The objective of this study is to elucidate the issue of dropping during the flushing of closed suction catheters and to improve awareness of dropping prevention. Simulating a subject equipped with a ventilator, a comparative study on the causes of dropping during flushing was conducted using three different closed catheters widely used in the medical field. The results indicated significant differences in adult catheters based on ventilation volume and mode, with some cases showing significant differences according to PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) and angle. In comparisons involving only pediatric catheters and combined comparisons of adult and pediatric catheters, significant differences were observed in the amount of secretions dropped based on ventilation volume and ventilation mode. These differences revealed structural issues with the catheters. Specifically, it was suggested that flow from the ventilator directly affects the catheter tip and that saline buildup in the anti-drop valve can cause dropping. Furthermore, dropping issues were observed depending on the technique of the individual performing the suction. Based on the novel insights gained from this study, there is consideration to form a research team for the development of an improved device in the future.

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This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between daily physical activity, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration, and abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria in 30 healthy young adults (15 males and 15 females) aged 20-23 years. Participants provided fecal sam-ples for gut microbiota and SCFA analysis. Daily physical activity, including step count and brisk walking time at an intensity of ≥ 4 metabolic equivalents (METs), was assessed. Participants were categorized into two groups (more and less active) based on their daily brisk walking time at a 4METs intensity and step count. We compared SCFA concentration and abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria between the groups and explored the relationship between the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria and daily physical activity levels. No significant differences in the ma-jor SCFAs (acetic acid and butyric acid) were observed between the groups. A lower abundance of Ruminococcaceae, Faecalibacterium, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were observed in the active group. Overall, the relative abundance of intestinal Eubacterium, contributing to butyrate concen-tration, was associated with daily brisk walking at a 5METs intensity. In conclusion, while daily brisk walking did not directly affect SCFA concentration, it may be associated with the relative ab-undance of intestinal Eubacterium in healthy young adults.

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In professional sports, motion analysis has become a fundamental tool for the creation of training menu and to prevent injuries. However, motion analysis techniques are not among ama-teurs due to the associated high costs and the need for a certain degree of expertise to process and analyze the data. Although video cameras and IMUs are successfully used to monitor athletes’ mo-tion in short-distance running sports, they require to place subjects in a controlled environment that is far from the real conditions met during a competition. Therefore, we propose a non-intrusive speed, stride, and pitch estimation method using 3D-LiDAR, which is compact and can measure real competitions. Our preliminary results show that the maximum error of the proposed method is 2.2%, indicating that the performance of the proposed method is comparable to that of video-based methods.

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This preliminary study aimed to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and physical activity patterns in older adults residing in care facilities, with a focus on diurnal trends. A cross-sectional study involving 14 participants (mean age: 84.3 ± 5.6 years) was con-ducted between January and February 2023 at “Care House Ikeda” in Neyagawa City, Osaka Pre-fecture. Data on physical activity were collected using accelerometer devices worn continuously for seven consecutive days. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess the depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 42.9%, and the average daily step count was 1304. Participants with depressive symptoms exhibited significantly lower levels of light-intensity physical activity, a pattern notably pronounced in the afternoon. Engaging in light-intensity physi-cal activity alleviated depressive symptoms in older adults in facilities. Individuals experiencing depressive symptoms exhibited reduced activity levels, particularly in the afternoon. Further explo-ration into the effects of light-intensity physical activity is warranted.

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