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We systematically reviewed the short-term effects of hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding (THR) on lower-limb muscle spasticity in children with cerebral palsy (CP).PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant quantitative studies. Treatment effects were coded using the Ashworth scale (AS) or modified Ashworth scale (MAS) in pre- and posttreatment evaluations. Of the 73 studies identified initially, 7 met the inclusion criteria.Treatment was associated with positive effects on lower-limb muscle spasticity, as supported by the AS or MAS scores. However, repeated trials did not show a statistically significant difference from a single trial (Q = 2.95, P = .086).Hippotherapy and THR can be used to treat lower-limb muscle spasticity in children with CP. However, repeated sessions did not show a better effect in reducing spasticity.This is the first meta-analysis to confirm that hippotherapy or THR can reduce lower-limb muscle spasticity in children with CP in the short term, but long-term effects on function still require further studies.

Multiple geochemical analyses may help us better constrain the ice-wedge formation and in-situ greenhouse gas (GHG) production mechanisms. Here we present new results from ice-wedge ice sampled at Zyryanka, Northeastern Siberia (65°93’N, 150°89’E). The plant remains and CO2 gas were analyzed for 14C dating, and we obtained from 810 to 1750 years before 1950 CE for the Zyryanka ice wedge. δ(N2/Ar) of the ice wedges ranges from -17.51 to -3.53 % with regard to modern air, indicating that the Zyryanka ice wedge was formed by both liquid water and dry snow. On the other hand, the δ(O2/Ar) value of the Zyryanka ice wedges ranges from -72.88 to -37.58 % with regard to modern air, implying oxygen gas was consumed considerably by respiration of microorganisms in the ice-wedge ice. We also observed correlations among the three greenhouse gas species and oxygen gas concentrations. N2O and CO2 concentrations show a strong positive correlation (r = 0.94, p=0.01). We also found that the melting fraction (estimated from N2/Ar) is positively correlated with CO2 (r=0.81, p=0.01) and CH4 (r=0.87, p2 concentration is negatively correlated with the CH4 concentrations (r = -0.41, p4 production is associated with biological oxygen consumption. The δ18O of ice melt ranges from -28.6 to -19.1 ‰ for the ice wedge and adjacent soil samples, showing a symmetric structure with low δ18O values in the ice wedge parts and high in the adjacent soils. Comparing with the δ18O value of modern precipitation in the Zyryanka region, it can be inferred that the ice wedge was mainly formed by filling with cold seasonal precipitation. Our study shows that the gas mixing ratios in ice wedges and water stable isotope analysis may help better understanding the biogeochemical environments during and after the formation of ice wedges.

Objective To identify the incidence of dysphagia after ischemic stroke and determine factors affecting the presence of dysphagia. Design Retrospective case-control study. This was an interim analysis of a prospective multicenter Korean stroke cohort. Setting Acute care university hospitals. Participants Patients (N=6000) with first-ever acute ischemic stroke. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of dysphagia confirmed at 7 days after onset using the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcomes Measurement System (ASHA-NOMS) scale, which was determined after conducting screening or standardized tests. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Age at stroke onset, body mass index (BMI), premorbid modified Rankin Scale (mRS), brainstem lesions, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), poststroke mRS, and ASHA-NOMS swallowing level at poststroke day 7 were evaluated. Results Among patients with ischemic stroke, 32.3% (n=1940) had dysphagia at 7 days after stroke onset. At discharge, 80.5% (n=1561) still had dysphagia. The prediction model for the presence of dysphagia identified age at onset, underweight (BMI Conclusions The incidence of dysphagia after ischemic stroke was 32.3%. The prediction model for the presence of dysphagia identified age, low BMI, premorbid disabilities, brainstem lesions, and NIHSS as predictive factors.