Kinetics of humoral and cellular immune responses 5 months post-COVID-19 booster dose by immune response groups at the peak immunity phase: An observational historical cohort study using the Fukushima vaccination community survey.

Background: Understanding the waning of immunity after booster vaccinations is important to identify which immune-low populations should be prioritized. Methods: We investigated longitudinal cellular and humoral immunity after the third vaccine dose in both high- and low-cellular and humoral immunity groups at the peak immunity phase after the booster vaccination in a large community-based cohort. Blood samples were collected from 1045 participants at peak (T1: median 54 days post-third dose) and decay (T2: median 145 days post-third dose) phases to assess IgG(S), neutralizing activity, and ELISpot responses. Participants were categorized into high/low ELISpot/IgG(S) groups at T1. Cellular and humoral responses were tracked for approximately five months after the third vaccination. Results: In total, 983 participants were included in the cohort. IgG(S) geometric mean fold change between timepoints revealed greater waning in the >79 years age group (T2/T1 fold change: 0.27) and higher IgG(S) fold change in the low-ELISpot group at T1 (T2/T1 fold change: 0.32-0.33) than in the other groups, although ELISpot geometric mean remained stable. Conclusions: Antibody level of those who did not respond well to third dose vaccination waned rapidly than those who responded well. Evidence-based vaccine strategies are essential in preventing potential health issues caused by vaccines, including side-effects.

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody titers after the fourth dose of BNT162b2 vaccine among Japanese patients undergoing hemodialysis: a single-center study.

Patients undergoing hemodialysis are particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with mortality rates higher than that of the general population. Vaccination reduces the risk of adverse outcomes, with booster doses being particularly beneficial. However, limited data are available on the effectiveness of subsequent vaccinations or their effect on increasing antibody levels. This single-center study aimed to investigate changes in SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titers following the fourth vaccination among 28 patients undergoing hemodialysis. Blood tests were conducted at various intervals post-vaccination, with a focus on identifying factors associated with antibody levels. The IgG antibody levels rapidly increased by Day 7 post-vaccination, with a median time to peak of 11 days. Antibody titers tended to be higher in male patients than in female patients. This study sheds light on the immune response to the fourth vaccination in patients undergoing hemodialysis. As this study included a small sample size, with a short observation period, further research is warranted to comprehensively understand the effectiveness of vaccination and the benefits of additional doses of vaccine.

Health Information Seeking on the Internet Among Patients With and Without Cancer in a Region Affected by the 2011 Fukushima Triple Disaster: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Health information seeking via the internet among patients with cancer in disaster-affected areas is underresearched. OBJECTIVE: This study aims not only to assess the extent and means of web-based health information seeking among patients with cancer living in the disaster-affected area of the 2011 Fukushima triple disaster but also to compare these patterns with those without cancer, identifying distinct and shared factors influencing their web-based health information behaviors. METHODS: We surveyed 404 patients (263 with and 141 without cancer) from the surgery department outpatient office at Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, from October 2016 to January 2017. The survey included self-administered questions on internet and digital device use. Descriptive analyses were performed to examine the use patterns of digital devices and the internet and their impact on health information seeking across different age groups of patients with and without cancer. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with web-based health information seeking, stratifying by cancer diagnosis. RESULTS: The proportion of participants who sought health information on the internet was comparable between patients with cancer and patients without cancer (19% vs 17.4%; P=.71). Digital device use varied significantly with age, with peak smartphone use occurring among the youngest cohorts for both groups. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that patients with cancer using smartphones or tablets daily were significantly more likely to gather web-based health information (odds ratio [OR] for smartphones 3.73, 95% CI 1.58-8.80; OR for tablets 5.08, 95% CI 1.27-20.35). Trust in institutional websites also significantly influenced web-based health information gathering among patients with cancer (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.13-7.25). Conversely, among patients without cancer, unemployment was associated with a lower likelihood of seeking web-based health information (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.85), whereas trust in both institutional and personal websites significantly increased this likelihood (OR for institutional websites 6.76, 95% CI 2.19-20.88; OR for personal websites 6.97, 95% CI 1.49-32.58). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that a small proportion of both patients with cancer and patients without cancer engage in health information seeking via the internet, influenced by age, digital device use, and trust in institutional websites. Given the growing prevalence of digital literacy, strategies to enhance accessible and reliable web-based health information should be developed, particularly for patients with cancer in postdisaster settings. Future efforts should focus on tailored health communication strategies that address the unique needs of these populations.

