Introduction: Many details about adolescent women's lifestyles and masked obesity have not been clarified in prior research. Thus, we conducted an exploratory survey on the lifestyle and masked obesity in female college students.

Methods: From September to October in 2012, we investigated 85 female students aged 18-23 years in two colleges in the Kanto area and cross-sectionally investigated the differences in lifestyles between subjects with masked obesity [Body Mass Index (BMI) <25 kg/m² and Body Fat Percentage ≥30%] and those with standard proportions (18.5≤BMI<25 kg/m² and Body Fat Percentage=20-25%). Their body composition was measured using InBody430, and their lifestyles were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: Of them, there were 6 subjects (7.1%) with standard proportions and 25 subjects (29.4%) with masked obesity; 44.6% of the 56 subjects with standard weights had masked obesity. Differences were observed in their food intake frequency; the subjects with masked obesity consumed a smaller daily intake of green and yellow vegetables (p<.001) and light-colored vegetables (p=.008), and more frequently consumed mayonnaise (p=.003) and fried foods (p=.018) than those with standard proportions.

Conclusion: Masked obesity may increase the probability of having unhealthy dietary habits. It may be necessary for females with standard weights to receive dietary advice, and to have their body fat percentage regularly measured.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects that a group exercise activity managed by elderly volunteers would have on the physical function of older women after they participated in a formal exercise program taught by fitness experts.

Methods: Subjects were 47 community-dwelling older women who had completed a 3-month exercise program led by expert instructors in Kasama City, Ibaraki. After completing this exercise program, 28 subjects continued to participate in a group exercise activity led by elderly volunteers for approximately 11 months. The remaining 19 subjects did not join the group activities after the formal program. In both the initial, expert-led exercise program and the subsequent, volunteer-led group activity, subjects mainly engaged in the square-stepping exercise, which is a novel exercise for improving lower extremity physical function. In order to assess participants' physical function, we conducted five physical performance tests at both the baseline and follow-up; the former is the last day of the exercise program and the latter is approximately a year after the baseline.

Results: Two-way ANOVA demonstrated a significant interaction in the timed up and go test (P=0.003). The performance of subjects who had participated in the volunteer-managed group activity improved between the baseline and follow-up tests (P=0.007).

Conclusion: Participating in a group exercise activity managed by elderly volunteers can improve mobility skills of older women who had previously completed a formal exercise program led by expert instructors.

Aims: To verify the significance of medical and dental cooperation over the past 10 years in Haramachi Red Cross hospital, which does not have a dental department. We will also investigate the situation of inpatients' oral cavities in our hospital. From these results, we will discuss future activities about medical and dental cooperation.

Methods: We analyzed questionnaire and the field survey data related to medical and dental cooperation. We also compared the current oral assessments by a dentist and the past assessments without a dentist.

Results: A dental hygienist has participated in NST (Nutrition Support Team) rounds at our hospital since 2005. From then, we started oral assessments for inpatients and we recommend for patients to visit a dentist before surgery or chemotherapy. Furthermore, we have held oral care seminars for medical staff. As a result, medical staff have demonstrated an improvement in awareness and technique for oral care. Since 2013, a dentist from the Agatsumagun Dental Association has started oral assessments for preoperative inpatients at our hospital. However, we found that the frequency of problems in their oral cavities and that of postoperative pneumonia have not decreased.

Conclusion: Medical and dental cooperation is effective for our hospital. We think that it is important not only to promote medical and dental cooperation, but also to perform a dental checkup and educate the general population on periodontal disease.

Introduction: Our aim was to determine the relationship between pediatric wheezing attacks and sugarcane harvest work.

Methods: We recorded daily symptoms, including wheezing attacks, from 167 children attending kindergarten, elementary and junior high school on Minamidaito Island, Okinawa. We calculated wheezing attack frequency every two months and checked the seasonal changes. Logistic regressions were performed to examine the relationship between wheezing attacks and background factors.

Result: The collection rate of the check sheets was 62.5%. The median age was 7.5 years old, male-to-female ratio was 8:7 and the percentage of children with asthma was 36%. Wheezing attack frequency during sugarcane harvest work (January-March) had increased significantly compared with other periods. There was a number of wheezing attacks even in children without asthma.

