We developed and verified the reliability and validity of the simulated/standardized patient stress and stress reaction questionnaire (SPSSQ), which comprehensively measures the stress state of simulated/standardized patients(SP), who play an important role in practical medical education. An anonymous survey was conducted by postal mail on a total of 401 adult SP (response rate, 68.2%; valid response rate, 87.6%). A total of 43 items comprising a six-factor structure (varimax solution) were identified as stressors, with an α reliability coefficient of 0.926, cumulative contribution rate of 48.14%, correlation coefficient of 0.20-0.40 (p < 0.0001) with the Stress Response Scale-18 (SRS18; Suzuki et al 1997), a goodness-of-fit index (GFI) of 0.873, an adjusted GFI (AGFI) of 0.845, and a root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) of 0.058. As for the stress response (Promax rotation), a total of 17 items under three factors were identified, with an α reliability coefficient of 0.844, cumulative contribution rate of 42.99%, factor correlation matrices of 0.295-0.567 (p < 0.0001), correlation coefficient of 0.40-0.85 (p < 0.0001) with the SRS-18, GFI of 0.903, AGFI of 0.868, and an RMSEA of 0.071. Based on the above, even though some issues exist in regard to the model's goodness of fit, the applicability of the SPSSQ was confirmed.

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Some chemicals such as pesticides, animal drugs, environmental pollutants, metals, and food additives, when present at high concentrations in foods, can lead to health problems in humans. Surveys of the daily intakes of these chemicals have been conducted to examine their level of ingestion by humans in foods. According to investigations employing the total diet method (FY 2007-2011), the estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of PCB and several dozen pesticides were less than 6% of the corresponding acceptable daily intakes (ADIs). In addition, the EDI of dioxins was 21% of the tolerable daily intake (TDI). EDIs of Pb, Hg, and Cd were 10, 21, and 55% of the TDIs, respectively. Also, EDIs of several tens of food additives were less than 10% of the corresponding ADIs according to surveys in FY 1986-2000. Therefore, it is considered to be extremely unlikely that adverse effects on human health would result from the ingestion of these exotic chemicals or their interactions when the toxic strength of the chemicals, their low EDIs, and the low rate of violating laws regarding their concentrations in foods are taken into account.

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The incidence of foodborne illness caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella has declined. Foodborn illnesses caused by Kudoa and Sarcocystis, which are new pathogens, are also decreasing. The main factor causing the decrease in these foodborne illnesses is that several foodborne illness prevention countermeasures of the government have functioned. The incidence of Norovirus and Campylobacter infection has increased. From now on, the foodborne illness preventive measures for Norovirus and Campylobacter are important.

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Obligatory labeling of allergenic ingredients is necessary for the safety of food allergy patients. However, in the process of out-grow, patients' tolerability to allergens would increase. Without knowing allergen concentrations, the labeling might lead to over-limitation of food selection, leading to lower QOL. We measured allergenic substances (wheat) in commercial foods sold at supermarkets in Oita prefecture; 9 foods labeled as containing "wheat" ingredient, 36 cooked and processed foods which labeled as using compound ingredients "containing wheat ingredients", 9 foods labeled to be called to attention for contamination, and 9 foods commonly taken as substitution foods for wheat allergic patients. ELISA method using the FASTKIT^TM Wheat ELISA Kit was applied. Most of rice confectioneries and frozen foods labeled as containing "Shoyu (contains wheat)" actually contained wheat proteins less than 10 micro grams per gram or below the detection limit. In milder cases of wheat allergy, the more detailed labeling of foods would lead to the wider selection of foods in allergic patients and their families, securing their safety.

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