Additive Effects of Solid Paraffins on Mechanical Properties of High-Density Polyethylene.

In this work, two types of solid paraffins (i.e., linear and branched) were added to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to investigate their effects on the dynamic viscoelasticity and tensile properties of HDPE. The linear and branched paraffins exhibited high and low crystallizability, respectively. The spherulitic structure and crystalline lattice of HDPE are almost independent of the addition of these solid paraffins. The linear paraffin in the HDPE blends exhibited a melting point at 70 °C in addition to the melting point of HDPE, whereas the branched paraffins showed no melting point in the HDPE blend. Furthermore, the dynamic mechanical spectra of the HDPE/paraffin blends exhibited a novel relaxation between -50 °C and 0 °C, which was absent in HDPE. Adding linear paraffin toughened the stress-strain behavior of HDPE by forming crystallized domains in the HDPE matrix. In contrast, branched paraffins with lower crystallizability compared to linear paraffin softened the stress-strain behavior of HDPE by incorporating them into its amorphous layer. The mechanical properties of polyethylene-based polymeric materials were found to be controlled by selectively adding solid paraffins with different structural architectures and crystallinities.

Challenges and solutions in immigrant occupational health in the United States: a literature review and comparative analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Because of the declining birthrate in Japan, an increasing number of companies are hiring immigrants to fill the labor shortage. Although research on migrant occupational health has progressed in the United States, this topic has received little attention in Japan. The aim of this study was to elucidate the current situation, challenges, and solutions surrounding the occupational health of immigrant workers in the United States. METHODS: Data and selected studies were reviewed and analyzed. The results are discussed, and a few anecdotal experiences in the United States are introduced and compared. RESULTS: Possible causes of disparities in immigrant occupational health fell into the following seven categories. (Keywords for each category are shown in parentheses.) (1) Occupation (hazardous job, injury, missed workday, blue-collar worker, low birth weight); (2) Education (academic record, health literacy, training); (3) Culture (culture-specific, community-based); (4) Environment (poor hygiene, regional disparities, environmental change); (5) Access (language, statistics, workers' compensation, health insurance, voluntary restraint); (6) Infection (tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS, follow-up); and (7) Discrimination (race, assault, harassment). Lack of data on immigrant workers was found to be a common problem. Some businesses and community groups achieved positive results by simultaneously dealing with multiple aforementioned categories. DISCUSSION: In the United States, the occupational health of immigrant workers has been studied mainly in terms of health disparities. Possible causes of disparities in immigrant occupational health fell into seven categories. Solutions centered on the keywords in each category were inferred. Some businesses and community groups achieved positive results by simultaneously dealing with multiple aforementioned categories. Occupational health professionals have to take each of seven categories into account to improve immigrant occupational health. Even the United States-a developed country facing many migrant occupational health problems-needs further research and better data. To address this issue in Japan, we too need more data and further research on immigrants, along with efforts by businesses and community groups.

Risk Assessment Study of Fluoride Salts: Probability-Impact Matrix of Renal and Hepatic Toxicity Markers.

The present risk assessment study of fluoride salts was conducted by oral administration of three different doses of sodium and potassium fluorides (NaF, KF) and zinc fluoride tetrahydrate (ZnF2 •4H2O) to male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into control and nine experimental groups, to which oral injections of 0.5 mL distilled water and 0.5 mL of fluoride solutions, respectively, were given. The dosage of fluoride compounds was adjusted to contain 2.1 mg (low-dose group, LG), 4.3 mg (mid-dose group, MG), and 5.4 mg fluoride per 200 g rat body weight (high-dose group, HG) corresponding to 5, 10, and 12.5 % of LD50 values for NaF. The 24-h urine volume, N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were measured as markers of possible acute renal impact. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined in serum samples as markers of acute hepatic impact. The levels of serum and urinary fluoride were determined to evaluate fluoride bioavailability. The results reveal that higher doses of NaF, KF, and ZnF2 induced renal damage as indicated by higher urinary NAG (p < 0.05 with ≥90th percentile of control). High doses of ZnF2 also induced a significant Ccr decrease (p < 0.05 with ≤10th percentile of control). Low doses of NaF and mid-doses of ZnF2 induced polyuria (p < 0.05 with ≥90th percentile of control) while medium doses of NaF and low doses of KF also induced liver damage, as indicated by a high level of AST (p < 0.05 with ≥90th percentile of control). These findings suggest that oral administration of fluoride is a potential, dose-dependent risk factor of renal tubular damage.

