Journal of Rural Medicine
Online ISSN : 1880-4888
Print ISSN : 1880-487X
ISSN-L : 1880-487X
Volume 9, Issue 2
Displaying 1-5 of 5 articles from this issue
Original articles
  • Yoko Watanabe, Isao Saito, Ikuyo Henmi, Kana Yoshimura, Kotatsu Maruya ...
    2014 Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages 51-58
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: November 29, 2014
    Advance online publication: June 17, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Objective: Despite the fact that the total energy intake of Japanese people has decreased, the percentage of obese people has increased. This suggests that the timing of meals is related to obesity. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between the timing of meals and obesity, based on analyses of physical measurements, serum biochemical markers, nutrient intake, and lifestyle factors in the context of Chrononutrition.
    Participants and Methods: We analyzed data derived from 766 residents of Toon City (286 males and 480 females) aged 30 to 79 years who underwent detailed medical examinations between 2011 and 2013. These medical examinations included. (1) physical measurements (waist circumference, blood pressure, etc.); (2) serum biochemical markers (total cholesterol, etc.); (3) a detailed questionnaire concerning lifestyle factors such as family structure and daily habits (22 issues), exercise and eating habits (28 issues), alcohol intake and smoking habits; (4) a food frequency questionnaire based on food groups (FFQg); and (5) a questionnaire concerning the times at which meals and snacks are consumed.
    Results: The values for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were higher for participants who ate dinner less than three hours before bedtime (<3-h group) than those who ate more than three hours before bedtime (>3-h group). The Chi-square test showed that there was a significant difference in eating habits, e.g., eating snacks, eating snacks at night, having dinner after 8 p.m., and having dinner after 9 p.m., between the <3-h group and the >3-h group. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that skipping breakfast significantly influenced both waist circumference (β = 5.271) and BMI (β = 1.440) and that eating dinner <3-h before going to bed only influenced BMI (β = 0.581).
    Conclusion: Skipping breakfast had a greater influence on both waist circumference and BMI than eating dinner <3-h before going to bed.
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  • Istvan Szilard, Zoltan Katz, Karoly Berenyi, Peter Csepregi, Andras Hu ...
    2014 Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages 59-73
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: November 29, 2014
    Advance online publication: July 04, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate employees’ self-assessments of their occupational risks and health awareness as well as their perception of preventive methods. We also aimed to collect data on employees’ perception of some selected alarming signs and symptoms that may encourage them to take further actions (such as separation and calling an ambulance).
    Participants and methods: Between April and June 2013, an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted with the participation of 70 employees working with migrants (both health-care and non-health-care staff) in 10 Hungarian settlements: 4 border crossing points along the eastern Schengen borderline, 3 asylum detention centers and 3 reception centers.
    Results: Our results demonstrated an increased perception of certain biological and mental health hazards at work among those working with migrants: 63.7% of the health-care workers and even 37.3% of the non-health-care staff come into contact with human secretions (feces, urine, saliva) “frequently” or “sometimes”. Self-assessed awareness of the signs and symptoms of infectious diseases was poor: only 12.8% of participants evaluated their awareness as “good” or “very good”. Threat of verbal violence may be considered a common mental risk at work for participants: 35% “sometimes” or “frequently” and 5% “always” face verbal violence during their work. The most commonly used preventive measures against infectious diseases included the use of gloves, masks and disinfectants; these were generally available to 70 to 80% of the workers and properly applied.
    Conclusions: Our results indicate considerable deficiencies in the participants’ preparedness in respect to their occupational health-related issues. Since it is essential for those having daily physical contact with migrants during their work to be properly informed about the occupational health hazards and consequences that may be associated with international migration, their training programs urgently require further development. More comprehensive knowledge may improve the preventive attitudes of employees, and conscious application of preventive measures may contribute to better public and occupation health safety.
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  • Ayako Okutsu, Kikuyo Koiyabashi
    2014 Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages 74-85
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: November 29, 2014
    Advance online publication: September 02, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Objective: The aim of this study was to implement self-care support for leg lymphedema patients using mobile phones and to investigate the effects thereof.
    Patients and Methods: A total of 30 patients with lymphedema following female genital cancer surgery (stages I to II) who were referred from a nearby gynecologist were randomly divided into groups for routine self-care support (control group) and mobile telephone-assisted support (intervention group) and received the self-care support appropriate to their group. The (total) circumference of the leg with edema, FACT-G (cancer patient QOL), MHP (mental health status), and self-care self-assessment were comparatively investigated at three months after the initial interview.
    Results: No significant reduction in the (total) circumferences of legs with edema was confirmed in either the control or intervention group. The intervention group was significantly better than the control group in terms of the activity circumstances and FACT-G mental status at three months after the initial interview. The intervention group was also significantly better in psychological, social, and physical items in the MHP. The intervention group was significantly better than the control group in terms of circumstances of self-care implementation at three months after the initial interview. Additionally, comparison of the circumstances of implementation for different aspects of self-care content showed that the intervention group was significantly better at selecting shoes, observing edema, moisturizing, self-drainage, wearing compression garments, and implementing bandaging.
    Conclusion: Compared with routine self-care support, mobile telephone-assisted support is suggested to be effective for leg lymphedema patients’ QOL and mental health status as well as their self-care behaviors.
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  • Masaaki Kawashima, Hajime Kondo
    2014 Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages 86-89
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: November 29, 2014
    Advance online publication: October 19, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences between therapeutic granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) cycles and prophylactic G-CSF cycles in patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.
    Material and Method: Medical records of 15 women who received paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy for ovarian cancer between January 2003 and December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. All 15 patients completed 6 cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin as the first-line chemotherapy. The complications were compared between therapeutic G-CSF cycles and prophylactic G-CSF cycles.
    Results: The number of chemotherapy cycles correlated with the ratio of prophylactic G-CSF cycles. It was considered that earlier prophylactic G-CSF injections were chosen due to a gradual decrease in WBC and neutrophil counts. The WBC and neutrophil counts were significantly higher in prophylactic G-CSF cycles than in therapeutic G-CSF cycles. However, there were no significant differences in the intervals of chemotherapy, delay of chemotherapy, and incidence of febrile neutropenia between the therapeutic G-CSF and prophylactic G-CSF cycles.
    Conclusion: Prophylactic G-CSF injections were not effective in preventing the incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.
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Case report
  • Hiroki Kinugawa, Yasuyuki Shimada
    2014 Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages 90-92
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: November 29, 2014
    Advance online publication: October 06, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    An 85-year-old malnourished man was admitted with ischemia-induced necrosis of the right leg and high-risk factors, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and infection of the necrotic leg. We controlled the infection and provided proper nutrition. Using light general anesthesia and a nerve block, we amputated the leg above the knee. The patient could eat and drink the same day following the surgery, and respiratory rehabilitation was begun the next day. His postoperative course was uneventful. Our case suggests that maintenance of good nutrition may play a key role for high-risk elders undergoing leg amputation.
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