Maternal birth weight is an indicator of preterm delivery: the Japan environment and children's study.

This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal birth weight (MBW) with preterm delivery (PTD) in the Japanese population. To this end, a total of 78,972 Japanese pregnant women were included in a prospective birth cohort study. Multiple logistic regression and multinominal logistic regression models were applied to investigate the associations of MBW with PTD (delivery from 22 to < 37 weeks of gestation), early PTD (delivery from 22 to < 34 weeks), and late PTD (delivery from 34 to < 37 weeks). The results showed that MBW was inversely associated with PTD, early PTD, and late PTD (p-for-trend < 0.0001, 0.0014, and < 0.0001, respectively). The adjusted odds ratios per each 500 g of MBW decrease were 1.167 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.118-1.218) for PTD, 1.174 (95% CI: 1.070-1.287) for early PTD and 1.151 (95% CI: 1.098-1.206) for late PTD. The effect size of the association of MBW with early PTD was similar to that with late PTD. This study demonstrated for the first time an association of a low MBW with PTD, early PTD, and late PTD in a Japanese nationwide cohort.

Association between Maternal Birth Weight and Prevalence of Congenital Malformations in Offspring: The Japanese Environment and Children's Study.

Congenital malformations are functional and structural alterations in embryonic or foetal development resulting from a variety of factors including maternal health status. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal birth weight (MBW) and the prevalence of congenital malformations in offspring using data from a nationwide birth cohort study in Japan including 103,060 pregnancies. A binary logistic regression model with adjustment for various covariates revealed that an MBW of <2500 g (low MBW) was associated with an increased risk of congenital heart disease (adjusted odds ratio: 1.388, [95% confidence interval: 1.075-1.792]), angioma (1.491 [1.079-2.059]), and inguinal hernia (1.746, [1.189-2.565]), while those with an MBW of ≥4000 g (high MBW) were associated with congenital anomalies of the urinary tract (2.194, [1.261-3.819]) and arrhythmia (1.775, [1.157-2.725]) compared with those with an MBW of 3000-3499 g. Low MBW was associated with cleft lip and/or palate (1.473, [1.052-2.064]), congenital heart disease (1.615, [1.119-2.332]), genital organs (1.648, [1.130-2.405]), hypospadias (1.804, [1.130-2.881]), and inguinal hernia (1.484, [1.189-1.851]) in male infants and CAKUT (1.619, [1.154-2.273]) in female infants, whereas high MBW was associated with congenital heart disease (1.745, [1.058-2.877]) and CAKUT (2.470, [1.350-4.517]) in male infants. The present study is the first to demonstrate a link between MBW and congenital malformations in Japanese children. While these results must be interpreted with caution, MBW should be considered a major predictor of congenital malformation risk.

Maternal birth weight as an indicator of early and late gestational diabetes mellitus: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the association of maternal birth weight (MBW) with early and late gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: A total of 69318 pregnant Japanese women were included in this birth cohort study. The associations between maternal birth weight and early gestational diabetes mellitus (diagnosed at <24 gestational weeks) and late GDM (diagnosed at ≥24 gestational weeks) were investigated using a multinomial logistic regression model, with an maternal birth weight of 3000-3499 g as the reference category. RESULTS: Lower maternal birth weight was associated with higher odds of developing early and late gestational diabetes mellitus (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for early gestational diabetes mellitus in participants with a MBW of <2500 g and 2500-2999 g were 1.345 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.912-1.984) and 1.338 (95% CI: 1.098-1.629), respectively. The aORs for late gestational diabetes mellitus in participants with a MBW of <2500 g and 2500-2999 g were, 1.657 (95% CI: 1.298-2.115) and 1.218 (95% CI: 1.058-1.402), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the gestational age when gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed, a lower maternal birth weight was associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, the association of a MBW <2500 g with late gestational diabetes mellitus tended to be stronger than that with early gestational diabetes mellitus.

