Utility of cerebrospinal fluid liquid biopsy in distinguishing CNS lymphoma from cerebrospinal infectious/demyelinating diseases.

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing between central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) and CNS infectious and/or demyelinating diseases, although clinically important, is sometimes difficult even using imaging strategies and conventional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses. To determine whether detection of genetic mutations enables differentiation between these diseases and the early detection of CNSL, we performed mutational analysis using CSF liquid biopsy technique. METHODS: In this study, we extracted cell-free DNA from the CSF (CSF-cfDNA) of CNSL (N = 10), CNS infectious disease (N = 10), and demyelinating disease (N = 10) patients, and performed quantitative mutational analysis by droplet-digital PCR. Conventional analyses were also performed using peripheral blood and CSF to confirm the characteristics of each disease. RESULTS: Blood hemoglobin and albumin levels were significantly lower in CNSL than CNS infectious and demyelinating diseases, CSF cell counts were significantly higher in infectious diseases than CNSL and demyelinating diseases, and CSF-cfDNA concentrations were significantly higher in infectious diseases than CNSL and demyelinating diseases. Mutation analysis using CSF-cfDNA detected MYD88L265P and CD79Y196 mutations in 60% of CNSLs each, with either mutation detected in 80% of cases. Mutual existence of both mutations was identified in 40% of cases. These mutations were not detected in either infectious or demyelinating diseases, and the sensitivity and specificity of detecting either MYD88/CD79B mutations in CNSL were 80% and 100%, respectively. In the four cases biopsied, the median time from collecting CSF with the detected mutations to definitive diagnosis by conventional methods was 22.5 days (range, 18-93 days). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that mutation analysis using CSF-cfDNA might be useful for differentiating CNSL from CNS infectious/demyelinating diseases and for early detection of CNSL, even in cases where brain biopsy is difficult to perform.

Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Lower Limb Muscle Strength After Living Donor Liver Transplant: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Early mobilization after liver transplant (LT) plays an important role in postoperative recovery and complication prevention; however, patients undergoing LT cannot achieve early mobilization because of mechanical ventilation and poor preoperative physical performance. We investigated the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on lower limb muscle strength after living donor liver transplant (LDLT). METHODS: Adult patients who underwent LDLT between December 2016 and January 2019 at a university hospital were recruited. A consecutive series of patients who underwent LDLT without NMES therapy before the clinical trial (April 2014-May 2016) were enrolled as the non-NMES (control) group. Patients in the NMES group received NMES on the quadriceps muscles starting 1 day post LDLT for 4 weeks. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and all patients provided informed consent. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients in the NMES group and 16 patients in the non-NMES group were analyzed. There was no significant difference between groups regarding changes in any outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The application of NMES in patients with LDLT did not yield greater improvement of muscle strength, functional capacity, activities of daily living, or length of hospital stay 4 weeks postoperatively compared with the control group. However, developing a novel NMES device and confirming whether additional NMES is effective for other body areas may yield different results.

