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Dementia is a disease that is frequently associated with significant caregiving burden. The present study was conducted on patients with dementia in order to investigate the causes of caregiver burden using the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System-21 items (DASC-21) and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI).The study subjects consisted of 206 elderly patients (mean age: 80.9 ± 5.9 years) with dementia in an outpatient clinic. Current age, gender, type of dementia, Mini-Mental State Examination, Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the DASC-21 were investigated. Caregiver burden was assessed by using the ZBI. Behavioural and Psychological Symptom of Dementia (BPSD) were evaluated by using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Simple regression analysis for the ZBI was performed with respective risk factors as independent variables. Thereafter, multiple regression analysis was performed.The mean ZBI score was 28.0 ± 18.1, whereas mean DASC-21 score was 44.4 ± 13.2. Simple regression analysis for the ZBI was performed with respective risk factors as independent variables. The DASC-21 (P 0.001), CDR (P 0.001), NPI (P 0.001), and GDS (P = 0.034) were significantly associated with the ZBI. For each item of the DASC-21, Memory (P 0.001), Orientation (P 0.001), Solving issues/Common sense (P 0.001), Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) outside the home (P 0.001), IADL inside the home (P 0.001), Physical ADL① (P 0.001) and Physical ADL② (P = 0.014) were also significantly associated with the ZBI. To find the independent association of the ZBI, multiple regression analysis was performed. The results showed that DASC-21 (P 0.001) and NPI (P 0.001) had significant correlation. For each item of the DASC-21, Memory (P = 0.014) and Solving issues/Common sense (P 0.001) were also shown to have significant correlation.Both BPSD, cognition and IADL have affected caregiver burden. The DASC-21 is useful for determining the causes of caregiver burden of dementia patients.

This study investigated the indoor environment of urban and rural elderly residential dwellings in Dalian and Beijing during the heating period in 2017–2018. Each dwelling was assessed for temperature, relative humidity, air pollution and biological pollution, as well as blood pressure parameters related to the health of the elderly. The results showed that the temperature in urban dwellings was higher and more stable than that in rural dwellings, due to the difference in heating devices. Indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in some dwellings exceeded the limit. Indoor formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC) were lower than the limit values, while urban dwellings had more formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) pollution than rural dwellings. For rural houses, indoor fuel combustion resulted in higher concentrations of particulate matter below 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and higher concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO). The biological pollution in rural areas was generally higher than in urban areas. The blood pressure of the elderly in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas, and blood pressure was found to be negatively correlated with room temperature and positively correlated with relative humidity. These results can provide an indicator for the improvement of housing environmental quality for older people in China.

A targeted sequencing technique was applied to detect cases of suspected congenital thrombocytopenia as a case series study. Six of 18 patients tested had positive results from the existing catalogue, while a definitive diagnosis was not determined for the remaining 12. Two neonates revealed defects in PTPN11, indicating Noonan syndrome.

Background: Dementia cafés have been attracting attention as a new approach to dementia care, but the effects of the participation of medical professionals remain unclear. Objective: To clarify the significance of collaboration between medical professionals and dementia cafés. Methods: Questionnaires regarding the numbers of staff and guests, whether medical professionals introduced guests, whether cafés announced their activities to medical institutions, and whether people with dementia played a role were sent to dementia cafés throughout Japan. The responding dementia cafés were then divided into two groups according to the presence or involvement of medical professionals and institutions and compared. Results: Responses were received from 148 dementia cafés, among which, medical professionals participated in 96 (64.9%). Significantly more people with dementia living at home attended cafés run or staffed with medical professionals (p = 0.021 and p = 0.017, respectively), as well as when medical professionals introduced guests to the café or when the café announced their activities to medical institutions (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Significantly more people with dementia played a role in cafés where medical professionals were administrators or staff (p = 0.008 and p = 0.018, respectively). Similar effects were observed for family caregivers. Conclusion: The participation and involvement of medical professionals and institutions in dementia cafés increased the attendance of people with dementia, especially those living at home. These results suggest that dementia cafés are an effective hub for connecting care for dementia with medical care, and thus help avoid fragmentation in dementia care.

