Although dysphagia is an important health problem and one of the determinants of quality of life in patients with dementia, the neurophysiologic changes of dysphagia in dementia have not been fully uncovered, yet. we investigated the changes of strength of tongue lip and pharyngeal muscles in patients with dementia. This study included 30 subjects with dementia. In all subjects, clinical assessments consisted of the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) for tongue and lip, surface electromyography (sEMG) with Vital stim plus on suprahyoid muscles, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scales. All subjects were classified into 3 groups according to severity; CDR 1, 2, and 3. There was no difference between IOPI and sEMG among all 3 groups. The values of tongue and lip IOPI from all 3 dementia groups were significantly lower than values of control. The comparisons for values of tongue and lip IOPI among 3 dementia group were not different from each other. The sEMG of suprahyoid muscles were not different between all 3 dementia groups and control. These findings are supportive of dysphagia therapy for oral phase would be beneficial for the restoration of swallowing function in patients with dementia and dysphagia.
Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dementia ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Iowa ; Lip ; Muscles ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; Quality of Life ; Tongue ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: This study examined how changes in the volume, texture, and taste of food affect the variation of tongue pressure during the swallowing of food in healthy adults. METHODS: Fifty-four healthy subjects participated in this study. The tongue pressure was measured using an Iowa Oral. Performance Instrument (IOPI) during swallowing of food in 54 healthy adults. The food bolus with modified volumes (3, 5, 10, and 15 ml), textures (water, puree, and cracker), and tastes (pure water, sour taste, sweet taste, and salty taste) were provided and the variation of the tongue pressure was traced during the swallowing of food. RESULTS: The tongue pressure changed significantly when the volume of food chunks increased. When the texture of food was modified, the tongue pressure was significantly different when swallowing a cracker than when swallowing water and puree. In addition, the tongue pressure was increased more by a sour taste liquid than pure water or sweet taste liquid. CONCLUSION: When swallowing food, the tongue pressure at the appropriate level is essential for safe swallowing. Because modification of the volume, texture, and taste of food can induce the variation of tongue pressure, it can be recommended as an effective therapeutic method that can move food in the mouth.
Adult ; Deglutition ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Iowa ; Methods ; Mouth ; Tongue ; Water

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: The purpose of this study was to examine effects of adjunctive aripiprazole versus bupropion, on depressive symptoms of female depression.METHODS: Sixty six female patients with major depressive disorders were enrolled from a six-week, randomized prospective open-label multi-center study. Participants were randomized to receive aripiprazole (2.5–10 mg/day) or bupropion (150–300 mg/day). Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, 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: Overall, both treatments improved depressive symptoms, without causing serious adverse events. There were significant differences in the HAM-D17 total score (p=0.046) and CGI-S (p=0.004), between aripiprazole and bupropion augmentation, favoring aripiprazole over bupropion. Aripiprazole revealed significantly greater effect size in depressed mood (p=0.006), retardation (p=0.005), anxiety psychic (p=0.032), and general somatic symptom (p=0.01).CONCLUSION: While both treatments were effective, results of this study suggested that aripiprazole may be preferable, in treating general and core symptoms of female depression.
Anxiety ; Aripiprazole ; Bupropion ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Iowa ; Prospective Studies ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to establish normative data for healthy Korean adults by measuring the maximal strength and endurance scores of the tongue, lip, and cheek, and to examine correlations between these measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 120 subjects that were divided into three groups according to age: young (20-39 years), middle-aged (40-59 years), and older (over 60 years); and by gender. Measurements were taken using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). RESULTS: The mean maximal tongue strengths were as follows: young men (46.7±10.2 kPa) and women (32.1±7.9 kPa), middle-aged men (40.9±9.3 kPa) and women (36.9±8.6 kPa), and older men (35.2±9.0 kPa) and women (34.5±6.9 kPa). The mean tongue endurance scores were: young men (28.8±12.6 seconds) and women (20.8±13.5 seconds), middle-aged men (17.0±8.5 seconds) and women (15.3±5.2 seconds), and older men (15.8±6.7 seconds) and women (17.9±8.1 seconds). The mean maximal lip strengths were: young men (11.6±3.0 kPa) and women (11.4±3.8 kPa), middle-aged men (11.4±4.2 kPa) and women (11.1±5.1 kPa), and older men (14.5±3.9 kPa) and women (11.7±2.6 kPa). The mean lip endurance scores were: young men (41.1±23.9 seconds) and women (22.4±21.7 seconds), middle-aged men (24.3±10.3 seconds) and women (30.5±13.4 seconds), and older men (24.9±11.0 seconds) and women (12.8±7.6 seconds). The mean maximal cheek strengths were: young men (24.5±4.6 kPa) and women (20.5±4.3 kPa), middle-aged men (25.2±6.4 kPa) and women (21.2±5.5 kPa), and older men (22.4±5.3 kPa) and women (18.0±4.8 kPa). The mean cheek endurance scores were: young men (47.8±24.4 seconds) and women (43.9±25.0 seconds), middle-aged men (27.3±11.3 seconds) and women (20.0±14.6 seconds), and older men (21.7±14.5 seconds) and women (17.2±11.4 seconds). CONCLUSION: The data collected in this study will provide an important database of standardized measurements for maximal strength and endurance scores of the tongue, lip and cheek in healthy, normal Koreans.
Adult ; Cheek* ; Female ; Humans ; Iowa ; Lip* ; Male ; Tongue*

