Regional disparities in home health care utilization for older adults and their associated factors at the secondary medical area level: A Nationwide study in Japan.

Aim: As aging populations shift health care from hospitals to communities, Japan has implemented policies to promote home health care. This study explored regional differences in home health care recipients among older adults and related factors.

Methods: We used nationwide data from 2020 to describe the proportion of older adults receiving regular home visits and the medical institutions utilized across secondary medical areas: urban, middle and depopulated areas.

The existence of cells exhibiting characteristics of both Type II and Type III cells in rat taste buds. An immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic study.

Taste bud cells are classified into four types by their ultrastructural features. Immunohistochemical detection of taste-signaling molecules is used to distinguish cell types of taste bud cells; however, the characteristics of taste cell types such as the immunoreactivity for taste-signaling molecules have long remained unclear. We investigated the detailed characteristics of taste cells in rat vallate taste buds by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry for gustducin, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2), which are known as markers of Type II cells, Type III cells and both cell types, respectively.

Change in the Proportion of Death at Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Associated Factors in the Municipality Level: A Nationwide Study in Japan.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have led to an increase in home deaths due to hospital bed shortage and hospital visitation restrictions. This study aimed to examine changes in the proportion of home deaths before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and identify associated factors.

Methods: We used publicly available nationwide data to describe the proportion of home deaths among total deaths from 2015 to 2021.

ATP2B4 is an essential gene for epidermal growth factor-induced macropinocytosis in A431 cells.

Macropinocytosis (MPC) is a large-scale endocytosis pathway that involves actin-dependent membrane ruffle formation and subsequent ruffle closure to generate macropinosomes for the uptake of fluid-phase cargos. MPC is categorized into two types: constitutive and stimuli-induced. Constitutive MPC in macrophages relies on extracellular Ca sensing by a calcium-sensing receptor.

The Effect of Home Care Support Clinics on Hospital Readmission in Heart Failure Patients in Japan.

Background: Heart failure is common and is associated with high rates of hospitalization. Home care support clinics/hospitals (HCSCs) and enhanced HCSCs were introduced in Japan in 2006 and 2012, respectively.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of post-discharge care by conventional or enhanced HCSCs on readmission, compared with general clinics.

Development and validation of a risk score to predict the frequent emergency house calls among older people who receive regular home visits.

Background: The demand for home healthcare is increasing in Japan, and a 24-hour on-call system could be a burden for primary care physicians. Identifying high-risk patients who need frequent emergency house calls could help physicians prepare and allocate medical resources. The aim of the present study was to develop a risk score to predict the frequent emergency house calls in patients who receive regular home visits.

Factors Affecting Care-Level Deterioration among Older Adults with Mild and Moderate Disabilities in Japan: Evidence from the Nationally Standardized Survey for Care-Needs Certification.

This study aims to investigate the factors of care-level deterioration in older adults with mild and moderate disabilities using nationally standardized survey data for care-needs certification. We enrolled people aged 68 years or older, certified as support levels 1-2 (mild disability) or care levels 1-2 (moderate disability) with no cancer. The outcome was care-level deterioration after two years.

Effects of Early Postdischarge Rehabilitation Services on Care Needs-Level Deterioration in Older Adults With Functional Impairment: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Objective: To examine the effects of early postdischarge rehabilitation on care needs-level deterioration in older Japanese patients.

Design: Propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A secondary data analysis was conducted using medical and long-term care insurance claims data from a suburban city in Japan.

Associations of coprescribed medications for chronic comorbid conditions in very old adults with clinical dementia: a retrospective cohort study using insurance claims data.

Objective: To assess the association of coprescribed medications for chronic comorbid conditions with clinical dementia in older adults, as indicated by the initiation of a new prescription of antidementia medication (NPADM).

Design: Retrospective enumeration cohort study.

Setting: A Japanese city in Tokyo Metropolitan Area.

The association between activity levels and skin moisturising function in adults.

Factors associated with skin moisture retention include age and lifestyle, such as diet and sleep efficiency. However, the impact of exercise habits on skin moisturising function is unclear. We surveyed 86 participants from a Japanese university about their activity levels using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Dysfunction of Cl channels promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma via activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly aggressive carcinoma with a high incidence of recurrence and distant metastasis. However, the mechanism of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) during tumor progression and metastasis in OSCC has not yet been fully elucidated. It is well known that the Cl channel controls cell volume and activates several signaling pathways for cell differentiation.

[The pulmonary rehabilitation utilization rate among older people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Japan: A retrospective study using medical and long-term care insurance claims data].

Aim: This study aimed to improve the understanding of the utilization rates and the characteristics of users of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Methods: We used medical and long-term care claims data from between April 2012 and March 2013 from Kashiwa city in Chiba prefecture, Japan. The study participants included patients of ≥63 years of age, who had received outpatient treatment for COPD (ICD-10 codes: J41-J44) two or more times during the study period, and who had been prescribed two or more COPD-related drugs.

Guideline-Based Medications for Older Adults Discharged after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in a Suburban City of Japan: A Cohort Study Using Claims Data.

Secondary prevention with medications is essential for the better prognosis of patients who have experienced cardiovascular events. We aimed to evaluate the use of guideline-based medications for secondary prevention in older adults in the community settings after discharge following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A retrospective cohort study was conducted using anonymized claims data of older beneficiaries in a suburban city of Japan between April 2012 and March 2015.

Association of household income with home-based rehabilitation and home help service utilization among long-term home care service users.

Background: To examine the association of household income with home-based rehabilitation and home help services in terms of service utilization and expenditures.

Methods: A secondary data analysis of cross-sectional design was conducted using long-term care (LTC) insurance claims data, medical claims data, and three types of administrative data. The subjects comprised LTC insurance beneficiaries in Kashiwa city, Japan, who used long-term home care services in the month following care needs certification.

Negative chronotropic and inotropic effects of lubiprostone on iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes via activation of CFTR.

Background: Lubiprostone (LBP) is a novel chloride channel opener that has been reported to activate chloride channel protein 2 (ClC-2) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). LBP facilitates fluid secretion by activating CFTR in the intestine and is used as a drug for treating chronic constipation. While ClC-2 and CFTR expression has been confirmed in cardiomyocytes (CMs), the effect of LBP on CMs has not yet been investigated.

Cl- channels regulate lipid droplet formation via Rab8a expression during adipocyte differentiation.

Several studies have shown that Cl channels regulate the differentiation of some cell types. Thus, we investigated the role of Cl channels on adipocyte differentiation using adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) and Cl channel blocker. We induced rabbit ASCs into adipocytes using Cl channel blocker.

Airway regeneration using iPS cell-derived airway epithelial cells with Cl channel function.

induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be differentiated into various cell types, including airway epithelial cells, since they have the capacity for self-renewal and pluripotency. Thus, airway epithelial cells generated from iPS cells are expected to be potent candidates for use in airway regeneration and the treatment of airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Recently, it was reported that iPS cells can be differentiated into airway epithelial cells according to the airway developmental process.

Community-based program promotes interprofessional collaboration among home healthcare professionals: A non-randomized controlled study.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of an interprofessional collaboration (IPC) promotion program among community healthcare professionals.

Methods: A non-randomized controlled study was carried out. Study participants were home healthcare-related professionals in a suburban city near Tokyo; program participants were compared with non-participants.

The associations of multimorbidity with the sum of annual medical and long-term care expenditures in Japan.

Background: The occurrence of multimorbidity (i.e., the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases) increases with age in older adults and is a growing concern worldwide.