Gender-related differences in maximum gait speed and daily physical activity in elderly hospitalized cardiac inpatients: a preliminary study.

Maximum gait speed and physical activity (PA) relate to mortality and morbidity, but little is known about gender-related differences in these factors in elderly hospitalized cardiac inpatients. This study aimed to determine differences in maximum gait speed and daily measured PA based on sex and the relationship between these measures in elderly cardiac inpatients.A consecutive 268 elderly Japanese cardiac inpatients (mean age, 73.

Epicardial catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in no entry left ventricle: mechanical aortic and mitral valves.

Background: In patients with mechanical aortic and mitral valves and left ventricular tachycardia, catheter ablation may be prevented by limited access to the left ventricle.

Methods And Results: In our series of 6 patients, 2 patients underwent direct surgical ablation and 4 underwent epicardial catheter ablation via a pericardial window. All patients had abnormal low voltage areas with fractionated or delayed isolated potentials on the apical epicardium.

Relation between VE/VCO2 slope and maximum phonation time in chronic heart failure patients.

This study aimed to determine the relation between the regression slope relating minute ventilation to carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2 slope) and maximum phonation time (MPT), and the MPT required to attain a threshold value for VE/VCO2 slope of ≤ 34 in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This cross-sectional study enrolled 115 CHF patients (mean age, 54.5 years; men, 84.

Establishment of a Langerhans cell histiocytosis lesion cell line with dermal dendritic cell characteristics.

A cell line named PRU-1, derived from a Langerhans cell (LC) histiocytosis (LCH) skull lesion of a 7-year-old boy, was established and characterized. PRU-1 is an adherent spindle-shaped cell line that shows no Birbeck granules on electron microscopy. Flow cytometric analysis of cells collected from the early seventh passage showed no LC phenotypes of CD1a and S100 protein.

Impaired β-cell function attenuates training effects by reducing the increase in heart rate reserve in patients with myocardial infarction.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is characterized as a metabolic disorder syndrome that is upstream of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (DM). This study investigated exercise training effects on the exercise tolerance and heart rate dynamics in patients with IR or pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.

Methods: Seventy patients (mean age, 60.

Dynamic volumetric CT angiography for the detection and classification of endoleaks: application of cine imaging using a 320-row CT scanner with 16-cm detectors.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and diagnostic performance of dynamic volumetric computed tomography (CT) angiography with large-area detectors in the detection and classification of endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Materials And Methods: Low-dose dynamic volumetric CT angiography performed with the patient in Fowler position was used to scan the entire stent graft with a 16-cm-area detector during the first follow-up examination after EVAR. There were 39 consecutive patients (36 men and 3 women; mean age, 74 y ± 8.

[Efficacy of chemotherapy combined with bortezomib for two cases of relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Bortezomib (BZM), a proteasome inhibitor, was recently reported to be effective against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We report two cases of relapsed/refractory ALL, who were treated with BZM (1.3 mg/m2/dose, 2 doses/week for 2 weeks) in combination with vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone, and L-asparaginase (L-ASP).

Challenges for preventing the metabolic syndrome in kidney transplant recipients, initial report: survey of the current state of affairs before acting.

Objective: To prevent the metabolic syndrome preventive in kidney transplant recipients, we measured changes in body composition parameters using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and measuring renal function, blood tests, quality of life, and consciousness of life improvement. The usefulness of BIA was investigated.

Subjects And Methods: Out of all kidney transplant recipients being treated at an outpatient clinic, 20 (13 males and 7 females) gained ≥ 5 kg after transplantation.

Relationship of thresholds of physical performance to nutritional status in older hospitalized male cardiac patients.

Aim: Nutrition is the focus of a new treatment target in older hospitalized cardiac patients. However, little is known about the differences in nutritional status in relation to physical performance in these inpatients. We determined the differences in physical performance based on the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and physical performance cut-off values according to the GNRI in older male cardiac inpatients.

High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for recurrent primary mediastinal malignant germ cell tumor: a case report.

A 15-yr-old boy presented with an anterior mediastinal mass, multiple lung metastases and obstruction of the left brachiocephalic vein, the superior vena cava and the subclavian vein. Tumor biopsy by CT guidance confirmed a diagnosis of GCT. Five courses of BEP therapy were performed, and CT of the chest revealed reduction in the anterior mediastinal mass and disappearance of the multiple lung metastases.

Moderate-intensity single exercise session does not induce renal damage.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether a single moderate-intensity exercise session induces renal injury based on various parameters that reflect kidney dysfunction, including urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP).

Methods: Adult outpatients (n = 31) with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not receiving renal replacement therapy participated in this study. Urine was collected before and after a single 20-min moderate-intensity exercise session.

Association between mental health and physical activity in patients with chronic heart failure.

Purpose: Poor mental health (MH) is common in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. No studies have reported a relation between MH status and objectively measured physical activity (PA) in CHF patients. The study aim was to determine self-reported MH-related differences associated with PA and target values of PA for improved MH in CHF outpatients.

Usefulness of step counts to predict mortality in Japanese patients with heart failure.

The purpose of this study was to determine both an association between mortality and physical activity (PA) objectively measured by accelerometer and cutoff values for PA in Japanese outpatients with heart failure (HF). This prospective observational study comprised 170 HF outpatients (mean age, 65.2 years; 77% men).

[Usefulness of low kilovoltage settings in computed tomography venography of lower limbs].

It has been reported that a reduction in tube kilovoltage during computed tomography (CT) angiography results in an average reduction of the effective radiation dose. Furthermore, a lower kilovoltage has been shown as a technique dose. However, there is no fundamental data in a low-kilovoltage protocol for CT venography.