Effectiveness of telerehabilitation based on real-time intervention between therapist and participants for improving physical function, activities of daily living and quality of life in people with stroke: A systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: There is a call for gathering more evidence on the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in stroke. In particular, a previous systematic review reported substantial variability in the types of technologies used in telerehabilitation interventions. The purpose of this study will be to summarize and synthesize findings on the effects of telerehabilitation based on real-time intervention between therapist and participants for patients with stroke. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This systematic review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. This systematic review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 25 May 2023 (registration number: CRD420234265527). Electronic searches will be performed in the following databases: MEDLINE, Pubmed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and CINAHL electronic databases, using a date range from inception to November 2023. We will include only randomized controlled trials for patients diagnosed with stroke who received telerehabilitation based on real-time interaction between therapist and patients. The exploration will be restricted to publications in the English language. Physical function, activities of daily living and quality of life are the outcomes. We will examine the changes of the outcomes at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at specific time points during the follow-up after the intervention. DISCUSSION: This systematic review will provide evidence regarding telerehabilitation for people with stroke.

Soft x-ray photoelectron momentum microscope for multimodal valence band stereography.

The photoelectron momentum microscope (PMM) in operation at BL6U, an undulator-based soft x-ray beamline at the UVSOR Synchrotron Facility, offers a new approach for µm-scale momentum-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (MRPES). A key feature of the PMM is that it can very effectively reduce radiation-induced damage by directly projecting a single photoelectron constant energy contour in reciprocal space with a radius of a few Å-1 or real space with a radius of a few 100 µm onto a two-dimensional detector. This approach was applied to three-dimensional valence band structure E(k) and E(r) measurements ("stereography") as functions of photon energy (hν), its polarization (e), detection position (r), and temperature (T). In this study, we described some examples of possible measurement techniques using a soft x-ray PMM. We successfully applied this stereography technique to µm-scale MRPES to selectively visualize the single-domain band structure of twinned face-centered-cubic Ir thin films grown on Al2O3(0001) substrates. The photon energy dependence of the photoelectron intensity on the Au(111) surface state was measured in detail within the bulk Fermi surface. By changing the temperature of 1T-TaS2, we clarified the variations in the valence band dispersion associated with chiral charge-density-wave phase transitions. Finally, PMMs for valence band stereography with various electron analyzers were compared, and the advantages of each were discussed.

The relationship between characteristics of gait disturbance and injury patterns of the corticospinal tract and corticoreticular pathway in post-stroke patients: A case series of 3 patients.

RATIONALE: Corticospinal tract (CST) and corticoreticular pathway (CRP) injury patterns (i.e., the continuity of the nerve fibers) are associated with gait disturbance in post-stroke patients. In this case series study, we examined the case of 3 patients with different CST and CRP injury patterns and analyzed the characteristics of gait disturbance in each patient. PATIENT CONCERNS: Patient 1 (P1) was a 73-year-old woman who presented with paralysis of the right upper and lower extremities due to a left lacunar infarction. Patient 2 (P2) was a 41-year-old man who presented with paralysis of the right upper and lower extremities due to a left putamen hemorrhage. Patient 3 (P3) was a 57-year-old man who presented with paralysis of the left upper and lower extremities due to a right putamen hemorrhage. DIAGNOSIS: In P1, the CRP in the affected hemisphere was intact, but the CST was discontinuous. In P2, the CST in the affected hemisphere was intact, but the CRP was discontinuous. P3 was discontinuous in both CST and CRP in the affected hemisphere. OUTCOMES: Over time, all 3 patients improved to the level of gait independence, but they exhibited different gait patterns. Among them, P3 showed a markedly abnormal gait pattern that included spatiotemporal gait asymmetry, lateral shift of the trunk, and hip hiking. LESSONS: This case series study demonstrated that even if both the CST and CRP were injured, gait recovered to some extent (i.e., independent level-ground gait), but the abnormal gait pattern might remain remarkable.

