Kosuke Mafune

Longitudinal changes of motor cortical excitability and transcallosal inhibition after subcortical stroke

Objective: To study serial changes in motor cortical excitability and transcallosal inhibition during post-acute and chronic phases up to one year after subcortical stroke. Methods: Single-pulse and paired-pulse trans cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were performed 3 times in 20 patients to obtain multiple measures, such as motor threshold, contralateral and ipsilateral silent periods, and short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF). Twenty-one healthy subjects were also studied. Results: The results suggest that overall excitability on the unaffected motor cortex was increased and transcallosal inhibition from the unaffected to affected hemisphere was enhanced in the post-acute phase. These changes on the unaffected side returned to be normal following recovery rehabilitation. Conclusion: Excitability changes from the unaffected hemisphere are strongly associated with motor recovery. The results may help improve individualized rehabilitation strategies after stroke.

Recovery of cognitive performance and fatigue after one night of sleep deprivation.

Recovery of Cognitive Performance and Fatigue after One Night of Sleep Deprivation: Kazunori Ikegami, et al. Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Development of a Work Improvement Checklist for Occupational Mental Health Focused on Requests from Workers

Development of a Work Improvement Checklist for Occupational Mental Health Focused on Requests from Workers: Hiroyuki Tahara, et al. Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Risk of progression to hypertension in nonhypertensive Japanese workers aged 20-64 years.

Objective: Prehypertension is a known risk factor for hypertension in individuals aged less than 20 or more than 35 years, but no large studies have investigated this risk in individuals aged 20–34 years. This study investigated progression to hypertension in nonhypertensive individuals aged 20–34 years and compared this group with individuals aged 35–64 years. Methods: A total of 12 639 nonhypertensive individuals aged 20–64 years were followed from 1999 to 2008. Hazard ratios for progression to hypertension were calculated for men and women according to three blood pressure (BP) categories (optimal BP: <120/80 mmHg; normal BP: 120–129/80–84 mmHg; high-normal BP: 130–139/85–89 mmHg) and three age groups (20–34, 35–49 and 50–64 years). Results: Progression to hypertension occurred in 4617 individuals (36.5%). The risk of progression to hypertension increased significantly with increasing baseline BP category in men and women in all age groups. The association between baseline BP and progression to hypertension was stronger in the group aged 20–34 years than in the older age groups, especially in men. Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that normal or high-normal BP increases the risk of progression to hypertension in individuals aged 20–34 years. In men, the association between baseline BP and progression to hypertension is stronger in this age group than in older age groups. Health providers should be aware that normal or high-normal BP is a risk factor for progression to hypertension even in individuals aged 20–34 years.

Job demands, job resources, and job performance in japanese workers: a cross-sectional study.

This study investigated the cross-sectional association of job demands (i.e., psychological demands) and job resources (i.e., decision latitude, supervisor support, co-worker support, and extrinsic reward) with job performance. A total of 1,198 workers (458 males and 740 females) from a manufacturing company in Japan completed a self-administered questionnaire that included the Job Content Questionnaire, Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire, and demographic survey. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, decision latitude (β=0.107, p=0.001) and extrinsic reward (β=0.158, p<0.001) were positively and significantly associated with job performance while supervisor support (β=−0.102, p=0.002) was negatively and significantly associated with job performance. On the other hand, psychological demands or co-worker support was not significantly associated with job performance. These findings suggest that higher decision latitude and extrinsic reward enhance job performance among Japanese employees.

