An Investigation of Factors Related to Food Intake Ability and Swallowing Difficulty After Surgery for Thoracic Esophageal Cancer.

Swallowing difficulty is among the major complications that can occur after surgery for thoracic esophageal cancer. Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP) has been considered the most significant cause of a postoperative swallowing difficulty, but association between the two has not been adequately explained. We investigated the relation between postoperative RLNP and swallowing difficulty by means of video fluoroscopy.

Outcomes of Inpatient Treatment for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Alzheimer's Disease Versus Dementia With Lewy Bodies.

Objective: Most community-based studies have shown a more malignant clinical course for patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) than Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined differences in outcomes between patients with DLB and AD hospitalized for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Method: A chart review was conducted of patients with either AD or DLB hospitalized in the acute psychogeriatric ward between January 2008 and December 2011 in Kahoku-City, Ishikawa, Japan.

Predictors of home discharge among patients hospitalized for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Background: The Japanese government recently announced the 'Five-Year Plan for Promotion of Measures Against Dementia (Orange Plan)' to promote people with dementia living in their communities. To achieve this, it is imperative that patients hospitalized with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are helped to return to their own homes. The aim of the present study was to identify predictors of home discharge among patients hospitalized for BPSD.

Relation between VE/VCO2 slope and maximum phonation time in chronic heart failure patients.

This study aimed to determine the relation between the regression slope relating minute ventilation to carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2 slope) and maximum phonation time (MPT), and the MPT required to attain a threshold value for VE/VCO2 slope of ≤ 34 in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This cross-sectional study enrolled 115 CHF patients (mean age, 54.5 years; men, 84.

Relation between maximum phonation time and exercise capacity in chronic heart failure patients.

Background: Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) commonly fatigue easily due to low peak oxygen uptake (peak VO(2)), an important index of exercise capacity. Maximum phonation time (MPT) is widely used to evaluate maximum vocal capabilities because it is non-invasive, quick, and inexpensive.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the relation between MPT and exercise capacity, and MPT required to attain an exercise capacity of ≥5 metabolic equivalents (METs) in CHF outpatients.

'Time slip' phenomenon in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders: case series.

In recent years, it has been noticed that adolescent and adult patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) sometimes visit psychiatric medical institutions. In some cases, these patients commit an act of violence and are dealt with by psychiatric emergency and forensic psychiatric services. In this report, we present two cases with ASD who visited a psychiatric emergency service because of the 'time slip' phenomenon, and discuss the clinical significance of this phenomenon.

Impact of depressive mixed state in an emergency psychiatry setting: a marker of bipolar disorder and a possible risk factor for emergency hospitalization.

Background: Depressive mixed state (DMX) has been reported to be one of the most useful clinical markers for bipolar II disorder (BP-II) in the outpatient setting. However, the significance of DMX in emergency psychiatry has not been well studied.

Methods: A chart review study of 139 patients who were hospitalized in an emergency psychiatric ward with an initial diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD).

'Chiyamai', a panic-like disorder in woman divers from Hegura Island.

In Hegura Island, Japan, we have recently found female divers who suffer from a disorder called 'Chiyamai'. From interviews, questionnaires and temporarily proposed diagnostic criteria for Chiyamai, nine cases from 44 female divers interviewed, were diagnosed as having Chiyamai. Clinically, Chiyamai is characterized by a panic-like attack.