Aim: To clarify whether the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) independently contributes to the development of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared with carotid arteriosclerosis ...parameters and other risk factors. Methods: Eighty-eight consecutive patients with exudative AMD were enrolled. A control group (40 age-matched men, 65 years of age or older) was also evaluated, and the parameters were compared between the two groups. A logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent factors for the diagnosis of AMD. In addition, simple linear and multiple regression analyses were used to determine the relationships between the CAVI and other parameters. Results: The carotid intima-media thickness and plaque scores in the AMD group did not differ significantly from those observed in the control group. The CAVI in the AMD group was significantly (p=0.01) higher than that observed in the control group. A logistic regression analysis showed that the CAVI (odds ratio OR, 1.91; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.26-7.20; p=0.007) and the use of lipid-lowering drugs (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10-0.86; p=0.03) independently contributed to the diagnosis of AMD. Age, the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level and the incidence of exudative AMD each independently contributed to the CAVI. Conclusions: The CAVI is more significantly associated with exudative AMD than carotid atherosclerosis parameters. The overall arterial stiffness is correlated with the pathogenesis of exudative AMD. The CAVI is a useful marker of exudative AMD in elderly patients with arteriosclerosis risk factors.
To investigate the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in retinal vein occlusion (RVO) patients.
Forty RVO patients who had undergone either vitreous surgery or anti-coagulation therapy ...were included in this study. Pulse oximetry was conducted during the night and 4% oxygen desaturation index (4% ODI times/hour) and mean SpO2 (%) were calculated. If 4% ODI > or = 5, SDB was diagnosed. The results were compared between branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). In addition, simple linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate whether 4% ODI related to systemic factors for RVO patients, i.e., incidences of hypertension and diabetes and body mass index(BMI kg/m2).
Forty two percent of the men, 33% of the women and 37% of all the RVO patients were diagnosed as having SDB. The prevalence of SDB and 4% ODI, and the mean SpO2 were not significantly different between the BRVO and CRVO cases. The incidences of diabetes tended to correlate to the 4% ODI, however, neither proved significant. The BMI had a statistic correlation with the 4% ODI.
The results of our study suggested that RVO cases have a high frequency of SDB. We believe that at the time of ophthalmic medical examinations or during the treatment of RVO, ophthalmologists should be aware of the possibility of SDB.
Individuals with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) reportedly has problems with anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) while standing. However, the use of coactivation strategy in APAs in ...individuals with BSCP has conflicting evidence. Hence, this study aimed to investigate postural muscle activities in BSCP during unilateral arm flexion task in which postural perturbations occur in the sagittal, frontal, and horizontal planes. We included 10 individuals with BSCP with level II on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (BSCP group) and 10 individuals without disability (control group). The participants stood on a force platform and rapidly flexed a shoulder from 0° to 90° at their own timing. Surface electromyograms were recorded from the rectus femoris, medial hamstring, tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius. The control group showed a mixture of anticipatory activation and inhibition of postural muscles, whereas the BSCP group predominantly exhibited anticipatory activation with slight anticipatory inhibition. Compared with the control group, the BSCP group tended to activate the ipsilateral and contralateral postural muscles and the agonist–antagonist muscle pairs. The BSCP group had a larger disturbance in postural equilibrium, quantified by the peak displacement of center of pressure during the unilateral arm flexion, than those without disability. Individuals with BSCP may use coactivation strategy, mainly the anticipatory activation of postural muscle activity, during a task that requires a selective postural muscle activity to maintain stable posture.
•Postural muscle activities during unilateral arm flexion task were examined.•Individuals with and without bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) participated.•Control group showed anticipatory activation and inhibition of postural muscles.•BSCP group predominantly exhibited anticipatory activation with slight inhibition.•BSCP group may not use selective muscle activity and adopt coactivation strategy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Purpose This study aimed to develop a method for assessing anticipatory postural adjustments associated with voluntary movements in individuals with functional ankle instability. We examined whether ...the peroneus longus muscle exhibits anticipatory activation before unilateral abduction of the lower limb in individuals without disability. Participants and Methods Twelve healthy young adults participated in this study. Participants maintained a standing posture with 95 ± 2.5% of their weight on the left side and with the thenar of their right foot in contact with a small wooden board fixed to a force platform. Thereafter, they abducted their right lower limb by approximately 35° at maximum speed; during this time, electromyographic activities of the focal and postural muscles were recorded. Results The peroneus longus, external oblique, and erector spinae muscles on the left side of the body were activated before the right gluteus medius muscle, which is a focal muscle of abduction of the right lower limb. The activation timing of the left peroneus longus was the fastest among these postural muscles. Conclusion These findings suggest that the peroneus longus muscle plays an important role in anticipatory postural adjustments associated with unilateral abduction of the lower limb and that an ankle strategy is adopted in anticipatory postural adjustments during this task.
Physical exercises are widely used in community programs, but not all older adults are willing to participate. Information and communication technology may solve this problem by allowing older people ...to participate in fitness programs at home. Use of remote instruction will facilitate physical exercise classes without requiring that participants gather at one place. The aim of this study was to examine use of a sit-to-stand task in evaluating motor function using conventional video communication in a telemetry system to enable real-time monitoring, and evaluation in physical performance of older adults at home.
