The Association Between Work Ability and Body Composition Among Thai Farm Workers.

Highlights: Higher skeletal muscle improves farm workers' work ability. Increased body fat percentage negatively impacts work capacity. Reducing subcutaneous fat enhances physical performance in farm workers.

Effectiveness of Participatory Training for Prevention of Slips, Trips, and Falls: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of Corn Farmers in Thailand.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a participatory training program for mitigating the risk of slips, trips, and falls (STFs) in agriculture. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial of corn farmers over six months in Thailand. The participatory training intervention comprised lectures, group discussions, and presentation sessions centered around a specifically developed action checklist for occupational fall prevention.

Health and Safety Education for Painting Workers in Small Companies to Make Them Aware That Paint Is "Dangerous and Harmful".

Workers in painting companies may be unaware that the paints they handle have adverse health effects. The present study explored the factors associated with workers' perception of paints as "dangerous and harmful". A questionnaire survey and interviews were conducted with workers engaged in painting operations in small-sized painting companies (fewer than 50 employees) in northern Kyushu and Yamaguchi prefectures.

[Causes of Countermeasures Against Serious Accidents Caused by Health Hazards of Chemical Substances, Based on Cases of Occupational Accidents in Japan].

The purpose of this study was to summarize the typical and specific causes and risk reduction measures of serious accidents in Japan caused by chemical substances in terms of the 10 types of human health hazards in the UN GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals) classification. The list of "Cases of Major Accidents Caused by Chemical Substances" published on the "Safety in the Workplace Website" of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) was linked to the "Results of GHS Classification by the Government" of the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE). Analysis was conducted by health hazards in order to obtain reference examples of measures taken against health hazards in response to the revision of the law on autonomous chemical substance management in 2022.

Posteromedial Portal Technique With Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Graft for Inside-Out Revision of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) is a graft material used in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. We describe creating a femoral tunnel using an inside-out posteromedial (PM) portal technique during anatomic double-bundle ACL reconstruction with a hamstring graft. We hypothesized that applying this femoral tunnel creation method to the revision ACL reconstruction using BTB would enable reconstruction in 1 stage.

Identifying factors that inhibit or facilitate on-site implementation of chemical risk assessment at small and medium-sized companies.

The introduction and implementation of chemical risk assessment is difficult, especially at small and medium-sized manufacturing and construction companies. This study aimed to identify the factors that inhibit or facilitate such assessment. Twelve individuals in charge of risk assessment at one medium-sized client company and eight small and medium-sized contract companies and responsible for innovation in the manufacturing and construction industries were interviewed.

[Survey on Preparedness, Concerns, and Support Demands for Autonomous Management of Chemical Substances].

The management of workplace chemicals shifted from a regulatory-based to a self-managed approach as of April 2023. To assess readiness, concerns, and necessary support for this change, a free-response questionnaire survey was conducted for the participants of the "Promoting self-management of chemicals in enterprises" seminar held by the Department of Occupational Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, in January-February 2023. Text-mining using KH Coder (Ver.

Landing Posture in Elite Female Athletes During a Drop Vertical Jump Before and After a High-Intensity Ergometer Fatigue Protocol: A Study of 20 Japanese Women's Soccer League Players.

Background: Even elite athletes, who usually show stable postural control, sometimes cannot control their posture after high-load training. This instability may contribute to anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the landing posture of elite female soccer players before and after a novel high-intensity fatigue-inducing exercise protocol.

Farm operations and slips, trips, and falls among corn farm workers in Thailand.

Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) represent a main source of injury among farm workers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between farm operations and STFs among corn farm workers. We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire among corn farm workers in Nan and Saraburi provinces, Thailand from July 5 to 23, 2022.

[Support Needed for the Transition From Legal System Management to Self-Controlled Management of Chemical Substances].

An open-ended questionnaire was administered to the participants of a six-part lecture series on self-controlled management of chemical substances regarding the support those participants would need when transitioning to that system, and the required elements of support were examined using a text-mining tool (KH Coder Ver. 3). The subjects were 59 persons who attended the lectures on an overview of self-controlled management of chemical substances and answered a questionnaire after the course.

Capability of Relative Odor Level Monitors to Measure the Odor of Thirdhand Smoke.

We investigated the probability of measuring the odor of thirdhand smoke using four odor-measuring monitors and three gas detector tubes. We measured the changes in tobacco odor on paper towels and cloth products over time. The results of the measurements were plotted against time to obtain an exponential approximation curve.

[Current status and challenges of supervisory organizations' support for the health and safety of technical intern trainees: Focusing on collaboration with occupational health professionals].

Objectives: We aimed to clarify the current status and challenges of supervisory organizations' support for the health and safety of technical intern trainees in Japan. We also assessed the effectiveness of collaboration with occupational health professionals at a training site to investigate the potential for such collaboration to help solve related problems.

Methods: In October 2021, we distributed a questionnaire survey by postal mail to 3,262 supervisory organizations.

