Effect of postoperative physical activity on the bottom-up attention of older patients who underwent lower extremity orthopedic surgery.

Increased postoperative physical activity is thought to be useful in preventing postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients after lower extremity orthopedic surgery. This study aims to clarify the effect of postoperative physical activity on the course of bottom-up attention in elderly postoperative lower extremity orthopedic surgery patients. The study enrolled 22 patients aged ≥65 years who were admitted to the Hospital for total knee or total hip replacement surgery.

Short Supply-Driven Modifications to Blood Culture Practice and Their Clinical Impact: A Single-Center Time-Series Study.

Introduction: Blood cultures are essential for identifying bloodstream infections and guiding treatment. A global BD BACTEC™ bottle (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, US) shortage disrupted diagnostics, including at the Saitama Medical Center. During the shortage period, clinicians were instructed to prioritize cultures based on clinical necessity and infection focus, often opting for single-set submissions or deferring testing.

Disseminated gonococcal infection developing two days after initial eculizumab administration in a patient with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A case report and literature review.

Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) is a rare complication of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection. Eculizumab, a complement C5 inhibitor used in conditions such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, increases the risk of invasive Neisseria spp. infections.

Evaluating Associations and Contributing Factors of Descending Pain Modulation and Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Chronic and Nonchronic Knee Pain.

Background: Central sensitization in individuals with knee pain is associated with altered autonomic nervous system activity and descending pain modulation; however, the exact nature of these relationships remains unclear. We have hypothesized that chronic knee pain (CKP) disrupts the relationship between autonomic nervous system activity and conditioned pain modulation, whereas nonchronic knee pain (nCKP) does not.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between autonomic nervous system activity and descending pain modulation as well as to identify factors contributing to dysfunction in the descending pain modulation system.

Impact of Immunosuppression on Immune Cell Dynamics in COVID-19: A Serial Comparison of Leukocyte Data in Healthy and Immunocompromised Patients Before and After Infection.

: The significance of cell population data (CPD) and leukocyte scattergrams in COVID-19 has not been fully established, partly due to the absence of serial leukocyte monitoring before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study first examined changes in these parameters in non-immunosuppressed subjects over the course of infection. Subsequently, these findings were compared with those observed in patients who were immunosuppressed to assess the impact of immunosuppression.

Intersegmental Fixation with an Interspinous Spacer (IFIS) for Lumbar Spinal Instability: Surgical Technique and Clinical Outcomes.

Surgical technique and the clinical outcomes of intersegmental fixation with an interspinous spacer (IFIS) for lumbar spinal instability are reported in this study. Four patients underwent surgery using this procedure. There were no surgical complications, and the clinical outcomes were satisfactory.

A case of pleuritis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis diagnosed by simultaneous-onset bacteremia.

A 42-year-old man undergoing peritoneal dialysis due to a chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology complained of fever and chills. Oral levofloxacin was started, but the symptoms did not improve. He was admitted, and the levofloxacin was switched to intravenous ciprofloxacin.

Phase angle as an independent predictor of sarcopenia and glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional observational study.

Objectives: The global rise in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses challenges, particularly with the increasing burden of sarcopenia and poor glycemic control. Phase angle (PhA) is a promising biomarker for early detection and management of these conditions. This study aimed to evaluate PhA as an independent predictor of sarcopenia and glycemic control.

Characteristics of trunk and pelvic kinematics during batting motion in baseball players with low back pain history.

Background: The batting motion has been reported to have a possible association with the development of low back pain (LBP) in baseball players. This study aimed to identify the kinematics of the batting motion in baseball players with a history of LBP, focusing on rotational and extension movements of the pelvis and trunk.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design.

Association between muscle fatigability and diabetic kidney disease complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) requires the maintenance of high physical activity levels and specific interventions tailored to the characteristics of each patient. We hypothesized that T2DM combined with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) could increase muscle fatigability, becoming a specific contributor to physical inactivity. This study aimed to determine the association between muscle fatigability and DKD complications and investigate the relationship between muscle fatigability and physical activity in patients with T2DM.

Injury Characteristics Among Japanese International Athletes: Report on the Pre-competition Medical Check-Up Data of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

Introduction Injury trends among international athletes across sports remain underexplored in out-of-competition settings, particularly among Asians. The aim of this descriptive epidemiological study is to investigate the characteristics of injuries among Japanese international athletes during pre-competition medical check-ups from 2008 to 2019. Methods We analyzed the medical check-up data of candidates for international multi-sport events according to the International Olympic Committee consensus statement.

Effects of an arm ergometer for a patient with knee osteoarthritis and central sensitization: A case report.

Aerobic exercise may be an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis and central sensitization, but no interventional studies have examined its effects. In this study, the patient showed improvement in central sensitization, pain, and autonomic nervous system activity after aerobic exercise using an arm ergometer.

Reliability of muscle thickness and muscle echo intensity evaluation of the posterior medial tibia in long-distance athletes using an ultrasound imaging device.

