Status of Community Pharmacy Functions and Regional Medical Collaboration System Initiatives in Japan.

With the increase in life expectancy in Japan, the proportion of older adults requiring medical assistance continues to increase. Hence, the Japanese government proposed the establishment of a community-based integrated care system, aimed at ensuring housing, medical care, long-term care, prevention, and lifestyle support in a comprehensive manner by 2025. To achieve this paradigm shift, pharmacies must collaborate with their respective medical providers.

Depressive symptoms, right ventricular function, and muscular strength are associated with peak oxygen uptake in patients with implantable left ventricular assist devices.

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is among the most effective treatment options for patients with severe heart failure. Although previous studies have examined the factors related to peak oxygen uptake (peak VO ), they were limited by the few patients involved and their focus on medical and physical functions. Therefore, this study comprehensively examined the factors associated with peak VO , which is an important prognostic factor in patients with implantable LVADs.

Sex-related Differences in Exercise Capacity Trends and Determinants after Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether longitudinal changes in exercise capacity in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) differ by sex and clarified what contributed to these differences.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the differences in each variable between men and women in 156 patients with AMI (mean age: 65 ± 12 years; 82.0% male) who participated in a 3-month cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program and could be followed-up for exercise capacity 12-months after AMI onset.

Relationship between Perceived Physical Competence and Outdoor Play among Children Aged 9-12 Years-Focused Sex-Specific Differences.

Background: Outdoor play (OP), which is considered important for children's development, is declining every year. Perceived physical competence (PPC) is a vital factor that promotes physical activity such as OP, sports clubs, etc., but the relationship between PPC and OP was unknown.

Depressive symptoms interfere with the improvement in exercise capacity by cardiac rehabilitation after left ventricular assist device implantation.

Background: Although depressive symptoms are associated with an increased risk of readmission after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, it is unclear whether they affect the efficacy of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR). This study aimed to investigate the effect of depressive symptoms on EBCR efficacy.

Methods: We analyzed 48 patients who participated in EBCR after LVAD implantation (mean age 45 ± 12 years; 60% male).