Infection risk in hemodialysis patient

Chronic care patients undergoing hemodialysis for treatment of end-stage renal failure experience higher rates of bloodstream-associated infection due to the patients' compromised immune system and management of the bloodstream through catheters. Staphylococcus species are a common cause of hemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infections. We investigated environmental bacterial contamination of dialysis wards and contamination of hemodialysis devices to determine the source of bacteria for these infections. All bacterial samples were collected by the swab method and the agarose stamp method. And which bacterium were identified by BBL CRYSTAL Kit or 16s rRNA sequences. In our data, bacterial cell number of hemodialysis device was lower than environment of patient surrounds. But Staphylococcus spp. were found predominantly on the hemodialysis device (46.8%), especially on areas frequently touched by healthcare-workers (such as Touch screen). Among Staphylococcus spp., Staphylococcus epidermidis was most frequently observed (42.1% of Staphylococcus spp.), and more surprising, 48.2% of the Staphylococcus spp. indicated high resistance for methicillin. Our finding suggests that hemodialysis device highly contaminated with bloodstream infection associated bacteria. This study can be used as a source to assess the risk of contamination-related infection and to develop the cleaning system for the better prevention for bloodstream infections in patients with hemodialysis

Overview on the Relationship between Physical Activity and Mental Health

This review article was firstly focused on the relationship between mental health and physical activity, and secondarily summarized the evidences from epidemiological studies to elucidate the above-mentioned relationship for older in the community. Flnally, we would like to introduce the outline for our original epidemiological study for elderly in the Tsuyazaki. Fukuoka prefecture, Japan (Tsuyazaki Study). In the cross-sectional studies, it has been reported a significant negative association between mental health status such as depression or anxiety and level of physical activity in several populations. In addition, a few studies were reported in prospective epidemiological and short-term intervention studies on the relationship between mental health and physical activity or exercise. According to prospective epidemiological study, the physical activity or endurance fitness was significant independent predictor (risk factor) for the morbidity and all- caused mortality in the American and European country as well as Japan. These results may suggested that increased levels of physical activity and endurance fitness are recommended to prevent the development of lifestyle-related diseases. However, it is tended to have a deterioraiton of the mental health in peoples who have lower levels of physical activity and endurance fitness. If this is a case, this phenomenon suggested that we have to check carefully the mental health status before participation into the exercise program. In prospective epidemiological study, the conflicting results were shown in a few reports on the relationship between mental health and physical activity in the elderly person who lived in community. This result suggested that further studies were needed to elucidate on both relationship

Impressive evaluation of “Nigittegoran” the enhancing tool of handgrip strength

本調査の目的は，玄米にぎにぎ体操に用いられるにぎにぎ棒(ダンベル)を低体力者でも力を入れて握りやすく，安全に使いやすくすることを目的として開発された「にぎってごらん」について，開発意図を反映した用具になっているかどうかに関して印象評価を実施し，オリジナルの形状に対する印象評価の結果と比較検討することである。対象者は，糸島市の事業で健康教室に参加している65歳以上の高齢者50名であった。対象者には，実際の評価用具および通常用具に添付して販売される用具使用上の説明書を配布し，実際に見たり握ったりしてもらいながら，各評価項目に対して対象者が抱いたイメージについて回答してもらった。にぎってごらんはオリジナルに比べて，力の入れやすさや握りやすさに加えて，安全性，携帯性の評価が高く，開発意図通りの評価が得られた。また，オリジナルの使用経験や運動習慣に関係なく「にぎってごらん」は高評価であった。ただし，今回の対象は健康教室に参加していた高齢者であり，今後は，自立・虚弱高齢者を対象者とした検討に加え，用具の効果検証が必要である

地域在住高齢者のQOL : 太宰府研究

We conducted a comprehensive survey from 2009 to 2010, to develop a prevention of care state in the community-dwelling elderly subjects aged 65 or older: Dazaifu Study. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to clarify the characteristics of study participants and the quality of life using WHO/QOL-26 items. Data was collected from 901 independent elderly people (426 males and 475 females, mean age was 72.9 yr) living in Dazaifu city. A questionnaire included the demographic and socioeconomic factor, life-style, chronic diseases, physical function, social relations, social support, mental health, and sense of coherence (SOC). In addition, physical fitness test, cognitive function and physical activities using accelerometer were measured. The mean QOL score was 3.52 and no difference showed in age, sex, marital status, living alone, cognitive function. Meanwhile, in the other factors, QOL scores were significant higher in the favorable group. This cross-sectional study showed the QOL score in community-dwelling elderly. Longitudinal studies need to clarify the factors that maintain and improve QOL