Language ; Pathology ; Speech ; Speech-language Pathology ; Weights And Measures

Objective: To evaluate the predictive performance of anthropometric indices for metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Chinese adolescents with different nutritional status. Methods: We recruited 9,513 adolescents aged 10-18 years from seven provinces in China during September 2014. Anthropometric indices and blood pressure were measured at recruitment, and blood samples were collected for determining fasting plasma glucose and lipid profile. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to assess the predictive performance of anthropometric indices, including body mass index (BMI) percentile, waist circumference percentile, waist-height ratio, and waist-hip ratio. Results: Overall, the four anthropometric indices showed good accuracy for predicting MetS with areas under ROC curves (AUCs) ranging from 0.86 to 0.94; similar AUCs ranging from 0.73 to 0.99 were observed for participants with normal weight. The performance of all four indices was poor in overweight and obese participants, with AUCs ranging from 0.66 to 0.77 and from 0.60 to 0.67, respectively. Waist circumference showed relatively better performance in all the subgroup analyses. Conclusions We suggest using anthropometric indices with the cutoff values presented here for predicting MetS in the overall and normal-weight adolescent population, but not in the overweight and obese adolescent population where more specific screening tests are required.
Adolescent ; Asians ; Body Weights and Measures ; Child ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Nutritional Status ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Robots are being used to assist the recovery of walking ability for patients with neurologic disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and functional improvement of training with robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) using the Morning Walk®, an end-effector type robot using footplates and saddle seat support. A total of 189 individuals (65.1% men, 34.9% women; mean age, 53.2 years; age range: 5–87 years) with brain lesions, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathies, and pediatric patients were involved in this retrospectively registered clinical trial. Each participant performed 30 minutes of RAGT, five times a week, for a total of 24 sessions. Failure was defined as an inability to complete all 24 sessions, and the reasons for discontinuation were analyzed. Parameters of Medical Research Council scales and Functional Ambulation Categories were analyzed before and after RAGT training. Among the 189 patients, 22 (11.6%) failed to complete the RAGT. The reasons included decreased cooperation, musculoskeletal pain, saddle seat discomfort, excessive body-weight support, joint spasticity or restricted joint motion, urinary incontinence from an indwelling urinary catheter, and fatigue. Comparison between the pre- and post-training motor and ambulatory functions showed significant improvement. The result of the study indicates that the Morning Walk® is feasible and safe and useful for functional improvement in patients with various neurologic disordersTRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0003627
Brain ; Fatigue ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Information Services ; Joints ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity ; Musculoskeletal Pain ; Nervous System Diseases ; Parkinson Disease ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Incontinence ; Walking ; Weights and Measures

This study investigated how physical and cognitive function and psychological factors affected the health-related quality of life (HRQoL, hereafter HQ) of stroke patients in South Korea. The study enrolled 32 right-handed subjects with chronic cerebral infarction with disability and preserved cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination ≥ 20). Physical disability was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Korean modified Barthel Index (KMBI). Quality of life was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Abbreviated form (WHOQOL-BREF, hereafter WB) and the 36-Item Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) in face-to-face interviews. Psychological distress was investigated using the Beck Depression Inventory Scale-II. The associations of each domain of WB and SF-36 were investigated using Pearson correlation analyses. Physical disability was negatively correlated with HQ in the SF-36. The physical function and bodily pain scales of the SF-36 were negatively correlated with physical disability. The general health domain of the SF-36 was negatively correlated with psychological scores. Emotional status was associated with physical health, social relationships, and general health in HQ. In summary, the severity of physical disability was associated with the patient's general and physical health and body pain. These findings suggest the importance of psychological, cognitive, and physiological interventions for improving the quality of life of patients after cerebral infarction.
