Neural Substrates of Aphasia in Acute Left Hemispheric Stroke Using VoxelBased Lesion-symptom Brain Mapping

It is unclear how these brain lesions fit into the language processing in acute stroke. In this study, we aimed to investigate the neuroanatomical lesion related to language processing in acute stage of stroke patients using voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM). 73 acute first-ever post-stroke patients were enrolled in this retrospective study, who had undertaken brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Korean version of the Western Aphasia Test within 1 month from onset. Each voxel was compared with aphasia quotient and subtest scores as dependent variables using VLSM. The aphasia group showed significantly much more involvement of extra-nuclear area, insula, inferior frontal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus compared to non-aphasia group. The deficit of spontaneous speech domain was associated with the inferior parietal lobule, inferior and middle frontal gyrus and insula.The insular cortex, inferior parietal lobule, inferior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus were related to deficit of comprehension. The inferior parietal lobule, insula, precentral gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus were related to the deficit of repetition. The deficit of naming was related to inferior parietal lobule, insula and inferior frontal gyrus. In conclusion, VLSM from early MRI imaging study after stroke may be useful to understand the language process network and establish early rehabilitation strategies after stroke.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea: Recommendations for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention after Acute Coronary Syndrome

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.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: 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 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. METHODS: 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 33 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. RESULTS: CR involves a more cost-effective use of healthcare resources relative to that of general treatments, and the exercise component of CR lowers cardiovascular mortality and readmission rates, regardless of the type of coronary heart disease and type and setting of CR. CONCLUSION: 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.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea

BACKGROUND@#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 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.@*METHODS@#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 33 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.@*RESULTS@#CR involves a more cost-effective use of healthcare resources relative to that of general treatments, and the exercise component of CR lowers cardiovascular mortality and readmission rates, regardless of the type of coronary heart disease and type and setting of CR.@*CONCLUSION@#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.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea Online only

OBJECTIVE: 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 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 three 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. METHODS: 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 33 authors—primarily rehabilitation specialists, cardiologists, and thoracic surgeons in 21 university hospitals and two 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, three rounds of public hearings were held with staff members from relevant academic societies and stakeholders, after which the guidelines were further reviewed and modified. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: CR involves a more cost-effective use of healthcare resources relative to that of general treatments, and the exercise component of CR lowers cardiovascular 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.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea: Recommendations for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention after Acute Coronary Syndrome

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.

Efficacy of early steroid use in Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not the early use of steroid is useful for treating Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 85 patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia admitted to Gwangju Christian Hospital between September 2015 and April 2016. A total of 85 patients were enrolled. Of these, 33 were treated with steroids (methyl-prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day), while 52 were not; both were treated with macrolides. The overall duration of fever was compared between the 2 groups and findings on chest radiographs were evaluated for their deterioration. RESULTS: The duration of fever after admission (1.36±0.92 days vs. 2.17±1.30 days, P=0.003) and the overall duration of fever (4.42±2.13 days vs. 6.07±2.59 days, P=0.003) were significantly lower in the steroid group. The duration of fever before admission was not different between the steroid and macrolide groups (3.06±1.74 days vs. 3.90±2.21 days, P=0.068). On chest radiographs taken 3 days later, 1 of 33 patients in the steroid group and 5 of 50 patients in the macrolide group worsened, although there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P=0.395). There was no significant difference in the duration of hospitalization between the 2 groups (6.72±1.54 days vs. 6.92±1.87 days, P=0.618). CONCLUSION: Early administration of steroids on patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia reduced the duration of fever, but there was no difference in duration of admission and x-ray deterioration.

