•Physical functioning declined in 17% of older patients after cardiac surgery.•The decline could be predicted by several factors, including some that are modifiable.•Additional rehabilitation ...interventions to routine practice might reduce the decline.
As few studies have examined physical functioning changes after cardiac surgery, the factors related to the decline in physical functioning remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the factors related to physical functioning decline after cardiac surgery in older patients.
The final study sample consisted of 523 older (≥65 years) patients (age 74.2±6.1 years, 66% male) who underwent cardiac surgery at 8 Japanese institutions. We excluded patients who were unable to walk independently or had a slow gait speed (<0.8m/s) before surgery, and those who were unable to regain independent walking after surgery. We divided the patients into two groups, a decline-in-gait-speed group and a non-decline-in-gait-speed group, according to whether their gait speed was less than 0.8m/s at discharge. We analyzed patients’ clinical characteristics to identify the factors that predicted the postoperative decline in gait speed.
Eighty-nine patients (17.0%) showed a postoperative decline in gait speed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the following factors predicted a postoperative decline in gait speed: age odds ratio (OR) 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.11; estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR 0.98, CI 0.96–0.99); preoperative gait speed (OR 0.01, CI 0.00–0.08); and the postoperative day on which the patient could walk independently (OR 1.08, CI 1.02–1.14).
Physical functioning declined in 17% of patients after surgery. The decline could be predicted by several clinical factors, including some that are modifiable. These results suggest that further interventional research on rehabilitation before and after cardiac surgery for older patients might help overcome the decline in physical functioning.
The effectiveness of gamification-based feedback systems that utilize non-monetary points to promote exercise among cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients has not been fully evaluated. This study ...aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a gamification program using non-monetary points on the daily step counts in CVD patients. We collected 30 patients with a history of heart failure or myocardial infarction at a single tertiary center between January 9, 2023, and April 13, 2023. The primary outcome was the change in daily step counts. The baseline step counts were compared with those during the 4-week gamification and the 1-week follow-up period. A total of 29 participants with a mean age of 64.6 years were finally enrolled, and 8 (27.6%) were female. Among them, 23 (79.3%) had a history of old myocardial infarction, and 9 (31.0%) had a history of chronic heart failure. During the intervention period, the average daily step counts increased significantly from baseline in weeks 1-5 (week 1: 1165 steps; 95% CI, 319-2011; P = 0.009, week 2: 1508; 635-2382; P = 0.001, week 3: 1321; 646-1996; P < 0.001, week 4: 1436; 791-2081; P < 0.001, week 5:1148; 436-1860; P < 0.001). Higher body mass index was statistically associated with the smaller difference in step counts from the baseline, and the lower proportion of achievement of step count goals. Female sex was significantly associated with the higher proportion of achievement of step count goals. In conclusion, this pilot prospective interventional study demonstrated the effectiveness of gamification-based feedback systems that utilize non-monetary points to increase daily step counts in CVD patients.
The effectiveness of gamification-based feedback systems that utilize non-monetary points to promote exercise among cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients has not been fully evaluated. This study ...aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a gamification program using non-monetary points on the daily step counts in CVD patients. We collected 30 patients with a history of heart failure or myocardial infarction at a single tertiary center between January 9, 2023, and April 13, 2023. The primary outcome was the change in daily step counts. The baseline step counts were compared with those during the 4-week gamification and the 1-week follow-up period. A total of 29 participants with a mean age of 64.6 years were finally enrolled, and 8 (27.6%) were female. Among them, 23 (79.3%) had a history of old myocardial infarction, and 9 (31.0%) had a history of chronic heart failure. During the intervention period, the average daily step counts increased significantly from baseline in weeks 1-5 (week 1: 1165 steps; 95% CI, 319-2011; P = 0.009, week 2: 1508; 635-2382; P = 0.001, week 3: 1321; 646-1996; P < 0.001, week 4: 1436; 791-2081; P < 0.001, week 5:1148; 436-1860; P < 0.001). Higher body mass index was statistically associated with the smaller difference in step counts from the baseline, and the lower proportion of achievement of step count goals. Female sex was significantly associated with the higher proportion of achievement of step count goals. In conclusion, this pilot prospective interventional study demonstrated the effectiveness of gamification-based feedback systems that utilize non-monetary points to increase daily step counts in CVD patients.
Aims
Functional decline is associated with worse outcomes in patients with elderly heart failure (HF), but little is known about the prognostic impact of hospital‐acquired disability (HAD) during ...hospital stay after acute HF. The present study examines the prognostic significance of HAD in the prediction of all‐cause mortality in elderly patients who admitted for acute HF.
Methods and results
This retrospective study was performed in 1941 elderly patients aged ≥65 years or older from the cardiovascular physiotherapy for acute HF patients in the Tokyo metropolitan area registry and excluded those who died in hospital. HAD was defined as any decline in the Barthel index (BI) before discharge compared with the BI within 1 month before hospital admission. The primary outcome of this study was all‐cause death and HF readmission. A total of 565 (29%) deaths and 789 (41%) HF readmission occurred over a median follow‐up period of 1.7 years. A total of 476 patients (25%) had HAD during hospital stay after acute HF. In multivariable analysis, HAD predicted all‐cause death hazard ratio (HR): 1.772; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.450–2.167; P < 60; 0.001 and with risk of HF readmission (HR: 1.193; 95% CI: 1.005–1.416; P = 0.043) after adjusting for the Meta‐analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure risk score.
