We performed a statistical analysis to find characteristic elements or moments which may make old people feel life worth living in rural areas in Japan, using the results of a questionnaire survey we reported in 1996 wiht the title “Aging of the Rural Population and Effective Measures to Respond to the Trend.”
In the analytical procedure, we used a multiple regression analysis with a logistic model. The dependent variable was the question “Is your present life worth your while to live?” As the independent variables, 168 questions were used covering various aspects of everyday life-farm work, activity in the community, environment, health, medication, aging, death, etc.
The number of subjects responded to the survey totaled 1, 373 men and women at age 55 and over living in 7 prefectures in Japan. The purpose of the analysis was to obtain items of questions with statistically significant coefficients in the logistic regression equation for the dependent variable. A total of 28 items of questions of statistic significance were obtained and most of the answers to these questions had a positively directed nature in order. Some of the items are as follows:
“Principles in life, ”“High hopes on agriculture, ”“Family with plural generations, ”“Satisfaction with domestic conditions, ”“Positive (healthy) ADL-markers, ”“Liking for harmony, ”“Participation in neighborhood activity, ”“Medication up to the terminal stage, ”“Willingness to leave one's body to medicine or donate for organ transplantation, ” etc.
Further, we discussed the comparison of items of unique characteristics between prefectures, healthy and unhealthy groups, sexes, age groups, and farmers and non-farmers.

Urinary mineral excretions were measured on five healthy 19-years-old female students in domestic sciences course of a woman's college and five healthy 18-19-years-old female students in physical training course, during the training camp of ski events.
The examination for the female students in domestic sciences course was done on 22 December as of ordinary time at school and on 23-25 December 1969 in training camp of ski event at a skiing ground. For the female students in physical training course the examination was done on 9-13 January 1970 in training camp at the same skiing ground and on 3-5 February 1970 in ordinary time at school. Every three hours urine was collected during the examination periods.
(1) Whole urine volume per 24 hours decreased in training camp in comparison with that in ordinary school time, while the excretion increased after the physical exercise and decreased during the sleeping hours.
(2) Creatinine excretion per 24 hours increased in the training camp and diurnally the excretion increased after the physical exercises. The variation of creatinine excretion seemed to be effected by the physical exercise.
(3) Decrease of Na excretion and increase of K excretion were observed in the students of domestic sciences course in training camp. Increase pattern of Na and K excretion with diurnal variation in training camp was observed with physical exercises.
(4) Urinary excretion of Ca and Mg increased by the female students of physical training course in training camp. On the diurnal pattern, the increase of Ca and Mg excretion caused by physical exercise showed some time lag of the peak compared to that of Na and K.
(5) Phosphorus excretion increased both in the students of domestic sciences course and of physical training course in training camp. The decrease of P excretion in the daytime and the increase in the sleeping hours was commonly observed for both groups.
(6) Following up the diurnal variations of urine volume and urinary excretions of Na, K, Ca and Mg in the female students of physical training course through the training camp for five days, difference between the increase of the excretions after, physical exercises and the decrease in sleeping hours got less day by day. Such a change seems to be the physiological adaptation of human body in order to control excess excretions of the important substances.
(7) Although the value of Na f K ratio fell in both student groups during training camp, the decrease was smaller for the physical training course group than for the domestic sciences course group. The fact that more excretions of urine volume and creatinine and less lowering of Na/K ratio than those of the domestic sciences course students were observed in the physical training course students seemed to be the effect of the daily training.

To find the correlation between the inhibitory effects of hot-spring water on blood-pressure and its chemical composition, the effects of artificial spa bathing on lowering blood pressure were compared with those of hot-spring bathing on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Further, the induction of heat-shock proteins (HSP) in rat organs was quantitatively examined in order to clarify the mechanism of its action. Artificial spa (Na₂SO₄-Na₂HCO₃) bathing showed almost the same inhibitory effects on blood pressure as those of hot-spring bathing.
There was no significant difference in the catecholamine value in blood between both types of spa bathing, nor was there any difference from the values of the control group.
It was found that HSP molecules were induced in the brain, liver, and kidneys not only by hot-spring bathing but also by artificial spa bathing, with different inductive profiles from one organ to another.

