OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of ultrasonographic measurements of axillary recess (AR) thickness in healthy individuals, and to analyze the factors affecting the thickness of the AR capsule. METHODS: We recruited 20 healthy individuals (10 male, 10 female) with a mean age of 37 years (standard deviation ±10). Two physiatrists (an experienced and a novice rater) independently investigated the AR thickness in three rounds. The AR thickness was measured for each individual at three shoulder abduction angles (50°, 70°, and 90°). Intra-class correlation (ICC) coefficients were used to assess the reproducibility of each measurement. RESULTS: Excellent intra-rater reliability coefficients were observed at the three shoulder abduction angles, in the analysis of both raters. The inter-rater reliability coefficient was also was excellent in both studies. There were significant differences in the AR thickness, according to the angle of shoulder abduction. The AR was thicker at 50° than at 70° and 90° (all p<0.001), and the AR was thicker at 70° than at 90° (p<0.001). Height (r=0.62, p=0.003) and body mass index (r=0.52, p=0.019) were positively correlated with AR thickness. Males had a thicker AR capsule than females at all three angles (all p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic measurements of AR thickness in healthy individuals demonstrate excellent intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. AR thickness may depend on anthropometric variables and position of the shoulder.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers* ; Humans ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Shoulder ; Ultrasonography

Patients with C5 or C6 radiculopathy complain of shoulder area pain or shoulder girdle weakness. Typical idiopathic neuralgic amyotrophy (INA) is also characterized by severe shoulder pain, followed by paresis of shoulder girdle muscles. Recent studies have demonstrated that magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) of the brachial plexus and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder in patients with INA show high signal intensity (HSI) or thickening of the brachial plexus and changes in intramuscular denervation of the shoulder girdle. We evaluated the value of brachial plexus MRN and shoulder MRI in four patients with typical C5 or C6 radiculopathy. HSI of the brachial plexus was noted in all patients and intramuscular changes were observed in two patients who had symptoms over 4 weeks. Our results suggest that HSI or thickening of the brachial plexus and changes in intramuscular denervation of the shoulder girdle on MRN and MRI may not be specific for INA.
Brachial Plexus Neuritis ; Brachial Plexus* ; Denervation ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Paresis ; Radiculopathy* ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain

Purpose: This study aimed to gain better understanding of the importance of dental prosthesis order platform services and to identify the essential elements for their enhancement and wider adoption among dental professionals. Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted to assess the perspectives of dentists, dental technicians, dental hygienists, and dental industry professionals toward dental prosthesis ordering and associated platform services (a total of 53 respondents). The questionnaire was devised after an expert review and assessed for reliability using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Factor analysis revealed that 57 factors across five categories accounted for 88.417% of the total variance. The survey was administered through an online questionnaire platform, and data analysis was conducted using a statistical software, employing one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s honestly significant difference test (α = 0.05). Results: The essential elements identified were accurate information input, effective communication, delivery of distortion-free impressions, convenience in data transmission and storage, development of stable and affordable platform services (P < 0.05). Furthermore, significant differences were observed in the importance of these items based on age, dental profession, and career experience (P < 0.05). Conclusion The dental prosthesis ordering platform services, the requirements of dental personnel were stability, economic efficiency, and ease of transmitting and storing prosthesis data. The findings can serve as important indicators for the development and improvement of dental prosthesis order platform services.

Background: Several studies support the effectiveness and tolerability of virtual reality (VR) interventions in the psychiatric field. This study aimed to examine changes of cognitive performance in VR-assisted mental health promotion programs and to investigate the difference in performance according to clinical characteristics. Methods: Thirty subjects aged >55 years participated in the study. The clinical characteristics of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, quality of life, and cognition were assessed. Cognitive performance in VR-assisted mental health promotion programs was compared between the clusters classified by clinical characteristics. Results: Cluster analysis classified the subjects into three groups. In Cluster 1, the Module 3 training score was significantly different before and after VR performance. In Cluster 2, significant differences were observed in the Module 1 training score, the Module 2 training score, the Module 2 defense failure score, and the Module 3 training score.In Cluster 3, a significant difference was observed in the Module 3 training score. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that VR performance might differ according to clinical characteristics. A cognitive training strategy using VR has to be differentially established depending on the characteristics of the community population.

