Masseter nerve transfer with dual function for smile and eye closure.

In patients with facial nerve palsy, the masseter nerve (MN) transfer may be used to improve orbicularis oculi (OO) resting tone and eye closure. This study evaluated OO muscle function after "selective" MN transfer compared to upper cross face nerve graft (CFNG) in patients with facial nerve palsy. This retrospective study included adults with facial nerve palsy who underwent CFNG and selective MN transfer for dual reinnervation of OO and zygomaticus major.

Burnout in Canadian physiatrists: a national cross-sectional survey.

Objective: The prevalence of burnout in Canadian Physiatrists is unknown. This study describes the prevalence of burnout in Canadian Physiatrists and explores predictors.

Design: This national cross-sectional web-based survey used convenience sampling, targeting Canadian physiatrists (staff, fellows, residents).

A quality improvement initiative to develop an interprofessional peripheral nerve transfer clinic for individuals with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury.

Purpose: Loss of upper extremity (UE) function impacts almost every aspect of daily life and upper limb recovery is reported to be a major priority of individuals living with tetraplegia. Surgical peripheral nerve transfer (PNT) offers the potential to restore volitional control of elbow, wrist and hand function of individuals with C5-C8 tetraplegia AIS A-C. Unfortunately, while there is growing evidence supporting the role of PNT in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, there are currently no internationally-recognized consensus-derived best practices for provision of PNT following spinal cord injury (SCI) and few programs have focused on interdisciplinary collaboration during patient selection, surgical decision making, management of medical comorbidities and postoperative rehabilitation.

Integrating peer support across the continuum of trauma care: Trauma survivor, caregiver and healthcare provider perspectives and recommendations.

Background: Recovery from a traumatic injury is a complex process that precipitates difficulties and isolation for survivors. Peers can provide valuable psychosocial support rooted in lived experience. The savings associated with peer support largely outweigh the costs.

Peer support experiences and needs across the continuum of trauma care: A qualitative study of traumatic injury survivor, caregiver, and provider perspectives.

Background: Traumatic injuries significantly impact individuals' physical and mental health and are a leading cause of disability worldwide. Trauma recovery is complex and entails patients interacting with multiple places of care before returning to the community. Despite trauma recovery being optimized when patients' psychosocial needs are addressed early on and throughout recovery, care remains overwhelmingly focused on physical and functional improvement.

Episodic disability framework in the context of Long COVID: Findings from a community-engaged international qualitative study.

Background: Increasing numbers of adults are living with the health-related consequences of Long COVID. The Episodic Disability Framework (EDF), derived from perspectives of adults living with HIV, characterizes the multi-dimensional and episodic nature of health-related challenges (disability) experienced by an individual. Our aim was to determine the applicability of the Episodic Disability Framework to conceptualize the health-related challenges experienced among adults living with Long COVID.

Nerve Transfers in the Management of Femoral Nerve Palsy: A Systematic Review.

The primary objective of this systematic review is to describe the effectiveness of nerve transfers for restoring quadriceps motor function in patients with femoral nerve palsy. MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched from their inception to June 2023 for any English language, primary literature investigating nerve transfers for femoral nerve palsy. Data were extracted for study and intervention characteristics, as well as clinical outcomes, including preoperative and postoperative knee extension strength, electrodiagnostic studies, functional outcomes, adverse events, and donor site morbidity.

Utility of routine post-admission testing for SARS-CoV-2 in a rehabilitation facility.

Asymptomatic screening for SARS-CoV-2 is recommended in healthcare settings during periods of increased incidence, yet studies in rehabilitation settings are lacking. Routine weekly post-admission asymptomatic testing in a rehabilitation facility offered marginal gain beyond syndromic and targeted unit testing and was not associated with a reduced risk of healthcare-associated COVID-19.

Conceptualising the episodic nature of disability among adults living with Long COVID: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Our aim was to describe episodic nature of disability among adults living with Long COVID.

Methods: We conducted a community-engaged qualitative descriptive study involving online semistructured interviews and participant visual illustrations. We recruited participants via collaborator community organisations in Canada, Ireland, UK and USA.

Evaluation of different antimicrobial stewardship models at a rehabilitation hospital: An interrupted time series (ITS) study.

Objective: To evaluate different prospective audit-and-feedback models on antimicrobial prescribing at a rehabilitation hospital.

Design: Retrospective interrupted time series (ITS) and qualitative methods.

Setting: A 178-bed rehabilitation hospital within an academic health sciences center.

Long COVID and episodic disability: advancing the conceptualisation, measurement and knowledge of episodic disability among people living with Long COVID - protocol for a mixed-methods study.

Introduction: As the prevalence of Long COVID increases, there is a critical need for a comprehensive assessment of disability. Our aims are to: (1) characterise disability experiences among people living with Long COVID in Canada, UK, USA and Ireland; and (2) develop a patient-reported outcome measure to assess the presence, severity and episodic nature of disability with Long COVID.

Methods And Analysis: In phase 1, we will conduct semistructured interviews with adults living with Long COVID to explore experiences of disability (dimensions, uncertainty, trajectories, influencing contextual factors) and establish an episodic disability (ED) framework in the context of Long COVID (n~10 each country).