Risk Factors for Occupational Falls among Middle-aged and Elderly Farm Workers in Nan Province, Thailand.

As the workforce ages, the incidence of occupational falls is increasing. However, risk factors for occupational falls in farm workers have not been evaluated in detail. The current study sought to identify the risk factors for occupational falls among middle-aged and elderly farm workers in Thailand.

Association between physical capacity and occupational falls among middle-aged and older farmers in Thailand: Using the self-check risk assessment tool in Japan.

Objectives: Declining physical capacity caused by aging increases the risk of occupational falls on the same level and to lower levels. In emerging countries in Asia, the development of a program for older farmers to assess their risk of occupational falls is valuable. The current study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical capacity and experience of occupational falls among middle-aged and older Thai farmers.

Factors associated with occupational accidents during part-time work among international students in Japan.

This study investigated the status of and risk factors for occupational accidents occurring during part-time work among international students in Japan. In total, 390 international students who had registered with an online survey company were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study using an online self-administered questionnaire in October 2020. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with accidents with absence from work.

Working Conditions and Urinalysis Dipstick Testing among Female Rice Farmers: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess working conditions and renal function among female rice farmers in Nan Province, Thailand. Purposive random sampling was used to select participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected from 65 female rice farmers using in-depth interviews.

Characteristics of Adsorption of Organic Solvent Vapors by a New Porous Carbon Material Made of Rice Husk as Measured by Breakthrough Curves.

We investigated the adsorbed amount of organic solvent vapors and adsorption rate of a new porous carbon material made from rice husk (rice husk activated carbon) in comparison with those of coconut shell activated carbon by the breakthrough curve. The adsorbed amount on the rice husk activated carbon and that on the coconut shell activated carbon were 81.3 ± 3.

Adjustable-Loop Devices Promote Graft Revascularization in the Femoral Tunnel After ACL Reconstruction: Comparison With Fixed-Loop Devices Using Magnetic Resonance Angiography.

Background: Hamstring tendon grafts are usually fixed in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using either an adjustable-loop device (ALD) or a fixed-loop device (FLD). The contact area between the graft and the tunnel wall is different between the 2 devices.

Purpose: To determine using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) whether ALD and FLD result in different blood flow of the graft in the femoral tunnel during the early postoperative period.

Outcomes of arthroscopic repair using the all-inside inter-leaf vertical suture technique for horizontal meniscal tears sustained in sports.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of arthroscopic repair using the all-inside inter-leaf vertical suture arthroscopic technique for sports-related horizontal meniscal tears.The inter-leaf vertical suture procedure was performed to repair sports-related horizontal tears in the middle and posterior segments of the medial (11 cases) and lateral (2 cases) menisci in 13 patients (mean age: 30 ± 14 years). Pre- and post-operative Barrett criteria, Lysholm scores, and patient ability to resume sports were assessed.

Revascularization to the bone tunnel wall after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction may relate to the distance from the vessels.

Purpose: We use magnetic resonance angiography to evaluate the difference of vascular ingrowth to the bone tunnel on the anterior and posterior walls quantitatively after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: One hundred patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with multi-stranded semitendinosus tendons. They were retrospectively divided into those who underwent magnetic resonance angiography 2, 3, 4 to 6, and ≥ 7 months after surgery.

[A competency domains-items set for occupational hygienists in Japan].

Objectives: The objective of this study was to summarize a combined competency domains and items set for occupational hygienists in Japan since there is a lack of such a set due to the existence of several national certification specialists in the field of occupational hygiene.

Methods: A literature search, Kitagawa Jiro's (KJ) method study, Delphi method study, and a questionnaire survey were utilized. The domains, roles, knowledge, and skills included in the home pages and reports of representative organizations in the USA, UK, and Japan, and those in papers found through Google Scholar were compared and rearranged to about 150 items.

Occupational symptoms due to exposure to volatile organic compounds among female Vietnamese nail salon workers in Danang city.

Objectives: Nail workers are exposed to many hazardous chemicals. Despite many warnings about health problems among nail workers in other countries, data concerning exposure to chemical hazards among nail workers is still limited in Vietnam. In this study, we aimed to identify exposure to volatile organic compounds and their relationship with occupational symptoms among Vietnamese female nail salon workers.

Survey of the necessary competencies and proficiency of safety officers in Thailand.

Competency is important for professionals' effective performance and career development. However, little is known about the necessary competencies and proficiency in these for Thai safety officers. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the necessary competencies for this group and to compare proficiency in each competency between senior and junior safety officers.

Suppressive Effects of Hot-water Extract of Magnolia obovata on Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin-induced Cytotoxicity in Human Intestinal Caco-2 Cells.

The physiological functions of the leaves of Japanese big-leaf magnolia () against enterotoxins produced by foodborne pathogens remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of leaf extract (MLE) against the cytotoxicity of enterotoxin (CPE), which causes the symptoms of type A food poisoning. The protective effects of MLE against CPE-induced cytotoxicity were evaluated in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells.