Objective: This study aimed to identify the characteristics of cases in which walking level improves even in the later stages of convalescent rehabilitation, and to predict such cases.Methods: The Walking LEVEL Scale (WaLS) was measured over time in 192 patients (brain-related and orthopedic diseases) admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward. The “delayed recovery group (DR)” was defined as the group showing improvement of WaLS in the later period, while the “non-delayed recovery group (NDR)” was defined as the group for whom improvement of WaLS did not extend into the same period. Then, changes in WaLS over time and each factor were compared to identify differences between DR and NDR. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, cutoff values, sensitivity and specificity, likelihood ratios for the relevant factors were calculated and examined for the predictability of DR utilizing Bayesian estimation.Results: WaLS temporal changes showed a sigmoid curve only in the DR of brain-related disease. Other groups showed logarithmic curves. The WaLS score at admission was selected as a significant variable. The positive and negative likelihood ratios for the score at cutoff values of 4 or less were 2.00 and 0.19 for brain-related disease, and 1.49 and 0.63 for orthopedic disease, respectively. Adopting the DR frequency of the participants in this study as the prior probability, the DR posterior probability of brain-related disease was calculated to be 5% using the negative likelihood ratio.Conclusion: The negative likelihood ratio of the WaLS score at admission is useful for predicting DR for brain-related disease.

We are under pressure to reform the social security system and work styles. To realize these reforms and basic principles, we need to understand the current environment surrounding the hospital and consider future measures. We report on the problems identified as a result of our investigation of the medical environment in the South West Mikawa West Medical Region and our hospital, and propose the use of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) as a solution to these problems. We examined data from the National Census, the Japan Medical Association Research Institute for General Policy Studies, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and our hospital’s management meeting. In this medical area the population aged 65 years or older and the demand for medical care are projected to increase toward the year 2045. On the other hand, the number of physicians and nurses per 100,000 population in this medical region is below the national average. Almost no change was seen in the number of patients coming to the hospital by ambulance or the number of emergency admissions by ambulance, and their admission rates did not change significantly over the past 5-year period. However, the rate of unfilled ambulance demand increased, due to the impact of full beds. Of the total number of emergency ambulance admissions, the rate of moderately ill patients averaged 74% over the 5-year period. The number of inpatient transfers in 2022 decreased by 25.5% (176) compared to that in 2019 due to the lack of personnel to transport patients. As the demand for medical care increases toward 2045, we need to reduce the rate of unfilled ambulance demand while at the same time reforming work styles to create a more comfortable workplace for healthcare workers. To achieve these goals, key tasks may be to review the transfer transport system for moderately ill patients and to expand the role of EMTs.

Introduction: Patients with vertebral compression fractures are likely to decrease physical function and activities of daily living (ADL) due to pain and inactivity. In this study, we examined the effect of the amount of rehabilitation provided on functional prognosis in patients with vertebral compression fracture.Methods: We included 18,174 vertebral compression fracture patients aged 65 years or older in the JMDC multicenter data. Barthel index (BI) gains, BI efficiency, ADL independence at discharge (BI≧95), and discharge home were compared between patients who received an average of at least 1 unit of rehabilitation during hospitalization (high-provider group) and those who received less than 1 unit per day (low-provider group).Results: There were 4,145 patients in the high-provider group and 14,029 in the low-provider group. The high-provider group had higher BI gain and BI efficiency, as well as a higher percentage of patients with independent ADLs at discharge (41.6%) and a higher percentage of patients discharged home (79.2%). In multiple regression analysis, the high-provider group had higher BI gain (regression coefficient: 2.423) and BI efficiency (regression coefficient: 0.043). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the high-provider group had a higher rate of discharge home (odds ratio: 1.26) and a higher rate of ADL independence at discharge (odds ratio: 1.17).Conclusion: In patients with vertebral compression fractures, the amount of rehabilitation provision may have an impact on functional prognosis.

