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Objectives: The aim of the present study was to clarify the efficacy of the oral function improvement service by performing professional intervention related to the oral functions of ingestion and swallowing care for the elderly who use community day services. Study design: Before-after study Material and Methods: The survey continued through one year and complete data was collected from 44 subjects at 3 points during the survey. Data were collected at 3 points in total. The day service staff and dental hygienists who were specially provided for this research performed intervention with specially planned oral and swallowing care. We conducted comparisons between 3 points (Baseline, 6 months after, 1 year after) and the relationships between items related to oral and swallowing functions and the basic characteristics of the subjects statistically using SPSS ver.14.0. Results: The number of tooth-brushing increased significantly after one year (p < .05). Regarding evaluation of level of oral dryness, significant differences were seen in 2 to 6 items between 3 points comparisons. Moreover, regarding oral and swallowing function, there were significant differences in 1 to 2 items between comparisons. Furthermore, the number of items related to the characteristics of subjects was 4 in evaluation of level of oral dryness and 6 in evaluation of oral and swallowing function. Conclusion: The results suggested the first useful impact on prevention on decreasing oral and swallowing function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives We assessed the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in children 6 months to 15 years of age during the 2016/17 season. In addition, we estimated the impact of repeated vaccination in children on VE. Methods Our study for VEs in preventing influenza and admission due to influenza were conducted according to a test-negative case-control design (TNCC) based on influenza rapid diagnostic test results. We also analyzed the VE by vaccine status in the current and previous seasons for the impact of repeated vaccination. Results During the 2016/17 season, the quadrivalent IIV was used in Japan. The adjusted VE in preventing influenza illness was 38% (95% CI, 29–46) against influenza A and 39% (95% CI, 18–54) against influenza B. Infants showed no significant VE. The VE in preventing hospitalization was not demonstrated. For the analysis of repeated vaccination, the vaccine was effective only when immunization occurred in the current season. The children who were immunized in two consecutive seasons were more likely to develop influenza compared to those immunized in the current season only (odds ratio, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.05–2.38], adjusted odds ratio, 1.53 [95% CI, 0.99–2.35]). However, the odds ratio of repeated vaccination was not significant when the analysis excluded those who developed influenza in the previous season. Conclusions VE in children in the 2016/17 season was similar to values previously reported. Repeated vaccination interfered with the VE against any influenza infection in the 2016/17 season. The results of our study suggest that decreased VE by repeat vaccination phenomenon was associated with immunity by influenza infection in the previous season. However, the influenza vaccine should be recommended every season for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]