Interactive model of subsidiary behaviors, work performance and autonomic nerve activity during visual display terminal work.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to investigate the systematic classification of subsidiary behaviors during visual display terminal (VDT) work and discuss the interpretation of these behaviors through an interactive model of subsidiary behaviors, work performance and autonomic nerve activity.

Methods: Twelve university students were instructed to perform continuous 120-min English transcription tasks in a sedentary posture. Data on subsidiary behaviors, work performance (mean keystroke and mean error rates), and autonomic nervous system balance (log-transformed low frequency (LF) / high frequency (HF) ratio) were recorded every 5 min during VDT work.

Characterizing recovery of sleep after four successive night shifts.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the recovery pattern of sleep following simulated, four successive night shifts in ten healthy men (22.9 + or - 3.2 yr).

Effects of adjustable sit-stand VDT workstations on workers' musculoskeletal discomfort, alertness and performance.

Adjustable sit-stand workstations, which are designed to allow workers to sit and stand autonomously while working, were examined to identify the effects on workers' musculoskeletal discomfort, alertness and performance. Twenty-four healthy subjects participated in the study. The subjects were required to do an English transcription task for 150 min under the following conditions: 1) sitting at standard workstations (Standard), 2) sitting on a chair with the work surface elevated to standing position (High-chair) and 3) a combination of 10-min sitting and 5-min standing with the same setting as that in the high-chair condition (Sit-stand).

[Characteristic patterns of fatigue feelings on four simulated consecutive night shifts by "Jikaku-sho shirabe"].

The aim of the present study was to reveal characteristic patterns of fatigue feelings on consecutive night shifts by a questionnaire for work-related fatigue feelings "Jikaku-sho shirabe". Ten healthy males (Mean +/- SD: 22.9 +/- 3.

Clinicopathological study of hepatic nodular lesions in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Background: There have been few reports concerning the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in heavy drinkers not sensitized by hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus. With current advances in diagnostic methods, hypervascular tumors are often discovered on imaging findings in alcoholics, and it is important to differentiate them from HCCs.

Methods: The subjects were 16 alcoholics who had hepatic nodules and were hepatitis B surface antigen negative and hepatitis C virus antibody negative and were classified into two groups: (1) the HBV group with hepatitis B surface antibody and/or hepatitis B core antibody and (2) the alcoholic group without these antibodies.