The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between unilateral spatial neglect (USN) and neurological deficits, site of lesion by CT scan, and activities of daily living (ADL) at discharge.
Thirty-eight right-handed patients with right hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (putamen 21, thalamus 17) were examined for neurological and neuropsychological deficits in addition to USN and performed CT scan. USN was revealed in 27 (76.8%) in which, 17 cases were putaminal hemorrhage and the other were thalamic hemorrhage.
The patients were subdivided into 3 groups of USN; ie, without USN, transient USN and persistent USN.
In the putaminal hemorrhage, the presence and persistence of USN seemed to be largely dependent on the size of hematoma. Four of 7 cases who showed the hematoma volume larger than 40ml revealed persistent USN and other 3 cases with younger than 50 years old showed transient USN. No cases with hematoma smaller than 20ml revealed USN.
In the thalamic hemorrhage, the size of hematoma had no relation to the presence of USN. All of the USN caused by thalamic hemorrhage was transient.
The presence of USN is an important factor determining patients' ADL. Therefore it is important to recognize USN on initial evaluation.

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An extended scale for activities of daily living (ADL) was constructed and administered to a community-based sample of 2591 persons aged 65 years and older. The scale consisted of 10 basic ADL items (Feeding, Moving from wheelchair to bed and return, Personal toilet, Getting on and off toilet, Bathing self, Walking on level surface, Ascend and descend stairs, Dressing, Controlling bowels, and Controlling bladder) taken from the Barthel Index and 5 instrumental ADL items (Using public transportation, Preparing meals, Shopping for daily necessities, Paying bills, and Managing deposits) from the TMIG Index of Competence. Data were obtained by self-reports and the responses of each item were transformed into dichotomous form, according to whether independent or dependent. Factor analysis of the items revealed a unidimensional structure, accounted for 55.3% of the total variance. Scalogram analysis produced the coefficient of reproducibility of 0.96 and the coefficient of scalability of 0.63, met the Guttman's and Menzel's criteria for unidimensionality and cumulativeness. Testing the scalability for each item with Mokken scale analysis, 3 items (Controlling bowels and bladder, and Paying bills) were dropped. The resulting 12-item version had the coefficients of reproducibility of 0.97, Menzel's scalability of 0.75 and Mokken's scalability of 0.85. The KR-20 reliability coefficient of internal consistency was 0.90. The scores on the 12-item version were significantly correlated with age (r=-0.34) but not significantly different between males and females. The criterion-related validity of the scale was satisfactory when assessed in terms of perceived health status and hospital utilization. It was concluded that the extended ADL scale developed in the course of the present study should be useful for assessment of functional status in the elderly living home.

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The power density of an electromyographic (EMG) signal is known to be compressed toward low frequencies as sustained isometric contraction progresses. There is little knowledge about the behavior of spectral parameters with respect to anatomical events within a muscle and the influence of the method used to detect EMG signals, but the highest median frequency values always occur in the region encompassing the innervation zone and tendinous insertion of the muscle. In our investigation of muscle fatigue we used frequency analysis of surface EMG signals to study the effect of the electrode location and of the method used to detect EMG signals in the same muscle.
Five healthy male subjects participated in the study. Three bipolar and one monopolar surface EMG signals were recorded from the right first dorsal interosseus muscle with surface array electrodes that consisted of 4 parallel bar electrodes 1cm apart. Each subject performed three contractions, each at 30%, 50%, and 80% the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and held for a maximum of 60 seconds. Each EMG signal was processed by the frequency analysis program installed in Dantec Counterpoint. The median and mean power frequencies were plotted against time at each force level in each channel.
For data plotted as a function of the force level at which the contraction was performed, there was no difference in the initial median frequency. Whereas changes in the median and mean frequencies did differ. Each channel had a different initial median and mean frequency. Both the median and mean frequencies changed to the same extent in each channel. Changes in the median and mean frequencies did not differ in the 4 channels at any force level.
Both the median and mean frequencies were confirmed to change to the same extent in each channel in the detection of local muscle fatigue. These parameters are suitable for monitoring fatigue processes within a muscle. Moreover, the rate change of the median and mean frequencies is not effected by electrode location irrespective of method used to detect EMG signals. This observation in not surprising because muscle fiber types are disseminated homogenously and surface electrodes tend to detect a relatively large domain that includes many motor units. Furthermore, the lactic acid produced in any segment of the muscle diffuses throughout the entire muscle and this influences the membrane properties of the muscle fibers.

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Thirteen patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) underwent CAGT program which was originally developed for hemiparetic stroke patients, and the relation of the time since onset of TBI to the maximum walking speed was presented in terms of a coefficient for hyperbolic curve fitting. Statistically significant curve fitting was seen in 10 patients with the maximum walking speed less than 100m/min at the start of CAGT; fit group. The maximum walking speed was more than 100m/min in the three patients without significant curve fitting; non-fit group. Compared to the non-fit group, the gain of maximum walking speed (m/week) was definitely high in the fit group. The results promised the applicability of CAGT to patients with TBI.

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