OBJECTIVES: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder showing many neuropsychological deficits. Many environmental risk factors have been thought to increase the risk for the disorder. We examined blood iron levels in children with ADHD and a control group to find an association between iron deficit and diagnosis, neuropsychological characteristics and clinical features. METHODS: An ADHD group (n=50) and control group (n=45) of children 6-12 years of age were recruited. Both groups were diagnosed by semi-structured interview, and they were evaluated using the Korean version of the ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS), Korean version of IOWA Conner's Rating Scale (K-IOWA), intelligence quotient (IQ), and neurocognitive function tests (continuous performance test, children's color trails test, Stroop color-word test). Iron levels in blood were determined using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instrument. Independent t-test and correlation were used to determine the relation of blood iron levels with symptom ratings and neurocognitive function. Logistic regression was performed to determine the diagnostic value of blood iron levels. RESULTS: Blood iron levels were significantly lower in ADHD than in control and showed negative correlation with K-ARS and K-IOWA scores. Blood iron levels showed positive association with IQ and Stroop color-word test results and negative association with results of continuous performance testing. Low blood iron levels predicted the diagnosis of ADHD. CONCLUSION: Lower levels of blood iron were associated with ADHD symptom severity, IQ, and frontal lobe-mediated neurocognitive function. As blood iron levels may influence ADHD, measurement of iron levels in blood may be useful for evaluation of symptoms and neurocognitive function in ADHD.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Iowa ; Iron* ; Logistic Models ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plasma ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of arthrodiastasis for Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. METHODS: Arthrodiastasis was conducted using external fixator devices (Orthofix) in 7 patients at least 8 years of age with a diagnosis of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. The average follow-up was 80 months (range, 32 to 149 months), and their average age was 9.1 years (range, 8 to 12 years). The results of treatment were evaluated by measuring the degree of hip pain and the range of motion of the hip at 6 months after the operation and comparing the values with preoperative measurements. Radiological recovery was evaluated by the epiphyseal index and compared with the preoperative values. At the final follow-up, clinical and radiological results were evaluated using the Iowa hip score and the Stulberg classification. RESULTS: On the clinical evaluation performed at 6 months after arthrodiastasis, the degree of pain decreased by 1.8 points on average, and the average flexion, internal rotation, and abduction increased by 35°, 16°, and 11°, respectively. Based on radiological findings, the epiphyseal index showed a remarkable increase of 6.6 on average (from 19 preoperatively to 26 postoperatively). At the final follow-up, the average Iowa hip score improved from 65 points preoperatively to 84 points. There were 1 Stulberg class I hip, 2 Stulberg class II hips, 3 Stulberg class III hips, 1 Stulberg class IV hip, and no Stulberg class V hip. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that arthrodiastasis using an external fixator can be a relatively promising surgical procedure for the treatment of late-onset Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.
Classification ; Diagnosis ; External Fixators ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Iowa ; Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease* ; Range of Motion, Articular

