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Simulated exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the environment was demonstrated based on the actual coronavirus disease 2019 cluster occurrence in an office, with a projected risk considering the likely transmission pathways via aerosols and fomites. A total of 35/85 occupants were infected, with the attack rate in the first stage as 0.30. It was inferred that the aerosol transmission at long‐range produced the cluster at virus concentration in the saliva of the infected cases on the basis of the simulation, more than 108 PFU mL−1. Additionally, all wearing masks effectiveness was estimated to be 61%–81% and 88%–95% reduction in risk for long‐range aerosol transmission in the normal and fit state of the masks, respectively, and a 99.8% or above decline in risk of fomite transmission. The ventilation effectiveness for long‐range aerosol transmission was also calculated to be 12%–29% and 36%–66% reductions with increases from one air change per hour (ACH) to two ACH and six ACH, respectively. Furthermore, the virus concentration reduction in the saliva to 1/3 corresponded to the risk reduction for long‐range aerosol transmission by 60%–64% and 40%–51% with and without masks, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: The Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) developed by Miller and Prihoda in the USA is used as a questionnaire for patients with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) in >10 countries. We developed a Japanese version of QEESI, assessed its reliability and validity, and defined original cut-off values for screening Japanese patients with MCS in 2003. Our recent study revealed that opportunities for exposure to various chemicals had increased for people in Japan, while subjective symptoms of MCS in patients had increased in severity. In this study, we considered new cut-off values that combined QEESI subscale scores based on the current situation in Japan. Methods: The questionnaire used was a Japanese version of QEESI. The survey was conducted from 2012 to 2015. Participants were 111 patients with MCS (mean age: 46 ± 20, 81% female) initially diagnosed by physicians, and 444 age- and gender-matched controls not diagnosed with MCS by doctors. The discriminatory validity of QEESI scores of patients and controls were evaluated by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses when considering interactions of the Masking Index (ongoing chemical exposure). New combined cut-off values were then set. Results: New combined cut-off values (meeting conditions of Chemical Intolerances ≥ 30, Symptom Severity ≥ 13, and Life Impacts ≥ 17) showed high sensitivity (82.0%) and specificity (94.4%). Using new criteria when considering ongoing chemical exposure, study participants were categorized as: Very suggestive, Somewhat suggestive, Problematic, and Not suggestive. Participants classified as Very suggestive included 25 (5.6%) controls. Conclusions: We have set new criteria with combined cut-off values based on current Japanese conditions. Such new criteria can be used for screening and as a diagnostic aid for Japanese patients with MCS and suggest approximately 6% of the Japanese general population may be classified as “Very suggestive people with MCS”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which investigates the future trends related to mesothelioma mortality in Japan. It discusses the applied research methodology based on an age-cohort model which analyses risk functions on available data of size of the labor force and quantity of asbestos imports. It reports an increase in mortality rate of Japanese people between 50-89 years of age group which can be reduced on following of administrative level guidelines for occupational asbestos exposure.

