Effect of gamma irradiation on soybean allergen levels.

The levels of food allergens in gamma-irradiated soybean (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 20, and 30 kGy) were investigated by immunoblotting and ELISA, using allergen-specific antibodies and patient serum.

Self-reported infertility among male and female veterans serving during Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Background: Infertility is associated with psychosocial distress and is a growing public health concern. Our objective was to report the prevalence of lifetime history of infertility among men and women Veterans.

Methods: We used data from the U.

Association of metabolic syndrome with atypical features of depression in Japanese people.

Aim: It has been controversial whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with depression. We aimed to clarify the correlation between MetS and depression, considering atypical features of depression.

Methods: Participants were 1011 Japanese men aged 20-59 years.

Cancer mortality in Chinese chrysotile asbestos miners: exposure-response relationships.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the relationship of mortality from lung cancer and other selected causes to asbestos exposure levels.

Methods: A cohort of 1539 male workers from a chrysotile mine in China was followed for 26 years. Data on vital status, occupation and smoking were collected from the mine records and individual contacts.

Factors influencing organizational adoption and implementation of clinical genetic services.

Purpose: We sought to identify characteristics of genetic services that facilitate or hinder adoption.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured key informant interviews in five clinical specialties (primary care, medical oncology, neurology, cardiology, pathology/laboratory medicine) within 13 Veterans Administration facilities.

Results: Genetic services (defined as genetic testing and consultation) were not typically characterized by informants (n = 64) as advantageous for their facilities or their patients; compatible with organizational norms of low cost and high clinical impact; or applicable to patient populations or norms of clinical care.

Association between facility characteristics and the process of care delivered to patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Available data suggest problems in the process of care provided to patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). However, the solutions to these problems are less obvious. Healthcare facility factors are potentially modifiable and may enhance process quality in HCV treatment.

Decreasing trends of suspended particulate matter and PM2.5 concentrations in Tokyo, 1990-2010.

In Tokyo, the annual average suspended particulate matter (SPM) and PM2.5 concentrations have decreased in the past two decades. The present study quantitatively evaluated these decreasing trends using data from air-pollution monitoring stations.

Sexual victimization, health status, and VA healthcare utilization among lesbian and bisexual OEF/OIF veterans.

Background: Many lesbian and bisexual (LB) women veterans may have been targets of victimization in the military based on their gender and presumed sexual orientation, and yet little is known regarding the health or mental health of LB veterans, nor the degree to which they feel comfortable receiving care in the VA.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of mental health and gender-specific conditions, VA healthcare satisfaction and trauma exposure among LB veterans receiving VA care compared with heterosexually-identified women veterans receiving.

Design: Prospective cohort study of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) women veterans at two large VA facilities.

VA location and structural factors associated with on-site availability of reproductive health services.

Introduction: With the increasing number of women Veterans enrolling in the Veterans Health Administration (VA), there is growing demand for reproductive health services. Little is known regarding the on-site availability of reproductive health services at VA and how this varies by site location and type.

Objective: To describe the on-site availability of hormonal contraception, intrauterine device (IUD) placement, infertility evaluation or treatment, and prenatal care by site location and type; the characteristics of sites providing these services; and to determine whether, within this context, site location and type is associated with on-site availability of these reproductive health services.

An inventory of VHA emergency departments' resources and processes for caring for women.

Background: More women are using Veterans' Health Administration (VHA) Emergency Departments (EDs), yet VHA ED capacities to meet the needs of women are unknown.

Objective: We assessed VHA ED resources and processes for conditions specific to, or more common in, women Veterans.

Design/subjects: Cross-sectional questionnaire of the census of VHA ED directors

Main Measures: Resources and processes in place for gynecologic, obstetric, sexual assault and mental health care, as well as patient privacy features, stratified by ED characteristics.

Women veterans' healthcare delivery preferences and use by military service era: findings from the National Survey of Women Veterans.

Background: The number of women Veterans (WVs) utilizing the Veterans Health Administration (VA) has doubled over the past decade, heightening the importance of understanding their healthcare delivery preferences and utilization patterns. Other studies have identified healthcare issues and behaviors of WVs in specific military service eras (e.g.

