Objective: There is a growing importance for the home-based (HB) support services, and computerized cognitive training (CCT) has been reported as an effective intervention for cognitive impairment. However, there is still a need for further verification of the effect of HB-CCT. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of HB-CCT on the cognitive function of community-dwelling adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as well as safety in its use. Methods: Fifty community-dwelling adults with MCI were included, of which 25 each were randomized to either HB-CCT or control groups. Evaluations of comprehensive cognition, memory, attention, language, executive function, and depression were performed before and after the intervention, including three times a week for eight weeks in the intervention group and eight weeks apart with no intervention in the control group. Results: In baseline and post-evaluation comparisons, the HB-CCT group showed significant improvements, while the control group did not show significant changes. Statistically significant variations were noted between the HB-CCT and control groups in all post-intervention evaluations relative to baseline. Additionally, no side effects were observed. Conclusion: Beneficial effects on cognition and depression were noted in the intervention group compared with the control group, suggesting that HB-CCT may be a positive tool for cognitive improvement in adults with MCI.

Aged or fermented garlic extract (FGE) is a natural remedy that improves vascular function through increasing vascular nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. This is because nitrite (NO₂⁻), a NO metabolite, can be produced through bioconversion with macrobacteria during the fermentation of foods like garlic. We aimed to evaluate the effects of NO₂⁻ in FGE on blood flow (BF), blood pressure (BP), velocity of the common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA), regional cerebral BF (rCBF), and peripheral BF (PBF). The study was divided into two parts: (1) Thirty healthy adults were divided into FGE and placebo groups to compare BP and velocity of the CCA and ICA; and (2) Twenty-eight healthy adults were divided into FGE and placebo groups to compare rCBF and PBF and determine changes before/after ingestion. Significant changes were noted in BP and the velocity of both CCA 30–60 min after FGE ingestion. FGE ingestion resulted in significant increases in rCBF and increases in body surface temperature through alterations in PBF. No detectable clinical side effects were noted. Overall, oral administration of NO₂⁻ containing FGE demonstrated acute positive effects in upregulating BF, including the CCA, BP, rCBF, and PBF. Follow-up studies with larger sample sizes and long-term ingestion may be needed.

The potential of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a non-invasive brain stimulation technique for treating pain has been studied. However, its effectiveness in patients with central post-stroke pain (CPSP) and the impact of lesion location remain unclear. This study investigated tDCS’s pain reduction effects in patients with CPSP. Twenty-two patients with CPSP were randomized into the tDCS or sham groups. The tDCS group received stimulation of the primary motor cortex (M1) for 20 min, five times weekly, for two weeks, and underwent evaluations at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and one week after the intervention. The tDCS group had no significant improvement compared to the sham group in pain, depression, and quality of life. Nevertheless, significant changes were identified within the tDCS group, and the pain trends appeared to be influenced by the lesion location. These findings provide important insights into the use of tDCS in patients with CPSP, which could inform further research and development of pain treatment options.

Reduced muscle strength can affect trunk muscles on one side of the body and may occur after a stroke. Most trunk stabilization exercises for patients post-stroke are carried out seated, which may not be suitable for patients who cannot sit independently. This study investigated the therapeutic benefits of a cutting-edge balance training device, SBT-330, which can be used in the standing position for patients with compromised balance following a stroke. A total of 33 patients with stroke were randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control group. The experimental group (n = 19) underwent 30 min of training using the SBT-330 device in conjunction with standard physical therapy, whereas the control group (n = 14) received an additional 30 min of conventional physical therapy. The evaluation metrics included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC), Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test, Korean Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), Fugl-Meyer assessment of the lower extremities (FMA-LE), and Korean Trunk Impairment Scale (K-TIS). Following the 4-week intervention, significant improvements were observed in all variables except TUG in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, substantial differences were noted in K-MBI, BBS, and FAC between the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). SBT-330 effectively enhanced both walking and balance capabilities in patients with stroke with impaired balance, suggesting its potential as a valuable complement to conventional physical therapy for neurorehabilitation.

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a custom neck collar with negative sensory feedback for the treatment of torticollis that was previously unresponsive to conservative or surgical treatment. Methods: Twenty-four children diagnosed with unresponsive or intractable torticollis were enrolled in this two-stage, single-arm study. The ipsilateral aspect of the orthosis is adjustable in height and designed to provide support between the clavicle and the mandibular angle on the tilted side. In stage 1 (the adjustment period), the orthosis with a smooth surface was applied for 2 h per day for 3 months. In stage 2, a rough surface with a hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro©) was attached to the collar, and it was worn for a further 2 h a day for 3 months. Twenty children (mean age 63.95 ± 13.44 months) were included in the analysis. Results: The mean torticollis angle was 17.60 ± 5.65° (mean ± SD) at baseline; 14.15 ± 3.62° directly after stage 1; and 6.00 ± 3.67° directly after stage 2 (X² = 36.685, df = 19, p = 0.000). Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility, therapeutic effect, and safety of a novel tactile feedback orthosis for the treatment of children with torticollis. The use of a custom neck collar with negative sensory feedback may be a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of unresolved or intractable torticollis.