Possible determinants of physical fitness in Japanese school children: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Physical fitness is one of the most important health indicators in children. Although appropriate body composition or certain lifestyle factors such as frequent physical activity are thought to improve physical fitness, results of previous studies are inconsistent, and most studies were from Western countries.

Objectives: We investigated associations of body composition and modifiable lifestyle factors such as physical activity, screen time, diet and sleep duration with physical fitness in Japanese primary school children.

Pain Medication Frequency and Fall Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Arthritis.

Pain medication is commonly used among older adults with arthritis, elevating the risk of falling. We examined fall risks related to the frequency of taking pain medication among community-dwelling older adults with arthritis by analyzing a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged >65 with self-reported arthritis ( = 4,225) in the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study. The survey-weighted logistic regression revealed that after controlling for confounding factors, recent falls were associated with taking pain medication daily compared to never (OR = 1.

Dementia Caregiving Experiences and Health Across Geographic Contexts by Race and Ethnicity.

Objectives: Few studies have examined how the intersectionality of geographic context and race/ethnicity influences dementia caregiving. Our objectives were to determine whether caregiver experiences and health (a) differed across metro and nonmetro areas and (b) differed by caregiver race/ethnicity and geography.

Methods: We used data from the 2017 National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving.

Three-dimensional visualization of thoracodorsal artery perforators using photoacoustic imaging.

Introduction: Diagnostic imaging modalities to evaluate the three-dimensional distribution of thoracodorsal artery perforators (TDAPs) are lacking. In this study, TDAPs were visualized and characterized using photoacoustic imaging.

Material And Methods: In this study, 34 sites in the lateral chest wall of 18 individuals were analyzed.

Perceptions of a mobile phone-based approach to promote medication adherence: A cross-sectional application of the technology acceptance model.

Background: In several African and Asian countries, callers to mobile phones sometimes hear a song or message in place of the typical ringing sound. This application, called caller tunes, may offer a unique opportunity to promote medication adherence that is yet to be explored.

Objectives: Assess the application of the technology acceptance model to a potential caller tunes approach designed to enhance medication adherence, with a specific focus on the interrelationships of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, cost, and intention.

An Analysis of Health Care Team Communication Needs Among Younger vs Older Breast Cancer Survivors: Web-Based Survey.

Background: Prior studies indicate that the age of onset of breast cancer is an important element in considering communication between patients and the health care team. Younger women aged 45 and under diagnosed with breast cancer are often at a higher risk of being more vulnerable to psychosocial issues compared to older women aged 46 years and above. Few studies have examined age differences in patient perceptions of treatment-related discussion and communication during transition with their health care team.

Differential risk of falls associated with pain medication among community-dwelling older adults by cognitive status.

Background: Persons living with dementia have an elevated risk of falling and chronic pain. This study investigates the relationship of pain medication use with falls among community-dwelling adults based on their cognitive status.

Methods: We analysed a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries (n = 7,491) who completed cognitive assessments used for dementia classification in the 2015 US National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of fear of falling and fall-related efficacy in a widely disseminated community-based fall prevention program.

Background: Fear of falling restricts mobility and increases fall risk among older adults. Fall-related efficacy (i.e.

The role of improved social support for healthy eating in a lifestyle intervention: .

Objective: We examined the measurement and mediating role of social support in dietary intake among participants in Texercise Select, an intervention for improving lifestyle behaviours.

Design: Quasi-experimental study. Participants reported their dietary intake, level of social support measured by the new Social Support for Healthy Eating scale, sociodemographics and disease profile.

A Multi-Level Analyses of Charges and Cost of Fall-Related Hospitalizations Among Older Adults: Individual, Hospital, and Geospatial Variation.

The growing population of older adults has attracted concern from policymakers due in part to the fact that they are at higher risk of costly and potentially injurious falls. Responding to this concern, this study investigated fall-related hospitalizations among those aged 65 and older. Hospitalizations rose from 49,299 to 58,931, with charges and costs (estimated based on charges) increasing from $2.

Opioid Use and the Risk of Falls, Fall Injuries and Fractures among Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: There is increasing concern about opioid use as a pain treatment option among older adults. Existing literature implies an association between opioid use and fracture, increasing the risk of death and disabilities; yet, this relationship with other fall-related outcomes has not been fully explored. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the associations between opioid use and adverse health outcomes of falls, fall injuries, and fractures among older adults.

Preoperative vascular mapping for anterolateral thigh flap surgeries: A clinical trial of photoacoustic tomography imaging.

