PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate if the 7–item Berg balance scale (BBS) 3–point, which is a short form of the BBS (SFBBS), has compatible psychometric properties in comparison with the original BBS, and also to study the concurrent validity using a 10-meter walk test (10mWT) and a timed up and go test (TUG), which are widely used with SFBBS in clinical settings. METHODS: A total of 255 patients who had experienced stroke participated in this cross-sectional study. We used results obtained from 188 patients who completed both 10mWT and TUG. The three levels in the center of the BBS were collapsed to a single level (i.e.,0-2-4) to form the SFBBS. The concurrent validity was assessed by computing the Spearman coefficients for correlation among outcome measures and in between each outcome measure and the SFBBS. As there were four outcomes, the corrected p-value for significant correlation was 0.013 (0.05/4). RESULTS: Spearman coefficients for correlations and evaluation instruments for concurrent validity revealed significantly high validity for both of SFBBS and BBS (r=0.944). 10mWT and TUG were −0.749 and −0.770 respectively, which are in the high margin and are statistically significant (p>0.000). CONCLUSION: SFBBS has sound psychometric properties for evaluating patients with stroke. Thus, we recommend the use of SFBBS in both clinical and research settings.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Psychometrics ; Stroke*

Purpose: Cluster analysis on pediatric asthma identifying a cluster characterized by obesity, females, and puberty showed that obesity is an independent risk factor for severe asthma in this cluster. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of overweight/obesity on lung function and asthma severity in prepubertal asthmatic children. Methods: One hundred fifty-five prepubertal children (aged 6–10) with asthma were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: the overweight/obese group (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 85th percentile, n = 44) and the normal BMI group ( < 85th percentile, n = 111). We reviewed their medical records and analyzed whether there were any differences in clinical features, lung function and degree of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) between the 2 groups. The clinical factors associated with asthma severity were also investigated. Results: There was no difference in clinical features between the 2 groups. Pulmonary function tests showed that only forced vital capacity in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) was significantly lower in the overweight/obese group than in the normal BMI group (P = 0.032). There was no difference in dysanapsis and BHR between the 2 groups. There were significantly more children with moderate-to-severe asthma in the overweight/obese group compared to the normal BMI group (P = 0.018). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, overweight/obesity has been identified as an independent risk factor of affecting asthma severity (odds ratio, 2.44; P = 0.018), in addition to the already known risk factor, FEV1. Conclusion Our study showed that overweight/obese prepubertal asthmatic children had lower FEV1/FVC than those with normal BMI. It also suggests that overweight/obesity may be an independent risk factor for severe asthma before puberty.

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare, multi-systemic disease primarily affecting young male adults with a history of smoking. The two patients with PLCH in our report showed relatively early and atypical radiologic presentations at initial evaluation. On chest CT, PLCH presents variable radiologic features depending on the evolutional stage of the disease. Atypical CT features of PLCH may render precise radiologic diagnosis difficult and usually require lung biopsy for a confirmation of the diagnosis. Our case review is aimed at raising the awareness of radiologists on the atypical CT features of PLCH, to help make accurate radiologic diagnosis and prevent unnecessary and invasive diagnostic procedures.

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare, multi-systemic disease primarily affecting young male adults with a history of smoking. The two patients with PLCH in our report showed relatively early and atypical radiologic presentations at initial evaluation. On chest CT, PLCH presents variable radiologic features depending on the evolutional stage of the disease. Atypical CT features of PLCH may render precise radiologic diagnosis difficult and usually require lung biopsy for a confirmation of the diagnosis. Our case review is aimed at raising the awareness of radiologists on the atypical CT features of PLCH, to help make accurate radiologic diagnosis and prevent unnecessary and invasive diagnostic procedures.

Objective: Adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience significant difficulties with executive functioning (EF) and related adaptive skills, yet the lack of interventions in South Korea targeting these areas has resulted in a heightened need to develop an evidence- based program. Therefore, we developed a novel intervention aiming to enhance everyday EF and daily adaptive skills in adults with high-functioning ASD and conducted a pilot study to evaluate the validity and feasibility of the program. Methods: A behavioral intervention of 10-weekly sessions was developed based on literature searches and focus group interviews. Seven adults with high-functioning ASD (mean age=20.29) participated in a single-group pilot trial. We used self and parent-report questionnaires as well as skills measured by assessment instruments to analyze differences before and after the intervention. Results: Significant improvements were shown in everyday EF, including time management, organization, self-restraint, and regulation of emotions. Additionally, results demonstrated an enhancement in adaptive functioning, especially in the subdomains of daily living skills. Analyses of parental outcomes only revealed a significant decrease in the scores of emotion regulation. Conclusion The current study provides good evidence for the validity and feasibility of an intervention to improve everyday EF and adaptive skills in adults with ASD.

