To determine whether noise conditions at the workplace are associated with hypertension in Japanese male blue-collar workers, the authors analyzed data obtained in an annual workplace health examination. Two hundred forty-two workers who used ear protectors at their jobs in a paper manufacturing plant served as a noisy workplace group, and 173 individuals who worked in a chemical plant comprised a nonnoisy workplace group. The prevalence of hypertension was 16.9% in the noisy workplace group and 34.7% in the nonnoisy workplace group (p < .01). A Mantel-Haenzel analysis showed the difference between the 2 groups to be significant. A logistic regression analysis with adjustment for confounding factors also showed a significant inverse association between hypertension and noise conditions at the workplace (odds ratio = 0.48; 95% confidence interval = 0.28-0.81). The implementation of guidelines for occupational noise management might have contributed to the workers' concern over the prevention of adverse health effects caused by workplace noise.

For the diagnosis of the hand-arm vibration syndrome, cold-stress tests using different water temperatures and periods of hand immersion have been investigated in Europe, North America, and Japan. In recent years, peripheral circulation and sensory tests, including finger-skin temperature measurement involving immersion of one hand in cold water at 10 degrees C for 10 min, have been widely accepted in Japan. On the other hand, standardization of the vascular assessment method is under discussion at the International Organization of Standardization. We reviewed research findings from Japan concerning finger-skin temperature measurement during the cold-stress test, especially factors influencing the test results and the diagnostic significance. For establishment of the cold-stress test for epidemiology studies of the hand-arm vibration syndrome, standardization of the environmental factors influencing the test results and reporting of its sensitivity and specificity are needed.

The results indicate a necessity for social activities promoting husband-wife communication and women's participation in employment to enhance the use of contraceptives among Bangladeshi women, especially non-working women.

Response in FBF due to grasping of vibrating handle was of different patterns from the baseline measurement under different room temperature conditions in both exposed and unexposed hands and it was influenced by room temperature. Overall, the influence was greater at lower test room temperature, inducing more significant increase in FBF.

The findings of the present study indicate decreased cardiac parasympathetic activity in the HAVS patients in comparison to the healthy controls. The TT and TR significantly influenced the HRV results in these patients; however, the DEV did not. The findings also indicate that treatment and cessation of exposure to vibration might have a beneficial effect on the cardiac parasympathetic activity in HAVS patients.