Alagille Syndrome Mimicking Biliary Atresia Confirmed by Jagged1 (JAG1) Gene Analysis in a Newborn: A Case Report

Alagille syndrome is a complex autosomal dominant disorder secondary to defects in the Notch signaling pathway, primarily caused by mutations in the Jagged1 (JAG1) gene. The liver, heart, skeleton, face and eyes are the body parts most commonly involved. Alagille syndrome may mimic other causes of high gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)-linked cholestasis, most notably biliary atresia in the neonatal period. Infants with Alagille syndrome are occasionally misdiagnosed as cases with biliary atresia due to variations in clinical features that might be expressed in early infancy. We describe a case of Alagille syndrome mimicking biliary atresia, identified by sequencing analysis of the JAG1 gene in a newborn. During counseling, family members of the patient have also been found to demonstrate various phenotypes and levels of disease severity of Alagille syndrome.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2016

“Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2016” is the 3rd edition of clinical practice guideline (CPG) for stroke rehabilitation in Korea, which updates the 2nd edition published in 2014. Forty-two specialists in stroke rehabilitation from 21 universities and 4 rehabilitation hospitals and 4 consultants participated in this update. The purpose of this CPG is to provide optimum practical guidelines for stroke rehabilitation teams to make a decision when they manage stroke patients and ultimately, to help stroke patients obtain maximal functional recovery and return to the society. The recent two CPGs from Canada (2015) and USA (2016) and articles that were published following the 2nd edition were used to develop this 3rd edition of CPG for stroke rehabilitation in Korea. The chosen articles' level of evidence and grade of recommendation were decided by the criteria of Scotland (2010) and the formal consensus was derived by the nominal group technique. The levels of evidence range from 1++ to 4 and the grades of recommendation range from A to D. Good Practice Point was recommended as best practice based on the clinical experience of the guideline developmental group. The draft of the developed CPG was reviewed by the experts group in the public hearings and then revised. “Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2016” consists of ‘Chapter 1; Introduction of Stroke Rehabilitation’, ‘Chapter 2; Rehabilitation for Stroke Syndrome, ‘Chapter 3; Rehabilitation for Returning to the Society’, and ‘Chapter 4; Advanced Technique for Stroke Rehabilitation’. “Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2016” will provide direction and standardization for acute, subacute and chronic stroke rehabilitation in Korea.

Predictors for Depressive Mood in Geriatric Patients After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors for depressive mood in geriatric patients after traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: A retrospective review of patients' medical charts was performed in TBI patients who were older than 60 years and referred to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Severance Hospital in 2002–2016. The patients were classified into two groups based on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): non-depressive group (0≤GDS≤16) and depressive group (17≤GDS≤30). Data was collected on demographic, socioeconomic, comorbidities, and trauma-related factors, as well as the pathophysiology of TBI, localization of lesion, post-traumatic complications, functional level, and cognitive and linguistic function. Significant variables from univariate analysis were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were included, of whom 64.3% displayed a depressive mood. Patients in the depressive group had higher comorbidity scores (p=0.03), lower Functional Independence Measure (FIM) totals (p=0.03) and FIM motor (p=0.03) scores, higher modified Rankin Scale scores (p=0.04), and frequently had a bilateral or left side brain lesion (p=0.002). Higher comorbidity scores (odds ratio [OR], 1.764; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.047–2.971), bilateral lesions (OR, 13.078; 95% CI, 1.786–95.780), and left side lesions (OR, 46.074; 95% CI, 3.175–668.502) were independently associated with a depressive mood in the multiple logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The risk of depressive mood in geriatric patients after TBI is associated with comorbidity, functional limitation, and the horizontal distribution of brain lesions. The most significant determining factors were comorbidity and the horizontal distribution of brain lesions. Early detection of risk factors is important to prevent and manage depressive mood in geriatric patients after TBI.