Objective: Adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience significant difficulties with executive functioning (EF) and related adaptive skills, yet the lack of interventions in South Korea targeting these areas has resulted in a heightened need to develop an evidence- based program. Therefore, we developed a novel intervention aiming to enhance everyday EF and daily adaptive skills in adults with high-functioning ASD and conducted a pilot study to evaluate the validity and feasibility of the program. Methods: A behavioral intervention of 10-weekly sessions was developed based on literature searches and focus group interviews. Seven adults with high-functioning ASD (mean age=20.29) participated in a single-group pilot trial. We used self and parent-report questionnaires as well as skills measured by assessment instruments to analyze differences before and after the intervention. Results: Significant improvements were shown in everyday EF, including time management, organization, self-restraint, and regulation of emotions. Additionally, results demonstrated an enhancement in adaptive functioning, especially in the subdomains of daily living skills. Analyses of parental outcomes only revealed a significant decrease in the scores of emotion regulation. Conclusion The current study provides good evidence for the validity and feasibility of an intervention to improve everyday EF and adaptive skills in adults with ASD.

Objectives: . Facial nerve monitoring (FNM) can be used to identify the facial nerve, to obtain information regarding its course, and to evaluate its status during parotidectomy. However, there has been disagreement regarding the efficacy of FNM in reducing the incidence of facial nerve palsy during parotid surgery. Therefore, instead of using electromyography (EMG) to identify the location and state of the facial nerve, we applied an intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) system using a surface pressure sensor to detect facial muscle twitching. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using the IONM system with a surface pressure sensor to detect facial muscle twitching during parotidectomy. Methods: . We evaluated the stimulus thresholds for the detection of muscle twitching in the orbicularis oris and orbicularis oculi, as well as the amplitude and latency of EMG and the surface pressure sensor in 13 facial nerves of seven rabbits, using the same stimulus intensity. Results: . The surface pressure sensor detected muscle twitching in the orbicularis oris and orbicularis oculi in response to a stimulation of 0.1 mA in all 13 facial nerves. The stimulus threshold did not differ between the surface pressure sensor and EMG. Conclusion . The application of IONM using a surface pressure sensor during parotidectomy is noninvasive, reliable, and feasible. Therefore, the IONM system with a surface pressure sensor to measure facial muscle twitching may be an alternative to EMG for verifying the status of the facial nerve.

In 2009, the first outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) or herpangina (HP) caused by enterovirus 71 occurred in the Republic of Korea. This study inquired into risk factors associated with complications of HFMD or HP. A retrospective medical records review was conducted on HFMD or HP patients for whom etiologic viruses had been verified in 2009. One hundred sixty-eight patients were examined for this investigation. Eighty patients were without complications while 88 were accompanied by complications, and 2 had expired. Enterovirus 71 subgenotype C4a was the most prevalent in number with 67 cases (54.9%). In the univariate analysis, the disease patterns of HFMD rather than HP, fever longer than 4 days, peak body temperature over 39degrees C, vomiting, headache, neurologic signs, serum glucose over 100 mg/dL, and having an enterovirus 71 as a causative virus were significant risk factors of the complications. After multiple logistic analysis, headache (Odds ratio [OR], 10.75; P < 0.001) and neurologic signs (OR, 42.76; P < 0.001) were found to be the most significant factors. Early detection and proper management of patients with aforementioned risk factors would be necessary in order to attain a better clinical outcome.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; Body Temperature ; Enterovirus A, Human/genetics/isolation & purification ; Female ; Fever/etiology ; Genotype ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/*complications/virology ; Headache/etiology ; Herpangina/*complications/virology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vomiting/etiology ; Young Adult

Background: Several studies have shown that elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with cardiovascular disease. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been shown to be a measure of the severity and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of hs-CRP with hyperuricemia. Methods: From March 2016 to November 2017, a total of 26,987 patients who received a health check-up at a Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Korea, were enrolled. Foreigners, patients who had hs-CRP score greater than 10 or white blood cell score greater than 10,000, those who did not respond sincerely, those who had previously been diagnosed with gout and cerebrovascular disease, and females were excluded. Data were collected from 2,808 patients. Results: The subjects were divided into four sections by 25th percentile, 50th percentile, 75th percentile, and 100th percentile based on the distribution of hs-CRP. Serum hs-CRP levels were 1.85 (1.34–2.56), 2.59 (1.90–3.54), and 3.64 (2.70–4.93) respectively in the second, third, and fourth quartiles based on the first quartile. The odds ratios were 1.46 (1.05–2.03), 1.76 (1.27–2.45), and 2.27 (1.64–3.14) after adjusting the disturbance variables of age, body mass index, smoking status, and regular exercise. Conclusion In this study, we evaluated the relationship between serum hs-CRP and hyperuricemia, which are the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and found statistically significant correlations. These results were still significant after adjusting for age, smoking, exercise, and body mass index.