Verification of a system utilizing heartbeat-induced acoustic pulse waves for estimating the time at which bladder urine increases to a level requiring drainage among individuals with spinal cord injury.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to the loss of urinary sensation, making urination difficult. In a previous experiment involving six healthy participants, we measured heartbeat-induced acoustic pulse waves (HAPWs) at the mid-back, calculated time-series power spectra of heart rate gradients at three ultralow/very low frequencies, distinguished and formulated waveform characteristics (one characteristic for each power spectrum, nearly uniform across participants) at times of increased urine in the bladder and heightened urges to urinate, and developed an algorithm with five of these power spectra to identify when urination is needed by extracting the waveform portion (continuous timepoints) where all of the characteristics were consistent with the formulated characteristics. The objective of this study was to verify the validity of the algorithm fed with data from measured HAPW of participants with SCI and to adapt the algorithm for these individuals.

Relationship between working posture/movement and measures to prevent low back pain among care workers: a cross-sectional study in the Kansai region of Japan.

We investigated the implementation of safe work practices for preventing low back pain (LBP) among care workers (CWs) to ascertain the interrelationships between appropriate device use and the frequency of working postures/movements that cause LBP. This cross-sectional study used an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire of CW team leaders (one per facility) working at long-term care facilities in Japan. Data on bed-height adjustment, the use of devices for repositioning in bed and bed- and wheelchair-transfer assistance, and the frequency of awkward postures/movements were cross-tabulated and analyzed using Haberman's residuals.

Work-related musculoskeletal pain among physical therapists: a cross-sectional study in Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, Japan.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the actual working conditions and prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among physical therapists in Japan, and the risk factors associated with low back pain (LBP) and upper limb pain (ULP).

Methods: A cross-sectional study of physical therapists in the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey contents included questions regarding personal, work-related, and musculoskeletal pain factors.

HIV/AIDS knowledge level, awareness of public health centers and related factors: a cross-sectional study among Brazilians in Japan.

Background: Accurate information is essential so that HIV infection can be detected in time for initiation of HIV/AIDS treatment. Immigrants are at high risk for delayed HIV testing and diagnosis, but foreign residents in Japan also seem to face barriers to accessing HIV/AIDS care. We aimed to assess their knowledge level of HIV/AIDS and awareness of public health centers in Japan (PHCs), and to explore factors related to these items.

Effects of different bed heights on the physical burden of physiotherapists during manual therapy: an experimental study.

This study aimed to determine the effect of physiotherapists' physical burden caused by different bed heights during manual therapy. Thirty-three male physiotherapists performed tasks simulating lumbar massage and passive hip abduction range-of-motion exercise (ROM) on the beds with low height (LH) and adjusted height (AH), with each task performed three times. The anterior inclination angle of the physiotherapist's trunk was measured, the surface electromyograms of the erector spinae and trapezius muscles were recorded, and perceived stress was assessed.

Fraction and Number of Unemployed Associated with Self-Reported Low Back Pain: A Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study in Japan.

This study examined a cross-sectional association between self-reported low back pain (LBP) and unemployment among working-age people, and estimated the impact of self-reported LBP on unemployment. We used anonymized data from a nationally representative survey (24,854 men and 26,549 women aged 20-64 years). The generalized estimating equations of the multivariable Poisson regression models stratified by gender were used to estimate the adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for unemployment.

A field study of exposure to whole-body vibration due to agricultural machines in a full-time rice farmer over one year.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to clarify in detail the levels of whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure from a variety of agricultural machines in a rice farmer over one year, and to evaluate the daily level of exposure compared with European and Japanese threshold limits.

Methods: The subject was a full-time, male rice farmer. We measured vibration accelerations on the seat pan and at the seat base of four tractors with various implements attached, one rice-planting machine, two combine harvesters, produced by the same manufacturer, and one truck used for transportation of agricultural machines.

A case of cervico-brachial disorder due to tactile interpretation for deaf-blind persons.

Objectives: We herein report a case of cervico-brachial disorder (CBD) due to long-term tactile interpreting.

Methods: The patient was interviewed to investigate her past history, occupational history, work conditions and clinical course in detail. The case was diagnosed in accordance with the "Diagnostic Criteria for CBD 2007" established by the Research Association for CBD of the Japanese Society for Occupational Health.

A field study on the physiological workload of garbage collectors in the Japanese summer.

