ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the association between sedentary behavior at work and mental health among workers.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 344 workers at a pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Japan. Mental health conditions were assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Participants were classified into the two groups based on the frequency of breaking up prolonged sitting: high-frequency (standing at least once every 60 minutes) and low-frequency (intervals between standing exceeding 60 minutes or prolonged sitting) groups. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for mental health were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance.ResultsThe low-frequency group had higher prevalence ratios for stress (1.82), anxiety (2.68), and depression (3.64) than the high-frequency group.ConclusionsProlonged sitting at the workplace may be associated with worse mental health among Japanese workers.

Abstract This study examines the implications of intergenerational caregiving for depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among China’s “sandwich generation” individuals embedded in four-generation lineages. Using data from 9081 respondents aged 45–80 from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we measure depressive symptoms with the CES-D-10 scale and life satisfaction through a direct self-report question. Our analyses employ ordinary least squares and ordered logistic regression models, supplemented by propensity score matching and mediation analysis. Findings indicate that individuals providing simultaneous care for both aging parents and grandchildren report significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction than non-caregivers and those providing single types of care. This association is mediated through three pathways: increased financial burden, constrained social participation, and reduced physical activity. Heterogeneity analyses reveal more pronounced adverse effects among women, rural residents, and those not yet retired, highlighting stratification in caregiving burden distribution. Women experience greater deterioration in well-being due to culturally prescribed caregiving roles, while rural residents face heightened vulnerability resulting from underdeveloped formal support systems. These findings challenge conventional assumptions about familial care in Confucian societies and advance the sociological understanding of family adaptation to modernization. By examining China’s case, our research illuminates parallel challenges across East Asian societies experiencing rapid demographic aging, where traditional filial norms increasingly intersect with modern socioeconomic pressures. The results underscore the urgent need for policy interventions that can effectively reconcile traditional family values with contemporary social realities across rapidly aging societies.

OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to examine the association between sedentary behavior at work and mental health among workers. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 344 workers at a pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Japan. Mental health conditions were assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Participants were classified into the two groups based on the frequency of breaking up prolonged sitting: high-frequency (standing at least once every 60 minutes) and low-frequency (intervals between standing exceeding 60 minutes or prolonged sitting) groups. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for mental health were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS:The low-frequency group had higher prevalence ratios for stress (1.82), anxiety (2.68), and depression (3.64) than the high-frequency group. CONCLUSIONS:Prolonged sitting at the workplace may be associated with worse mental health among Japanese workers.

BACKGROUND:In Japan, there are currently no definitive conclusions regarding the characteristics of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlation of MCS and EHS with age, sex, and depression in the Japanese population.METHODS:An anonymous self-report questionnaire was distributed to 2,007 participants. Variables such as MCS, EHS, depression score, and demographic characteristics were individually evaluated using the U-test, chi-squared test, and correlation analyses. Moreover, we performed a covariance structure analysis to build a structural equation model.RESULTS:Older individuals and women were more likely to exhibit MCS and EHS symptoms. Moreover, depression was correlated with MCS and EHS.CONCLUSIONS:Although MCS and EHS are strongly correlated, they exhibit distinct characteristics and symptoms, indicating that they can be regarded as separate conditions.

Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are detected in healthy individuals, they are more prevalent in women than in men. Pregnant women are immunologically unique, but epidemiological data on ANA positivity in them remain limited. The exposure received from the mother during the fetal period impacts the future health of the fetus and has thus received increased attention in recent years. Thus, we investigated the association between ANA pos-itivity and chemical exposure among pregnant Japanese women, registered in the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS). ANA titers were assessed by indirect immunofluorescence with HEp-2 cells at a cutoff dilution of 1:40. Sociodemographic and other data were obtained in the JECS from a self-administered ques-tionnaire. We analyzed 1,235 Japanese women in their first trimester of pregnancy. The ANA prevalence was 17.2%. Among ANA-positive women, a speckled pattern was the most common (95.3%), followed by a homo-geneous pattern (72.3%). Exposure to chemicals more than once a week significantly increased the probability of ANA positivity (kerosene, petroleum, benzene, or gasoline: adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.11; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.03-4.34; chlorine bleach or germicide: AOR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.10-3.54; organic solvents: AOR, 5.34; 95% CI, 1.40-20.36; and photocopying machines or laser printers: AOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.17-2.54). ANA positivity was associated with exposure to several chemicals in Japanese women. Our exploratory results suggested that ANAs as potential markers of chemical exposure warrant further research.

Hypogonadism is a significant late complication in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). The aim of this study was to elucidate the advantages and limitations of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for CCS with hypogonadism. Seventeen CCS were divided into two groups: gonadal hypogonadism (GH) group (n = 8) and central hypogonadism (CH) group (n = 9). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to investigate the impact of cancer management on final height, bone density, and uterine development. Seven of GH group had hematologic malignancies, and all of them underwent total body irradiation before bone marrow transplantation. The GH group showed significant positive correlations between the onset age of disease treatment and final height (p < 0.05, R = 0.712) and uterine size following ERT (p < 0.05, R = 0.775). All CCS in the CH group had brain tumors, and seven of them received chemotherapy. There were trends towards positive and negative correlations between the onset age of disease treatment and final height (p = 0.09, R = 0.598) or uterine size (p = 0.07, R = − 0.669), respectively. A negative correlation trend was observed between the age at ERT initiation and final height (p = 0.07, R = − 0.769) or bone density (p = 0.18, R = − 0.626) in six CH patients who received growth hormone therapy. Five CCS in both groups experienced osteoporosis, despite receiving ERT. Individualized management strategies beyond ERT are essential to reduce long-term complications in CCS with hypogonadism, considering the type and timing of cancer treatment.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. This study aimed to examine the involvement of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of non-coding transcripts, in ICH as potential biomarkers. An expression profile of patients with ICH using four contralateral grey matter controls (GM) and four contralateral white matter controls (WM) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Co-expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were selected to create competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Key lncRNAs were identified in ceRNA networks, which were validated through Real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) with peripheral blood samples from patients with ICH. A total of 49 differentially expressed lncRNAs were discovered in different brain regions. The ceRNA network in GM included 9 lncRNAs, 40 mRNAs, and 20 microRNAs (miRNAs), while the one in WM covered 6 lncRNAs, 25 mRNAs, and 14 miRNAs. Six hub lncRNAs were observed and RT-qPCR results showed that LY86-AS1, DLX6-AS1, RRN3P2, and CRNDE were down-regulated, while HCP5 and MIAT were up-regulated in patients with ICH. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) assessments demonstrated the diagnostic value of these lncRNAs. Our findings highlight the potential roles of lncRNA in ICH pathogenesis. Moreover, the hub lncRNAs discovered here might become novel biomarkers and promising targets for ICH drug development.

To evaluate the relationship between uncorrected visual acuity and non-cycloplegic refractive value among 3-year-old children in a vision screening program in Japan. Retrospective, cross-sectional study. The participants were 1746 Japanese children screened from April 2009 to July 2018, and ranged in age from 36 to 47 months. Visual acuity and handheld refractive values were collected from the clinical records of 3-year-old children in a vision screening program. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between 0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and > 0.3 logMAR. Correlation analysis was also performed for the presence of myopic shift. Among the 1746 children (aged [mean ± standard deviation], 37.6 ± 1.6 months; percentage of boys, 50.4%), representing 3492 eyes, 116 eyes (3.3%) had > 0.3 logMAR. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors for 1.75–2.00 diopter (D) spherical power (odds ratio [OR], 2.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–5.64; P = 0.026) and 1.25–1.50 D cylindrical power (OR, 5.66; 95% CI 1.58–20.40; P < 0.01) were increased in eyes with > 0.3 logMAR. There was no myopic shift for 10 years (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient; P = 0.65). It is important to set a threshold that comprises the characteristics of the autorefractor used in screening, and to ensure that, to help prevent amblyopia a thorough eye examination in ophthalmic institutions will be conducted taking into account population-based refractive values.

Background This study aimed to examine the impact of dietary compositions and patterns on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) morbidity in Japanese men. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 281 individuals who underwent comprehensive medical examinations during health screening. Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and factor analysis was performed to detect dietary patterns. NAFLD was diagnosed by the presence of fatty liver on abdominal ultrasonography in nondrinkers (< 30 g/day), and patients were categorized into control (n = 192) and NAFLD groups (n = 89). Results Compared with the control group, the NAFLD group consumed fewer mushrooms. Three dietary patterns were identified, namely, a healthy pattern, a western pattern, and a snack pattern. The score of healthy pattern was negatively correlated with the risk of NAFLD. Compared with the lowest tertile of the healthy pattern, the middle tertile was associated with a lower risk of NAFLD after adjusting for age, physical activity, and smoking (odds ratio: 0.47, 95% confidence interval: 0.25–0.91). After further adjustments for body mass index, the middle tertile was associated with a lower risk of NAFLD (odds ratio: 0.46, 95% confidence interval: 0.23–0.92). Conclusions A healthy dietary pattern comprising frequent intake of seaweeds, vegetables, mushrooms, pulses, and potatoes and starches was associated with a lower risk of NAFLD in Japanese men. In our opinion, this healthy pattern closely resembles the Japanese Washoku diet, indicating that adherence to Washoku may help prevent NAFLD.

