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Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本医療情報学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan  

<p>We conducted a questionnaire survey among nurses, medical doctors, radiological technologists, and pharmacists in 2020 to identify the factors explanatory associated with work-related and medical accident risks among medical professionals at university hospitals in Japan. Participants were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on their experiences of work-related and medical accidents from the last year before the survey, and their mental health, job-related stress by effort-reward imbalance, and time factors were compared. Among them, 22% of nurses, 16% of medical doctors, 17% of radiological technologists, and 18% of pharmacists were in the high-risk group. Moreover, the high-risk groups, except for pharmacists, had significantly poor health statuses than the low-risk groups. Nurses and medical doctors in the high-risk group had significantly longer working hours and more night shifts than the low-risk groups. This study highlighted that job stress was significantly and independently associated with a high risk of work-related and medical accidents in all occupations, even when adjusted for confounding factors, health status, and time factors. The study suggested that mitigating and controlling stress would reduce accident risk among medical professionals performing interpersonal work.</p>

DOI： 10.2486/josh.josh-2023-0004-ge

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(独)労働者健康安全機構労働安全衛生総合研究所  

九州北部の5つの大学病院で働く対人業務のある医療専門職を対象に,2020年に労働災害や医療事故の発生状況を調査し,リスク要因を探索的に評価した.4職種(看護師1,305人,医師481人,放射線技師90人,薬剤師51人)を抽出し,過去1年間の労働災害および医療事故の発生とヒヤリ・ハット経験の回答に基づき職種別に高リスク群と低リスク群に分け,精神健康調査GHQ,主観的健康感,努力-報酬不均衡モデルで示される職業性ストレス,仕事や生活の時間的要因を比較し評価した.調査結果では,全職種で職業性ストレスと労災・医療事故リスクとの有意な関連が示された.薬剤師を除く高リスク群には精神健康の問題も見られた.看護師と医師の高リスク群は,低リスク群に比べ労働時間が長く,夜勤回数も多かった.睡眠不十分と家事時間はリスクとの関連を示さなかった.職業性ストレスは病院間の違いや性,年齢等の交絡因子を調整したマルチレベル混合効果ロジスティック回帰分析でも,全職種で労災・医療事故リスクと有意な関連を示した.この結果から,医療専門職の職場でのストレスを軽減することが,労災・医療事故リスクの低減につながる可能性があると示唆された.(著者抄録)

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Wiley  

This study examined the association between occupation and health status among Japanese employees. The data from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan encompassed 102,575 employees (55,399 males and 47,176 females), who were employed workers aged 15–44 years. Self-rated health was used as an indicator of health status in the health questionnaire. A multiple logistic regression analysis of the association between health status and occupation was conducted to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with an adjustment for confounding factors. When the non-regular employees were assessed, many of their occupations were linked to poorer health tendencies in general, with the exception of male Service workers (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60–0.94). Finally, particular employment and occupations were observed as having better or worse health tendencies than other types of work.

DOI： 10.1111/jpr.12379

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Other Link： https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/jpr.12379

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：JMIR Publications Inc.  

Background: Ensuring an appropriate continuum of care in maternal, newborn, and child health, as well as providing nutrition care, is challenging in remote areas. To make care accessible for mothers and infants, we developed a telehealth care system called Portable Health Clinic for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. / Objective: Our study will examine the telehealth care system’s effectiveness in improving women’s and infants’ care uptake and detecting their health problems. / Methods: A quasi-experimental study will be conducted in rural Bangladesh. Villages will be allocated to the intervention and control areas. Pregnant women (≥16 gestational weeks) will participate together with their infants and will be followed up 1 year after delivery or birth. The intervention will include regular health checkups via the Portable Health Clinic telehealth care system, which is equipped with a series of sensors and an information system that can triage participants’ health levels based on the results of their checkups. Women and infants will receive care 4 times during the antenatal period, thrice during the postnatal period, and twice during the motherhood and childhood periods. The outcomes will be participants’ health checkup coverage, gestational and neonatal complication rates, complementary feeding rates, and health-seeking behaviors. We will use a multilevel logistic regression and a generalized estimating equation to evaluate the intervention’s effectiveness. / Results: Recruitment began in June 2020. As of June 2022, we have consented 295 mothers in the study. Data collection is expected to conclude in June 2024. / Conclusions: Our new trial will show the effectiveness and extent of using a telehealth care system to ensure an appropriate continuum of care in maternal, newborn, and child health (from the antenatal period to the motherhood and childhood periods) and improve women’s and infants’ health status.

DOI： 10.2196/41586

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine  

<p>In this study, we collected ticks from wild boars and vegetation to survey a prevalence of Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in tick population from Ito campus of Kyushu University (Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan) and its allied region. Ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) were collected from wild boar and vegetation at Ito campus, and were screened by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) for detection of SFTSV. Five ixodid species were collected and identified in this survey. <i>Haemaphysalis flava</i> Neumann was the dominant species in this area. The RT-PCR results showed that all 152 pools of tick samples, included 12 pooled tick samples from two wild boars tested positive for antibodies to SFTSV, were negative for SFTSV.</p>

DOI： 10.5686/jjzwm.27.119

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本野生動物医学会  

これまでに捕獲したイノシシから重症熱性血小板減少症候群ウイルス(SFTSV)抗体の保有が確認された九州大学伊都キャンパスとその周辺地域で捕獲したイノシシに寄生するマダニ類の種構成を明らかにするとともに、リアルタイムRT-PCR法を用いてSFTSV保有率を調査した。その結果、5種のマダニ類が確認され、全種がSFTSV遺伝子の検出報告がある種であった。マダニ類からSFTSV遺伝子は検出されなかった。(著者抄録)

