The ventilatory capacity of 32 men exposed to jute dust in the jute industry, was estimated at the beginning and end of shifts on the first day and last day of a working week. A detailed occupational, clinical and smoking history was recorded and a more detailed questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was completed prior to the pulmonary function tests. The presence of a productive cough among workers was noted. A mean decrease of forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV₁) was observed among workers according to processes, concentration of dust exposure and smoking habit on the first day and last day of the week. The mean difference of values was observed in most of the comparisons but only a few were statistically significant. Low mean values of FEV₁ were observed in workers having high dust exposure, a smoking history and productive cough in comparison to the low dust exposure group, non-smokers and workers without cough symptoms. The significant deterioration of FEV₁ was found between before shift and after shift values of the low dust exposed group of workers who had a cough and smoking history. The relevence of these factors on the ventilatory function is observed and discussed.

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The fact-finding methods and occupational health physicians' concern regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education for employees in the workplace was investigated. Questionnaires were sent to 138 occupational health physicians who graduated from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, during the past 10 years. Eighty-two physicians replied to the questionnaire (response rate: 59%). Of these, 98% answered that it was necessary to educate employees regarding CPR, but only 32% of the physicians were actually training employees in CPR. Of the physicians who have had experience educating employees, 85% said that they had been requested by the company to do so. The major reason for not educating employees regarding CPR was that there had been no request from the company. The percentage of physicians who have performed CPR in the workplace was 35%. There was no relation between the request for CPR for enployees from the company and whether the practice was actually being done in the workplace. Of the physicians who have not as yet taught CPR to employees, 70% affirmed that they would like to do so in the future. We concluded that companies needed to be enlightened regarding the necessity of CPR education for employees.

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Based on "the Report of National Health Insurance Plan in Fukuoka", "the Report of Health Services for the Elderly in Fukuoka", and "the Health Statistics of Fukuoka" of 1987 and 1991, factors associated with medical expenditures for the elderly were examined. According to the result of correlation analyses, the general medical examination participation rate under the Health Service Law for the Elderly showed a statistically significant negative correlation with the in-patient medical expenditures as well as the out-patient medical expenditures for the elderly. The analysis concerning the three components of medical expenditure has clarified that this negative correlation is mainly explained by the low utilization of medical services among communities with a high general medical examination participation rate under the Law. This fact suggests that the general medical examination service might have a complementary effect against receiving care in medical facilities. However, there exists a possibility that the negative correlation observed in this study might be explained by the existence of "the third factor" intervening the pathway. In order to clarify the mechanism of relation observed, a micro-level analysis should be required.

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One of the synthetized pyrimidine compounds, 2-piperidino-7-methyl-6-oxo-5,6-dihydro-(7H) pyrrolo [2,3-d] pyrimidine maleate (MS-430), has neurotropic effects in vitro. Therefore, we studied the effect of MS-430 on regeneration of the myelinated fibers of the peroneal and sural nerve of Sprague-Dawley rats after crush injury in two tests, intraperitoneally administered daily 1.0 mg/kg (test 1, n=7) and 7.5 mg/kg (test 2, n=8) of MS-430, respectively. We then compared the effects with the control rats (n=7) administered similarly as in the tests with physiological saline for 14 days from the day after crushing. Twenty-four hours after completion of the administration, the sural nerves at 7.5 mm and 15 mm distal to the crushed site, and the peroneal nerve at 15 mm distal to the crushed site were removed from each rat used in the two tests and from the controls, and then embedded into epoxy resin. In the sural nerve, the total number of regenerated myelinated fibers per nerve in test 2 was greater (P<0.05) than in the controls at 7.5 mm distal to the crushed site. However, it was similar among the three groups at 15 mm distal to the crushed site. In the case of the peroneal nerve, it was greater in both tests 1 and 2 than in the controls, however the difference was not statistically significant. The mean diameter of regenerated fibers was greater (P<0.001) in the controls than in tests 1 and 2, suggesting an absence of the promotion of the maturation of the regenerated myelinated fibers. Based on the data described, we concluded that the regeneration of the myelinated fibers of the sural nerve only in rats administered 7.5 mg/kg of MS-430, mainly containing sensory nerve fibers, was promoted in the nerve relatively close to the crushed site.

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This report summarizes the basic techniques used in Internet, and introduces Internet services offered at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.

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