start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=373 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250205 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The Asia-Pacific Body Mass Index Classification and New-Onset Chronic Kidney Disease in Non-Diabetic Japanese Adults: A Community-Based Longitudinal Study from 1998 to 2023 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Obesity is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Asians. The Asia-Pacific body mass index (BMI) classification sets lower obesity cutoffs than the conventional BMI classification for all races, generally reflecting the lower BMIs in Asians. This longitudinal study evaluated the association between BMI, as classified by the Asia-Pacific BMI system, and CKD development in non-diabetic Asian adults. Methods: A population-based longitudinal study (1998–2023) was conducted in non-diabetic Japanese adults (hemoglobin A1c < 6.5%) in Zentsuji City (Kagawa Prefecture, Japan). The generalized gamma model was used to assess the relationship between time-varying BMI categories and CKD development, stratified by sex. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. BMI was calculated as weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m2) and categorized per the Asia-Pacific classification as overweight (23.0–24.9 kg/m2), obesity class I (25.0–29.9 kg/m2), and obesity class II (≥30.0 kg/m2). Results: CKD developed in 34.2% of 3098 men and 34.8% of 4391 women. The mean follow-up times were 7.41 years for men and 8.25 years for women. During follow-up, the BMI distributions for men were 5.0% underweight, 43.3% normal weight, 25.6% overweight, 24.1% obesity class I, and 2.0% obesity class II; those for women were 7.7%, 50.5%, 20.5%, 18.3%, and 2.9%, respectively. Compared with normal weight, obesity class I was associated with a 6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2–10%) shorter time to CKD onset in men and 5% (95% CI: 2–7%) in women. In both sexes, obesity class II showed shorter survival times than normal weight by point estimates, although all 95% CIs crossed the null value. Conclusions: Obesity, as classified by the Asia-Pacific BMI system, shortened the time to CKD onset in non-diabetic Asians. The conventional BMI cutoff for obesity (≥30.0 kg/m2) may be too high to identify CKD risk in this population. The findings of this study may be useful for public health professionals in designing interventions to prevent CKD. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkawaYukari en-aut-sei=Okawa en-aut-mei=Yukari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Public Health and Welfare, Zentsuji City Hall kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=body mass index kn-keyword=body mass index en-keyword=chronic kidney disease kn-keyword=chronic kidney disease en-keyword=East Asian kn-keyword=East Asian en-keyword=longitudinal studies kn-keyword=longitudinal studies en-keyword=risk factors kn-keyword=risk factors END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=13770 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2023 dt-pub=20230823 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A population-based longitudinal study on glycated hemoglobin levels and new-onset chronic kidney disease among non-diabetic Japanese adults en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global public health problem. Recent studies reported that diabetes and prediabetes are risk factors for developing CKD; however, the exact glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) cut-off value for prediabetes remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between HbA1c levels and subsequent CKD development in greater detail than previous studies. Longitudinal data of annual checkups of 7176 Japanese non-diabetic people (male: 40.4%) from 1998 to 2022 was analyzed. HbA1c values were categorized into < 5.0%, 5.0-5.4%, 5.5-5.9%, and 6.0-6.4%. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2). The descriptive statistics at study entry showed that higher HbA1c values were associated with male, older, overweight or obese, hypertensive, or dyslipidemic people. During a mean follow-up of 7.75 person-years, 2374 participants (male: 40.0%) developed CKD. The Weibull accelerated failure time model was selected because the proportional hazards assumption was violated. The adjusted time ratios of developing CKD for HbA1c levels of 5.5-5.9% and 6.0-6.4% compared with 5.0-5.4% were 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.92-1.03) and 1.01 (95% confidence interval: 0.90-1.13), respectively. There was no association between HbA1c in the prediabetic range and subsequent CKD development. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkawaYukari en-aut-sei=Okawa en-aut-mei=Yukari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiEtsuji en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Etsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YorifujiTakashi en-aut-sei=Yorifuji en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=18 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2023 dt-pub=20230224 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Diarrhea and related personal characteristics among Japanese university students studying abroad in intermediate- and low-risk countries en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Despite an increasing number of students studying abroad worldwide, evidence about health risks while they are abroad is limited. Diarrhea is considered the most common travelers' illness, which would also apply to students studying abroad. We examined diarrhea and related personal characteristics among Japanese students studying abroad. Japanese university students who participated in short-term study abroad programs between summer 2016 and spring 2018 were targeted (n = 825, 6-38 travel days). Based on a 2-week-risk of diarrhea (passing three or more loose or liquid stools per day) among travelers by country, the destination was separated into intermediate- and low-risk countries. After this stratification, the associations between personal characteristics and diarrhea during the first two weeks of their stay were evaluated using logistic regression models. Among participants in intermediate-risk countries, teenagers, males and those with overseas travel experience were associated with an elevated risk of diarrhea; the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 2.42 (1.08-5.43) for teenagers (vs. twenties), 1.93 (1.08-3.45) for males (vs. females) and 2.37 (1.29-4.33) for those with overseas experience (vs. none). Even restricting an outcome to diarrhea during the first week did not change the results substantially. The same tendency was not observed for those in the low-risk countries. Teenage students, males and those with overseas travel experience should be cautious about diarrhea while studying abroad, specifically in intermediate-risk countries. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamakawaMichiyo en-aut-sei=Yamakawa en-aut-mei=Michiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaKeiko en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagataChisato en-aut-sei=Nagata en-aut-mei=Chisato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiEtsuji en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Etsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=21 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=77 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2022 dt-pub=20220824 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Demonstrating the undermining of science and health policy after the Fukushima nuclear accident by applying the Toolkit for detecting misused epidemiological methods en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=It is well known that science can be misused to hinder the resolution (i.e., the elimination and/or control) of a health problem. To recognize distorted and misapplied epidemiological science, a 33-item "Toolkit for detecting misused epidemiological methods" (hereinafter, the Toolkit) was published in 2021. Applying the Toolkit, we critically evaluated a review paper entitled, "Lessons learned from Chernobyl and Fukushima on thyroid cancer screening and recommendations in the case of a future nuclear accident" in Environment International in 2021, published by the SHAMISEN (Nuclear Emergency Situations - Improvement of Medical and Health Surveillance) international expert consortium. The article highlighted the claim that overdiagnosis of childhood thyroid cancers greatly increased the number of cases detected in ultrasound thyroid screening following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. However, the reasons cited in the SHAMISEN review paper for overdiagnosis in mass screening lacked important information about the high incidence of thyroid cancers after the accident. The SHAMISEN review paper ignored published studies of screening results in unexposed areas, and included an invalid comparison of screenings among children with screenings among adults. The review omitted the actual state of screening in Fukushima after the nuclear accident, in which only nodules > 5 mm in diameter were examined. The growth rate of thyroid cancers was not slow, as emphasized in the SHAMISEN review paper; evidence shows that cancers detected in second-round screening grew to more than 5 mm in diameter over a 2-year period. The SHAMISEN consortium used an unfounded overdiagnosis hypothesis and misguided evidence to refute that the excess incidence of thyroid cancer was attributable to the nuclear accident, despite the findings of ongoing ultrasound screening for thyroid cancer in Fukushima and around Chernobyl. By our evaluation, the SHAMISEN review paper includes 20 of the 33 items in the Toolkit that demonstrate the misuse of epidemiology. The International Agency for Research on Cancer meeting in 2017 and its publication cited in the SHAMISEN review paper includes 12 of the 33 items in the Toolkit. Finally, we recommend a few enhancements to the Toolkit to increase its utility. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyanoYumiko en-aut-sei=Miyano en-aut-mei=Yumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoEiji en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Okayama University of Science kn-affil= en-keyword=Chernobyl kn-keyword=Chernobyl en-keyword=Thyroid kn-keyword=Thyroid en-keyword=Cancer kn-keyword=Cancer en-keyword=Screening kn-keyword=Screening en-keyword=Overdiagnosis kn-keyword=Overdiagnosis en-keyword=Ultrasound kn-keyword=Ultrasound END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=26 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=788 end-page=793 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2016 dt-pub=201611 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Errors in causal inference: an organizational schema for systematic error and random error en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose
To provide an organizational schema for systematic error and random error in estimating causal measures, aimed at clarifying the concept of errors from the perspective of causal inference.

