Association Between Tongue Pressure and Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: Although it has been suggested that a decline in oral function is one of the potential risk factors affecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI), evidence is insufficient to draw clear conclusions. This Japanese cross-sectional study examined the association between tongue pressure (TP) and MCI in middle-aged and older adults aged 36-84 years. METHODS: Study participants were 1019 (368 men and 651 women). TP was evaluated using a TP measurement device. The maximum value of three measurements was used for analysis. MCI was defined as being present if a participant had a Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of <26. Adjustment was made for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activity, body mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, history of depression, number of teeth, employment, education, and household income. RESULTS: The prevalence of MCI was 45.3%. Among women, compared with the lowest tertile of TP, the second and highest tertiles were significantly associated with a lower prevalence of MCI with a clear dose-response relationship; the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) in the second and highest tertiles of TP were 0.54 (0.36-0.83) and 0.55 (0.36-0.84), respectively (p for trend = 0.005). In contrast, no statistically significant association was observed between TP and the prevalence of MCI among men. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that higher TP might be inversely associated with the prevalence of MCI in middle-aged and older Japanese women.

Prognostic factors for gastric cancer patients aged ≥ 85 years.

BACKGROUND: As gastric cancer patients aged ≥ 85 years have a short life expectancy and often die from other diseases such as pneumonia, indications for surgery are controversial. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the prognostic factors of elderly patients with gastric cancer who are candidates for curative gastrectomy. METHODS: Among 114 patients aged ≥ 85 years with gastric cancer at our hospital between 2010 and 2019, prognostic factors were examined using the Cox proportional hazards model in 76 patients excluding those with cStage IVB or endoscopic submucosal dissection. We also analyzed the factors of pneumonia death. RESULTS: cStage was I/IIA/IIB/III/IVA in 37/6/14/14/5 patients, respectively. Treatment included distal gastrectomy in 28 patients, total gastrectomy in 6, local resection in 9, others in 3, and no surgery in 30. In univariate analyses of overall survival, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, physiological score of Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (POSSUM), Onodera's prognostic nutritional index, cStage, and treatment were prognostic factors. In a multivariate analysis, POSSUM physiological score, cStage, treatment method {no surgery vs. distal gastrectomy: hazard ratio (HR) 5.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.33-14.3}, (total gastrectomy vs. distal gastrectomy: HR 4.26, 95% CI 1.22-14.9) were independent prognostic factors. In univariate analyses of pneumonia-specific survival, treatment (total gastrectomy vs. distal gastrectomy: HR 6.98, 95% CI 1.18-41.3) was the only prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of distal gastrectomy was better than that of non-surgery even in patients aged ≥ 85 years. However, total gastrectomy was considered to be avoidable due to the high rate of postoperative pneumonia death.

A Study of the Risk Factors for 402 Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma - A Retrospective Comparison with Health Checkup Participants.

Objective Esophageal cancer is a gastrointestinal cancer with a poor prognosis. However, it is curable and can be treated endoscopically if it is detected at an early stage. The objective of this study was to identify the factors that contribute to early detection. Methods From April 2011 to December 2019, we retrospectively investigated consecutive patients diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) through upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at two hospitals of Kawasaki Medical University based on medical records. The factors contributing to the early detection of ESCC were investigated by comparing patients with ESCC with those undergoing health checkups in whom no organic lesions were found in the upper gastrointestinal tract on endoscopy (controls). Patients Factors contributing to early detection were examined in 402 ESCC cases and 391 sex- and age-matched controls, and early and advanced cancers were compared along with the risk factors for ESCC. Results A multivariate analysis showed that alcohol consumption and smoking, concomitant cancer of other organs, and a low body mass index (BMI) were factors associated with ESCC (odds ratio [OR], 4.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.880-7.520, OR,3.63; 95% CI, 2.380-5.540, OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.330-3.270, OR, 6.38; 95% CI, 3.780-10.800), whereas dyslipidemia was significantly less common in patients with ESCC (OR, 0.545; 95% CI, 0.348-0.853). Comparing early and advanced cancers, a history of endoscopic screening was the only factor involved in early detection (OR, 7.93; 95% CI, 4.480-14.00). Conclusion The factors associated with ESCC include alcohol consumption, smoking, concomitant cancer of other organs, and a low BMI. Endoscopy in subjects with these factors may therefore be recommended for the early detection of ESCC.

