Effectiveness of a web-based learning program for promoting local healthcare planning competencies.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a web-based educational program regarding local healthcare planning by public health nurses (PHNs) in Japan.

Design: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Sample: Full-time PHNs working for local governments across Japan.

Comparison of water balance among healthy young and old adults and handicapped adults.

The body's water balance is changed by food and beverage intake, metabolism, and excretion. In this study, we performed a cross-sectional study that investigated the changes of water intake and water output in healthy Japanese young and elderly people and handicapped adults. Water balance was assessed by water intake from foods and beverages, metabolic water production, non-renal water losses (NRWL), and urine volume.

Association between public health nurses' involvement in local healthcare planning and the corresponding off-the-job training.

Objective: This study investigated the association between receiving off-the-job training and the involvement of public health nurses in local healthcare planning.

Design: A nationwide, cross-sectional study design.

Methods: We sent self-report questionnaires to 2,185 public health nurses with experience in developing local healthcare plans in Japan since 2013 and collected information related to three main categories: demographic data, involvement in local healthcare planning and strategies for healthcare planning.

Feasibility of an educational program for public health nurses to promote local healthcare planning: protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Promoting of local healthcare planning is crucial for assisting public health nurses in improving community health inequities. However, there is no effective educational program for developing relevant skills and knowledge among these nurses. Therefore, this study aims to assess the feasibility of a newly developed web-based self-learning program to promote the involvement of public health nurses in the local healthcare planning process.

Necessity of daily 1000-IU vitamin D supplementation for maintaining a sufficient vitamin D status.

The changes in the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations after daily 1000-IU vitamin D intake for 3 months (3-month-VD), 6 months (6-month-VD) and then 6-month cessation of vitamin D in-take (6-month-VD cessation) were examined. The serum 25(OH)D levels in 11 male and 16 female subjects were 12.1±3.

Comparative accuracy of cervical cancer screening strategies in healthy asymptomatic women: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

To compare all available accuracy data on screening strategies for identifying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade ≥ 2 in healthy asymptomatic women, we performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched up to October 2020 for paired-design studies of cytology and testing for high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus (hrHPV). The methods used included a duplicate assessment of eligibility, double extraction of quantitative data, validity assessment, random-effects network meta-analysis of test accuracy, and GRADE rating.

Effects of daily 1,000-IU vitamin D-fortified milk intake on skeletal muscle mass, power, physical function and nutrition status in Japanese.

An intervention study was conducted to investigate the effects of daily 1,000-IU vitamin D-fortified milk intake on skeletal muscle mass, power, physical function and nutrition status in 26 healthy people and 8 older adults living in a nursing home. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level was 13.4 ± 0.

[Factors associated with community collaboration in the implementation phase of the local health-care, medical, and welfare plan].

Objective　The aim of this study was to elucidate the status of health-care, medical, and welfare planning (hereafter, "planning")-in which public health nurses (PHNs) had participated-and the factors associated with community collaboration in the implementation phase. Additionally, suggestions regarding health activities that would contribute to improving the entire community's health level were obtained.Methods　The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle was the conceptual framework for this study, and the focus was the implementation phase of the plan (i.

National Data Analysis and Systematic Review for Human Resources for Cervical Cancer Screening in Japan.

Background: Although cervical cancer screening has been performed as a national program since 1983 in Japan, the participation rate has remained below 20%. Equity of access is a basic requirement for cancer screening. However, taking smears from the cervix has been limited to gynecologists or obstetricians in Japan and it might be a barrier for accessibility.

Cut-off values for skeletal muscle strength and physical functions in Japanese elderly with walking difficulty.

Age-related changes in muscle strength and physical functions, and the association between vitamin D status and skeletal muscle functions were investigated in 36 men (21-90 years old) and 52 women (21-104 years old). Significant ageing-related decreases in several skeletal muscle functions and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were observed in both men and women. Cut-off values for the Timed up and go (TUG) test, walking speed, handgrip strength and Barthel Index (BI) detecting walking difficulties in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were 11.

Self-reported competences of public health nurses for developing needs-oriented local healthcare plans: A nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Aim: To identify self-reported competencies of public health nurses for reflecting community healthcare needs in local healthcare plans.

