Foveal microstructure and visual function in patients with lamellar macular hole, epiretinal membrane foveoschisis or macular pseudohole.

Purpose: To compare the foveal microstructures, such as the prevalence of epiretinal proliferation (EP) and residual ellipsoid zone (EZ), in eyes with lamellar macular hole (LMH), epiretinal retinal membrane (ERM) foveoschisis and macular pseudohole (MPH), and to investigate the association of the foveal microstructure with visual functions.

Method: In addition to the prevalence of EP, we calculated the residual EZ index within 1mm and 3 mm (rEZ1 and rEZ3) in all examined eyes. Comparisons were conducted to baseline characteristics (logMAR visual acuity [logMAR VA], metamorphopsia score [Mave], central retinal thickness [CRT], the prevalence of EP, rEZ1 and rEZ3) between MPH, ERM foveoschisis and LMH subgroups.

Identifying preventative measures against frailty, locomotive syndrome, and sarcopenia in young adults: a pilot study.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to propose potential preventive measures against future mobility impairments and muscle loss in healthy young adults by comprehensively evaluating their status of frailty, locomotive syndrome, and sarcopenia. [Participants and Methods] A total of 83 Japanese young adults were enrolled in this study and evaluated using the diagnostic criteria for frailty (Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study), locomotive syndrome (calculated as scores of the LOCOMO-25, the stand-up test, and two-step test), and sarcopenia (handgrip strength, usual gait test, skeletal muscle index). [Results] The prevalence of frailty-prefrailty (45.

Relationship between malnutrition and possible sarcopenia in the AWGS 2019 consensus affecting mortality in hemodialysis patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The first objective of this study was to determine the relationship between muscle strength or physical performance and mortality, and the second objective was to show the relationship of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) to muscle strength and physical performance decline.

Methods: We examined handgrip, the 5-times chair stand test, and GNRI in 635 maintenance hemodialysis patients and followed up for 72 months. Predictors for all-cause death were examined using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional analysis.

Detecting Progression of Retinitis Pigmentosa Using the Binomial Pointwise Linear Regression Method.

Purpose: A method of evaluating central visual field (VF) progression in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has still to be established. We previously reported the potential merit of applying a binomial test to pointwise linear regression (binomial PLR) in glaucoma progression. In the current study, we investigated the usefulness of binomial PLR in eyes with RP.

Sex Differences in Rate of Axial Elongation and Ocular Biometrics in Elementary School Students.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between the ocular biometrics and axial length (AL) elongation and its rate in elementary school children.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study of 102 right eyes of third-grade elementary school students who were 8 to 9 years old. All participants underwent measurements of the AL, anterior chamber depth (ACD), and lens thickness (LT) annually for 3 years.

Effects of intradialytic exercise for advanced-age patients undergoing hemodialysis: A randomized controlled trial.

Previous reports have shown the benefits of intradialytic exercise to patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, most of those studies assessed the effects of exercise in middle-aged patients and little is known about advanced-age patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, the present randomized controlled trial was performed to determine the effectiveness of exercise therapy in advanced-age patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Sleep efficiency affecting the occurrence of falls among the frail older adults.

The purpose of this study is to clarify whether reduced sleep efficiency affects the occurrence of falls among the frail older adults. This was a prospective cohort study. The subjects were frail older adult individuals living within a community, attending an older adult care center.

Effectiveness and safety of rehabilitation on minimal change nephrotic syndrome in remission for elderly patients with low activity of daily living: a case report.

There are few reports on the rehabilitation of elderly patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). The purpose of this case study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rehabilitation for an elderly patient with MCNS in remission. The patient was an 86-year-old woman.

Relationship between the vessel density around the optic nerve head and visual field deterioration in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa.

Purpose: To analyze the vessel density around the optic nerve head (ONH) by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and to evaluate its correlation with visual functions.

Methods: Thirty-eight eyes with RP with visual field constriction within the central 10° were enrolled. The mean (± SD) age of the patients was 43.

Approaches to Promote Reduction in Sedentary Behavior in Patients With Minor Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether an approach that promotes reduction in sedentary behavior (SB) during hospitalization and after hospital discharge reduces SB in patients with minor ischemic stroke (MIS) compared with an approach that promotes an increase in physical activity levels.

Design: Randomized controlled trial design.

Setting: During hospitalization and after hospital discharge.

Effects of different high-flow nasal cannula flow rates on swallowing function.

Background: High-flow nasal cannula therapy is used as a noninvasive treatment for people with acute respiratory disease. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of high-flow nasal cannula different flow rates on different characteristics of swallowing in healthy volunteers.

Methods: A prospective cohort study where healthy adult volunteers were subject to high-flow nasal cannula at different flow rates (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 L/min, in random order).

Depression Is Associated with Chronic Pain in Disabled Older Adults.

Background: The association between depression and chronic pain has been clearly demonstrated in healthy older adults, but not in older adults with disabilities. This study thus aimed to clarify the association between depression and chronic pain in older adults with disabilities.

