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Objectives: Approximately 17% of Japanese women have hemoglobin concentrations less than 12 g/dL. Therefore, anemia prevention and early intervention are crucial public health issues in Japan. This study aimed to identify the symptoms and characteristics of anemic individuals in the general adult population by comparing survey responses of individuals with anemia and without anemia visiting blood donation centers.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study used self-administered questionnaires. Individuals who visited two Japanese Red Cross Society blood donation centers in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan were included. Hemoglobin levels were measured at blood donation, and the levels of 13 g/dL for men and 12 g/dL for women were defined as anemia.Results: Of the 857 individuals analyzed, 530 were men and 327 were women, of whom 19 (3.6%) and 12 (3.7%) had low hemoglobin levels, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed in men, and the results showed that “lightheadedness” (odds ratio [OR]=8.4) and “depressive symptoms” (OR=3.6) were significantly associated with hemoglobin levels. None of the evaluated items were significantly associated with hemoglobin levels in women.Conclusion: Among healthy Japanese men, those who exhibit lightheadedness and depressive symptoms have an increased risk of anemia. Lightheadedness and depressive symptoms may be indicative of undiagnosed anemia in men, which necessitates greater clinical attention.
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OBJECTIVE: Interest in the "at-risk mental state" (ARMS) for psychosis has increased because early intervention is expected to delay or prevent the onset of schizophrenia. However, the optimum intervention strategy remains controversial, especially with regard to antipsychotics. Although administration of antipsychotic medications is often associated with adverse effects and raises ethical considerations, recent studies have shown that some novel antipsychotics are safer and more tolerable for young people than conventional antipsychotics. We investigated whether administration of perospirone, a combined serotonin (5-HT)/dopamine antagonist and 5-HT1A receptor agonist, could alleviate prodromal symptoms and be well tolerated by clinical high risk patients. METHODS: The participants were outpatients seeking help. The Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms was performed in patients identified as being at clinical high risk. The Scale of Prodromal Symptoms (SOPS) was also completed and changes of subjective experience were assessed with the Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptics, short version. The incidence of akathisia was recorded by using the Barnes Akathisia Scale. Subjects were monitored for 26 weeks after starting medication. RESULTS: SOPS scores improved significantly after 26 weeks of perospirone therapy, while BAS scores did not show deterioration. No serious adverse events occurred during the study. CONCLUSION: This trial suggests that perospirone therapy provides a clinical benefit for clinical high risk subjects without causing serious adverse events. Although further placebo-controlled studies are needed for confirmation, perospirone might be one of optimum treatments for individuals at imminent risk of psychosis.