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：JMIR Formative Research  

BACKGROUND: The number of single-living workers separated from their spouses and families has been increasing due to the need to create a balance between life and work. Workers are assigned everywhere in globalized workplaces while also caring for their family members in the context of Japan's aging society. At the same time, the mental and health status of persons living separately from their families is a matter of concern. The development of interpersonal communication means using information and communications technology (ICT) tools and the internet is remarkable, enabling simultaneous 2-way communication across distances and national borders. The easy accessibility to simultaneous communication is expected to improve the psychosocial status of isolated family members. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to clarify the health benefits of ICT by using a psychosocial health assessment, the characteristics of ICT tools, and the frequency of communication among the workers and their families who live separately. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study planned and conducted in Japan. Study participants, including adults who live separately from other family members or have separately living family members due to work, were recruited to answer a web response survey about ICT usage status, health status, and life and society evaluation. This study recruited 73 participants divided into 2 groups by their communication tools and frequencies, and their separated life, health, and psychosocial status were statistically compared. RESULTS: Among the 73 study participants, 15 were categorized in the high communication-skilled (HCS) group that used both types of ICT tools to communicate frequently: "live," such as video chat and voice call, and "nonlive," such as SMS text message service and email. A simple comparison between the HCS and reference groups showed significant differences in the cohesion with the neighborhood (P=.03), perceived social position (P=.01), and happiness (P<.001); however, there were no significant differences in the health (psychological distress, P=.08; self-rated health, P=.07), lifestyle (drinking, P>.99; current smoking, P=.37), and dyadic trust in family members living separately (P=.80). Further, in a multivariate regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors, such as educational history, age, gender, and job status, poor subjective health showed a prevalence odds ratio of less than 1 (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-1.02). The HCS group showed significant positive relationships in the cohesion score with the neighborhood (P=.01; β=2.40, 95% CI 0.56-4.24), perceived social position (P=.03; β=1.17, 95% CI 0.11-2.23), and happiness score (P=.002; β=1.46, 95% CI 0.58-2.34) in the same multivariate regression models. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that people who frequently communicate with separated family members by taking advantage of various ICT tools can maintain a better mental state and better social relations among those who live alone and are separated from their families.

DOI： 10.2196/34949

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Publishing type：Part of collection (book)   Publisher：Springer International Publishing  

DOI： 10.1007/978-3-030-91237-6_43

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：MDPI AG  

Precarious employment can negatively affect health, but workers may be healthy if they earn enough income. This study uses equivalent disposable income and examines the interaction between income classes and employment types to clarify whether workers’ health improves as the income classes rise. In Japan, nonstandard workers, called nonregular employees, have remained high since 2013. Therefore, using data from the national cross-sectional Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2013, an official survey performed in Japan, we targeted a sample of employees aged 18 to 45 who graduated during the economic recession. Our final sample included 8282 employees (4444 males and 3838 females). The health (general and mental) status indicators used the dichotomized self-rated health and scores of the K6 questionnaires scored in the national survey. The association between income and health was almost proportional. Female workers tended to improve their health as their income class increased; however, this tendency was not observed in male workers, especially nonregular employees. Although the associations were weakened by added income information on the regression models, nonregular employees always showed inferior health to regular employees. The health status of nonregular employees, especially female nonregular employees, is statistically significantly lower than that of regular employees, even when the economic class is similar. In conclusion, improving low incomes for nonregular employees could improve health challenges, but income alone may not result in the same health status for regular and nonregular employees.

DOI： 10.3390/medicines9070040

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Language：English   Publisher：Studies in Health Technology and Informatics  

A personal health record (PHR) is not only a collection of personal health data but also a personal healthcare and disease management tool for individual patients. Recently, PHRs have been considered indispensable tools for patient engagement in the area of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and have gained a special importance. Unfortunately, similar to several other developing countries, Bangladesh remains far behind in establishing a standard PHR system for the country despite the fact that the growth of NCDs is extremely high and accounts for approximately 70% of the total diseases experienced in the country. The Portable Health Clinic system, which has a PHR feature, was established in Bangladesh in 2010. This PHR system requires standardization for each country. The objective of this research is to standardize this PHR system with reference to the PHR system proposed by the Japanese Clinical Societies, which is a pioneer of work in this field in Asia.

DOI： 10.3233/SHTI220053

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Publisher：Oxford University Press (OUP)  

DOI： 10.1093/abm/kaac014

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

BACKGROUND: A developing country like Bangladesh suffers very much from the sudden appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the shortage of medical facilities for testing and follow-up treatment. The Portable Health Clinic (PHC) system has developed the COVID-19 module with a triage system for the detection of COVID-19 suspects and the follow-up of the home quarantined COVID-19 patients to reduce the workload of the limited medical facilities. METHODS: The PHC COVID-19 system maintains a questionnaire-based triage function using the experience of the Japanese practice of diseases management for early detection of suspected COVID-19 patients who may need a confirmation test. Then only the highly suspected patients go for testing preventing the unnecessary crowd from the confirmation PCR test centers and hospitals. Like the basic PHC system, it also has the features for patients' treatment and follow-up for the home quarantined COVID-19 positive and suspect patients using a telemedicine system. This COVID-19 system service box contains 4 self-checking medical sensors, namely, (1) thermometer, (2) pulse oximeter, (3) blood pressure machine, and (4) glucometer for patient's health monitoring including a tablet PC installed with COVID-19 system application for communication between patient and doctor for tele-consultancy. RESULTS: This study conducted a COVID-19 triage among 300 villagers and identified 220 green, 45 light-yellow, 2 yellow, 30 orange, and 3 red patients. Besides the 3 red patients, the call center doctors also referred another 13 patients out of the 30 orange patients to health facilities for PCR tests as suspect COVID-19 positive, and to go under their follow-up. Out of these (3 + 13 =) 16 patients, only 4 went for PCR test and 3 of them had been tested positive. The remaining orange, yellow and light-yellow patients were advised home quarantine under the follow-up of the PHC health workers and got cured in 1-2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This system can contribute to the community healthcare system by ensuring quality service to the suspected and 80% or more tested COVID-19 positive patients who are usually in the moderate or mild state and do not need to be hospitalized. The PHC COVID-19 system provides services maintaining social distance for preventing infection and ensuring clinical safety for both the patients and the health workers.