High ozone concentrations often exist under the reduced pressure conditions observed in aircraft cabins during flight. In this study, we measured the concentrations of the products obtained from the reaction of ozone with limonene in a simulated aircraft cabin environment (i.e., vacuum chamber at approximately 70 kPa). The concentration of total volatile organic compounds increased under reduced pressure when compared to that under atmospheric pressure, whereas the ozone concentration decreased during the hour after limonene was injected into the chamber. These changes can be partially explained by the increased evaporation of limonene under reduced pressure. With respect to secondary products, a decrease in particulate matter was observed under reduced pressure for an initial ozone concentration of 0.4–0.5 mg/m3. In contrast, the effects of reduced pressure on the concentrations of gaseous products, such as formaldehyde and limonene oxide, were small when the initial ozone concentration was approximately 0.3 mg/m3. These results indicate that the reaction between limonene and ozone under reduced pressure is similar to that occurring under atmospheric pressure. Image 1 • In aircraft cabins during flight, ozone often exists under the reduced pressure. • We simulated ozone and limonene reaction under reduced pressure in a chamber. • Particulate matter generation inhibited under reduced pressure. • Effects of reduced pressure on the concentration of gaseous products were minor. • Ozone/limonene reaction was similar under atmospheric and reduced pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational allergic diseases are likely to worsen or become intractable as a result of continuous exposure to high concentrations of causative allergens. These are socioeconomically important diseases that can lead to work interruptions for patients and potentially job loss. We published the first guideline for managing occupational allergic diseases in Japan. The original document was published in Japanese in 2013, and the following year (2014) it was published in English. This guideline consists of six chapters about occupational asthma, occupational allergic rhinitis, occupational skin diseases, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, occupational anaphylaxis shock, and the legal aspects of these diseases. Providing general doctors with the knowledge to make evidence-based diagnoses and to understand the occupational allergic disease treatment policies, was a breakthrough in allergic disease treatment. Due to the discovery of new occupational allergens and the accumulation of additional evidence, we published a revised version of our original article in 2016, and it was published in English in 2017. In addition to including new knowledge of allergens and evidence, the 2016 revision contains a "Flowchart to Diagnosis" for the convenience of general doctors. We report the essence of the revised guidelines in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulated exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the environment was demonstrated based on the actual coronavirus disease 2019 cluster occurrence in an office, with a projected risk considering the likely transmission pathways via aerosols and fomites. A total of 35/85 occupants were infected, with the attack rate in the first stage as 0.30. It was inferred that the aerosol transmission at long-range produced the cluster at virus concentration in the saliva of the infected cases on the basis of the simulation, more than 10 8  PFU mL -1 . Additionally, all wearing masks effectiveness was estimated to be 61%-81% and 88%-95% reduction in risk for long-range aerosol transmission in the normal and fit state of the masks, respectively, and a 99.8% or above decline in risk of fomite transmission. The ventilation effectiveness for long-range aerosol transmission was also calculated to be 12%-29% and 36%-66% reductions with increases from one air change per hour (ACH) to two ACH and six ACH, respectively. Furthermore, the virus concentration reduction in the saliva to 1/3 corresponded to the risk reduction for long-range aerosol transmission by 60%-64% and 40%-51% with and without masks, respectively., (© 2023 The Authors. Risk Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Risk Analysis.)

During the recent emergence of COVID-19, an increased practice of hand hygiene coincided with the reduced incidence of the norovirus epidemic in Japan, which is similar to experience with the pandemic flu in 2009. We investigated the relationship between the sales of hand hygiene products, including liquid hand soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and the trend of norovirus epidemic. We used national gastroenteritis surveillance data across Japan in 2020 and 2021 and compared the base statistics of incidence of these two years with the average of the previous 10 years (2010-2019). We calculated the correlations (Spearman's Rho) between monthly sales of hand hygiene products and monthly norovirus cases and fitted them to a regression model. In 2020, there was no epidemic, and the incidence peak was the lowest in recent norovirus epidemics. In 2021, the incidence peak was delayed for five weeks to the usual epidemic seasons. Correlation coefficients between monthly sales of liquid hand soap and skin antiseptics and norovirus incidence showed a significantly negative correlation (Spearman's Rho = -0.88 and p = 0.002 for liquid hand soap; Spearman's Rho = -0.81 and p = 0.007 for skin antiseptics). Exponential regression models were fitted between the sales of each hand hygiene product and norovirus cases, respectively. The results suggest hand hygiene using these products is a potentially useful prevention method against norovirus epidemics. Effective ways of hand hygiene for increasing the prevention of norovirus should therefore be studied.

Although asbestos has been widely distributed in the environment, health risks due to general environmental exposure to asbestos have not been estimated. Future mesothelioma risk from environmental exposure to asbestos in Japan was estimated by comparing historical exposure data and mortality attributed to environmental exposure. We developed an equation to estimate environmentally-attributable mesothelioma based on the US Environmental Protection Agency's model for occupational mesothelioma mortality. Based on our calculations, mesothelioma risks per year of exposure will reach peak levels in 2033 and range from 4.8 x 10(-6) to 1.1 x 10(-5). The number of deaths is estimated to range from 542-1276 in 2033. The cumulative number of deaths will reach around 17,000-37,000 in the years 1970-2070. Our estimation of risk approximately corresponded to observed risks. Past and predicted future disease suggest the need for social and medical support in these areas.

Background: Giant ovarian tumors are rarely seen in modern surgical practice. Cardiopulmonary complications associated with the removal of such tumors are serious problems., Case: An ovarian tumor weighing 55 kg was removed from a 33-year-old woman without cardiorespiratory complications using preoperative drainage and abdominoplasty by excision of the excess skin., Conclusion: Preoperative drainage before and abdominoplasty after removal of giant ovarian tumors are effective.