What Factors Affect the Evolution of the Wife’s Mental Health After the Husband’s Retirement? Evidence From a Population-Based Nationwide Survey in Japan

BackgroundThe “retired husband syndrome” refers to the negative impact of the husband’s retirement on the wife’s health. This study provided new insights by examining whether and to what extent the wife’s social participation, interactions with her husband, and job status prior to her husband’s retirement affected the evolution of her mental health after her husband’s retirement.MethodsWe collected data from a 12-wave nationwide panel survey conducted from 2005 to 2016, starting with individuals aged 50–59 years. Focusing on 3,794 female respondents whose husbands retired during the survey period, we applied random-effects linear regression models to investigate the evolution of their mental health as measured by the Kessler 6 (K6) score (range, 0–24; Mean, 3.41; standard deviation, 4.11) during the 5 years after their husbands’ retirement.ResultsOn average, the wife’s K6 score rose by 0.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.28), 0.18 (95% CI, 0.03–0.34), and 0.19 (95% CI, −0.02 to 0.43) in the first 3 years, respectively, after the husband’s retirement, before declining toward the baseline level. However, the wife’s active social participation, intense interactions with her husband, and absence of paid employment before her husband’s retirement prevented her mental health from deteriorating.ConclusionThe results suggest the limited relevance of the “retired husband syndrome” among middle-aged Japanese couples. The effects of a husband’s retirement on the wife’s mental health depended heavily on her prior behavior.Key words: marital quality, mental health, random-effects model, retired husband syndrome, social participation     

Low Phase Angle Is Correlated With Worse General Condition in Patients with Advanced Cancer

Objectives: Phase angle (PA) is a poor prognostic factor in patients with advanced cancer. This study aimed to identify possible correlations between PA and symptoms, quality of life, fluid retention, and laboratory data in cancer patients in palliative care settings.

Methods: Individuals who visited the outpatient clinic or were admitted to the palliative care unit were eligible. Patients with a performance status of 4 and/or those unable to complete questionnaires were excluded. PA was evaluated using a bioanalyzer device. The correlation coefficient between PA and the variables of interest was analyzed.

Results: A total of 102 patients were analyzed. PA was weakly correlated with age (ρ = ?0.22), performance status (ρ = ?0.30), functional well-being (ρ?=?0.20), anorexia/cachexia subscale (ρ?=?0.22), and Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy trial outcome index (ρ?=?0.26). PA was also correlated with fluid retention (ρ = ?0.34) and albumin (ρ?=?0.32), C-reactive protein (ρ = ?0.31), and hemoglobin (ρ?=?0.41) levels. Sub-analysis stratified according to sex revealed that males demonstrated the same results; however, female sex demonstrated a correlation between PA and social well-being (ρ = ?0.43).

Conclusions: PA was correlated with physical condition, but not with psychological well-being.     

Time-Dependent Effects of Cryoablation for Renal Tumor on Overall and Split Renal Function

Purpose

To evaluate the influence of percutaneous cryoablation for renal cell carcinoma on function of the affected kidney.

Functional reconstruction of total upper eyelid defects with a composite radial forearm‐palmaris longus tenocutaneous free flap: A report of two cases

This report presents reconstruction of wide‐ and full‐thickness upper eyelid defects with a composite radial forearm–splitting palmaris longus tendon flap, which maintains eyelid opening and closing functions and supporting tissue in a Meibomian gland carcinoma in the right upper eyelid (case 1) and Merkel cell carcinoma in the right upper eyelid (case 2). After tumor resection with excisional margins, the defects involved the muscle, tarsal, and mucosa, with defect sizes of 60 × 40 mm and 85 × 40 mm, respectively. A radial forearm flap with the palmaris longus tendon was transferred. The tendon was split into two strips: the upper strip was fixed to the frontal muscles for the opening function and the lower strip to the medial palpebral ligament and orbicularis oculi muscle to maintain the closing function. Flap vessels were anastomosed to the superficial temporal artery and vein through the subdermal tunnel. Postoperative courses were uneventful. At the 5‐year (case 1) and 4‐year (case 2) follow‐up periods, there were no tumor recurrence and keratalgia, and the eyelid opening and closing functions were maintained. This approach may contribute to achievement of not only the opening function but also the closing function of the reconstructed eyelid.