DOI： 10.1016/j.cmpbup.2022.100061

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PLoS ONE  

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has widely spread worldwide since 2020. Several countries have imposed lockdown or stay-at-home policies to prevent the infection. Bangladesh experienced a lockdown from March 2020 to May 2020, and internal travel was restricted. Such long and strict confinement may impact women's health. Herein, we aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's health by comparing their health status before and during the pandemic. We conducted a prospective longitudinal study in two zones in the Chhaygaon union, rural district Shariatpur, Bangladesh. The study population comprised non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years. We visited the household of all eligible women and invited them for health checkups. The survey staff examined their health status at the checkup camps and conducted questionnaire interviews. In total, 121 non-pregnant women received health checkups both from June 2019 to July 2019 and in October 2020, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. Compared with those during the 2019 health checkup, the medians of body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher (22.7 kg/m2 to 23.6 kg/m2; 110.0 mmHg to 111.0 mmHg; and 73.0 mmHg to 75.0 mmHg, respectively, p<0.05) during the 2020 health checkup. In contrast, urine glucose levels were significantly lower (10.1% to 3.4%, p = 0.021). The lack of physical activity and other inconvenience accumulation caused by the prolonged confinement might have affected their health status. This necessitates local health workers to promote physical activity to prevent health deterioration during the pandemic.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0266141

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (international conference proceedings)   Publisher：Studies in Health Technology and Informatics  

Rural women in developing countries do not have any option but to visit the distant city to see the obstetricians and gynecologists in case of any maternal and child health issues. However, it becomes more difficult to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Thus, the telehealth service using the Portable Health Clinic can be very effective for maternal and child health care services. Since the PHC system provides home delivery services through the local health workers, the rural women can avail regular continuum of care services. This study found a 300% increase in participation in the continuum of care. This is not because they receive the service at home but also because they can receive consultancy from urban specialist doctors without travel during the pandemic situation.

DOI： 10.3233/SHTI220700

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Other Link： https://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/icimth/icimth2022.html#IslamKSINJNYAN22

Publisher：Elsevier BV  

Regular health checkups are important for mothers and newborns to detect health problems at an early stage; however, this is often difficult in resource-limited settings. Therefore, the portable health clinic (PHC) for maternal and child health (MCH), a telemedicine health checkup system, was introduced as an intervention study in a rural area in Bangladesh. The aim of this research project was to report findings that we had observed at a mid-point of the intervention period.This was an intervention study conducted in Shariatpur, Bangladesh. The study population included pregnant/parturient women aged 15-49 years and their newborns. With the help of the newly created PHC for MCH, health workers, with a set of sensor devices in an attaché case, visited mothers and newborns at home to examine their health status. Their health status was triaged into four categories using a data management application, and in cases of affected or emergent health status, they were placed on remote video consultation with a doctor.In total, 94 women were included in the PHC for MCH intervention. The rate of participants who received antenatal care at least four times or postnatal care at least once increased (from 29% to 51%, and from 27% to 78%, respectively) compared with before introducing PHC for MCH. Using the PHC for MCH, we detected health problems in pregnant/parturient women; a relatively high percentage had anemia (45-54%) and/or abnormal pulse rate (20-40%). Moreover, after introducing the PHC for MCH, more than 40% of women who received multiple antenatal care or postnatal care checkups improved their health status.The PHC for MCH could be an effective system to improve the health of mothers and newborns by increasing the availability of care. In the future, this system is expected to be used as a primary resource for maternity healthcare, not only in rural areas but also in other social environments.

DOI： 10.1016/j.cmpb.2021.106156

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Language：English   Publisher：Institute of Decision Science for a Sustainable Society, Kyushu University  

Background: Understanding levels of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is important for effective prevention of non-communicable diseases. However, these data are still insufficient, particularly among industry workers in India. Objectives: This study investigated HTN and T2D awareness, treatment, and control in urban industry workers in Jaipur, India. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire and health checkups was conducted in March 2018. Two hundred and fifty-nine (259) male factory and office workers participated in the survey. The questionnaire data included the participants’ sociodemographic information, awareness, treatment, and control behaviors. The health checkup data included the participants’ blood pressure, blood glucose, height, body weight, and other clinical outcomes. Results: The health checkup found that 36.3% and 13.7% were newly diagnosed as having HTN or T2D, respectively. Among participants who were “newly diagnosed” or “already diagnosed before” as having HTN” (n=106), the percentages of those who were already aware of having HTN (awareness), were taking any HTN drugs (treatment), and were controlled for HTN (control) were only 20.8%, 18.9% and 4.7%, respectively. Among participants who were “newly diagnosed” or “already diagnosed before” as having T2D (n=52), the percentages of those who were aware of having T2D (awareness), were taking any T2D drugs (treatment), and were controlled for T2D (control) were 44.2%, 28.8% and 13.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Levels of awareness, treatment, and control of HTN and T2D among rural industry workers in Jaipur are lower than those in previous studies in India. To improve these levels, regular health checkups targeting industry workers are needed in India.

DOI： 10.15017/4400024

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Language：English   Publisher：Institute of Decision Science for a Sustainable Society, Kyushu University  

Telemedicine is the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies, mainly including long-distance patient and clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, education, intervention, monitoring, and remote admissions. In recent years, with the development of telemedicine in various stages of medical care, the role of telemedicine is increasingly recognized. In 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 has greatly impacted the traditional medical service model, but at the same time, brings opportunities to telemedicine development. In this article, we reviewed the history of telemedicine, different forms and applications of telemedicine and prospected the role of telemedicine in the fight against COVID-19, especially in the triage system.

DOI： 10.15017/4400022

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Language：English   Publisher：Institute of Decision Science for a Sustainable Society, Kyushu University  

Background: Telemedicine has been recognized as a key approach in delivering non-communicable disease prevention and management services to unreached populations. Most existing research pertaining to telemedicine and the patients’ clinical outcomes has been conducted in Europe and North America, with a marked lack of such research in the developing countries in Asia, particularly with regard to implementing case studies in non-clinical settings. Introduction: Utilizing a case study involving telemedicine and mobile health checkups performed using a portable health clinic (PHC) system, this study presents the seasonal changes in office workers’ non-communicable disease outcomes. Methods: Data were collected from 73 office workers at Grameen Compounds, who completed four quarterly interventions of telemedicine and health checkups in August 2018 (baseline), November 2018 (3 months), February 2019 (6 months) and June 2019 (9 months). Data included basic sociodemographic and health checkup information. Paired sample t-tests and McNemar tests were conducted to compare changes in both continuous and categorical values of non-communicable disease outcomes, including blood pressure (BP), blood glucose (BG), and serum uric acid (SUA), by quarter. Results: Levels of SUA decreased significantly after 3 months (P=0.001) and 6 months (P=0.000). Levels of BG decreased significantly after 6 months (P=0.008). Levels of systolic and diastolic BP were reduced significantly after 9 months (P=0.000 and P=0.008, respectively) compared with the baseline. The percentages of hyperuricemia was significantly lower after 3 and 6 months (P=0.000 both times). The percentages of hypertension and type 2 diabetes were also significantly lower after 6 months (P=0.039). However, these percentages began to increase again after 9 months. Conclusions: Levels of blood pressure, blood glucose, and SUA showed different seasonal trends in improvement and relapse within a year. Evaluations of telemedicine and mobile health checkup services need to consider seasonal changes in fruit intake, level of exercise, and duration of resulting effects on non-communicable disease outcomes.

