We evaluated the mental health burden of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on physical therapists, including their stress and anxiety levels, who were at risk of developing psychological distress and other mental health symptoms. A questionnaire survey was conducted with physical therapists of three university hospitals in South Korea on 10 April 2020. The questionnaires evaluated the presence of anxiety and depression in the respondents. Among the 65 physical therapists who completed our survey, 21 (32.3%) and 12 (18.5%) physical therapists reported having symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. If a physical therapist was living with a ≤6-year-old infant or child, the possibility of the presence of anxiety was significantly higher. The risk of depression among those who were in their 30 s and 50 s was significantly higher than among those in their 20 s. Thus, physical therapists living with a ≤6-year-old infant or child and those in their 30 s and 50 s need special attention.

Background-Frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) is a novel, high resolution intravascular imaging modality. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a widely used conventional imaging modality for achieving optimal stent deployment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of FD-OCT guidance for coronary stent implantation compared with IVUS guidance. Methods and Results-A total of 70 patients with de novo coronary artery lesions and either unstable or stable angina pectoris were enrolled in this randomized study (optical coherence tomography [OCT] group: nϭ35, IVUS group: nϭ35). In the OCT group, stent implantation was performed under FD-OCT guidance alone and final stent expansion was evaluated by IVUS. In the IVUS group, conventional IVUS guidance was used and final stent apposition was evaluated by FD-OCT. There were no significant differences regarding the procedural, fluoroscopy time, and contrast volume. Although device and clinical success rates also were similar, the visibility of vessel border was significantly lower in the OCT group (PϽ0.05). Minimum and mean stent area and focal and diffuse stent expansion were smaller (6.1Ϯ2.2 mm versus 7.1Ϯ2.1 mm, 7.5Ϯ2.5 versus 8.7Ϯ2.4 mm, 64.7Ϯ13.7% versus 80.3Ϯ13.4%, 84.2Ϯ15.8% versus 98.8Ϯ16.5%, PϽ0.05, respectively), and the frequency of significant residual reference segment stenosis at the proximal edge was higher in the OCT group (PϽ0.05). Incomplete apposed struts in both groups were similar (Pϭ0.34). Conclusions-FD-OCT

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ObjectiveTo investigate an additive effect of core muscle strengthening (CMS) and trunk neuromuscular electrical stimulation (tNEMS) on trunk balance in stroke patients.MethodsThirty patients with acute or subacute stroke who were unable to maintain static sitting balance for >5 minutes were enrolled and randomly assigned to 3 groups, i.e., patients in the CMS (n=10) group received additional CMS program; the tNMES group (n=10) received additional tNMES over the posterior back muscles; and the combination (CMS and tNMES) group (n=10) received both treatments. Each additional treatment was performed 3 times per week for 20 minutes per day over 3 weeks. Korean version of Berg Balance Scale (K-BBS), total score of postural assessment scale for stroke patients (PASS), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), and Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) were evaluated before and after 3 weeks of therapeutic intervention.ResultsAll 3 groups showed improvements in K-BBS, PASS, TIS, and K-MBI after therapeutic interventions, with some differences. The combination group showed more improvements in K-BBS and the dynamic sitting balance of TIS, as compared to the CMS group; and more improvement in K-BBS, as compared to the tNMES group.ConclusionThe results indicated an additive effect of CMS and tNMES on the recovery of trunk balance in patients with acute or subacute stroke who have poor sitting balance. Simultaneous application of CMS and tNMES should be considered when designing a rehabilitation program to improve trunk balance in stroke patients.

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Background Data are still limited regarding whether there are differential long‐term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting ( CABG ) for left main coronary artery disease with or without diabetes mellitus ( DM ). Methods and Results Using the 10‐year data from the MAIN ‐ COMPARE (Revascularization for Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis: Comparison of Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty Versus Surgical Revascularization) registry, we sought to examine the effect of DM on comparative outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention or CABG in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease. The outcomes of interest were all‐cause mortality; a composite of death, Q‐wave myocardial infarction, or stroke; and target‐vessel revascularization. The primary adjusted analyses were performed with the use of propensity scores and inverse‐probability weighting. Of 2240 patients with left main coronary artery revascularization, 722 (32%) had DM . In the overall population, the adjusted 10‐year risks of death and composite outcome were similar between percutaneous coronary intervention and CABG , irrespective of DM status ( P interaction : 0.41, mortality; 0.40, composite outcome). However, in the cohort of bare‐metal stents and concurrent CABG , we observed differential outcomes after stenting and CABG by DM status ( P interaction : 0.09, mortality; 0.04, composite outcome), favoring CABG in patients with DM. In the cohort of drug‐eluting stents and concurrent CABG , the better effect of CABG over stenting was narrowed in patients with DM without a significant interaction ( P interaction : 0.63, mortality; 0.47, composite outcome). Conclusions In this cohort of patients with longest follow‐up who underwent left main coronary artery revascularization, the clinical impact of DM favoring CABG over percutaneous coronary intervention has diminished over time from the bare‐metal stent to the drug‐eluting stent era. Registration URL : http://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT 02791412.

ObjectiveTo determine whether the use of both videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and radionuclide salivagram was beneficial for detecting aspiration-induced pneumonia in children with swallowing difficulty.MethodsFrom 2001 to 2016, children who underwent both VFSS and salivagram consecutively for suspected aspiration or dysphagia were included in the study. Demographic data, findings of VFSS and salivagram, and medical records were reviewed.ResultsAspiration pneumonia (AP) was present in 34 out of 110 children; 48 showed positive aspiration findings in VFSS and 33 showed positive aspiration findings in salivagram. Among the 62 children who were negative of aspiration in VFSS, 12 (19.4%) showed positive aspiration findings in salivagram. Four out of 12 children were diagnosed with AP. The aspiration findings in both VFSS and salivagram were significantly related to AP. However, the aspiration findings in the two tests were weakly consistent. Even if one test showed negative aspiration, it was helpful to additionally detect AP using another test, which showed positive aspiration finding. If aspiration findings were positive in only one of the two tests, the probability of AP was 38.5%, whereas if they were positive in both tests, the probability increased to 66.7%. If the aspiration findings were negative in both tests, AP did not occur with a probability of 90%.ConclusionSalivagram is a valuable tool for monitoring of aspiration in children with swallowing difficulties. It could be helpful in assessment of children at a high risk of AP, even if the VFSS showed negative aspiration findings. Thus, testing for AP using both VFSS and salivagram is desirable.