Association of poor sleep quality with clinical variables in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

Background: The high prevalence of poor sleep quality in patients with chronic respiratory diseases makes it an important clinical topic. However, the prevalence and characteristics of poor sleep quality in those with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease and its association with clinical variables remain unclear.

Methods: This retrospective study involved patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease between June 2017 and May 2022.

Association between health-related quality of life and perioperative exercise capacity in older postoperative patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Lung cancer represents a significant global health concern and constitutes the primary cause of cancer-related mortality. Complete surgical resection with curative intent remains the most efficacious treatment modality for improving the survival rate of patients with localized lung cancer. Average life expectancy has increased in many countries, and the number of older patients undergoing surgery has increased.

Acute effects of manual breathing assist technique on lung volume and dyspnea in individuals with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Manual breathing assist technique (MBAT) is a common physical therapy technique used to facilitate airway clearance and improve ventilation and oxygenation. The effects during and immediately after intervention in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects and potential mechanisms of MBAT on lung volume, dyspnea, and oxygenation in individuals with COPD.

Effects of Different Visual Flow Velocities on Psychophysiological Responses During Virtual Reality Cycling.

Introduction: Virtual reality cycling (VRC) is simulated outdoor cycling with changes in scenery in virtual reality (VR) with rotating ergometer pedals. The speed at which the scenery changes, which is the visual flow velocity, can shift according to the same pedal rotation speed.

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of different visual flow velocities on the psychophysiological responses of cyclists using the VRC.

Pre-Admission Predictors of Walking Independence in Critically Ill Patients.

Background: Recovery of walking independence in critically ill patients is required for safe discharge home. However, the pre-admission predictors affecting this outcome in this patient group are unknown. This study aimed to identify these predictors.

Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Cough Strength in Older People With Frailty: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on cough strength in older people with frailty.

Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Day health care centers at 2 sites.

Physical activity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after lung resection.

Background: Lung resection is the standard of care for patients with clinical stage I/II non-small cell lung cancer. This surgery reduces both the duration and quality of patients' daily ambulatory activities 1 month after surgery. However, little is known about physical activity after lung resection in patients with lung cancer.

Enhancing exercise tolerance in interstitial lung disease with high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy: A randomized crossover trial.

Background And Objective: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is characterized by dyspnoea on exertion and exercise-induced hypoxaemia. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy reduces the respiratory workload through higher gas flow and oxygen supplementation, which may affect exercise tolerance. This study aimed to examine the effects of oxygen and gas flow rates through HFNC therapy on exercise tolerance in ILD patients.

Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome in COVID-19 pneumonia patients: An observational study.

This retrospective observational study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treated using mechanical ventilation or high-flow nasal canula. We analyzed 42 consecutive patients with COVID-19 from January 2020 to March 2022. The primary outcomes were the incidence of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome, the time with required long-term oxygen therapy, and short-term prognosis.

Physical activity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Longitudinal change and minimal clinically important difference.

Background And Objective: Reference values of physical activity to interpret longitudinal changes are not available in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study aimed to define the minimal clinical important difference (MCID) of longitudinal changes in physical activity in patients with IPF.

Methods: Using accelerometry, physical activity (steps per day) was measured and compared at baseline and 6-months follow-up in patients with IPF.

Association Between Mobilization Level And Activity of Daily Living Independence in Critically Ill Patients.

Objective: To examine the association between the mobilization level during intensive care unit (ICU) admission and independence in activity of daily living (ADL), defined as Barthel Index (BI)≥70.

Methods: This was a post-hoc analysis of the EMPICS study involving nine hospitals. Consecutive patients who spend >48 hours in the ICU were eligible for inclusion.

Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Rehabilitation in Critically Ill Patients 2023 (J-ReCIP 2023).

Providing standardized, high-quality rehabilitation for critically ill patients is a crucial issue. In 2017, the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine (JSICM) promulgated the "Evidence-Based Expert Consensus for Early Rehabilitation in the Intensive Care Unit" to advocate for the early initiation of rehabilitations in Japanese intensive care settings. Building upon this seminal work, JSICM has recently conducted a rigorous systematic review utilizing the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology.

