Measurement of Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE), BADGE derivatives, and Bisphenol F Diglycidyl Ether (BFDGE) in Japanese infants with NICU hospitalization history.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and Bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE) are used in medical devices, such as intravenous sets, syringes, and catheters. Several studies have reported that these compounds are endocrine disruptors, cytotoxic, and genotoxic, raising concerns about their adverse effects on infants, in a stage of remarkable growth and development. The present study aimed to measure the serum concentrations of BADGE, derivatives of BADGE, and BFDGE in infants and examine the factors that influence them. METHODS: Ten infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were enrolled in the present study. Blood samples from each infant and questionnaires from their mothers were collected twice, at 1-2 months and 7 months of age. BADGE, BADGE·H2O, BADGE·2H2O, and BFDGE were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: Serum BADGE·2H2O was identified in all infants, at both 1-2 months (2.30-157.58 ng/ml) and 7 months of age (0.86-122.85 ng/ml). One of the two infants who received invasive ventilation showed a substantially increased BADGE·2H2O concentration. There was no significant difference in BADGE·2H2O concentrations at 7 months of age between the group that ate commercial baby food at least ≥ 1 time per week and the group that did not. CONCLUSIONS: BADGE·2H2O was detected in the serum of all infants with a history of NICU hospitalization. Future studies are needed to determine the source of BADGE exposure and investigate its effects on infant development.

Sociodemographic factors affecting not receiving COVID-19 vaccine in Japan among people who originally intended to vaccinate: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Vaccine hesitancy is a major issue for acquiring herd immunity. However, some individuals may go unvaccinated owing to inhibitory factors other than vaccine hesitancy. If there is even a small number of such people, support is needed for equitable vaccine distribution and acquiring herd immunity. We investigated sociodemographic factors that affected not undergoing COVID-19 vaccination in Japan among individuals who had strong intention to vaccinate before beginning the vaccination. Methods: We conducted this prospective cohort study on workers aged 20-65 years from December 2020 (baseline), to December 2021 using a self-administered questionnaire survey. There were 27,036 participants at baseline and 18,560 at follow-up. We included 6,955 participants who answered yes to this question at baseline: "Would you like to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available?" We applied multilevel logistic regression analyses to examine the association between sociodemographic factors and being unvaccinated at follow-up. Results: In all, 289 participants (4.2%) went unvaccinated. The odds ratios (ORs) for being unvaccinated were significantly higher for participants aged 30-39 and 40-49 than those aged 60-65 years. Being divorced, widowed, or single, having low income, and having COVID-19 infection experience also had higher ORs. Discussion: We found that some participants who initially had strong intention to vaccinate may have gone unvaccinated owing to vaccine side effects and the financial impact of absenteeism due to side effects. It is necessary to provide information repeatedly about the need for vaccination as well as social support to ensure that those who intend to vaccinate are able to do so when aiming for acquiring herd immunity through vaccination against COVID-19 as well as other potential infection pandemics in the future.

Association between maternal fish consumption during pregnancy and preterm births: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

BACKGROUND: Fish are a rich source of essential nutrients that protect against preterm birth. However, as fish can absorb environmental pollutants, their consumption can also increase the risk of preterm birth. This study aimed to assess whether maternal fish consumption during pregnancy is associated with preterm birth in a nationwide large Japanese cohort that consumed relatively high amounts and many types of fish. METHODS: This study included 81,428 mother-child pairs enrolled in a nationwide prospective Japanese birth cohort study. Fish consumption was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the association of total consumption of fish, fatty fish and lean fish, fish paste, and seafood and clams with preterm birth, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: There was no association between overall fish consumption and preterm births. However, the highest quintile of fish paste consumption was significantly associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (odds ratio [OR]: 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI: 1.04, 1.17]). The consumption of baked fish paste at least three times per week was significantly associated with preterm birth (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.40). Consumption of other types of fish, except fish paste, was not significantly associated with preterm birth risk. CONCLUSIONS: Fish paste consumption may increase the risk of preterm birth. Further studies are required to confirm this association.

The effect of mask fit test on the association between the concentration of metals in biological samples and the results of time-weighted average personal exposure: A study on Japanese male welders.

