Participation factors in a self-quantification program for family caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with long-term care in Japan.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the characteristics of participation in the self-quantification program for family caregivers (CGs) who provide long-term care to community-dwelling older adults. The family CGs, allocated based on the percentage of the nation's older population who needed care and met the inclusion criteria, who provided caregiving at least once a week for those aged 65 + and who were certified as needing care under the Japanese long-term care insurance program, were collected through online monitors. We compared the characteristics of the program participants and nonparticipants using logistic regression.

Japanese preference weights of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit for Carers (ASCOT-Carer).

Purpose: We developed preference weights of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit for Carers (ASCOT-Carer) in Japan.

Methods: We used best-worst scaling (BWS) and composite time trade-off (cTTO) to determine the preference weights for ASCOT-Carer states in the general population. TTO values were applied to convert the BWS scores to utilities.

Development of Japanese utility weights for the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) SCT4.

Purpose: In developed countries, progressive rapid aging is increasing the need for social care. This study aimed to determine Japanese utility weights for the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) four-level self-completion questionnaire (SCT4).

Methods: We recruited 1050 Japanese respondents from the general population, stratified by sex and age, from five major cities.

Japanese translation and cross-cultural validation of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) in Japanese social service users.

Background: The aim of this study was to develop and perform cross-cultural validation of a Japanese version of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) four-level Self-Completion questionnaire (SCT4) instrument to measure Social-Care Related Quality of Life. It was important to develop a Japanese version of the ASCOT-SCT4 and validate it in the Japanese context, given the interest in measuring outcomes of social care services in Japan.

Methods: The original version of ASCOT-SCT4 was translated into Japanese following good practice guidelines.

Effect of short-stay service use on stay-at-home duration for elderly with certified care needs: Analysis of long-term care insurance claims data in Japan.

Objective: Home independence is an important issue for the elderly in many countries and cultures. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of short-stay service use on stay-at-home duration for elderly people by level of care need under the Japanese long-term care insurance system.

Methods: We analyzed anonymous, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan Long-Term Care Insurance claims data from Ibaraki Prefecture.

What Makes Super-Aged Nations Happier? Exploring Critical Factors of Happiness Among Middle-Aged Men and Women in Japan.

This study aimed to examine multiple factors associated with happiness from the perspective of gender difference among a middle-aged Japanese population. A total of 865 participants (male = 344, female = 521) aged 40-64 years were divided into two groups (high and low) by their self-reported level of happiness. Logistic regression analysis by gender was carried out.

A new infectious encephalopathy syndrome, clinically mild encephalopathy associated with excitotoxicity (MEEX).

Acute infectious encephalopathy is often observed in children in East Asia including Japan. More than 40% of the patients remain unclassified into specific syndromes. To investigate the underlying pathomechanisms in those with unclassified encephalopathy, we evaluated brain metabolism by MR spectroscopy.

Association of care recipients' care-need level with family caregiver participation in health check-ups in Japan.

Aim: The public mandatory long-term care insurance system in Japan has supposedly mitigated the care burden for family caregivers of older adults, whereas family caregivers still play a considerable role in providing care. The effect of informal caregiving on the caregiver's health has been of great interest. We investigated the relationship between the amplitude of informal caregiving and caregiver participation in health check-ups in Japan.

Clinically mild infantile encephalopathy associated with excitotoxicity.

Acute infectious encephalopathy is very frequently observed in children in East Asia including Japan. Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) is the most common subtype in Japan; however, more than 40% of the patients remain unclassified into specific syndromes. To investigate the underlying pathomechanism in those with unclassified acute encephalopathy, we evaluated brain metabolism by MR spectroscopy.

Mental Health of Parents as Caregivers of Children with Disabilities: Based on Japanese Nationwide Survey.

The number of children with disability is increasing gradually in Japan. Previous researches in other countries have reported that parents as caregivers (CGs) of children with disability have mental health problems, but the actual situation has not been examined nationwide in Japan so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between mental health of CGs who had children with disability and characteristics of children, CGs, and household based on the nation-wide survey.

Triple difficulties in Japanese women with hearing loss: marriage, smoking, and mental health issues.

Objective: To examine the consequences of early-onset hearing loss on several social and health measures and any related gender differences in Japanese populations.

Methods: Data from a 2007 nationally representative cross-sectional household survey of 136,849 men and women aged 20 to 39 years were obtained (prevalence of self-reported hearing loss: 0.74%).

[Introduction of long-term care insurance: changes in service usage].

Objectives: With the aging of the population, Japan's long-term care system has shifted from a welfare-placement system to a social-insurance system, which is a precedent of policies for the elderly. We examined how individuals who used care services before the implementation of long-term care insurance (LTCI) (previous service users) currently use the LTCI services, with a focus on the processes of service use.

Methods: Panel data were obtained from the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging database.

Relationship between structural characteristics and outcome quality indicators at health care facilities for the elderly requiring long-term care in Japan from a nationwide survey.

Aim: To clarify the performance situation of selected quality indicators: falls, pressure ulcers and dehydration, at health care facilities for the elderly in Japan, and what structural characteristics are related to them.

Methods: The operational population consisted of 1057 institutionalized users (approximately 10 randomly selected per facility) from a survey answered by the care staff. The facilities were divided into two groups according to their prevalence of negative outcomes (falls, pressure ulcers, dehydration): the best 25% (the very good performers) and the remaining 75% (not so good performers).

[Comparison of lifestyle, mental stress, and medical check-up results between Tanshin-funin workers and workers living with their families].

Objectives: We conducted a comparative analysis of lifestyle, mental stress, and medical check-up results between tanshin-funin workers and workers living with their families.

Methods: Study participants were 3,026 married men, aged 40-59 yr, who worked at a large financial firm in Japan. Tanshin-funin was defined as married men separated from their families due to workplace assignments, as determined by a self-administered questionnaire in 2004.

Early induction of interleukin-5 and peripheral eosinophilia in acute pneumonia in Japanese children infected by pandemic 2009 influenza A in the Tokyo area.

A novel influenza A (2009 H1N1) virus has led to a worldwide pandemic. A significant number of patients with pneumonia have been reported, although its pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. To determine its pathogenesis, we evaluated serum interleukin (IL)-5 and peripheral eosinophil counts in patients with acute pneumonia caused by the 2009 H1N1 virus.

Distinctive clinical features of human bocavirus in children younger than 2 years.

Background And Objective: Clinical characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV) infection have been studied worldwide, but their importance of those characteristics remains unknown. We investigated distinctive clinical features of HBoV-positive children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).

Methods And Results: During April 2007-July 2009, for 402 hospitalized children younger than 2 years with LRTI, we prospectively examined virus genomes in nasopharyngeal swabs for HBoV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, metapneumovirus, parainfluenzavirus, and adenovirus.

Degradation of 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin by Fe(3+)-H(2)O(2) mixed reagent.

Fe(3+)-H(2)O(2) mixed reagent, but not Fe(2+)-H(2)O(2), was found to be capable of degrading 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (DCDD). A reaction mixture of FeCl(3) (8 mM) and H(2)O(2) (1%) caused approximately 50% degradation within 6 h and >90% degradation within 24 h at 27 degrees C. Increasing the temperature remarkably stimulated degradation: at 70 degrees C, approximately 100% degradation was achieved within 15 min.