Mai Nakagawa, Kazumi Nakagawa, Koga Nakai, Ayumu Tominaga, Yoshiro Mori, Takeshi Iwasa, Maki Urushihara, Ichiro Hashimoto and Hisayoshi Morioka : Characteristics of hospital pediatricians and obstetricians/gynecologists working long hours in Tokushima, Japan: A cross-sectional study., PLoS ONE, Vol.19, No.11, e0311653, 2024.
(Summary)
The results of this study suggest that many pediatricians and OB/GYNs work long hours, and it is essential to improve their work environment, including task-shifting/task-sharing. Further enhanced recruitment and retention of hospital pediatricians and OB/GYNs is required. A detailed and large-scale study of pediatricians and OB/GYNs' working environments is essential in the future.
(Keyword)
Pediatricians and obstetricians/gynecologists / Cross-Sectional Studies / Japan / Workload
Shoichi Fukuda, Ukyo Shirase, Shigeru Ogimoto, Mai Nakagawa, Kazumi Nakagawa, Ayumu Tominaga and Hisayoshi Morioka : Association between elevated serum transaminase and moderately increased albuminuria: a cross-sectional study in western Tokushima, Japan., BMC Nephrology, Vol.24, No.1, 2023.
Ichizo Morita, Hisayoshi Morioka, Yoshikazu Abe, Taketsugu Nomura, Seiji Nakashima, Iwane Sugiura, Yujo Inagawa, Yuka Kondo, Chisato Kameyama, Kanae Kondo and Naoji Kobayashi : Discordance between hyposalivation and xerostomia among community-dwelling older adults in Japan., PLoS ONE, Vol.18, No.3, e0282740, 2023.
(Summary)
Individuals with an objective decrease in salivary flow (objective dry mouth) may not be aware of subjective dry mouth (xerostomia). However, no clear evidence exists to explain the discordance between subjective and objective dry mouth. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of xerostomia and decreased salivary flow among community-dwelling elderly adults. In addition, this study assessed several potential demographic and health status determinants of the discrepancy between xerostomia and reduced salivary flow. The 215 participants in this study were community-dwelling older people aged 70 years and above who underwent dental health examinations between January-February 2019. Symptoms of xerostomia were collected in the form of a questionnaire. The unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR) was measured by a dentist using visual inspection. The stimulated salivary flow rate (SSFR) was measured using the Saxon test. We identified 19.1% of participants as having mild-severe USFR decline with xerostomia and 19.1% as having mild-severe USFR decline without xerostomia. Additionally, 26.0% of participants had low SSFR and xerostomia, and 40.0% had low SSFR without xerostomia. Except for the age trend, no factors could be associated with the discordance between USFR measurement and xerostomia. Furthermore, no significant factors were associated with the discordance between the SSFR and xerostomia. However, females were significantly associated (OR = 2.608, 95% CI = 1.174-5.791) with low SSFR and xerostomia, as compared to males. Age was a factor that was also significantly associated (OR = 1.105, 95% CI = 1.010-1.209) with low SSFR and xerostomia. Our findings indicate that approximately 20% of the participants had low USFR without xerostomia, and 40% had low SSFR without xerostomia. This study showed that age, sex, and the number of medications may not be factors in the discrepancy between the subjective feeling of dry mouth and reduced salivary flow.
(Keyword)
Aged / Female / Male / Humans / Japan / Cross-Sectional Studies / Independent Living / Awareness / Xerostomia
Hisayoshi Morioka, Hiroyoshi Watanabe, Hajime Iwasa, Shoji Kagami and Minoru Irahara : Prospects for maternal and child health in Japan., The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI, Vol.69, No.3.4, 159-164, 2022.
(Summary)
In Japan, outcome measures for maternal and child health measures such as maternal, perinatal, and infant mortality have consistently shown a trend toward improvement. On the other hand, the problems of the declining birth rate, child abuse, and domestic violence have become evident since the 1990s. In terms of Japan's maternal and child health, it is necessary to take measures to preserve mental health of mothers and children, and also to respond to family issues such as abuse and violence. The services needed such as comprehensive support centers for families with children and new postpartum care programs have been established. It is necessary to further improve the competence of doctors, public health nurses, and midwives working in the maternal and child health field and to promptly construct a cooperation system in the community. J. Med. Invest. 69 : 159-164, August, 2022.
