Woo-Kyoung Yoo | 10 Articles |
![]()
Objective
To verify the pharyngeal width at rest as a measurement that could be used to assess changes in the degree of dysphagia over time in stroke patients. Methods In a cohort of stroke patients, we performed serial measurements of the pharyngeal width at the midpoints of the second (C2) and third (C3) cervical vertebral bodies using lateral neck X-rays while the patients were at rest. The JOSCYL width, a parameter named after the first initial of each developers’ surname and defined as the average value of the upper and lower pharyngeal widths, was used to formulate the JOSCYL scale, which was calculated as the JOSCYL width × 100/neck circumference. All patients also underwent serial videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSSs). The Spearman correlation analysis was used to detect correlations between the serial VFSS results, JOSCYL widths, and JOSCYL scale values. Results Over time, we observed significant positive and negative correlations of change in the JOSCYL width and scale with changes in the Penetration-Aspiration Scale and the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale scores, respectively. Conclusion The JOSCYL width and JOSCYL scale clearly reflected changes in dysphagia in stroke patients over time. These parameters may provide an easier method for evaluating whether post-stroke dysphagia has been alleviated. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
![]()
Objective
To develop a new tool for aspiration risk prediction based on pharyngeal width at rest in older adults with symptoms of aspiration. Methods Lateral cervical spine roentgenograms were obtained from 33 older adult patients who complained of dysphagia and from 33 healthy, age-matched controls. Pharyngeal width at rest was measured at two points. We named the average of these two pharyngeal widths ‘JOSCYL Width’, calculated ‘JOSCYL Scale’, and compared these parameters between dysphagia and control groups. Correlations of individual JOSCYL Width and JOSCYL Scale, with Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) and Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) scores were analyzed for the dysphagia group. To determine optimal cutoff points for predicting aspiration, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed on JOSCYL Width and JOSCYL Scale. Results Both JOSCYL Width and JOSCYL Scale of the dysphagia group were larger than those of the control group (p<0.001). The correlation between JOSCYL Width and severity of dysphagia was significant for the dysphagia group (PAS p=0.007; DOSS p=0.012). The correlation between JOSCYL Scale and the severity of dysphagia was also significant for the dysphagia group (PAS p=0.009; DOSS p=0.011). Optimal cutoffs for JOSCYL Width and JOSCYL Scale for predicting aspiration were 20.0 mm and 5.9, respectively. Conclusion JOSCYL Width and JOSCYL Scale can be new indicators for predicting aspiration in older adults. They are both precise and easy to use. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
Traumatic brain injury is a main cause of long-term neurological disability, and many patients suffer from cognitive impairment for a lengthy period. Cognitive impairment is a fatal malady to that limits active rehabilitation, and functional recovery in patients with traumatic brain injury. In severe cases, it is impossible to assess cognitive function precisely, and severe cognitive impairment makes it difficult to establish a rehabilitation plan, as well as evaluate the course of rehabilitation. Evaluation of cognitive function is essential for establishing a rehabilitation plan, as well as evaluating the course of rehabilitation. We report a case of the analysis of electroencephalography with global synchronization index and low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography applied, for evaluation of cognitive function that was difficult with conventional tests, due to severe cognitive impairment in a 77-year-old male patient that experienced traumatic brain injury.
Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
![]()
Objective
To explore plastic changes in the red nucleus (RN) of stroke patients with severe corticospinal tract (CST) injury as a compensatory mechanism for recovery of hand function. Methods The moderate group (MG) comprised 5 patients with synergistic hand grasp movement combined with limited extension, and the severe group (SG) included 5 patients with synergistic hand grasp movement alone. The control group (CG) included 5 healthy subjects. Motor assessment was measured by Motricity Index (MI). Diffusion tensor imaging was analyzed using fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) in the individual regions of interest (ROIs)—bilateral internal capsule and anterior pons for CST injury and bilateral RN for rubrospinal tract (RST) injury. Results The SG showed a significantly lower MI score than the MG mainly due to differences in hand subscores. Significantly reduced FA was observed in both MG and SG compared with CG, while SG showed increased MD and RD in the affected ROIs of CST, and increased FA on the unaffected side compared with CG. However, in the RN ROI, a significantly increased FA and decreased RD on the unaffected side similar to the affected side were found only in the SG. The relative index of FA was lower and RD in SG was higher than in CG in RST. Conclusion The diffusion metrics of RST showed changes in patients with severe CST injury, suggesting that RST may play a role in the recovery of hand function in patients with severe CST injury. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
To assess the risk factors for delirium in patients admitted to a rehabilitation unit for acute or subacute neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. We reviewed the medical records of 537 patients admitted to a rehabilitation unit and selected 398 patients in the acute or subacute stage of various neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. Among them, patients who had suffered from delirium were categorized into the delirium group (n=65), and the other patients were categorized into the non-delirium group (n=333). As potential risk factors for delirium, the patients' diagnosis, underlying disease, demographic data, hospital stay duration, surgery, and laboratory findings were reviewed, and the differences between the two groups with respect to independent risk factors were analyzed. The average age in the delirium group was higher; the hospital stay and pre-transfer periods were longer. A large proportion of the patients were admitted for musculoskeletal disorders, and many patients had diabetes mellitus, dementia, and depression as underlying diseases. Laboratory tests revealed increases in the white blood cells (WBC), glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin, aspartate transaminase (AST), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the delirium group, while the hemoglobin, calcium, phosphorus, protein, albumin, and potassium levels were decreased. Depression, musculoskeletal disorders, traumatic brain injury, elevated WBC, BUN, AST, and CRP levels, and decreased potassium and phosphorus levels were identified as independent risk factors for delirium. Risk factors treatable before delirium onset were identified in rehabilitation patients in acute and subacute stages of various disorders. Early diagnosis and prevention of these risk factors could decrease delirium occurrence and increase rehabilitation effectiveness. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
We report a patient with a severe limitation of function in the right hand resulting from grasp reflex following a stroke affecting the left anterior cerebral artery region. We describe, using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT), a disconnection between the bilateral frontal lobes via the corpus callosum. The patient could not control his right hand at all, even though his bilateral corticospinal tracts were intact. We noted that over the infarcted lesion on DTT, the white matter was invisible from the corpus callosum to the prefrontal cortex. These findings reflected a unique pattern of white-matter disconnection between the ipsilateral medial frontal lobe and ipsilateral and contralateral frontal cortex causing hand function deterioration in the form of severe grasp reflex. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
To delineate whether cortical plasticity induced by continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) differed according to catechol-O-methyltransferase ( Eighteen healthy older volunteers (mean age 73.78±5.04; 12 females and 6 males) were recruited. Volunteers randomly assigned in either a sham-first or real cTBS first group participated in two separate TMS visits with at least a 2-day wash-out period. Genotyping was carried out at baseline by a separate researcher who was blinded. cTBS was delivered in a hot spot over M1 at an active motor threshold of 80%. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were obtained at 120% of the resting motor threshold before and after sham/cTBS. The relative MEP to baseline was significantly decreased 0 and 10 minutes post-stimulation and increased 40 minutes post-stimulation, as compared with the sham condition. Immediately after cTBS, the Val/Val group had a significantly reduced relative MEP value, as compared with the MET carrier group. In healthy older persons, cTBS-induced motor plasticity was reduced in the COMT Val/Val group as compared with the 158Met carrier group. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
Dysphagia secondary to peripheral cranial nerve injury originates from weak and uncoordinated contraction-relaxation of cricopharyngeal muscle. We report on two patients who suffered vagus nerve injury during surgery and showed sudden dysphagia by opening dysfunction of upper esophageal sphincter (UES). Videofluoroscopy-guided balloon dilatation of UES was performed. We confirmed an early improvement of the opening dysfunctions of UES, although other neurologic symptoms persisted. While we did not have a proper comparison of cases, the videofluoroscopy-guided balloon dilatation of UES is thought to be helpful for the early recovery of dysphagia caused by postoperative vagus nerve injury. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
The temporal lobe is essential in saving declarative memory and plays an important role along with the cerebral neocortex in creating and maintaining long-term memory. Damage to the temporal lobe is expected to result in cognitive impairment or dementia, which has characteristic symptoms such as cognitive and behavioral dysfunction and decreasing self-reliance in activities of daily living. We report on a patient, who suffered from dementia due to meningovascular syphilis affecting the medial temporal lobe, and on the outcome of cognitive rehabilitation. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
|