Comprehensive treatment with dapagliflozin in elderly chronic kidney disease patients: Clinical efficacy and impact on body composition.

Background: Dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, is widely used for treating heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD). While its renoprotective effects are well established, concerns remain regarding its impact on muscle mass and function, especially in elderly patients.

Objective: To assess the effects of dapagliflozin on renal function, body composition, and muscle strength in elderly CKD patients.

Physical Frailty Prediction Using Cane Usage Characteristics during Walking.

This study aimed to determine the characteristics of accelerations and angular velocities obtained by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) attached to a cane between older people with and without physical frailty. Community-dwelling older people walked at a comfortable speed using a cane with a built-in IMU. Physical frailty was assessed using exercise-related items extracted from the Kihon Check List.

Longitudinal Alterations in the Control of Lateral Center of Mass Movement During Walking in a Patient With Unilateral Transtibial Amputation: A Case Study.

This study assessed longitudinal changes in the control of the center of mass (CoM) in the lateral direction through gait reacquisition in an individual with unilateral transtibial amputation (UTTA). We examined a male patient with UTTA who could walk on a parallel bar. The marker trajectories and ground reaction forces were measured every two weeks (total: four times) using an optical motion capture system and force plates.

A screening method for visual attention disabilities in cerebral palsy with periventricular leukomalacia.

Purpose: Patients with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) have been reported to have a variety of complications; however, whether these involve impaired visual attention disabilities remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence or absence and degree of visual attention disabilities in patients with PVL and propose a screening test that would allow anyone to check for visual attention disabilities easily.

Methods: The study participants were 14 patients with PVL and seven controls with dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

The Japanese registry for surgery of ischial pressure ulcers: STANDARDS-I.

Objective: To clarify the surgical indications and the appropriate perioperative management of ischial pressure ulcers (PUs).

Method: A two-year prospective, nationwide registry study was carried out across 26 medical institutions in Japan. All participating institutions managed ischial PUs according to the standardisation of total management and surgical application for the refractory decubitus (STANDARDS-I) perioperative protocol.

Differences in neural pathways are related to the short- or long-term benefits of constraint-induced movement therapy in patients with chronic stroke and hemiparesis: a pilot cohort study.

Background No previous studies have determined how the post-stroke integrity of non-corticospinal neural pathways relates to the efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). Objectives We aimed to clarify the relationship between several non-corticospinal neural pathway integrities and the short- and long-term benefits of CIMT. Methods This was a pilot cohort study (UMIN registration number: R00027136UMIN000023566), for which we enrolled 13 patients with chronic stroke and hemiparesis who had undergone CIMT.

Neural Basis of Apathy in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: Although apathy is associated with damage to the frontal and temporal lobes in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the crucial regions for apathy in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are unknown.

Objective: To identify brain regions associated with apathy in aMCI patients.

Methods: The subjects of this study were 98 aMCI patients who were entered in our dementia registry between March 1, 2009 and April 30, 2015 and who satisfied our criteria for aMCI.

Differences of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Disease Severity in Four Major Dementias.

Background/aims: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) negatively impact the prognosis of dementia patients and increase caregiver distress. The aims of this study were to clarify the differences of trajectories of 12 kinds of BPSDs by disease severity in four major dementias and to develop charts showing the frequency, severity, and associated caregiver distress (ACD) of BPSDs using the data of a Japan multicenter study (J-BIRD).

Methods: We gathered Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) data of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 1091), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB; n = 249), vascular dementia (VaD; n = 156), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD; n = 102) collected during a 5-year period up to July 31, 2013 in seven centers for dementia in Japan.

Sleep disturbances are key symptoms of very early stage Alzheimer disease with behavioral and psychological symptoms: a Japan multi-center cross-sectional study (J-BIRD).

Background: Sleep disturbances in Alzheimer disease (AD) may affect behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Our aim was to elucidate the associations between sleep disturbances and other BPSD at different stages of AD.

Methods: This investigation was part of a multicenter-retrospective study in Japan (J-BIRD).

Retrospective study for risk factors for febrile UTI in spinal cord injury patients with routine concomitant intermittent catheterization in outpatient settings.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical risk factors for febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) in spinal cord injury-associated neurogenic bladder (NB) patients who perform routine clean intermittent catheterization (CIC).

Setting: Rehabilitation Hospital, Kobe, Japan.

Discriminant analysis for predictor of falls in stroke patients by using the Berg Balance Scale.

Introduction: An observational study was carried out to estimate the strength of the relationships among balance, mobility and falls in hemiplegic stroke inpatients. The objective was to examine factors that may aid in the prediction of the likelihood of falls in stroke patients.

Methods: A total of 53 stroke patients (30 male, 23 female) aged 67.

Emergence and prevention measures for multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in catheter-associated urinary tract infection in spinal cord injury patients.

Objective: To evaluate measures for preventing multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP) in catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in spinal cord injury patients.

Setting: Spinal Cord Injury Unit of Hyogo Prefectural Hyogo Prefectural Rehabilitation Center, Kobe, Japan.

Methods: We defined MDRP as resistance to amikacin, imipenem and levofloxacin.

Emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in catheter-associated urinary tract infection in neurogenic bladder patients.

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is a common clinic problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate recent trends in CAUTI in neurogenic bladder patients focusing on extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli.

Methods: Isolates from the urine of neurogenic bladder patients with UTI were investigated.

[Paget's disease of bone].

Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is a chronic disorder of bone metabolism characterized by abnormalities of osteoclast function possibly based on the genetic background and slow viral infection. The symptoms of PDB are usually pain and deformity in involved bones and a subsequent increasing risk of pathological fractures, neurological complications and secondary malignant tumor development. The diagnosis of PDB is based on the clinical manifestations carefully examined, laboratory data such as measurement of serum alkaline phosphatase and characteristic findings of radiology including bone scintigraphy.