(Keyword)
Child / Child Abuse / Child Health / Family / Female / Humans / Infant / Japan / Midwifery / Pregnancy
Huan Hu, Ami Fukunaga, Toshitaka Yokoya, Tohru Nakagawa, Toru Honda, Shuichiro Yamamoto, Hiroko Okazaki, Toshiaki Miyamoto, Naoko Sasaki, Takayuki Ogasawara, Naoki Gonmori, Kenya Yamamoto, Ai Hori, Kentaro Tomita, Satsue Nagahama, Maki Konishi, Nobumi Katayama, Hisayoshi Morioka, Isamu Kabe, Tetsuya Mizoue and Seitaro Dohi : Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Risk of Cardiovascular disease: the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study, Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, Vol.29, No.9, 1295-1306, 2021.
(Summary)
We aimed to investigate the association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its subtypes. In this contemporary cohort study, we analyzed the data of 63,814 Japanese employees aged ≥ 30 years, without known CVD in 2012 and who were followed up for up to 8 years. The non-HDL-C level was divided into 5 groups: <110, 110-129, 130-149, 150-169, and ≥ 170 mg/dL. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD and its subtypes associated with each non-HDL-C group, considering 130-149 mg/dL as the reference group. During the study period, 271 participants developed CVD, including 78 myocardial infarctions and 193 strokes (102 ischemic strokes, 89 hemorrhagic strokes, and 2 unknowns). A U-shaped association between non-HDL-C and stroke was observed. In the analysis of stroke subtypes, the multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for hemorrhagic stroke was 2.61 (1.19-5.72), 2.02 (0.95-4.29), 2.10 (1.01-4.36), and 1.98 (0.96-4.08), while that for ischemic stroke was 1.54 (0.77-3.07), 0.91 (0.46-1.80), 0.73 (0.38-1.41), and 1.50 (0.87-2.56) in the <110, 110-129, 150-169, and ≥ 170 mg/dL groups, respectively. Individuals with elevated non-HDL-C levels had a higher risk of myocardial infarction. High non-HDL-C levels were associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction. Moreover, high and low non-HDL-C levels were associated with a high risk of stroke and its subtypes among Japanese workers.
(Keyword)
Biochemistry (medical) / Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine / Internal Medicine
Katsuki Miyazaki, Yuji Morine, Shin-ichiro Yamada, Yu Saitou, Kazunori Tokuda, Shohei Okikawa, Shoko Yamashita, Takeshi Oya, Tetsuya Ikemoto, Satoru Imura, Haun Hu, Hisayoshi Morioka, Koichi Tsuneyama and Mitsuo Shimada : Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes level as a prognostic factor for resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and its prediction by apparent diffusion coefficient., International Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol.26, No.12, 2265-2274, 2021.
(Summary)
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are a prognostic factor or an indicator of chemotherapy response for various malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of TILs in resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). We also investigated the usefulness of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) to predict TILs. We enrolled 23 patients with IHCC who underwent initial hepatic resection in Tokushima University Hospital from 2006 to 2017. We evaluated stromal TILs in the tumor marginal area and central area in surgical specimens. Patients were divided into low vs high stromal TILs groups. We analyzed the patients' clinicopathological factors, including prognosis, according to the degree of stromal TILs. We also analyzed the correlation between stromal TILs and the minimum ADC value. Stromal TILs in the marginal area reflected overall survival more accurately than that in the central area. Additionally, marginal low TILs was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and portal vein invasion. Both overall- and disease-free survival rates in the marginal low TILs group were significantly worse than those in the marginal high TILs group (P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, marginal low TILs were an independent prognostic factor for both overall- and disease-free survival (P < 0.05), and marginal low TILs were significantly associated with lower minimum ADC values (P < 0.02). Stromal TILs, especially in the marginal area, might demonstrate prognostic impact in patients with IHCC. Moreover, the ADC values from MRI may predict TILs in IHCC tumor tissue.