Methods
We propose to divide systematic error into structural error and analytic error. With regard to random error, our schema shows its four major sources: nondeterministic counterfactuals, sampling variability, a mechanism that generates exposure events and measurement variability.

Results
Structural error is defined from the perspective of counterfactual reasoning and divided into nonexchangeability bias (which comprises confounding bias and selection bias) and measurement bias. Directed acyclic graphs are useful to illustrate this kind of error. Nonexchangeability bias implies a lack of “exchangeability” between the selected exposed and unexposed groups. A lack of exchangeability is not a primary concern of measurement bias, justifying its separation from confounding bias and selection bias. Many forms of analytic errors result from the small-sample properties of the estimator used and vanish asymptotically. Analytic error also results from wrong (misspecified) statistical models and inappropriate statistical methods.

Conclusions
Our organizational schema is helpful for understanding the relationship between systematic error and random error from a previously less investigated aspect, enabling us to better understand the relationship between accuracy, validity, and precision. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SuzukiEtsuji en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Etsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MansourniaMohammad Ali en-aut-sei=Mansournia en-aut-mei=Mohammad Ali kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoEiji en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Epidem iology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Environmenta l and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama University, kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Information Science, Faculty of Informatics, Okayama University of Science kn-affil= en-keyword=bias kn-keyword=bias en-keyword=causality kn-keyword=causality en-keyword=epidemiologic methods kn-keyword=epidemiologic methods END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=28 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=48 end-page=53 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2018 dt-pub=20181 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Covariate balance for no confounding in the sufficient-cause model en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: To show conditions of covariate balance for no confounding in the sufficient-cause model and discuss its relationship with exchangeability conditions.
Methods: We consider the link between the sufficient-cause model and the counterfactual model, emphasizing that the target population plays a key role when discussing these conditions. Furthermore, we incorporate sufficient causes within the directed acyclic graph framework. We propose to use each of the background factors in sufficient causes as representing a set of covariates of interest and discuss the presence of covariate balance by comparing joint distributions of the relevant background factors between the exposed and the unexposed groups.
Results: We show conditions for partial covariate balance, covariate balance, and full covariate balance, each of which is stronger than partial exchangeability, exchangeability, and full exchangeability, respectively. This is consistent with the fact that the sufficient-cause model is a “finer” model than the counterfactual model.
Conclusions: Covariate balance is a sufficient, but not a necessary, condition for no confounding irrespective of the target population. Although our conceptualization of covariate imbalance is closely related to the recently proposed counterfactual-based definition of a confounder, the concepts of covariate balance and confounder should be clearly distinguished. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SuzukiEtsuji en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Etsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoEiji en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Information Science, Faculty of Informatics, Okayama University of Science kn-affil= en-keyword=bias kn-keyword=bias en-keyword=causality kn-keyword=causality en-keyword=confounding factors kn-keyword=confounding factors en-keyword=epidemiologic methods kn-keyword=epidemiologic methods END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=73 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=1049 end-page=1054 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2009 dt-pub=20090315 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Analysis of Factors Associated With Radiation-Induced Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia Syndrome After Breast-Conserving Therapy en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: To evaluate factors associated with radiation-induced bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) syndrome after breast-conserving therapy.
Methods and materials: A total of 702 women with breast cancer who received radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery at seven institutions between July 1995 and December 2006 were analyzed. In all patients, the whole breast was irradiated with two tangential photon beams. The criteria used for the diagnosis of radiation-induced BOOP syndrome were as follows: (1) radiotherapy to the breast within 12 months, (2) general and/or respiratory symptoms lasting for >or=2 weeks, (3) radiographs showing lung infiltration outside the radiation port, and (4) no evidence of a specific cause.
Results: Radiation-induced BOOP syndrome was seen in 16 patients (2.3%). Eleven patients (68.8%) were administered steroids. The duration of steroid administration ranged from 1 week to 3.7 years (median, 1.1 years). Multivariate analysis revealed that age (>or=50 years; odds ratio [OR] 8.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-67.76; p = 0.04) and concurrent endocrine therapy (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.09-8.54; p = 0.03) were significantly associated with BOOP syndrome. Of the 161 patients whose age was >or=50 years and who received concurrent endocrine therapy, 10 (6.2%) developed BOOP syndrome.
Conclusions: Age (>or=50 years) and concurrent endocrine therapy can promote the development of radiation-induced BOOP syndrome after breast-conserving therapy. Physicians should carefully follow patients who received breast-conserving therapy, especially those who are older than 50 years and received concurrent endocrine therapy during radiotherapy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KatayamaNorihisa en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Norihisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoShuhei en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Shuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsuiKuniaki en-aut-sei=Katsui en-aut-mei=Kuniaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakemotoMitsuhiro en-aut-sei=Takemoto en-aut-mei=Mitsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritoTsuneharu en-aut-sei=Morito en-aut-mei=Tsuneharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakagawaTomio en-aut-sei=Nakagawa en-aut-mei=Tomio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MizutaniAkifumi en-aut-sei=Mizutani en-aut-mei=Akifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=WakiTakahiro en-aut-sei=Waki en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=NiiyaHarutaka en-aut-sei=Niiya en-aut-mei=Harutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanazawaSusumu en-aut-sei=Kanazawa en-aut-mei=Susumu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Breast cancer kn-keyword=Breast cancer en-keyword=Breast-conserving surgery kn-keyword=Breast-conserving surgery en-keyword=Radiotherapy kn-keyword=Radiotherapy en-keyword=Radiation-induced BOOP syndrome kn-keyword=Radiation-induced BOOP syndrome en-keyword=Endocrine therapy kn-keyword=Endocrine therapy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=7 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e8146 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2019 dt-pub=20191129 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Combined effects of body mass index and unhealthy behaviors on disability in older Japanese adults: the Okayama study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Body mass index (BMI) is a significant predictor of functional disability in older adults. However, when evaluated, the association between BMI and incident functional disability, considering behaviors only as covariates or not, may not be appropriate. The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the combined effects of BMI and unhealthy behaviors on the risk of incident functional disability.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that took place in Okayama City, Japan. Data on BMI and unhealthy behaviors were obtained using the health check-up questionnaire. The certification of Long-Term Care Insurance was used to measure functional disability. Cox proportional hazard models were used; adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for incidence of functional disability across categories of BMI and number of unhealthy behaviors.