Group of longitudinal adverse event patterns after the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccination with a latent class analysis.

Introduction: Vaccination has been implemented as a useful measure to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a tendency for individuals to avoid vaccination due to the possibility of adverse events, making it important to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and their adverse events. This study explored longitudinal adverse event patterns and factors that influence adverse events following the second to fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine through a latent class analysis. Methods: Participants were recruited from the Fukushima Prefecture and included individuals who had completed four doses of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. This study utilized data from questionnaire surveys and blood collection conducted between September 2021 and November 2022. In the questionnaire, factors such as sex, age, medical history, medication, type of vaccine administered, and adverse events following vaccination were recorded. Additionally, in the blood data, serological tests [IgG(S)] and cellular immune responses (T-spot) were measured. Descriptive statistics, latent class analysis, multivariable logistic regression, and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify the longitudinal adverse event patterns and influencing factors. By analyzing adverse events over time, we identified two distinct groups: those less prone to experiencing adverse events (Group 1) and those more susceptible (Group 2) to latent class analysis. Results: A total of 1,175 participants were included after excluding those without any adverse events. The median age of the participants in Group 1 was 70 years, and in Group 2 it was 51 years. The proportion of female participants was 298 in Group 1 and 353 in Group 2. Patients in Group 2 were significantly younger (p < 0.001) and more likely to be female (p < 0.001) than those in Group 1. Furthermore, the median IgG(S) value after the fourth vaccination was 3,233 AU/mL in Group 1 and 4,059.39 AU/mL in Group 2. The median T-spot value was 15.4 in Group 1 and 28.5 in Group 2. Group 2 showed significantly higher IgG(S) and T-spot values after the fourth vaccination (p < 0.001). Discussion: Our findings suggest that factors other than age, particularly sex and a history of allergies, significantly influence the likelihood of experiencing adverse events. Groups categorized by latent class analysis for longitudinal adverse events are expected to be valuable for optimizing vaccination strategies and formulating public health measures.

Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake followed by the nuclear power plant accident on the nursing students' academic progress in Soma, Fukushima, Japan: a retrospective cohort study with questionnaire survey.

BACKGROUND: The Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011 posed significant challenges to the educational sector, particularly affecting nursing students in the disaster area. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the effects of the natural disaster coupled with the nuclear accident on the nursing students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the impact of the Fukushima disasters on rate of academic failure events in nursing education. METHODS: A retrospective cohort approach was conducted, focusing on 677 students from Soma Nursing School admitted between 2001 and 2017. Four failure events-failure to pass the national examination, student retention, suspension, and withdrawal from school-were compared between three time periods: pre-disaster, early peri-disaster, and later peri-disaster. This analysis was followed by a questionnaire survey among the students and an interview with faculty members to gain further insights. RESULTS: Of the student cohort, 17% had at least one failure event. Students in the later peri-disaster phase faced an elevated failure rate at 29%. Variables such as being male, admission during later peri-disaster period, and local pre-admission residence played a significant role in these failure events in multivariate logistic regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval, p value]; 2.63 [1.49-4.64, < 0.001], 3.207 [2.00-5.15, < 0.001], and 1.84 [1.12-3.02, 0.02], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following nuclear accident on nursing education. The elevated failure rates in the later peri-disaster period emphasize the challenges posed by continuing disaster phases. Thus, there is a need for intensified and tailored strategies in nursing education in disaster-affected regions.

Long-term evacuation and obesity: a 12-year follow-up comparative study of residents inside and outside Katsurao Village after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Objective: Evacuation, owing to a disaster, impacts various aspects of an individual's life, including health status. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among residents of Katsurao Village, Fukushima Prefecture, after the evacuation order due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 was lifted in 2016 and to compare the prevalence of obesity by place of residence (inside or outside the village). Methods: The number of examinees, sex, age, place of residence, body mass index (BMI), exercise habits, smoking habits, drinking habits, and dietary status were extracted from the results of health checkups since 2016. We compared the BMI of the indigenes of Katsurao Village by place of residence (inside or outside the village) over time. Results: Although 7 years have passed since 2016, ~70% of the registered residents of Katsurao Village still live outside the village. The obesity rates have consistently been higher among people living outside the village compared to those inside, and the place of residence was the only factor significantly associated with obesity. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest early intervention is necessary to prevent health risks associated with disaster evacuation if the evacuation period is prolonged.