Conclusions
Hospital‐acquired disability is associated with an increased risk of all‐cause death and readmission for HF in elderly patients with acute HF.
We present the case of a 56-year-old male patient with paravertebral extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) secondary to myelodysplastic syndrome with ring sideroblasts and multilineage dysplasia. In a ...routine health checkup over 5 years prior, he presented with asymptomatic mild anemia and a posterior mediastinal mass. Pathological and cytomorphological findings of the resected paravertebral mass were similar to those of his bone marrow specimen, and included cellularity with erythroid hyperplasia, multilineage dysplastic changes, and the presence of ring sideroblasts. A concordant
SF3B1
mutation was detected in both bone marrow and paravertebral mass samples, suggesting that the EMH cells were derived from the bone marrow.
•Skeletal muscle mass index was lower in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), suggesting sarcopenia.•Calorie, protein, and fat intake in adults with CHD was higher than controls.•Resistance ...training and amino acid intake increased skeletal muscle in adults with CHD.•Resistance training and amino acid intake also improved edema index, and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide levels.•Appropriate nutritional education and resistance training guidelines should be provided.
This study aimed (1) to assess the nutritional status and dietary intake, (2) compare the body composition and nutritional intake between sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia, and (3) evaluate the effects of resistance training and amino acid intake in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Study 1 In total, 172 adults with CHD were prospectively enrolled. The Food Frequency Questionnaire was used, and body composition analysis was conducted. Study 2: Thirty of 172 adult patients with CHD were divided into two groups: amino acid intake plus resistance training (group A) and amino acid intake only (group B) for 2 months.
Study 1: Skeletal muscle mass index was lower in adults with CHD compared to healthy Japanese. Calorie, protein, and fat intake in adults with CHD was higher than those in the National Nutritive Intake Investigation; however, the difference in carbohydrate or salt intake was non-significant. Study 2: In adults with CHD in group A, body fat percentage, edema index, and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide improved, and body weight, skeletal muscle mass index, and basic metabolism increased after the intervention. There was no improvement after intervention for group B.
According to this study, adults with CHD have higher calorie, protein, and fat intake than those in a national survey despite decreased skeletal muscle mass. Amino acid intake plus resistance training positively improved body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, and edema in adults with CHD. Appropriate nutritional education and resistance training guidelines should be provided.
Bendamustine is now recognized as a key drug for indolent B-cell lymphoma (iBCL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Skin toxicity associated with bendamustine is one ...of the characteristic adverse effects. We retrospectively examined the relationship between bendamustine-associated drug rashes and disease prognosis of iBCL and MCL at our institution. Between January 2011 and August 2019, 65 patients (39 men and 26 women, median age 68, range 41-84 years) were treated with bendamustine alone (n=11, 120 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2) or a combination of rituximab and bendamustine (n=54, 90 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2). Of these patients, 47 had follicular lymphoma (FL), 10 had MCL and 8 had other iBCLs. Drug rash occurred in 27 (41.5%). Eight cases (29.6%) were grade 1, 5 (18.5%) were grade 2 and 14 (51.9%) were grade 3. The onset was in the first course in 17 (63.0%), 2nd course in 5 (18.5%), 3rd course in 2 (7.4%), 4th course in 1 (3.7%) and 5th course in 2 (7.4%). No treatment was administered in 1 case (3.7%), topical steroid was applied in 10 (37.0%), antiallergic drug was administered in 2 (7.4%), topical steroid and antiallergic drug were administered in 5 (18.5%), and oral and topical steroid and antiallergic drug were administered in 9 (33.3%). The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with rash development were 80.0% and 85.5%, respectively, and those in patients without development were 36.4% and 54.0%, respectively (p=0.009 and 0.02, respectively). By multivariate analysis, the development of rash was associated with a better PFS and a diagnosis of iBCL was associated with a better OS. This study revealed that bendamustine-induced rash is associated with a favorable prognosis among patients with iBCL.
To reveal primary biofoulant in soluble microbial products (SMP) and/or soluble extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), after removal of sludge particles, activated sludge samples were subjected to ...microfiltration tests in a submerged MBR. Filtration resistance directly correlates with the saccharide concentration. Saccharides in wastewater from several sources contained uronic acids, which increased the filtration resistance. When the microfiltration test liquids contained saccharides over 80
mg l
−1, a gelatinous mass remained on the membrane surface after filtration and contained concentrations of saccharides and uronic acids 50 times higher than the original test liquid while only trace amounts of these substances were contained in the filtrate. The gelatinous mass contained high molecular weight substances of 10
6–10
8
Da, suggesting the presence of polysaccharides. However, molecules of this size were calculated to be much smaller than the pore size of the membrane. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid decreased filtration resistance, suggesting that polysaccharides containing uronic acid units could undergo intermolecular or intramolecular ionic cross-linking by polyvalent cations and form the gel, thus clogging the membrane pores as an actual biofoulant.