Search

Abstract After developing job-exposure matrices (JEMs) for screen and sedentary time, we aimed to assess the associations between the JEM-derived exposures and various ocular diseases. We collected data from patients hospitalized from 2005 to 2021. JEMs were developed from 41,718 patients with occupational information and screen and sedentary times. The adjusted means of screen and sedentary time were calculated for 143 occupational groups and categorized into three classes based on the tertiles. The associations between ocular diseases and these JEM-derived exposures were examined using multivariable conditional logistic regression for 727,589 patients. The odds ratios of the class with highest screen time were 1.05 (95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.09) for cataract, 1.24 (1.06–1.45) for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), 1.26 (1.06–1.49) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), 1.49 (1.26–1.76) for ptosis, and 0.39 (0.27–0.57) for pterygium. The odds ratios of the class with highest sedentary time were 1.05 (1.01–1.09) for cataract, 1.24 (1.05–1.46) for RRD, 1.68 (1.42–1.99) for ptosis, and 0.60 (0.42–0.84) for pterygium. Both screen and sedentary time were positively associated with cataract, RRD and ptosis. Interestingly, POAG had a positive association with only screen time. Please check and confirm that the authors and their respective affiliations have been correctly identified and amend if necessary."I have confirmed that the content is correct. No amendments are necessary.Please check article title if captured correctly."?>"I have confirmed that the content is correct. No amendments are necessary.

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between risk of brain tumors and radiofrequency (RF) exposure from mobile phones among young people in Korea and Japan. Methods: This case-control study of brain tumors in young people was conducted in Korea and Japan under the framework of the international MOBI-Kids study. We included 118 patients diagnosed with brain tumors between 2011 and 2015 and 236 matched appendicitis controls aged 10–24 years. Information on mobile phone use was collected through face-to-face interviews. A detailed RF exposure algorithm, based on the MOBI-Kids algorithm and modified to account for the specificities of Japanese and Korean phones and networks, was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for total cumulative specific energy using conditional logistic regression. Results: The adjusted ORs in the highest tertile of cumulative call time at 1 year before the reference date were 1.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72–3.60) for all brain tumors and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.16–3.03) for gliomas, with no indication of a trend with exposure. The ORs for glioma specifically, were below 1 in the lowest exposure category. Conclusion: This study provided no evidence of a causal association between mobile phone use and risk of brain tumors as a whole or of glioma specifically. Further research will be required to evaluate the impact of newer technologies of communication in the future.

Background: Occupational class, a proxy for socio-economic status, is a known factor for health disparities. However, no study has reported the association between occupational class and the risk of viral hepatitis B and C (HBV/HCV) infections. We investigated the effects of occupational class on the prevalence of HBV/HCV infections. Methods: This is an unmatched hospital-based case-control study that included 12,101 patients who were diagnosed with HBV infection (ICD–10, B16.0, B16.1, B16.2, B16.9, B17.0, B18.0, B18.1) or HCV infection (ICD–10, B17.1, B18.2) and 698,168 controls (those with non-HBV/HCV-related diseases) aged ≥ 20 years who were initially hospitalized between 2005 and 2019. Patients were categorized according to occupational class (blue-collar, service, professional, and manager) and industrial sector (blue-collar, service, and white-collar). Managers in the blue-collar industry were set as the reference group, and the odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of HBV and HCV infections were calculated. Results: Occupational class was significantly associated with only HCV infection risk. Professionals in all industrial sectors showed the lowest risk for HCV (OR (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) = 0.69 [0.58–0.82] in the blue-collar industry, 0.52 [0.38–0.73] in the service industry, and 0.60 [0.52–0.70] in the white-collar industry). Further, after adjusting for sex, age, and region of admitting hospital, all occupational classes in the white-collar industry showed lower risks of HCV than those in the other industries (ORs= 0.58 [0.47–0.71] in blue-collar workers, 0.74 [0.64–0.84] in service workers, 0.60 [0.52–0.70] in professionals, and 0.81 [0.64–1.02] in managers in white-collar industry). Conclusions: Occupational class was closely associated with HCV infection risk only. Considering that blue-collar workers in the white-collar industry also showed a low risk, adequate measures should be taken against hepatitis, possibly because of the screening tests and cure implemented in that population.

