BACKGROUND: The long-term impact of symptom classification on quality of life (QOL) and economic outcomes among individuals with long coronavirus disease (COVID) remains poorly understood. This study aimed to clarify the situation of long COVID in Japan by analyzing patients using cluster classification. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study enrolled 515 patients with COVID-19 and followed up for 36 months via standardized questionnaires. Patients were classified based on: 1) symptom trajectory over time and 2) symptom cluster profiles at 3 months. RESULTS: While the number of symptoms decreased, fatigue and dyspnea frequently persisted, whereas anosmia and dysgeusia declined. Cough and sputum decreased gradually. The proportion of patients with 5-9 symptoms increased. The mean (interquartile range) presenteeism scores were lower in the continuous (60 [50-80]) and relapse groups (65 [48-80]) than in the recovered group (70 [50-80]). The multiple symptoms cluster had the worst SF-36, presenteeism, and absenteeism scores (47.2 [44.7-49.8], 48.8 [27.5-72.5], and 10.9 [0.0-11.0], respectively). CONCLUSIONS Patients with continuous and multiple symptoms experienced persistently lower QOL and greater economic burden up to 36 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. The long-term effects of long COVID are not only physical but also mental and economical. Thus, further research is needed to clarify the economical and physiological impact of long COVID.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19/complications* ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome/psychology* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; East Asian People

This study aimed to explore, identify, and classify the strengths of elderly individuals living in rural areas from their own perspectives, using an asset-based approach. A qualitative analysis was conducted through group interviews. The study included two groups of four elderly individuals who resided in District D of Area C, City B, Prefecture A, and three groups of five to six elderly individuals from District E in the same city. As a result, 133 key items related to the strengths of elderly individuals were identified. These items were further classified into 39 subcategories, which were grouped into three major categories: individuals (personal strengths), associations (organizations/groups), and institutions (environments/resources that support strengths). Specifically, 18 subcategories were classified into the individuals category, 11 into the associations category, and 10 into the institutions category. These findings revealed that elderly individuals in rural areas actively take on various roles within their communities, utilizing their rural environment both as individuals and as part of a group. The rural setting itself was found to significantly influence their engagement, while intergenerational support and assistance from public institutions also played a crucial role. In the future, we aim to utilize these “strengths of elderly individuals” to develop strategies that empower community residents to lead vibrant, active, and secure lives in their familiar environments.

Objective：The movement of an elderly person involving stepping over a bathtub makes them prone to falls and requires caution. Gait analysis suggested that the risk of falling increases with time spent in supporting both legs. A similar relationship was expected for side-straddling motion. This study aims to analyze differences in the side-straddling movements between THA patients who did not fully recover their functional balance, mobility, or walking ability from the viewpoint of the ratio of time spent supporting both legs.Methods：Eleven patients with hip osteoarthritis underwent initial unilateral THA via a posterior approach. Using a portable three-dimensional motion analyzer, we calculated the percentages of time spent supporting both legs while entering the bathtub, and exiting the bathtub with a handrail and examined the factors associated with percent of the time spent supporting both legs.Results：The percentage of time spent supporting both legs when exiting the bathtub was significantly lesser when exiting using the nonoperative than the operated side. A negative correlation was found between the percentages of time spent supporting both legs. while exiting the bathtub, and the percentage of handrail load values.Conclusion：The risk of falling may be reduced by using the nonoperative leg as the leading leg when exiting a bathtub. Use of handrails contributes to a reduction in fall risk.

Engaru-Kosei General Hospital expanded its pharmacist duties in hospital wards in April 2018 following the nationwide switch to out-of-hospital prescriptions. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pharmacists’ ward duties on nursing duties. Pharmacists expanded their duties to cover drug distribution management, infusions of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) mixed with drugs, and aseptic preparation of 24-h infusions (including peripheral parenteral nutrition). The effects were compared between April 2018 before the expansion of duties and May-September 2018 after the expansion, and we compared the number of meetings set up to discuss nurses’ overtime hours and patient problems. In addition, interviews were conducted about the changes experienced on site. Drug distribution management averaged 3,150 cases/month. The number of TPN mixed infusions was 25 cases/month before expansion and this increased to 88 cases/month after expansion. The number of mixed injections of 24-h infusions was 296/month. Nurses' overtime hours did not decrease significantly, but the number of meetings increased from 47/month to 79.4/month. In the interviews, positive responses were obtained about, for example, the increased number of meetings held and more time for patient care. The pharmacist and the nurse collaborated to improve work by using their expertise, we think that the results obtained from work improvement contributed to the improvement of medical quality and medical safety.