This study aims to clarify the dynamics of information provision and human interaction to satisfy the needs of family caregivers. A questionnaire survey consisting of items on information received at and after diagnosis, persons and resources consulted, needs, and caregiver-oriented outcomes was conducted. Among the respondents, 2295 individuals who were caring for people with dementia were divided into quartiles by the time after diagnosis, and differences were statistically analyzed. The time after diagnosis in the first to fourth quartiles was 0.73 ± 0.4, 2.52 ± 0.49, 4.89 ± 0.73, and 10.82 ± 3.7 years, respectively. The number of persons consulted by family caregivers increased significantly from the first to the fourth quartiles (p < 0.001). During this time, attributes of professionals and informal supporters changed depending on the quartile. As time progressed, acceptance of the diagnosis increased, but so did its impact on the lives of family caregivers. These findings revealed differences over time in what family caregivers wanted and the dynamics of interactions that filled their needs. Informal supporters accounted for a significant proportion of the total resources. However, many family caregivers thought the information and support were insufficient. Thus, continuous reform of the care pathway is needed.

We have previously shown that a fatty acid-binding protein7 (FABP7) inhibitor ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice, suggesting an association between FABPs and ischemic neuronal injury. However, the precise role of FABPs in ischemic neuronal injury remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of FABPs in ischemia-reperfusion neuronal injury. FABP3, FABP5, and FABP7 were upregulated in the ischemic penumbra regions in mice. However, only FABP3 and FABP5 were expressed in injured neurons. Furthermore, FABP3 and FABP5 accumulated in the mitochondria of ischemic neurons. Overexpressing either FABP3 or FABP5 aggravated the reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and induced cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells during oxidative stress. This damage was mediated by the formation of BAX-containing pores in the mitochondrial membrane. Moreover, FABP5 mediates lipid peroxidation and generates toxic by-products (i.e., 4-HNE) in SH-SY5Y cells. HY11-08 (HY08), a novel FABP3 and 5 inhibitor that does not act on FABP7, significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume and blocked FABP3/5-induced mitochondrial damage, including lipid peroxidation and BAX-related apoptotic signaling. Thus, FABP3 and FABP5 are key players in triggering mitochondrial damage in ischemic neurons. In addition, the novel FABP inhibitor, HY08, may be a potential neuroprotective treatment for ischemic stroke.

Home blood pressure (HBP) variability is an important factor for cardiovascular events. While several studies have examined the effects of individual attributes and lifestyle factors on reducing HBP variability, the effects of living environment remain unknown. We hypothesized that a stable home thermal environment contributes to reducing HBP variability. We conducted an epidemiological survey on HBP and indoor temperature in 3785 participants (2162 households) planning to have their houses retrofitted with insulation. HBP was measured twice in the morning and evening for 2 weeks in winter. Indoor temperature was recorded with each HBP observation. We calculated the morning-evening (ME) difference as an index of diurnal variability and the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), average real variability (ARV) and variability independent of the mean (VIM) as indices of day-by-day variability. The association between BP variability and temperature instability was analyzed using multiple linear regression models. The mean ME difference in indoor/outdoor temperature (a decrease in temperature overnight) was 3.2/1.5 °C, and the mean SD of indoor/outdoor temperature was 1.6/2.5 °C. Linear regression analyses showed that the ME difference in indoor temperature was closely correlated with the ME difference in systolic BP (0.85 mmHg/°C, p p

