Publications by authors named "Ami Fukunaga"

Article Synopsis
  • Rainfall-induced floods accounted for 70% of disasters in Japan between 1985-2018, leading to various health issues, highlighting the need for better health data collection during such events.
  • In response to the Kumamoto Heavy Rain 2020, Emergency Medical Teams utilized J-SPEED to report daily patient data, allowing for a detailed analysis of health problems encountered.
  • Analysis of 816 consultations showed that the elderly were the most affected demographic, with common health issues including treatment interruption, hypertension, and stress symptoms, demonstrating shifts in the nature of health problems throughout the disaster response phases.*
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Background: Fish are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D, which can promote testosterone synthesis and secretion. However, some contaminants present in fish may disrupt testosterone production.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between fish intake (total, fatty, and lean fish) and serum testosterone levels in older males.

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Objective: Given the population-level variation in stature, a universal cut-off for waist circumference (WC) may not be appropriate for some populations. We compared the performance of WC and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to detect the clustering of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in rural Vietnam.

Methods: We obtained data from a baseline survey of the Khanh Hoa Cardiovascular Study comprising 2942 middle-aged residents (40-60 years).

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The literature on green tea consumption and glucose metabolism has reported conflicting findings. This cross-sectional study examined the association of green tea consumption with abnormal glucose metabolism among 3000 rural residents aged 40-60 years in Khánh Hòa province in Vietnam. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association of green tea consumption (0, < 200, 200-< 400, 400-< 600 or ≥ 600 ml/d) with prediabetes and diabetes (based on the American Diabetes Association criteria).

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Background: Several studies have examined the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the proportion of untreated hypertension, but have produced conflicting findings. In addition, no study has been conducted to determine sex differences in the association between SES and untreated hypertension. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether the associations between SES and the proportion of untreated hypertension differed by sex in Vietnam.

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Antipyretic analgesics are used to manage and control symptoms occurring after vaccination, but may hamper immunogenicity or vaccine efficacy. We examined the association between prophylactic or therapeutic use of antipyretic analgesics and SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers for vaccine recipients. Data were obtained from 1,498 staff members of a medical and research institution in Tokyo, Japan, who had received the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine.

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Background: Living alone has been positively associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms. We examined how a combination of living alone and pet ownership relates to depressive symptoms.

Methods: As part of the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study, we conducted a survey on health-related lifestyles, including living arrangements and pet ownership, among 12,763 employees of five companies in 2018-2021.

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This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between dietary hardness and depressive symptoms in older Japanese men. Participants were 1487 men aged 60-69 years enrolled in the baseline survey of the Hitachi Health Study II (2017-2020). Habitual dietary intake was estimated by a brief-type, self-administered diet history questionnaire.

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Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with cancer risk; however, little is known regarding its relationship with the risk of cancer-related premature death and long-term sick leave (LTSL), which can lead to a substantial loss in working years. The present study aimed to quantify the all-site and site-specific associations between MetS and the risk of severe cancer events (a composite outcome of LTSL and mortality due to cancer) in a large working population in Japan.

Methods: We recruited 70,875 workers (59,950 men and 10,925 women), aged 20-59 years, who attended health check-ups in 2011 (10 companies) and 2014 (2 companies).

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We aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between dietary hardness and cognitive dysfunction among Japanese men in their 60s. Participants were 1494 men aged 60-69 years from the baseline survey of Hitachi Health Study II (2017-2020). Dietary hardness was defined as an estimate of masticatory muscle activity involved in consuming solid foods.

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Background: In contrast to high-income countries where physical activity (PA), particularly leisure-time PA, has been shown to be protective against hypertension, few studies have been conducted in low- and middle-income countries. We examined the cross-sectional association between PA and hypertension prevalence among rural residents in Vietnam.

Methods: We used data collected in the baseline survey of a prospective cohort study, among 3000 people aged 40-60 years old residing in rural Khánh Hòa, Vietnam.

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Although vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease 2019 (COVID-19) induce effective immune responses, vaccination with booster doses is necessary because of waning immunity. We conducted an open-label, non-randomized, single-arm study in adults in Japan to assess the immunogenicity and safety of a single booster dose of the KD-414 purified whole-SARS-CoV-2-virion inactivated vaccine candidate after vaccination with a primary series of BNT162b2. The primary endpoint was serum neutralizing activity at 7 days after booster injection compared with the primary series of BNT162b2.