Changes in drinking habits and psychological distress in Japanese non- or occasional drinking workers: a one-year prospective cohort study

This study investigated whether non- or occasional drinkers’ changes in drinking habits during a one-year period were related to psychological distress. Overall, 2,495 non- or occasional drinking employees (2,109 men and 386 women) completed a self-administered questionnaire measuring alcohol intake, psychological distress (12-item General Health Questionnaire), and demographic characteristics at baseline and one-year follow-up. They also completed a Web-based version of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire to assess job stressors at baseline. Participants were categorized into three groups (stable non- or occasional drinkers; new light drinkers; new moderate drinkers) according to weekly alcohol consumption at follow-up (males 0 g/wk, 1–79 g/wk, and ≥80 g/wk; females 0 g/wk, 1–39 g/wk, and ≥40 g/wk, respectively); multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted by sex. Among only male participants, both stable non- or occasional drinkers and new moderate drinkers showed significantly higher odds ratios for psychological distress at follow-up than new light drinkers after adjusting for demographic characteristics, job stressors, and psychological distress at baseline (adjusted odds ratios of 1.72 and 1.99, respectively). These findings suggest that men who started to drink 80 g or more alcohol per week during the one-year follow-up period should have been monitored for psychological distress.

Change in organizational justice and job performance in Japanese employees: A prospective cohort study

Change in organizational justice and job performance in Japanese employees: A prospective cohort study: Yuko Nakagawa, et al. Department of Health Policy and Management, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Effect modification by coping strategies on the association of organizational justice with psychological distress in Japanese workers.

Effect Modification by Coping Strategies on the Association of Organizational Justice with Psychological Distress in Japanese Workers: Yuko NAKAGAWA, et al. Department of Health Policy and Management, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan—

693 Combined effects of overtime work hours and exercise habits on psychological distress: a cross-sectional study among japanese white-collar workers

Introduction As symbolised by the word ‘Karoshi’ (death from overwork), the effect of overtime work hours on employees’ physical and mental health is an important issue in Japan. Although there are inconsistent findings regarding the association between overtime work hours and mental health, several studies have found that physical activity has a positive effect on mental health. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of overtime work hours and exercise habits on psychological distress. Methods We used data from a health examination of 1082 workers in FY 2013. We obtained information on working hours in the most recent month from the personnel records of the surveyed company. Overtime work hours per month were classified into three groups: short (<45 hours), medium (45–79 hours), and long (≥80 hours). Exercise habits were classified into two groups using a self-administered questionnaire: yes or no. Odds ratios (ORs) of psychological distress, defined as scores≥4 on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, marital and residence status, occupation, drinking habits, smoking history and psychosocial work characteristics. Results Compared to the short overtime with exercise habits group, the ORs (95% confidence intervals) for psychological distress were significant for the medium overtime with exercise habits group (OR=1.81 [1.20–2.75]), medium overtime without exercise habits group (OR=2.11 [1.37–3.25]), and long overtime without exercise habits group (OR=3.03 [1.64–5.58]). No significant ORs were observed for any other group combinations. Discussion In the medium overtime group, overtime work hours were significantly associated with psychological distress regardless of exercise habits. However, in the long overtime group, this significant association disappeared among those with exercise habits. Our findings suggest that exercise habits reduce psychological distress in relation to long (i.e., ≥80 hours) overtime work hours.

Recovery of Percent Vital Capacity by Breathing Training in Patients With Panic Disorder and Impaired Diaphragmatic Breathing

Slow diaphragmatic breathing is one of the therapeutic methods used in behavioral therapy for panic disorder. In practice, we have noticed that some of these patients could not perform diaphragmatic breathing and their percent vital capacity was initially reduced but could be recovered through breathing training. We conducted a comparative study with healthy controls to investigate the relationship between diaphragmatic breathing ability and percent vital capacity in patients with panic disorder. Our findings suggest that percent vital capacity in patients with impaired diaphragmatic breathing was significantly reduced compared with those with normal diaphragmatic breathing and that diaphragmatic breathing could be restored by breathing training. Percent vital capacity of the healthy controls was equivalent to that of the patients who had completed breathing training. This article provides preliminary findings regarding reduced vital capacity in relation to abnormal respiratory movements found in patients with panic disorder, potentially offering alternative perspectives for verifying the significance of breathing training for panic disorder.