(Keyword)
Bile Duct Neoplasms / Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Cholangiocarcinoma / Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Humans / Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Prognosis
森田 一三, Hisayoshi Morioka, 阿部 義和, 野村 岳嗣, 稲川 祐成, 近藤 由香, 亀山 千里, 近藤 香苗 and 小林 尚司 : [Relationship between the number of prescribed medications and oral dysfunction in elderly individuals]., Japanese Journal of Public Health, Vol.68, No.3, 167-179, 2021.
(Summary)
Objective Polypharmacy in elderly individuals may cause reduced flow of saliva and xerostomia. A dry mouth can lead to poor oral function; however, there are no reports on the relationship between polypharmacy and subjective or objective oral dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between the number of prescribed medications and subjective and objective oral dysfunction.Methods The subjects of this study were 215 community-dwelling, elderly individuals, aged 75 years or older, who visited the dental clinic in the Chubu region for a dental health examination from January to February 2019. A medical interview was conducted to assess three items that were related to subjective oral function and record four measurements related to objective oral function. In addition, information was collected on the diseases being treated and prescribed medications. A subject with a decrease in any of the three subjective oral function categories was considered to have subjective oral dysfunction. Objective oral dysfunction was analyzed with respect to two types of oral dysfunction: a decrease in all four objective oral functions and a decrease in two or more of the four objective oral functions. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between subjective and objective oral dysfunction after adjustment for sex, age group, inveterate disease, and the number of prescribed medications.Results Individuals who had eight or more prescribed medications had lower subjective oral function than those with seven or fewer medications (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 2.3, 1.0-5.1; P<0.05). Individuals with eight or more medications had lower scores in all four objective oral functions than those with seven or fewer medications (4.4 : 1.5-12.6, P<0.01). A decrease in two or more of the four objective oral functions was related to 10 or more prescribed medications (4.3 : 1.2-16.2, P<0.05). In addition, taking eight or more prescribed medications was associated with a decrease in either subjective oral function or all four objective oral functions (8.1 : 2.1-30.8, P<0.01). A decrease in either subjective oral function or two or more objective oral functions was related to taking 10 or more prescribed medications (4.9 : 1.6-15.6, P<0.01).Conclusion In conclusion, more than eight prescribed pharmaceutical medications in the elderly is associated with subjective or objective oral dysfunction.
(Keyword)
Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Drug Combinations / Drug Therapy, Combination / Female / Humans / Independent Living / Logistic Models / Male / Polypharmacy / Prescription Drugs / Surveys and Questionnaires / Xerostomia
Yukino Kawakatsu, N Yuriko Koyanagi, Isao Oze, Yumiko Kasugai, Hisayoshi Morioka, Rui Yamaguchi, Hidemi Ito and Keitaro Matsuo : Association between Socioeconomic Status and Digestive Tract Cancers: A Case-Control Study., Cancers, Vol.12, No.11, 3258, 2020.
(Summary)
infection and/or atrophic gastritis status. In conclusion, a lower SES was associated with an increased risk of digestive cancers in Japan and should be considered in cancer prevention policies for the target population.
Hisayoshi Morioka, Maki Jike, Hideyuki Kanda, Yoneatsu Osaki, Sachi Nakagome, Yuichiro Otsuka, Yoshitaka Kaneita, Osamu Itani, Susumu Higuchi and Takashi Ohida : The association between sleep disturbance and second-hand smoke exposure: a large-scale, nationwide, cross-sectional study of adolescents in Japan., Sleep Medicine, Vol.50, 29-35, 2018.
(Summary)
The present study has revealed that SHS exposure is associated with sleep disturbance. Thus, in addition to smoking cessation programs, it is also necessary to endorse measures to protect adolescents from SHS exposure in order to promote good sleep in this population.