Association between dynapenia and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older Japanese adults: The IRIDE Cohort Study.

AIM: Muscle mass and strength correlate with cognitive function; however, it remains unclear whether dynapenia (i.e., muscle weakness with preserved muscle mass) is relevant. This study aimed to explore whether dynapenia is associated with global cognitive function in community-dwelling older Japanese adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia Cohort Study, which pooled data from five community-based geriatric cohorts. Dynapenia was defined as muscle weakness without muscle mass loss according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). An ordered logistic regression analysis was conducted with dynapenia as the exposure and with cognitive decline stages, defined as an MMSE score of 27-30 for normal cognition, 24-26 for possible cognitive decline, and <24 for cognitive decline, as the outcome, stratified by sex and adjusted for age, muscle mass, education, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, living alone, and non-communicable diseases. RESULTS: We analyzed data for 3338 participants (2162 female) with preserved muscle mass. Of these, 449 (13.5%) had dynapenia, and 79 (2.4%) exhibited cognitive decline. Multivariate odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for cognitive decline among those with dynapenia, compared with those without dynapenia, were 1.51 (1.02-2.24) for males and 2.08 (1.51-2.86) for females. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle weakness is associated with cognitive decline, even in individuals with preserved muscle mass. Further studies are needed to better understand the association between muscle weakness and cognitive decline over time in order to develop dementia prevention strategies for those with dynapenia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 123-129.

Development and validation of a rapid sarcopenia screening questionnaire: The Otassha study.

AIM: To develop a rapid and easy screening tool to detect sarcopenia. METHODS: In total, 683 community-dwelling older adults who participated in our cohort study, the "Otassha Study," in 2019, completely responded to a questionnaire, and were diagnosed with sarcopenia were included. Participants responded to a nine-item questionnaire, including candidate items for a new sarcopenia screening tool named rapid sarcopenia screening, based on items of the Strength, Assistance with walking, Rising from a chair, Climbing stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire. To select appropriate items for the new screeening tool, multiple logistic regression analyses were performed, with sarcopenia as the dependent variable and questionnaire responses as independent variables. The area under the curve using 10 000 bootstraps was used to assess the rapid sarcopenia screening diagnostic ability for detecting sarcopenia. RESULTS: Responses to question nos 2 (how much can you squeeze a wet towel?), 5 (how much muscle strength do you think you have compared with that of people of your age and sex?), 7 (how fast do you usually walk?), and 9 (age-related item) were related to sarcopenia in multiple logistic regression analysis. The area under the curve of the total score of rapid sarcopenia screening was 0.82, 0.80, and 0.81 for men, women, and overall, respectively. At a cut-off value of 14/15, the sensitivity and specificity for sarcopenia detection were 0.73 and 0.73, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed sarcopenia screening tool has a better diagnostic ability for sarcopenia than the SARC-F. Rapid sarcopenia screening does not require physical function measurements, making it a useful and accessible tool among older adults to detect sarcopenia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 945-950.

[A Case of Stage â £c dMMR Transverse Colon Cancer with Complete Response to Combination Therapy with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Stage â £B Lung Adenocarcinoma].

