1.Erectile Function and Sexual Activity Are Declining in the Younger Generation: Results from a National Survey in Japan
Akira TSUJIMURA ; Shinichiro FUKUHARA ; Koji CHIBA ; Tsuyoshi YOSHIZAWA ; Hikaru TOMOE ; Masato SHIRAI ; Kazunori KIMURA ; Eiji KIKUCHI ; Eri MAEDA ; Yoshikazu SATO ; Atsushi NAGAI ; Koichi NAGAO ; Haruaki SASAKI ;
The World Journal of Men's Health 2025;43(1):239-248
Purpose:
Twenty five years have passed since the first national survey on erectile dysfunction (ED) in Japan. The Japanese Society for Sexual Medicine conducted a nationwide survey on the actual status of sexual function targeting men over 20 years old in Japan using validated questionnaires commonly used in clinical practice.
Materials and Methods:
Japanese men aged 20 to 79 years participated in our online epidemiological study on sexual dysfunction. Erectile status was assessed by direct questioning and specific questionnaires. Risk factors and frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were assessed. The prevalence of these risk factors was compared between men with and without ED. Prevalence and frequencies were calculated for each 5-year age group. Main outcomes were the prevalence and number of patients with ED and simultaneous evaluation of age-related variations.
Results:
Direct questioning of the men revealed that 13.0% felt troubled by ED. Although 81.0% of them had at least some ED symptoms based on a Sexual Health Inventory For Men score of ≤21, the prevalence of men with ED by Erection Hardness Score (EHS), the most appropriate questionnaire for Japanese with low sexual activity, was 30.9%, indicating that 14,012,596 men have ED. Most risk factors were related with ED, whereas frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were affected by aging. However, the low frequency of these factors in the young generation was surprising.
Conclusions
The EHS-based assessment revealed a prevalence of ED of 30.9%, which affected approximately 14 million men, and that the sexual desire, erection stiffness, orgasms, and satisfaction were lower than expected in young Japanese men, especially those aged 20 to 24 years, although those factors tended to worsen with aging. We believe that these findings actually reveal the current sexual status of men in Japan.
2.Effectiveness of a novel ex vivo training model for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection training: a prospective observational study conducted at a single center in Japan
Takahito TOBA ; Tsuyoshi ISHII ; Nobuyuki SATO ; Akira NOGAMI ; Aya HOJO ; Ryo SHIMIZU ; Ai FUJIMOTO ; Takahisa MATSUDA
Clinical Endoscopy 2025;58(1):94-101
Background/Aims:
The efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastric cancer is well established. However, its acquisition is challenging owing to its complexity. In Japan, G-Master is a novel ex vivo gastric ESD training model. The effectiveness of training using G-Master is unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of gastric ESD training using the G-Master to evaluate trainees’ learning curves and performance.
Methods:
Four trainees completed 30 ESD training sessions using the G-Master, and procedure time, resection area, resection completion, en-bloc resection requirement, and perforation occurrence were measured. Resection speed was the primary endpoint, and learning curves were evaluated using the Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) method.
Results:
All trainees completed the resection and en-bloc resection of the lesion without any intraoperative perforations. The learning curves covered three phases: initial growth, plateau, and late growth. The transition from phase 1 to phase 2 required a median of 10 sessions. Each trainee completed 30 training sessions in approximately 4 months.
Conclusions
Gastric ESD training using the G-Master is a simple, fast, and effective method for pre-ESD training in clinical practice. It is recommended that at least 10 training sessions be conducted.
