研究速報 : Autonomous decentralized systems based on ditributed conrolled MEMS actuator for micro conveyance application

特集2 日仏マイクロメカトロニクス国際共同研究組織(LIMMS

Effect of Pain Severity on Executive Function Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the reciprocal relationship between pain severity and executive function in community-dwelling older adults. Method: In this prospective cohort study, 64 Japanese community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older (mean age 72.8 years; women, 68.8%) were analyzed. Pain severity was assessed by self-reported questionnaire while executive function was assessed by the Trail Making Test at baseline and at 1-year follow-up assessment. A mixed effect model was conducted to analyze the effect of baseline executive function on change in pain severity and effect of baseline pain severity on change in executive function. Results: The effect of baseline Trail Making Test on change in pain severity was not significant. On the contrary, the effect of high baseline pain severity on the decline in set shifting (Trail Making Test Part B) was significant even after adjustment with age, sex, years of education, depressive symptoms, and analgesic drug use. Conclusion: Higher baseline pain severity was associated with greater executive function decline in community-dwelling older adults. Executive function decline due to severe pain should be considered as well as pain itself

Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) in Japanese children aged 9 to 12 years. Methods: A total of 210 children aged between 9 and 12 years participated. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated using Cronbach alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Validity was evaluated using athletic competence (AC), self-efficacy (SE), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (%BF), cardiovascular fitness (CVF), and World Health Organization Health Behavior in School-aged Children (WHO HBSC) physical activity questionnaire. Results: Internal consistency was acceptable (alpha = 0.80) and test-retest reliability showed excellent agreement (ICC = 0.83). The PAQ-C score was significantly correlated with AC ( r  = 0.41), SE ( r  = 0.65), %BF ( r  = 0.19), and CVF ( r  = −0.32). The PAQ-C score of the active group classified by the WHO HBSC physical activity questionnaire (mean score ± standard deviation [SD] = 3.03 ± 0.57) was significantly higher than that of the inactive group (mean score ± SD = 2.27 ± 0.63, P  < .01). Conclusions: The PAQ-C had acceptable reliability and validity. The PAQ-C is a useful instrument to evaluate physical activity for Japanese children aged 9 to 12 years

Effect of Pain Severity on Executive Function Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the reciprocal relationship between pain severity and executive function in community-dwelling older adults. Method: In this prospective cohort study, 64 Japanese community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older (mean age 72.8 years; women, 68.8%) were analyzed. Pain severity was assessed by self-reported questionnaire while executive function was assessed by the Trail Making Test at baseline and at 1-year follow-up assessment. A mixed effect model was conducted to analyze the effect of baseline executive function on change in pain severity and effect of baseline pain severity on change in executive function. Results: The effect of baseline Trail Making Test on change in pain severity was not significant. On the contrary, the effect of high baseline pain severity on the decline in set shifting (Trail Making Test Part B) was significant even after adjustment with age, sex, years of education, depressive symptoms, and analgesic drug use. Conclusion: Higher baseline pain severity was associated with greater executive function decline in community-dwelling older adults. Executive function decline due to severe pain should be considered as well as pain itself

Targeted Therapy for Acute Autoimmune Myocarditis with Nano-Sized Liposomal FK506 in Rats

Immunosuppressive agents are used for the treatment of immune-mediated myocarditis; however, the need to develop a more effective therapeutic approach remains. Nano-sized liposomes may accumulate in and selectively deliver drugs to an inflammatory lesion with enhanced vascular permeability. The aims of this study were to investigate the distribution of liposomal FK506, an immunosuppressive drug encapsulated within liposomes, and the drug’s effects on cardiac function in a rat experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) model. We prepared polyethylene glycol-modified liposomal FK506 (mean diameter: 109.5 ± 4.4 nm). We induced EAM by immunization with porcine myosin and assessed the tissue distribution of the nano-sized beads and liposomal FK506 in this model. After liposomal or free FK506 was administered on days 14 and 17 after immunization, the cytokine expression in the rat hearts along with the histological findings and hemodynamic parameters were determined on day 21. Ex vivo fluorescent imaging revealed that intravenously administered fluorescent-labeled nano-sized beads had accumulated in myocarditic but not normal hearts on day 14 after immunization and thereafter. Compared to the administration of free FK506, FK506 levels were increased in both the plasma and hearts of EAM rats when liposomal FK506 was administered. The administration of liposomal FK506 markedly suppressed the expression of cytokines, such as interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α, and reduced inflammation and fibrosis in the myocardium on day 21 compared to free FK506. The administration of liposomal FK506 also markedly ameliorated cardiac dysfunction on day 21 compared to free FK506. Nano-sized liposomes may be a promising drug delivery system for targeting myocarditic hearts with cardioprotective agents

Time-course changes in vascular permeability in myocarditic hearts in the rat EAM model.

<p>The representative brightfield and fluorescent images of the myocarditic hearts of rats that received fluorescent-labeled nano-sized beads (100 nm) are shown in the upper and lower panels, respectively. Hearts were excised on days 0, 10, 14, 17 and 21 after immunization. In each time point, 2–3 rats were checked. Bar indicates 10 mm.</p

Effects of free and liposomal FK506 on histological findings in the myocarditic hearts.

<p>Representative transverse sections in ventricles stained with hematoxylin and eosin (upper panels) and Masson’s trichrome (lower panels) at low magnification (A) and high magnification (C). (B) Quantitative analysis of areas of cell infiltration and fibrosis (N = 4–12 in each group). Scale bars indicate 5mm and 500 μm in (A) and (C), respectively. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. * P < 0.05 versus the saline treated group. # P < 0.05 versus the free FK506 treated group.</p

Effects of free and liposomal FK506 on hemodynamic parameters in the rat EAM model.

<p>Quantitative data of hemodynamic parameters including left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), max dP/dt and minimum dP/dt. EAM rats were treated with free or liposomal FK506 (0.035 mg/kg) on days 14 and 17 after immunization (N = 6 and 9, respectively). Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. * P < 0.05 versus the free FK506 treated group.</p