Publications by authors named "Jiro Nakano"
Background: To our knowledge, the current status of and barriers to cancer rehabilitation in palliative care units (PCUs) in Japan remain to be elucidated. If clarified, this information could help develop rehabilitation strategies to improve the quality of life of patients with cancer who need palliative care. Hence, this study aimed to clarify the current status of and barriers to cancer rehabilitation in PCUs in Japan by conducting a nationwide questionnaire survey.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We aimed to examine associations between various sarcopenia indices-including skeletal muscle index (SMI), handgrip strength, lower-extremity muscle strength, a combined measure of handgrip and lower-extremity muscle strength, sarcopenia (defined as a combination of SMI and muscle strength), and the SARC-F questionnaire-and all-cause mortality in patients with advanced or recurrent lung cancer. Moreover, we aimed to identify factors influencing sarcopenia indices that demonstrate strong correlations with prognosis, aiming to inform the development of targeted interventional strategies.
Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled outpatients with lung cancer who underwent chemotherapy.
This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of pretreatment quality of life (QoL) on overall survival (OS) in patients with hematological malignancies. The observational studies with relationship between QoL and OS in patients undergoing either hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or chemotherapy were collected. Stratification by treatment was performed to examine the association between QoL and OS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pre-cancer onset of cachexia raises uncertainties regarding the optimal timing for early intervention in lung cancer patients. We aimed to examine changes in physical function, nutritional status, and cachexia incidence in patients with lung cancer from the initial visit to treatment initiation and determine the effect of these changes on lung cancer treatment.
Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled patients suspected of having advanced lung cancer who visited Kansai Medical University Hospital between January and February 2023 and were definitely diagnosed with the disease.
Background: Cachexia is a poor prognostic factor in many advanced cancers. Cachexia diagnostic criteria of the European Palliative Care Research Collaboration (EPCRC) may underestimate cachexia in Asians; therefore, new criteria have been proposed by the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC). We compared both criteria to determine differences in diagnostic rates and their association with lung cancer prognosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as measured with the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) or Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12) and mortality risk in patients with diverse types of cancer.
Methods: A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases to collect articles published before December 2022. Of these, observational studies that examined the association between HRQOL and mortality risk in patients with various cancer types were extracted.
Tongue pressure, respiratory muscle and limb strength and functional exercise capacity in oesophageal cancer.
BMJ Support Palliat Care
November 2024
Article Synopsis
- This study examines how various muscle strengths and tongue pressure relate to exercise capacity in patients with oesophageal cancer, aiming to improve preoperative management through targeted prehabilitation strategies.
- Data from 29 patients showed significant links between respiratory muscle strength and handgrip/lower limb strength, while tongue pressure did not correlate with these strengths but was related to dysphagia and nutritional status.
- The findings suggest that effective prehabilitation should include exercise, nutritional support, and swallowing training, particularly for patients struggling with food intake, as indicated by tongue pressure assessments.
Objectives: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and prognosis, and the significant factors associated with physical activity in patients with advanced or recurrent lung cancer.
Methods: This retrospective, observational study enrolled 50 outpatients with lung cancer who received chemotherapy. Patients were evaluated for physical function, physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), and nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form [MNA-SF]).
Article Synopsis
- This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated how global quality of life (QOL) affects mortality risk in cancer patients, analyzing various cancer types and the timing of QOL assessments.
- The research found that better global QOL is linked to lower mortality risk, with a significant hazard ratio (1.06) across most cancer types except for melanoma and pancreatic cancer.
- The study emphasizes the need to assess and improve QOL at all stages of cancer treatment since pretreatment QOL had the most significant impact on survival rates.
Article Synopsis
- * Out of the seven studies analyzed, a significant association was found between overall QoL and mortality risk, with specific QoL aspects (physical, emotional, role, cognitive, and social) also linked to mortality.
- * The research highlighted the importance of assessing QoL before and after treatment as a predictor of life expectancy, recommending ongoing QoL evaluations to enhance patient care and outcomes.
Background: Although many studies have explored the correlation between quality of life and survival, none have reported this relationship for specific cancers assessed at distinct time points. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of pretreatment Global Quality of Life (QOL) and functioning QOL, including physical, social, role, emotional, and cognitive QOLs, on mortality risk in patients with lung cancer.
Methods: A literature search was conducted across the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, and PubMed databases for articles published between their inception and December 2022.
Article Synopsis
- This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the impact of quality of life (QOL) on mortality in breast cancer patients, addressing a controversial area of research.
- Among the 119,061 articles reviewed, six studies were included in the analysis, revealing that physical, emotional, and role QOL metrics significantly correlated with increased mortality risk.
- The findings highlight that post-treatment physical QOL is particularly crucial for survival outcomes, suggesting its importance as a factor in patient care and prognosis.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates factors contributing to cancer cachexia, a condition that negatively affects survival in lung cancer patients.
