Search

Objective: This study aimed to determine which prodromal symptoms frequently occur in patients with Bell’s palsy and evaluate the association between these symptoms and clinical severity of paresis or the severity of facial nerve injury. Materials and Methods: The study included 86 patients with Bell’s palsy between August 2018 and April 2020. Severity levels of Bell’s palsy and facial nerve damage were evaluated using the House-Brackmann (H-B) grading scale and electrodiagnostic study, respectively. Subsequently, a self-reported questionnaire on prodromal symptoms was administered. To assess the degree of recovery, the H-B grade was reported at 9 weeks and 6 months after the onset of paralysis. Results: The most common prodromal symptoms were postauricular pain, sensory decline in the tongue, headache on the affected side, myalgia, facial sensory decline on the affected side, taste impairment, and dry eye. Taste impairment was significantly correlated with severe facial paralysis reported at 9 weeks after onset ( P Conclusions: The prodromal symptoms of Bell’s palsy were not associated with the severity of facial nerve injury in an electrodiagnostic study. Taste impairment was related to clinical severity of paralysis at subacute stage, 9 weeks after onset, but it was not associated with long-term prognosis.

Aspiration pneumonia is a major, potentially fatal complication after ischemic stroke. Decreased coughing function is a significant risk factor for aspiration in ischemic stroke survivors. Peak cough flow (PCF) is a useful tool for assessing cough function. Vitamin D deficiency is frequent after ischemic stroke and is linked to a variety of muscle functions and physical activities. There has been no investigation of the correlation between vitamin D levels and PCF in ischemic stroke survivors. This study aimed to examine the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and PCF in patients with ischemic stroke. Patients with ischemic stroke who underwent PCF evaluation and serum vitamin D level measurements within 1 month of onset were retrospectively recruited. The association between PCF parameters and serum vitamin D levels was also analyzed. In total, 142 patients with ischemic stroke were included. PCF parameters and serum vitamin D levels were found to be significantly correlated. Moreover, serum vitamin D levels were shown to be a significant predictor of PCF parameters. Serum vitamin D levels were related to PCF parameters in patients with ischemic stroke. In addition, serum vitamin D level may serve as a predictor of coughing function in patients with ischemic stroke.

There are many stroke patients with decreased phonation ability. Vitamin D is associated with weakness in muscle power and a decreased function of activity and is often accompanied by a deficiency of serum vitamin D in stroke patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between serum vitamin D level and phonetic function in subacute stroke patients. Among subacute stroke patients, patients with dysphonia were retrospectively recruited. Phonation function was assessed by acoustic analysis using the dysphonia severity index (DSI) and maximum phonation time for 4 corner vowels/a/,/i/,/u/, and/ae/. As a statistical method, the relationships of vitamin D levels with the maximum phonation time and DSI were evaluated using Pearson's correlation analysis and linear regression analysis. A total of 32 stroke patients with dysphonia were assessed. A positive correlation was found between vitamin D levels and the DSI of /a/, /u/, /i/, and/ae/. The DSI of/u/ was significantly lower in the group with vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D level was associated with phonation function and its deficiency may be a factor in predicting phonation severity in stroke patients.

Malnutrition and autonomic dysfunction are associated with poor outcomes, mortality, and psychological problems after stroke. Relevant laboratory biomarkers include serum albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin. Heart rate variability (HRV), a noninvasive measurement, can objectively measure autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. The relationship between HRV and nutritional biomarkers in stroke patients has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nutritional biomarkers and HRV parameters in stroke patients. We retrospectively recruited 426 patients with subacute stroke who were examined for nutritional biomarkers, such as serum albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin, and underwent 24 h ambulatory Holter electrocardiography. Patients were divided into groups according to their nutritional biomarker status. Differences in HRV parameters between nutritional biomarker-deficient and normal groups were assessed. Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to verify the relationship between HRV parameters and nutritional biomarkers. HRV parameters were significantly lower in the nutritional biomarker-deficient groups. In addition, there was a significant association between HRV parameters and nutritional biomarkers. Serum albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin levels were associated with ANS function, as measured by HRV, and their deficiency may be a predictive factor for the severity of ANS dysfunction in stroke patients.

