[Agreement in the responses to self-reported and proxy-reported versions of QOL-HC: a new quality-of-life scale for patients receiving home-based medical care].

Aim: We developed quality-of-life (QOL) scales for patients receiving home medical care. The objective of this study was to examine the agreement between the scores of the scales answered by patients and those answered by their proxy, as cognitive decline may interfere with one's ability to understand complex topics, such as the QOL.

Methods: Participants were pairs of patients receiving home medical care and their proxy.

Physical Function Differences Between the Stages From Normal Cognition to Moderate Alzheimer Disease.

Objectives: We investigated the differences in the physical function test results across stages from normal cognition (NC) to moderate Alzheimer disease (AD) and how risk factors of physical function decline are correlated with the physical function test results.

Design: A cross-sectional study of outpatients at the Memory Disorder Outpatient Center of Japan's National Center of Geriatrics and Gerontology.

Participants: We enrolled 882 individuals aged ≥65 diagnosed with NC (n = 210), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI; n = 273), mild AD (n = 181) or moderate AD (n = 197).

Development and validation of a new quality of life scale for patients receiving home-based medical care: The Observational Study of Nagoya Elderly with Home Medical Care.

Aim: To develop and validate a scale that assesses quality of life in patients receiving home-based medical care.

Methods: A new quality of life scale was developed and evaluated in four phases: (i) item generation; (ii) first field study with a 14-item questionnaire; (iii) preliminary validation study, to reduce the number of items to four; and (iv) second field study comprising 40 patients, to evaluate the validity of the final version. Participants were requested to answer both the final version of the scale and the Short Form-8, to enable identification of any relationship between the two.

Prediction of symptomatic depression by discriminant analysis in Japanese community-dwelling elderly.

Although a number of studies have examined depression risk factors for elderly persons, little attention has been paid to the prediction of individuals at risk. This study constructed a predictive model for discrimination between individuals at a higher risk of depression and normal subjects in Japanese community-dwelling elderly persons, using linear discriminant analysis. Data were collected from 754 non-institutionalized elderly men and women aged 65 years and older living in the community in Japan, using face-to-face interviews in 2002.

Lifestyle factors and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case-control study in Japan.

Purpose: We examined the associations between lifestyle factors and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using a case-control study in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Methods: The study comprised 183 ALS patients diagnosed by the El Escorial World Federation of Neurology criteria as well as 366 gender- and age-matched controls randomly selected from the general population with the use of the basic register of residents. Detailed information on lifestyle factors was obtained through a mailed self-administered questionnaire.

Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Japan.

Background: There has been little interest in the role of nutrition in the prevention of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We investigated the relationship between dietary intake of vegetables, fruit, and antioxidants and the risk of ALS in Japan.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2004, we recruited 153 ALS patients aged 18-81 years with disease duration of 3 years within the study period in accordance with El Escorial World Federation of Neurology criteria.

Emotional support from family members and subjective health in caregivers of the frail elderly at home in Japan.

This study sought to determine the factors associated with subjective health in caregivers of the frail elderly living at home, using multivariate regression analysis. Data were collected from 130 caregivers of frail elderly persons listed on a roster for utilization of day service or short stay service from two Home Visit Nursing Care Stations, using self-administered questionnaire from January to February of 2005. Family caregivers were defined as co-residents family members who provided a minimum of 1 h of daily care for at least 3 months.

Predictor of increase in caregiver burden for disabled elderly at home.

In order to classify the caregivers at high risk of increase in their burden early, linear discriminant analysis was performed to obtain an effective discriminant model for differentiation of the presence or absence of increase in caregiver burden. The data obtained by self-administered questionnaire from 193 caregivers of frail elderly from January to February of 2005 were used. The discriminant analysis yielded a statistically significant function explaining 35.

Prediction of subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm by discriminant analysis in women.

Background: Using a discriminant analysis study of Japanese women, we sought to construct a predictive model of individuals who are at a higher risk factor of the occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm.

Methods: Patients consisted of a consecutive series of 124 female patients with first spontaneous SAH aged 30 to 79 years and aneurysm or aneurysms confirmed by angiography, computed tomography scan, or both at two medical hospitals in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, from April 1992 to March 1997. Community control subjects were identified, and matched to each patient by age (+/-2 years).

Effects of radical scavenger protein from broad beans on glutathione status in human lung fibroblasts.

Objective: Human diploid cells are more susceptible to oxidative stress at late passage than at early passage, presumably because of the decrease in cellular-reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration. Water-soluble protein (WSP) from broad beans scavenges free radicals. The effects of WSP on the glutathione system were examined in PDL 20 (early passage) and PDL 50 (late passage) human lung fibroblasts (TIG-1).

Life worth living for caregiving and caregiver burden among Japanese caregivers of the disabled elderly in Japan.

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between life worth living and caregiver burden among caregivers in Japan. We used 111 caregivers of frail elders who completed a self-administered questionnaire including the 8 items developed by Arai et al. (J-ZBI) used as a scale to measure subjective burdens and psychological factors used as covariates other than life worth living.

Gender differences in the relationship between self-rated health (SRH) and 6-year mortality risks among the elderly in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between SRH and mortality among 784 non-institutionalized community-living elderly in Japan from 1995 to 2001. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews. The direct effect was estimated by the ratio of regression coefficient of two adjacent models (full model entered all covariates to total effect of SRH), and composed of the direct and indirect effect.

Nutritional status and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Japan.