Results: The relationship between BMI and incident functional disability was U-shaped (HR = 1.18, 95% CI [1.11-1.25], among the underweight range; and 1.26 [1.19-1.34] among the obesity range), and its risk was significantly higher within the normal-to-overweight range of BMI values with co-occurring unhealthy behaviors (with normal weight range and one, 1.17 [1.01-1.21]; two, 1.29 [1.18-1.41]; and three or four unhealthy behaviors 1.38 [1.24-1.54]; as well as among overweight range and one, 1.16 [1.05-1.27]; two, 1.26 [1.15-1.38]; and three or four unhealthy behaviors, 1.47 [1.31-1.64]). In each BMI category, the risk of incident functional disability increased with increasing number of unhealthy behaviors (p < 0.05 for linear tread), with the highest risk (1.87 [1.58-2.20]) occurring in combination with at least three unhealthy behaviors with BMI >= 27.5, for both sexes (2.20 [1.64-2.92] in men and 1.66 [1.35-2.04] in women).
Conclusion: It is necessary to consider the combined effects of BMI and behaviors on incident functional disability. Furthermore, interventions targeting multiple behaviors should be considered as such interventions may offer greater benefits than simple interventions. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=LiuYangyang en-aut-sei=Liu en-aut-mei=Yangyang kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamakawaMichiyo en-aut-sei=Yamakawa en-aut-mei=Michiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasaiMegumi en-aut-sei=Sasai en-aut-mei=Megumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaJun en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine,Gifu University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Sri Lanka Office, Japan International Cooperation Agency kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Health Economics and Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Elderly kn-keyword=Elderly en-keyword=Disability kn-keyword=Disability en-keyword=Body mass index kn-keyword=Body mass index en-keyword=Long-term care insurance kn-keyword=Long-term care insurance en-keyword=Unhealthy behaviors kn-keyword=Unhealthy behaviors END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=71 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=209 end-page=217 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2017 dt-pub=201706 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Evaluating the Effects of Air Pollution from a Plastic Recycling Facility on the Health of Nearby Residents en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= We evaluated how exposure to airborne volatile organic compounds emitted from a plastic recycling facility affected nearby residents, in a cross-sectional study. Individuals>10 years old were randomly sampled from 50 households at five sites and given questionnaires to complete. We categorized the subjects by distance from the recycling facility and used this as a proxy measure for pollutant exposure. We sought to improve on a preceding study by generating new findings, improving methods for questionnaire distribution and collection, and refining site selection. We calculated the odds of residents living 500 or 900 m away from the facility reporting mucocutaneous and respiratory symptoms using a reference group of residents 2,800 m away. Self-reported nasal congestion (odds ratio=3.0, 95% confidence interval=1.02-8.8), eczema (5.1, 1.1-22.9), and sore throat (3.9, 1.1-14.1) were significantly higher among residents 500 m from the facility. Those 900 m away were also considerably more likely to report experiencing eczema (4.6, 1.4-14.9). Air pollution was found responsible for significantly increased reports of mucocutaneous and respiratory symptoms among nearby residents. Our findings confirm the effects of pollutants emitted from recycling facilities on residents’ health and clarify that study design differences did not affect the results. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=XinZhao en-aut-sei=Xin en-aut-mei=Zhao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=air pollutants kn-keyword=air pollutants en-keyword=volatile organic compounds kn-keyword=volatile organic compounds en-keyword=recycling facility kn-keyword=recycling facility en-keyword=mucocutaneous symptoms kn-keyword=mucocutaneous symptoms en-keyword=respiratory symptoms kn-keyword=respiratory symptoms END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=70 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=167 end-page=173 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2016 dt-pub=201606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Aflatoxins in Rice Artificially Contaminated with Aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus flavus under Natural Storage in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Aflatoxin (AFT) contamination is frequent in foods grown in tropical regions, including rice. Although AFTs are generally not found in temperate-region foods, global warming has affected typical temperate-region climates, potentially permitting the contamination of foods with AFT-producing Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). Here we investigated the AFT production in rice during storage under natural climate conditions in Japan. We examined AFTs in brown rice and rough rice artificially contaminated with A. flavus for 1 year in Japan, and we subjected AFTs in white rice to the same treatment in airtight containers and examined the samples in warm and cold seasons, simulating the storage of white rice in general households. In the brown rice, AFTs increased after 2 months (March) and peaked after 9 months (October). The AFT contamination in the rough rice was minimal. After the polishing and cooking of the brown rice, AFTs were undetectable. In the white rice stored in airtight containers, AFTs increased after 1 month (August) and peaked after 2 months (September). Minimal AFTs were detected in the cold season. Thus, AFT contamination in rice may occur in temperate regions following A. flavus contamination. The storage of rice as rough rice could provide be useful for avoiding AFT contamination. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SugiharaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Sugihara en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoMasahiko en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Masahiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitohYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Mitoh en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkedaSatoru en-aut-sei=Ikeda en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Animal Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University of Health and Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Aspergillus flavus kn-keyword=Aspergillus flavus en-keyword=aflatoxin kn-keyword=aflatoxin en-keyword=rice kn-keyword=rice en-keyword=temperate region kn-keyword=temperate region en-keyword=storage kn-keyword=storage END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2015 dt-pub=2015 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Thyroid Cancer Detection by Ultrasound Among Residents Ages 18 Years and Younger in Fukushima en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: After the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March 2011, radioactive elements were released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Based on prior knowledge, concern emerged about whether an increased incidence of thyroid cancer among exposed residents would occur as a result. Methods: After the release, Fukushima Prefecture performed ultrasound thyroid screening on all residents ages <=18 years. The first round of screening included 298,577 examinees, and a second round began in April 2014. We analyzed the prefecture results from the first and second round up to December 31, 2014, in comparison with the Japanese annual incidence and the incidence within a reference area in Fukushima Prefecture. Results: The highest incidence rate ratio, using a latency period of 4 years, was observed in the central middle district of the prefecture compared with the Japanese annual incidence (incidence rate ratio = 50; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 25, 90). The prevalence of thyroid cancer was 605 per million examinees (95% CI = 302, 1,082) and the prevalence odds ratio compared with the reference district in Fukushima Prefecture was 2.6 (95% CI = 0.99, 7.0). In the second screening round, even under the assumption that the rest of examinees were disease free, an incidence rate ratio of 12 has already been observed (95% CI = 5.1, 23). Conclusions: An excess of thyroid cancer has been detected by ultrasound among children and adolescents in Fukushima Prefecture within 4 years of the release, and is unlikely to be explained by a screening surge. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TokinobuAkiko en-aut-sei=Tokinobu en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoEiji en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiEtsuji en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Etsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Faculty of Informatics, Okayama University of Science affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1 end-page=7 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2012 dt-pub=20121226 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Study on the factors determining home death of patients during home care: A historical cohort study at a home care support clinic. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Aim Associations between markedly low activities of daily living (ADL) at the start of home visit care and patient home death were analyzed using data from a home care support clinic in Japan that has a low rate of home deaths. Methods The study was a historical cohort study. It involved patients who began to receive home visit care from a home visit care support clinic between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2011. Using home death as a dependent variable and presence/absence of markedly low ADL and other parameters (cancer, the patient's desire for home death, etc.) as independent variables, the adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results Markedly low ADL were associated with home death even after adjustment for factors that influence home death (adjusted hazard ratio 4.40; 95% CI 2.37–8.16). Cancer and the patient's desire for home death were statistically significant factors involved in home death. In a subgroup analysis according to the presence/absence of cancer, the association between markedly low ADL and home death was stronger in the cancer-free group (adjusted hazard ratio 10.78; 95% CI 2.89–40.26) than in the cancer group (adjusted hazard ratio 5.58; 95% CI2.39–13.05). Conclusion Patients' desire for home death could be fulfilled if home care support clinics provide home visit services to not only terminal-stage cancer patients, but also bedridden cancer-free patients. We must establish systems for older adults to remain at home during the terminal period of their lives. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; ●●: ●●–●●. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KawagoeSeiji en-aut-sei=Kawagoe en-aut-mei=Seiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences en-keyword=activities of daily living kn-keyword=activities of daily living en-keyword=Cox proportional hazards model kn-keyword=Cox proportional hazards model en-keyword=home death kn-keyword=home death en-keyword=home visit kn-keyword=home visit en-keyword=Japan kn-keyword=Japan END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=37 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=907 end-page=913 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2011 dt-pub=201107 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Long-term exposure to methylmercury and psychiatric symptoms in residents of Minamata, Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: It is well-known that prenatal or postnatal exposure to methylmercury can produce neurological signs in adults and children, exemplified by a case of large-scale poisoning in Minamata, Japan, in the 1950s. However, evidence regarding whether pre- or postnatal exposure to methylmercury causes psychiatric symptoms (e.g., impairment of intelligence and mood and behavioral dysfunction) is still limited-excluding cases of fetal Minamata disease patients. Methods: We evaluated the effects of pre- or postnatal exposure to methylmercury on psychiatric symptoms using data derived from a 1971 population-based survey in Minamata and neighboring communities. We adopted residential areas as an exposure indicator and psychiatric symptoms as the outcome. Then, we estimated the adjusted prevalence odds ratio (POR) and confidence interval (Cl) of psychiatric symptoms in relation to residential area. Results: There were 904 participants in Minamata (high exposure area), 1700 in Goshonoura (middle exposure area), and 913 in Ariake (low exposure area). Compared to the Ariake area, participants in the Minamata area manifested psychiatric symptoms more frequently: PORs for impairment of intelligence and mood and behavioral dysfunction were 5.2 (95% Cl: 3.7-7.3) and 4.4 (95% Cl: 2.9-6.7), respectively. Furthermore, participants with psychiatric symptoms in the Minamata area more frequently had neurological signs. Peaks in prevalence of psychiatric symptoms occurred around age 20 and in older age adults in the area. These findings did not change when we excluded those who had been officially certified as Minamata disease patients by that time. Conclusions: The present study suggests a relationship between pre- or postnatal exposure to methylmercury and psychiatric symptoms among the general population in Minamata even after excluding officially certified patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YorifujiTakashi en-aut-sei=Yorifuji en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueSachiko en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Sachiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaoSoshi en-aut-sei=Takao en-aut-mei=Soshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaradaMasazumi en-aut-sei=Harada en-aut-mei=Masazumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental Science affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences en-keyword=Environmental pollution kn-keyword=Environmental pollution en-keyword=Epidemiological studies kn-keyword=Epidemiological studies en-keyword=Methylmercury compounds kn-keyword=Methylmercury compounds en-keyword=Minamata disease kn-keyword=Minamata disease en-keyword=Prenatal exposure delayed effects kn-keyword=Prenatal exposure delayed effects en-keyword=Psychiatric disorders kn-keyword=Psychiatric disorders END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=65 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=97 end-page=103 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2011 dt-pub=201104 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Environmental Factors and Seasonal Influenza Onset in Okayama City, Japan: Case-Crossover Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Seasonal influenza infection is a major challenge in public health. The term "seasonal influenza" refers to the typical increase in the number of influenza patients in the winter season in temperature zones. However, it is not clear how environmental factors within a single flu season affect influenza infection in a human population. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of temperature and humidity in the 2006-7 flu season on the onset of seasonal influenza using a case-crossover study. We targeted patients who attended one pediatric clinic in Okayama city, Japan and who were diagnosed as being infected with the seasonal influenza virus. Using 2 references (time-stratified and symmetric bidirectional design), we estimated the effects of average temperature and relative humidity from the onset day (lag0) to 10 days before (lag10). The total number of subjects was 419, and their onset days ranged from 26 December 2006 to 30 April 2007. While the onset was significantly associated with lower temperature, relative humidity was not related. In particular, temperatures before the 3-day incubation period had higher-magnitude odds ratios. For example, the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for average temperature at time lag 8 was 1.12 (1.08-1.17) per 1.0℃ decrease. Low environmental temperature significantly increased the risk of seasonal influenza onset within the 2006-7 winter season. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TsuchihashiYuuki en-aut-sei=Tsuchihashi en-aut-mei=Yuuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YorifujiTakashi en-aut-sei=Yorifuji en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaoSoshi en-aut-sei=Takao en-aut-mei=Soshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiEtsuji en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Etsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriShigeru en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Shigeru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Momotaro Clinic affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental Science en-keyword=seasonal influenza in humans kn-keyword=seasonal influenza in humans en-keyword=temperature kn-keyword=temperature en-keyword=humidity kn-keyword=humidity en-keyword=case-crossover study kn-keyword=case-crossover study END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=65 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=63 end-page=69 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2011 dt-pub=201104 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup Infection Originating in Boxed Lunches in Japan in 2008 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=There have been only 2 reports of a large-scale foodborne outbreak arising from Salmonella enterica serotype Braenderup infection worldwide. On August 9, 2008, an outbreak originating in boxed lunches occurred in Okayama, Japan. We conducted a cohort study of 786 people who received boxed lunches from a particular catering company and collected 644 questionnaires (response rate:82%). Cases were defined as those presenting with diarrhea (≧4 times in 24h) or fever (≧38℃) between 12 am on August 8 and 12 am on August 14. We identified 176 cases (women/men:39/137);younger children (aged<10 years) appeared to more frequently suffer severe symptoms. Three food items were significantly associated with higher risk of illness;tamagotoji (soft egg with mixed vegetables and meat) (relative risk (RR):11.74, 95% confidence interval (CI):2.98-46.24), pork cooked in soy sauce (RR:3.17, 95% CI:1.24-8.10), and vinegared food (RR:4.13, 95% CI:1.60-10.63). Among them, only the RR of tamagotoji was higher when we employed a stricter case definition. Salmonella Braenderup was isolated from 5 of 9 sampled cases and 6 food handlers. It is likely that unpasteurized liquid eggs contaminated by Salmonella Braenderup and used in tamagotoji caused this outbreak. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MizoguchiYoshinori en-aut-sei=Mizoguchi en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiEtsuji en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Etsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsuchidaHiroaki en-aut-sei=Tsuchida en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoEiji en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaseKatsumi en-aut-sei=Nakase en-aut-mei=Katsumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama City Public Health Center affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental Science affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Information Science, Okayama University of Science affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama City Public Health Center affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences en-keyword=boxed lunch kn-keyword=boxed lunch en-keyword=cohort study kn-keyword=cohort study en-keyword=foodborne diseases kn-keyword=foodborne diseases en-keyword=Salmonella Braenderup kn-keyword=Salmonella Braenderup en-keyword=unpasteurized liquid eggs kn-keyword=unpasteurized liquid eggs END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=64 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=171 end-page=179 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2010 dt-pub=201006 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Factors Affecting Appropriate Management of Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Physicians should educate patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on measures to prevent reinfection and should also undertake human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing after diagnosis of STIs. These preventive measures are important, but it is not known to what extent these procedures are followed in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the proportion of patients with STIs who received appropriate management from physicians, namely recommendation of HIV testing, encouragement of condom use and examination and/or treatment of sexual partners, to elucidate the factors affecting institution of each measure. From a mailshot of 566 physicians, 409 (72.3%) responded, with 176 diagnosing an STI in 967 patients. The proportions applying the 3 measures were low (recommendation of HIV testing:27.0;encouragement of condom use:64.8%;examination of sexual partners:17.5%), and were related to the sex of the patients and numbers of patients diagnosed by the physicians. Female patients received better care than male patients, particularly with respect to recommendation of HIV testing (odds ratio:2.82). Physicians who diagnosed more than 20 STI patients tended not to provide appropriate management. These findings suggest the necessity for better physician management of patients for effective prevention of STIs. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KodamaTomoe en-aut-sei=Kodama en-aut-mei=Tomoe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaseKatsumi en-aut-sei=Nakase en-aut-mei=Katsumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YorifujiTakashi en-aut-sei=Yorifuji en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama City Health Center affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental Science affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences en-keyword=sexually transmitted infections kn-keyword=sexually transmitted infections en-keyword=patient care management kn-keyword=patient care management en-keyword=human immunodeficiency virus testing kn-keyword=human immunodeficiency virus testing en-keyword=physician kn-keyword=physician END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=19 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=465 end-page=475 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2003 dt-pub=20038 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of an increase in patient copayments on medical service demands of the insured in japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=