OBJECTIVE:We conducted an analysis using the Quick Environmental Exposure Sensitivity Inventory to examine the correlation between multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and personality traits by using temperament and character inventory, and environmental exposures.METHODS:An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 667 employees working at an IT manufacturing plant in Japan. Variables including chemically sensitive population (CSP), personality, and environmental chemical exposure were individually evaluated using U-test, chi-squared test, and correlation analyses. We also did covariance structure analysis to build a structural equation model.RESULTS:There was little direct impact of temperament on the CSP, while there was a significant impact of character on the CSP. Women were more likely to exhibit symptoms of CSP.CONCLUSION:MCS is correlated with personality, impacted more by character acquired later in life than innate temperament. There were sex differences in the incidence of MCS.

We have read with interest the article by Lu et al. entitled “Association of excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy with birth weight: an adjunct study in Kumamoto of Japan Environment and Children’s Study” published recently in the Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. Although this paper addresses a very challenging issue, it has some shortcomings. Mortazavi et al. have previously studied the effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation on birth weight of newborns and found no statistical significant differences between the mean weight of newborns whose mothers had been exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by mobile phones and those of non-exposed mothers. The study performed by Lu et al. cannot answer this very key question that whether ordinary use of mobile phone during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight. The origin of the controversy between the findings of these two studies and the shortcomings of the article by Lu et al. are discussed.

Objective To introduce the theoretical foundation of Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the process of its development and improvement and examine the reliability and validity of its 125 items in Chinese version. Methods 1,958 college freshmen completed the 125 items of TCI in Chinese version. The data were randomly divided into two groups of independent samples. The data of one group were used for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and those of the other group for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results Firstly, the Cronbach′α coefficient of TCI was 0.88, and the Cronbach′α coefficients of 7 factors were NS-0.68, HA-0.82, RD-0.52, P-0.61, SD-0.83, C-0.73, and ST-0.79 respectively. Secondly, The EFA results suggested a four-factor structure for temperament domains, a three-factor structure for character domains, and a five-factor structure for TCI, which was confirmed by the CFA results. Conclusion The 125 items of TCI in Chinese version have good reliability and validity as well as good psychometric characteristics, so they can be used as an assessment tool of personality traits in the future clinical and scientific research.

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between airflow limitation (AL) severity and comorbidities in comprehensive health examination.

OBJECTIVES:We sought to identify associations between aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), alcohol consumption, and hypertension in Japanese men.METHODS:The study participants were 1,225 male Japanese workers. We collected lifestyle information, body measurements, blood biochemical parameters, blood pressure measurements, and ALDH2 genotyping data during medical examinations conducted between March 2004 and January 2005 at a work facility and an affiliated company. Lifestyle data on alcohol intake and smoking were collected using self-administered questionnaires at the same time as when the aforementioned measurements were obtained.RESULTS:The genotype frequencies of ALDH2 genetic polymorphisms were 62.6, 32.7, and 4.7% for *1/*1, *1/*2, and *2/*2, respectively. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the *1/*2 or *2/*2 group were significantly lower than those in the *1/*1 group (P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis (stepwise method) for blood pressure according to ALDH2 genetic polymorphism revealed that the amount of daily alcohol intake affected systolic blood pressure in participants who harbored the ALDH2 genetic polymorphism *1/*2 or *2/*2.CONCLUSIONS:The interaction between alcohol intake and ALDH2 genetic polymorphisms might affect systolic blood pressure in adult male workers.