Objective: We aimed to verify the reliability of muscle thickness and luminance evaluation of the deep leg muscles using an ultrasound device.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Track and field, Participants: high school track and field long distance athletes (N = 10, female: 50.

Habitat shift of adult Caligus undulatus (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) from host fish to plankton in response to host behavior.

Before 2019, adults of the sea louse Caligus undulatus were reported exclusively in plankton from ocean samples worldwide and were not known to parasitize fish hosts. In 2019, the first instance of this caligid parasitizing a fish host, Japanese sardinella Sardinella zunasi, was reported in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The presently reported study aimed to investigate the biology and ecology of adult C.

First record of Rangnekar, 1957 (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Caligidae) from Malaysia, with notes on caligids found from Malaysia and on host-specificity of caligids on lutjanid fishes.

Background: In total, 14 species of have been reported from Malaysia. Amongst them, four species are reported from lutjanid fishes.

New Information: Rangnekar, 1957 is reported from Malabar snapper, , purchased from a local wet market in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia.

Procedural characteristics and cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing drug-coated balloon angioplasty for de novo lesions in large coronary arteries: an observational study.

Limited data exist regarding drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment in de novo large coronary arteries. We sought to demonstrate procedural characteristics, residual stenosis, and clinical outcomes following DCB angioplasty for de novo lesions in large versus small coronary arteries. The study included 184 consecutive patients with 223 de novo coronary lesions undergoing paclitaxel DCB angioplasty between January 2019 and August 2020, who were divided according to whether the DCB diameter was ≥ 3.

Sex differences in conditioned pain modulation effects and its associations with autonomic nervous system activities in healthy, younger individuals: a pilot study.

Introduction: Sex differences in conditioned pain modulation (CPM) have not been sufficiently explored.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to examine sex differences in CPM effects and associations between autonomic activities and CPM effects in healthy, younger individuals.

Methods: University students were recruited from February to March 2021 and divided by sex.

Impact of prolonged drug-coated balloon inflation on residual stenosis and clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease patients: A propensity score matched analysis.

Background: There is a paucity of data regarding the optimal duration of drug-coated balloon (DCB) inflation for coronary lesions. We sought to explore the effect of DCB angioplasty with versus without long inflation time on residual stenosis and clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: This study included 314 consecutive patients with 445 lesions undergoing paclitaxel DCB angioplasty using different inflation time, divided according to whether the total inflation time of the DCB was ≥180 s (prolonged group) or <180 s (standard group).

Immune escape and waning immunity of COVID-19 monovalent mRNA vaccines against symptomatic infection with BA.1/BA.2 and BA.5 in Japan.

Background: Repeated emergence of variants with immune escape capacity and waning immunity from vaccination are major concerns for COVID-19. We examined whether the surge in Omicron subvariant BA.5 cases was due to immune escape or waning immunity through vaccine effectiveness (VE) evaluation.

Posterior circumflex humeral artery pathological lesions with digital ischemia in an elite volleyball player: A case report and literature review.

The posterior circumflex humeral artery, a branch of the axillary artery, is compressed by the humeral head during repeated abduction and external rotation of the shoulder joint owing to its anatomical structure. This damages the vascular endothelium, resulting in thrombi, arterial dissection, and aneurysms, a condition known as posterior, circumflex humeral artery pathological lesions. A thrombus may form at the site and becomes a peripheral embolus, resulting in peripheral arterial occlusion.

Autonomic responses to aerobic and resistance exercise in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review.

Background: It is unknown whether patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) show autonomic dysregulation after exercise, and the interventional effects of exercise on the autonomic dysregulation have not been elucidated. The objectives of this study were to reveal acute autonomic responses after aerobic and resistance exercises and the interventional effects of both exercises on autonomic dysregulation in patients with CMP.

Methods: A systematic search using nine electronic databases was performed based on three key search terms: "chronic musculoskeletal pain," "autonomic nervous system," and "exercise.

In situ temperature-compensated ultraviolet spectrophotometry to estimate nitrate and chloride concentrations in estuarine seawater with different salinity and composition.

Various methods have been proposed for in situ measurement of nitrate concentrations from the ultraviolet (UV) absorbance spectrum of seawater with stable salinity and constituents. However, salinity and temperature affect the UV absorption spectrum of seawater. In sea areas with large variability in salinity and water temperature, accurate nitrate ion concentration measurements remain challenging.

Association between depressive symptoms and heart rate variability in older patients admitted for rehabilitation: a cross-sectional study.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with depressive symptoms, but this relationship in older inpatients undergoing rehabilitation remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between HRV and depressive symptoms in older inpatients undergoing rehabilitation. Fifty patients aged ≥65 years were assessed for depressive symptoms using the Geriatric Depression Scale.

Effectiveness of BA.1- and BA.4/BA. 5-Containing Bivalent COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Against Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection During the BA.5-Dominant Period in Japan.

In this multicenter, prospective, test-negative, case-control study in Japan, the effectiveness of both BA.1-containing and BA.4/BA.