Cerebral Infarction ; Cognition ; Depression ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Psychology ; Quality of Life ; Stroke ; Weights and Measures ; World Health Organization

We measured the difference of sitting pressure between the affected and unaffected sides (DSPAU) using sitting pressure measured with a force platform to identify sitting imbalance. The aim of this study is to investigate the relations between sitting balance and functional status or parameters according to characteristics stroke patients. We examine changes in DSPAU and functional assessment before and after a 3 week of rehabilitation in hemiplegic stroke patients (n = 73). These pre- and post-treatment data according to stroke characteristics, and correlations between the DSPAU and functional scales were analyzed. The DSPAU was greater in the non-ambulatory group compared to the ambulatory group, in patients who scored lower in the Medical Research Council (MRC) scores, and in patients whose the MRC scores for the lower limbs were lower than of the upper limbs. We observed that a decrease in the DSPAU was associated with an improvement in functional assessment parameters following rehabilitation. Further, changes in DSPAU were significantly correlated to the Modified Barthel Index. We observed that a decrease in DSPAU was associated with an improvement in functional parameters following rehabilitation. In conclusion, repeated measurements of sitting balance using DSPAU may be helpful to predict motor and functional recovery in stroke patient with hemiplegia.
Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Postural Balance ; Recovery of Function ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke ; Upper Extremity ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare aripiprazole versus bupropion augmentation therapy in older adult patients with major depressive disorder unresponsive to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs).METHODS: This is a post-hoc analysis of a 6-week, randomized prospective open-label multi-center study in thirty older adult patients with major depressive disorder. Participants were randomized to receive aripiprazole(N=16, 2.5–10mg/day) or bupropion(N=14, 150–300mg/day) for 6 weeks. Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating scale(HAM-D17), Iowa Fatigue Scale, Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale, Psychotropic-Related Sexual Dysfunction Questionnaire scores, and Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) were obtained at baseline and after one, two, four, and six weeks. Changes on individual items of HAM-D17 were assessed as well as on composite scales(anxiety, insomnia and drive), and on four core subscales that capture core depression symptoms.RESULTS: There was a significantly greater decrease in MADRS scores in aripiprazole group compared to bupropion group at 4(p<0.05) and 6(p<0.05) weeks. There were significantly higher response rate at week 4(p<0.05) and 6(p<0.05) and remission rate at week 6 in aripiprazole group compared to bupropion group. Individual HAM-D17 items showing significantly greater change with adjunctive aripiprazole than bupropion: insomnia, late(ES=0.81 vs. −0.24, p=0.043), psychomotor retardation(ES=1.30 vs. 0.66, p=0.024), general somatic symptoms(ES=1.24 vs. 0.00, p=0.01). On three composite scales, adjunctive aripiprazole was significantly more effective than bupropion with respect to mean change for drive(p=0.005).CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggested that aripiprazole augmentation have superior efficacy in treating general and core symptoms of depression in older adult patients. Aripiprazole augmentation is associated with greater improvement in specific symptoms of depression such as psychomotor retardation, general somatic symptoms and drive.
Adult ; Aripiprazole ; Bupropion ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Iowa ; Prospective Studies ; Serotonin ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors affecting suicidal ideation in community dwelling elderly individuals and to predict suicidal ideation through assessment tools.METHODS: We investigated 2,343 elderly individuals, aged 65 years or older, from February 2018 to December 2018. The participants were asked to complete sociodemographic questionnaires, including the Mini-Mental Status Examination for Dementia Screening(MMSE-DS), Short Geriatric Depression Scale(SGDS-K), Geriatric Anxiety Inventory(GAI), Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS), and Scales for Suicidal Ideation(SSI). We performed the Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis for these data, to examine the relationship between suicidal ideation and the participants' risk factors. Moreover, we performed Receiver Operating Characteristics(ROC) curve analysis, to predict suicidal ideation through the assessment tools.RESULTS: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 6.0%. Binary logistic regression revealed that cognitive impairment (OR=1.729, CI : 1.029–2.904), depression(OR=3.479, CI : 2.177–5.560), anxiety(OR=3.822, CI : 2.454–5.951), and sleeping disorders(OR=1.661, CI : 1.132–2.438) were independently associated with suicidal ideation. The cutoffs to predict suicidal ideation, obtained using ROC analysis were ≤21[area under the curve(AUC) : 0.582] for the MMSE-DS, >6(AUC : 0.822) for SGDS, >3(AUC : 0.817) for GAI, and >8(AUC : 0.718) for AIS.CONCLUSION: The incidence of suicidal ideation in the community dwelling elderly was quite high and was particularly related with depression and anxiety. These results could contribute to prevention and management of suicide among community dwelling elderly individuals.