The patient is a 72-year-old man. He was diagnosed as a duplication of left upper lobe lung adenocarcinoma cStage ⅣB and transverse colon cancer cStage Ⅳc. Because he had symptoms of atelectasis and esophageal stricture due to the progression of lung cancer, we decided to precede immunochemotherapy(CBDCA plus PEM plus pembrolizumab)for lung cancer. After the start of treatment, both lung and colorectal cancer were shrinking, but after the 3 courses of treatment, he developed intestinal obstruction due to transverse colon cancer. Because generalized peritonitis due to perforation of the colon by endoscopic stenting for the obstruction and then emergency surgery was performed. The resected transverse colon lesion was diagnosed as pathologically complete response. Lung cancer was also diagnosed as clinically complete response. Since his ADL decreased postoperatively, he is under observation without reintroduction of immunochemotherapy. Fourteen months have passed since the last administration, and no progression has been observed in either lung nor colon cancers. Pembrolizumab is considered to be successful in the patient with dMMR colorectal cancer lacking MLH1 and PMS2.

The relationship between working status in old age and cause-specific disability in Japanese community-dwelling older adults with or without frailty: A 3.6-year prospective study.

AIM: To examine the effects of employment engagement, classified by frailty and working status, on the incidence of disability in urban community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We used data from 6386 initially nondisabled residents aged 65-84 years from Ota City, Tokyo, Japan, in 2016. The observation duration was 3.6 years. Self-administered questionnaires applied the Cox proportional hazard model by assessing the existence of frailty through Check-List 15 (with a score ≥4 indicating the state of frailty), controlling for age, sex, living situation, education level, equivalent income, chronic conditions, body mass index, instrumental activities of daily living, self-rated health, drinking and smoking status, and social activities. We evaluated the predictive value of working status (full-time, part-time, temporary, or nonworker) at baseline for cause-specific disability (dementia-type vs. non-dementia-type) incidence, identified using the long-term care insurance system's nationally unified database. RESULTS: Of the 6386 participants, 806 (63/1134 full-time workers; 58/1001 part-time workers; 61/547 temporary workers; 624/3704 nonworkers) presented with disabilities during the 3.6-year-long duration. Adjustments for conventional covariates showed that nonfrail full-time and part-time workers, as well as frail full-time workers, had significantly lower risks of all-cause disability incidence. Furthermore, nonfrail and frail full-time workers had significantly lower risks of dementia-type and nondementia-type disabilities, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of disability in older adults was influenced by working and frailty status. Engaging in full-time work thus prevents disabilities in older adults, regardless of their frailty status. Meanwhile, nonfrail older adults are able to avoid disabilities even when engaging in part-time work. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 855-863.

End Sigmoid Colostomy Reconstruction Using Purse-string Subcutaneous Suture via Extraperitoneal Route at the Site of a Previous Transperitoneal Loop Stoma.

We previously experienced two cases of end sigmoid colostomy reconstruction via the extraperitoneal route at the same site as the transperitoneal loop stoma. For an anterior rectus fascia, the transperitoneal route used closed intraperitoneal interrupted sutures and continuous sutures with barbed sutures. A new extraperitoneal route was established through the sutured anterior rectus sheath. Before reconstructing the end stoma, a subcutaneous purse-string with monofilament absorbable sutures tied to create an approximately 2.5 cm diameter was used. There were no early complications associated with the stoma. One year after surgery, a parastomal hernia was not defined. Using the presented technique, two cases were successfully recreated extraperitoneally at the same site's end stoma.

Proximal Resection Line Determination Using Intraoperative Radiography in Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer has become a common procedure in many institutions. As manual palpation is impossible, various methods have been developed to identify the location of the tumor and determine the proximal resection line. Intraoperative endoscopy requires manpower and is time-consuming. The authors take an intraoperative X-ray. Here, we demonstrate our methods and outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We preoperatively applied metal clips just proximal to the tumor through esophagogastroduodenoscopy. During surgery, we applied metal vessel clips to the greater and lesser curvatures of the planned resection line of the stomach and took an intraoperative X-ray to examine the distance between the planned resection line and the tumor. If the distance was appropriate, the stomach was resected on the planned line, and if the distance was judged to be insufficient, the stomach was resected on the more proximal line, as appropriate. An intraoperative frozen section of the proximal resection margin was examined, as appropriate. RESULTS: We performed this method for 71 patients. Tumors were successfully resected together with preoperative endoscopic clips in all patients. In five patients, intraoperative frozen section of the proximal resection margins was positive; however, additional resection confirmed negative margins. One patient underwent total gastrectomy, and the remaining 70 patients underwent distal gastrectomy. CONCLUSION: An intraoperative X-ray seems to be a simple and useful method for identifying the location of the tumor and determining the proximal resection line.

