We examined the clinical effect of a functional food containing both soy isoflavone and black cohosh extract (test food) on Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI) in a double blind study. Twenty four peri-menopausal women were divided into two groups and four capsules of either the test food or placebo were ingested everyday for eight weeks. The daily intakes of soy isoflavone and black cohosh extract were 50.0 mg and 80.0 mg respectively. As compared with placebo group, the scores of menopausal symptoms such as “stiff neck” and “backache” significantly improved (p<0.05), and the score of “irritation” tended to improve in test food group but not significant statistically. When these results were stratified according to the severity of pretrial menopausal symptoms, the effects of test food were shown to be more effective in mild case group. These results suggest that the functional food containing soy isoflavone and black cohosh extract alleviate menopausal disturbances and improve the quality of life for peri-menopausal women.

It is well known that decreased physical performance induces the decreased activity of daily living and increment of mortality rate in elderly subjects. On the other hand, a prolonged heart rate corrected-QT (QTc) interval is associated with an increased risk of cardiac sudden death and cardiac autonomic dysfunction. We investigated the associations between physical performance and QTc interval in elderly subjects. The subjects included 605 elderly persons (274 men and 331 women, age; 71.2±4.7 years) without a history of cardiovascular disease and taking cardioactive drugs. Resting 12-leads electrocardiography was measured after more than 5 minutes of rest. The QTc interval was calculated according to Bazett’s formula. The physical fitness test was performed to determine the physical performance (muscle strength, balance and walking abilities). The subjects were divided into four categories, which were defined as equally quantile distributions of QTc interval. The physical performance levels were significantly lower in the longest QTc interval group compared to the shortest QTc interval group in both men and women (p<0.05, respectively). Moreover, after adjusting for the age, the physical performance levels were significantly lower in the longest QTc interval group compared to the shortest QTc interval group, especially, this relationship was observed in late-stage elderly group (p<0.05, respectively). These results suggest that decreased physical performance levels were also associated with prolonged QTc interval in elderly subjects.

This study examined whether physical and cognitive function was independently associated with risk of Musculoskeletal Ambulation Disorder Symptom Complex (MADS) in community-dwelling older people. We examined 640 older people (315 men, 325 women; 65–89 years). We assessed physical performance by one-leg standing with eyes open, timed up and go (TUG), muscle strength, muscle power, and gait speed. Cognition was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), and Trail-Making Tests (TMT) A and B. We divided participants by physical function into “MADS” (one-leg standing < 15s or TUG ≥ 11s) and “non-MADS”, and identified cognitive impairment if MMSE was < 27 and CDR ≥ 0.5. We also grouped by sex and age (younger-old: 65–74 years and older-old: 75–89 years), and controlled for age, Body Mass Index, education and steps. Physical and cognitive function was significantly worse in the MADS groups. The younger-old men had poorer muscle strength, muscle power and TMT-A. The younger-old women had poorer muscle power, gait speed, MMSE and TMT-B. Older-old men had poorer muscle strength, and older-old women poorer gait speed (P < 0.05). The MADS groups also had significantly higher adjusted odds ratio (OR) for cognitive impairment (younger-old men: OR: 4.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–19.8; younger-old women: OR: 6.09; 95% CI: 1.03–35.9; P < 0.05). This study suggested that poorer physical and cognitive function was significantly associated with the risk of MADS, and these associations may be differ with sex and age.

Background/Aims: Multiple white and flat elevated lesions (MWFL) that develop from the gastric corpus to the fornix may be strongly associated with oral antacid intake. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between the occurrence of MWFL and oral proton pump inhibitor (PPI) intake and clarify the endoscopic and clinicopathological characteristics of MWFL. Methods: The study included 163 patients. The history of oral drug intake was collected, and serum gastrin levels and anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G antibody titers were measured. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed. The primary study endpoint was the association between MWFL and oral PPI intake. Results: In the univariate analyses, MWFL were observed in 35 (49.3%) of 71 patients who received oral PPIs and 10 (10.9%) of 92 patients who did not receive oral PPIs. The occurrence of MWFL was significantly higher among patients who received PPIs than in those who did not (p<0.001). Moreover, the occurrence of MWFL was significantly higher in patients with hypergastrinemia (p=0.005). In the multivariate analyses, oral PPI intake was the only significant independent factor associated with the presence of MWFL (p=0.001; odds ratio, 5.78; 95% confidence interval, 2.06–16.2). Conclusions Our findings suggest that oral PPI intake is associated with the presence of MWFL (UMINCTR 000030144).

This study aimed to examine characteristics of physical functions, physical activity, and cognitive functions among community-dwelling older people who stopped driving automobiles. Participants were 589 community-dwelling older people (age: 65–89, 71.4 ± 5.1 years; 403 men, 186 women). The participants underwent nine physical assessments—hand grip strength, knee extension strength, timed up-and-go test, chair stand, one leg standing with open eyes, functional reach, vertical jump, preferred gait speed, maximal gait speed—and were evaluated for physical activity; and five cognitive assessments—the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Logical Memory I and II (WMS-R LM-I, LM-II) subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised; and Trail Making Test A and B (TMT-A, TMT-B). They were divided into current driver (379 men, 169 women) and driving cessation (24 men, 17 women) groups. Among men, the driving cessation group had poorer vertical jump, TMT-A, and TMT-B results, while women had poorer hand grip strength, one leg standing with open eyes, WMS-R LM-II, and LM-II results, and longer inactivity time, compared with the current driver group and adjusted for covariates (P < 0.05 for all). The findings suggest driving cessation among community-dwelling older people is significantly associated with poorer physical functions, physical activity, and cognitive functions compared with those in current drivers.