Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Relationship stress at workplace was associated with problem drinking patterns: a nationwide Internet-based prospective cohort study.","authors":"Mami Wakabayashi, Hiroyasu Iso, Takahiro Tabuchi","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00131","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Previous studies have limited longitudinal data with inconsistent relationships between workplace stress and problem drinking. This study aimed to investigate the association between work-related stress and the development of problem drinking among Japanese workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cohort study was conducted using data from a nationwide internet survey in Japan in 2022 and 2023. A total of 8,157 participants (55% men; mean age: 47.2 years) were categorized based on their Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores into non-problem drinking (0-7) and problem drinking (8-40). Work-related stress was assessed using the New Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ), which includes 17 items across nine work-related stresses categories such as relationship stress, job demand (quantity and quality), physical demand, environmental stress, job control, skills utilization, suitability, and satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 2022 to 2023, 499 participants (360 males, 139 females) transitioned from non-problem to problem drinking. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, living conditions, self-rated health, smoking and nine work-related strass mutually, male individuals with high relationship stress were more likely to develop problem drinking (adjusted OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.20-2.61), and similar but marginal association was observed in female (adjusted OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.00-3.04). In addition, male individuals with high physical demand were more likely to develop problem drinking (adjusted OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.00-1.94), but not in female.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Among nine work-related stresses categories, high relationship stress at the workplace in male and female and high physical demand in male was associated with an increased risk of developing problem drinking.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"63"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617186/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149030042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lessons learned from Okinawa, Japan underscore the importance of clinical epidemiology in COVID-19 prevention and control.","authors":"Takuji Kishimoto, Daisuke Tasato, Yoshitaka Nagasawa, Akihiro Yamashiro, Hayashi Shokita","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00310","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This letter highlights the importance of clinical epidemiology in COVID-19 prevention and control, based on experiences at a core hospital in northern Okinawa, Japan, and relevant literature.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using data from 5,097 COVID-19 patients, we conducted: (1) a descriptive cross-sectional study analyzing cases by person, time, and place; (2) an analytical cross-sectional study linking health checkup data to identify factors associated with severity (published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine); and (3) a cohort study of healthcare workers exploring determinants of post-vaccination antibody titers (published in Journal of Clinical Virology Plus).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The descriptive study showed cases rose from 70 in 2020 to 891 in 2021 and 3,995 in 2022, before declining to 141 in 2023. In the analytical cross-sectional study (n = 1,353), protective factors against severity included vaccination (odds ratio [OR] [2 doses vs. 0 or one doses]: 0.223, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.114-0.436; OR [≥3 doses vs. 0 or one doses]: 0.090, 95% CI 0.035-0.229) and regular exercise (OR [\"yes\" vs. \"no\"]: 0.458, 95% CI 0.242-0.866). In the cohort study (n = 354), lower antibody titers (lowest quartile) were more likely among older adults (hazard ratio [HR] 5.82 for 40s vs. 20s, 95% CI 2.05-16.51; HR 9.96 for 60s vs. 20s, 95% CI 3.07-32.34) and drinking habits (HR 2.26 for \"daily\" vs. \"never\", 95% CI 1.17-4.34).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings, supported by related literature, demonstrate that clinical epidemiology played vital roles in monitoring infection trends, evaluating diagnostic and preventive measures, establishing treatment strategies, optimizing healthcare resources, and guiding policy. Its continued application will be essential for preparedness against future emerging infectious diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12909085/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146118136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between marital status and mortality risk in cardiac disease: a cardiopulmonary exercise testing cohort study.","authors":"Shinya Takahashi, Atsuko Nakayama, Mamoru Nanasato, Mitsuaki Isobe","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00433","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00433","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although marital status is a key social determinant of health, its prognostic relevance in cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) cohorts remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between marital status and mortality risk in patients with cardiac disease (CD) who underwent CPX.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective, single-center observational study involved consecutive patients with CD who underwent post-discharge CPX between 2008 and 2020. Participants (mean age: 69 years; 73% male) were categorized as either unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) or married. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was cardiovascular mortality. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Model 1 was adjusted for age and sex to estimate the overall association between marital status and outcomes. Model 2 was adjusted for Model 1 covariates and peak VO₂ to account for objectively measured exercise capacity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 4,681 patients analyzed, 1,117 were unmarried and 3,564 were married. In Model 1, being married was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (aHR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.62-0.91, P < 0.001). This association persisted after adjusting for peak VO₂ in Model 2 (aHR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.96, P = 0.002). For cardiovascular mortality, the estimates were consistent in direction (Model 1; aHR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.44-0.93, P = 0.019, Model 2; aHR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.47-1.02, P = 0.061).