Long-term effects of low-intensity training with slow movement on motor function of elderly patients: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND@#Slow-motion training, which comprises exercising using extremely slow-movements, yields a training effect like that of high-intensity training, even when the applied load is small. We developed a slow-training exercise program that allows elderly people to safely use their own body weight without a machine. Previously, it was confirmed that functional gait and lower limb muscle strength were improved by low-intensity training using bodyweight training for 3 months. This study evaluated the long-term effects of low-intensity training using body weight with slow-movements on the motor function of frail, elderly patients.@*METHODS@#Ninety-six elderly men and women aged 65 years or older whose level of nursing care was classified as either support required (1 and 2) or long-term care required (care levels 1 and 2) volunteered to participate. Two facilities were used. Participants at the first facility used low-intensity training using body weight with slow-movements (low-stress training [LST] group, n = 65), and participants at another facility used machine training (MT group, n = 31). Exercise interventions were conducted for 12 months, once or twice per week, depending on the required level of nursing care. Changes in motor function were examined.@*RESULTS@#Post-intervention measurements based on the results of the chair-stand test after 12 months showed significant improvements from pre-intervention levels (P < 0.0001) in the LST group and MT group. Although the ability of performing the Timed Up & Go test and the ability to stand on one leg with eyes open improved in both groups, no significant change was observed. When changes after 12 months were compared between the two groups, no significant difference was observed for any variables.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Slow body weight training for 12 months without a machine improved the lower limb muscle strength. Therefore, it could have the same effects as training using a machine.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#UMIN000030853 . Registered 17 January 2018 (retrospectively registered).

Quality of dying and death desired by residents of Kagawa Prefecture, Japan: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND@#Achieving a desirable death is an urgent aging-related problem in Japan. However, measures of the quality of death and dying in Japan are lacking. This study aimed to identify components of a desirable death in the residents of Kagawa prefecture, Japan, through focus group interviews.@*METHODS@#A group interview was conducted with 30 residents aged 20-80 (M = 50.9, SD = 22.1 years; 43.3% ≥ 65 years; 40.0% unemployed) who had experienced the death of a closely associated person. Participants were grouped into four generations with diverse characteristics (e.g., age, sex, occupation). The interview lasted 1-2 h and involved one interviewer, one observer, and one recorder. The interview theme was "What is a desirable death?" Participants were asked "What do you want to achieve before you die?" or "What would a close friend want to experience when death is near?" We then extracted important items related to "desirable death" using serialization and observation records, while also consulting three analysts. The analysis results of the four generations were ultimately integrated into final categories.@*RESULTS@#The most common experience of a familiar death was that of parents, followed by grandparents. Half of participants had witnessed the death. Through category analysis, eight important categories related to desirable death were ultimately extracted. Nine items were identified as common to all generations. While the elderly generation had wide-ranging opinions, the younger generations' opinions tended to concentrate on satisfaction with life and family relations.@*CONCLUSION@#Eight concepts were extracted as important factors of a desirable death from the residents of Kagawa prefecture, Japan.

Effects of low-intensity bodyweight training with slow movement on motor function in frail elderly patients: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND@#Slow-motion training, an exercise marked by extremely slow movements, yields a training effect like that of a highly intense training, even when the applied load is small. This study evaluated the effects of low-intensity bodyweight training with slow movement on motor function in frail, elderly patients.@*METHODS@#Ninety-seven elderly men and women aged 65 years or older, whose level of nursing care was classified as either support required (1 and 2) or long-term care required (care level 1 and 2), volunteered to participate. Two facilities were used. Participants in the first facility used low-intensity bodyweight training with slow movement (the LST group, n = 65), and participants in another facility used machine training (the control group, n = 31). Exercises were conducted for 3 months, once or twice a week, depending on the required level of nursing care. Changes in motor function were examined.@*RESULTS@#Post-exercise measurements showed significant improvements from the pre-exercise levels after 3 months, based on the results of the Timed Up and Go test (p = 0.0263) and chair-stand test (p = 0.0016) in the low-intensity exercise with slow movement and tonic force generation (LST) group. Although the ability to stand on one leg with eyes open tended to improve, no significant change was found (p = 0.0964).@*CONCLUSIONS@#We confirmed that carrying out LST bodyweight training for 3 months led to improvements in ambulatory function and lower-limb muscle strength. In this way, it is possible that LST training performed by holding a bar or by staying seated on a chair contributes to improved motor function in elderly patients within a short time.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#UMIN000030853 . Registered 17 January 2018. (retrospectively registered).

