Patterns of Movement Performance among Japanese Children and Effects of Parenting Practices: Latent class analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the long-term effects of parenting practice during preschool years on children's movement performance in primary school. Methods: This three-year longitudinal study included 225 children aged 3-6-years-old. Parents reported baseline parenting practice and evaluated children's movement performance three years later. Latent class analysis was used to explore latent classes of movement performance. A post hoc test was used to identify the characteristics of different patterns. Finally, adjusted multinomial logistic regression models were used to test the influence of parenting practice on identified patterns of movement performance. Results: Children in this study were grouped into three movement performance patterns, labelled as 'least difficulties' (n = 131, 58.2%), 'low back pain' (n = 68, 30.2%) and 'most difficulties' (n = 26, 11.6%). After controlling for age, gender, having siblings or not, family structure, standardised body mass index, sleep condition and dietary habits, the researchers found that if parents played games with children frequently, the children would have a 0.287 times lower probability of being in the 'low back pain' class (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.105-0.783). In addition, if parents take children to meet peers of a similar age frequently, children would have a 0.339 times lower probability of being in 'most difficulties' class (95% CI: 0.139-0.825). Conclusion: Primary healthcare providers should pay careful attention to children with movement difficulties. The study provides longitudinal evidence to support the applicability of positive parenting practice in early childhood to prevent children's movement difficulties.

[Relationships between participation in community activities and psychosocial and physical health of community-dwelling elderly].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify relationships between participation in community activities and psychosocial and physical health of community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: The participants of the present study were 413 people selected on the basis of a random 1/3 extraction of people aged 65 or older and living in a rural community in Miyagi prefecture. The baseline survey was conducted in February 2008. One year later, we conducted a follow-up survey to clarify how participation in community activities influenced the elderly. Finally, we analyzed data for 218 people, focusing on influences on psychosocial and physical health using the logistic regression model. The state of community activity was treated as a dependent variable, and mental and physical health indicators were assessed as the independent variables. RESULTS: Of the elderly sample, 63 persons were found to be frequent participants in community activities, 60 were infrequent participants, and 95 did not participate. The frequently participating individuals displayed significantly better results for declines in depression (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13-0.89), and social participation (OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05-0.29), as well as the TMIG index of competence (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.78) as compared with those who did not participate. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that community activities prevent deterioration of mental health, improve social health, and maintain higher-level functional capacity among community-dwelling elderly individuals.

Effect of exercise, aging and functional capacity on acute secretory immunoglobulin A response in elderly people over 75 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Age-associated decline in immune function and regulation, referred to as immunosenescence, brings about an increased incidence of infectious diseases in the aged; however, there are few data on the effect of aging and exercise on mucosal immune function in elderly people. Moreover, there is no evidence on whether the change in functional capacity affects mucosal immunity in elderly people. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of exercise, aging and functional capacity on mucosal immune function in elderly people over 75 years of age. METHODS: The subjects were 92 community-dwelling elderly women aged over 75 years who lived in a rural community in Miyagi Prefecture. The subjects periodically performed approximately 20 min of low intensity exercise. Saliva samples were collected before and after exercise, and saliva flow (SF), secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration (SIgA-C) and SIgA secretion rate (SIgA-SR) were determined. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) was used to measure functional capacity. RESULTS: In comparison with before exercise, SF, SIgA-C and SIgA-SR were significantly increased after exercise in elderly subjects. In addition, when low and high value groups of resting SIgA levels were compared, acute SIgA responses were observed only in the low value group; however, there was no significant effect of aging and decline in functional capacity on exercise-induced SIgA response. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that resting SIgA levels influence the mucosal immune function response to exercise in elderly people over 75 years of age.

[Relationships between volunteerism and social-physical health and QOL with community-dwelling elderly participating in a long-term care prevention programme].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of volunteerism as part of a long-term care prevention program on social and physical health indicators and QOL, as compared with non-participation among elderly people. METHODS: The baseline survey was conducted in 2003 among elderly people (age, 70-84 years) living in a rural community in Miyagi Prefecture. We recruited elderly volunteer leaders for long-term care prevention from among the 1,503 elderly people participating in the baseline survey. Of these, 77 individuals were registered as volunteer leaders. One year later, we conducted a follow-up survey to clarify the influence of volunteerism. Finally, we analyzed data for 69 volunteer leaders and 1,207 non-leaders, focusing on influences of volunteerism on social and physical health and QOL using a logistic regression model. State of volunteer activity was treated as a dependent variable, and social and physical health indicators and QOL indices as independent variables. RESULTS: Non-participating individuals had significant declines in Intellectual Activity (OR: 4.51, 95% CI: 1.60-12.74), Social Role (OR: 2.85, 95%CI: 1.11-7.21), Self-efficacy for ADL (OR: 4.58, 95%CI: 1.11-18.88), Satisfaction with Economic State (OR: 2.83, 95%CI: 1.11-7.21), and Contact with Neighbors (OR: 3.62, 95%CI: 1.29-10.16), as compared with volunteers. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that volunteerism prevents lowering of higher-level functional capacity and social networking among community-dwelling elderly individuals.

[Production of a fall prevention exercise programme considering suggestions from community-dwelling elderly].

OBJECTIVES: A fall prevention exercise programme, which elderly persons could undertake in their home alone to maintain and improve leg muscle strength, body balance ability and flexibility, was developed. The programme consisted of number of movements from which the best were selected on the basis of participant evaluation. The purpose of this report is to document the actual contents and an examination of the effects of this exercise programme in elderly people. METHODS: A total of 551 elderly persons, aged 75 years and over, not needing the support of elderly care insurance in S town, Miyagi Japan, were the subjects of this study. An intervention area and a non-intervention area were set in the study region. In the intervention area, 85 elderly people of high-risk for falls were selected to perform a longitudinal intervention study for one year. The selection criteria were as follows: 1) Maximum walking speed slower than median value, 2) Falls had been experienced in the past year. Forty elderly persons (15 men and 25 women) participated in the class. Thirty movements designed to improve flexibility, leg muscle strength, and body balance, and to prevent tripping were executed and evaluated. Effects of this intervention on participants in the fall prevention class were examined using a follow-up survey one year after the baseline survey. The outcome of the fall prevention exercise programme was measured in terms of incidence of falls. RESULTS: A final fall prevention exercise programme consisting of ten movements was produced by the intervention. In addition, seven movements using a chair were part of the exercise programme. METS of the exercise programme for students, leaders, and elderly persons were 3.41 +/- 0.37, 3.16 +/- 0.47, and 3.08 +/- 0.4, respectively. The incidence of falls over one year of the participants in the class significantly decreased from 48.4% at baseline survey to 25.8% at follow-up survey, but that of non-participants did not change. One-leg standing times with eyes open of the female participants significantly extended from the baseline survey to the follow-up survey, but not that of non-participants. CONCLUSIONS: This result of intervention suggested that incidence of falls was decreased by the execution of the exercise programme in twelve sessions of fall prevention class and at home.

[Characteristics of elderly leaders volunteering to participate in a fall prevention programme].

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess characteristics of elderly leaders volunteering to participate in a fall prevention programme. METHODS: We surveyed 1,503 individuals (75 elderly leaders volunteering to participate in a fall prevention programme and 1,428 non-leader elderly) among the elderly population living in a rural community, Miyagi Prefecture. Subjects were aged 70-84 years. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic factors, as well as physical, psychology and social variables. To analyze the characteristics of the elderly leaders volunteering to participate in this programme, the relationships of socio-demographic, physical, psychology and social factors to whether the elderly were leaders in the programme were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULT: As a result of multiple logistic regression analysis, the characteristics of elderly leaders volunteering to participate in the fall prevention programme were as follows; 1) being male (OR = 0.25, 95%CI 0.14-0.44); 2) young age (OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.25-0.73); 3) having a high intellectual activity (OR = 2.72, 95%CI 1.65-4.48); 4) being well satisfied with their health (OR = 1.45, 95%CI 1.02-2.07), and 5) having a high IKIGAI (OR = 1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.13). CONCLUSION: Only elderly individuals capable of high-level intellectual activities can fill the roles of elderly volunteer group leaders discussed in this study.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 antagonist blocks brain-gut activation induced by colonic distention in rats.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 mediates stress-induced changes in colonic motor activity and emotion. We tested the hypothesis that pretreatment with JTC-017, a specific corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 antagonist, blocks colorectal distention-induced hippocampal noradrenaline release and visceral perception in rats. We also investigated whether pretreatment with JTC-017 blocks acute or chronic colorectal distention-induced adrenocorticotropic hormone release, anxiety, and stress-induced changes in colonic motility. METHODS: Rats were pretreated intrahippocampally with alpha-helical corticotropin-releasing hormone (1.25 microg/kg; vehicle), a nonspecific corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist, or intraperitoneally with JTC-017 (10 mg/kg). Hippocampal noradrenaline release after microdialysis and the frequency of abdominal contractions were measured in response to acute colorectal distention. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone levels, anxiety-related behavior, and stress-induced changes in colonic motility were evaluated after acute or chronic colorectal distention followed by exposure to an elevated plus maze. RESULTS: Administration of alpha-helical corticotropin-releasing hormone or JTC-017 significantly attenuated hippocampal noradrenaline release and reduced the frequency of abdominal contractions induced by acute distention. In addition, JTC-017 significantly reduced plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and anxiety after acute distention. After chronic distention, changes in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and anxiety were not significant because of habituation. In contrast, a significant increase in fecal pellet output during the elevated plus maze was observed after chronic distention. This increase in fecal pellet output was blocked by pretreatment with JTC-017. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that JTC-017, a specific corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 antagonist, attenuates hippocampal noradrenaline release, visceral perception, adrenocorticotropic hormone release, and anxiety after acute colorectal distention in rats. In addition, JTC-017 blocks stress-induced changes in colonic motility after chronic colorectal distention in rats.