DOI： 10.15017/4400016

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Language：English   Publisher：Institute of Decision Science for a Sustainable Society, Kyushu University  

Background: Although several studies have investigated the effectiveness of health checkup services, very few have been conducted in developing countries. Objective: The study examined factory workers’ health awareness, attitudes, behaviors, and non-communicable disease (NCD) outcomes before and after receiving mobile health checkups using a portable health clinic system in India. Methods: Data were collected from 141 factory workers at the largest dairy factory in Jaipur who participated in the baseline and 6 months follow-up health checkup surveys in 2018. The questionnaire and health checkup data included participants’ sociodemographic information, awareness, attitudes, behaviors, and NCD outcomes. The significance of differences in these data between the first and second health checkups was compared using paired sample t-tests and McNemar tests. Results: The mean blood glucose level decreased significantly from 139.3 to 123.9 mg/dL after 6 months. The mean value of body mass index (BMI) was significantly reduced from 25.0 to 24.8 after 6 months. The proportion of participants who were aware of their hypertension status increased significantly after 6 months (8.5% to 25.5%). The percentages of participants who reported “currently taking medicine or drugs for hypertension or type 2 diabetes” increased significantly after 6 months (5.7% to 17.7% and 6.4% to 12.8%, respectively). The percentage of participants who reported “already trying to improve their eating habits” significantly increased from 5.7% to 17.7%, and who reported “already trying to improve their excise habits” increased significantly from 3.5% to 12.1%. The proportion of participants who reported “I am willing to pay more than 500 Indian rupees [approximately 800 Japanese yen] for mobile health checkup services” rose significantly from 4.3% to 39.7%. Conclusions: The levels of participants’ awareness, ttitudes, behaviors, and NCD outcomes improved after 6 months. Regular mobile health checkup services could be an effective approach in developing countries.

DOI： 10.15017/4400023

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Language：English   Publisher：Institute of Decision Science for a Sustainable Society, Kyushu University  

Background: The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and other factors with type 2 diabetic complications and comorbidities have not been fully characterized in vegetarian populations. / Purpose of the study: This study aimed to determine whether BMI and sociodemographic factors are associated with the presence of type 2 diabetic complications and comorbidities in vegetarian outpatients attending a diabetes clinic in the city of Jaipur, India. / Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 184 type 2 diabetic outpatients using a questionanire. The questionnaire included questions regarding the participants’ diet type, medical history, current health conditions, and sociodemographic profile. The participants’ height and weight were also measured. / Results: One hundred and thirty patients (71%) reported themselves to be vegan, lacto-vegetarian, or lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Of these, 63 vegetarian paraticipants (49%) had at least one chronic complication or comorbidity. Vegetarian participants with a BMI≥30 kg/m2 were significantly more likely to have complications or comorbidities than those with a BMI<23, <24, or <25 kg/m2. In addition, vegetarian participants who had been living with type 2 diabetes for more than 10 years were significantly more likely than those with a duration of less than 4 years to have complications or comorbidities. Finally, those with a higher level of education were significantly less likely to have complications or comorbidities than those with a lower level of education. / Conclusion: Vegetarian outpatients with a BMI≥30 kg/m2, those who had been living with type 2 diabetes for more than 10 years, and those with no primary school education need to be targeted to prevent complications or comorbidities.

DOI： 10.15017/4400020

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Language：English   Publisher：Japan Society for Occupational Health  

<p><b>Objective</b>: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused devastating damage to employment globally, particularly among the non-standard workforce. The objective of this study was to identify the effects of the pandemic on the employment status and lives of working students in Japan.</p><p><b>Methods</b>: The Labour Force Survey (January 2019 to May 2020) was used to examine changes in students’ work situations. In addition, to investigate the economic and health conditions of university students during the pandemic, the Student Lifestyle Survey was conducted in late May 2020. This survey asked students at a national university in Tokyo about recent changes in their studies, work, and lives.</p><p><b>Results</b>: The number of working students reported in the Labour Force Survey has declined sharply since March 2020, falling by 780,000 (46%) in April. According to a survey of university students’ living conditions, 37% were concerned about living expenses and tuition fees, and a higher percentage of students who were aware of financial insecurity had poor self-rated health.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>: Nearly half of working students have lost their jobs during the pandemic in Japan, which has affected their lives, studies, and health. There is a need to monitor the impact of economic insecurity on students’ studies and health over time, and to expand the safety net for disadvantaged students.</p>

DOI： 10.1002/1348-9585.12209

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Publisher：JMIR Publications Inc.  

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<jats:title>Background</jats:title>
<jats:p>Uric acid is associated with noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, vascular dementia, and hypertension. Therefore, uric acid is considered to be a risk factor for the development of noncommunicable diseases. Most studies on uric acid have been performed in developed countries, and the application of machine-learning approaches in uric acid prediction in developing countries is rare. Different machine-learning algorithms will work differently on different types of data in various diseases; therefore, a different investigation is needed for different types of data to identify the most accurate algorithms. Specifically, no study has yet focused on the urban corporate population in Bangladesh, despite the high risk of developing noncommunicable diseases for this population.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Objective</jats:title>
<jats:p>The aim of this study was to develop a model for predicting blood uric acid values based on basic health checkup test results, dietary information, and sociodemographic characteristics using machine-learning algorithms. The prediction of health checkup test measurements can be very helpful to reduce health management costs.</jats:p>
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<jats:p>Various machine-learning approaches were used in this study because clinical input data are not completely independent and exhibit complex interactions. Conventional statistical models have limitations to consider these complex interactions, whereas machine learning can consider all possible interactions among input data. We used boosted decision tree regression, decision forest regression, Bayesian linear regression, and linear regression to predict personalized blood uric acid based on basic health checkup test results, dietary information, and sociodemographic characteristics. We evaluated the performance of these five widely used machine-learning models using data collected from 271 employees in the Grameen Bank complex of Dhaka, Bangladesh.</jats:p>
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<jats:p>The mean uric acid level was 6.63 mg/dL, indicating a borderline result for the majority of the sample (normal range <7.0 mg/dL). Therefore, these individuals should be monitoring their uric acid regularly. The boosted decision tree regression model showed the best performance among the models tested based on the root mean squared error of 0.03, which is also better than that of any previously reported model.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title>
<jats:p>A uric acid prediction model was developed based on personal characteristics, dietary information, and some basic health checkup measurements. This model will be useful for improving awareness among high-risk individuals and populations, which can help to save medical costs. A future study could include additional features (eg, work stress, daily physical activity, alcohol intake, eating red meat) in improving prediction.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>

