In the central part of Shizuoka Prefecture, tea growing is carried out on hillsides. From the posture taken by farmers while they are picking tea-leaves, it is assumed that a heavy load is laid on the cervical region and that they must have complaints in that region frequently.
On this assumption, we have conducted a survey covering a total of 228 persons working in tea plantations, with 42 persons living in plains as a control group.
Of the total, 172 persons filled out a questionnaire and the remaining 56 underwent a physical checkup.
Of those surveyed, 92.8% said that they feel fatigued from work. Complaints in the cervical region were filed by 69.5% of the males and 89.0% of the females.
X-ray pictures revealed abnormal signs in 69.5% of the males and 89.0% of the females. Radiographic observation suggested that 77.0% of the abnormalities have some bearing on their complaints. It was also found that the stiffness in the shoulders accounted for most of the complaints.
From these findings, we have keenly felt it is necessary for us to continue to engourage them into practicing calisthenics designed to prevent the stiffness in the shoulders.

We report a case of constrictive pericarditis with repeated hepatic encephalopathy due to hepatic cirrhosis. A 69-year-old man with exertional dyspnea and leg edema was admitted to our hospital. He had been admitted to our hospital thrice in the past 1 year owing to hepatic encephalopathy. He had hyperammonemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and renal dysfunction. Computed tomography revealed a thick pericardium with calcification and bilateral pleural effusion, and transthoracic echocardiography revealed abnormal early diastolic septal movement and right ventricular restriction. Further, cardiac catheterization identified increased central venous (36 mmHg) and a mean pulmonary arterial of 53 mmHg and a dip-and-plateau right ventricular pressure curve. We diagnosed constrictive pericarditis. Accordingly, pericardiectomy without extracorporeal circulation was performed. A hypertrophic calcified pericardium was found to be expanded throughout the right atrium to the free wall of the right ventricle. Postoperatively, the patient's exertional dyspnea and leg edema resolved, and he recovered without any complications.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is ranked as a leading health indicator and the workplace is a key setting to promote PA. The purpose of this study was to examine how goal-setting and exercise self-efficacy (SE) during a health promotion program influenced PA level among Japanese workers. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, we surveyed 281 employees. The short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess PA level. Exercise SE was assessed using a partially modified version of Oka's exercise SE scale. Personal goals were assessed as the total numbers of “yes” responses to five items regarding “details of personal goals to perform PA”. A mediational model was used to examine whether exercise SE mediates between the number of personal goals and PA level. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 46.3 years, 76.2% were men, and the most common occupational category was software engineer (30.6%). The average PA level per week exceeded the recommended level in 127 participants (45.2%). One hundred and eighty-four participants (65.5%) set some form of concrete personal goal to perform PA. The relationship between the number of personal goals and PA level was mediated by exercise SE. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that exercise SE mediates goal-setting and increases PA. The results suggest that the components of PA promotion programs should be tailored to enhance participants' confidence in performing PA.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Activity*