Physical and psychological effects of a long-term supervised self-exercise program during hemodialysis in elderly dialysis patients: A single-site pilot study in a Japanese community setting.

Self-exercise during hemodialysis reportedly prevents functional decline. This study aimed to assess the effects of exercise on physical function during hemodialysis. From September 2014 to March 2018, 35 elderly dialysis patients participated in an exercise program 3 times a week for 24 weeks during hemodialysis under staff supervision. The Short Physical Performance Battery and muscle strength test were used to measure physical function, and the Short Form Version 2 and Self-Rating Questionnaire for Depression were used to measure psychological function. For Short Physical Performance Battery, walking speed and standing time improved significantly. Other significant improvements were observed in both knee extension muscle strength and right side of grip strength. There was also an improving trend in both Short Form Version 2 and Self-Rating Questionnaire for Depression after the intervention compared with the baseline. A long-term supervised self-exercise program during dialysis led to maintenance and improvement of physical and psychological functioning in elderly dialysis patients.

Case Report: Difficulties faced by a home oxygen therapy patient who died after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident.

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011, mandatory evacuation orders were issued to residents living near the nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture, including some patients receiving home oxygen therapy. Although the vulnerability of patients with home oxygen therapy (one of the population groups most vulnerable to disasters) has been noted, there is little information on the health effects of evacuation in the event of a radiation disaster. A 90-year-old man diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease since the age of 70, and lived in a town located approximately 20 km south of the nuclear power plant, died 8 months after the disaster due to worsening health conditions. This case reveals the potential for both physical and psychological burdens experienced by vulnerable groups like patients undergoing home oxygen therapy during evacuations in times of disaster. Although it is only a case report and the information is limited, severe respiratory distress requiring home oxygen therapy may present a significant risk factor for disaster-related deaths, especially in cases where evacuations are prolonged, such as in nuclear disasters. Due to the challenge of obtaining prompt public support immediately after a disaster, home oxygen therapy patients may need to prioritize self-help and mutual assistance in their disaster preparedness efforts.

Parental Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Helicobacter Pylori Screening in Adolescents: A School-Based Questionnaire Study Among Guardians of Junior High School Students in Yokosuka City, Japan.

PURPOSE: Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, a risk factor for gastric cancer, is prevalent in Japan. Consequently, some municipalities across Japan are implementing HP screening and treatment programs for adolescents. However, little is known about parents' attitudes and awareness regarding HP screening for their children. This study aimed to elucidate parental perspectives on HP screening for their children and identify the factors influencing these attitudes. METHODS: This study focused on the parents of first-year junior high school students in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, where an HP screening and treatment program had been implemented for adolescents. The survey questionnaire was distributed among parents in all 23 public junior high schools in Yokosuka City. RESULTS: Among the 618 respondents, 86.4% supported HP screening for their children. Regression analysis identified sufficient knowledge about HP (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.80; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.10-16.03) and being in their 40s (aOR = 2.25; 95% CI, 1.35-3.77) as significant factors influencing supportive attitudes. For parents favoring the screening, common reasons included perceiving it as a promising opportunity (53.2%) and considering the test necessary (44.0%). In contrast, those who opposed screening frequently cited it as unnecessary (66.7%) or believed that their children did not have HP. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of parents in Yokosuka City, Japan, demonstrated a good understanding of HP and expressed a high level of interest in HP screening for their children. Further investigation of parents' attitudes is essential for the effective implementation of adolescent HP screening programs.

The difficulty of nuclear emergency prevention measures during natural disasters: ongoing challenges in Japan.