Effects of real-time remote cardiac rehabilitation on exercise capacity and quality of life: a quasi-randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The impact of real-time remote cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on health and disability-related outcomes and its correlation with physical function are unknown. We compared the effectiveness of real-time remote CR with that of hospital-based CR on physical function improvement and physical functions of improvement (Δ) to clarify the relationship between health and disability at baseline. METHODS: Patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) were enrolled (n = 38) in this quasi-randomised controlled trial and underwent 4 weeks of hospital-based CR, followed by 12 weeks of remote or hospital-based CR based on quasi-randomised allocation. Patients were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of remote or hospital-based CR using the shortened version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) for subjective satisfaction, WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS2.0-J) for objective performance, and cardiopulmonary exercise test for physical function and peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2). The trends in measured variables from baseline to the post-CR stage were analysed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (mean age, 72.2 ± 10.4 years) completed remote CR, and 15 patients (mean age, 77.3 ± 4.8 years) completed hospital-based CR. The post-CR physical function differed significantly between the groups (Δpeak VO2, 2.8 ± 3.0 versus 0.84 ± 1.8 mL·min-1·kg-1; p < 0.05). The differences in post-CR changes in the WHOQOL-BREF scores between the groups were insignificant. The post-CR changes in the WHODAS2.0-J scores were significantly lower in the remote CR group than in the hospital-based CR group (ΔWHODAS2.0-J score, -8.56 ± 14.2 versus 2.14 ± 7.6; p < 0.01). Forward multiple stepwise regression analysis using overall data showed that the intervention method (ß = 0.339, p < 0.05), baseline cognition (ß = - 0.424, p < 0.05), and social interaction level (ß = 0.658, p < 0.01; WHODAS2.0-J) were significant independent contributors to Δpeak VO2 (r2 = 0.48, F = 8.13, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Remote CR considerably improved physical function and objective performance in patients with CVDs. Remote CR can be used to effectively treat stable patients who cannot visit hospitals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This interventional trial was registered at the UMIN-CTR registry (trial title: Development of remote programme for cardiac rehabilitation using wearable electrocardiograph; trial ID: UMIN000041746; trial URL: https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000046564 ; registration date: 2020/09/09).

Characteristics of Older Patients with Heart Failure Readmitted due to Acute Exacerbations within the Past Year.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the relationship between physical performance and readmission among older patients with heart failure (HF) over the past year. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 325 patients with HF who were aged ≥65 years and were hospitalized for acute exacerbation between November 2017 and December 2021. We investigated age, sex, body mass index, length of hospital stay, initiation of rehabilitation, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score, medications, cardiac/renal function, nutrition, maximal quadriceps isometric strength, grip strength, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Data were analyzed using the χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Altogether, 108 patients met the inclusion criteria and were divided into the non-readmission (n = 76) and readmission (n = 32) groups. The readmission group exhibited longer hospital stay, more severe NYHA class, higher CCI score, higher brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, lower muscle strength, and lower SPPB score compared to the non-readmission group. In the logistic regression model, BNP level and SPPB score were independent factors associated with readmission. CONCLUSION: BNP level and SPPB score were associated with readmission in patients with HF within the past year.

Observation of plaque behavior and tissue characterization of coronary plaque using speckle tracking intravascular ultrasound (ST-IVUS) and iMap imaging system.

Tissue characterization plays an important role in the development of acute coronary syndromes. iMap is an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) tissue characterization system that provides useful information by reconstructing color-coded maps. Mechanical properties due to dynamic mechanical stress during a cardiac cycle may also trigger vulnerable plaque. Speckle tracking IVUS (ST-IVUS) has been introduced to observe plaque behavior in relation to mechanical properties. We report the case of an 84-year-old woman with stable coronary artery disease who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, at which time IVUS demonstrated mainly three low echoic areas like lipid pools with thick fibrous caps. Pathological evaluation with iMap revealed that one low echoic area was occupied with necrotic tissue and that the other two areas occupied fibrotic. Although those tissue characterizations were different, they showed similar stretching behavior at systole by ST-IVUS which depicted plaque behavior from IVUS images using a color mapping. The mechanical properties of individual coronary plaques may differ depending on the tissue disposition. It is necessary to consider mechanical properties using ST-IVUS as well as to evaluate tissue characterization in plaque risk stratification.

Relationship between tissue characteristics and mechanical properties of coronary plaques: a comparison between integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and speckle-tracking IVUS.

