Effects of hypothetical low versus moderate-to-high intensity weight management regimens on knee replacements.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a hypothetical biennial weight management regimen in reducing the necessity for knee replacement (KR) surgery among middle-aged and older adults with or at a higher risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort in the US, comprising community-dwelling adults aged 45-79 years at high risk for or with symptomatic knee OA who underwent baseline assessments from September 2008 to December 2010 were used. Subsequent evaluations were conducted at 12, 24, and 96 months.

Estimating the prevalence of and clarifying factors associated with multiple tobacco product use in Japan: a cross-sectional study in 2022.

BackgroundMultiple tobacco product (MTP) use is a public health concern due to their combined adverse health effects. MTP use may have increased since heated tobacco products (HTPs) became more prevalent in Japan. This study aimed to (1) estimate the recent prevalence of MTP use and clarify the associated factors compared to (2) non-smokers and (3) single-product users.

Number of Teeth and Dementia-free Life Expectancy: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.

Objectives: Previous studies have reported that tooth loss is associated with an increased risk of dementia; however, few have explored the association between number of teeth and dementia-free and total life expectancies. We investigated whether having more teeth is associated with longer dementia-free and total life expectancies.

Design: A 10-year follow-up prospective cohort study from 2010 to 2020.

Insulin resistance and periodontitis: Mediation by blood pressure.

Aim: This study investigated the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, and moderate/severe periodontitis and the role of blood pressure as a mediator in this association. A second aim was to assess the role of cardiometabolic conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia as potential effect modifiers.

Methods: Data from 5733 US adults aged 30-64 years and with complete periodontal examination were analyzed (NHANES 2011-2014).

A Principal Component Analysis of Metabolome and Cognitive Decline Among Japanese Older Adults: Cross-sectional Analysis Using Tohoku Medical Megabank Cohort Study Data.

Background: Dementia is the leading cause of disability and imposes a significant burden on society. Previous studies have suggested an association between metabolites and cognitive decline. Although the metabolite composition differs between Western and Asian populations, studies targeting Asian populations remain scarce.

Cultural engagement and prevalence of pain in socially isolated older people: a longitudinal modified treatment policy approach.

Background: It remains uncertain whether cultural engagement positively influences the reduction of pain risk, particularly depending on the social isolation status. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of cultural engagement on the reduction of pain prevalence over a 6-year follow-up period among older people, particularly those experiencing different dimensions of social isolation.

Methods: This study was a prospective longitudinal study.

Radiographic alveolar bone assessment in correlation with primary implant stability: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The radiographic examination of alveolar bone using 3D radiographic examination is essential in dental implant treatment planning. Our study aimed to systematically review and quantitatively analyze the correlation between alveolar bone parameters, specifically bone density and cortical bone thickness, assessed using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and/or multidetector computed tomography (MDCT); and primary implant stability (PIS) determined using implant stability quotient (ISQ), Periotest® value (PTV), and insertion torque value (ITV).

Methods: This review was registered in the PROSPERO database (registration number CRD42022307245).

Does online communication mitigate the association between a decrease in face-to-face communication and laughter during the COVID-19 pandemic? A cross-sectional study from JACSIS study.

Laughter has a protective effect on human health. The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed opportunities for face-to-face communication and might decrease opportunities for laughter. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether the decrease in face-to-face communication during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a decrease in laughter.

Development and validation of a rurality index for healthcare research in Japan: a modified Delphi study.

Objectives: Rural-urban healthcare disparities exist globally. Various countries have used a rurality index for evaluating the disparities. Although Japan has many remote islands and rural areas, no rurality index exists.

Assessing the impacts of smoking cessation and resumption on back pain risk in later life.

Background: This study aimed to assess the impacts of smoking cessation and resumption over 4 years on the risk of back pain at the 6-year follow-up among older adults in England.

Methods: We analysed 6467 men and women aged ≥50 years in the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. Self-reported smoking status, assessed in waves 4 (2008-2009) and 6 (2012-2013), was used as exposure for the study, whereas self-reported back pain of moderate or severe intensity, assessed in wave 7 (2014-2015), was used as the outcome.

Education-related inequalities in oral health among older adults: Comparing Singapore and Japan.

Objectives: Oral health inequalities exist worldwide, and cross-country comparisons can provide valuable insights into country-level characteristics contributing to such inequalities. However, comparative studies in Asian countries are limited. This study examined the magnitude of education-related oral health inequalities in older adults in Singapore and Japan.