It is crucial to anticipate nuclear emergency scenarios and implement effective measures. Japan's climate and topography make it vulnerable to natural disasters; thus, it is necessary to address compounding and cascading disaster scenarios involving the simultaneous occurrence of natural and nuclear disasters. On 1 January 2024, an earthquake hit the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, resulting in damage to the area around the Shika Nuclear Power Plant, located 90 km from the epicenter. This earthquake revealed that, in the event of a complex disaster, it is possible that residents living within 30 km of the Shika Nuclear Power Plant will be completely unprepared for a nuclear disaster. In the event of a complex disaster, it is crucial to implement appropriate countermeasures while balancing responses to both nuclear and natural disasters and optimizing radiation disaster prevention measures.

Primary care clinic visits in formerly evacuated areas due to radiation disaster following the Great East Japan Earthquake: A retrospective descriptive study.

Radiation disasters pose distinctive medical challenges, requiring diverse care approaches. Beyond radiation exposure assessment, addressing health impacts due to lifestyle changes, especially among vulnerable populations, is vital. Evacuation orders issued in radiation-affected areas introduce unique healthcare dynamics, with their duration significantly influencing the recovery process. Understanding evolving patient demographics and medical needs after lifting evacuation orders is crucial for post-disaster care planning. Minamisoma Municipal Odaka Hospital, located 13 to 20 km from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power plant in a post-evacuation zone, was greatly affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent radiation disaster. Data were retrospectively collected from patient records, including age, gender, visit date, diagnoses, and addresses. Patient records from April 2014 to March 2020 were analyzed, comparing data before and after the July 2016 evacuation order lift. Data was categorized into pre and post-evacuation order lifting periods, using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition codes, to identify the top diseases. Statistical analyses, including χ-square tests, assessed changes in disease distributions. Population data for Odaka Ward and Minamisoma City fluctuated after lifting evacuation orders. As of March 11, 2011, Odaka Ward had 12,842 residents (27.8% aged 65+ years), dropping to 8406 registered residents and 2732 actual residents by April 30, 2018 (49.7%). Minamisoma City also saw declines, with registered residents decreasing from 71,561 (25.9%) to 61,049 (34.1%). The study analyzed 11,100 patients, mostly older patients (75.1%), between 2014 and 2020. Post-lifting, monthly patient numbers surged from an average of 55.2 to 213.5, with female patients increasing from 33.8% to 51.7%. Disease patterns shifted, with musculoskeletal cases declining from 23.8% to 13.0%, psychiatric disorders increasing from 9.3% to 15.4%, and trauma-related cases decreasing from 14.3% to 3.9%. Hypertension (57.1%) and dyslipidemia (29.2%) prevailed post-lifting. Urgent cases decreased from 1.3% to 0.1%. This study emphasizes the importance of primary care in post-evacuation zones, addressing diverse medical needs, including trauma, noncommunicable diseases, and psychiatric disorders. Changing patient demographics require adaptable healthcare strategies and resource allocation to meet growing demands. Establishing a comprehensive health maintenance system tailored to these areas' unique challenges is crucial for future disaster recovery efforts.

Two-Year-Span Breast Cancer Screening Uptake in Japan after the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Association with the COVID-19 Vaccination.

There is limited information on whether the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with decreased breast cancer screening uptake and if COVID-19 vaccination was associated with an increase in screening uptake. Our study explored the uptake of breast cancer screening in Japan after the COVID-19 pandemic and assessed its association with the COVID-19 vaccination. We analyzed data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), a web-based prospective cohort survey, and we included 6110 women without cancer history who were aged 40 to 74 years that participated in the 2012 and 2022 surveys. We examined the regular breast cancer screening uptake before and after the pandemic and employed a multivariable Poisson regression model to seek any association between COVID-19 vaccination and screening uptake. Of 6110, 38.2% regularly participated in screening before the pandemic and 46.9% did so after the pandemic. Individuals unvaccinated due to health reasons (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.29-0.77, p = 0.003) and for other reasons (IRR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62-0.86, p < 0.001) were less likely to undergo screening compared to fully vaccinated individuals. There was no long-term decrease in breast cancer screening uptake after the pandemic in Japan. Vaccination was linked to increased uptake, but there was no dose relationship.

Modeling and predicting individual variation in COVID-19 vaccine-elicited antibody response in the general population.

