Early menarche and adult major depressive disorder among Japanese women: The role of childhood traumatic experience and socioeconomic conditions in young adulthood.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the long-term impact of early menarche with adult depression, and to assess whether this association was explained by childhood traumatic experience and socioeconomic condition in early adulthood. Methods: The data were derived from World Mental Health Survey Japan Second, a cross-sectional survey conducted among Japanese community residents between 2013 and 2015. We used the data of female respondents aged 20-75 years (N = 1171). Hazard ratio (HR) of the onset of major depression up to 40 years was calculated for an early-menarche group and a non-early-menarche group, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank statistics were used to examine the difference in failure. Cox proportional hazard models were administered for the association of major depression with early-menarche and early-life psychosocial factors. Results: Risk for major depressive disorders were three to four times higher in an early-menarche group, and the differences in survival functions were significant (p < 0.001). HR of early menarche was 2.79 (95% CI = 1.29-6.02), and was slightly changed when childhood traumatic experience and socioeconomic conditions in young adulthood were added in the model (HR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.30-6.38; HR = 3.19, 95% CI = 1.41-7.21). Conclusion: Early menarche was significantly associated with increased risk for depression by the age of 40 years. Childhood trauma and socioeconomic hardship in early adulthood did not account for the association. Both physical and psychosocial risk factors in early life need to be addressed for preventing women's depression.

Comorbidity and sociodemographic characteristics of adult autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: epidemiological investigation in the World Mental Health Japan 2nd Survey.

Objectives: The present study aims to examine sociodemographic correlates and comorbid mental disorders among adult with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) using the national representative data of Japan. Methods: Analysis was conducted on the cross-sectional data derived from the World Mental Health Japan Survey 2, whose participants were community residents aged 20-75 years old. Multiple logistic regression was conducted on the data of those who were assessed for adult ASD (N = 2227) and ADHD (N = 2297). The association of adult ASD/ADHD with sociodemographics, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, suicide ideation, hikikomori (social withdrawal), and internet addiction was examined, adjusting for sex and age. Gender difference in the association was also assessed based on the interaction terms of sex. Results: None of the sociodemographics characteristics were significantly associated with adult ASD/ADHD. ADHD had increased risks for a variety of mental disorders, having the highest odds ratios for social phobia. However, a significant positive association was limited to social phobia and to drug abuse and dependence among those with adult ASD. Hikikomori and internet addiction were positively associated with ASD/ADHD, while suicide ideation was only associated with ADHD. Women with ADHD were more likely to have any one of mental disorders, as well as alcohol abuse and dependence, compared to men with ADHD. Conclusions: Adults with ASD/ADHD in Japan had increased mental health needs. The specific needs of women with ADHD should be also considered in future clinical work and research.

Prevalence, treatment, and the correlates of common mental disorders in the mid 2010's in Japan: The results of the world mental health Japan 2nd survey.

BACKGROUND: Despite numerous changes in the mental health care system in Japan in 2000's, little is known about changes in the prevalence or treatment rates of mental disorders. METHODS: The World Mental Health Japan (WMHJ) 2nd Survey was a nationally representative face-to-face household survey of residents aged 20-75 years old conducted between 2013 and 2015. We compared the findings with those of an earlier study, the first WMHJ (WMHJ1) survey, conducted in 2002-2006. RESULTS: Overall, 2450 residents completed the interview. Lifetime prevalence of any common mental disorder was 22%, with high prevalence of alcohol abuse (15.1%). Twelve-month prevalence rates of any common mental disorder and major depressive disorder were 5.2% and 2.7%, respectively. Severe cases comprised 24% of 12-month disorders. Lifetime prevalence of any common mental disorder was greater for males. The persistence of any common mental disorder was greater for females. Proportion of those with 12-month disorders who sought treatment was 34%. Mental health care use was the most prevalent among 12-month cases. Twelve-month prevalence of any common mental disorder was similar to that of the WMHJ1 while the proportion of seeking treatment increased for disorders with moderate severity. LIMITATIONS: Institutionalized people were not included. The lower response rate might also limit the interpretation of the findings. CONCLUSIONS: The study found lower prevalence of mental disorders in Japan than in Western countries in the mid 2010's, suggesting that the prevalence of mental disorders remained stable in the last decade in Japan. Treatment rate increased for those with moderate disorders, which might reflect the government's attempt to raise people's awareness of mental health.

