Japanese Journal of Hygiene最新文献

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to examine the possible association between liver fibrosis and loss of skeletal muscle mass (SM) in community-dwelling older adults with no history of liver diseases.

Methods: A total of 2,028 older adults (mean age, 69.8 ± 5.2 years) who had not received any treatment for liver diseases and had participated in a comprehensive health survey for community residents in Wakayama, Japan were included in this study. We carried out bioelectrical impedance analysis to estimate the SM of the whole body including the arms, legs, and trunk of the subjects. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by calculating the Fib4 index based on the subject's age, AST level, ALT level, and platelet counts.

Results: The subjects were divided into three groups according to cutoff values of the Fib4 index (low: <1.30, medium: 1.30-2.66, high: ≥2.67). The SM index (kg/m²) was the lowest among subjects in the high-Fib4-index category, followed by the medium- and low-Fib4-index categories. This dose-response reduction in the SM index was more pronounced among individuals with lower blood albumin level (low nutrition) and in those with more sedentary behavior (physical inactivity). Among the selected 262 subjects who underwent SM measurement twice with an interval of 3 years, the subjects with a high Fib4 index showed greater reduction in the SM index than those with medium and low Fib4 indices. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the Fib4 index was significantly associated with the SM index, independent of age, sex, albumin level, sedentary behavior, diabetes mellitus, alcohol intake, and smoking status.

Conclusions: The present findings suggest that the potential progression of liver fibrosis is associated with the excessive loss of SM among apparently healthy older adults without any treatment for liver diseases.

There is mounting concern about the effects of early-life exposure to chemical substances on children's health and development. We summarize the past and ongoing birth cohort studies carried out worldwide on the association between environmental exposure and children's health. Our PubMed search with the keywords 'birth cohort' revealed that the number of articles jumped from 200-300 in the 1980s to over 1,000 in the 1990s. Many of these articles reported elevated risks to children's health posed by chemical exposure owing their vulnerability. At the same time, policies implemented to reduce exposure to lead and dioxins were successful in the past few decades. Research also demonstrated that intervention to reduce exposure to certain chemicals whose exposure routes were well documented was also successful. We summarize the effects of early-life exposure to chemical substances on children's health and development. Our findings will hopefully help safeguard the environment in which future generations grow and live.

Objetives: As the first step forward building a supporting system for the Parents of Children with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities (PIMD) at home, we developed a new resilience scale that can be used by multiple professionals to understand the situation of those parents and to provide the necessary support.

Methods: First, we collected scale items on the basis of our previous study as well as related reports in the literature. These items were then screened by the research team with knowledge and experience in supporting those parents, finally, 37 items were generated. Then, we asked the parents of children with PIMD who were of elementary school age and above in the Kanto-Shinetsu area to complete a questionnaire. Out of 477 questionnaires sent, 193 were refused, and the data were statistically analyzed.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the scale was made up of the following seven factors. 1) Understanding and awareness of the child, 2) Empowerment by the child, 3) Use of specialists, 4) Interest and concern in something other than the child, 5) Emotional adjustment, 6) Maintenance of lifestyle balance, and 7) Request for assistances. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of each factor was calculated. The validity was also confirmed by determining the relationship of resilience with parents' well-being.

Conclusions: The results suggest that the new resilience scale for parents of children with PIMD developed in this study can be a reliable instrument for assessing resilience in Japanese parents of a child with such disabilities.

Objectives: To investigate the associations between dietary patterns and mental health status of female university students.

Methods: Self-administered questionnaires consisting of measures of food intake frequency and mental health status were completed by 320 female university students. Food intake frequency was assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Then, dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis. The 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used to evaluate students' mental health status. Relationships between the dietary patterns and the mental health status were analyzed.

Results: We identified three dietary patterns. "The Japanese foods pattern in youth" was a representative food intake pattern of this generation. "The light eating pattern" had lower intakes of most items but higher intakes of soft drinks, and was not interested in nutrition balance. "The dairy products pattern" had higher intakes of dairy products and sweets, and were significantly associated with high scores of GHQ-28 subscale anxiety and insomnia.

