Exercise therapy as well as diet therapy, is fundamental in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, however, its methods and effects of long term physical exercise therapy has not yet been clarified.
The present study has been designed to evaluate the effects of physical exercise therapy in diabetic patients with fasting hyperglycemia. Ten non-insulin dependent diabetic patients participated in a 6-month physical exercise program consisting of 30 min, of jogging performed 3 times per week (Exercise group) . The exercise intensity represented 40% of estimated Vo₂max.
The following results were obtained:
1. More significant improvement of glucose tolerance and plasma insulin response to glucose load was observed in exercise group as compared with the patients treated with mild caloric restriction alone (Diet group, N=15) .
2. The significant increase in plasma HDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was observed only in exercise group.
3. The reduction of body weight in exercise group was significantly greater than that in diet group.
4. The physical exercise also resulted in an improvement of cardiovascular adaptaion to exercise.
5. Improvement of symptoms in daily life activity was also found after physical exercise therapy. However, some medical troubles such as hypoglycemia, muscle pain and arthralgia were found during observation period.
In conclusion, physical exercise therapy is useful as an adjunct to diet to improve metabolic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. And for effective exercise therapy, exercise program must be individualized, and motivation is stimulated by team including physician, trainer, nurse and dietitian.

Introduction : To promote disease management in the community, general physicians should refer their patients to specialists in a timely and appropriate manner. In this study, we propose an indicator for evaluation of such referrals.
Methods : We analyzed all referrals in an urban clinic from September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. Symptoms and diagnoses documented by general physicians were collected from medical records, and the final diagnoses by specialists were collected from their reports. The symptoms and diagnoses were classified using the International Classification of Primary Care second edition (ICPC-2). Referral rates, hospitalization rates, and place of referral were analyzed.
Results : The average number of encounters in the candidate clinic was 1402 per month, and the mean number of referrals was 23 (1.6% of encounters). Of patients who received a referral, 6.75 (29.1%) were admitted to hospitals. The symptoms and diagnoses of the referred patients were distributed across all chapters (A to Z) of ICPC-2. Diagnoses of admitted patients included pneumonia (R81) (24%), urinary tract infection (U70 and U71) (9%), and acute gastroenteritis with dehydration (D73 with T11) (9%).
Conclusion : We identified the referral rates, hospitalization rates, and distribution of referral patients as indicators of the triage function of primary care physicians. These should be evaluated further as potential indicators of “the quality of medical care.”

Methods: In total, 306 patients who received L5 floating lumbar fusion were included in this study. Clinical L5–S1 ASD was defined as newly developed radiculopathy in relation to the L5–S1 segment. Patients’ medical records and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed. The risk factors for clinical ASD were assessed by an inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted logistic regression analysis. Results: Clinical L5–S1 ASD occurred in 17 patients (5.6%). The mean onset time of L5–S1 ASD was 12.9±7.5 months after the primary surgery. Among these patients, 10 (58.8%) presented with clinical L5–S1 ASD within 12 months. Reoperation was performed in three patients (1.0%). The severity of L5–S1 disk degeneration did not affect the occurrence of L5–S1 ASD. Logistic regression analysis showed that the number of fusion levels was a significant risk factor for clinical L5–S1 ASD. Conclusions The incidence and characteristics of clinical L5–S1 ASD after L5 floating lumbar fusion were retrospectively investigated. This study established that the number of fusion levels was a significant candidate factor for clinical L5–S1 ASD. Careful clinical follow-up is deemed necessary after L5 floating lumbar fusion surgery, especially for patients who received multiple-level fusions.

STUDY DESIGN: Preliminary clinical trial. PURPOSE: To determine the safety and initial efficacy of intradiscal injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) releasate in patients with discogenic low back pain. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: PRP, which is comprised of autologous growth factors and cytokines, has been widely used in the clinical setting for tissue regeneration and repair. PRP has been shown in vitro and in vivo to potentially stimulate intervertebral disc matrix metabolism. METHODS: Inclusion criteria for this study included chronic low back pain without leg pain for more than 3 months; one or more lumbar discs (L3/L4 to L5/S1) with evidence of degeneration, as indicated via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and at least one symptomatic disc, confirmed using standardized provocative discography. PRP releasate, isolated from clotted PRP, was injected into the center of the nucleus pulposus. Outcome measures included the use of a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), as well as X-ray and MRI (T2-quantification). RESULTS: Data were analyzed from 14 patients (8 men and 6 women; mean age, 33.8 years). The average follow-up period was 10 months. Following treatment, no patient experienced adverse events or significant narrowing of disc height. The mean pain scores before treatment (VAS, 7.5±1.3; RDQ, 12.6±4.1) were significantly decreased at one month, and this was generally sustained throughout the observation period (6 months after treatment: VAS, 3.2±2.4, RDQ; 3.6±4.5 and 12 months: VAS, 2.9±2.8; RDQ, 2.8±3.9; p<0.01, respectively). The mean T2 values did not significantly change after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that intradiscal injection of autologous PRP releasate in patients with low back pain was safe, with no adverse events observed during follow-up. Future randomized controlled clinical studies should be performed to systematically evaluate the effects of this therapy.
Cytokines ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Leg ; Low Back Pain* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Metabolism ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Platelet-Rich Plasma* ; Regeneration ; Visual Analog Scale

  Background: Heat shock proteins (Hsps), expression of which are induced by thermal treatment, function in the protection of kidneys by suppressing apoptosis and maintaining renal tubular viability. Moreover, recently, it has been indicated that the expression of Hsps can be a therapeutic target for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We investigated the effect of dry sauna therapy on ADPKD model mice.  Methods and Results: The mice (male DBA/2FG-pcy mice) were categorized into three groups: controls, TS: pcy mice subjected to prolonged sauna with administered water containing 4% sucrose, SW: pcy mice administered water containing 4% sucrose. The TS group was subjected to sauna sessions twice a week for four weeks. The TS group attained and were maintained at rectal temperatures of approximately 39.0°C, until they were carefully removed from the far infrared-ray device. After 4 weeks of sauna treatment, creatinine and blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) levels determined by an enzymatic method. The heat shock protein (HSP) or cell growth and size related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. The TS group exhibited marginally higher creatinine and BUN levels than did the control and SW groups, however, the differences were not significant. However, cyst enlargement in the TS group reduced significantly compared to that of the control group. HSP90 expression was slightly decreased in the TS and SW groups relative to the control group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001, vs. control), as was Erk expression, which is linked to cyst development and proliferation (p < 0.05, TS vs. control). Hsp27 expression and phosphorylation level in the SW group were comparable with that of the control group. However, the TS group had increased levels of Hsp27 and phosphorylation (NS). The expression of pro-caspase-3 in the TS group was marginally lower than that in the control group. However, the activity of caspase-3 in all groups showed no differences.  Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that 4 weeks of sauna treatment could cause transient dehydration and related renal dysfunction and led to the risk of stimulating cyst growth by increased Hsp27 expression. Moreover, we concluded that prevention of dehydration and cyst growth could be suppressed by taking an appropriate amount of water directly after sauna treatment.

  Background: Heat shock proteins (Hsps), expression of which are induced by thermal treatment, function in the protection of kidneys by suppressing apoptosis and maintaining renal tubular viability. Moreover, recently, it has been indicated that the expression of Hsps can be a therapeutic target for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We investigated the effect of dry sauna therapy on ADPKD model mice.  Methods and Results: The mice (male DBA/2FG-pcy mice) were categorized into three groups: controls, TS: pcy mice subjected to prolonged sauna with administered water containing 4% sucrose, SW: pcy mice administered water containing 4% sucrose. The TS group was subjected to sauna sessions twice a week for four weeks. The TS group attained and were maintained at rectal temperatures of approximately 39.0°C, until they were carefully removed from the far infrared-ray device. After 4 weeks of sauna treatment, creatinine and blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) levels determined by an enzymatic method. The heat shock protein (HSP) or cell growth and size related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. The TS group exhibited marginally higher creatinine and BUN levels than did the control and SW groups, however, the differences were not significant. However, cyst enlargement in the TS group reduced significantly compared to that of the control group. HSP90 expression was slightly decreased in the TS and SW groups relative to the control group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001, vs. control), as was Erk expression, which is linked to cyst development and proliferation (p < 0.05, TS vs. control). Hsp27 expression and phosphorylation level in the SW group were comparable with that of the control group. However, the TS group had increased levels of Hsp27 and phosphorylation (NS). The expression of pro-caspase-3 in the TS group was marginally lower than that in the control group. However, the activity of caspase-3 in all groups showed no differences.  Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that 4 weeks of sauna treatment could cause transient dehydration and related renal dysfunction and led to the risk of stimulating cyst growth by increased Hsp27 expression. Moreover, we concluded that prevention of dehydration and cyst growth could be suppressed by taking an appropriate amount of water directly after sauna treatment.

Objective: Because patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) were forced to stay indoors during the state of emergency, resulting in stress and a lack of physical activity, concerns about their glycemic control were raised.Patients and Methods: The 165 patients’ glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were compared during the following periods: the 4 months that were selected as a representative condition 1 year before the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2018, March 2019, June 2019, and July 2019) and the latter 3 months as a 1-year follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2019, March 2020, June 2020, and July 2020).Results: The patients’ HbA1c levels were 7.32 ± 1.23, 7.44 ± 1.20, 7.16 ± 1.06, 7.01 ± 1.05, 7.23 ± 1.06, 7.45 ± 1.18, 7.15 ± 10.7, and 7.11 ± 1.17 in May 2018, March 2019, June 2019, July 2019, May 2019, March 2020, June 2020, and July 2020, respectively (expressed as mean ± standard deviation).Conclusion: The analysis showed that HbA1c levels did not worsen during the self-restraint period.