Bortezomib alters sour taste sensitivity in mice.

Chemotherapy-induced taste disorder is one of the critical issues in cancer therapy. Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, is a key agent in multiple myeloma therapy, but it induces a taste disorder. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of bortezomib-induced taste disorder and the underlying mechanism in mice. Among the five basic tastes, the sour taste sensitivity of mice was significantly increased by bortezomib administration. In bortezomib-administered mice, protein expression of PKD2L1 was increased. The increased sour taste sensitivity induced by bortezomib returned to the control level on cessation of its administration. These results suggest that an increase in protein expression of PKD2L1 enhances the sour taste sensitivity in bortezomib-administered mice, and this alteration is reversed on cessation of its administration.

Environmental radiation level, radiation anxiety, and psychological distress of non-evacuee residents in Fukushima five years after the Great East Japan Earthquake: Multilevel analyses.

The present study aimed to clarify the associations among radiation exposure or psychological exposure to the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident (i.e., fear/anxiety immediately after the accident), current radiation anxiety, and psychological distress among non-evacuee community residents in Fukushima five years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred in March 2011. A questionnaire survey was administered to a random sample of non-evacuee community residents from 49 municipalities of Fukushima prefecture from February to April 2016, and data from 1684 respondents (34.4%) were analyzed. Environmental radiation levels at the time of the accident were ascertained from survey meter data, while environmental radiation levels at the time of the survey were ascertained from monitoring post data. In the questionnaire, immediate fear/anxiety after the accident, current radiation anxiety, and psychological distress were measured using a single-item question, a 7-item scale, and K6, respectively. Multilevel linear or logistic regression models were applied to analyze the determinants of radiation anxiety and psychological distress. The findings showed that environmental radiation levels at the time of the survey were more strongly associated with radiation anxiety than radiation levels immediately after the accident. Disaster-related experiences, such as direct damage, disaster-related family stress, and fear/anxiety after the accident, and demographic characteristics (e.g., younger age, being married, low socioeconomic status) were significantly associated with radiation anxiety. Environmental radiation levels at the time of the accident or survey were not significantly associated with psychological distress. Radiation anxiety largely mediated the association between fear/anxiety after the accident and psychological distress. In addition to environmental radiation levels, respondents' radiation anxiety was affected by multiple factors, such as disaster-related experiences and demographic characteristics. Radiation levels were not associated with psychological distress in non-evacuee community residents. Rather, fear/anxiety after the nuclear power plant accident may be a determinant of psychological distress, mediated by radiation anxiety.

Oxaliplatin Alters Expression of T1R2 Receptor and Sensitivity to Sweet Taste in Rats.

As one of the adverse effects of oxaliplatin, a key agent in colon cancer chemotherapy, a taste disorder is a severe issue in a clinical situation because it decreases the quality of life of patients. However, there is little information on the mechanism underlying the oxaliplatin-induced taste disorder. Here, we examined the molecular and behavioral characteristics of the oxaliplatin-induced taste disorder in rats. Oxaliplatin (4-16 mg/kg) was administered to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats intraperitoneally for 2 d. Expression levels of mRNA and protein of taste receptors in circumvallate papillae (CP) were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Taste sensitivity was assessed by their behavioral change using a brief-access test. Morphological change of the taste buds in CP was evaluated by hematoxyline-eosin (HE) staining, and the number of taste cells in taste buds was counted by immunohistochemical analysis. Among taste receptors, the expression levels of mRNA and protein of T1R2, a sweet taste receptor subunit, were increased transiently in CP of oxaliplatin-administered rats on day 7. In a brief-access test, the lick ratio was decreased in oxaliplatin-administered rats on day 7 and the alteration was recovered to the control level on day 14. There was no detectable alteration in the morphology of taste buds, number of taste cells or plasma zinc level in oxaliplatin-administered rats. These results suggest that decreased sensitivity to sweet taste in oxaliplatin-administered rats is due, at least in part, to increased expression of T1R2, while these alterations are reversible.