Maternal birth weight as an indicator of early-onset and late-onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: The Japan Environment and Children's study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal birth weight (MBW) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) according to the gestational age when HDP develops. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 77,345 subjects were included in this prospective birth cohort study. The association between MBW and HDP was investigated by a multinomial logistic regression model. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Early-onset HDP (EO-HDP), preterm late-onset HDP (preterm LO-HDP), and term late-onset HDP (term LO-HDP). RESULTS: Lower MBW was associated with higher odds of preterm and term LO-HDP (p-values for trend < 0.0001 and = 0.0005, respectively). A linear association between MBW and EO-HDP was observed (p-values for trend = 0.0496). The shape of the association between MBW and preterm LO-HDP was a combination of the associations between MBW with EO-HDP or LO-HDP. The effect size of the association between MBW < 2,500 g and EO-HDP was lower than that of MBW < 2,500 g with preterm or term LO-HDP. The adjusted odds ratios for EO-HDP, preterm LO-HDP, and term LO-HDP in subjects with MBW < 2,500 g were 1.052 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.665-1.664), 1.745 (95 % CI: 1.220-2.496), and 1.496 (95 % CI: 1.154-1.939), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MBW was associated with HDP, regardless of gestational age when HDP developed. Furthermore, the association of MBW < 2,500 g with preterm or term LO-HDP was stronger than that with EO-HDP.

Gender Differences in Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment among Japanese Obstetricians and Gynecologists: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Premenstrual symptoms are characterized by unpleasant psychophysical symptoms that appear during the luteal phase before menstruation and interfere with a woman's quality of life. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a pathological condition with premenstrual symptoms, of which premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a particularly severe psychological symptom. This study aimed to examine the gender differences in the diagnosis and treatment of PMS and PMDD among obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) in Japan. Data were obtained from the survey conducted by the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We used data from 1,257 of the 1,265 OB/GYNs who are engaged in PMS/PMDD practice and reported their gender. Multivariate regression analysis adjusted for propensity scores was performed. Female OB/GYNs were more frequently engaged in treating patients with PMS/PMDD than males [odds ratio (OR) 1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-2.21]. With regard to the diagnostic methods, more female OB/GYNs selected the two-cycle symptom diary than males (OR 2.88; 95% CI 1.80-4.60). Regarding treatment, fewer female OB/GYNs selected selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as their first-line drug (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.17-0.89). Gender differences were found in the selection of PMS/PMDD diagnosis and treatment methods among Japanese OB/GYNs.

Surgically treated cervical cancer in a high-risk group in the era of the 2018 FIGO staging schema: a nationwide study.

The 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) revision to the staging criteria for uterine cervical cancer adopted pathological staging for patients who underwent surgery. We investigated the correlation between clinicopathological factors and prognosis in patients with high-risk factors in accordance with the FIGO 2018 staging criteria by analyzing a real-world database of 6,192 patients who underwent radical hysterectomy at 116 institutions belonging to the Japan Gynecologic Oncology Group. A total of 1,392 patients were categorized into the high-risk group. Non-squamous cell carcinoma histology, regional lymph node metastasis, pT2 classification, and ovarian metastasis were identified as independent risk factors for mortality. Based on pathological findings, 313, 1003, and 76 patients were re-classified into FIGO 2018 stages IIB, IIIC1p, and IIIC2p, respectively. Patients with stage IIIC2p disease showed worse prognoses than those with stage IIB or IIIC1p disease. In patients with stage IIIC1p disease, overall survival was significantly better if their tumors were localized in the uterine cervix, except for single lymph node metastasis, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 91.8%. This study clarified the heterogeneity of the high-risk group and provided insights into the feasibility of upfront radical hysterectomy for a limited number of patients harboring high-risk factors.

Precautions during Direct Oral Anticoagulant Introduction in Gynecologic Malignancies: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

The risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence/exacerbation or a change from a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) to another anticoagulant in patients with gynecologic cancer using DOACs have not been thoroughly elucidated. Here, we aimed to investigate the risk factors for a composite primary outcome, including VTE recurrence/exacerbation, or a change from a DOAC to another anticoagulant, in this population. A total of 63 patients were analyzed. Risk factors for a primary outcome within 2 years after DOAC initiation were investigated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Among the 63 patients, 10 developed a primary outcome. Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 18.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.25-350.74), pulmonary embolism (PE) or proximal deep vein thrombosis without PE (aOR, 55.6; 95% CI, 3.29-11,774.66), and D-dimer levels in the third tertile (≥7.6 µg/dL) when VTE was first diagnosed (aOR, 6.37; 95% CI, 1.17-66.61) were associated with increased odds of a primary outcome in patients with gynecologic cancer using DOACs. Patients with one or more risk factors for a primary outcome require careful follow-up after DOAC initiation for the early recognition of treatment failure.

