Investigating the effects of home-based rehabilitation after intensive inpatient rehabilitation on motor function, activities of daily living, and caregiver burden.

Background: Home-based rehabilitation involves professional rehabilitation care and guidance offered by physical, occupational, and speech therapists to patients in their homes to help them recuperate in a familiar living environment. The effects on the patient's motor function and activities of daily living (ADLs), and caregiver burden for community-dwelling patients are well-documented; however, little is known about the immediate benefits in patients discharged from the hospital. Therefore, we examined the effects of continuous home-based rehabilitation immediately after discharge to patients who received intensive rehabilitation during hospitalization.

Longitudinal changes following the introduction of socially assistive robots in nursing homes: a qualitative study with ICF framework and causal loop diagramming.

Background: Socially assistive robots introduced in nursing care settings have multidimensional psychological impacts on care recipients and caregivers. This study aims to explore the longitudinal changes induced by socially assistive robots, focusing on a chain of human behaviors.

Methods: In this qualitative study, nine participants from two nursing homes who had experience in manipulating socially assistive robots were interviewed in a semi-structured focus group using a topic guide to explore the changes in care recipients and caregivers.

Combined Assessment of Cognitive and Balance Abilities to Predict Falls in Patients in the Convalescent Rehabilitation Ward.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between falls and cognitive and balance problems in patients.

Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed the medical records of 1010 older patients admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward. The primary endpoint was fall occurrence during ward stays.

Association between heart failure in asymptomatic stages and skeletal muscle function assessed by ultrasonography in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Symptomatic heart failure (HF) negatively affects the quantity and quality of skeletal muscles. However, the association between asymptomatic HF and skeletal muscle function remains unclear. We aimed to use ultrasonography to elucidate the association between asymptomatic HF and skeletal muscle function in community-dwelling older adults.

Electrocardiogram and respiration recordings show a reduction in the physical burden on professional caregivers when performing care tasks with a transfer support robot.

In this study, we assessed the physical burden on professional caregivers when using a transfer support robot, "Hug," to transfer and move a care recipient. We compared heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and the time-series synchronization between HRV and respiration in caregivers using the robot or a normal wheelchair as control. Under both conditions, a commercial wearable device was used to simultaneously obtain electrocardiogram and respiration signals while performing care tasks, which comprised transfer from a bed to a wheelchair or to the robot, movement to a remote location, and transfer to a chair.

Agreement between Vital Signs Measured Using Mat-Type Noncontact Sensors and Those from Conventional Clinical Assessment.

Vital signs are crucial for assessing the condition of a patient and detecting early symptom deterioration. Noncontact sensor technology has been developed to take vital measurements with minimal burden. This study evaluated the accuracy of a mat-type noncontact sensor in measuring respiratory and pulse rates in patients with cardiovascular diseases compared to conventional methods.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Cardiac Rehabilitation Using the Balance Exercise Assist Robot in Older Adults with Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Recent studies have investigated the effects of exercise on the functional capacity of older adults; training with a balance exercise assist robot (BEAR) effectively improves posture. This study compared the clinical safety and efficacy of training using BEAR video games to conventional resistance training in older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: Ninety patients (mean age: 78 years) hospitalized due to worsening CVD were randomized to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) Group R (conventional resistance training) or Group B (training using BEAR).

Positive Emotional Responses to Socially Assistive Robots in People With Dementia: Pilot Study.

Background: Interventions and care that can evoke positive emotions and reduce apathy or agitation are important for people with dementia. In recent years, socially assistive robots used for better dementia care have been found to be feasible. However, the immediate responses of people with dementia when they are given multiple sensory modalities from socially assistive robots have not yet been sufficiently elucidated.

Robotic Care Equipment Improves Communication between Care Recipient and Caregiver in a Nursing Home as Revealed by Gaze Analysis: A Case Study.

The use of robotic nursing care equipment is an important option for solving the shortage of nursing care personnel, but the effects of its introduction have not been fully quantified. Hence, we aimed to verify that face-to-face care is still provided by caregivers in transfer situations when using robotic nursing care equipment. This study was conducted at a nursing home where the bed-release assist robot "Resyone Plus" is installed on a long-term basis.

Moderating effect of age on the relationship between physical health loss and emotional distress post-acute care in Japanese older hospitalized patients.

Background: At present, there are no consistent findings regarding the association between physical health loss and mental health in older adults. Some studies have shown that physical health loss is a risk factor for worsening of mental health. Other studies revealed that declining physical health does not worsen mental health.

Prediction of early falls using adherence and balance assessments in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

Objectives: To predict falls by adding an adherence assessment to a static balance ability assessment, and to evaluate fall prediction accuracy.

Methods: This study included 416 patients who were admitted to a 45-bed convalescent rehabilitation ward over a 2-year period. The patients were assessed at the time of admission using the Standing Test for Imbalance and Disequilibrium (SIDE) and three additional, newly developed adherence items.