As we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines are one of the most important tools in infectious disease control. To date, an unprecedentedly large volume of high-quality data on COVID-19 vaccinations have been accumulated. For preparedness in future pandemics beyond COVID-19, these valuable datasets should be analyzed to best shape an effective vaccination strategy. We are collecting longitudinal data from a community-based cohort in Fukushima, Japan, that consists of 2,407 individuals who underwent serum sampling two or three times after a two-dose vaccination with either BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273. Using the individually reconstructed time courses of the vaccine-elicited antibody response based on mathematical modeling, we first identified basic demographic and health information that contributed to the main features of the antibody dynamics, i.e., the peak, the duration, and the area under the curve. We showed that these three features of antibody dynamics were partially explained by underlying medical conditions, adverse reactions to vaccinations, and medications, consistent with the findings of previous studies. We then applied to these factors a recently proposed computational method to optimally fit an "antibody score", which resulted in an integer-based score that can be used as a basis for identifying individuals with higher or lower antibody titers from basic demographic and health information. The score can be easily calculated by individuals themselves or by medical practitioners. Although the sensitivity of this score is currently not very high, in the future, as more data become available, it has the potential to identify vulnerable populations and encourage them to get booster vaccinations. Our mathematical model can be extended to any kind of vaccination and therefore can form a basis for policy decisions regarding the distribution of booster vaccines to strengthen immunity in future pandemics.

Understanding Reasons for Vaccination Hesitancy and Implementing Effective Countermeasures: An Online Survey of Individuals Unvaccinated against COVID-19.

This online survey of unvaccinated people living in Japan aimed to identify the reasons for declining vaccination and to develop effective countermeasures. We conducted a hierarchical class analysis to classify participants, examine factors influencing their classification, and provide the information they needed about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and trusted sources of COVID-19 information for each group. A total of 262 participants were classified into three groups: Group 1 with no specific reason (28 participants, 10.69%); Group 2 with clear concerns about trust in the vaccine (85 participants, 32.44%), and Group 3 with attitudinal barriers, such as distrust of the vaccine and complacency towards COVID-19, and structural barriers, such as vaccination appointments (149 participants, 56.87%). For each group, females tended to be classified in Group 2 more than Group 1 (Odds ratio (OR) [95% confidential intervals (95%CI)] = 1.64 (0.63 to 2.66), p = 0.001) and in Group 3 more than Group 1 (OR [95%CI] = 1.16 (0.19 to 2.12), p = 0.019). The information that the participants wanted to know about COVID-19 was different among each group (Safety: p < 0.001, Efficacy: p < 0.001, Genetic effects: p < 0.001). Those who did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine also had lower influenza vaccination coverage (8.02%). Additionally, 38 participants (14.50%) were subject to social disadvantages because they had not received the COVID-19 vaccine. Countermeasures should be carefully tailored according to the target population, reasons for hesitancy, and specific context. The findings of this study may help develop individualized countermeasures to address vaccine hesitancy.

Awareness of disaster preparedness between administrative staff and residents in the vicinity of the Genkai and Ikata nuclear power plants following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster.

When considering disaster preparedness, one challenge is mitigating the health impacts of evacuations. Nuclear disaster preparedness has evolved based on past experiences from numerous disasters, including the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reporting on the awareness of administrative staff, medical personnel, and residents in the areas surrounding nuclear power plants (NPPs). This study reports on a survey aimed at gaining insights into the understanding and current state of disaster preparedness and elucidating the differences in perceptions of nuclear disaster preparedness among the relevant stakeholders surrounding NPPs. Interview surveys were conducted from 14 to 16 September 2022 in the area surrounding Kyushu Electric Power's Genkai NPP in Saga Prefecture and from 11 to 13 January 2023 in the area around Shikoku Electric Power's Ikata NPP. The surveys targeted administrative, medical, and nursing care facilities and residents. Responses from 57 participants indicated a lack of awareness of natural and nuclear disasters, challenges in evacuation planning, and a gap between nuclear disaster training and residents' understanding of evacuation protocols. This study highlights inadequacies in nuclear disaster preparedness and the need for a better understanding among residents regarding evacuation procedures. This study identified three key issues: (1) a lack of awareness about disasters, including nuclear disasters; (2) concerns about complex disasters and the difficulties in creating evacuation plans; and (3) a discrepancy between nuclear disaster training and residents' understanding of evacuation procedures. To bridge this gap, it is important to deepen residents' understanding of nuclear disasters, continuously convey the lessons learned from the FDNPP accident, and regularly reassess and update nuclear disaster preparedness strategies.