OBJECTIVES: The mask fit test confirms whether the wearing condition of the wearer's face and the facepiece of the respirators are used appropriately. This study aimed to examine whether the results of the mask fit test affect the association between the concentration of metals related to welding fumes in biological samples and the results of time-weighted average (TWA) personal exposures. METHODS: A total of 94 male welders were recruited. Blood and urine samples were obtained from all participants to measure the metal exposure levels. Using personal exposure measurements, the 8-h TWA (8 h-TWA) of respirable dust, TWA of respirable Mn, and 8-h TWA of respirable Mn were calculated. The mask fit test was performed using the quantitative method specified in the Japanese Industrial Standard T8150:2021. RESULTS: Fifty-four participants (57%) passed the mask fit test. Only in the Fail group of the mask fit test, it was observed that blood Mn concentrations be positively associated with the results of TWA personal exposure after adjusting for multivariate factors (8-h TWA of respirable dust; coefficient, 0.066; standard error (SE), 0.028; P = 0.018, TWA of respirable Mn: coefficient, 0.048; SE, 0.020; P = 0.019, 8 h-TWA of respirable Mn: coefficient, 0.041; SE, 0.020; P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: The results clarify that welders with high concentrations of welding fumes in their breathing air zone are exposed to dust and Mn if there is leaking air owing to the lack of fitness between respirators and the wearer's face when using human samples in Japan.

Associations between welding fume exposure and neurological function in Japanese male welders and non-welders.

OBJECTIVES: There are some studies reporting the association between (manganese [Mn]) exposure to welding fume and neurological dysfunction. This study examined the relationship between Mn exposure and neurological behavior in Japanese male welders and non-welders using biological samples, which to date has not been assessed in Japan. METHODS: A total of 94 male welders and 95 male non-welders who worked in the same factories were recruited. The blood and urine samples were obtained from all the participants to measure Mn exposure levels. Neurological function tests were also conducted with all participants. The sampling of the breathing air zone using a personal sampler was measured for welders only. RESULTS: The odds ratios (ORs) for the Working Memory Index (WMI) scores were significantly higher among all participants in the low blood Mn concentration group than those in the high blood Mn concentration group (OR, 2.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24, 6.19; P = .013). The association of WMI scores and blood Mn levels in welders had the highest OR (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.04, 13.38; P = .043). Although not statistically significant, a mild relationship between WMI scores and blood Mn levels was observed in non-welders (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 0.63, 6.94; P = .227). CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed a significant positive relationship between blood Mn and neurological dysfunction in welders. Furthermore, non-welders at the same factories may be secondarily exposed to welding fumes. Further research is needed to clarify this possibility.

Psychological Distress, Japanese Teleworkers, and Supervisor Support During COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, teleworking became the new workplace norm, creating a new challenge for workplace communication. This study investigated the association between source-specific workplace social support and psychological distress among Japanese teleworkers and nonteleworkers. METHODS: A total of 15,045 workers were extracted from a cross-sectional web-based survey that assessed psychological distress, workplace social support from supervisors and coworkers. After grouping participants into four groups based on their positions (managers, staff members) and teleworking arrangements (teleworking, nonteleworking), multiple logistic regression analyses were performed separately. RESULTS: Teleworkers with less supervisor support demonstrated the highest risk of psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio = 2.55, P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient supervisor support for teleworking staff members may be a key occupational risk factor for psychological distress in the postpandemic future.

Association between Perceived Organizational Support for Infection Prevention and Work Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Japanese Workers: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Although the correlation between perceived organizational support (POS) and work engagement has been investigated in several studies, the relationship between health-focused POS and work engagement has not been clarified. We prospectively evaluated the influence of workers' POS for infection prevention (POS-IP) on employees' work engagement. This prospective cohort study was conducted from December 2020 (baseline) to December 2021 (1-year follow-up) using a self-administered internet questionnaire. At follow-up, there were 18,560 respondents, and after excluding 6677 respondents who had changed jobs or retired since baseline or who were self-employed; thus, 11,883 participants were included in the analysis. We asked participants a single question on POS-IP and the three-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-3), and then analyzed the relationship between POS-IP at baseline and UWES-3 at follow-up using multilevel regression analysis. Work engagement at follow-up was significantly higher in the groups with "low", "high", and "very high" POS-IP at baseline as compared with the "very low" group (all, p < 0.001). A dose-response relationship was also observed between the POS-IP categories at baseline and work engagement at follow-up (p for trend < 0.001). During the COVID-19 pandemic, POS-IP can increase work engagement after 1 year.

