Assignment of Dental Hygienists Improves Outcomes in Japanese Rehabilitation Wards: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: To clarify the effectiveness of ward-assigned dental hygienists (DHs) on rehabilitation outcomes in rehabilitation wards.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: The registry data from the Japanese Rehabilitation Nutrition Database.

Comparison of Fractional Anisotropy from Tract-Based Spatial Statistics with and without Lesion Masking in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Technical Note.

Background: Diffusion-tensor fractional anisotropy (FA) is an index of neural-fiber damage in patients following stroke. To better characterize FA, tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) is frequently used, which involves spatial transformation into the standard brain space. Despite its utility, this technique is susceptible to space-occupying hematoma in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Energy Intake at Admission for Improving Activities of Daily Living and Nutritional Status among Convalescent Stroke Patients.

Our aim was to clarify the nutritional status and energy intake needed for activities of daily living (ADL) improvement among convalescent stroke patients. This retrospective cohort study of stroke patients used data from the Japan Rehabilitation Nutrition Database. Mean energy intake per ideal body weight was 26 kcal/kg/day at 1 week after hospitalization.

[A case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, with slowly progressive bulbar palsy, mimicking a motor neuron disease].

A 52-year old woman first noted dysphagia four months before admission followed by dysarthria two months later. She then developed weakness of all limbs and became unable to walk. All these symptoms, associated with tongue atrophy, slowly progressed, leading to the initial clinical impression of a motor neuron disease, although her nerve conduction study and electromyography showed no abnormalities.

Randomised clinical trial: vonoprazan versus lansoprazole for the initial relief of heartburn in patients with erosive oesophagitis.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used to treat gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). However, the onset of action is considered slow and PPIs cannot completely block acid secretion at night. A new potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) can rapidly block acid secretion.

Cervical Myelopathy Due to Direct Cord Compression by Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Associated with Aberrant Vertebral Artery.

Background: The effectiveness of surgical microvascular decompression (MVD) of the vertebral artery (VA) for treating conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm is well known. However, the use of MVD for a case in which the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is directly compressing the high cervical cord has not been reported.

Case Description: A 48-year-old male was diagnosed with a rare case of myelopathy due to the PICA directly compressing the high cervical cord.

Long-Term Outcomes of FIM Motor Items Predicted From Acute Stage NIHSS of Patients With Middle Cerebral Artery Infarct.

Objective: To outline the association between the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) in the acute stage and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) of motor items several months later.

Methods: Seventy-nine infarct cases with middle-cerebral-artery region transferred to long-term rehabilitation facilities were analyzed. Patients were allocated to either the model-development group or the confirmatory group at a 2:1 ratio.

Associations of Diffusion-Tensor Fractional Anisotropy and FIM Outcome Assessments After Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Aim: This study aimed to clarify the associations between fiber tract degeneration evaluated by diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and outcomes following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: In total, data of 40 patients from our previously published reports were assessed. Acquisition of fractional anisotropy (FA) maps was performed using DTI 14-21 days after onset; tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used for the analysis.

Botulinum Toxin Type A Treatment Combined with Intensive Rehabilitation for Gait Poststroke: A Preliminary Study.

Goal: To examine the effects of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) treatment combined with intensive rehabilitation for gait compared with intensive rehabilitation alone in patients with chronic stroke.

Materials And Methods: A comparative case series design was used. Subjects were 19 patients with chronic stroke and spastic hemiplegia.

Utility of Fractional Anisotropy in Cerebral Peduncle for Stroke Outcome Prediction: Comparison of Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Strokes.

Background: Diffusion-tensor fractional anisotropy (FA) has been used for predicting stroke outcome. However, most previous studies focused on patients with either hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between FA and outcome for patients with hemorrhagic stroke and those with ischemic stroke, and then compare their correlation patterns.

Are the Symptoms of an NSAID-Induced Ulcer Truly Milder Than Those of an Ordinary Ulcer?

Objective: The percentage of patients with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and low-dose aspirin- (LDA-) induced ulcers who complain of gastrointestinal symptoms has generally been considered to be low. The aim of this study was to examine and compare the symptoms and quality of life (QOL) at peptic ulcer onset.

Methods: This study involved 200 patients who were confirmed by endoscopy to be in the acute stage of gastroduodenal ulcer (A1-H1).

Prolonged Dysphagia due to a Combination of Cerebral Hemorrhage and Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: A Case Report.

A 79-year-old man was diagnosed with left thalamic hemorrhage. On admission, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor score was 13 points, and the Food Intake Level Scale (FILS) was Level 2, with the patient needing enteral nutrition. Six months after stroke onset, the FIM motor score had improved to 38 points and the dysphagia to FILS Level 7.

Diffusion Tensor Fractional Anisotropy in the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus Correlates with Functional Independence Measure Cognition Scores in Patients with Cerebral Infarction.

Background: This study aimed to determine the relationship between fiber tract degeneration measured by diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and outcome of patients after cerebral infarction.