Secondhand smoke exposure is associated with the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with poor maternal and neonatal prognoses. Although several studies have indicated an effect of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure on HDP, such evidence is lacking in Japan. Therefore, we analyzed data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a large-scale epidemiological investigation, to elucidate a possible link between SHS exposure and HDP risk. Data were obtained from the all-birth fixed datasets and included information on 104,062 fetuses and their parents. SHS exposure was assessed in terms of the frequency (rarely, 1-3, or 4-7 days/week) and the daily duration of exposure (<1, 1-2, or ≥2 h(s)/day). Modified Poisson regression model analyses were performed with adjustment for known risk factors for HDP. Additionally, the population attributable fractions (PAFs) of SHS exposure and maternal smoking to HDP prevalence were estimated. The relative risks of developing HDP among individuals with SHS exposures of 4-7 days/week and ≥2 h/day were 1.18 and 1.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.36 and 0.96-1.67), respectively, compared to the reference groups (rare exposure and <1 h/day). The PAFs for the risk of HDP due to SHS exposure and perinatal smoking were 3.8% and 1.8%, respectively. Japanese women with greater exposure to SHS have a higher risk of HDP after adjustment for possible confounding factors; thus, relevant measures are required to reduce SHS exposure to alleviate HDP risk. The association between second-hand smoking exposure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy risk was analyzed using the JECS data. The relative risks in 4-7 days/week and ≥2 h/day of SHS exposures were 1.18 and 1.27, respectively. The PAFs due to SHS exposure and maternal smoking were 3.80% and 1.81%, respectively.

Current status and problems in the diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder from the perspective of obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan.

AIM: To investigate the current status and problems in the diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) from the perspective of obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) in Japan, the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) conducted a national-wide survey. METHODS: An email survey was sent to all JSOG members (16 732) and a web-based survey was conducted using a Google form between September and November 2021. The current status and problems in PMS/PMDD diagnosis and treatment were surveyed in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: In total, 1312 respondents (7.8% of all JSOG members) completed the questionnaire. In terms of diagnoses and treatment, OB/GYN was preferred over psychiatrist for PMS (91.4% vs. 45%); however, no differences were noted for PMDD (76.1% vs. 73.7%). A total of 1267 (96.6%) respondents engaged in routine PMS/PMDD treatment. Regarding the general diagnosis procedure, 84.4% respondents answered "only a vague medical interview," 8.4% kept a two-cycle symptom diary, and 10.3% used a screening questionnaire. The most commonly used medication was oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) (98.1%), followed by the Kampo, traditional Japanese herbal medicines, Kamishoyosan (73.6%). Concerning first-line drugs for treatment, OCPs were the most common (76.8%), followed by Kampo medicine (19.5%); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were less frequently used (2.6%). Regarding first-line drugs among OCPs, 65.1% respondents reported drospirenone-ethinylestradriol use. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that only a few OB/GYNs practicing PMS/PMDD in Japan use a prospective diary, which is an essential diagnostic criterion for PMS/PMDD. Regarding treatment, SSRIs were used less frequently.

The impact of maternal and paternal birth weights on infant birth weights: the Japan environment and children's study.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between parental and infant birth weights in Japan. In total, 37,504 pregnant Japanese women and their partners were included in this birth cohort study. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to evaluate the associations of parental birth weights with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) or large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants. Associations between parental birth weight and low birth weight (LBW) infants or macrosomia were also examined, and linear associations between parental birth weight and SGA or LGA were found. The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for SGA infants per 500 g decrease in maternal and paternal birth weights were 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI],1.43-1.58) and 1.31 (95% CI, 1.25-1.38), respectively. The aORs for LGA infants per 500 g increase in maternal and paternal birth weights were 1.53 (95% CI, 1.47-1.60) and 1.41 (95% CI, 1.35-1.47), respectively. The association between parental birth weight and LBW infants or macrosomia was also linear. The aORs for LBW infants per 500 g decrease in maternal and paternal birth weights were 1.47 (95% CI, 1.40-1.55) and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.19-1.31), respectively. The aORs for macrosomia per 500 g increase in maternal and paternal birth weights were 1.59 (95% CI, 1.41-1.79) and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.23-1.60), respectively. Parental birth weight was found to be associated with infant birth weight even after adjusting for various parental factors. Furthermore, maternal birth weight was more strongly associated with infant birth weight than with paternal birth weight.

Pathological variants in genes associated with disorders of sex development and central causes of hypogonadism in a whole-genome reference panel of 8380 Japanese individuals.

