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Radiologic and Clinical Predictors of Reoperation Following Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

2026-03-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Radiologic and Clinical Predictors of Reoperation Following Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study Authors: Shin, Jun Jae; Kim, Keonhee; Park, Se Jun; Jeong, Won Joo; Yoo, Sun Joon; Shin, Dong Ah; Shin, Joongkyum; Jang, Hyun Jun; Chin, Dong Kyu Abstract: Purpose Unilateral biportal endoscopic discectomy (UBE) is an effective and minimally invasive technique for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. However, reoperation may be required, and evidence on how risk factors vary according to the timing of reoperation remains limited. This study aimed to identify the clinical and radiologic factors associated with short-term (<6 months) and long-term (>= 6 months) reoperations following UBE. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 80 patients who underwent reoperation after UBE between January 2016 and December 2023 with a minimum 24-month follow-up. The patients were classified into short-term and long-term reoperation groups. Clinical and radiologic parameters, including disc degeneration grade, facet joint osteoarthritis grade, and comorbidities, were compared between groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate preoperative factors predicting postoperative functional improvement. Results Reoperations were performed for incomplete decompression (27.5%), facet cysts (10.0%), recurrent herniation (8.8%), restenosis (8.0%), and postoperative instability (43.7%). Long-term reoperation was associated with greater disc degeneration, a higher grade of facet joint osteoarthritis, and a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM). Short-term reoperation was mainly due to inadequate decompression, whereas long-term reoperation was largely attributable to postoperative instability. Multivariable analysis identified a higher preoperative grade of facet joint osteoarthritis as a predictor of postoperative functional improvement. Conclusion Short-term reoperation after UBE is primarily related to inadequate decompression, whereas long-term reoperation is linked to advanced disc degeneration, severe facet joint osteoarthritis, postoperative instability, and DM. These findings highlight the importance of thorough preoperative assessment of facet arthropathy and disc degeneration, ensuring adequate initial decompression, and careful postoperative management, particularly in patients with DM.

Effects of Trunk Extension-Based Inspiratory Muscle Strengthening on Respiratory Function, Balance, and Gait in Patients with Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2026-03-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Effects of Trunk Extension-Based Inspiratory Muscle Strengthening on Respiratory Function, Balance, and Gait in Patients with Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial Authors: An, Kwang-Bin; Jeon, Hye-Joo; Choi, Yu-Sik; Lee, Soo-Yong; Chang, Woo-Nam Abstract: Objectives: This study investigated the effects of trunk extension-based inspiratory muscle strengthening on respiratory function, balance, and gait in patients with stroke. Methods: Thirty stroke patients were randomly assigned to the study group (n = 15) or control group (n = 15). The study group performed inspiratory muscle strengthening exercises in a trunk extension posture, while the control group received conventional inspiratory muscle training. Both groups trained five times per week for six weeks. Outcome measures included maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal inspiratory flow rate (MIFR), maximal inspiratory volume (MIV), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), weight distribution ratio (WDR), limits of stability (LOSs), Timed Up and Go (TUG), gait velocity, cadence, and stride length. Results: The study group showed significantly greater improvements in respiratory parameters (MIP, MIFR, MIV, PEF, FEV1) and functional outcomes (WDR, LOS, BBS, TUG, gait velocity, cadence, stride length) compared to the control group. Conclusions: Trunk extension-based inspiratory muscle strengthening effectively improves respiratory function, balance, and gait in stroke patients, and may serve as a valuable addition to stroke rehabilitation programs.

Effect of Manganese Exposure on Multi-Finger Coordination with Asymptomatic Welder

2026-03-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Effect of Manganese Exposure on Multi-Finger Coordination with Asymptomatic Welder Authors: Lee, Jiseop; Song, Junkyung; Park, Jaebum Abstract: Chronic exposure to manganese in occupational settings such as welding is known to accumulate in the basal ganglia and disrupt motor control. Although clinical symptoms emerge only after considerable neural damage, subtle motor deficits may exist in asymptomatic individuals. This study aimed to identify such subclinical motor alterations by examining multi-finger coordination in professional welders. Nine professional welders with more than 20 years of welding experience and ten age-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Participants performed three isometric finger force tasks: a maximal voluntary contraction task to assess maximal finger forces, a single-finger ramp task to evaluate finger enslaving, and a multi-finger quick pulse task to analyze motor synergies and anticipatory synergy adjustments (ASA). Surface electromyogram was recorded to quantify muscle co-contraction. Compared to controls, welders exhibited reduced motor synergy strength, delayed and decreased ASA, and increased antagonist muscle co-contraction. These findings suggest that long-term occupational welding exposure, which involves manganese as a major component, is associated with subtle but measurable alterations in motor coordination and neural control strategies, even in the absence of clinical symptoms. Multi-finger synergy analysis and co-contraction metrics may serve as sensitive markers for detecting early motor dysfunction in populations occupationally exposed to neurotoxic substances.

Microbial Profiling of Saliva, Oral Rinse, Subgingival Plaque and GCF Reveals Site-Specific Dysbiosis in Periodontitis: A Within-Subject Comparison of 150 Participants

2026-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Microbial Profiling of Saliva, Oral Rinse, Subgingival Plaque and GCF Reveals Site-Specific Dysbiosis in Periodontitis: A Within-Subject Comparison of 150 Participants Authors: Lee, Ran; Park, Jin-Young; Park, Yuan; Kim, Kyu; Ha, Jong-Won; Lee, Jung-Seok; 김규 Abstract: Aim This study aimed to compare the microbial communities across four oral sample types-saliva, oral rinse, subgingival plaque and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF)-and to identify disease-associated microbiota in periodontitis.Methods Oral samples were collected from 150 adults, each providing four types of samples in the same visit. Saliva (5 mL) and oral rinse (10 mL, 30-s swish) were collected prior to clinical examination. Subgingival plaque was sampled using a curette from the two deepest pockets, followed by GCF collection via 20-s insertion of gingival retraction cords at the same sites. All samples underwent 16S rRNA (V3-V4) sequencing. Site-specific microbial profiles were evaluated across all participants. For disease comparisons, only individuals with clear periodontal status (periodontally healthy, n = 41; stage III/IV periodontitis, n = 43) were included, excluding stage I/II cases (n = 66).Results Saliva and oral rinse formed one microbial cluster; plaque and GCF formed another. Alpha diversity was found increased in disease, except in GCF. Beta diversity showed the most distinct disease-related shift in GCF. Red complex pathogens and GCF-specific differentially abundant taxa were markedly enriched in periodontitis.Conclusions GCF yielded the clearest microbial differentiation between health and periodontitis, supporting its diagnostic utility.