Seasonal Influenza-Related Neurologic Complications in Children from 2010 to 2015

PURPOSE: Influenza-associated neurologic complications in children are diverse. But there has been little long-term and large-scale research about neurologic complications of seasonal influenza. This study aimed to identify the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors for neurologic complications in children hospitalized with influenza. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 940 children hospitalized with confirmed influenza infection from Oct, 2010 to May, 2016 in Kwangju Christian Hospital. RESULTS: A total of 940 children with influenza were hospitalized, of whom 96 (10.2%) had neurologic complications:81 children presented febrile seizures (8.6%) and some included 12 other seizures (1.3%),1 encephalitis (0.1%), 1 Guillain-Barré syndrome (0.1%), 1 aseptic meningitis (0.1%). They had good prognosis except the encephalitis child. The incidence of neurologic complications was significantly higher in influenza A than in influenza B (11.9% vs. 7.0%, P=0.036). The incidence of influenza A was highest in February, while that of influenza B was highest in March and April. The monthly distribution of neurological complications reflected the influenza incidence. The risk factors for influenza-associated neurologic complications were underlying neurologic disease and young age. No significant clinical differences were observed between influenza A and B in febrile seizure. CONCLUSION: Febrile seizures are the most common neurologic complication with good prognosis. Although encephalitis/encephalopathy is rare, it can be severe with sequelae, so prompt diagnosis and treatment should be initiated. And influenza vaccine should be encouraged to children with underlying neurologic disease.

Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Hamstring Tightness in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for healthy participants with hamstring tightness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed at a university rehabilitation hospital. Twenty nine healthy adults with hamstring tightness were enrolled and randomly allocated into four groups (ESWT, stretching exercise, ESWT with stretching exercise, and control). The effects of individual treatments were compared by the finger-to-floor test and popliteal angle. RESULTS: The ESWT group, stretching exercise group and ESWT with stretching exercise group had decreased finger-to-floor distances and right popliteal angles immediately after intervention, compared with the control group (p<0.05). At 4 weeks after completion of the interventions, finger-to-floor distances and the right popliteal angle in only the ESWT with stretching exercise group showed a significant improvement, compared with the control group (p=0.008 and 0.023). CONCLUSION: While ESWT and stretching both reduced hamstring tightness immediately after interventions, only ESWT with stretching exercise maintained the significantly improved relief of hamstring tightness significantly after 4 weeks.

Predictors of Depressive Mood in Patients With Isolated Cerebellar Stroke: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictive factors of depressive mood in patients with isolated cerebellar stroke. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in patients who had experienced their first isolated cerebellar stroke during 2002-2014. The patients were classified into two groups by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (non-depressive group, 0≤GDS≤16; depressive group, 17≤GDS≤30). Data on demographic and socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, functional level, cognitive and linguistic function, and stroke characteristics were collected. Significant variables in univariate analysis were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were enrolled, of whom 55.8% had depressive mood, were older (p=0.021), and had higher hypertension rates (p=0.014). Cognitive and linguistic functions did not differ between the two groups. The depressive group had higher ischemic stroke rates (p=0.035) and showed a dominant right posterior cerebellar hemisphere lesion (p=0.028), which was independently associated with depressive mood in the multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 5.081; 95% confidence interval, 1.261-20.479). CONCLUSION: The risk of depressive mood after cerebellar stroke was increased in patients at old age, with a history of hypertension, ischemic stroke, and lesion of the right posterior cerebellar hemisphere. The most significant determining factor was stroke lesion of the right posterior cerebellar hemisphere. Early detection of risk factors is important to prevent and manage depressive mood after cerebellar stroke.

Is there an agreement among the items of the Korean physical therapist licensing examination, learning objectives of class subjects, and physical therapists' job descriptions? / 보건의료교육평가

