Calf Circumference as a Useful Predictor of Sarcopenia in Patients With Liver Diseases.

Background/aim: To elucidate the influence of calf circumference (CC) on sarcopenia in patients with chronic liver damages (CLDs, n=525, 255 men).

Patients And Methods: Anthropometry parameters including arm circumference, arm muscle circumference, CC, arm muscle area, triceps skinfold thickness, waist circumference and body mass index were measured. Patients with both grip strength (GS) decline and skeletal muscle index (SMI) decline were diagnosed as sarcopenic.

Sarcopenia and Frailty in Chronic Liver Damage: Common and Different Points.

Aim: To elucidate the common and different points between sarcopenia and frailty in chronic liver damage (CLD).

Patients And Methods: Patients with both grip strength decline and skeletal muscle index decline were regarded as sarcopenia. Frailty was defined as a syndrome in which 3 or more of the following criteria were met: i) exhaustion, ii) body weight loss, iii) slow walking speed, iv) muscle weakness, and v) low physical activity.

Age-related differences in correction behavior for unintended acceleration.

Although unintended acceleration caused by pedal misapplication is a cause of traffic accidents, fatal accidents may be avoided if drivers realize their error immediately and quickly correct how they are stepping on the pedal. This correction behavior may decline with age because the rate of fatal accidents is fairly higher for older adults than for younger adults. To investigate this possibility, the present study recruited older adults (n = 40, age range = 67-81 years) as well as younger adults (n = 40, age range = 18-32 years).

Pedal Misapplication: Interruption Effects and Age-Related Differences.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether pedal misapplication occurs more frequently when a pedal task is interrupted for a longer period of time.

Background: Misapplication of a vehicle's brake and accelerator pedals can cause severe traffic accidents, especially for older drivers. The present study provides empirical support for the hypothesis that pedal misapplication occurs more frequently when drivers are interrupted for longer periods of time and is demonstrated more prominently in older drivers.

Close Correlation between Frailty and Depressive State in Chronic Liver Diseases.

Background And Objectives: Few data with regard to the relevance between depression and frailty in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients are currently available. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between frailty and depression as evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory-2nd edition (BDI-II) in CLD patients ( = 340, median age = 65.0 years).

Health-Related Quality of Life and Frailty in Chronic Liver Diseases.

We sought to examine the relationship between frailty and health-related quality of life as evaluated using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire in Japanese chronic liver disease (CLD) patients ( = 341, 122 liver cirrhosis cases, median age = 66 years). Frailty was defined as a clinical syndrome in which three or more of the following criteria were met (frailty score 3, 4, or 5): unintentional body weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, muscle weakness (grip strength: <26 kg in men and <18 kg in women), slow walking speed (<1.0 m/s), and low physical activity.

Serum Zinc Level Is Associated with Frailty in Chronic Liver Diseases.

We sought to examine the serum zinc (Zn) level and frailty in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs, = 285, 107 liver cirrhosis cases, median age = 66 years). Frailty was defined as a clinical syndrome in which three or more of the following criteria were met (frailty score 3, 4, or 5): unintentional body weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, muscle weakness (grip strength: <26 kg in men and <18 kg in women), slow walking speed (<1.0 m/s), and low physical activity.

Possible Relevance of PNPLA3 and TLL1 Gene Polymorphisms to the Efficacy of PEG-IFN Therapy for HBV-Infected Patients.

Lifestyle changes have led to an increase in the number of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the effects of NAFLD-associated single-nucleotide gene polymorphisms (SNPs) in HBV-infected patients have not been adequately investigated. Methods: We investigated the association of the NAFLD-related SNPs patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3; rs738409), transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2; rs58542926), 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13; rs72613567, rs6834314 and rs62305723), membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 7 (MBOAT7; rs641738) and glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR; rs1260326) with the presence of histologically proven hepatic steatosis (HS) in HBV-infected patients ( = 224).

The Size-Value Compatibility Effect.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between an object's physical size and judgements of its value. Two preregistered experiments were performed to explore a size-value compatibility effect. Two images of Japanese-yen coins with different values but similar actual sizes (10-yen and 100-yen) were manipulated for size and presented side-by-side on a computer screen.

Age-related differences in effects of non-driving related tasks on takeover performance in automated driving.

Introduction: During SAE level 3 automated driving, the driver's role changes from active driver to fallback-ready driver. Drowsiness is one of the factors that may degrade driver's takeover performance. This study aimed to investigate effects of non-driving related tasks (NDRTs) to counter driver's drowsiness with a Level 3 system activated and to improve successive takeover performance in a critical situation.

Serum Zinc Level Grading System: A Useful Model for Composite Hepatic Events in Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Liver Cirrhosis.

We aimed to clarify the impact of the serum zinc (Zn) level grading system proposed by the Japanese society of clinical nutrition (JSCN: 80 μg/dL < serum Zn level <130 μg/dL (type A), 60 μg/dL < serum Zn level <80 μg/dL (type B), and serum Zn level <60 μg/dL (type C)) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis (LC) on the incidence of composite hepatic events (Com-HEs) compared with Child-Pugh (C-P) classification or albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade. (n = 275, median age = 67 years). The Akaike information criterion (AIC) was compared among three prognostic models.

Serum Zinc Level and non-Protein Respiratory Quotient in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases.

We sought to clarify the correlation between non-protein respiratory quotient (npRQ) in indirect calorimetry and serum zinc (Zn) level in chronic liver diseases (CLDs, = 586, 309 liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, median age = 63 years). Clinical parameters potentially linked to npRQ <0.85 (best cutoff point for the prognosis in LC patients) were also examined in receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses.

