Objective: To investigate the action observation effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the communication between motor cortex and muscle through corticomuscular coherence (CMC) analysis. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) of 27 healthy, nonathlete subjects were measured during action observation, FES, and action observation with FES, which lasted for 7sper session for 10 times. All trials were repeated for 30 times. Simultaneously measured EEG raw data and rectified EMG signals were used to calculate CMC. Only confidence limit values above 0.0306 were used for analysis. CMC was divided into three frequency domains, andthe grand average coherence and peak coherence were computed. Repeated ANOVA was performed to analyze the coherence value difference for each condition’s frequency band. Results: CMC showed significant differences in peak coherence and average coherence between the conditions (p<0.05). Action observation application with FES in all frequency band showed the highest peak and average coherence value. Conclusions The results of this study are assumed to be the combination of increased eccentric information transfer from the sensory-motor cortex by action observation and an increased in concentric sensory input from the peripheral by the FES, suggesting that these are reflecting the sensorimotor integration process.

Objective: To investigate the action observation effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the communication between motor cortex and muscle through corticomuscular coherence (CMC) analysis. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) of 27 healthy, nonathlete subjects were measured during action observation, FES, and action observation with FES, which lasted for 7sper session for 10 times. All trials were repeated for 30 times. Simultaneously measured EEG raw data and rectified EMG signals were used to calculate CMC. Only confidence limit values above 0.0306 were used for analysis. CMC was divided into three frequency domains, andthe grand average coherence and peak coherence were computed. Repeated ANOVA was performed to analyze the coherence value difference for each condition’s frequency band. Results: CMC showed significant differences in peak coherence and average coherence between the conditions (p<0.05). Action observation application with FES in all frequency band showed the highest peak and average coherence value. Conclusions The results of this study are assumed to be the combination of increased eccentric information transfer from the sensory-motor cortex by action observation and an increased in concentric sensory input from the peripheral by the FES, suggesting that these are reflecting the sensorimotor integration process.

PURPOSE: The present study was to investigate effects of scapular position and pain on a trunk stabilization exercise with gym ball for patients with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS: Subjects were patients after 2 weeks of rotator cuff repairs. Subjects were randomly assigned to conservative treatment group (CTG, n=10) or trunk stabilization with gym ball group (SBG, n=10), and participated one of those groups for 2 weeks. Measurements about pain and scapular position were assessed in before and after treatment programs. RESULTS: Pain reduced in both rest and night in SBG compared to CTG. In the case of scapular position, decreased scapular retraction (increased protraction) was found in CTG and vice versa in SBG. Reduced scapular anterior tilting was also found on SBG. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that early performed trunk stabilization with gym ball could bring a scapular alignment that increases subacromial space and reduces pain. This suggests early trunk stabilization with gym ball programs to restore shoulder functions for patients with rotator cuff repair.
Humans ; Rotator Cuff ; Scapula ; Shoulder

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, an important and serious neurological complication of malignant cancers, is asso- ciated with severe disability and high mortality. It is most commonly seen in patients with breast cancer, lung cancer and malignant melanoma. However, leptomeningeal carcinomatosis induced by gastric cancer has been rarely reported, although gastric cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in Korea. We report a case of a 76- year-old woman with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis presenting as a neurological complication of gastric cancer and con- firmed by cytology examination of the cerebrospinal fluid and brain magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium enhan-cement.
Brain ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma ; Female ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma ; Meningeal Carcinomatosis ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

The deformities of micrognathia and glossoptosis in the newborn are frequently associated with a cleft palate, which is known as Pierre Robin sequence. Upper airway obstruction is the most serious problem in these patients. Treatment of Pierre Robin sequence includes either positional or surgical intervention. Mild cases are often managed in the prone position. However, when the patient fails to thrive due to chronic upper airway obstruction, or severe respiratory distress ensures despite positional treatment, surgical intervention is mandatory to relieve the obstruction. We experienced three infants with Pierre Robin sequence who showed a symptom triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and cleft palate. Intermittent cyanosis, depression of the chest, respiratory difficulty and feeding problems were also observed. To relieve severe upper airway obstruction caused by micrognathia and glossoptosis, we simultaneously performed modified tongue lip adhesion (TLA) and a subperiosteal release of the floor of the mouth (SRFM). Respiratory and feeding difficulties were relieved, the tongue positioned anteriorly, body weight increased, and mandibular growth improved. Simultaneous TLA and SRFM may constitute a simple and reliable method for surgical treatment of airway obstruction in patients with Pierre Robin sequence.
Airway Obstruction* ; Body Weight ; Cleft Palate ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cyanosis ; Depression ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Lip ; Mouth ; Pierre Robin Syndrome* ; Prone Position ; Thorax ; Tongue