2022 Fukushima Medical University International Symposium on the Fukushima Health Management Survey Build Back Better, Together. "Science for Society: Advancing Fukushima's Well-Being".

The Fukushima Medical University (FMU) International Symposium on the Fukushima Health Management Survey (FHMS) convened for the fourth time in March 2022 to share FHMS findings within Fukushima and beyond. Dr. TAKENOSHITA Seiichi, FMU President, underscored Fukushima's restoration journey, while Governor UCHIBORI Masao committed to partnering with FMU for residents' welfare.The Introduction by Dr. KAMIYA Kenji highlighted FHMS results for more than 460,000 participants, of whom 99.8% were exposed to radiation doses below 5 mSv post-accident. Thyroid examinations detected tumors, but no dose-response relationship was found. The Comprehensive Health Check showed increased lifestyle-related diseases among evacuees, with improvements in some health markers. Mental health issues initially prevalent after the accident decreased over time, and perinatal outcomes were consistent with national data.Session 1 focused on radiation effects in Fukushima. The UNSCEAR 2020 Report indicated significantly reduced radiation exposure estimates and negligible cancer risks. Studies from Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Chernobyl found no radiation-induced genetic effects.Session 2 explored post-disaster well-being, emphasizing the evolution of psychological responses. Practices like Psychological First Aid (PFA) and emotional resilience promotion were highlighted. Katsurao Village's post-evacuation health measures addressed lifestyle diseases, but faced challenges. The WHO framework for mental health and psychosocial support in nuclear emergencies emphasized the importance of mental health care throughout all disaster phases.The symposium facilitated valuable insights, underlining comprehensive health strategies and the significance of long-term studies for Fukushima's recovery and health management.

Diminished neutralizing activity against the XBB1.5 strain in 55.9% of individuals post 6 months COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccination: insights from a pseudovirus assay on 1,353 participants in the Fukushima vaccination community survey, Japan.

This study investigates the neutralizing activity against the XBB1.5 variant and the ancestral strain in a population post-bivalent vaccination using a pseudo virus assay validated with authentic virus assay. While bivalent booster vaccination and past infections enhanced neutralization against the XBB 1.5 strain, individuals with comorbidities showed reduced responses. The study suggests the need for continuous vaccine updates to address emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and highlights the importance of monitoring real-world immune responses.

Comparing the risks of environmental carcinogenic chemicals in Japan using the loss of happy life expectancy indicator.

In this study, we aimed to use the loss of happy life expectancy (LHpLE), an indicator that enables risk assessment considering wellbeing, to compare the risks of environmental carcinogenic chemicals in Japan. First, we surveyed Japanese people to determine their emotional happiness by age and sex and evaluated whether cancer incidence reduced emotional happiness. Questionnaires were administered to a general population panel and a panel of patients with cancer in 2022, recruiting a predetermined number of responses of 5000 and 850, respectively. Second, using the survey data, LHpLE was calculated for radon, arsenic, and fine particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm; PM2.5) and compared to psychological distress, considering increased mortality and decreased emotional happiness due to these risks. We discovered no significant decrease in emotional happiness due to cancer incidence and no significant associations between emotional happiness and cancer type, history, or stage. LHpLE was calculated to be 6.4 × 10-3 years for radon, 2.6 × 10-3 years for arsenic, 1.1 × 10-2 years (2012 exposure) and 8.6 × 10-4 years (2020 exposure) for PM2.5, and 9.7 × 10-1 years for psychological distress. The fraction of losses caused by these carcinogenic chemicals to HpLE exceeded 10-5, suggesting that risk reduction for these chemicals is important in environmental policies. The LHpLE indicator allows for comparing different types of risks, such as environmental chemicals and psychological distress. This is the first study to compare chemical risks using the LHpLE indicator.