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The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (FDA-2) and to use this tool to describe the features of speech in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The Japanese version of FDA-2 was culturally adapted, and reliability and validity were examined in 22 and 50 patients, respectively. The Japanese version of FDA-2 was administered to 51 patients with DMD. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors related to FDA-2 scores. Inter-/intra-rater reliabilities (ICCs) and internal consistency (Cronbach's α) for total scores were 0.76, 0.97, and 0.94 respectively. For construct validity, two-way ANOVA showed a significant interaction between the disorders and FDA-2 sections (p < 0.05). In DMD patients, the item of tongue at rest was most severely affected, reflecting tongue hypertrophy. Multiple regression analysis identified age, swallowing status, and ventilator use as significantly related. The results showed that the Japanese version of FDA-2 has satisfactory reliability and validity. The present study demonstrated the features of dysarthria and related factors in patients with DMD. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an absent or defective dystrophin protein causes progressive weakness of respiratory and oropharyngeal muscles, both of which are crucial contributors to speech production. This study shows that the Japanese version of FDA-2 has satisfactory reliability and validity compared to original version. The Japanese version of FDA-2 characterizes dysarthria in patients with DMD in this cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left ventricular hypertrophy commonly occurs in dialysis patients and is associated with a risk of developing cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality. Although hypertension treatment reduces left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in hemodialysis patients, the relationships of prescription pattern, dose, and changes in the dose of antihypertensive drugs with LVMI have not been completely elucidated. Here, we hypothesized that volume reduction would lead to a decrease in the antihypertensive drug dose and subsequently to a reduction in LVMI; conversely, fluid retention would lead to an increase in the antihypertensive drug use and, subsequently, to LVMI progression. To assess this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between changes in the dose of antihypertensive drugs and subsequent changes in LVMI in 240 patients who had just started hemodialysis using a retrospective hemodialysis cohort in Japan. Using multiple linear regression analysis, we assessed the association between changes in the antihypertensive drug dose over 1 year after hemodialysis initiation and changes in LVMI during this period. A decrease and an increase in the antihypertensive drug dose were significantly associated with a reduction in LVMI (vs. no change; β = – 17.386, p <.001) and LVMI progression (vs. no change; β = 16.192, p <.001), respectively. In conclusion, our findings suggested that volume reduction, leading to a decrease in the use of antihypertensive drugs, is a therapeutic strategy in patients undergoing hemodialysis to prevent LVMI progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: Rhinomanometry is a useful method for evaluating nasal airway patency in schoolchildren, and we could confirm the validity of the results it produces. Objective:Our purposewas to assess the validity nasal resistancemeasurements produced using anterior active rhinomanometry by comparing the resultswith thoseofour previous study andtodetermine anormal value of thenasal resistance. Methods: Nasal resistance was measured by rhinomanometry in 852 children using the active anterior method. Results: Mean nasal resistance was 0.45 ±0.70 Pa/cm3/s.Nasal diseases were noted in 358 (42%) children, and nasal condition was normal (the normal group) in 494 (58%) children. Nasal resistance was 0.57 ±1.05 Pa/cm3/s in the nasal disease group and 0.35 ± 0.16 Pa/cm3/s in the normal group, showing that resistance was significantly higher in the nasal disease group. In the normal nasal groups, nasal resistance tended to be lower in the children in higher grades (first grade, 0.44 ±0.17 Pa/cm3/s; second grade, 0.37 ± 0.11 Pa/cm3/s; third grade, 0.36 ±0.23 Pa/cm3/s; fourth grade, 0.36 ±0.14 Pa/cm3/s; fifth grade, 0.30 ±0.08 Pa/cm3/s; sixth grade, 0.29 ±0.11 Pa/cm3/s), and taller groups (<120 cm, 0.43 ±0.16 Pa/cm3/s; 120-130 cm, 0.37 ±0.19 Pa/cm3/s; 130-140cm, 0.34±0.12 Pa/cm3/s; >140 cm, 0.28±0.09 Pa/cm3/s).Results similar to those seen in our previous studywere obtained in each group [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GIFU substudy of the Candesartan Antihypertensive Survival Evaluation in Japan (CASE-J) trial was conducted to compare the long-term effects of candesartan and amlodipine on office- and home-measured blood pressure (BP), QTc dispersion and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in high-risk Japanese patients with hypertension. We used a prospective, randomized, open-label design with blinded assessment of endpoints. Patients were assigned to candesartan-based therapy up to 12 mg/day ( n == 100) or amlodipine-based therapy up to 10 mg/day ( n == 101) and followed for 3 years. LVMI was assessed by echocardiography and QTc dispersion was obtained from electrocardiograms. Both candesartan and amlodipine lowered and controlled office- and home-measured BP levels with no significant between-treatment differences. In patients diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) at baseline, both candesartan and amlodipine significantly regressed LVMI after 3 years. However, candesartan (41.7 ±± 15.1 ms at baseline vs 32.9 ±± 16.6 ms after 3 years, p < 0.01), but not amlodipine (41.4 ±± 13.5 ms at baseline vs 41.5 ±± 16.1 ms after 3 years), produced a significant reduction in QTc dispersion. Larger studies in patients treated for longer periods are needed to determine whether this candesartan effect will translate into improved prognosis in terms of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]