Walking Speed: Japanese Data in Chronic Liver Diseases.

We aim to clarify the impact of walking speed (WS) and analyze factors linked to WS decline in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs, 165 males and 191 females, 137 liver cirrhosis patients). The WS decline is defined as <0.8 m/second (m/s), referring to the guidelines.

Impact of Sustained Virological Response for Gastroesophageal Varices in Hepatitis-C-Virus-Related Liver Cirrhosis.

We aimed to clarify the relationship between sustained virological response (SVR) and gastroesophageal varices (GEVs) progression among hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis (LC) patients treated with interferon (IFN)-based therapies ( = 18) and direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-based therapies ( = 37), and LC patients with no SVR ( = 71) who had already developed GEVs. Factors influencing GEVs progression were also examined. During the follow-up period, GEVs progression was observed in 50 patients (39.

Serum zinc concentration and quality of life in chronic liver diseases.

Health related quality of life (HRQOL) in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients has been attracting much attention these days because it is closely associated with clinical outcomes in CLD patients. HRQOL has become established as an important concept and target for research and practice in the fields of medicine. A critique of HRQOL research is the lack of conceptual clarity and a common definition of HRQOL.

Combined albumin-bilirubin grade and Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer as a useful predictor in compensated liver cirrhosis.

We aimed to compare the impact on survival among albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, modified ALBI (mALBI) and our proposed combined ALBI grade and Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) or FIB4 index grading system in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) related compensated liver cirrhosis (n = 165, 93 men and 72 women, median age = 67 years). Patients with ALBI grade 1, 2, and 3 were allocated a score of 1, 2, and 3 points, respectively. Patients with mALBI grade 1, 2A, and 2B were allocated a score of 1, 2, and 3 points, respectively.

Gait Measurement at Home Using A Single RGB Camera.

Background: An individual's gait is a key factor for consideration in evaluating their overall health. Several medical studies have demonstrated the correlation between gait and incidence rate of diseases, mortality, and risk of fall. However, gait is only occasionally evaluated during medical visits, which may delay the detection of health problems.

Serum Zinc Level Classification System: Usefulness in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Currently, the Japanese society of clinical nutrition (JSCN) defines serum zinc (Zn) level < 60 μg/dL as Zn deficiency and 60 μg/dL ≤ serum Zn level < 80 μg/dL as subclinical Zn deficiency, and 80 μg/dL ≤ serum Zn level < 130 μg/dL as normal Zn range. We aimed to elucidate the prognostic impact of this Zn classification system in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) compared to the Child-Pugh classification and the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grading system ( = 441, median age = 66 years). The Akaike information criterion (AIC) with each evaluation method was tested in order to compare the overall survival (OS).

Association between Albumin-Bilirubin Grade and Non-Protein Respiratory Quotient in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases.

We sought to elucidate the relationship between albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade and non-protein respiratory quotient (npRQ) calculated by indirect calorimetry in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients ( = 601, median age = 63 years). Factors linked to npRQ < 0.85, which is reported to be an optimal cutoff point for the prognosis in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, were also investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Significant Correlation Between Grip Strength and m2bpgi in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases.

We sought to compare the impact upon grip strength (GS) between the Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) and the Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) index in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients ( = 376: 171 males and 205 females, and 137 liver cirrhosis (LC) cases (36.4%)). Factors linked to the low GS (<26 kg in male and <18 kg in female) were also investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Usefulness of Attenuation Imaging with an Ultrasound Scanner for the Evaluation of Hepatic Steatosis.

We investigated the diagnostic capability of the proprietary attenuation imaging (ATI) modality found on some Canon Medical Systems Corp. ultrasound scanners to detect histologically diagnosed steatosis in 148 patients. ATI values increased significantly with increasing steatosis grade (p < 0.

Combined Albumin-Bilirubin Grade and Skeletal Muscle Mass as a Predictor in Liver Cirrhosis.

We aimed to compare the prognostic impact among albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, the Child-Pugh classification and our proposed combined ALBI grade and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) grading system in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) ( = 468, 254 males and 214 females) using the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. SMM was tested using bioimpedance analysis. Male subjects with skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) <7.

Association between Sarcopenia and Depression in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases.

Association between sarcopenia, as evaluated by grip strength (GS) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and depression, as evaluated by Beck Depression Inventory-2nd edition (BDI-II) in chronic liver diseases (CLDs, = 414, average age = 61.5 years), was investigated. Study subjects were classified into four groups: Group A ( = 60), lower GS and lower SMM (sarcopenia); group B ( = 44), lower GS and higher SMM; group C ( = 100), higher GS and lower SMM; group D ( = 210), higher GS and higher SMM.

Liver fibrosis markers as assessed by ultrasound elastography and serum samples: A large comparative study in hepatitis virus B and C liver diseases.

Aim: We aimed to compare the well-established liver fibrosis (LF) markers in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB, n = 331) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC, n = 886) and to discuss possible causes of differences in results between CHB patients and CHC patients.

Methods: Virtual touch quantification (VTQ) in acoustic radiation force impulse, Fibrosis-4 (Fib-4) index, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and hyaluronic acid (HA) were compared between the two cohorts. As an additional investigation, total collagen proportional area (TCPA, %) was tested using liver pathological samples (n = 83).

Serum Zinc Concentration and Sarcopenia: A Close Linkage in Chronic Liver Diseases.

We sought to investigate the influence of serum zinc (Zn) concentration on sarcopenia in chronic liver diseases (CLDs, = 372, median age = 65 years, 147 liver cirrhosis (LC) cases (39.5%)). Sarcopenia was defined by low grip strength and low skeletal muscle mass.