Influence of education and subjective financial status on dietary habits among young, middle-aged, and older adults in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Research has suggested an association between lower socioeconomic status (SES) and unhealthy dietary habits. However, differences in the effects of different SES indicators and age remain unclear. The current study addressed this research gap by investigating the relationship between SES and unhealthy dietary habits, specifically focusing on educational attainment and subjective financial status (SFS) among varied age groups. METHODS: Data were derived from a mail survey of 8,464 people living in a suburb of Tokyo, Japan. Participants were classified into three age groups (20-39 years: young adults; 40-64 years: middle-aged adults; and 65-97 years: older adults). SES was assessed based on individual educational attainment and SFS. Unhealthy dietary habits were defined as skipping breakfast and a low frequency of balanced meal consumption. Participants were asked how often they ate breakfast, and those who did not respond "every day" were categorized as "breakfast skippers." Low frequency of balanced meal consumption was defined as eating a meal that included a staple meal, main dish, and side dishes at least twice a day for less than five days per week. Poisson regression analyses with robust variance adjusted for potential covariates were used to determine the interactive effects of educational attainment and SFS on unhealthy dietary habits. RESULTS: Individuals with lower educational attainment across all age groups skipped breakfast more frequently compared to those with higher educational attainment. For older adults, poor SFS was associated with skipping breakfast. Young adults with poor SFS and middle-aged adults with lower educational attainment tended to eat less balanced meals. In addition, an interaction effect was found in older adults, where those with lower education despite good SFS and those with poor SFS despite higher education were at a greater risk of falling into unhealthy diet. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that different SES indicators affect healthy dietary habits in different generations, and therefore, health policies should consider the potential influence of different SES on promoting healthier dietary habits.

[A Curatively Resected Case of Recto-Sigmoidal Cancer with Massive Bladder Invasion after Multimodal Therapy Including Chemotherapy].

A 68-year-old male patient was referred to our hospital because of unfit to treat his recto-sigmoidal cancer massively invaded to bladder at the former hospital. During drug administration to treat heart failure, we could perform a transverse colostomy and initiated mFOLFOX plus Pmab. During chemotherapy, he improved malnutrition. After 7 courses, CT scan showed a marked reduction in tumor diameter, which was PR. Since his nutritional and heart status were improved, he underwent a high anterior resection with partial bladder resection. Pathological findings showed that a few cancer cells were remained at bladder and bowel wall. He was diagnosed as Stage Ⅱc. His postoperative course was almost uneventful. No symptom of recurrence has been observed at 9 months after surgery without adjuvant chemotherapy.

The Suppressive Effect of NF-kB Activation After Eicosapentaenoic Acid Intake Before Surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To ascertain whether preoperative neo-adjuvant nutritional therapy (NANT) using eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation can provoke a rise in blood levels of EPA capable of restricting NF-B nuclear translocation in resected specimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were allocated to two groups depending on individual preference: Patients in the treatment group received 2 g of EPA daily for two weeks prior to surgery (NANT group, n=18). Patients in the control group had a normal diet (CONT group, n=26). NF-B translocation rate, in specimens collected, was investigated by histopathology. Five hundred malignant cells were counted, and tissues with 10% or higher NF-B nuclear translocation were determined to be positive. RESULTS: The EPA blood concentration rose significantly in the NANT group (p<0.01). The positive rate of NF-B nuclear translocation in cancer cells was 11.1% in the NANT group compared with 50% in the CONT group. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Increased blood concentrations of EPA after preoperative supplementation was associated with suppression of NF-B nuclear translocation in malignant cells. These results suggest that intake of EPA-containing supplements before surgery can control NF-B activation and by extension, cancer aggressiveness.