Rehabilitation After Critical Illness in People With COVID-19 Infection.

The current COVID-19 pandemic will place enormous pressure on healthcare systems around the world. Large numbers of people are predicted to become critically ill with acute respiratory distress syndrome and will require management in intensive care units. High levels of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial impairments can be anticipated.

Correction to: Immunogenic Yeast-Based Fermentation Product Reduces Allergic Rhinitis-Induced Nasal Congestion: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The article ''Immunogenic Yeast-Based Fermentation Product Reduces Allergic Rhinitis-Induced Nasal Congestion: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial'', written by Mark A. Moyad, Larry E. Robinson, Julie M.

Neurophysiology contributes to outcome prediction after cardiac arrest.

This "Points of View" paper discusses the role of neurophysiology in predicting outcome in patients who have initially survived a cardiac arrest but remain in coma. The authors, from different clinical backgrounds, discuss their individual approaches to neuroprognostication.

A yeast fermentate improves gastrointestinal discomfort and constipation by modulation of the gut microbiome: results from a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Background: Constipation and symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort such as bloating are common among otherwise healthy individuals, but with significant impact on quality of life. Despite the recognized contribution of the gut microbiome to this pathology, little is known about which group(s) of microorganism(s) are playing a role. A previous study performed in vitro suggests that EpiCor® fermentate has prebiotic-like properties, being able to favorably modulate the composition of the gut microbiome.

Mitigation of heat stress-related complications by a yeast fermentate product.

Heat stress results in a multitude of biological and physiological responses which can become lethal if not properly managed. It has been shown that heat stress causes significant adverse effects in both human and animals. Different approaches have been proposed to mitigate the adverse effects caused by heat stress, among which are special diet and probiotics.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Work-Related Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow.

Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is the second most common entrapment neuropathy after carpal tunnel syndrome and occurs most commonly at the elbow due to mechanical forces that produce traction or ischemia to the nerve. The primary symptom associated with UNE is diminished sensation or dysesthesias in the fourth or fifth digits, often coupled with pain in the proximal medial aspect of the elbow. Treatment may be conservative or surgical, but optimal management remains controversial.

Anti-inflammatory properties of a dried fermentate in vitro and in vivo.

The aim of this study was to document anti-inflammatory properties of a dried fermentate derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (EpiCor(®)), hereafter referred to as dried fermentate in vitro using cell-based bioassays, and in vivo using a skin irritation model in healthy humans. In vitro testing involved parallel assessment of primary human polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and migration toward the inflammatory mediator Leukotriene B4. In vivo evaluation used a single-blind placebo-controlled design, where dermal histamine-induced inflammation was used as a model for the complex intercellular signals involved in the initiation, escalation, and resolution of the inflammatory response.

A dried yeast fermentate selectively modulates both the luminal and mucosal gut microbiota and protects against inflammation, as studied in an integrated in vitro approach.

EpiCor, derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been shown to have immunomodulating properties in human clinical trials and in vitro. However, the underlying mechanisms behind its immune protection via the gut remain largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use an integrated in vitro approach to evaluate the metabolism of EpiCor by the intestinal microflora, its modulating effect on the gut microbiota, and its anti-inflammatory activity on human-derived cell lines.

Alternative sites for intraoperative monitoring of cranial nerves X and XII during intracranial surgeries.

During intracranial surgeries, cranial nerve (CN) X is most commonly monitored with electromyographic endotracheal tubes. Electrodes on these endotracheal tubes may be displaced from the vocal folds during positioning, and there is a learning curve for their correct placement. Cranial nerve XII is most commonly monitored with electrodes in the dorsum of the tongue, which are also prone to displacement because of their proximity to the endotracheal tube.

A dried yeast fermentate prevents and reduces inflammation in two separate experimental immune models.

Diverse and significant benefits against cold/flu symptoms and seasonal allergies have been observed with a dried fermentate (DF) derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (EpiCor) in multiple published randomized trials. To determine if DF may influence other immune conditions, two separate animal studies were conducted. Study 1 examined the ability of DF to prevent or reduce inflammation when given orally for 14 days to rats prior to receiving 1% carrageenan (localized inflammation model).

Antioxidant bioavailability and rapid immune-modulating effects after consumption of a single acute dose of a high-metabolite yeast immunogen: results of a placebo-controlled double-blinded crossover pilot study.

The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the acute effects on circulating lymphocyte subsets, antioxidant status, and cytokine profile after consumption of EpiCor(®) (EP) (Embria Health Sciences, Ankeny, IA, USA), a dried fermentate produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using a placebo-controlled randomized crossover study design with 12 healthy adult human subjects. EP contains high levels of bioavailable antioxidants and strongly activates natural killer (NK) cells in vitro. EP consumption has been shown to increase erythrocyte hematocrit levels, boost mucosal immune protection, reduce cold/flu symptoms, reduce seasonal allergy symptoms and the need for rescue medication, and increase salivary secretory immunoglobulin A levels.