Near-infrared spectroscopy has been used for measurement of changes in cerebral Hb concentrations in infants to study cerebral oxygenation and hemodynamics. In this study, measurements by time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) were performed in 22 neonates to estimate the values of light absorption coefficient and reduced scattering coefficient (' s ), cerebral Hb oxygen saturation (ScO 2 ), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and differential pathlength factor (DPF), and the relationships between postconceptional age and ' s , ScO 2 , CBV, and DPF were investigated. A portable three-wavelength TRS system with a probe attached to the head of the neonate was used. The mean ' s values at 761, 795, and 835 nm in neonates were estimated to be (mean Ϯ SD) 6.46 Ϯ 1.21, 5.90 Ϯ 1.15 and 6.40 Ϯ 1.16/cm, respectively. There was a significant positive relationship between postconceptional age and ' s at those three wavelengths. The mean ScO 2 value was calculated to be 70.0 Ϯ 4.6%, and postconceptional age and ScO 2 showed a negative linear relationship. The mean value of CBV was 2.31 Ϯ 0.56 mL/100 g. There was a significant positive relationship between postconceptional age and CBV. During the perinatal period, the brain undergoes anatomic, functional, and metabolic changes. The anatomic changes include neuronal proliferation, migration, organization, and myelination, and the metabolic changes match the process of initial overproduction and subsequent elimination of excessive neurons, synapses, and dendritic spines known to occur in the developing brain. Noninvasive assessment of cerebral anatomic changes and of oxygen delivery and utilization is useful for evaluating the effectiveness of therapy and for preventing oxygen toxicity in seriously ill neonates.Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used in the clinical field with various measuring devices using several wavelengths. A method using continuous-wave NIRS has been developed and reported to be suitable for clinical use in infants (1-7). However, current commercially available NIRS systems can detect only changes in cerebral Hb. Because NIRS is based on the modified Beer-Lambert law, a change in hematocrit and blood volume as well as developmental and pathophysiologic changes in brain tissue affect the pathlength of near-infrared light. In a few recent studies, absolute values of cerebral Hb oxygen saturation (ScO 2 ) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) in infants were measured without inducing Hb concentration changes by using full-spectral near-infrared spectroscopy (8 -11) and spatially resolved spectroscopy (12). However, these

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between mobile phone use and insomnia and depression in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 295 high school students aged 15–19 in Japan. Insomnia and depression were assessed using Athene Insomnia Scales (AIS) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), respectively. Mobile phones were owned by 98.6% of students; 58.6% used mobile phones for over 2 h per day and 10.5% used them for over 5 h per day. Overall mobile phone use of over 5 h per day was associated with shorter sleep duration and insomnia (OR: 3.89 [95% CI: 1.21–12.49]), but not with depression. Mobile phone use of 2 h or more per day for social network services (OR: 3.63 [1.20–10.98]) and online chats (OR: 3.14 [1.42–6.95]), respectively, was associated with a higher risk of depression. Mobile phone overuse can be linked to unhealthy sleep habits and insomnia. Moreover, mobile phone overuse for social network services and online chats may contribute more to depression than the use for internet searching, playing games or viewing videos.

2 copies of the NV genome were detected in 11 of 17 oysters. The results suggested that about 10% of Japanese oysters intended for raw consumption harbored NVs, and more than 50% of those oysters in which NVs were detected had a large amount.

Norovirus (NV) is a causative agent of acute gastroenteritis in humans, and shellfishes including oysters act as major vehicles of the virus. To investigate the genetic characteristics of NVs, we collected 1,512 oysters for raw consumption between October 2002 and March 2005 from two distinct areas (area A: the Sanriku Sea area; area B: the Setouchi Sea area). We detected the capsid gene and subjected it to phylogenetic analysis. By further quantification of the copy number of the genome by using real-time PCR, the NV capcid gene was detected in approximately 5% of the oysters, and they showed wide diversity. Two percent of the oysters from area B showed relatively large number of NVs, i.e., over 100 copies of capsid gene/oyster, whereas this was not observed in area A. Most of the detected NVs from oysters and humans were genetically related when the capsid region was compared. These results suggested that NVs obtained from humans and those obtained from oysters showed a potential relationship to each other and that some populations of Japanese oysters accumulated a relatively large number of NVs.

We investigated contamination of environmental surfaces by Staphylococcus aureus from April 1 to the end of June in 2002 in the dermatological ward (37 beds) of a university hospital. For surfaces contaminated by high levels of S. aureus, disinfection methods were evaluated. 100-10 5 colony forming units (cfu) of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) or methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) were detected on items such as an immersion bathtub (examined area, about 900 cm 2 ), foot washbowl, stretcher for an immersion bath, and chair for the shower. After disinfection, no S. aureus was detected on smooth surfaces such as the immersion bathtub and foot washbowl; however, S. aureus was detected even after disinfection on porous surfaces made of sponge-like materials (polyethylene foam) such as the stretcher for the immersion bath and the shower chair. Scanning electron microscopy of the porous surfaces showed formation of a large amount of coccus and bacillus biofilms on the walls of pores in the multi-pore structure. Material that is porous should not be used in patient care settings because it is not possible to disinfect it properly.

To increase staff nurses' affective commitment to their hospital, we suggest that hospital administrators equip nurse managers with intellectual stimulation skills.

We evaluated the applicability of the Australian Weed Risk Assessment (AWRA) system in Japan. Native weeds (n = 117) and introduced plants (n = 142), whose weed status was classified by 20 plant experts, were assessed using a slightly modified version of the AWRA system designed to fit Japanese conditions. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the system, when classifying two-thirds of the 259 taxa as weeds or non-weeds, was plotted and the area under the ROC curve was calculated. The area was 0.88 and significantly greater than 0.5. Thus, the validity of the system to classify plants was proven. The best cut-off level for the WRA score using Youden's index was 10. When taxa whose AWRA scores were greater than 10 were regarded as weeds, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.88 and 0.78, respectively. These values were verified with the remaining one-third of the taxa. From these findings, the modified AWRA system was considered to be effective for use in Japan. However,

BackgroundIn Cambodia, the age-standardized prevalence of diabetes mellitus has increased in both men and women. The main objective of this study was to identify factors associated with diabetes medication adherence among people with diabetes mellitus in poor urban areas of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 using a structured questionnaire for face-to-face interviews by trained interviewers. The participants were people with diabetes mellitus who were the active members of a peer educator network, lived in poor urban areas of Phnom Penh, and attended weekly educational sessions during the survey period. Diabetes medication adherence was measured using four items of modified Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Participants were classified into two groups based on their adherence score: 0 (high adherence) and from 1 to 4 (medium or low adherence). Sociodemographic characteristics; medical history; accessibility to health services; and knowledge, attitude, and practices related to diabetes mellitus were examined. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted adjusting for sex, age, marital status, and education levels.ResultsData from 773 people with diabetes were included in the analyses. Of the total, 49.3% had a high level of diabetes medication adherence. A high level of adherence was associated with higher family income (≥50 USD per month) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.25–11.08), absence of diabetes mellitus-related complications (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.19–2.32), use of health services more than once per month (AOR = 2.87, 95% CI = 1.64–5.04), following special diet for diabetes mellitus (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.17–2.81), and absence of alcohol consumption (AOR = 13.67, 95% CI = 2.86–65.34).ConclusionsHigh diabetes medication adherence was associated with better family economic conditions, absence of diabetes mellitus-related complications, and healthy behaviors. It would be crucial to improve affordable access to regular follow-ups including promotion of healthy behaviors through health education and control of diabetes mellitus-related complications.