Does change of residence affect pollinosis? A study of Japanese university students

The effects of change of residence on pollinosis symptoms remain unclear. We investigated the effects of geographical change of residence on pollinosis symptoms among university freshmen. All freshmen (n = 2142) entering Shinshu University in 2011 completed self-administered questionnaires. Associations between history of pollinosis and environmental factors were assessed. Subjects were classified into three groups according to pollen count at previous residences (stationary, low pollen, and high pollen). Pollinosis both before and after relocation were compared among and within the groups. Of the 1558 subjects, 540 (34.7%) developed pollinosis before and 483 (31.0%) after entering university. The rates of pre- and post-university entrance pollinosis were 40.0 and 32.5% in the high pollen group (P < 0.001) but were similar in the other two groups. Pollinosis symptoms decreased among students that moved from high to low pollen areas, indicating that pollinosis was affected by geographic environmental factors.ArticleINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH. 23(5):380-391 (2013)journal articl

Effects of personality on overtime work: a cross-sectional pilot study among Japanese white-collar workers

BACKGROUND: As detailed associations between personality and long work hours are unclear, we assessed associations between personality dimensions and overtime work among Japanese white-collar workers. / METHODS: From records of hours worked over 12 months by 267 office workers in an organization within the service industry, average overtime work hours per month and occurrence of excessive overtime was determined for each worker. Excessive overtime was defined as >??45 overtime work hours per month for at least one month. Responses to a questionnaire assessing socio-demographic and workplace-related factors and the Big Five personality test were analyzed. Associations between personality factors and overtime work were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. / RESULTS: Low Extraversion was associated with excessive overtime work (OR 2.02, 95%CI 1.02?-?4.02, P?=??0.04). / CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that workers with low Extraversion can't share work when busy to avoid excessive overtime. Personality factors should be considered in studies evaluating work time. Moreover, strengthening communication among workers with low Extraversion may reduce excessive overtime work and associated health problems.ArticleBMC RESEARCH NOTES. 7:180 (2014)journal articl

Role of household factors in parental attitudes to pandemic influenza-related school closure in Japan: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: To investigate how household background factors affect parental behavior during pandemic influenza-related school closures, we determined associations between such factors and three parental attitudes: "caring for the child," "taking leave from work," and "permitting out-of-home activities." METHODS: A hypothetical pandemic influenza situation was presented and a questionnaire survey among households of 2146 schoolchildren from 6 schools was conducted. Odds ratios of background factors were estimated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: Responses pertaining to 1510 children indicated that junior high school (OR = 0.11), both parents working (OR = 0.03), and family including grandparent(s) or other relatives (OR = 7.50) were factors associated with "caring for the child," and elementary school (OR = 2.28), special education school (OR = 3.18), and both parents working (OR = 5.74) were associated with "taking leave from work." Having an older sibling (OR = 0.74) and awareness of the technical term for school closure (OR = 0.73) were factors associated with "permitting out-of-home activities." CONCLUSION: Not only work status but also other household factors may be associated with parental behaviors during pandemic influenza-related school closures.ArticleBMC Public Health. 14:1089 (2014)journal articl

How the H1N1 influenza epidemic spread among university students in Japan: Experience from Shinshu University

Background: A worldwide outbreak of influenza A/H1N1 occurred in 2009. Little information is available regarding how the epidemic spread among young people, who composed the majority of individuals infected with this virus. We assessed the route of transmission of H1N1 among university students at Shinshu University, Japan. Methods: A total of 11,424 students were monitored between August 2009 and March 2010, and those who were diagnosed with confirmed, probable, or suspected H1N1 at a hospital or clinic were registered based on self-report to the university. Data including date of onset and suspected infection route were collected from the affected patients. Results: Of the 11,424 students, 1,016 (8.9%) were infected with H1N1. In most infected students, the suspected transmission route was associated with club activity, followed by close contact with friends and through lectures or laboratory work. After suspension of activity by clubs with more than 2 infected members, the number of infected individuals decreased. Conclusion: H1N1 influenza spread in the university through specific routes, including club activity, close contact with friends, and lectures or laboratory work. During future outbreaks of influenza, interventions to reduce transmission through these routes may be effective infection control strategies in university students.ArticleAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL. 40(3):218-220 (2012)journal articl

Evaluation of factors affecting variations in influenza A/H1N1 history in university students, Japan

Although the natural history of H1N1 has been found to vary among patients, little is known about the factors that affect these variations. Infected patients with an extended infection history may shed virus longer and spread infection. To further clarify these variations, we evaluated the natural history of H1N1 infection in 324 university students using a descriptive epidemiological method and analyzed factors affecting the natural history of infection. The median times from infection to fever development and from fever development to cure were 2 days (range 0?8 days) and 5 days (range 1?12 days), respectively, and the median time not attending classes was 5 days (range, 1?13 days). Variations in H1N1 natural history were associated with both environmental and individual factors, including route of infection, grade, gender, epidemic period, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms and headache. Steps affecting these factors may help control variations in H1N1 natural history and may enhance infection control measures.ArticleJOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY. 19(4):665-672 (2013)journal articl

Evaluation of the spread of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 among Japanese university students

online first / Published online: 4 July 2014The pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus is commonly known to affect younger individuals. Several epidemiological studies have clarified the epidemic features of university students in Japan. In this study, we reviewed these studies in Japan in comparison with reports from other countries. The average cumulative incidence rate among university students was 9.6 %, with the major symptoms being cough, sore throat, and rhinorrhea. These epidemiological features were similar between Japan and other countries. Attitudes and behaviors toward pandemic influenza control measures were different before and improved during and after the epidemic. These features were also similar to those in other countries. On the other hand, the epidemic spread through club activities or social events, and transmission was attenuated after temporary closure of such groups in Japan. This transmission pattern was inconsistent among countries, which may have been due to differences in lifestyle and cultural habits. Based on these results, infection control measures of pandemic influenza for university organizations in Japan should be considered.ArticleEnvironmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 19(5):315-321 (2014)journal articl