Age- and sex-specific associations between sarcopenia severity and poor cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults in Japan: The IRIDE Cohort Study.

Introduction: This study examined whether the association between sarcopenia severity and cognitive function differed according to sex and age in community-dwelling older adults in Japan. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of older adults (age ≥ 65 years) consisting of five regional cohorts integrated as the Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia (IRIDE) Cohort Study. Sarcopenia severity was determined based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019, which assessed grip strength, walking speed, and skeletal muscle mass index. Poor cognitive function was defined as a Mini-Mental State Examination score of ≤ 23. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for poor cognitive function were calculated by sex and age group (65-74 and ≥75 years) using binomial logistic regression models, which were adjusted for age, educational attainment, history of non-communicable diseases, smoking and drinking habits, living alone, frequency of going outdoors, exercise habits, and depressive symptom. Results: Of the 8,180 participants, 6,426 (1,157 men aged 65-74 and 1,063 men aged 75 or older; 2,281 women aged 65-74 and 1,925 women aged 75 or older) were analyzed. The prevalence ratio of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia were 309 (13.9%) and 92 (4.1%) among men and 559 (13.3%) and 166 (3.7%) among women, respectively. A total of 127 (5.8%) men and 161 (3.9%) women had a poor cognitive function. Setting non-sarcopenia as a reference, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) of poor cognitive function were 2.20 (1.54, 3.15) for sarcopenia and 3.56 (2.20, 5.71) for severe sarcopenia. A similar trend was observed in analyses stratified by sex and age, with linear associations (P for trend <0.05) in both categories. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction (P < 0.05) between sex and sarcopenia severity, indicating a stronger linear association of sarcopenia severity with poor cognitive function in women compared with men. Discussion and conclusion: Sarcopenia severity was linearly associated with poor cognitive function in adults aged ≥ 65 years, with a stronger association in women compared with men.

Modifiable healthy behaviours and incident disability in older adults: Analysis of combined data from two cohort studies in Japan.

Healthy behaviours reduce the risk of incident disability; however, their components require further consideration. Specifically, little evidence exists on healthy behaviours that comprise modifiable factors, including social aspects, and their effects on those who do not engage in them. This study aimed to examine the association between engaging in healthy behaviours with modifiable factors and incident disability among community-dwelling older adults; as well as identify factors associated with nonengagement in healthy behaviours. We analysed data obtained from 1357 older adults aged 65 years and more without disabilities at baseline. The outcome was incident disability, which was defined based on the long-term care insurance certification in Japan. This study included regular exercise (≥1 day/week), favourable eating habits (≥4 dietary variety score), and social participation (engaging in two or more social activities) as components of healthy behaviours. We used the Cox proportional hazards model to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for incident disabilities. The proportion of those who satisfied all healthy behaviours was 21 %. During the follow-up period (median: 6.3 years), 282 incident disabilities were confirmed. Compared to those who engaged in one healthy behaviour, those who satisfied all healthy behaviours showed a 31 % (95 % confidence interval: 0.48, 0.98) lower HR of incident disability after adjusting for covariates. Current smoking and depressive mood were associated with non-engagement in healthy behaviours. This study found that having physically and socially active lifestyles and favourable eating habits are effective in reducing the risk of incident disability. Meanwhile, several older adults lack the components of a healthy lifestyle. Approaches that focus on multiple healthy behaviours are necessary to enhance the benefits of healthy lifestyles.

Combined Impacts of Physical Activity, Dietary Variety, and Social Interaction on Incident Functional Disability in Older Japanese Adults.

