Hair zinc levels and psychosis risk among adolescents.

Recent meta-analyses have shown lower zinc and higher copper levels in the serum of people with schizophrenia than in healthy controls. However, the relationship between trace elements (TEs) and the pathophysiology of psychosis, including schizophrenia, remains unclear due to the antipsychotic effects on mineral levels. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between zinc and copper levels in hair and psychosis risk among drug-naïve adolescents.

Auditory Hallucinations and Self-Injurious Behavior in General Population Adolescents: Modeling Within-Person Effects in the Tokyo Teen Cohort.

Background And Hypotheses: A wealth of evidence suggests that adolescent psychotic experiences (PEs), and especially auditory hallucinations (AHs), are associated with an increased risk for self-injurious behavior (SIB). However, the directionality and specificity of this association are not well understood, and there are no published studies investigating within-person effects over time. The present study aimed to test whether AHs and SIB prospectively increase reciprocal risk at the individual level during early-to-middle adolescence.

Sex-based differences in the longitudinal association between autistic traits and positive psychotic experiences in adolescents: A population-based cohort study.

Previous reports have suggested a cross-sectional association between autistic traits and psychotic experiences (PEs) in adolescents. However, while both autistic traits and PEs show sex-related differences, no studies have directly assessed whether such differences exist in the longitudinal association between autistic traits and PEs. Using a population-based adolescent cohort sample (n = 3007), we tested whether the longitudinal association between autistic traits and positive PEs was affected by sex-based differences using regression analyses.

Self-Reported Maternal Parenting Stress From 9 m Is Longitudinally Associated With Child ADHD Symptoms at Age 12: Findings From a Population-Based Birth Cohort Study.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) develops in early childhood and carries lifelong impact, but early identification and intervention ensure optimal clinical outcomes. Prolonged or excessive parenting stress may be a response to infant behavioral differences antecedent to developmental disorders such as ADHD, and therefore represents a potentially valuable inclusion in routine early-life assessment. To investigate the feasibility of using routinely-collected self-reported maternal parenting stress as a risk marker for child ADHD, this study investigated the longitudinal association between maternal parenting stress from 1 to 36 months after childbirth and child ADHD in early adolescence.

Characteristics of sleep-disordered breathing in children with down syndrome - A comparison with typically developing children.

Background: Compared with typically developing control children (CC), children with Down syndrome (DS) frequently exhibit sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and unusual sleep postures (USPs). No studies have directly compared SDB-related signs and symptoms, SDB-related parameters, and USPs between children with DS and CC. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalences of SDB and USPs in children with DS and CC.

Psychotic experiences predict subsequent loneliness among adolescents: A population-based birth cohort study.

Background: Cross-sectional studies have suggested that the occurrence of psychotic experiences is associated with loneliness in the general adolescent population. However, there has been a scarcity of prospective longitudinal studies on this topic.

Methods: We investigated the longitudinal association between the presence of psychotic experiences and loneliness among adolescents using data from a population-based birth cohort study (Tokyo Teen Cohort; N = 3171).

The role of bullying victimization in the pathway between autistic traits and psychotic experiences in adolescence: Data from the Tokyo Teen Cohort study.

Autistic traits are associated with psychotic experiences in adolescence; however, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. Prior research indicates that bullying victimization increases the risk of psychotic experiences in general adolescent populations, and autistic youth are at higher risk of being bullied than their non-autistic peers. Using longitudinal data from general population adolescents aged 10-14 in the Tokyo Teen Cohort study, we tested the hypothesis that bullying is responsible for the association between autistic traits and psychotic experiences in adolescence.

Lower help-seeking intentions mediate subsequent depressive symptoms among adolescents with high autistic traits: a population-based cohort study.

Adolescents with high autistic traits are at increased risk of depression. Despite the importance of seeking help for early intervention, evidence on help-seeking intentions amongst this population is scarce. Using a population-based cohort in Japan, we examined adolescents' help-seeking intentions and preferences by the level of autistic traits and tested its mediating role on the association between high autistic traits and depressive symptoms.

Non-Fasting Hypertriglyceridemia as an Independent Risk Factor for Coronary In-Stent Restenosis after Primary Bare Metal Stent Implantation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

After a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), in-stent neoatherosclerosis may pose a risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR). To clarify whether non-fasting hypertriglyceridemia contributes to ISR, we examined the relationship between non-fasting hypertriglyceridemia (i.e.

Elaborate evaluation of serial changes in electrocardiograms of atrial septal defects after transcatheter closure for a better understanding of the recovery process.

Serial changes of electrocardiograms (ECG) could be used to assess their clinical features in atrial septal defects (ASD) after transcatheter closure together with other clinical parameters. We retrospectively studied 100 ASD patients who underwent transcatheter closure. Complications of persistent atrial fibrillation occurred in five ASD patients, and they were excluded.

Peripartum Management of Pregnant Women With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: The average maternal age at delivery, and thus the associated maternal risk are increasing including in women with congenital heart disease (CHD). A comprehensive management approach is therefore required for pregnant women with CHD. The present study aimed to investigate the factors determining peripartum safety in women with CHD.

Relationship between occlusal force and falls among community-dwelling elderly in Japan: a cross-sectional correlative study.