Preoperative paraspinous muscle sarcopenia and physical performance as prognostic indicators in non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite the associations of both preoperative sarcopenia and physical performance with post-operative mortality in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there have been no comprehensive studies of the impact of physical status on prognosis. This study was performed to investigate the prognostic significance of preoperative sarcopenia and physical performance in NSCLC. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was performed in NSCLS patients undergoing curative lung resection at a university hospital between January 2014 and December 2017. The patients were divided into four groups according to the skeletal muscle index [sarcopenia (lowest sex-specific tertile) and non-sarcopenia] and 6 min walking distance (6MWD) [short distance (<400 m) and long distance (≥400 m)]. Sarcopenia was assessed by preoperative cross-sectional areas of right and left paraspinous muscles at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra from computed tomography images, and physical performance was determined by preoperative 6MWD. The primary and secondary endpoints were post-operative overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: The 587 patients [mean age: 68.5 ± 8.8 years, 399 men (68%)] included in the study were divided into the non-sarcopenia/long-distance group (58%), sarcopenia/long-distance group (26%), non-sarcopenia/short-distance group (9%), and sarcopenia/short-distance group (7%). A total of 109 (18.6%) deaths and 209 (35.6%) combined endpoints were observed over a mean follow-up of 3.1 ± 1.3 years. After adjusting for other covariates, the sarcopenia/short-distance group showed significant associations with shorter OS (hazard ratio, 3.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.79-6.37; P < 0.001) and DFS (hazard ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence, 1.27-3.51; P = 0.004) compared with the non-sarcopenia/long-distance group on multivariate analyses. Although not significant, adding skeletal muscle index and 6MWD to the pre-existing risk model increased the area under the curve on time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for OS and DFS, except within 2 years of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of both preoperative paraspinous muscle sarcopenia and short distance in 6MWD had an adverse effect on post-operative prognosis in patients with NSCLC, suggesting that preoperative assessment of thoracic sarcopenia and physical performance may be useful for risk stratification of surgical candidates with potential for targeted interventions.

Post-operative delayed ambulation after thymectomy is associated withpre-operative six-minute walk distance.

OBJECTIVE: Delayed post-operative ambulation is a risk of post-operative complications and increases overall healthcare costs. We investigated pre-operative and intraoperative variables associated with delayed ambulation in patients who underwent thymectomy. METHODS: A total of 57 consecutive patients undergoing thymectomy were included in this study. Pre-operative functional exercise capacity was evaluated by six-minute walk distance. Ambulation was considered to be delayed if the patient could not walk the ward on post-operative day 1. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to clarify the factors associated with delayed ambulation. RESULTS: Pre-operative six-minute walk distance was the only significant variable that was associated with delayed ambulation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting delayed ambulation was 0.684 (95% confidential interval: 0.546-0.823, p = 0.017), and the optimal discriminatory pre-operative six-minute walk distance value was 498 m. Post-operative hospital stay was significantly longer in patients with low six-minute walk distance (<498 m) than those with high six-minute walk distance (≥498 m). In contrast, the presence of myasthenia gravis or adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was not associated with delayed ambulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that low pre-operative six-minute walk distance is associated with delayed post-operative ambulation and longer post-operative hospital stay in patients who underwent thymectomy. Implications for rehabilitation The predictors for delayed ambulation after thymectomy are not fully investigated. The presence of myasthenia gravis was not associated with delayed ambulation. Low pre-operative six-minute walk distance was associated with delayed ambulation.

Preoperative six-minute walk distance is associated with pneumonia after lung resection.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the relationship between preoperative physical fitness and postoperative pneumonia after lung resection. We examined the association between preoperative 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and postoperative pneumonia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with malignant lung tumours who were scheduled to undergo lung resection at Nagoya University Hospital from January 2014 to December 2015. Preoperative pulmonary function tests and the 6-min walk test were assessed. A logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to analyse clinical variables and compare the performance on 6MWD, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. RESULTS: The data from a total of 321 patients including 283 with primary lung cancer and 38 with metastatic lung tumours were analysed. Pneumonia developed in 13 patients and caused longer hospital stays after surgery. The preoperative 6MWD of patients with pneumonia was significantly lower than that without pneumonia (425 vs 500 m, P = 0.002). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, 6MWD ≤ 450 m was a threshold for predicting postoperative pneumonia with 69.2% sensitivity and 71.1% specificity. A 6MWD ≤ 450 m, forced expiratory volume in 1 s <80% of the predicted value, diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide <80% of the predicted value, serum albumin <3.5 g/dl and blood loss during surgery ≥200 g were significantly associated with postoperative pneumonia in a logistic model. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative 6MWD was significantly associated with postoperative pneumonia in patients who underwent lung resection for malignancies.

Tracing halogen and B cycling in subduction zones based on obducted, subducted and forearc serpentinites of the Dominican Republic.