Current countermeasures for preventing hypertension emphasize only improvements to lifestyle. Recently, improving life environment has attracted attention, in parallel with publication of the WHO Housing and health guidelines. We quantitatively evaluated the relationship between housing thermal environment and blood pressure (BP) in a real-world setting. We conducted a nationwide, prospective intervention study-the Smart Wellness Housing survey-in Japan, as a non-randomized controlled trial. The intervention was the retrofitting of thermal insulation in houses. Participant recruitment was done by construction companies in all 47 prefectures of Japan. Measurements of home BP and indoor temperature at 1.0 m above the floor in the living room, changing room, and bedroom were taken for 2 weeks before and after the intervention each winter (November-March) of FY 2014-2019. As of July 2022, over 2500 households and 5000 participants were registered in the database. We found that (1) about 90% of Japanese lived in cold homes (minimum indoor temperature18 °C), (2) indoor temperature was non-linearly associated with home BP, (3) morning systolic BP (SBP) was more sensitive than evening SBP to changes in indoor temperature, (4) SBP was influenced by indoor temperature change particularly in older participants and women, (5) unstable indoor temperature was associated with large BP variability, and (6) insulation retrofitting intervention significantly reduced home BP, especially in hypertensive patients. We proposed that the BP reduction effect of the life-environment is comparable to that achievable by lifestyle.

Aim This study aimed to assess whether CogEvo, a computerized cognitive assessment and training tool, could distinguish patients with mild Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment from cognitively normal older people. Methods This cross‐sectional study enrolled 166 participants with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment and cognitively normal older people. In CogEvo, five types of cognitive tasks were carried out, and the z‐scores were used as a composite score. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics analyses were then carried out to evaluate the usefulness of CogEvo in distinguishing between the three groups. Results CogEvo and Mini‐Mental State Examination scores showed excellent correlation, and could significantly differentiate between the Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment and cognitively normal older people groups (Mini‐Mental State Examination 20.4 ± 3.5, 25.5 ± 1.6 and 27.6 ± 2.0, respectively; CogEvo: −1.9 ± 0.9, −0.8 ± 0.8 and 0.0 ± 1.0, respectively; both P

An 84‐year‐old man was admitted to our hospital. His blood glucose level was 20 mg/dL. Since laboratory tests showed high titers of insulin antibodies, insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) was diagnosed. In order to avoid hypoglycemia, steroids can be effective in the long‐term management of IAS in elderly patients., Prednisolone can be effectively used in long‐term management of hypoglycemia in elderly patients with Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome. Scatchard analysis for insulin autoantibodies revealed that an affinity constant and binding capacity of the autoantibodies were also improved.

A patient with underlying Hashimoto's thyroiditis developed amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis type 1 that was successfully treated using methimazole in combination with potassium iodide. A 35-year-old woman admitted for perinatal care of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome was given amiodarone for 7 days for paroxysmal ventricular contraction following pulseless ventricular tachycardia 1 day after delivery. She developed thyrotoxicosis one month after the discontinuation of amiodarone therapy and was negative for thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody. An increased peak velocity of the superior thyroid artery suggested amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis type 1. Her thyroid function recovered after combination therapy with methimazole and potassium iodide.

Mortality due to cardiovascular disease rises sharply in winter. Known as excess winter mortality, this phenomenon is partially explained by cold exposure-induced high blood pressure. Home blood pressure, especially in the morning, is closely associated with cardiovascular disease risk. We conducted the first large nationwide survey on home blood pressure and indoor temperature in 3775 participants (2095 households) who intended to conduct insulation retrofitting and were recruited by construction companies. Home blood pressure was measured twice in the morning and evening for 2 weeks. The relationship between home blood pressure and indoor temperature in winter was analyzed using a multilevel model with 3 levels: repeatedly measured day-level variables (eg, indoor ambient temperature and quality of sleep), nested within individual-level (eg, age and sex), and nested within household level. Cross-sectional analyses involving about 2900 participants (1840 households) showed that systolic blood pressure in the morning had significantly higher sensitivity to changes in indoor temperature (8.2 mm Hg increase/10°C decrease) than that in the evening (6.5 mm Hg increase/10°C decrease) in participants aged 57 years (mean age in this survey). We also found a nonlinear relationship between morning systolic blood pressure and indoor temperature, suggesting that the effect of indoor temperature on blood pressure varied depending on room temperature range. Interaction terms between age/women and indoor temperature were significant, indicating that systolic blood pressure in older residents and women was vulnerable to indoor temperature change. We expect that these results will be useful in determining optimum home temperature recommendations for men and women of each age group. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm . Unique identifier: UMIN000030601.

