Muscle Fiber Composition Changes after Selective Nerve Innervation

Facial nerve paralysis interferes with mimetic muscle function. To reconstruct natural facial movement, free muscle flaps are transplanted as new muscles. However, it is difficult to maintain resting tonus. A dual innervation technique in which other nerves such as the hypoglossal nerve or contralateral facial nerve are added is often applied. Using 10-week-old rats (n = 10), the masseteric and hypoglossal nerves were cut, and the distal stump of the masseteric nerve and the proximal stump of the hypoglossal nerve were then sutured (suture group). In the other group, the masseteric nerve was cut and cauterized (cut group). Immunohistochemistry and microarray were performed on the extracted masseter muscle. The immunohistochemistry results suggested that the muscles in the suture group obtained oxidative characteristics. The microarray showed the genes involved in mitochondrial function, including Perm1. In summary, our data support the validity of the dualinnervation technique for facial paralysis treatment

Skeletal muscle mass and vitamin D

A clearer understanding of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in middle-aged and elderly individuals is important for maintaining functionality. In the present study, age-related changes in SMM, the threshold of SMM with walking difficulty, intestinal nutrient absorption rate, and various serum factors were examined in Japanese populations of different ages. We used 24-h creatinine excretion as a measure of total body SMM. Age-related decreases in SMM, intestinal nutrient absorption rates, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were significantly higher in women than in men. The cut-off values for SMM (kg), its percentage of total body weight (BW), the SMM index [SMMI] (Kg / m2), and creatinine height index (CHI) (%) in elderly individuals with walking difficulty were approximately 8-10 kg, 17-20% of BW, 3.9-4.6 kg / m2, and 44%, respectively. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were closely associated with SMM (kg, % of BW, kg / m2) and CHI (%) as well as the intestinal absorption rates of nitrogen (%) and phosphorus (%) in women, but not in men. The present results demonstrate that vitamin D is an important metabolic factor in skeletal muscle, and contributes to the optimal management of skeletal muscle and the prevention of sarcopenia

Skeletal muscle mass of old Japanese women suffering from walking difficulty in nursing home

By using 24 hour urinary creatinine levels, skeletal muscle mass (kg), its rate (%) of body weight and creatinine height index (%) were determined in old Japanese women suffering from walking difficulty in nursing home and compare with those of young university students. Those of old subjects showed approximately 30- 50%, 36-44% and44-46% of young subjects, respectively. It is suggested that these values are important and useful biomarkers for the planning and the achievement of rehabilitation program for the maintaining and restoring skeletal muscle mass and for the careful support by registered care workers to aged persons

Effect of handholding on heart rate variability in both patients with cancer and their family caregivers: a randomized crossover study

令和3年

Awareness of comfort immediately after a relaxation therapy session affects future quality of life and autonomic function: a prospective cohort study on the expectations of therapy

Abstract Background High expectations regarding therapy are reported to have positive effects on future therapeutic course and related behavior. Some individuals are aware of feelings of comfort immediately after a relaxation therapy session. Methods Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) therapy using a relaxation technique called resonant breathing was administered to 44 family caregivers who felt burdened by their work caring for family members with cancer. We prospectively evaluated how the level of comfort participants were aware of immediately after an initial therapy session affected their expectations regarding the therapy, as well as future quality of life (QOL) and autonomic function. This study was a secondary analysis of a randomized, open-label study titled “Self-care system for family caregivers of cancer patients using resonant breathing with a portable home device”. Results Among the participants, 56.8% were aware of a feeling of comfort immediately after an initial therapy session. Participants were then divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of their awareness of comfort. Expectation levels regarding the therapy were significantly increased in the awareness group after the therapy session (P = 0.003). No main effect between groups was observed for heart rate variability (HRV) during therapy (P = 0.949). Four weeks after the initial therapy session, QOL improved and HRV increased in the awareness group (P < 0.001). Conclusions Better outcomes in the awareness group were not associated with HRV during therapy. A feeling of comfort immediately after a therapy session may have positive effects on future QOL and autonomic function by raising participants’ expectations of the therapy. Trial registration UMIN000021639. Registered 27 March 201