A Pilot Study on Developed Shoes That Enhance Gait Parameters Without Increasing Muscle Activity.

This pilot study investigated the potential of a newly developed shoe design to improve gait parameters without altering muscle activity in healthy women. The shoe design features a V-shaped heel and a high-elasticity midsole, which are intended to enhance stability during heel contact and promote efficient load transfer throughout the gait cycle. Ten study participants underwent a randomized crossover design, wearing developed and general shoes during the trials.

Association of blood pressure after peritoneal dialysis initiation with the decline rate of residual kidney function in newly-initiated peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Lower blood pressure (BP) levels are linked to a slower decline of kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) without kidney replacement therapy. However, there are limited data on this relation in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Here we evaluated the association of BP levels with the decline of residual kidney function (RKF) in a retrospective cohort study.

Differences in Electromyographic Activities and Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters between General and Developed Insoles with a Toe-Grip Bar.

The present study was aimed at comparing the muscle activities and gait parameters between the toe-grip bar insoles and general insoles during walking using randomized crossover design. Twelve healthy men participated in this study. Temporal and spatial gait parameters and electromyography (EMG) results were concurrently collected while the subjects walked along an 8 m walkway with the developed and general insoles.

The effect of wearing insoles with a toe-grip bar on occupational leg swelling and lower limb muscle activity: A randomized cross-over study.

Objective: Sitting or standing for hours decreases the blood flow in the legs and results in increased pressure on the veins, leading to the development of chronic venous disease. This study aimed to investigate the effects of insoles with a toe-grip bar on occupational leg swelling and lower limb muscle activity.

Methods: This randomized cross-over study enrolled 12 healthy men who work in a sitting or standing position.

Effects of Long-Term Use of Insoles with a Toe-Grip Bar on the Balance, Walking, and Running of Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This randomized controlled study is aimed at investigating the effects of long-term use of insoles with a toe-grip bar on the balance, walking, and running of preschool children. Fifty-two preschool children were randomly assigned to an intervention group or control group. Children included in the intervention group wore shoes with insoles that had a toe-grip bar, and those in the control group wore shoes with regular insoles without a toe-grip bar for 4 weeks while they were at school.

Effect of Insoles with a Toe-Grip Bar on Toe Function and Standing Balance in Healthy Young Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effects of insoles with a toe-grip bar on toe function and standing balance in healthy young women.

Methods: Thirty female subjects were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group wore shoes with insoles with a toe-grip bar.

Fever associated with severe dialysis-related amyloidosis.

Dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) is one of the most important complications in patients on long-term hemodialysis (HD). DRA often affects the osteoarticular system; however, little is known about the role of β-microglobulin in the induction of fever in HD patients. We report a 64-year-old woman on long-term (24 years) HD who developed polyarthralgia and intermittent fever.

Parathyroid cell growth in patients with advanced secondary hyperparathyroidism: vitamin D receptor, calcium sensing receptor, and cell cycle regulating factors.

The parathyroid gland (PTG) is a unique endocrine organ in which the quiescent glandular cells begin to proliferate in response to the demand for maintaining calcium (Ca) homeostasis in the progressive course of renal failure, leading to secondary hypereparathyroidism (SHPT). SHPT is characterized with continuous over-secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and high turn-over bone disease, osteitis fibrosa, and the major factors include a deficiency of active vitamin D, hypocalcemia, and phosphate retention. With long-term end-stage renal failure, SHPT becomes resistant to conventional medical treatment such as phosphate binders and active vitamin D supplementation, and the growth of the PTG accelerates with the pattern of hyperplasia changing from diffuse to nodular type.

Infusion of radiocontrast agents induces exaggerated release of urinary endothelin in patients with impaired renal function.

Background: The aim of the study was to examine the role of endothelin in radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RCN) in patients with chronic renal failure.

Methods: We measured plasma endothelin-1 (ET) and the urinary excretion of endothelin-like immunoreactivity before and after infusion of radio contrast medium (CM) in patients with normal renal function (group N; n = 6; mean serum creatinine concentration, 0.8 +/- 0.