Conclusion: There is a possibility that sugarcane harvest work is related with pediatric wheezing attacks.

Objectives: A survey was conducted to investigate the usability and safety of fentanyl sublingual tablets (FST) and to examine problems associated with their proper use.

Methods: Subjects were 18 cancer inpatients who received FST for breakthrough pain in their pharmacological cancer pain management. Changes in the pain score and the occurrence of adverse effects (nausea, vomiting and somnolence) were compared before and after FST administration.

Results: The pain score before FST administration was 6.4±2.4, and this was significantly improved to 3.4±2.8 at 30 min after administration (p<0.01). Somnolence occurred significantly more often 30 min and 2 h after FST administration than immediately before administration (p<0.05). There were no differences in the occurrence of nausea and vomiting before or after FST administration. Nine patients receiving FST therapy developed xerostomia, but there were no significant changes in the pain score or occurrence of adverse effects while they had xerostomia.

Conclusion: It is essential to observe the oral condition to judge whether FST therapy is indicated, and FST should be administered after providing sufficient oral care. The results indicate the possibility of increased occurrence of somnolence as an adverse effect.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for emergency hospitalization in Japanese nursing home residents.

Methods: Our retrospective cohort study included 170 nursing home residents who had stayed in two nursing homes in Saitama for more than one year by May 1, 2013. The association between emergency hospitalization within one year and 17 factors was examined initially by univariate analysis. Putative factors with P-values <0.05 on univariate analysis were considered in the multivariate analysis.

Results: A total of 70 (41.2%) of 170 nursing home residents were hospitalized emergently at least once within one year. In a logistic regression model, diagnosis of chronic heart failure (OR: 5.73, 95%CI: 1.37-23.84), presence of a decubitus ulcer (OR: 16.70, 95%CI: 1.89-147.41), and 5% loss of body weight over a one-year interval (OR: 2.47, 95%CI: 1.07-5.68) were associated with emergency hospitalization.

Conclusion: Diagnosis of chronic heart failure, presence of a decubitus ulcer, and a 5% loss of body weight over a one-year interval were risk factors for emergency hospitalization in Japanese nursing home residents.

Introduction: To regenerate the problematic regional healthcare system in Japan, the introduction of family healthcare doctors and clinics has been focused on recently. This study revealed the effects of the establishment of family healthcare clinics through a time-series analysis of the medical district in Kikukawa city, Shizuoka prefecture.

Methods: To know the change of outpatient visits before and after the establishment of a family healthcare clinic (K clinic), health insurance claims for the existing K hospital and new K clinic were analyzed. Claims were collected for 3 years before and after the establishment of K clinic at 3 months intervals.

Results: Based on the analysis of the number of patients and their attributes, migration from K hospital to K clinic after the establishment of K clinic was low. The clinic is especially favored by neighboring elderly people.

Conclusion: There is a clear distinction between a hospital and a clinic in accordance with their differences of expected functions.

In recent years, depression has become diverse, particularly in the younger population. In the field of medical education, it is assumed that a number of educators often experience difficulties in attending to their learners with depression. In this review article, information which contributes to the promotion of mental health for medical residents is provided, considering the knowledge of recent depression in the younger population, including its diversity together with the characteristics of the "generation educated with latitude".

Introduction: To determine the requirement (s) that enables the elderly living on an isolated island to continue living on their familiar island.

Methods: The annual reports on the internal migration in Japan derived from the basic resident registers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were organized. A questionnaire survey and interviews were conducted with members of the resident welfare division of the village office of Chibu Village, Oki-gun, Shimane Prefecture, and the answers were qualitatively analyzed.

Results: A large number of persons of advanced age have moved out from Oki Island. The destinations have varied by year and included places outside Shimane Prefecture. There were no hospitalization facilities or nursing homes in Chibu Village. The only establishment that provided nursing services was the social welfare council. Available home care services were only home-visit care and visiting care. The most common place of death was hospitals outside the island. The communities were characterized by strong ties and mutual assistance among people in the neighborhood, which supported the lives of aged members.

Conclusions: For persons of advanced age living on an isolated island to continue living in their familiar area, it was found necessary to improve the system for receiving people of advanced age who require nursing, and enhance the link between the government and residents to maintain mutual assistance activities among residents.