1 Introduction -- 2 Risk factors for Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in Japan -- 3 Descriptive and analytic epidemiology of idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head in Japan -- 4 Risk factors for Amyotrophic Lateral Screlosis -- 5 Risk and preventive factors for Parkinson's disease in Japan -- 6 Descriptive and analytic epidemiology of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) in Japan -- 7 Risk and preventive factors for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Japan -- 8 Epidemiology of ulcerative colitis in Japan -- 9 Epidemiology of Crohn’s disease in Japan -- 10 The role of gene environment interaction in the aetiology of SLE -- 11 TNF receptor‐associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS).

This book presents research findings from epidemiological studies investigating chronic and intractable diseases with unidentifiable causes from a clinical perspective. Each chapter provides the latest findings on specific diseases, including procedures for their study, insights into their causes, risk factors and preventive factors providing a foundation for new ideas and further development as well as establishing treatment procedures. Epidemiological Studies of Specified Rare and Intractable Disease(Nanbyo in Japanese) is a valuable resource for both new and established researchers as well as students who are seeking information on public health and on environmental and clinical epidemiology. .