Evaluation of the spread of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 among Japanese university students

online first / Published online: 4 July 2014The pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus is commonly known to affect younger individuals. Several epidemiological studies have clarified the epidemic features of university students in Japan. In this study, we reviewed these studies in Japan in comparison with reports from other countries. The average cumulative incidence rate among university students was 9.6 %, with the major symptoms being cough, sore throat, and rhinorrhea. These epidemiological features were similar between Japan and other countries. Attitudes and behaviors toward pandemic influenza control measures were different before and improved during and after the epidemic. These features were also similar to those in other countries. On the other hand, the epidemic spread through club activities or social events, and transmission was attenuated after temporary closure of such groups in Japan. This transmission pattern was inconsistent among countries, which may have been due to differences in lifestyle and cultural habits. Based on these results, infection control measures of pandemic influenza for university organizations in Japan should be considered.ArticleEnvironmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 19(5):315-321 (2014)journal articl

Evaluation of factors affecting variations in influenza A/H1N1 history in university students, Japan

Although the natural history of H1N1 has been found to vary among patients, little is known about the factors that affect these variations. Infected patients with an extended infection history may shed virus longer and spread infection. To further clarify these variations, we evaluated the natural history of H1N1 infection in 324 university students using a descriptive epidemiological method and analyzed factors affecting the natural history of infection. The median times from infection to fever development and from fever development to cure were 2 days (range 0?8 days) and 5 days (range 1?12 days), respectively, and the median time not attending classes was 5 days (range, 1?13 days). Variations in H1N1 natural history were associated with both environmental and individual factors, including route of infection, grade, gender, epidemic period, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms and headache. Steps affecting these factors may help control variations in H1N1 natural history and may enhance infection control measures.ArticleJOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY. 19(4):665-672 (2013)journal articl

Effects of weather variability and air pollutants on emergency admissions for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

This is an Author's Original Manuscript of an Article submitted for consideration in the International journal of environmental health research copyright (c) 2012 Taylor & Francis; International journal of environmental health research is available online at http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09603123.2011.650155信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成23年3月31日授与（甲第901号）・掘綾We examined the effect of ambient temperature, air pressure and air pollutants on daily emergency admissions by identifying the cause of admission for each type of stroke and cardiovascular disease using generalized linear Poisson regressionmodels allowing for overdispersion, and controlling for seasonal and inter-annual variations, days of the week and public holidays, levels of influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses. Every 1 degrees C decrease in mean temperature was associated with an increase in the daily number of emergency admissions by 7.83% (95% CI 2.06-13.25) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and heart failure, by 35.57% (95% CI 15.59-59.02) for intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and by 11.71% (95% CI 4.1-19.89) for cerebral infarction. An increase of emergency admissions due to ICH (3.25% (95% CI 0.94-5.51)), heart failure (3.56% (95% CI 1.09-5.96)) was observed at every 1 hPa decrease in air pressure from the previous days. We found stronger detrimental effect of cold on stroke than cardiovascular disease.Articlejournal articl

How the H1N1 influenza epidemic spread among university students in Japan: Experience from Shinshu University

Background: A worldwide outbreak of influenza A/H1N1 occurred in 2009. Little information is available regarding how the epidemic spread among young people, who composed the majority of individuals infected with this virus. We assessed the route of transmission of H1N1 among university students at Shinshu University, Japan. Methods: A total of 11,424 students were monitored between August 2009 and March 2010, and those who were diagnosed with confirmed, probable, or suspected H1N1 at a hospital or clinic were registered based on self-report to the university. Data including date of onset and suspected infection route were collected from the affected patients. Results: Of the 11,424 students, 1,016 (8.9%) were infected with H1N1. In most infected students, the suspected transmission route was associated with club activity, followed by close contact with friends and through lectures or laboratory work. After suspension of activity by clubs with more than 2 infected members, the number of infected individuals decreased. Conclusion: H1N1 influenza spread in the university through specific routes, including club activity, close contact with friends, and lectures or laboratory work. During future outbreaks of influenza, interventions to reduce transmission through these routes may be effective infection control strategies in university students.ArticleAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL. 40(3):218-220 (2012)journal articl

A novel device (SD-101) with high accuracy for screening sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome

Background and objective: The SD-101 is a non-restrictive, sheet-like medical device with an array of pressure sensors, to detect sleep-disordered breathing by sensing gravitational alterations in the body corresponding to respiratory movements. This study evaluated the accuracy of the SD-101 for screening sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) by comparison with polysomnography. Methods: Nocturnal polysomnography and SD-101 monitoring were conducted simultaneously and compared in 201 patients with suspected SAHS (suspected SAHS group) and 165 male employees of a transport company (screening group). Results: Polysomnography revealed an AHI of = 60 events/h in 39, 35, 38, 68 and 21 subjects in the suspected SAHS group and 103, 34, 12, 12 and four subjects in the screening group, respectively. Central SAHS and obstructive SAHS were subsequently diagnosed in 11 (5.5%) and 135 (67.2%) of subjects in the suspected SAHS group and five (3.0%) and 39 (23.6%) of subjects in the screening group, respectively. Significant correlations were apparent between AHI and the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) measured with the SD-101 in both the suspected SAHS group (r = 0.88) and screening group (r = 0.92). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed 89.5% sensitivity and 85.8% specificity in identifying SAHS, using an RDI of 14.0 events/h. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the SD-101 is a useful device for screening SAHS.ArticleRESPIROLOGY. 14(8):1143-1150 (2009)journal articl

Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Gemcitabine for Resected Biliary Tract Cancer: A Single-Arm Phase 2 Study

Article信州医学雑誌 65(2): 99-111(2017)journal articl

Effect of Application of Subcutaneous Suction Drainage with Subcuticular Sutures for Wound Closure on the Incidence of Incisional Surgical Site Infection following Elective General Abdominal Surgery : A Randomized Controlled Trial

Article信州医学雑誌 63(2):91-101 (2015)journal articl