Analysis of the Results of Two Nationwide Surveys on Clonorchis sinensis Infection in China

Objective To examine Clonorchis sinensis infection in China and evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to prevent and control it,two nationwide surveys were undertaken in 31 provinces,autonomous regions,and municipalities（PAMs） during 1988-92（the 1990 survey） and during 2001-04（the 2003 survey）.Methods During the period 2001-04,two sampling methods were applied.The first method repeated the stratified cluster random sampling used in the 1990 survey;the second method applied two-characteristic stratified cluster random sampling in 27 PAMs—the 2003 endemic area（EA） survey.The Kato-Katz thick smear method was used for the nationwide survey.Results The infection rates of Clonorchis sinensis in the 1990 and 2003 surveys were 0.311% and 0.579%,respectively.The infection rate was 2.40% in the 2003 EA survey,and it was estimated that 12.49 million people in China were infected with Clonorchis sinensis.Conclusion The 2003 survey showed that the standardized infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis increased by 74.85% compared with the 1990 survey.The infection rate in males was higher than in females;the infection rate among people eating raw fish or eating out frequently was higher than among those who did not.

Diagnosis and treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Nationwide epidemiological surveys of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) have been performed five times by the Research Committee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare or the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour in Japan. These surveys included patients who had SSNHL in 1972, 1987, 1993, 2001, and 2012. Using the criteria for the grading of hearing loss in SSNHL or the criteria for grading the degree of hearing recovery after SSNHL established by the Research Committee, we compared the outcomes of SSNHL between the five nationwide surveys. The results revealed that the outcomes of SSNHL have not changed in the past 40 years. In 1972, 88% of patients received steroids, but none received prostaglandin E1(PGE1). The use of PGE1 has increased since the 1980 s, but its effect on SSNHL may not be significant. Intratympanic steroid injection has been introduced recently for the treatment of SSNHL, but it does not seem to be used widely in Japan. Intratympanic therapy that can reduce the total amount of steroids administered will be used more frequently if the true effects and indications for this therapy are known. Elucidation of the etiologies of SSNHL and development of treatments specific for these etiologies are expected.

Overview of Exercise Prescription for Diabetes Patients and Its Application in Japan

In recent years,the Westernization of dietary habits and increasingly sedentary lifestyle have contributed to a marked increase in the number of type 2 diabetes patients.Sedentary behavior may play a significant role in the development and aggravation of type 2 diabetes.The results of various follow-up studies have demonstrated that proper diet combined with physical exer-cise is useful in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.A nationwide survey regarding exercise therapy for diabetes patients in Japan revealed that relatively few physicians provide patients with exercise guidance because of time constraints,that the physicians do not receive additional consultation fee,and that there is a lack of specialized physical exercise educa-tors.Physical exercise promotes the utilization of glucose and free fatty acids in the muscles,and thus lowers blood glucose(BG)levels.Dietary restriction and physical exercise are effective in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes by improving the in vivo sensitivity to insulin.Most adults with diabetes should engage in 150 min or more of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic activity per week,spread out over at least 3 days/week,with no more than two consecutive days without activity.Mild-intensity resistance training such as half squat and calf raise is recommended for elderly individuals who have decreased muscle strength and mass(sarcopenia).Prolonged sitting should be interrupted every 30 min for BG benefits,particularly in adults with type 2 diabetes.Individuals with type 2 diabetes are also encouraged to increase their total daily unstructured physical activity(daily movement).