Comparison of the Biological Impacts of the Fluoride Compounds by Graphical Risk Visualization Map Technique.

Various fluoride compounds are widely used in industry. The present risk assessment study was conducted using a series of inorganic binary fluorides of the type XFn, where X(n) = Na(+), K(+), Li(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Sr(2+), Ba(2+), Al(3+), Nd(3+), La(3+), Ce(3+), Sm(3+), Gd(3+), Y(3+), Yb(2+), and Zn(2+). The aqueous solutions of these salts were orally administrated to 16 experimental groups (one for each of the salts tested). The levels of fluoride, N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase in cumulative 24-h urine samples and creatinine clearance were measured to assess possible acute renal damages. The levels of fluoride, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase were also determined in serum samples to assess possible acute hepatic damages. The results reveal that sodium fluoride (NaF), potassium fluoride (KF), and zinc fluoride tetrahydrate (ZnF2 (.)4H2O) can carry the fluoride ion into the bloodstream and that it is excreted via urine more readily than the other compounds tested. These fluorides were assigned the highest risk impact factor. Most of the rare earth fluorides are insoluble in water while those groups 2 and 13 of the periodic table are slightly soluble, so that they do not have a significant negative risk. These findings suggest that the biological impact of fluoride depends on the accompanying counter ion and its solubility. The risk map obtained in the present study shows that the graphical visualization map technique employed is a valuable new tool to assess the toxicological risk of chemical compounds.

The effects of weight gain after smoking cessation on atherogenic α1-antitrypsin-low-density lipoprotein.

Although cardiovascular risks decrease after quitting smoking, body weight often increases in the early period after smoking cessation. We have previously reported that the serum level of the α1-antitrypsin-low-density lipoprotein complex (AT-LDL)-an oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein that accelerates atherosclerosis-is high in current smokers, and that the level rapidly decreases after smoking cessation. However, the effects of weight gain after smoking cessation on this cardiovascular marker are unknown. In 183 outpatients (134 males, 49 females) who had successfully quit smoking, serum AT-LDL levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For all persons who had successfully quit smoking, body mass index (BMI) significantly increased 12 weeks after the first examination (p < 0.01). Among patients with a BMI increase smaller than the median, a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in serum AT-LDL values was found, but no significant changes in serum AT-LDL values were found in patients with a BMI increase greater than the median. The findings suggest that the decrease in serum AT-LDL levels after quitting smoking is influenced by weight gain after smoking cessation.

Quality of life (QOL) of the community-dwelling elderly and associated factors: a population-based study in urban areas of China.

OBJECTIVE: China has the most elderly people. Maintaining and improving the QOL of the elderly has emerged as a particularly important issue. This population-based study aimed to examine the QOL of the urban elderly and to clarify the associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in Liaoning Province. The elderly people without senile dementia composed our study population and were interviewed from March to November, 2012 with questionnaires pertaining to QOL (SF-36), cognitive ability, demographic characteristics, health status, behavioral factors, and social-psychological factors. 4067 effective responses were received (effective response rate: 86.0%). After further cognitive screening, 3714 participants were included as the subjects. RESULTS: The mean scores of physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) were 53.7±21.5 (mean±SD) and 58.9±18.9, respectively. With adjustment for age and sex, general linear model analysis showed that, in standardized estimate (ß) sequence, PCS was significantly associated with chronic disease, taking a walk, visual ability, sleeping quality, marital status, alcohol consumption, hearing ability, smoking, neighborhood relationships, filial piety, ethnicity, and regular diet, and MCS was associated with chronic disease, sleeping quality, taking a walk, visual ability, marital status, ethnicity, filial piety, regular diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, and hearing ability. CONCLUSIONS: The community-dwelling elderly in urban areas had a low level of QOL. To improve QOL, the maintenance of health conditions was crucial. Efforts to encourage the elderly to perform feasible exercise and develop good lifestyles should be focused on. Also, children's filial duty to their parents should be enhanced.

