Longitudinal Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Workers 32 Months After the Nuclear Disaster: The Fukushima News Project Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to predict increased alcohol and tobacco use in Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) workers 3 years after a nuclear disaster. METHODS: Surveys were conducted in two postdisaster waves (Wave 1: 2 to 3 months; Wave 2: 32 months). Adjusted risk ratio (aRR) was computed to assess the covariates of increased alcohol and tobacco use in Wave 2. RESULTS: Increased alcohol use was associated with age of 29 years or less [aRR (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.26 (1.01 to 1.57)], major property loss [1.25 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.55)], and high posttraumatic stress responses (PTSRs) [1.34 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.67)] in Wave 1. Increased tobacco use was associated with age of 29 years or less [1.46 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.90)] and high PTSR [1.62 (95% CI 1.25 to 2.10)] in Wave 1 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The workers' increased alcohol and tobacco use were predicted by major property loss (alcohol), age of 29 years or less, and high PTSR (alcohol/tobacco) in Wave 1.

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor 2 Gene Variants in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and regulates the stress response through two CRH receptors (R1 and R2). Previously, we reported that a CRHR1 gene polymorphism (rs110402, rs242924, and rs7209436) and haplotypes were associated with IBS. However, the association between the CRHR2 gene and IBS was not investigated. We tested the hypothesis that genetic polymorphisms and haplotypes of CRHR2 are associated with IBS pathophysiology and negative emotion in IBS patients. METHODS: A total of 142 IBS patients and 142 healthy controls participated in this study. Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CRHR2 gene (rs4722999, rs3779250, rs2240403, rs2267710, rs2190242, rs2284217, and rs2284220) were genotyped. Subjects' psychological states were evaluated using the Perceived-Stress Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Self-Rating Depression Scale. RESULTS: We found that rs4722999 and rs3779250, located in intronic region, were associated with IBS in terms of genotype frequency (rs4722999: P = 0.037; rs3779250: P = 0.017) and that the distribution of the major allele was significantly different between patients and controls. There was a significant group effect (controls vs. IBS), and a CRHR2 genotype effect was observed for three psychological scores, but the interaction was not significant. We found a haplotype of four SNPs (rs4722999, rs3779250, rs2240403, and rs2267710) and two SNPs (rs2284217 and rs2284220) in strong linkage disequilibrium (D' > 0.90). We also found that haplotypes of the CRHR2 gene were significantly different between IBS patients and controls and that they were associated with negative emotion. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the hypothesis that genetic polymorphisms and haplotypes of CRHR2 are related to IBS. In addition, we found associations between CRHR2 genotypes and haplotypes and negative emotion in IBS patients and controls. Further studies on IBS and the CRH system are warranted.

Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism Modulates Activity and Connectivity within an Emotional Arousal Network of Healthy Men during an Aversive Visceral Stimulus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has been linked to increased stress responsiveness and negative emotional states. During fearful face recognition individuals with the s allele of 5-HTTLPR show greater amygdala activation. We aimed to test the hypothesis that the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism differentially affects connectivity within brain networks during an aversive visceral stimulus. METHODS: Twenty-three healthy male subjects were enrolled. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood. The genotype of 5-HTTLPR was determined using polymerase chain reaction. Subjects with the s/s genotype (n = 13) were compared to those with the l allele (genotypes l/s, l/l, n = 10). Controlled rectal distension from 0 to 40 mmHg was delivered in random order using a barostat. Radioactive H2[15-O] saline was injected at time of distension followed by positron emission tomography (PET). Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) and structural equation modeling (SEM). RESULTS: During baseline, subjects with s/s genotype demonstrated a significantly increased negative influence of pregenual ACC (pACC) on amygdala activity compared to l-carriers. During inflation, subjects with s/s genotype demonstrated a significantly greater positive influence of hippocampus on amygdala activity compared to l-carriers. CONCLUSION: In male Japanese subjects, individuals with s/s genotype show alterations in the connectivity of brain regions involved in stress responsiveness and emotion regulation during aversive visceral stimuli compared to those with l carriers.

Continuous administration of poloxamer 188 reduces overload-induced muscular atrophy in dysferlin-deficient SJL mice.

Dysferlin-deficient SJL mice are commonly used to study dysferlinopathy. We demonstrated that poloxamer 188 (P188), a membrane sealant, is effective in reducing the loss of muscle mass in SJL mice when administered using an osmotic pump for 6 weeks. We did not observe significant changes over a 2-week administration period, suggesting that longthier observation is necessary to determine the effectiveness of P188. We also examined exercise endurance in P188-administered SJL mice using a rolling cage. Phosphorylated p38 was found to be reduced in P188-administered SJL mice; additionally, using microarray analysis, we found diminished expression of atrogin-1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, as the effector of muscular atrophy. Chronic infusion of P188 to dysferlin-deficient SJL mice reduced muscular atrophy, and administering p38 and atrogin-1 in the gastrocnemius muscle improved its motor function. These results provide a basis for potential treatments for dysferlin-deficient skeletal muscle fibers.