High-risk coronary plaques have certain morphological characteristics. Thus, comprehensive assessment is needed for the risk stratification of plaques in patients with coronary artery disease. Integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) has been used successfully used to evaluate the tissue characteristics of coronary plaques; however, the mechanical properties of plaques have been rarely assessed. Therefore, we developed Speckle-tracking IVUS (ST-IVUS) to evaluate the mechanical properties of coronary plaque. This study aimed to evaluate the relation between the tissue characteristics of coronary plaques using IB-IVUS and their mechanical properties using ST-IVUS. We evaluated 95 non-targeted plaques in 95 patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention to the left anterior descending artery. We set regions of interest (ROIs) in the cross-sectional images of coronary plaques where we divided 120 degree plaques into four quadrants (every 30 degrees), with the center at the area of maximum atheroma thickness. We measured relative calcification area (%CA, relative fibrous area (%FI) and relative lipid pool area (%LP) in a total of 380 ROIs. In ST-IVUS analysis, we measured strain in the circumferential direction of the lumen area (LA strain: %), the external elastic membrane area strain (EEM strain: %), and strain in the radial direction (radial strain: %). On global cross-sectional area IB-IVUS analysis, the %CA was 1.2 ± 1.2%; the %FI was 49.0 ± 15.9%, and the %LP was 49.7 ± 16.5%. In ST-IVUS analysis, the LA strain was 0.67 ± 0.43%; the EEM strain was 0.49 ± 0.33%, and the radial strain was 2.02 ± 1.66%. On regional analysis, the %LP was not associated with the LA strain (r = - 0.002 p = 0.97), the EEM strain (r = - 0.05 p = 0.35), or with the radial strain (r = - 0.04 p = 0.45). These trends were seen between the %FI and the LA strain (r = 0.02 p = 0.74), the %FI and the EEM strain (r = 0.05 p = 0.35), and the %FI and the radial strain (r = 0.04 p = 0.50). A significant correlation was only observed between the %CA and the LA strain (r = - 0.15 p = 0.0038). Our findings indicate that the associations between mechanical properties and tissue characteristics lacked statistical significance, more often than not, and that it is necessary to evaluate the mechanical properties as well as plaque characteristics for risk stratification of coronary plaques.

Brain natriuretic peptide levels and short physical performance battery scores independently influence short-term readmission rates in older patients with heart failure.

The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a well-established tool to assess the lower extremity physical performance status. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and SPPB scores on short-term readmission in older patients with heart failure (HF). This prospective cohort study enrolled 325 patients with HF who were hospitalized for acute decompensated HF between November 2017 and December 2021. Variables were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. The 107 patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into readmission (within 90 days of discharge; n = 25) and non-readmission (n = 82) groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that BNP level and SPPB score were independent risk factors for readmission within 90 days after discharge. Patients were classified into three groups according to the BNP and SPPB cutoff values calculated using ROC curves. The risk of readmission was significantly higher in Group 3 (BNP ≥ 384 pg/mL and SPPB ≤ 7 points) than in Group 1 (BNP < 384 pg/mL and SPPB > 7 points; hazard ratio: 27.68, 95% confidence interval: 3.672 - 208.700, P = 0.0012). Our study showed that HF patients with high BNP levels and low SPPB scores have a dramatically increased risk of readmission within 90 days of discharge.

Effect of cognitive impairment at admission on activities of daily living at discharge in older patients with heart failure.

Nonaka Y, Fujii R, Tanaka S, Tabira K. Effect of cognitive impairment at admission on activities of daily living at discharge in older patients with heart failure. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2023; 14: 78‒83. Objective: Hasegawa's Dementia Scale-Revised (HDS-R) is widely used as a screening test for cognitive function in older adults. In this study, we examined the effect of cognitive impairment (CI) at admission on activities of daily living (ADL) at discharge in older patients with heart failure (HF). Methods: This retrospective observational study included 394 patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF between April 2016 and December 2022. Data on age, sex, body mass index, length of hospital stay, initiation of rehabilitation, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, Charlson Comorbidity Index, medication, brain natriuretic peptide levels, left ventricular ejection fraction, renal function, hemoglobin level, serum albumin level, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Barthel Index (BI), and HDS-R score were analyzed using the χ2 test, unpaired t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and multiple linear regression. Results: Among 394 patients, 102 who met the final inclusion criteria were included in the study. Based on previous studies, patients were divided into a high BI group (N = 44) and a low BI group (N = 58). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CI at admission independently affected BI at discharge even after adjusting for confounding effects of age, NYHA class, GNRI, and BI at admission. Conclusions: Our study showed that the presence or absence of CI may influence ADL improvement in rehabilitation interventions aimed at improving ADL in older patients with HF.