The relationship between body fat growth and physical fitness and motor ability development in school age children is not well understood. We determined the similarities and differences in body fat growth and physical fitness and motor ability development curves by applying cross correlation functions, and attempted to show the structure of growth and development between these attributes. The subjects were 647 boys aged 7 to 15 years. The measurements were height, weight, body mass index and body fat percentage as physical characters; and 20-m sprint, Pro Agility test, side steps, standing long jump, vertical jump, and rebound jump (RJ) index as physical fitness and motor ability. The wavelet interpolation method was applied to growth and distance values for physique, body fat and physical fitness and motor ability, and growth and development curves were derived. Cross correlation functions were then applied to the respective pairs of the compared velocity curves. There were large changes in the behavior of the growth velocity curve around the take off age for height, and so the relationship between body fat percentage and physical fitness and motor ability was investigated using the respective cross correlation functions around the take off age. Before the take off age, positive correlations were seen between body fat percentage and physical fitness and physical fitness and motor ability except for the RJ index. After the take off age, in contrast, there were negative correlations between body fat percentage and physical fitness and motor ability except for the RJ index. These results show the new finding that after the take off age in boys, there are contrary similarity between body fat and speed, agility, and instantaneous force.

To clarify the core competencies developed through postgraduate clinical training, we analyzed the conditions of our residency program with qualitative research methods. Seven residents (6 first-year residents and 1 second-year resident) answered a questionnaire and underwent semistructured interviews about postgraduate training. We also worked with the residents as “participant observers” of the treatment team. We found that residents often had trouble formulating diagnostic/treatment plans and tended to rely excessively on laboratory data to make decisions. We attribute these problems to a lack of practice in questioning expectations. We hypothesized that mitate-ryoku, the ability to describe the course of a patient's illness, is an extremely important clinical competency. According to the hypothesis, we tried to listen to the residents' description and to discuss it logically as colleagues. The residents described the patients expected condition over the next few days, considering both data and information they obtained from interviews and physical examinations. They adapted their ideas through logical discussion and were thus able to make acceptable decisions by themselves.

We have developed a new gait assisting device for patients with hemiplegia, by which a single therapist alone can work with : 1) swing of the paretic limb, 2) stance of the paretic limb, and 3) alternate lateral weight-shift during gait. This device (ASSWS : Assistance of Swing, Stance and Weight Shift) imitates the kinesiological complex (patellar ligament, quadriceps, iliotibial ligament and gluteus maximus) to maintain a standing posture for the lower extremities. We compared the results of a gait analysis using a motion analyzer for gait with ASSWS and gait without ASSWS. With ASSWS, the walking speed was faster, stride length was longer, and stride duration was shorter. No differences in floor reaction force were identified. With ASSWS, the flexion peak of the hip joint became larger and the knee joint was in a more flexed position throughout the walking cycle. Also, the joint moment of hip extension, hip flexion and knee extension all increased with use of the ASSWS.

Background/Aims: Evidence regarding the association between body mass index (BMI) and functional dyspepsia (FD) in the Asian population is limited.Further, no study has evaluated this issue in young people in Asian and Western populations. Thus, we aim to investigate this issueamong young Japanese people. Methods: The study subjects comprised of 8923 Japanese university students. BMI was divided into 4 categories (quartiles) on the basis of thestudy subjects’ distribution (lowest, low, moderate, and high [reference]). The definition of lean, normal, overweight, and obesewas BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 , 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2 (reference), 25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2 , and 30 kg/m2 ≤ BMI, respectively. The definition of FD was based on the Rome III criteria. Results: The prevalence of FD was 1.9% in this cohort. The lowest BMI was independently associated with FD after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-3.67); P for trend = 0.001). The lowest BMI was independently associated with FD in women but not in men (OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.59-5.77; P for trend = 0.001). Leanness was independently associated with FD in total and in women but not in men (total: adjusted OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.40-2.86) and women (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.35-3.45). However,interaction analysis showed no significant difference for sex. Conclusions Among young Japanese people, BMI may be independently inversely associated with FD. Leanness may be an independent associated factor for FD in the young Japanese women.

