in nursing from the perspectives of undergraduate nursing students, especially in Japan.

Aim: To describe caring in nursing among Japanese nursing students as learned and communicated through their aesthetic expressions.

Comparison of therapeutic outcomes of sorafenib and lenvatinib as primary treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma with a focus on molecular-targeted agent sequential therapy: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Aim: The optimal choice between sorafenib (SOR) or lenvatinib (LEN) as the first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC) remains debatable. Using propensity score matching, this study compares the outcomes of SOR and LEN in the molecular-targeted agent (MTA) sequential treatment of u-HCC patients.

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter, observational study recruited 137 u-HCC patients who underwent primary treatment with LEN (n = 52) or SOR (n = 85) between June 2017 and June 2020 after regorafenib was approved as the secondary treatment for u-HCC.

Relating Mori's Uncanny Valley in generating conversations with artificial affective communication and natural language processing.

Human beings express affinity (Shinwa-kan in Japanese language) in communicating transactive engagements among healthcare providers, patients and healthcare robots. The appearance of healthcare robots and their language capabilities often feature characteristic and appropriate compassionate dialogical functions in human-robot interactions. Elements of healthcare robot configurations comprising its physiognomy and communication properties are founded on the positivist philosophical perspective of being the summation of composite parts, thereby mimicking human persons.

Impact of Upper Limb Function and Employment Status on Return to Work of Blue-Collar Workers after Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Return to work (RTW) after stroke is the ultimate goal of the working population to achieve economic independence and well-being. Previous studies have reported lower RTW rates of blue-collar workers versus white-collar workers. Thus, investigating predictive factors for RTW of blue-collar workers is meaningful to improve RTW after stroke.