Purpose: There are many cancer patients who hope to be able to walk to the toilet for as long as they can before death. However, there are no reports of investigation of the ability of advanced cancer patients to go to the toilet, and how the symptoms affect this ability at the end of life in these patients. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the ability of advanced cancer patients to walk to the toilet during their final month of life in our palliative care unit. Data of a total of 154 patients who had died of cancer between January 2010 and December 2011 （median age 75.0±11.6 years） were analyzed in the study. In addition, we compared the frequencies of the symptoms （pain, shortness of breath, drowsiness, delirium, opiate use, oxygen use） between the walking group and the non-walking group. Results: Of the 154 patients, 79 （51.3%） were able to walk to the toilet in the month before their death, 54 （35.1%） in the two weeks before their death, and 33 （21.4%） in the final week before their death. The walking group showed more shortness of breath as compared to the non-walking group. The non-walking group showed more delirium and drowsiness. Conclusion: This study showed that the ADL are relatively preserved in terminal cancer patients. There is the possibility of providing support to their physical ability by rehabilitation. The consciousness level and shortness of breath should take into consideration to provide rehabilitation.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the socioeconomic factors influencing patient discharge destination and the length of their hospital stay. We investigated 83 consecutive stroke patients admitted to our rehabilitation ward between January 1 and December 31, 2008. The mean age was 68.1 years old, the mean length of stay was 86.1 days, and 57% were men. The outcome for this study was the patient discharge destination, defined as home or a nursing home type of facility. To examine the predictors of the discharge destination, we collected data including patient age, sex, total Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores at discharge, ‘living alone’, ‘over 65 years old’, ‘requiring public assistance’, and ‘having a family member at home who requires nursing care’. In all, 69 patients were able to return home, and 14 patients were discharged to a nursing home type of facility. The home group showed a higher total FIM score (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that two factors, ‘living alone’ and ‘having a family member at home who requires nursing care’, adversely affected patient discharge to home. Also, the length of stay was longer among those patients who required public assistance (p<0.01). This study suggests that it is harder for patients to be discharged back to their homes who have these factors : ‘having a family member at home who requires nursing care’ and ‘living alone’. Additionally, having the patient characteristic of ‘requiring public assistance’ could prolong the length of hospital stay.

The following report illustrates a rare case of dysphagia caused by secondary adrenal insufficiency in a patient with isolated ACTH deficiency. A 76-year-old man with progressive appetite loss, weight loss and general fatigue was hospitalized due to dehydration, aspiration pneumonia and hypoglycemia. He was unable to stand and walk by himself. His serum cortisol and ACTH levels were both low. An endocrinological examination resulted in a diagnosis of isolated ACTH deficiency. Following the administration of 15mg of glucocorticoids daily, his symptoms diminished without dysphagia. Furthermore, we investigated his swallowing function using a videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF). The VF showed an impaired laryngeal movement as well as an upper esophageal opening and severe aspiration without a delay in his swallowing reflex. Oral intake was judged to be impossible, but his swallowing function gradually improved and he was able to resume eating all of his meals 2 months after treatment. Dysphagia is not a common symptom in ACTH deficient patients but a few similar cases have been reported. The swallowing function of the patients in these cases was not evaluated in detail, so we evaluated this case according to the results of the VF and the patient's process of recovery. Careful monitoring of swallowing function and appropriate treatment for both dysphagia and adrenocortical failure are required for the recovery of such patients. In conclusion, practitioners should be wary of isolated ACTH deficiency in elderly patients with progressive weight loss and dysphagia.

Purpose：In recent years, the proportion of older people diagnosed with lung tuberculosis is increasing in Japan. There have been no previous reports on detailed evaluation of swallowing function in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the severity and characteristics of dysphagia using videoendoscopic evaluation of swallowing (VE) in patients with lung tuberculosis.Methods：A total of 58 patients (average age, 85.2 years) were selected. They are diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis and underwent VE (performed an average 23 days after admission) at our hospital between January 2017 and March 2020. The severity of dysphagia was assessed using the functional oral intake scale (FOIS)．Activities of daily living (ADL) of the patients was evaluated by using Barthel Index (BI).Results：The average body mass index of the patients was 17 kg/m2, average serum albumin was 2.3 mg/dl, and average BI score was 8.6. Approximately, 71％ of the patients showed severe dysphagia (FOIS 1-2), and BI score of the group was significantly lower than that of the moderate group (FOIS＞3). We observed residual thickened water in 76％ of the patients. Before the VE, 45％ patients were administered oral anti-tuberculosis drugs. Only 35％ of the patients continued those drugs after VE, and 45％ of the patients died in hospital.Conclusion：The results suggest that patients with pulmonary tuberculosis might have a high frequency of severe dysphagia. Appropriate method of anti-tuberculosis drug administration should be selected based on their swallowing functions.

Purpose：In recent years, the proportion of older people diagnosed with lung tuberculosis is increasing in Japan. There have been no previous reports on detailed evaluation of swallowing function in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the severity and characteristics of dysphagia using videoendoscopic evaluation of swallowing (VE) in patients with lung tuberculosis.Methods：A total of 58 patients (average age, 85.2 years) were selected. They are diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis and underwent VE (performed an average 23 days after admission) at our hospital between January 2017 and March 2020. The severity of dysphagia was assessed using the functional oral intake scale (FOIS)．Activities of daily living (ADL) of the patients was evaluated by using Barthel Index (BI).Results：The average body mass index of the patients was 17 kg/m2, average serum albumin was 2.3 mg/dl, and average BI score was 8.6. Approximately, 71％ of the patients showed severe dysphagia (FOIS 1-2), and BI score of the group was significantly lower than that of the moderate group (FOIS＞3). We observed residual thickened water in 76％ of the patients. Before the VE, 45％ patients were administered oral anti-tuberculosis drugs. Only 35％ of the patients continued those drugs after VE, and 45％ of the patients died in hospital.Conclusion：The results suggest that patients with pulmonary tuberculosis might have a high frequency of severe dysphagia. Appropriate method of anti-tuberculosis drug administration should be selected based on their swallowing functions.