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Background Several studies have examined the association between physical performance and fracture in women, but few such studies have targeted elderly men. This study aimed to determine whether the combined results of several physical performance tests can predict the subsequent incidence of fractures in elderly men after adjusting for confounding factors. Methods Of the 2174 elderly men who participated in this study, 2012 completed the baseline study visit, including physical performance tests (walking speed, hand grip strength, and one-leg standing) and measurement of bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Follow-up study visits were conducted five and ten years later, during which incident fractures were identified by detailed interviews. We excluded 140 men with diseases or who took medications known to affect bone metabolism at baseline, 185 with missing values for predictors and potential confounding factors, and one who did not participate in any of the follow-up study visits. The remaining 1686 men were analyzed. Each physical performance test was analyzed by quartiles. Poor performance was defined as belonging to the worst quartile of performance. The association between physical performance and fracture was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. Results We identified 175 clinical fractures (osteoporotic fracture: 77, major osteoporotic fracture: 48) in 1686 men during a mean follow-up period of 8.4 years. After adjusting for potential confounding factors including bone mineral density, men who performed poorly on all three physical performance tests had a 3.7-fold higher risk of osteoporotic fracture and a 6.6-fold higher risk of major osteoporotic fracture than men who did not perform poorly on any of the tests. Conclusions Japanese elderly men who performed poorly on all three physical performance tests had a significantly higher risk of incident osteoporotic fracture independently of bone mineral density. The combined results of several physical performance tests may be useful for predicting incident fractures in elderly men.

Introduction Cross-sectional studies have shown that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have low circulating levels of osteocalcin (OC) and undercarboxylated OC (ucOC). This longitudinal study aimed to examine whether low OC or ucOC levels at baseline are associated with the risk of incident T2DM. Methods We examined 1700 community-dwelling Japanese men (≥65 years) after excluding those with history of diseases (other than T2DM) or medications that affect bone and glucose metabolism. T2DM was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dl or glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5%. Participants without prevalent T2DM at baseline were invited to follow-up surveys 5 and 10 years after baseline. Results Among the participants, 309 with prevalent T2DM showed significantly lower serum OC and ucOC levels at baseline than those without. After excluding these participants, 46 and 57 participants with incident T2DM were identified in the first and second follow-up surveys, respectively. These participants did not show significantly different OC and ucOC levels at baseline relative to those without T2DM, although their FPG and HbA1c levels at baseline were significantly higher compared to those without incident T2DM. Increase in glycemic indices preceded decrease in OC and ucOC levels. OC and ucOC levels at baseline were not significantly associated with the risk of incident T2DM identified in the follow-up surveys. Conclusions OC and ucOC levels at baseline were not significantly associated with the risk of incident T2DM. Our results do not support the findings of animal studies that ucOC is a hormone regulating glucose metabolism.

This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of Japanese versions of the KIDSCREEN-27 (J-KIDSCREEN-27) and KIDSCREEN-10 (J-KIDSCREEN-10) questionnaires, which are shorter versions of the KIDSCREEN-52 (J-KIDSCREEN-52). The present analyses are based on a pre-existing dataset of the J-KIDSCREEN-52 validation study, including 1564 children and adolescents aged 8–18 years and their 1326 parents. All were asked to complete the J-KIDSCREEN and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) questionnaires. Test–retest reliability was assessed with Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) in a one-way random effects model, and internal consistency reliability was measured using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Agreement between child and parent scores was evaluated using ICCs in a two-way mixed effects model. To assess concurrent validity, a sub-sample of 535 parents evaluated their child’s mental health status using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). For children, test–retest ICCs were ≥0.60 and Cronbach’s alpha ≥0.70 for every dimension of both instruments. Correlations of corresponding dimensions between the J-KIDSCREEN-27 or -10 and the PedsQL were acceptable. For parents, test–retest ICCs were ≥0.60, Cronbach’s alpha ≥0.70, and ICCs between child and parent scores ≥0.41 in every dimension of both instruments. In multivariate logistic regression models, after adjusting for confounders, lower health-related QOL in every dimension of both instruments, except Physical Well-being, was significantly associated with higher odds ratios for borderline and clinical ranges of the SDQ. The child/adolescent and parent/proxy versions of the J-KIDSCREEN-27 and J-KIDSCREEN-10 demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability and validity.

The present study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of KIDSCREEN-52 (J-KIDSCREEN-52), a generic questionnaire used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among children/adolescents and parents/proxies. We conducted a school-based study, in which 1564 children and adolescents aged 8–18 years and their 1326 parents participated from five schools. They were asked to complete two questionnaires (the J-KIDSCREEN-52 and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)), and the Oslo 3-Item Social Support (OSS-3) scale. Internal consistency reliability was measured using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Test–retest reliability was assessed by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) in the one-way random effects model in sub-samples taken approximately three to four weeks apart. Agreement between the ratings of the child and parent was evaluated using the ICC in the two-way mixed effects model among 681 pairs. For the overall sample, Cronbach’s alpha values of 10 dimensions were ≥0.70, except for one dimension. Test–retest ICCs were ≥0.60 for nearly all dimensions. Correlation coefficients between the J-KIDSCREEN-52 and the PedsQL dimensions indicated a reasonable convergent validity. Parent ratings corresponded well with child ratings (ICC = 0.38–0.62). Statistically significant differences in mean T scores were dependent on gender for seven dimensions, age group for all dimensions, and health status for two dimensions. The J-KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaires child/adolescent and parent/proxy versions demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability and validity.

OBJECTIVES To investigate factors associated with activities of daily living in independently living elderly persons in a community. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The potential subjects were 4,472 individuals aged 65 years and older who voluntarily participated in a large cohort study, the Fujiwara-kyo study. We used self-administered questionnaires consisting of an activities of daily living (ADL) questionnaire with the Physical Fitness Test established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (12 ADL items) to determine the index of higher-level physical independence, demographics, Geriatric Depression Scale, and so on. Mini-mental state examination, measurement of physical fitness, and blood tests were also carried out. A lower ADL level was defined as having a total score of the 12 ADL items (range, 12-36 points) that was below the first quartile of a total score for all the subjects. Factors associated with a low ADL level were examined by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 4,198 remained as subjects for analysis. The male, female and 5-year-old groups showed significant differences in the median score of 12 ADL items between any two groups. The highest odds ratio among factors associated with lower ADL level by multiple logistic regression with mutually adjusted independent variables was 4.49 (95%CI: 2.82-7.17) in the groups of "very sharp pain" or "strong pain" during the last month. Low physical ability, self-awareness of limb weakness, a BMI of over 25, low physical activity, cerebrovascular disorder, depression, low cognitive function, unable "to see normally", unable "to hear someone", "muscle, bone and joint pain" were independently associated with lower ADL level. CONCLUSION Multiple factors are associated with lower ADL level assessed on the basis of the 12 ADL items.