[A Case of Intestinal Fistula Associated with Small Intestinal Metastasis from Small Cell Lung Carcinoma].

A 53-year-old man who complained of dyspnea and prolonged cough visited to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT)revealed massive tumors of right lung and small intestine. CT-guided fine-needle aspiration(FNA)on lung lesion was performed and the lung tumor was diagnosed as small cell carcinoma.

Quality of life after brain injury-overall scale, Japanese version: assessment of reliability and validity.

This study analyzed the linguistic and psychometric validation of the Japanese version of the Quality of Life after Brain Injury-Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS) consisting of six items which cover several TBI-relevant domains. We hypothesized that the Japanese version has good reliability, convergent validity, and divergent validity, compared with its long version, the 37-item QOLIBRI. The QOLIBRI-OS Japanese version was forward and back-translated from the English version.

Dyadic Art Appreciation and Self-Expression Program (NCGG-ART) for People with Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment and Their Family Caregivers: A Feasibility Study.

Background: Non-pharmacological interventions effective for depressive mood and bilateral relationships among persons with cognitive impairment (PwCI) and their family caregivers (FCGs) have not been established.

Objective: To examine the feasibility of a newly developed group-based art appreciation and self-expression program (NCGG-ART) for dyads of PwCI and their FCGs.

Methods: This pilot randomized control trial included 34 dyads of PwCI diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment, and their FCGs, from an outpatient rehabilitation service (Holistic Physio-Cognitive Rehabilitation [HPCR]).

Anesthesia Management via an Automated Control System for Propofol, Remifentanil, and Rocuronium Compared to Management by Anesthesiologists: An Investigator-Initiated Study.

Background: We previously developed an automated total intravenous anesthesia control system that uses new closed-loop system algorithms to administer propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium based on the bispectral index and train-of-four data. We recently improved this automated control system by adding a safety mechanism and using a modified monitoring device.

Methods: Patients scheduled for elective surgery were randomly assigned to closed-loop feedback control (automatic group) or the manual administration of propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium (manual group).

Intrinsic Capacity and Active and Healthy Aging Domains Supported by Personalized Digital Coaching: Survey Study Among Geriatricians in Europe and Japan on eHealth Opportunities for Older Adults.

Background: The worldwide aging trend requires conceptually new prevention, care, and innovative living solutions to support human-based care using smart technology, and this concerns the whole world. Enabling access to active and healthy aging through personalized digital coaching services like physical activity coaching, cognitive training, emotional well-being, and social connection for older adults in real life could offer valuable advantages to both individuals and societies. A starting point might be the analysis of the perspectives of different professionals (eg, geriatricians) on such technologies.

Neuropsychological tests used for dementia assessment in Japan: Current status.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the assessment tools dementia specialists use in clinical practice, reasons for their use and assessment-related factors.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out from 15 September 2021 to 20 October 2021 among 1858 dementia specialists in Japan, with responses obtained via mail or using a Web form accessed via a Web address.

Results: Of the 1858 specialists who were sent the questionnaire, 574 responded, yielding a response rate of 32.

Relationships among Grip Strength Measurement, Response Time, and Frailty Criteria.

Background: Muscle response in older adults is believed to decrease with maximal muscle strength, although it has not been adequately assessed; further, the relationship between frailty and muscle response remains unexamined.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a practical method for measuring muscle response using grip strength in older adults and to clarify the relationship between frailty and grip strength response.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We performed a cross-sectional, clinical, observational study.

Improved upper extremity function following low-frequency hybrid assistive neuromuscular dynamic stimulation therapy in a patient with hemiplegia: A case report.

Background: Although hybrid assistive neuromuscular dynamic stimulation (HANDS) therapy may improve upper extremity functionality in patients with paralysis or paresis due to stroke, it is usually only provided in hospitals as a frequent intervention during the phase of early recovery in stroke. Home-based rehabilitation is limited by frequency and duration of visits.

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of low-frequency HANDS therapy using motor function assessment.

Prediction of Nursing Home Admission Using the FRAIL-NH Scale Among Older Adults in Post-Acute Care Settings.

Objectives: The FRAIL-NH scale was developed to identify frailty status in nursing home residents. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the FRAIL-NH scale for predicting nursing home admission among patients in post-acute care settings. Design/ Setting/ Participants: This single-center, prospective, observational cohort study included participants aged 65 years or older who were admitted to a community-based integrated care ward (CICW) between July 2015 and November 2020.

The current state of family caregiver burden and support of toilet problems for elderly with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: To conduct an exploratory examination of caregiver burden involving toilet problems in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related characteristics.

Methods: We included 50 outpatients with amnestic MCI and AD and their caregivers. Patients were subclassified into three groups: MCI, mild AD, and moderate/severe AD.