Racial/ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk factors among women veterans.

Background: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, accounting for 24.5 % of all deaths among women. Earlier research has demonstrated racial/ethnic differences in prevalence of cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors.

A cancer genetics toolkit improves access to genetic services through documentation and use of the family history by primary-care clinicians.

Purpose: We developed, implemented, and evaluated a multicomponent cancer genetics toolkit designed to improve recognition and appropriate referral of individuals at risk for hereditary cancer syndromes.

Methods: We evaluated toolkit implementation in the women's clinics at a large Veterans Administration medical center using mixed methods, including pre-post semistructured interviews, clinician surveys, and chart reviews, and during implementation, monthly tracking of genetic consultation requests and use of a reminder in the electronic health record. We randomly sampled 10% of progress notes 6 months before (n = 139) and 18 months during implementation (n = 677).

Trends in smoking and lung cancer mortality in Japan, by birth cohort, 1949-2010.

Objective: To determine smoking trends in Japan in comparison with lung cancer mortality.

Methods: Age-specific smoking prevalence among cohorts born between 1897 and 1985 were determined for the period 1949-2010. The percentages of the cohorts born between 1893 and 1979 who initiated smoking early (e.

Hypoallergenicity and immunological characterization of enzyme-treated royal jelly from Apis mellifera.

Royal jelly (RJ), the exclusive food for queen bees, is taken as a dietary supplement because it is highly rich in nutrients. However, RJ is known to induce an anaphylactic response in some individuals. We evaluated in the present study the hypoallergenicity of alkaline protease-treated RJ in vitro and in vivo.

Medical Home Features of VHA Primary Care Clinics and Avoidable Hospitalizations.

Background: As the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) reorganizes providers into the patient-centered medical home, questions remain whether this model of care can demonstrate improved patient outcomes and cost savings.

Objective: We measured adoption of medical home features by VHA primary care clinics prior to widespread implementation of the patient-centered medical home and examined if they were associated with lower risk and costs of potentially avoidable hospitalizations.

Design: Secondary patient data was linked to clinic administrative and survey data.

PTSD risk and mental health care engagement in a multi-war era community sample of women veterans.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in women veterans (WVs), and associated with significant co-morbidity. Effective treatment is available; however, PTSD is often unrecognized.

Objectives: Identify PTSD prevalence and mental healthcare (MHC) use in a representative national WV sample.

Wide clinic-level variation in adherence to oral diabetes medications in the VA.

Background: While there has been extensive research into patient-specific predictors of medication adherence and patient-specific interventions to improve adherence, there has been little examination of variation in clinic-level medication adherence.

Objective: We examined the clinic-level variation of oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA) medication adherence among patients with diabetes treated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care clinics. We hypothesized that there would be systematic variation in clinic-level adherence measures, and that adherence within organizationally-affiliated clinics, such as those sharing local management and support, would be more highly correlated than adherence between unaffiliated clinics.

Determinants of changes in income-related health inequalities among working-age adults in Japan, 1986-2007: time-trend study.

This study aimed to quantify the contributions of the factors that have influenced changes in income-related health inequalities. We used data from a nationally representative sample of Japanese men and women aged 20-59 years who participated in eight repeated cross-sectional surveys between 1986 and 2007. A concentration index (CI) was used to measure income-related inequalities in self-rated health (SRH) and decomposed into contributing factors.

Factors associated with the use of home-visit nursing services covered by the long-term care insurance in rural Japan: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In Japan, there is a large increase in the number of elderly persons who potentially need home-visit nursing services (VNS). However, the number of persons using the VNS has increased only little in comparison to the number of individuals who use home social services, which are also covered by the Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) system. This cross-sectional study investigated the predictors of the VNS used under the LTCI system in Japan.

Factors that allow elderly individuals to stay at home with their families using the Japanese long-term care insurance system.

Aim: This study examined the factors that allow elderly individuals to stay at home continuously by considering the roles of the family caregiver, the use of services and characteristics of the elderly individual.

Methods: We analyzed 432 elderly individuals living at home with family. The outcome was that participants remained at home continuously over a 24-month period.