Association between multimorbidity and utilization of medical and long-term care among older adults in a rural mountainous area in Japan.

Objective: With the accelerated population aging, multimorbidity has become an important healthcare issue. However, few studies have examined multimorbidity and its impact on the use of medical and long-term care services in Japan. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between multimorbidity and the use of medical and long-term care services among older adults living in the depopulated mountainous areas of Japan.

Postoperative Pregnancy Outcomes Following Laparoscopic Surgical Management in Women with Stage III/IV Endometriosis: A Single-Center Follow-Up Study.

Objectives: The effects of laparoscopic surgical management in women with stage III/IV endometriosis remain controversial. The standard extent of resection for stage III/IV endometriosis with deep endometriosis to treat endometriosis-associated infertility is debatable. This study aimed to assess the postoperative pregnancy outcomes following a routine surgical intervention for stage III/IV endometriosis patients.

Relationship between serum sodium level at dialysis initiation and all-cause mortality.

Background: Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder in patients with chronic kidney disease. In addition, hyponatremia is associated with mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease, including those on dialysis. However, few studies have examined this relationship in patients with incident dialysis.

Did Depression, Schizophrenia, and Alcohol Use Increase During the COVID-19 Pandemic Even in Low-Risk Regions? An Analysis of the 2017-2020 National Health Insurance Data in Tottori Prefecture.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic increased the number of medical consultations for depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol dependence in low-risk regions.

Methods: National Health Insurance enrolments from March 2017 to March 2021 in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, where there were minimal COVID-19 cases in 2020, were included in this study. The all-cause mortality and proportion of National Health Insurance members with depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol dependence in the financial years (FY) 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 were calculated.

Decrease in activated regulatory T cell populations in the endometrium during ovulation in endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a serious disorder that can lead to infertility. The immune system, particularly regulatory T cells (Tregs), is involved in endometriosis and infertility; however, endometriosis-associated infertility is poorly understood. Tregs, which have an immunosuppressive function, fluctuate during the menstrual cycle.

Alcohol's harm to others in Japan: Different rates for different relationships to the drinker in a 2018 national survey.

Introduction: No study in Japan has investigated alcohol's harm to others (AHTO). Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the situation of AHTO in Japan and examine the factors associated with it based on the relationship with the drinker.

Methods: A cross-sectional population-based survey was performed in 2018 with 2121 men and 2507 women.

Changes in the proportion of regulatory T cell subpopulations during menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.

Problem: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play important roles in diseases occurring in women of reproductive age and pregnancy. Tregs are functionally heterogeneous and can be divided into activated Tregs (aTregs), resting Tregs (rTregs), and non-suppressive Tregs (non-Tregs). The purpose of this study is to investigate the change of Treg subpopulations during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.

Effectiveness of nurse-delivered screening and brief alcohol intervention in the workplace: A randomized controlled trial at five Japan-based companies.

Background: Excessive alcohol use is a leading cause of global morbidity and premature mortality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of two types of nurse-delivered interventions to reduce excessive alcohol consumption among screened participants using the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) in the workplace.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial involving AUDIT-positive employees of five Japan-based companies was conducted.

Factors associated with aortic valve stenosis in Japanese patients with end-stage kidney disease.

Background: Aortic valve stenosis (AS) has a high prevalence and poor prognosis in patients who receive maintenance dialysis. However, few large-scale observational studies in Japan have investigated patients with AS who underwent dialysis. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and factors associated with AS in Japanese patients who underwent dialysis.

Abstaining from annual health check-ups is a predictor of advanced cancer diagnosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Cancer prevention is a crucial challenge in preventive medicine. Several studies have suggested that voluntary health check-ups and recommendations from health professionals are associated with increased participation in cancer screening. In Japan, it is recommended that individuals aged 40-74 years should undergo annual health check-ups; however, the compliance to this recommendation is approximately <50%.

Effectiveness of Screening and Brief Alcohol Intervention at the Workplace: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial at Five Japan-Based Companies.

Background: Despite evidence regarding the effectiveness of screening and brief interventions for excessive alcohol use in primary care, these tools are not a part of routine practice. It has been suggested that using these tools at the workplace may be critical to alcohol-associated harm; however, evidence for this claim is unclear. The aim of this article is to develop a study protocol which evaluates the effect of brief alcohol intervention at the workplace to reduce harmful alcohol drinking.

Reduced innate lymphoid cells in the endometrium of women with endometriosis.

Problem: Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), a recently discovered family of innate immune cells, are responsible for the early immune response, and control both innate and adapted immune system via cytokine secretion. The role of ILCs in endometriosis has not been investigated; therefore, here, we aimed to investigate how the proportion of ILCs changes in endometriosis.

Method Of Study: The percentage of each ILC group in CD45 cells was examined in the peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid, endometrium, and ovarian endometrioma obtained from women with and without endometriosis (ERB-C-1216) using flow cytometry.

Trends in the co-use of alcohol and tobacco among Japanese adolescents: periodical nationwide cross-sectional surveys 1996-2017.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess trends in the prevalence of alcohol use depending on smoking behaviours and that of smoking depending on drinking behaviours among Japanese adolescents.

Design: This was a retrospective study using Japanese school-based nationwide surveys conducted between 1996 and 2017.

Setting: Surveyed schools, both junior and senior high schools, considered representative of the entire Japanese population, were sampled randomly.

Trends and differences in alcohol-related mortality rates by gender and by prefectures in Japan between 1995 and 2016.

Background: This study aimed to identify increases in 100 % alcohol-related death (ARD) and any differences among prefectures between 1995-2016.

Methods: Data from the national death registry on 100 % ARDs between 1995-2016 were extracted. Age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of 100 % ARD by year, gender, and gender ratio were calculated.

Why Are COVID-19 Mortality Rates by Country or Region So Different?: An Ecologic Study of Factors Associated with Mortality from Novel Coronavirus Infections by Country.

Background: In order to find out the factors associated with the large disparities in COVID-19 mortality rates by country, we conducted an ecological study by linking existing statistics. In Japan, a large variation was observed in between geographical areas when assessing mortality. We performed a regional correlation analysis to find factors related to regional mortality.

Heat-not-burn tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and combustible cigarette use among Japanese adolescents: a nationwide population survey 2017.

Background: From among the global public health concerns, smoking remains one of the most crucial challenges. Especially for adolescents, the increase in the use of electronic cigarettes is controversial, as its use may lead to established smoking. In Japan, where a unique tobacco regulation system exists, the heat-not-burn tobacco market has been growing.

Comparing Factors Related to Any Conventional Cigarette Smokers, Exclusive New Alternative Product Users, and Non-Users among Japanese Youth: A Nationwide Survey.

The impact of heated-tobacco-products (HTPs) and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) on youth is a controversial public health issue, as it is unknown whether alternative products result in more youth using such products or smoking. In Japan, e-cigarettes with nicotine are prohibited, but e-cigarettes without nicotine are available. HTPs are marketed as tobacco products.

Heated Tobacco Product Smokers in Japan Identified by a Population-Based Survey.

Background: In this study, we aim to estimate the prevalence of heated tobacco product (HTP) smokers 3 years after the launch of HTPs in Japan.

Methods: Our study, performed in February 2018 in Japan, had a cross-sectional population-based design. A total of 4,628 adult participants (2,121 men and 2,507 women) were randomly sampled from all regions of Japan.

Relationship Between Patterns in Antihypertensive Drugs Medication and Mortality in Incident Dialysis Patients: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Hypertension is common in patients with chronic kidney disease. Whether blood pressure management before dialysis initiation influences prognosis during maintenance dialysis remains unclear. Hence, we surveyed the status of antihypertensive drug use in incident dialysis patients.