Background: Shoulder subluxation occurs in 17–64% of hemiplegic patients after stroke and develops mostly during the first three weeks of hemiplegia. A range of shoulder orthoses has been used in rehabilitation to prevent subluxation. However, there is little evidence of their efficacy. AIM: This study aimed to investigate whether there is a difference in the subluxation distance, pain, and functional level of the hemiplegic upper extremity among patients with two different shoulder orthoses. Design: This is a prospective, randomized controlled trial with intention-to-treat analysis. SETTING: Multicenter, rehabilitation medicine department of two university hospitals in South Korea. Population: Forty-one patients with subacute stroke with shoulder subluxation with greater than 0.5 finger width within 4 weeks of stroke were recruited between January 2016 and October 2021. Methods: The experimental group used an elastic dynamic sling while sitting and standing to support the affected arm for eight weeks. The control group used a Bobath sling while sitting and standing. The primary outcome was to assess the distance of the shoulder subluxation on radiography. The secondary outcomes were upper-extremity function, muscle power, activities of daily living, pain and spasticity. Result: The horizontal distance showed significant improvement in the elastic dynamic sling group, but there were no significant differences in the vertical distance between the elastic dynamic and Bobath sling groups. Both groups showed improvements in upper-extremity movements and independence in daily living after 4 and 8 weeks of using shoulder orthoses, and the differences within the groups were significant (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in upper-extremity movements and independence in daily living between the two groups. Conclusions: The subluxation distance showed better results in the elastic dynamic sling, which has both proximal and distal parts, than in the Bobath sling, which holds only the proximal part. Both shoulder orthoses showed improvements in the modified Barthel index, upper-extremity function, and manual muscle testing.

Background Bone loss after stroke escalates the risk of fractures, mainly in the hip, leading to further disability in individuals with stroke. We aimed to investigate the skeletal effect of bone mineral density (BMD) based on the duration of onset of stroke, compare the BMD of the paretic and non-paretic sides, and elucidate the relationship between BMD and disability variables. Methods The 31 male hemiplegic stroke patients between 20 and 70 years of age with cerebral infarction or hemorrhage were considered in this study. Subacute and chronic cases included 13 and 18 patients with lag time from the onset of 1 to 6 months and beyond 6 months, respectively. BMD in the lumbar, paretic, and non-paretic hip as well as the disability variables were analyzed retrospectively. Results The subacute group showed a significant reduction in the femoral neck BMD on the paretic side compared to that on the non-paretic side based on T-scores (P=0.013). Bone loss was significantly correlated with lower limb muscle strength and overall physical impairment (Pl0.05). The chronic group demonstrated significant reduction in femur neck and total femur BMD on the paretic side compared to that on the non-paretic side based on T-scores (P=0.002 and Pl0.001, respectively). T-scores of BMD in the chronic phase were not significantly associated with the clinical parameters. Conclusions Early screening of bilateral hip BMD in the early stages after stroke, monitoring, and timely implementation of prevention strategies are important to minimize subsequent bone loss and prevent possible complications in patients who experience stroke.

Dysphonia and malnutrition are major problems in patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke. Tools to assess dysphonia severity include the dysphonia severity index (DSI) and maximum phonation time (MPT). This study aimed to investigate whether the nutritional biomarkers transferrin, albumin, and prealbumin could be predictors of dysphonia severity. A retrospective analysis was conducted between January 2018 and October 2022. A total of 180 patients who had suffered an ischemic stroke were included. Serum transferrin, albumin, and prealbumin levels were significantly correlated with DSI and MPT levels. In a multiple regression analysis, prealbumin and transferrin were significant predictors of DSI, whereas only prealbumin was a significant predictor of MPT. Serum transferrin, albumin, and prealbumin levels in patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke may correlate with dysphonia severity as assessed using DSI and MPT. These results may provide objective evidence that nutritional biomarkers affect dysphonia severity.

Depressive and somatic symptoms are common after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Depression after TBI can relate to worsened cognitive functioning, functional impairment, higher rates of suicide attempts, and larger health care costs. Heart rate variability (HRV) represents the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates almost all vascular, visceral, and metabolic functions. Several studies show a correlation between HRV, depression, and somatic symptoms in other diseases. However, studies on autonomic dysfunction, depression, and somatic symptoms in TBI patients are lacking. This study investigated the association between reduced ANS function, depression, and somatic symptoms in TBI patients. We retrospectively recruited 136 TBI patients who underwent 24 h ambulatory Holter electrocardiography to measure autonomic dysfunction within 1 month of onset. Patients who used BDI and PHQ-15 to evaluate depressive and somatic symptoms were included. Using Pearson’s correlation analysis and multiple linear regression, the association between HRV parameters and BDI and PHQ-15 was determined. The HRV parameters and BDI and PHQ-15 showed statistical significance. In addition, HRV was shown to be a significantly associated factor of BDI and PHQ-15. HRV was associated with depressive and somatic symptom severity in TBI patients. Additionally, autonomic dysfunction may serve as an associated factor of depressive and somatic symptoms in patients with TBI.

