The gut microbiota genus Blautia is associated with skeletal muscle mass reduction in community-dwelling older Japanese adults: the Wakayama Study.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study examined the gut microbiota species associated with skeletal muscle mass reduction in a community-based sample of older Japanese adults.

Methods: The study included 744 participants (320 men and 424 women) aged 65-89 years (mean age: 73 years) with no history of treatment for colorectal, chronic kidney, or liver diseases. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed to estimate the appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) of each participant.

Age- and sex-related reference values for central blood pressure parameters in middle-aged and older Japanese adults: the Wakayama study.

Central blood pressure (BP) is more strongly associated with cardiovascular events than brachial BP. Few studies have described age-related changes in central BP in the general Japanese population. This study aimed to provide reference values for central BP parameters according to the age and sex, using data from 2964 participants aged 40-89 years (mean age: 60 years) who had no history of overt cardiovascular or chronic kidney disease and had not received antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, or hypoglycemic treatments.

Effect of lower-extremity muscle power training on muscle strength, balance function and walking ability in older adults with heart failure: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: This study investigated the combined effect of lower-extremity muscle power training and regular cardiac rehabilitation on muscle strength, balance function, and walking ability of older adults with heart failure.

Methods: Thirty-one patients, comprising 17 males and 14 females, aged between 66 and 89 years and diagnosed with non-severe heart failure, were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 15) or control group (n = 16). Both groups participated in a 12-week regular rehabilitation program, with the intervention group receiving additional lower-extremity muscle power training.

Spot urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio is associated with blood pressure levels in healthy adolescents: the Wakayama Study.

The spot urinary sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio is a simple measure of salt loading and has been shown to be associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) in middle-aged and older adults. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the spot urinary Na/K ratio and BP in 457 healthy adolescents aged 12-15 years in a school-based setting. The mean urinary Na/K ratio was 4.

Appendicular Muscle Mass Index was Stronger than Body Mass Index in Association with Atherosclerosis in the Community-Dwelling Elderly.

Aims: Low muscle mass is associated with advanced atherosclerosis. However, only very few studies on the elderly have investigated a dose-response relationship between muscle mass and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, whether the relationship between muscle mass and atherosclerosis is stronger than that between body mass index (BMI) and atherosclerosis among the elderly population remains to be determined.

[Usefulness of Simple Dietary Check Sheet as Screening Tool to Assess the Risk of Muscle Mass Reduction in Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Adults].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of a simple dietary check sheet to assess the risk of muscle mass reduction in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: The study participants comprised 1,272 community-dwelling individuals aged 50-89 years (mean age; 68.7 years).

[Development of a Risk Prediction Model and a Simple Assessment Sheet for Cold Disorder (Hiesho) in Middle-aged and Older Adults].

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to develop a risk prediction model and a simple assessment sheet for cold disorder (hiesho) in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: The 889 participants in this study were from a community-dwelling general population (mean age, 62.4±8.

Effects of cigarette smoking on the association between respiratory muscle strength and skeletal muscle mass in middle-aged and older adults: the Wakayama Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine whether cumulative smoking exposure affects the association between peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and skeletal muscle mass in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: The study participants comprised 832 community-dwelling individuals aged 50-89 years (mean age: 69 years) without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed to estimate the skeletal muscle mass of each participant.

District Differences in the Measured Values of Arterial Stiffness in Japan.

In Japan, district differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are well-known. This study examined district differences in Japan in measured values of arterial stiffness, an independent risk factor for CVD. Local residents participating in health checkups conducted in the Wakayama (n=461) and Nagano (n=186) prefectures in 2018 were recruited to the study.

[Association of Cigarette Smoking with Muscle Mass Reduction and Low Muscle Strength in Community-Dwelling Elderly Men].

Objectives: Recently, attention has been paid to the impact of cigarette smoking on skeletal muscles, as its underlying pathophysiological mechanism has been gradually elucidated. In this study, we aimed to examine whether cigarette smoking is associated with muscle mass reduction and low muscle strength in elderly men.