The current situation of voluntary vaccination and the factors influencing its coverage among children in Takatsuki, Japan: focus on Hib and pneumococcal vaccines.

This study aimed to understand the current scenario of voluntary vaccination and the factors influencing its coverage among 18-month-old children of Takatsuki City, Japan. Based on 1167 parents responses, we found that voluntary vaccination coverage rates were low when compared with routine vaccination rates. The children who were not the first born of the family and who had young and poorly educated parents were less likely to receive voluntary vaccination. Japanese government-supported vaccines, such as Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal vaccine, had a higher coverage than the vaccines for which parents had to bear the entire vaccination cost. Furthermore, it was found that mass communication media and family pediatricians were effective means to disseminate voluntary vaccination-related information. We envisage that an active participation of medical professionals, easy access to vaccinations, and mass awareness programs will increase voluntary vaccination coverage in Takatsuki.

Risk assessment visualization of rubidium compounds: comparison of renal and hepatic toxicities, in vivo.

Rubidium has been considered to be nontoxic. Its use includes thin film on glass deposition and as medical contrast medium. Recent technology innovations also involve the use of rubidium, but there is limited information about the biological effects of its various compounds. In the present risk assessment study, a series of rubidium compounds with different counter anions-acetate, bromide, carbonate, chloride, and fluoride-were orally administrated in a single dose to several groups of rats. Cumulative 24-h urine samples were obtained, and the levels of rubidium, fluoride, N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase and creatinine were measured to evaluate possible acute renal effects. Daily samples of serum were also obtained to determine the levels of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases to assess possible acute hepatic effects. Urinary rubidium excretion recovery of 8.0-10.5% shows that urine can be a useful diagnostic tool for rubidium exposure. The present results reveal that rubidium shows different biological effects depending on the counter anion. A pattern of large significant NAG leakage and elevation of ALT observed in rats treated with anhydrous rubidium fluoride indicates renal and hepatic toxicities that can be attributed to fluoride. The techniques reported in this study will be of help to assess the potential risks of toxicity of rubidium compounds with a variety of anions.

A novel genotoxicity assay of carbon nanotubes using functional macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO)-expressing chicken B lymphocytes.

Although carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising nanomaterials, their potential carcinogenicity is a major concern. We previously established a genetic method of analyzing genotoxicity of chemical compounds, where we evaluated their cytotoxic effect on the DT40 lymphoid cell line comparing DNA-repair-deficient isogenic clones with parental wild-type cells. However, application of our DT40 system for the cytotoxic and genotoxic evaluation of nanomaterials seemed to be difficult, because DT40 cells only poorly internalized nanoparticles. To solve this problem, we have constructed a chimeric gene encoding a trans-membrane receptor consisting of the 5' region of the transferrin receptor (TR) gene (to facilitate internalization of nanoparticles) and the 3' region of the macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) gene (which is a receptor for environmental particles). We expressed the resulting MARCO-TR chimeric receptor on DNA-repair-proficient wild-type cells and mutants deficient in base excision repair (FEN1 (-/-)) and translesion DNA synthesis (REV3 (-/-)). We demonstrated that the chimera mediates uptake of particles such as fluorescence-tagged polystyrene particles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), with very poor uptake of those particles by DT40 cells not expressing the chimera. MWCNTs were cytotoxic and this effect was greater in FEN1 (-/-)and REV3 (-/-) cells than in wild-type cells. Furthermore, MWCNTs induced greater oxidative damage (measured as 8-OH-dG formation) and a larger number of mitotic chromosomal aberrations in repair-deficient cells compared to repair-proficient cells. Taken together, our novel assay system using the chimeric receptor-expressing DT40 cells provides a sensitive method to screen for genotoxicity of CNTs and possibly other nanomaterials.