Vitamin B12 (B12) is involved as a cofactor in the synthesis of myelin. A lack of B12 impairs peripheral nerve production, which can contribute to sarcopenia. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between B12 insufficiency and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Korean adults. A total of 2325 (1112 men; 1213 women) adults aged 70–84 years were recruited. The tools used for sarcopenia were based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) guidelines. Individuals with low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) (

Objective To evaluate correlations between values of articulation tests and language tests for children with articulation disorder in Korea. Methods Data of outpatients with chief complaint of an articulation problem were retrospectively collected. Patients who underwent Urimal Test of Articulation and Phonation (U-TAP) with Assessment of Phonology and Articulation for Children (APAC), Preschool Receptive-Expressive Language Scale (PRES), or Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary Test (REVT) simultaneously were identified. Patients whose word-level percentages of correct consonants in U-TAP (UTAP_wC) were more than 2 standard deviations below the mean as diagnostic criteria for articulation disorder were selected. Those whose receptive language age (P_RLA), expressive language age (P_ELA), or combined language age (P_CLA) in PRES was delayed more than 24 months compared to their chronological age in months as diagnostic criteria for language disorder were excluded. Results Thirty-three children aged 3-6 years were enrolled retrospectively. PRES and U-TAP showed significant correlations for most of value relationships. PRES and APAC showed significant correlations for all value relationships except for receptive language age. All values of REVT were significantly correlated with all values from U-TAP, but not with any value from APAC. Articulation tests U-TAP and APAC showed significant correlations between percentages of correct consonants. Language tests PRES and REVT showed significant correlations for all value relationships. Conclusion This study suggests that articulation abilities and language abilities might be correlated in children with articulation disorder.

Introduction: A hiccup is myoclonus of a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. Hiccups have various causes, and brain stem stroke is one of the causes of central hiccups. Certain types of hiccups are caused by diseases that can be fatal. Therefore, it is beneficial for physicians to be familiar with the various cases of unusual hiccups. We report a case of hiccups triggered by urinary bladder filling in a brain stem stroke patient. To the best of our knowledge, previous reports have not described a similar case. Patient concerns: We describe the case of a 54-year-old patient who had acute bilateral pontine hemorrhage. The patient had intermittent hiccups in the early stages of the stroke onset. The hiccups ceased by the administration of medication or stimulation of the pharyngeal or tracheal wall. Two months after the onset, the Foley catheter was removed to check if the patient could void the bladder voluntarily. Hiccups occurred whenever the bladder was filled with some amount of urine. Diagnosis: Pontine hemorrhage, neurogenic bladder, and quadriplegia. Interventions: When the hiccups occurred, the amount of urine in the bladder was checked using a transabdominal bladder ultrasonography scanner. After clean intermittent catheterization for bladder emptying, the hiccups subsided. Outcomes: The hiccups occurred 5 or 6 times a day, as often as the bladder was filling. He was unable to void the urine voluntarily for 5 days after the removal of the Foley catheter. Percutaneous suprapubic cystostomy was performed finally to remove the stimulation of bladder filling and the hiccups disappeared. Conclusion: Bladder filling is suspected to increase the sympathetic tone and cause a hiccup reflex. Bladder filling could be a factor triggering hiccups in pontine hemorrhage.

Objective To compare the surgical outcomes of simple frenotomy and the 4-flap Z-frenuloplasty according to the articulation test values and tongue-tie classification in patients with ankyloglossia with articulation difficulty. Study design prospective randomized study. Setting Tertiary academic center. Subjects and methods: Children with ankyloglossia with articulation difficulty were randomly divided into 2 groups for surgical treatment. Patients were evaluated for the tongue-tie classification and articulation test before surgery. Three months after the operation, the frenulum classification and articulation test were re-evaluated to compare the differences in surgical outcome between the two surgical methods. Results Out of 37 patients, 19 underwent the 4-flap Z-frenuloplasty and 18, the simple frenotomy. No differences were observed in the baseline characteristics of the patients assigned to both groups. Changes in the tongue-tie classification and improvement in the articulation test results were observed with both the surgical methods. Both surgical groups had significant improvement in the speech articulation test (consonants) but there was no difference in the speech outcomes between the surgical groups. Conclusion Although there was no significant difference in the surgical outcome between the two surgical methods, ankyloglossia patients showed improvement in a Korean speech articulation test 3 months after undergoing surgery to release the lingual frenulum.

Background Dysphagia and dysarthria tend to coexist in stroke patients. Dysphagia can reduce patients' quality of life, cause aspiration pneumonia and increased mortality. Objective To evaluate correlations among swallowing function parameters and acoustic vowel space values in patients with stroke. Methods Data from stroke patients with dysarthria and dysphagia were collected. The formant parameter representing the resonance frequency of the vocal tract as a two-dimensional coordinate point was measured for the /a/, /ae/, /i/, and /u/vowels, and the quadrilateral vowel space area (VSA) and formant centralization ratio (FCR) were measured. Swallowing function was evaluated by a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) using the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) and penetration aspiration scale (PAS). Pearson's correlation and linear regression analyses were used to assess the correlation of VSA and FCR to VDS and PAS scores. Results Thirty-one stroke patients with dysphagia and dysarthria were analyzed. VSA showed a negative correlation to VDS and PAS scores, while FCR showed a positive correlation to VDS score, but not to PAS score. VSA and FCR were significant factors for assessing dysphagia severity. Conclusions VSA and FCR values were correlated with swallowing function and may be helpful in predicting dysphagia severity associated with stroke.