Aged ; Anxiety ; Cognition Disorders ; Dementia ; Depression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Independent Living ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Suicidal Ideation ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to identify the incidence of pressure ulcers and to compare the predictive validities of pressure ulcer risk assessment scales among trauma patients.METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. A total of 155 patients admitted to a trauma intensive care unit in a university hospital were enrolled. The predictive validity of the Braden, Cubbin & Jackson, and Waterlow scales were assessed based on the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).RESULTS: Of the patients, 14 (9.0%) subsequently developed pressure ulcers. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values were 78.6%, 75.9%, 24.4%, and 97.3%, respectively, for the Braden scale (cut-off point of 12); 85.7%, 68.8%, 21.4%, and 98.0%, respectively, for the Cubbin & Jackson scale (cut-off point of 26); and 71.4%, 87.2%, 35.7%, and 96.9%, respectively, for the Waterlow scale (cut-off point of 18). The AUCs were 0.88 (Waterlow), 0.86 (Braden), and 0.85 (Cubbin & Jackson).CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the predictive validity values of the Waterlow, Braden, and Cubbin & Jackson scales were similarly high. However, further studies need to also consider clinical usefulness of the scales.
Area Under Curve ; Critical Care ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Observational Study ; Pressure Ulcer ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to validate the Korean version of Partners In Health scale (PIH-K) which is used to measure the self-management of patients with chronic illnesses in Korea.METHODS: Translation of the 12-item PIH-K was conducted according to the World Health Organization guidelines. Data from 306 participants who took medicines over 3 months by doctor's prescription were collected from October to November 2017. Validity such as content validity, construct validity, and concurrent validity were conducted using content validity index (CVI), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). To evaluate concurrent validity, the correlation coefficients between the PIH-K and concurrent scales (Self-As-Carer Inventory) were calculated. The reliability of the PIH-K was examined using the internal consistency and test-retest reliability tests.RESULTS: The CVI of the PIH-K was 0.91. According to the CFA, factor loadings for four factors ranged from .64 to .97, which explained 67.5% of the total variance. The PIH-K was significantly correlated with concurrent variables such as those on the Self-As-Carer Inventory. The Cronbach's α was .86 and the intraclass correlation coefficient for the two-week test-retest reliability was .88.CONCLUSION: Findings show that the PIH-K is reliable and valid in measuring self-management of patients with chronic illnesses.
Chronic Disease ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Prescriptions ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self Care ; Weights and Measures ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: As risk of hemorrhagic stroke may have early life origins, we investigated associations of birth weight and childhood body mass index (BMI) with adult intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: We included 240,234 Danish schoolchildren, born 1936 to 1989, with information on birth weight and measured weights and heights from 7 to 13 years. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between early life anthropometrics and ICH or SAH, identified through linkage with national registers. RESULTS: During the study period, 1,947 individuals (39% women) experienced an ICH and 797 individuals (64% women) experienced a SAH. Per 500 g increase in birth weight, women had a 10% decreased risk of SAH (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83 to 0.97) and men had a 10% decreased risk of ICH (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85 to 0.95). Birth weight was not associated with risks of ICH in women or SAH in men. In men, a childhood BMI below average (BMI z-score < 0) was associated with increased risks of ICH. The association was stronger at older childhood ages, and at 13 years a BMI z-score of –1 was associated with a HR of 1.17 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.28), and a BMI z-score of –2 with a HR of 1.46 (95% CI, 1.17 to 1.82) for ICH. Childhood BMI was not associated with risks of ICH in women or with risks of SAH in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Early life body size is associated with ICH and SAH, and the associations differ by sex.
Adult ; Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index ; Body Size ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Origin of Life ; Stroke ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Weights and Measures