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Abstract Background Knee osteoarthritis (OA) has enormous medical and socioeconomic burdens, which early diagnosis and intervention can reduce. We investigated the influence of knee effusion on the progression of knee OA in patients with early knee OA. Methods A total of 404 participants without radiographic knee OA were assessed from a 3-year longitudinal analysis. Participants were classified into non-OA and early knee OA groups. The effusion area (mm2) was quantified using ultrasonography. Receiver operating characteristic and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results At the 3-year follow-up, 114 of 349 knees (32%) had progressed from non-OA and 32 of 55 knees (58%) had progressed from early knee OA to radiographic knee OA. Logistic regression analysis showed that female sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.36, 95% confidence interval [CIs] 2.98–5.42), early knee OA (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.08–3.75), body mass index (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.19), and effusion area (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01–1.02) were significantly correlated with knee OA progression. Women who were overweight (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) with more severe effusion had a higher risk of OA progression (area under the curve = 0.691, OR = 6.00) compared to those not overweight (area under the curve = 0.568, OR = 1.91). Conclusion Knee effusion may be an indicator of the progression of early-stage knee OA. more...

Rationale & Objective: Chronic kidney disease, defined by albuminuria and/or reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), has been reported to be associated with brain atrophy and/or higher white matter lesion volume (WMLV), but there are few large-scale population-based studies assessing this issue. This study aimed to examine the associations between the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) and eGFR levels and brain atrophy and WMLV in a large-scale community-dwelling older population of Japanese. Study Design: Population-based cross-sectional study. Setting & Participants: A total of 8,630 dementia-free community-dwelling Japanese aged greater than or equal to 65 years underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging scanning and screening examination of health status in 2016-2018. Exposures: UACR and eGFR levels. Outcomes: The total brain volume (TBV)-to-intracranial volume (ICV) ratio (TBV/ICV), the regional brain volume-to-TBV ratio, and the WMLV-to-ICV ratio (WMLV/ICV). Analytical Approach: The associations of UACR and eGFR levels with the TBV/ICV, the regional brain volume-to-TBV ratio, and the WMLV/ICV were assessed by using an analysis of covariance. Results: Higher UACR levels were significantly associated with lower TBV/ICV and higher geometric mean values of the WMLV/ICV (P for trend = 0.009 and more...

ObjectivesImproving the lifestyle of occupational workers is essential for extending healthy life expectancy. We investigated various lifestyle-related items in a rural Japanese population and compared them between agricultural and non-agricultural workers.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of the "Iwaki Health Promotion Project." Lifestyle-related items such as sleep, work hours, nutrition, health-related quality of life, and proportion of time spent performing each daily activity were compared between agricultural and non-agricultural workers in the ≥60 years (n = 251) and ResultsAgricultural workers had significantly lower Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total scores than non-agricultural workers in the ConclusionsAgricultural workers have better sleep habits but work longer than non-agricultural workers, with some differences in energy intake and proportion of time spent on each daily activity. These differences should be considered when planning lifestyle intervention programs for agricultural workers. more...

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the cross-sectional area of the dural sac (DCSA) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This study included 270 Japanese participants from a community health check-up in 2016. Overactive bladder (OAB) was diagnosed during the assessment of LUTS. The smallest DCSA of each participant was defined as the minimum DCSA (mDCSA). The cutoff size of the mDCSA in OAB was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors for OAB, and a scoring system was developed for estimating these. The prevalence of OAB was 11.1%. Age and low back pain visual analogue scale (LBP VAS) scores were significantly higher, and the mean mDCSA was significantly lower in participants with OAB than in those without. The cutoff size of mDCSA in OAB was 69 mm2. There were significant correlations between OAB and age, LBP VAS score, and mDCSA more...

The influx of intestinal bacteria-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the blood has attracted attention as a cause of diseases. The aim of this study is investigating the associations between the influx of LPS, dietary factors, gut microbiota, and health status in the general adult population. Food/nutrient intake, gut microbiota, health status and plasma LPS-binding protein (LBP; LPS exposure indicator) were measured in 896 residents (58.1% female, mean age 54.7 years) of the rural Iwaki district of Japan, and each correlation was analyzed. As the results, plasma LBP concentration correlated with physical (right/left arms’ muscle mass [β = −0.02, −0.03]), renal (plasma renin activity [β = 0.27], urine albumin creatinine ratio [β = 0.50]), adrenal cortical (cortisol [β = 0.14]), and thyroid function (free thyroxine [β = 0.05]), iron metabolism (serum iron [β = −0.14]), and markers of lifestyle-related diseases (all Qs < 0.20). Plasma LBP concentration were mainly negatively correlated with vegetables/their nutrients intake (all βs ≤ −0.004, Qs < 0.20). Plasma LBP concentration was positively correlated with the proportion of Prevotella (β = 0.32), Megamonas (β = 0.56), and Streptococcus (β = 0.65); and negatively correlated with Roseburia (β = −0.57) (all Qs < 0.20). Dietary factors correlated with plasma LBP concentration correlated with positively (all βs ≥ 0.07) or negatively (all βs ≤ −0.07) the proportion of these bacteria (all Qs < 0.20). Our results suggested that plasma LBP concentration in the Japanese general adult population was associated with various health issues, and that dietary habit was associated with plasma LBP concentration in relation to the intestinal bacteria. more...