Background/Aims: Functional dyspepsia (FD) may be a common digestive disease worldwide and reduces the quality of life of patients. However, only a few studies have investigated the association between eating behavior and FD. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association between eating behavior and prevalence of FD in a young Japanese cohort. Methods: In this study, we enrolled 8923 Japanese university students. FD is diagnosed based on the Rome III criteria. Eating habits and frequency of meals were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The FD subjects had a younger mean age, a lower body mass index, and a lower proportion of men compared to the non-FD subjects.An independent positive association between skipping breakfast and/or lunch and FD was found (adjusted ORs were 1.60 [95% CI, 1.10-2.32] for breakfast and 2.52 [95% CI, 1.04-5.18] for lunch). Skipping dinner, extra meals (snacks) or midnight snacks was not associated with FD. The prevalence of FD in subjects eating 1, 2, and 3 meals per day was 4.8%, 2.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. The frequency of meals was independently inversely associated with prevalence of FD (adjusted ORs were 1 per day: 2.72 [95% CI, 1.19-5.42], and 2 per day: 1.69 [95% CI, 1.16-2.43], P for trend = 0.001). Conclusions In the young Japanese people, the frequency of meals may be independently inversely associated with prevalence of FD. In particular, skipping breakfast and/or lunch was associated with the prevalence of FD.

Background/Aims: Although certain allergic diseases have been reported to be associated with the prevalence of functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it is unclear whether the presence of multiple allergic diseases further increases the prevalence of FD and IBS.The aim of this study is to determine this issue in young people. Methods: A cohort of 8923 Japanese university students was enrolled and diagnoses of FD and IBS were confirmed using Rome III criteria.Allergic disorders diagnosed at medical institutions were obtained by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of FD, IBS, and their overlap was found to be 1.9%, 6.5%, and 1.1%, respectively. Pollen allergy was independently positively correlated with FD, IBS, and overlap of FD and IBS. Allergic rhinitis was positively linked to IBS. Drug allergy was positively associated with FD. The presence of multiple allergic diseases was positively correlated with FD and IBS (FD: adjusted OR for 2 allergic diseases: 1.95 [95% CI, 1.24-2.98], P for trend = 0.003; and IBS: adjusted OR for 1 allergic disease: 1.40 [95% CI, 1.15-1.69], 2 allergic diseases 1.47 [95% CI, 1.12-1.91], and 3 or more allergic diseases: 2.22 [95% CI, 1.45-3.28], P for trend = 0.001). Additionally, the concomitant existence of multiple allergic diseases was also demonstrated to have a trend that correlated with the overlap of FD and IBS (P for trend = 0.018). Conclusion Allergic disease multimorbidity is positively correlated with the prevalence of FD and IBS in a young population.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy of TachoSil for vessel injury in 6 patients who underwent anterior lumbar fusion surgery (ALF). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: ALF for the lumbar spine has a high rate of success, although intraoperative concerns and iatrogenic complications are known, and injury of a major vessel is sometimes a complication. The efficacy of TachoSil, a fibrin-based hemostat, has been reported for several types of surgery; however, use of TachoSil for ALF surgery has not been described. Here, we report on the efficacy of TachoSil in 6 patients, who underwent ALF after vascular surgeons having difficulty in repairing vessels. METHODS: Two man and 4 women with average age of 50.8±10.9 (mean±standard deviation) were diagnosed with a vertebral tumor (2 patients), L4 degenerative spondylolisthesis (2 patients), and L5 spondylolytic spondylolisthesis (2 patients) and underwent ALF. The blood vessels injured included the common iliac vein in 2 patients and a branch of a segmental artery from the aorta in 4 patients. We consulted a vascular surgeon to suture or repair the vessels during surgery, and although the vascular surgeon attempted to address the injuries, suturing or repair was not possible in these cases. For this reason, we used TachoSil to repair the injury in the vessels walls or to stop the bleeding. RESULTS: Time to pressure hemostasis using TachoSil was 34±12 minutes, and total blood loss was 1,488±1,711 mL. Nevertheless, all vessel injuries were controlled by the use of TachoSil. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the use of TachoSil for vessel injuries that vascular surgeons cannot suture or repair during ALF surgery.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Blood Vessels ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine* ; Spondylolisthesis ; Surgeons ; Sutures