Serpentinites are important reservoirs of fluid-mobile elements in subduction zones, contributing to volatiles in arc magmas and their transport into the Earth's mantle. This paper reports halogen (F, Cl, Br, I) and B abundances of serpentinites from the Dominican Republic, including obducted and subducted abyssal serpentinites and forearc mantle serpentinites. Abyssal serpentinite compositions indicate the incorporation of these elements from seawater and sediments during serpentinization on the seafloor and at slab bending. During their subduction and subsequent lizardite-antigorite transition, F and B are retained in serpentinites, whilst Cl, Br and I are expelled. Forearc mantle serpentinite compositions suggest their hydration by fluids released from subducting altered oceanic crust and abyssal serpentinites, with only minor sediment contribution. This finding is consistent with the minimal subduction of sediments in the Dominican Republic. Forearc mantle serpentinites have F/Cl and B/Cl ratios similar to arc magmas, suggesting the importance of serpentinite dehydration in the generation of arc magmatism in the mantle wedge.

Associations among pain catastrophizing, muscle strength, and physical performance after total knee and hip arthroplasty.

AIM: To investigate whether reductions in pain catastrophizing associated with physical performance in the early period after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: The study group of 46 participants underwent TKA or THA. The participants were evaluated within 7 d before the operation and at 14 d afterwards. Physical performance was measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and 10-m gait time was measured at comfortable and maximum speeds. They rated their knee or hip pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) for daily life activities. Psychological characteristics were measured by the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Physical characteristics were measured by isometric muscle strength of knee extensors and hip abductors on the operated side. The variables of percent changes between pre- and post-operation were calculated by dividing post-operation score by pre-operation score. RESULTS: Postoperative VAS and PCS were better than preoperative for both TKA and THA. Postoperative physical performance and muscle strength were poorer than preoperative for both TKA and THA. The percent change in physical performance showed no correlation with preoperative variables. In TKA patients, the percent change of PCS showed correlation with percent change of TUG (P = 0.016), 10-m gait time at comfortable speeds (P = 0.003), and 10-m gait time at maximum speeds (P = 0.042). The percent change of muscle strength showed partial correlation with physical performances. The percent change of VAS showed no correlation with physical performances. On the other hand, in THA patients, the percent change of hip abductor strength showed correlation with percent change of TUG (P = 0.047), 10-m gait time at comfortable speeds (P = 0.001), and 10-m gait time at maximum speeds (P = 0.021). The percent change of knee extensor strength showed partial correlation with physical performances. The percent change of VAS and PCS showed no correlation with physical performances. CONCLUSION: Changes in pain catastrophizing significantly associated with changes in physical performance in the early period after TKA. It contributes to future postoperative rehabilitation of arthroplasty.

Combination Treatment of Perioperative Rehabilitation and Psychoeducation Undergoing Thoracic Surgery.

Postoperative pulmonary complications are a risk associated with thoracic surgery. However, there have been few reports on cases at high risk of postoperative complications. Cancer patients often have negative automatic thoughts about illness, and these negative automatic thoughts are associated with reduced health behavior and physical activity. This case series demonstrates the successful combination treatment of perioperative rehabilitation and psychoeducation for negative automatic thoughts in two cancer patients who underwent thoracic surgery. One patient underwent pneumonectomy with laryngeal recurrent nerve paralysis; the other patient, who had a history of recurrent hepatic encephalopathy and dialysis, underwent S6 segmentectomy. Both patients had negative automatic thoughts about cancer-related stress and postoperative pain. The physical therapists conducted a perioperative rehabilitation program in which the patients were educated to replace their maladaptive thoughts with more adaptive thoughts. After rehabilitation, the patients had improved adaptive thoughts, increased physical activity, and favorable recovery without pulmonary complications. This indicates that the combination treatment of perioperative rehabilitation and psychoeducation was useful in two thoracic cancer surgery patients. The psychoeducational approach should be expanded to perioperative rehabilitation of patients with cancer.

Preoperative 6-minute walk distance accurately predicts postoperative complications after operations for hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer.

