Optimizing shoulder elevation assist rate in exoskeletal rehabilitation based on muscular activity indices: a clinical feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Restoring shoulder function is critical for upper-extremity rehabilitation following a stroke. The complex musculoskeletal anatomy of the shoulder presents a challenge for safely assisting elevation movements through robotic interventions. The level of shoulder elevation assistance in rehabilitation is often based on clinical judgment. There is no standardized method for deriving an optimal level of assistance, underscoring the importance of addressing abnormal movements during shoulder elevation, such as abnormal synergies and compensatory actions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of a newly developed shoulder elevation exoskeleton robot by applying a novel optimization technique derived from the muscle synergy index. METHODS: Twelve chronic stroke participants underwent an intervention consisting of 100 robot-assisted shoulder elevation exercises (10 × 10 times, approximately 40 min) for 10 days (4-5 times/week). The optimal robot assist rate was derived by detecting the change points using the co-contraction index, calculated from electromyogram (EMG) data obtained from the anterior deltoid and biceps brachii muscles during shoulder elevation at the initial evaluation. The primary outcomes were the Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE) shoulder/elbow/forearm score, kinematic outcomes (maximum angle of voluntary shoulder flexion and elbow flexion ratio during shoulder elevation), and shoulder pain outcomes (pain-free passive shoulder flexion range of motion [ROM] and visual analogue scale for pain severity during shoulder flexion). The effectiveness and safety of robotic therapy were examined using the Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test. RESULTS: All 12 patients completed the procedure without any adverse events. Two participants were excluded from the analysis because the EMG of the biceps brachii was not obtained. Ten participants (five men and five women; mean age: 57.0 [5.5] years; mean FMA-UE total score: 18.7 [10.5] points) showed significant improvement in the FMA-UE shoulder/elbow/forearm score, kinematic outcomes, and pain-free passive shoulder flexion ROM (P < 0.05). The shoulder pain outcomes remained unchanged or improved in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study presents a method for deriving the optimal robotic assist rate. Rehabilitation using a shoulder robot based on this derived optimal assist rate showed the possibility of safely improving the upper-extremity function in patients with severe stroke in the chronic phase.

Analysis of factors affecting the accuracy of low-dose insulin dosage using syringes and vials: a cross-sectional study in a Japanese regional hospital.

While several studies have shown that insulin pens are more convenient and accurate than conventional administration with syringes and vials (syringes/vials), there is a frequent need for low-dose insulin injections administered by nurses using syringes/vials in hospital settings, particularly for critically ill patients. However, there is a lack of research investigating factors related to the accuracy of low-dose insulin administration using syringes/vials, particularly in hospital settings. We therefore performed a cross-sectional study to assess the accuracy of low-dose insulin administration by registered nurses using syringes/vials and to determine whether time of day, years of experience and adherence to proper injection procedures (vertical insertion/drawing and air bubble checking) affected the accuracy. The participants were 33 registered nurses working in the diabetes ward, and a total of 198 trials were analyzed. Using syringes/vials, the median errors converted to insulin units were found to be 0.6 units for the 2- and 6-unit target doses, and 0.7 units for the 10-unit target dose. In cases with the largest error, errors for the 2-, 6-, and 10-unit target doses were observed to be 2.3, 4.0, and 3.3 units, respectively. In our study, time of day, years of experience and vertical insertion/drawing did not correlate with errors, but errors were significant in the participants who did not check for air bubbles. Nurses can make non-negligible dosage errors when administering low-dose insulin using syringes/vials, and this is particularly likely when air bubble checks are missed. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-024-00726-5.

Factors affecting the quality of life of patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw during treatment: A quality-of-life survey and causal analysis.

This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and oral health-related QOL (OHRQOL) and the association between the downstaging of MRONJ and OHRQOL. The HRQOL and OHRQOL of 44 patients with MRONJ were assessed using the SF-36v2 and the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), respectively. Treatment was performed in accordance with the AAOMS position paper (2014). The SF-36v2 and GOHAI scores at the beginning of the survey were used to evaluate the impact of MRONJ on QOL. Potential confounders affecting the association between downstaging and QOL improvement were selected using directed acyclic graphs. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate causal inferences. HRQOL scale scores declined below the national average. The three-component summary score (3CS), comprising the physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), and role/social component summary (RCS), revealed that performance status and primary disease significantly affected the PCS and RCS (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively) and PCS and MCS (P = 0.024 and P = 0.003, respectively). The MRONJ stage did not influence the 3CS; however, OHRQOL declined in a stage-dependent manner (P = 0.005). Downstaging of MRONJ was independently associated with the improvement rate of the total GOHAI scores after adjusting for variables (P = 0.045). The HRQOL of patients with MRONJ declined; however, this may depend on the underlying disease status rather than the MRONJ stage. Improvement of the disease status can potentially predict an improvement in OHRQOL, regardless of the treatment modality.

