High-Tech Home-Based Rehabilitation after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: To improve existing rehabilitation technologies, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the effect size of home-based rehabilitation using robotic, virtual reality, and game devices on physical function for stroke survivors. (2) Methods: Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, and CINAHL were used to search the randomized controlled trials that applied technologies via home-based rehabilitation, such as virtual reality, robot-assisted devices, and games. The effect size (Hedges's g) of technology type and affected limb on physical function were calculated. (3) Results: Ten studies were included. The effect size of home-based rehabilitation in virtual reality had the greatest value (Hedges's g, 0.850; 95% CI, 0.314-1.385), followed by robot-assisted devices (Hedges's g, 0.120; 95% CI, 0.003-0.017) and games (Hedges's g, -0.162; 95% CI, -0.036 to -0.534). The effect size was larger in the upper limbs (Hedges's g, 0.287; 95% CI, 0.128-0.447) than in the lower limbs (Hedges's g, -0.113; 95% CI, -0.547 to 0.321). (4) Conclusions: Virtual reality home rehabilitation was highly effective for physical function compared to other rehabilitation technologies. Interventions that consisted of a pre-structured and tailored program applied to the upper limbs were effective for physical function and psychological outcomes.

Korean Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of Korean Version EORTC QLQ-BRECON23.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life-QLQ-BRECON23 in women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer undergoing all types of breast reconstruction. METHODS: A total of 148 Korean women who underwent breast reconstruction were recruited from the breast cancer center to participate in the study. After performing forward and backward translation of the original English version of the questionnaire into Korean, its validity (construct, known-group validity, concurrent) and reliability were assessed. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to assess construct validity. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 52 years, and 89.8% underwent implant-based reconstruction. Construct validity using confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit, and the effect size was small-to-medium regarding known-group validity. Concurrent validity was confirmed by the significant correlation between the QLQ-BRECON23 and the QLQ-BR23. The reliability of the QLQ-BRECON23 symptom and function scales ranged from 0.61 to 0.87. CONCLUSION: The Korean QLQ-BRECON23 can be applied to assess quality of life and its related factors, and also to internationally compare the level of quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing breast reconstruction.

Enhanced capacitive properties of all-metal-oxide-nanoparticle-based asymmetric supercapacitors.

The major problem of transition metal oxide (TMO)-based supercapacitors is their low specific energy (E sp) due to the poor electrical conductivity of the TMO electrodes and narrow operating voltage window. To solve these limitations simultaneously, we propose asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) consisting of two composite TMO electrodes working in different potential ranges. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle (NP)-incorporated iron oxide (Fe2O3) and manganese oxide (MnO2) NPs were used as electrode materials covering the negative and positive potential window, respectively. The specific capacitance (C sp) of this asymmetric TiO2-Fe2O3‖TiO2-MnO2 supercapacitor is comparable to that of the symmetric TiO2-MnO2‖TiO2-MnO2 supercapacitor. However, the ASC can operate over a doubly extended voltage range, which resulted in a significant enhancement in the specific energy of the device. The E sp value of the ASC at a specific power of 1000 W kg-1 is 48.6 W h kg-1, which is 34.1 and 8.1 times, respectively, larger than that of the two symmetric devices.