BACKGROUND: Operation for hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer is among the most invasive open abdominal operations, with a high postoperative morbidity and mortality rate. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether a preoperative 6-minute walk distance can predict major postoperative complications after operation for hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases. METHODS: A total of 81 participants who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, major hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection, or hepatopancreatoduodenectomy were included. The 6-minute walk distance was performed within 1 week before operation. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on surgical complications: Clavien-Dindo grade <3 and Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3. Clinical differences between the 2 groups were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for postoperative complications that were categorized as Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3. RESULTS: The multiple logistic regression model revealed a significant correlation between major postoperative complications and preoperative low 6-minute walk distance, low body mass index, and major blood loss. In patients with 6-minute walk distance <400 m (1,312 feet), the Clavien-Dindo grade was considerably greater than patients with ≥400 m. CONCLUSION: The 6-minute walk distance is useful in identifying patients with a greater chance of developing major postoperative complications after surgery for hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer.

Changes in exercise capacity, muscle strength, and health-related quality of life in esophageal cancer patients undergoing esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for cancer of the thoracic esophagus is a challenging procedure associated with high morbidity and mortality. Perioperative rehabilitation has been introduced to promote early mobilization of the patients and to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the preoperative functional exercise capacity, muscle strength, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with esophageal cancer, and to evaluate the impact of radical esophagectomy on these parameters. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 34 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed resectable esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy followed by postoperative rehabilitation from January to December 2014. Patients were tested for 6-min walk distance (6MWD), knee-extensor muscle strength, hand grip strength, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT) before and two weeks after the surgery. Before surgery, the pulmonary function test, and components of the MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) Questionnaire for general health were assessed. RESULTS: The mean age was 67.3 ± 8.1 years. The patients were predominantly male (76.4 %), had high rates of smoking history (91.2 %), and squamous cell carcinoma (97.1 %). The predicted value for forced expiratory volume in 1 s was 94.0 ± 15.9 %, and 12 patients (35.3 %) had COPD. The clinical stage was 0-I in 12 patients, II in 4 patients, III in 16 patients, and IV in 2 patients. Thirty-one patients (91.2 %) underwent open surgery. At the baseline, components of the SF-36 scores significantly correlated with CAT and HADS scores, and the physical status was significantly poorer in patients with COPD than those without. Comparisons between the preoperative and postoperative values revealed significant decreases in 6MWD, hand grip strength, isometric knee extensor muscle strength, and a significant increase in CAT scores but not in HADS scores after surgery. In multiple regression analysis, decreases in 6MWD after the surgery significantly correlated with the preoperative physical component summary of SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that surgery remained detrimental to health outcomes at two weeks. Further research should investigate whether prehabilitation would improve the postoperative outcomes, QOL, and physical fitness.

Combination of Continuous Epidural Block and Rehabilitation in a Case of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Epidural analgesia is used to promote rehabilitation in patients with refractory complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) who cannot bear physical programs due to intense pain. However, the actual rehabilitation process has not been focused in previous reports. Here, we outline our experience of treating a young woman with CRPS type 1 who underwent rehabilitation facilitated by a continuous lumbar epidural block. A 15-year-old girl developed throbbing pain from her left toe to her ankle, with no obvious cause. She was admitted to the hospital 2 months after symptom onset for an assessment of pain intensity, range of motion, weight-bearing, neglect-like symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and a CRPS severe score with impaired activities of daily living. The rehabilitation program was initiated under facilitation of continuous epidural block. Her rehabilitation program included physical therapy, motor imagery, mirror therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The intensity of the exercise was gradually increased without exacerbating her symptoms. Ultimately, she recovered completely after a continuous epidural block for 21 days and rehabilitation for 80 days. A combination of continuous epidural block and intensive rehabilitation improved the symptoms of this patient. The treatment course would be helpful for planning rehabilitation programs in other patients with CRPS.

