Relationship Between Calcium Intake and Impaired Activities of Daily Living in a Japanese Population: NIPPON DATA90

BackgroundMajor reasons for long-term care insurance certification in Japan are stroke, dementia, and fracture. These diseases are reported to be associated with calcium intake. This study examined the association between calcium intake and impaired activities of daily living (ADL) using the data from NIPPON DATA90, consisting of representative sample of the Japanese population.MethodsA population-based nested case-control study was performed. A baseline survey was conducted in 1990, followed by ADL surveys of individuals ≥65 years old in 2000. Individuals with impaired ADL and selected age- and sex-matched controls were then identified. We obtained 132 pairs. Calcium intake was energy-adjusted using the residual method. The association between calcium intake and impaired ADL was examined using conditional logistic regression models. To assess the accuracy of the estimates, we conducted bootstrap analyses.ResultsThe adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for impaired ADL compared with the group with a calcium intake of <476 mg/day were 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–1.40) for the 476–606 mg/day group and 0.44 (95% CI, 0.21–0.94) for the ≥607 mg/day group in 2000 (P for linear trend = 0.03). After the bootstrap analyses, the inverse relationship unchanged (median OR per 100-mg rise in calcium intake, 0.87 [1,000 resamplings]; 95% CI, 0.76–0.97).ConclusionsAfter bootstrap analyses, calcium intake was inversely associated with impaired ADL 10 years after the baseline survey.Key words: bootstrap analyses, calcium intake, impaired activities of daily living, nested case-control study, NIPPON DATA90     

Multimodal Imaging Assisting the Early Diagnosis of Cat-Scratch Neuroretinitis

To describe how a multifocal fundus imaging system assisted the early diagnosis of cat scratch neuroretinitis in a case of a 27-year-old male with unilateral visual loss, neuroretinitis, and a peripapillary angiomatous lesion. Multimodal fundus imaging analysis was an essential contributor to the clinical diagnosis of cat scratch neuroretinitis during the early stage of the disease.     

Effect of Stride Management Assist Gait Training for Poststroke Hemiplegia: A Single Center,Open-Label,Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Poststroke gait disorders negatively impact activities of daily living. Rehabilitation for stroke patients is aimed at improving their walking ability, balance, and quality of life. Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) is associated with an increased number of task-specific exercises, which may benefit poststroke motor learning. We investigated the effects of RAGT using Stride Management Assist (SMA, which increases walk ratio by inducing hip-joint flexion and extension) in subacute stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Effect of transdermal estrogen dose regimen for endometrial preparation of frozen-thawed embryo transfer on reproductive and obstetric outcomes

PurposePrevious studies have reported different methods of estrogen administration during endometrial preparation for frozen‐thawed embryo transfer (FET). This study aimed to investigate a beneficial regimen of transdermal estrogen administration for FET.MethodsWe investigated the reproductive and obstetric outcomes of FET by comparing the increasing dose (ID) group that mimics changes in serum estradiol during the menstrual cycle and the constant dose (CD) group. Transdermal patches were used for estrogen administration in both groups. In our hospital, we targeted 315 cycles of the ID group in which FET was performed in 2017 and 324 cycles of the CD group in which FET was performed in 2018. In all cases, single embryo transfer was performed.ResultsAll were singleton pregnancies. There was no difference in clinical pregnancy rate (28.9% vs 28.2%, P =.837) and live birth rate (17.3% vs 21.4%, P =.201) between the ID and CD groups. Spontaneous abortion rate was significantly lower in the CD group than in the ID group (37.2% vs 23.0%, P =.041). There was no difference in obstetrical outcomes.ConclusionsIt was considered that the simple CD regimen may be more beneficial than the complicated ID regimen.