Health and clinical examinations of circulatory organs on 1, 400 high-school boys aged 12 to 17 years have been conducted from 1967 to 1981. The followed up data of health examination and clinical tests of cardiovascular disorders were analyzed, and the following conclusions were obtained. 1. Annual Fluctuation of Blood Pressure (observed number: 1, 061) 1) The annual blood pressure fluctuation are shown differently in high and low pressure groups which are divided at 120mmHg of systolic pressure and 70mmHg of diastolic pressure. In the higher blood pressure group, many boys had rather lower pressures at the second year than at the first year, while many boys in the lower blood pressure group had rather higher pressures at the last than at the former. It seems roughly that blood pressures in both groups are gathering to the average of the group. 2) Using both a erage blood pressures and the standard deviations in data for two years, the boys were categorized into three groups according to their blood pressure levels: high blood pressure groups (2.0%), increasing blood pressure group (1.1%), and decreasing blood pressure group (1.3%). 3) The incidence of families with a positive history of hypertension was significantly higher for the high blood pressure group than for the normal blood pressure and low blood pressure groups, thus suggesting that genetic factors give also school-age males some loading of the high blood pressure disposition. 2. Development of Ventricular Conduction Defect in 931 Boys Followed up. 1) After three years' observation, percentage figures for persistent fixation of cardiac ventricle conduction defect were obtained 83.3% for CRBBB, 62.5% for IRBBB, and 43.8% for IRBBB (R>R'), with a clear tendency for the more serious codes to be more fixed. 2) The number of improved cases (39.1%) was greater than that of the deteriorated (19.6%). Such a difference is more evident in cases with a short history of the disease, (improving group: 29.4% and deteriorated group: 8.8%). 3. Time-Course Results of A-V Conduction Defect (observed number: 1, 396) 1) Three years' observation showed that the incidence of I" A-V block was 0.64%, WPW syndrome 0.14%, and P-R shortening 0.07%. 2) The fluctuations of this defect in the course of time showed that the unchangeable type with a constant code was 59.7%, the improving type whose symptoms disappered completely was 22.6%, and the subjects newly developping the condition was 17.7%. 3) The results of Master's two-step test (double) conducted for I" A-V block (observed number: 22) (except for temporary and intermittent cases) showed that the improving type in which the P-R interval tends to be shorter after physical exertion accounted for 77.3%, while the deteriorating type in which this interval tends to be longer after physical exertion for accounted for 9.1%.

View full abstract

For effective planning of famer's health care activities, it is necessary to research the level of health consciousness, and the existant health programs among farmers. To make future programs more responsive to farmer's needs, the Kakegawa City Agricultural Co-operative Association conducted a survey and investigated field conditions of all agricultural co-operative farmers. Investigation resulted in the following findings: 1) An overall average of 83.7% of those surveyed had received a physical examination during the year. The percentage differed by sex and region. 2) About 60% of the physical examinations were sponsored by local governments. Other sponsors were the Agriculture Co-operative Association, and private companies. 3) An overall percentage of 46.6% said that they would like the Agriculture Co-operative Association to provide physical examinations more frequently. 4) Those who didn't take physical examinations didn't because they were "healthy and an examination was therefore not necessary, " and they were "just too busy with other things". 5) About 60% of those surveyed received medical consultation for some reason or another during the year, the percentage being lower in remote areas. 6) The percentage taking medicinal drugs was a bit higher in urban and adjacent areas, but not significantly so. Most received drugs by doctor's prescription. 7) On the average, only about 29.5% were conscious of the following health related factors: exercise; restricted intake of salt; consumption of vegetables; sufficient sleep; etc. 8) With regards to usage of poisonous agricultural chemicals, about 71 varieties of chemicals in the organic phosphorous and carbamate families were mentioned. Persons in charge of spraying were overwhelmingly female. 9) Among all those surveyed, 6.8% experienced symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and general discomfort. A scant 8.9% of these sought medical consultation. 10) Over the course of the past year, a total of 3.3% were injured in agricultural accidents. A total of 14.9% carried insurance coverage for such accidents. 11) Among the health related requests of the agriculture co-operative members were regular annual medical examinations, free medical examinations, medical care facilities for the agriculture co-operative associations, guidance with regards to usage of poisonous agricultural chemicals, and short study courses on health related matters in each district. There were a total of 49 items. It is recommended that these health related requests (11) be considered. Health education is especially important with regards to usage of chemicals and prevention of agricultural accidents. Physical examinations are important with regards to the usage of chemicals.

View full abstract

The present study was conducted for the purpose of investigating the influence of agricultural chemicals such as organic phosphoric compounds and carbamate derivatives on the blood cholinesterase levels of farmers working with the chemicals. The subjects of the investigation were 30 farmers (18 males and 12 females) who had worked with agricultural chemicals. Levels of cholinesterase (CHE) in their whole blood, plasma and hematocytes were measured for one year. The results were as follows: 1) Remarkable decreases in the CHE levels were observed in both males and females during the months when they worked with the agricultural chemicals. The females showed more remarkable decreases than the males. 2) Remarkable decreases in the ChE levels in Erythrocytes were observed in both males and females during the months when they worked with the agricultural chemicals. There was no difference in the decrease between the males and the females. 3) The ChE levels in plasma revealed such small decreases that the values were not suitable for utilization as indicators of the health condition of farmers exposed to agricultural chemicals. In consideration of these results, the CHE levels in whole blood and erythrocytes were regarded as suitable indicators of the influence of exposure to agricultural chemicals. As a relationship was observed between CHE levels and time of exposure to agricultural chemicals, it was concluded that the agricultural chemicals did influence the physical conditions of farmers exposed to them.

View full abstract