The present study reviewed the current trends of interventions focused on the physical activity environment for reducing sedentary behavior among children. Multiple international and domestic databases were searched to identify studies that involved changes to the physical activity environment, measured sedentary behavior, were specific to childhood populations, and published in a peer-reviewed journal. After studies were carefully assessed for inclusion by examining the title, abstract, and full text, the characteristics of the included studies (i.e., participants, study design, environmental intervention, measurement of sedentary behavior, and results) were summarized. A total of 31 studies (randomized controlled trial: n=25; quasi-experimental design: n=3; within-subject design: n=3) met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies (n=23) were conducted using school-based interventions focused on the playground environment, involving either one or a combination of the following changes: improved markings, providing play equipment, or offering built facilities. Other studies included in the summary focused on behaviors at home and in the community like using electronic time managers while watching the television and providing low-cost or free entry to safe and easily accessible sports facilities. The measurement of sedentary behavior included an accelerometer, self-report, and direct observation. Twenty studies had a positive effect on reducing sedentary behavior among children. All but two of the studies were conducted in foreign nations. The present findings suggest that improving the physical activity environment to children can reduce sedentary behavior; therefore, further interventions focused on the physical activity environment for reducing sedentary behavior among Japanese children should be conducted.

Background Psychological, social, and environmental factors are important determinants for physical activity promotion. There are numerous studies of the direct effects of these factors on physical activity. However, only a few studies have been examined the direct and mediated effects of these factors on physical activity.Purpose The purpose of the present study was to examine the direct and indirect influences of psychological, social, and environmental factors on physical activity among Japanese adults.Methods An internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to 2,000 Japanese adults aged 20-79 years. Seven sociodemographic attributes (e. g., gender, age, and marital status), self-efficacy, pros and cons, social support for exercise and environmental variables (home fitness equipment, access to facilities, neighborhood safety, aesthetics, seeing others exercising) were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. The physical activity was estimated from the Japanese version of the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling by gender.Results The respondents' mean (SD) age was 43.6(13.0). Environmental factors had indirect effects on physical activity through self-efficacy, social support and pros and cons. On both gender, the strongest indirect effects was the path of environmental factors on physical activity through pros to self-efficacy. The total effects of environmental factors on physical activity were 0.06 of males and 0.04 of females.Conclusion The results indicate that environmental factors had indirect effects on physical activity through psychological and social factors among Japanese adults. These results could contribute to the development of physical activity promotion strategies in Japan.

Engaging in physical activity was proved to have positive effects on physical and mental health in children. Built environment is an important correlate of physical activity participation. School recess provides a daily opportunity for children to be active during school day. Therefore, the purpose of the present article was to review literatures regarding 1) physical activity during school recess, 2) the relationship between recess physical activity and school physical environment, 3) intervention for physical activity promotion during recess by changing school physical environment, and to explore trends of current researches and assignments of future research. A review was conducted and included studies published to May 31, 2011. Twenty-two studies were selected in 1) and showed boys often engaged in more physical activity than girls, but the results on differences in physical activity between ages were inconsistent. Six studies were selected in 2) and indicated recess physical activity was associated with playground environments such as equipments, marking, and surface situate. School environment intervention was observed to be a potential method for promoting physical activity in children by 8 studies in 3). Playground environment with marking, additional play equipments, and designated activity zones increased physical activity during recess. Most researches regarding recess physical activity was conducted in U.S., Australia, and Western countries, and confirmed the effectiveness of recess to promote physical activity. However, few studies on this topic were conducted in Japan. Further researches are needed to draw a conclusion about the possibility of recess to promote physical activity among Japanese children.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between body composition and athletic performance of long distance relay runners in a four week weight reduction program. Six male collegiate runners, aged 19.0 ± 0.9 years, participated in this study. Body water content and fat free mass (FFM) were measured by bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy.The weight loss by 4.1% of the initial body weight consisted of decreases in FFM and fat mass (54% and 46% respectively). Percentage of body fat did not change significantly by the end of the fourth week. The total body water (TBW) loss comprised of intracellular water (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW) at the end of the fourth week, and TBW loss and FFM loss were nearly the same values. Isokinetic muscular strength of right thigh, maximal oxygen intake (VO₂max) and total treadmill running time (maximal workout time) measured did not show any significant change. These results indicate (1) half of the weight loss consisted of decrease in FFM, (2) TBW loss was due to the reduction of ICW and ECW, (3) the content of FFM loss was considered to be body water, and (4) there was no impact on muscular strength of right thigh, VO₂max or maximal workout time.

Background: Understanding the long-term effects of environment on health behavior is important for the promotion of population-based physical activity.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived environment and active commuting among Japanese adults.Methods: Internet-based cross-sectional survey were conducted to 3,000 Japanese adults aged 30-59 years. Seven sociodemographic attributes (gender, age, marital status, employment status, living status, educational attainment and household income), type of commute and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Environment Module were assessed by self-administered questionnaire.Results: Of all respondents to the survey, 2,032 (mean age: 43.8±9.2, male: 62.5%) were employed. Those who use an active commute were 1,401 (68.9%). In both genders, high residential density (male: OR=2.28, female: OR=3.08), good access to shops (OR=2.03, 3.06), public transportation (OR=1.65, 3.78), recreational facilities (OR=1.31, 1.44), presence of sidewalks (OR=1.42, 1.77), crossroads (OR=1.87, 1.76), having a destination (OR=1.84, 2.34), and not having household vehicles (OR=15.13, 41.24) were associated with an active commute. The results indicated some gender differences. Among male, the presence of a bicycle lane and good aesthetics was positively associated with the active commute, while traffic safety was negatively associated. On the other hand, crime safety was associated with the active commute in female.Conclusion: The results indicate that perceived environment was associated with the active commute among Japanese adults.