Objective To evaluate the association between balance function and asymmetry of knee extension strength in an elderly Korean population. Methods The strength of the knee extensors in each leg was measured in 306 community-dwelling elderly subjects (age, 76.70±4.85 years) and 25 young healthy subjects (age, 34.23±8.93 years). Based on the difference in strength of both legs, the elderly subjects were divided into symmetric (n=128) and asymmetric (n=178) strength groups using an asymmetry cutoff 20%. We determined the postural control ability of the subjects using InBody posturography, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The sway index (SI) of the subjects in four positions was assessed using posturography. Results The group with asymmetric strength presented a significantly higher SI than the group with symmetric strength, in the normal position with eyes open and eyes open on pillows. In the normal position with the eyes closed and in postures with the eyes closed on pillows, the statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the two groups. The three tests for physical performance (BBS, TUG, and SPPB) show no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion The asymmetric strength group showed a significantly lower balance than the group with symmetric strength based on several posturographic parameters. Ambulatory elderly individuals with asymmetry in knee extension strength, showed deficits in balance control even in normal clinical tests.

Objective To investigate the differences in biomechanical parameters measured by gait analysis systems between healthy subjects and subjects with plantar fasciitis (PF), and to compare biomechanical parameters between 'normal, barefooted' gait and arch building gait in the participants. Methods The researchers evaluated 15 subjects (30 feet) with bilateral foot pain and 15 subjects (15 feet) with unilateral foot pain who had a clinical diagnosis of PF. Additionally, 17 subjects (34 feet) who had no heel pain were recruited. Subjects were excluded if they had a traumatic event, prior surgery or fractures of the lower limbs, a leg length discrepancy of 1 cm or greater, a body mass index greater than 35 kg/m2, or had musculoskeletal disorders. The participants were asked to walk with an arch building gait on a treadmill at 2.3 km/hr for 5 minutes. Various gait parameters were measured. Results With the arch building gait, the PF group proved that gait line length and single support line were significantly decreased, and lateral symmetry of the PF group was increased compared to that of the control group. The subjects with bilateral PF displayed significantly increased maximum pressure over the heel and the forefoot during arch building gait. In addition, the subjects with unilateral PF showed significantly increased maximum pressure over the forefoot with arch building gait. Conclusion The researchers show that various biomechanical differences exist between healthy subjects and those with PF. Employing an arch building gait in patients with PF could be helpful in changing gait patterns to normal biomechanics.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Lumbosacral disc herniation (LDH) is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal diseases causative of sick leave in the workplace and morbidity in daily activities. Nonsurgical managements are considered as first line treatment before surgical treatment. PURPOSE This clinical practice guideline (CPG) is intended to provide physicians who treat patients diagnosed with LDH with a guideline supported by scientific evidence to assist in decision-making for appropriate and reasonable treatments. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING A systematic review. PATIENT SAMPLE Studies of human subjects written in Korean or English that met the following criteria were selected: patients aged ≥18 years, clinical presentation of low back and radicular leg pain, diagnosis of LDH on radiological evaluation including computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. OUTCOMES MEASURES Pain and functional evaluation scales such as visual analogue scale, numeric rating scale, and Oswestry disability index METHODS The MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Review, and KoreaMed databases were searched for articles regarding non-surgical treatments for LDH published up to July 2017. Of the studies fulfilling these criteria, those investigating clinical results after non-surgical treatment including physical and behavioral therapy, medication, and interventional treatment in terms of pain control and functional improvements were chosen for this study. RESULTS Nonsurgical treatments were determined to be clinically effective with regards to pain reduction and functional improvement in patients with LDH. Nevertheless, the evidence level was generally not evaluated as high degree, which might be attributed to the paucity of well-designed randomized controlled trials. Exercise and traction were strongly recommended despite moderate level of evidence. Epidural injection was strongly recommended with high degree of evidence and transforaminal approach was more strongly recommended than caudal approach. CONCLUSIONS This CPG provides new and updated evidence-based recommendations for treatment of the patients with LDH, which suggested that, despite an absence of high degrees of evidence level, non-surgical treatments were clinically effective.

