This study aimed to analyze data relevant to lifestyle-related diseases, and to identify health-related issues from data of basic health examinations in Okutama Town, Tokyo. Simultaneously, we studied methods for analyzing data when only small numbers of subjects were available. Data was collected from basic health examinations conducted in Okutama Town over 18 years from 1989 to the end of 2006. Subjects were 40 years and older as of their examinations, and were divided into 10-year age groups with regard to their age at the time of the first examination (total: 1,921 subjects). The results showed that, in recent years, there has been a gradual increase in BMI and total cholesterol for both men and women in most of age groups. This confirms the need for studies regarding future responses to health-related issues in this town. As to the method of analyzing data of small subjects, we are able to estimate stable trends by obtaining an optimum line or curve fitted to data over 18 years.

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The purpose of this study was to clarify the factor of determination for independent gait (IG) and the maximum walking speed (MWS) in patients with incomplete cervical cord injuries. The subjects were 77 patients with incomplete cervical cord injuries. Within 77 patients, 35 patients were resulted from trauma with cervical disorder; on the other hand, 42 were nontraumatic patients. They were examined at the start of gait exercise (first period) and 1 month after (second period). All of the measurements were consisted of 10 variables such as lumbar and sacral sensation, lower limb spasticity, sitting balance, ability to stand up, extension range of knee joint, dorsiflexion range of ankle joint, isokinetic strength of knee extension and flexion, and the MWS. The number of IG procurer was 50 (64.9%) at the 2nd period. Using IG as an object variable in multiple regression analysis, all of the variables except IG were analyzed as explanatory variables. From results of the multiple regression analysis, the first factor for IG was isokinetic strength of knee extension at the less affected side, and the second factor was sitting balance at the 1st period. Furthermore, at the 2nd period, the first factor was isokinetic strength of knee extension at the less affected side, the second factor was ability to stand up, and the third factor was grade of spasticity of less affected side. On the other hand, using the MWS as an object variable in multiple regression analysis, the first factor was isokinetic strength of knee flexion at the more affected side, the second factor was extension range of knee joint at the both period. These results suggested that the factors influenced to improve walking ability during physical therapy for the patients with incomplete cervical cord injuries.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the successive effects over 12 months (before and 4, 8, and 12 months after the start of exercise) of continuous exercise on motor functions and self-efficacy of daily living in 2 groups of elderly females. One group exercised once or less per week (group 1), and the other exercised twice or more per week (group 2). The subjects performed group exercise twice per month at community facilities, and also independently performed exercise using the same program at home. The motor functions were examined by several methods, such as the functional reach test, maximal walking speed, and Timed Up & Go, and the self-efficacy of daily living was evaluated using the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES). The successive changes in these 2 parameters and conditions during each examination were compared between groups 1 and 2. As a result, there were no significant changes in the motor functions of group 1, while, in group 2, the maximal walking speed significantly improved 4 and 12 months after the start of exercise (p<0.05). The comparison of motor functions in the 2 groups demonstrated that the maximal walking speed was significantly higher 12 months after the start of exercise in group 2 than in group 1 (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in successive changes in the self-efficacy of daily living evaluated using the FES over the 12 months between groups 1 and 2, nor were the differences between the examination time points significant. In this study, the maximal walking speed in group 2 improved 4 months after the start of exercise, and the difference was significant 12 months after exercise initiation between groups 1 and 2. These findings suggested that the frequency of exercise is important in health enhancement of the elderly.

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We evaluated 98 occupational therapy students by inspecting the construct validity of the Japanese version of Occupational Self Assessment version 2 (OSA II). We validated the construct validity by using a factor analysis. The results were as follows: 1) Four factors: the performance of task of self-goal, performance of task of activities of daily living, performance of interpersonal exchange, performance of leisure, were obtained from factor analysis between the items of Myself in OSA II. 2) Four factors: the performance environment of leisure, supportive human environment, environment of life and rest, and productive environment, were obtained from factor analysis between the items of Environment in OSA II 3) There were 15 out of 21 items (71.4%) of Myself in OSA II in the four factors, and all 8 items of Environment in OSA II in the four factors. 4) It shows that four factors of Environment almost correspond to four factors of Myself. From above, we considered that OSA II evaluated the performance and environment of study students. We concluded that OSA II had an satisfactory construct validity.

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Since X-ray CT examination is one of the leading procedures in health clinics, actual X-ray CT equipments are used for testing and training in educational institutions that train medical radiological technicians. However, a real-life X-ray CT equipment is large and has a complicated internal structure, so the testing and training curriculum is limited for helping students comprehend the electrical and image analysis principles of the equipment, and it is also necessary to consider the dangers of exposure to X-rays. For that reason, there is demand for a simpler educational equipment that achieves such objectives. We therefore construct a testing equipment using optical heterodyne interferometry, which offers superior directionality and selectivity of the rectilinear-light component, with the objective of developing a simulated CT equipment system for educational purposes using laser light. By using this prototype simulated CT equipment, the students doing the tests can visually confirm the beam during real-life scanning, and can also avoid exposure to X-rays. Since it is also possible to create a simulated CT image from image reconstruction algorithms used in X-ray CT, based on transmitted light strength data that is obtained, we can expect that this equipment will be highly effective as an educational tool. This paper reports on the detection by optical heterodyne interferometry of weak rectilinear light that passes through phantoms fabricated by the scattering solution and the creation of a simulated CT image from beat signal strength. We also constructed a system that can reconstruct sectional images in the heightwise direction, to create a three-dimensional image. We show the effect of the surface texture of the phantom container on the simulated CT image by the use of light.

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