Objective : To translate the Abbreviated Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale into Japanese (ANEWS-J) and to examine its reliability.Methods : One hundred sixty three community residents (male: 38.7%, age: 21-69 years old) of 600 who were randomly selected from the registry of residential addresses of Taitoh Ward in Tokyo and Fujinomiya City in Shizuoka Prefecture, responded to mail survey including ANEWS-J. Seventy-seven of 163 answered same questionnaire twice with ten days interval to examine the test-retest reliability.The questionnaire was translated into Japanese and fixed through the processes of preliminary test, backtranslation into English and discussion with authors of original version.Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated for the evaluation of reliability of ANEWS-J.Results : ICCs of the eight subscales of ANEWS-J were residential density; r=0.95 (95% confidence interval; 0.93-0.97), land use mix - diversity; r=0.96 (0.94-0.98), land use mix - access; r=0.90 (0.84-0.94), street connectivity; r=0.83 (0.74-0.90), sidewalk / bike lane; r=0.82 (0.71-0.89), aesthetics; r=0.85 (0.76-0.91), traffic safety; r=0.81 (0.70-0.89), crime safety; r=0.76 (0.62-0.86).Stratified analyses by gender and residential district showed satisfactory reproducibility of the subscales (r=0.63-0.97). Conclusion : Acceptable reliabilities of all eight subscales of ANEWS-J were confirmed in this study.

Background: Perceived benefits and barriers to exercise are important correlates of exercise participation. Purpose: To develop a short version of the perceived benefits and barriers to exercise scale and to examine its validity and reliability. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of 865 participants (age: 20-69 years old, men: 46.5%) was conducted in four cities in Japan (Koganei, Tshukuba, Shizuoka, Kagoshima). Perceived benefits and barriers scale including five benefit subscales (physical benefit, psychological benefit, social benefit, weight management, self-improvement) with 10 items, five barrier subscales (discomfort, lack of motivation, lack of time, lack of social support, poor physical environment) with 10 items and stage of change for exercise behavior were assessed by self-administered questionnaire. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses to examine the construct validity revealed acceptable fit indices (benefit scale: GFI=.980, AGFI=.951, RMSEA=.058, AIC=151.669, barrier scale: GFI=.973, AGFI=.949, RMSEA=.060, AIC=166.084). Seven of ten subscales indicated significant linear associations with stage of change for exercise behavior, criterion-related validity was revealed. The reliability of the scale was found to be good as internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. Conclusion: The short version of the perceived benefits and barriers scale developed in this study demonstrated acceptable construct validity, criterion-related validity, internal consistency and inter-rater reliability.

[Object]Any reports on acupuncture for patients with POEMS syndrome, which almost manifests disturbance of peripheral nerve in all cases and is known as a very rare disease together with disturbance of multiple organs, are not yet found. The present paper is concerned with a case report that improvement of symptoms and progress of ADL were brought out by acupuncture.
[Case]A sixty year-old man who was diagnosed as POEMS syndrome and received rehabilitation therapy after treatment with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation complained of difficulty in walking with numbness in the lower legs at rest time and with numbness and muscular tension in the same sections after walking. Therefore, acupuncture was practiced once or twice per week for the patient in order to raise the threshold of pain and to relax muscular tension in the lower extremities.
[Results]After acupuncture, the patient could lengthen the walking distance, had reduced numbness in the soles and relaxation of muscular tension in the lower legs at rest time, and improved numbness after walking.
[Discussion and Conclusion]Acupuncture for a patient with POEMS syndrome resulted in improved symptoms and progress of ADL without severe side effects. From the above results, acupuncture is considered to be a useful therapeutic method used together with present medical treatment.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in physical function, fatigue, and psychiatric symptoms in patients with hematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy and low-intensity exercise training. Sixty-two hospitalized patients with hematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy and low-intensity exercise were recruited. At the time of exercise initiation and hospital discharge, grip strength, knee extension muscle strength, maximum walking speed, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, a measure of functional independence, cancer fatigue pain, and hospital anxiety and depression were evaluated. When longitudinal data were analyzed in each group, changes in grip strength and knee extension muscle strength were unevenly distributed: some patients showed a decrease in knee extension strength. On the other hand, maximum walking speed, the measure of functional independence, and ECOG performance status were maintained or improved in more than 90% of the patients. Results of fatigue, anxiety, and depression tended to show an improvement in female patients, but not in male patients. In conclusion, physical function was maintained in nearly all patients with hematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy and low-intensity exercise training. Sex differences were found in changes of fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

Background: We retrospectively compared endscopic gastroduodenal stenting with gastrojejunostomy as a means of palliating malignant gastric and duodenal obstruction. Methods: This retrospective study investigated patients treated for malignant gastric and duodenal obstruction from April 2011 to April 2015 at Shikoku Cancer Center. Results: Of the 40 patients in this study, 25 underwent gastroduodenal stenting and 15 had operative gastrojejunostomy. Comparing the stenting and operative patients, technical success rate was 100% in both group, clinical success rate was 84% in stenting patients and 93% in operative patients. The median time to fluid intake was significantly shorter in stenting patients than operative patients(0 day vs 2 days, p=0.0003), and the median time to intake of solids was also significantly shorter in stenting patients(1day vs 3 days, p<0.0001).The median hospital stay was significantly shorter in stenting patients(9 days vs 23 days, p=0.0116). Median cost of hospitalization is more expensive in operative patients than stenting patients(¥1,106,170 vs ¥752,290, p=0.0052). Conclusion: Our study suggested that gastoroduodenal stent was less length of time to fluid/solid intake, and less costly than gastrojejunostomy.