Rationale: Hematoma of the iliopsoas muscle is a rare condition. Prolonged pressure conditions due to hematoma of the femoral nerve can cause severe pain in the affected groin, hip, and thigh, and quadriceps weakness. We report a rare case of a spontaneous iliopsoas muscle hematoma that caused sudden femoral neuropathy. Patient concerns: A 71-year-old woman presented sudden left hip pain and knee extensor weakness. The pain was aggravated with left hip extension. She had a bilateral total hip replacement surgery due to avascular necrosis. She was diagnosed as mild stenosis of the cerebral artery and took aspirin to prevent cerebral artery atherosclerosis. Diagnosis: A hip computed tomography scan demonstrated a suspicious fluid collection at the left iliopsoas bursa. We considered the possibility of lower limb weakness due to neuralgic amyotrophy and performed electromyography and enhanced lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Electromyography finding showed left femoral neuropathy of moderate severity around the inguinal area was diagnosed. On MRI, left iliopsoas bursitis or hematoma, and displacement of the left femoral nerve due to the iliopsoas bursitis/hematoma were observed. Intervention: Ultrasonography (US)-guided aspiration of the left iliopsoas hematoma was performed. We started steroid pulse therapy for 8 days. Outcomes: After US-guided aspiration and steroid pulse therapy, the patient's knee extension motor grade improved from grade 1 to 2, and the pain was slightly reduced. At 3 weeks after the aspiration procedure, her hip flexion motor grade had improved from grade 3+ to 4 at follow-up. Lessons: Imaging studies are fundamental to diagnose of iliopsoas hematoma. Electromyography examination plays an important role in determining the prognosis of patients and lesion site. Despite the negligible change in sitting position, hematoma can develop. Physicians should consider hematoma that cause femoral neuropathy.

We report a 57-year-old man with bilateral cranial nerve IX and X palsies who presented with severe dysphagia. After a mild head injury, the patient complained of difficult swallowing. Physical examination revealed normal tongue motion and no uvular deviation. Cervical X-ray findings were negative, but a brain computed tomography revealed a skull fracture involving bilateral jugular foramen. Laryngoscopy indicated bilateral vocal cord palsy. In a videofluoroscopic swallowing study, food residue remained in the vallecula and pyriform sinus, and there was reduced motion of the pharynx and larynx. Electromyography confirmed bilateral superior and recurrent laryngeal neuropathy.

To investigate the contribution of the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to the neurological status of Korean patients with ischemic stroke (IS), two SNPs of the IL-6R gene (rs4845617, 5 UTR; rs2228144, Ala31Ala) were selected. IS patients were classified into clinical phenotypes according to two well-defined scores: the National Institutes of Health Stroke Survey (NIHSS) and the Modified Barthel Index scores. There were 121 IS patients and 291 control subjects. The SNP rs4845617 significantly contributed to the neurological status of patients with IS (P = 0.011 in codominant model 2, P = 0.006 in recessive model, and P = 0.008 in log-additive model). Allele frequencies of rs4845617 and rs2228144 demonstrated no significant difference in IS patients and controls. The AG and GG haplotypes differed between the NIHSS 1 (NIHSS scores < 6) group and the NIHSS 2 (NIHSS scores ≥ 6) group in patients with IS (P = 0.014, P = 0.0024). These results suggest that rs4845617 of the IL-6R gene is associated with the neurologic status of Korean patients with IS.

Objective To investigate whether four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2293054 [Ile734Ile], rs1047735 [His902His], rs2293044 [Val1353Val], rs2682826 (3'UTR) of nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) are associated with the development and clinical phenotypes of ischemic stroke. Methods We enrolled 120 ischemic stroke patients and 314 control subjects. Ischemic stroke patients were divided into subgroups according to the scores of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Survey (NIHSS

Articulation disorder is associated with impaired control of respiration and speech organ movement. There are many cases of dysarthria and dysphonia in stroke patients. Dysphonia adversely affects communication and social activities, and it can interfere with everyday life. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between phonation abilities and the vowel quadrilateral in stroke patients. The subjects were stroke patients with pronunciation and phonation disorders. The resonance frequency was measured for the 4 corner vowels to measure the vowel space area (VSA) and formant centralization ratio (FCR). Phonation ability was evaluated by the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) and maximal phonation time (MPT) through acoustic evaluation for each vowel. Pearsons correlation analysis was performed to confirm the association, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed between variables. The correlation coefficients of VSA and MPT/u/ were 0.420, VSA and MPT/i/ were 0.536, VSA and DSI/u/ were 0.392, VSA and DSI /i/ were 0.364, and FCR and DSI /i/ were −0.448. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that VSA was a factor significantly influencing MPT/u/ (β = 0.420, P = .021, R2 = 0.147), MPT/i/ (β = 0.536, P = .002, R2 = 0.262), DSI/u/ (β = 0.564, P = .045, R2 = 0.256), and DSI/i/ (β = 0.600, P = .03, R2 = 0.302). The vowel quadrilateral can be a useful tool for evaluating the phonation function of stroke patients.

