Adult Height and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of 10 Population-based Cohort Studies in Japan.

BACKGROUND: While tall stature has been linked to an increase in the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), its association with cancer in the colorectum and its subsites remains unclear among Asians. METHODS: We conducted a pooled analysis of 10 population-based cohort studies among adults in Japan. Each study estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CRC incidence associated with adult height were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression with adjustment of the same set of covariates were then pooled to estimate summary HRs incidence using random-effect models. RESULTS: We identified 9,470 CRC incidences among 390,063 participants during 5,672,930 person-years of follow-up. Men and women with tall stature had a higher risk of CRC and colon cancer. HRs for CRC, colon cancer, and distal colon cancer for the highest versus lowest height categories were 1.23 (95% CI, 1.07-1.40), 1.22 (95% CI, 1.09-1.36), and 1.27 (95% CI, 1.08-1.49), respectively, in men and 1.21 (95% CI, 1.09-1.35), 1.23 (95% CI, 1.08-1.40), and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.003-1.81), respectively, in women. The association with proximal colon cancer and rectal cancer was less evident in both sexes. CONCLUSION: This pooled analysis confirms the link between tall stature and a higher risk of CRC and colon cancer (especially distal colon) among the Japanese and adds evidence to support the use of adult height to identify those at a higher risk of CRC.

Gaps in Migrants' Access to Contraceptive Services: A Survey of Nepalese Women and Men in Japan.

While all modern contraceptive methods are available for free or at minimal cost in Nepal, contraceptive devices in Japan are mainly limited to condoms, requiring Nepalese migrant women to rely on their male partners for their use. Therefore, Nepalese migrants often seek contraceptive devices from Nepal or request friends or relatives to send them from their home country. This study aimed to identify the gaps and challenges associated with Nepalese migrants' needs for sexual and reproductive health services (SRHSs), particularly contraceptives, before and after their migration to Japan. A mixed-methods study was adopted, an explanatory sequential design (ESD) combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, and data were collected from 186 Nepalese migrants (80 females and 106 males) through an online survey and from two focus-group discussions (FGDs) conducted among 24 participants (14 females and 10 males). This study highlighted the obstacles faced by Nepalese migrants in accessing contraceptive services, such as limited options, language barriers, and high costs. The study also revealed the importance of pre-departure training in Nepal and organizing post-arrival training in Japan to increase Nepalese migrants' awareness of the SRHSs available in Japan, thereby helping to prevent SRH-related health problems, including unintended pregnancies and abortions, in Japan.

Association between parental absence during childhood and metabolic syndrome during adulthood: A cross-sectional study in rural Khanh Hoa, Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the association between parental absence during childhood and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adulthood among middle-aged adults in rural Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Given that broader literature on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) suggests a strong positive association between ACEs and cardiometabolic risk or diseases, we hypothesized that parental absence during childhood, which is a major component of ACEs, is more likely to cause MetS in adulthood. METHODS: Data were obtained from the baseline survey of the Khanh Hoa Cardiovascular Study, in which 3000 residents aged between 40 to 60 years participated. MetS was assessed using the modified Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. It was considered parental absence if the participants had experienced parental absence due to death, divorce, or out-migration before three or between three to 15 years. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to examine the association between parental absence during childhood and metabolic syndrome during adulthood. RESULTS: There was no significant association between parental absence and MetS; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] was 0.97 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76-1.22) for those who experienced parental absence between three to 15 years and the corresponding figure for those who experienced it before three years was 0.93 (95% CI = 0.72-1.20). No significant associations were observed when these were examined for the causes of parental absence. CONCLUSION: This study did not support our hypothesis of an association between parental absence during childhood and metabolic syndrome during adulthood. Parental absence may not be a predictor of MetS among Vietnamese people in rural communities.

Infection prevention practices and its associated factors among hospital workers in a national medical center designated for COVID-19 in Tokyo, Japan.

BACKGROUND: While healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus transmission involving them might be exceeding in the non-occupational settings. This study examined the extent of adherence to infection prevention practices (IPPs) against COVID-19 in their daily life and its associated factors among staff members in a national medical center designated for COVID-19 treatment in Tokyo, Japan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2020 among 1,228 staff of National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM). We asked participants about their adherence on six IPPs recommended by the WHO in their daily lives, which included wearing masks, maintaining hand and respiratory hygiene, avoiding 3Cs and social distancing. We defined 100% adherence (6 points) to IPPs as good adherence and run logistic regression model to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of IPPs. RESULTS: Nearly 100% of NCGM staff members adhered to four out of six IPPs assessed in this study: washing or sanitizing hands (99.6%), good cough etiquette (99.6%), wearing mask (98.9%), and avoiding 3Cs (98.3%). Doctors (AOR = 2.18, CI: 1.36-3.49) and female staff members (AOR = 1.95, CI: 1.36-3.49) were more likely to adhere to IPPs compared with non-clinical staffs and male counterparts. Good adherence to IPPs tended to increase with older age, with highest adherence among those who were 50 years or above (AOR = 2.53, CI: 1.49-4.29). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the IPPs among NCGM staff was remarkably good. Older and female staff members, and doctors showed a higher adhere to IPPs compared with their counterparts. Additional effort to improve adherence to IPPs among the younger and male staff members could contribute to reduce infection risk in their daily life, which can eventually prevent nosocomial infection.

Association between chronic physical conditions and depressive symptoms among hospital workers in a national medical institution designated for COVID-19 in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between the presence of chronic physical conditions and depressive symptoms among hospital workers at a national medical institution designated for COVID-19 treatment in Tokyo, Japan. We also accounted for the combined association of chronic physical conditions and SARS-CoV-2 infection risk at work in relation to depressive symptoms, given that occupational infection risk might put additional psychological burden among those with chronic physical conditions with risk of severe COVID-19 outcome. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 2,440 staff members who participated in a health survey conducted at the national medical institution during period between October 2020 and December 2020. Participants who reported at least one chronic physical condition that were deemed risk factors of severe COVID-19 outcome were regarded as having chronic physical conditions. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We performed logistic regression analysis to assess the association between chronic physical conditions and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Our results showed that the presence of chronic physical conditions was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (odds ratio (OR) = 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10-2.02). In addition, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher among healthcare workers with chronic physical conditions who were at a higher occupational infection risk (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.04-3.16). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the importance of providing more assistance to those with chronic physical conditions regarding the prevention and control of mental health issues, particularly among frontline healthcare workers engaging in COVID-19-related work.