Factors Related to Locomotive Syndrome in School-Aged Children in Okazaki: A Cross-Sectional Study

The relationship of locomotive syndrome with other physical characteristics and lifestyle habits in children has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of children’s locomotive syndrome, and to determine its relationship with the above-mentioned factors. This was a cross-sectional study of 285 elementary school children who volunteered to participate in a medical checkup for physical function. Data was collected via medical examination, clinical measurements, and questionnaires. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the relationship (odds ratios; ORs) of participants’ characteristics, physical functions, and other outcomes determined by questionnaire on locomotive syndrome. The following factors were related to locomotive syndrome: older age (OR = 1.421, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.039, 1.945]), male sex (OR = 4.011, 95% CI [2.189, 7.347]), and more time spent watching television per day (OR = 1.281, 95% CI [1.001, 1.640]). These results may assist in the encouragement of children to perform appropriate physical activities and avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, reducing the occurrence of locomotive syndrome.

Case Report: A Primary Right Ventricular Vascular Malformation Presenting as a Mass

Primary right ventricular vascular malformation is a rare primary benign anomaly in heart in nature. Due to the extremely low incidence and the progress on the classification of vascular malformation, a few cases were reported in the literatures. In the current case study, a 55-year-old women presented with a cardiac mass that was identified in right ventricle during a routine medical checkup. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a well-circumscribed mass attached to the interventricular septum. Median sternotomy for the surgical resection of the mass and a cardiopulmonary bypass were performed. The intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram showed that the mass had been successfully removed. The patient recovered well and was discharged from hospital 9 days after the surgery. The pathological diagnosis was primary cardiac arteriovenous malformation. No mass recurrence was shown by echocardiography during the 13 months' follow-up.

A Japanese Patient with Gaucher Disease Treated with the Oral Drug Eliglustat as Substrate Reducing Therapy

Gaucher disease is a rare genetic disorder caused by the deficiency of acid β-glucosidase to effectively catalyze the degradation of glucosylceramide to glucose and ceramide. We report here the case of a 31-year-old male Japanese patient with Gaucher disease who switched from enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) to substrate reducing therapy (SRT). Liver dysfunction was identified at a routine medical checkup, and the patient was referred to our hospital with “idiopathic liver disease.” Clinical laboratory tests indicated thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly, which are characteristic symptoms of Gaucher disease. To definitively diagnose Gaucher disease, a bone marrow biopsy and acid β-glucosidase activity measurement were conducted; the results supported a diagnosis of Gaucher disease. This case emphasizes that it is possible for periodic medical checkups in adults to lead to the diagnosis of rare genetic disorders. The patient underwent ERT treatment with imiglucerase for 5 years; the platelet count rapidly increased and the spleen size rapidly decreased, indicating a good response to the drug. However, the patient increasingly felt the burden of visiting the hospital for 2 h of infusion ERT every 2 weeks. Consequently, it was jointly decided that he should switch from ERT to SRT with an oral drug. This switch was successful with no deterioration of laboratory data. This case report is the first to describe a Japanese Gaucher disease patient treated with eliglustat for >2 years. We showed that SRT is a well-tolerated and effective option for the treatment of Gaucher disease.

A CLINICAL CASE OF SEMINAL CARCINOMA IN A GERMAN SHEPHERD MALE

The article describes a clinical case of testicular neoplasia – seminal carcinoma in male German shepherd. This neoplasia was found in annually medical checkup of working dogs. An indurated, space-occupying, non-tender mass was found in the ill testicle by touch. An ultrasound investigation of the testicles and prostatic gland was made as differential diagnostics and according to the results provisional diagnosis was made – testicular neoplasia. The dog was successfully operated on, and during the orchiectomy, material was collected for histological examination to make a final diagnosis. Morphological diagnosis: the histology pattern is most consistent with the classical seminal carcinoma with lymphocytic infiltration.