3.Early Rehabilitation Interventions by Physical Therapists for Severe COVID-19 Patients Were Associated With Decreased Incidence of Post-ICU Physical Impairment
Shinya OKU ; Junji HATAKEYAMA ; Keibun LIU ; Kentaro TOJO ; Masafumi IDEI ; Shigeaki INOUE ; Kazuma YAMAKAWA ; Takeshi NISHIDA ; Shinichiro OHSHIMO ; Satoru HASHIMOTO ; Shuhei MARUYAMA ; Yoshitaka OGATA ; Daisuke KAWAKAMI ; Hiroaki SHIMIZU ; Katsura HAYAKAWA ; Yuji FUJINO ; Taku OSHIMA ; Tatsuya FUCHIGAMI ; Hironori YAWATA ; Kyoji OE ; Akira KAWAUCHI ; Hidehiro YAMAGATA ; Masahiro HARADA ; Yuichi SATO ; Tomoyuki NAKAMURA ; Kei SUGIKI ; Takahiro HAKOZAKI ; Satoru BEPPU ; Masaki ANRAKU ; Noboru KATO ; Tomomi IWASHITA ; Hiroshi KAMIJO ; Yuichiro KITAGAWA ; Michio NAGASHIMA ; Hirona NISHIMAKI ; Kentaro TOKUDA ; Osamu NISHIDA ; Kensuke NAKAMURA
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;49(1):49-59
Objective:
To implement early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists is recommended. However, the effectiveness of early rehabilitation for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is unclear. We analyzed a multicenter prospective observational study (Post-Intensive Care outcomeS in patients with COronaVIrus Disease 2019) to examine the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment.
Methods:
An analysis was performed on COVID-19 patients who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and March 2021, and required mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was the incidence of PICS physical impairment (Barthel Index≤90) after one year. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment by adjusting ICU mobility scale (IMS) during seven-day following ICU admission, and clinically relevant risk factors.
Results:
The analysis included 259 patients, 54 of whom developed PICS physical impairment one year later. In 81 patients, physical therapists intervened within seven days of ICU admission. There was no significant difference in mean IMS by day seven of admission between the early and non-early rehabilitation patients (0.70 and 0.61, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that early rehabilitation interventions were significantly associated with a low incidence of PICS physical impairment (odds ratio, 0.294; 95% confidence interval, 0.123–0.706; p=0.006).
Conclusion
Early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists were an independent factor associated with the decreased development of PICS physical impairment at one year, even though early rehabilitation had no significant effect on IMS.
4.Erectile Function and Sexual Activity Are Declining in the Younger Generation: Results from a National Survey in Japan
Akira TSUJIMURA ; Shinichiro FUKUHARA ; Koji CHIBA ; Tsuyoshi YOSHIZAWA ; Hikaru TOMOE ; Masato SHIRAI ; Kazunori KIMURA ; Eiji KIKUCHI ; Eri MAEDA ; Yoshikazu SATO ; Atsushi NAGAI ; Koichi NAGAO ; Haruaki SASAKI ;
The World Journal of Men's Health 2025;43(1):239-248
Purpose:
Twenty five years have passed since the first national survey on erectile dysfunction (ED) in Japan. The Japanese Society for Sexual Medicine conducted a nationwide survey on the actual status of sexual function targeting men over 20 years old in Japan using validated questionnaires commonly used in clinical practice.
Materials and Methods:
Japanese men aged 20 to 79 years participated in our online epidemiological study on sexual dysfunction. Erectile status was assessed by direct questioning and specific questionnaires. Risk factors and frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were assessed. The prevalence of these risk factors was compared between men with and without ED. Prevalence and frequencies were calculated for each 5-year age group. Main outcomes were the prevalence and number of patients with ED and simultaneous evaluation of age-related variations.
Results:
Direct questioning of the men revealed that 13.0% felt troubled by ED. Although 81.0% of them had at least some ED symptoms based on a Sexual Health Inventory For Men score of ≤21, the prevalence of men with ED by Erection Hardness Score (EHS), the most appropriate questionnaire for Japanese with low sexual activity, was 30.9%, indicating that 14,012,596 men have ED. Most risk factors were related with ED, whereas frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were affected by aging. However, the low frequency of these factors in the young generation was surprising.
Conclusions
The EHS-based assessment revealed a prevalence of ED of 30.9%, which affected approximately 14 million men, and that the sexual desire, erection stiffness, orgasms, and satisfaction were lower than expected in young Japanese men, especially those aged 20 to 24 years, although those factors tended to worsen with aging. We believe that these findings actually reveal the current sexual status of men in Japan.
