BackgroundSeveral experimental studies in stroke patients suggest that mirror therapy and various virtual reality programs facilitate motor rehabilitation. However, the underlying mechanisms for these therapeutic effects have not been previously described.ObjectivesWe attempted to delineate the changes in corticospinal excitability when individuals were asked to exercise their upper extremity using a real mirror and virtual mirror. Moreover, we attempted to delineate the role of visual modulation within the virtual environment that affected corticospinal excitability in healthy subjects and stroke patients.MethodsA total of 18 healthy subjects and 18 hemiplegic patients were enrolled into the study. Motor evoked potential (MEP)s from transcranial magnetic stimulation were recorded in the flexor carpi radialis of the non-dominant or affected upper extremity using three different conditions: (A) relaxation; (B) real mirror; and (C) virtual mirror. Moreover, we compared the MEPs from the virtual mirror paradigm using continuous visual feedback or intermittent visual feedback.ResultsThe rates of amplitude increment and latency decrement of MEPs in both groups were higher during the virtual mirror task than during the real mirror. In healthy subjects and stroke patients, the virtual mirror task with intermittent visual feedback significantly facilitated corticospinal excitability of MEPs compared with continuous visual feedback.ConclusionCorticospinal excitability was facilitated to a greater extent in the virtual mirror paradigm than in the real mirror and in intermittent visual feedback than in the continuous visual feedback, in both groups. This provides neurophysiological evidence supporting the application of the virtual mirror paradigm using various visual modulation technologies to upper extremity rehabilitation in stroke patients.
The meningeal involvement is rare in acute promyelocytic leukemia. We experienced a 39-year-old woman who achieved complete remission with all-trans retinoic acid, idarubicin and cytarabine therapy. Several months later, she complained of non-specific headache. Her complete blood cell count was normal, but magnetic resonance image of brain revealed focal meningeal enhancement and cerebrospinal fluid showed leukemic promyelocytes and PML/RARA rearrangement. Bone marrow study showed hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular remission. She was treated with intrathecal and systemic chemotherapy and whole brain radiotherapy. The patient has survived for 68 months since the last systemic chemotherapy.
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