Changes in task-specific fear of movement and impaired trunk motor control by pain neuroscience education and exercise: A preliminary single-case study of a worker with low back pain.

We report a case (a worker with low back pain) who was provided patient education and therapeutic exercise, and we performed a detailed kinematic analysis of his work-related activity over time. The subjects were one 28-year-old male worker with low back pain. In addition, to clearly identify impaired trunk movement during work-related activity in the low back pain subject, 20 age-matched healthy males (control group) were also included as a comparison subject. He received pain neurophysiology education and exercise instruction. We analyzed the subject's trunk movement pattern during a lifting task examined by a three-dimensional-motion capture system. In addition, task-specific fear that occurred during the task was assessed by the numerical rating scale. The assessment was performed at the baseline phase (4 data points), the intervention phase (8 data points), and the follow-up phase (8 data points), and finally at 3 and 8 months after the follow-up phase. No intervention was performed in the control group; they underwent only one kinematic evaluation at baseline. As a result, compared to the control group, the low back pain subject had slower trunk movement velocity (peak trunk flexion velocity = 50.21 deg/s, extension velocity = -47.61 deg/s), and his upper-lower trunk segments indicated an in-phase motion pattern (mean absolute relative phase = 15.59 deg) at baseline. The interventions reduced his pain intensity, fear of movement, and low back pain-related disability; in addition, his trunk velocity was increased (peak trunk flexion velocity = 82.89 deg/s, extension velocity = -77.17 deg/s). However, the in-phase motion pattern of his trunk motor control remained unchanged (mean absolute relative phase = 16.00 deg). At 8 months after the end of the follow-up, the subject's in-phase motion pattern remained (mean absolute relative phase = 13.34 deg) and his pain intensity had increased. This report suggests that if impaired trunk motor control remains unchanged after intervention, as in the course of the low back pain subject, it may eventually be related to a recurrence of low back pain symptoms.

Orexin 2 receptor-selective agonist danavorexton improves narcolepsy phenotype in a mouse model and in human patients.

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a sleep disorder caused by a loss of orexinergic neurons. Narcolepsy type 2 (NT2) is heterogeneous; affected individuals typically have normal orexin levels. Following evaluation in mice, the effects of the orexin 2 receptor (OX2R)-selective agonist danavorexton were evaluated in single- and multiple-rising-dose studies in healthy adults, and in individuals with NT1 and NT2. In orexin/ataxin-3 narcolepsy mice, danavorexton reduced sleep/wakefulness fragmentation and cataplexy-like episodes during the active phase. In humans, danavorexton administered intravenously was well tolerated and was associated with marked improvements in sleep latency in both NT1 and NT2. In individuals with NT1, danavorexton dose-dependently increased sleep latency in the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test, up to the ceiling effect of 40 min, in both the single- and multiple-rising-dose studies. These findings indicate that OX2Rs remain functional despite long-term orexin loss in NT1. OX2R-selective agonists are a promising treatment for both NT1 and NT2.

Association between urinary N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase activity-urinary creatinine concentration ratio and risk of disability and all-cause mortality.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that chronic kidney disease is associated with cardiovascular disease, dementia, and frailty, all of which cause disability and early death. We investigated whether increased activity of urinary N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase (NAG), a marker of kidney injury, is associated with risk of disability or all-cause mortality in a general population. METHODS: Follow-up data from the Hidaka Cohort Study, a population-based cohort study of members of a Japanese rural community, were obtained via questionnaires completed by participants or their relatives. Multivariable analyses were used to investigate relations between urinary NAG activity-urinary creatinine concentration ratio and risk of disability or all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1182 participants were followed up for a median of 12.4 years. The endpoints were receipt of support under the public long-term care insurance program, and all-cause mortality. A total of 122 participants (10.3%) were reported to be receiving long-term care and 230 (19.5%) had died. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors along with physical activity, and using the quartile 1 results as a reference, the odds ratio (OR) for disability was 2.12 [95% confidence interval (95% confidence interval [CI]), 1.04-4.33; p = 0.038) and the hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was 1.65 (95% CI, 1.05-2.62; p = 0.031) in participants with urinary NAG/creatinine ratio in quartile 4. Similar results were obtained in participants without proteinuria: OR for disability, 2.46 (95% CI, 1.18-5.16; p = 0.017); and HR for all-cause mortality, 1.62 (95% CI, 1.00-2.63; p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Increased urinary NAG/creatinine ratio was associated with risk of disability or all-cause mortality in a general population.