An assessment of the characteristics and quality of diagnostic accuracy studies for positron emission tomography conducted in Japan: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Systematic evaluations of the diagnostic accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging have been widely conducted in many countries. Although Japan's total number of PET units is the second highest in the world, very limited effort has been made to systematically assess the methodological quality of PET studies in Japan. We performed a systematic review to assess the characteristics and quality of PET diagnostic accuracy studies conducted in Japan and to analyze the factors related to their quality. METHODS: All PET studies conducted in Japan were identified using MEDLINE and the Japan Medical Abstract Society Database. The characteristics of the Japanese studies were examined and their methodological quality evaluated by the standardized quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) tool. We compared the quality of studies indexed in MEDLINE with non-indexed studies, followed by a comparison of the studies' conclusions with those of international health technology assessment (HTA) reports. RESULTS: A total of 138 studies were identified. Half of them were not indexed in MEDLINE. The mean quality score of the Japanese studies was 6.7 and the proportion of high-quality studies (with a quality score higher than 8) was 32.6%. A significant difference was observed in several quality items between MEDLINE-indexed and non-indexed studies, although there was no difference in total quality score. Three variables (i.e., target diseases, publication year, and study type) were identified as factors related to the quality of the studies. Conclusions of Japanese studies relating to several target diseases were relatively consistent with international assessments. CONCLUSIONS: Although a considerable number of diagnostic accuracy studies of PET have been conducted in Japan, a substantial proportion of high-quality studies were not indexed in international databases. High-quality Japanese studies, therefore, should be searched using Japanese databases and assessed by systematic reviews and HTA conducted internationally.

Are Japanese randomized controlled trials up to the task? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Despite increasing numbers of RCTs done in Japan, existing international databases fail to capture them, and detailed information on the quality of Japanese RCTs is still missing. This study assessed the characteristics and quality of Japanese RCTs and analyzed factors related to their quality. METHODS: All RCTs conducted in Japan, and published as original articles that assessed the effect of healthcare interventions on humans in 2010, were included. We excluded study protocols, conference abstracts, and comments. In addition, quasi-RCTs were excluded. Data were independently abstracted and assessed by two of the authors and disagreements were resolved by consensus. The quality of Japanese RCTs randomly sampled was assessed using the method guidelines for systematic reviews from the Cochrane Back Review Group. The factors affecting RCT quality were analyzed using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 1013 RCTs conducted in Japan were published in 2010. The majority was small-scale (55% of RCTs with sample size less than 50). Eighty percent of RCTs had no information on the funding source and only 8% had been registered before their implementation. RCTs not indexed in international databases were a moderate number (118 RCTs: 37.7% of non-indexed RCTs were of high quality). Surgical intervention studies for external causes of morbidity and mortality with a large sample size, trial registration and a large number of arms were most likely to be of higher quality. CONCLUSION: Despite a considerable number of RCTs conducted in Japan, their quality is not satisfactory in some domains. On the other hand, there are high-quality, non-indexed RCTs. The full disclosure of trial information and quality control of clinical trials are urgently needed in Japan.

