Serum albumin is the most abundant blood plasma protein and is produced in the liver and forms a large proportion of all plasma protein. Its level is known as important predictor of future mortality/morbidity, and has been widely used in criteria and indeces for evaluation of nutritional condition and disorders including malignancy, chronic liver diseases and chronic kidney disease. The bromocresol green (BCG) assay has been most common in measuring albumin, but is not entirely specific; the dye also reacts also with serum globulins and acute-phase proteins, which are elevated in systemic inflammation. Such non-specific reactions are markedly depressed in modified bromocresol purple (mBCP) binding assay which now used in a significant number of laboratories and medical facilities. The average difference between the two methods is usually 0.3 g/dL which could easily alter the interpretation of clinical and nutritional assessment indices, diagnostic criteria and indication of therapeutic intervention. In addition, serum albumin level has been used to select candidate to receive administrating financial support. Therefore, appreciation of the methodology is essentially required when the absolute value of the serum albumin matters. In addition, published studies concerning serum albumin level should mention the assay method utilized.

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Purpose and Methods: To identify the difficulties experienced by home visit nurses in dietary/ nutritional support for patients with cancer in the end-of-life stage, questionnaire surveys were conducted on home visit nurses in Prefecture A engaged in the nursing care of theses patients. Results and Discussion: Questionnaire Survey 1: Twenty-two items were identified as difficulties experienced by home visit nurses in relation to dietary/ nutritional support for patients with cancer in the end-of-life stage. Questionnaire Survey 2: The level of difficulty was evaluated for 34 items obtained from the results of Survey 1 and a literature review. The item with the highest level of difficulty was "controlling symptoms that interfere with eating," at 94.6% . The level of difficulty was found to differ depending on age, number of years of nursing experience, number of patients with cancer in the end-of-life stage cared for in a year, and whether or not the nurse had participated in workshops on dietary/ nutritional support for patients with cancer in the end-of-life stage. The results of the two surveys suggest content that should be incorporated into educational programs for home visit nurses to enhance dietary/ nutritional support for patients with cancer in the end-of-life stage under home care.

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We conducted a quantitative and descriptive study of menopausal women using an original questionnaire composed of items based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model to clarify factors associated with oral health and health behavior in menopausal women.
We found that oral health and quality of life (QOL) started to improve in women from around the late 50s instead of declining with age. Oral health and QOL were associated with oral health behavior through the association between "realization factors" and "oral health" regarding "oral heath behavior (methods)", and through the association between "realization factors" and "preparatory factors" regarding "oral health behavior (frequency)".
Encouraging oral health behavior from early menopause when women become aware of oral health problems and reduced QOL could lead to maintenance of oral health and improvement of QOL in these women. To achieve this, healthcare professionals such as dental hygienists and nurses need to be able to provide information on oral health, i.e., "preparatory factors", and awareness needs to be raised of periodontal disease screening offered by municipalities for free or at a low cost, i.e., "realization factors". Support that links oral health behavior to actual oral health is therefore needed.

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This study aimed to clarify the physiological and subjective effects of oral massage. Before and after 10-minute oral massage, physiological and subjective assessments were conducted to examine its effects, involving 12 healthy female adults. Statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease in salivary amylase activity with a marked increase in the R-R interval on ECG after massage, indicating a relaxed state. The facial skin temperature was also significantly higher after massage, with a marked rise in the volume of blood flow into the lower central incisors, supporting the effectiveness of the massage to promote circulation. On the other hand, among the scores from the POMS as a subjective assessment scale, those related to <tension-anxiety> and <fatigue> significantly decreased. Such decreases were also observed in scores related to <tense arousal> of the Mood Adjective Checklist. Based on these results, oral massage may be effective to reduce tension and fatigue, thus, having relaxing effects.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the main factors related to suspicious mild cognitive impairment in physical fitness level and MOS Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36). 126 subjects were divided into two groups based on Mini Mental State Examination-Japanese (MMSE) score (cut-off points of 26 points). All measurements regarding physical fitness except hand grip strength were higher significantly for healthy elderly (n=101 age: 73.8±5.6 yr MMSE: 29.3±1.0) than for elderly people with suspicious mild cognitive impairment (n=25 age: 76.8±6.9 yr. MMSE: 24.6±1.6). Eight scaled scores to constitute SF-36 were higher for healthy elderly than for elderly people with suspicious mild cognitive impairment, except "social functioning" and "mental health". Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that "role physical" showed significant correlations with suspicious mild cognitive impairment. According to the present data, we found that "role physical" could be useful sign as suggesting mild cognitive impairment.