Impact of accelerated washout of Technetium-99m-sestamibi on exercise tolerance in patients with acute coronary syndrome: single-center experience.

Technetium-99m-sestamibi (99mTc-sestamibi) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) could be used to assess area-at-risks, as well as myocardial infarct or saved sizes. In patients with ACS, accelerated washout of 99mTc-sestamibi during early and delayed imaging in the acute phase may suggest mitochondrial dysfunction in the injured but salvaged myocardium. However, the link between 99mTc-sestamibi accelerated washout and exercise tolerance is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible association between 99mTc-sestamibi accelerated washout and exercise tolerance in acute ACS patients as they progressed into the chronic phase. One hundred and sixty-five patients with ACS who underwent 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT MPI during the acute phase were recruited. On this basis, we calculated the total perfusion deficits (TPDs) for early (1 h after tracer injection) and delayed (4 h after tracer injection) images using automated quantification software. We then subtracted the early TPDs from the delayed TPDs to calculate the ΔTPD. We conducted a cardiopulmonary exercise test in acute and chronic phases. We divided two groups according to the median ΔTPD (the ΔTPD ≥ 4 group and the ΔTPD < 4 group) and compared anaerobic threshold (AT; ml/kg/min) between the groups. For anaerobic threshold (AT) improvement in data analysis, we employed multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 101 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions, 36 non-ST-elevation myocardial infarctions, and 28 unstable angina pectoris events were reported as ACS. From acute phase (10.8 ± 4.2 ml/kg/min) to chronic phase (11.9 ± 2.3 ml/kg/min), the AT in the ΔTPD ≥ 4 group was significantly increased (p < 0.0001). This trend was also seen in the ΔTPD < 4 group from acute (11.4 ± 1.8 ml/kg/min) to chronic phase (12.1 ± 2.2 ml/kg/min, p = 0.015). AT was lower in the ΔTPD ≥ 4 group in the acute phase (p = 0.027), but there was no difference in AT between the two groups in the chronic phase (p = 0.60). ΔTPD and the absence of diabetes were both independent predictors of AT improvement in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis determined that ΔTPD = 6 was the best cut-off value, with 60.0% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity, respectively. The accelerated washout of 99mTc-sestamibi in patients with ACS during the acute phase could help to predict improvement in exercise tolerance in the chronic phase.

Task-specific fear influences abnormal trunk motor coordination in workers with chronic low back pain: a relative phase angle analysis of object-lifting.

BACKGROUND: Pain-related fear influences impaired trunk movement (e.g., limited movement of range and velocity), but it is unclear how fear relates to trunk motor coordination (e.g., a more "in-phase" upper-lower trunk motion pattern). We conducted the present study to: (1) identify the motor coordination pattern of the in-phase upper-lower lumbar movements during the lifting, and (2) determine how pain-related fear is related to the trunk coordination pattern in workers with chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHODS: We examined 31 male workers with CLBP (CLBP group) and 20 healthy controls with no history of CLBP (HC group). The movement task was lifting a box, the weight of which was 10, 30%, or 50% of the subject's body weight. We used a 3D motion capture system to calculate the mean absolute relative phase angle (MARP) angle as an index of coordination and the mean deviation phase (DP) as an index of variability. We used a numerical rating scale to assess the subjects' task-specific fear. RESULTS: The MARP angle during trunk extension movement in the 50% condition was significantly decreased in the CLBP group compared to the HCs; i.e., the upper lumbar movement was more in-phase with the lower lumbar movement. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis results demonstrated that a decreased MARP angle was associated with high task-specific fear. CONCLUSIONS: A more 'in-phase' upper-lower lumbar movement pattern was predicted by task-specific fear evoked when performing a work-related activity. Our findings suggest that an intervention for task-specific fear may be necessary to improve an individual's impaired trunk motor coordination.

