Publications by authors named "Keiko Ueno"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore how often women eat meals, particularly breakfast, affects their success with assisted reproductive technology (ART) when dealing with infertility.
- Conducted at Tokyo Medical University over two years, it included 101 patients who provided data on their meal habits, lifestyle, and medical history.
- Results indicated that women who ate breakfast 6-7 times a week had higher rates of live births and lower miscarriage rates after ART, emphasizing the significance of regular breakfast for improving ART outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- * A study was conducted by interviewing caseworkers to analyze the daily life needs of five older recipient subgroups, revealing five key themes: housing, financial assistance, welfare services, healthcare, and segments with no significant daily life needs.
- * Identifying these needs emphasizes the importance of support interventions, and future research should include insights from other professionals to gain a comprehensive understanding of these segments' daily life requirements.
Article Synopsis
- Increased demand for ambulance services globally necessitates understanding the factors influencing their use, particularly among older adults in Japan.
- A study involving 24,581 participants found that low social support, such as lacking someone to confide in or care for them during illness, is linked to higher ambulance utilization.
- The findings indicate that enhancing social support could reduce ambulance dependency, providing valuable insights for healthcare policymakers in developing effective strategies.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates how the gene BMAL1 influences steroid production in human luteinized granulosa cells, which are essential for female reproductive health.
- * Researchers used siRNA to decrease BMAL1 expression and found that this reduction led to lower levels of key steroid biosynthesis genes (CYP11A1, CYP19A1, STAR, and ESR2) and corresponding steroid production.
- * The study concludes that BMAL1 is vital for regulating steroid biosynthesis and emphasizes the role of circadian rhythms in female reproductive physiology.*
Article Synopsis
- Prolonged on-scene times (OSTs) in emergency medical situations are a significant issue, especially for patients with minor diseases or injuries; previous studies largely focused on trauma and critical cases.
- A study analyzing data from the Higashihiroshima Fire Department from 2016 to 2022 identified various factors contributing to prolonged OSTs, such as the type of accident, frequency of hospital inquiries, and demographics like age and sex.
- Key findings revealed that events like fire accidents and natural disasters led to the longest delays, with older and female patients experiencing longer OSTs than other groups.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores characteristics of adult ambulance users in Japan who are diagnosed with minor injuries or nonurgent medical conditions, highlighting that about 60% of such cases don't require hospitalization.
- Utilizing data from ambulance requests in Higashihiroshima from 2016 to 2020, researchers applied a soft clustering method to identify six distinct segments of these users based on various factors.
- The findings reveal specific patterns among groups, such as those involved in nighttime neurological issues or fire accidents, indicating a need for tailored approaches in addressing the needs of different segments of nonurgent ambulance users.
Article Synopsis
- Public assistance programs aim to combat financial poverty by ensuring a basic income and medical care, but time constraints also affect healthcare access, particularly for those with chronic conditions like asthma.
- This study analyzed public assistance recipients in Japan to investigate how work and household duties contribute to unscheduled asthma care visits, particularly focusing on sociodemographic factors.
- Results indicated that working recipients had a significantly higher incidence of unscheduled visits compared to non-working ones, especially those living with other adults or children, highlighting the impact of time poverty on healthcare adherence.
Article Synopsis
- In 2020, assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Japan resulted in the birth of 60,381 infants, with growing interest in ART expected to continue.
- A study analyzed long-term outcomes for children conceived via ART compared to those conceived naturally, focusing on physical and psychomotor development.
- Findings suggest physical characteristics of ART and naturally conceived children are similar, but minor growth differences may exist until school age; however, both groups show no significant differences in academic performance or attention issues, making it unclear if ART is a contributing factor to any observed differences.
Prevalence of dental visits in older Japanese adults receiving public assistance.
Community Dent Oral Epidemiol
February 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the relationship between public assistance and dental visit frequency among older adults in Japan, highlighting that exemptions from dental care costs alone do not guarantee increased access to dental services.
- Data from over 16,000 respondents revealed that less than 40% of public assistance recipients visited a dentist in the past six months, compared to more than half of those not receiving assistance.
- Findings suggest that despite financial exemptions, public assistance recipients are significantly less likely to seek dental care for treatment and prevention, raising concerns about overall access to dental health services.
Article Synopsis
- - The study focused on older public assistance recipients, aiming to segment them into subgroups based on their sociodemographic characteristics for better resource allocation and support.
- - Researchers used a machine learning method called probabilistic latent semantic analysis to identify five distinct segments among 3,165 older individuals across two municipalities, with notable differences between men and women.
- - While many segments were meaningful in practice, some caseworkers struggled to recognize specific segments, indicating a gap in their awareness and understanding of these distinct groups.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to compare the height, weight, and BMI of children conceived through different methods, including fresh and frozen embryo transfers, natural conception, and less aggressive fertility treatments at the age of 6.
- A total of 8149 children were surveyed, with a focus on 3299 term singletons divided into four groups: natural conception (NC), non-assisted reproductive technology (non-ART), fresh embryo transfer (FreET), and frozen embryo transfer (FET).
- The results showed that children from the FreET group were 1.0 cm taller than those from the non-ART group by age 6, but there were no significant differences in measurements among the other groups.
Article Synopsis
- Some young adults might find social interactions stressful due to their past experiences, leading them to avoid interpersonal relationships.
- This study analyzed data from 1,274 individuals aged 18 to 39 to see how childhood support from parents and community involvement affects adult relationship avoidance.
- The results showed that while community participation did not impact men seeking help from fathers, it did help men who sought help from mothers to avoid relationship avoidance later in life.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to identify risk profiles for frequent outpatient attendance (FOA) among public assistance recipients in Japan, emphasizing the need for specific intervention strategies for low-income individuals with complex health needs.
- Utilizing a retrospective cohort design, researchers analyzed data from over 15,000 public assistance recipients, finding that 2.7% experienced FOA during the study period.
- Results revealed that employed individuals with mental disabilities had the highest risk of FOA, highlighting the advantages of using classification and regression trees (CART) for identifying nuanced risk profiles compared to traditional regression analyses.
Article Synopsis
- Older public assistance recipients are at a higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms compared to their non-recipient counterparts, with a significant increase in likelihood (1.57 times more likely).
- The study analyzed data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, using a robust statistical method to account for various sociodemographic factors.
- Findings suggest that while social participation can help reduce depressive symptoms among recipients, there is still a pressing need for mental health support within public assistance programs, in addition to financial aid.
Article Synopsis
- Public assistance programs are designed to help impoverished citizens maintain a minimum living standard, with eligibility usually tied to economic factors, but psychosocial factors also play a role in entering and exiting these programs, particularly among older Japanese individuals from 2013 to 2016.
- The study analyzed data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study using fixed-effects regression, focusing on various factors such as community social cohesion, individual perceptions, and sociodemographic characteristics to determine their impact on public assistance usage.
- Findings revealed that while very few started public assistance, nearly half of the recipients discontinued it, with a higher sense of community support and social roles making individuals more likely to enter or exit the program,
Article Synopsis
- Public assistance in Japan helps financially empower individuals but can lead to social stigma, impacting their relationships based on their assistance status.
- A study using data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study analyzed changes in the social relationships of older adults who started or stopped receiving public assistance between 2013 and 2016.
- It was found that individuals who stopped receiving assistance improved their social connections, engaging more with friends and clubs, while those who started receiving assistance did not experience changes in their existing relationships.
[Expectations and problems of the healthcare management support program for public assistance recipients].
Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi
January 2022
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the expectations and challenges faced by welfare offices regarding healthcare support measures for public assistance recipients, mandated since 2021.
- Researchers used self-administered questionnaires and interviews with 16 welfare offices to assess staff expectations and difficulties, specifically related to the healthcare management support program.
- Findings indicate a need for improved communication and coordination among government levels, as well as clearer guidelines, resources, and financial support to enhance the program's effectiveness.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates factors affecting dental care usage among public assistance recipients in Japan, highlighting that both income and other non-financial barriers influence their dental health needs.
- - A sample of nearly 4,500 public assistance recipients was analyzed over a year, revealing that younger recipients, females, immigrants, and those with mental disabilities had notably higher dental care utilization rates.
- - The findings expose significant sociodemographic disparities in accessing dental care, indicating the need for targeted interventions beyond financial support to improve oral health among vulnerable populations.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how single-parent households receiving public assistance in Japan affect children's health, especially since these families often face food insecurity and stress.
- Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study involving children aged 15 or younger in public assistance, analyzing their health outcomes related to various diseases over a year.
- Findings reveal that children from single-parent homes have a significantly higher prevalence of health issues like asthma, allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, and dental problems compared to those in two-parent households.
Article Synopsis
- This study examined characteristics linked to frequent outpatient visits among public assistance recipients in Japan, using data from two municipal databases and medical claims.
- The research involved a retrospective cohort design, analyzing a total of 6016 adults on public assistance in 2016.
- Findings indicated that social isolation (individuals living alone) and the type of healthcare provider (private clinics) were associated with high rates of outpatient attendance, suggesting potential areas for intervention.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the non-financial social determinants of diabetes among individuals receiving public assistance in Japan, focusing on factors like social isolation and employment status.
- A retrospective cohort analysis included a total of 5,717 public assistance recipients, showing that unemployment and living alone were slightly linked to a higher risk of diabetes diagnosis in younger individuals.
- The findings suggest the need for comprehensive support systems that address both financial and social challenges to help prevent diabetes in impoverished populations.
[Development of livelihood difficulties assessment scales for clinicians].
Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi
September 2020
Article Synopsis
- Poverty is identified as a major social determinant of health, characterized by multidimensional issues like material deprivation, financial struggles, and social isolation.
- The study aimed to create brief screening tools to assess these livelihood difficulties among patients in Japanese health care settings, using survey data from 265 respondents across five hospitals.
- The results led to the development of two scales focused on financial difficulties and social isolation, demonstrating good validity and reliability, with a brief tool created consisting of two questions from each scale for quick assessments.
Article Synopsis
- * Results showed that while patients receiving IVIgG were generally more severely ill and had higher ICU mortality, the overall in-hospital mortality rates were similar between those treated with IVIgG and those who were not.
- * The final analysis indicated that IVIgG administration did not significantly influence ICU or in-hospital mortality, suggesting it may not be an effective adjunctive treatment for sepsis in this context.
Article Synopsis
- Supplemental doses of antithrombin (AT) are commonly used in Japan to treat sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), but the evidence supporting their effectiveness is limited.
- A large retrospective study analyzed data from 3,195 patients, finding a statistically significant association between AT supplementation and lower in-hospital mortality rates for patients with DIC, although further analyses questioned the strength of this link.
- The study concluded that AT supplementation may help reduce mortality in sepsis-induced DIC, but the evidence is not definitive, and while patients needing AT had more transfusions, they did not experience increased severe bleeding complications.