Objective: To provide an overview of the pathogenesis of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) and hypersensitivity syndrome (HS) caused by trichloroethylene (TCE) and the basic research into their toxicity. Subjects and Methods: We reviewed previously published research articles. Results: PCI clustered in Japan in the 1980s is a rare disease characterized by cyst-like distention of gas in the intestinal wall, which can be secondary or primary. No TCE users were found in the former group, whereas approximately 71% of the latter group were TCE users, suggesting the involvement of TCE exposure in primary PCI. However, the pathogenesis was unclear. TCE is metabolized by the drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP2E1, and intermediate immunocomplexes with CYP2E1 may be involved in hepatotoxicity. HS clustered in the southern part of China since early 2000 is a systemic skin-liver disorder involving anti-CYP2E1 autoantibodies and HLA-B*13:01 polymorphisms, with elevated cytokines and reactivation of Human Herpesvirus 6. Discussion and Conclusion: PCI and HS, occupational diseases caused by TCE, were clustered in Japan and southern China, respectively. HS was mediated by immune system disorders and genetic polymorphisms, whereas their relevance to PCI occurrence remained unknown.

Objectives: The Japanese government launched a project to facilitate collaboration between public health services and occupational health services with the aim of promoting overall health and wellbeing. However, collaboration at the practitioner level, including professionals who develop health support activities, has not yet been achieved. This study was conducted to clarify the actual state of collaboration between public health services and occupational health nurses as well as the factors related to their experiences with such collaboration. It also aimed to gather suggestions for promoting collaboration between occupational health nurses and public health and occupational health services. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire-based survey was conducted in 2017, targeting 2,574 occupational health nurses belonging to the Japan Society for Occupational Health. Survey items included basic attributes, recognition of the need for collaboration and the reasons behind it, whether or not they had collaboration experience, and self-study and learning experiences. Results: Of the 756 nurses surveyed, 34.0% had experience collaborating with public health services and 80.8% felt such collaboration was necessary. Experience of collaboration was related to the number of years of experience as an occupational health nurse, experience reading guidelines and participating in workshops and study groups organized by public health services, opportunities to receive guidance, and recognition of the need for collaboration. Conclusion: Because only a few respondents had experience collaborating with public health services and some did not even recognize the need for such collaboration, it was deduced that occupational nurses might have few opportunities to collaborate with public health services and may find it difficult to recognize the need for such collaboration. This finding suggests that occupational nurses may be able to promote collaboration with public health services by reinforcing learning from life events. A mechanism should be created to obtain information on public health services. Furthermore, opportunities can be provided for those with experience in collaboration to communicate with those with no experience through specific examples of such teamwork.

Objectives: Previous studies on the elderly have reported that they avoid fiber-rich and hard foods in favor of softer foods as chewing ability declines. However, evidence of worker chewing conditions and dietary habits is scarce. This study aimed to clarify the association between chewing conditions and dietary habits in workers. Methods: The subjects included 6,703 workers (45.6 ± 10.2 years, range 18–64 years) who underwent medical and dental check-ups from April 2018 to March 2019 with no missing data. We classified workers into two groups, those with good chewing conditions (GCC) and those with poor chewing conditions (PCC) according to their responses to the chewing condition item in our questionnaire. We performed logistic regression analysis using the questionnaire dietary habits item response as the objective variable and chewing conditions as the explanatory variable and adjusting for sex, age, number of present teeth, periodontal pocket depth, oral hygiene status, Body Mass Index, smoking habits, alcohol intake, exercise habits, history of present illness, and stages of transtheoretical model. Additionally, we performed subgroup analysis using a similar framework stratified by sex and age groups (under 40 or older). Results: We found significant negative associations with PCC for the following dietary habits (p < .05): Awareness of balanced diet; Regular consumption of dark green and deep yellow vegetables; Eating slowly and chewing well; Frequent consumption of seaweed and small fish; Having three meals at almost at the same time every day; Having breakfast almost every day; Eating protein dishes with every meal; Frequently consuming dairy products; Finishing eating at least two hours before bedtime. Furthermore, we found significant positive associations with PCC for the following items (p < .05): Having on average two or more bottles/cans of juice or coffee a day; Frequently eating heavy meat dishes; Frequently eating deep-fried foods such as fried dishes and pork cutlets; Frequently having instant or processed foods; Eating two or more kinds of Western or Japanese confectioneries or snacks on average a day; Frequently eating salty food; Regularly having snacks or late-night meals. Additionally, similar trends were also observed following subgroup analysis, regardless of sex or age. Conclusions: This study suggests that workers with PCC may retain undesirable dietary habits, regardless of sex and age. Therefore, it is necessary to expand dental check-ups in the workplace and to promote dental health guidance that targets all workers.