Gait Speeds Associated with Anxiety Responses to Pain in Osteoarthritis Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with lower limbs osteoarthritis (OA) had slower walking speeds than healthy. Gait speed, which is associated with leg muscle strength, is a consistent predictor of health and functional status. The effects of pain and pain-related psychological constructs for gait speeds have been uncertain. Therefore, we investigated whether gait speed in patients with OA of lower limbs is associated with pain-related psychological constructs using a performance-based measure. METHODS: The study group comprised 59 patients with advanced knee or hip OA. Gait speeds were measured at comfortable and maximum levels during 10-m walks. Covariates included 1) pain intensity measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS), 2) psychological constructs measured with a short-version pain anxiety symptoms scale (PASS-20) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and 3) bilateral knee extensor and hip abductor muscle strength. Each variable was subjected to multivariate analysis with gait speed. RESULTS: Single regression analysis showed that gait speeds were significantly correlated with VAS and PASS-20 scores, and muscle strength, not with HADS. Multiple regression analysis showed that PASS-20 score was significant correlating factor for gait speeds. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety-related responses to pain were significant correlating factor for gait speeds, in patients with OA of lower limbs.

Sulphur geodynamic cycle.

Evaluation of volcanic and hydrothermal fluxes to the surface environments is important to elucidate the geochemical cycle of sulphur and the evolution of ocean chemistry. This paper presents S/(3)He ratios of vesicles in mid-ocean ridge (MOR) basalt glass together with the ratios of high-temperature hydrothermal fluids to calculate the sulphur flux of 100 Gmol/y at MOR. The S/(3)He ratios of high-temperature volcanic gases show sulphur flux of 720 Gmol/y at arc volcanoes (ARC) with a contribution from the mantle of 2.9%, which is calculated as 21 Gmol/y. The C/S flux ratio of 12 from the mantle at MOR and ARC is comparable to the C/S ratio in the surface inventory, which suggests that these elements in the surface environments originated from the upper mantle.

The influence of metamorphic grade on arsenic in metasedimentary bedrock aquifers: a case study from Western New England, USA.

Elevated As occurs in many meta-sedimentary bedrock aquifers where elevated bulk-rock As content is one of the primary controls on the concentration of As in groundwater. This study was designed to determine As concentrations in a black shale, black slate and black phyllite sequence that comprises the bedrock aquifer system of the Taconic Mountain region of southwestern Vermont and adjacent New York State. Variability in groundwater As concentrations provides the impetus for this study: 25% of wells in weakly metamorphosed shales and slates (

Helium anomalies suggest a fluid pathway from mantle to trench during the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake.

Geophysical evidence suggests that fluids along fault planes have an important role in generating earthquakes; however, the nature of these fluids has not been well defined. The 2011 magnitude 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake ruptured the interface between the subducting Pacific plate and the overlying Okhotsk plate. Here we report a sharp increase in mantle-derived helium in bottom seawater near the rupture zone 1 month after the earthquake. The timing and location indicate that fluids were released from the mantle on the seafloor along the plate interface. The movement of the fluids was rapid, with a velocity of ~4 km per day and an uncertainty factor of four. This rate is much faster than what would be expected from pressure-gradient propagation, suggesting that over-pressurized fluid is discharged along the plate interface.

Health care and personal care needs among residents in nursing homes, group homes, and congregate housing in Japan: why does transition occur, and where can the frail elderly establish a permanent residence?