Objective: To clarify whether early mobilization is a predictive factor for ambulation recovery in elderly patients and/or patients with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).Methods: This multicenter retrospective observational study included 471 patients with treated SAH (Group 1). We focused on SAH patients with a poor prognosis, including a subgroup of elderly SAH patients (age>65 years: n=203) (Group 2) and patients with severe SAH (World Federation of Neurological Societies [WFNS] grade IV or V: n=117) (Group 3). The chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the differences between the ambulation recovery group and the non-recovery group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis modeling was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of early mobilization for the ambulation-recovered group within 30 days of onset compared with the unrecovered group. Other covariates examined as possible confounders of the outcome were age, sex, location of the ruptured aneurysm, modified Fisher scale score, WFNS grade, mode of treatment (surgical vs. endovascular), duration of cerebrospinal fluid drainage, days on mechanical ventilation, intracerebral hemorrhage, symptomatic cerebral vasospasm, complications, shunt placement for hydrocephalus, and time to start mobilization.Results: Early mobilization was an independent predictive factor for gait recovery in all groups. Furthermore, location of the ruptured aneurysm (anterior circulation), absence of complications, and absence of shunt placement were independent factors for ambulation recovery in all groups.Conclusion: Early mobilization in elder or/and sever patients with SAH may be a predictive factor for ambulation recovery within 30 days of onset.

Objective: This study investigated and compared the responsiveness of the Walking LEVEL Scale (WaLS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM)-walk item, and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) in patients hospitalized in a Convalescent Rehabilitation Ward (CRW).Methods: One hundred three patients participated in this study. Physical or occupational therapists assessed the three scales at two times of admission and discharge to determine the responsiveness. The amount of change, ceiling and floor effect, Effect Size (ES), and Standardized Response Mean (SRM) determined the responsiveness to change from admission to discharge. Their analysis was by severity and disease.Results: The amount of change in WaLS was larger than that of the FIM-walk item and FAC, except for the moderate gait disability group. More ceiling and floor effects were observed in FIM-walk item evaluation. Regardless of severity or disease, all rating scales showed moderate or better responsiveness (ES > 0.5). When ceiling or floor effects were observed, ES tended to be overestimated. The SRM of WaLS was larger than that of the other scales, except for the mild gait disability group.Conclusion: The results support WaLS as the most suitable instrument to detect walking level changes over time for patients in CRW.

Introduction: Patients with vertebral compression fractures are likely to decrease physical function and activities of daily living (ADL) due to pain and inactivity. In this study, we examined the effect of the amount of rehabilitation provided on functional prognosis in patients with vertebral compression fracture.Methods: We included 18,174 vertebral compression fracture patients aged 65 years or older in the JMDC multicenter data. Barthel index (BI) gains, BI efficiency, ADL independence at discharge (BI≧95), and discharge home were compared between patients who received an average of at least 1 unit of rehabilitation during hospitalization (high-provider group) and those who received less than 1 unit per day (low-provider group).Results: There were 4,145 patients in the high-provider group and 14,029 in the low-provider group. The high-provider group had higher BI gain and BI efficiency, as well as a higher percentage of patients with independent ADLs at discharge (41.6%) and a higher percentage of patients discharged home (79.2%). In multiple regression analysis, the high-provider group had higher BI gain (regression coefficient: 2.423)and BI efficiency (regression coefficient: 0.043). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the high-provider group had a higher rate of discharge home (odds ratio:1.26) and a higher rate of ADL independence at discharge (odds ratio: 1.17).Conclusion: In patients with vertebral compression fractures, the amount of rehabilitation provision may have an impact on functional prognosis.

Objective: To clarify whether early mobilization is a predictive factor for ambulation recovery in elderly patients and/or patients with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).Methods: This multicenter retrospective observational study included 471 patients with treated SAH (Group 1). We focused on SAH patients with a poor prognosis, including a subgroup of elderly SAH patients (age>65 years:n=203) (Group 2) and patients with severe SAH (World Federation of Neurological Societies [WFNS] grade IV or V:n=117) (Group 3). The chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the differences between the ambulation recovery group and the non-recovery group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis modeling was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of early mobilization for the ambulation-recovered group within 30 days of onset compared with the unrecovered group. Other covariates examined as possible confounders of the outcome were age, sex, location of the ruptured aneurysm, modified Fisher scale score, WFNS grade, mode of treatment (surgical vs. endovascular), duration of cerebrospinal fluid drainage, days on mechanical ventilation, intracerebral hemorrhage, symptomatic cerebral vasospasm, complications, shunt placement for hydrocephalus, and time to start mobilization.Results: Early mobilization was an independent predictive factor for gait recovery in all groups. Furthermore, location of the ruptured aneurysm (anterior circulation), absence of complications, and absence of shunt placement were independent factors for ambulation recovery in all groups.Conclusion: Early mobilization in elder or/and sever patients with SAH may be a predictive factor for ambulation recovery within 30 days of onset.

