There is limited evidence regarding the use of virtual reality (VR) and interactive video gaming for improving arm function because there are few such commercial devices and little relevant research. However, evidence of the greater effectiveness of upper extremity VR training over that of conventional therapy after stroke has recently grown due to the adoption of various therapeutic devices. VR applications are novel and potent technologies for upper extremity rehabilitation after stroke because the interface technologies, augmented reality technologies, and various sensorimotor feedback techniques are rapidly advancing. Going forward, VR technology should be designed to provide the possibility of intense functional repetitive practice for patients. The combination of VR with robotic devices, neuromodulation, mirror therapy, and telerehabilitation may synergistically improve upper extremity function after stroke. In severely injured patients, robotic interfaces should be considered, the level of difficulty should be fitted appropriately to the severity of the deficits, and the fact that it is difficult to train patients repeatedly and effectively in a real-world environment should be considered. Further research should be conducted on the application of VR programs in larger populations, VR involving various training paradigms, VR at different exercise levels, and the long-term sustained effects of VR. In addition, synergistically enhanced effects of combining other treatments and feedback paradigms with well-designed interfaces should be investigated.
Arm ; Feedback, Sensory ; Humans ; Rehabilitation* ; Stroke* ; Upper Extremity*

No abstract available.
Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation* ; Tetanus*

No abstract available.
Heart Valve Prosthesis* ; Heart Valves*

Juvenile granulosa cell tumor is rare but one of the common congenital testicular neoplasms. Although histological features are typical of its ovarian counterpart, testicular juvenile granulosa cell tumor has a distinctly different clinical presentation. We report a case of juvenile granulosa cell tumor arising in the cryptochid testis of a 4-day-old newborn. A 6 5 5 cm sized multilocular cyst containing thick, mucinous fluid was found in the peritoneal cavity. The external surface of the cyst was smooth and the septae were relatively thin. The cyst consisted of numerous mucin-filled, cystic follicles lined by cells having vacuolated cytoplasm and round to oval dark nuclei without grooves. Cells resembling granulosa cells of an ovarian follicle were also observed in the intervening stroma forming irregular solid nests.
Cryptorchidism* ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Granulosa Cell Tumor* ; Granulosa Cells* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mucins ; Ovarian Follicle ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Testicular Neoplasms ; Testis

PURPOSE: We aimed to describe and compare the cognitive function, anxiety, and quality of life for the demented elderly in day care centers or nursing homes. METHODS: We selected 44 subjects from day care centers and 63 subjects from nursing homes by performing convenience sampling. The Korean version of Mini Mental Status Examination was used for measuring cognitive status; Rating Anxiety in Dementia, for assessing anxiety; Korean Version of Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease, for assessing the quality of life. The data were collected from May to June 2008 and analyzed by SPSS WIN 14.0. RESULTS: 1) The cognitive function of the subjects in the day care center was higher than that of the subjects in the nursing home. Anxiety in the subjects in the nursing home was higher than that in the subjects in the day care center. 2) The cognitive function and quality of life of the subjects in the day care center showed statistically significant correlation 3) The anxiety and quality of life of the subjects in the nursing home showed statistically significant correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing interventions that improve the quality of life of the demented elderly should be considered and applied according to the degree of cognitive function and anxiety.
Aged ; Anxiety ; Day Care, Medical ; Dementia ; Health Facilities ; Humans ; Nursing Homes ; Quality of Life

Virtual reality (VR) therapy has many benefits to promote neurological and functional recovery in the field of neurorehabilitation after brain injury. VR-assisted neurorehabilitation can be applied in motor, sensori-motor, cognitive, activities of daily living (ADL), and telerehabilitation. Recent reports found that VR therapy appears to be a safe intervention that is effective at improving arm function and ADL function following stroke. Greater improvements were seen at a higher VR therapeutic dose. There has been insufficient evidence that VR therapy improved lower extremity gait speed, balance, and cognitive function after brain injury. As a result, the number of commercially available devices have increased and large-scale controlled trials have reported positive effects recently. Interface devices, various feedback methods, and the advancement of augmented reality technology are quickly developing, therefore, the potential value of VR therapy in neurorehabilitation will be high and its clinical application will be diversified.
Activities of Daily Living ; Arm ; Brain Injuries ; Cognition ; Gait ; Lower Extremity ; Neurological Rehabilitation* ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke ; Telerehabilitation