The participants were 59 older individuals and 81 university students. Three physical exercise batteries were used: arm curl, figure-of-eight walk test, and functional reach. The knee extension maximum angular velocity (KEMAV) and the iliac elevation maximum velocity (IEMV) during standing up from a chair and the heel rise frequency were used in the motion-capture measurements. The results were assessed using multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) for the young and older groups.
Young participants consistently performed better than their older counterparts on all items. Analyses with multi-group SEM based on correlations between items yielded a good model-fit for the data. Among all path diagrams for IEMV and KEMAV in the older and young groups, paths from muscular strength to skillfulness showed significant effects. The path from the IEMV to muscular strength was also significant in the older group.
Multi-group SEM suggested that video-based measurements of IEMV during sit-to-stand motion can estimate muscular strength, which suggests that remote monitoring of physical performance can support wellness of community-dwelling older adults.
Abstract. Purpose This study aimed to develop a method for assessing anticipatory postural adjustments associated with voluntary movements in individuals with functional ankle instability. We ...examined whether the peroneus longus muscle exhibits anticipatory activation before unilateral abduction of the lower limb in individuals without disability. Participants and Methods Twelve healthy young adults participated in this study. Participants maintained a standing posture with 95+-2.5% of their weight on the left side and with the thenar of their right foot in contact with a small wooden board fixed to a force platform. Thereafter, they abducted their right lower limb by approximately 35° at maximum speed; during this time, electromyographic activities of the focal and postural muscles were recorded. Results The peroneus longus, external oblique, and erector spinae muscles on the left side of the body were activated before the right gluteus medius muscle, which is a focal muscle of abduction of the right lower limb. The activation timing of the left peroneus longus was the fastest among these postural muscles. Conclusion These findings suggest that the peroneus longus muscle plays an important role in anticipatory postural adjustments associated with unilateral abduction of the lower limb and that an ankle strategy is adopted in anticipatory postural adjustments during this task.
Substantial heterogeneity exists in treatment recommendations across molecular tumor boards (MTBs), especially for biomarkers with low evidence levels; therefore, the learning program is essential.
...To determine whether a learning program sharing treatment recommendations for biomarkers with low evidence levels contributes to the standardization of MTBs and to investigate the efficacy of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based annotation system.
This prospective quality improvement study used 50 simulated cases to assess concordance of treatment recommendations between a central committee and participants. Forty-seven participants applied from April 7 to May 13, 2021. Fifty simulated cases were randomly divided into prelearning and postlearning evaluation groups to assess similar concordance based on previous investigations. Participants included MTBs at hub hospitals, treating physicians at core hospitals, and AI systems. Each participant made treatment recommendations for each prelearning case from registration to June 30, 2021; participated in the learning program on July 18, 2021; and made treatment recommendations for each postlearning case from August 3 to September 30, 2021. Data were analyzed from September 2 to December 10, 2021.
The learning program shared the methodology of making appropriate treatment recommendations, especially for biomarkers with low evidence levels.
The primary end point was the proportion of MTBs that met prespecified accreditation criteria for postlearning evaluations (approximately 90% concordance with high evidence levels and approximately 40% with low evidence levels). Key secondary end points were chronological enhancements in the concordance of treatment recommendations on postlearning evaluations from prelearning evaluations. Concordance of treatment recommendations by an AI system was an exploratory end point.
Of the 47 participants who applied, 42 were eligible. The accreditation rate of the MTBs was 55.6% (95% CI, 35.3%-74.5%; P < .001). Concordance in MTBs increased from 58.7% (95% CI, 52.8%-64.4%) to 67.9% (95% CI, 61.0%-74.1%) (odds ratio, 1.40 95% CI, 1.06-1.86; P = .02). In postlearning evaluations, the concordance of treatment recommendations by the AI system was significantly higher than that of MTBs (88.0% 95% CI, 68.7%-96.1%; P = .03).
The findings of this quality improvement study suggest that use of a learning program improved the concordance of treatment recommendations provided by MTBs to central ones. Treatment recommendations made by an AI system showed higher concordance than that for MTBs, indicating the potential clinical utility of the AI system.
Loss of muscular strength and decline of balance in older adults impairs their ability to perform activities of daily living, such as walking or moving from a sitting to a standing position ...(sit-to-stand). To develop care methods to maintain their quality of life, it would be useful to evaluate the changes in their movement characteristics using conventional techniques. We investigated the potential of video analysis of the sit-to-stand motion in several applications, i.e., hemiplegia, a rucksack carrying model and physical battery, in older adults. As a result, the sit-to-stand motion reflected the changes in motor function due to muscle weakness and paralysis. Motion analysis using the sit-to-stand motion could be suitable for evaluating the physical abilities of older adults. We review these examples and discuss the research direction of video analysis for both the diagnosis of motor function, as well as supporting health promotion activities.
Loss of muscular strength and decline of balance in older adults impairs their ability to perform activities of daily living, such as walking or moving from a sitting to a standing position ...(sit-to-stand). To develop care methods to maintain their quality of life, it would be useful to evaluate the changes in their movement characteristics using conventional techniques. We investigated the potential of video analysis of the sit-to-stand motion in several applications, i.e., hemiplegia, a rucksack carrying model and physical battery, in older adults. As a result, the sit-to-stand motion reflected the changes in motor function due to muscle weakness and paralysis. Motion analysis using the sit-to-stand motion could be suitable for evaluating the physical abilities of older adults. We review these examples and discuss the research direction of video analysis for both the diagnosis of motor function, as well as supporting health promotion activities.
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