Clinical trial for introduction of the preventive measures against Lifestyle-related diseases with Specific Health checkups and Specific counseling guidance in Brunei Darussalam / 国際保健医療

  In Brunei Darussalam, obesity and diabetes mellitus are serious national health challenges, and there is an urgent, nationwide need to develop measures against these diseases. This project provides training in various efforts unique to Japan aimed at preventing lifestyle-related diseases mainly through specific medical check-ups and health guidance. The objective of this project is to form a basis for introducing a Japanese-style system in Brunei Darussalam.  In this training program, the Bruneian staff learned specific medical check-ups, strategies for applying the results of these check-ups, actual and detailed contents of the specific counselling guidance, and so forth. We can reasonably expect that implementation of these practices and the skills acquired in Brunei will enable the Bruneian staff to more effectively prevent and control diabetes and obesity.  Moreover, this project not only contributes to health promotion for Bruneian citizens, but can also be expected to have a spillover effect on neighboring Muslim countries with similar problems (e.g., Malaysia and Indonesia). The prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus is increasing globally in both developed and developing countries, and preventive measures are urgently needed worldwide. It seems that recognition and introduction of the efforts made in Japan are extremely meaningful and important for solving international issues.

Study of Patient Safety Education for Undergraduates / 医学教育

1) The objective of this study was to investigate patient safety education for undergraduates in Japan.<BR>2) Our survey found that 87.5% of medical schools provided patient safety education for undergraduates.The topics covered were prevention of medical errors, communication, crisis management, and medical ethics.<BR>3) This study found several problems in measurement methods, learning strategies.and human resources of undergraduate medical education.

Investigation of Indoor Air Pollution by Chlorpyrifos: Determination of Chlorpyrifos in Indoor Air and 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol in Residents\rq Urine as an Exposure Index

Objects: We carried out an investigation to clarify the real state of indoor air pollution by chlorpyrifos (termiticide) and exposure to chlorpyrifos of residents by measuring its urinary metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) as an exposure index, such as biological monitoring. Methods: The investigation was conducted in 43 individual houses with termiticide application (whether the termiticide was chlorpyrifos is uncertain) and 3 control houses without any termiticide application in Kagawa, Japan. Urine samples were collected from 46 healthy adult residents of the aforementioned houses. Results: Chlorpyrifos in indoor air in the control houses was not detected (ND<1 ng/m3, n=3), while 41 of 43 houses with termiticide application showed 1−350 ng/m3. Although the chlorpyrifos concentrations in these 41 houses did not exceeded the indoor air quality guideline of 1000 ng/m3, but 3 houses were higher than the guideline 100 ng/m3 for children in Japan. Urinary TCP concentrations of 0.1−7.8 ng/mg·creatinine were detected in 41 residents from the 41 houses where chlorpyrifos had been detected. The chlorpyrifos concentration and the urinary TCP revealed a positive correlation (r=0.5468, p<0.01, n=41). Conclusions: The immediate health hazard from air born chlorpyrifos in the examined houses was negligible, but the findings suggest that it is necessary to monitor chemicals which may contaminate indoor air and to assess the risk of prolonged exposure to such chemicals. The measuring of urinary metabolite TCP of chlorpyrifos via biological monitoring would be useful, allowing comprehensive evaluation of the exposure to chlorpyrifos in indoor air.

Investigation of indoor air pollution by chlorpyrifos: Determination of chlorpyrifos in indoor air and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol in residents' urine as an exposure index

<p><b>OBJECTS</b>We carried out an investigation to clarify the real state of indoor air pollution by chlorpyrifos (termiticide) and exposure to chlorpyrifos of residents by measuring its urinary metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) as an exposure index, such as biological monitoring.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The investigation was conducted in 43 individual houses with termiticide application (whether the termiticide was chlorpyrifos is uncertain) and 3 control houses without any termiticide application in Kagawa, Japan. Urine samples were collected from 46 healthy adult residents of the aforementioned houses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chlorpyrifos in indoor air in the control houses was not detected (ND<1 ng/m(3), n=3), while 41 of 43 houses with termiticide application showed 1-350 ng/m(3). Although the chlorpyrifos concentrations in these 41 houses did not exceeded the indoor air quality guideline of 1000 ng/m(3), but 3 houses were higher than the guideline 100 ng/m(3) for children in Japan. Urinary TCP concentrations of 0.1-7.8 ng/mg·creatinine were detected in 41 residents from the 41 houses where chlorpyrifos had been detected. The chlorpyrifos concentration and the urinary TCP revealed a positive correlation (r=0.5468, p<0.01, n=41).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The immediate health hazard from air born chlorpyrifos in the examined houses was negligible, but the findings suggest that it is necessary to monitor chemicals which may contaminate indoor air and to assess the risk of prolonged exposure to such chemicals. The measuring of urinary metabolite TCP of chlorpyrifos via biological monitoring would be useful, allowing comprehensive evaluation of the exposure to chlorpyrifos in indoor air.</p>