21 patients suffering from bullous keratopathy were fitted with T-Iens (Soflens) continuously for average 12 months without adverse effect. The T-Iens (Soflens) produced dramatic relief of ocular pain occurred in 9 patients among the 12 paitents. The T-Iens (Soflens) produced mild clinical improvement of vesicle. visual auity and corneal edema.
Corneal Edema ; Humans ; Therapeutic Uses*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice* ; Skin* ; Therapeutic Uses*

While a variety of robot-assisted gait training systems have been widely applied for locomotor rehabilitation in stroke patients, the best supporting evidence for robot-assisted gait training systems remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to provide the best robot-assisted gait training and clinical evidence by comparing the effects of exoskeleton and end-effector type robot-assisted gait training in stroke rehabilitation. The present study underwent a review of the literature to determine the best clinical evidence of the most commonly utilized robot-assisted gait training paradigms (end-effector and exoskeleton types) in stroke gait rehabilitation. The review corroborates the compelling evidence that combined robot-assisted gait training was advantageous in stroke rehabilitation, as it offers additive special therapeutic effects that were not afforded by conventional therapy alone. Most importantly, the robot-assisted gait training paradigm provided more intensive, repetitive, accurate kinematic feedback and symmetrical gait practice, while reducing therapist labor, which is often not affordable in current stroke rehabilitation care. Both the robot-assisted gait training with either the end-effector type or exoskeleton type was beneficial for improving motor recovery, gait function, and balance in stroke patients when it was combined with the conventional physical therapy. The robot-assisted gait training should be used as an augmented gait intervention for stroke population.
Gait* ; Humans ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke* ; Therapeutic Uses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not there is a relationship between doctor's awareness of clinical nutrition service and needs for a clinical dietitian. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The research was carried out by using questionnaires that had been specifically designed for the study. The research was conducted from September to October, 2013 for 311 doctors at 43 hospitals (with over 400 beds). Frequency analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and bootstrapping analysis were conducted using SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: ‘Implementation of clinical nutritional service’ (p < 0.001) and ‘usefulness on clinical nutrition service’ (p < 0.001) were found to be correlated with ‘importance of clinical nutrition service’ as an independent variable. The correlation between ‘importance of clinical nutrition service’ as a mediating variable and ‘needs for clinical dietitian’ as a dependent variable was also confirmed (p < 0.001). The results of the bootstrapping test showed that the mediating effect of ‘importance of clinical nutrition service’ was significant. The indirect effect value between ‘implementation of clinical nutrition service’ and ‘needs for clinical dietitian’ was 0.040, indirect effect value between ‘usefulness on clinical nutrition service’ and ‘needs for clinical dietitian’ was 0.095. CONCLUSION: The frequency of providing clinical nutritional services, the quality of clinical nutritional services, and the degree of implementation of clinical nutritional services were found to be important for positive perception of clinical nutrition services by doctors. Therefore, proper provision of clinical nutrition services and effective therapeutic effects will be continuously highlighted, which will increase the awareness of the physician and ultimately increase the demand for clinical nutrition service.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Negotiating* ; Nutritionists* ; Therapeutic Uses

The therapeutic effects of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on ischemic stroke have been extensively studied in recent years. However, the differences in early EPCs and endothelial outgrowth cells (EOCs) are still unclear. Clarifications of their respective properties and specific functioning characteristics contribute to better applications of EPCs in ischemic diseases. In this review, we discuss cellular origin, isolation, culture, surface markers of early EPCs and EOCs and relevant applications in neurological diseases. We conclude that EOCs possess all haracteristics of true endothelial progenitors and have potent advantages in EPC-based therapies for ischemic diseases. A number of preclinical and clinical applications of EPCs in neurological diseases are under study. More studies are needed to determine the specific characteristics of EPCs and the relevant mechanisms of EPCs for neurological diseases.
Classification* ; Endothelial Progenitor Cells ; Stroke ; Therapeutic Uses

Cryotherapy is one of the most widely used procedures in the field of dermatology. Since the development of cryotherapy with the use of liquid nitrogen beginning in the 19(th) century, its use has gradually increased for various dermatologic conditions, including benign conditions, premalignant lesions, and malignancies. Because the therapeutic effects of cryotherapy are diverse, it must be applied specifically for each indication, requiring a thorough understanding of the basic principles and mechanisms of cryotherapy. In addition, both acute and chronic complications can develop, which may possibly leave permanent scars and tissue damage, thus, careful manipulation is required. In conclusion, cryotherapy is a frequently used treatment method but should be performed precisely by well-trained specialists.
Cicatrix ; Cryotherapy* ; Dermatology* ; Methods ; Nitrogen ; Specialization ; Therapeutic Uses