This study investigated the time taken for upper extremity spasticity to develop and its regional difference after first-ever stroke onset in a nationwide multicenter study in South Korea. The retrospective observational study included 861 individuals with post-stroke spasticity in the upper limbs. Spasticity in the upper extremity joints was defined as a modified Ashworth Scale score ≥1. The median time to develop upper limb spasticity after stroke onset was 34 days. 12% of post-stroke spasticity cases developed between 2 months and 3 months and 13% developed after 3 months from onset. At the time of diagnosis of spasticity, most patients showed only a slight increase in muscle tone, which was observed most frequently in the elbow, followed by the wrist, and fingers. Younger stroke survivors were more spastic, and the severity of spasticity increased with time. Approximately half of the patients with post-stroke spasticity developed spasticity during the first month. However, post-stroke spasticity can develop more than 3 months after stroke onset. Therefore, it is important to assess spasticity, even in the chronic state.

The purpose of this report was to provide information for patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation after stroke and to identify the possible factors influencing functional outcome after inpatient rehabilitation. Stroke patients (n = 5,212) who were discharged from the Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine (RM) of university hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals from 2007 through 2011 were participants. Prevalence, age, transfer time after onset, length of stay (LOS), functional status at admission and discharge were analyzed. In all stroke subjects, cerebral infarctions (67%) were more common than hemorrhages. Cerebral infarctions in the middle cerebral artery territory were most common, while the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex were the most common areas for hemorrhagic stroke. The LOS decreased from 45 to 28 days. Transfer time after onset decreased from 44 to 30 days. Shorter transfer time after onset was correlated with better discharge functional status and shorter LOS. Initial functional status was correlated with discharge functional status. In ischemic stroke subtypes, cerebellar and brainstem strokes predicted better outcomes, while strokes with more than one territory predicted poorer outcomes with more disabilities. In hemorrhagic stroke subtypes, initial and discharge functional status was the lowest for cortical hemorrhages and highest for brainstem hemorrhages. This report shows that LOS and transfer time after onset has been decreased over time and initial functional status and shorter transfer after onset are predictors of better functional outcome at discharge.

We studied newly developed assistive robot movement (ARM, HEXAR-KR40P) equipment, and compared with conventional continuous passive movement (CPM) equipment, focusing on range of motion (ROM) and strengthening of knee joint muscles. 110 osteoarthritis (OA) patients were recruited from five different clinics. At first, eighty patients were enrolled to evaluate the subjective satisfaction of ARM. Secondly, thirty patients were enrolled to find the effectiveness of ARM including ROM and strength compared with CPM. Subjects in first study performed exercise for two weeks. Exercise was performed with CPM and ARM for ten minutes alternately. Subjects in second study performed exercise with ARM only 30 min/day for two weeks, and measured ROM, strength, and functional changes. Obtained data was analyzed with Wilcoxon signed rank test. As a result, higher subjective satisfaction with ARM in patients and researchers survey was noted compared with CPM (p

Objective To determine whether ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism is associated with the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the spine in the Korean population. Methods A case-control study was conducted to investigate the association between I/D polymorphism of the angiotensin I converting enzyme (peptidyl-dipeptidase A) 1 (ACE) gene and OPLL. The 95 OPLL patients and 274 control subjects were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction for the genotyping of ACE I/D polymorphism was performed. The difference between the OPLL patients and the control subjects was compared using the contingency χ 2 test and the logistic regression analysis. For statistical analysis, SPSS, SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer, and Helixtree programs were used. Results The genotype and allele frequencies of ACE I/D polymorphism showed significant differences between the OPLL patients and the control subjects (genotype, p

While most case reports to date are radiation recall dermatitis, radiation recall myositis, which is a distinct form of radiation recall phenomenon caused by carboplatin plus paclitaxel, has not been reported. We treated a 57-year-old female patient who suffered from recurrent cervical cancer. When the patient developed a new left sacral metastasis, salvage radiotherapy (total dose 60 Gy) was administered. Four weeks later, chemotherapy using carboplatin plus paclitaxel was initiated. Four months after chemotherapy, the patient complained of severe pain in her left buttock. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), edematous changes and increased signal densities of left gluteus maximus and medius muscles were noted suggesting myositis. The border of the high signal intensity territory of the muscles was sharp and clearly corresponded with the recent irradiation field. We concluded that the patient had radiation recall myositis triggered by paclitaxel-carboplatin. Symptoms were controlled by analgesics, and there was no recurrence.

