Evaluation of the Effect of Gluteus Maximus Contraction by Electrical Stimulation on Interfacial Pressure in Supine Bed Positions.

Objectives: This study investigated the impact of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to the gluteus maximus in the bed flat position (F position) and 30-degree head elevation position (30 HE position) on sacral pressure.

Methods: Twenty volunteers consented to participate in this study. Sacral pressure was measured in the F position and at the 30 HE position with and without NMES in the supine positions.

Stability of ischial pressure with 3D thermoplastic elastomer cushion and the characteristics of four types of cushions in pressure redistribution.

Wheelchair cushions are recommended to be used with wheelchair and can protect the buttocks from pain and injury by relieving interface pressure for wheelchair users. However, further investigations are required for proper use in response to the development of new types of wheelchair cushions. The objective of this study was to evaluate physical characteristics of wheelchair cushions by comparing pressure redistributing effects of four types of cushions.

Relationship between cleaning frequency and pressure ulcer healing time in older people receiving home care.

Objective: The relationship between the healing time of pressure ulcers (PUs) and wound cleaning frequency among older people in homecare settings was investigated.

Method: This single-centre, prospective cohort study was conducted from April 2018 to March 2019. Patients who used home-visit nursing services, had National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel classification stage 2 PUs, and had their wounds cleaned at least twice a week were enrolled in the study.

Niacin supplementation attenuates the regression of three-dimensional capillary architecture in unloaded female rat skeletal muscle.

Inactivity can lead to muscle atrophy and capillary regression in skeletal muscle. Niacin (NA), known for inducing hypermetabolism, may help prevent this capillary regression. In this study involving adult female Sprague-Dawley rats, the animals were randomly assigned to one of four groups: control (CON), hindlimb unloading (HU), NA, and HU with NA supplementation (HU + NA).

Isthmin-1 promotes growth and progression of colorectal cancer through the interaction with EGFR and YBX-1.

While previous studies have indicated the involvement of Isthmin 1 (ISM1), a secreted protein, in cancer development, the precise mechanisms have remained elusive. In this study, we unveiled that ISM1 is significantly overexpressed in both the blood and tissue samples of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, correlating with their poor prognosis. Functional experiments demonstrated that enforced ISM1 expression significantly enhances CRC proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth.

Facilitatory effect of low-pulse repetition frequency ultrasound on release of extracellular vesicles from cultured myotubes.

Purpose: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as carriers of intracellular factors with therapeutic effects, including tissue regeneration and attenuation of inflammatory responses. The majority of EVs in vivo are derived from skeletal muscle, which is reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. While high-intensity pulsed ultrasound (US) irradiation has been shown to promote EV secretion from myotubes, the impact of pulse repetition frequency, a US parameter affecting pulse length, on EV release remains unclear.

Pulsed ultrasound promotes secretion of anti-inflammatory extracellular vesicles from skeletal myotubes via elevation of intracellular calcium level.

The regulation of inflammatory responses is an important intervention in biological function and macrophages play an essential role during inflammation. Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the human body and releases various factors which mediate anti-inflammatory/immune modulatory effects. Recently, the roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from a large variety of cells are reported.

Alternating current electromagnetic field exposure lessens intramyocellular lipid accumulation due to high-fat feeding via enhanced lipid metabolism in mice.

Long-term high-fat feeding results in intramyocellular lipid accumulation, leading to insulin resistance. Intramyocellular lipid accumulation is related to an energy imbalance between excess fat intake and fatty acid consumption. Alternating current electromagnetic field exposure has been shown to enhance mitochondrial metabolism in the liver and sperm.

Electrical stimulation facilitates NADPH production in pentose phosphate pathway and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in macrophages.

Macrophages play an important role as effector cells in innate immune system. Meanwhile, macrophages activated in a pro-inflammatory direction alter intracellular metabolism and damage intact tissues by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Electrical stimulation (ES), a predominant physical agent to control metabolism in cells and tissues, has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effect on immune cells.

Association between Patients' Body Mass Index and the Effect of Monophasic Pulsed Microcurrent Stimulation on Pressure Injury Healing.

This secondary analysis study aimed to detect individual variables that influence the efficacy of monophasic pulsed microcurrent on pressure injury healing. Eleven patients with pressure injuries showing delayed healing underwent a microcurrent stimulation period and a placebo period. We analyzed the correlation between the individual variables and the following three outcomes using monophasic pulsed microcurrent: the wound reduction rate in the electrical stimulation period, the reduction rate in the placebo period, and the difference between these two reduction rates.

Soleus muscle contains a higher concentration of lipid metabolites than extensor digitorum longus in rats with lipopolysaccharide-induced acute muscle atrophy.

Background & Aims: Muscle atrophy is one of the most important and frequent problems for critically ill patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of lipid mediators on acute muscle atrophy. Skeletal muscle fiber-specific analysis of lipid mediators in endotoxemic rats was therefore performed.

