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Introduction The 2009 A/H1N1 influenza spread also in Japan. Many students were absent in elementary schools, To prevent its expansion, many school decided class closure with their original length under rough guideline by local education board. However, its effect had not been clear. The objective was to examine whether or not the class closure length related to the change of absentees. Methods Subject was all the classes in elementary schools in T city that class closure was carried in the period from 1 September to 24 December in 2009. We sent the questionnaire including the questions (1) the number of students in class, (2) the number of absentees on the day, (3) whether or not class closure was carried out on the day, to the school principal, and asked school nurses to write under each class attendance book and to return them by post mail. The length of class closure and the change of absentees before and after class closure was analysed by c 2 test with statistical soft R2.11.1. Results 16 of total 37 elementary schools replied (43.2%), and 103 classes of 15 schools with the closure were analysed. It revealed statistical associations between class closure length and the change of the proportions of absentee (p<0.001), and between class closure length and the proportions of class that absentee was decreased (p<0.001). Conclusion There were tendencies that the number of absentee decreased after class closure, and the longer class closure days, the fewer absentees changed. Introduction Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is elevated in patients with cancer and is a predictor for prognosis. We investigated whether slight elevation of serum HGF level was a marker for subclinical cancer and death in a general population. Methods Apparently healthy 1492 subjects had a health examination in 1999. Subjects with a history of liver disease or malignancies were excluded by a questionnaire. Finally, we measured plasma HGF levels in 1470 subjects. They were followed-up periodically for 10 years. The follow-up rate was 99.3%. We calculated mortalities from cancer by multivariate proportional hazards model. Results At follow-up, 169 subjects had died (61 from cancer, 32 from cerebro-cardiovascular disease and 76 from others). The mean HGF level at baseline was significantly (p<0.01) higher among subjects who died than those who survived (0.2660.11 vs 0.2360.09 ng/ml). In a Cox proportional hazard model, age, systolic blood pressure, HGF (HR 1.270; 95% CI 1.059 to 1.523; p¼0.009), low albumin and smoking were independent predictors for death from all causes. Age, HGF (HR 1.309; 95% CI 1.042 to 1.654; p¼0.02) and low cholesterol were independent predictors for cancer death. Conclusion Slight elevation of HGF may be an early marker of subclinical cancer. Introduction This pilot study attempts to look at pattern and problem of adherence to DOTS by TB patient during flooding in Bihar, India. Methods A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among 21 (female n¼9) TB patients who were participating in DOTS and faced the problem of flood...

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