5.Erectile Function and Sexual Activity Are Declining in the Younger Generation: Results from a National Survey in Japan
Akira TSUJIMURA ; Shinichiro FUKUHARA ; Koji CHIBA ; Tsuyoshi YOSHIZAWA ; Hikaru TOMOE ; Masato SHIRAI ; Kazunori KIMURA ; Eiji KIKUCHI ; Eri MAEDA ; Yoshikazu SATO ; Atsushi NAGAI ; Koichi NAGAO ; Haruaki SASAKI ;
The World Journal of Men's Health 2025;43(1):239-248
Purpose:
Twenty five years have passed since the first national survey on erectile dysfunction (ED) in Japan. The Japanese Society for Sexual Medicine conducted a nationwide survey on the actual status of sexual function targeting men over 20 years old in Japan using validated questionnaires commonly used in clinical practice.
Materials and Methods:
Japanese men aged 20 to 79 years participated in our online epidemiological study on sexual dysfunction. Erectile status was assessed by direct questioning and specific questionnaires. Risk factors and frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were assessed. The prevalence of these risk factors was compared between men with and without ED. Prevalence and frequencies were calculated for each 5-year age group. Main outcomes were the prevalence and number of patients with ED and simultaneous evaluation of age-related variations.
Results:
Direct questioning of the men revealed that 13.0% felt troubled by ED. Although 81.0% of them had at least some ED symptoms based on a Sexual Health Inventory For Men score of ≤21, the prevalence of men with ED by Erection Hardness Score (EHS), the most appropriate questionnaire for Japanese with low sexual activity, was 30.9%, indicating that 14,012,596 men have ED. Most risk factors were related with ED, whereas frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were affected by aging. However, the low frequency of these factors in the young generation was surprising.
Conclusions
The EHS-based assessment revealed a prevalence of ED of 30.9%, which affected approximately 14 million men, and that the sexual desire, erection stiffness, orgasms, and satisfaction were lower than expected in young Japanese men, especially those aged 20 to 24 years, although those factors tended to worsen with aging. We believe that these findings actually reveal the current sexual status of men in Japan.
6.Early Rehabilitation Interventions by Physical Therapists for Severe COVID-19 Patients Were Associated With Decreased Incidence of Post-ICU Physical Impairment
Shinya OKU ; Junji HATAKEYAMA ; Keibun LIU ; Kentaro TOJO ; Masafumi IDEI ; Shigeaki INOUE ; Kazuma YAMAKAWA ; Takeshi NISHIDA ; Shinichiro OHSHIMO ; Satoru HASHIMOTO ; Shuhei MARUYAMA ; Yoshitaka OGATA ; Daisuke KAWAKAMI ; Hiroaki SHIMIZU ; Katsura HAYAKAWA ; Yuji FUJINO ; Taku OSHIMA ; Tatsuya FUCHIGAMI ; Hironori YAWATA ; Kyoji OE ; Akira KAWAUCHI ; Hidehiro YAMAGATA ; Masahiro HARADA ; Yuichi SATO ; Tomoyuki NAKAMURA ; Kei SUGIKI ; Takahiro HAKOZAKI ; Satoru BEPPU ; Masaki ANRAKU ; Noboru KATO ; Tomomi IWASHITA ; Hiroshi KAMIJO ; Yuichiro KITAGAWA ; Michio NAGASHIMA ; Hirona NISHIMAKI ; Kentaro TOKUDA ; Osamu NISHIDA ; Kensuke NAKAMURA
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;49(1):49-59
Objective:
To implement early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists is recommended. However, the effectiveness of early rehabilitation for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is unclear. We analyzed a multicenter prospective observational study (Post-Intensive Care outcomeS in patients with COronaVIrus Disease 2019) to examine the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment.
Methods:
An analysis was performed on COVID-19 patients who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and March 2021, and required mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was the incidence of PICS physical impairment (Barthel Index≤90) after one year. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment by adjusting ICU mobility scale (IMS) during seven-day following ICU admission, and clinically relevant risk factors.
