This study reports serial swallowing functional changes in a patient with an acute ischemic stroke but normal diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) scans. A 71-year-old man presented with dysphagia. Laryngoscopy revealed left arytenoid swelling and hypomobility of the left vocal cord. Acute lesions were not observed on brain magnetic resonance imaging. On the 9th day following hospital admission, the first videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) was performed. When he swallowed semi-solid food, significant pre- and post-swallowing aspirations were detected without coughing. An acute stroke with sudden-onset dysphagia was considered as the possible cause of dysphagia. The serial VFSSs showed gradual improvement in the swallowing reflex and persistent moderate cricopharyngeal dysfunction. During the VFSS anteroposterior view, bolus swallowing was tolerated, and aspiration signs disappeared, as the head was turned to the left and tilted to the right, indicating the role of a lateralizing lesion in symptom onset. This case study reports the course of natural resolution of dysphagia in a patient with a DWI-negative stroke based on serial VFSS results. There is a need to establish the significance of intensive dysphagia rehabilitation, including neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy, in patients clinically diagnosed with an acute stroke. Therefore, further studies involving a larger population of patients with DWI-negative strokes and dysphagia are warranted.

This study investigated the association between serum phosphate level and mortality in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients undergoing continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) and evaluated whether this association differed according to disease severity. Methods: Data from eight tertiary hospitals in Korea were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were classified into four groups (low, normal, high, and very high) based on their serum phosphate level at baseline. The association between serum phosphate level and mortality was then analyzed, with further subgroup analysis being conducted according to disease severity. Results: Among the 3,290 patients identified, 166, 955, 1,307, and 862 were in the low, normal, high, and very high phosphate groups, respectively. The 90-day mortality rate was 63.9% and was highest in the very high group (76.3%). Both the high and very high groups showed a significantly higher 90-day mortality rate than did the normal phosphate group (high: hazard ratio [HR], 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–1.51, p < 0.001; very high: HR, 2.01, 95% CI, 1.78–2.27, p < 0.001). The low group also exhibited a higher 90-day mortality rate than did the normal group among those with high disease severity (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.09–1.99; p = 0.01) but not among those with low disease severity. Conclusion: High serum phosphate level predicted increased mortality in AKI patients undergoing CKRT, and low phosphate level was associated with increased mortality in patients with high disease severity. Therefore, serum phosphate levels should be carefully considered in critically ill patients with AKI.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence, status, severity, frequency, and impact on life of drooling in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: A total of 74 children with cerebral palsy, aged 2-6 years (53.68±17.33 months), who exhibited drooling symptoms were assessed using the Drooling Severity and Frequency Scale (DSFS) and the Drooling Impact Scale (DIS) to determine the status, severity, frequency, and impact of drooling in drooling group and control group. The study also examined differences in drooling-related factors based on gender, age, and prematurity status. Results: The overall prevalence of drooling was 60.8%, 35.6% in those with spastic quadriplegia, and 77.8% in children at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level III-V. Significant differences were found in drooling severity based on gender, prematurity, and age. Higher scores were observed for drooling severity and frequency, frequency of wiping the mouth, and the impact of drooling on the child’s life compare to control group.Although a few had undergone drooling-related treatments, many parents expressed a desire to receive treatment. It was reported that treatment for drooling was primarily provided by occupational therapists through referrals to rehabilitation medicine, with dysphagia rehabilitation and oral motor therapy being the main interventions. Conclusion By utilizing standardized assessment tools, the severity of drooling according to the specific conditions of children with disabilities was assessed. It is believed that the necessary steps to be taken include identifying the cause of drooling and setting appropriate treatment goals, followed by the provision for a suitable intervention.

Background: Quantitative viral load tests are essential for diagnosing and monitoring the response to antiviral treatment for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections. The Hologic Aptima Quant assay (Hologic Inc., USA) is a fully integrated and automated quantitative assay based on real-time transcription-mediated amplification technology using the Panthers system.In this study, we evaluated the performance of the Hologic Aptima Quant assay for measuring HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 viral load, and compared the results with those obtained with Abbott Alinity m system (Abbott Laboratories, USA). Methods: The reproducibility and linearity of the assay were evaluated in the present study. Additionally, the precision, analytical specificity, interference, and limit of detection (LOD) of each assay on the Panther system were evaluated. A comparative evaluation between the Hologic Aptima Quant assay and the Abbott Alinity m assay was conducted using clinical patient samples. Results: The results of the precision study demonstrated excellent total precision, with the coefficient of variation of precision being less than 5%. The linearity of the viral loads was excellent for all assays (correlation coefficient [R2 ] >0.99 for HBV, HCV, and HIV-1). Furthermore, the specificity of all assays was determined to be 100%. The LOD results were 10 IU/mL for HBV and HCV assays, and 20 copies/mL for HIV-1 assay, with 100% replicates being detected. Additionally, the viral load measured with the Hologic Aptima Quant assay was strongly correlated with that measured with Abbott Alinity m assay (R2 =0.94–0.97). Conclusions The Hologic Aptima Quant assay demonstrated excellent performance, with results being comparable to those obtained with the Abbott Alinity m assay for detecting HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 viral loads.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence, status, severity, frequency, and impact on life of drooling in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: A total of 74 children with cerebral palsy, aged 2-6 years (53.68±17.33 months), who exhibited drooling symptoms were assessed using the Drooling Severity and Frequency Scale (DSFS) and the Drooling Impact Scale (DIS) to determine the status, severity, frequency, and impact of drooling in drooling group and control group. The study also examined differences in drooling-related factors based on gender, age, and prematurity status. Results: The overall prevalence of drooling was 60.8%, 35.6% in those with spastic quadriplegia, and 77.8% in children at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level III-V. Significant differences were found in drooling severity based on gender, prematurity, and age. Higher scores were observed for drooling severity and frequency, frequency of wiping the mouth, and the impact of drooling on the child’s life compare to control group.Although a few had undergone drooling-related treatments, many parents expressed a desire to receive treatment. It was reported that treatment for drooling was primarily provided by occupational therapists through referrals to rehabilitation medicine, with dysphagia rehabilitation and oral motor therapy being the main interventions. Conclusion By utilizing standardized assessment tools, the severity of drooling according to the specific conditions of children with disabilities was assessed. It is believed that the necessary steps to be taken include identifying the cause of drooling and setting appropriate treatment goals, followed by the provision for a suitable intervention.

Copolyamide fillers, such as Aquafilling, have been used off-label for breast augmentation in many countries, including Korea. However, safety concerns have arisen due to reported complications, including induration, masses, mastalgia, firmness, asymmetry, migration, infection, and dimpling. We report the case of a 33-year-old woman who presented with distant migration of copolyamide breast filler to the left lower abdomen and inguinal area following mammography for breast cancer screening. This case highlights the potential risks associated with the migration of copolyamide breast fillers, particularly in the context of cancer screening procedures, and emphasizes the importance of awareness and vigilance among clinicians and patients.