Search

Walking is a popular and easily accessible form of physical activity. However, walking instruction for older adults is based on the evidence gathered from younger populations. This study evaluated walking conditions, strength, balance, and subjective health status after a 12-week walking-training program in community-dwelling adults greater than 65 years old. Participants walked 1,921 m (3,158.88 steps) in 26.69 min with a heart rate of 114 beats/min. An analysis of covariance to adjust for previous exercise habits, pretest strength, and subjective health status revealed significant differences in strength and in subjective physical and mental health status between experimental and control groups. This study identified the effects of the walking-training program on community-dwelling elderly adults without changing their previous physical activities. (Contains 3 tables.)

This study developed the Place Attachment for Community-Dwelling Older Adults (PACOA) scale and evaluated its psychometric properties. The PACOA was developed through a qualitative study and expert panels. A pilot study confirmed the 19-item PACOA which included five factors (meaning of life, dependency, feeling "in place," continuity, and social inclusion) were extracted. This model explained 60.803% of the variance. Cronbach's α of the PACOA and its subscales were.853 and.670 to.863, respectively, whereas the correlations between the PACOA and its subscales were.580 to.725 (p <.01). The criterion validity and test–retest reliability were.678 (p <.01) and r =.654 (p <.01). Our findings suggest that the PACOA is an indicator of the emotional connection between older adults and their places of residence. Future studies should address the older adult–place fit, the future connection characteristics, and the influence of place attachment on older adults' healthy lifestyle behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A growing body of evidence shows an association between DNA repair protein genotypes and susceptibility to various cancers. However, few studies have assessed the contribution of the genotype of XRCC3, a homologous repair gene, to the occurrence or prognosis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this study, we investigated the contribution of seven XRCC3 polymorphisms to childhood ALL.Patients and methods: We recruited 266 patients with childhood ALL and 266 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples. The XRCC3 rs1799794, rs45603942, rs1799796, rs861530, rs28903081, rs861539, and rs3212057 polymorphic genotypes of each subject were determined through conventional polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.Results: Genotypes with the rs861539 polymorphism were significantly associated with the risk of childhood ALL. The allelic distribution analyses suggested a significant association between the T allele at rs861539 with an increased risk of childhood ALL in the Taiwanese population. Polymorphic variants of XRCC3 at rs3212057 or rs28903081 did not exist in the study population. XRCC3 rs1799794, rs45603942, rs1799796, and rs861530 were not significantly associated with the risk of childhood ALL in the Taiwanese population.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that XRCC3 genotypes with polymorphisms at rs861539 may play a role in determining individual susceptibility to childhood ALL in this Taiwanese population. The polymorphism may be a potential detector and predictor of childhood ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant time older people typically spend at home affects both their level of physical activity and quality of life. This prospective cohort study was designed to identify the effects that living in a high-rise residence retirement community has on physical activity and quality of life in older people with leprosy. The relocation group was comprised of study participants who had relocated voluntarily to a high-rise apartment building. The comparison group was comprised of study participants who had chosen not to relocate to that building. Data were collected using a personal information survey, Modified Baecke's Questionnaire, and the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF). The groups were significantly similar in terms of household activities, leisure time activities, total physical activity score, and quality of life physical and social aspects, and significantly different in terms of quality of life overall (F=7.864, p=0.006), psychological (F=5.403, p=0.021) and environmental (F=23.099, p=0.000) aspects. This study indicates that living in a high-rise apartment environment does not decrease physical activity and may promote overall quality of life, and psychological and environmental aspects, in retirement community residents. The findings enhance understanding of the effect of different living environments on physical activity and quality of life. Greater health professional participation in retirement community design to ensure such designs facilitate residents’ health and quality of life is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Journal of Nursing is the property of Taiwan Nurses Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Purpose] Trust among patients and clinical suppliers is the foundation for achieving appropriate treatment. This double-blind randomized control trial aimed to determine whether providing patients a pre-treatment physical therapists' introductions and positive appraisal can enhance the trust of patients in therapists. [Participants and Methods] This study included patients diagnosed with lumbar spine spondylosis or non-acute lower back muscle strain who were divided into intervention and control groups. The previously recorded video informed the intervention group patients that they were assigned to our best therapist because of their participation. The primary outcome was evaluated twice, once before and once after the treatment, and the secondary outcome was measured using the second time pain inventory evaluation. [Results] A total of 32 patients participated in this study. No significant difference was found in patients' trust in therapists between the two groups, and a lower successful treatment rate with a higher pain influence level to daily life was noted in the intervention group. [Conclusion] Doctors who offer introductions with a positive assessment of physical therapists cannot change the trust of patients on therapists. Furthermore, this action may risk worse treatment outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors and did not have a previous presentation of the research, manuscript, or abstract in any form., (2023©by the Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.)

