Impact of Virtual Reality Task-Oriented Training on Upper Extremity Motor Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: This study aims to investigate the effect of a newly developed virtual reality task-oriented training (VR-TOT) video game on upper extremity fine motor function compared with conventional occupational therapy through leap motion in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 30 children with spastic hemiplegic CP aged six to 10 years were included and randomly allocated into two groups. During six weeks, 15 patients in the intervention group received VR_TOT-based video game in addition to conventional occupational therapy, whereas 15 patients in the control group received only conventional occupational therapy.

Responsiveness and clinically important differences of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index in surgical and non-surgical treatment groups with different follow-up periods: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This study reviews and meta-analyzes the responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index for various patient populations and treatment durations.

Methods: A comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL identified studies on the responsiveness or MCID of the WORC in shoulder conditions. Two authors independently screened articles.

Cardiac Tamponade: An Initial Manifestation of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma.

Pericardial effusion, a clinical condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity, has multiple etiological factors. One of the prominent causes is malignant effusion. The patient is a 69-year-old female with a past medical history of Crohn's disease, melanoma status post-resection, and osteoarthritis.

Sustainable practices in hand therapy: a global perspective.

Given its significant environmental footprint, healthcare sustainability is paramount. This study delves into the contributory role of hand therapy, assessing hand therapists' comprehension, implementation and barriers to sustainable practices, focusing on orthotic fabrication. A global survey distributed via social media and professional networks collected data on sustainability awareness, practices and educational needs from 113 respondents, primarily from North America (34%) and Europe (32%).

Development and Verification of a Novel Three-Dimensional Aqueous Outflow Model for High-Throughput Drug Screening.

Distal outflow bleb-forming procedures in ophthalmic surgery expose subconjunctival tissue to inflammatory cytokines present in the aqueous humor, resulting in impaired outflow and, consequently, increased intraocular pressure. Clinically, this manifests as an increased risk of surgical failure often necessitating revision. This study (1) introduces a novel high-throughput screening platform for testing potential anti-fibrotic compounds and (2) assesses the clinical viability of modulating the transforming growth factor beta-SMAD2/3 pathway as a key contributor to post-operative outflow reduction, using the signal transduction inhibitor verteporfin.

Applications of wearable sensors in upper extremity MSK conditions: a scoping review.

Purpose: This scoping review uniquely aims to map the current state of the literature on the applications of wearable sensors in people with or at risk of developing upper extremity musculoskeletal (UE-MSK) conditions, considering that MSK conditions or disorders have the highest rate of prevalence among other types of conditions or disorders that contribute to the need for rehabilitation services.

Materials And Methods: The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews guideline was followed in this scoping review. Two independent authors conducted a systematic search of four databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and IEEEXplore.

Fear of Movement in People With CRPS: A Psychometric Evaluation of the Tampa Scale-11 for Kinesiophobia.

Background: People with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) commonly report a fear of movement that can worsen symptoms and increase disability. The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) is used to evaluate fear of movement and (re)injury, but findings have been inconsistent in different populations.

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of TSK-11 in individuals with upper limb CRPS.

Defining Standards for Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Surgery in Ontario, Canada: A Population-Based Cohort Study of Clinical Outcomes.

Background: In 2006, Cancer Care Ontario created Surgical Oncology Standards for the delivery of hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery including hepatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Our objective was to identify the impact of standardization on outcomes after HPB surgery in Ontario, Canada.

Study Design: This study was a population-level analysis of patients undergoing hepatectomy or PD (2003 to 2019).

Occupational Performance 1 Year After a Distal Radius Fracture From the Perspective of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

Importance: Distal radius fractures (DRFs) frequently compromise independent functioning.

Objective: To analyze occupational performance post-DRF using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and related interviews, guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). COPM score was compared with standard metrics: Patient-Reported Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) and Participation Behavior Questionnaire (PBQ).

Pre-operative embolization of a complex systemic to pulmonary vascular malformation.

A 38-year-old male patient presenting with mild exertional dyspnea was noted to have a lingular opacity on chest radiograph. CT of the chest demonstrated an unusual complex inferior lingular vascular malformation with branches arising from the left internal thoracic artery and the left inferior diaphragmatic artery via the celiac artery. There was suspected communication with both pulmonary arterial and venous branches.

Do current upper limb orthotic classification systems help clinicians choose and design effective orthoses? A scoping review with expert interviews.

Background: Orthosis (orthotic) fabrication is an essential part of the treatment plan for many upper extremity conditions.

Purpose: We aim to comprehensively identify the current body of evidence about the purpose, structure, scope, and application of available orthotic classification systems. Our secondary aim was to know if the current classification systems can be used as a decision guide for clinicians.

