Background: The need for support focused on frailty and quality of life (QoL) in older adults is increasing. The Kihon Checklist (KCL) is a comprehensive and easy-to-use tool to assess frailty in older adults. Previous studies have shown associations between frailty and QoL; however, few studies have investigated the association between frailty using the KCL and QoL. In this study, the quantitative relationship between the KCL and QoL in community-dwelling older adults was investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study included from participants in the 2017–2019 baseline survey of a cohort study of community-dwelling older adults in Sapporo, Japan. The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was used to assess QoL. The KCL was used to assess frailty, and the relationship between frailty and QoL was examined using binomial logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline models. Results: Four-hundred participants were included in the analysis. Of the participants, 22.5% had a lower QoL and they were more likely to have frailty than healthy participants (p<0.001). The KCL scores were significantly associated with a lower QoL (p<0.001). Furthermore, the association between the KCL score and QoL was linear, and subscales of activities of daily living, and depressive mood were significantly associated with a lower QoL. Conclusion The KCL, a comprehensive frailty questionnaire, was associated with a lower QoL in older adults. To maintain QoL in community-dwelling older adults, it is necessary to provide them with appropriate support from the stage before they are identified as frail by the KCL.

Background: The need for support focused on frailty and quality of life (QoL) in older adults is increasing. The Kihon Checklist (KCL) is a comprehensive and easy-to-use tool to assess frailty in older adults. Previous studies have shown associations between frailty and QoL; however, few studies have investigated the association between frailty using the KCL and QoL. In this study, the quantitative relationship between the KCL and QoL in community-dwelling older adults was investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study included from participants in the 2017–2019 baseline survey of a cohort study of community-dwelling older adults in Sapporo, Japan. The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was used to assess QoL. The KCL was used to assess frailty, and the relationship between frailty and QoL was examined using binomial logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline models. Results: Four-hundred participants were included in the analysis. Of the participants, 22.5% had a lower QoL and they were more likely to have frailty than healthy participants (p<0.001). The KCL scores were significantly associated with a lower QoL (p<0.001). Furthermore, the association between the KCL score and QoL was linear, and subscales of activities of daily living, and depressive mood were significantly associated with a lower QoL. Conclusion The KCL, a comprehensive frailty questionnaire, was associated with a lower QoL in older adults. To maintain QoL in community-dwelling older adults, it is necessary to provide them with appropriate support from the stage before they are identified as frail by the KCL.

Background: The need for support focused on frailty and quality of life (QoL) in older adults is increasing. The Kihon Checklist (KCL) is a comprehensive and easy-to-use tool to assess frailty in older adults. Previous studies have shown associations between frailty and QoL; however, few studies have investigated the association between frailty using the KCL and QoL. In this study, the quantitative relationship between the KCL and QoL in community-dwelling older adults was investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study included from participants in the 2017–2019 baseline survey of a cohort study of community-dwelling older adults in Sapporo, Japan. The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was used to assess QoL. The KCL was used to assess frailty, and the relationship between frailty and QoL was examined using binomial logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline models. Results: Four-hundred participants were included in the analysis. Of the participants, 22.5% had a lower QoL and they were more likely to have frailty than healthy participants (p<0.001). The KCL scores were significantly associated with a lower QoL (p<0.001). Furthermore, the association between the KCL score and QoL was linear, and subscales of activities of daily living, and depressive mood were significantly associated with a lower QoL. Conclusion The KCL, a comprehensive frailty questionnaire, was associated with a lower QoL in older adults. To maintain QoL in community-dwelling older adults, it is necessary to provide them with appropriate support from the stage before they are identified as frail by the KCL.