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationships between tongue pressure and different aspects of the oral-phase swallowing function. METHODS: We included 96 stroke patients with dysphagia, ranging in age from 40 to 88 years (mean, 63.7 years). Measurements of tongue pressure were obtained with the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument, a device with established normative data. Three trials of maximum performance were performed for lip closure pressure (LP), anterior hard palate-to-tongue pressure (AP), and posterior hard palate-to-tongue pressure (PP); buccal-to-tongue pressures on both sides were also recorded (buccal-to-tongue pressure, on the weak side [BW]; buccal-to-tongue pressure, on the healthy side [BH]). The average pressure in each result was compared between the groups. Clinical evaluation of the swallowing function was performed with a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. RESULTS: The average maximum AP and PP values in the intact LC group were significantly higher than those in the inadequate lip closure group (AP, p=0.003; PP, p<0.001). AP and PP showed significant relationships with bolus formation (BF), mastication, premature bolus loss (PBL), tongue to palate contact (TP), and oral transit time (OTT). Furthermore, LP, BW, and BH values were significantly higher in the groups with intact mastication, without PBL and intact TP. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the tongue pressure appears to be closely related to the oral-phase swallowing function in post-stroke patients, especially BF, mastication, PBL, TP and OTT.
Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Humans ; Iowa ; Lip ; Mastication ; Palate ; Stroke* ; Tongue*

PURPOSE: To evaluate segmentation reliability in diabetic macular edema (DME) estimates between a Cirrus™ HD-OCT image analysis algorithm and an Iowa reference algorithm, which are an automatic segmentation software. METHODS: Thirty eyes from 23 patients diagnosed with DME were included and underwent spectral-domain optical coherence scans (Cirrus™ HD-OCT). Central foveal thickness (CFT) and ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer segmentation data were compared with those produced by the Cirrus™ HD-OCT segmentation algorithm and Iowa reference algorithm. Measurement agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation (ICC) and segmentation errors were confirmed by 2 ophthalmologists. RESULTS: The mean CFT in the 1-mm central area determined by the manufacturer-supplied Cirrus software and Iowa reference algorithm was 512.07 ± 182.35 µm and 476.53 ± 32.36 µm, respectively (p < 0.05). The mean paired difference was 35.53 ± 92.46 µm (ICC, 0.929). Segmentation errors were demonstrated in eyes with a CFT less than 400 µm, specifically for 45% of scans obtained by the Cirrus algorithm and 9% from the Iowa algorithm; in eyes with a CFT equal to or higher than 400 µm, the error rates were 95% and 42%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CFT measurement in eyes with diabetic macular edema using the Cirrus algorithm and Iowa algorithm showed relatively high degrees of agreement and significant correlation. In eyes with a CFT equal to or higher than 400 µm, the Iowa algorithm showed higher reliability in retinal segmentation than the Cirrus algorithm.
Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Iowa ; Macular Edema* ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

The increasing number of patients with depression is a serious social issue in contemporary Korean society. To fully understand the pathophysiology of depression, this paper reviewed how depression affects the decision making process of humans. Various recent studies in behavioral economics, mathematics, medicine, and neurobiology have shown how humans make decisions and how emotional disturbances, such as depressive disorder, affect this process. There has been great progress in behavioral economics during this decade, and numerous experiments have been designed to evaluate decision making process in humans. In general, economic decision making is evaluated using the Iowa Gambling Task, and social decision making is assessed using the ultimatum game. Numerous research studies have analyzed the performance and reaction of patients with depression in these games. As a result of the advancement of neurophysiology, research has successfully identified the part of the brain that causes the specific results of tests being conducted on patients with depression. Meanwhile, computational neuroscientists have established decision making models based on bayesian framework. These models also match with the neuroanatomy. Although a large part remains unclear, researchers look forward to achieving a better understanding in depression by analyzing the distinct patterns of responses that patients under depression show in the experiment of behavioral economics.
Affective Symptoms ; Brain ; Decision Making* ; Depression* ; Depressive Disorder ; Economics, Behavioral ; Gambling ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Studies ; Iowa ; Mathematics ; Neuroanatomy ; Neurobiology ; Neurophysiology