Impact of changes in tissue properties of neointimal tissue of in-stent lesion during excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) evaluated by integrated-backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS).

Excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) plays an important role in modifying plaque composition, yet its impact on neointimal tissue (NIT) in in-stent restenosis lesions has remained unclear. While integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) can characterize plaque composition in de novo lesions, its ability to reflect tissue characteristics in NIT is limited due to the distinct structural and acoustic properties of neointimal tissue. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ELCA on NIT using IB-IVUS.

Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Wound Healing in Rats.

Background: Wound healing remains a major challenge in orthopedic surgeries involving thin soft-tissue injuries, such as calcaneal fractures and open wounds. Recent advancements, such as negative pressure wound therapy, have demonstrated efficacy but have practical limitations, such as patient immobility and fall risk, restricting their broader application. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy, recognized by the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment, has shown potential in treating complex wounds, ulcers, and burns.

Impact of visit-to-visit variability in systolic blood pressure over 5 years and imperceptible atrial conduction: assessment by P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiography.

Objective: Visit-to-visit variability in SBP (VVV-SBP) is associated with increased cardiac events, including atrial fibrillation (AF). P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiography (P-SAECG) detects subtle atrial conduction abnormalities such as atrial late potential (ALP). This study examined the association between VVV-SBP and atrial conduction.

Jugular Vein Intracardiac Echocardiography-Guided Percutaneous Transluminal Septal Myocardial Ablation: A Novel Approach in 4 Cases.

Objective: This study sought to describe a novel technique for percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation using intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) through the right internal jugular vein (JV) in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Key Steps: Prepare the equipment and establish vascular access, insert the JV ICE catheter using a sterile sleeve, perform initial screening with JV ICE to obtain key cardiac views, identify target septal branch using coronary angiography and JV ICE, monitor contrast injection and ethanol administration in real time with JV ICE, continuously assess for immediate complications, and evaluate postprocedure gradient reduction and ablation efficacy.

Potential Pitfalls: Risks include vascular complications, arrhythmias, cardiac tamponade, embolism, and infections.

Oveporexton, an Oral Orexin Receptor 2-Selective Agonist, in Narcolepsy Type 1.

Background: Narcolepsy type 1 is a disorder of hypersomnolence caused by a loss of orexin neurons, which results in low orexin levels in the brain.

Methods: In this phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, participants with narcolepsy type 1 received once- or twice-daily oveporexton (TAK-861), an oral orexin receptor 2-selective agonist, or placebo. The primary end point was the mean change from baseline to week 8 in average sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep) on the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) (range, 0 to 40 minutes; normal, ≥20).

Increased Red Cell Superoxide Dismutase Activity Is Associated with Cancer Risk: A Hidaka Cohort Study.

Unlabelled: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalyzes the highly reactive superoxide anion to form hydrogen peroxide, which facilitates cell proliferation and death. We investigated whether red cell SOD (R-SOD) activity is associated with an increased risk of cancer in a Japanese general population. We prospectively analyzed data from 1,921 participants (800 men and 1,121 women; age, 58.

A Pilot Trial of Telerehabilitation for Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Case-series Study of Three Individuals.

Background: We designed a telerehabilitation (TR) program for stroke patients based on reports from other countries and adapted the program for use by individual patients. Herein, we describe the clinical courses of three stroke survivors who used the TR program.

Cases: All three individuals were community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors.

Pathography in Japan: Exploring the relationship between creativity and the psyche.

Pathography is a medical anthropological approach that examines the relationship between creation and psychiatric disorders through psychopathological and psychoanalytical lenses using case studies. Since it was first defined in the mid-1960s, pathography in Japan has kept pace with current advances in psychopathological research. However, to date, the findings of pathographic research in Japan have not been published in English.

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.

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.

Unlabelled: 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.

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.

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.

The Chronic Effect of Stair Climbing-Descending Exercises after Meals on Glycemic Control in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to examine the chronic effect of a stair climbing-descending exercise (ST-EX) program on glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Sixteen T2D participants were randomly divided into two groups and followed up over 12 weeks: they either performed regular ST-EX after meals at home ( = 8) or maintained their daily routine (CON; no training) ( = 8). The participants in the ST-EX group were instructed to perform a minimum of 12 sessions/week of ST-EX for more than three days/week.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Technetium-99m-sestamibi (Tc-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 Tc-sestamibi during early and delayed imaging in the acute phase may suggest mitochondrial dysfunction in the injured but salvaged myocardium. However, the link between Tc-sestamibi accelerated washout and exercise tolerance is unknown.

Association between urinary N-acetyl-β-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-β-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.

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.

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

Valence band dispersions of single-crystalline SnSSe 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.