Environmental health and preventive medicine
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Environ Health Prev Med · Jul 2010
Economic analysis of use of counterfeit drugs: health impairment risk of counterfeit phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor taken as an example.
The size of the market for counterfeit drugs throughout the world is considerable. Many cases of health impairment due to counterfeits have been reported. The market share of counterfeits in drug markets in developed countries is smaller than that in developing countries. However, the size of the market for counterfeits of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) used as anti-erectile-dysfunction drugs is not small. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the health impairment risk of taking the counterfeit PDE5Is and the convenience of obtaining the counterfeits in Japan, using an economic methodology in order to work out countermeasures for reducing the health impairment risk. ⋯ The present economic analysis indicates that the health impairment risk due to counterfeit PDE5Is is underestimated in the market in Japan. Clarification of the underestimation of the severe health impairment risk due to counterfeits is important.
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Environ Health Prev Med · Jan 2005
Confirmation of delayed menarche based on regression evaluation of age at menarche for age at MPV of height in female ball game players.
A general delay in menarche in female athletes has been confirmed based on comparisons of mean ages between athletes and non-athletes; however, it has not been possible to judge such delays individually. If delayed menarche could be evaluated for an individual, the athlete could be advised as to necessary precautions. In this study, the age at maximum peak velocity (MPV) of height, adopted as an index of physical maturation, was identified by the wavelet interpolation method (WIM). ⋯ Based on a comparison of the difference between the age at MPV of height and age at menarche in ball game players and the control group, a tendency was seen for the difference between the two ages to narrow as the age at MPV of height rose. A corrected regression evaluation of age at menarche against age at MPV of height was derived in the control group, and the evaluation system was applied to ball game players. The delay in menarche in ball game players could be individually evaluated.
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Environ Health Prev Med · Nov 2004
Association between APACHE II score and nosocomial infections in intensive care unit patients: A multicenter cohort study.
To examine whether nosocomial infection risk increases with APACHE II score, which is an index of severity-of-illness, in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. ⋯ Nosocomial infection risk increases with APACHE II score. APACHE II score may be a good predictor of nosocomial infections in ICU patients.
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Environ Health Prev Med · May 2004
Psychosocial stressors in inter-human relationships and health at each life stage: A review.
Currently, psychosocial stressors' impacts on health are increasing. Among these stressors, this review focused on inter-human relationships. Since social supports could be protective against ill health, consequences contributing to psychosocial stressors are discussed here in relation to social supports for each stage of childhood, adulthood and elderly status. ⋯ For elderly status, retirement, caring for the elderly, and spouse bereavement were discussed as psychosocial stressors. Some evidence indicates that these stressors could be determiants of health. Finally, social supports have been demonstrated to promote health and protect the elderly against diseases and death.