In 2024, we conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a Mongolian non-governmental organization (NGO) stigma reduction program, "We are Living Under the Same Sky" (LUSS), by assessing the association between the program and two human immunodeficiency virus prevention outcomes, recognition of the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) and the need for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), in 223 men who have sex with men (MSM). Results showed that the LUSS program was associated with the recognition of U=U and PrEP need by Mongolian MSM. The recognition of U=U was associated with coming-out experience and marital status. LUSS was associated with the PrEP need, which, in turn, was associated with MSM who engaged in active sexual behaviors. The LUSS program has increased the recognition of U=U and PrEP need among MSM, and it can be incorporated into new prevention interventions targeting MSM. LUSS has the potential to effectively raise awareness among MSM and other populations such as youth, educators, and healthcare providers.
Background International consensus on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiovascular care science and treatment recommendations (CoSTR) have reported updates on CPR maneuvers every 5 years since 2000. However, few national population‐based studies have investigated the comprehensive effectiveness of those updates for out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest due to shockable rhythms. The primary objective of the present study was to determine whether CPR based on CoSTR 2005 or 2010 was associated with improved outcomes in Japan, as compared with CPR based on Guidelines 2000. Methods and Results From the All‐Japan Utstein Registry between 2005 and 2015, we included 73 578 adults who had shockable out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest witnessed by bystanders or emergency medical service responders. The study outcomes over an 11‐year period were compared between 2005 of the Guidelines 2000 era, from 2006 to 2010 of the CoSTR 2005 era, and from 2011 to 2015 of the CoSTR 2010 era. In the bystander‐witnessed group, the adjusted odds ratios for favorable neurological outcomes at 30 days after out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest by enrollment year increased year by year (1.19 in 2006, and 3.01 in 2015). Similar results were seen in the emergency medical service responder‐witnessed group and several subgroups. Conclusions Compared with CPR maneuvers for shockable out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest recommended in the Guidelines 2000, CPR maneuver updates in CoSTR 2005 and 2010 were associated with improved neurologically intact survival year by year in Japan. Increased public awareness and greater dissemination of basic life support may be responsible for the observed improvement in outcomes. Registration URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/; Unique identifier: 000009918.
Objective This study investigates Japanese gay and bisexual men's experiences of seeking help for emotional support from others regarding their sexual orientation concerns. It examines the relationship between their help-seeking and presence of gay and bisexual peers, duration between questioning their sexual orientation and accepting it, and experience of coming out to family members by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-reported paper questionnaire. There were 360 valid responses. Eighty-two respondents (22.8%) had experience of help-seeking for emotional support, and this was associated with age, occupation, presence of gay/bisexual friends, and experience of coming out to family members about their sexual orientation. Respondents sought the most help from their male friends (70.0%), followed by female friends (25.0%), mothers (17.5%), and the Internet (16.3%). Even after controlling for age and occupation, experience of help-seeking for emotional support was higher among participants who had gay/bisexual friends when they were aware of their sexual orientation, took < 1 year from questioning to realizing their sexual orientation, and had come out to their family about their sexual orientation.
Background Patients with Gaucher disease (GD), a rare lysosomal storage disorder, have reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for HRQOL developed for type 1 GD (GD1) is not appropriate for patients with neuronopathic GD (nGD) types 2 (GD2) and 3 (GD3). In this study, we developed a new PROM for use in all GD types. We previously reported the qualitative analysis of interviews with Japanese patients with nGD, which was used to create nGD-specific PROM items. Here we evaluated the full PROM combining the type 1 questionnaire with the new nGD-specific items. Methods Patients with confirmed GD were recruited (Association of Gaucher Disease Patients in Japan or leading doctors) for pre-testing (May 2021) or the main survey (October–December 2021). The PROM had three parts: Parts 1 and 2 were translated into Japanese from the pre-existing GD1 PROM, whereas Part 3 was newly developed. Patients (or their caregivers, where necessary) completed the PROM questionnaire on paper and returned it by mail. Mean scores were determined overall and by GD type. Inter-item correlations, content consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), and test–retest reliability (Cohen’s kappa; main survey only, taken 2 weeks apart) were calculated. Results Sixteen patients (three with GD1; six with GD2; seven with GD3) and 33 patients (nine with GD1; 13 with GD2; 11 with GD3) participated in the pre-test and main survey, respectively. All GD2 patients and one-third (6/18) of GD3 patients required caregivers to complete the questionnaire. Mean scores indicated that the burden was highest in GD2 and lowest in GD1. In the main survey, internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.898 overall, 0.916 for Part 3), and test–retest reliability was high for Part 3 (kappa > 0.60 for 13/16 items) but low for Part 1 (kappa < 0.60 for 12/15 items). Conclusions We have developed a flexible and reliable PROM that can be tailored for use in all types of GD and propose using Parts 1 and 2 for GD1, Parts 2 and 3 for GD2, and Parts 1, 2, and 3 for GD3.
Kazuo Okada died on the 26th of November 2022 aged 91 years (Fig. 1). Kazuo was a great leader, the pioneer of the Resuscitation Council of Asia, and our dear father. Kazuo was born in Okayama-city, Japan. His great-grandfather was a Shinto priest and grandfather was a village chief. He lost his best friend from high school to respiratory failure caused by polio, and was motivated to study medicine to prevent such tragedies. Possessed of a giant intellect, passion, and analytical mind, Kazuo enrolled in Okayama University in 1949.