Objectives: Opportunities for health examinations are available for the early detection of illness. However, although the majority of people examined have findings discovered, particularly in occupational areas, many do not undergo re-examination (secondary examination). In this study, we used the Health Belief Model to investigate the factors that affect the decision to undergo secondary examination in occupational areas. Consequently, we would be able to determine an effective method to encourage individuals to undergo secondary examination. Methods: For a pilot study, we created a questionnaire based on 5 factors (25 items) derived from the components of the Health Belief Model: “Overconfidence in health,” “Support for behavior,” “Feeling burdened by re-examination,” “Significance of getting sick,” and “Poor awareness of re-examination.” A web-based survey was then conducted on 1,400 workers who have been recommended taking re-examination. The valid 167 answers (valid response rate 11.9%) were divided based on the presence or absence of a secondary examination, and the ratio of basic attributes and the factor scores were compared and examined. The attributes with a statistically significant difference depending on the presence or absence of the secondary examination underwent logistic regression analysis, with the constituent factors of the questionnaire as the independent variables and the presence or absence of the secondary examination as the dependent variable. Results: The “presence or absence of a spouse” and “presence or absence of a family doctor” were significantly different between the groups with and without taking re-examination. Those with a spouse (p = .005) and those with a family doctor (p = .003) were more likely to take the secondary examination. In comparing factor scores in both groups, “Support for behavior” and “Poor awareness of re-examination” were significantly different. The scores for “Support for behavior” were significantly higher in the group that had undergone secondary examination (p = .024), and the scores for “Poor awareness of re-examination” were significantly higher in the group that had not undergone secondary examination (p < .001). In the logistic regression analysis, the “presence or absence of a spouse,” “presence or absence of a family doctor,” and “Poor awareness of re-examination” were found to be independent factors. Conclusions: The “presence or absence of a spouse,” “presence or absence of a family doctor,” and “Poor awareness of re-examination” directly influence the workers’ decision to undergo secondary examination. Therefore, awareness of one’s familial relations and health literacy is necessary for encouraging an individual to undergo secondary examination.

Objectives: Previous studies of occupational health services (OHS) during the coronavirus infection disease (COVID-19) pandemic have focused on either occupational physicians (OPs) or enterprises mainly in the metropolitan areas. This survey aimed to assess OHS in some local cities during the pandemic and different perceptions of OPs and small- and medium- sized enterprises, which could contribute to efficient OHS in the future. Methods: From July to October 2021, we conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 196 OHS officers and 42 OPs in Shizuoka prefecture. We mailed 196 questionnaires (anonymous) to the OHS officers, with self-addressed postcards requesting their OP’s cooperation for a similar survey. Based on the postcards replies, we mailed 149 questionnaires to 36 OPs. The survey was consisted of five categories; demographic characteristics, changes in OHS during the pandemic, infection countermeasures, infection status of employees, and free descriptions. Results: The effective responses included 155 and 124 questionnaires from officers and 29 OPs, respectively. Regarding demographic characteristics, manufacturing and processing industries comprised the most frequent office types, whereas fewer than 100 employees comprised the most common office size. Regarding the changes in OHS, 8.4% of enterprises had OP’s remote participation in health committees, and 14.5% of enterprises had stopped workplace patrols. Regarding infection countermeasures, approximately 90% of enterprises received advice and support from OPs and perceived health committees as the most helpful in receiving it. Whereas, OPs primarily gave it in workplace patrols. Many enterprises have implemented various infection countermeasures; however, they feel that promoting smoking cessation is difficult. They believed that the following advice and support was useful for the countermeasures; promoting awareness-raising activities to prevent infection, ventilation methods, and infection control while eating. Approximately 6.6% of enterprises were reluctant to share information about infection status among employees with OPs, and 34.5% of OPs were reluctant to share it with OHS officers. Moreover, about the ratio of enterprises whose employees had COVID-19, we found a difference between enterprises (39.4%)and OPs (28.2%). In free descriptions, some enterprises complained that OPs focused on COVID-19-related OHS and neglected conventional OHS. Conclusions: The survey revealed the OHS during the pandemic in some local cities and different perceptions about infection status between enterprises and OPs. To prepare for future pandemics, official organizations and academic conferences should provide guidelines for sharing information between OPs and enterprises. We believe this survey will lead to further cooperation between the two and better OHS combining COVID-19-related and conventional OHS.