DOI： 10.2196/18331

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Language：English   Publisher：Institute of Decision Science for a Sustainable Society, Kyushu University  

Introduction: New methods and tools in healthcare sector are growing gradually due to the continuing innovation in medicine and technologies. Health care technology system adoption varies among health care professionals (doctors, nurses), patients, and potential users. Therefore, for increasing number of technologies in the health care field, the use of technology acceptance model is needed to guide implementation process across health care contexts and user groups. Therefore, understanding and creating the conditions under which information system will be grasped by human remains a high priority research issue of information systems research and practice. Moreover, due to the scarcity of medical infrastructure including doctors and hospitals, remote healthcare services by using advanced Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is getting popular around the world. Due to potential benefits and the various eHealth initiatives in place, many recent studies have been done to enhance acceptance of eHealth services by all citizens. / Objective: Therefore, the purpose of this review is to systematically review all published studies on investigating the users' adoption of eHealth to summarize results of previous studies and to show future direction for further research. This study reviews all published research on acceptance model in e-health. / Method: This study conducted a systematic search of the web of science database and google scholar to collect studies about the adoption of eHealth technology. The author selected 19 articles to review. This literature review is conducted to identify currently available eHealth adoption framework. / Conclusion: The result showed that understanding and creating the conditions under which information system will be grasped by human is a high priority research issue of information systems research and practice. Based on the identified adoption factors in different eHealth technological context, it is suggested that the common investigated factors in the previous studies for each technological context and user group, need to be tested empirically in real settings. The confirmed factors are then recommended for apply as a basic model in each technological context and user group. / Originality: This study inform scope for future research by identifying gaps in literature in this field. To our knowledge this is the first study to systematically review to identify influencing factors, and future directions of adoption of ICT based health services.

DOI： 10.15017/4400004

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Publisher：JMIR Publications Inc.  

<sec>
<title>BACKGROUND</title>
<p>Uric acid is associated with noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, vascular dementia, and hypertension. Therefore, uric acid is considered to be a risk factor for the development of noncommunicable diseases. Most studies on uric acid have been performed in developed countries, and the application of machine-learning approaches in uric acid prediction in developing countries is rare. Different machine-learning algorithms will work differently on different types of data in various diseases; therefore, a different investigation is needed for different types of data to identify the most accurate algorithms. Specifically, no study has yet focused on the urban corporate population in Bangladesh, despite the high risk of developing noncommunicable diseases for this population.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>OBJECTIVE</title>
<p>The aim of this study was to develop a model for predicting blood uric acid values based on basic health checkup test results, dietary information, and sociodemographic characteristics using machine-learning algorithms. The prediction of health checkup test measurements can be very helpful to reduce health management costs.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>METHODS</title>
<p>Various machine-learning approaches were used in this study because clinical input data are not completely independent and exhibit complex interactions. Conventional statistical models have limitations to consider these complex interactions, whereas machine learning can consider all possible interactions among input data. We used boosted decision tree regression, decision forest regression, Bayesian linear regression, and linear regression to predict personalized blood uric acid based on basic health checkup test results, dietary information, and sociodemographic characteristics. We evaluated the performance of these five widely used machine-learning models using data collected from 271 employees in the Grameen Bank complex of Dhaka, Bangladesh.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>RESULTS</title>
<p>The mean uric acid level was 6.63 mg/dL, indicating a borderline result for the majority of the sample (normal range &lt;7.0 mg/dL). Therefore, these individuals should be monitoring their uric acid regularly. The boosted decision tree regression model showed the best performance among the models tested based on the root mean squared error of 0.03, which is also better than that of any previously reported model.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>CONCLUSIONS</title>
<p>A uric acid prediction model was developed based on personal characteristics, dietary information, and some basic health checkup measurements. This model will be useful for improving awareness among high-risk individuals and populations, which can help to save medical costs. A future study could include additional features (eg, work stress, daily physical activity, alcohol intake, eating red meat) in improving prediction.</p>
</sec>

DOI： 10.2196/preprints.18331

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：The Japanese Society for Hygiene  

DOI： 10.1265/jjh.18034

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Language：English   Publisher：International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement  

<p>Reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) care services could be critical entry points for preventing non-communicable diseases in women and children. In high-income countries, non-communicable diseases screening has been integrated into both the medical and public health systems. To integrate these services in low- and middle-income countries, it is necessary to closely examine its effectiveness and feasibility. In this systematic review, we evaluated the effectiveness of integrating gestational and non-gestational non-communicable diseases interventions and RMNCH care among women and children in low- and middle-income countries. This systematic review included randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials published from 2000 to 2015. Participants included reproductive-age women, children < 5 years old, and RMNCH care providers. The included interventions comprised packaged care/services that integrated RMNCH services with non-communicable disease care. The outcomes were maternal and/or infant mortality and complications, as well as health care service coverage. We analyzed six studies from 7,949 retrieved articles. Yoga exercise (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and nutritional improvements (<i>p</i> < 0.05) were effective in reducing gestational hypertension and diabetes. Additionally, integrating cervical cancer and RMNCH services was useful for identifying potential cervical cancer cases. Interventions that integrate non-communicable disease care/screening and RMNCH care may positively impact the health of women and children in low- and middle-income countries. However, as primary evidence is scarce, further research on the effectiveness of integrating non-communicable disease prevention and RMNCH care is warranted. (<i>Review Registration</i>: PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42015023425).)</p>