In food science, natural ingredients that can inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase IV ( DPP IV ) may be useful for preventing diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bonito dashi having a high DPP IV inhibitory activity (IC50 ; 3049 µg/ ml) on the postprandial increase in blood glucose levels in 14 subjects. Bonito dashi (5 g) was subsequently subjected to oral glucose tolerance tests. Blood glucose levels of all subjects were measured at fasting and at 30 min after ingesting of bonito dashi or of warmed tap water as a control, and were also measured at 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, and 150 min after ingestion of cooked rice. The maximum blood glucose level between 0 and 150 min after ingesting of bonito dashi was for 30 min, of warmed tap water for 45 min ). The blood glucose levels after ingestion of bonito dashi and warmed tap water were 135.6 ± 8.7 mg/ dl and 140.3 mg/ dl, respectively at 30 min ( p = 0.602 ); 135.6 ± 8.7 mg/ dl and 144.1 ± 10.7 mg/ dl, respectively at 45 min ( p = 0.057 ); 120.0 ± 4.9 mg/ dl and 136.8 ± 7.8 mg/ dl, respectively at 60 min ( p = 0.063 ); 110.0 ± 5.9 mg/ dl and 134.9 ± 6.9 mg/ dl, respectively at 75 min ( p = 0.006 ); 110.3 ± 6.8 mg/ dl and 129.3 ± 6.6 mg/ dl, respectively, at 90 min ( p = 0.036 ); 103.4 ± 4.1 mg/ dl and 118.7 ± 8.0 mg/ dl, respectively, at 120 min ( p = 0.091 ); 91.5 ± 3.8 mg/ dl and 102.3 ± 5.9 mg/ dl, respectively, at 150 min ( p = 0.232 ). The area under the curve for blood glucose levels after ingestion of bonito dashi and warmed tap water was 4753.1 ± 439.7 mg/ dl ×min and 6879.4 ± 728.1 mg/ dl ×min, respectively ( p = 0.005 ). Postprandial increase in blood glucose levels was lower in subjects ingestion of bonito dashi than in those ingestion of the warmed tap water. No serious adverse events related to ingestion of bonito dashi were observed. Our findings suggested that the ingestion of bonito dashi (5 g) suppressed postprandial increase in blood glucose levels in our subjects.

The primary aim of this study was to estimate the number of cancer patients who wanted home death based on the bereaved family survey.A postal survey performed on 1,137 bereaved family members in 4 regions to clarify the degree what they believed that the patient actually died where s/he had wanted on the Good Death Inventory, and to explore the preferred place of death. We calculated estimated number of patients who had wanted home death as a total of (1) the actual number of home death × the percentages of the family members who agreed that the patient actually died where s/he had wanted, and × the actual number of hospital death × the percentages of the family members who disagreed that the patient actually died where s/he had wanted and home was the preferred place of death. Estimated number of cancer patients who wanted home death was 32.8%［95%C.I., 31.7, 33.9］ in the surveyed regions, and 31.2%［95%C.I., 31.1, 31.4］ for national data.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fat-free mass (FFM) of the total body, the upper limbs, and the lower limbs in healthy subjects and basketball players obtained by the new 8-electrode segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis (S-BIA) and to compare the results with the FFM obtained by DXA. The participants were 30 healthy subjects (15 men and 15 women) aged 24.9±3.5 years old and 15 female basketball players aged 23.1±3.1 years old. In the healthy subjects, positive correlations (p<0.001) were observed between the FFM obtained by S-BIA and DXA of the total body (r=0.973), the upper limbs (r=0.956), and the lower limbs (r=0.954). Similarly, in the basketball players, positive correlations (p<0.001, p<0.01) were observed between the FFM obtained by S-BIA and DXA of the total body (r=0.943), the upper limbs (r=0.743), and the lower limbs (r=0.934). The results suggest that the new 8-electrode S-BIA is a valid and convenient method for analyzing body composition of the total body and the body segments in healthy subjects and athletes.

On the nursing front, there is no limit to demands for care services. Although efforts are being made to train the staff, letters from former inpatients showed that they left the hospital with a lot of discontent. To have them leave the hospital pleasantly, we have started holding an interview with the inpatients just before they are discharged since 2000. To grasp the results of the interviews accomplished during the 2-years period after the implementation of this program, we carried out a survey by distributing questionnaires to the nursing staff. At the same time, we conducted a survey on expatients and analyzed what they actually told the interviewers. It was found that about 60% of the outgoing patients were interviewed.More than 89% of the ex-patients surveyed said that they could calm themselves after they realized the nurses understood what it is to be painful. Asked if they want the interview to be continued, 94% answered in the affirmative. Meanwhile, many nurses said that what the patients told them was encouraging and gave them an incentive to carry out their duty. Some said that they were given an opportunity to reflect on their past conduct. All in all, we found that the interviews had the healing effect on the nursing staff as well as the patients.
Interview ; nursing therapy ; Discharge from hospital ; Effective ; Surveys