Background Excess winter mortality caused by cardiovascular disease is particularly profound in cold houses. Consistent with this, accumulating evidence indicates that low indoor temperatures at home increase blood pressure. However, it remains unclear whether low indoor temperatures affect other cardiovascular biomarkers. In its latest list of priority medical devices for management of cardiovascular diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) included electrocardiography systems as capital medical devices. We therefore examined the association between indoor temperature and electrocardiogram findings. Methods We collected electrocardiogram data from 1480 participants during health checkups. We also measured the indoor temperature in the living room and bedroom for 2 weeks in winter, and divided participants into those living in warm houses (average exposure temperature ≥ 18 °C), slightly cold houses (12–18 °C), and cold houses ( Results The average temperature at home was 14.7 °C, and 238, 924, and 318 participants lived in warm, slightly cold, and cold houses, respectively. Electrocardiogram abnormalities were observed in 17.6%, 25.4%, and 30.2% of participants living in warm, slightly cold, and cold houses, respectively (p = 0.003, chi-squared test). Compared to participants living in warm houses, the odds ratio of having electrocardiogram abnormalities was 1.79 (95% confidence interval: 1.14–2.81, p = 0.011) for those living in slightly cold houses and 2.18 (95% confidence interval: 1.27–3.75, p = 0.005) for those living in cold houses. Conclusions In addition to blood pressure, living in cold houses may have adverse effects on electrocardiogram. Conversely, keeping the indoor thermal environment within an appropriate range through a combination of living in highly thermal insulated houses and appropriate use of heating devices may contribute to good cardiovascular health. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered on 27 Dec 2017 to the University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR, https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/, registration identifier number UMIN000030601).

Introduction:Insulin is synthesized in the β-cells from preproinsulin. Preproinsulin becomes proinsulin after leaving the signal peptide. Proinsulin is separated into C-peptide and insulin by 2 enzymes. Hyperproinsulinemia is suspected to be a pancreatic β-cell defect that is augmented by the increased demand placed on the β-cell by hyperglycemia.Case presentation:A 39-year-old Japanese man visited to Shin-suma hospital in May 2013. Liver dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia had been found in medical checkups in his workplace. Therefore, he visited Shin-suma hospital in order to receive intensive examination. Diet and exercise therapy were initiated. In November 2013, intact proinsulin and proinsulin per insulin (PI/I) ratio were evaluated as part of an ongoing study. His intact proinsulin level and PI/I ratio were markedly elevated. A 75 g oral OGTT revealed that his glucose tolerance was impaired. His glycosylated hemoglobin was 6.9%. He was diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although, diet and exercise therapy continued, his hyperproinslinemia and diabetes mellitus remained. Therefore, aloguliptin was started in order to recover insulin secretion in November 2014. Thereafter, pioglitazone was added to improve insulin resistance. Finally, luseogliflozin was commenced to expect glucose-lowering effects. His HbA1c was stabilized. To the best of our knowledge, there have been few reports of patients with hyperproinsulinemia.Conclusion:When the physicians face treatment resistance in diabetes mellitus, we emphasize that evaluation of proinsulin should be considered as one of the methods.

Variant hemoglobin is often detected during the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus. We here describe a case of α2-chain variant hemoglobin (Hb Chad) that was identified as a result of differences in HbA1cs values determined by different assays. HbA1c measured by immunoassay was thus falsely high, whereas that measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was slightly low. Sequencing analysis revealed a heterozygous GAG (glutamic acid) → AAG (lysine) mutation at amino acid position 23 of the α2-globin gene. This residue is located at the surface of the α-chain in the crystal structure of hemoglobin. The high HbA1c value determined by immunoassay might have been the result of increased antigenicity of the variant hemoglobin, whereas the low value measured by HPLC reflected differential fractionation of the variant relative to the wild-type protein. Hb Chad has been reported in only three cases to date, and HbA1c was measured for the first time. This is the first case where falsely high HbA1c measured by immunoassay due to increased antigenicity in α-chain variant hemoglobin. This case highlights the importance of comparison with other parameters related to plasma glucose such as glycated albumin if an HbA1c abnormality is suspected. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-021-00529-y.

