SUMMARY We previously revealed that Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) seroprevalence was 4.5% in pigs on Ishigaki Island from 2005 to 2007. However, a partial E gene sequence (151 bp) of the JEV genome (JEV/sw/Ishigaki/1/2005) was detected in one pig. Phylogenetic analysis showed that JEV/sw/Ishigaki/1/2005 belonged to genotype III and to the same lineages isolated in Taiwan from 2006 to 2008. Serum samples were collected from 128 pigs on Ishigaki from 2009 to 2010, 24 wild boars on Ishigaki from 2008 to 2010, and 117 wild boars on Iriomote Island from 2008 to 2010. Four (3.1%) pigs on Ishigaki were positive for JEV antibody, but all wild boars on the island were negative. Fifty-two (44.4%) wild boars on Iriomote were positive for JEV antibody, in contrast to a seroprevalence of 3.7% in 2000 and 2004. JEV on Iriomote and/or in Taiwan might be related to transmission on Ishigaki.

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a common disease in young adults

Background: The skills of individuals to find and apply adequate information needed to make health decisions have been conceptualized as health literacy (HL). However, limited studies have examined the association between HL and healthy lifestyle characteristics among patients with lifestyle related disorders. Journal of General and Family Medicine 2016, vol. 17, no. 4, p. 299-306. Original Articles -299 -health-promoting behaviors based on several aspects of HL. Further studies will be needed to confirm this gender discrepancy.

BackgroundFew studies have examined Japanese with regard to the achievement rates for target blood pressure levels, or the relationship between these rates and healthy lifestyle characteristics in patients with hypertension as defined by the newly established hypertension management guidelines (JSH2014). The aim of this study was to elucidate achievement rates and examine healthy lifestyle characteristics associated with achievement status among Japanese.MethodsThis cross-sectional study, conducted in January-December 2012, examined blood pressure control and healthy lifestyle characteristics in 8,001 Japanese workers with hypertension (mean age, 57.0 years; 78.8% were men) who participated in a workplace health checkup. Data were collected from workplace medical checkup records and participants’ self-administered questionnaires. We divided into 5 groups [G1; young, middle-aged, and early-phase elderly patients (65–74 years old) without diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease (CKD) (<140/90 mmHg), G2; late-phase elderly patients (≥75 years old) without diabetes mellitus or CKD (<150/90 mmHg), G3; diabetic patients (<130/80 mmHg), G4; patients with CKD (<130/80 mmHg), and G5; patients with cerebrovascular and/or coronary artery diseases (<140/90 mmHg)] according to JSH2014. And then, achievement rates were calculated in each group. Multivariate analysis identified healthy lifestyle characteristics associated with “therapeutic failure” of target blood pressure.ResultsTarget blood pressures were achieved by 60.2% of young, middle-aged, and early-phase elderly patients (G1), 71.4% of late-phase elderly patients (G2), 30.5% of diabetic patients (G3), 33.4% of those with chronic kidney disease (G4), and 66.0% of those with cerebrovascular and/or coronary artery diseases (G5). A body mass index of 18.5–24.9 and non-daily alcohol consumption were protective factors, and adequate sleep was found to contribute to therapeutic success.DiscussionWe found low achievement rates for treatment goals among patients with chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. Maintaining an ideal body weight and adequate alcohol consumption may help with blood pressure control. Lifestyle modification may be necessary for better management of hypertension.