Lumbar degenerative disease and dementia are increasing in super-aging societies and are both related to physical dysfunction and pain. However, the relationship between these diseases remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the comorbidity rates of lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and clarify the association between LSS presence, lumbar symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) related to low back pain and cognitive impairment in the Japanese population. We enrolled 336 participants (men 124; women 212; mean age 72.2 years) from a medical checkup program. LSS was diagnosed using a self-administered questionnaire, and lumbar symptoms were evaluated using the visual analog scale (low back pain, and pain and numbness of the lower limb). QOL related to low back pain was evaluated using the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back-Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ: pain, and lumbar, and gait function). Radiological lumbar degeneration was classified using Kellgren-Lawrence grading and lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and MCI was defined by a summary score of MMSE ≤27. Logistic and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to analyze the association between MCI, summary score of MMSE, and lumbar degenerative disease. The comorbidity rate of MCI and LSS was 2.1%, and the rate of MCI was 41% in participants with LSS. Lumbar function in JOABPEQ was associated with MCI. The presence of LSS and lumbar function in JOABPEQ were associated with MMSE. Over one-third of the people with LSS had MCI. The presence of LSS and deterioration of QOL due to low back pain were related to cognitive impairment. We recommend evaluating cognitive function for patients with LSS because the rate of MCI was high in LSS participants. more...

Abstract Background Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline in older adults. However, past studies have demonstrated that older adults tend to relapse into inactivity after completing interventions. This ongoing study employs a randomized controlled trial design to assess the efficacy and efficiency of the KENKOJISEICHI local revitalization system for promoting daily outdoor behaviors to improve cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods/design This 6-month randomized controlled trial will include 83 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older with MCI. Participants will be randomized to the KENKOJISEICHI experimental group or an educational control group. The KENKOJISEICHI group will receive a 90-minute session twice per week that consists of social, intellectual, and physical activities involving outdoor behaviors intended to support cognitive function. Participants in the educational control group will attend two 120-minute educational classes during the 6-month trial period. Considering a 20–30% dropout rate, a sample size of 35 participants per group is required. Discussion If the program successfully promotes long-term habitual outdoor behaviors, this will expand knowledge regarding how to support social, intellectual, and physical activities, as well as communication change, among the older population to provide them with cognitive benefits. Trial registration University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN), Japan, UMIN000026479. Registered on 9 March 2017. more...

Abstract Background Family support can help older adults better adhere to exercise routine, but it remains unclear whether an exercise program targeting older married couples would have stronger effects on exercise adherence than would a program for individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an exercise program on the exercise adherence of older married couples over a 24-week follow-up period. Methods Thirty-four older married couples and 59 older adults participated in this study as couple and non-couple groups (CG and NCG, respectively). All participants attended an 8-week supervised program (once a week and a home-based exercise program comprising walking and strength exercises) and then participated in a follow-up measurement (24 weeks after post-intervention measurement). Exercise adherence was prospectively measured via an exercise habituation diary during the follow-up period—specifically, we asked them to record practice rates for walking (≥2 days/week) and strength exercises (≥6 items for 2 days/week). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to obtain the CG’s odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for adherence to walking and strength exercise adjusted for potential confounders (with NCG as the reference). Results Although the adherence rate of walking exercise in the CG was significantly higher than that in the NCG (29.2%; P more...

Visceral fat accumulation is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Visceral fat is a causal risk factor for hypertension and type 2 diabetes, which was reported as one of the risk factors for dementia. Visceral fat areas (VFA) might be clinically important to prevent dementia; however, the association between VFA and cognitive function in the elderly remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association between brain structural abnormalities using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and VFA, and the association between cognitive function and VFA, in the elderly. A total of 2364 healthy individuals were enrolled, and we excluded those diagnosed with dementia. Participants were divided into a high-VFA and a low-VFA group based on median VFA. The high-VFA group had significantly lower cognitive function than the low-VFA group (p = 0.025), after adjustment for related factors using a linear regression model. Regarding brain structure in MRI, VFA remained significantly associated with white matter lesions (odds ratio (OR), 1.90; 95% confidence interval (1.33–2.70); adjusted p < 0.001) and perivascular space (OR, 1.28; 95% confidence interval (1.02–1.61); adjusted p = 0.033). Further follow-up studies are needed, but reducing visceral fat might be important, not only to prevent cardiovascular disease but also to prevent dementia. more...