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Viral and vascular disorders are considered to be a major cause of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Lipoprostaglandin E₁ (lipo-PGE₁) has vasodilating activity and has been used to treat ISSNHL. The purpose of this study was to determine the specific therapeutic effects of lipo-PGE₁ and compare them to other treatment modalities for ISSNHL. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study group had 1,052 patients diagnosed with ISSNHL. All were treated with steroid, carbogen inhalation, stellate ganglion block (SGB), or PGE₁. The CP group (steroid, carbogen inhalation, and PGE1 injection; 288 patients) was treated with lipo-PGE₁ and carbogen inhalation, the CS group (steroid, carbogen inhalation, and stellate ganglion block; 232 patients) with steroid, carbogen inhalation, and SGB, the C group (steroid and carbogen inhalation; 284 patients) with steroid and carbogen, and the control group (steroid only; 248 patients) with steroid only. Patients in the groups receiving lipo-PGE₁ received a continuous infusion of 10 µL lipo-PGE₁. RESULTS: The overall recovery rate after treatment was 52.2%, and recovery rates by group were 67.7% in the CP group, 54.3% in the CS group, 52.1% in the C group, and 32.2% in the control group. Therefore, the therapeutic results in groups treated with lipo-PGE₁ were better than results in other groups. The difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggested that the CP group received effective treatment modalities for ISSNHL. The combined therapy of lipo-PGE₁ with carbogen inhalation in patients with ISSNHL was more beneficial than other treatment modalities.
Alprostadil ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Stellate Ganglion ; Therapeutic Uses*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Olfactory dysfunction is a common sensory disorder, but there are currently no standard diagnostics or therapeutic methods. We analyzed the effects of systemic steroid therapy in patients with olfactory dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We analyzed patients who visited our ENT department with olfactory dysfunction for 3 years. We reviewed their charts and classified the patients according to age, sex, etiology of olfactory dysfunction, degrees of olfactory dysfunction and the effect of systemic steroid therapy. RESULTS: The mean age was 44.3 years old and there were 50 males and 55 females; 55 patients had inflammatory disease and 50 patients had non-inflammatory disease. The distribution of degrees of olfactory disorder according to cause was not significantly different (p=0.120). In 105 patients, 20% experienced improvements after systemic steroid therapy, and the response of systemic steroid therapy was better among patients with inflammatory causes. In cases of inflammatory disease, there was a larger amount of severe hyposmia patients, and their response to systemic steroid therapy was significant (p=0.015). Patients with mild and moderate hyposmia were more responsive to systemic steroid therapy than patients with severe hyposmia (p=0.382). CONCLUSION: In cases of hyposmia due to inflammatory disease, systemic steroid therapy with proper operative management may increase therapeutic effects.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Sensation Disorders ; Therapeutic Uses

We have investigated the therapeutic effectiveness of T-lens(Soflens(R)) in 105 patients(110 eyes) with various corneal diseases. The results are as follows: 1. Cornea diseases, which revealed the good therapeutic effectiveness, are ccrneal perforation, postoperative uses, corneal ulcer, corneal erosion, and corneal edema. 2. Corneal disease, which revealed the rapid therapeutic effectiveness, is corneal edema. 3. Corneal diseases, which revealed no response, are neuroparalytic keratitis and radiation keratitis.
Cornea ; Corneal Diseases* ; Corneal Edema ; Corneal Ulcer ; Keratitis ; Therapeutic Uses*

Brightly colored foods are a rich source of phytochemicals that may act against hyperglycemic agents. The major concern in diabetes is increased oxidative stress. Some studies on phytochemicals have revealed their antioxidant activities and beneficial effects for diabetes. Some well-known phytochemicals are carotinoids and flavonids such as lycopene, beta-carotin, and anthocyanin. Many studies suggest that phytochemical-rich foods might have therapeutic uses. However, the ingestion of improper amounts of these chemicals may be harmful. The most important message of this study is that a balanced diet has favorable effects on oxidative stress status in type 2 diabetes patients.
Anthocyanins ; Antioxidants ; Carotenoids ; Diet ; Eating ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Therapeutic Uses