A description of the barriers, facilitators, and experiences of hand therapists in providing remote (tele) rehabilitation: An interpretive description approach.

Background: Telerehabilitation is increasingly being used to meet the rehabilitation needs of situations where face-to-face therapy is not possible. Nevertheless, reports on barriers and facilitators of implementing this method from the perspective of therapists still need to be made available.

Purpose: To investigate the experiences of hand therapists when implementing telerehabilitation, examining the difficulties, barriers, and facilitators encountered during its implementation.

Factors associated with disability and pain intensity in patients with complex regional pain syndrome.

Purpose: To examine the associations between psychological factors (pain catastrophizing, pain-related anxiety, and fear of pain) and level of pain and disability in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

Methods: One hundred and two patients with CRPS were recruited from tertiary care centers with the different upper limb injuries were evaluated for pain, disability, and psychological factors. Patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire, Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS).

Severity of persistent pain and disability can accurately screen for presence of pain catastrophizing and fear of performing wrist movements in individuals with distal radius fracture.

Background: The evidence indicating presence of psychological factors concerns in individuals who report persistent residual pain and disability over a longer term after distal radius fractures (DRF) is emerging but requires further inquiry.

Objectives: To examine the associations of persistent wrist pain and disability at 6-months after DRF with the presence of psychological factors.

Methods: Eighty-five patients with DRF were evaluated for wrist pain and disability with subscales of Patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE), 6-months after the fracture.

The Unsalvageable Radial Head in Patients Aged 30 Years and Younger.

Purpose: Concern exists regarding the use of radial head arthroplasty (RHA) in younger patients. This study assessed clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes of RHA in patients aged 30 years and younger.

Methods: A retrospective review identified 26 elbows that underwent a smooth stem modular RHA in patients aged 30 years and younger at a median follow-up of 3.

The Effect of Registration on Voxel-Wise Tofts Model Parameters and Uncertainties from DCE-MRI of Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients Using 3DSlicer.

We quantitatively investigate the influence of image registration, using open-source software (3DSlicer), on kinetic analysis (Tofts model) of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI of early-stage breast cancer patients. We also show that registration computation time can be reduced by reducing the percent sampling (PS) of voxels used for estimation of the cost function. DCE-MRI breast images were acquired on a 3T-PET/MRI system in 13 patients with early-stage breast cancer who were scanned in a prone radiotherapy position.

Native-valve Enterococcus hirae endocarditis: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Enterococcus hirae is rarely identified in humans and may be a commensal pathogen in psittacine birds. We present the fifth known case of E. hirae endocarditis.

Patient- and hospital-level predictors of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) bacteremia in Ontario, Canada.

Background: Data are limited on risk factors for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) bacteremia.

Methods: All patients with a confirmed VRE bacteremia in Ontario, Canada, between January 2009 and December 2013 were linked to provincial healthcare administrative data sources and frequency matched to 3 controls based on age, sex, and aggregated diagnosis group. Associations between predictors and VRE bacteremia were estimated by generalized estimating equations and summarized using odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Influence of an independent quarterly audit on publicly reported vancomycin-resistant enterocococi bacteremia data in Ontario, Canada.

Background: All Ontario hospitals are mandated to self-report vancomycin-resistant enterocococi (VRE) bacteremias to Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-term Care for public reporting purposes. Independent quarterly audits of publicly reported VRE bacteremias between September 2013 and June 2015 were carried out by Public Health Ontario. VRE bacteremia case-reporting errors between January 2009 and August 2013 were identified by a single retrospective audit.

Patient Reported Pain and Disability Following a Distal Radius Fracture: A Prospective Study.

Background: Fractures of the distal radius are common. Few studies investigating the extended long term outcomes of participants following a distal radius fracture (especially beyond 2 years) and they have relied on subjective measures or single objective tests to measure participant's final outcome.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the pain and disability in long-term follow-up of participants after a distal radius fracture.

Patterns and Predictors of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Occlusion: The 3P-O Study.

Purpose: To evaluate patterns and predictors of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)-related occlusion.

Materials And Methods: Data from a multihospital study were used to examine factors associated with PICC occlusion. Occlusion was defined if documented in the medical record or when tissue plasminogen activator was administered for occlusion-related concerns.

Probiotics: Prevention of Severe Pneumonia and Endotracheal Colonization Trial-PROSPECT: a pilot trial.

Background: Probiotics are live microorganisms that may confer health benefits when ingested. Randomized trials suggest that probiotics significantly decrease the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and the overall incidence of infection in critically ill patients. However, these studies are small, largely single-center, and at risk of bias.