Abstract Objective: Resting energy expenditure (REE) decreases if there is reduced energy intake and body weight (BW). The decrease in REE could make it difficult for patients with obesity to maintain decreased BW. This study aimed to investigate the correlation among changes in REE, energy intake, and BW during the weight loss process in patients with obesity. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized for the treatment of obesity in Japan. Patients received fully controlled diet during hospitalization and performed exercises if able. REE was measured once a week using a hand-held indirect calorimetry. Energy intake was determined by actual dietary intake. Results: Of 44 inpatients with obesity, 17 were included in the analysis. Their BW decreased significantly after 1 week (−4.7 ± 2.0 kg, P < 0.001) and 2 weeks (−5.7 ± 2.2 kg, P < 0.001). The change in REE after 1 and 2 weeks was positively correlated with the energy intake/energy expenditure ratio (r = 0.66, P = 0.004 at 1 week, r = 0.71, P = 0.002 at 2 weeks). Using a regression equation (y = 0.5257x – 43.579), if the energy intake/energy expenditure ratio within the second week was 82.9%, the REE after 2 weeks was similar to the baseline level. There was no significant correlation between the change in REE and BW. Conclusions: Our data suggest that changes in REE depend on energy intake/energy expenditure ratio and that the decrease in REE can be minimized by matching energy intake to energy expenditure, even during the weight loss process.

On March 11th 2011, a large earthquake of magnitude 9.0 on the Richter scale occurred offshore the northeast coast of Japan, generating a major tsunami which devastated large parts of Japan's north-eastern coastline. The "Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami" has been described as one in several thousand years event, and as a consequence it is necessary that the revising of the philosophy behind Coastal Disaster Management in Japan take into account the lessons learned from this latest disaster. In this article, the authors present the results of their field surveys in the Tohoku area, describing the damage in various places and analysing the failure mechanism of a variety of coastal structures. The authors also present some changes that are currently occurring in the risk management philosophy in Japan. Essentially, the idea that infrastructure measures can always protect against the loss of life has been discarded, and although they can play a part in the protection of property ultimately planification measures should be the cornerstone of the strategy to protect people's lives in coastal areas.

El 11 de Marzo del 2011 un terremoto de magnitud 9.0 en la escala Richter generó un devastador tsunami que arrasó una extensa área de la costa noreste de Japón. El Gran Terremoto y Tsunami del Este ha sido descrito como un evento que solo sucede una vez cada varios miles de años aproximadamente, y como consecuencia de éste es necesario que la filosofía sobre Gestión de Desastres Naturales en Japón sea revisada para tener en cuenta varias lecciones aprendidas a raíz de este desastre. En este artículo los auotres presentan los resultados de investigaciones de terreno en el área de Tohoku. Se detalla el daño en varias localidades y se analizan los mecanismos de daño sobre diversos tipos de estructuras. Los autores también presentan una serie de cambios que están ocurriendo en la filosofía de gestión de riesgos en Japón. Esencialmente, la idea que sólo los métodos de infraestructura física son siempre capaces de proteger las vidas de la población local ha sido descartada, y aunque se mantiene la idea de que estos métodos pueden resultar útiles para la protección de las propiedades, en última instancia los métodos de planificación deberían formar la pieza más importante del sistema de medidas para la protección de las vidas de las personas en estas áreas.