In step with the drift of the condition of public life, farmers' working conditions and lifestyle have undergone a phenomenal transformation. In Niigata Prefecture, too, drastic changes have taken place, particularly in the living of farmers who are engaged in mixed farming in the flat land areas.
Inhabitants in remote, mountainous districts, where snow falls heavily, lead frugal lives. In these districts, housewives play leading roles in farming work.
In previous surveys, it was found that the health status of these women was comparable favorably with that of women living the flat land areas.
Recently, we have conducted surveys of health and living conditions of adult female members of the community in an area of heavy snowfall. The surveys were carried out during the snowy season and the warm season. The results were examined carefully, taking acount of seasonal factors.
The health survey conducted during the snowy season revealed that obesity and hypertension rates are high and lumbago and anemia are not remarkable.
The surveys of living conditions did not reveal any significant seasonal difference.
Of special note is the finding that the women frequently eat sweet stuff between meals. The consumption of cow milk is low. They have not taken physical examinations of their own volition, and work hard even if they do not feel well.
With these findings in mind, we have held lecture meetings on health and cooking classes many times during the past three years. As a result, 90.4% of the attendants have become conscious of their mode of living, and 56.2% have come to take care not to overwork themselves.
The incidences of hypertension and farmer's syndrome have declined sharply. However, the obesity rate has not fallen.
In the districts, snowbound for as many as 150 days a year, the housewives have to remove snow from the roof of their houses 154 times on the annual average. However, they take it in their stride. Excepting snow raking, there is no physical labor during the winter months, so that they can rest well.

It is to be noted that in rural districts where they live and work in fresh and clean air the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases is as high as in the districts of air-pollution. Besides, there are a variety of respiratory diseases particularly incidental to life-environment and farm work. To be more informed of their actual conditions, the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine organized a special study group and has carried out various studies for four consecutive years with grants from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The major results obtained are as follows
(1) There were a variety of farm operations which produced or increased respiratory symptoms, including thrashing and scattering of agricultural chemicals;
(2) It became clear that there existed in an advanced age group certain cases of “agricultural pneumoconiosis” which could be regarded as the terminal of the so-called “thrash-bronchitis”
(3) Among the cultivators of rush, raw material for Tatami, There existed cases of pneumoconiosis;
(4) There were a variety of agents to produce bronchial asthma, such as rice straw, chaff, tea-leaves and chrysanthemum-leaves;
(5) In Japan only two cases of farmer's lung were reported prior to this study. One more case was added to the list by this study group. Besides, cases positive to fungous agents were found among farmers in considerably high percentage.

PURPOSE: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) remains a common complication after pelvic or abdominal surgery. However, the risk factors for SBO in ulcerative colitis (UC) surgery are not well known. The aim of the present study was to clarify the risk factors associated with SBO after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) with a loop ileostomy for patients with UC. METHODS: The medical records of 96 patients who underwent IPAA for UC between 1999 and 2011 were reviewed. SBO was confirmed based on the presence of clinical symptoms and radiographic findings. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the SBO group and the non-SBO group. We also analyzed the relationship between SBO and computed tomography (CT) scan image parameters. RESULTS: The study included 49 male and 47 female patients. The median age was 35.5 years (range, 14–72 years). We performed a 2- or 3-stage procedure as a total proctocolectomy and IPAA for patients with UC. SBO in the pretakedown of the loop ileostomy after IPAA occurred in 22 patients (22.9%). Moreover, surgical intervention for SBO was required for 11 patients. In brief, closure of the loop ileostomy was performed earlier than expected. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the 2-stage procedure (odds ratio, 2.850; 95% confidence interval, 1.009–8.044; P = 0.048) was a significant independent risk factor associated with SBO. CT scan image parameters were not significant risk factors of SBO. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that a 2-stage procedure is a significant risk factor associated with SBO after IPAA in patients with UC.
Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Female ; Humans ; Ileostomy* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medical Records ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ulcer*