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a rare but possible medical complication found in stroke patients. As many stroke patients present with neurologic symptoms, such as altered mental status, motor weakness, global aphasia, or dysarthria, clinical symptoms and signs of AC are often unexpressed or overlooked. As a result, the diagnosis of AC is often delayed with subsequent secondary complications in these stroke patients. This study aims to evaluate the clinical incidence, manifestations, and predictive factors of AC in stroke patients. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2013 and December of 2017 of all stroke patients (n = 2699) who have been admitted to our stroke center of the university hospital. We evaluated patient demographics, presenting symptoms, vital signs, laboratory results, mean initial consecutive fasting time, mean total fasting time, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), as well as radiological findings of abdominal computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography. AC was diagnosed in 28 of the 2699 patients (1.04%). Of these patients with AC, gallbladder stones (calculous cholecystitis) were found in 4 patients (14.3%), and 24 patients (85.7%) were diagnosed with a calculous cholecystitis. Subgroup analysis revealed that of the 28 stroke patients with AC, those who underwent neurosurgical intervention (n = 15) had increased incidence of AC compared with those who did not (2.3% vs 0.6%, respectively, P

Though clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are an effective and widely used treatment method worldwide, they are as yet not widely accepted in Korea. Given that cardiovascular (CV) disease is the second leading cause of death in Korea, it is urgent that CR programs be developed. In 2008, the Government of Korea implemented CR programs at 11 university hospitals as part of its Regional Cardio-Cerebrovascular Center Project, and 3 additional medical facilities will be added in 2019. In addition, owing to the promotion of CR nationwide and the introduction of CR insurance benefits, 40 medical institutions nationwide have begun CR programs even as a growing number of medical institutions are preparing to offer CR. The purpose of this research was to develop evidence-based CPGs to support CR implementation in Korea. This study is based on an analysis of CPGs elsewhere in the world, an extensive literature search, a systematic analysis of multiple randomized control trials, and a CPG management, development, and assessment committee comprised of thirty-three authors-primarily rehabilitation specialists, cardiologists, and thoracic surgeons in 21 university hospitals and 2 general hospitals. Twelve consultants, primarily rehabilitation, sports medicine, and preventive medicine specialists, CPG experts, nurses, physical therapists, clinical nutritionists, and library and information experts participated in the research and development of these CPGs. After the draft guidelines were developed, 3 rounds of public hearings were held with staff members from relevant academic societies and stakeholders, after which the guidelines were further reviewed and modified. CR involves a more cost-effective use of healthcare resources relative to that of general treatments, and the exercise component of CR lowers CV mortality and readmission rates, regardless of the type of coronary heart disease and type and setting of CR. Individualized CR programs should be considered together with various factors, including differences in heart function and lifestyle, and doing so will boost participation and adherence with the CR program, ultimately meeting the final goals of the program, namely reducing the recurrence of myocardial infarction and mortality rates.

Achilles tendons are vulnerable to acute or chronic injuries that lead to inflammation. We investigated nanostructural and nanomechanical changes in collagen fibrils from rat Achilles tendons over a period of 9 weeks after injury using atomic force microscopy (AFM). To evaluate the nanostructural changes in Achilles tendons, we measured the diameter and D-banding of collagen fibrils by AFM. And the adhesion forces, which were related to cross-linking of collagen, were calculated from the retraction process of a force-distance curve. We successfully observed the time course of changes in collagen fibrils during healing using AFM. The diameters and D-banding in healed tendons were similar to those of uninjured tendons at 9 weeks after injury, but the adhesion forces remained different from those of uninjured tendons. Our AFM results depicted the minute changes in Achilles tendon surface by natural healing quite well, even drawbacks to naturally healed tendon. Understanding changes in collagen cross-linking and structure while healing will lead to better understanding of healing mechanisms and subsequent improvements in treatment. And AFM can be applied as powerful tool to evaluate structural and property changes in collagen fibrils before and after injury and/or treatment in Achilles tendon.

Objectives The short-term effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the patients with catastrophic and intractable tinnitus were investigated. Methods Fifteen participants were recruited among patients with catastrophic intractable tinnitus to receive 1 Hz rTMS treatment. Tinnitus severity was assessed before rTMS and directly after sham or real rTMS using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and visual analog scale (VAS). Results There was no statistical difference in the THI score before and after sham stimulation. However, after 5 replications of real rTMS there was statistically significant reduction in THI score. Eight patients showed a decrease of more than 10 in THI score. Patients who showed a vast change in THI score after rTMS also showed a large decrease in their VAS score (r=0.879, P

