An impact of dietary intervention on blood pressures among diabetic and/or hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular disorders risk in northern Thailand by cluster randomized trial.

Background: Global sodium intake remains above the recommended levels to control blood pressure (BP). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a dietary intervention on BP through salt reduction among community-dwelling participants with high risk of cardiovascular disorders (CVD).

Methods: This cluster randomized trial (February 2012 to January 2013) included cooking instruction using the pocket salt meter among patients with diabetes and/or hypertension who were treated at health center in Thailand.

Effectiveness of a new multi-component smoking cessation service package for patients with hypertension and diabetes in northern Thailand: a randomized controlled trial (ESCAPE study).

Background: Smoking cessation is an achievable behavioral change, which reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases, cancers and tobacco-related diseases. There is a need for an effective smoking cessation service for low and middle income country settings where the smoking rate is generally very high whilst a cessation service is not usually accessible. This study devised a new smoking cessation service package and assessed its effectiveness in the primary health care setting of northern Thailand.

Exploring Attractiveness of the Basic Sciences for Female Physicians.

In Japan, traditional gender roles of women, especially the role of motherhood, may cause early career resignations in female physicians and a shortage of female researchers. Besides this gender issue, a general physician shortage is affecting basic science fields. Our previous study suggested that female physicians could be good candidates for the basic sciences because such work offers good work-life balance.

Professional fulfillment and parenting work-life balance in female physicians in Basic Sciences and medical research: a nationwide cross-sectional survey of all 80 medical schools in Japan.

Background: In Japan, the field of Basic Sciences encompasses clinical, academic, and translational research, as well as the teaching of medical sciences, with both an MD and PhD typically required. In this study, it was hypothesized that the characteristics of a Basic Sciences career path could offer the professional advancement and personal fulfillment that many female medical doctors would find advantageous. Moreover, encouraging interest in Basic Sciences could help stem shortages that Japan is experiencing in medical fields, as noted in the three principal contributing factors: premature resignation of female clinicians, an imbalance of female physicians engaged in research, and a shortage of medical doctors in the Basic Sciences.

Daily salt intake estimated by overnight urine collections indicates a high cardiovascular disease risk in Thailand.

This cross-sectional study (February 2012 to March 2013) was conducted to estimate daily salt intake and basic characteristics among 793 community-dwelling participants at high risk of cardiovascular disease (Framingham risk score >15%), who had visited diabetes or hypertension clinics at health centres in the Muang district, Chiang Rai, Thailand. We performed descriptive analysis of baseline data and used an automated analyser to estimate the average of 24-hour salt intake estimated from 3 days overnight urine collection. Participants were divided into two groups based on median estimated daily salt intake.

Efficacy and Safety of the Selective β3 -Adrenoceptor Agonist Mirabegron in Japanese Patients with Overactive Bladder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Finding Study.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the β3 -adrenoceptor agonist, mirabegron, compared with placebo in Japanese patients with overactive bladder (OAB).

Methods: Patients with OAB symptoms for ≥24 weeks, ≥8 micturitions/24 h on average, and ≥1 episode of urgency and/or urgency incontinence/24 h were randomized to mirabegron (25, 50 or 100 mg) or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to end of study in the mean number of micturitions/24 h.

Determining the general utilization and characteristics of orthopedic complementary and alternative medicine using a self-administered online questionnaire in Japan.

Background: Acupuncture and moxibustion, massage, bone-setting, manual therapy, and chiropractic treatments are representative components of orthopedic complementary and alternative medicine (OCAM) in Japan. However, the state of their utilization and characteristics are unclear, and have yet to be thoroughly surveyed. The objective of this study was to survey the utilization and characteristics of OCAM in the general public.

[A study on the 1946 smallpox epidemic in Japan and measures taken against it].

In early 1946, immediately after World War II, there was a smallpox epidemic in Japan. In this paper we investigated trends in the occurrence of smallpox by week and region using official documents of the General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ/SCAP), which are stored in the National Diet Library Modern Japanese Political History Materials Room, and summarized the measures taken against this epidemic. The following two points were clarified: 1) The 1946 smallpox epidemic peaked in Week 13 (March 24-30; 1,405 new patients), and the highest morbidity during this epidemic was seen in Hyogo Prefecture, followed by Osaka Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, Tokyo Prefecture, and Hokkaido Prefecture.

Overexpression of androgen receptor and forkhead-box A1 protein in apocrine breast carcinoma.

Aim: Apocrine breast carcinoma often lacks estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor type-2 (HER2) expression. Accordingly, development of a new treatment strategy is important for this type of cancer. The growth stimulus through the androgen receptor (AR) can be a candidate for targeted treatment.

Phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the β3-adrenoceptor agonist mirabegron, 50 mg once daily, in Japanese patients with overactive bladder.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the β3-adrenoceptor agonist mirabegron, in a Japanese population with overactive bladder (OAB).

Patients And Methods: This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study enrolled adult patients experiencing OAB symptoms for ≥24 weeks. Patients with ≥ 8 micturitions/24 h and ≥1 urgency episode/24 h or ≥1 urgency incontinence episode/24 h were randomised to once-daily placebo, mirabegron 50 mg or tolterodine 4 mg (as an active comparator, without testing for non-inferiority of efficacy and safety) for 12 weeks.