DOI： 10.5582/bst.2018.01070

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Language：English   Publisher：BioMed Central  

Background:Menstrual problems can significantly impact daily and work life. In reaction to a shrinking population, the Japanese government is encouraging more women to participate in the labor force. Actual success in achieving this aim, however, is limited. Specifically, participation in the workforce by women during their reproductive years is impacted by their health, which involves not only work conditions, but also traditional family circumstances. Therefore, it is important to further assess and gather more information about the health status of women who work during their reproductive years in Japan. Specifically, women’s health can be represented by menstruation status, which is a pivotal indicator. In this study, we assessed the association between short rest periods in work intervals and menstruation and other health status indicators among female workers in Japan.Methods:Study participants were recruited from the alumnae of a university, which provided a uniform educational level. All 9864 female alumnae were asked to join the survey and 1630 (17%) accepted. The final sample of study participants (n = 505) were aged 23–43 years, had maintained the same job status for at least 1 year, and were not shift workers, had no maternal status, and did not lack any related information. The participants were divided into two groups according to interval time, with 11 h between end of work and resumption of daily work as a benchmark. This interval time was based on EU regulations and the goal set by the government of Japan. Health outcomes included: menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhoea symptoms, anxiety regarding health, and satisfaction in terms of health. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for health indexes in association with interval time by adjusting for confounding variables that included both psychosocial and biological factors.Results:We compared the health status of women in the workforce with and without a sufficient interval time of 11 h/day. Workers who had a short interval time had a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety about health and dissatisfaction with their health. For menstruation status, only abnormal menstruation cycles were observed more often among workers in the short interval group than those of the long interval group. However, this association disappeared when biological confounding factors were adjusted in a multivariable regression model. Dysmenorrhea symptoms did not show a statistically significant association with short interval time.Conclusions:This study found a significant association between a short interval time of less than 11 h/day and subjective health indicators and the menstrual health status of women in the workforce. Menstrual health was more affected by biological factors than social psychological factors. A long work time and short interval time could increase worker anxiety and dissatisfaction and may deteriorate the menstrual cycle.

DOI： 10.1186/s13030-017-0112-x

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Language：English   Publisher：東京 : 日本ストレス学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：九州大学男女共同参画推進室  

第1部 基調講演 / 　“The Science of Broadening Participation of Women in Science and Education Fields and the Workforce” / 　　ケリー・クレッグヘンダーソン(アメリカ国立科学財団社会科学・行動科学・経済学局副局長) / 　“Broadening Participation of Women-Economic Analyses” / 　　大野 由夏(北海道大学大学院経済学研究科教授） / 　“Unwillingness Employment Status and Health among Highly Educated Women” / 　　錦谷 まりこ(九州大学持続可能な社会のための決断科学センター准教授) / 第2部 パネルディスカッション / 　1. “On the Convergence in Female Participation Rates” / 　　安部 由起子(北海道大学公共政策大学院教授) / 　2. “Mothers of Children with Disabilities and Care for Such Mothers” / 　　山下 亜紀子(九州大学大学院人間環境学研究院准教授) / 　3. パネルディスカッション

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Language：English   Publisher：National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health  

<p>The participation of women in the Japanese labor force is characterized by its M-shaped curve, which reflects decreased employment rates during child-rearing years. Although, this M-shaped curve is now improving, the majority of women in employment are likely to fall into the category of non-regular workers. Based on a review of the previous Japanese studies of the health of non-regular workers, we found that non-regular female workers experienced greater psychological distress, poorer self-rated health, a higher smoking rate, and less access to preventive medicine than regular workers did. However, despite the large number of non-regular workers, there are limited researches regarding their health. In contrast, several studies in Japan concluded that regular workers also had worse health conditions due to the additional responsibility and longer work hours associated with the job, housekeeping, and child rearing. The health of non-regular workers might be threatened by the effects of precarious employment status, lower income, a lower safety net, outdated social norm regarding non-regular workers, and difficulty in achieving a work-life balance. A sector wide social approach to consider life course aspect is needed to protect the health and well-being of female workers' health; promotion of an occupational health program alone is insufficient.</p>

DOI： 10.2486/indhealth.2016-0105

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Language：English   Publisher：The Medical Association of Nippon Medical School  

<p><b>Background: </b>Cancer patients' satisfaction with their treatment decisions has been demonstrated to be associated with improved health outcomes, but few studies of this issue have been conducted in Japan. <b>Objective: </b>To explore key factors in enhancing patient satisfaction, we assessed the association between their satisfaction and their relationships with their physicians. <b>Methods: </b>We conducted cross-sectional questionnaire surveys among patients who had received cancer treatment. One source was outpatients from a cancer center hospital, and the other was through the website of Japan's most popular newspaper. The questionnaire included demographic questions and general self-rated life status issues, such as peace of mind, quality of life, daily activities, family relationships, rapport with attending physician, assessment of the physician's explanations, and feelings of happiness during the previous week. <b>Results: </b>Of 576 respondents, 383 subjects said they were satisfied and 193 dissatisfied. It was confirmed that the online survey was comparable to the paper-based survey in examining patient satisfaction. The dissatisfied group included more females and fewer subjects who were forced to retire from jobs than the satisfied group. The patients in the satisfied group had a more favorable subjective opinion of their recent life. The patients in the dissatisfied group received more chemotherapy and had more side effects than those in the satisfied group. Assessment of the physician's role showed significant differences between the two groups; the patients in the satisfied group felt more than those in the dissatisfied group that their physicians' explanations of treatment were sufficient and were satisfied with their rapport with their physicians. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that rapport with physicians was a significant factor (odds ratio=3.79, 95% CI=2.25-6.39). <b>Conclusions: </b>Rapport between physicians and patients is one of the most important factors in patient satisfaction with treatment decisions.</p>

DOI： 10.1272/jnms.83.235

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Language：English   Publisher：Japan Society for Occupational Health  