Objective To assess the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the muscles for investigating the occurrence of asymmetry of the paraspinal (multifidus and erector spinae) and psoas muscles and its relation to the chronicity of unilateral lumbar radiculopathy using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods This retrospective study was conducted between January 2012 to December 2014. Sixty one patients with unilateral L5 radiculopathy were enrolled: 30 patients had a symptom duration less than 3 months (group A) and 31 patients had a symptom duration of 3 months or more (group B). Axial MRI measured the CSA of the paraspinal and psoas muscles at the middle between the lower margin of the upper vertebra and upper margin of the lower vertebra, and obtained the relative CSA (rCSA) which is the ratio of the CSA of muscles to that of the lower margin of L4 vertebra. Results There were no differences in the demographics between the two groups. In group B, rCSA of the erector spinae at the L4-5 level, and that of multifidus at the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels, were significantly smaller on the involved side as compared with the uninvolved side. In contrast, no significant muscle asymmetry was observed in group A. The rCSA of the psoas was not affected in either group. Conclusion The atrophy of the multifidus and erector spinae ipsilateral to the lumbar radiculopathy was observed only in patients suffering from unilateral radiculopathy for 3 months or more.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of ultrasonography guided stellate ganglion block (US-SGB) with that of blind SGB in management of the stroke patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type 1. METHOD: Forty-two patients with post-stroke CRPS were randomly assigned to either US-guided SGB (22 patients) or blind SGB group (20 patients). The mean age of US-guided SGB and blind SGB groups was 61.3±5.6 years and 59.1±4.5 years. We performed two blockades at 7-day intervals on the affected side of patients with CRPS. Pain intensity, using a visual analog score (VAS), score of CRPS clinical severity, and the amounts of affected hand swelling with a hand volumeter were assessed before, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: In both groups, VAS and the amount of hand swelling were significantly decreased after 2 weeks and after 4 weeks. Between two groups, VAS difference of US-guided SGB group and that of blind SGB group were 2.61±1.09, 1.88±0.62 at 2 weeks and 3.67±1.03, 3.13±0.62 at 4 weeks, respectively. US-guided SGB group showed more significant improvement in mean change of VAS compared to the blind SGB group (p-value

Plasmacytoma is a rare disease, which afflicts 2 to 3 people per every 100,000 of the general population. Solitary plasmacytoma accounts for 5% of the plasma cell neoplasm. Solitary plasmacytoma of the bone appears more vividly in the axial skeleton (25-60%), which has the red marrow and usually affects the thoracic vertebrae. We report a case of 54-year-old man who has a chest pain on the right side. After being treated for the muscle pain, his symptoms of pain were changed into weakness and allesthesia. We checked the MRI and found a mass lesion in the T5 vertebra, but there were no significant laboratory findings, in blood and urine samples. Finally, he got an operation due to the aggravation of the weakness. The result of biopsy indicated that it was a solitary plasmacytoma of the spine. After 5 months later, the weakness and allesthesia had disappeared.

Although glutamate toxicity is important in stroke injury, the immune and inflammatory systems are also related to stroke pathogenesis. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily member 5 (CD40) plays a crucial role in mediating a broad variety of immune and inflammatory responses. To investigate whether CD40 polymorphisms are associated with the development of ischemic stroke, two promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CD40 gene (rs1800686, −508A/G; rs752118, −173C/T) were analyzed in 121 patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and 291 control subjects. All stroke patients were classified into clinical subgroups according to their blood pressure levels (hypertension, present and absent), fasting plasma glucose (diabetes mellitus, present and absent), and lipids (dyslipidemia, present and absent). SNPStats and SNPAnalyzer Pro software were used to obtain odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and Pvalues. Multiple logistic regression models (codominant1, codominant2, dominant, recessive, overdominant, and log-additive) were used to analyze the genetic data. The two tested CD40 promoter SNPs (rs1800686 and rs752118) were not associated with the development of IS, but the GT haplotype of these two SNPs was associated with the development of IS (P= 0.0148). The rs1800686 SNP frequency differed between IS patients without hypertension and those with hypertension (P=0.017, OR=0.17, 95% CI=0.04–0.72 in the codominant2 model; P=0.023, OR=0.37, 95% CI=0.15–0.90 in the dominant model; P=0.0085, OR=0.42, 95% CI=0.21–0.81 in the log-additive model; P=0.011, OR=0.47, 95% CI=0.27–0.85 in allele frequencies). The A allele frequency of rs1800686 was lower in IS patients with hypertension (27.2%) than in IS patients with hypertension (44.3%), while the G allele frequency of rs1800686 was higher in IS patients with hypertension (72.8%) than in IS patients with hypertension (55.7%). These results suggest that the GT haplotype of rs1800686 and rs752118 in the CD40 gene may be associated with the development of IS, and rs1800686 may contribute to IS in Korean patients with hypertension.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate characteristics of cognitive impairments according to the location of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) using a computerized neuropsychological test (CNT). METHOD A total of 211 patients were transferred to our rehabilitation department after becoming neurologically stable following aneurysmal SAH. Twenty four of the 211 patients met the inclusion criteria and participated in a screening test using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Twenty patients with a MMSE score