Effectiveness and Components of Health Behavior Interventions on Increasing Physical Activity Among Healthy Young and Middle-Aged Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses.

Physical inactivity contributes to various health risks; however, approximately one-third of the global population remains insufficiently active. Many researchers have attempted to increase physical activity levels; however, the effectiveness and the specific components of these interventions remain unclear. This systematic review with meta-analyses utilized a behavior change technique taxonomy to identify and extract effective intervention components, aiming to develop more efficient programs to promote physical activity.

Evaluation of the Adequacy of Using the Supraglottic Airway Device (i-gel®) in Cases With Epiglottic Masses: A Mannequin Simulation Study.

Background: Epiglottic masses are often asymptomatic, making them difficult to detect during preoperative examinations. Consequently, anesthesiologists may face ventilation difficulties with no apparent cause. Epiglottic masses can sometimes obstruct laryngoscope insertion into the epiglottic vallecula, complicating general anesthesia induction.

Improvement and Retention of Insulin Secretion in Slowly Progressive Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus by Diet Therapy and Exercise for Five Years: A Case Report.

There are no clear strategies for non-insulin-dependent slowly progressive type 1 diabetes mellitus (SPIDDM). We herein report a 25-year-old man with SPIDDM in whom appropriate diet therapy and exercise improved the initial insulin secretion without medication. After 12 months, his body weight decreased by 5.

Gene-Silencing Therapeutic Approaches Targeting PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling in Degenerative Intervertebral Disk Cells: An In Vitro Comparative Study Between RNA Interference and CRISPR-Cas9.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine kinase, promotes cell growth and inhibits autophagy. The following two complexes contain mTOR: mTORC1 with the regulatory associated protein of mTOR (RAPTOR) and mTORC2 with the rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR (RICTOR). The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is important in the intervertebral disk, which is the largest avascular, hypoxic, low-nutrient organ in the body.

Effect of metallic materials on magnetic resonance image uniformity: a quantitative experimental study.

Objective: To assess quantitatively the effect of metallic materials on MR image uniformity using a standardized method.

Methods: Six types of 1 cm cubic metallic materials (i.e.

Predictors of Postoperative Persistent Low Back Pain Following Lumbar Fusion in Patients Older than 75 Years: An Analysis of a Minimum 2-Year Follow-Up.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate preoperative and perioperative predictors associated with persistent low back pain (LBP) following lumbar fusion in patients aged >75 years.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 310 patients aged >75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (104 males, 206 females; mean age, 79 [75-90] years). The visual analog scale (VAS) score for LBP was examined preoperatively and 2-year postoperatively.

Patient of Congenital Absence of a Lumbar Pedicle With Nerve Root Anomaly Presenting With Ipsilateral Foraminal Stenosis by Vertebral Fracture.

Patients with congenital absence of a lumbar pedicle and nerve root anomaly presenting with ipsilateral foraminal stenosis are extremely rare. An 80-year-old man had low back and right thigh pain. Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) showed L3 vertebral body fracture and the absence of the right L3 lumbar pedicle.

Patch Dehiscence After Mitral Valve Repair by Posterior Mitral Leaflet Augmentation at Weaning From Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

The treatment for ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) involves a combination of medical management and, in certain cases, surgical intervention. The approach depends on the severity of the condition, underlying causes, and the patient's overall health. A 76-year-old male with heart failure refractory to medical management because of ischemic MR was considered for a mitral valve repair surgery with a posterior mitral leaflet augmentation technique.

Change in Tacrolimus Concentration Measured in Whole Blood Correlates With Changes in Red Blood Cell Parameters After Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: Tacrolimus (TAC) is a narrow therapeutic range drug that requires therapeutic drug monitoring. TAC concentration is measured using whole blood owing to its high red blood cell (RBC) transfer rate of 95%. The distribution and whole-blood TAC concentration may be affected by the transfusion of red cell concentrates (RCCs); however, this has not been studied in kidney transplant recipients (KTR).

Predictors of Persistent Postoperative Numbness Following Lumbar Fusion in Patients Older Than 75 Years: A Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75-90] years).

The Utility and Feasibility of Smart Glasses in Spine Surgery: Minimizing Radiation Exposure During Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Insertion.

Objective: Spine surgeons are often at risk of radiation exposure due to intraoperative fluoroscopy, leading to health concerns such as carcinogenesis. This is due to the increasing use of percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) in spinal surgeries, resulting from the widespread adoption of minimally invasive spine stabilization. This study aimed to elucidate the effectiveness of smart glasses (SG) in PPS insertion under fluoroscopy.

External validation and updating of the infusion rate individualization of soybean oil-based intravenous lipid emulsion: A descriptive cohort study.