Analysis of factors that determine weight gain during smoking cessation therapy.

Cigarette smokers are generally known to gain weight after quitting smoking, and such weight gain is thought to contribute to the worsening of glucose tolerance. While smoking cessation therapy such as nicotine replacement is useful to minimize post-cessation weight gain, substantial gain occurs even during the therapy. The purpose of the present study was to identify factors associated with weight gain during smoking cessation therapy. We evaluated 186 patients(132 males and 54 females)who visited our outpatient clinic for smoking cessation, and successfully achieved smoking abstinence. We performed gender-adjusted regression analysis for the rate of BMI increase from the beginning of cessation to 3 months after initiation. Furthermore, we performed multivariate analysis to investigate factors that determine the BMI increase after smoking cessation. The mean BMI significantly (p<0.0001) increased from 23.5 ± 3.6 kg/m(2) at the initial consultation to 23.9 ± 3.8 kg/m(2) at 3 months after the start of therapy. There was no significant difference in the extent of BMI increase between nicotine patch and varenicline therapy groups. Factors significantly correlated with the %BMI increase at 3 months after the start of therapy were triglyceride (p = 0.0006, ßa = 0.260), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.0386, ßa = -0.168), daily cigarette consumption (p = 0.0385, ßa = 0.154), and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score (p = 0.0060, ßa = 0.203). Stepwise multivariate analysis demonstrated that triglyceride and the FTND score were the factors determining the post-cessation BMI increase and that the FTND score was the strongest one. The present study demonstrated that smokers with a high FTND score are more likely to gain weight during smoking cessation therapy. Thus, smokers with a high nicotine dependency may require intervention against weight gain in the cessation clinic.

Handgrip strength as a predictor of higher-level competence decline among community-dwelling Japanese elderly in an urban area during a 4-year follow-up.

This 4-year observational study examined whether handgrip strength can predict functional decline in higher-level competence in a cohort of urban community-dwelling Japanese elderly. Subjects were 406 community-dwelling Japanese, 65 years or older at baseline who scored as "independent in higher-level competence" (11 and over) according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC). Independent variables were handgrip strength and usual walking speed at baseline survey. Dependent variables were functional status in higher-level competence at 4-year follow-up. Logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI), revealed that handgrip strength was significantly correlated with decline of higher-level competence in both sexes. Usual walking speed was significantly correlated with decline in higher-level competence only in women. This study revealed that handgrip strength is a predictor for decline in higher-level competence in urban community-dwelling Japanese elderly men and women. Results suggest that handgrip strength may be used to screen for functional capacity decline in community-dwelling elderly.

Association of sarcopenia with functional decline in community-dwelling elderly subjects in Japan.

AIM: The present study aimed to determine the association of sarcopenia, defined by muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance, with functional disability from a 2-year cohort study of community-dwelling elderly Japanese people. METHOD: Participants were 743 community-dwelling elderly Japanese people aged 65 years or older. We used bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to measure muscle mass, grip strength to measure muscle strength, and usual walking speed to measure physical performance in a baseline study. Functional disability was defined using an activities of daily living (ADL) scale and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale at baseline and during follow-up examinations 2 years later. Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age and body mass index, was used to examine the association between sarcopenia and the occurrence of functional disability. RESULTS: In the present study, 7.8% of men and 10.2% of women were classified as having sarcopenia. Among sarcopenia patients in the baseline study, 36.8% of men and 18.8% of women became dependent in ADL at 2-year follow up. From the logistic regression analysis adjusted by age and body mass index, sarcopenia was significantly associated with the occurrences of physical disability compared with normal subjects in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia, defined by muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance, was associated with functional decline over a 2-year period in elderly Japanese. Interventions to prevent sarcopenia are very important to prevent functional decline among elderly individuals.