Disorders of sex development (DSD) comprises a congenital condition in which chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex development is atypical. In this study, we screened for pathogenic variants in 32 genes associated with DSDs and central causes of hypogonadism (CHG) in a whole-genome reference panel including 8380 Japanese individuals constructed by Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization. Candidate pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) variants were extracted from the ClinVar, InterVar, and Human Gene Mutation databases. Ninety-one candidate pathological variants were found in 25 genes; 28 novel candidate variants were identified. Nearly 1 in 40 (either ClinVar or InterVar P or LP) to 157 (both ClinVar and InterVar P or LP) individuals were found to be carriers of recessive DSD and CHG alleles. In these data, genes implicated in gonadal dysfunction did not show loss-of-function variants, with a relatively high tendency of intolerance for haploinsufficiency based on pLI and Episcore, both of which can be used for estimating haploinsufficiency. We report the types and frequencies of causative variants for DSD and CHG in the general Japanese population. This study furthers our understanding of the genetic causes and helps to refine genetic counseling of DSD and CHG.

Association of fish intake with menstrual pain: A cross-sectional study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

The relationship between fish eating habits and menstrual pain is unknown. Elucidating this relationship can inform dietary guidance for reproductive age women with menstrual pain. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between fish intake frequency/preference and menstrual pain. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Miyagi Regional Center as an adjunct study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study, and 2060 eligible women (mean age, 31.9 years) participated. Fish intake frequency ("< 1 time/week," "1 time/week," "2-3 times/week," or "≥ 4 times/week"), preference ("like," "neutral," or "dislike"), and menstrual pain (no/mild or moderate-to-severe) were assessed at 1.5 years after the last delivery through self-administered questionnaires. The association between fish intake frequency/preference and prevalence of moderate-to-severe menstrual pain was evaluated through logistic regression analyses. Our results show that, compared with the "< 1 time/week" (38.0%) group, the "1 time/week" (26.9%), "2-3 times/week" (27.8%), and "≥ 4 times/week" (23.9%) groups showed a lower prevalence of moderate-to-severe menstrual pain (p < 0.01). The prevalence of moderate-to-severe menstrual pain was 27.7%, 27.6%, and 34.4% in the "like," "neutral," and "dislike" groups, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that frequent fish intake was associated with a lower prevalence of moderate-to-severe menstrual pain ("1 time/week": odds ratio [OR] = 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.86, "2-3 times/week": OR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.45-0.90 and "≥ 4 times/week": OR = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.34-0.80; trend p = 0.004). Multivariate logistic regression showed no association between fish preference and moderate-to-severe menstrual pain ("dislike" vs "like": OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.78-1.73). There was a significant negative association between fish intake frequency and menstrual pain. It is suggested that fish intake can reduce or prevent menstrual pain.

Association between maternal infertility treatment and child neurodevelopment: findings from the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures, Japan.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the association between infertility treatment and neurodevelopment in children at 2 and 3.5 years of age. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study population consisted of mother-child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures, Japan. Pregnant women were recruited in obstetric clinics or hospitals and their children were followed up by the questionnaire. OUTCOME MEASURES: The children's neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 2 and 3.5 years of age using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, third edition (ASQ-3), which consists of questions on five developmental domains. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis of the association between infertility treatment (including ovulation induction (OI), artificial insemination with husband's sperm (AIH) and assisted reproductive technology (ART)) and the clinical range of ASQ-3. RESULTS: Of 9655 mother-child pairs, 273 (2.8%) and 487 (5.0%) were conceived through OI/AIH and ART, respectively. The odds of having developmental delays at 2 years of age were higher in children conceived through OI/AIH (OR, 1.36; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.85) and ART (OR, 1.36; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.72) than in those conceived naturally. Additionally, OI/AIH and ART were significantly associated with communication (OR, 1.93; 95% CI 1.25 to 2.98) and gross motor (OR, 1.50; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.09) delays, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the odds of having developmental delays at 3.5 years of age in children conceived through OI/AIH (OR, 1.13; 95% CI 0.79 to 1.61) and ART (OR, 1.03; 95% CI 0.78 to 1.37). CONCLUSION: In this study, we found a significant association between infertility treatment and children's neurodevelopment at 2 years of age, whereas no statistically significant differences were found at 3.5 years of age.