Methods: The study participants comprised 417 community-dwelling elderly men (aged 73±6 years) without severe glucose intolerance, chronic kidney disease, or liver disease.

Excessive alcohol intake and liver fibrosis are associated with skeletal muscle mass reduction in elderly men: the Wakayama study.

Background: Excessive alcohol intake complicated by liver dysfunction has been presumed to affect skeletal muscles. This study aimed to examine the association between excessive alcohol intake, liver fibrosis, and loss of skeletal muscle mass in elderly men.

Methods: The study participants comprised 799 community-dwelling elderly men (age, 71 ± 3 years) with no history of treatment for liver disease.

The prevalence of orthostatic dysregulation among newly graduated female nurses after employment and its associations with autonomic nervous function, stress, and depressive symptoms.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the prevalence of orthostatic dysregulation among newly graduated female nurses after employment and its associations with autonomic nervous function, stress, and depressive symptoms.

Methods: This follow-up study included 48 newly graduated female nurses (aged 22 ± 3 years) employed in acute care hospitals. The orthostatic dysregulation symptoms were evaluated using a screening checklist.

Associations between deterioration of self-rated health and occupational form among community-dwelling Japanese individuals.

Objectives: In occupational therapy, occupations refer to everyday activities that people perform as individuals, in families, and with communities to live a meaningful life. Thus far, there has been no large-scale survey conducted using quantitative data to study deterioration of self-rated health from an occupational perspective. This large-scale study therefore aimed to clarify the associations between deterioration of self-rated health and occupational form, performance, and satisfaction using quantitative data.

Relationship between Fall History and Self-Perceived Motor Fitness in Community-Dwelling People: A Cross-Sectional Study.

History of falling is an important fall risk factor. If a relationship between fall history and self-perceived motor fitness could be established, then treating it as a correctable risk of re-fall due to falls may be possible. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the relationship between fall history and self-perceived motor fitness in daily life among 670 community-dwelling people (mean age 62.

Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise is associated with subclinical vascular impairment in healthy normotensive individuals.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the possible association between an exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise and subclinical vascular impairment in normotensive individuals.

Methods: The study participants consisted of 92 untreated normotensive men (aged 42 ± 9 years) without a history of cardiovascular disease or stroke. A graded exercise test was conducted using a bicycle ergometer, and the mean arterial pressure (MAP) during submaximal exercise was evaluated.

The Relationship Between Meaningful Occupation and Self-Rated Health in Japanese Individuals: The Wakayama Study.

In this study, we conducted a quantitative cross-sectional evaluation of the relationships between self-related health and occupational form, occupational performance, and occupational satisfaction. The participants were 675 community-dwelling subjects (283 men, 392 women) who completed a self-administered questionnaire. From this data, we performed a multiple logistic regression analysis using the high and low values of self-rated health as the dependent variables and the characteristics of occupational form, occupational performance, and occupational satisfaction as the independent variables.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in healthy Japanese adolescents: reference values for the assessment of arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk profiles.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) has been used as a simple and convenient method of evaluating arterial stiffness and is considered useful for screening subclinical vascular damage in primary care settings and in large populations. The aim of this study was to determine the reference values of baPWV in adolescents based on age and sex to evaluate and classify vascular abnormalities in this age population. Noninvasive baPWV measurements using an oscillometric device were carried out in 5936 participants aged 12-18 years who had no history of syndromic obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, or renal disease.

The combination of obesity and high salt intake are associated with blood pressure elevation among healthy Japanese adolescents.

We examined the associations of obesity and high salt intake with blood pressure (BP) in a cross-sectional sample of 1679 healthy Japanese adolescents (827 females and 852 males) aged 12-18 years (mean age: 14.9 years) who had no history of treatment for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or renal disease. Brachial arterial BP of the subject was measured at the left arm using a digital BP monitor with an appropriate cuff size.