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In a large CPX cohort of patients with CD, married status was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. The association was attenuated but remained after adjustment for peak VO₂, suggesting that differences in exercise capacity may contribute but do not fully account for the observed association. Marital status should be interpreted as a social marker rather than a causal or interventional exposure, and future studies should clarify modifiable factors related to prognosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"26"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13057906/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147590902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reproductive factors and brain volume in community-dwelling individuals: the Ohasama Study.","authors":"Ayana Saito, Kyoko Nomura, Michihiro Satoh, Satoshi Yamaguchi, Azusa Hara, Melanie Griffith-Quintyne, Hiroaki Shimizu, Shingo Nakayama, Megumi Tsubota-Utsugi, Takahisa Murakami, Yukako Tatsumi, Takuo Hirose, Tomoko Totsune, Naoko Mori, Kei Asayama, Masahiro Kikuya, Hirohito Metoki, Atsushi Hozawa, Takayoshi Ohkubo","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00400","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00400","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reproductive history can be conceptualized as a life-course exposure integrating biological and social factors. Although reproductive factors have been associated with stroke risk and cognitive function, their relationships with structural brain changes remain unclear. Evidence from general population-based studies linking reproductive factors to brain volume, an intermediate marker of cognitive decline, is limited. This study examined whether age at menarche, age at menopause, estrogen exposure duration, and parity are associated with brain volume in postmenopausal women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 361 postmenopausal women aged ≥55 years from the Ohasama Study in Japan. Reproductive factors were obtained from a 1998 questionnaire were categorized into quartiles, and MRI data from 2009 to 2019 were analyzed with voxel-based morphometry. Associations were assessed using analysis of covariance adjusted for intracranial volume, age, birth cohort, and BMI. Effect sizes were reported as percent change and standardized effect sizes, with the smallest effect size of interest (SESOI) based on one-year age-related brain volume change.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After covariate adjustment, most associations between reproductive factors and brain volume were attenuated. Earlier age at menarche showed a weak trend toward larger temporal lobe volume (β = 0.59 cm³, 95% CI -0.03 to 1.21; p = 0.06), corresponding to a 0.63% change and 0.06 SD, which was comparable to the SESOI (±0.54% or 0.06 SD). Earlier age at menopause was associated with smaller occipital lobe volume (β = -0.52 cm³, 95% CI -1.01 to -0.03; p = 0.04), corresponding to a -1.08% change and 0.10 SD, exceeding the primary SESOI threshold (±0.64% or 0.06 SD), although confidence intervals included effects smaller than the SESOI. No significant associations were found for estrogen exposure or parity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Reproductive factors were not associated with moderate or large differences in brain volume in postmenopausal women. The slight, region-specific differences observed were comparable in magnitude to short-term age-related changes. These findings suggest that the clinical significance at the individual level is likely limited. However, subtle associations at the population level cannot be entirely excluded.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"52"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13482161/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148701026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"BPS and BPF linked to metabolic alterations independent of adiposity in Thai children and adolescents.","authors":"Watcharin Netiwuttisan, Ekkachai Nakaviroj, Nattakarn Numsriskulrat, Pajaree Chariyavilaskul, Patthamapon Adchariyasakulchai, Suphab Aroonparkmongkol, Khomsak Srilanchakon, Vichit Supornsilchai","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00027","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bisphenol A (BPA) and its structural substitutes, bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), are widely used endocrine-disrupting chemicals. While BPA exposure has been linked to metabolic disorders, evidence regarding BPA substitutes in children remains limited, particularly in Southeast Asia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional study among Thai children and adolescents aged 7-18 years classified as normal weight (NW) or overweight/obese (OW/OB). Urinary BPA, BPS, and BPF concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, and liver enzymes were assessed. Associations between urinary bisphenol concentrations and metabolic parameters were analyzed using multivariable regression models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 114 participants were included (26 normal weight and 88 overweight/obese). BPA was detected in all (100%) urine samples, whereas BPS and BPF were detected in 50.0% and 53.6% of participants, respectively. Creatinine-adjusted urinary concentrations of BPA, BPS, and BPF did not differ significantly between NW vs. OW/OB. Higher urinary BPS and BPF concentrations were associated with higher fasting insulin levels (aGMR 1.13; 95%CI 1.05-1.20; p = 0.001) and higher LDL cholesterol levels (aGMR 5.82; 95%CI 0.52-11.11; p = 0.032), respectively. In contrast, higher urinary BPA concentrations were associated with lower fasting insulin levels (aGMR 0.77; 95%CI 0.66-0.90; p = 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Exposure to BPA and its substitutes, BPS and BPF, were associated with distinct metabolic alterations independent of weight status. BPS was associated with hyperinsulinemia, while BPF was associated with elevated LDL cholesterol.