Decrease in food intake and mortality risks of elderly individuals indicated by the reason for decreased food intake : A retrospective cohort study

Background：Elderly individuals who gradually reach their deaths due to dementia or senility pass away from decreased food intake. The objective of the present study was to analyze frequency of specific reasons for decreased food intake and the amount of decrease noted in electronic patient records in order to elucidate mortality risks. Methods：This retrospective cohort study targeted 131 elderly people who were admitted to a nursing home for at least 6 months between 2011 and 2016 and passed away at the nursing home. We identified reasons for the decrease in food intake from their electronic patient records and statistically analyzed the correlation between the frequency of specific words and decrease in mean food intake （kcal） and the correlation between decreased food intake and mortality risk. Results：Words related to the reasons for inability to eat were identified. Words such as “difficulty opening the mouth”, “oversleeping”, “phlegm”, and “refusal” were used often and showed strong negative correlation with food intake （r>-0.930, p<.0001）. Food intake significantly continued to decrease from nine months prior to death to the time of death. An ROC analysis detected significant difference in the amount of change between nine months prior to death and the nine months before that point （<0.001）, where AUC was 0.929 and the odds ratio was 26.93.Conclusions：It was verified that an increase in mortality risk of elderly individuals, who receive long-term care and pass away from dementia or senility, was certain, when food intake continues to decrease significantly due to reasons such as individuals not being fully awake during meals, inadequate swallowing and airway clearance, and refusal of meals

Art as Activism in Japan: The Case of a Good-for-Nothing Kid and her Pussy

In this chapter I look at the various media discussions surrounding Rokudenashiko and her trial as well as activities that she engaged in to draw attention to her case. I point out how, even though the rationale behind Japan\u27s obscenity law is to restrain and rein in text or representations that are considered injurious to the public good, in Rokudenashiko\u27s case the international publicity she received has had the opposite effect and amplified both her own visibility and that of her message. However, not all recent obscenity charges in Japan have received this kind of international interest and support - and I also look at the conditions that have made Rokudenashiko such a sympathetic figure to her overseas supporters and the role that her media activisim has played in this

Urban Environmental Problems and Citizens' Awareness in Hangzhou City

This paper aims to analyze the present situation of the urban environmental problems based on citizens' awareness and intentions in Hangzhou City, China, and to examine the level of citizens' recognition of urban environmental problems and measures. As a result, it is made clear that urban environmental problems in Hangzhou City is becoming complicated and diversified. It is also found out that there exists a citizens' group that is deeply aware of the problems

Sublimation Behavior of Annular Frost Layer by Impinging Jet Flow

The present paper deals with a new method of defrosting using the frost sublimation phenomenon, which occurs below the triple point of water (273.16K, 610.5Pa). The present experimental study examines the mass transfer of the annular frost layer developed on a cooling pipe exposed to an impinging jet flow. The morphology of the frost layer during sublimation was observed using a digital video recorder. It was understood that the mass flux of the frost layer increased with increasing the jet flow velocity and the difference in the mass concentration of water vapor between the frost surface and the impinging jet flow. The non-dimensional correlation equations of mass transfer of defrosting were derived as functions of various parameters.</p

Clinical characteristics of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.comBackground and objective: Patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) are sometimes seen, and we speculate that these patients have some different clinical characteristics from COPD patients. This study clarifies the clinical characteristics of CPFE patients. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 47 stable patients with concurrent emphysema and diffuse parenchymal lung disease with fibrosis, based on the findings of chest CT (CPFE patients). The clinical characteristics of CPFE patients were compared with those of emphysema-dominant COPD patients without parenchymal lung disease (COPD patients). Results: Forty-six of the 47 CPFE patients were male. Paraseptal emphysema was particularly common in the CPFE group. Honeycombing, ground-glass opacities and reticular opacities were present in 75.6%, 62.2% and 84.4% of CPFE patients, respectively. Twenty-two of the 47 CPFE patients (46.8%) had lung cancer. Pulmonary function tests showed that the CPFE group had milder airflow limitation and lower diffusing capacity than the COPD group. Desaturation during 6-min walking test in CPFE patients tended to be more severe than in COPD patients, if the level of FEV1 or 6MWD was equal. Conclusions: CPFE patients had some different clinical characteristics in comparison with COPD patients and may also have a high prevalence of lung cancer.ArticleRESPIROLOGY. 15(2):265-271 (2010)journal articl