The merging of business operations with computers and the Internet has largely transformed our way of life. In less than a decade, the Internet evolved from a primarily academic network into a highly sophisticated commercial marketing medium. It encompasses a variety of business and personal utilities and is accessible to a wide range of organizations and individuals. Statistics indicate phenomenal growth in the number of Internet users and consumers. In Taiwan, the government has embarked on a National Information Infrastructure project, in which the initial effort centered on the promotion of Internet use. Despite the recent explosion in Internet growth, little has been done to target the middle-aged group on the Web. In an effort to discover potential Internet users, Internet consumers, and new uses of the Net, this research focuses on middle-aged people in Taiwan and studies the results of different attitudes toward and behaviors on the Internet. This research profiles the population into three groups: non-Internet users, Internet users and Internet consumers and determines factors that enable or deter each group from either using or purchasing on the Internet. The study also projects potential and popular products and features that may boost electronic sales.

Le vieillissement démographique augmente rapidement la représentation des personnes âgées de plus de 50 ans parmi les utilisateurs d’aides à la mobilité motorisées (AMMs), telles que le fauteuil roulant motorisé et le quadriporteur. Le but général de la thèse est de rendre compte d’une démarche d’analyse des effets des AMMs au cours des premiers 18 mois d’utilisation chez les adultes d’âge moyen et les aînés. Notre question de recherche concerne la nature et l'importance des effets sur le fonctionnement, la pertinence sociale et le bien-être subjectif, ainsi que les liens entre les divers facteurs impliqués dans leur impact optimal. La thèse s’articule en trois volets, synthétique, méthodologique et analytique, dont les principaux résultats sont présentés dans quatre articles scientifiques. Le volet synthétique comprend une recension systématique qui révèle la représentation marginale des personnes âgées de plus de 50 ans dans les publications scientifiques sur les effets des AMMs et le faible niveau de preuve dans ce champ d’études. Les travaux liés à ce volet proposent également un cadre d’analyse reliant l’intention d’utiliser l’AMM, les habitudes de déplacements, les dimensions d’effets des AMMs sur le fonctionnement, la pertinence sociale et le bien-être subjectif, ainsi que quatre catégories de cofacteurs associés à l’utilisation (personne, aide technique, intervention, environnement). Le volet méthodologique assemble un dispositif de mesure comprenant 5 questionnaires et 18 indicateurs arrimés au cadre d’analyse et démontre l’applicabilité de l’ensemble des questionnaires pour une administration téléphonique. La validation transculturelle de deux questionnaires implique deux études réalisées auprès d’utilisateurs d’AMMs âgés de 50 à 84 ans (n=45). Ces travaux confirment la fidélité test-retest et l’équivalence des questionnaires traduits avec la version d’origine. Finalement, le volet analytique se concentre sur l’étude des habitudes de déplacements chez 3 cohortes (n=116) de personnes âgées de 50 à 89 ans, recrutées en fonction du stade d’utilisation de l’AMM. Les résultats suggèrent une amélioration de l’aire de mobilité après l’utilisation initiale ou long terme de l’AMM en comparaison avec une cohorte en attente de l’AMM, ainsi qu’une augmentation significative de la fréquence des déplacements autour du domicile et dans le voisinage. Trois facteurs associés à une aire de mobilité optimale, à savoir le genre, la nature des objectifs de participation de l’utilisateur et le type d’appareil utilisé, sont identifiés par des analyses de régression linéaires contrôlant pour l’âge. La thèse soutient l’importance de tenir compte de l’environnement et d’une combinaison de facteurs reliés à la personne et à l’aide technique pour saisir les effets des AMMs au cours des premiers mois d’utilisation. Ces résultats ouvrent la voie au suivi systématique des utilisateurs d’AMMs par les professionels de réadaptation, puisqu’ils confirment l’utilité du dispositif pour en mesurer les effets et ciblent les déterminants de la mobilité des utilisateurs d’AMMs âgés de plus de 50 ans. / Mobility-related subsidy programs are being challenged by the aging of the population as adults aged over 50 years become the most prevalent users of power mobility devices (PMDs), such as power wheelchairs and scooters. The thesis examines the impacts of PMDs for middle-aged and older adults during the first 18 months of use. Our research question concerns the nature and magnitude of outcomes pertaining to effectiveness, social significance and subjective well-being, as well as the factors associated with outcomes. The thesis comprises three sections: conceptual, methodological and analytical. The main results are presented in four manuscripts. The conceptual section includes a systematic review that reveals the limited coverage and low level of evidence of PMD outcomes for middle-aged and older adults. Moreover, this section supports a conceptual framework linking intention to use the PMD, mobility habits, three dimensions of outcomes (effectiveness, social significance, subjective well-being) and four categories of co-factors asociated with the use of assistive technology (person, assistive device, intervention, environment). The methodological section assembled 5 questionnaires and 18 indicators, matched to the conceptual framework, and verified their applicability for a telephone administration. Two questionnaires required transcultural validation studies with PMD users (n=45, age 50-84 years) that confirmed the test-retest reliability and the equivalence of the questionnaires with the original versions. Finally, the analytical section examined the impact of PMDs on 3 cohorts (n=116, age 50-89 years), recruited as a function of stage of usage, and explored key factors asociated with greater life-space mobility. Cohort comparisons showed significantly greater life-space mobility for initial and long term users than for the reference group waiting for the PMD. Moreover, frequency of outings was higher for PMD users in the neighbourhood and around home. Age-adjusted linear regression analyses found greater life-space mobility associated with gender, the nature of PMD activities and device type. The thesis supports considering the environment and a combination of personal and device factors to appreciate PMD outcomes during the first months of use. The results are useful for rehabilitation services as they confirm the utility of following up PMD outcomes and identify key determinants of mobility for middle-aged and older PMD users.