Background: Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is a noninvasive vascular imaging modality that uses near-infrared pulse laser beams and ultrasound (US) to visualize vessels. We previously demonstrated the utility of PAT for visualizing anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforators in a clinical study of 10 thighs in 5 healthy adults. Evaluation of the correlation between PAT and US findings showed that PAT had comparable diagnostic potential but was superior in visualizing subcutaneous microvessels; however, there was no comparison with intraoperative findings.

Real-time 3D Photoacoustic Visualization System with a Wide Field of View for Imaging Human Limbs.

A breast-specific photoacoustic imaging (PAI) system prototype equipped with a hemispherical detector array (HDA) has been reported as a promising system configuration for providing high morphological reproducibility for vascular structures in living bodies. To image the vasculature of human limbs, a newly designed PAI system prototype (PAI-05) with an HDA with a higher density sensor arrangement was developed. The basic device configuration mimicked that of a previously reported breast-specific PAI system.

Mediating Role of Fall-related Efficacy in a Fall Prevention Program.

We examined the multidimensionality of the new Perceived Ability to Prevent and Manage Fall Risks (PAPMFR) scale that assesses fall-related efficacy (FE) and the mediating role of EF between fear of falling (FOF) and functional mobility (FM). We carried out a secondary data analysis of 552 participants (mean age = 76.45, SD = 7.

Efficacy and safety of a crystalline lactulose preparation (SK-1202) in Japanese patients with chronic constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study.

Background: Clinical evidence of lactulose for chronic constipation in Japan was lacking. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study in Japanese patients with chronic constipation to estimate the optimal clinical dose of lactulose.

Methods: Overall, 250 patients were randomized to receive SK-1202 (13, 26, or 39 g/day, as crystalline lactulose dosage) or placebo twice daily (morning and evening) orally for 2 weeks.

Digital artery deformation on movement of the proximal interphalangeal joint.

This study aimed to characterize in vivo human digital arteries in three-dimensions using photoacoustic tomography in order to understand the specific mechanism underlying arterial deformation associated with movement of the proximal interphalangeal joint. Three-dimensional morphological data were obtained on the radialis indicis artery (radial artery of the index finger) at different angles of the joint. The association between increased curvature of the deformation and the anatomical region was assessed.

Visualising peripheral arterioles and venules through high-resolution and large-area photoacoustic imaging.

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging (PAI) has been shown to be a promising tool for non-invasive blood vessel imaging. A PAI system comprising a hemispherical detector array (HDA) has been reported previously as a method providing high morphological reproducibility. However, further improvements in diagnostic capability will require improving the image quality of PAI and fusing functional and morphological imaging.

Vascular branching point counts using photoacoustic imaging in the superficial layer of the breast: A potential biomarker for breast cancer.

This study aimed to identify the characteristics of the vascular network in the superficial subcutaneous layer of the breast and to analyze differences between breasts with cancer and contralateral unaffected breasts using vessel branching points (VBPs) detected by three-dimensional photoacoustic imaging with a hemispherical detector array. In 22 patients with unilateral breast cancer, the average VBP counts to a depth of 7 mm below the skin surface were significantly greater in breasts with cancer than in the contralateral unaffected breasts (p < 0.01).

Photoacoustic Tomography Shows the Branching Pattern of Anterolateral Thigh Perforators In Vivo.

Unlabelled: The distal branching pattern of perforators is associated with thin anterolateral thigh flap failure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using photoacoustic tomography as a diagnostic imaging modality to identify anterolateral thigh perforators and their branching patterns in the subcutaneous layer. Ten thighs in five healthy men were studied.

Geospatial distribution of fall-related hospitalization incidence in Texas.

Introduction: With the rapid growth of the aging U.S. population, the incidence of falls and fall-related injuries is expected to rise.

Determinants of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in a Japanese population: a cohort study.

Arterial stiffness is one of the biggest predictors of coronary heart disease (CHD). We evaluated whether brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and augmentation index (AI) are correlated with risk factors of CHD. All of the 528 participants (270 males and 258 females) in this study were healthy workers aged from 36 to 69 (mean age: 47.

Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable isoindoline class dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors.

Focused structure-activity relationships of isoindoline class DPP-IV inhibitors have led to the discovery of 4b as a highly selective, potent inhibitor of DPP-IV. In vivo studies in Wistar/ST rats showed that 4b was converted into the strongly active metabolite 4l in high yield, resulting in good in vivo efficacy for antihyperglycemic activity.

Gene variants in PPARD and PPARGC1A are associated with timing of natural menopause in the general Japanese population.

Objectives: Timing of menopause affects postmenopausal health risks. The objective of this study was to evaluate the associations of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-related genes (PPARD, PPARG, and PPARGC1A) and environmental factors with timing of natural menopause among the general Japanese population.

Study Design: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 1758 women aged 40-69 years who were enrolled in the baseline surveys of the Japan Multi-institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study.