The feasibility and effectiveness of remote cognitive training on cognitive function and work performance in workers.

Objectives: We aimed to determine whether remote cognitive training (CT) is feasible and has the potential to improve cognitive function and work performance in Japanese workers.

Methods: From June to September 2020, this intervention time series study enrolled workers aged 18-65 years from 10 companies located in a metropolitan area of Japan. Cognitive function tests and self-administered questionnaires were completed by the participants three times: at baseline, after 12 weeks of CT, and after a further 12 weeks following cessation.

Relationship between objective cognitive functioning and work performance among Japanese workers.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the relationship between objective cognitive functioning and work performance among Japanese workers.

Methods: From February to November 2019, this cross-sectional study enrolled workers aged 18-65 years from 10 companies located in a metropolitan area of Japan. We emailed invitations to participate to employees of companies that had agreed to cooperate with the study.

A Proposal for Practical Diagnosis of Renal Hypouricemia: Evidenced from Genetic Studies of Nonfunctional Variants of among 30,685 Japanese Individuals.

Background: Renal hypouricemia (RHUC) is characterized by a low serum uric acid (SUA) level and high fractional excretion of uric acid (FE). Further studies on FE in hypouricemic individuals are needed for a more accurate diagnosis of RHUC.

Methods: In 30,685 Japanese health-examination participants, we genotyped the two most common nonfunctional variants of (NFV-), W258X (rs121907892) and R90H (rs121907896), in 1040 hypouricemic individuals (SUA ≤ 3.

Genetic epidemiological analysis of hypouricaemia from 4993 Japanese on non-functional variants of URAT1/SLC22A12 gene.

Objectives: Up to 0.3% of Japanese have hypouricaemia. Most cases appear to result from a hereditary disease, renal hypouricaemia (RHUC), which causes exercise-induced acute kidney injury and urolithiasis.

Risk of bladder cancer in male Japanese workers exposed to ortho-toluidine and other aromatic amines.

Purpose: Nine bladder cancer (BCa) cases were reported among aromatic amine-exposed male workers at a factory manufacturing organic dye/pigment intermediates in Japan. We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of aromatic amine-exposed workers by cross-sectional observation, and the risk of BCa by assessing the standardized incidence ratio (SIR).

Methods: In the cross-sectional study, our subjects were: 9 BCa patients, 36 aromatic amine-exposed non-patients, and 79 non-exposed workers from 3 factories.

Genome-wide association study revealed novel loci which aggravate asymptomatic hyperuricaemia into gout.

Objective: The first ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of clinically defined gout cases and asymptomatic hyperuricaemia (AHUA) controls was performed to identify novel gout loci that aggravate AHUA into gout.

Methods: We carried out a GWAS of 945 clinically defined gout cases and 1003 AHUA controls followed by 2 replication studies. In total, 2860 gout cases and 3149 AHUA controls (all Japanese men) were analysed.

[Study on the Establishment of a Specific Similar Exposure Group (SEG) in Personal Exposure Monitoring: A Case Report of Indium Tin Oxide Target Surface Grinding Process].

Surface grinding workers of Indium Tin Oxide target material are exposed to an indium compound with high toxicity. We divided individual exposure workers into similar exposure groups (SEG) and examined the effectiveness of the classification of SEG. Sampling was carried out twice a day for a total of 10 times, in 9 of which a work environment measurement in unit work area was performed at the same time.

Influence of sulfur dioxide on the respiratory system of Miyakejima adult residents 6 years after returning to the island.

Background: Mount Oyama, on the Japanese island of Miyakejima, began erupting in June 2000, necessitating the evacuation of 3,000 island residents. Volcanic gas emissions, primarily consisting of sulfur dioxide (SO), gradually decreased and residents returned to the island after the evacuation order was lifted in February 2005.

Objectives: To assess the exposure-effect and exposure-response relationships between SO exposure and effects on respiratory system in adult Miyakejima residents.

Changes of median nerve conduction velocity in rayon manufacturing workers: A 6-year cohort study.

Objectives: We conducted a 6-year cohort study to evaluate the relationship between carbon disulfide (CS) exposure and reductions in the motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity (MCV and SCV) of the median nerve.

Methods: Study subjects at baseline included 432 exposed workers and 402 unexposed workers. Among the exposed workers, 145 workers terminated CS exposure during the follow-up period (ex-exposed workers).

Personal indium exposure concentration in respirable dusts and serum indium level.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between indium exposure concentration in the respirable dust fraction (In-E) and indium in serum (In-S) in workers.

Methods: A total of 39 workers were studied. The study subjects were categorized into 3 groups, namely, smelting workers (n=7), ITO workers (n=6) in an ITO grinding plant, and other workers (n=26).