BACKGROUND: This 3.6-year prospective study examined combined impacts of physical activity, dietary variety, and social interaction on incident disability and estimated population-attributable fraction for disability reduction in older adults. METHODS: Participants were 7,822 initially non-disabled residents (3,966 men and 3,856 women) aged 65-84 years of Ota City, Tokyo, Japan. Sufficiency of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) ≥150 min/week, dietary variety score (DVS) ≥3 (median), and social interaction (face-to-face and/or non-face-to-face) ≥1 time/week was assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Disability incidence was prospectively identified using the long-term care insurance system's nationally unified database. RESULTS: During a follow-up of 3.6 years, 1,046 (13.4%) individuals had disabilities. Independent multivariate-hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of MVPA, DVS, and social interaction sufficiency for incident disability were 0.68 (95% CI, 0.59-0.78), 0.87 (95% CI, 0.77-0.99), and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.79-1.03), respectively. Incident disability HRs gradually reduced with increased frequency of satisfying these behaviors (any one: HR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.65-1.03; any two: HR 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52-0.82; and all three behaviors: HR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.43-0.69), in an inverse dose-response manner (P < 0.001 for trend). Population-attributable fraction for disability reduction in satisfying any one, any two, and all three behaviors were 4.0% (95% CI, -0.2 to 7.9%), 9.6% (95% CI, 4.8-14.1%), and 16.0% (95% CI, 8.7-22.8%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Combining physical activity, dietary variety, and social interaction substantially enhances the impacts on preventing disability among older adults, with evidence of an inverse dose-response manner. Improving insufficient behavior elements through individual habits and preexisting social group activities may be effective in preventing disability in the community.

The comparison of prognoses between total and distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer in elderly patients ≥ 80 years old.

PURPOSE: In Japan, the number of distal gastrectomy for patients ≥ 80 years old is increasing, whereas that of total gastrectomy is decreasing. Surgeons seem to avoid total gastrectomy for elderly patients. Total gastrectomy is reported to have a poorer prognosis than distal gastrectomy, and postoperative pneumonia may be involved in the cause. METHODS: The medical records of 39 and 108 patients ≥ 80 years old who underwent total and distal gastrectomy, respectively, at 2 affiliated institutions between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Prognoses were compared between the two groups, focusing on death from pneumonia. RESULTS: The median overall survival time after total and distal gastrectomy was 21.3 and 74.1 months, respectively, with a significantly poorer prognosis after total gastrectomy than after distal gastrectomy (p < 0.01, hazard ratio [HR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-3.53). The gastric cancer-specific survival time was significantly worse after total gastrectomy than after distal gastrectomy (p < 0.01, HR 2.73, 95% CI 1.29-5.79). The pneumonia-specific survival time was also significantly worse after total gastrectomy than after distal gastrectomy (p = 0.01, HR 3.44, 95% CI 1.25-9.48). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent total gastrectomy had a poorer prognosis than those who underwent distal gastrectomy, because many patients died of pneumonia early after total gastrectomy.

The prognostic significance of preoperative nutritional/inflammatory markers and clinicopathological features in resectable esophagectomy patients: possibility of nutritional intervention.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative inflammatory or nutritional biomarkers and clinicopathological features may be survival predictors in resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: We included 118 patients with resectable squamous esophageal carcinoma (stages I-IV), assessing preoperative CRP- and albumin-based modified Glasgow prognostic score, the modified controlling nutritional status score, C-reactive protein, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, pathologic stage, and tumor location(s), looking for correlation with overall survival and relapse-free survival. Using univariate and Cox analysis, we selected the most reliable prognostic factors. RESULTS: Five-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival were 54.9% and 48.5%, respectively. C-reactive protein values correlated negatively with hypoalbuminemia (P = 0.0036). On univariate analysis, tumor stage, invasion depth, location, nodal involvement, albumin, and modified Glasgow prognostic score were significant prognostic factors for overall and recurrence-free survival. Preoperative C-reactive protein was prognostic factor for overall survival, but not for relapse-free survival (P = 0.017, 0.063, respectively). The Cox proportional hazards model showed the modified Glasgow prognostic score to be an independent prognostic factor for relapse-free survival and overall survival after using the stepwise variable selection procedure. Cox analysis including clinicopathological factors and modified Glasgow prognostic scores showed that only tumor location(s) and pathologic stage were independent prognostic factors for overall survival and recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: Although the modified Glasgow prognostic score is not superior to pathologic stage and tumor location as a biomarker of preoperative nutrition/inflammation and clinicopathological factors, it remains an important prognostic marker in resectable esophageal cancers. Preoperative decreased inflammatory response and improved nutritional status may contribute to prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer.