Objectives:To examine quantitatively the effects of an increase in patient copayments from 10% to 20% on the demand for medical services in Japan.
Methods: The subjects of the study were the employees insured by the 1,797 health insurance societies, belonging to the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies, in 1996 and 1998. Indicators of medical service demands analyzed include the inpatient, outpatient, and dental case rates, the number of serviced days per case, the medical cost per day and the medical cost per insured.
Results: When the effects of an increase in patient copayments from 10% to 20% were evaluated, taking into account the average age, the average monthly salary, the total number, the gender (male-tofemale) ratio and the dependent ratio of the insured, the estimated change in the case rate was −6.96% for inpatient, −4.79% for outpatient, and −5.77% for dental care. The estimated change in the number of serviced day per case was −4.66% for inpatient, −5.67% for outpatient, and −1.82% for dental care. The estimated change in the medical cost per day was −3.15% for inpatient, −13.00% for outpatient, and −11.48% for dental care. The estimated change in the medical cost per insured was −14.08% for inpatient, −21.54% for outpatient, and −18.11% for dental care.
Conclusions: The increase in patient copayments from 10% to 20% enabled insurers to substantially reduce medical costs by cost shifting from the insurer to the insured, with resultant changes in the case rate and the number of service days per case.

en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BabazonoAkira en-aut-sei=Babazono en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoEiji en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinoYoshio en-aut-sei=Mino en-aut-mei=Yoshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=UneHiroshi en-aut-sei=Une en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HillmanAlan L. en-aut-sei=Hillman en-aut-mei=Alan L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Kyushu University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University of Science affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Osaka Prefecture University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Fukuoka University affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=University of Pennsylvania, US en-keyword=Copayments kn-keyword=Copayments en-keyword=Health insurance kn-keyword=Health insurance en-keyword=Health policy kn-keyword=Health policy en-keyword=Japan kn-keyword=Japan END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=21 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=228 end-page=233 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2005 dt-pub=20054 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of the increase in co-payments from 20 to 30 percent on the compliance rate of patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus in the Employed Health Insurance System en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=