Hemiballism is a rare hyperkinetic involuntary movement disorder that presents with unilateral forceful, flinging, large amplitude of proximal limbs. The most consistent neuropathological findings in hemiballism are a lesion of the contralateral subthalamic nucleus and pallidosubthalamic tract. However, we experienced a patient with pure hemiballism as isolated manifestation of acute ischemic stroke without other neurological abnormal symptoms such as chorea or dystonia. Brain magnetic resonance image showed acute ischemic stroke in right caudate nucleus but not subthalamic nucleus.
Brain ; Caudate Nucleus ; Chorea ; Dyskinesias* ; Dystonia ; Extremities ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Stroke ; Subthalamic Nucleus

Background: Data on the relationship between Parkinson's disease (PD) and stroke have been conflicting, some studies showing a reduced risk of stroke during life because of low prevalence of vascular risk factors, and others indicating an increased risk of strokerelated death. The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of vascular risk factors in PD in relation to an unaffected control group and ischemic stroke patient group. Methods: We performed a case-control study on 206 consecutive PD patients, 207 ischemic strokes patients (served as "Disease" controls) and 138 age and sex matched normal subjects (served as controls), calculating multivariate risk estimates (odd ratio) for a series of established risk factors for vascular disease. Results: We found that (1) cigarette smoking (smoker, 0.078, CI=0.034-0.178; ex-smoker, 0.031, CI=0.011-0.088), and diabetes mellitus (0.340, CI=0.169-0.682) were significant less frequent in PD patients than controls, (2) cigarette smoking (smoker, 0.230, CI= 0.094-0.561; ex-smoker, 0.132, CI=0.050-0.348), hypertension (0.283, CI=0.175-0.459), diabetes mellitus (0.257, CI=0.136-0.486), previous stroke (0.063, CI=0.020-0.191), heart disease (0.344, CI=0.176-0.673) than ischemic stroke patients, respectively. Conclusion: We found the significant negative association of a series of vascular factors with PD, indicating a protective effect of PD against ischemic stroke.
Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Parkinson Disease* ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Smoking ; Stroke ; Vascular Diseases*

BACKGROUND: Solid tumors require neovasculization for growth and metastasis. Recently, several angiogenic factors have been identified. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is thought to be one such angiogenic factor and is also thought to be a selective mitogen for endothelial cells. In this study, we examined the expression of VEGF and its relationship with microvessel density, and we also determined its prognostic significance in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: One hundred one specimens resected from patients with gastric carcinomas were investigated by staining with a polyclonal antibody against VEGF. Correlations between the expression of VEGF, the microvessel density, various clinicopathologic factors, and the patient's survival were studied. RESULTS: The normal gastric mucosa was not immunoreactive with an anti-VEGF antibody. VEGF was mainly localized to the cytoplasm or the membrane of the carcinoma cell. Of the 101 tumors, strong VEGF expression was detected in 48 (47.5%) tumors. VEGF expression was correlated with depth of tumor invasion, lymph-node metastasis, and stage. Microvessel density, determined by immunohistochemical staining for CD31, was significantly higher in VEGF-strong tumors than in VEGF-weak tumors. Also, patients with VEGF-strong tumors had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with VEGF-weak tumors. However, multivariate analysis indicated that the expression of VEGF was not an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that VEGF expression in gastric carcinomas was more prevalent in more advanced tumors means that VEGF may contribute to the progression of the tumor. Further study is needed to evaluate the significance of VEGF as a prognostic factor.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Cytoplasm ; Endothelial Cells ; Gastric Mucosa ; Humans ; Membranes ; Microvessels ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis* ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

No abstract available.
Dopamine ; Parkinson Disease

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a rare serpiginous cutaneous eruption caused by accidental penetration and migration in the skin with infective larvae of nematode that normally do not have the human as their host. Although CLM has a worldwide distribution, the infection is most frequent in warmer climates. More recently, they have been increasingly imported from the tropics or subtropics by travelers. We experienced two patients who had pruritic serpiginous linear eruption in their skin for a few weeks after traveling to the endemic areas (Brazil and Thailand, respectively). After the treatment with albendazole, the skin lesions resolved with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. We report herein two cases of cutaneous larva migrans successfully treated with albendazole.
Adult ; Albendazole/therapeutic use ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Human ; Larva Migrans/*drug therapy/pathology ; Male ; *Travel ; Treatment Outcome