Motor learning is a relatively permanent change of improving motor skills, resulting from repetitive training and an important process of motor recovery in neurorehabilitation. There are various methods of physical therapies, medications, stem cell therapy, invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques for recovery of motor function after stroke. In this review, we describe motor learning and transcranial direct current stimulation among noninvasive neuromodulation techniques to enhance the motor learning.
Learning* ; Motor Skills ; Stem Cells ; Stroke

This study investigated the differences in the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) between patients with and without the involvement of Broca's area (IBA).The medical records of 20 stroke patients treated with rTMS for non-fluent aphasia were reviewed. Patients completed the Korean version of the Western Aphasia Battery (K-WAB) pre- and post-rTMS. Magnetic resonance T1-weighted images of the brain were analyzed using SPM12 software. Montreal Neurological Institute templates and Talairach coordinates were used to determine Broca's area involvement and segregate patients into 2 groups: IBA and non-IBA (NBA) groups. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software.Twenty subjects were included in the study. The K-WAB scores revealed improvements in the total subjects and IBA and NBA groups. There were no statistical differences between the IBA and NBA groups in the ΔK-WAB scores of aphasia quotient, fluency, comprehension, repetition, and naming. The rTMS was positive for non-fluent aphasia patients, but there was no significant difference in effectiveness depending on the IBA. Further research with a larger number of patients is needed to identify the differences in the effect of rTMS on the IBA.

Dysphagia is a complication seen in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Even in a COVID-19 pandemic situation, the management of dysphagia caused by other diseases as well as dysphagia-related COVID-19cannot be ignored. Because COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets, contact, and aerosol, there is fear of transmission to healthcare professionals. Due to this, it has not been possible to manage a COVID-19 dysphagia patient, in the same way as it was practiced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, health professionals make a limited assessment of the patient with dysphagia. Healthcare professionals can use appropriate personal protective equipment to evaluate and treat a patient with COVID-19 associated dysphagia. Further, practice guidelines for dysphagia management should be established according to the presentation in different clinical situations and the status of the COVID-19 outbreak in various countries.

Dysphagia is a complication seen in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Even in a COVID-19 pandemic situation, the management of dysphagia caused by other diseases as well as dysphagia-related COVID-19cannot be ignored. Because COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets, contact, and aerosol, there is fear of transmission to healthcare professionals. Due to this, it has not been possible to manage a COVID-19 dysphagia patient, in the same way as it was practiced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, health professionals make a limited assessment of the patient with dysphagia. Healthcare professionals can use appropriate personal protective equipment to evaluate and treat a patient with COVID-19 associated dysphagia. Further, practice guidelines for dysphagia management should be established according to the presentation in different clinical situations and the status of the COVID-19 outbreak in various countries.

Dysphagia is a common symptom in otolaryngologic diseases. For the treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia, conservative treatment is primarily considered, including behavioral Interventions, modified diet, and facilitation. Behavioral interventions include posture change, swallowing maneuvers, and excise. If a patient is diagnosed with dysphagia caused by oropharyngeal motor dysfunction, behavioral interventions should be actively considered. When applying treatment, it is necessary to apply the treatment tailored to each patient based on the biomechanics of dysphagia through diagnostic evaluations rather than uniform behavioral interventions depending on the disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate phasic changes during filling cystometry that most accurately represent detrusor properties, regardless of other factors affecting detrusor contractility. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients (59 males, 19 females; mean age, 48.2 years) with spinal cord injuries were enrolled. Urodynamic studies were performed using a normal saline filling rate of 24 mL/min. We calculated bladder compliance values of the detrusor muscle in each of three filling phase intervals, which divided the filling cystometrogram into three phases referable to the cystometric capacity or maximum cystometric capacity. The three phases were sequentially delineated by reference to the pressure-volume curve reflecting bladder filling. RESULTS: Bladder compliance during the first and second phases of filling cystometry was significantly correlated with overall bladder compliance in overactive detrusors. The highest coefficient of determination (r2=0.329) was obtained during the first phase of the pressure-volume curve. Bladder compliance during all three phases was significantly correlated with overall bladder compliance of filling cystometry in underactive detrusors. However, the coefficient of determination was greatest (r2=0.529) during the first phase of filling cystometry. CONCLUSION: Phasic bladder compliance during the early filling phase (first filling phase) was the most representative assessment of overall bladder compliance during filling cystometry. Careful determination of early phase filling is important when seeking to acquire reliable urodynamic data on neurogenic bladders.
Compliance* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urodynamics

