Objectives: Few studies examined the association between deterioration of masticatory ability assessed by objective marker and physical function. Therefore, we examined the association between salivary flow rate which is one of the objective and surrogate marker of masticatory ability and lower Timed Up & Go (TUG) performance which is one of major measurement of physical function among aging Japanese. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 464 Japanese aged 60e84 years old. Participants chewed tasteless and odorless gum for 5 min, calculated stimulated salivary flow rate (g/min) during all chews.The 3 m TUG was conducted, and 75th percentile value (6.8 s for men and 7.0 s for women) or higher was defined as lower TUG performance. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between stimulated salivary flow rate and lower TUG performance. Results: We found that the stimulated salivary flow rate tended to be negatively associated with the TUG time. We also observed significant negative association between stimulated salivary flow rate and lower TUG performance; the multivariable-adjusted OR (95% confidence interval, CIs) of lower TUG performance for the highest quartile of stimulated salivary flow rate compared with the lowest quartile was0.34 (0.16e0.69, P for trend ¼ 0.02). Further adjusting for BMI, the association was attenuated but remaind significant; the OR (95% CIs) in highest quartile was 0.37 (0.18e0.76, P for trend ¼ 0.04). Conclusions Higher stimulated salivary flow, which means well masticatory ability, was inversely associated with lower TUG performance in the aging Japanese population.

No abstract available.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

  【Introduction】One of the effects of the hot spring provides worm temperature. This effect raises temperature, and temperature control function operates and causes increase of the bloodstream. This time, these changes examined the thing by the size of the bathtub and the spring quality of the hot spring.   【Subjects and Methods】The subjects were 10 healthy adult men (mean age: 25.2 years). They bathed for 10 min in bathtubs at 42°C. The enforcement used plunge bath (approximately 1,700 L: simple alkaline hot spring) and home bathtub (approximately 300 L: hot water, 0.1% artificially chlorinated spring). Measurement item of the maximum arterial blood flow rate using the Ultrasonic Rheometer Smart Doppler 45, deep body temperature using the deep body temperature monitor core temperature CM-210, I compared each value 10 min during the bathing, and during a 10-min, 20-min, 30-min resting period after bathing, furthermore, I found the conjugation on each condition resting period after bathing.   【Result】The rise in deep body temperature and maximum arterial blood flow rate showed the result that a hot spring of the plunge bath was more meaningful than the value of the home bathtub after 10 min of bathing. The deep body temperature of the hot spring of the plunge bath significantly rose from bathing 3 min after. In deep body temperature with the resting period after bathing, in the hot spring of the plunge bath, a meaningful rise was maintained in hot water 13 min for population chloride spring 16 min of the home bathtub for 15 min.  【Discussion】In thinks that a population spring let you maintain a temperature rise that it disturbs a drop of the water temperature by abundant quantity of water in the plunge bath that hot spring plunge bath had a bigger deep body temperature rise, maximum arterial blood flow rate than home bathtub, and the deep body temperature rise in the home bathtub was continued.

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Noninvasive liver fibrosis evaluation was performed in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We used a quantitative method based on the hepatic volume acquired from gadoxetate disodium-enhanced (Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosing advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. METHODS: A total of 130 patients who were diagnosed with NAFLD and underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were retrospectively included. Histological data were available for 118 patients. Hepatic volumetric parameters, including the left hepatic lobe to right hepatic lobe volume ratio (L/R ratio), were measured. The usefulness of the L/R ratio for diagnosing fibrosis ≥F3–4 and F4 was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify variables (age, body mass index, serum fibrosis markers, and histological features) that were associated with the L/R ratio. RESULTS: The L/R ratio demonstrated good performance in differentiating advanced fibrosis (AUROC, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 0.88) from cirrhosis (AUROC, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.75 to 0.99). Multiple regression analysis showed that only fibrosis was significantly associated with the L/R ratio (coefficient, 0.121; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The L/R ratio, which is not influenced by pathological parameters other than fibrosis, is useful for diagnosing cirrhosis in patients with NAFLD.
Body Mass Index ; Fibrosis* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve

  Komono Town is a well-known spa and health resort in Mie Prefecture. Komono Town has been seeking ways to promote the activities of hot spring area and health resources in surrounding areas. As part of these efforts, Komono Town has developed town-walk programs to promote the health of local residents. In this study, focusing on effect of walking on relaxation, we compared levels of stress hormones and emotional scores obtained before and after walking.  After giving their informed consent, adult participated in two walking programs, each for a distance of approximately 7 km. Salivary cortisol levels were measured before and after intervention. In addition, the Mood Check List-Short form. 2 (MCL-S.2) and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were used to rate emotions before and after intervention.  In both programs, walking tended to lower levels of salivary cortisol than resting. Low levels of cortisol, an adrenocortical hormone released during a state of predominantly sympathetic nervous activity, are thought to reflect mental relaxation; our result implies that the walking program enhanced relaxation in subjects. In addition, both MCL-S.2 and VAS rating showed that the subjects tended to feel better, more relaxed and less anxious after intervention.   These findings suggest that the walking programs are beneficial human body thorough, for example, enhanced relaxation.