Objectives: Several studies have reported that the secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) concentration in saliva is an indicator of psychological stress. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between S-IgA and the stress from academic examinations. Methods: S-IgA levels in 10 medical student volunteers from the second year course between May 4 and July 13, 2000 were examined using the ELISA method. Results: There was a tendency for S-IgA in saliva to be higher on the day before academic examinations and during them, and lower on the days between these examinations. Conclusions: It may be possible to use this measurement to monitor psychological stress in students and workers.
Upper case ess ; Immunoglobulin A measurement ; Saliva ; Stress bismuth subsalicylate ; Daily

Relations between feelings and salivary IgA secretion were assessed in co-medical students attending a lecture.The assessments were performed twice in two different classes held in December, 1999 and October, 2000 in the same manner, then the data of the two trials were combined and analyzed. On the basis of the impression of the lecture, students were divided into two groups: a group who felt interested and another group who felt indifferent or bored. Saliva samples were taken three times, at the beginning of, at the end of, and 15 minutes after the class, then the secretory IgA in saliva was determined by ELISA.At the end of the class, an increase in salivary IgA secretion was seen in the group who felt interested, while not in the group who felt indifferent or bored. The increasing change in salivary IgA secretion was, however, moderate and transient, namely it increased only by about +30% on average, and returned to the initial level after 15 minutes.

OBJECTIVESSeveral studies have reported that the secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) concentration in saliva is an indicator of psychological stress. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between S-IgA and the stress from academic examinations.

METHODSS-IgA levels in 10 medical student volunteers from the second year course between May 4 and July 13, 2000 were examined using the ELISA method.

RESULTSThere was a tendency for S-IgA in saliva to be higher on the day before academic examinations and during them, and lower on the days between these examinations.

CONCLUSIONSIt may be possible to use this measurement to monitor psychological stress in students and workers.

OBJECTIVESThe purpose of this study was to examine trends in induced abortions in Japan.

METHODSThe Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare compiled data on induced abortions, live births, and the population of women aged 15-49 years. These data were provided by 47 prefectures in Japan and were used to examine the number of induced abortions and various characteristics of women who received abortions from 1955 through 2001. We examined abortion numbers, abortion ratios (number of legal abortions per 1,000 live births), and abortion rates (number of legal abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-49). We were particularly interested in examining abortion trends among adolescents. These trends were also compared to those in the United States.

RESULTSA total of 341,588 legal induced abortions were reported in Japan in 2001, representing a 2.5% increase from 1998 to 2001. From 1998 to 2001, the abortion ratio (292) increased by 5.4%; from 1996 through 2001, the abortion rate (11.8) increased by 8.3%. Women less than 20 years old contributed most to these increases. In 1999, the abortion ratio among Japanese adolescents was 5.7 times as high as the ratio among U.S. adolescents, while the abortion rate among U.S. adolescents was 1.8 times as high as the rate among Japanese adolescents.

CONCLUSIONSRecent increases in induced abortion among Japanese women may be related to several factors, including changes in sexual behavior among adolescents and a decline in their use of contraceptives. More appropriate educational efforts and interventions are needed to prevent unintended pregnancies.

Background/Aims: The Heart Failure Association (HFA)-PEFF score is recognized as a simple method to diagnose heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between HFA-PEFF scores and cardiovascular outcomes in HFpEF patients. Methods: A total of 502 consecutive HFpEF patients were prospectively observed for up to 1,500 days. Cardiovascular outcomes were compared between two groups of patients, defined by their HFA-PEFF scores: those who scored 2–4 (the intermediate-score group) and those who scored 5–6 group (the high-score group). Overall, 236 cardiovascular events were observed during the follow-up period (median, 1,159 days). Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that there were significant differences in composite cardiovascular events and HF-related events between the intermediate-score group and the high-score group (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that the HFA-PEFF scores significantly predicted future HF-related events (hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 2.50; p = 0.014); receiver operating characteristic analysis confirmed this relationship (area under the curve, 0.633; 95% CI, 0.574 to 0.692; p < 0.001). The cutoff HFA-PEFF score for the identification of HF-related events was 4.5. Decision curve analysis revealed that combining the HFA-PEFF score with conventional prognostic factors improved the prediction of HF-related events. Conclusions HFA-PEFF scores may be useful for predicting HF-related events in HFpEF patients.