Background/aim: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important in inflammation and carcinogenesis, and the genotypic role of MMP7 has never been examined in leukemia to date. Therefore, in this study we aimed to evaluate the contribution of the genotypic variants in the promoter region of MMP7 (A-181G and C-153T) to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) risk in Taiwan., Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 266 patients with childhood ALL and 266 non-cancer controls were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology., Results: The distribution of AA, AG and GG for MMP7 promoter A-181G genotype was 83.5, 12.0 and 4.5% in the childhood ALL group and 89.8%, 9.4 and 0.8% in the non-cancer control group, respectively (p for trend=0.0134), significantly differentially distributed between childhood ALL and control groups. The comparisons in allelic frequency distribution also support the findings that G appears to be the risky allele in childhood ALL. In genotype and gender interaction analysis, it was found that boys carrying the MMP7 A-181G GG and AG+GG genotypes had 9.05- and 2.45-fold odds ratios (ORs) (p=0.0135 and 0.0142, respectively) for childhood ALL compared to those carrying wild-type AA genotype. But these differences were not found in girls. Analysis of genotype interaction with age of onset age showed those aged less than 3.5 years at onset carrying the GG or AG+GG genotypes also had elevated ORs of 8.79- and 2.04-fold (p=0.0150 and 0.0413, respectively) for childhood ALL, but there was no such difference for those having an age at onset of 3.5 years or more., Conclusion: Our results indicate that the MMP7 A-181G genotype interacts with age and gender and may serve as an early and predictive biomarker for childhood ALL., (Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: Accumulated evidence has supported the notion that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genotypes are associated with the susceptibility of many types of cancers. However, few reports have studied the contribution of MMP genotypes to either diagnostic or prognostic potential in non-solid tumors such as leukemia. In this study, we firstly investigated the contribution of a polymorphism in the promoter region of MMP-8 (-799C/T) and two non-synonymous polymorphisms (Val436Ala and Lys460Thr) to childhood leukemia., Patients and Methods: In this study, 266 patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 266 non-cancer control patients were collected and the genomic DNA was isolated from their peripheral blood. MMP-8 -799C/T, Val436Ala and Lys460Thr polymorphic genotypes of each subject were determined by the typical polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)., Results: The results showed that the three polymorphisms were not significantly associated with an increased risk of childhood ALL in the overall investigated population. Furthermore, when the analyses were stratified by age and gender, no significant association between these genotypes and increased ALL risk was found., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the polymorphisms at MMP-8 -799C/T, Val436Ala and Lys460Thr may not play a major role in determining the personal susceptibility to childhood ALL in Taiwan., (Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The nursing literature has devoted little attention to the long-term influence of infectious diseases and the subsequent rehabilitation needs of the affected patients. This study was conducted to identify the factors associated with physical activity (PA) in older institutionalized adults with leprosy., Method: A cross-sectional research design was used., Results: Data from 248 subjects (75.28 ± 8.64 years old) were analyzed. We found that fewer subjects in PA compared to older adults in general. Amputation, fear of falling (FF), the ability to perform activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were the influencing factors of PA. Doing laundry, preparing a meal, taking medicines, and making telephone calls accounted for 23.4% of the PA variance., Conclusion: We suggest incorporating FF in the psychosocial indicators of the mobility assessment. The importance of promoting or maintaining four specific IADL abilities and participating in PA for leprosy patients living in a sanatorium is emphasized., (© 2012 Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.)

Background: Hansen's Disease incidence in Taiwan has declined to the goal set by the World Health Organization. However, this population does not receive adequate attention due to the stigma attached to the disease., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the demographic characteristics, activities of daily living, and quality of life of patients with Hansen's Disease in Taiwan., Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. A structured questionnaire that incorporated a personal data survey form, basic activity of daily living (BADL) form, instrument ability of daily activity of living (IADL) form and quality of life (QOL) survey was used to collect data. Patients with Hansen's Disease in Taiwan who lived in the institution, rural villages, and communities were invited to participate., Results: Four hundred and ninety-seven participants with an average age of 71.93 (± 12.8) years participated in this study. Institutionalized participants (76.97 ± 7.41) were older than those in the other two groups. Participants were found to have in general more than one chronic disease (2.05 ± 1.33), with more chronic diseases found amongst institutionalized subjects (2.70 ± 1.23). Activities of daily living scores were generally higher for urban community dwellers than those who were institutionalized. Relatively low BADL scores for personal hygiene, bathing, walking and climbing stairs were noted, as were poor IADL scores for cooking, shopping, washing clothes and riding public transportation. Results found that activities of daily living declined with participant age (p < .001). The QOL score was mid-range, while the mental dimension of QOL was poorer than the physical dimension. Higher QOLs were observed in participants who lived in villages, while poorer QOLs were observed in participants who lived in communities., Conclusions: The results of this study indicated activities of daily living scores declined among Hansen's Disease patients with age. In order to promote quality of life among patients with Hansen's Disease, several suggestions for health policy with regard to Hansen's Disease patients are raised in this paper, including helping maintain daily living activity functions in Hansen's Disease patients, hiring more assistants and nurses to help Hansen's Disease patients maintain daily living activities and personal hygiene, and enhancing living environment quality and medical service appropriateness.