Effect of Early Rehabilitation on Walking Independence and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Foot Wounds: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

Rehabilitation is usually provided to patients with chronic foot wounds (CFWs) after surgery. This study aimed to assess whether early postoperative rehabilitation could maintain walking independence in hospitalized patients with CFWs. This single-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed between September 10, 2018 and March 2019, involving 60 patients who underwent both surgical procedures and rehabilitation.

Proapoptotic effect of nonthermal pulsed ultrasound on prostate cancer cells in a nude mouse model.

Background: Ultrasound (US) can induce cell injury, and we have previously reported that adjusting the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of ultrasound output can induce prostate cancer cell destruction without causing a rise in the temperature of the irradiated area. In this study, we examined the mechanism of nonthermal ultrasound cell destruction, which was not fully clarified in our previous reports.

Methods: In vitro, we evaluated postirradiation cells immediately after treatment and examined membrane disruption by proliferation assay, LDH assay, and apoptosis assay.

Skeletal myotube-derived extracellular vesicles enhance itaconate production and attenuate inflammatory responses of macrophages.

Introduction: Macrophages play an important role in the innate immunity. While macrophage inflammation is necessary for biological defense, it must be appropriately controlled. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles released from all types of cells and play a central role in intercellular communication.

Effect of Partial Foot Amputation Level on Gait Independence in Patients With Chronic Lower Extremity Wounds: A Retrospective Analysis of a Japanese Multicenter Database.

Partial foot amputation (PFA) is generally planned to minimize the amputation level; nonetheless, the effect of PFA levels on gait independence in amputees remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PFA levels of the forefoot on gait independence in patients with chronic lower extremity (LE) wounds. This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 232 hospitalized Japanese patients treated and rehabilitated for chronic LE wounds.

Brazilian Propolis Intake Decreases Body Fat Mass and Oxidative Stress in Community-Dwelling Elderly Females: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Brazilian propolis on body fat mass and levels of adiponectin and reactive oxygen species among community-dwelling elderly females. This was a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Altogether, 78 females aged 66-84 years were randomly assigned to the propolis (PRO; = 39) or placebo (PLA; = 39) group.

Acute Effects of Combination Therapy by Triceps Surae Stretching and Electrical Stimulation to the Tibialis Anterior on Medial Forefoot Plantar Pressure During Gait in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

High plantar flexor moment and limited ankle mobility are known to cause high plantar pressure under the forefoot. Stretching is an effective physical therapy for the limited ankle range of motion (ROM), and electrical stimulation is used to regulate the activity of antagonistic muscle via the action of reciprocal inhibition. Additionally, stretching paired with electrical stimulation has been reported to improve the limited ROM significantly.

Combined Treatment with Ultrasound and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Prostate Cancer.

Background: Ultrasound (US) is mostly used for diagnostic purpose but could be used for cancer treatments with a US intensity or frequency fitted to such a purpose. Prostate cancer (PC) has the highest prevalence in the urological field, but indications for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for PC are limited to very few cases. In this study, we compared the antitumor effect of US irradiation alone with the combined use of US and ICIs in vitro and in vivo.

Pulsed-Ultrasound Irradiation Induces the Production of Itaconate and Attenuates Inflammatory Responses in Macrophages.

Background: Itaconate is a key metabolite in the innate immune system and exerts strong anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages. For the production of itaconate in macrophages, immune-responsive gene 1 (IRG1) is an imperative enzyme, and activating the IRG1-itaconate pathway is reported to alleviate inflammatory diseases by upregulating nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). However, there are very few reports on strategies to increase itaconate production.

Prediction of callus and ulcer development in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy by isosceles triangle-forming tuning fork.

Objectives: Tuning fork vibration sensation testing is widely used as a diagnostic test to detect diabetic neuropathy. However, evidence-based literature indicates that reliability between examiners is low. Attaching isosceles triangle diagrams on tuning forks lowers the discrepancy between examiners.

Beneficial effects of mild hyperbaric oxygen exposure on microcirculation in peripheral tissues in healthy subjects: a pilot study.

Background: Exposure to mild hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) increases blood oxygenation by dissolving oxygen into blood plasma and increased oxygen bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells. This research is an attempt to provide insight into the responses of exposure to mild HBO on microcirculation in peripheral tissues.

Methods: Fifteen healthy individuals were exposed to normobaric oxygen (1.

Enhancement of astaxanthin incorporation by pulsed high-intensity ultrasound in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

Purpose: Ultrasound (US) has been reported to improve the permeability of cell membranes to pharmaceuticals by causing cavitation. Astaxanthin (AX) potently terminates the induction of inflammation, but it has low oral bioavailability, which limits its incorporation in local cells and organs and its therapeutic potential. In this study, we aimed to investigate the contribution of US to AX incorporation to compensate for the limited incorporation of AX, and regulation of the pro-inflammatory factor interleukin-1β (IL-1β) by AX.

Protective effects of chlorogenic acid on capillary regression caused by disuse muscle atrophy.

Inactivity causes muscle atrophy and capillary regression in skeletal muscle. Chlorogenic acid has an antioxidant capacity and may prevent capillary regression. Therefore, the protective effects of chlorogenic acid on inactivity-induced capillary regression in rat soleus muscle were investigated.