Conclusion: The dietary patterns are associated with the mental health status of female university students.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to categorize the actions of occupational physicians in health committees leading to solutions of occupational health problems.

Methods: We conducted two focus group discussions among experienced occupational physicians. The discussions addressed the following question: what had they and others said and done that had led to the development of solutions to occupational health problems. We used a qualitative content analysis approach developed by Berelson, and created a draft of the categories of actions. Subsequently, an online questionnaire survey was then used to evaluate the external validity of the draft. The questionnaire asked physicians whether they had experience of each item in the draft. They were also asked whether they had experienced any other items not included in the draft. If so, they were asked to provide a description of their experience. These descriptions were discussed by three researchers. Any suggested new items considered to fall under any of the original items in the draft were excluded, and any new items proposed by two or more participants were added as additional items. Finally, we corrected words and phrases and reviewed the items to ensure that they clearly conveyed the required meaning, and described actions leading to solutions to occupational health problems.

Results: The content analysis revealed six basic actions, and 32 items were categorized in the draft. The six basic actions were "participate", "gather information", "make a place that allows communication with key people and health committee members", "make arrangements", "speak at a health committee", and "pay attention". In total, 67 physicians responded to the questionnaire survey. At least 40% of participants answered that they had experience of the draft items. All items in the draft had also been experienced by groups of occupational physicians other than those involved in the focus groups. Three additional items proposed by two or more participants were added. "Pay attention" was deleted following the final review.

Conclusions: We categorized the actions of occupational physicians in health committees into five basic actions, and 32 items. Being aware of types of actions used in groups may encourage occupational physicians to be more involved in workplace health committees and contribute to the promotion of occupational health activities in the workplace.

The brain and mind are not only determined genetically but are also nurtured by environmental stimuli in early life. However, the relationship between early life environment and phenotypes in adulthood remains elusive. Using the IntelliCage-based competition task for group-housed mice, we previously found that maternal exposure to a low dose of an environmental pollutant, dioxin, resulted in abnormal social behavior, that is, low competitive dominance, which is defined by decreased occupancy of limited resource sites under highly competitive circumstances. Although we were unable to identify which behavioral phenotype applies to abnormalities such as "human social nature", we found signs of hypoactivation of the medial prefrontal cortex, as seen in patients with autism spectrum disorder. In addition, another model of environmental factors, repeated isolation during development, and that of genetic factors including mice with neuronal heterotopia, which refers to brain malformations resulting from deficits of neuronal migration, showed low competitive dominance. These results indicate that a constitutive approach to capture the neural network of the whole brain is necessary especially in cases where the temporal gap of causal relationships is large such as DOHaD.

In recent years, the birthrate has been continuously declining in Japan. The main causes of the decline are social factors. On the other hand, there is increasing evidence that many environmental chemicals show endocrine disrupting properties. Thus, we hypothesized that exposure to these chemicals would also be a causal for the fertility crisis. In this review, we examined current evidence that focused on environmental chemical exposure in utero and its association with reproductive hormones in children. We have included the findings from a prospective birth cohorts, the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health Sapporo cohort. According to the literature, environmental chemical levels in utero, such as polychlorinated biphenyl, dioxins, perfluorinated chemical substances, phthalates, and bisphenol A were somewhat associated with the levels of reproductive hormones, such as testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, inhibin B, and insulin-like factor-3 in cord blood, in early childhood and adolescence. The literature also suggests the association between exposure to these chemicals and brain-sexual differentiation or the anogenital distance, which suggests the disruption of androgen shower during the developmental stage in the fetal period. There are still knowledge gaps on whether these hormones at an early stage affect the pubertal development and reproductive functions in later life. In addition, alternative chemicals are produced after banning one type. The health effects of alternative chemicals should be evaluated. Effects of exposure to a mixture of the chemicals should also be examined in future studies. In conclusion, the prevention of environmental chemical hazards in relation to human reproductive function is important. It would be one of the countermeasures to the falling birthrate caused by fertility issues.