Methods: Fractional anisotropy (FA) maps were generated by DTI in patients 14-21 days after the first infarction and were analyzed by tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Mean FA values within the corticospinal tract (CST) and the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) were extracted from individual TBSS data.

Physical Activity: A Viable Way to Reduce the Risks of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's Disease, and Vascular Dementia in Older Adults.

A recent alarming rise of neurodegenerative diseases in the developed world is one of the major medical issues affecting older adults. In this review, we provide information about the associations of physical activity (PA) with major age-related neurodegenerative diseases and syndromes, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and mild cognitive impairment. We also provide evidence of PA's role in reducing the risks of these diseases and helping to improve cognitive outcomes in older adults.

Effect of Vonoprazan, a Potassium-Competitive Acid Blocker, on the C-Urea Breath Test in Helicobacter pylori-Positive Patients.

Background And Aim: Vonoprazan (VPZ) is a new oral potassium-competitive acid blocker that has recently become available. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of VPZ on the urease activity of H. pylori as measured by the C-urea breath test (C-UBT).

Clinical results of surgical treatment for femoral neck fractures with the Targon FN.

84 cases (male 15 cases, female 69 cases) of intracapsular femoral neck fractures treated with the Targon FN (TFN) were available for review. Mean patient age was 74.0 years (range 36-100 years).

Reduced Diffusion Tensor Fractional Anisotropy in the Left Arcuate Fasciculus of Patients with Aphasia Caused by Acute Cerebral Infarct.

Background: Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a new technique that evaluates neural fiber integrity within the brain. We conducted DTI in patients exhibiting aphasia during the acute stage post-infarct and investigated the neural tracts responsible by comparison with DTI data from age-matched controls.

Methods: Fractional anisotropy (FA) maps were generated from diffusion tensor brain images obtained from aphasic patients 14-21 days following their first infarct.

A Case of Hearing Loss after Bilateral Putaminal Hemorrhage: A Diffusion-tensor Imaging Study.

Background: Magnetic resonance diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) is a tool for the assessment of neural fiber integrity. We applied DTI in a patient with hearing loss that developed after bilateral putaminal hemorrhage.

Case: A 59-year-old woman was referred to our outpatient clinic for sequelae diagnosis.

Intra- and Inter-rater Agreement on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Rotator Cuff Integrity After Repair.

Purpose: To investigate the intra- and inter-rater agreement of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations of rotator cuff integrity at 6 and 24 months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR).

Methods: Three shoulder surgeons reviewed 68 MRI scans from 34 patients who had undergone ARCR and MRI examination at both 6 and 24 months after surgery. Postoperative rotator cuff integrity was investigated by using Owen, Sugaya, and Hayashida classifications to determine whether the rotator cuff was intact or whether there was a partial-thickness retear or full-thickness retear and Burks score to assess tendon appearance.

Daily Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Poststroke Upper Limb Paresis in the Subacute Period.

Background: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study to assess the efficacy in motor recovery and safety of daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in subacute stroke patients.

Methods: Forty-one patients were randomly assigned to a real or sham stimulation group. Each patient underwent regular rehabilitation accompanied by a series of 10 daily 5-Hz rTMS of the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1) or sham stimulation.

Shunt Devices for the Treatment of Adult Hydrocephalus: Recent Progress and Characteristics.

Various types of shunt valves have been developed during the past 50 years, most of which can be classified into the following categories: (1) fixed differential pressure valves; (2) fixed differential pressure (DP) valves with an antisiphon mechanism; (3) programmable DP valves; (4) programmable DP valves with an antisiphon mechanism; and (5) programmable antisiphon valves. When considering the myriad of possible postoperative condition changes, such as the onset of accidental non-related diseases or trauma in adults, and changes in normal physiological development or anticipation of future shunt removal in children, it has become standard to use the programmable valve as a first choice for cerebrospinal fluid shunting. However, it is still unclear what type of shunt valve is suitable for each individual case.

Increased Resting Energy Expenditure after Endovascular Coiling for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background: Appropriate nutritional care from the acute stage is essential for improved functional outcomes and reduced mortality in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Although endovascular coiling is increasingly being used as an alternative to neurosurgical clipping and craniotomy for ruptured aneurysms, the resting energy expenditure (REE) of patients treated with this new technique has not been systemically evaluated.

Methods: We measured REE values by indirect calorimetry in 12 SAH patients treated with endovascular coiling.

Arteriovenous malformation of the vestibulocochlear nerve.

We describe a rare case of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) embedded in the vestibulocochlear nerve presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treated by microsurgical elimination of the main feeding artery and partial nidus volume reduction with no permanent deficits. This 70-year-old woman was incidentally diagnosed 4 years previously with two small unruptured tandem aneurysms (ANs) on the right anterior inferior cerebral artery feeding a small right cerebellopontine angle AVM. The patient was followed conservatively until she developed sudden headache, nausea and vomiting and presented to our outpatient clinic after several days.