We examined the relationship between the 2-hour blood glucose level in a glucose tolerance test and anthropometric measurements, clinical tests, and lifestyle by a path analysis. The subjects were 412 new-onset IGT patients( IGT, n=205; IFG+IGT, n=207) and 203 healthy men in their fifties. The path analysis demonstrated that the consumption of sweets since youth, a high intake of saturated fatty acids, low daily activity, low muscle mass, and bad results of clinical tests( a high systolic blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol) directly increased the 2-hour blood glucose level in the glucose tolerance test. The desire for saltiness was indirectly correlated with the level of 2-hour blood glucose. These data suggest that modifying the dietary life( the palatability consumption of sweets and saltiness, and the high intake of animal fat) and sedentary lifestyle would be important for preventing IGT.

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The effective utilization of used green tea leaves was investigated for removing heavy metal ions in an aqueous solution. The removal of the heavy metal ions by the used green tea leaves increased with increasing extraction time of the tea leaves. The optimum conditions for removing the heavy metal ions were achieved when 1 g of the used green tea leaves extracted five times with hot water was used as an adsorbent in an aqueous solution of 50 ml, using a stirring time of 30 min at 25℃ and pH4 for Cr⁶⁺, Fe³⁺ and Pb²⁺, and at pH6 for Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The catechin content of the extracted aqueous solution decreased with increasing amount of green tea leaves, there being a negative correlation between this catechin content and the percentage removal of the heavy metal ions. The removal of metal ions by used green tea leaves is suggested to involve physical adsorption by the tissue porosity and complexation between the metal ions and polymerized catechins in the leaves. The used green tea leaves can be used repeatedly as a heavy metal adsorbent after washing out the adsorbed ions with an acid solution.

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This research aimed to clarify the current state of the renovation model rooms in the Center for Practice and Promotion of Personal Care as well as four programs, namely “Experience," “Training," “Consultation," and “Linkage," and issues in the future. The examination methods employed were a case study and a questionnaire. The questionnaire about 29 model rooms was answered by staff. The results were:(1) Centers were small-scale facilities and the form of the facilities was a complex building with various organizations.(2) As for Centers, “Consultation" was implemented in all model rooms, and 80% of model rooms implemented “Experience" and “Training." The implementation rate of “Linkage" was low.(3) The problems are “Updating and maintaining equipment", and “Budget shortages and staff shortage. But the facility operation has not changed.(4) The future issues will be the promotion of “Linkage," development of programs that utilize existing facilities, securing a budget, and promotion of “Linkage" with educational institutions. This research aimed to clarify the current state of public and private house renovation model rooms; four programs of “Experience," “Training," “Consultation," and “Linkage;" and issues in the future. The examination methods were case study and survey questionnaire. The questionnaire about 29 model rooms was answered by staff. The results were: (1) The model rooms were established before Long-Term Care Insurance was implemented and the form of the facilities was a complex building with various organization. The facility operation has not changed.(2) As for Centers for Practice and Promotion of Personal Care, “Consultation" was implemented at all model rooms, and 80% of model rooms implemented “Experience" and “Training." The implementation rate of “Linkage" was low.(3) The future issues will be promotion of “Linkage," securing budget, development of programs that utilize existing facilities, and promotion of “Linkage" with educational institutions.(4) The staff evaluated the effects of model rooms.

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A questionnaire survey was conducted on a total of 334 breast cancer patients and survivors to investigate the problems with clothing experienced after breast cancer surgery. The questionnaire consisted of 136 questions in six categories, including the demographic and disease characteristics of the participants and the details of the bras and pads used. The findings obtained from the collected and analyzed data were as follows: 1) the participants who had undergone a mastectomy or breast conserving surgery encounter short-term to long-term difficulties or inconveniences related to clothes, ranging from innerwear to outerwear; 2) these difficulties or inconveniences result from deformity of the breast area, as well as physical symptoms experienced after surgery and side effects from the treatments given following surgery. These problems need to be resolved considering many factors related to clothes, such as mobility, fit, thermal comfort, touch sensation and garment coordination.

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