Results:
The analysis included 259 patients, 54 of whom developed PICS physical impairment one year later. In 81 patients, physical therapists intervened within seven days of ICU admission. There was no significant difference in mean IMS by day seven of admission between the early and non-early rehabilitation patients (0.70 and 0.61, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that early rehabilitation interventions were significantly associated with a low incidence of PICS physical impairment (odds ratio, 0.294; 95% confidence interval, 0.123–0.706; p=0.006).
Conclusion
Early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists were an independent factor associated with the decreased development of PICS physical impairment at one year, even though early rehabilitation had no significant effect on IMS.
7.Effectiveness of a novel ex vivo training model for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection training: a prospective observational study conducted at a single center in Japan
Takahito TOBA ; Tsuyoshi ISHII ; Nobuyuki SATO ; Akira NOGAMI ; Aya HOJO ; Ryo SHIMIZU ; Ai FUJIMOTO ; Takahisa MATSUDA
Clinical Endoscopy 2025;58(1):94-101
Background/Aims:
The efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastric cancer is well established. However, its acquisition is challenging owing to its complexity. In Japan, G-Master is a novel ex vivo gastric ESD training model. The effectiveness of training using G-Master is unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of gastric ESD training using the G-Master to evaluate trainees’ learning curves and performance.
Methods:
Four trainees completed 30 ESD training sessions using the G-Master, and procedure time, resection area, resection completion, en-bloc resection requirement, and perforation occurrence were measured. Resection speed was the primary endpoint, and learning curves were evaluated using the Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) method.
Results:
All trainees completed the resection and en-bloc resection of the lesion without any intraoperative perforations. The learning curves covered three phases: initial growth, plateau, and late growth. The transition from phase 1 to phase 2 required a median of 10 sessions. Each trainee completed 30 training sessions in approximately 4 months.
Conclusions
Gastric ESD training using the G-Master is a simple, fast, and effective method for pre-ESD training in clinical practice. It is recommended that at least 10 training sessions be conducted.
8.Erectile Function and Sexual Activity Are Declining in the Younger Generation: Results from a National Survey in Japan
Akira TSUJIMURA ; Shinichiro FUKUHARA ; Koji CHIBA ; Tsuyoshi YOSHIZAWA ; Hikaru TOMOE ; Masato SHIRAI ; Kazunori KIMURA ; Eiji KIKUCHI ; Eri MAEDA ; Yoshikazu SATO ; Atsushi NAGAI ; Koichi NAGAO ; Haruaki SASAKI ;
The World Journal of Men's Health 2025;43(1):239-248
Purpose:
Twenty five years have passed since the first national survey on erectile dysfunction (ED) in Japan. The Japanese Society for Sexual Medicine conducted a nationwide survey on the actual status of sexual function targeting men over 20 years old in Japan using validated questionnaires commonly used in clinical practice.
Materials and Methods:
Japanese men aged 20 to 79 years participated in our online epidemiological study on sexual dysfunction. Erectile status was assessed by direct questioning and specific questionnaires. Risk factors and frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were assessed. The prevalence of these risk factors was compared between men with and without ED. Prevalence and frequencies were calculated for each 5-year age group. Main outcomes were the prevalence and number of patients with ED and simultaneous evaluation of age-related variations.
Results:
Direct questioning of the men revealed that 13.0% felt troubled by ED. Although 81.0% of them had at least some ED symptoms based on a Sexual Health Inventory For Men score of ≤21, the prevalence of men with ED by Erection Hardness Score (EHS), the most appropriate questionnaire for Japanese with low sexual activity, was 30.9%, indicating that 14,012,596 men have ED. Most risk factors were related with ED, whereas frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were affected by aging. However, the low frequency of these factors in the young generation was surprising.
Conclusions
The EHS-based assessment revealed a prevalence of ED of 30.9%, which affected approximately 14 million men, and that the sexual desire, erection stiffness, orgasms, and satisfaction were lower than expected in young Japanese men, especially those aged 20 to 24 years, although those factors tended to worsen with aging. We believe that these findings actually reveal the current sexual status of men in Japan.