Effects of the different periods and magnitude of COVID-19 infection spread on cancer operations: Interrupted time series analysis of medical claims data.

Background: No clear evidence exists regarding the effects of the different periods and magnitude of spread of the COVID-19 infection on cancer treatments. This study investigated the effects of the different periods and magnitude of COVID-19 infection spread on in-hospital cancer operations.

Methods: Medical claims data from 17 hospitals where in-hospital operations for patients with malignant neoplasms were performed between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2021 in Yamagata were extracted and analyzed.

Changes in Body Mass Index on the Risk of Back Pain: Estimating the Impacts of Weight Gain and Loss.

Background: The relationship between obesity and back pain in older populations is poorly understood. This study aimed to examine (a) the impacts of changes in obesity status on back pain risk and (b) the heterogeneity in the influence of changes in obesity status according to muscle strength.

Methods: We analyzed 6 868 participants in waves 4 (2008-2009), 6 (2012-2013), and 7 (2014-2015) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

Difference of income inequalities of denture use by co-payment rates: A JAGES cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Studies suggest that wearing dentures to restore missing teeth can have a positive impact on health status. However, income inequalities in denture wearing exist. The aim of this study was to investigate how differing co-payment rates under the current Japanese Universal Health Insurance Coverage System affect income inequalities in denture non-use among older adults with severe tooth loss.

Does remaining teeth and dental prosthesis associate with social isolation? A six-year longitudinal study from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES).

Objectives: Social isolation was associated with increased mortality and numerous adverse health outcomes. However, the longitudinal association between oral health and social isolation has not been studied. In this longitudinal prospective cohort study, the association between the number of remaining teeth and dental prosthesis use with social isolation after 6-years follow-up was examined.

Large Contribution of Oral Status for Death Among Modifiable Risk Factors in Older Adults: The Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Oral diseases are preventable and modifiable, but highly prevalent, and cause worse oral status. Particularly, tooth loss has increased in aging societies. However, studies on population-attributable risks of modifiable risk factors for mortality have neglected oral status.

An Interpretable Machine Learning Approach to Predict Fall Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: a Three-Year Longitudinal Study.

Background: Adverse health effects resulting from falls are a major public health concern. Although studies have identified risk factors for falls, none have examined long-term prediction of fall risk. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that there are additional risk factors, such as psychosocial factors.

Importance of socioeconomic factors in predicting tooth loss among older adults in Japan: Evidence from a machine learning analysis.

Prevalence of tooth loss has increased due to population aging. Tooth loss negatively affects the overall physical and social well-being of older adults. Understanding the role of socio-demographic and other predictors associated with tooth loss that are measured in non-clinical settings can be useful in community-level prevention.

Maintaining Moderate or Vigorous Exercise Reduces the Risk of Low Back Pain at 4 Years of Follow-Up: Evidence From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

Few studies have examined whether maintaining moderate or vigorous physical activity (PA) reduces the risk of low back pain in older people. This study aimed to examine the magnitude of the associations of changes in PA on the risk of low back pain at 4 years of follow-up. We analyzed 4,882 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing who were initially free from low back pain (mean age, 65.

Longitudinal Association Between Oral Status and Cognitive Decline Using Fixed-effects Analysis.

Background: Although the feasibility of randomized trials for investigating the long-term association between oral health and cognitive decline is low, deriving causal inferences from observational data is challenging. We aimed to investigate the association between poor oral status and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) using fixed-effects model to eliminate the confounding effect of unobserved time-invariant factors.

Methods: We used data from Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) which was conducted in 2010, 2013, and 2016.

Influence of bone condition on implant placement accuracy with computer-guided surgery.

Background: The impact of the jaw bone condition, such as bone quantity and quality in the implant placement site, affecting the accuracy of implant placement with computer-guided surgery (CGS) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of bone condition, i.e.

Inequalities in Caries Experience Among Mongolian Children.

Although inequalities in dental caries have been well-reported, there is only one Mongolian study on the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and caries experience, which was published ten years ago. This study aimed to determine the dental health status of Mongolian children living in urban and suburban areas of Ulaanbaatar city and examine its association with income and parental educational attainment. An oral examination was conducted by dentists and caries were measured as deft/DMFT indices.