Design: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Japan from October 7-November 30, 2019.

Methods: We sent 2,185 self-reported questionnaires to public health nurses in Japan who had developed a local healthcare plan since 2013.

Epidemiology: Pathogenesis, and Diagnostic Strategy of Diabetic Liver Disease in Japan.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is closely associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of NAFLD, can lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and hepatic decompensation. Patients with T2D have twice the risk of HCC incidence compared with those without T2D.

Relationship between age-related decreases in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and skeletal muscle mass in Japanese women.

A clearer understanding of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in middle-aged and elderly individuals is important for maintaining functionality. In the present study, age-related changes in SMM, the threshold of SMM with walking difficulty, intestinal nutrient absorption rate, and various serum factors were examined in Japanese populations of different ages. We used 24-h creatinine excretion as a measure of total body SMM.

Impact of web-based learning for health program planning competency, knowledge and skills among mid-level public health nurses: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of web-based learning modules for health program planning competency, recognition, knowledge and skills among mid-level public health nurses (PHNs).

Design: Parallel-group randomized controlled trial.

Sample: During 2018, 244 Japanese PHNs were eligible as participants with 5-20 years experiences as a PHN were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 121) or control group (n = 123).

Low-Complexity and Hardware-Friendly H.265/HEVC Encoder for Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks.

Real-time video streaming over vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) has been considered as a critical challenge for road safety applications. The purpose of this paper is to reduce the computation complexity of high efficiency video coding (HEVC) encoder for VANETs. Based on a novel spatiotemporal neighborhood set, firstly the coding tree unit depth decision algorithm is presented by controlling the depth search range.

Late evening snacks with branched-chain amino acids improve the Fischer ratio with patients liver cirrhosis at fasting in the next morning.

Background & Aims: A late evening snack (LES) is recommended as a nutritional therapy for liver cirrhosis to minimize early starvation. In patients with liver cirrhosis, the maintenance of the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) levels is important during muscle synthesis at night. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a LES with BCAAs on the Fischer ratio in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Quality-Oriented Perceptual HEVC Based on the Spatiotemporal Saliency Detection Model.

Perceptual video coding (PVC) can provide a lower bitrate with the same visual quality compared with traditional H.265/high efficiency video coding (HEVC). In this work, a novel H.

Effectiveness of an educational program for mid-level Japanese public health nurses to improve program planning competencies: A preliminary randomized control trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an education program for mid-level Japanese public health nurses (PHNs) to improve their competencies in program planning, which will fulfill community health needs.

Design: Randomized control trial.

Sample: During 2017, 103 PHNs with 5-20 years of PHN work experience in Japan were enrolled and randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 51) or control group (n = 52).

Perioperative serum and urine metabolome analyses in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing partial hepatectomy.

Objectives: Perioperative nutritional management is essential for early recovery after liver surgery. The aim of this study was to assess changes in amino acid levels in serum and urine after hepatectomy.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 16 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma before and 1, 3, and 14 d after hepatectomy (S0, S1, S3, and S14, respectively).

Educational program for middle-level public health nurses to develop new health services regarding community health needs: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Developing health services is a key strategy for improving the community health provided by public health nurses. However, an effective educational program for improving their skills in planning such services has not been developed. To describe our program and its evaluation protocol for the education of middle-level public health nurses to improve their skills in developing new health services to fulfil community health needs in Japan.

Frequency of unsatisfactory cervical cytology smears in cancer screening of Japanese women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The Bethesda system (TBS) has been used for cervical cytological diagnosis in Japan since 2008. Evaluation of specimen adequacy is the most important aspect of quality assurance and for precise diagnosis in TBS. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to assess the unsatisfactory specimen rate in the primary cervical cancer screening setting in Japan.

Major liver resection reduces nonprotein respiratory quotient and increases nonesterified fatty acid at postoperative day 14 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: We reported decreased nonprotein respiratory quotient (npRQ) after liver resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, whether liver resection volume affects energy metabolism in these patients is unclear. We aimed to examine the relationship between liver resection and energy metabolism indices.

Methods: NpRQ was measured in 53 patients with HCC and seven with at the pre- and postoperative days.