The number of devices that generate intermediate-frequency electromagnetic fields (IF-EMFs) in the living environment has been increasing. As the public has vague concerns about new devices, it is necessary to clarify the safety of IF-EMFs. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the possible health effects of IF-EMFs by clarifying the relationship between the use of induction heating (IH) cookers and delivery outcomes. The study participants were pregnant women over the age of 20 years who were registered in panels with an Internet research firm. A total of 8920 pregnant women participated in the baseline survey. Of those who responded to the follow-up survey, 5022 who had a singleton birth were included in the analysis. We then examined the relationship between the use of IH cookers and gestational week at delivery (

Abstract To examine the risk of incident cataract surgery associated with alcohol use patterns among Japanese adults. This was a case–control study evaluating 14,861 patients with incident cataract surgery and 14,861 matched controls. Subjects admitted to any of the 34 hospitals in Japan and aged between 40 and 69 years were included. Drinking patterns (drinking frequency, daily average drinks, and total amount of lifetime drinking), smoking history, lifestyle-related comorbidities, and occupational factors were surveyed by trained interviewers. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models. For drinking frequency, ORs in the 1–3 days/week and 4–7 days/week groups were 1.10 (95% CI 1.03–1.17) and 1.30 (1.21–1.40), respectively. For average drinks, ORs in > 0–2 drinks/day, > 2–4 drinks/day, and > 4 drinks/day were 1.13 (1.06–1.20), 1.23 (1.12–1.35), and 1.16 (1.03–1.31), respectively. Both men and women had an increased risk of incident cataract surgery with increased total lifetime drinking, with a significant increase in risk occurring at > 90 drink-years for men and > 40 drink-years for women. A positive dose–response relationship was observed between alcohol consumption and cataract. Restricted drinking may help to reduce the progression of cataracts.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the association of the recognition of the importance and the effectiveness of clinical practice guidelines with the use of them among doctors in charge of medical education. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on doctors in charge of medical education at Tokyo Women's Medical University. Multiple logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, and position was used to assess the association between the recognition and use of clinical practice guidelines for education among the participants. Results: Data from 89 respondents (response rate: 72.4%) were analyzed. The odds ratios (ORs) for using the guidelines in lectures (OR = 4.19, p < 0.05) and clinical clerkships (OR = 4.26, p < 0.05) were significantly greater among doctors who thought that "clinical practice guidelines are important in medical education" compared with those who did not. The OR for using the guidelines in clinical clerkships was also significantly greater among doctors who thought that "clinical practice guidelines are effective in medical education" compared with those who did not (OR = 6.46, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that doctors who recognize the importance and effectiveness of clinical practice guidelines tend to use them more frequently in medical education.

BackgroundLong-term cancer prognosis after initial surgical procedures is an unlikely endpoint for clinical trials. Medical claim databases may aid in addressing this issue regardless of limited information on disease and patient background. However, the long-term prognosis (especially regarding long-term care needs) following surgical procedures remains unclear. This study aimed to assess whether long-term outcomes, such as the exacerbation of long-term care needs and mortality, differ with surgical methods.MethodsUsing a longitudinal study with linkage between medical claim and long-term care database, patients with primary colorectal cancer who underwent initial colonoscopies were identified through anonymized data in Japan (Shizuoka Kokuho Database, 2012-2018). Odds ratios (ORs) for long-term outcomes (long-term care needs and all-cause mortality during a 6.5-year follow-up period) were analyzed using logistic regression to compare laparoscopy and endoscopic surgery to laparotomy.ResultsOverall, 3,744 primary colorectal cancer cases (822 laparotomies, 705 laparoscopies, and 2,217 endoscopic surgeries) were included. Compared to the laparotomy group, the crude OR for exacerbation of long-term care needs in the laparoscopic surgery group was 0.376 (95% confidence interval, 0.227, 0.624), while the OR for all-cause mortality was 0.22 (0.329, 0.532).ConclusionThis is the first study to analyze long-term prognosis after surgery for patients with colorectal cancer to combine medical and long-term needs data. As the national health insurance claim database rarely includes information on cancer stage and comorbidities, better prognosis on endoscopic surgery may need careful interpretation. Therefore, laparoscopy has superior outcomes in terms of long-term care needs and mortality compared to those of laparotomy.

