Left Amygdala Regulates the Cerebral Reading Network During Fast Emotion Word Processing.

Emotion words constitute a special class of verbal stimuli which can quickly activate the limbic system outside the left-hemisphere language network. Such fast response to emotion words may arise independently of the left occipitotemporal area involved in visual word-form analysis and rely on a distinct amygdala-dependent emotion circuit involved in fearful face processing. Using a hemifield priming paradigm with fMRI, we explored how the left and right amygdala systems interact with the reading network during emotion word processing.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III.

Objective: Given the lack of a Korean version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (KSCIM-III) that accurately reflects the contextual and cultural aspect of the assessment tool, the aims of the study were to develop a new Korean version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III and to investigate its reliability and validity.

Design: Forty (N = 40) consecutive patients with spinal cord injury were included in this prospective study. Backward and forward translation of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III was performed by fluent speakers in both languages.

Altered Functional Connectivity of the Default Mode Network in Low-Empathy Subjects.

Empathy is the ability to identify with or make a vicariously experience of another person's feelings or thoughts based on memory and/or self-referential mental simulation. The default mode network in particular is related to self-referential empathy. In order to elucidate the possible neural mechanisms underlying empathy, we investigated the functional connectivity of the default mode network in subjects from a general population.

Neurorestorative effects of epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on cognitive function in a chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model.

Purpose: This study investigated whether (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) can enhance cognition by a neurorestorative effect in a rat model of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO).

Methods: Forty-eight male, 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to four groups 6 weeks after BCCAO or sham operation: EGCG-single intravenous injection (25 mg/kg/day; SIV group), EGCG-multiple intraperitoneal injection (50 mg/kg/day for 5 days; MIP group), untreated BCCAO group (untreated group), and sham-operated group (sham group).

Results: Escape latency was significantly shorter in the SIV and MIP groups than in the untreated group.

Effects of robot-assisted gait training on the balance and gait of chronic stroke patients: focus on dependent ambulators.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of robot-assisted gait training on the balance and gait ability of stroke patients who were dependent ambulators. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty stroke patients participated in this study. The participants were allocated to either group 1, which received robot-assisted gait training for 4 weeks followed by conventional physical therapy for 4 weeks, or group 2, which received the same treatments in the reverse order.

Effect of Resistance Training Maintaining the Joint Angle-torque Profile Using a Haptic-based Machine on Shoulder Internal and External Rotation.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to present an individualized resistance training method to enable exercise while maintaining an exercise load that is set according to an individual's joint angle-torque using a haptic-based resistance training machine. [Methods] Five participants (machine group) performed individualized shoulder internal and external rotation training with a haptic resistance training machine, while another five participants performed general dumbbell-based shoulder internal and external rotation training for eight weeks. Internal and external rotation powers of subjects were measured using an isokinetic machine before and after training.

Innovative strength training-induced neuroplasticity and increased muscle size and strength in children with spastic cerebral palsy: an experimenter-blind case study--three-month follow-up.

Background: In children with cerebral palsy (CP), the never-learned-to-use (NLTU) effect and underutilization suppress the normal development of cortical plasticity in the paretic limb, which further inhibits its functional use and increases associated muscle weakness.

Objective: To highlight the effects of a novel comprehensive hand repetitive intensive strengthening training system on neuroplastic changes associated with upper extremity (UE) muscle strength and motor performance in children with spastic hemiplegic CP.

Method: Two children with spastic hemiplegic CP were recruited.

Implementation of a clinical pathway in primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients treated by wedge resection surgery.

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a clinical pathway for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) patients treated by wedge resection surgery. The authors also aimed to evaluate the effects of the implementation of the PSP clinical pathway on (1) complication occurrence rates, (2) self-efficacy with respect to PSP recurrence prevention, (3) patient-perceived quality of life, and (4) patient treatment satisfaction.

Design: This study was conducted using a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent study design.

Portable activity monitoring system for temporal parameters of gait cycles.

A portable and wireless activity monitoring system was developed for the estimation of temporal gait parameters. The new system was built using three-axis accelerometers to automatically detect walking steps with various walking speeds. The accuracy of walking step-peak detection algorithm was assessed by using a running machine with variable speeds.