Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Subclinical hypothyroidism and height loss in relation to the status of thyroid cysts: a prospective study.","authors":"Yuji Shimizu, Nagisa Sasaki, Asuka Oyama, Yuko Noguchi, Mutsumi Matsuu-Matsuyama, Koichiro Hamada, Shin-Ya Kawashiri, Hirotomo Yamanashi, Seiko Nakamichi, Yasuhiro Nagata, Takahiro Maeda, Naomi Hayashida","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00458","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00458","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite numerous recent studies linking height loss to the risk of cardiovascular disease, the underlying biological mechanisms are poorly understood. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has been positively associated with height loss in individuals with low-normal range free thyroxine (FT4) levels. This association may stem from impaired endothelial repair caused by an inadequate response to the increased thyroid hormone demand. Recent evidence has highlighted the clinical significance of thyroid cysts in terms of their endothelial-related activity. Consequently, it is plausible that thyroid cysts influence the relationship between SCH and height loss.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A prospective-study was conducted in 1,601 Japanese individuals aged 40-74 years with normal serum free triiodothyronine (T3) and free T4 levels. Height loss was defined as being in the highest quartile of annual height decrease.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SCH was significantly and positively associated with height loss among individuals with thyroid cysts, but not among those without thyroid cysts; the sex- and age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for height loss were 1.00 (0.56, 1.94) in individuals without thyroid cysts and 2.45 (1.03, 5.81) in those with thyroid cysts. After further adjustment for free T4, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, these associations essentially remained, with adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of 1.00 (0.53, 1.83) and 2.75 (1.12, 6.74), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings clarify the biological basis of height loss as a cardiovascular risk factor. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with SCH and height loss. Given that urinary iodine concentration has previously been reported to be positively associated with the presence of thyroid cysts and that excess iodine intake is a major cause of SCH in the Japanese population, the observed relationship may reflect an inadequate thyroidal response to increased hormone demand following endothelial injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"27"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13057860/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147622120","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":"Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-measured lean mass and clinical bone fracture in elderly Japanese men: the Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men (FORMEN) cohort study.","authors":"Katsuyasu Kouda, Yuki Fujita, Takahiro Tachiki, Akihiro Takada, Soulattana Vongsakit, Yuki Murakami, Junko Tamaki, Kumiko Ohara, Etsuko Kajita, Akemi Nitta, Kazuhiro Uenishi, Nozomi Okamoto, Masayuki Iki","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00449","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00449","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bone fractures pose a significant socioeconomic burden for both women and men in aging societies. It has been reported that lean mass (LM) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) may be associated with fractures. However, evidence regarding the relationship between DXA-measured LM and fractures remains inconsistent.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We investigated the association between DXA-measured LM and clinical bone fractures in community-dwelling elderly Japanese men from the Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men (FORMEN) cohort study. The source population consisted of 948 elderly men who underwent LM measurement by DXA at the time of the 2017-2019 survey. Among these, 780 participants who provided complete information regarding clinical fracture experience in the follow-up survey conducted in 2022-2023 were included in the analysis (mean age at the time of the 2017-2019 survey, 80.2 years; standard deviation, 3.8).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From the 2017-2019 survey to the 2022-2023 follow-up survey, 52 participants had experienced one or more clinical bone fractures including osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic fractures. Odds ratios of clinical bone fracture for arm LM, leg LM, and leg-to-trunk LM ratio were significantly lower than 1.0 after adjusting for potential confounding factors including age, nutrition intake, and physical performance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>DXA-based appendicular LM predicts future clinical bone fractures in elderly Japanese men, suggesting that elderly men with low skeletal muscle mass, which can be accurately estimated from appendicular LM, may be prone to future clinical fractures. DXA-measured LM thus provides additional information useful for the management of bone fractures.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13014102/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147431646","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":"Identification and serological characterization of MtbAg1073, a conserved Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex antigen recognized in active tuberculosis.","authors":"Khouanheuane Sengkhamyong, Pheophet Lamaningao, Takaki Shimono, Sengthong Seumlamvanh, Seiji Kanda","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00071","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge, with delayed diagnosis perpetuating transmission in resource-limited settings. Although the sensitivity of molecular diagnostic methods is high, their dependence on the laboratory infrastructure limits accessibility in many regions. Serological approaches that detect host antibody responses represent a technically simple diagnostic strategy; however, the performance of currently available TB serodiagnostic tests is inconsistent, largely due to suboptimal antigen selection and heterogeneity in host immune responses. Therefore, the identification of conserved antigens naturally recognized during human infection is essential for improving serological diagnostics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cDNA expression library derived from Mycobacterium bovis BCG Tokyo was constructed and screened by colony