Xenon beam wide wave-length including ultraviolet, visible and ultrared rays.
What effects are produced for the human body by using xenon beam effective on the removal of the living body pain?
After patients suffering from low back pain were radiated by xenon beam, their finger-floor distances were measured.
It was examined and compared with the results after using micro wave therapy.
As a result, in xenon beam therapy group, the more the number of times of stimulation was, the shorter the finger-floor distances became gradually, and after more than five times of stimulation, shortening of them was apparent (p<0.01).
Moreover it was known that shortening could be kept in xenon beam therapy group.

Xenon photorays are incoherent waves like the sun rays, but it shows a bright line spectrum. Each bright line exhibits a form similar to the laser spectrum waves. The microwaves have been conventionally used to deliver stimulation to the deep tissues. The effects of the xenon photorays and microwaves on the range of motion in scapulohumeral periarthritis were compared.
Our findings indicated that xenon photorays were superior to the conventional microwaves in bringing about improvement of the range of motion in scapulohumeral arthropathy.

Sleep disturbances are common among women during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using micronized progesterone (MP) may improve sleep, owing to its neurosteroid effects. Studies on the impact of oral MP on sleep quality in Japanese women are limited, given the recent introduction of MP in Japan. We conducted a single-arm, open-label study to examine the effects of HRT with estradiol (E2) and oral MP on sleep quality in 15 peri- and postmenopausal Japanese women who chose HRT to address their menopausal symptoms. The participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and menopausal symptoms questionnaires at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after HRT. The changes in PSQI scores were evaluated. Responders were defined as those with a ≥ 25% reduction in the PSQI global score at 1 month. The PSQI components and menopausal symptoms at baseline were compared between responders and non-responders. Initially, 86.7% of the participants were categorized as poor sleepers. The PSQI global score and sleep quality significantly improved at 1 and 3 months after HRT (baseline to 3rd month mean scores: from 7.8 to 6.1 to 6.5 and from 1.7 to 1.0 to 1.2, respectively). Responders (n = 5) exhibited poorer habitual sleep efficiency before treatment than the non-responders.However, menopausal symptoms did not differ significantly between the groups at baseline. The results indicate that HRT with E2 and MP is a promising treatment option for peri- and postmenopausal Japanese women experiencing sleep disturbances, especially those with poor sleep efficiency.

Sleep disturbances are common among women during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using micronized progesterone (MP) may improve sleep, owing to its neurosteroid effects. Studies on the impact of oral MP on sleep quality in Japanese women are limited, given the recent introduction of MP in Japan. We conducted a single-arm, open-label study to examine the effects of HRT with estradiol (E2) and oral MP on sleep quality in 15 peri- and postmenopausal Japanese women who chose HRT to address their menopausal symptoms. The participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and menopausal symptoms questionnaires at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after HRT. The changes in PSQI scores were evaluated. Responders were defined as those with a ≥ 25% reduction in the PSQI global score at 1 month. The PSQI components and menopausal symptoms at baseline were compared between responders and non-responders. Initially, 86.7% of the participants were categorized as poor sleepers. The PSQI global score and sleep quality significantly improved at 1 and 3 months after HRT (baseline to 3rd month mean scores: from 7.8 to 6.1 to 6.5 and from 1.7 to 1.0 to 1.2, respectively). Responders (n = 5) exhibited poorer habitual sleep efficiency before treatment than the non-responders.However, menopausal symptoms did not differ significantly between the groups at baseline. The results indicate that HRT with E2 and MP is a promising treatment option for peri- and postmenopausal Japanese women experiencing sleep disturbances, especially those with poor sleep efficiency.