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"37"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13254261/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148155742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations of household income and parental education with early childhood caries: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.","authors":"Fumie Kaneko, Eri Yamada, Junji Miyazaki, Satoyo Ikehara, Ryo Kawasaki, Hiroyasu Iso","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00358","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00358","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) has declined over the past few decades, it remains a significant public health concern in Japan. Socioeconomic disparities in ECC risk have been reported; however, the extent to which these disparities exist across different indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) and the degree to which early oral health practices help explain them remain unclear. This study evaluated the association between parental SES and ECC and examined the extent to which early oral health behaviors contributed to these associations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed the data from 68,312 children and their parents participating in the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a nationwide birth cohort recruited between 2011 and 2014. Parental SES, including household income equivalized using the OECD-modified equivalence scale and educational attainment, was assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Diagnoses of dental caries from birth to age 4 years were reported retrospectively by caregivers when the child was 4 years old. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between SES and ECC. Mediation analyses were conducted to evaluate whether oral health behaviors at age 2, including fluoride application, tooth brushing practices, continued bottle feeding, and frequency of between-meal snacks, mediated these associations. All models were adjusted for demographic and potential confounding factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 23.0% of children had been diagnosed with caries by age 4 years. The higher prevalence was consistently observed among children from lower SES backgrounds starting at around age 2 years. Both lower household income and lower parental educational attainment were associated with higher odds of ECC. The highest odds were observed among children whose parents had secondary-level education (adjusted odds ratio: 1.52; 95% confidence interval: 1.44-1.59). Although oral health behaviors mediated these associations, each behavior accounted for less than 5% of the total effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Lower household income and parental educational attainment were consistently associated with a higher risk of ECC from early childhood. Mediation analyses using oral health behaviors assessed at age 2 indicated that these behaviors explained a small proportion of the observed socioeconomic disparities, suggesting a small contribution of individual behaviors to early-life socioeconomic inequalities in ECC.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"23"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13057869/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationship between BMI-SDS trajectories and childhood asthma: a prospective cohort study from the Japan Environment and Children's Study.","authors":"Sachika Akaike, Toshihide Sakuragi, Kazue Ishitsuka, Reiko Suga, Keisuke Shimizu, Keiko Shimizu, Honoka Tomioka, Kazuhiro Yatera, Kiyoshi Yoshino, Reiji Fukano, Yuko Mine, Masayuki Ochiai, Seiichi Morokuma, Norio Hamada, Mayumi Tsuji","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00162","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The association between obesity and asthma in children has been reported. However, despite its clinical and public health significance, the relationship between longitudinal body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) trajectories in early life and development of childhood asthma in Japan remains to be elucidated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used fixed data on 11,433 parent-child pairs from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, an ongoing national birth cohort study. Information on bronchial asthma was collected from the caregiver-reported questionnaire. The association between body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) trajectories during the first 3 years of life and the risk of bronchial asthma was examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children with sustained above-average growth had a higher risk of bronchial asthma at 3 years of age, compared with those with a normative BMI-SDS trajectory (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.55, p = 0.001). At 3 years of age, the association between a persistently high BMI-SDS trajectory and bronchial asthma was more pronounced in boys than in girls (boys: adjusted OR [aOR] 1.39, 95%CI 1.12-1.73, p = 0.003 vs. girls: aOR 1.24, 95%CI 0.96-1.61, p = 0.100). At 4 years of age, similar associations were observed, while the association was stronger in boys, it was significant in girls as well.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The significance of this study is that it captures changes in BMI-SDS over time, rather than at a single point in time, our findings suggest that maintaining a normal BMI-SDS trajectory during childhood may be beneficial for asthma prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"65"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13649615/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149105548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Current status and challenges of planetary health education: a scoping review.","authors":"Yayoi Shoji, Kana Suzuki, Masushi Kohta, Nao Tamai","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00437","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00437","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Climate change poses significant threats to human health, necessitating the integration of environmental protection into public health efforts. Planetary health education (PHE) represents an emerging paradigm connecting human well-being with natural systems; however, its global implementation remains inadequately documented, particularly in environmentally vulnerable regions. This scoping review aimed to investigate how PHE is implemented across educational settings and to identify current challenges and best practices to inform future educational program development for university students, educators, and healthcare professionals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following Arksey and O'Malley's framework and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we systematically searched the following databases for English and Japanese literature published up to September 30, 2025: Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL, Scopus, EMBASE, PubMed, OpenGrey, and Ichushi-Web. Using the Patient-Concept-Context framework, we extracted data on educational programs, implementation methods, challenges, outcomes, and curriculum integration.