immunoblotting using pooled sera from patients with active TB. Immunoreactive clones were sequenced and analyzed bioinformatically. The full-length coding sequence of the identified antigen was expressed recombinantly using a cold-shock expression system in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified and evaluated for immunoreactivity using a Western blot analysis. Serological reactivity was further assessed using a dot-blot assay with individual serum samples from microbiologically confirmed TB patients (n = 40) and healthy controls (n = 40) from the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Immunoscreening identified a conserved hypothetical protein corresponding to Rv1073 of M. tuberculosis, designated MtbAg1073, for which no antigenicity had been previously reported. The protein was highly conserved among members of the M. tuberculosis complex. Recombinant expression using a cold-shock system produced soluble His-tagged MtbAg1073, which was specifically recognized by sera from TB patients in the Western blot analysis. Dot-blot assays showed significantly higher antibody responses in TB patients than in controls (median intensity: 761.2 vs. 471.9; the Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.0002). The ROC analysis demonstrated moderate discriminatory performance (AUC = 0.734; 95% CI: 0.624-0.844), with a sensitivity of 70.0% and specificity of 67.5% at the optimal cut-off value.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>MtbAg1073 is a conserved and immunoreactive antigen that elicits detectable antibody responses in active TB. These findings provide preliminary evidence of its immunoreactivity and warrant further investigation into its potential utility in serological approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"46"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13366182/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148430300","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":"Helicobacter pylori infection, atrophic gastritis, and disabling dementia: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.","authors":"Takashi Matsunaga, Kazumasa Yamagishi, Hiroyasu Iso, Nobufumi Yasuda, Manami Inoue, Shoichiro Tsugane, Norie Sawada","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00228","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A meta-analysis reported a positive association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and dementia incidence. H. pylori infection leads to atrophic gastritis (AG) and affects the absorption of nutrients needed for nerve growth, such as vitamin B12 and folate. We aimed to clarify the associations of H. pylori IgG titer, AG, and their combination with disabling dementia incidence and to examine the interaction with vitamin B12 and folate.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) titer and pepsinogen levels were measured in 6,817 participants in 1993 (40-69 years), and the incidence of disabling dementia was followed during a median follow-up of 11.0 years. Associations of anti-H. pylori IgG titer, AG, and their combination with disabling dementia were examined using a multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard model, with stratified analyses by dietary intake of vitamin B12 and folate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>1,325 (19.4%) developed disabling dementia during the follow-up period from 2006 to 2016. Among participants with low vitamin B12 intake, H. pylori infection and severe AG were positively associated with the risk of disabling dementia, with HRs of 1.26 (95% CI: 1.01-1.58) for H. pylori infection (H. pylori IgG titer ≥10 U/mL) and 1.34 (95% CI: 1.06-1.68) for severe AG. Additionally, having both H. pylori infection and AG was associated with an increased risk of dementia among individuals consuming less vitamin B12 than the median (HR 1.30, 95% CI: 1.05-1.61), compared with H. pylori-seronegative and AG-negative.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The combination of H. pylori infection, subsequent AG, and low vitamin B12 intake may be related to increased risk of dementia.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12950342/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146219244","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":"Cognitive function predicts all-cause mortality independent of social engagement among community-dwelling elderly Japanese men: a 15-year prospective cohort study.","authors":"Yuki Fujita, Masayuki Morikawa, Katsuyasu Kouda, Junko Tamaki, Nozomi Okamoto, Masayuki Iki","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00105","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>As the global population ages, cognitive impairment has become a growing public health concern. Although epidemiological studies have examined its association with mortality, sex-stratified analyses and community-based investigations in elderly Asian men remain scarce. Furthermore, social engagement may confound the association between cognitive impairment and mortality; yet few studies among community-dwelling elderly Asian men have simultaneously examined cognitive impairment and social engagement in relation to all-cause mortality in a prospective cohort design. This study therefore aimed to examine whether cognitive impairment is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality independent of social engagement among community-dwelling elderly Japanese men over a 15-year follow-up period.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective cohort study enrolled 2,174 men aged ≥65 years. Follow-up assessments were conducted at five, ten, and fifteen years, with all-cause mortality as the primary outcome. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models to examine the association between cognitive function and all-cause mortality. Confounder-adjusted Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated using inverse probability of treatment weighting.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The final analytic sample comprised 1,741 men. High social engagement was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. Compared with participants with normal cognitive function, the hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality were 1.29 (95% CI: 1.06-1.56) for mild cognitive impairment and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.10-2.29) for severe cognitive impairment, after adjusting for potential confounding factors including social engagement.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cognitive impairment independently predicts an increased risk of all-cause mortality in community-dwelling elderly Japanese men.