Combination Chemotherapy with Low-dose 5-FU, Cisplatin, and Gemcitabine for Gemcitabine-Refractory Pancreatic Cancer

Background : No single agent or combination therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer has been reported superior to single-agent GEM, and an effective second-line chemotherapy option is needed for patients who are resistant to first-line GEM therapy. Methods :We analyzed six patients who had disease progression following first-line gemcitabine therapy. Patients received second-line chemotherapy with low dose cisplatin, 5-fluorouracul or S-1,and gemcitabine every 21 days. Results : Two patients showed a partial response (33.3%) and two showed stable disease. Four patients (66.6%) showed a prolonged survival time with partial responses or stable disease.Median survival times were 7 and 11 months from the start of second-line therapy and the start of first-line gemcitabine therapy,respectively. In addition, all patients reported relief from pain and had a favorable performance status. The major toxicities of leucopenia, stomatitis, and diarrhea were found in one patient each.Conclusion : This second-line chemotherapy regimen is an effective option for patients with gemcitabineresistant pancreatic cancer.Article信州医学雑誌 57(6): 247-253(2009)journal articl

Association of Autoimmune Hepatitis with Src homology 2 adaptor protein 3 Gene Polymorphisms in Japanese Patients

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease characterized by an autoimmune reaction to hepatocytes. The Src homology 2 adaptor protein 3 (SH2B3) gene is a member of the SH2B family of adaptor proteins that has been implicated in the integration and regulation of multiple signaling events. SH2B3 is involved in cytokine signaling pathways and serves as a negative mediator of T-cell receptor signaling. Genome-wide association analyses in Caucasians have linked a missense mutation at rs3184504 in SH2B3 with AIH. Accordingly, four selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SH2B3 gene were genotyped in 158 patients with AIH, 327 patients with primary biliary cholangitis, 160 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis, and 325 healthy subjects of Japanese descent. Although the functional rs3184504 was non-polymorphic in 952 subjects, the frequency of the minor rs11065904 T allele was significantly decreased in AIH patients compared with healthy controls (odds ratio [OR] = 0.68; corrected P = 0.025). Haplotype 2 (rs2238154 A, rs11065904 T, and rs739496 G) was associated with resistance to AIH (OR 0.67, P = 0.021) as well as to autoimmune pancreatitis (OR = 0.70, P = 0.035). Our findings suggest that an SNP and haplotype in SH2B3 are associated with AIH.ArticleJournal of Human genetics. 62: 963-967. (2017)journal articl

Factors in glucocorticoid regimens associated with treatment response and relapses of IgG4-related disease: a multicentre study

Glucocorticoids (GC) are effective for treating IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD); however, relapse is often observed. We conducted a retrospective multicentre study to investigate risk factors in GC regimens associated with relapses of IgG4-RD. Data on 166 patients with definitive IgG4-RD diagnosis were collected from 12 institutions. Comprehensive surveillance of clinical backgrounds and GC regimens as well as multivariate analysis of factors associated with treatment responses and relapses was performed. To determine the initial maximal GC dose, the patients were stratified into three groups depending on the initial prednisolone (PSL) dosage: 0.7 mg/kg/day. The multivariate analysis extracted the disease duration and reduction speed of initial GC dose. Patients treated with initial GC 0.7 mg/kg/day of PSL showed higher relapse rates than those treated with 0.4–0.69 mg/kg/day. The relapse rates were significantly higher in patients with fast reduction of the initial dose (>0.4 mg/day) than in patients with slow reduction (<0.4 mg/day). To avoid relapse, 0.4–0.69 mg/kg/day of initial PSL with slow reduction speed (<0.4 mg/day) is needed in the early treatment of IgG4-RD

International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for Autoimmune Pancreatitis and Its Japanese Amendment Have Improved Diagnostic Ability over Existing Criteria

Objectives. The recent International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria (ICDC) for autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and its Japanese amendment developed by the Japanese Pancreas Society (JPS 2011) may have overcome the drawbacks of earlier criteria and achieved a higher diagnostic ability for AIP. The aim of the present study is to evaluate this possibility and identify the underlying causes of this change. Methods. We compared the diagnostic abilities of the ICDC and JPS 2011 with those of the Japanese diagnostic criteria 2006 (JPS 2006), Korean diagnostic criteria (Korean), Asian diagnostic criteria (Asian), and HISORt diagnostic criteria in 110 patients with AIP and 31 patients with malignant pancreatic cancer. Results. The ICDC achieved the highest diagnostic ability in terms of accuracy (95.0%), followed by JPS 2011 (92.9%), Korean (92.2%), HISORt (88.7%), Asian (87.2%), and JPS 2006 (85.1%). Nearly all criteria systems exhibited a high specificity of 100%, indicating that the enhanced diagnostic ability of the ICDC and JPS 2011 likely stemmed from increased sensitivity brought about by inclusion of diagnostic items requiring no endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. The diagnostic ability of JPS 2011 was nearly equivalent to that of the ICDC. Conclusions. The ICDC and JPS 2011 have improved diagnostic ability as compared with earlier criteria sets because of an increase in sensitivity.ArticleGASTROENTEROLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE. 2013:456965 (2013)journal articl