Health literacy in older patients with abdominal tumours and its association with clinical characteristics: A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Health literacy (HL) is pivotal in managing patients with abdominal cancer and is associated with treatment outcomes and care experience. However, detailed characteristics of HL and their associations with clinical features remain uncertain in the population. Therefore, we aimed to comprehensively investigate HL and its associations with clinical characteristics in older patients with abdominal tumours.

Prediction of Low-intensity Physical Activity in Stable Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Objective: To develop an equation of the predicted amount of low-intensity physical activity (LPA) by analyzing clinical parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the assessments of clinical parameters evaluated every 6 months from the start of pulmonary rehabilitation in 53 outpatients with stable COPD (age 77 ± 6 yrs; 46 men; body mass index 21.8 ± 4.

Association of health literacy with short-term postoperative outcomes in older adult patients with abdominal tumors undergoing surgery and perioperative rehabilitation program: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Low health literacy (HL) is associated with poor surgical outcomes in patients with abdominal tumors, despite enhanced recovery programs. However, the relationship between HL and postoperative outcomes, including health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and physical functions, has been unclear in patients with abdominal tumors receiving perioperative rehabilitation programs (PRPs). Our objective was to identify associations of HL with postoperative functional and general outcomes in patients with abdominal tumors undergoing surgery and PRPs, controlling for critical covariates.

Objective physical activity level is associated with rectus femoris muscle echo-intensity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Introduction: Skeletal muscle dysfunction is one of the major extrapulmonary complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some studies have reported a relationship between physical activity (PA) level and skeletal muscle quality assessed by echo-intensity (EI) in healthy individuals but not in patients with COPD.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between PA level and both skeletal muscle EI and skeletal muscle mass in patients with COPD.

Functionally relevant threshold of inspiratory muscle strength in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objectives: We aimed to identify the inspiratory muscle strength thresholds below which exercise capacity is compromised in men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: We measured the maximum static inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax) and the percentage of predicted values (%PImax) in 113 patients with COPD. Six-minute walk distance (6-MWD) was measured as an indicator of functional exercise capacity, and a 6-MWD of <350 m was defined as functional exercise intolerance.

Estimation of minimal clinically important difference for quadriceps and inspiratory muscle strength in older outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To estimate the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of quadriceps and inspiratory muscle strength after a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Method: Eighty-five COPD patients were included. Quadriceps maximal voluntary contraction (QMVC) was measured.

Functionally Relevant Threshold of Quadriceps Muscle Strength in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Objectives: We aimed to identify the quadriceps muscle strength (QMS) thresholds below which exercise capacity is compromised in men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: We measured the quadriceps isometric maximum voluntary contraction (QMVC) and calculated the QMVC values normalized to weight (QMVC-BW), height squared (QMVC-H), and body mass index (QMVC-BMI) in 113 patients with COPD. The functional exercise capacity was evaluated using the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), and 6MWD <350 m was defined as functional exercise intolerance.

The association between systemic inflammation and the time spent in posture and movement during daytime in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lower weight.

[Purpose] The effect of physical activity on systemic inflammation remains unclear and might be negative in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lower weight. We investigated the amount of physical activity as the time spent in posture and movement and its association with systemic inflammation. [Participants and Methods] In this retrospective cross-sectional pilot study, we evaluated 11 patients with COPD (age, 73 ± 7 years; body mass index, 18.

Diaphragm thickening assessed by ultrasonography is lower than healthy adults in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Ultrasound imaging has been widely used for imaging of the diaphragm thickness (Tdi) and thickening. Few studies assessed the Tdi using ultrasonography in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We measured the Tdi and thickening in patients with COPD compared with healthy younger and healthy older adults to reveal the influence of ageing and/or COPD.

Gait characteristics and their associations with clinical outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Abnormalities of spatiotemporal gait parameters are frequently observed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, associations of gait parameters with clinical outcomes and their implementation into clinical practice have not been established.

Research Question: To investigate gait abnormalities and their association with clinical outcomes of COPD.

New evaluation of trunk movement and balance during walking in COPD patients by a triaxial accelerometer.

Background: Individuals with COPD may experience ambulatory difficulty due to both effort intolerance arising from respiratory dysfunction and impaired balance control during walking. However, the trunk movement during walking has not been evaluated or adjusted for patients with COPD. The Lissajous index (LI) visually and numerically evaluates the left-right symmetry of the trunk movement during walking and is useful in clinical practice.

Contractile capability of the diaphragm assessed by ultrasonography predicts nocturnal oxygen saturation in COPD.

Background And Objective: Diaphragm function might be useful to predict nocturnal oxygen desaturation in COPD. Ultrasonography has been widely used for the assessment of the diaphragm. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the contractile capability of the diaphragm assessed by ultrasonography and the nocturnal percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (NSpO ) in COPD.

Relationship between balance and physical activity measured by an activity monitor in elderly COPD patients.

