Acupuncture and Laser Acupuncture as Treatments for Emotional Distress in Infertile Women in Japan.

Needle and laser acupuncture are often used to improve the success rate of assisted reproductive technology (ART). This study examined whether needle or laser acupuncture ameliorated the emotional distress experienced by infertile women undergoing fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Fifty-one infertile women who were undergoing IVF-ET or ICSI received needle acupuncture (needle-acupuncture group; n = 32) or laser acupuncture treatment (laser-acupuncture group; n = 19).

[Investigation of Factors Related to Stockpiling of Oral Care Hygiene Materials in Normal Times: Internet Survey Analysis].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the current status of stockpiling of oral care hygiene materials in case of a disaster and to determine methods to support stockpiling during disaster preparation.

Methods: We conducted an Internet questionnaire survey on stockpiling and disaster prevention measures among 300 adults. For statistical analysis, the χ² test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman rank test were employed.

[Behavioural Changes among University Students Examined Using Physical Activity Monitor].

Objectives: We examined the relationship between a physical activity monitor, which measures physical activities and health behavioural factors, and behavioural changes in 70 first-year university students who consented to participate among 80 students (recovery rate, 87.5%).

Methods: We evaluated Pearson's correlation coefficients using the Mann-Whitney U-test for changes in health behavioural factors and self-efficacy and performed binomial logistic regression analysis with health behavioural factors and self-efficacy as dependent variables and life improvement effects as explanatory variables.

[Considering the effects purchase food balance guide utilizing cable television has on the user].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to empirically investigate the needfulness of the Purchased Foodstuffs Balance Guide as designed for its users and also consider its influence on better dietary habits.

Methods: The participants included 89 students who attended City A's Senior Citizens' College, and the reality of their ICT and dietary habits were surveyed. Next, 27 cable television subscribers were asked to be monitors for testing the Guide.

Effect on blood pressure of daily lemon ingestion and walking.

Background. Recent studies suggest that the daily intake of lemon (Citrus limon) has a good effect on health, but this has not been confirmed in humans. In our previous studies, it was observed that people who are conscious of their health performed more lemon intake and exercise.

[Challenges and development of a nutritional management service system home page that targets personal computer novices 65 years of age or older].

Objectives: We intended to develop contents for nutritional management for elderly people using the Internet, and to consider factors relatied to the promotion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out consisting of items on diet support conditions and promoting the use of ICT by the elderly. Then, we developed a nutritional management system using a home page on a trial basis, after which n we studied the need, operability and environmental support of this system.

[Effect of variation of lemon intake and walking in daily life on various indicators of muscle mass and blood biochemistry in menopausal middle-aged and elderly women].

Objectives: We examined the factors considered to change body composition and blood biochemistry indicators in menopausal middle-aged and elderly women. These changes result from exercise by walking as part of their daily activities and lemon consumption by women who live on the small islands of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan's largest citrus fruit (lemon)-producing region.

Methods: Between September 2011 and March 2012, we recorded the daily lemon consumption and the number of steps taken by 101 middle-aged and elderly female lemon farmers.

[Examination of influence of adolescent lifestyle on oral hygiene].

Objectives: In the "biopsychosocial model" propounded by Engel, psychological, biological, and social factors are considered to be interrelated contributors to the causes of illnesses. In this study, we investigated the relationship of oral health in Japanese juveniles with psychological, biological, and social factors.

Methods: The subjects were 227 junior high school students who belonged to a relatively small junior high school in A city, Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.

Decreased resting energy expenditure in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Background: Skeletal muscle metabolism is a major determinant of resting energy expenditure (REE). Although the severe muscle loss that characterizes Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) may alter REE, this has not been extensively investigated.

Methods: We studied REE in 77 patients with DMD ranging in age from 10 to 37 years using a portable indirect calorimeter, together with several clinical parameters (age, height, body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), vital capacity (VC), creatine kinase, creatinine, albumin, cholinesterase, prealbumin), and assessed their influence on REE.

Analysis of the factors that affect dental health behaviour and attendance at scheduled dental check-ups using the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model.

A questionnaire survey was administered to 317 parents who attended infant health check-ups in City B, Okayama Prefecture between October, 2008 and March, 2009. The questionnaire survey studied 7 factors based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model. We analysed factors that affected oral health behaviour and attendance at scheduled dental health check-ups.

[A case of autosomal recessive hypomyelinating leukodystrophy without GJA12 mutation presenting a novel phenotype].

A 50-year-old woman, who had consanguineous parents, developed gait disturbance at age 3, and revealed nystagmus, cerebellar ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, and spastic tetraparesis. She admitted to our hospital at age 14, and the symptoms progressed very slowly. MRI of this case at age 45 showed a remarkable, diffuse hypomyelination of the cerebrum.

Salivary chromogranin A: useful and quantitative biochemical marker of affective state in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: To evaluate the affective state biochemically and quantitatively in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients using salivary chromogranin A (CgA) measurement.

Subjects And Methods: Twelve moderate and 12 terminal ALS patients defined using the ALS Health State Scale were studied. The correlation between salivary CgA levels and the 40-item ALS assessment questionnaire (ALSAQ-40) scores was investigated in 12 moderate ALS patients.