Rethinking the significance of surgery for uterine cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Treatment strategies based on histological subtypes are unestablished. AIMS: Rethinking the significance of surgery for uterine cervical cancer. METHODS: Using the database of cervical cancer stages IB-IIB with extensive hysterectomy (Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] 2008) established by the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group network, we conducted a clinicopathological study of cervical cancer cases reclassified according to the FIGO 2018 staging. In stage IB (FIGO 2018) cervical cancer patients, there was no significant difference in treatment outcome according to histological type, but in stages IIA, IIB, and IIIC1 (FIGO 2018), the treatment outcome of nonsquamous cell carcinoma was significantly worse than that of squamous cell carcinoma. Considering post-treatment health care, it is important to consider ovarian preservation in young patients with cervical cancer, up to stage IIA (FIGO 2018) for squamous cell carcinoma and stage IB1 (FIGO 2018) for nonsquamous cell carcinoma, after careful evaluation of clinicopathological factors before surgery. DISCUSSION: Locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the cervix is a rare and refractory cancer that has been shown to have low radiosensitivity, and its treatment outcome is still unsatisfactory. A new therapeutic strategy involving multidisciplinary treatment in combination with perioperative chemotherapy at a facility that can provide highly curative surgical treatment is desired. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive surgery is being introduced for the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. However, the number of eligible cases should be expanded in a phased manner, based on an objective evaluation of surgical outcomes at the facilities. Omics analysis may be useful to develop a new treatment for human papillomavirus nonrelated cervical cancer, represented by gastric mucinous carcinoma.

Association of subjective health and abnormal cervical cytology in Japanese pregnant women: An adjunct study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

This study examines the association between abnormal cervical cytology and subjective health in pregnant women, as an adjunct to the Japan Environment and Children's Study, which cross-sectionally analyzed a subset of the prospective cohort. A total of 3024 pregnant women at a childbirth facility whose medical records of cervical cytology in the first trimester of pregnancy were transcribed and who responded to the subjective health questionnaire were included herein. They were classified into excellent, good, fair, and poor groups based on their subjective health. Cervical cytology results obtained from perinatal medical records were classified into normal and abnormal cytology based on the Bethesda classification. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for baseline characteristics, including age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, parity, and other possible confounding factors, was used. Of 3024 pregnant women, 106 (3.5%) had abnormal cytology, with the prevalence being 1.3%, 3.7%, 3.9%, and 4.0%, respectively (p = 0.055) in the poor, fair, good, and excellent groups. The baseline characteristics, namely age, history of gynecological diseases, Kessler 6-item psychological distress scale score, and history of mental illness, were significantly different between groups. Compared to the poor group, the other three groups had a significantly higher abnormal cytology risk after adjusting for confounding factors (Fair: adjusted OR [aOR] = 3.6, 95% CI [1.0-12.1]; Good: aOR = 4.6 [1.3-15.5]; Excellent: aOR = 4.6 [1.2-17.8]). This study encourages young women to undergo cervical cancer screening because they are at risk for cervical cancer even if they think that they are healthy, and preventive activities like regular screening are essential.

Exploration of the Cytoplasmic Function of Abnormally Fertilized Embryos via Novel Pronuclear-Stage Cytoplasmic Transfer.

In regular IVF, a portion of oocytes exhibit abnormal numbers of pronuclei (PN) that is considered as abnormal fertilization, and they are routinely discarded. However, it is known that abnormal ploidy still does not completely abandon embryo development and implantation. To explore the potential of cytoplasm from those abnormally fertilized oocytes, we developed a novel technique for the transfer of large cytoplasm between pronuclear-stage mouse embryos, and assessed its impact. A large volume of cytoplast could be efficiently transferred in the PN stage using a novel two-step method of pronuclear-stage cytoplasmic transfer (PNCT). PNCT revealed the difference in the cytoplasmic function among abnormally fertilized embryos where the cytoplasm of 3PN was developmentally more competent than 1PN, and the supplementing of fresh 3PN cytoplasm restored the impaired developmental potential of postovulatory "aged" oocytes. PNCT-derived embryos harbored significantly higher mitochondrial DNA copies, ATP content, oxygen consumption rate, and total cells. The difference in cytoplasmic function between 3PN and 1PN mouse oocytes probably attributed to the proper activation via sperm and may impact subsequent epigenetic events. These results imply that PNCT may serve as a potential alternative treatment to whole egg donation for patients with age-related recurrent IVF failure.

The prevalence of psychological distress during pregnancy in Miyagi Prefecture for 3 years after the Great Eas t Japan Earthquake.