This study investigated the social factors influencing the poor uptake of HIV Testing and Counselling (HCT) services by middle-aged black men in Pimville, Soweto. A qualitative research approach was used for this study in which ten men and two key informants were interviewed. Themes explored were the participants’ biographical characteristics, knowledge of HIV and AIDS, health-seeking behaviours, understanding of multiple sexual partnerships, male circumcision, and challenges in using HCT services. Various social behaviour change theories formed the theoretical framework guiding this study. It was found that fear, stigma and cultural factors are major reasons for the poor HCT uptake. Despite the men’s high HIV risk perceptions, behaviour change lags behind. Greater efforts to establish a men’s forum to discuss sexual health matters in Pimville are recommended. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Introdução: Estudos têm demonstrado a associação de doença arterial coronária (DAC) grave com triglicérides (TG) pós prandial. No entanto, a relação entre a aterosclerose leve a moderada e TG pós prandial não está bem estabelecida. No presente estudo avaliamos a relação entre TG pós prandial e DAC detectada por angiografia coronária por tomografia computadorizada (TC cor). Material e Métodos: Foram incluídos 130 pacientes (85 com DAC detectado pelo TC cor coronária e 45 sem DAC), submetidos a um teste de tolerância oral de gordura. Estudamos a lipemia pós prandial medindo TG de T0h para T6H com intervalos de duas horas, e analisamos a mudança TG ao longo do tempo através de um modelo linear misto multivariável longitudinal, utilizando como desfecho primário o log normal do TG. Resultados: Os pacientes com DAC eram mais velhos (56,5 ± 6,8 vs. 50,4 ± 7,1 anos, p < 0,001), predominantemente do sexo masculino (68,2% vs. 37,8%, p < 0,001) e com HDL-colesterol (HDL-C) menor (49 ± 14 vs. 54 ± 12 mg / dl, p = 0,015). A maioria dos indivíduos com DAC tinha aterosclerose leve com doença não obstrutiva (63,5%). Pacientes com DAC tiveram uma depuração mais lenta TG pós prandial de 4h a 6h (p < 0,05) em comparação com pacientes sem DAC. Estes resultados permanecerem significativos mesmo após ajuste para o TG de jejum, idade, sexo, índice de massa corporal e glicemia de jejum. No entanto, essas diferenças não foram significativas após o ajuste para o HDL-C de jejum. Conclusão: Os pacientes com DAC leve e moderada detectados pelo TC cor demonstraram alteração do metabolismo de TG pós prandial, com remoção mais lenta de TG, especialmente entre 4h e 6h quando comparados a indivíduos sem DAC. Esta diferença foi explicada em parte pelo menor HDL-C de jejum no grupo com DAC. Assim, embora TG pós prandial possa contribuir para o desenvolvimento de DAC, esta associação é parcialmente relacionada com a menor concentração de HDL-C em indivíduos com DAC / Background: Studies have demonstrated the association of severe coronary artery disease (CAD) with postprandial triglycerides (TG). Nevertheless the relationship between less severe atherosclerosis and postprandial triglycerides is less established. Objective: to study the relationship between postprandial TG and CAD detected by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA). Material and Methods: We enrolled 130 patients, (85 with CAD detected by coronary CTA and 45 without); who underwent an oral fat tolerance test. We studied the postprandial lipemia measuring TG from T0h to T6h with 2 hour intervals, and analyzed the TG change over time using a longitudinal multivariable linear mixed effects model with the log normal of the TG as the primary outcome.Results: Patients with CAD were older (56.5 ± 6.8 vs. 50.4 ± 7.1 years, p < 0.001), predominantly male (68.2% vs. 37.8%, p < 0.001) and had lower HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) (49 ± 14 vs. 54 ± 12 mg/dL, p=0.015). The majority of individuals with CAD had mild atherosclerosis with non-obstructive disease (63.6%). Patients with CAD had a slower clearance of postprandial TG change from 4h to 6h (p < 0.05) compared to patients without CAD. These results remained significant after adjustment for fasting TG, age, gender, body mass index and glucose. However, those differences did not reach statistical significance after adjustment for fasting HDL-C. Conclusion: Patients with mild and moderate CAD detected by coronary CTA had an impaired postprandial metabolism, with a delayed TG clearance, when compared to individuals with no CAD. This difference was partially explained by the lower HDL-C. Thus, though postprandial TG may contribute to the development of CAD, this association is partially related to the low HDL-C in individuals with CAD

Thesis Community services of library for middle-aged citizens deals with ways, which transform services of libraries from traditional borrowing services to community services in recent years. Most importantly, it discusses which kind of events are seen as interesting for middle-aged citizens aged 40-55, or more precisely what makes this group visit the library. First part of the thesis deals with definition of basic terms, such as community library, services of libraries, middle-age citizens and lifelong education. Further, it describes examples of new concept of libraries and library services in practice in age, when printed documents are not as necessary for users as they used to be. Next step of the thesis is the analysis of statistic figures, services and events hosted by three chosen libraries - Masaryk public library in Vsetín, town libraries in Nový Jičín and Valašské Meziříčí. The survey of interest preferences of middle-aged users is divided into two parts. First part deals with effects of survey research among users and potential users of libraries in monitored age, where interest preferences and relationship of respondent to library and its services. Second part summarizes answers of nine of them, who were asked to comment on composition of events, which occurred in libraries in course...

本研究では，アクセプタンス&コミットメント・セラピーによる健康関連の生活の質の向上と更年期症状の重症度への効果を検討した。質問紙調査ならびに前後比較試験と一事例の実験デザインの3つの研究により検討した。その結果，ACTによる介入が健康関連の生活の質を向上させ，更年期症状の重症度を低減させる可能性が示された。本研究により更年期症状への介入の新たな選択肢を提示するとともに，ACTの適用範囲を広げることなった。 / 博士(心理学) / Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University

We have previously shown that chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can induce DNA damage and immune dysfunctions with excessive oxidative stress in T cells. Furthermore, evidence suggests that HCV contributes to increased susceptibility to metabolic disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms by which HCV infection impairs cellular metabolism in CD4 T cells remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated mitochondrial mass and intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by flow cytometry, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content by real-time qPCR, cellular respiration by seahorse analyzer, and dysregulated mitochondrial-localized proteins by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) in CD4 T cells from chronic HCV-infected individuals and health subjects. Mitochondrial mass was decreased while intracellular and mitochondrial ROS were increased, expressions of master mitochondrial regulators peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor 1 alpha (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) were down-regulated, and oxidative stress was increased while mitochondrial DNA copy numbers were reduced. Importantly, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown of mtTFA impaired cellular respiration and reduced mtDNA copy number. Furthermore, proteins responsible for mediating oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mtDNA maintenance were significantly altered in HCV-CD4 T cells. These results indicate that mitochondrial functions are compromised in HCV-CD4 T cells, likely the deregulation of several mitochondrial regulatory proteins.