Only a few human studies have reported the relationship between dietary factors and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We therefore analyzed the relationship between macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and fat) and the risk of ALS using a case-control study in Japan. The study comprised 153 ALS patients diagnosed by the El Escorial World Federation of Neurology criteria, and 306 gender- and age- matched controls randomly selected from the general population.

The joint effect of oxidative stress and antioxidants on the risk of an aneurysmal rupture subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case-control study in Japan.

Purpose: A case-control study was conducted in Japan to examine the joint effects of oxidative stress and antioxidants on the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods: The study included 201 consecutive patients with first spontaneous SAH aged 30 to 79 years who had aneurysm(s) confirmed by angiography and/or computed tomographic scan and were admitted to two medical hospitals in Nagoya, Japan, from April 1992 to March 1997. Community control subjects were identified and matched to each case by gender and age (+/-2 years).

Much communication with family and appetite among elderly persons in Japan.

The purpose of this study is to examine cross-sectionally the factors associated with appetite among the elderly persons living in the community in Japan. The subjects of this study were 754 non-institutionalized elderly men and women aged 65 years and older living in community in Japan. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews.

Risk factors for 6-year mortality by gender in a Japanese elderly population.

The aim of this study is to examine gender differences in the factors associated with 6-year mortality among 784 elderly residents (mean age=73 years) in Japan from 1995 (baseline) to 2001. Survival status during 6 years of follow-up was confirmed by either inquiries of older participants or family members or data from official death certificates, or both in 2001. Information on variables associated with mortality was elicited by using a face-to-face interview at baseline (1995).

Versican, a major hyaluronan-binding component in the dermis, loses its hyaluronan-binding ability in solar elastosis.

Versican interacts with hyaluronan (HA) at its N-terminus and with fibrillin-1 at its C terminus. As versican in the dermis connects microfibrils to the HA-rich matrix for viscoelasticity, dermal diseases may involve destruction of these complexes. A recombinant versican protein, rVN, covering the HA binding region (HABR) of human versican and a polyclonal antibody, 6084, against rVN were prepared and characterized.

Dietary antioxidant intake and risk of an aneurysmal rupture subarachnoid hemorrhage in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary antioxidant intake and the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in a case-control study. An antioxidant intake score was calculated for individual values for each food group (soy products, green yellow-vegetables, fruits, boiled rice and tea) collected by a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Incident SAH cases (n=201) were identified and individually matched for age (+/-2 years) and gender to community (n=201) controls from April 1992 to March 1997.

Observation and imitation of nursing actions: A NIRS study with experts and novices.

We used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to study the difference in brain activity among three types of observers (novices, junior-experts (JE), and an expert in the field of nursing) who observed and imitated nursing actions, to assess whether the cerebral processes of action observation and imitation are modulated by the existing expertise and motor-skills repertoire of the observer. Our results suggest that in nursing, expertise in JE and motor-skills repertoire in high-scoring novices enhance their sensibilities in the integration and recognition of somatosensory input in the imitation of nursing actions.

Habitual green tea consumption and risk of an aneurysmal rupture subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case-control study in Nagoya, Japan.

Background: Green tea, a popular beverage in Japan, contains many polyphenolic antioxidants, which might prevent cardiovascular disease. This study is designed to determine whether the consumption of green tea is associated with a reduced risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) using a case-control study.

Methods: Incident SAH cases (n=201) were identified and individually matched by age (+/-2 years) and gender to hospital (n=201) and community controls (n=201) from April 1992 to March 1997.

Soy products and risk of an aneurysmal rupture subarachnoid hemorrhage in Japan.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between soy products and the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage in a case-control study.

Design: A case-control study was conducted.

Methods: Incident subarachnoid hemorrhage cases (n = 201) were identified and individually matched on age (+/- 2 years) and sex to community (n = 201) controls from April 1992 to March 1997.

Life expectancy at the age of 65 years and environmental factors: an ecological study in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors associated with life expectancy at the age of 65 years used as the index of longevity, using published data in Japan. Life expectancy at the age of 65 years was obtained from the 19th life table in 2000 published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. The associations between life expectancy at the age of 65 years and environmental factors were assessed by Spearman correlation coefficients.

The relationships of gender, cigarette smoking, and hypertension with the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case-control study in Nagoya, Japan.

Purpose: To examine the relationship of gender, cigarette smoking, and a history of hypertension to the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), using a case-control study.

Methods: Case subjects consisted of a consecutive series of 201 patients with spontaneous SAH with aneurysm(s) confirmed by angiography and/or CT scan. One hospital and one community control subject was matched to each case by gender and age (+/- 2 years).

Descriptive epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Japan, 1995-2001.

Background: This study was conducted to describe the epidemiologic features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Japan by examining annual trends in mortality (1995-2001), and to discuss the background factors possibly responsible for the recent variations in the mortality rate.

Methods: Trends in both the age-adjusted and age-specific mortality rates of ALS were examined by using the data obtained from the vital statistics of Japan between 1995 and 2001.

Results: There were small increases in the number of ALS deaths (from 1249 to 1400 per year) and the crude mortality rates (from 1.

Dietary habits and risk of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligaments of the spine (OPLL); findings from a case-control study in Japan.

The relation between dietary habits and the risk of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligaments of the spine (OPLL) was investigated in a case-control study conducted in Japan from 1998 to 2001. Prevalent OPLL cases (n = 69) were identified and individually matched by age and sex with community controls (n = 138) randomly selected from the general population in Hokkaido. A self-administered food-frequency questionnaire was used to assess habitual dietary intake.