Objectives: Human T cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-I) is a causative agent of human T-cell leukemia and HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP). HTLV-I carriers are often infected vertically, especially via mother's milk. Since 1985, clinical measures have been adopted at a hospital in Okinawa to prevent vertical infections.
Methods: We examined HTLV-I antibodies in all of the women (total 11, 506) who gave birth after 24 gestational weeks at a hospital on the Okinawa main island from January 1985 to December 1999.
Results: The positive rate among all pregnant women was always higher than that among primipara alone. Both figures decreased over the period studied, but the primiparity rate (36-39%) did not change significantly. The percentage of HTLV-I positive primipara pregnant women among the HTLV-I positive total was close to the primiparity rate from 1985 to 1988, but it was considerably lower than the overall primiparity rate thereafter (22-26%).
Conclusions: Preventive measures against HTLV-I infection did not contribute to the decrease in HTLV-I positive mothers before 1999 because these measures were adopted from 1985, and so there must be other reasons for the decrease in HTLV-I positive rate. Further studies on social factors and by year of birth are needed to identify factors influencing HTLV-carrier ratios among pregnant women.

Objectives: Osteosarcopenia is defined as osteoporosis with sarcopenia. The impacts of osteosarcopenia on falls and fractures in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were investigated using 4 years of data from a longitudinal study (CHIKARA study). Methods: The patients were divided into 4 groups by their baseline status: no sarcopenia and no osteoporosis (SP-OP-); only sarcopenia (SP + OP-); only osteoporosis (SP-OP+); and both sarcopenia and osteoporosis (SP + OP+). Survival rates and Cox hazard ratios were analyzed using falls and fractures as endpoints, adjusted by age, sex, and body mass index. Results: A total of 100 RA patients (SP-OP-: 44%, SP + OP-: 17%, SP-OP+: 28%, and SP + OP+: 11%) were enrolled; 37 patients had falls, and 19 patients had fractures. The fall-free and fracture-free survival rates were significantly lower in SP + OP+ (36.4%, 54.5%) than in SP-OP- (75.0%, 86.4%). The hazard ratio of falls was significantly increased in SP + OP+, by 3.32-fold (95%CI: 1.01–10.9), whereas in SP + OP- and SP-OP+, there were no differences compared to SP-OP-. Conclusions The survival rates with the endpoints of falls and fractures in RA patients with osteosarcopenia were lower during 4-year follow-up. The risk of falls increased with the synergistic effect of osteoporosis and sarcopenia.

Objectives: Behavioral restrictions and staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic have affected lifestyles. It was hypothesized that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) decreased their activities of daily living (ADL) and exercise during the pandemic. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in lifestyle and body composition. Methods: Data were obtained from an observational study (CHIKARA study). Of 100 RA patients, 70 (57 women, 13 men) were followed-up with measurements of grip strength, as well as muscle mass, fat mass, and basal metabolic rate by a body composition analyzer. Changes in ADL and exercise were evaluated using a visual analog scale. The relationships between changes in ADL or exercise and body composition were investigated. Results: Muscle mass and grip strength were significantly lower after behavioral restrictions compared to the periods before restrictions (34.0 vs 34.7 kg, P < 0.001; 16.2 vs 17.2 kg, P = 0.013, respectively). Fat mass was significantly greater after behavioral restrictions compared to the periods before restrictions (16.2 vs 15.5 kg, P = 0.014). The mean decrease in ADL was 44%, whereas that of exercise was 20%.The change in muscle mass (β = −0.335, P = 0.007) was the only independent factor for the change in exercise on multivariate analysis. Conclusions Muscle mass and grip strength decreased and fat mass increased in RA patients with the behavioral restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Muscle mass decreased in patients without exercise. Maintenance of muscle mass may be important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with AIS who underwent posterior spinal fusion from August 2006 to March 2017 at our facility and were followed up for 2 years or more were included. Radiological parameters were measured on whole-spine anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. Revised SRS-22 (SRS-22r) values were also recorded. Coronal trunk imbalance was defined as a deviation of ≥2.0 cm between the C7PL and the central sacral vertical line. Patients with and without coronal trunk imbalance at 2 years after surgery were defined as D (+) (decompensation type) and D (-), respectively. Mean SRS-22r values, including function, pain, self-image, mental health, and subtotal were compared between the D (+) and D (-) groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to detect the preoperative factors related to D (+) using predictors, including curve type, maximum Cobb angle, and coronal trunk imbalance. Results: At 2 years after surgery, the D (+) group had a significantly lower self-image in the domain of SRS-22r scores compared with the D (-) group. Preoperative coronal trunk imbalance was significantly related to D (+) but not to significant changes in the postoperative SRS-22 score in any of the SRS-22 domains. Conclusions Postoperative C7PL deviation lowers the self-image in patients with AIS. Patients with preoperative coronal trunk imbalance were significantly more likely to be D (+).