- Out of 76 patients analyzed, 42 (55.2%) were found to have cachexia, with significant implications on their survival rates.
- Key independent factors for cachexia included poor nutritional status and low levels of physical activity, suggesting that addressing these aspects could improve patient outcomes.
Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects the risk of falls and physical function in patients with cancer.
Methods: A literature search was conducted in the CINAHL, Scopus, and PubMed databases for articles published from January 1950 to April 2022. Seven review authors retrieved studies using predetermined eligibility criteria, extracted the data, and evaluated the quality.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to explore how different clinical factors affect physical function in patients recovering from soft tissue sarcoma surgeries, using both subjective and objective measures.
- A total of 90 patients were grouped by tumor location and evaluated through the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score and the timed up-and-go test (TUGT) at various points in their recovery.
- Results showed no significant differences in physical function related to tumor location, but the removal of quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles was linked to poorer postoperative mobility, suggesting targeted rehabilitation strategies may improve recovery outcomes.
Factors associated with physical function in patients after surgery for soft tissue sarcoma in the thigh.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord
August 2023
Article Synopsis
- * Conducted with 54 patients, the research found a significant correlation between TUGT results and the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score, with a specific threshold of 3.7 seconds indicating acceptable recovery.
- * The findings suggest that TUGT is a valuable tool for objectively monitoring postoperative recovery in these patients, potentially aiding in the design of individualized rehabilitation programs.
Article Synopsis
- - Knee rotationplasty (KRP) is a surgery option for patients with malignant tumors near the knee, aimed at preserving knee function instead of opting for above-knee amputation.
- - A case study of a 37-year-old man with synovial sarcoma showed that after KRP, muscle strength in the reconstructed knee improved over 12 months, along with physical function and quality of life.
- - The patient started physical therapy immediately after surgery, leading to gradual improvements in mobility and daily activities, highlighting the benefits of KRP for post-surgical recovery.
Recent Findings in Physical Exercise for Cancer Survivors.
Phys Ther Res
March 2023
Article Synopsis
- Advances in early diagnosis and treatment have led to an increasing number of cancer survivors, who often face physical and psychological complications from their condition and treatment.
- Engaging in physical exercise is a proven effective way to manage these complications and can even improve the health outlook for cancer survivors, with established guidelines recommending moderate to vigorous aerobic and resistance training.
- Despite the benefits and guidelines, many cancer survivors struggle to commit to regular exercise, highlighting the need for enhanced outpatient rehabilitation programs and community support to encourage active lifestyles.
Use of the reliable change index to evaluate the effect of a multicomponent exercise program on physical functions.
Aging Clin Exp Res
December 2022
Aims: Using the reliable change index (RCI), we aimed to examine the effect of a multicomponent exercise program on the individual level.
Methods: Overall, 270 adults (mean age, 78 years) completed a multicomponent physical exercise program (strength, aerobic, gait, and balance) for 40 min, 1-2 times per week, continued up to 1 year at a daycare center. Effectiveness was assessed using grip, ankle, knee, and hip strength; Timed Up & Go (TUG); Berg Balance Scale (BBS); gait speed; and 6-min walking distance.
The aim of this systematic review is to determine the effects of self-management interventions with behavior-change support on medication adherence and smoking cessation in patients with chronic respiratory disease. We also describe the theories of health behavior change and behavior change techniques (BCTs) used to design these interventions and their mode of delivery. The PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Pedro databases were systematically searched for relevant articles published up to November 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * A survey sent to 427 hospitals revealed that only 39.1% provided outpatient rehabilitation, with 83.7% of those finding their services inadequate due to factors like funding issues and lack of trained staff.
- * Improvements are needed in human resources, medical fee reimbursements, and education to enhance outpatient services and promote better regional coordination among hospitals.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore how physical exercise impacts health outcomes over time in older adults, specifically comparing frail and non-frail individuals.
- Conducted with 177 participants aged 65 and older, it involved various exercises over a year, measuring bodyweight, walking speed, and cognitive function at multiple intervals.
- Results indicated significant positive changes in health metrics, with more pronounced benefits for frail individuals in terms of walking speed and bodyweight, highlighting the importance of tailored exercise programs for different baseline frailty statuses.
The association between body mass index (BMI) and frailty in elderly patients with disabilities is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between BMI and frailty in the elderly with disabilities according to sex. This cross-sectional study included 280 elderly patients with disabilities from an elderly daycare center.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * 97.4% of hospitals provided inpatient rehabilitation, but 67.7% of respondents found this provision inadequate, mainly due to insufficient staff and lack of skilled rehabilitation professionals.
- * Adequate cancer rehabilitation requires an increase in staff, improved education, and better recognition of its importance in oncology departments.