BACKGROUND: To examine changes in psychological distress prevalence among pregnant women in Miyagi Prefecture, which was directly affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, and compare it with the other, less damaged areas of Japan. METHODS: This study was conducted in conjunction with the Japan Environment and Children`s Study. We examined 76,152 pregnant women including 8270 in Miyagi Regional Center and 67,882 in 13 other regional centers from the all-birth fixed data of the Japan Environment and Children's Study. We then compared the prevalence and risk of distress in women in Miyagi Regional Center and women in the 13 regional centers for 3 years after the disaster. RESULTS: Women in the Miyagi Regional Center suffered more psychological distress than those in the 13 regional centers: OR 1.38 (95% CI, 1.03-1.87) to 1.92 (95% CI, 1.42-2.60). Additionally, women in the inland area had a consistently higher prevalence of psychological distress compared to those from the 13 regional centers: OR 1.67 (95% CI, 1.18-2.38) to 2.19 (95% CI, 1.60-2.99). CONCLUSIONS: The lack of pre-disaster data in the Japan Environment and Children's Study made it impossible to compare the incidence of psychological distress before and after the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. However, 3 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the prevalence of pregnant women with psychological distress did not improve in Miyagi Regional Center. Further, the prevalence of mental illness in inland areas was consistently higher than that in the 13 regional centers after the disaster.

The delivery of a placenta/fetus with high gonadal steroid production contributes to postpartum depressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: A correlation between gonadal steroids and depressive symptoms during the perinatal period has long been suggested; however, the underlying mechanism for this relationship remains unclear. METHODS: This study was designed to examine the correlation between gonadal steroid concentrations of umbilical cord blood and postpartum depressive symptoms as well as longitudinal alterations in maternal plasma gonadal steroid concentrations among 204 perinatal women. The levels of postpartum depressive state at 1 month postpartum were evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. RESULTS: Umbilical progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone levels were significantly higher in infants delivered by depressed mothers (870.7 ± 281.7 ng/ml, 8607.7 ± 4354.6 pg/ml, and 2.5 ± 0.9 ng/ml, respectively) than those delivered by nondepressed mothers (741.3 ± 324.0 ng/ml, 5221.9 ± 3416.3 pg/ml, and 2.1 ± 0.6 ng/ml, p < .01, p < .05, and p < .05, respectively). Postpartum plasma progesterone levels of depressed mothers (3.5 ± 3.1 ng/ml) measured in the early postpartum period were significantly lower than those of nondepressed mothers (9.1 ± 9.7 ng/ml, p < .01). The decrease in progesterone from mid-pregnancy to the early postpartum period was significantly higher in depressed mothers than in nondepressed mothers. Subgroup analyses specific to primiparas or multiparas indicated that a significant drop of progesterone was seen only in primiparas. CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that the delivery of a placenta/fetus with high gonadal steroid production may cause a wider range of fluctuations in maternal plasma gonadal steroid concentrations, which may be concurrent with postpartum depressive symptoms.

Interannual Changes in the Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence Against Pregnant Women in Miyagi Prefecture After the Great East Japan Earthquake: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

This study aimed to clarify the interannual changes in intimate partner violence against pregnant women after the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake in target areas of Miyagi Prefecture that were damaged by the earthquake and tsunami. Because of this disaster, in Miyagi Prefecture, approximately 12,000 people died or went missing, and approximately 238,000 buildings were destroyed. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Great East Japan Earthquake is the fourth largest earthquake in the world and the largest in Japan since 1900. The present study was part of the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Data from June 2011 to May 2014 of 79,222 pregnant women were analyzed, calculating the prevalence of physical and mental intimate partner violence in the inland, north coastal, and south coastal areas of Miyagi. These prevalence rates were compared with nationwide rates of intimate partner violence in 2011 using univariate and logistic regression analyses. After the disaster, the incidence of mental intimate partner violence increased in the south coastal area and then improved later (19.4%, 13.1%, and 13.3% for south coastal area, and 13.8%, 13.8%, and 13.1% for nationwide in 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively). However, in the north coastal area, the incidence of physical intimate partner violence increased after the disaster and then improved later (2.7%, 1.5%, and 1.3% for north coastal area, and 1.4%, 1.3%, and 1.1% for nationwide in 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively). In the inland area, however, the prevalence of both mental and physical intimate partner violence was consistently higher than nationwide rates after the disaster.