Effect of blood sample storage period on d-ROMs and BAP test data.

The Diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) tests can easily and rapidly measure the state of oxidative stress in the blood; they have been used to determine the relationship between oxidative stress and various diseases. However, the extent to which the blood storage period affects the analyzed data remains unclear. In clinical practice, the storage conditions for samples after blood collection vary.

Factors influencing the prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction who received usual care: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

[Purpose] The prognostic factors for patients with acute stroke who received usual care (mobilization ≥48 h after admission) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors that predict functional outcomes using evaluations performed immediately after onset in patients with acute cerebral infarction who received usual care from admission until discharge. [Participants and Methods] Participants with acute cerebral infarction admitted to five acute care hospitals in Tokyo and Saitama, Japan and prescribed physical therapy were included.

The arousal level of consciousness required for working memory performance: An anaesthesia study.

Regarding the stage of arousal level required for working memory to function properly, limited studies have been conducted on changes in working memory performance when the arousal level of consciousness decreases. This study aimed to experimentally clarify the stages of consciousness necessary for optimal working memory function. In this experiment, the sedation levels were changed step-by-step using anaesthesia, and the performance accuracy during the execution of working memory was assessed using a dual-task paradigm.

Analysis of Maternal and Fetal Oxidative Stress During Delivery with Epidural Analgesia.

Childbirth is a stressful event for mothers, and labor epidural analgesia (LEA) may reduce mental stress. Mental stressors include labor pain, fear, and anxiety, which induce oxidative stress. In this study, we focused on oxidative stress during delivery and conducted a cross-sectional analysis of maternal and fetal oxidative stress.

Fever in childbirth: a mini-review of epidural-related maternal fever.

Fever during childbirth, which is often observed in clinical settings, is characterized by a temperature of 38°C or higher, and can occur due to infectious and non-infectious causes. A significant proportion of non-infectious causes are associated with epidural-related maternal fever during vaginal delivery. Therapeutic interventions are required because fever has adverse effects on both mother and newborn.

Validity Verification of Human Pose-Tracking Algorithms for Gait Analysis Capability.

Two-dimensional (2D) clinical gait analysis systems are more affordable and portable than contemporary three-dimensional (3D) clinical models. Using the Vicon 3D motion capture system as the standard, we evaluated the internal statistics of the Imasen and open-source OpenPose gait measurement systems, both designed for 2D input, to validate their output based on the similarity of results and the legitimacy of their inner statistical processes. We measured time factors, distance factors, and joint angles of the hip and knee joints in the sagittal plane while varying speeds and gaits during level walking in three in-person walking experiments under normal, maximum-speed, and tandem scenarios.

Combined Use of Alkaline Agents With Low-Flow Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal in Carbon Dioxide Inhalation Models Preserving Inspiratory Efforts.

Background: Low-flow extracorporeal CO removal (ECCO R), managed using a renal replacement platform, is useful in achieving lung-protective ventilation with low tidal volume. However, its capacity for CO elimination is limited. Whether this system is valuable in reducing strong inspiratory efforts in respiratory failure is unclear.

Reliability and validity of muscle activity analysis using wearable electromyographs.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to develop a novel wearable surface electromyograph called NOK, and compare its reliability and validity to an existing electromyograph. [Participants and Methods] The study participants were 23 healthy university students (Seven males and 16 females; age 20.3 ± 1.

Electrical Impedance Tomography-based Ventilation Patterns in Patients after Major Surgery.

General anesthesia and mechanical ventilation have negative impacts on the respiratory system, causing heterogeneous distribution of lung aeration, but little is known about the ventilation patterns of postoperative patients and their association with clinical outcomes. To clarify the phenotypes of ventilation patterns along a gravitational direction after surgery by using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and to evaluate their association with postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) and other relevant clinical outcomes. Adult postoperative patients at high risk for PPCs, receiving mechanical ventilation on ICU admission ( = 128), were prospectively enrolled between November 18, 2021 and July 18, 2022.

Factor analysis for construct validity of a trunk impairment scale in Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the construct validity of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), which was developed to assess trunk impairment in patients with stroke, in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Design: This retrospective, cross-sectional study enrolled consecutive PD inpatients. Correlation analysis was performed to clarify whether the TIS assessment was related to other balance functions, lower extremity muscle strength, or walking ability.

Estimating the change in pleural pressure using the change in central venous pressure in various clinical scenarios: a pig model study.

Background: We have previously reported a simple correction method for estimating pleural pressure (Ppl) using central venous pressure (CVP). However, it remains unclear whether this method is applicable to patients with varying levels of intravascular volumes and/or chest wall compliance. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of our method under different conditions of intravascular volume and chest wall compliance.

Time definition of reintubation most relevant to patient outcomes in critically ill patients: a multicenter cohort study.

Background: Reintubation is a common complication in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Although reintubation has been demonstrated to be associated with patient outcomes, its time definition varies widely among guidelines and in the literature. This study aimed to determine the association between reintubation and patient outcomes as well as the consequences of the time elapsed between extubation and reintubation on patient outcomes.

Asynchrony Injures Lung and Diaphragm in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Objectives: Patient-ventilator asynchrony is often observed during mechanical ventilation and is associated with higher mortality. We hypothesized that patient-ventilator asynchrony causes lung and diaphragm injury and dysfunction.

Design: Prospective randomized animal study.

Factors Associated With Prolonged Ventilation in Patients Receiving Prone Positioning Protocol With Muscle Relaxants for Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Background: Prone positioning and neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are frequently used to treat severe respiratory failure from COVID-19 pneumonia. Prone positioning has shown to improve mortality, whereas NMBAs are used to prevent ventilator asynchrony and reduce patient self-inflicted lung injury. However, despite the use of lung-protective strategies, high death rates in this patient population have been reported.

Personalized ventilatory strategy based on lung recruitablity in COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: a prospective clinical study.

Background: Heterogeneity is an inherent nature of ARDS. Recruitment-to-inflation ratio has been developed to identify the patients who has lung recruitablity. This technique might be useful to identify the patients that match specific interventions, such as higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or prone position or both.

Predictive factors for walking in acute stroke patients: a multicenter study using classification and regression tree analysis.

[Purpose] Walking ability should be predicted as early as possible in acute stroke patients. The purpose is to construct a prediction model for independent walking from bedside assessments using classification and regression tree analysis. [Participants and Methods] We conducted a multicenter case-control study with 240 stroke patients.

Timing of tracheostomy and patient outcomes in critically ill patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a single-center retrospective observational study.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an integral method of life support in critically ill patients with severe cardiopulmonary failure; however, such patients generally require prolonged mechanical ventilation and exhibit high mortality rates. Tracheostomy is commonly performed in patients on mechanical ventilation, and its early implementation has potential advantages for favorable patient outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association between tracheostomy timing and patient outcomes, including mortality, in patients requiring ECMO.

Positive end-expiratory pressure and prone position alter the capacity of force generation from diaphragm in acute respiratory distress syndrome: an animal experiment.

Background: Spontaneous breathing potentially injures lungs and diaphragm when spontaneous effort is vigorous in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) while immobility also has risks of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) acquired weakness and diaphragm atrophy. Thus, ventilatory strategy to mitigate strong spontaneous effort should be promptly established without a systemic use of neuromuscular blocking agent. Here, we investigated the impacts of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and body position on the capacity of force generation from diaphragm following bilateral phrenic nerve stimulations in a rabbit ARDS model.