PURPOSE: To determine the agreement among the items of the Korean physical therapist licensing examination, learning objectives of class subjects, and physical therapists' job descriptions. METHODS: The main tasks of physical therapists were classified, and university courses related to the main tasks were also classified. Frequency analysis was used to determine the proportions of credits for the classified courses out of the total credits of major subjects, exam items related to the classified courses out of the total number of exam items, and universities that offer courses related to the Korean physical therapist licensing examination among the surveyed universities. RESULTS: The proportions of credits for clinical decision making and physical therapy diagnosis-related courses out of the total number credits for major subjects at universities were relatively low (2.06% and 2.58%, respectively). Although the main tasks of physical therapists are related to diagnosis and evaluation, the proportion of physiotherapy intervention-related items (35%) was higher than that of examination and evaluation-related items (25%) on the Korean physical therapist licensing examination. The percentages of universities that offer physical therapy diagnosis and clinical decision making-related courses were 58.62% and 68.97%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both the proportion of physiotherapy diagnosis and evaluation-related items on the Korean physical therapist licensing examination, and the number of subjects related to clinical decision making and physical therapy diagnosis in the physical therapy curriculum, should be increased to ensure that the examination items and physical therapy curriculum reflect the practical tasks of physical therapists.

Comparison between Steroid Injection and Stretching Exercise on the Scalene of Patients with Upper Extremity Paresthesia: Randomized Cross-Over Study

PURPOSE: To compare the therapeutic effects on upper extremity paresthesia of intra-muscular steroid injections into the scalene muscle with those of stretching exercise only. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with upper extremity paresthesia who met the criteria were recruited to participate in this single-blind, crossover study. Fourteen of 20 patients were female. The average age was 45.0+/-10.5 years and duration of symptom was 12.2+/-8.7 months. Each participant completed one injection and daily exercise program for 2 weeks. After randomization, half of all patients received ultrasound-guided injection of scalene muscles before exercise, while the other was invested for the other patients. RESULTS: After two weeks, there was a significant decrease of the visual analog scale score of treatment effect compared with baseline in both groups (6.90 to 2.85 after injection and 5.65 to 4.05 after stretching exercise, p50% reduction in post-treatment visual analog scale, was 18 of 20 (90.0%) after injection, compared to 5 of 20 (25.0%) after stretching exercise. There were no cases of unintended brachial plexus block after injection. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided steroid injection or stretching exercise of scalene muscles led to reduced upper extremity paresthesia in patients who present with localized tenderness in the scalene muscle without electrodiagnostic test abnormalities, although injection treatment resulted in more improvements. The results suggest that symptoms relief might result from injection into the muscle alone not related to blockade of the brachial plexus.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Post-Stroke Delirium

Delirium is an acute disturbance of consciousness and cognition with fluctuating course over a short period of time. Recognition of delirium in post-stroke patients is important because of its association with a longer stay in the hospital, a poor functional outcome, an increased risk of deteriorated cognition, and a higher mortality rate. It is occasionally under-recognized due to the fluctuating course and the neurological deficits that are caused by the stroke. Disturbance of several neurotransmitter systems including not only acetylcholine and dopamine but also serotonin, noradrenaline and gamma amino butyric acid have been implicated for the possible pathophysiology of delirium. Numerous potential precipitating and predisposing factors have been proposed such as comorbid condition, age, acute medical insults and environmental issues. In view of the complex multifactorial causes of delirium, multicomponent non-pharmacological approaches for risk factors are the most effective strategy for prevention of delirium. Preventive interventions such as frequent reorientation, early and recurrent mobilization, pain management, adequate nutrition and hydration, reducing sensory impairments, and ensuring proper sleep patterns have all been shown to reduce the incidence of delirium, regardless of the care environment. Pharmacologic interventions and physical restraints should be reserved for patients who are a threat to their own safety or the safety of others. This review describes epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnostic methods, and management of delirium in post-stroke patients.