ObjectiveTo assess exposure levels to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) among library workers in Japan, focusing on co-exposure to intermediate-frequency EMF (IF-EMF) and pulsed EMF, to propose a new epidemiological research methodology.MethodsThe evaluated exposure sources were an electromagnetic type-electronic article surveillance gate (EM-EAS, IF-EMF (operating frequency 220 Hz-14 kHz)) and an activator/deactivator of anti-theft tags termed as “book check unit” (BCU, pulsed EMF). Short-term exposures were: (E1) whole-body exposure from the EAS gate when sitting within 3 m; (E2) local exposure to transient IF-EMF while passing through or beside the EAS gate; and (E3) local exposure to a pulsed magnetic field on BCU use. E1–E3 were evaluated based on exposure levels relative to magnetic flux density at the occupational reference level (RL; E1) or as per occupational basic restrictions (BR; E2 and E3) delineated by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 2010 guidelines. Exposure indices based on mid-term exposure (D1–D3), assuming exposure according to employment on a weekly basis, were used to assess exposure in actual working conditions. D1 represents continuous exposure from an EAS gate when sitting within 3 m of the gate. D2 and D3 represent repeated transient exposures occurring during gate pass or on the operation of a BCU. A link to a web-based questionnaire was distributed to librarians working at all libraries where the authors had mailed institutional questionnaires (4,073 libraries). Four exposure patterns were defined according to various exposure scenarios.ResultsWe obtained information on exposure parameters and working conditions from the 548 completed questionnaires. The ICNIRP guideline levels were not exceeded in any of the E1–E3 scenarios. Median of the D1 (% ICNIRP RL × hour/week) was 1, and >85% respondents had values 10 times the median. The median of D3 (% ICNIRP BR × BCU operation) was 10, and most respondents' D3 values were greater than their D2 values, although the derived results depended on the assumptions made for the estimation.ConclusionWe conducted an assessment of combined exposures to IF-EMF and pulsed EMF among library workers in Japan by evaluating both short-term exposures (E1–E3) and exposure indices based on mid-term exposures (D1–D3) assuming actual working conditions per questionnaire results. These results provide useful information for future epidemiological studies.

Exposure to magnetic fields from the electronic article surveillance (EAS) gate was evaluated in consideration of the application to epidemiological studies of library workers who are exposed continually to intermediate frequency magnetic fields from the EAS gate. Two types of exposures were investigated. One was transient exposure due to passing through or beside the gate and another was chronic exposure in the room. We measured magnetic fields from five EAS gate models which were commonly used in libraries in Japan. Detailed measurements were performed for two of them in consideration of the phase difference of vector components of magnetic flux density. The polarization of the magnetic field in the gate was investigated with the index of ellipticity. The induced electric field in a human body was numerically calculated for exposures to magnetic fields of the two gate models. The results provide a quantitative understanding of exposures during passing through or by the EAS gate. Magnetic field distribution was measured in a large room for one gate model to quantify the chronic exposure of library workers during the work at the desk. It was found that the magnetic field was distributed as a function of the horizontal distance to the nearest gatepost. The 45-point average value BIEC defined by the IEC standard was suggested to be a useful quantity to characterize the magnitude of the magnetic field from the EAS gate. Exposures to different EAS gates are expected to be compared through this quantity without detailed measurements. These results are expected to provide useful means for exposure assessment of epidemiological studies on the association between the IF-EMF exposure and possible health outcomes.

The effect of maternal occupational non-ionizing radiation (NIR) exposure from MRI on premature birth and low birth weight delivery was analyzed based on questionnaire survey (263 employees, 443 births). Although the highest occurrence rates of both outcomes were observed in the group whose NIR exposure occurred only before pregnancy, no statistical significance was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]