Background: Safe and efficient provision of intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) requires a strategy to individualize infusion rates. Estimating the maximum acceptable infusion rate (MaxInfRate) of soybean oil-based ILE (SO-ILE) in individuals by using a triglyceride (TG) kinetic model was reported to be feasible. In this study, we aimed to externally validate and, if needed, update the MaxInfRate estimation.

Anterolateral thoracotomy with partial sternotomy: a feasible approach for treating the complex pathology of the aortic arch.

Objectives: Our goal was to review our surgical experiences in patients with complex pathologies of the aortic arch who have undergone anterolateral thoracotomy with a partial sternotomy (ALPS).

Methods: From October 2019 to November 2023, a total of 23 patients underwent one-stage repairs of complex pathologies of the aortic arch through the ALPS approach. The mean age was 61.

Robustness of the self-referential process under normobaric hypoxia: an fNIRS study using the GLM and homologous cortical functional connectivity analyses.

Introduction: Hypoxia has been reported to impair psychological functions, such as working memory and decision-making. However, few studies have examined hypoxia's effect on social cognition.

Methods: Using a self-referential task, the present study investigated normobaric hypoxia's effect on the self-referential process.

Prediction of future insulin-deficiency in glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-positive patients with slowly-progressive type 1 diabetes.

Aims/introduction: This study aimed to identify risk factors that contribute to the progression of slowly-progressive type 1 diabetes by evaluating the positive predictive value (PPV) of factors associated with the progression to an insulin-dependent state.

Materials And Methods: We selected 60 slowly-progressive type 1 diabetes patients who tested positive for glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA) at diagnosis from the Japanese Type 1 Diabetes Database Study. GADA levels in these patients were concurrently measured using both radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques.

Comparison of T2 values of the displaced unilateral disc and retrodiscal tissue of temporomandibular joints and their implications.

Unilateral anterior disc displacement (uADD) has been shown to affect the contralateral joints qualitatively. This study aims to assess the quantitative T2 values of the articular disc and retrodiscal tissue of patients with uADD at 1.5 Tesla (T).

G-Induced Loss of Consciousness Prediction Using a Support Vector Machine.

Gravity-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) is a major threat to fighter pilots and may result in fatal accidents. The brain has a period of 5-6 s from the onset of high +G exposure, called the functional buffer period, during which transient ischemia is tolerated without loss of consciousness. We tried to establish a method for predicting G-LOC within the functional buffer period by using machine learning.

Potential of whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to predict muscle size of psoas major, gluteus maximus and back muscles.

Background: Measurement of trunk muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) using axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered clinically meaningful for understanding several spinal pathologies, such as low back pain and spinal sagittal imbalance. However, it remains unclear whether trunk muscle mass (TMM) measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) can predict the trunk muscle CSA. The aim of this study is to determine if DXA-derived TMM is associated and predicts with CSA of paraspinal muscles and gluteus maximus measured using MRI in healthy volunteers.

Kidney donor age of 50 years or above is a risk factor for calcineurin inhibitor-induced nephrotoxicity.

Introduction: Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced nephrotoxicity (CNI-T) is a post-transplantation complication that leads to graft dysfunction. Older-donor kidney grafts may be susceptible to chronic CNI exposure because of long-term arteriolar damage. The primary aim of this study was to examine the CNI-T incidence and time-course changes in the graft function according to donor age.

L-Glutamine and Survival of Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Chemoradiotherapy.

We previously reported that L-glutamine reduces the severity of mucositis caused by chemoradiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer. However, the impact of glutamine on the anti-tumor effect of chemoradiotherapy remains controversial. This study, which included 40 patients, investigated whether L-glutamine influences survival.

Neonatal Outcomes after Medications for Opioid Use Disorder during Pregnancy in a State Women's Prison Facility, 2016-2019.

Objective: Although medications for opioid use disorder improve both maternal and neonatal outcomes, little is known about opioid-exposed infants born during episodes of incarceration. The study sought to examine birth outcomes for infants born with opioid exposure during perinatal incarceration.

Methods: Participants were identified from clinic rosters in a Southeastern women's prison (2016-2019).

Posterior lumbar fusion surgery doesn't change sexual activities in patients with lumbar degenerative disease: an observational study.

Background: There are few studies about sexual function in the patient with posterior lumbar spinal fusion for degenerative lumbar disease. The aim of this study is to investigate sexual activities in patients with lumbar degenerative disease before and after lumbar fusion surgery.

Methods: We recruited 35 patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusion at the age of 55 years or younger.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor-related renal disease.

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are widely used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D). Lowering blood glucose is expected also to reduce the progression of diabetic nephropathy. We experienced a patient with T2D who achieved good glycemic control with a DPP-4 inhibitor but experienced rapid deterioration of renal function.