Our survey was conducted at 522 elementary schools and junior high schools in Akita prefecture in July 1981. Thus the survey was intended for 105, 137 elementary school pupils bnd 51, 029 junior high school pupils. Questionnaires were sent to teachers in charge at each school. The return rate of questionnaires wan 98.4 % for elementary school and 100.0 % for junior high school. The rate of bronchial asthma was 1.2 %(boy 1.5 %, girl 0.9 %) in elementary school pupils and 0.6 %(boy 0.8 %, girl 0.5 %) in junior high school pupils. The number of schools where pupils with bronchial asthma were found was 205 elementary schools (56.0 %) and 71 junior high schools (47.0 %). The rate of bronchial asthma in boys was greater than girls, by 1.7 times in case of elementary school and 1.6 times in junior high school. The rate of bronchial asthma in urban children was 1.2 %, while that in rural children was 0.8 %. Out of the children interpreted as bronchial asthma at the time of our survey 82.4 % of the elementary school children and 77.6 % of the junior high school children with bronchial asthma were or had been undergoing apropriate treatment. The rate of children who are absent from school due to asthma more than 10 days a year was 24.4 % in elementary school and 26.7 % in junior high school.

We have carried out the mass survey for diabetes mellitus by a 50 g GTT as the first screening since 1971. Average incidences of diabetic pattern, IGT pattern, borderline pattern and normal pattern in a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) were 2.3±1.8%, 6.6±1.7%, 19.8±6.6% and 71.4 ±7.8%, respectively. 21 males and 6 females were found to be diabetic by this survey for 11 years. Insulinogenic indices (I. Is.) of diabetic, IGT, borderline and normal patterns were 0.13±0.07, 0.70±0.37, 0.58±0.40 and 1.05±0.30, respectively, and the values of I. I. in diabetics and borderline diabetics were significantly lower than that in the normal pattern. A I. I. in the subjects who have revealed the normal glucose tolerance every year for 11 year, 2.62±1.28, was high in the normal range. On the other hand, a I. I. in the subjects who became overtly diabetic from the IGT, borderline or normal pattern, 0.36±0.31, was significantly lower. Therefore, taking into consideration that one of the characteristics of NIDDM is low insulin response to glucose, the mass survey for diabetes mellitus should be carried out by a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) as the first screening with the measurement of plasma insulin concentrations. A follow-up study for the low insulin responder is considered to be one of the most preferable investigations for the detection of the early stage of diabetes mellitus.

Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is an infectious disease where Streptococcus pneumoniae can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid or blood.Methods: Eight patients presented to our hospital with adult IPD. We compared with 69 cases of pneumococcal pneumonia treated in our department between 2012 and 2014. None of the patients had a history of pneumococcal vaccine administration.Results: Hematological examination showed the platelet count was significantly lower and the serum C-reactive protein level was significantly higher in the IPD group. There was a significant difference in the use of a respirator and mortality in the IPD group. About antibiotics, Carbapenem and quinolone were used for the treatment of many patients in the IPD group. In the fatal three cases of IPD, the age of all members were 65 years or younger. Two of three had no underlying disease.Conclusion: IPD develops without elderly people and in those without underlying disease. Also, the patients who took a sudden course may result in death. In line with previous studies that have reported the effectiveness of the pneumococcal vaccine, our study findings emphasize the need of administering vaccination for prevention of IPD in person who was younger than 65 years old.

BACKGROUND: There have been inconsistent findings reported on maternal passive smoking during pregnancy and child risk of ADHD. In this study, ADHD symptoms at pre-school age children in association with prenatal passive and active tobacco smoke exposure determined by maternal plasma cotinine levels in the third trimester were investigated. METHODS: This was a follow-up study of the birth cohort: the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health. Children whose parents answered Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to identify child ADHD symptoms (hyperactivity/inattention and conduct problems) and total difficulties at age 5 years with available maternal plasma cotinine level at the third trimester were included (n = 3216). Cotinine levels were categorized into 4 groups; ≦ 0.21 ng/ml (non-smoker), 0.22-0.51 ng/ml (low-passive smoker), 0.52-11.48 ng/ml (high-passive smoker), and ≧ 11.49 ng/ml (active smoker). RESULTS: Maternal cotinine levels of active smokers were significantly associated with an increased risk of total difficulties (OR = 1.67) and maternal low- and high-passive smoking also increased the risk (OR = 1.11, 1.25, respectively) without statistical significance. Similarly, maternal cotinine levels of active smokers were associated with an increased risk of hyperactivity/inattention (OR = 1.49). Maternal low- and high-passive smoking and active smoking increased the risk of hyperactivity/inattention (OR = 1.45, 1.43, and OR = 1.59, respectively) only in boys. CONCLUSION Our findings suggested that maternal active smoking during pregnancy may contribute to the increased risk of child total difficulties and hyperactivity/inattention at pre-school age. Pregnant women should be encouraged to quit smoking and avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.
Adult ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; epidemiology ; etiology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Child, Preschool ; Cotinine ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Japan ; epidemiology ; Male ; Maternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk ; Sex Factors ; Tobacco Smoking ; adverse effects ; epidemiology