[Factors related to sarcopenia in community-dwelling elderly subjects in Japan].

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at determining the factors associated with sarcopenia, defined as low muscle mass and strength and low physical performance, in community-dwelling elderly subjects in Japan. METHODS: The subjects included 1,074 elderly, community-dwelling Japanese people aged 65 years or older. We measured appendicular muscle mass (AMM) by bioelectrical impedance analysis, grip strength, and usual walking speed. A low muscle mass was defined by the AMM index (AMI, weight [kg]/height [m(2)] as >2 standard deviations below the mean AMI for normal young subjects. The lowest quartile for grip strength and usual walking speed were classified as low muscle strength and low physical performance, respectively. "Sarcopenia" was characterized by a low muscle mass, combined with either a low muscle strength or low physical performance. Subjects without low muscle mass or strength and low physical performance were classified as "normal." Subjects were classified as being "intermediate" if they were neither "sarcopenic" nor "normal." Items in the questionnaire included residential status, past medical history, admission during the past year, smoking and drinking habits, leisure-time physical activity, health status, depression, masticatory ability, and dietary variety score. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was identified in 13.7% of men and 15.5% of women. Among men, a large proportion of subjects with sarcopenia had poor masticatory ability and a low dietary variety score compared with normal or intermediate subjects. Among women, a large proportion of the subjects with sarcopenia lived alone, had poor exercise habits, considered themselves to be unhealthy, and had poor masticatory ability compared with normal or intermediate subjects. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age and dietary variety in men and age and masticatory ability in women were associated with sarcopenia. CONCLUSION: The present study carried out in Japan showed that sarcopenia, assessed by muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance, was associated with age, dietary variety score (in men), and masticatory ability (in women).

Occlusal support including that from artificial teeth as an indicator for health promotion among community-dwelling elderly in Japan.

AIM: The Eichner index (EI) is used to evaluate occlusal support. However, this index is based on existing natural tooth contact. This study aimed to establish whether a modified EI that included artificial teeth reflected individual oral condition of elderly people, and to clarify the relationship between this index and: (i) mental condition; (ii) physical condition; and (iii) physical function. METHODS: We recruited 286 people (145 men, 141 women) aged 65-79 years. They were divided into three groups by modified EI, and then underwent assessment of oral condition. After establishing that the index was clearly related to oral condition, we investigated psychological factors (satisfaction with life, self-rated health and anxiety regarding falling), indicators of walking and balance (Timed Up & Go test [TUG] and one-leg standing balance), physical condition (higher-level functional capacity [HLFC]: instrumental activities of daily living [IADL], intellectual activity and social role; continuous walking over 15 min; and frequency of outings), and health history in the previous year (history of hospital admissions and falls). RESULTS: Modified EI was a good indicator of occlusal condition. The index was significantly correlated in men with satisfaction with life, TUG test, one-leg standing balance, overall HLFC and HLFC-IADL, and in women with TUG test, one-leg standing balance and HLFC-Intellectual activity. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of occlusal support including that from artificial teeth is beneficial in the elderly as an indicator of health and oral function, in particular firm bite.

Urinary monitoring of exposure to yttrium, scandium, and europium in male Wistar rats.