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Many types of approaches may be used in surveys of species that inhabit intertidal zones (e.g. observational, qualitative, quantitative), and the degree of identification accuracy vary among methods. Thus, even when comparative studies of different surveys are conducted, their reliability often comes into question. In this study, we investigated the mudflat adjacent to the mouth of Obitsu River, which flows through Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, before emptying into Tokyo Bay. Back marsh, foreshore mudflats, and many other types of wetlands intersect here. Two different methods with a similar level of identification accuracy--a qualitative core sampling method and a qualitative civil procedure--were used to identify species in an identical area. We compared the results of the two methods, as well as examined methods for comparing two different surveys, and evaluated the need to alter the classification system and be aware of easily misidentified species. Results of community structure analysis, such as cluster analysis and non-metric MDS, were extremely consistent, suggesting that comparisons of community structures may be sufficiently effective to compare surveys of species in this type of environment.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between oxidative stress, dietary habits and quality of life (QOL) in middle-aged and elderly women. In 26 women aged 40 years or more, we investigated age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, oxidative stress level (d-ROMs test), antioxidant power (BAP test), modified ratio of oxidative stress to antioxidant power (BAP/d-ROMs/7.541; relative tolerance to oxidative stress), total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, dietary intake, blood vitamin C and E levels, and health-related QOL (as determined by the SF36).
There were no significant differences in the degree of oxidative stress between reproductive function levels. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant factor: BMI in BAP level (OR=0.55, CI=0.25-0.91) and relative tolerance to oxidative stress (OR=2.31, CI=1.03-9.55). Although there were no significant differences between BAP level and vitamin C level with differences in dietary intake, there was a positive correlation between BAP level and blood vitamin C level (r_s=0.40, P=0.046). In terms of QOL, there was a positive correlation between physical component summary score and BAP level (r_s=0.47, P=0.017), or relative tolerance to oxidative stress (r_s=0.59, P=0.001). These results suggest that, in middle-aged and elderly women, increased BMI is related to oxidative stress, and BAP levels are increased by vitamin C. As a result, physical QOL may improve.

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The purpose of the study was to clarify the characteristics of the support nurses provide to elderly cancer patients receiving palliative care.
We conducted a semi-structured interview survey for 15 nurses who were working in hospitals, etc., in the period from August to December 2012. In the survey, we specifically asked about "the situations wherein they were engaged with elderly cancer patients in terminal care stage." We converted the interview data into a verbatim record, and analyzed it in a qualitative and inductive manner in accordance with the procedure of content analysis.
As a result, regarding characteristics of the life of elderly cancer patients in terminal care stage undergoing medical treatment, we were able to extract 5 categories, such as "securing a place to live under medical treatment by being on the waiting list or in a short stay facility," etc. Among the categories extracted, we found many aspects reflecting the difficulties not only in the medical treatment care, but also in the social/economic fields pertaining to the elderly cancer patients. These findings highlight the current situations where the responsibilities to be borne by the nurses have been diversified, in the midst of development of the area of comprehensive care support system.

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The purpose of the present study is to analyze and clarify specific details of confusion and difficulties experienced by nurses immediately after being transferred from a ward to engage in visiting nursing duties. We interviewed five nurses who had worked in a hospital ward for at least 2 years and subsequently performed home-care nursing for approximately 1 year. The interview content was then analyzed. Results indicated that confusion and difficulty experienced immediately after transferring to home-care nursing could be summarized into 12 categories. These included [compromising to conform to family wishes and the family situation], [insecurity to visiting with alone], [necessity to plan for materials and medication that are available in the ward but not on-site], [lack of information regarding treatment plans and medications of the service user], [nursing care provided in ward not applying to current situation], and [the diagnostic criteria differs to that of the hospital]. These results showed that nurses skilled in hospital nursing methods, which primarily focus on treatment, tended to perceive the development of nursing care to suit the individual patient as a compromise, and in situations where nursing practices to date [do not apply], they experienced confusion and difficulty.

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The present study aimed to clarify the factors involved in the elderly being able to make independent decisions concerning changing the location in which they received nursing care and to examine the structure of the changing process by integrating findings from a review of the relevant Japanese literature. Eighteen papers were collected by combining 6 keywords, including "autonomy," "discharge," "elderly," etc., using the following databases: "The Japan Medical Abstract Society" web edition, JDream III, and CiNii. From the results obtained from the literature review, we extracted codes from the revealed factors involving the elderly who required nursing care regarding changing the location in which they received nursing care and analyzed these using a qualitative inductive method. In addition, we demonstrated a structural picture of the changing process after examining the relations among the factors. As a result, "the factor related to the directionality of the changing," "the factor related to specific support for changing." "the factor related to the consequence of changing," "the factor influencing decision-making and implementation in the changing process," and "the factor related to monitoring the changing process" were revealed. By examining the relationships between these 5 factors, we were able to form a structural picture of the process used by the elderly in need of nursing care when they made independent decisions regarding the locations where they would receive that care.

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A system to provide home-nursing care as part of the integrated community care system to cope with the expected rapid increases in the number of homecare patients in the future needs to be developed. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the details and features of NPO activities involving home-care nursing in Chiba prefecture using secondary data so that results could be used in the future as a resource for at-home nursing. Target groups were extracted from a list of recognized nonprofit organizations in Chiba and Cabinet Office NPO information. These were then classified, and processed, summarizing the activities of the eight groups performing home-care into [activity subjects], [project], and [activity purpose]. Financial status was summarized into [public finance scale], [revenue type], and [revenue]. As a result of the above, we found the following three features: 1. many NPOs manage home-nursing stations, 2. many NPOs manage various projects, and 3. revenues differ according to project details. Going forward, the specific activity details need to be surveyed and studied to encourage NPOs to provide home-care nursing and to participate as a nursing resource.

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