The interplay of physical and cognitive function in rehabilitation of interstitial lung disease patients: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses several diverse pulmonary pathologies that result in abnormal diffuse parenchymal changes. When prescribing rehabilitation, several additional factors need to be considered as a result of aging, polypharmacy, and comorbidities manifested in ILD patients. This review aims to discuss issues related to frailty, skeletal muscle and cognitive function that limit physical activities in ILD patients.

Urinary titin N-fragment as a predictor of decreased skeletal muscle mass in patients with interstitial lung diseases.

This study aimed to examine the validity of urinary N-terminal titin fragment/creatinine (urinary N-titin/Cr) reflecting muscle damage biomarker in patients with interstitial lung disease. This retrospective study enrolled patients with interstitial lung disease. We measured urinary N-titin/Cr.

Differences in Characteristics Between Physical Frailty Assessments in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Purpose: Assessment for frailty is important as it enables timely intervention to prevent or delay poor prognosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aims of this study, in a sample of outpatients with COPD, were to (i) assess the prevalence of physical frailty using the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS) criteria and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and the degree of agreement between the findings of the two assessments and (ii) identify factors associated with the disparity in the results obtained with these instruments.

Patients And Methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study of individuals with stable COPD enrolled in four institutions.

Long-term effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterised by worsening dyspnoea and exercise intolerance.

Research Question: Does a long-term pulmonary rehabilitation improve exercise tolerance in patients with IPF treated with standard antifibrotic drugs, which are expected to reduce disease progression?

Methods: This open-label randomised controlled trial was performed at 19 institutions. Stable patients receiving nintedanib were randomised into pulmonary rehabilitation and control groups (1:1).

Respiratory sarcopenia: A position paper by four professional organizations.

We defined respiratory sarcopenia as a coexistence of respiratory muscle weakness and decreased respiratory muscle mass. Although respiratory muscle function is indispensable for life support, its evaluation has not been included in the regular assessment of respiratory function or adequately evaluated in clinical practice. Considering this situation, we prepared a position paper outlining basic knowledge, diagnostic and assessment methods, mechanisms, involvement in respiratory diseases, intervention and treatment methods, and future perspectives on respiratory sarcopenia, and summarized the current consensus on respiratory sarcopenia.

Predictors of sedation period for critical illness patients focusing on early rehabilitation on the bed.

There are various interventions of rehabilitation on the bed, but these are time-consuming and cannot be performed for all patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the patients who require early mobilization based on the level of sedation. We retrospectively evaluated the data of patients who underwent physical therapy, ICU admission of > 48 h, and were discharged alive.

Clinical significance and safety of combined treatment with chemotherapy and pulmonary rehabilitation regarding health-related quality of life and physical function in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

Background: In the treatment of patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been recommended as a non-pharmacological therapy. However, no study has validated the combination of chemotherapy and PR in this context. This study investigated the effect of chemotherapy and supervised PR on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical function in NTM-PD patients.

Sex Differences in the International Primary Care Airways Group Questionnaire for Screening of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Objective: The International Primary Airways Group (IPAG) questionnaire is a useful tool for screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The cut-off score of the IPAG questionnaire is investigated in Japan. However, its validity has not been examined according to sex, which was the aim of this study.

Association between Early Mobilization in the ICU and Psychiatric Symptoms after Surviving a Critical Illness: A Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study.

This is a prospective multicenter cohort study aiming to investigate the association between early mobilization (EM), defined as a rehabilitation level of sitting at the edge of the bed or higher within 72 h of ICU admission, and psychiatric outcome. Consecutive patients, admitted to the ICU for more than 48 h, were enrolled. The primary outcome was the incidence of psychiatric symptoms at 3 months after hospital discharge defined as the presence of any of three symptoms: depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).