We employed the Meridian Test to study the effects of acupuncture on m otor organ diseases and medical expenses of workers in a company, where health promotion is a priority. Our two-month trial was done at one factory which employs mainly physical labor workers. Acupuncture treatments were given for pain in the neckshoulder, knee and lumbar regions. After 8 weeks of our treatment, 83% of neck-shoulder pain cases, 77% of lumbar pain cases, and 88% of knee pain cases reported that their pain was reduced more than 50%. The results of a mental test (POMS test) showed a significant decrease in tension, depression, anger, fatigue and mental confusion. In terms of acupuncture treatment, numbers of visits to conventional hospitals were significantly decreased and average medical expenses were reduced to about 30%. These reductions continued for the next 3 months. Acupuncture treatment using the Meridian Test could benefit corporations where health promotion of workers is an urgent priority.

A 62-year-old woman with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was admitted to undergo cardiac surgery for aortic stenosis, angina pectoris, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. A bleeding tendency was expected due to the dramatic decrease in platelets during cardiopulmonary bypass. We performed high-dose transvenous gammaglobulin infusion (400mg/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days immediately before surgery. The gammaglobulin therapy caused steady increase of thrombocytes from 4 days after surgery, even though the platelet count showed no significant change preoperatively. The postoperative course was satisfactory with neither a bleeding tendency nor wound infection. High-dose transvenous gammaglobulin therapy is thus useful for perioperative patients with accompanying ITP, who are often under medication with steroids. This therapy is also effective for prevention of infection.

A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our department with a diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis was also diagnosed Inherited antithrombin deficiency was also diagnosed after she suffered from a pulmonary thromboembolic event 10 years previously and had been taking warfarin since then. On admission, her antithrombin activity was 53% of normal, and her PT-INR level was maintained around 2.5. Preoperative management of anticoagulation therapy included discontinuation of warfarin, and supplementation of antithrombin with heparin infusion. On the day of operation, antithrombin activity was maintained above 80% by administering antithrombin, and aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve prosthesis was carried out under standard cardiopulmonary bypass support using heparin. Heparin infusion was continued with antithrombin supplementation until PT-INR recovered to round 2.5 with warfarin. Her intra- and postoperative courses did not show any thromboembolic events, and she was discharged 14 days after the surgery.

A 44-year-old man who received left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation for end-stage heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy suffered from mediastinitis. Computed tomography confirmed mediastinitis. His mediastinum was reopened and irrigated. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was applied to the wound without closing the chest. This system enabled the patient to receive early physical rehabilitation. One year after LVAD implantation, under NPWT, the patient could walk in the general ward, and was waiting for cardiac transplantation. We used some useful materials for NPWT including a coatable non-alcoholic film, flexible sealing sheet, soft exudate absorber, in order to control wound clean, keep air-tight, prevent damage to the skin and to reduce mediastinal instability. LVAD implantation is usually performed as a bridge to transplantation or recovery. One of the most critical complications is intractable mediastinitis. We described a successful infection control of LVAD related mediastinitis with the NPWT.

  Less than 0.5% of hot springs in Japan is natural carbonated hot springs.   Therefore, the spread of artificial bicarbonate (CO2) water in Japan starts by developing the gas-permeable membrane.   There are two methods to produce artificial CO2 water. The first is gas-permeable membrane method and the second is pressurizing stir method. Both are widespread. Because the gas-permeable membrane method is provided by stable concentration in medical treatment, generally the stirring methods spread because a price is cheap.   There is a custom of whole body bathing in Japan from old days, and the CO2 warm water bathing has spread all over Japan in about ten years recently.   The vasodilation effect can be caused by the CO2 in warm water of 41 degrees Celsius (approximately 1,000ppm: max saturation under conditions of atmospheric pressure), which is the temperature favored by Japanese people. This differs from the vasodilation caused by the nitric oxide (NO) by thermal, and the reason is thought to be the participation of hormone from a blood vessel endothelium such as prostaglandin E2.   When CO2 penetrates from the epidermis and it reaches the dermis, it enhances the entering blood vessel to the capillary of the dermis.   The blood vessel is enhanced according to the concentration of CO2.   A wide capillary increases volume flow of blood, sends the tissue oxygen and nourishment, and accentuates the renewal of the skin.   By the use of this mechanism, arteriosclerosis obliterans using the footbath and the pressure sore treatment in the medical, and cosmetics with CO2 water are widespread in the beauty industry in Japan.   Moreover, a vasodilated vessel carries the febris easily from the warm water to the inside of the body, and raises the body temperature high early.   Body temperature increases CO2 water 1.5 degrees Celsius, tap water 1.0 degrees Celsius by the warm water hole body bathing of 41 degrees Celsius 15 minutes from before bathing.   　This phenomenon of CO2 warm water raises the body temperature easier than the tap water, and works as a heat stress for the human body.   It provides to increasing of the immunity (natural killer cell activities) and the heat shock protein (HSP) caused by this stress, and it consequentially enhances health promotion.   In addition, using the bulla from unstable CO2 to clean the hair and the hair root and to improve the blood circulation of the scalp is becoming popular in Japanese hair salon. Though custom of the drinking CO2 water has been performed in Europe from long ago, it became popular in Japan several years ago, for the appetite increase with small and for the diet with large amount. These spread as one of the dieting methods of a woman from last 2 years.   Japan is a country that can use the favor of high concentrate artificial CO2 warm water anywhere, for the development and the widespread of the high concentrated artificial CO2 producting apparatus.

BACKGROUND: Despite the huge burden of domestic work on women in Japan, its effects on their health have been poorly investigated. We aimed to assess the association between domestic work stress and self-rated psychological health among women. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey using an online social research panel in February 2018. Participants were 2,000 women with paid work (the "workers" group) and 1,000 women without paid work (the "homemakers" group), aged between 25 and 59 years old and living with a partner. Self-rated psychological health (Mental Health and Vitality scales of the Japanese SF-36), occupational and domestic work stress (the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire), the 10-item Work-Family Conflict Scale, and sociodemographic factors were assessed. RESULTS: The workers had lower domestic job control and higher support from a partner and their parents than the homemakers (p < 0.001), whereas domestic job demand and psychological health were similar between the groups. After adjustment for the covariates using multiple linear regression models, better psychological health was significantly associated with lower domestic job demand, higher domestic job control, and having a young child in both groups. In addition, work-family conflicts and occupational job stress among the workers and caregiving among the homemakers showed negative associations with psychological health. CONCLUSION Self-rated psychological health in women was associated with domestic work stress regardless of employment status. To promote women's health, we need to take into account the effects of domestic work, work-family conflicts, and social support from families, as well as occupational factors.