The present study examined the relationship between rate of abnormal menstrual cycles in women who participated in competitive sports and long-term fertility. Longitudinal menstrual data were collected over 25 years from 33 women who graduated from physical education collegesThe results were as follows:1)Among the 33 women surveyed, the number of pregnancies for each woman ranged from zero to eight; the total number of pregnancies was 85 (mean 2.6). Sixty-five (76.5%) of the 85 pregnancies were carried out to delivery times.2)The rate of spontaneous abortion was 15.3%. Four (12.1%) of the 33 women were infertile.3)In women with fertility-related problems such as infertility, spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, and stillbirth, the rate of abnormal menstrual cycles tended to be higher with increase of the fertility-related problems.4)In women with a high rate of abnormal menstrual cycles during college, the rate continued to be high after graduation.5)In women without fertility-related problems, the rate of abnormal menstrual cycles during college varied widely. Also, the rate of abnormal menstruation decreased less than 30% after graduation, excluding one woman. Conversely, in women with fertility-related problems, the rate of abnormal menstrual cycles was higher than in women without fertility problems both during college and after graduation.6)Changes in menstrual cycle length with age were more different than an individual. In women with fertility-related problems, abnormal menstrual cycles were observed between the ages of 18 and 42, and abnormal cycles were both longer and shorter than normal cycles.The results indicated that, in women who participated in competitive sports during their youth, abnormal menstrual cycles may remain long after retirement from sports. In addition, problems such as infertility and spontaneous abortion were observed to be associated with higher rates of abnormal menstrual cycles.

　　The medical insurance system was reformed in 2008. A new program was introduced to detect metabolic syndrome in the early stages with the aim of reducing lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and the specific medical examination and specific health instruction became incumbent on the medical insurers. The primary purpose of the medical examination was not only to discover metabolic diseases but also to provide the people an opportunity to reconsider their lifestyle. The specific health instruction was to raise health consciousness. Our hospital started the specific medical examination in the first year. Based on the screening outcome data, the specific health instruction, the specific health instruction was implemented.　　This year marks the fifth anniversary of the introduction of the new medical insurance system. We investigated how the effect of the health instruction lasted based on the results of the medical examination that we carried out in 2012. The average weight decreased 1.0 kg (P<0.001) and the mean girth of the abdomen decreased 1.5 cm (P<0.001). Those who successfully lost weight and maintained that success accounted for 60%, as compared with women’s figure of 66% for women. There were people who lost weight temporarily, but regained all or more than they lost in four years. Compared to women, men showed a strong tendency to regain weight lost. The level of the specific health instruction has been improved. The effects of the health instruction would last longer. However, to ward off rebound weight gain, it is necessary for us to keep careful watch over area residents and work out more effective prophylactic measures.

The Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences has introduced an integrated education management system to improve the quality of education. The management system was implemented by the Academic Affairs Committee and is run by the newly-created Kyouiku Suishin Shitsu (Educational Development Services). The management system evaluated past curricula and coordinated the introduction of new courses and integrated curricula designed to stimulate selflearning by students. The management system also integrated the student evaluation system and simultaneously coordinated faculty development workshops for all university staff to improve teaching skills. Several questionnaires showed that the new curricula met students' learning needs and provided a more objective evaluation system. The integrated education management system functions as a positive component in the improvement of the education system for students of allied health professions.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy between original drugs and generic products.  Candidate drugs included two types of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, simvastatin and pravastatin, because of their importance at reducing the health expenditure for hyperlipidemia.
Design: We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein levels), safety (biochemical parameters), and medication adherence based on patient data.  We set the follow-up period at 6 months before and after substitution.  Data were analyzed by paired-sample t-tests (statistical significance level of 0.05).
Methods: The subjects included in this study were ambulatory patients visiting Nakajima Hospital for dyslipidemia treatment.  Selected patients included those taking both the original drug and the generic product; i.e., patients who had substituted the original drug Lipovas® for the generic product Simvastatin OHARA, or those who had substituted the original drug Mevalotin® for the generic drug Pravatin®.
Results: A total of 118 patients in the simvastatin study and 43 patients in the pravastatin study were candidates for the present study.  We found that there were no significant differences before and after substitution.  Even though there were differences in some of the biochemical parameters, the range remained within normal levels.  With regard to medication adherence, we found no significant differences.
Conclusion: In this study, we found no significant differences before and after substituting medications with generic drugs.  Additionally, we found no subjective symptom changes after substitution.  To develop clinical information on generic products and to store such information, it is important that pharmaceutical products be used appropriately.

