Pain in Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Questionnaire Study.

Objective: This study aimed to reveal the chronic pain prevalence in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients and identify the clinical characteristics of these patients with chronic pain. The pain status was also investigated in SMA patients with chronic pain.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2018 and December 2018.

Walking Attainment in Very Low Birth Weight Infants in Japan.

Objective: To clarify the corrected age of walking attainment in very low birth weight infants by birth weight and gestational age, and determine perinatal factors affecting the delay in walking attainment.

Method: This was a longitudinal study. We investigated walking attainment and perinatal factors in 145 very low birth weight infants without neurological abnormalities (mean birth weight 1019.

Cybernic treatment with wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) improves ambulatory function in patients with slowly progressive rare neuromuscular diseases: a multicentre, randomised, controlled crossover trial for efficacy and safety (NCY-3001).

Background: Rare neuromuscular diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, spinal bulbar muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, distal myopathy, sporadic inclusion body myositis, congenital myopathy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis lead to incurable amyotrophy and consequent loss of ambulation. Thus far, no therapeutic approaches have been successful in recovering the ambulatory ability. Thus, the aim of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cybernic treatment with a wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL, Lower Limb Type) in improving the ambulatory function in those patients.

Effects of continued positioning pillow use until a corrected age of six months on cranial deformation and neurodevelopment in preterm infants: A prospective case-control study.

Background: Preterm infants have a high risk of cranial deformity resulting from external pressures. Such deformity is associated with delayed neurodevelopment.

Aims: We aimed to clarify the effects of continuous use of positioning pillows on cranial deformity and neurodevelopment in preterm infants.

A short form of gross motor function measure for Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to confirm the validity of a short form of gross motor function measure for Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (GMFM for FCMD).

Methods: This study is a case series and was conducted at the Tokyo Women's Medical University. Fifteen patients with FCMD were assessed using both the GMFM for FCMD with 68 items, which was created as a motor function measure for patients with FCMD on the basis of Rasch analysis, and the original GMFM with 88 items.

The gross motor function measure is valid for Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy.

Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD) is the second most common muscular dystrophy in Japan. FCMD is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the fukutin gene. The main features of FCMD are a combination of infantile-onset hypotonia, generalized muscle weakness, eye abnormalities, and mental retardation associated with cortical migration defects, and most patients are never able to walk.

Incidence of falls and fear of falling in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of falls and fear of falling by gender and age in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Among the Japanese patients who participated in a single-institute-based prospective observational cohort study of patients with RA, namely the Institute of Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis, 765 men (median age 63 years) and 4,231 women (median age 60 years) with RA responded to questions related to falls. Eight percent of men and 11% of women reported one or more falls during the previous 6 months.

Associated factors for falls and fear of falling in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The objective of this is to determine factors associated with falls in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Among the patients who participated in a single-institute-based prospective observational cohort study of patients with RA, namely, Institute of Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis, 4,996 (male 765, female 4231, median age 60 years) responded to questions related to falls during the previous 6 months in April or May 2008. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between variables and falls.

Dynamic postural control in patients with hemiparesis.

Objective: Decreased postural stability is a common problem associated with hemiparesis secondary to stroke. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dynamic postural control in patients with hemiparesis and in normal subjects matched for age.

Design: Quantitative posturography (EquiTest System) was performed to assess the response of subjects to sudden perturbations.