A prospective cohort study of presenteeism and poverty among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association of presenteeism with experiences of poverty among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of Japanese workers was conducted using an Internet monitoring survey. The baseline survey was conducted in December 2020, and a follow-up survey in December 2021. Of the 27 036 workers who participated, 18 560 (68.7%) completed the follow-up survey. The 11 081 who reported that they were not in financial difficulty in the baseline survey were included in the analysis. The degree of work functioning impairment was assessed at baseline using the Work Functioning Impairment Scale (WFun). Households' experience of not being able to pay for food and clothing was identified in the follow-up survey. The odds ratios (ORs) of presenteeism determined by WFun associated with poverty were estimated using a multilevel logistic model. The multivariate model included age, sex, marital status, job type, income, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, number of employees in the workplace, and the incidence rate of COVID-19 by prefecture at baseline. RESULTS: In the multivariate model, the odds ratio of experiencing food insecurity increased with high WFun score: compared with WFun scores of 13 or less, the OR was 1.87 (95% CI: 1.43-2.43, P < .001) for WFun scores of 14 or more and 3.26 (95% CI: 2.58-4.12, P < .001) for WFun scores of 21 or more. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to labor productivity, the adverse effects of presenteeism on social security-related concerns such as poverty require further attention.

Impact of High Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy on Oral Feeding in Very Low Birth Weight Infants with Chronic Lung Disease.

Previous studies on high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) focused on comparing HFNC with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) to determine the usefulness of HFNC as a backup in the case of extubation failure and nasal trauma; however, the studies did not consider oral feeding. This retrospective case-control study aimed at elucidating whether HFNC could prevent the delay in feeding and achievement of full oral feeding in VLBWIs with chronic lung disease (CLD). Forty five VLBWIs were enrolled in this study: an HFNC group (n = 11) that was supported by HFNC at oral feeding initiation, and a non-HFNC group (n = 34) that could start oral feeding without HFNC. The gestational age and birth weight of the HFNC group were lower than those in the non-HFNC group. The median duration of exposure to oxygen and neonatal intensive care unit stay were comparable in both groups. The timings of oral feeding initiation and full oral feeding achievement in both groups were not significantly different: 35.3 (33.0 - 38.1) vs. 35.5 (33.7 - 42.4) weeks (P = 0.91) for the HFNC and 38.6 (34.4 - 42.3) vs. 36.7 (34.6 - 44.4) weeks postmenstrual age (P = 0.29) for the non-HFNC. Clinically significant aspiration pneumonia during the period of oral feeding was not observed in the HFNC group. Respiratory support by HFNC in VLBWIs with CLD might prevent oral feeding delay. Initiation of oral feeding of VLBWIs on HFNC might be safe and might accelerate the achievement of oral feeding milestones.

[A Pediatric Case of Xanthogranuloma in the Suprasellar Region Detected by a Severe Short Stature after 6 Years Growth Failure].

Here we report a case of a 12-year-old girl who was referred to our department because of marked short stature of more than -5 SD below the median. Although her growth failure began suddenly at 6 years of age, she never had an examination because she had no other symptoms. Brain MRI examination suggested a tumor in the suprasellar region, and endocrine examination revealed combined pituitery hormone deficiency due to the tumor. Before surgery, the supplementation with hydrocortisone and levothyroxine was initiated. The pathological diagnosis of the surgically removed tumor was xanthogranuloma. The pattern of her growth curve showed a growth failure with sudden onset, which is a typical pattern of short stature secondary to pituitary disfunction including growth hormone deficiency associated with brain tumors. This case suggests that growth failure could be the only symptom in pediatric cases with brain tumors. Improved awareness regarding the association of growth failure with brain tumors is needed for earlier diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the growth curves should be carefully evaluated in regular health examinations at school.

[Evaluation of Clinical Features and Growth Hormone Deficiency in Short Children Born Small For Gestational Age].

Growth hormone (GH) therapy for short children born small for gestational age (SGA) has been approved in Japan. It is important to evaluate GH secretion ability before the initiation of GH therapy because there are some differences in dose and medical expenses between short children born SGA and GH deficiency (GHD). This study was designed to elucidate the incidence of GHD and to find a useful marker for detecting it in short SGA children. We retrospectively reviewed medical records to analyze the clinical features of short children born SGA and with GHD who had started GH therapy before the age of 6 in the University Hospital of Occupational and Environmental Health and Kyushu Rousai Hospital. Nine of 22 SGA subjects (41%) had GHD. There were no significant differences between two groups of short SGA children (GHD, non-GHD) in the median of height and serum insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-1 levels at birth or at the start of GH therapy. The probability of GHD was higher if the height standard deviation scores (SD) of the SGA children were lower than -3.2 (odds ratio, 11.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.52 - 89.1, P = 0.013). This study showed that there is an approximately 40% incidence of GHD in short SGA children needing GH treatment. We should do GH stimulation tests for short SGA children whose height SD is lower than -3 to determine the appropriate GH therapy.