Objectives: How to contain medical expenditures is a universal problem. The Japanese government has increased patient co-payments to control it. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether the increase in co-payments to 30 percent prevented patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus from receiving necessary care in the Employee Health Insurance System.
Methods: The subjects were 211 patients with hypertension and 66 patients with diabetes mellitus who regularly visited physicians from October 2001 to March 2002 and were defined as a cohort that needed health care, and their medical indicators were examined between April and September 2002 (prestage) and between April and September 2003 (poststage).
Results: In the hypertensive patients with no complications, the compliance rate was 89.9 percent and 88.0 percent in the prestage, and poststage, respectively, showing no significant change. In the hypertensive patients with complications, the compliance rate was 90.5 percent and 92.1 percent in the prestage and poststage, respectively, showing no significant change. In the diabetic patients with complications, the compliance rate was 77.5 percent and 79.2 percent, in the prestage and poststage, respectively, with no significant change. In the diabetic patients with no complications, however, the compliance rate was 83.7 percent and 66.7 percent, in the prestage and poststage, respectively. A significant decrease was observed among diabetic patients without complications.
Conclusions: Increasing co-payments reduced necessary preventive care in diabetic patients without complications.

en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BabazonoAkira en-aut-sei=Babazono en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyazakiMotonobu en-aut-sei=Miyazaki en-aut-mei=Motonobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImatohTakuya en-aut-sei=Imatoh en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=UneHiroshi en-aut-sei=Une en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoEiji en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaKiyoshi en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Kiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniharaShinichi en-aut-sei=Tanihara en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Kyushu University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Fukuoka University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Fukuoka University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Fukuoka University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University of Science affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Japan Health Food and Nutritional Food Association affil-num=8 en-affil= kn-affil=Shimane University en-keyword=Co-payments kn-keyword=Co-payments en-keyword=Compliance kn-keyword=Compliance en-keyword=Hypertension kn-keyword=Hypertension en-keyword=Diabetes mellitus kn-keyword=Diabetes mellitus en-keyword=Health policy kn-keyword=Health policy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=59 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=27 end-page=32 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2005 dt-pub=200502 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Clostridium perfringens foodborne outbreak due to braised chop suey supplied by chafing dish. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=

On February 13, 2002, a public health center in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, was notified that many individuals living at the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force base had symptoms resembling those of food poisoning. Self-administered questionnaires requesting information regarding meal consumption and symptoms were distributed to all 281 members at the base. A case of the illness was defined as a member who had had watery or mucousy stool, or loose stool with abdominal cramps, more than twice a day after consuming dinner on February 12. Control of the illness was defined as a member with no symptoms. The dinner on February 12 was significantly associated with the illness (Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio: 3.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-12.20). A case-control study showed that, among the food supplied at dinner on February 12, the braised chop suey was significantly associated with the illness (odds ratio: 12.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.90-521.00). The braised chop suey had been stored in a chafing dish. An environmental investigation indicated that Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) in the chafing dish proliferated under an inappropriate heat-retention temperature, and the contaminated braised chop suey could have caused the food poisoning. This study demonstrated that the recommended heat-retention temperature (over 65 degrees C) should be confirmed thoroughly.

en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OchiaiHirotaka en-aut-sei=Ochiai en-aut-mei=Hirotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhtsuTadahiro en-aut-sei=Ohtsu en-aut-mei=Tadahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KagawaHaruko en-aut-sei=Kagawa en-aut-mei=Haruko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawashitaToshiaki en-aut-sei=Kawashita en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaoSoshi en-aut-sei=Takao en-aut-mei=Soshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsutsumiAkizumi en-aut-sei=Tsutsumi en-aut-mei=Akizumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawakamiNorito en-aut-sei=Kawakami en-aut-mei=Norito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil= Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Public Health Center of Kure City affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Public Health Center of Kure City affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=8 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University en-keyword=outbreak kn-keyword=outbreak en-keyword= Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) kn-keyword= Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) en-keyword=epidemiology kn-keyword=epidemiology en-keyword=food poisoning kn-keyword=food poisoning END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=63 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=177 end-page=186 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2009 dt-pub=200908 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Factors affecting the choice of suicide method in Okayama: a database analysis from a forensic perspective en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=

The annual number of suicides in Japan increased sharply in 1998, and since that time it has consistently exceeded 30,000 per year. In this study, we analyze a database of personal and background characteristics of 824 cases (605 men, 219 women) who completed suicide in Okayama Prefecture in 2002 and 2003. The data were obtained with cooperation from the police. Using the methodologies in a previous European study as a model, we classified the suicide methods into 8 categories. To examine the generational and regional differences in the choice of methods, we stratified the sample into 4 age groups (<-24, 2544, 4564, and >-65) and 2 regional groups (Okayama/Kurashiki vs. other areas). Our results on gender differences in 7 of the suicide methods were mostly similar to the European data. However, our data showed a remarkably higher proportionate male-to-female mortality ratio for poisoning by other substances (ICD-10, X65-X69 codes) (1.83, 1.15-2.92). In terms of generational differences in the choice of suicide methods, the Mantel-Haenszel test of homogeneity was significant for most of the categories in our study, suggesting an impact of age on how people commit suicide. There were no remarkable regional differences in our sample. An epidemic curve for suicides via carbon monoxide poisoning using charcoal briquets revealed a trend of time clustering not observed in the other 6 means. The database constructed and used in this study contains richer information than conventional death statistics and is expected to provide helpful knowledge and insights for future epidemiological studies.

en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KamizatoEigo en-aut-sei=Kamizato en-aut-mei=Eigo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshitomeKei en-aut-sei=Yoshitome en-aut-mei=Kei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoYuji en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Yuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwaseToshihide en-aut-sei=Iwase en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyaishiSatoru en-aut-sei=Miyaishi en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Legal Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Legal Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Okayama University affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Legal Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences en-keyword=suicide methods kn-keyword=suicide methods en-keyword=gender-specific kn-keyword=gender-specific en-keyword=legal medicine kn-keyword=legal medicine en-keyword=cluster suicide kn-keyword=cluster suicide END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=41 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=229 end-page=232 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=1987 dt-pub=198710 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Comparative study of subjective fatigue between automatic transmission bus drivers and manual transmission bus drivers. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=