OBJECTIVES: Japan has had high rates of transition to nursing homes from other long term care facilities. It has been hypothesized that care transitions occur because a resident's condition deteriorates. The aim of the present study was to compare the health care and personal care needs of residents in nursing homes, group homes, and congregate housing in Japan. DESIGN: The present study was conducted using a cross-sectional study design. SETTING/SUBJECTS: The present study included 70,519 elderly individuals from 5 types of residential facilities: care medical facilities (heavy medical care; n = 17,358), geriatric intermediate care facilities (rehabilitation aimed toward a discharge to home; n = 26,136), special nursing homes (permanent residence; n = 20,564), group homes (group living, n = 1454), and fee-based homes for the elderly (congregate housing; n = 5007). MEASUREMENTS: The managing director at each facility provided information on the residents' health care and personal care needs, including activities of daily living (ADLs), level of required care, level of cognitive impairment, current disease treatment, and medical procedures. RESULTS: A multinomial logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significantly lower rate of medical procedures among the residents in special nursing homes compared with those in care medical facilities, geriatric intermediate care facilities, group homes, and fee-based homes for the elderly. The residents of special nursing homes also indicated a significantly lower level of required care than those in care medical facilities. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that care transitions occur because of unavailable permanent residence option for people who suffer with medical deterioration. The national government should modify residential facilities by reorganizing several types of residential facilities into nursing homes that provide a place of permanent residence.

Care managers' views on death and caring for older cancer patients in Japan.

Care managers (CMs) have an important role in coordinating care for cancer patients who are in the end-of-life stage; however, little is known about their views of death and their experiences while caring for older cancer patients. This study was conducted to examine CMs' views of death and caring for older cancer patients in a home care setting in Japan. Convenience sampling was undertaken, and 35 offices from 43 approached services agreed to participate. The final valid sample included responses from 136 CMs (90.7%). Most CMs, including nurses, care workers, home helpers, and social workers in home care settings, experienced difficulty in managing the care of cancer patients in the end-of-life stage. Respondents reported a wide array of experiences with end-of-life care, care management, and seminar attendance, and their ages and Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD) scores were associated factors. Moreover, multiple regression analysis indicated that better attitudes toward caring for the dying were positively associated with seminar attendance. These results suggest that CMs need education about palliative and end-of-life care in order to promote good home care for cancer patients.

Ethnographic study of a good death among elderly Japanese Americans.

Most humans desire a good death, but the nursing literature on culture-specific responses to older life, especially on issues of death and dying among Japanese Americans, is still limited. The pattern of beliefs about a good death held by elderly Japanese Americans living in Hawaii was explored. A qualitative study using ethnography and in-depth interviewing was employed. Eighteen healthy and active elderly participants were interviewed, and data analyzed using ethnography to extract categories and themes, and four supplementary interviews with experts were held for triangulation of the data. Four themes emerged, however, in this paper, the predominate one, not being a burden to family, was discussed. The participants believed burdening someone in their culture has an extremely negative implication. Sufficient preparation for older life and death, family support, friends support, and finance were their strategies to avoid being a burden. Nurses need to understand that the concept of good death is unique to every culture. Such knowledge will help them to plan and provide appropriate end-of-life care, and will reduce the risk of living wills being ignored.

Priority for elderly persons with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia on waiting lists for placement in nursing homes in Japan: do nursing homes change priorities based on their own guidelines?

OBJECTIVES: In Japan, individuals seeking to be placed in nursing homes under the public long term care insurance program are subject to long waiting lists. Applicants are evaluated according to their needs for nursing home placement and assigned to homes based on their relative priority. The aim of the present study was to examine differences between the admission guidelines used by nursing homes and their attitudes regarding the priority for admitting elderly persons with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) from their waiting lists. DESIGN: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional study design. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and eight different facilities provided sets of completed questionnaires and copies of their placement guidelines. MEASUREMENTS: The managing director or social worker at each facility provided self-reports of whether they would increase the priority of applicants with BPSD and whether they would admit applicants who require treatment for BPSD. Each facility's placement guidelines were also collected. RESULTS: Most evaluation guidelines (65.9%) considered an applicant's BPSD as a condition that required nursing home placement; however, only 16.8% of the respondents actually increased the placement priority of applicants with BPSD. Some respondents refused to admit applicants who require treatment for BPSD but did not explicitly state in their guidelines that the priority of applicants with BPSD would be reduced because of the facility's inability to address BPSD. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed differences between nursing homes' official guidelines and their attitudes toward the priority of admitting elderly persons with BPSD from their waiting lists. Future studies should explore the factors that influence the placement of individuals with BPSD into nursing homes.