A field study designed to reveal the physiological workload on garbage collectors (GC) was conducted in Japan. Three drivers who only operated a garbage truck, three loaders who actually collected as a team, three solo collectors, and one clerical worker, totaling 10 male workers participated in this study. The ambient temperature and the relative humidity, activity intensity, and heart rate were measured on the three days in July.

Effectual points of view in occupational health management for persons with cerebral palsy --interventional case approach in VDT work--.

In our previous study, we elicited effectual points of view (POV) in occupational health management for visual display terminals (VDT) operators with disabilities. In order to validate the POV, two VDT operators with cerebral palsy newly-participated in our case study. Problems were ascertained, and in order to attempt to reduce the workload and improve operability, we performed intervention using ergonomic measures.

Sleeping and working hours of residents at a national university hospital in Japan.

This study aimed to examine the status of time spent working and sleeping by resident doctors before the introduction of the New Training System for Residents in Japan. A time-budget survey was conducted over a 4-wk period on 102 residents at the Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital, and the response rate among residents was 76% of a total of 2,722 person-days. The average number of hours spent sleeping was the lowest and spent in the hospital including commuting time was the highest in residents of the surgery department, at 4.

Work schedule differences in sleep problems of nursing home caregivers.

Nursing home caregivers (n=775; 604 women; mean age 33.6 years) were studied to examine how work schedules affect their sleep. The shift group (n=536) worked under a rotating two-shift system (n=365), a rotating three-shift system (n=66), or other types of shifts (n=78).

Effect of mental stress on hemoglobin dynamics in trapezius muscles.

We examined the effect of mental stress on hemoglobin concentrations in the trapezius muscles of 20 healthy, non-smoking women. The participants held their arms out horizontally (physical stimulus) while standing upright for 1 min with 5 min intervals of seated rest, or performed Stroop's Color Word Test (mental stimulus), or both simultaneously. We measured heart rate, muscle tissue hemoglobin (oxy-hemoglobin, OxyHb; deoxy-hemoglobin, DeoHb; total hemoglobin, TotHb) concentrations in, and obtained surface electromyograms from the right upper trapezius muscle.

[Sleep survey of medical residents at a National University Hospital].

In order to ascertain the workload and lifestyle of medical residents prior to the introduction of a new medical resident training system, 102 residents at a national university hospital were monitored for four consecutive weeks to ascertain their life habits. Valid responses were obtained from 76% of the respondents for a total of 2,722 person days. It was found that the average length of sleep was 5.

Neuro-physiological study in persons with cervico-brachial disorders.

Objectives: In order to clarify the involvement in the nervous system by cervico-brachial disorders (CBD), we performed neurophysiological tests on the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system (CNS) in patients with CBD, subclinicals and healthy controls.

Subjects And Methods: We employed antidromic sensory nerve conduction velocities (SCV) in the hands and fingers for PNS function and event-related potentials (P300) for CNS higher function. Subjects for SCV were 27 patients, 14 workers with sign and symptoms of CBD (subclinicals) and 22 controls.

[An experimental study on muscle tension reaction induced by voice among sign language interpreters].

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the incidence of cervicobrachial muscle tension induced by voice among sign language interpreters (SLIs). The analyzed subjects included 8 professional SLIs (Case group) who complained of pain in the cervicobrachial muscle when listening to others' talking and 8 other people who have not learned sign language (Control group). Matching sexes, ages, and smoking habits of the Case and the Control groups was carried out.

[Evaluation of a swiveling seat to reduce the physical load on forklift drivers].

Many forklift drivers have musculoskeletal disorders such as low back pain related to poor work posture and whole-body vibration. With a forklift operator's seat capable of 45-degree swiveling, we evaluated the physical reduction in the load in 10 subjects working in a back-looking position by means of surface electromyography (EMG) and the angle of rotation of the trunk and neck regions. The amplitude of surface EMG on the trapezius, erector spinae, and latissimus dorsi muscles in looking back or maintaining a back-looking position decreased with a swiveling seat compared to the stationary seat.

Work-related reproductive, musculoskeletal and mental disorders among working women--history, current issues and future research directions.

According to the recent changes of working environments and socio-economical conditions, the proportion of working women are increasing in Japan. Characteristics of occupational workload and stress of Japanese working women are consistent with those in many industrialized countries except man-dominant culture. In this review we describe the history, current issues, and future research directions on occupational health of working women, especially focused on reproductive health, work-related musculo-skeletal disorders (WMSDs), and mental disorders.