Components of particulate matter as potential risk factors for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 µm (PM) is a heterogeneous mixture, and specific substances that affect cardiovascular events remain unknown. We aimed to examine the association of short-term exposure to PM and its components with hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Partner's dual use of new tobacco products and combustible cigarettes in early pregnancy was associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a cross-sectional study.

It is an urgent issue to clarify whether new tobacco products have adverse pregnancy effects. As far as we know, however, there is no study of the association between passive smoking by new tobacco products and pregnancy complications, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We explored the association between partner's smoking at home during early pregnancy as an indicator of passive smoking and pregnancy complications.

Ten-Year Clinical Outcomes After Decompression Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: The Impact of Preoperative Modic Changes.

Study DesignRetrospective Cohort Study.ObjectiveModic changes (MCs) have been associated with low back pain; however, their prognostic value in surgical outcomes-particularly in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) treated with decompression alone-remains unclear. Few studies have investigated the progression and long-term clinical impact of MCs.

Determinants of waiting times for surgery in older patients with hip fractures: a two-center retrospective study in Japanese acute care hospitals.

Background: Hip fractures represent a significant public health issue in an aging society. Early surgical intervention for hip fractures in older adults is associated with fewer complications and higher survival rates, and recent reimbursement incentives in Japan have aimed to encourage surgery within 48 h of injury. However, information on the determinants of delayed surgery, including reimbursement incentives, remains limited.

Longitudinal MRI study over 20 years of cervical posterior extensor muscle area in asymptomatic subjects.

Few studies have investigated long-term changes in the posterior extensor muscles of the cervical spine in healthy subjects. Therefore, we used MRI to investigate changes in the posterior extensor muscles in healthy subjects over 20 years. The subjects of this study were 55 volunteers with an average follow-up period of approximately 20 years.

Potential involvement of family structure in locomotive recovery following surgery in older patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Background: Surgical outcomes for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) are generally favorable, even in older adults, and they effectively address locomotive syndrome. In older patients with LSS, support from family members during the postoperative recovery period is expected to be helpful, but the extent to which family structure influences surgical outcomes for LSS remains unclear. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the involvement of family structure in surgical outcomes for older patients with LSS.

Impact of potentially inappropriate medication on surgical outcomes in older patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Background: The administration of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) as well as polypharmacy in older individuals has become a medical and socioeconomic issue. Meanwhile, given that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions, significantly affecting mobility in older adults and becoming increasingly common in aging societies, its management in this population has emerged as a critical concern. We aimed to elucidate the prevalence of PIMs among older LSS patients and identify those potentially impacting surgical outcomes.

The Reality of Physical Restraint Implementation During Hospitalization in Older Patients With Hip Fractures.

Introduction: Hip fractures, which result in a high rate of complications and mortality, are a major public health concern in aging societies. Physical restraint for older patients with hip fractures may be employed to ensure safety, continue medical treatment, and minimize the risk of harm to oneself or others. This study aimed to investigate the current practices of physical restraint use among hip fracture patients across 2 acute-care hospitals, as well as uncover factors associated with physical restraint in patients with hip fracture.

A look back at lumbar spinal stenosis cases in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The management of elective surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic was controversial, and the impact on lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) surgery outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze older adults who underwent LSS surgery during the pandemic and compare cases from its early and late phases.

Methods: Medical records of patients aged 65 and older who underwent LSS surgery between April 2020 and April 2023 were reviewed.

Association between fractures and health status among independent older adults: insights from a suburban cohort in Japan.

Background: Fractures are a significant health concern for older adults, affecting their activities of daily living (ADL), physical function, and mental well-being, and contributing to the need for long-term care. However, the factors associated with fractures among independent older adults remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between fractures and the health status of independent older adults in a representative suburban city in Japan using data from a survey of community-dwelling residents and to identify factors associated with fractures.

Comprehensive assessment of patients with symptomatic hand osteoarthritis: Cross-sectional insights into links with other joints.

Objectives: Symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (HOA) significantly affects daily activities and quality of life, but its associations with osteoarthritis (OA) in other joints and systemic factors remain unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively assess patients with symptomatic HOA by examining their laboratory findings and radiographic features across multiple joints.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 53 patients with symptomatic HOA who initially presented to the outpatient clinic with hand pain and were subsequently diagnosed.

Age diversity among older surgically treated patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a retrospective comparative study of early and late older adults.

Background: At present, the threshold defining older adults is 65 years, and this classification has been widely accepted globally. However, with the extension of both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, there is a need to reconsider this age-based definition. This study compared the characteristics and surgical outcomes of older patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) between the early and late stages to clarify age diversity in this population.

All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Associated with Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter in Japan: The Ibaraki Prefectural Health Study.

Aims: Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is causally associated with mortality and cardiovascular disease. However, in terms of cardiovascular cause-specific outcomes, there are fewer studies about stroke than about coronary heart disease, particularly in Asia. Furthermore, there remains uncertainty regarding the PM-respiratory disease association.

Possible negative impact of polypharmacy on surgical outcomes in older patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Aim: Older patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) have a higher incidence of polypharmacy attributed to comorbidities and the use of pain relief medications. This study aimed to explore the effect of polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy on surgical outcomes in older patients with LSS based on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and locomotive syndrome.

Methods: Consecutive patients aged ≥65 years who underwent lumbar spinal surgery for LSS were retrospectively reviewed.

Changes in the frequency and amount of alcohol intake before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption patterns, which can have implications for public health. In this descriptive study, we aimed to show the change in the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption in Japan before and during the COVID-19 pandemic periods.

Methods: We analyzed data from annual health checkups among Japanese workers from April 2018 to March 2021.

Long-Term Impact of the Kumamoto Earthquake on Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest With Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Origins - An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

Background: Possible etiologies of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), including aortic dissection, ruptured aortic aneurysms, and pulmonary embolism, may be classified as non-cardiac causes. We investigated whether cardiac and non-cardiac OHCAs increased following the Kumamoto earthquake and whether the impact on OHCAs extended to regions far from the epicenter.

Methods And Results: We prospectively analyzed a nationwide registry of patients who experienced OHCAs between January 2013 and December 2019.

DNA methylation of bone morphogenetic protein 7 in leukocytes as a possible biomarker for hand osteoarthritis: A pilot study.

Hand osteoarthritis (HOA), characterized by an earlier onset age and reduced susceptibility to mechanical stress compared with knee and hip osteoarthritis, is considered a suitable disease for identifying predictive biomarkers of osteoarthritis. In particular, DNA methylation variants, expected to contribute to HOA susceptibility, hold potential as osteoarthritis biomarkers. In this study, leukocyte DNA methylation patterns were analyzed in blood samples from patients with HOA, aiming to identify disease-specific biomarkers for osteoarthritis.

Medication-based profiling of older orthopedic patients: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: Managing medication use in older orthopedic patients is imperative to extend their healthy life expectancy in an aging society. However, the actual situation regarding polypharmacy, the intake of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), and fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) among older orthopedic patients is not well characterized. This study aimed to investigate the medication-based profiles of older orthopedic patients to highlight the critical points of concern.

Infants' early recovery from sleep disturbance is associated with a lower risk of developmental delay in the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

To examine whether patterns, such as the timings of onset or recovery from sleep disturbance, are associated with later developmental problems, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Mothers participating in the Japan Environment and Children's Study with a child aged 3 years were included in the analyses. Children were assessed for short sleep and frequent awakenings at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year of age.

Relationship between frailty and locomotive syndrome in older patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy: A retrospective longitudinal study.

Background: The management of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), which often impairs lower extremity function and increases the risk of falls, is gaining recognition for its importance in an aging society. Despite the significant overlap between frailty and locomotive syndrome (LS) in older adults, their interaction in older DCM patients remains unclear. We aimed to determine the characteristics of older DCM patients with frailty, focusing on the association between frailty and LS.

Assessment of Surgical Outcomes in Patients with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Using the 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale: A Longitudinal Observational Study.

Introduction: Locomotive syndrome caused by degenerative musculoskeletal diseases is reported to improve with surgical treatment. However, it is unclear whether surgical treatment is effective for the locomotive syndrome developing in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Thus, this study primarily aimed to longitudinally assess the change in locomotive syndrome stage before and after cervical spinal surgery for patients with DCM using the 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale (GLFS-25).

The Impact of Frailty on Surgical Outcome of Patients with Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis.

Introduction: Frailty is an important factor in surgical outcomes. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of preoperative frailty on postoperative outcomes in older patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS).

Methods: We retrospectively examined 209 patients aged ≥65 years who underwent surgery for LSCS.