Inflammatory fibroid polyp is a relatively rare, benign polyp which is composed of fibraus connective tissue, blood vessels, and infiltration of eosinophils. The majority of inflammatory fibroid polyps has been reported with pathologic specimen in stomach and small intestine. We performed the gastrofiberscopy and endoscopic ultrasonogram of an inflammatory fibroid polyp, which reveals central ulcerated polypoid mass originated in the submucosa of antral portion of the stomach. So we report a case of endoscopic and endoscopic ultrasonographic findings of inflammatory fibroid piolyp in stomach. The etiolagy and pathology are discussed with the review of the literatures.
Blood Vessels ; Connective Tissue ; Eosinophils ; Intestine, Small ; Leiomyoma* ; Pathology ; Polyps* ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive spinal surgery using a Coblation(R) technique that creates small voids within the disc. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cervical nucleoplasty in patients with cervical disc disorder. METHODS: Between March 2008 and December 2009, 22 patients with cervical disc disorders were treated with cervical nucleoplasty after failed conservative treatment. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia, and fluoroscopic guidance and voids were created in the disc with the Perc(TM) DC Spine Wand(TM). Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the Modified Macnab criteria and VAS score at preprocedure, postprocedure 1 month, and 6 months. RESULTS: Six patients had one, eight patients had two and eight patients had three discs treated; a total of 46 procedures was performed. Mean VAS reduced from 9.3 at preprocedure to 3.7 at postprocedure 1 month and to 3.4 at postprocedure 6 months. There was no significant complication related to the procedure within the first month. Outcomes were good or excellent in 17/22 (77.3%) cases. Postprocedure magnetic resonance imaging was acquired in two patients after two months showing morphologic evidence of volume reduction of protruded disc material in one patient but not in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous decompression with a nucleoplasty using a Coblation(R) technique in the treatment of cervical disc disorder is a safe, minimally-invasive and less uncomfortable procedure, with an excellent short-term clinical outcome.
Anesthesia, Local ; Decompression ; Diskectomy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive spinal surgery using a Coblation(R) technique that creates small voids within the disc. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cervical nucleoplasty in patients with cervical disc disorder. METHODS: Between March 2008 and December 2009, 22 patients with cervical disc disorders were treated with cervical nucleoplasty after failed conservative treatment. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia, and fluoroscopic guidance and voids were created in the disc with the Perc(TM) DC Spine Wand(TM). Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the Modified Macnab criteria and VAS score at preprocedure, postprocedure 1 month, and 6 months. RESULTS: Six patients had one, eight patients had two and eight patients had three discs treated; a total of 46 procedures was performed. Mean VAS reduced from 9.3 at preprocedure to 3.7 at postprocedure 1 month and to 3.4 at postprocedure 6 months. There was no significant complication related to the procedure within the first month. Outcomes were good or excellent in 17/22 (77.3%) cases. Postprocedure magnetic resonance imaging was acquired in two patients after two months showing morphologic evidence of volume reduction of protruded disc material in one patient but not in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous decompression with a nucleoplasty using a Coblation(R) technique in the treatment of cervical disc disorder is a safe, minimally-invasive and less uncomfortable procedure, with an excellent short-term clinical outcome.
Anesthesia, Local ; Decompression ; Diskectomy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine