The purpose of this study was to compare the motor control against the passive force between an ascend phase (AP) and a descend phase (DP), and to investigate the effect of a subject's athletic experience on it. Thirty-four subjects participated in the experiment, and they were classified into an athlete group and a control group. We used a kinetic-equilibrating (K-E) task. Result of K-E task depends on the kinesthesia, because subjects are required to maintain their balance against a passive force under conditions of limited visual and aural feedbacks. Therefore, subjects were instructed to resist the passive force. Their performance was evaluated using parameters such as absolute error, position fluctuation, and variable error that were calculated from position data. Significantly higher values on DP than AP for each parameter in the control group were found. However, the values of both AP and DP were similar in the athlete group. It was suggested that the athlete group could perform the same level of motor control against passive force between AP and DP, although it was more difficult in DP than in AP for the control group.

We, the delegates of the 2016 Japan-UK exchange, herein report our experiences and impressions of British primary care: "the difference between the career paths of general practitioners from Japan and UK", "medical interpreters and care in a multicultural society" and "framework for development of clinical research". We described our experiences in UK with a literature review. The authors wish for the article to support the advancement of Japanese primary care.

Background/Aims: Esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) contribute to the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, the causes of EMDs and their impact on gastroesophageal reflux disease-associated symptoms remain unknown. This study aims to elucidate clinical features associated with various types of EMDs in patients with heartburn symptoms. Methods: Of the 511 patients who underwent high-resolution manometry, 394 who were evaluated for heartburn symptoms were examined. Patients subjected to high-resolution manometry were classified into 4 groups: outflow obstruction group, hypermotility group, hypomotility group, and normal motility group. Symptoms were evaluated using 3 questionnaires. Patient characteristics and symptoms for each EMD type were compared with those of the normal motility group. Results: Of the 394 patients, 193 (48.9%) were diagnosed with EMDs, including 71 with outflow obstruction, 15 with hypermotility, and 107 with hypomotility. The mean dysphagia score was significantly higher in each of the 3 EMD groups compared with those with normal motility. The mean acid reflux and dyspepsia scores were significantly lower in the outflow obstruction group (P < 0.05). The mean body mass index and median Brinkman index were significantly higher in the hypermotility group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.018, respectively), whereas the mean diarrhea and constipation scores were significantly lower in the hypomotility group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of our study indicate that different EMDs have distinct characteristics. Cigarette smoking and high body mass index were associated with esophageal hypermotility. Assessment of the dysphagia symptom scores may help identify patients with EMDs.

Background/Aims: Esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) contribute to the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, the causes of EMDs and their impact on gastroesophageal reflux disease-associated symptoms remain unknown. This study aims to elucidate clinical features associated with various types of EMDs in patients with heartburn symptoms. Methods: Of the 511 patients who underwent high-resolution manometry, 394 who were evaluated for heartburn symptoms were examined. Patients subjected to high-resolution manometry were classified into 4 groups: outflow obstruction group, hypermotility group, hypomotility group, and normal motility group. Symptoms were evaluated using 3 questionnaires. Patient characteristics and symptoms for each EMD type were compared with those of the normal motility group. Results: Of the 394 patients, 193 (48.9%) were diagnosed with EMDs, including 71 with outflow obstruction, 15 with hypermotility, and 107 with hypomotility. The mean dysphagia score was significantly higher in each of the 3 EMD groups compared with those with normal motility. The mean acid reflux and dyspepsia scores were significantly lower in the outflow obstruction group (P < 0.05). The mean body mass index and median Brinkman index were significantly higher in the hypermotility group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.018, respectively), whereas the mean diarrhea and constipation scores were significantly lower in the hypomotility group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of our study indicate that different EMDs have distinct characteristics. Cigarette smoking and high body mass index were associated with esophageal hypermotility. Assessment of the dysphagia symptom scores may help identify patients with EMDs.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders may lead to massive postpartum hemorrhage but optimal treatment strategies have yet to be determined. This retrospective analysis involved 35 cases of PAS that occurred at our hospital between January 2014 and November 2021. Mean maternal age was 37 (21-43) years and 8 pregnancies were the result of assisted reproductive therapy. Fifteen patients had placenta previa, 12 had a history of cesarean delivery, and one had a history of PAS. Mean gestational age was 36 (26-41) weeks. Twenty deliveries were by cesarean section and 15 were vaginal deliveries. Mean blood loss was 2,970 (300-14,727) mL. Nine patients were treated by manual placenta removal, one of whom had a delayed hysterectomy because of bleeding. Eleven patients were treated by cesarean hysterectomy and 2 were treated by curettage. Thirteen patients were treated by conservative management, and in 3 of them, treatment was changed to curettage, abdominal placenta resection, or hysterectomy because of vaginal bleeding or intrauterine infection. Four patients thought to have PAS before delivery were treated by cesarean hysterectomy and the amount of bleeding was not severe. Conservative treatment for placenta accreta was successful in 10 patients (77%), and the uterus could be preserved in 12 women (92%). In cases thought to be PAS before delivery, if the placenta is not removed, cesarean hysterectomy should be selected. Conservative management tends to be selected in cases of PAS when the main part of the placenta can be removed. However, in cases of life-threatening hemorrhage or infection, clinicians might need to perform peripartum hysterectomy or uterine artery embolization when bleeding or infection occurs. Therefore, clinicians should obtain informed consent for such treatment in advance.