Association of Sources of Worry and Stress with Smoking in Japan: Findings from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2010.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine which sources of worry and stress are associated with smoking behavior and if these associations are varied by gender. Methods: The anonymous data of 28,588 men and 30,813 women aged 20-79 years old in Japan were analyzed. We defined the subjects who chose "smoking everyday" as "smokers." We also assessed 20 sources of worry and stress. Multivariable odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of smoking for each source of worry and stress were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Results: We found significant association of financial stress with smoking behavior in both genders. The multivariable OR (95% CI) of smoking according to stress from financial stress was 1.22 (1.15-1.31) in men and 1.66 (1.53-1.80) in women. Moreover, the OR of smoking according to stress from human relationships and job affairs was significantly higher for women. Conclusion: We found that some sources of worry and stress were related to smoking behavior and these associations were found to be gender-specific.

Successful intrathecal neurolytic block for the management of cancer pain in a 10-year-old child: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cancer pain management in children is challenging owing to their unique patient characteristics. We present the case of a 10-year-old girl whose cancer pain was successfully managed using an intrathecal neurolytic block. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient experienced severe cancer pain due to recurrent right ilium osteosarcoma. The tumor progressed rapidly despite chemoradiotherapy and gradually invaded the right lumbar plexus, which resulted in severe neuropathic pain in the right lower extremity. Systemic analgesics failed to attenuate the pain. We performed an intrathecal neurolytic block using 10% phenol-glycerol. The neurolytic block completely relieved her right lower extremity pain. After the block, the patient's quality of life improved, and she spent her time with family. CONCLUSIONS: The intrathecal neurolytic block successfully relieved the patient's cancer pain. Successful intrathecal neurolytic blocks require meticulous pain assessment of individual patients, to avoid possible serious complications such as paresis/paralysis and bladder/bowel dysfunction.

Association of employment and company size with lung cancer screening participation among Japanese based on the socioeconomic conditions using the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of non-regularly employed persons has increased in Japan, but few studies have examined the relationship between employment status and lung cancer screening (LCS) participation. METHODS: Authors analyzed data from the 2010 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan. The anonymous responses of 28,951 people aged 40-69 years old were analyzed. Authors defined nine employment status categories: unemployed, regularly employed in a large-, middle-, and small-scale company, non-regularly employed in a large-, middle-, and small-scale company, self-employed, and other. LCS participation in the past year was surveyed through a self-reported questionnaire. Sex-specific prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for LCS participation for all employment status categories, using the regularly employed in a middle-scale company category as the reference, were calculated using multivariable Poisson regression analysis, after adjusting for potentially confounding factors. RESULTS: Multivariable-adjusted PRs (95% CI) for LCS participation for the regularly employed in a large-scale company were 1.33 (1.25-1.41) in men and 1.53 (1.38-1.71) in women. Multivariable-adjusted PRs (95% CI) for LCS participation for the non-regularly employed in a middle- and small-scale company compared with the regularly employed in a middle-scale company were 0.81 (0.72-0.92) and 0.62 (0.50-0.76) in men, and 0.89 (0.80-0.99) and 0.80 (0.71-0.91) in women, respectively. CONCLUSION: Regularly employed in a large-scale company had significantly higher LCS participation, and non-regularly employed in a middle- or small-scale company showed significantly lower LCS participation than those who were regularly employed in a middle-scale company.

Association between unemployment and insomnia-related symptoms based on the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions: a large cross-sectional Japanese population survey.

This study examined whether employment category was associated with insomnia-related symptoms (IRS). We analyzed the 2010 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan. The anonymous data of 43,865 people ranging from 20-59 yr of age were analyzed. We defined six employment categories: regularly employed, non-regularly employed, self-employed, others, unemployed and not in the labor force. Sex-specific odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of IRS were calculated using multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted for confounding factors. We further conducted stratified analyses by mental illness, smoking status, and age. For men, the multivariable ORs (95% CI) of IRS for the unemployed and those who were not in the labor force were 2.5 (1.8-3.4) and 2.1 (1.2-3.7). For women, the multivariable ORs (95% CI) for the unemployed was 1.9 (1.5-2.5). After being stratified by mental illness, we found that the associations were not significant in persons with mental illness, and were more evident in persons without mental illness. Smoking and age did not modify the associations. In conclusion, we found a significantly higher OR of IRS for the unemployed, and men who were not in the labor force. These associations were particularly more evident for individuals without mental illness.

Association of beer consumption with arsenic concentration in urine: a result from a cross-sectional study of the general Japanese population.

OBJECTIVES: The first aim of this study was to evaluate the association between time spent living near a contaminated area and concentration of arsenic (As) compounds in the urine among study subjects. The second aim is to assess the association between consumption of various foods or beverages and As concentration in urine among them. METHODS: Urine sampling was performed on 177 persons who voluntarily participated in the survey in May 2014. The median value of the sum of inorganic As (iAs) and total As (tAs) compounds was used for us to divide into two groups, such as the high and low iAs and high and low tAs groups. We analyzed data separately in two-age strata of age group A (the subjects <18 years old), and age group B (the subjects ≥18 years old). A multivariate analysis was performed with the logistic regression model to adjust for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: No link between time spent living near a contaminated area and urinary As concentration was observed in our study. For age group B, frequently drinking beer was significantly associated with risk of being in the high tAs group (p = 0.008). Compared to not drinking beer, odds ratios (95 % confidence intervals) of drinking beer <1 or 2 times per week, and drinking beer ≥3 or 4 times per week were 3.09 (1.32-7.24) and 3.00 (1.02-8.80), respectively, after adjusting for age, sex, and smoking index. CONCLUSION: Frequent consumption of beer may be associated with high tAs in age group B.