Prognostic value of ultrasound-assessed upper limb muscle thickness on mortality in older patients with heart failure: A post-hoc analysis of the SONIC-HF cohort study.

Background And Aims: Upper limb muscle thickness assessed by ultrasound could be useful to estimate whole body muscle mass. We investigated the association between low upper limb muscle thickness and prognosis in older patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: This study was a post-hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter cohort, namely, the SONIC-HF study.

Laparoscopic Repair of Transmesosigmoid Hernia Following Robot-Assisted Abdominoperineal Resection: A Case Report.

Sigmoid mesocolon hernia is a rare type of internal hernia that can rapidly progress to vascular compromise, necrosis, and intestinal perforation. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and surgical treatment are important. We present a case of transmesosigmoid hernia following robot-assisted abdominoperineal resection that was successfully treated using a laparoscopic approach.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage II Rectal Cancer Diagnosed in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Introduction: The onset of colorectal cancer during pregnancy is rare, and no standard treatment has been established. In this report, we present the case of a woman with clinical stage II rectal cancer diagnosed in the second trimester, in which neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered, followed by delivery once fetal development was sufficiently advanced, and surgery was performed afterward.

Case Presentation: The patient was a 36-year-old woman at 22 weeks of gestation.

Design, Rational, and Baseline Characteristics of the SONIC-HF Multicenter Registry.

Introduction: Skeletal muscle mass and function are crucial for assessing physical frailty, sarcopenia, and cachexia, which significantly impact the prognosis of geriatric patients with heart failure (HF). Ultrasound-based assessment of skeletal muscles offers a non-invasive, real-time alternative to traditional methods. The study (SONIC-HF) aimed to evaluate the feasibility and prognostic impact of ultrasound-based muscle assessment in geriatric patients with HF.

Integrating Motor Learning Principles into Muscle Force and Balance Control.

The principles of specificity and similarity play a crucial role in supporting the transfer and retention of motor performance in general sports training. Nevertheless, the extent to which force control ability translates into dynamic performance remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the effect of force control training on the transfer and retention of balance control in 18 young individuals.

Akita Japan population-based colonoscopy screening trial: report of initial colonoscopy.

Objective: To assess the safety and quality of baseline screening colonoscopy in a randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Methods: A population-based RCT with an explanatory design is ongoing to evaluate the efficacy of colonoscopy screening in 9751 men and women aged 40-74 years at average risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Japan. Screening colonoscopies for the intervention group were performed from June 2009 to June 2017.

Sarcopenia in heart failure: Comparison of prognostic value between the Asian working Group for Sarcopenia 2014 and 2019 criteria.

Aim: Sarcopenia is a prevalent comorbidity among older patients with heart failure. This study aimed to evaluate the differences between sarcopenia diagnosed using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2014 and 2019 criteria in older patients with heart failure.

Methods: This study is a post hoc sub-analysis of data from the FRAGILE-HF study, a prospective, multicenter, observational study.

Association of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Overlap with Physical Function and Prognosis in Older Patients with Heart Failure: A Post-hoc Analysis of the FRAGILE-HF and SONIC-HF.

Aims: The prevalence and impact of cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic (CKM) overlap on physical function and prognosis in older patients with heart failure (HF) remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of overlapping CKM conditions on physical function and prognosis in older patients with HF.

Methods: This post-hoc analysis of the FRAGILE-HF (main cohort) and SONIC-HF (validation cohort), both prospective multicentre studies, included patients aged ≥65 years who were hospitalised for HF.

A Performance Study of Mobility Speed Effects on Vehicle Following Control via V2V MIMO Communications.

Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications are important for intelligent transportation system (ITS) development for driving safety, traffic efficiency, and the development of autonomous vehicles. V2V communication channels, environments, mobility patterns, and mobility speed significantly affect the accuracy of autonomous vehicle control. In this paper, we propose a versatile system-level framework that can be used for investigation, experimentation, and verification to expedite the development of autonomous vehicles.

Association of pre-admission exercise habit with post-discharge outcomes for older patients with heart failure.

Aims: The benefits of exercise in patients with heart failure are well documented. However, to date, the association between exercise habits and prognosis is yet to be evaluated. In this study, we investigated the association between pre-hospital exercise habits and post-discharge prognosis in older adult patients with heart failure.

Effects of Acute Phase Intensive Exercise Training in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) leads to hospitalizations and functional decline in older adults. Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is effective for stable heart failure, its impact on ADHF patients, particularly those without frailty, is unclear.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early in-hospital CR for patients hospitalized with ADHF who are not frail.

Chitons of the genus Cryptoplax (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from the Spratly Islands, South China Sea.

Four species of the polyplacophoran genus Cryptoplax were identified among chiton samples collected from the Spratly Islands (Truong Sa), South China Sea. Among them, one is described as new species C. acerocostata n.

Missense Mutant p53 Transactivates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Neighboring p53-Destabilized Cells through the COX-2/PGE2 Pathway.

Abstract: Missense-type p53 mutations have shown to acquire novel oncogenic roles through a gain-of-function mechanism. However, there is intratumor heterogeneity in stabilization of mutant p53 protein, and it has not been well understood about the interaction between p53-stabilized and -destabilized cells in the same tumors. We established mouse intestinal tumor–derived organoids carrying ApcΔ716, KrasG12D, and Tgfbr2−/− mutations with Trp53R270H or Trp53Null mutation (AKTPR270H and AKTPNull, respectively).

Prognostic Value of Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium Criteria in Older Patients with Heart Failure.

Objectives: The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019 (AWGS 2019) emphasized muscle mass measurements. In contrast, the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC) prioritizes functional strength and mobility. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the prognostic utility of the SDOC and AWGS 2019 criteria for all-cause mortality in older patients with heart failure.

Association Between Physical Activity and Performance in Skill Learning Among Older Adults Based on Cognitive Function.

Background/objectives: Most older adults experience cognitive and physical functioning problems; however, they require the ability to learn skills in response to age-related or social environmental changes for independent living. This study aimed to clarify the associations between age-related physical activity and performance in skill learning tasks based on cognitive function.

Methods: Fifty-eight adults participated in this study and were divided into two groups: the control group (aged under 65 years) and older adult group (aged over 65).

Therapeutic Effectiveness of a Novel Cranial Remolding Helmet (baby band2) for Positional Plagiocephaly: A Multicenter Clinical Observational Study.

This multicenter study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a novel cranial remolding helmet (baby band2), which is completely custom-made based on the shape of an infant's cranium. The study included 224 full-term infants from moderate to very severe positional plagiocephaly in Japan. Cranial geometry was assessed before and after helmet therapy using a three-dimensional scanner, and changes in the cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) were analyzed.

Nature of storage iron turnover.

Despite recent advance in the study of the nature of storage iron turnover, a comprehensive analysis remains lacking. This study aimed to clarify the nature of storage iron turnover. Ferritin-hemosiderin iron transformation rate and the standard normal storage iron turnover rate were utilized in this study to describe the mechanism of iron absorption in relation to ferritin and hemosiderin iron turnover.