We used a randomized controlled trial and examined the effectiveness of a 3-month, home based, exercise program to the functioning in older Japanese adults. Following the intervention, we also conducted 3- and 6-month follow-up studies of physical functioning and exercise adherence. Participants were older adults (n = 32, 16 males and 16 females, age over 75 years). They were randomly divided into exercise and control groups. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competences, the Mini-Mental State Examinations, as well as physical fitness tests assessing grip strength, maximum step length, 10 m walking speed, and standing on one leg with eyes open were administered to the participants. Moreover, home visit instructions were given biweekly. Participants worked out at home on 3 days a week. Analyses of variance indicated that the intervention group significantly increased their maximum step length and time standing on one leg with eyes open, although there were no significant changes in the other tests. Result of follow-up investigations indicated that maximum step lengths at 3- and 6-months after the intervention were 69.9 and 68.8 cm respectively, which was less than immediately after the intervention (70.6 cm), but significantly higher than before the intervention (65.8 cm). Moreover, the effect of the intervention on standing on one leg with eyes open was maintained at the 6-month follow-up. Furthermore, percentages of participants that exercised more than one day per week 3- and 6 months after the intervention were 87 % and 81 % respectively, which was significantly higher than before the intervention (44 %). These results suggest that the home-based exercise program was effective in promoting adherence for a period of 6-months.

Regular physical activity has been regarded as a possible means to minimize the adverse physiological changes associated with aging, as well as to contribute to mental health and well-being in later life. To encourage increased participation in exercise among elderly people, and to emphasize the value of exercise in geriatric health care, this article provides an overview of the effects of primary care based physical activity on healthy aging. It is clear from the number of recently published papers on this topic that daily participation in 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity should be recommended for elderly people. The results of physical activity interventions focusing on balance and resistance training in both home- and group-based exercises suggest that it is possible to improve physical functions and to prevent falls and disabilities in daily living. Multiple-element interventions (e. g., advice, as well as strategies to increase self-efficacy and motivation, and to eliminate barriers to participation), tailored to individual activity preferences, are likely to be more successful than more prescriptive single-focus interventions. A home-based physical therapy program can successfully enhance the independence of the frail elderly in community dwellings.

Mandibular chronic osteomyelitis with diffuse osteosclerosis is recognized as an intractable infectious disease. We emplyed decortication and intra-arterial infusion of antibiotics in 6 cases. Decortication on the affected mandible was performed with retrocatherization to the superficial temporal artery of affected side under general anesthesia. Antibiotics, IPM/CS or FOMX was used through the artery for 4-11 days. In addition, we administered FOMX, PIPC intravenously for 8-17 days. CT and MRI were taken postoperatively. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 1 year and 6 months to 2 years and 5 months. Postoperative MR showed that bone marrow signal was recovered to approximately normal in 4 cases. High signal area of bone marrow and osteosclerosis image remained in 2 cases, but showed improvement. The results were satisfactory without recurrence in all of 6 cases.
Anesthesia, General ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arteries ; Bone Marrow ; Communicable Diseases ; Follow-Up Studies ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Mandible ; Osteomyelitis ; Osteosclerosis ; Recurrence ; Temporal Arteries

Objective: Folate receptor α (FRα) is a membrane protein expressed in various solid tumors but has limited expression in normal cells. Therefore, FRα is an attractive target for cancer treatment. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between FRα expression and the clinicopathological characteristics and survivals of cervical cancer. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with cervical cancer who underwent primary surgery between 2000 and 2020 at our institution. Immunohistochemical staining of FRα was performed using an anti-folate-binding protein/FBP antibody. FRα-positive staining was defined as ≥5% of tumor staining and FRα-high as ≥50% tumor staining with ≥2+ intensity. The association between FRα expression and survival was assessed using multivariate Cox regression analysis, adjusting for established prognostic factors. Results: Overall, 123 patients were identified, and 140 tumor samples, including 17 paired primary and metastatic samples, were evaluated. As histological types, 67 patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 56 patients had non-SCC. All primary tumors were FRα-positive. High FRα expression was observed in 25% of the cases and differed according to histology (SCC vs. non-SCC, 14.9% vs. 37.5%, p=0.004). FRα expression was significantly higher in metastatic tumors than in primary (170 [IQR, 140–205] vs. 125 [IQR, 110–150], p=0.0006). High FRα expression was significantly associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio, 6.73; 95% confidence interval, 2.21–20.53; p=0.001). Conclusion In cervical cancer, FRα expression was elevated in metastatic tumors and high expression was associated with a worse prognosis. Our study supports the development of FRα-targeted therapy for advanced cervical cancer.