Tratamento do carcinoma epidermoide de orofaringe com quimioterapia e radioterapia / Treatment of oropharingeal squamous cell cancer with chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Introdução: Os tumores malignos da orofaringe constituem uma parcela significativa dos tumores sólidos humanos¹ e quase a totalidade dos casos é representada por carcinomas epidermoides (CEC)2 . O Carcinoma Epidermoide de orofaringe (CECOF), que tem como principais fatores etiológicos o tabagismo, o etilismo e o papilomavírus humano (HPV) é mais frequente na sexta e sétima décadas de vida. Objetivo: Estabelecer o perfil dos pacientes portadores de CEC de orofaringe e determinar os resultados oncológicos do tratamento do carcinoma epidermoide de orofaringe (CECOF) com quimioterapia (QT) e radioterapia (RDT), principalmente em relação aos resultados e ao impacto do tratamento, resposta tumoral, sobrevida e complicações. Material e Métidos: Estudo retrospectivo com análise de prontuários. Foram estudados 59 pacientes deste Serviço com diagnóstico de CECOF, cujo tratamento proposto foi QT e RDT, no período de 2005 a 2011. A amostra contém 54 homens e 5 mulheres, com idade de 34 a 77 anos (média de 52 anos) e índice de massa corpórea (IMC) entre 15,4 e 31,2 (média de 19,68). A localização do tumor primário teve como distribuição: loja tonsilar (43,4%), base da língua (26,4%), pálato mole (13,2%), úvula (3,4%), parede posterior (3,4%) e mais de um subsítio (14,2%). A maioria apresentava doença avançada (64,4% estadio IV e 27,1% estadio III), com apenas 5 pacientes (8,5%) em estádio II Dezoito pacientes (30,5%) apresentavam algum tipo de comorbidade (hipertensão arterial sistêmica, diabetes, arteriopatia ou doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica) e o índice de Karnofsky variou de 70 a 100% (70=29,2%; 80=28,6%, 90=39% e 100%-44,9%). Resultados: Dos 59 paciente analisados, 6 pacientes (10,15%) não iniciaram ou não completaram a RDT devido a complicações graves da QT e foram a óbito. A resposta ao tratamento dos 53 pacientes analisados foi parcial em 45,3% dos casos e completa em 54,7%. O índice de complicações menores (toxicidade grau I e II) foi 64,2% e 35,8% para complicações maiores (toxicidade grau III e IV), sendo que 24 (45,2%) pacientes necessitaram de alimentação enteral durante o tratamento. Ao final do período estudado, 23 pacientes estavam vivos sem doença (38,98%), 3 vivos com doença (5,08%), 21 mortos pelo câncer (45,76%) e cinco mortos assintomáticos (causa do óbito não relacionado ao câncer - 10,16%). Dos 53 pacientes avaliados, 24 pacientes apresentaram progressão da doença e sobrevivência acumulada de 49,2% e 27 evoluíram a óbito com sobrevivência acumulada de 33,8%. Assim, a mediana de sobrevivência foi 31 meses para progressão e óbito. Conclusões: O estudo mostrou uma casuística de pacientes que possivelmente reflete o perfil da doença tratada no Brasil com taxas de resposta tumoral, sobrevivência global, progressão da doença e complicações semelhantes aos dados da literatura, apresentando-se como alternativa de tratamento, principalmente em estadios avançados da doença.

Introduction: The malignant tumors of the oropharynx are an important part of the human solid tumors, and almost all of them are represented by squamous cell cancers (CEC). The etiological factors of the oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (CECOF) are mainly tobacco, alcohol and the human papilomavirus (HPV). The CECOF is also more frequent in the sixth and seventh decade of life. Objective: The aim of this study is establish the profile of patients with SCC of the oropharynx and to determine the oncological results of treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (CECOF) with chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RDT), especially in relation to the results and impact of treatment, tumor response, survival and complications. Results: Six of fifth nine patients not started or did not complete radiotherapy due to severe complications from chemotherapy and died. The response to treatment of 53 patients analyzed was partial in 45.3% of cases and 54.7% complete. The rate of minor complications (toxicity grade I and II) was 64.2% and 35.8% for major complications (toxicity grade III and IV), with 24 (45.2%) patients required enteral feeding during treatment. At the end of the study period, 23 patients were alive without disease (38.98%), 3 are alive with disease (5.08%), 21 died with cancer (45.76%) and five dead asymptomatic (cause of death not related to cancer - 10.16%). Of the 53 patients, 24 patients had disease progression and cumulative survival of 49.2% and 27 progressed to death with cumulative survival of 33.8% (Figure 1). Thus, the median survival was 31 months for progression and death. Conclusion: The study showed that the patients possibly reflet the profile of the treated disease in Brazil with tumor response rates, overall survival, disease progression and complications similar to the literature, presenting itself as an alternative treatment mainly in more advanced stages.