On the assumption that rare earth elements (REEs) are nontoxic, they are being utilized as replacements of toxic heavy metals in novel technological applications. However, REEs are not entirely innocuous, and their impact on health is still uncertain. In the past decade, our laboratory has studied the urinary excretion of REEs in male Wistar rats given chlorides of europium, scandium, and yttrium solutions by one-shot intraperitoneal injection or oral dose. The present paper describes three experiments for the suitability and appropriateness of a method to use urine for biological monitoring of exposure to these REEs. The concentrations of REEs were determined in cumulative urine samples taken at 0-24 h by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, showing that the urinary excretion of REEs is <2 %. Rare earth elements form colloidal conjugates in the bloodstream, which make high REEs accumulation in the reticuloendothelial system and glomeruli and low urinary excretion. The high sensitivity of inductively coupled plasma-argon emission spectrometry analytical methods, with detection limits of <2 µg/L, makes urine a comprehensive assessment tool that reflects REE exposure. The analytical method and animal experimental model described in this study will be of great importance and encourage further discussion for future studies.

Association between sarcopenia and higher-level functional capacity in daily living in community-dwelling elderly subjects in Japan.

This study aimed to determine the association between sarcopenia, defined by muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance, and higher-level functional capacity in community-dwelling Japanese elderly people. Subjects were 1158 elderly, community-dwelling Japanese people aged 65 or older. We used bioelectrical impedance analysis to measure muscle mass, grip strength to measure muscle strength, and usual walking speed to measure physical performance. Sarcopenia was characterized by low muscle mass, plus low muscle strength or low physical performance. Subjects without low muscle mass, low muscle strength, and low physical performance were classified as "normal." Examination of higher-level functional capacity was performed using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC). The TMIG-IC is a 13-item questionnaire completed by the subject; it contains five questions on self-maintenance and four questions each on intellectual activity and social role. Sarcopenia was identified in 11.3% and 10.7% of men and women, respectively. The percentage of disability for instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was 39.0% in men with sarcopenia and 30.6% in women with sarcopenia. After adjustment for age, in men, sarcopenia was significantly associated with IADL disability compared with intermediate and normal subjects. In women, sarcopenia was significantly associated with every subscale of the TMIG-IC disability compared with intermediate and normal subjects. This study revealed that sarcopenia, defined by muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance, had a significant association with disability in higher-level functional capacity in elderly Japanese subjects. Interventions to prevent sarcopenia may prevent higher-level functional disability among elderly people.

Diastolic cardiac function is synonymous with long-axis systolic function: a novel concept in cardiac function.

AIMS: There has been recent speculation on the relationship between diastolic cardiac function and long-axis cardiac function. The goal of this study was to obtain conclusive evidence regarding the relationship between these parameters. METHODS: Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were performed consecutively in 33 subjects. Longitudinal fractional shortening and fractional shortening of the left ventricular wall length were measured in each procedure and the relationships with diastolic cardiac function were assessed. RESULTS: Diastolic cardiac function and long-axis systolic function in each procedure were significantly correlated. Spearman coefficients for correlations between longitudinal fractional shortening measured echocardiographically and diastolic cardiac function parameters were 0.76 (P < 0.0001) for E/A, -0.77 (P < 0.0001) for E/e', 0.87 (P < 0.0001) for e', and 0.91 (P < 0.0001) for e'/a'. CONCLUSIONS: Long-axis cardiac function correlates well with diastolic cardiac function. e'/a' showed a strong correlation with longitudinal fractional shortening and is a good candidate for use as an index for assessment of long-axis cardiac function.

Association between muscle mass and disability in performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in community-dwelling elderly in Japan.

This study describes the association between low muscle mass and disability in performing IADL in elderly, community-dwelling Japanese subjects. Subjects were 1268 elderly, community-dwelling Japanese aged 65 years or older. Low muscle mass was defined by appendicular muscle mass index (AMI, weight [kg]/height [m(2)]), measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). We classified "middle" AMI as a value 1-2 standard deviation (SD) below the young normal mean of AMI and "low" as more than 2 SD below the young normal mean. Examination of IADL was performed using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) questionnaire. In this study, 17.2% and 26.2% of elderly men and women, respectively, were classified as having low muscle mass. There was a significant association with age and the change from normal to middle to low muscle mass in both men and women. The prevalence of IADL disability also increased significantly as muscle mass decreased. After adjustment for age and BMI, low muscle mass was significantly associated with IADL disability in men and women. Furthermore, middle muscle mass was significantly associated with IADL disability in women. This study revealed that low muscle mass, defined as a value 2 SD below the mean of young adults, had a significant association with IADL disability in elderly Japanese. Interventions to prevent age-related losses in muscle mass may be an effective strategy to prevent IADL disability among the elderly.

