This study confirmed that for children with hemiplegic with cerebral palsy, bilateral arm training based on virtual reality can be an effective intervention method for enhancing the upper limb motor skills on the affected side, as well as bilateral coordination ability.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to measure gluteal pressure and center of force (COF) during sitting in children with cerebral palsy (CP). [Subjects and Methods] The participants were five children with CP and five typically developing controls. We measured peak gluteal pressure and COF using the TekScan system. During the measurements, all children sat on the therapeutic table for 1 minute without back and foot support. [Results] The peak gluteal pressure and COF in children with CP were significantly higher than values in controls. [Conclusion] This study suggests that it is important to distribute hip pressure evenly and transfer COF in a forward direction during rehabilitation in children with CP.

Background. The technological innovation of smartphones and various software has made our lives more convenient. However, the negative effects of our excessive dependence on them cannot be overlooked. Objectives. The purpose of this scoping review was to understand the relationship between the use of smartphones and our cognitive functions, as well as to present important research directions for the future. Material and methods. All relevant literature, published as of 1 March 2020, was searched using the following databases: CInAHL, embase, PubMed, PsycInFo. The framework proposed by Arksey and o'Malley, which has a review process of five stages, was used for the review. Results. overuse of smartphones was found to be related to decrease concentration, working memory and cognitive suppression. In particular, the results of concentration and cognitive restraint function could be interpreted as a result of the impulsive behaviour pattern of an individual, and the results of working memory could be explained by the principle of overload due to the limitation of the user's working memory capacity. The association between smartphone usage levels and cognitive functions was compared. The results of this scoping review highlight the need for future research to thoroughly assess the user's impulse and associated cognitive functions for smartphone use. Conclusions. Furthermore, it will be necessary to consider ways to improve user convenience by developing therapeutic paradigms that can reduce the overuse of smartphones.

Background: Various cytokines have been studied to determine their functions in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and their potential as therapeutic targets, but the roles and clinical applicability of many of these cytokines still remain unclear.Objective: We aimed to measure the plasma levels of eight cytokines known to be relevant to allergic diseases, and to determine their association with the diagnostic characteristics of allergic patients. Methods:The levels of a panel of eight cytokines (IL-5, IL-10, IL12p70, Leptin, CXCL5/ENA-78, CCL2/MCP-1, PDGFBB, and VEGF) were measured in plasma obtained from 83 allergic patients. We investigated whether the cytokine levels differed between children and adults. Statistical analyses were then performed to examine their association with the diagnostic characteristics of allergic patients. Results:The levels of leptin, CCL2/MCP-1, PDGFBB, and VEGF were significantly higher in adult patients with allergic rhinitis than in children. Among patients with asthma, the levels of leptin and PDGFBB were elevated in adults. PDGFBB and VEGF levels were significantly associated with asthma. Interestingly, there was a significant association between VEGF level and recurrent wheezing regardless of the analyzed conditions. The levels of VEGF and PDGFBB or CCL2/MCP-1 showed a significant increase together in the presence of recurrent wheezing in child patients. Conclusion:The plasma levels of four cytokines, particularly VEGF, showed significant associations with some diagnostic characteristics in allergic patients. We suggested that plasma VEGF, which performs pleiotropic functions in allergic responses, could serve as a serological marker relevant to recurrent wheezing in allergic patients.