This research aims at identifying issues in coping with minor scary incidents that could take place at construction sites. It consists of three parts: (1) characteristics of minor scary incidents experienced by communication construction workers, (2) verification of near-accident prevention education, and (3) investigation as to recognition of effectiveness of minor scary incidents. The trend analysis classifies the incidents into three categories, i.e., “while moving,” while working,” and “at workplace,” and finds that these incidents could lead to industrial accidents. As to the effectiveness of the accident prevention education, the analysis of variances in two-way repeated measures confirms that only those groups with higher average ages and longer years of work experience show an increase in the percentage of reporting “no” in causing incidents three months after the education. The investigation as to recognition of the effectiveness of minor scary incidents confirms that the accident prevention education is effective in preventing accidents. It also finds other issues such as avoiding mannerism and sharing information.

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An idiopathic disease with meningitis-like symptoms in infants, so-called meningitis named tentatively in infancy (SCMI), was endemic in Japan during the period of 30 years from the mid Meiji era to the late Taisho era (early 20th century). In 1923, Professor Ikutaro Hirai at the Kyoto University reported that SCMI was a chronic lead-poisoning diseases caused by white lead in the mothers’ cosmetic powder. In 1930, regulation of cosmetics including lead was stipulated in the Ordinance of the Ministry of Home Affairs. We previously reported the analysis of the articles published in a pediatric Journal, Acta Paediatrica Japonica, from 1923 to 1926. In this study, we reviewed 83 SCMI articles published in the journal from 1927 to 1930. This paper deals with review articles, case reports and articles on clinical findings, medical care and pathology/autopsy, which were all published during the period of 1927–1930. The next paper will deal with articles on laboratory examinations and experimental findings published in the same period.

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There is supposed not to be a side effect of the sleepiness due to the second-generation antihistamine intake, even during monotonous vigilance experiments such as driving. It is also well known that the manifestation of the sleepiness is strongly influenced in the circasemidian rhythm at the daytime. Therefore, we investigated the effect of epinastine hydrochloride (Alesion® 20mg) on physiological sleepiness during driving simulator operation at this time zone. The subjects were 16 male Japanese cedar pollinosis sufferers. Eight of them were assigned as the morning group (10:00–12:00, 36.1±10.5 yrs) and the rest were assigned as the afternoon group (12:00-15:00, 39.8±8.2 yrs). In the morning group, the drug was administered at 09:00, at 12:00 in the afternoon group. After 60 min from the drug intake, they operated a driving simulator for 120 min (15 min×4 trials×2 sessions). We measured EEG derivation from Pz during operating the simulator and analyzed theta power density (3.0~6.0Hz). And we collected blood samples (8cc) from the non-dominated arm after 60, 120, 180 and 240 min after the drug intake. The results showed that there was a significant difference between both groups in the blood concentration of epinastine hydrochloride after 60 min from the drug intake (p=0.04). Theta power density of the afternoon group at both sessions had significantly higher values than that of the morning group (ss1; p=0.005, ss2; p=0.024). The conclusion was that one should not drive a car, even if second-generation antihistamine had been administrated in the early afternoon.

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It is important to reveal the actual situations regarding employment support for workers with cancer (cancer survivors). We interviewed full-time occupational physicians who were supporting cancer survivors. These physicians are employed by large companies that have a system in place for employees returning to work after an illness. In addition, the physicians play a role in operations of their company’s rules regarding that system. In large companies, cancer survivors, compared with workers with other diseases, find it easier to return to work because of sympathetic support at the workplace. In contrast, for employees who may pose danger to others, it is often difficult to accomplish returning to work. This is something we should consider in regard to the protection of personal information and complicating mental health disorders.

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