This report describes the molecular characterization of the Tc8.2 gene of Trypanosoma cruzi. Both the Tc8.2 gene and its encoded protein were analyzed by bioinformatics, while Northern blot and RT-PCR were used for the transcripts. Besides, immunolocalization of recombinant protein was done by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Analysis indicated the presence of a single copy of Tc8.2 in the T. cruzi genome and 2-different sized transcripts in epimastigotes/amastigotes and trypomastigotes. Immunoblotting showed 70 and 80 kDa polypeptides in epimastigotes and trypomastigotes, respectively, and a differential pattern of immunolocalization. Overall, the results suggest that Tc8.2 is differentially expressed during the T. cruzi life cycle.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Chagas Disease/*parasitology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; Life Cycle Stages ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protozoan Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Trypanosoma cruzi/*genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism

Objectives: This study examined the actual conditions of service provision to foreign residents (FRs) addressing prevention of lifestyle-related diseases (LRDs) and disaster preparedness/disaster responses (DPRs) in Japanese municipalities.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a self-administered questionnaire with representatives of public health nurses in each municipality in Japan from December 2021 to January 2022.Results: Services considering FRs are more likely to be implemented in cities than in towns, and in municipalities where FRs account for ≥2.2% of the population (proportion of FRs in the Japanese population at the time of the study) than in those with fewer FRs. Cities have larger populations and greater financial resources than towns. Factors associated with the implementation of services and measures necessary for providing services to FRs were the classification of the municipality as a city, a high percentage of FRs, and large variation in corresponding nationalities/countries of origin.Conclusions: Cross-disciplinary efforts and collaborations need to be strengthened to share available resources within local governments and experiences in providing services for FRs in other divisions/sections, rather than considering only how to provide services for FRs in the public health division/section.

Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was introduced in Japan in April 2013, as a national immunization program for girls aged 12–16 years, after an initial introduction in 2010 as a public-aid program for girls aged 13–16 years. The Yuri-Honjo district had the highest vaccine coverage among women aged 17–51 years in 2017, due to the original public-aid program. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the vaccine types of HPV16/18 infections between 2008–2012 (pre-vaccine era) and 2013–2017 (vaccine era).Materials and Methods: We evaluated whether HPV vaccination was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of HPV16/18 and high-risk HPV and the incidence of HPV-associated cervical lesions. A total of 1,342 women aged 18–49 years, covering both the pre-vaccine and vaccine eras, who visited Yuri Kumiai General Hospital and underwent HPV genotype tests from June 2008 to December 2017 were compared.Results: Among women aged 18–24 years with higher vaccine coverage (68.2%), the prevalence of HPV16/18 and high-risk HPV decreased from 36.7% and 69.4%, respectively, in the pre-vaccine era to 5.8% and 50.0%, respectively, in the vaccine era (p=0.00013 and p=0.047, respectively). Among those with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2− and grade 2+, HPV16/18 prevalence decreased from 30.0% to 2.7% (p=0.0018) and from 81.8% to 36.4% (p=0.030), respectively. In this age group, the rate of HPV16/18 positivity decreased significantly. Among age groups with lower vaccine coverage, HPV prevalence did not significantly differ between the two eras.Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV16/18 and high-risk HPV significantly decreased in women aged 18–24 years, most of whom were vaccinated. HPV vaccination effectively reduced the prevalence of HPV16/18 infections in the Yuri-Honjo district.