Influence of gait exercise using a walking-assist robot for swing-leg motion in hemiplegic stroke patients: a preliminary study focusing on the immediate effect.

Fujii R, Tamari M, Nonaka Y, Tamiya F, Hosokawa H, Tanaka S. Influence of gait exercise using a walking-assist robot for swing-leg motion in hemiplegic stroke patients: A preliminary study focusing on the immediate effect. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2022; 13: 49-55. Objective: We analyzed the effect of gait training using a walking-assist robot that assists a subject's knee joint movement and leg swing to achieve toe clearance of the paralyzed-side lower limb during treadmill walking. Methods: The subjects were 10 hemiplegic stroke patients in a rehabilitation ward. The intervention consisted of gait training using the Welwalk WW-1000 (Welwalk) robot for 40 min. Immediately before and after this intervention, a gait analysis of the patients' treadmill walking was performed by a three-dimensional motion capture system. Statistical analyses compared the foot-to-floor distance and the shortening of hip-toe length (SHTL) of the paralyzed side before and after the intervention, and examined the relationship between the change of lower-limb joint kinematics and toe clearance before and after the intervention. Results: The post-intervention SHTL was significantly lower compared to before the intervention, and there was a significant negative correlation between the change in the SHTL and the knee flexion angle from before to after the intervention. Conclusion: Gait exercise using the Welwalk could contribute to the acquisition of more normal leg-swing strategies.

Direct evaluation of hole effective mass of SnS-SnSe solid solutions with ARPES measurement.

Valence band dispersions of single-crystalline SnS1-xSex solid solutions were observed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). The hole effective masses, crucial factors in determining thermoelectric properties, were directly evaluated. They decrease slightly with increasing Se content in the low Se composition range but sharply in the high Se composition range.

Kinematic analysis of movement impaired by generalization of fear of movement-related pain in workers with low back pain.

PURPOSE: To identify impaired trunk movement during work-related activity in individuals with low back pain (LBP) and investigate whether abnormalities were caused by generalized fear of movement-related pain. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a hospital in Japan. We recruited 35 participants with LBP (LBP group; 26 males, 9 females) and 20 healthy controls (HC group) via posters at our hospital. The task required lifting an object. We used a 3D motion capture system to calculate the peak angular velocity of trunk flexion and extension during a lifting task. Pain-related factors for the LBP group were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity over the past 4 weeks and during the task, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale-20 (PASS-20). We compared kinematic variables between groups with a generalized linear mixed model and investigated the relationship between kinematic variables, VAS scores, and psychological factors by performing a mediation analysis. RESULTS: The peak angular velocity of trunk extension showed significant main effects on the group factors (LBP group vs. HC group) and their interactions; the value of the kinematic variable was lower at Trial 1 in the LBP group. No LBP participant reported pain during the experiment. The mediation analysis revealed that the relationship between the VAS score for pain intensity over the past 4 weeks and the peak angular velocity of trunk extension in the first trial was completely mediated by the TSK (complete mediation model, 95% bootstrapped CI: 0.07-0.56). CONCLUSION: Individuals with LBP had reduced trunk extension during a lifting task. Generalized fear of movement-related pain may contribute to such impaired trunk movement. Our findings suggest that intervention to ameliorate fear of movement may be needed to improve LBP-associated disability.

Seasonal variations on endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation in adults with type 2 diabetes and nondiabetic adults with hypertension and/or dyslipidaemia who perform regular exercise.