A field investigation on indoor environmental conditions was performed in homes with primary school children in Changsha, a city located in central-south China. The main purpose is to obtain more reliable and comprehensive data relating to the health of children. The results showed that the average temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration in October were 20.4°C, 56.7% and 398 ppm, while in January were 10.5°C, 55% and 475 ppm, respectively. The monitored PM2.5 concentrations were greater than the Chinese national standard GB 3095–2012 (75 μg/m3), with a significant difference found between October and January ( p < 0.05). Carbonyl compounds were much lower than the corresponding specified limits. However, total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in some homes in January exceeded the Chinese standard GB/T 18883–2002 (600 μg/m3). The most common constituents of semi-volatile organic compounds in house dusts were di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and dibutyl phthalate. Furthermore, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Aspergillus were all found in indoor air and house dusts. Children’s daily intake of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and TVOC were primary from their bedrooms rather than living rooms ( p < 0.05). These results would contribute to the public awareness of indoor environmental conditions and possible impacts on school-age children in their homes.

In this study, field measurements on the indoor living environments of elderly people were conducted to assess residential forms, heating methods, physical parameters, and thermal sensations in five urban and ten rural houses in Heilongjiang Province, China, in January 2017. The results indicated that urban houses used regional centralized heating systems in all the functional rooms, whereas rural houses used decentralized heating systems in only bedrooms and kitchens. Rural houses were less airtight than urban houses. Urban houses had continuous centralized heating and, thus, were warmer with steadier indoor temperatures than rural houses with decentralized heating. Additionally, the elderly in rural areas frequently encountered large temperature differences (weekly average = 28.9 °C) between the indoors and outdoors, due to the outdoor toilet location. The daily amplitude of indoor temperature variations experienced by rural elderly was 8.0 °C, which was 2.2 °C higher than experienced by urban elderly. Moreover, most rural elderly did not express discomfort for indoor thermal environments despite living in colder rooms, since they wore thicker clothing and had lower comfort expectations. In addition, the rural elderly indicated strong adaptability to lower temperatures as suggested by their predicted mean vote, which was significantly lower than the thermal sensation vote.

Aims/Introduction Hyperglycemia impairs energy substrate oxidation as a result of glucotoxicity. We examined whether the reduction of plasma glucose using a sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, in inpatient diabetes management, has any effect on: (i) treatment period and basal–bolus dosage of insulin that achieve euglycemia; (ii) fasting/postprandial energy expenditure (EE); and (iii) energy substrate oxidation. Materials and Methods This was a randomized, open‐label, 7‐day prospective study. Participants were type 2 diabetes patients with hyperglycemia, aged >20 years, with glycated hemoglobin >10%, daily mean preprandial blood glucose >11 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) and no previous antidiabetic medication. A total of 18 type 2 diabetes patients were randomized (1:1) to basal–bolus insulin titration algorithm (INS) alone or INS + dapagliflozin 5 mg/day (INS/DAPA). The main outcome measures were total daily insulin dose to achieve euglycemia, as well as EE and respiratory quotient during fasting and postprandial states, measured by indirect calorimetry. Results The rate of euglycemia was higher in the INS/DAPA compared with INS group (100 vs 55.6%, P = 0.04), whereas the total daily dose of insulin was 19% lower and was accompanied by a decreased basal–bolus ratio (P = 0.02). Fasting and postprandial EE elevation were similar in both groups. The post‐treatment fasting respiratory quotient significantly increased in the INS/DAPA group (0.72 ± 0.05 vs 0.79 ± 0.08, P = 0.04), and the postprandial respiratory quotient elevation was abolished; the opposite trend was observed in the INS group (P

