Association Between the Swallowing Reflex and the Incidence of Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients With Dysphagia Admitted to Long-term Care Wards: A Prospective Cohort Study of 60 Days.

Objective: To investigate the association between the Simple Swallowing Provocation Test (SSPT) and the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in patients with dysphagia in long-term care (LTC) wards.

Design: The study design was a prospective cohort study. Participants were followed for 60 days from admission.

Predictive factors associated with poor outcomes for older adult inpatients in the convalescent rehabilitation ward.

This study aimed to determine predictive factors associated with poor outcomes among older adult inpatients in the convalescent rehabilitation ward. We also examined the validity of factors that were identified as predictive of poor outcomes. Study subjects were 104 older adult inpatients in the convalescent rehabilitation ward, divided into two groups based on outcome at discharge.

Japanese elderly individuals wish for enteral tube feeding more strongly for their parents than for themselves.

[Introduction] The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the preference of enteral tube feeding between elderly inhabitants of Mugi town, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, and their parents in various physical conditions. [Methods] This population-based questionnaire survey studied 300 randomly selected participants aged 65-80 years. Respondents were to consider a situation where eating was difficult, and were questioned on their desire for tube feeding, using a visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from "do not want tube feeding (0)" to "want tube feeding (100).

[Relationship between the swallowing function and jaw-opening muscle strength in elderly cerebrovascular disease patients].

Aim: In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between the swallowing function and the jaw-opening force after cerebrovascular disease.

Methods: Elderly patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease with swallowing disability were enrolled in the present study. The swallowing function was evaluated using the Dysphagia Severity Scale (DSS), and the jaw-opening force was measured using Jaw-Opening Sthenometer (TK2014).

Predictive factors associated with the therapeutic response in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema syndrome.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome are common inflammatory rheumatic diseases in the elderly. In this study, we investigate predictive factors which correspond to subsequent disease control of PMR and RS3PE syndrome. Twenty four patients, which contained 18 PMR and 6 RS3PE syndrome, were treated with initial dosages of 10-20 mg per day oral prednisolone, and the dosage of prednisolone was then tapered.

Novel formula using triceps skinfold thickness to revise the Cockcroft-Gault equation for estimating renal function in Japanese bedridden elderly patients.

In recumbent elderly patients, creatinine clearance (eCCr) estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) equation may not necessarily reflect renal function. We aimed to develop a novel formula to revise the CG equation using anthropometric measurements in bedridden elderly patients and evaluate its clinical utility. The subjects included 77 bedridden Japanese patients aged ≦ 65, hospitalized at Naruto Yamakami Hospital.

N-terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide Level as a Prognostic Predictor in Elderly Patients in a Convalescent Rehabilitation Ward.

Objective: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) levels were investigated to predict outcomes for elderly patients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

Methods: The study included 75 patients aged at least 75 years who were admitted to the convalescent rehabilitation ward of Naruto-Yamakami Hospital. Based on NTproBNP levels on admission, the patients were divided into those with NTproBNP levels ≥400 pg/ml (Group A) and those with NTproBNP levels <400 pg/ml (Group B).