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This study aimed to clarify the cause‐effect relationship between renal tubular damage and non‐cancer mortality in the general Japanese population. We conducted a 19‐year cohort study including 1110 men and 1,03 women who lived in three cadmium‐non‐polluted areas in 1993 or 1994. Mortality risk ratios based on urinary β2‐microglobulin (β2MG) and N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase (NAG) concentrations were estimated for specific non‐cancer diseases using the Fine and Gray competing risks regression model. In men, continuous urinary NAG (+1 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly correlated with increased mortality caused by diseases of the respiratory system (hazard ratio (HR): 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.15). Urinary β2MG (+100 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly correlated with increased mortalities caused by kidney and urinary tract diseases (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), renal diseases (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), renal failure (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), and external causes of mortality (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02). In women, urinary NAG (+1 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly associated with increased mortality caused by ischemic heart diseases (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04) and kidney and urinary tract diseases (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04). Urinary β2MG (+100 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly correlated with increased mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases (HR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00–1.02), ischemic heart diseases (HR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00–1.02), and kidney and urinary tract diseases (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.03). The present study indicates that renal tubular damage was significantly related to several non‐cancer disease causes of mortality in Japan's general population living in cadmium‐non‐polluted areas. We evaluated the effect of renal tubular damage on non‐cancer mortality, by conducting a 19‐year cohort study in three cadmium‐non‐polluted areas in Japan. Mortality risk estimates based on urinary NAG and β2MG concentrations were significantly higher for respiratory, renal, and cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the psychosocial factors for postpartum depression as indicated by a high score of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), including marital relationship and social support. Relevant factors for antenatal depression were also analyzed., Methods: Thirty-five wife-and-husband pairs who visited University Hospital A for the wife's antenatal health check-up participated in a questionnaire survey using the Japanese version of the EPDS. Social support from the wife's husband, kins, and others including friends at the third trimester of pregnancy and 1 month after birth was assessed. The Marital Love Scale (MLS) was also used, and two marital relationship questions were asked regarding the husband's and wife's considerate actions toward each other during pregnancy. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine adjusted associations between higher EPDS scores (≥5 for postpartum depression and ≥7 for antenatal depression) and indicators for social support and marital relationships., Results: The most relevant factor for higher postpartum EPDS scores was a higher antenatal EPDS score, followed by the couple's poor communication skills (the wife did not feel any appreciation from her husband) during pregnancy and no support from the wife's husband during the postpartum period. The wife's poor marital communication skills and the husband's low MLS scores during pregnancy were associated (borderline significance) with the wife's higher antenatal EPDS scores., Conclusions: A good marital relationship before birth and support by the husband after birth may be important for preventing postpartum depression.