The difference in the physiological condition of drivers of manual transmission buses (MTB) and automatic transmission buses (ATB) was examined from the viewpoint of occupational health. This study was based on a self-administered questionnaire which involved items concerning subjective fatigue complaints. No differences in the mental fatigue and stress between MTB drivers and ATB drivers were observed. Although ATB drivers tended to feel less physical fatigue than MTB drivers, the difference was not statistically significant. From these results, it was suggested that there was little difference in the subjective fatigue between ATB drivers and MTB drivers.

en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UenoMitsuo en-aut-sei=Ueno en-aut-mei=Mitsuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IeyasuHidetaka en-aut-sei=Ieyasu en-aut-mei=Hidetaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgawaTakanori en-aut-sei=Ogawa en-aut-mei=Takanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AdachiMasamitsu en-aut-sei=Adachi en-aut-mei=Masamitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University en-keyword=automatic transmission buses kn-keyword=automatic transmission buses en-keyword=manual transmission buses kn-keyword=manual transmission buses en-keyword=subjective fatigue complaints kn-keyword=subjective fatigue complaints END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=50 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=325 end-page=333 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=1996 dt-pub=199612 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Relation between the instrumental activities of daily living and physical fitness tests in elderly women. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=

A cross-sectional study was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and various physical fitness tests in elderly women living at home. The study focused on the total population of those women aged 65 years and over living in Y Town, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, who visited a nursing home for day services. A total of 128 subjects were divided into two groups: dependent in IADL group (n = 49) and independent in IADL group (n = 79). The magnitude of the relation was evaluated by the odds ratio (OR). The following tests showed a significant decrease in IADL: knee-raising test [age-adjusted OR = 4.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.81-9.87], height (age-adjusted OR = 4.09, 95% CI 1.75-9.56), grip strength (age-adjusted OR = 3.68, 95% CI 1.57-8.60), sit-and-reach test (age-adjusted OR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.20-6.34), and standing on one leg with closed eyes (age-adjusted OR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.09-5.97). Multivariate analysis using Hayashi's quantification method I indicated that knee-raising was the test most highly correlated with decreased IADL. These results suggest that measurement of knee-raising ability, muscle strength of the lower extremities and flexibility of hip joint could be the most useful factors to assess the level of instrumental self-support ability.

en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UchidaHayato en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Hayato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinoYoshio en-aut-sei=Mino en-aut-mei=Yoshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=BabazonoAkira en-aut-sei=Babazono en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawadaYuichi en-aut-sei=Kawada en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakiHidetoshi en-aut-sei=Araki en-aut-mei=Hidetoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgawaTakanori en-aut-sei=Ogawa en-aut-mei=Takanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=AoyamaHideyasu en-aut-sei=Aoyama en-aut-mei=Hideyasu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University Medical School affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Univeristy affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=8 en-affil= kn-affil=Kyusyu University en-keyword=elderly women living at home kn-keyword=elderly women living at home en-keyword=instrumental activities of daily living kn-keyword=instrumental activities of daily living en-keyword=physical fitness test kn-keyword=physical fitness test en-keyword=kneeraising ability kn-keyword=kneeraising ability END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=56 end-page=62 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=1995 dt-pub=19951220 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=Determination of Inorganic Anions in Environmental Samples by Capillary Electrophoresis kn-title=環境汚染による人体への影響の定量的評価―環境疫学の概念と最近の話題― en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Concept and recent topics on environmental epidemiology have been introduced in the article. First, the authors presented the basic concept on epidemiology. Answers to the question "Is a particular exposure influent to human health?" can be obtained only from studies of human beings, using an epidemiologic approach. Environmental epidemiology is an application of epidemiology to environmental problem. Then, we presented four examples on environmental epidemiologic research. The four recent topics are residential radon exposure and lung cancer, ingested arsenic and cancer, increase incidence of childhood leukaemia around the English neuclear reprocessing facilities, and magnetic field and excess incidence of childhood leukaemia near Swedish high-voltage power lines. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TsudaToshihide en-aut-sei=Tsuda en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name=津田敏秀 kn-aut-sei=津田 kn-aut-mei=敏秀 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinoYoshio en-aut-sei=Mino en-aut-mei=Yoshio kn-aut-name=三野善央 kn-aut-sei=三野 kn-aut-mei=善央 aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaHiroaki en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name=松岡宏明 kn-aut-sei=松岡 kn-aut-mei=宏明 aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniharaShinichi en-aut-sei=Tanihara en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name=谷原真一 kn-aut-sei=谷原 kn-aut-mei=真一 aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=BabazonoAkira en-aut-sei=Babazono en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name=馬場園明 kn-aut-sei=馬場園 kn-aut-mei=明 aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoEiji en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name=山本英二 kn-aut-sei=山本 kn-aut-mei=英二 aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=岡山大学医学部衛生学教室 affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=岡山大学医学部衛生学教室 affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=岡山大学医学部衛生学教室 affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=岡山大学医学部衛生学教室 affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=九州大学健康科学センター affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=岡山理科大学理学部応用数学 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=1989 dt-pub=19890331 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=土呂久における慢性ヒ素中毒認定患者の悪性新生物についての疫学的研究 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name= en-aut-sei= en-aut-mei= kn-aut-name=津田敏秀 kn-aut-sei=津田 kn-aut-mei=敏秀 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=岡山大学 END