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Background: Discrimination is an important determinant of negative mental health outcomes. This study determined the association between the experience of COVID-19-related discrimination and psychological distress among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Japan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted a health survey among 5703 HCWs of six national medical and research centers in Japan from October 2020 to March 2021.

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Background: Diabetes and prediabetes have been linked with morbidity or mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, or other physical disorders among working-age populations, but less is known about outcomes directly related to labor loss (eg, Tlong-term sickness absence [LTSA] or pre-retirement death due to physical disorders).This prospective study aimed to examine the association of diabetes and prediabetes with the risk of a composite outcome of LTSA and pre-retirement death due to physical disorders. The present study also examined the associations of severe outcomes (LTSA or death) due to specific physical disorders or injuries/external causes in relation to diabetes and prediabetes.

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Background: This study aimed to determine the association between parental absence during childhood and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adulthood among middle-aged adults in rural Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Given that broader literature on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) suggests a strong positive association between ACEs and cardiometabolic risk or diseases, we hypothesized that parental absence during childhood, which is a major component of ACEs, is more likely to cause MetS in adulthood.

Methods: Data were obtained from the baseline survey of the Khanh Hoa Cardiovascular Study, in which 3000 residents aged between 40 to 60 years participated.

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Background: Several studies have associated fast eating speed with the risk of general obesity, but there are inadequate data on the association between eating speed and abdominal adiposity which may pose a higher threat to health than general obesity. The present study aimed to investigate the association between eating speed and abdominal obesity in a Vietnamese population.

Methods: Between June 2019 and June 2020, the baseline survey of an ongoing prospective cohort study on the determinants of cardiovascular disease in Vietnamese adults was conducted.

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Objectives: There has been comparatively little research on the association between social capital and depressive symptoms in low- and middle-income countries. To address this deficit this study examined the association among middle-aged adults in rural Vietnam.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

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Aims: We aimed to assess the cross-sectional association of heated tobacco product (HTP) use with prediabetes and diabetes.

Methods: The present analysis included 8950 workers from 5 companies (Study I) and 31,341 workers from another large company (Study II), who participated in the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study. The participants were divided into five groups: never smokers, past smokers, exclusive HTP users, dual users of cigarettes and HTPs, and exclusive cigarette smokers.

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Objectives: While adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been shown to be associated with adulthood obesity, less is known about their association with underweight. We examined the associations between parental absence (i.e.

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We aimed to assess the association between heated tobacco product (HTP) use and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration. Our study included 12,268 workers from five companies (Study I) and 36,503 workers from another large company (Study II). Participants were categorized into five groups: never smokers, past smokers, exclusive HTP users, dual users of cigarettes and HTPs, and exclusive cigarette smokers.

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Background: The clustering of metabolic abnormalities may weaken vaccine-induced immunity, but epidemiological data regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are scarce. The present study aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and humoral immune response to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine among the staff of a research center for medical care in Japan.

Methods: Participants were the staff (aged 21-75 years) of the National Center of Global Health and Medicine who had completed the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 1-3 months before the survey.

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Importance: The benefits of smoking cessation are well known, but former smokers have a higher health risk than never smokers. The impact of former smokers' engaging in other aspects of a healthy lifestyle is unclear.

Objective: To assess the association between adherence to evidence-based lifestyle recommendations and mortality among former smokers.

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The humoral and cellular immune responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) upon the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination remain to be clarified. Hence, we aimed to investigate the long-term chronological changes in SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibody, neutralizing antibody, and T cell responses during and after receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine. We performed serological, neutralization, and T cell assays among 100 hospital workers aged 22-73 years who received the vaccine.

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Background: While healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus transmission involving them might be exceeding in the non-occupational settings. This study examined the extent of adherence to infection prevention practices (IPPs) against COVID-19 in their daily life and its associated factors among staff members in a national medical center designated for COVID-19 treatment in Tokyo, Japan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2020 among 1,228 staff of National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM).

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Background & Aims: Limited evidence exists regarding the prospective associations between amino acids and insulin resistance. In addition, amino acids have been suggested to promote insulin resistance with the requirement of obesity in animal studies, but the interaction between amino acids and obesity on the development of insulin resistance has not been examined in epidemiological studies. We aimed to investigate the differences in the prospective associations of serum amino acids with insulin resistance among adults with and without overweight or obesity.

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