How much progress has been made toward a smoke-free environment in the restaurants and bars of Japan? Limitations of partial bans and their enforcement.

Background: In April 2020, the revised Health Promotion Act and Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance to prevent second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure was fully enforced. The government has provided an exemption for small-scale, existing establishments by allowing them 'unregulated' status, and it is unclear to what extent indoor smoking bans have been applied in these small bars and restaurants. In this study, we report on indoor smoking status before/after the enforcement of the current legislation both regulated and unregulated restaurants and bars.

Using Spatial Scan Statistics and Geographic Information Systems to Detect Monthly Human Mobility Clusters and Analyze Cluster Area Characteristics.

Introduction: This study evaluated the detection of monthly human mobility clusters and characteristics of cluster areas before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak using spatial epidemiological methods, namely, spatial scan statistics and geographic information systems (GIS).

Methods: The research area covers approximately 10.3 km, with a population of about 350,000 people.

Clinical Epidemiological Studies of Colorectal Cancer by Record Linkage of Cancer Registries and Biospecimen Data: A Systematic Review.

Background: The incidence and prognosis of colorectal cancer are associated with lifestyle, family history, and genetic predisposition. Record linkage between cancer registries and biospecimen data would enable us to conduct clinical epidemiological studies on incidence or prognosis including genome information. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of clinical epidemiological studies of colorectal cancer using record linkage between cancer registries and biospecimen data and examined the possibilities for future use of this linkage.

[A Systematic Review of Clinical and Epidemiological Studies Using Record Linkage Data between Hospital Based Cancer Registries and Biospecimen Data].

Introduction: Recently, registry-based cancer research linking biobanks with clinical information has become practical. In fact, hospital-based cancer registries(HBCR)are considered appropriate for basic medical information provision to link with biospecimen data since they can capture accurate information about cancer incidence and prognosis. The aim of this systematic review was to examine HBCR and biospecimen data uses in clinical and epidemiological studies.

Geographical socioeconomic inequalities in healthy life expectancy in Japan, 2010-2014: An ecological study.

Background: Area differences in life expectancy (LE) and healthy life expectancy (HLE) in large geographical units have been monitored around the world. Area characteristics may be based on culture, history, socioeconomic status and discrimination in smaller geographical units, so it is important to consider these when looking at health inequality. We aimed to evaluate LE, HLE, and non-healthy life expectancy (NHLE) in 1707 municipalities using Areal Deprivation Index (ADI) in Japan for the first time.

[Current status and intention to change indoor smoking rules by enforcing smoke-free legislation in Japan].

Objective　In Japan, the revised Health Promotion Act and the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance to Prevent Exposure to Second-hand Smoke have been in place since April 1, 2020. However, regional differences in the prohibition of smoking in restaurants have raised concerns that some restaurants are not regulated by the smoke-free legislation. In addition, outdoor smoking rules have been in place in municipalities prior to the smoke-free legislation, so smoking outside restaurants may occur, and this may obstruct progress in the prohibition of smoking.

Associations of older adults' excursions from home with health-related physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Background: As people age, they spend more time in and around their domestic environments, within which opportunities for health-enhancing physical activity (PA) may be limited. We examined the associations of frequency of excursions from home with accelerometer-determined PA and the total and prolonged sedentary behavior (SB, sitting for ≥30 min) among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Overall, 434 older adults (men, 57.

[Comparison of the two methods of defining high-stress on the Japanese Stress Check Program].

Objectives: In Japan, companies are required to implement a "stress check program" to prevent mental health problems in workers. To identify "high-stress" workers, the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) is recommended. According to the stress check program manual issued by the government, high-stress can be defined using two criteria, either the "sum method" (simply summing the scores for each scales) or the "score converted method" (using converted scores according to the conversion table for each scales).