Background: Little is known regarding the relationship between balance impairments and physical activity in COPD. There has been no study investigating the relationship between balance and objectively measured physical activity. Here we investigated the association between balance and physical activity measured by an activity monitor in elderly COPD patients.

Effects of low-intensity exercise and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation with pedometer feedback on physical activity in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Purpose: We evaluated the effects of low-intensity and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on physical activity (PA) and the feedback provided by a pedometer in stable elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: We assessed PA using a newly developed triaxial accelerometer (A-MES™, Kumamoto, Japan), which measures the time spent walking, standing, sitting and lying down. Twenty-seven elderly patients with COPD (age 74 ± 8 yrs; %FEV1 56.

Dynamic hyperinflation and dyspnea during the 6-minute walk test in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dynamic hyperinflation and dyspnea and to clarify the characteristics of dyspnea during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Twenty-three subjects with stable moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (age 73.8±5.

Quantitative assessment of walking time and postural change in patients with COPD using a new triaxial accelerometer system.

Background: The purpose of this study was to quantify the walking time and frequency of postural changes in daily life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using a new triaxial accelerometer system.

Methods: Twenty-six elderly patients with stable COPD (age 76.8 ± 6.

Effect of anti-inflammatory supplementation with whey peptide and exercise therapy in patients with COPD.

Background: One of the major pathophysiologies in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been attributed to systemic inflammation. Meta-analysis of the 2005 Cochrane Database concluded the effect of nutritional supplementation alone on stable COPD was insufficient to promote body weight gain or exercise capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation therapy using a nutritional supplement containing whey peptide with low-intensity exercise therapy in stable elderly patients with COPD.

Inhibitory effect of procaterol on exercise dynamic lung hyperinflation during the 6-min walk test in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of procaterol (procaterol hydrochloride, CAS 62929-91-3) on exercise dynamic lung hyperinflation during the 6-min walk test (6MWT) in stable chronic obstructive disease (COPD) patients. Fourteen patients with stable COPD who were referred to our clinic between July 2008 and October 2009 were evaluated in this study. After the inhalation of procaterol, values for the lung function test, including vital capacity, inspiratory capacity, forced vital capacity, and FEV1/FEV1pred showed a significant improvement.

Effects of nutritional supplementation combined with low-intensity exercise in malnourished patients with COPD.

Study Objectives: The first aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nutritional supplementation combined with low-intensity exercise on body components, exercise tolerance, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in malnourished patients with COPD. The second aim of this study was to examine the degree of systemic inflammation and the actual changes in levels of systemic CRP, TNFα, IL-6 and IL-8 actual changes after a combination of nutritional supplementation and low-intensity exercise in these patients.

Design: A prospective randomized trial.

Effective home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with restrictive lung diseases.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are commonly referred for pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), but the use of PR is not common for patients with restrictive lung disease, neuromuscular diseases, and those who have sustained a severe respiratory illness or undergone thoracic surgery. We investigated the effects of PR in patients with restrictive lung diseases in comparison with COPD patients using a home-based setting. Twenty-six restrictive lung diseases patients and 40 COPD patients who had a Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea score >or= 2, a clinically stable condition, and who had completed a 6-month PR program, were enrolled in the present study.

Effects of inspiratory muscle thixotropy on the 6-min walk distance in COPD.

Thixotropy conditioning of inspiratory muscles at lower lung volumes decreases functional residual capacity (FRC) of following breath cycles with increases in inspiratory capacity. It remains uncertain whether this conditioning would improve exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sixteen male stable COPD patients with mild to severe airway obstruction participated.

Long-term effect of the beta2-receptor agonist procaterol on daily life performance and exercise capacity in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clinical study with special reference to health-related quality of life and activities of daily living.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term effect of procaterol hydrochloride (CAS 62929-91-3, Meptin), a third generation beta2-receptor agonist on lung function, exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and activities of daily living (ALDs) in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty patients were randomly assigned to the procaterol group or to the control group, who received oxitropium bromide (CAS 30286-75-0), an anticholinergic agent. Procaterol was inhaled three times a day at a dose of 20 pg, while oxitropium was inhaled three times a day at a dose of 200 microg.

Quality of life assessment before and after lumbar disc surgery.

Background: Although operative treatment for lumbar disc herniation is a commonly performed neurosurgical procedure, no reports have described whether health-related quality of life before surgery affects the operative treatment outcome. This prospective study assessed health-related quality of life before and after surgery and evaluated the predictor variables affecting outcomes.

Methods: Subjects were 45 consecutive candidates for lumbar disc herniation surgery who gave informed consent.

Predicting outcomes after hip fracture repair.

Objective: To compare the activities of daily living before and after hip fracture and construct a statistical model for discharge destination and independent walking. The classification accuracy of the model was determined from an independent sample.

Design: Prospective study: FIM prefracture, at discharge, and at 6-mo follow-up were obtained from 63 patients who underwent operations for acute hip fractures.