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"56"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148826459","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":"A risk-benefit assessment of dietary selenium and its implications in preschool children's growth performance in Taiwan.","authors":"Chi-Sian Kao, Ying-Lin Wang, Chuen-Bin Jiang, Ying-Chih Chuang, Yi-Hua Chen, Hsing-Jasmine Chao, Pin-Hsuan Lin, Hsing-Cheng Hsi, Ling-Chu Chien","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00128","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Optimizing nutrient intake is crucial for the health and development of preschool children. While previous studies assessed the risks and benefits of selenium (Se) from fish and seafood, few have examined its intake from common foods and its association with children's growth.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>In this study, we evaluated optimal foods for achieving a dietary Se surplus and the implications for the growth performance of preschool children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Mercury (Hg) and Se concentrations were analyzed in 108 commercially available foods to conduct a dietary risk-benefit assessment of Se intake. Hg exposure was evaluated using hair samples from 349 preschool children enrolled between August 2017 and July 2022. Information on food consumption frequencies and nutrient compositions was obtained through dietary surveys.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 42.4% of children had hair Hg levels above the US Environmental Protection Agency's reference dose of 1 µg/g, showing that Hg exposure among preschool children in Taiwan remains a significant issue. The risk-benefit assessment revealed that eggs and fish are superior sources of Se compared to other animal- and plant-based foods. Although marine fish contained higher Hg concentrations than eggs, their relatively high Se and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents supported a favorable nutritional profile when consumed in moderation. The minor negative health benefit value of Se (HBV_Se) observed for fruit does not pose a health concern, as it is offset by other Se-rich foods in the diet. The cumulative HBV_Se across food groups indicated that the children's overall dietary Se intake was positive and nutritionally advantageous. Dietary Se, mainly from fish and eggs, was positively associated with weight and height development, whereas excessive fruit consumption may slightly reduce Se intake and adversely affect growth.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Moderate consumption of fish and eggs should be encouraged to support optimal growth and neurodevelopment. Overall, dietary patterns of Taiwanese preschool children provide beneficial levels of Se and ω-3 fatty acids while maintaining low Hg-related risks, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring of Hg levels in locally consumed foods to ensure dietary safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12807879/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145959173","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 tooth brushing habits and incident disability in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study.","authors":"Kimiko Tomioka, Midori Shima, Keigo Saeki","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00398","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00398","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Japan is experiencing a rapid demographic shift toward a super-aged society, making the extension of healthy life expectancy a national priority. Oral self-care, particularly tooth brushing habits, may play a critical role in preventing functional decline among older adults, yet evidence in this population remains limited. This study aimed to examine the association between specific tooth brushing behaviors-frequency, timing (especially before bedtime), and use of interdental cleaning tools-and incident disability among community-dwelling older adults in Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A three-year prospective cohort study was conducted in City A, Nara Prefecture, involving 7,785 older adults aged 65 and above who were free of disability at baseline. Tooth brushing habits were assessed via self-administered questionnaires, and incident disability was defined as new certification under Japan's Long-Term Care Insurance system. Covariates included age, gender, socio-economic status, lifestyle habits, physical and mental health, and oral health indicators. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for incident disability.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During the follow-up period, 713 participants (9.2%) developed incident disability. After adjustment for covariates and mutual adjustment for other tooth brushing habits, non-daily brushing before bedtime and non-use of interdental cleaning tools were associated with higher odds of incident disability (AOR for non-daily vs daily brushing before bedtime = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.19-2.01; AOR for non-use vs use of interdental cleaning tools = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.11-1.62). These associations were particularly evident among individuals aged 75 and older.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Daily brushing before bedtime and the use of interdental cleaning tools were independently associated with lower odds of incident disability among community-dwelling older adults. Nevertheless, causal inference is limited, and residual confounding cannot be ruled out.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"22"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13057865/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510215","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":"Potential preventive effects of forest bathing/Shinrin-yoku on depressive symptoms: a narrative review of mechanistic evidence.","authors":"Qing Li","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00028","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Depression affects more than 280 million people worldwide and remains a major public health challenge, with limited universally effective preventive strategies. Non-pharmacological interventions have gained increasing attention as complements or alternatives to pharmacotherapy. Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), a Japanese health practice involving immersion in forest environments, has been reported to relieve stress, enhance immune function, and improve mood. This review synthesizes current evidence on the potential preventive effects of forest bathing on depressive symptoms and examines the mechanistic pathways underlying these effects. A structured search of major scientific databases identified studies investigating psychological responses, neuroendocrine and autonomic regulation, immune-inflammatory markers, and related physiological parameters. Across diverse populations, forest bathing consistently reduced negative mood states, improved vigor, and showed beneficial effects on anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and stress biomarkers. Mechanistic evidence suggests that forest bathing may modulate the psycho-neuro-endocrino-immune network through improved sleep, reduced stress hormone levels, enhanced parasympathetic activation, and increases in circulating serotonin, oxytocin, and insulin-like growth factor-1, alongside reduced inflammatory markers. While existing findings are promising, most studies involve small samples, short-term interventions, and limited clinical populations. Future large-scale, controlled studies are needed to confirm long-term effects and to clarify whether forest bathing can contribute to prevention or adjunctive management of depressive symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"47"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13366187/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148430224","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":"Factor analysis of defecation status in the general elderly population: the Yamagata Cohort Study.","authors":"Hitomi Kataoka, Tsuneo Konta, Yu Sasaki, Yoshiyuki Ueno","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00309","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.25-00309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prevalence of constipation is increasing with the aging of the population, significantly impacting the quality of life in older adults. However, a comprehensive analysis of the physical, psychological, and social correlates of constipation in Japan remains limited. This study aimed to examine factors associated with defecation status in community-dwelling older adults in Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 8,009 community-dwelling residents aged 65 years and older who completed the baseline health and lifestyle questionnaire as part of the Yamagata Cohort Study. Constipation was defined as fewer than three bowel movements per week. Physical, psychological, and social factors were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Associations with constipation were examined using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression, including sex-stratified models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Constipation was observed in 407 participants (5.1%). In the multivariable analysis, it was significantly associated with being female (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.56; reference: male), having a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m² (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.58-0.96: reference: <25 kg/m²), feeling unhappy (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.16-3.22; reference: happy), experiencing residual stool sensation (OR = 2.77, 95% CI: 2.11-3.64; reference: no sensation), having moderate overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.13-1.79; reference: no OAB symptoms), and perceived living situation on current income as difficult (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.36-2.12; reference: comfortable). Sex-stratified analyses revealed partially different patterns of associated factors between men and women.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Constipation in community-dwelling older adults in Japan was associated with multiple physical, psychological, and social factors, with sex-specific differences. Given the cross-sectional design, causality cannot be inferred. These findings suggest that constipation in older adults may be associated with a complex interplay of physical, psychological, and social factors, highlighting the need for comprehensive and integrated approaches in community settings. Integrated geriatric care that addresses these dimensions may be effective in preventing and managing constipation in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"16"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12981972/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147354410","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":"Insights from a workshop on climate-resilience in health systems in Japan and Germany: strategies to counteract social isolation and heat health risks for older adults.","authors":"Alina Herrmann, Asuna Arai, Xerxes Seposo, Ingo Meyer, Mustakim, Beate Sigrid Müller, Kayo Ueda","doi":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00050","DOIUrl":"10.1265/ehpm.26-00050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate change leads to adverse health effects globally, including increased heat-related mortality of the elderly. Besides physiological factors of aging and comorbidities, social isolation is one risk factor associated with adverse health effects of heat. In 2025, the Working Group Environmental Health at Hokkaido University and the Institute of General Practice from University of Cologne held a research workshop to explore joint solutions for climate-resilience in super-aged nations like Germany and Japan. The three-day interactive workshop was held at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan and included a hybrid symposium with external experts as well as intensive exchange between the research groups. Jointly addressing social isolation and heat health risks, was identified as a promising way to increase health systems resilience in times of societal and environmental crisis, especially in super-aged countries. This commentary narratively summarizes the current evidence on interventions targeting social isolation and heat health risks, finding that current interventions aim to protect socially isolated older adults during heat waves, but do not intend to alleviate both, social isolation and heat health risks at a broader scale. Based on the discussions in the workshop this commentary proposes future research opportunities, entailing family-based as well as community-based approaches, which foster social connection throughout the year and are particularly triggered during hot days and heat waves. Further research is needed to co-develop and evaluate such interventions with older adults and their families and communities to increase resilience of societies and health systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":11707,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine","volume":"31 ","pages":"58"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537899/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148860475","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}