Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by heterogeneous symptoms thought to originate from the gastroduodenal region, including postprandial fullness, early satiety, epigastric pain, and epigastric burning, although it does not have any associated organic disease that explains its symptoms. The pathogenesis of FD remains unclear, but it has been shown that the gastric function is basically associated with the pathogenesis of FD, which is also linked to the brain function along with psychological factors, a relationship known as brain-gut correlation. Recently, attention has been focused on the involvement of the duodenal function in the pathogenesis of FD. We previously showed that the mucosal barrier function was impaired in FD patients by measuring the duodenal mucosal barrier function directly during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. We therefore believe that the altered duodenal mucosal barrier function plays a role in the pathogenesis of FD.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify angular change in the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPj) during comfortable walking in individuals with diabetic neuropathy (DN).

Methods: The study participants were classified into a DN group (18) and a non-diabetic group (non DM, 15). The angle of the first MTPj during comfortable walking was measured using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system. The average value obtained over 5 trials was calculated. The maximum angle of extension in the first MTPj and the time at which it occurred were compared between the two groups.

Results: The maximum angle of extension during walking was 26.7 ± 7.2° in the DN group and 35.1 ± 7.3°in the non DM group, showing a significant difference The rate at which peak angle occurred during walking was 60.0％± 4.3％ in the DN group and 57.5％± 2.9％ in the non DM group.

Conclusion: In the DN group, the maximum angle of extension in the first MTPj during walking showed a decrease, and the time at which it occurred was delayed.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate change in gait in patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN）by examining comfortable and maximum walking speeds．

Methods: Twenty-one patients with DN, 10 with diabetes mellitus (DM), and 18 without DM (non DM) were investigated. Basic clinical information was gathered on age, sex, height, and body mass index score. These data were then adjusted to match those in the DN group. The gait parameters of comfortable and maximum walking speed were studied, and velocity, step length, and cadence determined. Change in gait was investigated with intentional increase in walking speed.

Results: In the DN group, maximum walking velocity was 78.4 ± 20.5 m/min， step length was 0.54 ± 0.12 m, and cadence was 139.1±17.3 steps/min．In the DN group, comfortable walking velocity was 55.6 ± 14.4 m/min, step length was 0.50 ± 0.10 m, and cadence was 118.0 ± 21.8 steps/min. The values in this group were significantly lower than those in the DM and non DM groups for all gait parameters other than cadence during comfortable walking．

Discussion: A marked reduction was observed in maximum velocity, stride, and cadence in the DN group, with the decrease in stride particularly noticeable.

Background: Liver biopsy is used as a golden standard for determining liver fibrosis stage. However, bleeding and sampling error may occur in liver biopsy because of the small sample size. Recently, elastography, particularly using FibroScan, as well as serum samples, have been reported to be useful for measuring liver stiffness.

Objective: Sixty-one patients with hepatitis C viruspositive chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis treated with direct acting agents (DAAs) were included in this study.

Methods: Results of liver elastography using FibroScan were compared with those of serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi), platelet count, FIB-4 index, and alpha-fetoprotein in each patient before and after treatment with DAA.

Results: Liver elastography using FibroScan was comparable to serum M2BPGi, platelet count, FIB-4 index, and alpha-fetoprotein. Serum M2BPGi, FIB-4 index, and alpha-fetoprotein values decreased in 2 weeks after DAA therapy initiation, while scores of liver elastography using FibroScan decreased in 12 weeks after DAA therapy initiation.

Conclusion: Liver elastography using FibroScan seemed to predict liver stiffness; however, serum M2BPGi, FIB-4 index, and alpha-fetoprotein values seemed to predict liver infection.