BACKGROUND: Icaridin and DEET are common insect repellents widely used on human skin and clothing (skin-insect repellents [skin-IR]) to repel common pests, such as mosquitoes and biting flies. Novel analytical methods for urinary skin-IR exposure biomarkers that can be effectively applied in epidemiological studies and provide strong evidence related to risk assessment associated with daily exposure are required. In this study, we aimed to develop a method for analyzing the concentrations of icaridin, DEET, and two DEET metabolites N,N-diethyl-3-(hydroxymethyl) benzamide and 3-(diethylcarbamoyl) benzoic acid in human urine. METHODS: In this analysis, after formic acid-induced acidification of the urine sample, exposure biomarkers were extracted using solid-phase extraction composed of a modified polystyrenedivinylbenzene polymer for reversed phase (hydrophobic) retention. Subsequently, high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed within 10 min for a separation analysis. The present method was applied to five Japanese adults (aged 20-43 years) who used icaridin or DEET-containing products within a week. RESULTS: Limits of detection were 0.06-0.11 µg/L. Extraction recoveries were 74%-88%. The intraday and interday variations were 1.5-17.5 and 0.9-15.8% relative standard deviation, respectively. All exposure biomarkers were successfully detected in all five adults. Urinary concentrations of exposure biomarkers reached their maximum values within 15 h after starting to use skin-IR. CONCLUSIONS This method was successful in measuring urinary exposure biomarkers of skin-IR, including icaridin and DEET. Moreover, this study presents the first application of biomonitoring of urinary icaridin concentrations after using a commercial product.
Humans ; Solid Phase Extraction/methods* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Adult ; Insect Repellents/urine* ; DEET/urine* ; Young Adult ; Male ; Japan ; Female ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Biomarkers/urine* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; East Asian People

BACKGROUND: Supporting the mental health of researchers is essential to maintaining human resources and advancing science. This study investigated the association between Japanese medical researchers' perceptions of research evaluation processes and their psychological well-being. METHODS: We performed a web-based self-administered questionnaire survey. The questionnaires were distributed to each academic society through the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences from December 2022 to January 2023. These questionnaires targeted medical researchers. Exposure was the medical researchers' perceptions of quantitative indicators for evaluating medical research and researchers. The outcome was psychological well-being, measured using the Japanese version of the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Multivariable-adjusted logistic regressions were conducted to investigate the association between individual attitudes toward research evaluation and psychological well-being. Stratified analyses by research fields, i.e., clinical, basic, and social medicine, were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 3,139 valid responses were collected. After excluding 176 responses from research fields of other than clinical, basic, or social medicine, 2,963 researchers (2,185 male, 737 female, and 41 other) were analyzed. Prevalence of poor well-being (WHO-5 score <13) was 28.3% in the researchers. The highest number of medical researchers was in clinical medicine (n = 500) followed by basic medicine (n = 217) and social medicine (n = 121). Medical researchers who considered research funding slightly important/not important for researcher evaluation had poorer psychological well-being than those who considered it especially important (slightly important: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.71; not important: aOR 1.53, 95%CI 1.10-2.12). This tendency was stronger among basic medical researchers than clinical or social medical researchers. The research field significantly modified the relationship between research funding received and interaction with poor psychological well-being both additively (P = 0.030) and multiplicatively (P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS The discrepancy between medical researchers' attitudes toward research evaluation and the current state of research evaluation in their research community may worsen their psychological well-being. The influence of this discrepancy differs among clinical, basic, and social medicine. Appropriate evaluation of medical research and researchers in each field can facilitate improving their psychological well-being via the resolution of this discrepancy.
Humans ; Japan ; Female ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Research Personnel/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Biomedical Research ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Mental Health ; Psychological Well-Being ; East Asian People

This study investigated the psychological impact of autopsy imaging (Ai) on bereaved families of patients with terminal cancer. These patients, one with pancreatic cancer of the body and tail and the other with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, underwent Ai, and a mixed-methods survey was conducted with 7 bereaved family members using a self-administered questionnaire. Although the awareness of Ai was low (14.3%), all participants reported that Ai helped them understand the cause of death. Moreover, 71.4% felt that Ai was necessary. Qualitative analysis of free-text responses suggested that Ai contributed to a clearer understanding and acceptance of the cause of death and provided psychological reassurance. On the other hand, it became evident that the implementation of Ai could evoke emotional conflict and complex feelings in bereaved families. Therefore, confirming the patient’s wishes and providing psychological support to both the patient and their family are essential when conducting Ai. In the future, it will be essential for medical professionals to carefully explain the purpose and significance of Ai during advance care planning discussions, and to consider its implementation while respecting the wishes of both the patient and their family.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of the patients who had hip osteoarthritis (hip OA) of more than K-L grade 3 and did not need total hip replacement (THR) two years after the diagnosis.Methods: Twenty-four patients who were followed up for at least 2 years were included and classified into surgical and non-surgical groups depending on the need for THR. Pain (rest pain, motion pain, gait pain), hip range of motion, performance tests (time up and go test (TUG), 10 m gait speed, 2-step test, one-leg standing time, chair standing-5 (CS-5)), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip-Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ) were evaluated at the initial visit.Results: Rest pain was significantly lower in non-surgical group compared to surgical group (p<0.01). JHEQ pain score (p<0.01), motor score (p=0.03), and mental health score (p<0.01) were significantly higher in non-surgery group than those in surgery group.Conclusion: Even if you have end-stage hip OA, those with low rest pain and a high JHEQ score at the time of initial diagnosis may be able to live for two years without undergoing surgery. In patients with hip OA of more than K-L grade 3, low rest pain and a high JHEQ score at the initial visit were associated with avoiding THR for two years.

Patients with cancer are at a high risk of weight loss and malnutrition due to factors such as anorexia and taste disorders. For these individuals, the community pharmacy they visit regularly may serve as an important resource for nutritional consultation. This study aimed to clarify the nutritional consultation needs of patients with cancer visiting community pharmacies and to examine both the necessity and content of such consultations. This study was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire survey among patients who visited 20 insurance pharmacies operated by the Miahelsa Corporation that accepted prescriptions for patients with cancer between May and June 2022. A total of 84 respondents provided valid responses. Results showed 98.8% of respondents felt that nutritional management during cancer treatment was important (answering “somewhat important” or “very important”). Furthermore, 23.2% of respondents reported experiencing a weight loss of ≥3 kg over a 3-month period, and 71.3% reported a decrease in food intake. Regarding the eight items of basic nutritional consultation unrelated to symptoms, 82.1% of respondents expressed a desire to consult about at least one item. The most frequently cited need was “a diet that prevents muscle loss and promotes muscle gain” (82.1%), followed by “how to evaluate one’s own nutritional status” (80.0%), and “advice on necessary nutrition and nutrient intake” (76.7%). These findings suggest that collaboration between pharmacists and dietitians working at community pharmacies to address patients’ nutritional needs, could play a crucial role in improving the quality of life and survival rates of patients with cancer.

The patient is a 71-year-old man who developed a ventricular septal perforation (VSP) with septal dissection after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Heart failure symptoms were stabilized with intra-aortic balloon pumping and diuretics, and the VSP was closed via a left ventriculotomy approach on day 23 after AMI and day 12 after identification of the VSP. The right ventricular perforation was closed with a single patch of bovine pericardium, and the left ventricular perforation was closed with a double patch using the infarct exclusion technique. The septal dissection cavity was closed with BioGlue surgical adhesive (Artivion, Inc., Kennesaw, GA, USA). The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged home on postoperative day 36. His NYHA functional class was I at 1 year and 6 months after surgery.

Objective: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) was first detected in Japan in November 2021. In Osaka, public health centres subsequently increased active case finding and encouraged self-isolation. This study investigated the effectiveness of these countermeasures. Methods: Cases targeted for analysis were persons who had neither recently travelled abroad nor had contact with foreign tourists but tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between 24 November 2021 and 4 January 2022 and were suspected or confirmed to have the Omicron variant. We performed a descriptive analysis and calculated the reproduction number (R) for each generation using the branching process method. Genomic sequencing data were analysed to plot a haplotype network. Results: A total of 251 cases were analysed. The median age was 30 years, and 46% (115/251) were in their 20s or younger. The first Omicron case in Osaka was detected on 21 December 2021. Local public health centres conducted health monitoring and contact tracing. We analysed R, using information from six clusters, including 42 pairs with a clear relationship between the case and the infected contact (infector–infectee pairs); the clusters had 19, 21 and 2 cases in each subsequent generation. The basic R (t = 0) was estimated to be 3.2, and subsequent generations (t = 1, 2) of R decreased to 1.1 and 0.1, respectively. The haplotype network showed that these cases constituted a monophyletic group with others detected around Osaka, indicating that these case-related clusters had been contained and were not involved in the nationwide Omicron waves. Discussion: Active case finding and self-isolation were found to be effective in limiting the spread of an emerging novel variant.