Sleep disturbances are common among women during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using micronized progesterone (MP) may improve sleep, owing to its neurosteroid effects. Studies on the impact of oral MP on sleep quality in Japanese women are limited, given the recent introduction of MP in Japan. We conducted a single-arm, open-label study to examine the effects of HRT with estradiol (E2) and oral MP on sleep quality in 15 peri- and postmenopausal Japanese women who chose HRT to address their menopausal symptoms. The participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and menopausal symptoms questionnaires at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after HRT. The changes in PSQI scores were evaluated. Responders were defined as those with a ≥ 25% reduction in the PSQI global score at 1 month. The PSQI components and menopausal symptoms at baseline were compared between responders and non-responders. Initially, 86.7% of the participants were categorized as poor sleepers. The PSQI global score and sleep quality significantly improved at 1 and 3 months after HRT (baseline to 3rd month mean scores: from 7.8 to 6.1 to 6.5 and from 1.7 to 1.0 to 1.2, respectively). Responders (n = 5) exhibited poorer habitual sleep efficiency before treatment than the non-responders.However, menopausal symptoms did not differ significantly between the groups at baseline. The results indicate that HRT with E2 and MP is a promising treatment option for peri- and postmenopausal Japanese women experiencing sleep disturbances, especially those with poor sleep efficiency.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have shown the usefulness of endoscopic nasogallbladder drainage (ENGBD) in patients with acute cholecystitis. However, the procedure is difficult, and factors that affect technical success have not yet been clarified. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficacy, and predictive factors for the technical success of ENGBD in patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS: All patients with moderate or severe acute cholecystitis who were enrolled underwent ENGBD between April 2009 and April 2011. Patients with surgically altered anatomy or pancreatobiliary malignancies were excluded. The primary outcomes included technical success, clinical success, and complications. Factors that could affect the technical success were also examined. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients who underwent ENGBD during the study period, technical success was achieved in 21 (78%) and clinical improvement was achieved in 20 (95%). Early complications were encountered in four patients (15%). Gallbladder wall thickness (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.47) and age (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.35) were effective predictors of technical failure. CONCLUSIONS: ENGBD was effective in resolving acute cholecystitis; however, this modality was technically challenging and had a limited success rate. Because of technical difficulties, ENGBD should be reserved for limited indications.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholecystitis, Acute/*surgery ; Drainage/*methods ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/*methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Gallbladder/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have shown the usefulness of endoscopic nasogallbladder drainage (ENGBD) in patients with acute cholecystitis. However, the procedure is difficult, and factors that affect technical success have not yet been clarified. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficacy, and predictive factors for the technical success of ENGBD in patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS: All patients with moderate or severe acute cholecystitis who were enrolled underwent ENGBD between April 2009 and April 2011. Patients with surgically altered anatomy or pancreatobiliary malignancies were excluded. The primary outcomes included technical success, clinical success, and complications. Factors that could affect the technical success were also examined. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients who underwent ENGBD during the study period, technical success was achieved in 21 (78%) and clinical improvement was achieved in 20 (95%). Early complications were encountered in four patients (15%). Gallbladder wall thickness (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.47) and age (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.35) were effective predictors of technical failure. CONCLUSIONS: ENGBD was effective in resolving acute cholecystitis; however, this modality was technically challenging and had a limited success rate. Because of technical difficulties, ENGBD should be reserved for limited indications.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholecystitis, Acute/*surgery ; Drainage/*methods ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/*methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Gallbladder/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The influences of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on the disease course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are still unclear. We therefore conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study to evaluate the safety of H. pylori eradication therapy for IBD patients. METHODS: IBD patients with H. pylori eradication from 2005 to 2015 (eradication group) and control patients (non-eradication group; 2 paired IBD patients without H. pylori eradication matched with each eradicated patient) were included. IBD exacerbation (increased/additional IBD drug or IBD-associated hospitalization/surgery) and disease improvement based on the physicians’ global assessment were investigated at baseline, and at 2 and 6 months after eradication or observation. RESULTS: A total of 429 IBD (378 ulcerative colitis, 51 Crohn’s disease) patients, comprising 144 patients in the eradication group and 285 patients in the non-eradication group, were enrolled at 25 institutions. IBD exacerbation was comparable between groups (eradication group: 8.3% at 2 months [odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.78–3.92; P=0.170], 11.8% at 6 months [odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.81–3.11; P=0.172]). Based on the physicians’ global assessment at 2 months, none of the patients in the eradication group improved, whereas 3.2% of the patients in the non-eradication group improved (P=0.019). Multivariate analysis revealed that active disease at baseline, but not H. pylori eradication, was an independent factor for IBD exacerbation during 2 months’ observation period. The overall eradication rate was 84.0%–comparable to previous reports in non-IBD patients. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori eradication therapy does not alter the short-term disease activity of IBD.
Clarithromycin ; Cohort Studies ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Metronidazole ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies