Objectives The current situation and problems associated with inactivation of microorganisms in water using copper were elucidated.
Methods A literature review was conducted regarding the history and mechanisms of inactivation technology using copper, the variety of microorganisms shown to be inactivated by these methods in previous experiments, and the efficacy of such technologies for the inactivation of microorganisms in water.
Results The use of copper for inactivation of microorganisms has a long history. Although the use of copper was discontinued temporarily owing to the advent of antibiotics in the 1930s, the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has resulted in the need for different approaches to control pathogenic microorganisms. One such alternative is the use of copper. Although the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of copper inactivation technology have not yet been elucidated in detail, it has been suggested that pathogenic bacteria are inactivated due to the toxicity of copper ions and strong oxidation effects of reactive oxygen species. Copper inactivation technology is effective against many pathogenic microorganisms that pose a risk to public health, such as Legionella pneumophila, Salmonella enterica, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In recent years, copper inactivation technology has been used in various water-related devices, especially water supply pipes in buildings. Previous studies have demonstrated that microorganisms can be sufficiently inactivated by copper even at concentrations below that specified in the Water Quality Standard for Drinking Water. However, some previous studies have indicated that the inactivation effect of copper is short-lived. Therefore, the development of techniques to maintain a long-term inactivation effect is a key concern. In addition, it has been reported that the use of copper pipes triggers chlorine decay and results in the formation of chlorine disinfection byproducts. Hence, further studies should aim at assessing the risks and benefits associated with the use of copper.
Conclusion Although the practical issues regarding copper inactivation technology are persistent, this method has been demonstrated to be efficacious. Therefore, this technology could be expected to be used in many devices such as water supply systems in hospitals in the near future.

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Objectives With the aging of the population, Japan's long-term care system has shifted from a welfare-placement system to a social-insurance system, which is a precedent of policies for the elderly. We examined how individuals who used care services before the implementation of long-term care insurance (LTCI) (previous service users) currently use the LTCI services, with a focus on the processes of service use.
Methods Panel data were obtained from the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging database. These data were collected by interviews conducted before (November 1999 and March 2000) and after (November 2001 and December 2001) the establishment of LTCI. Among the 3992 individuals who participated in these interviews, 416 of the previous service users, aged ≥65 years, were sampled. The outcome measures were the processes of using LTCI services (application for LTCI, certification of long-term care need, and contract with LTCI service providers). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify individual factors associated with the process of application for LTCI.
Results There were 133 LTCI users among the 416 previous service users (32.0%). Of the service processes used, 45.5% of previous service users were applicants, 85.7% of the applicants were certified individuals, and 88.7% of those certified used services with service contracts. The application process was significantly easier for individuals with disease (odds ratio[OR], 8.34 : 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.86–37.46), those dependent for their instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) (OR, 11.21 : 95% CI, 5.22–24.07), those with an equivalent income of <1.25 million yen (OR, 2.72 : 95% CI, 1.30–5.69), and those who had used respite care (OR, 3.29 : 95% CI, 1.16–9.35) previously. In contrast, the application process was significantly difficult for community rehabilitation users (OR, 0.38 : 95% CI, 0.17–0.82).
Conclusion Only half of the previous service users were applicants, and they had severe diseases or were more dependent for their IADL. Our findings suggest that many individuals who were functionally independent were covered under the welfare-placement system. Additionally, low-income individuals did not refrain from applying.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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Objectives Since the special tobacco tax was established in 1998, the tobacco tax and price of tobacco have increased thrice, in 2003, 2006, and 2010, respectively. We evaluated the effect of increases in tax on the consumption and sales of tobacco in Japan using the annual data on the number of tobacco products sold and the total sales from Japan Tobacco, Inc.
Methods We applied the number of tobacco products sold and the total sales per year to a joinpoint regression model to examine the trends in the data. This model could help identify the year in which a decrease or increase was apparent from the data. In addition, we examined the effect of each tax increase while also considering other factors that may have caused a decrease in the levels of tobacco consumption using the method proposed by Hirano et al.
Results According to the joinpoint regression analysis, the number of tobacco products sold started decreasing in 1998, and the trends of decrease accelerated to 5% per year, from 2005. Owing to the tax increase, tobacco sales reduced by −2.4%, −2.9%, and −10.1% (corrected for the effect of the Tohoku Great Earthquake), and price elasticity was estimated as −0.30, −0.27, and −0.28 (corrected) in 2003, 2006, and 2010, respectively. The effect of tobacco tax increase on the decrease in tobacco sales was greatest in 2010, while the price elasticity remained almost the same as it was during the previous tax increase.
Conclusion The sharp hike in tobacco tax in 2010 decreased the number of tobacco products sold, while the price elasticity in 2010 was similar to that in 2003 and 2006. Our findings suggest that further increase in tobacco tax is needed to reduce the damage caused by smoking in the people of Japan.

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