Concern over radiation exposure and psychological distress among rescue workers following the Great East Japan Earthquake

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami that followed caused severe damage along Japans northeastern coastline and to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. To date, there are few reports specifically examining psychological distress in rescue workers in Japan. Moreover, it is unclear to what extent concern over radiation exposure has caused psychological distress to such workers deployed in the disaster area.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One month after the disaster, 424 of 1816 (24%) disaster medical assistance team workers deployed to the disaster area were assessed. Concern over radiation exposure was evaluated by a single self-reported question. General psychological distress was assessed with the Kessler 6 scale (K6), depressive symptoms with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), fear and sense of helplessness with the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI), and posttraumatic stress symptoms with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Radiation exposure was a concern for 39 (9.2%) respondents. Concern over radiation exposure was significantly associated with higher scores on the K6, CES-D, PDI, and IES-R. After controlling for age, occupation, disaster operation experience, duration of time spent watching earthquake news, and past history of psychiatric illness, these associations remained significant in men, but did not remain significant in women for the CES-D and PDI scores.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings suggest that concern over radiation exposure was strongly associated with psychological distress. Reliable, accurate information on radiation exposure might reduce deployment-related distress in disaster rescue workers.</p

Advanced Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites and Hybrid Materials

The exploitation of naturally occurring polymers to engineer advanced nanocomposites and hybrid materials is the focus of increasing scientific activity, explained by growing environmental concerns and interest in the peculiar features and multiple functionalities of these macromolecules. Natural polymers, such as polysaccharides and proteins, present a remarkable potential for the design of all kinds of materials for application in a multitude of domains. This Special Issue collected the work of scientists on the current developments in the field of multifunctional biopolymer-based nanocomposites and hybrid materials with a particular emphasis on their production methodologies, properties, and prominent applications. Thus, materials related to bio-based nanocomposites and hybrid materials manufactured with different partners, namely natural polymers, bioactive compounds, and inorganic nanoparticles, are reported in the Special Issue Advanced Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites and Hybrid Materials

Peritraumatic Distress, Watching Television, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Rescue Workers after the Great East Japan Earthquake

BACKGROUND: The Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2001 left around 20,000 dead or missing. Previous studies showed that rescue workers, as well as survivors, of disasters are at high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the predictive usefulness of the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) among rescue workers of Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) deployed during the acute disaster phase of the Great East Japan Earthquake. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this prospective observational study, the DMAT members recruited were assessed 1 month after the earthquake on the PDI and 4 months after the earthquake on the Impact of Event Scale-Revised to determine PTSD symptoms. The predictive value of the PDI at initial assessment for PTSD symptoms at the follow-up assessment was examined by univariate and multiple linear regression analysis. Of the 254 rescue workers who participated in the initial assessment, 173 completed the follow-up assessment. Univariate regression analysis revealed that PDI total score and most individual item scores predicted PTSD symptoms. In particular, high predictive values were seen for peritraumatic emotional distress such as losing control of emotions and being ashamed of emotional reactions. In multiple linear regression analysis, PDI total score was an independent predictor for PTSD symptoms after adjusting for covariates. As for covariates specifically, watching earthquake television news reports for more than 4 hours per day predicted PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The PDI predicted PTSD symptoms in rescue workers after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Peritraumatic emotional distress appears to be an important factor to screen for individuals at risk for developing PTSD among medical rescue workers. In addition, watching television for extended period of time might require attention at a time of crisis

Significance of Coronary Artery Calcium Score in the Target Lesion Evaluated by Multi-detector Computed Tomography for Selecting Treatment of Rotational Atherectomy in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

We investigated whether coronary artery calcium score (CAC) in the target lesion on the multidetector computed tomography angiography (CTA) predicts the addition of the Rotational atherectomy (Rota) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Lesion CAC on CTA were evaluated with quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) on coronary angiography for predicting the Rota treatment in 114 consecutive patients (165 target lesions) with first PCI (68 ± 9 years old, females: 17.6%). Rota was added in 8 patients (11 lesions). The lesion length and diameter stenosis on QCA, and lesion length and lesion CAC on CTA were the primary factors associated with the addition of Rota. Using the cut-off value based on receiver operating characteristic analysis, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting the Rota based on QCA was 72.7% in 8 of 11 lesions (vessels) with Rota and the specificity was 74% in 114 of 154 without Rota in the lesion length of ≥ 23mm (χ2=10.9, p=0.001), and 54.5% in 6 of 11 lesions with Rota and the specificity was 79.2% in 122 of 154 without Rota in the diameter stenosis of ≥ 83% (χ2=6.6, p=0.01). Those based on CTA were 90.9% in 10 of 11 lesions with Rota and 77.3% in 119 of 154 without Rota in the lesion length of ≥ 34mm (χ2=24.1, p<0.001), and 90.9% in 10 of 11 with Rota and 88.3% in 136 of 154 without Rota in the lesions with CAC ≥453 (χ2=45.7, p<0.001). Lesion CAC on CTA is most predictive of addition of Rota during PCI

Results of univariate regression analysis.

<p><i>CI</i>, confidential interval.</p><p><i>R</i>², multiple correlation coefficient, index of goodness fitness in the model.</p

Flow diagram of the study.

<p>Flow diagram of the study.</p