Association between sarcopenia and oral functions in community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the state of oral function in older adults with sarcopenia. We assessed the oral functions of community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia from multiple perspectives to clarify their potentially low oral function. METHODS: A total of 1517 (86.2%; 990 women, 527 men; mean age 76.1 ± 7.6 years) participants were included in this study. Grip strength, gait speed and skeletal muscle mass index were assessed, and sarcopenia was evaluated according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019. The degree of tongue coating, oral moisture, occlusal force, tongue-lip motor function, tongue pressure, masticatory function and swallowing function were assessed. The criteria for oral hypofunction (a disease that is a combination of multiple low oral functions) were used to assess oral function. Statistical analyses were performed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, and univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, with each oral function as the dependent variable and sarcopenia as one of the independent variables. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia were 14.2% and 3.8%, respectively. The prevalence of oral hypofunction was 39.9%. Compared with the robust group, the sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia groups tended to have a higher frequency of the following components (all P < 0.01): low occlusal force, low tongue-lip motor function, low tongue pressure, low masticatory function, low swallowing function and oral hypofunction. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that sarcopenia was associated with low occlusal force, low tongue-lip motor function, low tongue pressure, low masticatory function, low swallowing function and oral hypofunction. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of sarcopenia for each oral function were 2.62 [2.00, 3.43], 2.21 [1.69, 2.89], 3.66 [2.79, 4.81], 3.23 [2.46, 4.25], 1.66 [1.26, 2.20] and 3.59 [2.72, 4.72], respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that sarcopenia was associated with low occlusal force (1.63 [1.10, 2.40]), low tongue pressure (2.28 [1.65, 3.15]), low masticatory function, (1.94 [1.27, 2.97]), low swallowing function (1.64 [1.17, 2.28]) and oral hypofunction (2.17 [1.52, 3.09]). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that multiple aspects of oral function were low among community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia. The potential decline in oral functions in older adults with sarcopenia may have been overlooked until now. This study indicates the need for dental perspectives in intervening with older adults with sarcopenia and the need to encourage them to see dental professionals.

Impact of the hospital volume and setting on postoperative complications of surgery for gastroenterological cancers in a regional area of Western Japan.

PURPOSE: A research subgroup was established by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery to improve the health care quality in the Chushikoku area of Western Japan. METHODS: The records of four surgical procedures were extracted from the Japanese National Clinical Database and analyzed retrospectively to establish the association between hospital characteristics, defined using a combination of hospital case-volume and patients' hospital travel distance, and the incidences of perioperative complications of ≥ Grade 3 of the Clavien-Dindo classification after gastroenterological surgery. RESULTS: This study analyzed 11,515 cases of distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer, 4,705 cases of total gastrectomy for gastric cancer, 4,996 cases of right hemicolectomy for colon cancer, and 5,243 cases of lower anterior resection for rectal cancer, with composite outcome incidences of 5.6%, 10.2%, 5.5%, and 10.7%, respectively. After adjusting for patient characteristics and surgical procedures, no association was identified between the hospital category and surgical outcomes. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study of the Chushikoku region did not provide positive support for the consolidation and centralization of hospitals, based solely on hospital case volume. Our grouping was unique in that we included patient travel distance in the analysis, but further investigations from other perspectives are needed.