Influenza newspaper reports and the influenza epidemic: an observational study in Fukuoka City, Japan.

Objectives: We examined whether the weekly number of newspaper articles reporting on influenza was related to the incidence of influenza in a large city.

Design: Prospective, non-randomised, observational study.

Setting: Registry data of influenza cases in Fukuoka City, Japan.

Are lifetime prevalence of impetigo, molluscum and herpes infection really increased in children having atopic dermatitis?

Background: Cutaneous infections such as impetigo contagiosum (IC), molluscum contagiosum (MC) and herpes virus infection (HI) appear to be associated with atopic dermatitis (AD), but there are no reports of concrete epidemiological evidence.

Objective: We evaluated the association of childhood AD with these infections by conducting a population-based cross-sectional study.

Methods: Enrolled in this study were 1117 children aged 0-6 years old attending nursery schools in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

[Analysis of case studies to evaluate supports for depressive white-collar workers who are returning to work after sick leave].

Purpose: In Japan, mental health problems due to work stress among white-collar workers have become an important topic which needs to be addressed. As for the support for workers who are returning to work after sick leave, reliable findings have not yet been reported. The purpose of the present study was to obtain findings concerning support for workers who are returning to work after sick leave.

Applicability of press needles to a double-blind trial: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives: Owing to a lack of a suitable needle procedure, it has been impossible to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in clinical studies using double-blind testing. We evaluated the applicability of a new kind of press needle (Pyonex) to a double-blind trial by comparing the press needle with a placebo (lacking the needle element).

Methods: The purpose of the study consisted of 2 phases.

Acupuncture practitioner-patient communication in Japan.

We evaluated acupuncture practitioner-patient communication using pairs of practitioners and patients. Our primary objective was to evaluate the concordance of practitioner and patient perceptions in terms of explanations regarding consultation, therapy, and patient satisfaction. The subjects were 250 practitioners and their 1250 patients in Fukuoka, Japan.