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were predominantly from high-income countries with varying Climate Change Performance Index rankings. Implementation was concentrated in higher education institutions, particularly medical and nursing schools. Educational approaches included lecture-based teaching, group work, practical training, online learning, and simulations. Key content areas were most frequently climate change and health/climate-sensitive care and sustainability/SDG-related topics, whereas pollution/waste and environmental toxins, food systems, and equity/justice-related content were reported less frequently. Primary challenges included difficulties with curriculum integration, time constraints, and insufficient awareness among educators. Reported outcomes demonstrated improvements in knowledge, critical thinking, and motivation for sustainable practices; however, longitudinal impact studies were notably absent.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>PHE requires expansion beyond medicine into diverse disciplines and geographical contexts, particularly in low-income countries. Longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the long-term educational impact. Successful implementation depends on interdisciplinary approaches, strategic curriculum integration, and educator development programs. These efforts will help address global health challenges through education that connects human health with environmental sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"29"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13132659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147766198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental drivers of vertigo.","authors":"Benyamin M Kaminer, Naama Schor, Tali Shorer, Itay Pansky, Victor Novack, Lena Novack","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00257","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00257","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vertigo is characterized by the illusion of motion, typically described as a spinning sensation. Seasonal variations in vertigo incidence, particularly in Meniere's disease and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, have been reported, though underlying mechanisms remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigates key environmental drivers by analyzing seasonal patterns of vertigo while accounting for temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, and viral infections in Israel's semi-arid Negev desert. We hypothesized that environmental conditions are associated with the onset of vertigo, and that specific meteorological factors contribute to its seasonal variation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A case-crossover study was conducted using data from 9,382 patients diagnosed with vertigo at Soroka Medical Center (2014-2019). Environmental exposure data were collected from local meteorological station, and viral infection trends were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Exposure to barometric pressure above the 90th percentile for two consecutive days was linked to a 21% increase in vertigo risk (p = 0.024), rising to 40% (p = 0.073) among hypertensive patients. In spring, exposure to extreme dry heat (>2 days) showed a trend toward increased vertigo risk. Similarly, vertigo onset was likely to be triggered by heatwaves stress and extremely humid conditions in fall although none reached a statistical significance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study suggests that atmospheric conditions, particularly high barometric pressure, may influence vertigo onset. While not all associations were statistically significant, observed trends highlight the potential role of environmental factors in vertigo and warrant further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12950341/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146219198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors associated with smoking and risky drinking among university students in Japan.","authors":"Yuichiro Otsuka, Aya Kinjo, Hideyuki Kanda, Hisashi Yoshimoto, Teruna Ito, Yuki Kuwabara, Hongja Kim, Aya Iwamoto, Yoneatsu Osaki, Tomomi Miyoshi, Yuki Tanaka, Yoshitaka Kaneita","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00017","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Little is known about smoking and alcohol consumption after high school in Japan. This study examined factors associated with smoking and risky drinking among Japanese university students, focusing on sex-related differences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among students from five Japanese universities. A total of 253 men and 510 women anonymously completed questionnaires assessing smoking, alcohol use, substance-related behaviors, and depressive symptoms. Logistic regression using penalized regression methods were performed to determine factors associated with smoking and risky drinking.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 7.7% students reported smoking and 25.6% were classified as risky drinkers. Peer smoking was strongly associated with current smoking in men (odds ratio [OR]: 4.58) and women (OR: 2.45). Family smoking and depressive symptoms were associated with smoking only among women, indicating a sex-specific pattern. Regarding risky drinking, common associated factors in both sexes included alcohol-related negative outcomes (OR: 5.83 for men, 5.49 for women) and current smoking (OR: 3.83 for men, 4.86 for women). Among men, additional factors associated with risky drinking were living alone (OR: 2.96) and mixing alcohol with energy drinks (OR: 4.53).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>After the age of 20, the rates of smoking and risky drinking might increase sharply among Japanese young adults. Sex-specific patterns indicate that male behaviors are shaped by external invitations and living situations, whereas female behaviors are linked to familial and psychological factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"31"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13171252/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147867155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}