(Keyword)
Adolescent / Cross-Sectional Studies / Environmental Exposure / Female / Humans / Japan / Male / Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Sleep Wake Disorders / Smoking / Students / Surveys and Questionnaires / Tobacco Smoke Pollution
Hisayoshi Morioka, Osamu Itani, Maki Jike, Sachi Nakagome, Yuichiro Otsuka and Takashi Ohida : Risk Factors at Birth Predictive of Subsequent Injury Among Japanese Preschool Children: A Nationwide 5-Year Cohort Study., Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP, Vol.39, No.5, 424-433, 2018.
(Summary)
Based on the results of this study, we identified a number of predictive factors for injury in children. To reduce the risk of injury in the juvenile population as a whole, it is important to pursue a high-risk or population approach by focusing on the predictive factors we have identified.
(Keyword)
Child, Preschool / female / Hospitals / Humans / Incidence / Infant, Newborn / Japan / male / Prognosis / Risk Factors / Wounds and Injuries
Hisayoshi Morioka, Osamu Itani, Yoneatsu Osaki, Susumu Higuchi, Maki Jike, Yoshitaka Kaneita, Hideyuki Kanda, Sachi Nakagome and Takashi Ohida : The association between alcohol use and problematic internet use: A large-scale nationwide cross-sectional study of adolescents in Japan., Journal of Epidemiology, Vol.27, No.3, 107-111, 2017.
(Summary)
This study revealed that adolescents showing problematic Internet use consumed alcohol more frequently and consumed a greater amount of alcohol than those without problematic Internet use. These findings suggest a close association between drinking and problematic Internet use among Japanese adolescents.
(Keyword)
Adolescent / Adolescent Behavior / Alcohol Drinking / Alcohol-Related Disorders / Behavior, Addictive / Cross-Sectional Studies / Female / Humans / Internet / Japan / Male / Random Allocation / Regression Analysis / Students / Surveys and Questionnaires
Hisayoshi Morioka, Osamu Itani, Yoneatsu Osaki, Susumu Higuchi, Maki Jike, Yoshitaka Kaneita, Hideyuki Kanda, Sachi Nakagome and Takashi Ohida : Association Between Smoking and Problematic Internet Use Among Japanese Adolescents: Large-Scale Nationwide Epidemiological Study., Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, Vol.19, No.9, 557-561, 2016.
(Summary)
The aim of this study was to clarify the association between smoking and problematic Internet use (PIU), such as Internet addiction (IA) and excessive Internet use (EIU), among Japanese adolescents. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to students enrolled in randomly selected junior and senior high schools throughout Japan. Responses were obtained from 100,050 students (0.94:1 ratio of boys to girls). The prevalence of IA (as indicated by a Young Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction score ≥5) in all participants, boys, and girls was 8.1%, 6.4%, and 9.9%, respectively. The prevalence of EIU (≥5 hours/day) in all participants, boys, and girls was 12.6%, 12.3%, and 13.0%, respectively. The results of multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for IA and EIU were significantly higher among students who smoked (including those who previously smoked) than among those who never smoked (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). In addition, the AORs were the highest for students who smoked ≥21 cigarettes per day. The prevalence and AORs of IA and EIU tended to increase with smoking frequency and number of cigarettes smoked per day, indicating a dose-dependent relationship. Thus, IA and EIU have strong associations with smoking. This study revealed that adolescents who routinely smoked or those who smoked more cigarettes per day had a higher risk of PIU than adolescents who did not. These findings suggest that there is a close association between smoking and PIU among Japanese adolescents.
(Keyword)
Adolescent / Adolescent Behavior / Behavior, Addictive / Epidemiologic Studies / Female / Humans / Internet / Japan / Male / Prevalence / Risk / Smoking
Hisayoshi Morioka, Osamu Itani, Yoshitaka Kaneita, Hajime Iwasa, Maki Ikeda, Ryuichiro Yamamoto, Yoneatsu Osaki, Hideyuki Kanda, Sachi Nakagome and Takashi Ohida : Factors affecting unhappiness at school among Japanese adolescents: an epidemiological study., PLoS ONE, Vol.9, No.11, e1118444, 2014.