<b>Objectives:</b> The aim of this study was to examine whether the association between employment contract and self-rated health differs by household structure in a representative sample of employees in Japan. <b>Methods:</b> The participants were 81,441 male and 64,471 female employees aged 18–59 years who had participated in the 2010 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions. We assessed the interactive effect of employment contract (permanent or precarious) and household structure (couple only, couple with children, single parent, single person, or other multi-person) on fair/poor health, adjusting for covariates by using logistic regression. We then calculated the relative poverty rate by employment contract and household structure. <b>Results:</b> The interaction effect was significant for women (<i>p</i><0.001) but not for men (<i>p</i>=0.413). A higher percentage of female precarious workers who lived in single-parent households (20.2%) reported fair/poor health compared with those in other types of households (10.4–13.2%), although the prevalence of fair/poor health did not differ substantially by household structure among female permanent workers. The relative poverty rates of female precarious workers who lived in single-parent households were higher compared with those of other female workers. <b>Conclusions:</b> Our results suggest that female precarious workers are not a homogeneous group and that those living in single-parent households suffer from poor health due to low income and insufficient coverage by insurance firms and family-based safety nets.(J Occup Health 2014; 56: 339-346)

DOI： 10.1539/joh.13-0279-oa

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Language：English   Publisher：Japan Society of Ningen Dock  

<p><b>Objective: </b>The economic inequality gap in Japan has rapidly widened in recent years, and financial disparity has been reported to affect health status. The present study investigated a relationship between economic status and cancer knowledge, healthy behavior, and cancer check-up rates. </p><p><b>Methods:</b> This cross-sectional study involved 6,004 residents of Yokohama City and Oyama City, Japan, randomly selected from the gender and age strata. Subjects aged between 35 and 65 were divided into 2 groups according to whether they perceived their economic status as affluent or not. </p><p><b>Results: </b>Nearly 35% of the subjects answered that they did not consider themselves to be affluent. The subjects in this group had lower education levels and less regular employment, and fewer were married, compared with the affluent group. They also tended to have less knowledge about a healthy lifestyle, eat fewer vegetables, smoke, have an unhealthy body weight, and receive fewer cancer check-ups. We found strong correlations between relative economic satisfaction and cancer prevention knowledge, healthy lifestyle, and behaviors. People who did not perceive themselves as affluent tended to know less about cancer risks, have unhealthy diets and smoking habits, and receive fewer cancer check-ups. </p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> A significant positive correlation exists between economic satisfaction and cancer prevention behaviors in Japan. Because economic dissatisfaction derives from a comparison with others, a reduction in social disparity may be necessary to increase cancer check-up rates and promote healthy lifestyles.</p>

DOI： 10.11320/ningendockitn.1.1_47

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：Japan Society for Occupational Health  

<b>Objectives: </b>The purpose of this study was to review research articles about the health of workers with precarious employment (precarious workers). <b>Methods:</b> Articles that compared the health status between permanent and precarious workers were systematically searched. The collected articles are discussed with respect to their study design, data source, sample size, country, health outcome, definition of precarious employment, and primary findings. <b>Results:</b> Sixty-eight articles were identified by the inclusion criteria. Health outcomes were categorized into four types: occupational injuries, physical health, mental health, and alternative health measurements. Precarious employment was associated with a high prevalence of occupational injuries, higher mortality rate, and inferior degree of mental health. For alternative health measures, access to health services were limited among precarious workers. Sickness absence or leave was taken less often by precarious workers than permanent workers. <b>Conclusions: </b>Unstable employment and the limited welfare of precarious workers might affect their health in relation to a variety of health-related characteristics while several studies concluded that permanent workers had an inferior health status. Therefore, the current social climate, which allows precarious employment with low benefits and diverse work contracts, might be detrimental for workers' health, in general. <br> <i>(San Ei Shi 2011; 53: 117-139)</i><br>

DOI： 10.1539/sangyoeisei.a11002

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Language：English  

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Language：English  

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Language：English   Publisher：Japan Society for Occupational Health  

In Japan, death from overwork (“karoshi” in Japanese) is the focus of social concern. Extremely long work hours and deprivation of sleep exert vital exhaustion and mood changes, resulting in disease conditions such as depression and ischemic heart disease . As the prevention of diseases caused by heavy overtime schedules is a live issue in Japan, decisive and objective indicators are necessary for the early detection of irrecoverable damage to workers’ health. Young overtime workers, under forty, are often passed over by routine medical check-ups, nevertheless they have been suffering from shortened sleep and lack of effective rest. Especially information-technology workers in Japan are involved in extreme overwork beyond daytime working hours in order to compete in the global market. Detailed health assessments should be carried out with a view to identifying and implementing measures to relieve adverse health effects in overtime workers. The critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) test is a suitable method for the measurement of short-term visual strain , however, few studies have indicated that CFF is sensitive as an objective measure of chronic fatigue. Therefore other convenient tools are required to detect exhausted workers at risk. Computerized static posturography has been used to examine balance function disorders, measuring displacements of the body’s center of pressure by the use of a force platform during static upright posture. The posturographic measurements are reportedly suitable for monitoring fatigue. Since continued insufficient sleep can lead to inability to concentrate, perceptual changes and dizziness, we performed a quantitative study using postural sway parameters as the disturbance stimulation of foot pressure movement in order to evaluate fatigued conditions of overtime workers at the early stage. The purpose of this study was to find medical evidence for the effects of extended working hours and short sleep time among younger workers under forty, and to recommend certain measures for their health assessment and control.

DOI： 10.1539/joh.48.65

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Language：English  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：Japan Society for Occupational Health  

DOI： 10.1539/sangyoeisei.kj00003804461

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：Japan Society for Occupational Health  

DOI： 10.1539/sangyoeisei.kj00003804309

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Language：English   Publisher：The Japanese Society of Hypertension  

<B>This study examined the relationship between arterial stiffness and autonomic nervous function in a young population. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 382 Japanese males, aged 24 to 39 years, who worked at the same information service company. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured using an automatic waveform analyzer, and the spectral power of heart rate variability in the low frequency (LF: 0.04-0.15 Hz) and the high frequency (HF: 0.15-0.40 Hz) band was evaluated by the maximum entropy method. LF/HF and HF were used as the indicators of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous activity, respectively. Psycho-hormonal responses were examined by the Profile of Mood State (tension-anxiety and anger-hostility scales) and Hamilton’s Depression Scale with serum cortisol and catecholamine levels. In a univariate analysis, baPWV was positively associated with the following variables (all <I>p</I> <0.05): LF/HF, age, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, serum total cholesterol and triglycerides, blood glucose, and plasma cortisol and noradrenaline. Multiple regression analysis indicated that LF/HF was an independent predictor of baPWV (<I>p</I> <0.05), after controlling for significant effects of age, systolic blood pressure, and plasma noradrenaline levels. There was no significant effect of HF on baPWV in this multivariate analysis. Neither mood state nor health-related lifestyle factors such as smoking were significant. It was suggested that baPWV is closely associated with sympathetic nervous activity in young men. (<I>Hypertens Res</I> 2004; 27: 925-931)</B>

