Prevalence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender among Japanese university students: a single institution survey.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the prevalence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) among Japanese youth, we conducted a survey research that targeted university students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were first-year students (n=1597) at Ibaraki University, Japan (Phase 1 study) or second- to fourth-year students (n=944) at the university who were randomly preferred in the survey (Phase 2 study). Surveys measured gender identity and sexual orientation, partly using the gender identity scale (GIS). RESULTS: The prevalence of LGBT youth among university students were 2.7%, 0.5%, 5.3%, and 0.8% (Phase 1 study) or 1.4% (Phase 2 study), respectively. The GIS scores of the transgender group were significantly lower than those of the female, male, and LGB groups (p<0.01). DISCUSSION: This is the first to clarify the prevalence of LGBT among youth in Japan. It has been suggested that such individuals in Japan, as in other countries, are at risk for physical and mental health concerns, thereby necessitating social and medical intervention. Further investigation in these areas will be needed.

Japanese university students' views on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals based on previous encounters.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the acceptability of sexual minorities according to Japanese youth, we conducted a survey targeting university students. METHODS: Participants were second- to fourth-year students (n=945) at Ibaraki University, Japan, who were randomly chosen for the survey to measure their attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. We divided the respondents into two groups: one group who had encounters with LGBT people, and one group with no such experience. Chi-square tests were used to compare responses between the groups. RESULTS: More than 60% of the students considered LGBT people to be acceptable; the group with prior encounters had greater levels of acceptance compared to the group without such encounters. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to clarify the acceptability of sexual minorities among university students in Japan. Our data suggested that having contact with LGBT people in school life may help build an inclusive educational system.

Habitual physical activity levels are associated with biomechanical walking economy in children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy the relationship between habitual physical activity and biomechanical treadmill walking economy and whether treadmill belt speed or walking time affect economy. DESIGN: Physical activity was measured in 11 subjects (10.6-16.3 yrs) with mild cerebral palsy using a triaxial accelerometer. To determine biomechanical walking economy, subjects' stride lengths and vertical sacral excursions were measured during each minute of three 3-min walks on a treadmill (at 60%, 75%, and 90% of individually determined fastest treadmill walking speed). RESULTS: Biomechanical walking economy at 60%, 75%, and 90% of (their) fastest speed each explained about half of the intersubject variance in daily physical activity (movement counts). A similar relationship was found between these biomechanical walking economy variables and movement counts at or above the 80th and 90th percentile (total minutes per day, number of 5-min bouts per day). Walking economy was 23.9% higher when subjects walked at 90% than when they walked at 60% of their fastest walking speed. No other speed-related effects on economy were found, nor did time affect economy. CONCLUSIONS: Within this population, those with high biomechanical treadmill walking economy are the more habitually physically active. Treadmill belt speed, but not walking time, affects biomechanical walking economy.

Facial cooling enhances exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic children.

PURPOSE: Exercising in cold air enhances bronchial responsiveness (BR) as compared with exercising in warm air. This may be due to intrathoracic cooling or to increased vagal activity caused by facial cooling. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects on BR of cold air inhalation and of facial exposure to cold air, as well as the combined effect of both. METHODS: Fourteen children with asthma (eight girls) performed four exercise challenge tests in a climatic chamber, under one of the following conditions: 1) inhaling warm air while the face was exposed to warm air (WW, 21 degrees C, 25% relative humidity (RH)); 2) inhaling warm air while the face was exposed to cold air (WC, 0 degrees C, 80% RH); 3) inhaling cold air while the face was exposed to cold air (CC); and 4) inhaling cold air while the face was exposed to warm air (CW). The study was analyzed, using a one- and two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Postexercise forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) values as percent predicted (% pred) showed significant reductions over time (P < 0.001), significant differences among the four experimental conditions (P < 0.001) and a significant condition x time interaction (FEV1:P < 0.001, MMEF:P < 0.01). FEV1 was significantly lower for CC and WC, as compared with WW and CW at 5 and 10 min postexercise. The lowest postexercise values for FEV1 occurred in the CC and WC sessions (76% predicted in both). A similar pattern was obtained for MMEF. CONCLUSION: Facial cooling combined with either cold or warm air inhalation causes the greatest EIB, as compared with the isolated challenge with cold air inhalation. We suggest that vagal mechanisms play a major role in exercise and cold-induced bronchoconstriction.

Determination of body volume in normal adults and in patients with cerebral palsy by the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6 ) dilution technique.

This study sought to establish body volume measurement by the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6 ) dilution technique and to assess the body composition of healthy subjects and patients with the complications of cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Sixty-six healthy males and females ranging in age from 18 to 41 years and 10 patients with the complications ranging in age from 23 to 34 years participated in the study. The SF6 dilution method determines absolute body volumes by measuring the SF6 concentration inside a closed chamber containing the subjects. No detectable deviations were indicated between the body volume measured by SF6 and the volume determined by underwater weighing (r = 0.999). Body volume for patients with complications was also successfully assessed by the SF6 technique. All 10 subjects were short, but body composition measures were within normal ranges except for two obese females. Inactivity was suggested as a relevant factor for the excess adiposity. Thus, this new method of measuring body volume offers promising possibilities for future research in body composition, especially for application in clinical practice. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.