Depressive symptoms, burnout, resilience, and psychosocial support in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide study in Japan.

Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of healthcare workers. This study aimed to assess the mental health of healthcare workers and identify risk and protective factors. Methods: We surveyed 48,031 healthcare workers at 63 Japanese Red Cross hospitals from December 15, 2022 to January 15, 2023. Mental health was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Japanese Burnout Scale, and 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Furthermore, we inquired about the psychosocial support activities provided to the healthcare workers within their workplaces. Results: This study included 3815 healthcare workers (250 doctors, 32 residents, 2588 nurses, 504 co-medical staff, and 441 administrative staff). Symptoms of depression were noted in 31.5% of all participants and 46.9% of resident doctors. Women and those who were young, lived alone, had a nonmanagement position, had contact with coronavirus disease 2019 patients, or had passive motivation to coronavirus disease 2019 work had a significantly higher total Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score than in the corresponding groups with the opposite characteristics. High emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores on the Japanese Burnout Scale were risk factors for depressive symptoms, while living with family was a protective factor. Moreover, interventions such as job performance support (skills, knowledge, information, and safety), peer support, and organizational support (infection control team, patient care rotation systems) were effective. Conclusion: The impact of the prolonged coronavirus pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers is clear, and organized psychosocial support is needed.

Association between sarcopenia and sleep disorder in older patients with diabetes.

AIM: In the present study, we aimed to examine the association between sarcopenia and sleep disorder in older patients with diabetes using the Japanese version of SARC-F (SARC-F-J). METHODS: Outpatients with diabetes (aged ≥65 years) at the Ise Red Cross Hospital were included in the present study. We used the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, which is a self-administered questionnaire, to measure sleep disorder. To evaluate sarcopenia, we used SARC-F-J, a self-administered questionnaire, comprising five items. For multiple logistic regression analysis, the dependent variable was sleep disorder and the explanatory variable was sarcopenia, and these were used for calculating the odds ratios of sarcopenia with regard to sleep disorder. RESULTS: In total, 318 patients were included in this study (189 men and 129 women). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 22.5% and that of sleep disorder was 44.8%. Adjusted odds ratios of sarcopenia and sleep disorder were 6.04 in men (95% CI 1.71-21.36, P = 0.005) and 6.33 in women (95% CI 1.91-20.97, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: We found a statistically significant association between sarcopenia and sleep disorder in older patients with diabetes using SARC-F-J. Therefore, older patients with diabetes should be cautioned regarding sleep disorder if they are diagnosed with sarcopenia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 399-403.

Relationship between sarcopenia and depression in older patients with diabetes: An investigation using the Japanese version of SARC-F.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between sarcopenia and depression in older patients with diabetes using the Japanese version of SARC-F. METHODS: Participants included patients with diabetes aged ≥65 years who were undergoing outpatient treatment at the Ise Red Cross Hospital, Ise, Japan. Depression was measured using the Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9, which is a nine-item questionnaire. Sarcopenia was assessed using the Japanese version of SARC-F, a self-administered questionnaire comprising five question items. Multiple logistic regression analysis with depression as the dependent variable and sarcopenia as the explanatory variable was used to calculate the odds ratio for depression in patients with sarcopenia. RESULTS: A total of 275 patients (167 men, 108 women) were the study participants. The adjusted odds ratio for depression in male patients with sarcopenia was 5.76 (95% CI 1.83-18.12, P = 0.003). The adjusted odds ratio for depression in female patients with sarcopenia was 2.62 (95% CI 0.68-10.05, P = 0.159). CONCLUSIONS: A statistically significant relationship was shown between sarcopenia and depression in older male patients with diabetes. We believe that drawing the attention of physicians to sarcopenia prevalence by using the Japanese version of SARC-F will contribute to the detection of depression in older male patients with diabetes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1318-1322.

Association Between Sarcopenia and Mild Cognitive Impairment Using the Japanese Version of the SARC-F in Elderly Patients With Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between sarcopenia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly patients with diabetes using the Japanese version of the simple 5-item questionnaire (SARC-F-J). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community hospital in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were people with diabetes aged 65 years and older being treated on an outpatient basis at the Ise Red Cross Hospital. MEASUREMENTS: We used the Japanese version of the self-administered cognitive test Test Your Memory (TYM-J) to measure MCI and the self-administered questionnaire SARC-F-J, consisting of 5 items, to evaluate sarcopenia. We conducted a multiple logistic regression analysis with MCI as the dependent variable and sarcopenia as the explanatory variable to calculate the odds ratio of sarcopenia in association with MCI. RESULTS: A total of 250 cases (150 men and 100 women) were included in our study. The prevalence of sarcopenia in this sample was 19.5% and that of MCI was 40.3%. The adjusted odds ratio of sarcopenia in association with MCI was 2.96 (95% confidence interval, 1.09-7.70, P = .032). CONCLUSION: A statistically significant association was found between sarcopenia and MCI in an assessment of elderly patients with diabetes using the SARC-F-J.

Partial cDNA sequence of a relaxin-like factor (RLF) receptor, LGR8 and possible existence of the RLF ligand-receptor system in goat testes.

Relaxin-like factor (RLF), also known as insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), is produced by testicular Leydig cells, but its specific receptor LGR8 (leucine-rich repeat family of G-protein-coupled receptor 8) has not been identified in goats. This study aimed to identify complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences of goat LGR8, and characterize the expression of both RLF and LGR8 in goat testes by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Testes were collected from immature (3-month-old) and mature (24-month-old) Saanen goats, and partial cDNA sequences of the goat homologue of human LGR8 were identified. The sequence encoded a reduced peptide sequence of 167 amino acids, which corresponded to transmembrane regions 2 through 5, followed by the beginning of intracellular loop 3 of human LGR8. Expression of both LGR8 and RLF genes was drastically increased in mature testes compared with immature ones. Although RLF protein was restricted to Leydig cells, LGR8 protein was detected in both Leydig cells and seminiferous epithelial cells (possibly germ cells and Sertoli cells). These results reveal a possible existence of the RLF-LGR8 ligand-receptor system within the goat testis, suggesting that RLF may play a role in testicular function through LGR8 on Leydig cells and seminiferous epithelial cells in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner.