Evaluation of depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum by examining depressive symptoms and self-harm ideation during the early postpartum period: Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum, using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) total score and its subitem regarding self-harm ideation (SHI) at 1 month postpartum.

Methods: A sample of 12,358 postpartum women answered the EPDS and questionaries at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum longitudinally.

Results: For participants with postpartum depression (PPD; EPDS total score ≥9) and SHI (SHI sub-score ≥1) at 1 month postpartum, the risk of depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] at 6 and 12 months postpartum: 20.

Identification of risk loci for postpartum depression in a genome-wide association study.

Aim: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of postpartum depression (PPD) based on accumulated cohorts with multiple ethnic backgrounds have failed to identify significantly associated loci. Herein, we conducted a GWAS of Japanese perinatal women along with detailed confounding information to uncover PPD-associated loci.

Methods: The first and second cohorts (n = 9260 and n = 8582 perinatal women enrolled in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project) and the third cohort (n = 997), recruited at Nagoya University, underwent genotyping.

Association between exposure to atypical antipsychotics during pregnancy and risk of miscarriage.

Objective: To evaluate the association between exposure to atypical antipsychotics during pregnancy and risk of miscarriage.

Material And Methods: This nested case-control study used a large Japanese administrative database. Pregnancy onset and outcomes were estimated using previously reported algorithms, classifying cases as women becoming pregnant between 2013 and 2022 and ending in a miscarriage.

Soil volatilomics uncovers tight linkage between soybean presence and soil omics profiles in agricultural fields.

Securing a stable food supply and achieving sustainable agricultural production are essential for mitigating future food insecurity. Soil metabolomics is a promising tool for capturing soil status, which is a critical issue for future sustainable food security. This study aims to provide deeper insights into the status of soybean-grown fields under varying soil conditions over three years by employing comprehensive soil volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling, also known as soil volatilomics.

Combination of taking neuropsychiatric medications and psychological distress in pregnant women, with behavioral problems in children at 2 years of age: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Aim: To examine the association of the combination of taking neuropsychiatric medications from the onset of pregnancy to mid-pregnancy and maternal psychological distress at mid-pregnancy, with children's behavioral problems.

Methods: Neuropsychiatric medication use from the onset of pregnancy to mid-pregnancy was defined by the self-reported name of the neuropsychiatric medication in the questionnaire in early and mid-pregnancy. Maternal psychological distress was defined by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) ≥13 on the questionnaire in mid-pregnancy.

Triple-drug combination therapy versus six-month proton pump inhibitor monotherapy in non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter eradication, and hyperacid environment preference of Helicobacter suis: a clinical study.

Background: At present, eradication regimens for non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter (NHPH) have not been established yet. We investigated effectiveness of the standard triple-drug combination therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication and of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) monotherapy in eradication of NHPH.

Methods: Subjects were the patients who were diagnosed with NHPH-infected gastritis based on microscopic findings, helical-shaped organisms obviously larger than Helicobacter pylori, in the gastric mucosal specimens using Giemsa staining at Kenwakai Hospital between November 2010 and September 2021, whose NHPH species were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of urease genes in endoscopically-biopsied samples, and who consented to NHPH eradication with either the triple-drug combination therapy for one week or a PPI monotherapy for six months.

Four cases of non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter-infected gastritis with duodenal spiral bacilli.

Background: Non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter (NHPH) is rarely detected in duodenal mucosa due to its preference for slightly acidic environments. Here, we report four cases of NHPH-infected gastritis with duodenal spiral bacilli, potentially NHPH, indicating the possibility of duodenal mucosal infection.

Case Presentation: In every case, gastric mucosa showed endoscopic findings characteristic of NHPH-infected gastritis, and a mucosal biopsy was taken from the duodenal bulb; spiral bacilli were identified under microscopy using Giemsa staining.

Cadmium accumulation dynamics in the rice endosperm during grain filling revealed by autoradiography.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the environmental pollutants contaminated in our food. Several previous reports showed that rice polishing cannot be efficient to reduce Cd content in white rice, implying the characteristic Cd distribution in rice grain. However, Cd distribution has not been fully elucidated so far.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease criteria may underestimate the number of lean female nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients with significant liver fibrosis.

Aim: It remains unclear whether the newly defined concept of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) appropriately includes patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with significant liver fibrosis.

Methods: A total of 4112 patients in whom nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed by ultrasonography during medical checkups were enrolled. We defined a fibrosis-4 index ≥1.

Uterine perforation during uterine repositioning on nonpuerperal uterine inversion by delivery of a large fibroid: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Transvaginal uterine restoration of nonpuerperal uterine inversion is difficult; there are risks of heavy bleeding and uterine perforation. In such cases, total hysterectomy and transfusion are inevitable.

Abstract: A 47-year-old woman with profuse genital bleeding, diagnosed with nonpuerperal uterine inversion caused by a uterine fibroma, underwent emergency surgery.

Phosphate starvation response precedes abscisic acid response under progressive mild drought in plants.

Drought severely damages crop production, even under conditions so mild that the leaves show no signs of wilting. However, it is unclear how field-grown plants respond to mild drought. Here, we show through six years of field trials that ridges are a useful experimental tool to mimic mild drought stress in the field.

Maternal social isolation in the perinatal period and early childhood development: the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Purpose: Studies examining the associations between maternal social relationships and early childhood development have mainly focused on social relationships after childbirth. We aimed to prospectively examine the associations between the transition of maternal social isolation from the prenatal to postnatal period and early childhood development.

Methods: We analyzed data for 6692 mother-child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Association between low levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines during pregnancy and postpartum depression.

Aim: Previous studies based on a relatively limited number of subjects have indicated potential associations between plasma cytokine concentrations in perinatal women and postpartum depression (PPD). This report aimed to examine alterations in cytokine levels during pregnancy and after delivery by measuring nine cytokines in prenatal and postnatal plasma samples in a large cohort.

Methods: A nested, case-control study was conducted using plasma samples from 247 women with PPD (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: EPDS ≥9) and 243 age-matched control (EPDS ≤2) women from among perinatal women who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank three-generation cohort.

Maternal social isolation and behavioral problems in preschool children: the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

It is essential to clarify factors associated with mental health and behavioral problems in early childhood, because children are critical stages of life for mental health. We aimed to prospectively examine the associations between maternal social isolation and behavioral problems in preschool children. We analyzed data from 5842 mother-child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Maternal postnatal bonding disorder and developmental delays in children: the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Although there is some evidence regarding an association between maternal bonding disorder and child development, studies have mainly focused on development during the period of infancy. We aimed to examine the associations between maternal postnatal bonding disorder and developmental delays in children beyond 2 years of age. We analyzed data from 8380 mother-child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Awareness of Infectious Disease Screening During Early Pregnancy and Knowledge About its Vertical Transmission in Japan: A Report from the Pregnant Women Health Initiative.

Objectives: We aimed to clarify the accuracy of pregnant women's knowledge and understanding regarding infectious disease screening in early pregnancy and clarify the roles that should be played by health care providers in promoting the health of pregnant women and their children.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 25 hospitals across Japan from May 2018 to September 2019. We compared the agreement rates regarding screening results for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1), and cervical cytology in the medical records and understanding of their results by pregnant women.

Association between maternal psychological distress and children's neurodevelopment in offspring aged 4 years in Japan: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Aim: An association between maternal psychological distress and children's development has been reported, but  reports from Japan are limited. This study aimed to examine the association of maternal psychological distress with children's neurodevelopment in Japan.

Methods: The study assessed data of 7646 mother-infant pairs in the Japanese population.

Mutations in RZF1, a zinc-finger protein, reduce magnesium uptake in roots and translocation to shoots in rice.

Magnesium (Mg) homeostasis is critical for maintaining many biological processes, but little information is available to comprehend the molecular mechanisms regulating Mg concentration in rice (Oryza sativa). To make up for the lack of information, we aimed to identify mutants defective in Mg homeostasis through a forward genetic approach. As a result of the screening of 2,825 M2 seedlings mutated by ion-beam irradiation, we found a rice mutant that showed reduced Mg content in leaves and slightly increased Mg content in roots.

Maternal postnatal bonding disorder and emotional/behavioral problems in preschool children: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Background: Although there is evidence that maternal perinatal mental disorders are associated with emotional/behavioral problems in children, the long-term impacts of postnatal bonding disorder remain unclear. We aimed to examine the associations between maternal postnatal bonding disorder and emotional/behavioral problems in preschool children.

Methods: We analyzed data from 7220 mother-child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Plasma metabolic disturbances during pregnancy and postpartum in women with depression.

Examining plasma metabolic profiling during pregnancy and postpartum could help clinicians understand the risk factors for postpartum depression (PPD) development. This analysis targeted paired plasma metabolites in mid-late gestational and 1 month postpartum periods in women with (n = 209) or without (n = 222) PPD. Gas chromatogram-mass spectrometry was used to analyze plasma metabolites at these two time points.

Association of maternal psychological distress and the use of childcare facilities with children's behavioral problems: the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Background: Childcare facilities are a factor that lowers the established association of mother's postnatal psychiatric symptoms with children's behavioral problems. However, no studies have considered the prenatal psychiatric symptoms yet. This study examined whether the use of childcare facilities moderates the association of maternal psychological distress in early pregnancy and at two years postpartum with behavioral problems in children aged four years.

Social isolation and insomnia among pregnant women in Japan: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of insomnia and examine the association between social isolation and insomnia among pregnant women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was part of the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study from 2013 to 2017. Pregnant women were recruited at obstetric clinics and hospitals in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.