ABSTRACT
The purpose of study was to clarify the factors involved in the popularization of a voluntary group in several locations within Shitara Town. A questionnaire survey was administered to participants of a voluntary group concerning its founding, their participation in the group, and continuity within the group. Responses were obtained from 96 participants. Regarding the founding and participation aspects of the voluntary group, participants believed that the presence of others (i.e., the “existence of peers”) had significant effects. They also believed that voluntary participation that was driven by “one’s own health” was more likely to lead to continued participation. It is important to consider regional factors and interpersonal linkages to enhance the relationship between resident-led self-help and mutual assistance measures aimed at improving residents’ health awareness.
ABSTRACT
[Purpose] This study was carried out to examine the effects of the locomotive syndrome prevention program implemented by our hospital. [Subjects] Thirty-four individuals (3 males and 31 females; mean age, 72.2±6.9 years) who participated in the exercise class held under the program from 2010 to 2011 were enrolled in the study. [Methods] We examined their bodily functions and the self-assessment checklists for locomotion and exercise habit at the beginning of, at the end of, and six months after the class, and made a comparison between the results obtained on the three occasions. The bodily function examinations included tests of grip strength, 10-m fast-paced walk, tandem gait, 30-sec chair-stand (CS-30), timed “up and go” and one-leg stance with their eyes open. The lower limb length to height ratio was calculated in percentage. [Results] A good deal of improvement was observed in all of the bodily functions tested except for the grip strength. The follow-up survey which was taken six years after the class ended showed a significant improvement in the 10-m fastest walk, lower limb length ratio, and CS-30. The average number of locomotion-syndrome-positive items on the locomotion checklist decreased from 2.5 at the beginning of the exercise class to 1.7 at the end of the exercise class, though the difference was not so significant. The number further decreased six months after the class ended. It was also shown that an increasing number of subjects took exercise more frequently. [Conclusion] The abovementioned results suggested that our program was effective in preventing locomotive syndrome.
ABSTRACT
We report a childhood case of localization-related epilepsy manifesting frequent gelastic seizures, which were successfully treated with topiramate (TPM) monotherapy. The seizures were not associated with feelings of mirth. High-resolution three-tesla magnetic resonance imaging revealed no structural abnormality. Interictal 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed hypometabolism over the entire right hemisphere. Single-photon emission computed tomography imaging, both ictal and interictal, demonstrated no significant findings. Interictal electroencephalography (EEG) showed paroxysms in the right frontal region. Ictal video EEG demonstrated diffuse attenuation, followed by fast activities and spike-wave complexes predominantly over the right hemisphere. At the ictal EEG onset, low amplitude paroxysmal fast activity was recorded over the F8-T4 region. The seizures were considered to have originated from the right frontal lobe. TPM monotherapy resulted in complete cessation of the seizure. We suggest that TPM should be considered as a valuable tool for treating childhood intractable gelastic seizures, which are not due to hypothalamic hamartoma.
ABSTRACT
A soundcell is defined as a musical unit of meaning with short period of phrase. The soundcell method (SCM) is a musical procedure that decomposes a musical piece into several soundcells and subsequently recomposes the original music with the soundcells arbitrarily scattered. The present investigation aimed to assess cognitive function in the elderly using the SCM. An electronic system realizing the concept and methodology of the SCM was developed, and SCM examination with the school song “Furusato” as the musical piece was performed on18aged females. Four clinical tests were also carried out before or after the SCM examination to screen cognitive function: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Kana Pick-out Test, and Trail Making Tests A and B. The performance in the SCM examination was compared with the score in the clinical tests. The scores in all four clinical tests were significantly different between subjects who passed and failed the SCM examination. The individuals who passed the SCM examination were not suspected of dementia on the basis of the MMSE and seemed to execute successfully the Kana Pick-out Test. The number of acts and mean act time in the SCM examination were strongly correlated not only with the total score in the MMSE but also with the scores of the two sub-items: attention/calculation and memory recall. The results suggest that the SCM reflects a subject's short-term and recent memory and provides useful supplementary information for early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease since impairment of memory is frequently observed in the early stage of the diseases. In addition, most subjects enjoyed the SCM examination incorporating the element of musical amusement. The SCM is thus expected to allow repetitive and participatory assessment of cognitive function without imposing a large psychological burden on the subject.
ABSTRACT
The evaluation of coronary arteries has become easier, with regard to postoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) evaluation through the development of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). In this study, MDCT and coronary angiography (CAG) were performed for graft assessment after CABG, and the usefulness and assessment capability of MDCT were examined. We examined the morphology of graft stenosis and obstruction in 63 cases (51 men, 12 women, mean age 66 years old) in whom comparison by MDCT and CAG was possible. We used 49 grafts for LITA and 65 grafts for SVG (mean number of anastomoses 2.8). The graft evaluation was possible in all cases in CAG, but it was difficult to evaluate due to artifacts in 5 cases in MDCT. MDCT is less invasive than CAG and is useful for early postoperative assessment of CABG. Also, MDCT allows evaluation of the anastomotic region which can be difficult to evaluate from many directions in CAG, by building an image by the VR, MIP and MPR method. It was particularly useful for evaluation of the form of the whole graft and anastomotic region form by the curved MPR method. Further advance in the evaluation of coronary and bypass graft will depend on future developments in scaning methods and instrument improvements.