9.Early Rehabilitation Interventions by Physical Therapists for Severe COVID-19 Patients Were Associated With Decreased Incidence of Post-ICU Physical Impairment
Shinya OKU ; Junji HATAKEYAMA ; Keibun LIU ; Kentaro TOJO ; Masafumi IDEI ; Shigeaki INOUE ; Kazuma YAMAKAWA ; Takeshi NISHIDA ; Shinichiro OHSHIMO ; Satoru HASHIMOTO ; Shuhei MARUYAMA ; Yoshitaka OGATA ; Daisuke KAWAKAMI ; Hiroaki SHIMIZU ; Katsura HAYAKAWA ; Yuji FUJINO ; Taku OSHIMA ; Tatsuya FUCHIGAMI ; Hironori YAWATA ; Kyoji OE ; Akira KAWAUCHI ; Hidehiro YAMAGATA ; Masahiro HARADA ; Yuichi SATO ; Tomoyuki NAKAMURA ; Kei SUGIKI ; Takahiro HAKOZAKI ; Satoru BEPPU ; Masaki ANRAKU ; Noboru KATO ; Tomomi IWASHITA ; Hiroshi KAMIJO ; Yuichiro KITAGAWA ; Michio NAGASHIMA ; Hirona NISHIMAKI ; Kentaro TOKUDA ; Osamu NISHIDA ; Kensuke NAKAMURA
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;49(1):49-59
Objective:
To implement early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists is recommended. However, the effectiveness of early rehabilitation for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is unclear. We analyzed a multicenter prospective observational study (Post-Intensive Care outcomeS in patients with COronaVIrus Disease 2019) to examine the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment.
Methods:
An analysis was performed on COVID-19 patients who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and March 2021, and required mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was the incidence of PICS physical impairment (Barthel Index≤90) after one year. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment by adjusting ICU mobility scale (IMS) during seven-day following ICU admission, and clinically relevant risk factors.
Results:
The analysis included 259 patients, 54 of whom developed PICS physical impairment one year later. In 81 patients, physical therapists intervened within seven days of ICU admission. There was no significant difference in mean IMS by day seven of admission between the early and non-early rehabilitation patients (0.70 and 0.61, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that early rehabilitation interventions were significantly associated with a low incidence of PICS physical impairment (odds ratio, 0.294; 95% confidence interval, 0.123–0.706; p=0.006).
Conclusion
Early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists were an independent factor associated with the decreased development of PICS physical impairment at one year, even though early rehabilitation had no significant effect on IMS.
10.Effectiveness of a novel ex vivo training model for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection training: a prospective observational study conducted at a single center in Japan
Takahito TOBA ; Tsuyoshi ISHII ; Nobuyuki SATO ; Akira NOGAMI ; Aya HOJO ; Ryo SHIMIZU ; Ai FUJIMOTO ; Takahisa MATSUDA
Clinical Endoscopy 2025;58(1):94-101
Background/Aims:
The efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastric cancer is well established. However, its acquisition is challenging owing to its complexity. In Japan, G-Master is a novel ex vivo gastric ESD training model. The effectiveness of training using G-Master is unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of gastric ESD training using the G-Master to evaluate trainees’ learning curves and performance.
Methods:
Four trainees completed 30 ESD training sessions using the G-Master, and procedure time, resection area, resection completion, en-bloc resection requirement, and perforation occurrence were measured. Resection speed was the primary endpoint, and learning curves were evaluated using the Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) method.
Results:
All trainees completed the resection and en-bloc resection of the lesion without any intraoperative perforations. The learning curves covered three phases: initial growth, plateau, and late growth. The transition from phase 1 to phase 2 required a median of 10 sessions. Each trainee completed 30 training sessions in approximately 4 months.
Conclusions
Gastric ESD training using the G-Master is a simple, fast, and effective method for pre-ESD training in clinical practice. It is recommended that at least 10 training sessions be conducted.

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