Taping Therapy Simultaneously applied to the Ankle and Hip Joint: Effect on Balance and Gait in Patients with Chronic Stroke

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of taping therapy on the balance and gait of stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 30 stroke patients. The treatment groups were prescribed a combination of taping, therapy applied simultaneously to the ankle and the hip joint, and general physical therapy twice a day for 30 minutes each, five days per week for 4 weeks for a total of 40 times. The control group was treated with general physical therapy for 30 minutes, 5 times per week for 4 weeks, and total 40 times. All subjects were followed up on a Berg balance scale, timed up and go test, activity-specific balance confidence scale, and GaitRite. RESULTS: The group that simultaneously received taping therapy to the ankle and hip joint showed more significant effects than the group treated with ankle joint taping only (p<0.05). Effects were noted in the Berg balance scale, timed up and go test, activity-specific balance confidence scale and gait ability test. Compared to the control group, the group treated at the ankle and hip joint showed significant effects after the experiment in the Berg balance scale, timed up and go test, activity-specific balance confidence scale, and gait ability test (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Taping therapy applied to both the ankle and hip joints, and combined with general physical therapy appears to be effective in patients with chronic stroke who have an impaired balance and gait ability.

Purification and characterization of monoclonal IgG antibodies recognizing Ebola virus glycoprotein

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to purify and characterize Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP)-specific IgG antibodies from hybridoma clones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For hybridoma production, mice were injected by intramuscular-electroporation with GP DNA vaccines, and boosted with GP vaccines. The spleen cells were used for producing GP-specific hybridoma. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot assay, flow cytometry, and virus-neutralizing assay were used to test the ability of monoclonal IgG antibodies to recognize GP and neutralize Ebola virus. RESULTS: Twelve hybridomas, the cell supernatants of which displayed GP-binding activity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the presence of both IgG heavy and light chains by Western blot assay, were chosen as a possible IgG producer. Among these, five clones (C36-1, D11-3, D12-1, D34-2, and E140-2) were identified to secrete monoclonal IgG antibodies. When the monoclonal IgG antibodies from the 5 clones were tested for their antigen specificity, they recognized GP in an antigen-specific and IgG dose-dependent manner. They remained reactive to GP at the lowest tested concentrations (1.953–7.8 ng/mL). In particular, IgG antibodies from clones D11-3, D12-1, and E140-2 recognized the native forms of GP expressed on the cell surface. These antibodies were identified as IgG1, IgG2a, or IgG2b kappa types and appeared to recognize the native forms of GP, but not the denatured forms of GP, as determined by Western blot assay. Despite their GP-binding activity, none of the IgG antibodies neutralized Ebola virus infection in vitro, suggesting that these antibodies are unable to neutralize Ebola virus infection. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the purified IgG antibodies from 5 clones (C36-1, D11-3, D12-1, D34-2, and E140-2) possess GP-binding activity but not Ebola virus-neutralizing activity.

An Analysis of the Reliability and Validity of a Korean Version of the Mobility and Gait Assessment Tools for Patients with Stroke

PURPOSE: This study aimed to systematically analyze the reliability and validity of Korean versions of mobility and gait assessment tools for patients with stroke. METHODS: Two reviewers conducted an independent literature search and systematically reviewed the literature. Literature published until June of 2017 was searched using search engines for electronic databases. The 2 reviewers reviewed the title and abstract of each article. Among the articles examined, we read the full text of those judged to be suitable for our study. We classified the selected data into research methods and results. The determination was made through mutual agreement. RESULTS: The reviewers selected 5 articles related to the purpose of this study. The DGI was found to be moderately associated with BBS, 10MWT, and TUG in intra-rater reliability (ICC=0.92), inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.88), and concurrent validity tests. The FGA demonstrated a high level of reliability with intra-rater (ICC=0.92–0.95) and inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.91, 0.95). The intra-rater reliability of the RMI was high at ICC=0.98. Its concurrent validity showed a high association with STREAM and BI. The intra-rater reliability of the MAS was ICC=0.75–0.99. Its inter-rater reliability was very high, exceeding 0.99. The inter-rater reliability of the Tinetti-gait Scale was ICC=0.91, and its concurrent validity was moderately associated with the DGI, 10WMT, OLST, FM-L/E, and STS. CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that the reliability and validity of the Korean versions of the mobility and gait assessment tools were high.

Evaluation of Perioperative Serum Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Predicting Post-thyroidectomy Hypocalcemia

PURPOSE: Postoperative hypocalcemia is one of the most common complications in patients who undergo a bilateral thyroid resection and can prolong hospital stay. However, there is no reliable predictor of clinical hypocalcemia after a thyroidectomy. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical predictors of hypocalcemia after a thyroidectomy and to determine if the perioperative measurements of iPTH would be helpful in identifying patients at risk of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. METHODS: 213 consecutive patients undergoing thyroidectomy between Nov 2004 and Feb 2005 were examined. The iPTH, serum calcium and ionized calcium levels were measured at 6 hours, 1 day and 2 weeks after surgery, respectively. All the patients were divided into the lower PTH group (<10 pg/ml) and normal PTH group according to the level of iPTH measured at 6 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The lower PTH group comprised 33% of all patients: 39% after the total thyroidectomy and 11% after a less than total thyroidectomy. The incidence of IV calcium replacement was 36% in the lower PTH group compared with 13% in the normal PTH group. Hypocalcemia and a lowered PTH level occurred more frequently in patients who underwent surgery for a malignant tumor than for a benign tumor. CONCLUSION: There was a correlation between the level of ionized calcium and the incidence of calcium replacement and with the 6 hr-later iPTH level. Therefore, a iPTH leve