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of releasing of immobilization on glycogen metabolism of hindlimb muscle after 7days use of a hindlimb casting in mice. The experimental group was divided into control group and recovery groups after removal of left hindlimb casting. The recovery groups, were subivided into the 0, 3rd and 5th day after removal of left hindlimb casting. The results were as follows; 1. The degree of atrophy of hindlimb muscles by 7 days immobilization was measured by ratio of muscle to body weight in plantaris and soleus muscles. The muscle to body weight ratios of plantaris and soleus muscles were decreased by 88% and 74%, respectively on the day of cast removal. The ratios of the both muscles were increased to the level of the control values on the 3rd and 5th day removal of casting. 2. A significant reduction of the glycogen concentration in gastrocnemius muscle occurred after 7 days hindlimb immobilization. The glycogen concentration in gastrocnemius muscle was decreased by 63% on the day of cast removal. The glycogen concentration was recovered to the values of the control group on the 3rd and 5th day after removal of hindlimb casting. 3. The level of muscle glycogen concentration of 25% glucose ingested control group was almost twice that of the normal diet control group. The muscle glycogen concentration of glucose ingested group was significantly less by 81% after 7 days of immobilization compared with the respective control gmup. The concentration recovered to the values of control on the 3rd and 5th day after removal of hindlimb casting. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the liver glycogen concentration between the immobilized grop and the cast removed group in which was removed. 4. The effects of releasing of hindlimb immobilization on plasma glucose, insulin concentration and insulin
Animals ; Atrophy ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Diet ; Glucose ; Glycogen ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Hindlimb ; Hypokinesia ; Immobilization ; Insulin ; Liver Glycogen ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have suggested that the personality and communication style of the mother can affect the progress of disease in children with chronic illnesses. The current study assessed the characteristics, attachment type and communication skill of mothers who have children with alopecia areata that may concern their children. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 46 mothers of children with alopecia areata (alopecia children: mean age 7.52+/-3.41yrs ; 27 males, 19 females), who visited the alopecia clinic at the Dermatology Department of Chung-Ang University Hospital, and 42 mothers of normal children (control children : mean age 6.85+/-0.46 yrs; 20 males, 22 females). The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) subscale, the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), the Parent Adolescent Communication Inventory (PACI), and the Campbell Index of Well-Being were administered to all the subjects for the purpose of comparing the mothers of the alopecia group with those of the normal controls. RESULTS: There were no differences in socio-demographic characteristics between the alopecia and control group mothers. The MMPI scores of both groups were within the normal profile ranges, but the scores of the mothers in the alopecia areata group were significantly lower than those in the control group mothers on the Pd(4), Mf(5), and Ma(9) subscales (p=0.028, p=0.001, p=0.005 respectively). There were significant differences in communication style between the two groups. Alopecia group mothers showed less open family communication (p=0.034) and more problems in family communication (p=0.000) than the control group mothers. The scores on problems in family communication were positively correlated with Pd(4) scores (r=0.48, p=0.03). An insecure attachment style was more common in the alopecia group mothers than in control group mothers (p=0.023). There was no difference between the two groups of mothers on the Index of Well-Being. CONCLUSION: Compared with the mothers of control group children, the mothers of children with alopecia areata had more depressed and suppressed personality characteristics not expressing their psychological conflicts directly (low Pd, Mf, and Ma scores), more problems in family communication with their children and more insecure attachment type. We suggest that these results should be considered in the treatment of children with alopecia, and that psychological intervention for their mothers is needed.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Alopecia ; Alopecia Areata ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Male ; MMPI ; Mothers ; Object Attachment ; Parents

Several cases of accidental subdural injection have been reported, but only few of them are known to be accidental intradural injection during epidural block. Therefore we would like to report our experience of accidental intradural injection. A 68-year-old female was referred to our pain clinic due to severe metastatic spinal pain. We performed a diagnostic epidural injection at T9/10 interspace under the C-arm guided X-ray view. Unlike the usual process of block, onset was delayed and sensory dermatomes were irregular range. We found out a dense collection of localized radio-opaque contrast media on the reviewed X-ray findings. These are characteristic of intradural injection and clearly different from the narrow wispy bands of contrast in the subdural space.
Aged ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Pain Clinics ; Subdural Space

The clinical and pathological features of warty dyskeratoma are presented. Warty dyskeratoma is a rarely encountered, solitary, benign cutaneous tumor occurring most often on the head and neck and to our knowledge, no cases associated with cutaneous horn have been published in western literature. We experienced a case of warty dyskeratoma with a cutaneous horn occurring in a 70-year-old male, who had a 1.3 cm-sized and slowly growing nodule on his neck. A brief review of the literature, was made especially in relation to the pathological findings and histogenesis of warty dyskeratoma.
Aged ; Animals ; Head ; Horns* ; Humans ; Male ; Neck