Methods: In total, 92 older adults aged 65 years or older subscribed to Japanese long-term care insurance services were included in this study.

Association Between Retinal Artery Angle and Visual Function in Eyes With Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane.

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between retinal artery angle and visual function in eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Methods: Ultra-wide field fundus imaging was conducted to analyze ERM and normal contralateral eyes. In addition to the logMAR visual acuity (VA) measurement, the average of the vertical and horizontal metamorphopsia scores (Mave) was measured using m-Charts for each eye.

Protocol for long-term effect of pulmonary rehabilitation under nintedanib in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation causes short-term improvement in exercise capacity, dyspnoea and health-related quality of life in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); however, long-term maintenance of the improvement is difficult. Nintedanib, an antifibrotic drug, has been shown to delay the worsening of pulmonary function in IPF. Therefore, the concomitant use of nintedanib with pulmonary rehabilitation is anticipated to contribute to the long-term maintenance of the pulmonary rehabilitation effects.

Factors associated with dropout from physical function assessment programs among participants receiving maintenance hemodialysis: A retrospective observational cohort study.

We aimed to investigate the factors associated with dropout from a physical function assessment program among participants receiving outpatient hemodialysis (HD). The participants were divided into continuation and dropout groups and followed up for 3 years after the initial physical function assessment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the dropout group to determine the factors associated with dropout from the physical function assessment program.

Assessment of macular function in patients with non-vascularized pigment epithelial detachment.

Non-vascularized pigment epithelial detachments (PED) are usually associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between visual function and morphologic parameters. Seventeen eyes of eleven patients with non-vascularized AMD were enrolled.

Is blood flow-restricted training effective for rehabilitation of a pianist with residual neurological symptoms in the upper limbs? A case study.

[Purpose] We investigated whether blood flow-restricted training known as KAATSU training, was effective for rehabilitation of a pianist with residual neurological symptoms in the upper limbs. [Participant and Methods] A pianist with residual neurological symptoms in the upper body played "Revolutionary Etude" under two conditions: piano performance with (Piano-blood flow-restricted) and without (Piano-control) the restriction of blood flow to the upper limbs. In the Piano-blood flow-restricted exercise, a pressure of 130-170 mmHg was applied around the most proximal portion of both arms.

Comparison between tools for measuring breathlessness: Cross-sectional validation of the Japanese version of the Dyspnoea-12.

Introduction: The Dyspnoea-12 (D-12) is a brief, easy to complete questionnaire for measuring breathlessness.

Objectives: To facilitate further efforts to measure dyspnoea in real clinical settings, the authors aimed to develop and validate a Japanese version of the D-12 and also compare the D-12 with the Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI) and the Activity component of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).

Deep learning-assisted (automatic) diagnosis of glaucoma using a smartphone.

Background/aims: To validate a deep learning algorithm to diagnose glaucoma from fundus photography obtained with a smartphone.

Methods: A training dataset consisting of 1364 colour fundus photographs with glaucomatous indications and 1768 colour fundus photographs without glaucomatous features was obtained using an ordinary fundus camera. The testing dataset consisted of 73 eyes of 73 patients with glaucoma and 89 eyes of 89 normative subjects.

Caregiver self-efficacy and associated factors among caregivers of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms, which can be distressing to caregivers. However, little is known about their subjective distress in terms of caregiver self-efficacy. Thus, we examined the differences in caregiver self-efficacy and their associated factors between DLB and Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers.

Association between Preoperative Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Oxidative Stress Immediately after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study.

Quadriceps muscle atrophy following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can be caused by tourniquet-induced ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, which is often accompanied by oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. -3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against IR injury, whereas -6 LCPUFAs, particularly arachidonic acid (AA), exhibit pro-inflammatory effects and promote IR injury. This study aimed to examine whether preoperative serum EPA + DHA levels and the (EPA + DHA)/AA ratio are associated with oxidative stress immediately after TKA.

Evaluation of rebound tonometer iCare IC200 as compared with IcarePRO and Goldmann applanation tonometer in patients with glaucoma.

Background: This study investigated the agreement between a new rebound tonometer, IC200, and IcarePRO and Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT).

Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. We measured the intraocular pressure (IOP) in 145 eyes of 145 glaucoma patients in the sitting position using GAT, IcarePRO, and IC200.

Decreased Tongue Strength is Related to Skeletal Muscle Mass in COPD Patients.

Dysphagia is frequently observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Decreased tongue strength is one of the causes of dysphagia, and it is often observed in patients with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is also frequently observed in COPD patients.

Development and validation of a visual field cluster in retinitis pigmentosa.

The aim was to establish and evaluate a new clustering method for visual field (VF) test points to predict future VF in retinitis pigmentosa. A Humphrey Field Analyzer 10-2 test was clustered using total deviation values from 858 VFs. We stratified 68 test points into 24 sectors.