While some studies show improved outcomes in clinical trial participants as compared to non-participants, existence of such a trial effect has not been proved precisely. This was a prospective cohort study to compare the prognoses for participants in the randomized controlled trial (SELECT BC) and non-participants. SELECT BC compared S-1 and taxane as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Non-participants were all patients who met the eligibility criteria of SELECT BC and who had been requested to participate in that trial by attending doctors and declined. The study aimed to compare the prognoses between participants and non-participants. The primary endpoint was median overall survival. The median OS in participants was significantly superior to that in non-participants with a statistically significant difference (36.8 months vs. 25.2 months. HR 1.48, p = 0.022). A similar result was obtained when only patients who received the same chemotherapy (S-1 or taxane) used in SELECT BC after declining participation were assumed as non-participants (36.8 months vs. 22.0 months. HR 2.03, p = 0.006). This study may suggest the existence of a trial effect, in which, for a given treatment, participation in a clinical trial is associated with a better outcome.

People spend nearly 90% of their time daily in various indoors, hence indoor environment is important for mortal survival and activity, which affected human health directly. Indoor particulate pollution has become an issue of increasing concern for human beings. Personnel walking behavior and ventilation mode will significantly affect the transfer characteristics of indoor particles. This paper analyzes the effect of walking process on indoor particle resuspension, and different ventilation modes (ceiling exhaust and slit exhaust) on the removal of indoor particulate concentration in experimental and theoretical models. The results show that the particle diffusion model under walking is in good agreement with the experimental results. The particles with different sizes have different diffusion characteristics during walking due to the surface deposition and resuspension rate. Particles of 1.0–3.0 μm have the fastest velocity and the largest amount in suspension, while the smallest for 0.5–1.0 μm particles. Different ventilation modes have different effects on the removal of indoor particles. The particles attenuation index is higher under slit exhaust mode, therefore the ventilation effect is higher than ceiling ventilation mode.

In 2013, field measurements of indoor environments in children’s (from 8 to 12 years old) dwellings were performed in 20 households in Dalian and Beijing to investigate the association between indo...

The lack of empirical data demonstrating the relationship between influencing factors and building energy performance is one of the primary barriers in energy efficiency management. A citywide residential energy information database and the data-based analytical methodology help increase the knowledge about the local real estate situation, explore energy efficiency opportunities and measures, financial investment, and market trend in the local building stocks, and make the reasonable policies as well. Few databases were established in USA and Europe only covering the building information and energy use, while there are lack of an indices system and database of building energy efficiency information in China. Therefore, in this study, a definition of urban residential energy information system is suggested, covering the parameters of building characteristics, household characteristics, possession and operation of domestic appliances, indoor thermal environment, climate condition, energy market, economic level, municipal infrastructure, and energy use consequence. Consequently, a database is developed to collect the raw data in seven typical cities in China. A classification model is established by Quantitative Theory III to classify and characterize the urban residential energy use systems into three different city groups, and suggestions are made to guide the energy efficiency work for different city groups. The case study is a good example to demonstrate the methodology and the analysis provided a helpful reference for the citywide building energy efficiency management.

Identifying the impacts of occupants on building energy consumption has become an important issue in recent years. This is due to the interrelationship of influencing factors such as urban climate, building characteristics, occupant behavior, and building services and operation, which makes it challenging to identify the role of occupants in energy consumption. The research problem in this study lies in the fact that the occupants of a building may not be cautious regarding energy savings, and there exists no ground to assess their energy consumption behavior. One solution is the development of a systematic comparison procedure between similar buildings. This paper introduces a new procedure for comparison between occupants of several buildings to show the rank of each building among others and suggest occupants on reducing their energy consumption and improving their rank. The proposed framework is developed based on multiple data-mining methods, including clustering, association rules mining, and neural networks. The proposed methodology is composed of two levels. The first considers the amount of energy usage by occupants after filtering effects unrelated to the occupant behavior. The second ranks the buildings in terms of achieved and potential savings during the time under investigation. To demonstrate the application, the methodology was applied on a set of monitored residential buildings in Japan. Results suggest that the proposed method enhances the evaluation of buildings’ energy-saving potential by revealing the occupants’ contribution. It also provides diverse and prioritized strategies to help occupants manage their energy consumption by revealing the building energy end-use patterns.