PURPOSE: To report 2 cases of retinal hemorrhage due to anemia and thrombocytopenia in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. CASE SUMMARY: (Case 1) A 45-year-old female with alcoholic cirrhosis who was treated in the gastroenterology department presented with reduced vision in both eyes. Fundus examination showed multiple preretinal and subretinal hemorrhages with macular involvement in both eyes. Hematological findings revealed severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. One month after the transfusion treatment her visual acuity was improved and retinal hemorrhages resolved. (Case 2) A 47-year-old male presented with painless loss of vision in the left eye 3 days after orthotopic liver transplantation for the treatment of alcoholic cirrhosis. Fundus examination showed preretinal hemorrhages in both eyes with macular involvement in the left eye. During the transplantation, hematological findings revealed severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. Three months after the transfusion treatment his visual acuity was improved and retinal hemorrhages nearly completely resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Hematological abnormalities due to alcoholic cirrhosis can cause retinal hemorrhage. In the present cases the retinal hemorrhages were resorbed and the visual acuity recovered.
Alcoholics* ; Anemia ; Female ; Gastroenterology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic* ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Hemorrhage* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Vision, Low ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematic and kinetic parameters in sit-to-stand (STS) movement between healthy elderly and young people. METHOD: We measured the maximal isometric hip and knee extension moment of the ten healthy young volunteers and ten elderly and analyzed the STS movement using a motion analyzer. The differences of temporal, kinematic, and kinetic variables between young and elderly were assessed. RESULTS: The maximal knee isometric moment of elderly was lower than that of young. There were no differences in total duration and the range of motion of hip and knee during STS movement between young and elderly. Comparing the kinetic variables normalized by maximal isometric extension moment, maximal knee extension moment and knee work were significantly higher in elderly. There were no differences in maximal knee power and kinetic variables of hip between young and elderly. CONCLUSION: It was the marked difference of STS movement between young and elderly that maximal knee extension moment normalized by maximal isometric extension moment was higher in elderly. It was reasonable that this difference was due to the difference of maximal knee isometric torque.
Aged* ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Torque ; Volunteers

Primary synovial osteochondromatosis is a disorder characterized by the formation of multiple intra-articular osteocartilaginous bodies. Clinical symptoms are not specific, which makes the diagnosis difficult. Magnetic resonance imaging is useful in the diagnosis of synovial osteochondromatosis of the hip, especially in cases in which ossified bodies are not present. Synovial osteochondromatosis tends to be progressive but self-limiting and the optional treatment is controversial. We described two patients with primary osteochondromatosis of hip who presented with symptoms and signs of single joint arthropathy of hip.
Chondromatosis, Synovial* ; Diagnosis ; Hip ; Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteochondromatosis

Objective: It is necessary to identify the mental health types of young women considering the importance of the mental health during the peripartum period. This study aimed to classify the mental health types in a community sample of young women with pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, or the postpartum period. Methods: A total of 293 young women during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, or the postpartum period were included in this study. The clinical characteristics of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and quality of life were assessed. The clinical characteristics of the subject were classified by cluster analysis and compared by analysis of variance. Results: From the cluster analysis, the subjects were classified into three groups. Cluster 1 showed significantly lower depression and anxiety and higher quality of life than those of cluster 2 and 3. Cluster 2 demonstrated significantly higher depression and anxiety and lower quality of life than those of cluster 3 and 1. Cluster 3 represented the intermediate levels between cluster 2 and 1. Conclusion This study suggested that young women during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, or the postpartum period might be in a good mental health group, a high-risk group requiring active monitoring, or a group in need of treatment. By monitoring mental health, the groups with high risk or requiring treatment could be discovered and proper management for prevention or improvement of mental health and quality of life can be provided.

Background: Although exercising can be effective in alleviating mood symptoms, implementing an exercise regimen can be challenging. This study aims to evaluate the subjective experience and satisfaction with an exercise program that uses augmented reality (AR) developed to improve exercise adherence in patients with mood disorders. Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with mood disorders participated in this study. Before and after the AR-based exercise program, psychological states were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF). In addition, the satisfaction survey conducted after participating in the exercise program was analyzed. Results: The mean score of PHQ-9 decreased significantly following the exercise program. Moreover, the mean scores for GAD-7 and PSS significantly decreased when compared before and after the exercise program. Meanwhile, the mean score of WHOQOL-BREF for physical and social satisfaction increased significantly. Furthermore, this program received positive responses on the satisfaction survey. Conclusion In patients with mood disorders, the AR-based exercise program showed remarkable positive effects on psychological states and satisfaction levels. The exercise program using AR technology may effectively improve exercise program adherence in patients with mood disorders.

Objective: Recently, various mental health promotion programs using virtual reality (VR) technology have been tried in the psychiatric field. Considering the importance of mental health in pregnant women, VR-assisted mental health promotion programs for pregnant women are needed to be developed. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the efficacy of a VR-assisted mental health promotion program for pregnant women. Methods: Fifty-five pregnant women were participated in this study. Mental health states such as depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and quality of life were assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Perceived Stress Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF) before and after using VR program treatment. Based on the mental health types of pregnant women classified by cluster analysis, the effects of the VR program were analyzed by paired t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The VR program significantly reduced PHQ-9 (p = 0.033) and GAD-7 (p = 0.046) scores, and significantly increased WHOQOL-BREF (p = 0.026) score of the participants. Additionally, when classifying the mental health types of pregnant women, the VR program was significantly effective to improve depression, anxiety, and quality of life in the most severe group based on the cluster analysis. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that VR program may be effective to improve the mental health of pregnant women. Particularly, VR programs for the high-risk group of depression might be the most effective. Therefore, VR-assisted mental health promotion programs could be useful for managing the mental health in pregnant women.