This study aimed to investigate the acute change of static stretching (SS) on autonomic nerve activity and to clarify the effect of SS on systemic circulation. Twenty healthy young, male volunteers performed a 1-min SS motion of the right triceps surae muscle, repeated five times. The autonomic nerve activity balance was obtained using second derivatives of the photoplethysmogram readings before (pre), during, and after (post) SS. Heart rate and blood pressure (BP) were also measured. The autonomic nerve activity significantly changed to parasympathetic dominance by SS as compared with pre. In addition, for SS, the autonomic nerve activity slowly changed to sympathetic dominance after completion of all sets of stretching, but these value did not return to pre during the 5 minutes after the completion of all sets of stretching, with parasympathetic dominance continuing by 4 minutes after SS. The BP and HR transiently increased during SS and decreased after SS. In addition, HR significantly decreased after completion of all sets of SS.The possibility that the response during SS may differ from the response during active static stretching is shown.

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is an acute febrile systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that primarily affects children younger than five years of age. The most reliable treatment for acute-phase KD is the combination of aspirin and high dose (2g/kg) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. However, IVIG therapy is occasionally associated with serious thromboembolism, probably because of a rapid increase in plasma IgG concentration. Therefore, patients with KD, who are associated with endothelial impairment, are not free from the risk of thromboembolism associated with IVIG therapy. High levels of IgG, immune complex formation, and increased platelet aggregation could increase blood viscosity after IVIG infusion. Increased serum viscosity reduces arterial and capillary blood flow, leading to thrombosis. We have previously reported that single high-dose IVIG therapy for acute KD raises plasma viscosity. Although there is scarce epidemiological information as to the prevalence of thromboembolism associated with IVIG therapy, the occurrence of these complications must be taken into consideration. This article also includes relevant patents on this topic.

Background: We believe that parental presence before the induction of anesthesia for surgery among children with a cleft palate/lip would be effective in mitigating their preoperative anxiety. Objective: We assessed the states of patients with a cleft palate/lip when their parents accompanied them into operating rooms and clarified their and their parents’ cognition using a questionnaire. Methods: Data were collected via nursing observation when patients and their parents entered the operating room. Furthermore, an anonymous questionnaire was administered to patients and parents after the operation regarding their feelings about parental presence in the operating room. Results: In total, nine patients cried when they entered the surgical room. Furthermore, six patients and three parents reported preoperative anxiety. In addition, eight patients agreed that they were satisfied with the presence of their parents before induction. Conclusion: Approximately half of the patients cried. However, the presence of parents before the induction of anesthesia was effective in reducing anxiety among most patients and their parents.

Reizo Baba, MD, PhD Professor; How can we sort out our patients before sending them to the CMR laboratories?, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, , zwae0

Rapid defibrillation and high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are necessary for patients with cardiopulmonary arrest, one of the most serious and frequently encountered complications in cardiac catheterization laboratories. However, when the catheterization table is withdrawn from its neutral position for fluoroscopy, it is unstable and unsuitable for resuscitation because of its cantilever structure. To stabilize the table in its withdrawn position, the use of a table-stabilizing stick might improve CPR quality. To investigate the effect of using a cardiac catheterization table-stabilizing stick on CPR quality, a CPR simulation mannequin was placed on a cardiac catheterization table that was withdrawn from the C-arm of the X-ray machine. CPR quality was assessed with or without the use of a table-stabilizing stick under the table. The CPR quality assessment (Q-CPR) scores were 79.6 ± 11.4% using the table-stabilizing stick and 47.7 ± 30.3% without the use of the stick device (p = 0.02). In this simulation-based study, the use of a table-stabilizing stick in a cardiac catheterization table withdrawn from the C-arm of the X-ray machine improved the quality of CPR.