BACKGROUND: Clinical evidence shows that diabetes may provoke uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients. However, racial differences in the associations of diabetes with uncontrolled BP outcomes among diagnosed hypertensive patients have not been evaluated. METHODS: A total of 6,134 diagnosed hypertensive subjects aged ≥ 20 years were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2008 with a stratified multistage design. Odds ratios (ORs) and relative ORs of uncontrolled BP and effect differences in continuous BP for diabetes over race/ethnicity were derived using weighted logistic regression and linear regression models. RESULTS: Compared with participants who did not have diabetes, non-Hispanic black participants with diabetes had a 138% higher chance of having uncontrolled BP, Mexican participants with diabetes had a 60% higher chance of having uncontrolled BP, and non-Hispanic white participants with diabetes had a 161% higher chances of having uncontrolled BP. The association of diabetes with uncontrolled BP was lower in Mexican Americans than in non-Hispanic blacks and whites (Mexican Americans vs. non-Hispanic blacks: relative OR = 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.37-0.82; Mexican Americans vs. non-Hispanic whites: relative OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.35-0.80) and the association of diabetes with isolated uncontrolled systolic BP was lower in Mexican Americans than in non-Hispanic whites (Mexican Americans vs. non-Hispanic whites: relative OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.40-0.96). Mexican Americans have a stronger association of diabetes with decreased systolic BP and diastolic BP than non-Hispanic whites, and a stronger association of diabetes with decreased diastolic BP than non-Hispanic blacks. CONCLUSIONS: The association of diabetes with uncontrolled BP outcomes is lower despite higher prevalence of diabetes in Mexican Americans than in non-Hispanic whites. The stronger association of diabetes with BP outcomes in whites should be of clinical concern, considering they account for the majority of the hypertensive population in the United States.

The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is unknown in neuraxial anesthesia for orthopedic surgery. The effect on PONV of adding gabapentin to an evidence-based antiemetic regimen as part of an opioid-sparing analgesic protocol is also unknown in this population. A retrospective analysis of all adults undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty and receiving neuraxial anesthesia in 2017 was conducted. The overall incidence of PONV was assessed. Additionally, PONV incidence was assessed for all combinations of gabapentin, dexamethasone, and/or ondansetron (in addition to propofol infusion) and compared with propofol alone. The PONV risk ratios were estimated, adjusting for age and PONV risk score. The overall incidence of PONV was 14.0%. The addition of gabapentin to propofol was associated with reduced PONV (multivariable risk ratio [mRR], 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-1.0) vs propofol alone. Dexamethasone with propofol was associated with reduced PONV (mRR 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-1.1) vs propofol alone, although not statistically significant. The addition of both gabapentin and dexamethasone to propofol was associated with stronger reduction in PONV (mRR 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.7) vs propofol alone. Adding ondansetron to propofol showed little benefit. Gabapentin and dexamethasone are effective in reducing PONV in patients undergoing knee and hip arthroplasty with neuraxial anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have suggested that Helicobacter pylori infection in asymptomatic subjects is transmitted from person to person. Its prevalence is higher in the institutionalized setting. If that is the case, persons involved in patient care should have a higher prevalence of the infection. METHODS: We estimated the prevalence of H pylori antibodies among groups of asymptomatic medical and nursing staff and compared them with volunteer blood donors of similar age and sex. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-eight nurses and aides, 59 residents, 46 senior medical students, and 22 senior nursing students were enrolled in this study. Serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies against H pylori by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sixty-two (39%) of 158 nurses were found to be positive for antibodies to H pylori compared with 114 (26%) of 441 specimens from the blood donor group. Within the youngest age group (20 to 34 years), 13 (25%) of 51 nurses were positive for H pylori antibodies compared with 19 (13%) of 143 age-matched serum samples from the blood donor group. Within the middle age group (35 to 49 years), 32 (39%) of 83 nurses were positive for H pylori antibodies vs 43 (26%) of 167 age-matched blood donors. In the oldest age group (> 50 years), 17 (71%) of 24 nurses were positive for H pylori antibodies compared with 52 (40%) of 131 age-matched blood donors. Twenty-three (27%) of 86 nurses with 1 to 15 years of occupational exposure were positive for H pylori antibodies compared with 40 (56%) of 72 nurses with more than 15 years of occupational exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses have an increased prevalence of H pylori antibodies that is significantly higher than the comparable prevalence of volunteer blood donors and is evident in the youngest age group. In addition, the increased prevalence is related to a longer duration of patient exposure in the nursing group.