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Purpose. This study aims to elucidate the gender gaps in the strategies for maintaining the social participation and interaction of older adults with people in a local community. Methods. The subjects were 130 older adults aged 65 years or older and independently living in their homes in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The authors conducted an anonymous questionnaire survey on paper and performed multiple regression analysis for men and women separately using the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6) as the dependent variable. Results. Among the independent variables used for the analysis, those that significantly influenced LSNS-6 in men were social activities related to the daily life satisfaction of the elderly (SARDS). The independent variables that significantly influenced LSNS-6 in women were SARDS, sense of coherence-13 (SOC-13), and the number of family members living with the subjects. Discussion. Health promotion is not associated with interaction with people in men compared with women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the effects of a learning programme for nurse managers on connecting learning with their own experiences and fostering competence. Background: In Japan, second‐level programmes for certified nurse administrators represent the main opportunity for formal training for nurse managers. However, it is difficult for nurse managers to transfer second‐level programme learning to their workplace. Methods: This quasi‐experimental study used a two‐group pretest–posttest design with purposive sampling and non‐random assignment of 29 consenting Japanese nurse managers who were participating in a second‐level programme through a prefectural nursing association. The programme provided reflection papers and feedback from a researcher, as well as reflective group sessions. The outcome measure was the Japanese First‐Line Nurse Managers Competence Inventory (JNMCI) score. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvement in JNMCI scores after participating in the programme. A significant difference in JNMCI scores was also observed between the intervention and comparison groups. Conclusion: This learning programme led to improved competency among nurse managers. Implications for Nursing Management: Nurse manager development programmes should include reflection papers and feedback, as well as reflective group sessions, to improve competency among nurse managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent paper reported that Aβ oligomer causes neuronal cell death through the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K)- Akt-mTOR signaling pathway. Intraneuronal A&beta, a main pathological finding of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is also known as inhibiting activation of Akt. This study aims to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the Akt1 gene are associated with AD. SNPs genotyped using TaqMan technology was analyzed using a case-control study design. Our case-control dataset consisted of 180 AD patients and 130 age-matched controls. Although two SNPs showed superficial positive, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) tests, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses suggested that genetic regions of the gene are highly polymorphic. We failed to detect any synergetic association among Akt1 polymorphisms, Apolipoprotein E (APO E), and AD. Further genetic studies are needed to clarify the relationship between the Akt1 and AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]