(Summary)
The present results suggest that school employees and administrators must provide health guidance to students, considering that irregular lifestyle habits, lower school engagement, smoking, drinking alcohol, and poor mental health status are all associated with maladaptation to school among adolescents.
(Keyword)
Adolescent / Adolescent Behavior / Cross-Sectional Studies / Female / Happiness / Humans / Japan / Male / Mental Disorders / Risk Factors / Schools / Students
Nakagome Sachi, Kaneita Yoshitaka, Itani Osamu, Ikeda Maki, Ichinose Atushi, Hisayoshi Morioka, Osaki Yoneatsu and Ohida Takashi : Excessive daytime sleepiness among pregnant women: An epidemiological study, Sleep and Biological Rhythms, Vol.12, 12-21, 2014.
15.
Hisayoshi Morioka, Osamu Itani, Yoshitaka Kaneita, Maki Ikeda, Shuji Kondo, Ryuichiro Yamamoto, Yoneatsu Osaki, Hideyuki Kanda, Susumu Higuchi and Takashi Ohida : Associations between sleep disturbance and alcohol drinking: A large-scale epidemiological study of adolescents in Japan., Alcohol, Vol.47, No.8, 619-628, 2013.
(Summary)
In this study, we attempted to clarify the associations between various sleep disturbance symptoms and the frequency and amount of alcohol use among Japanese adolescents. This study was designed as a cross-sectional sampling survey. A self-administered questionnaire survey was administered to students enrolled in randomly selected junior and senior high schools throughout Japan. A total of 99,416 adolescents responded, and 98,867 questionnaires were subjected to analysis. The prevalence rates of sleep disturbance in the 30 days preceding the day of the survey were as follows: subjectively insufficient sleep (SIS) (boys: 37.6%, girls: 38.7%); short sleep duration (SSD) with less than 6 h of sleep (boys: 28.0%, girls: 33.0%); difficulty initiating sleep (DIS) (boys: 12.5%, girls: 14.1%); difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS) (boys: 10.1%, girls: 10.9%); and early morning awakening (EMA) (boys: 5.1%, girls: 5.0%). Adolescents reporting one or more symptoms of DIS, DMS, and EMA were classified as having insomnia, and its prevalence was 21.5%. The prevalence of each symptom of sleep disturbance increased significantly with the number of days on which alcohol was consumed in the previous 30 days and the amount of alcohol consumed per drinking session (p < 0.01). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for each symptom of sleep disturbance, except SIS and EMA, tended to increase with the number of days on which alcohol was consumed and the amount of alcohol consumed per drinking session. The prevalence of sleep disturbance is particularly high among adolescents drinking alcohol. The risk of having each symptom of sleep disturbance, except SIS and EMA, increases with the number of days on which alcohol was consumed and the amount of alcohol consumed per drinking session. These findings reconfirm the need to eliminate underage drinking to ensure good sleep among adolescents.
(Keyword)
Adolescent / Adolescent Behavior / Alcohol Drinking / Comorbidity / Cross-Sectional Studies / Female / Humans / Japan / Male / Prevalence / Sex Characteristics / Sex Factors / Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
There are two major areas of responsibility in the field of public health : public health research and public health administration. The role of public health research is to discover the factors affecting health using epidemiological and statistical methods, while the role of public health administration is to develop laws and budgets to improve the health standards of the population. The Department of Public Health at Tokushima University has recently started research on the effects of assisted reproductive medicine on pregnant women and their fetuses as well as the ways of providing information on medical treatment. In addition, we are conducting research on themes closely related to the health issues of the residents of Tokushima Prefecture, such as the early detection of diabetic nephropathy. In the future, we plan to conduct research on a wide range of policy-related topics, including healthcare delivery systems, countermeasures for lifestyle-related diseases, the Community-Based Integrated Care System, and the Child and Child-Rearing Support System. We hope that the promotion of public health research and administration in Tokushima will lead to the realization of safer and more secure communities.
(Keyword)
Public health / epidemiology / Health policy / Public health administration