Regression analysis of trends in mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan, 1972-2001

Background In Japan, higher mortality rates from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been observed than in any other industrialized country and the reported numbers of deaths due to HCC have increased significantly in recent years. We assessed whether there was a real increase in mortality from HCC and which factors contributed to the recent increasing trends of the number of deaths from HCC. Methods Poisson regression models were used to analyse panel data for the period 1972-2001. Results In both sexes, age-standardized mortality rates from HCC increased significantly over the past three decades. Among males the annual percentage increase in age-adjusted mortality rates was approximately 1-3% during the period 1972-96. On the other hand, female mortality trends were less clear. The estimated birth cohort effects suggested that there was a peak in the mortality risk among the cohorts born during the period 1927-36, which corresponded to those aged between 50-64 years during the period 1987-96. This was the period when a large increase of both age-specific mortality rates among older age groups and age-standardized mortality rates were observed particularly among males. Conclusions This study shows that an upward trend of mortality from HCC in Japan was primarily due to the effects among birth cohorts born around 1930, which are consistent with the pattern of past exposure to hepatitis C virus. The cohort effects have contributed to a large increase in mortality from HCC in recent years and the number of deaths from HCC is expected to increase by 2010-1

Tobacco companies are booming despite an economic depression

During the past year, an economic crisis has affected economies and life styles throughout the world. However, the three largest transnational tobacco companies – Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, and Japan Tobacco – showed excellent returns during this period, reflecting more widespread indirect exposure to smoking

Analysis of a tobacco vector and its actions in china: the activities of japan tobacco

Japan Tobacco (JT) is the third largest tobacco company in the world, and China, the world's largest tobacco consumer, is one of the most important targets for JT. To provide information for tobacco control, we reviewed and analyzed JT and its tactics and strategies in the Chinese market mainly by systematic examination of documents which are made available in the University of California, San Francisco Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. As a result, JT has had a special interest to expand sales of its cigarettes in the Chinese market

Increased number of Judo therapy facilities in Japan and changes in their geographical distribution

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Judo therapy is a well established Japanese co-medical profession specializing in outpatient manual treatment of fractures and sprains. Recently, the number of judo therapists has been rapidly increasing as a result of proliferation judo therapy academies. This study examines whether such rapid increases have improved geographical distribution of judo therapy facilities in Japan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The number of judo therapy facilities and the population in each municipality were obtained from the Web yellow pages and from Japanese census data for 2004, 2006, and 2008, respectively. Lorenz curves and Gini indices were calculated to demonstrate distributions of judo therapy facilities per 100,000 people. A bootstrapped method was used to identify statistical significances of differences in Gini indices.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In all municipalities, the mean numbers of judo therapy facilities per 100,000 people were 15.3 in 2004, 15.8 in 2006, and 17.6 in 2008. The Gini indices for judo therapy facilities nationally were 0.273 in 2004, 0.264 in 2006, and 0.264 in 2008. The numbers of judo therapy facilities increased significantly between 2006 and 2008 (<it>p </it>< 0.05) but the indices did not change significantly in the same period. The Gini indices for local towns and villages remained unchanged and were consistently higher (<it>p </it>< 0.05) than those in urban areas throughout the study periods.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that recent increases in the number of judo therapy facilities have not necessarily led to greater equality in their geographic distribution in terms of Gini indices.</p

Effort-reward imbalance and its association with health among permanent and fixed-term workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the past decade, the changing labor market seems to have rejected the traditional standards employment and has begun to support a variety of non-standard forms of work in their place. The purpose of our study was to compare the degree of job stress, sources of job stress, and association of high job stress with health among permanent and fixed-term workers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Our study subjects were 709 male workers aged 30 to 49 years in a suburb of Tokyo, Japan. In 2008, we conducted a cross-sectional study to compare job stress using an effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model questionnaire. Lifestyles, subjective symptoms, and body mass index were also observed from the 2008 health check-up data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The rate of job stress of the high-risk group measured by ERI questionnaire was not different between permanent and fixed-term workers. However, the content of the ERI components differed. Permanent workers were distressed more by effort, overwork, or job demand, while fixed-term workers were distressed more by their job insecurity. Moreover, higher ERI was associated with existence of subjective symptoms (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.42-3.03) and obesity (OR = 2.84, 95% CI:1.78-4.53) in fixed-term workers while this tendency was not found in permanent workers.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study showed that workers with different employment types, permanent and fixed-term, have dissimilar sources of job stress even though their degree of job stress seems to be the same. High ERI was associated with existing subjective symptoms and obesity in fixed-term workers. Therefore, understanding different sources of job stress and their association with health among permanent and fixed-term workers should be considered to prevent further health problems.</p

