In order to test the usefulness of non-machine based physical fitness program, so called "Active centenarian physical fitness program", the authors have applied this program in an isolated island of Kagoshima. The participants were the 18 slightly frail elderly more than 65 years old (4 males and 14 females). The average age was 78.17 ± 4.18 years old (min: 71, max: 85 years old). The main exercises continues about 30 minutes composing of: (1) Raises arms to back (2) Raises arms to sideways (3) Bending and extending knees (4) Standing up from chair (5) Extending knees (6) Raising legs to back (7) Raising legs to horizontal. After the 12 weeks intervention, improvement was observed for most of the physical fitness tests. So far as lifestyle, mental status and IADL were concerned, there were improvement observed in social role, intellectual activeness, outdoor activity, and hobby activity. Compared with the machine-based physical fitness program, the Active centenarian physical fitness program has more merits for application in the community setting, i.e. cheaper cost, easiness to master, safer physical activity.

In order to prepare a new prevention program under the long term care insurance from the fiscal year 2006, we have organized an oral health care program for the elderly in a town of Kagoshima prefecture. We conducted a series of oral health education, i.e., instruction on brushing and flossing, and oral function exercises. Before and after the three months program, we evaluated the unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate, the counts of S. mutans, the counts of repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST), bilateral bite force and the number of permanent teeth and artificial teeth. According to the results, a statistically significant improvement was observed in RSST and the unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate, but not in the S. mutans level and bite force. The present research suggests the effectiveness of the oral health care program for the aged. A larger sized and longer period intervention will be necessary in order to validate our findings.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the authors' oral health care program on the stimulated whole salivary flow rate and buffer capacity before and after a 6-month intervention. The authors conducted the intervention study among 25 participants with diabetes. The salivary flow rate and buffer capacity were evaluated before and after this intervention. Overall, the results showed a significant increase in salivary flow rate and no significant change in buffer capacity. Also, it was likely that salivary flow rate significantly increased among patients with more than 20 remaining teeth and patients with well-controlled diabetes. The findings suggest that this program for type 2 diabetes led to an increase in the stimulated whole salivary flow rate.

No abstract