Introduction: Endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery often changes seasonally. We aimed to examine the association between the seasonal variation on FMD and regular exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and nondiabetic adults with hypertension and/or dyslipidaemia (non-T2D). Methods: This retrospective study included 14 T2D and 17 non-T2D adults, who started to perform moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for 30-40 min/d at a hospital gym in 2006-2010 and maintained exercise performance at least 2 d/wk until the end of the observation period. We observed and analysed the data for 5 years (from March 2011 to February 2016). FMD, cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and metabolic outcomes were compared among seasons in the T2D and non-T2D groups. Results: The FMD values were lower in winter than in other seasons in both groups (all P < .01). The annual range of FMD was larger by 31% in the T2D group than in the non-T2D group (P < .05). The systolic blood pressure (BP) values were higher in winter than in other seasons in both groups (all P < .01), and the diastolic BP values were higher in winter than in summer in both groups (T2D: P < .05; non-T2D: P < .01). CAVI and other outcomes did not change seasonally. Conclusions: Flow-mediated vasodilation showed seasonal variation in T2D adults, even if they performed exercise regularly for a long period of time. Additionally, we found that the annual range of FMD might increase with the presence of T2D.

Successful treatment of Gaucher disease type 1 by enzyme replacement therapy over a 10-year duration in a Japanese pediatric patient: A case report.

The prevalence of Gaucher disease (GD) in Japan is much lower than that in Western countries; therefore, data on Japanese pediatric patients with GD type 1 are currently limited. The present study reports on the case of a Japanese pediatric patient with GD type 1 who was diagnosed when she presented with hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia and slight anemia at the age of 2 years. Serology tests revealed high levels of acid phosphatase (ACP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). A bone marrow biopsy revealed the presence of Gaucher cells. Abdominal MRI indicated huge hepatosplenomegaly. Erlenmeyer flask deformity was observed on X-ray examination. MRI of the femora featured a high-intensity area within the diaphysis region. The enzymatic activity of leukocyte ß-glucosidase, the measurement of which is necessary for a definitive diagnosis of GD, had decreased to 186.7 nmol/h/mg (reference range, 1,424.0-2,338.0 nmol/h/mg). Based on these results, the patient was clinically diagnosed with GD. Glucocerebrosidase gene analysis identified the compound heterozygote mutation of F213I (c.754T>A) on exon 7 and L444P (c.1448T>C) on exon 11. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) along with an intravenous infusion of 60 U/kg of imiglucerase every other week was initiated following diagnosis. Hemoglobin levels and the platelet count gradually improved and normalized after two years. ACP and ACE levels, biomarkers of the progression of GD, also improved. Abdominal MRI at six months after the initiation of ERT revealed a decrease in the size of the liver and spleen, which normalized after 1 year. Conversely, MRI of the femora indicated no improvement in the high-intensity area within the diaphysis region for 10 years.

Assessment of visit-to-visit variability in systolic blood pressure over 5 years and phasic left atrial function by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Visit-to-visit variability in systolic blood pressure (VVV-SBP) has been associated with increased cardiac events. Hence, volume analysis by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2-DSTE) allows physicians to easily measure phasic left atrial (LA) function. However, the relationship of VVV-SBP and functional deformation of the left atrium with patients' clinical outcome is unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between phasic LA function and VVV-SBP. The subjects were 70 male participants in whom 2-DSTE was performed to measure blood pressure at health check-ups every year for 5 years. The standard deviation of systolic blood pressure (SBP) was calculated to assess VVV-SBP. The average SBP (Ave-SBP) was also assessed. Total emptying function (EF) (reservoir function), passive EF (conduit function), and active EF (booster pump function) of the left atrium were calculated to evaluate phasic LA function by 2-DSTE. The Pearson correlation, simple regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used in data analysis. Participants' mean age was 50 ± 10 years, and 16 participants had hypertension. VVV-SBP correlated with total EF (r = - 0.30, p = 0.014) and active EF (r = - 0.35, p = 0.003). There was no correlation between the standard deviation of SBP and passive EF (r = - 0.10, p = 0.39). Ave-SBP had no significant relationship with total EF (r = - 0.06, p = 0.62), passive EF (r = - 0.08, p = 0.50), or active EF (r = - 0.03, p = 0.78). Active EF was also associated with VVV-SBP in multiple regression analysis. The active EF was significantly decreased in the highest quartile of VVV-SBP. Despite the small sample size of our study, the VVV-SBP showed a relationship with the phasic LA function. Our findings suggest that high VVV-SBP is noted to be associated with cardiovascular risk including a deterioration of LA function in clinical practice.