Pulmonary effects in workers exposed to indium metal: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Indium was added to the list of substances regulated by the Ordinance on Prevention of Hazards due to Specified Chemical Substances (OPHSCS) in 2013. Indium metal (IM), however, is not regulated by the OPHSCS due to insufficient information on pulmonary effects following exposure.

Methods: From 2011 to 2013, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 141 IM-exposed workers at 11 factories.

Effects of sulfur dioxide on the respiratory system of Miyakejima child residents 6 years after returning to the island.

Objectives: This study investigated the health effects of volcanic gas, mainly sulfur dioxide (SO2), exposure on the children of Miyakejima Island.

Methods: Health checkups were conducted in November from 2006 to 2011. Health effects were evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire on respiratory and irritative symptoms, and spirometry.

Screening for impaired cognitive domains in a large Parkinson's disease population and its application to the diagnostic procedure for Parkinson's disease dementia.

Background: Dementia is a new focus of research on improved treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). In 2007, a screening tool for PD dementia (PD-D) was developed by the Movement Disorder Society (Level I testing), which still requires verification by a large population study.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional and multicenter study including 13 institutions administering the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to 304 PD patients (mean age: 70.

Higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels are protectively associated with depressive symptoms in men, but not in women: a community-based cohort study of older Japanese.

Objective: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) appears to have a protective effect against depression, but evidence from prospective cohort studies is sparse. Therefore, we examined the association between serum DHEAS levels and depressive symptoms in older community-dwelling Japanese.

Design: A community-based cohort study.

Spinal posture in the sagittal plane is associated with future dependence in activities of daily living: a community-based cohort study of older adults in Japan.

Background: Accumulated evidence shows how important spinal posture is for aged populations in maintaining independence in everyday life. However, the cross-sectional designs of most previous studies prevent elucidation of the relationship between spinal posture and future dependence in activities of daily living (ADL). We tried to clarify the association by measuring spinal posture noninvasively in a community-based prospective cohort study of older adults, paying particular attention to thoracic curvature, lumbar curvature, sacral hip angle, and inclination to determine which parameter is most strongly associated with dependence in ADL.

Clinical features and varieties of non-motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease: a Japanese multicenter study.

Objective: This multicenter cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the clinical features and varieties of non-motor fluctuation in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: To identify motor and non-motor fluctuation, we employed the wearing-off questionnaire of 19 symptoms (WOQ-19) in 464 PD patients. We compared the frequency of levodopa-related fluctuation as identified by the WOQ-19 with recognition by neurologists.

REM sleep behavior disorder in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease: a multicenter study using the REM sleep behavior disorder screening questionnaire.

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is known to be observed more frequently in patients with an α-synucleinopathy such as Parkinson's disease (PD) than in the general population. The precise prevalence of RBD in Japanese PD patients is not known. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and the clinical characteristics of patients with RBD in a large population of Japanese patients with PD.

Camptocormia in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease: a multicenter study.

Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the prevalence of camptocormia and the clinical characteristics of patients with camptocormia in a large population of PD patients.

Background: Although camptocormia has been recognized as a prominent phenomenon in PD, the previous epidemiological reports were limited, especially in terms of sample size.

Methods: We evaluated 531 PD patients (disease duration: 7.

[Nine-month observation of effects of SO2 on the respiratory system in child Miyakejima citizens].

Background: Mt. Oyama on Miyakejima Island erupted in June 2000 and all Miyake village citizens were forced to evacuate the island in the September, due to continuous eruptions and emission of unsafe amounts of volcanic gas, mainly sulfur dioxide (SO2). Beginning in February 2005, residents returned to live on the island despite the fact that volcanic gas was still being emitted.

Gender-specific associations of vision and hearing impairments with adverse health outcomes in older Japanese: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Several epidemiological studies have shown that self-reported vision and hearing impairments are associated with adverse health outcomes (AHOs) in older populations; however, few studies have used objective sensory measurements or investigated the role of gender in this association. Therefore, we examined the association of vision and hearing impairments (as measured by objective methods) with AHOs (dependence in activities of daily living or death), and whether this association differed by gender.

Methods: From 2005 to 2006, a total of 801 residents (337 men and 464 women) aged 65 years or older of Kurabuchi Town, Gunma, Japan, participated in a baseline examination that included vision and hearing assessments; they were followed up through September 2008.

Lifestyle factors and visible skin aging in a population of Japanese elders.

Background: The number of studies that use objective and quantitative methods to evaluate facial skin aging in elderly people is extremely limited, especially in Japan. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study we attempted to characterize the condition of facial skin (hyperpigmentation, pores, texture, and wrinkling) in Japanese adults aged 65 years or older by using objective and quantitative imaging methods. In addition, we aimed to identify lifestyle factors significantly associated with these visible signs of aging.