Evidence-based new service package vs. routine service package for smoking cessation to prevent high risk patients from cardiovascular diseases (CVD): study protocol for randomized controlled trial.

Background: Smoking cessation is a high-priority intervention to prevent CVD events and deaths in developing countries. While several interventions to stop smoking have been proved successful, the question of how to increase their effectiveness and practicality in developing countries remains. In this study, a newly devised evidence-based smoking cessation service package will be compared with the existing service in a randomized controlled trial within the community setting of Thailand.

Japanese medical students' interest in basic sciences: a questionnaire survey of a medical school in Japan.

The number of physicians engaged in basic sciences and teaching is sharply decreasing in Japan. To alleviate this shortage, central government has increased the quota of medical students entering the field. This study investigated medical students' interest in basic sciences in efforts to recruit talent.

Susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infection and touching of the eyes or nose: a cross-sectional study of Japanese workers.

Objectives: This study was a cross-sectional survey of Japanese workers regarding the relationship between touching the eyes or nose and susceptibility to URTI in workers.

Methods: The survey respondents were 4,663 Japanese workers. Subjects were surveyed via a self-administered questionnaire regarding their susceptibility to URTI and how often they touched their eyes or nose.

[Different uses of Fagopyrum esculentum Moench (buckwheat) in Japan and China: what ancient medical documents reveal].

The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate that buckwheat has been recognized, both in Japan and China, as a crop that is useful in many ways: as an agricultural crop, and for the healing powers and properties that, according to traditional Chinese medicine, it has. A comparative study of ancient documents pertaining to medicine in these countries has made it clear that this is the case. Buckwheat, however, has been used quite differently in each country.

Characteristics of physicians engaged in basic science: a questionnaire survey of physicians in basic science departments of a medical school in Japan.

The number of physicians engaged in basic science and teaching is sharply decreasing in Japan. To alleviate this shortage, central government has increased the quota of medical students entering the field. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of physicians who are engaged in basic science in efforts to recruit talent.

Reducing salt intake for prevention of cardiovascular diseases in high-risk patients by advanced health education intervention (RESIP-CVD study), Northern Thailand: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial.

Background: Decreasing salt consumption can prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Practically, it is difficult to promote people's awareness of daily salt intake and to change their eating habits in terms of reducing salt intake for better cardiovascular health. Health education programs visualizing daily dietary salt content and intake may promote lifestyle changes in patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases.

[Relationship between BCG immunization coverage and the immunization delivery system in the Tama area of Tokyo].

Purpose: The BCG immunization has long been performed in Japan. Although the BCG immunization service is the responsibility of the municipality, the manner in which the BCG immunization is delivered differs from municipality to municipality. The purpose of this study was to clarify how the different manner of the BCG immunization delivery systems influenced the BCG immunization coverage.

[Estimation of the excess death associated with influenza pandemics and epidemics in Japan after world war II: relation with pandemics and the vaccination system].

Objectives: To estimate the excess death associated with influenza pandemics and epidemics in Japan after World War II, and to reexamine the relationship between the excess death and the vaccination system in Japan.

Methods: Using the Japanese national vital statistics data for 1952-2009, we specified months with influenza epidemics, monthly mortality rates and the seasonal index for 1952-74 and for 1975-2009. Then we calculated excess deaths of each month from the observed number of deaths and the 95% range of expected deaths.

Effect of exercise on bone status and body composition in Japanese students.

Purpose: We evaluated the effect of exercise on stiffness and fat-free mass (FFM), which consists of bone and muscle, in Japanese students. It is uncertain whether exercise or sports activities will help to accumulate overall peak bone mass in Japanese adolescents.

Methods: A total of 710 Japanese students (age = 15-20 yr) were enrolled.

Difficulties facing physician mothers in Japan.

Despite recent increases in the number of female physicians graduating in Japan, their premature resignations after childbirth are contributing to the acute shortage of physicians. Previous Japanese studies have explored supportive measures in the workplace, but have rarely focused on the specific problems or concerns of physician-mothers. Therefore, this study explored the challenges facing Japanese physician-mothers in efforts to identify solutions for their retention.

[Which zoonoses should the general population be more awareness of ? Qualitative research targeted at veterinarians].

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine which zoonoses should the general population be more aware of.

Methods: We conducted qualitative research (Delphi method) on thirty veterinarians who were selected from the whole country.

Results: Twenty-four diseases were selected.

Does fever phobia cross borders? The case of Japan.

Background: Undue parental fear of fever in children was termed "fever phobia" by Schmitt following a survey in the USA in 1980. In 2000, Crocetti et al. conducted the same survey and concluded that fever phobia existed even 20 years later.

Relationship among food-safety knowledge, beliefs, and risk-reduction behavior in university students in Japan.

Objective: To identify whether university students who have both food-safety knowledge and beliefs perform risk-reduction behaviors.

Design: Cross-sectional research using a questionnaire that included food-safety knowledge, perceptions, risk-reduction behavior, stages for the selection of safer food based on the Transtheoretical Model, and demographic characteristics.

Setting: Four universities in eastern Japan and 2 universities in western Japan.