Background: Falls may cause serious health conditions among older population. Fall-related physical factors are thought to be associated with occlusal conditions. However, few studies examined the relationship between occlusal force and falls.

The Use of Electric Toilet Seats with Water Spray Is Efficacious in Maintaining Hand Hygiene in Experimental Model.

A simulation experiment was conducted to examine hand contamination from wiping the buttocks after the use and non-use of an electric toilet seat with water spray. A model of the buttocks was smeared with artificial diarrheal feces containing Serratia marcescens, and wiped by the participants wearing disposable gloves with 4 sheets of toilet paper after the use and non-use of the water spray of an electric toilet seat. Subsequently, the presence of S.

Three nights leg thermal therapy could improve sleep quality in patients with chronic heart failure.

Sleep quality is often impaired in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), which may worsen their quality of life and even prognosis. Leg thermal therapy (LTT), topical leg warming, has been shown to improve endothelial function, oxidative stress, and cardiac function in patients with HF. However, its short-term influence to sleep quality has not been evaluated in HF patients.

Effect of water bath temperature on physiological parameters and subjective sensation in older people.

Aim: In Japan, the incidence of water bathing-related cardiopulmonary accidents among older people is high in winter. The purpose of the present study was to investigate alterations in physiological characteristics and subjective thermal sensations of older people when bathing in a cool environment.

Methods: We assessed the skin temperature, rectal temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, body fluid loss (sweat and urine), and subjective thermal responses of 11 older healthy male and 10 young male volunteers throughout 42°C and 39°C bathing in a room at 20°C with 50% humidity.

Effects of chemotherapy on the health-related quality of life of Japanese lower rectal cancer patients after sphincter-saving surgery.

We examined the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of lower rectal cancer patients receiving sphincter-saving surgery (SSS). In all, 109 patients completed a questionnaire before surgery and 1, 6, and 12 months afterwards. In the chemotherapy group, physical and social functioning scores were significantly lower 12 months after surgery compared with the nonchemotherapy group.

A nationwide, cross-sectional survey on unusual sleep postures and sleep-disordered breathing-related symptoms in people with Down syndrome.

Background: People with Down syndrome (DS) often have sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Unusual sleep postures, such as leaning forward and sitting, are observed in people with DS. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence of unusual sleep postures and their relationships with SDB-related symptoms (SDB-RSs), such as snoring, witnessed apnoea, nocturnal awakening and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Falls After Ophthalmological Surgery Experience Among the Community-Dwelling Elderly in Japan.

Community-dwelling elderly are likely to fall even after ophthalmological surgery. To identify the association between falls and ophthalmological surgery and screening experiences among the community-dwelling elderly in Japan, a cross-sectional descriptive study examined 159 community-dwelling people aged ≥ 65 years about an extensive physical assessment, health status, experience of falls, and ophthalmic situations. In this city, the study identified an association between falls and both ophthalmological surgery experience and voluntary attendance at ophthalmic screening among the community-dwelling elderly.

Cardiac and respiratory effects of deep regional hyperthermia using an 8 MHz radiofrequency-capacitive device on patients with cancer.

Purpose: Hyperthermia (HT), an adjuvant therapy for variable cancers, may cause physiological changes in the patients, which may lead to cardiovascular problems. Among various HT treatments, the physiological effects of deep regional HT are still unclear. We examined the physiological alterations throughout deep regional HT to improve the HT safety.

Job control, work-family balance and nurses' intention to leave their profession and organization: A comparative cross-sectional survey.

Background: The shortage of nurses is a problem in many countries. In Japan, the distribution of nurses across different care settings is uneven: the shortage of nurses in home healthcare and nursing homes is more serious than in hospitals. Earlier research has identified numerous factors affecting nurses' intention to leave work (e.

Obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms in Japanese people with Down syndrome.

This study evaluated the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms and assessed the relationship with obesity or unusual sleep postures in Down syndrome patients in Japan. We obtained the demographic characteristics, sleep postures, and obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms experienced by 90 people as reported by their caregivers. Although 71% reported snoring and 59% arousals, obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms were not significantly different between obese and non-obese participants.

A new approach for observing cerebral cisterns and ventricles via a percutaneous lumbosacral route by using fine, flexible fiberscopes.

Object: To establish a new method for the diagnosis of central nervous system diseases, the authors visualized the cerebral cisterns and ventricles via a percutaneous lumbosacral route by using newly developed fine, flexible fiberscopes.

Methods: Fine, flexible fiberscopes, 0.9 and 1.

Comparison of the body fluid levels in healthy individuals and those with schizophrenia in Japan: using the bioelectrical impedance method.

Polydipsia and water intoxication have been found to be care problems in people with schizophrenia in many countries. This Japanese study measured the body fluid distribution and body fat of 80 males with long standing schizophrenia and compared this to that of 64 healthy males, using bioelectrical impedance spectrum analysis (BIS). Participants with schizophrenia exhibited significantly lower percentages of intracellular fluid and total body fluid, and significantly higher percentages of fat.

Pain relief by transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation with bidirectional modulated sine waves in patients with chronic back pain: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study.

Objectives.  Newly developed bidirectional modulated sine waves (BMW) might provide some derived benefit to patients with low back pain. Pain relief by transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) with BMWs was tested.