[Comparison of diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome among Japanese university faculty].

OBJECTIVES: Diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome (Mets) in Japan have been set by the Medical Committee of the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences (Med), the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Nat), specific health checkups (Ckup), and second medical examination by Worker's Accident Compensation Insurance System (Wor). The purpose of this study was to compare classification of the metabolic syndrome by different organizational criteria and to investigate underlying differences. METHODS: All faculty members of a university in Osaka, Japan, underwent mandatory health checkups in September 2008. The demographic distribution included 769 males (mean age, 49 +/- 12 years) and 415 females (mean age, 43 +/- 10 years). Using the Med, Nat, Ckup and Wor criteria, individuals were assessed for the MetS and pre-metabolic syndrome (pre-Mets), strongly suspected metabolic syndrome (S-Mets) and assumed pre-metabolic syndrome (A-pre-Mets), as well as a positive support level (PSL) and a motivational support level (MSL). All faculty members were categorized into a morbid group (Mets, S-Mets, PSL, and FB) or a pre-morbid group (pre-Mets, A-pre-Mets, and MSL) based on medical data and smoking habits. The incidence of morbid and pre-morbid individuals was compared across the four criteria and analyzed based on gender and age (under 40 and 40 or over). RESULTS: Male incidences for the morbid and pre-morbid classifications were 17% and 20% with Med, 9% and 23% with Nat, 27% and 14% with Ckup, and 1.4% and 0% with Wor. There were significant differences across criteria sets in both the morbid and pre-morbid groups, with significantly greater numbers of males than females, and higher prevalences in those aged 40 or over than in their younger counterparts. Males aged under 40 classified into the pre-morbid group comprised 18% in Med, 16% in Nat, and 13% in Ckup. CONCLUSION: The different disease incidences found between Med and Ckup data in males aged 40 or over might be attributed to varying criteria for blood glucose levels, while Wor data may be influenced by the higher level of blood pressure set as a criterion with this approach. It will be important to continuously validate currently established criteria to identify the actual prevalence of MetS in Japan. Furthermore, incorporation of waist circumference and BMI for females, and a positive approach for young males, may be critical for future developments.

[Objective assessment of walking in housebound elderly who are able to go out alone].

AIM: The aim of this study was to objectively assess the risk parameters associated with walking in housebound elderly. METHODS: The subjects were 622 community-dwelling elderly (210 men and 375 women: age 65-85) with independence in activities of daily living (ADL). We administered questionnaires pertaining to housebound factors and measured walking parameters, twice, in May 2008 and May 2009. Housebound status was defined as leaving the house no more than once a week, and non-housebound status as more than once every 2-3 days. We measured the following walking parameters: usual and maximum walking speed, timed up and go, obstacle-negotiating gait, stair-climbing, and number of daily steps. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of housebound status was 10.0% in men and 8.5% in women. No statistically significant differences were seen in the prevalence of housebound status between genders or age groups. In men, maximum walking speed, timed up and go, and daily steps were slower or less in housebound than in non-housebound subjects. In women, all walking parameters, except usual walking speed, were slower or less in housebound than in non-housebound subjects. Logistic regression analysis showed that obstacle-negotiating gait was a risk factor for men (odds ratio 2.49), and for women, all walking parameters, except walking at usual speed, were risk factors, with the highest odds ratio of 4.77 for obstacle-negotiating gait. A slower obstacle-negotiating gait was a risk factor for housebound status for both men and women. CONCLUSION: Compared with non-housebound subjects, housebound elderly with the ability to go out alone had a similar usual walking speed but a slower obstacle-negotiating gait.