Effect of facilitating positions on behavioral arousal was studied in 10 right-handed male subjects. Vocal reaction times (RTs) were examined in the three positions: 1) neutral position (N), 2) facilitating position of the left arm (FA), and 3) facilitating position of the left leg (FL). Mean RTs across the subjects were 165.0msec in N, 153.1msec in FA and 152.2msec in FL. Compared to N, RTs were significantly faster in FA and FL. Facilitating positions induce behavioral arousal or alertness and thus result in the decrease of RTs The neurophysiological mechanisms concerning behavioral arousal caused by facilitating positions were briefly discussed.

A cutaneous electrical stimulation (CES) was applied to the skin over the left and right anterior tibial muscles of eight normal subjects, and the effect on reaction times (RTs) of finger extensions on the left and light hands was studied. RTs of fingers of both hands decreased significantly after receiving CES on the left while RTs of fingers of the right hand only decrease after receiving CES on the right. These results suggest that the left and right CESs differ from each other in the effect on behavioral alertness. If it is assumed that the pain relieving effect of CES is generated via the central arousal mechanism, this finding is critical in clinical application of the CES for relieving pain.

In order to analyze the influence of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) on rehabilitation process of stroke Patients, the comparison of functional gain and length of hospital stay was made between eight patients treated with TRH (TRH group) and 11 age and sex matched ones without TRH (control group). Using Social Maturation Scale (Takenshiki, SMS) and Motor Age Test for trunk and lower extremities (MoA), the patients were assessed at the admission, 2 and 3 months after the admission and the discharge, respectively. TRH of 2mg was administered once a day by intravenous drip injection for 10 days between 2 and 3 months after the admission. The gain of SMS score between 2 and 3 months after the admission was larger in the TRH group than in the control group, especially that of interpersonal skills. The gain of MoA score was not different between the two groups. Compared to the control group (5.3 months), the length of hospital stay was significantly short in the TRH group (4.2 months). However, functional gain during inpatient-rehabilitation was not different between the two groups. It is assumed that TRH is effective to shorten the course of stroke rehabilitation.

A 65-year-old man had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using a left internal mammary artery graft 3 years and 5 months previously. Anginal pains recurred due to an occlusion of the left subclavian artery. A subclavian-subclavian artery bypass was performed using 8mm e-PTFE graft with rings and the results were excellent. This grafting procedure appears to be a safe and satisfactory reperfusion technique, and therefore we recommend its use in patients requiring CABG.

Methods: This study included 539 patients diagnosed with spinal metastasis from February 2009 to July 2018. The patients were categorized into four groups based on age: <59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥80 years. Differences in trunk muscle composition among age groups and among groups were classified on the basis of survival (< or >3 months after spinal metastasis diagnosis) were evaluated. Results: In total, 515 patients (273 men, 242 women; mean age, 67.8 years) with complete medical records were included in the analysis. No significant differences were observed in the area of the psoas and paravertebral muscles among age groups in either sex. A significant trend toward a low muscle density with the increase in age was found for both sexes. Patients who survived less than 3 months had significantly smaller trunk muscle area than those who survived for more than 3 months in both sexes. Conclusions The results suggest that the reduction in muscle density is associated with advanced age, whereas a decreased muscle area is associated with pathology. Additionally, a small trunk muscle area was associated with a short overall survival. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of age- versus cancer-related changes in the muscle area and their influence on overall survival.

Methods: This study included a total of 85 patients between 2016 and 2021. Nonsurgical treatments were provided by the respiratory medicine department. HU values for metastatic spinal lesions were evaluated upon diagnosis of spinal metastasis (baseline) and at 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. Patients were then divided into two groups based on the median HU increase from baseline to 3 months. Overall survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Based on the median change in HU value (124), 42 and 43 patients were categorized into the HU responder and non-responder groups, respectively. The median overall survival was significantly longer in the HU responder group than in the HU non-responder group (13.7 months vs. 6.4 months, p <0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the use of antiresorptive agents and molecularly targeted therapies were factors significantly associated with an increase in HU. Conclusions An increase in HU values for metastatic spinal lesions after 3 months of treatment was correlated with a significantly longer overall survival in patients with NSCLC. Thus, HU measurements may not only serve as an easy and quantitative approach for evaluating treatment response in metastatic spinal lesions but also predict overall survival.

Methods: This study included a total of 85 patients between 2016 and 2021. Nonsurgical treatments were provided by the respiratory medicine department. HU values for metastatic spinal lesions were evaluated upon diagnosis of spinal metastasis (baseline) and at 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. Patients were then divided into two groups based on the median HU increase from baseline to 3 months. Overall survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Based on the median change in HU value (124), 42 and 43 patients were categorized into the HU responder and non-responder groups, respectively. The median overall survival was significantly longer in the HU responder group than in the HU non-responder group (13.7 months vs. 6.4 months, p <0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the use of antiresorptive agents and molecularly targeted therapies were factors significantly associated with an increase in HU. Conclusions An increase in HU values for metastatic spinal lesions after 3 months of treatment was correlated with a significantly longer overall survival in patients with NSCLC. Thus, HU measurements may not only serve as an easy and quantitative approach for evaluating treatment response in metastatic spinal lesions but also predict overall survival.