Methods: The study participants were 249 patients who underwent intradiscal condoliase injection for LDH at nine participating institutions, including 241 patients with initial LDH (group C) and eight with recurrent LDH (group R). Patient characteristics including age, sex, body mass index, disease duration, intervertebral LDH level, smoking history, and diabetes history were evaluated. Low back pain/leg pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate clinical symptoms before treatment and at 6 months and 1 year after treatment. Results: Low back pain NRS scores (before treatment and at 6 months and 1 year after treatment, respectively) in group C (4.9 → 2.6 → 1.8) showed significant improvement until 1 year after treatment. Although a tendency for improvement was observed in group R (3.5 → 2.8 → 2.2), no significant difference was noted. Groups C (6.6 → 2.4 → 1.4) and R (7.0 → 3.1 → 3.2) showed significant improvement in the leg pain NRS scores after treatment. Group C (41.4 → 19.5 → 13.7) demonstrated significant improvement in the ODI up to 1 year after treatment; however, no significant difference was found in group R (35.7 → 31.7 → 26.4). Conclusions Although intradiscal condoliase injection is less effective for LDH recurrence than for initial cases, it is useful for improving leg pain and can be considered a minimally invasive and safe treatment method.

Methods: Male and female patients with computed tomography data were selected. Dimensions of the first thoracic (T1), fourth lumbar (L4), and fifth lumbar (L5) vertebrae were measured, and bone models consisting of the cancellous and cortical bones made from polyurethane foam were created. PS with diameters of 4.5 mm, 5.5 mm, and 6.5 mm were used. T1 PS were 25 mm long, and L4 and L5 PS were 40 mm long. The bone models were secured with cement, and the MIT was measured using a calibrated torque wrench. After MIT testing, the PS head was attached to the machine’s crosshead. POS was then calculated at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min until failure. Results: The L4 and L5 were notably larger in female bone models, whereas the T1 vertebra was larger in male bone models. Consequently, the MIT and POS for L4 and L5 were higher in female bone models across all PS diameters than in male bone models. Conversely, the MIT for T1 was higher in male bone models across all PS; however, no significant differences were observed in the POS values for T1 between sexes. Conclusions The mechanical properties of the proposed bone models can vary based on the vertebral structure and size. For accurate 3D surgical and mechanical simulations in the creation of custom-made medical devices, bone models must be constructed from patientspecific medical images.

Background/Aims: Immune checkpoint blockade has recently been reported to be effective in treating microsatellite instability (MSI)-high tumors. Therefore, sufficient sampling of histological specimens is necessary in cases of unresectable pancreatic cancer (UR-PC). This multicenter study investigated the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) using a Franseen needle for MSI evaluation in patients with UR-PC. Methods: A total of 89 patients with UR-PC who underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or EUS-FNB using 22-G needles at three hospitals in Japan (2018–2021) were enrolled. Fifty-six of these patients (FNB 23 and FNA 33) were followed up or evaluated for MSI. Patient characteristics, UR-PC data, and procedural outcomes were compared between patients who underwent EUS-FNB and those who underwent EUS-FNA. Results: No significant difference in terms of sufficient tissue acquisition for histology was observed between patients who underwent EUS-FNB and those who underwent EUS-FNA. MSI evaluation was possible significantly more with tissue samples obtained using EUS-FNB than with tissue samples obtained using EUS-FNA (82.6% [19/23] vs. 45.5% [15/33], respectively; p<0.01). In the multivariate analysis, EUS-FNB was the only significant factor influencing the possibility of MSI evaluation. Conclusions EUS-FNB using a Franseen needle is desirable for ensuring sufficient tissue acquisition for MSI evaluation.