A case report of acute dermatitis that developed during an experiment examining the bromination of 3-hexylthiophene

Occupational cases with allergic reaction to fragrance substances, which refer to various chemicals providing aroma characteristics, are arising with its recent usage diversification from pharmaceutical, perfume industry to aromatic remedies. However, chemicals responsible for fragrance allergy have hardly been identified because its component is complex and its sensitization is not frequent. This report will present a case of acute allergic dermatitis that is likely induced by 3-hexylthiophene, one of aromatic compounds often contained in fragrance substances. The case, who was a 27-year male researcher engaged in organic chemical synthesis for six years, was exposed to 3-hexylthiophene and its product (2-bromo-3-hexylthiophene) through an experiment in May 2004 and itching, swelling and eczema immediately developed from face to back. This case of sensitization to 3-hexylthiophene suggests that it be a possible allergen for fragrance allergy

Relationship between menstruation status and work conditions in Japan

Background:Menstrual problems can significantly impact daily and work life. In reaction to a shrinking population, the Japanese government is encouraging more women to participate in the labor force. Actual success in achieving this aim, however, is limited. Specifically, participation in the workforce by women during their reproductive years is impacted by their health, which involves not only work conditions, but also traditional family circumstances. Therefore, it is important to further assess and gather more information about the health status of women who work during their reproductive years in Japan. Specifically, women’s health can be represented by menstruation status, which is a pivotal indicator. In this study, we assessed the association between short rest periods in work intervals and menstruation and other health status indicators among female workers in Japan.Methods:Study participants were recruited from the alumnae of a university, which provided a uniform educational level. All 9864 female alumnae were asked to join the survey and 1630 (17%) accepted. The final sample of study participants (n = 505) were aged 23–43 years, had maintained the same job status for at least 1 year, and were not shift workers, had no maternal status, and did not lack any related information. The participants were divided into two groups according to interval time, with 11 h between end of work and resumption of daily work as a benchmark. This interval time was based on EU regulations and the goal set by the government of Japan. Health outcomes included: menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhoea symptoms, anxiety regarding health, and satisfaction in terms of health. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for health indexes in association with interval time by adjusting for confounding variables that included both psychosocial and biological factors.Results:We compared the health status of women in the workforce with and without a sufficient interval time of 11 h/day. Workers who had a short interval time had a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety about health and dissatisfaction with their health. For menstruation status, only abnormal menstruation cycles were observed more often among workers in the short interval group than those of the long interval group. However, this association disappeared when biological confounding factors were adjusted in a multivariable regression model. Dysmenorrhea symptoms did not show a statistically significant association with short interval time.Conclusions:This study found a significant association between a short interval time of less than 11 h/day and subjective health indicators and the menstrual health status of women in the workforce. Menstrual health was more affected by biological factors than social psychological factors. A long work time and short interval time could increase worker anxiety and dissatisfaction and may deteriorate the menstrual cycle

Screening method for severe sleep-disordered breathing in hypertensive patients without daytime sleepiness

SummaryThe high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in hypertensive patients has been well studied. However, regular screening of SDB in these patients is not performed routinely as the diagnostic procedures are both time-consuming and labour-intensive. Overnight portable device screening is useful, but is sometimes not acceptable for asymptomatic SDB patients. We evaluated the usefulness of daytime 30-min recording with a portable recording device during pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement sessions as a screening method for detection of asymptomatic SDB in hypertensive patients. Eighty-one hypertensive patients underwent 30-min daytime screening session using a Type III portable recording device during PWV measurement. Each screening session was followed by full overnight Level I polysomnography (PSG). The screening session included recordings of airflow (mouth–nose), chest movement, oximetry, and electrocardiography. The correlation coefficient between respiratory disturbance index (RDI) by screening session and apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) by PSG was 0.64. Using AHI ≥30 as diagnostic of severe SDB, 47 of 80 patients had the disorder based on PSG results. Using an RDI cut-off value of 22, the sensitivity and specificity for detection of severe SDB were 86.1% and 64.5%, respectively. Daytime 30-min recording with a portable device for apnea detection during PWV recording is useful for screening of asymptomatic severe SDB in hypertensive patients