This study explored the factor structure of psychiatric nurses' job-related stress and examined the specificity of the related stressors using the job stressor scale of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ). The stressor scale of the BJSQ was administered to 296 nurses and assistant nurses. Answers were examined statistically. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify factor structures; two factors (overload and job environment) were valid. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the two-factor structure and found 11 items with factor loadings of >0.40 (model 1), 13 items with factor loadings from 0.30 to <0.40 (model 2), and 17 items with factor loadings from 0.20 to <0.30 (model 3) for one factor; model 1 demonstrated the highest goodness of fit. Then, we observed that the two-factor structure (model 1) showed a higher goodness of fit than the original six-factor structure. This differed from subscales based on general workers' job-related stressors, suggesting that the factor structure of psychiatric nurses' job-related stressors is specific. Further steps may be necessary to reduce job-related stress specifically related to overload including attention to many needs of patients and job environment including complex ethical dilemmas in psychiatric nursing.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the major causes of death among men. Our study investigated the association of ESR1 and ESR2 genotypes with susceptibility to PCa in relation to smoking status in Japanese.

Objective Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often associated with concomitant systemic manifestations and comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease. There are limited data regarding airflow limitation (AL) and atherosclerosis in Japanese patients, and the potential association between AL and arterial stiffness has not yet been investigated in Japanese patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between AL severity and arterial stiffness using the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Methods This cross-sectional study included 1,356 subjects aged 40-79 years without clinical cardiovascular diseases who underwent a comprehensive health screening that included spirometry, the baPWV measurement, and blood sampling during medical check-ups in 2009 at the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Health Care Center. AL was defined in accordance with the Global Initiative for COPD criteria (forced expiratory volume in one second / forced vital capacity of < 0.7). A cut-off baPWV value of >1,400 cm/s was used for risk prediction and screening. Results The average baPWV (SD) results were 1,578.0 (317.9), 1,647.3 (374.4), and 1,747.3 (320.1) cm/s in the patients with a normal pulmonary function, mild AL, and moderate-to-severe AL, respectively (p< 0.001). Using logistic regression models adjusted for the age, body mass index, smoking status, hypersensitive C-reactive protein levels, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, an increased baPWV (>1,400 cm/s) was significantly associated with moderate-to-severe AL compared with a normal pulmonary function (odds ratio=2.76; 95% confidence intervals, 1.37-5.55; p=0.004). Conclusion Our results indicated an association between AL and increased arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness may therefore worsen with an increase in the severity of AL.

OBJECTIVE:This study was designed to determine the correlation between mental health and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).METHOD:The present study was conducted at two companies in 2011; both in Kyushu, Japan. The "subjective symptoms" subscale of the "Self-diagnosis Checklist for Assessment of Workers' Accumulated Fatigue" was used as a mental health subscale. To determine if multiple chemical exposure has an impact on mental health, we composed an original path model using structural equation analysis.RESULT:Our final path model can be regarded as good: CMIN/DF = 1.832, CFI = 0.996, and RMSEA = 0.038, AIC = 71.158. As expected, chemical sensitivity and other chemical sensitivity scores predicted the health effects of multiple chemical exposure (β = 0.19, 0.64). Mental health was predicted by symptom severity and life impact (β = 0.56 and 0.12), which were both affected by multiple chemical exposure (β = 0.38 and 0.89, respectively).CONCLUSION:As far as we are aware, this is the first study using path analysis to explore whether MCS can indicate mental health in worker populations worldwide, and we found a significant causal relationship between them. This could indicate that more focus should be placed on the impact of MCS on mental health in future investigations.

Text messaging may be excessive and young people may be dependent on it. We distributed the Self-perception of Text-message Dependency Scale (STDS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) to 223 Japanese university students in a two-wave study, separated by a 5-month interval. The STDS yielded a three-factor structure. The STDS scores across the two measurement occasions were stable across time (except for the Relationship Maintenance subscale). A hierarchical cluster analysis suggested a three-class structure interpreted as Normal Users, Excessive Users, and Dependent Users. Excessive Users and Dependent Users were characterized by a young age at initial mobile phone use, more frequent use of text messaging, higher Novelty Seeking, and better Other-Model patterns of adult attachment. Unlike Excessive Users, Dependent Users were characterized by lower Self-directedness, poorer Self-Model of adult attachment, and higher anxiety and depression. The Excessive Users, but not the Dependent Users, were characterized by high Reward Dependence and Co-operativeness. The present study demonstrated that the STDS has a robust factor structure, good construct validity, and temporal stability (except for Relationship Maintenance subscale); students could be classified into normal, excessive, and Dependent Users of the text messaging; and Dependent Users were characterized by Excessive Use and personality immaturity.