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Background and objectives This study compared the effects of M-cube wave and conventional low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the strength and thickness of quadriceps muscles in healthy young men using a within-subject design. Materials and methods This study included 15 untrained, healthy young adults. Each participant received two NMES protocols: an M-cube wave protocol on the quadriceps and low-frequency stimulation on the contralateral side. Sessions were performed twice per week for six weeks. Muscle strength was assessed using isometric or concentric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC-ISO and MVC-CON) torque. Muscle thickness of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus intermedius, and subcutaneous fat thickness were measured using ultrasonography. Results Both protocols significantly increased the strength (MVC-ISO: 18.9% vs. 23.3%; MVC-CON: 35.1% vs. 44.8%) and thickness of the quadriceps muscles across all examined muscles. No significant differences were observed between the two NMES waveform protocols. Both groups showed reduced thickness of the subcutaneous fat in the lateral thigh. Conclusion M-cube wave and conventional low-frequency NMES protocols effectively improved the strength and muscle morphology of the quadriceps muscles in healthy young men. These findings support the use of waveforms in clinical and rehabilitative settings, with waveform selection tailored to individual needs and comfort.
A lens-coupled high-speed X-ray camera, “Hayaka”, was developed for quick imaging of X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and time-resolved high-speed computed tomography (CT) using synchrotron radiation (SR). This camera is a lens-coupled type, composed of a scintillator, an imaging lens system, and a high-speed visible light sCMOS, capable of imaging with a minimum exposure time of 1 μs and a maximum frame rate of 5000 frames/s (fps). A feasibility study using white and monochromatic SR at the beamline BL07 of the SAGA Light Source showed that fine X-ray images with a spatial resolution of 77 μm can be captured with an exposure time of 10 μs. Furthermore, quick imaging XAFS, combined with high-speed energy scanning of a small Ge double crystal monochromator of the same beamline, enabled spectral image data to be acquired near the Cu K-edge in a minimum of 0.5 s. Additionally, an in coquendo 4DCT (time-resolved 3D observation of cooking processes) observation combined with a high-speed rotation table revealed the boiling process of Japanese somen noodles over 150 s with a time resolution of 0.5 s.
Background/Objective: Cognitive frailty, the coexistence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment, is a potentially reversible and high-risk state for dementia. This study examined the association between Color Kanji Pick-out Test (CKPT) app performance and cognitive frailty independent of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores in community-dwelling older women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the participants were 102 community-dwelling older women without dementia and with MMSE scores ≥ 27 (73.6 ± 6.0 years). Reversible cognitive frailty was defined as subjective cognitive decline (≥1 point in the cognitive domain of the Kihon Checklist) plus physical frailty or prefrailty, according to the Japanese Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS) criteria. Firth’s penalized logistic regression using three prespecified models, adjusted for age and education, was used to examine the independent associations between CKPT app performance and MMSE scores with reversible cognitive frailty. Results: Fourteen participants (13.7%) met the criteria for cognitive frailty. In separate models, higher CKPT app and MMSE scores were significantly associated with lower odds of cognitive frailty (CKPT: odds ratio [OR] 0.470, p = 0.019; MMSE: OR 0.548, p = 0.020). In a multivariable model including both measures, the CKPT app (OR 0.499, p = 0.031) and MMSE scores (OR 0.553, p = 0.031) remained independently associated with cognitive frailty, and this model had the lowest Akaike information criterion. Conclusions: The CKPT app performance was independently associated with cognitive frailty beyond global cognition. The CKPT app may detect subtle executive and attentional vulnerabilities not captured by the MMSE, supporting practical, objective, early screening and risk stratification of cognitive frailty.
BackgroundOut-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival depends critically on early defibrillation. Coordinated automated external defibrillator (AED) systems, including registries, mapping initiatives, and integration with emergency medical services (EMS), enable real-time device location, strategic placement, and system-level quality improvement. However, implementation varies widely between countries.ObjectiveTo synthesize evidence on the impact of coordinated AED systems, including registries and public-access defibrillation programs, on OHCA outcomes and to identify lessons from Japan applicable to Poland.MethodsA systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus were searched (January 2015–June 2025) for studies evaluating AED registries, mapping systems, and public-access defibrillation programs. Eligible designs included randomized trials, observational registry studies, economic evaluations, and policy analyses. Inclusion criteria comprised studies evaluating AED registries, mapping systems, or public-access defibrillation in OHCA settings with reported clinical, operational, or economic outcomes. Exclusion criteria included studies without primary data, conference abstracts without full text, animal studies, and studies focused solely on in-hospital cardiac arrest. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, AMSTAR 2, and CHEERS 2022.ResultsSeventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Japan’s coordinated system, combining nationwide OHCA surveillance, public-access defibrillation programs, AED mapping initiatives, and EMS integration, has been associated in observational studies with increased bystander AED use among patients with bystander-witnessed OHCA with shockable rhythm (from 1.1 to 16.5%), reduced time to defibrillation, and improved neurological outcomes. In contrast, Poland currently lacks a fully coordinated national system, resulting in fragmented AED data and limited integration with emergency response. Modeling studies suggest that implementing a national system incorporating an AED registry, dispatcher integration, and community responder networks would be cost-effective.ConclusionCoordinated AED systems, rather than standalone registries, represent an effective system-level approach to improving OHCA outcomes. Japan’s experience highlights the importance of integrating AED mapping, OHCA surveillance, EMS systems, and public training. Implementing such a coordinated approach in Poland could substantially improve survival and neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest. However, the observed benefits are likely multifactorial and reflect the combined effect of system-level interventions rather than a single component.