This study examined the association between pain characteristics and the incidence of functional disability among community-dwelling older adults. This prospective cohort study included 4,365 older adults (mean age 74.7 years, 53.5% female) living in community settings. Pain characteristics, including severity and duration of pain, were assessed in participants who also underwent monthly follow-up assessment of functional disability for 24 months based on the national long-term care insurance system. Among the 4,365 participants, 2,149 (48.7%) reported pain, regardless of severity and duration. Of the 2,149 participants with pain, 950 (44.2%) reported moderate to severe pain and 1,680 (78.2%) reported chronic pain. Based on the univariate analyses, participants with moderate (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.48 [1.05-2.09]) or severe (2.84 [1.89-4.27]) pain and chronic pain (1.50 [1.15-1.95]) showed significantly higher risk of disability incidence than did those without pain. After adjusting for covariates, severe pain remained a significant predictor (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.66 [1.05-2.62]), but moderate (1.00 [0.69-1.47]) and chronic pain (1.04 [0.77-1.40]) did not. Our results established that moderate to severe pain or chronic pain affects functional disability; in particular, severe pain was independently associated with the incidence of disability. Subjective complaints of pain do not always correspond to physical causes; however, simplified questions regarding pain characteristics could be useful predictors of functional disability in community-dwelling older people. more...

This study aimed to examine the effects of walking, a common activity that has previously been reported not to be effective for fall prevention, on fall-related factors among a general population of community-dwelling older adults. A total of 90 men and women, ranging from 65-79 years of age, were randomly allocated into either the walking group (brisk walking) or the balance group (tai chi, balance and strength training) to participate in 12-week supervised and home-based exercise programs. Physical factors (11 items on gait, static/dynamic balance, and strength of the lower extremities), psychological factors (Japanese Falls Efficacy Scale or FES), and daily step counts were assessed. Falls and trips were recorded during the 12-week intervention period. In both groups, significant improvements (P < 0.05) over the 12-week intervention were observed in usual/maximum gait speed, timed up and go, 10-m walk over obstacles, 6-minute walk, functional reach, 30-s chair stand test, and isometric knee extension force. Only the walking group showed significant increases in fall self-efficacy (+3.1 ± 8.0 points) and daily step counts (+3366.4 ± 3212.5 steps/day) (P < 0.05). No significant differences between groups were observed in falls or trips. Our findings suggest that walking among general, community-dwelling older adults was specifically effective in improving fall-related psychological factors and physical activity levels, as well as in improving some fall-related physical factors such as gait, dynamic balance and dynamic strength of the lower extremities, which were also improved by the strength and balance program. more...

Cut-off values of habitual physical activity to determine mobility limitation (ML) would be useful for recommending modifications to life activities for community-dwelling older Japanese women. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the levels of habitual physical activity (step counts: SC, moderate-vigorous physical activity: MVPA) capable of predicting ML in older women. This study included 630 community-dwelling older Japanese women (72.3 ± 5.9 years). ML was assessed in two consecutive self-reports, and defined as having some difficulty or being unable to walk one-quarter of a mile or climb 10 steps without resting. A uniaxial accelerometer continuously measured SC and MVPA for over 10 h/day for 7 days. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted to determine the cut-off values of SC and MVPA that could predict ML. Results show that the prevalence of ML in this study was 28.3% (n = 178). The optimal cut-off values of SC and MVPA for predicting ML were 5,773 steps/day (sensitivity: 66.3%, specificity: 70.8%) and 107.4 min/week (sensitivity: 84.8%, specificity: 55.3%). It was concluded that the levels of SC and MVPA capable of predicting ML were 5,773 steps/day or 107.4 min/week for older Japanese women. Although these levels of habitual physical activity would be useful as an indicator in modifying the life activities in older Japanese women, the validity of the cut-off values for predicting ML will need to be confirmed in longitudinal studies. more...

Objectives: To examine the combined association of obesity and low muscle strength with mobility limitation in older adults., Design, Setting and Participants: This two-year follow-up longitudinal study included pooled data from 283 older community-dwelling Japanese women without mobility limitations who were 65 to 87 years of age (mean age 72.2 ± 5.0 years)., Measurements: Muscle strength was measured by hand-grip strength (HGS). The participants were categorized by HGS (high muscle strength: HGS ≥19.6 kg, low muscle strength: HGS <19.6 kg) and body mass index (BMI) (obese: BMI ≥25 kg/m2, normal weight: BMI <25 kg/m2). The main outcome was mobility limitation, assessed by a self-reported questionnaire (difficulty walking one-half mile or climbing 10 steps without resting). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the combined effect of HGS and BMI on mobility limitation, adjusting for age, exercise habits, medications, and knee pain., Results: During the follow-up period, 82 of 283 participants (29.0%) developed mobility limitation. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for the incidence of mobility limitation were 1.53 (0.86-2.73) and 2.05 (1.08-3.91) in the obese and low muscle strength groups, respectively. Obesity combined with low muscle strength exhibited a significant and strong association with mobility limitation (odds ratio: 3.88, 1.08-13.91) compared with participants with normal weight and high muscle strength., Conclusion: Among community-dwelling older Japanese women, obesity alone was not associated with the incidence of mobility limitation, but when combined with low muscle weakness, the risk of developing mobility limitation was 3.9-fold greater than for the reference group. more...