Simultaneous Loss of Bilateral Voluntary Eyelid Opening and Sustained Winking Response Following Bilateral Posterior Cerebral Artery Infarction

Spontaneous opening and closing of both eyes usually occurs in the normal awake state, unless a deliberate and voluntary attempt is made to open only one eye. We present a rare case of a male patient who was unable to open both eyes simultaneously after bilateral posterior cerebral artery infarction. He was able to close both eyes voluntarily. However, he was unable to keep both eyes open simultaneously and either the right or left eye remained closed. Upon a verbal command to open both eyes, the opened eye closed and the contralateral eye opened. When the closed eye was forced open, the opened eye closed. We thus presented a case of right-left dissociation of voluntary eyelid opening following bilateral posterior cerebral artery infarction, which was treated with botulinum toxin type A injection. Differential diagnosis to other movement disorders of the eyelids was discussed.

Correction of Camptocormia Using a Cruciform Anterior Spinal Hyperextension Brace and Back Extensor Strengthening Exercise in a Patient With Parkinson Disease

Parkinson disease, one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, is characterized by cardinal motor features including bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor, postural instability, freezing gait, and fatigue. Of these, postural instability in the form of hyperflexion of the thoracolumbar spine upon standing and walking that disappears on recumbent positioning is called camptocormia. Many different trials have been conducted on the treatment of camptocormia, including physiotherapy, corsets, medications, and deep brain stimulation. However, there is insufficient evidence as to which treatment modality is the most valid in terms of effectiveness, cost, safety, and patient satisfaction. In this study, we present a patient whose symptom of camptocormia was effectively resolved using a cruciform anterior spinal hyperextension (CASH) brace and back extensor strengthening exercise which was modified through follow-ups based on a short-term outpatient setting for proper application with minimal discomfort. The patient was satisfied with the amount of correction provided by the brace and exercise.

Prediction of Neurological Recovery in Patients with Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy

The incidence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is not well known, however, the common causes of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are sudden cardiac arrest, acute respiratory failure and carbon monoxide poisoning. Due to high metabolic demand, the brain is very susceptible to damage from deprivation of blood supply and oxygen delivery. When patients recover from comatose after HIE, there are various spectrums of neurological outcomes, ranging from vegetative state to good recovery. Various methods including neurologic examination, neurophysiologic and biochemical tools, neuroimaging technique have been proposed for the prognostic evaluation of HIE. This article reviews the pathophysiology of HIE and predictive methods for neurological recovery after HIE.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2012

"Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2012" is a 2nd edition of clinical practice guideline (CPG) for stroke rehabilitation in Korea, which updates the 1st edition published in 2009. After 1st stroke rehabilitation CPG, many studies concerning stroke rehabilitation have been published and the necessity for update has been raised. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supported the project "Development of Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation" in 2012. Thirty-two specialists in stroke rehabilitation from 18 universities and 3 rehabilitation hospitals and 10 consultants participated in this project. The scope of this CPG included both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke from the acute to chronic stages. The purpose of this CPG is to provide guidelines for doctors and therapists to make a decision when they manage stroke patients and ultimately, to help stroke patients obtain maximal functional recovery and return to the society. "Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2012" consists of 'Chapter 1; Introduction of Stroke Rehabilitation', 'Chapter 2; Rehabilitation for Stroke Syndrome, 'Chapter 3; Rehabilitation for Return to the Society', and 'Chapter 4; Advanced Technique for Stroke Rehabilitation'. Both the adaptation and de novo development methods were used to develop this 2nd edition of CPG. The appraisal of foreign CPGs was performed using 'Korean appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation II' (K-AGREE II); moreover, four CPGs from Scotland (2010), Austrailia (2010), USA (2010), Canada (2010) were chosen for adaptation. For de novo development, articles that were published following the latest foreign CPGs were searched from the database system, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library. Literatures were assessed in the aspect of subjects, study design, study results' consistency, language and application possibility in the Korean society. The chosen articles' level of evidence and grade of recommendation were decided by the criteria of Scotland (2010) and the formal consensus was derived by the nominal group technique. The levels of evidence range from 1++ to 4 and the grades of recommendation range from A to D. GPP (Good Practice Point) was recommended as best practice based on the clinical experience of the guideline developmental group. The draft of the developed CPG was reviewed by the experts group in the public hearings and then revised.