Search

Background: Japan has now become a super-aged society. Notably, as the Japanese society ages, the prevalence of falls, which represent an aging-related problem, has increased. Locomotive syndrome (LS) is a condition of decreased mobility due to locomotive organ disorder. The loco-check is simple tool to detect early-stage LS. The loco-check comprises seven items relating to daily activities. Higher numbers of affirmative answers in the loco-check are negatively associated with physical functions. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential correlation between the number of affirmative answers given on the "loco-check" survey and the likelihood of experiencing at least one fall during the following one-year period., Methods: This prospective study included 154 cases (35 men, 119 women), all aged 65 years or older, answered the loco-check at baseline. As part of their normal treatment process, the participants made monthly visits to the out-patient department; thus, at each of these visits for the following 12 months a medical doctor interviewed each patient to determine whether they had experienced a fall during the previous month., Results: The mean age of the sample was 77.3 years, and the median number of affirmative answers given was 2.0. The number of affirmative answers significantly correlated with the cases which had a fall event within the follow-up period. Specifically, an increase in one "yes" answer on the loco-check increased the relative risk of fall (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.70). In addition, the risk of fall was high in cases which showed the number of affirmative answers given on the loco-check ≥4 (odds ratio: 9.26; 95% CI: 1.05-81.7)., Conclusion: The number of affirmative answers given on the loco-check is positively correlated with a fall event within the following year., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The present study was undertaken to examine whether antibiotic-impregnated calcium phosphate cement (CPC) would provide a valid means of treating osteomyelitis., Methods: The antibiotic used for the impregnation was dideoxy-kanamycin B (DKB), which is available in two forms (powder and liquid). Columnar test specimens (diameter 7 mm, height 14 mm) were prepared by adding the liquid or powdered DKB. Group A: Three types (6.25-titer, 12.5-titer, 25-titer) of test specimen were prepared by mixing the setting solution and DKB solutions into cement. Group B: Three types (25-titer, 50-titer, 100-titer) of test specimen were prepared by mixing the setting solution and DKB powder into cement. Group C: A control specimen was prepared by mixing the setting solution into the cement. The study included a consistency test, setting-time test, compressive strength test, porosity test, and elution test., Results: The value for the consistency test was >23 mm in all test groups. The results of the setting-time test showed that the setting time became significantly longer as the DKB content increased for groups A group B. Compressive strength decreased as the antibiotic content increased, although all specimens remained sufficiently strong for clinical application. In group A the porosity did not differ significantly depending on the antibiotic content, whereas in group B the porosity increased significantly as the antibiotic content increased. In the elution test using specimens with the same titer (25 titer), the elution efficiency was higher in group A than in group B, and the duration of elution was longer in group A., Conclusions: Although polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been conventionally used as a drug-delivery system (DDS), the results of the present study indicate that CPC shows better elution efficiency than PMMA. It is thus a promising DDS for the treatment of osteomyelitis.