Nonepisodic angioedema with eosinophilia following a rose-thorn prick injury.

Background: Nonepisodic angioedema with eosinophilia (NEAE) is a condition marked by angioedema and significant eosinophilia and often linked with atopic dermatitis. It predominantly affects young Asian women and occurs more frequently in the autumn and winter. Despite over 100 reported cases, its etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. Case presentation: A 23-year-old Japanese female florist presented with acute arm swelling following rose-thorn pricks to her hands and fingers in spring. One week later, she developed progressive symmetrical non-pitting edema in her lower legs and a 3 kg weight gain without any rash. She had a history of oral allergy syndrome to apples and pears for which allergen-specific IgE were previously detected. Blood tests showed significant eosinophilia (14,930 cells/µL) and elevated thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) levels (12,864 pg/mL). Thyroid disease, autoimmune disorders, and hematologic malignancies were ruled out. Normal cardiac markers and a whole-body computed tomography excluded visceral organ involvement. She was diagnosed with NEAE and treated with oral prednisolone, which resolved the edema within 10 days. Prednisolone was tapered gradually on an outpatient basis without recurrence. Conclusion: A review of the literature indicates that NEAE triggered by subcutaneous antigen exposure may not follow the typical age or seasonal patterns. Direct subcutaneous antigen exposure, including rose-thorn pricks, can trigger NEAE. Clinicians should consider NEAE in atypical presentations and thoroughly investigate preceding episodes.

Feasibility of a neurorehabilitation pipeline and an automated algorithm to select appropriate treatments for upper extremity motor paralysis in individuals with chronic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a neurorehabilitation pipeline and develop an algorithm to automatically select the appropriate treatment for individuals with upper extremity motor paralysis after stroke in the chronic phase. DESIGN: In Experiment 1, eight post-stroke participants in the chronic phase who underwent treatment sustaining two to three phases were assessed before and after treatment. In Experiment 2, a decision tree analysis was performed in which the dependent variable was set as the treatment option determined by a board-certified physiatrist for 95 post-stroke participants; the independent variables were only motor function scores or both motor function scores and electromyogram variables. RESULTS: In Experiment 1, the clinical assessment scores were improved significantly after treatment. Experiment 2 showed that the agreements of the model with only motor function scores as the dependent variable and with motor function scores and electromyogram variables as the dependent variables were 75.8% and 82.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This novel treatment package is feasible for improvement of motor function in post-stroke individuals with severe motor paralysis. The study also established an automated algorithm for selecting appropriate treatments for upper extremity motor paralysis after stroke, identifying standard values of key variables, including electromyography variables.

Surveillance of seasonal influenza viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan, 2018-2023, a single-center study.

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic led to significant reductions in influenza detection worldwide, fueling debates on whether influenza truly ceased circulating in communities. The number of influenza cases decreased significantly in Japan, raising concerns about the potential risk of decreased immunity to influenza in the population. Our single-center study aimed to investigate influenza trends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients of all ages who visited Tokyo Shinagawa Hospital between April 1, 2018, and March 31, 2023. Influenza and COVID-19 tests were conducted using Quick Navi-Flu2 and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We analyzed data from before and during the COVID-19 epidemic, based on patient background, hospitalization, and deaths, collected from medical records. Results: A total of 12 577 influenza tests were conducted, with approximately 100 tests consistently performed each month even in the influenza off-season. Throughout the observation period, 962 positive cases were identified. However, no cases were observed for 27 months between March 2020 and November 2022. Influenza A cases were reobserved in December 2022, followed by influenza B cases in March 2023, similar to the influenza incidence reports from Tokyo. The positivity rate during the 2022-2023 winter season was lower than before the COVID-19 epidemic and decreased in elderly patients, with no hospitalizations or deaths observed. Conclusion: This single-center study provided actual trend data for influenza patients before and during COVID-19 outbreaks in Tokyo, which could offer insights into the potential impact and likelihood of influenza virus infection in Japan.