DOI： 10.1291/hypres.27.925

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Language：English   Publisher：Tohoku University Medical Press  

This study aims to clarify the effects of stress perception and related social indicators on three major musculoskeletal symptoms: low back, shoulder, and joint pains in a Japanese population. Twenty health-related variables (stress perception and 19 social indicators) and the three symptoms were obtained from the following Japanese national surveys: the Comprehensive Survey of Living Condition of the People on Health and Welfare, the System of Social and Demographic Statistics of Japan, and the Statistical Report on Health Administration Services. The results were compared among 46 Japanese prefectures in 1995 and 2001. By factor analysis, the 19 indicators were classified into three factors of urbanization, aging and life-regularity, and individualization. The prevalence of stress perception was significantly correlated to the 8 indicators of urbanization factor. Although simple correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship of stress perception only to shoulder pain (in both years) and low back pain (in 2001), the results of multiple regression analysis showed that stress perception and some urbanization factors were significantly associated with all the three symptoms in both years exclusive of joint pain in 1995. Taking the effects of urbanization into consideration, stress perception seems to be closely related to the complaints of musculoskeletal symptoms in Japan.

DOI： 10.1620/tjem.203.195

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Language：Japanese  

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Language：English   Publisher：National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health  

To disclose the effects of chromium (Cr) on olfactory function, olfactory threshold tests were conducted on 27 male plating workers (Cr workers) with signs and symptoms of olfactory irritation but without nasal septum perforation or ulcer and on 34 male control subjects in Korean plating factories. The Cr workers had been exposed to Cr fume for 0.9 to 18.2 (mean 7.9) years; their blood Cr concentrations (0.16-3.69, mean 1.29 μg/dl) were significantly higher than those of the 34 control subjects (0.04-1.95, mean 0.55 μg/dl). Scores on recognition thresholds among the Cr workers were significantly higher than those of the control subjects (p<0.05) and related positively and significantly to the exposure periods of the 27 Cr workers (p<0.05). Olfactory thresholds were not significantly different between the Cr workers with and without nasal signs or symptoms, except that the scores on the recognition threshold were significantly higher in those experiencing difficulty with smell (p<0.05). It is suggested that olfactory threshold is affected by Cr without development of nasal septum perforation or ulceration.

DOI： 10.2486/indhealth.41.279

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Language：English   Publisher：National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health  

To examine the effects of occupational and environmental neurotoxicants on vestibular, cerebellar and spinocerebellar functions, the following three groups of subjects were examined, using a computerized posturography with sway frequency analysis: (1) 49 male chemical factory workers exposed to lead stearate, aged 27-63 (mean 43) years, with concurrent blood lead concentrations (BPbs) of 11-113 (mean 48) μg/100 g and past mean BPbs of 7-52 (mean 24) μg /100 g; (2) 29 male sandal, shoe and leather factory workers, aged 35-73 (mean 51) years, with urinary 2, 5-hexanedione (HD) concentrations of 0.41-3.06 (mean 1.20) mg/g creatinine; and (3) 9 females, aged 19-58 (mean 29) years, who were exposed to sarin accidentally 6-8 months before the study (Tokyo Subway Sarin Poisoning, March 20, 1995) and showed plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activities of 13-95 (mean 68) IU/l on the day of poisoning. The pattern of posturographic changes in lead workers suggested that the vestibulocerebellum (lower vermis), anterior cerebellar lobe and spinocerebellar afferent pathway were asymptomatically affected; the vestibulocerebellar change reflected concurrent lead absorption and the anterior cerebellar one reflected past absorption. Similarly, vestibulocerebellar and spinocerebellar functions were affected by n-hexane in solvent workers; the effect on the vestibulocerebellar function was probably inhibited by xylene. Also, the chronic (long-term) effect on the vestibulocerebellar function persisted in acute sarin poisoning. It is thus suggested that the vesitibulocerebellar function is most sensitive to all the three chemicals examined. It appears that the computerized posturography with frequency analysis is a useful technique for assessment of vestibular, cerebellar and spinocerebellar effects in occupational and environmental health.

DOI： 10.2486/indhealth.40.14

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：和光 : 「日本味と匂学会」事務局  

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Language：English   Publisher：Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry  

  6-<i>O</i>-β-<small>D</small>-Xylopyranosyl-β-<small>D</small>-glucopyranosides (β-primeverosides) of (<i>Z</i>)-3-hexenol and <i>trans</i>-linalool 3,7-oxide were newly isolated from fresh leaves of a tea cultivar (<i>Camellia sinensis</i> var. <i>sinensis</i> cv. Yabukita). In addition, the already identified β-primeverosides of benzyl alcohol, methyl salicylate, and <i>trans</i>-linalool 3,6-oxide from an oolong tea cultivar were isolated from the Yabukita cultivar. It was confirmed that all aglycones of the linalool oxide glycosides isolated here were of the optically active <i>S</i>-form by chiral GC after enzymatic hydrolysis with glycosidase.<br>

DOI： 10.1271/bbb.63.1631

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Language：English   Publisher：The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry  

The determination of odor recognition threshold values of n- and iso-amyl (pentyl) acetates was carried out by odor panel test (Japanese students 18-22 years old;6 males and a female) using 10- liter Tedlar bag static method. The trace concentrations of n-and iso-amyl acetates in the Tedlar bag were determined by gas chromatography and an odor sensor (SnO₂ type). The odor recognition threshold values of amyl acetates were 7.70ppm for n-amyl and 1.50ppm for iso- amyl. The odor quality from several odor panels were evaluated, such as a binder solvent-like, aqueous paint, stimuli, fruity, aromatic, ether-like, gasoline-like, pungent, minty, sour, petroleum- like, respectively.

DOI： 10.2116/analsci.13.supplement_505

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