Validation of self-reported morbidities of the Korean Atomic Bomb Survivor Cohort.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the agreement of disease status collected through a survey of the Korean Atomic Bomb Survivor Cohort (K-ABC), compared with medical claim records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database and the Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). Methods: Data on the lifetime physician-diagnosed morbidities of 1,215 K-ABC participants were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire between 2020 and 2022. Survey data were linked to the NHIS and KCCR databases. Eleven diseases were included for validation. We evaluated the following indicators: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, the area under the curve (AUC), and the kappa coefficient. Results: The mean (standard deviation) age was 62.1 (18.7) years, and 42.6% of the participants were aged ≥70 years. Hypertension and cataracts showed the highest prevalence rates (33.8% and 28.8%, respectively). Hypertension, diabetes, and cancer demonstrated high sensitivity (>0.8) and specificity (>0.9), whereas diabetes, cancer, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and asthma exhibited high accuracy (>0.9). In contrast, arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma showed low sensitivity (<0.4) and kappa values (<0.3). In the participants aged ≥70 years, the kappa value was ≥0.4 for all diseases except arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. Conclusion: The results from this initial analysis showed relatively high agreement between the survey and NHIS/KCCR databases, especially for hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Our findings suggest that the information on morbidities collected through the questionnaires in this cohort was valid for both younger and older individuals.

Peri-ankle muscles architecture and performance changes in patients with chronic ankle instability: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to identify changes in the architecture and performance of the peri-ankle muscles in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and investigate the relationship between them. In total, 17 subjects were evaluated retrospectively. Each subject underwent anthropometric and isokinetic test, and peroneus longus (PL) and brevis (PB), medial gastrocnemius (MGCM), and tibialis anterior (TA) ultrasound imaging were performed at rest and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) conditions. Regarding muscle architectural variables, the pennation angle (PA) of the MGCM at rest and the PA of the TA, MGCM, and PL in MVC were significantly reduced on the injured side compared to the intact side. There were no significant differences in muscle thickness of PL, PB, MGCM, and TA observed between intact and injured side during both rest and MVC. Regarding muscle performance parameters, significant decreased were observed in the muscle strength for both limbs in all four directions under the two different conditions. A secondary finding was that the relative PA ratio of the TA showed moderate correlation with the relative dorsiflexion ratio at 30°/s. These findings can provide opportunities to better understand how injuries in patients with CAI may be related to changes in ankle and foot function.

Mental COP: Mental Health Cohort Of Police officers in Korea.

PURPOSE: This cohort study addresses the need for comprehensive and longitudinal research on police officers' mental health, focusing on the relationship between occupational factors, individual characteristics and mental health status or suicidality. The Mental COP (Mental health Cohort Of Police officers in Korea) research provides important insights by tracking new police officers over time, contributing to evidence-based interventions and policies to improve their overall mental health and working conditions. PARTICIPANTS: Mental Cop is a prospective open cohort study designed for new police officers for police recruitment, expected to graduate after 8 months of education at the Central Police Academy. To date, 6752 individuals have completed the baseline survey and are enrolled in the cohort. FINDING TO DATE: The study data in Mental COP covered a wide range of issues for first responders, including personal factors, various mental health problems, occupational factors and measured biomarkers of allostatic load, including Heart Rate Variability. The main findings indicate a lower prevalence of mental health problems among those selected as new police officers compared with the general population with notable gender differences. Therefore, closer monitoring of women is required. Furthermore, the study revealed cohort-based differences in mental health, highlighting increased risk related to occupational factors (field training) and the management of vulnerable groups. FUTURE PLANS: Another wave of Mental COP is scheduled for December 2023, with plans for future cohort expansion. Additionally, it will establish a more comprehensive and systematic scientific framework for future investigations by integrating broader medical examinations and National Health Insurance Service Data.

The impact of long working hours on daily sodium intake.

Background: Long working hours are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, yet the underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear. The study examines how occupational factors like working hours, shift work, and employment status correlate with dietary choices and sodium intake, impacting hypertension risk. Methods: This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2020. The dataset included 8,471 respondents, all of whom were wage workers aged 20 or older and reported working at least 36 hours per week. Individuals who have been previously diagnosed with or are currently diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia were excluded. The average daily sodium intake was assessed via a 24-hour dietary recall method. Average weekly working hours were categorized into 3 groups: 36-40 hours, 41-52 hours, and over 52 hours. Multiple logistic regression models were used. Results: Study findings revealed that 83.7% of participants exceeded the recommended daily sodium intake of 2 g set by the World Health Organization. After adjusting for confounding factors, a positive correlation was observed between average working hours and daily sodium intake. Among males, statistical significance was found in the group with average weekly working hours of 41-52 hours (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.30) and the group exceeding 52 hours (PR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.09-1.38) when comparing the fourth quartile of daily sodium intake to the combined quartiles of Q1, Q2, and Q3. Among females, no significance was noted. Conclusions: Long working hours were associated with increased sodium intake, primarily among male workers. This connection is likely attributed to having less time for home-cooked meals, resulting in higher fast food consumption and dining out. A workplace intervention promoting healthy eating and reducing stress is essential to lower sodium consumption and mitigate hypertension risk.

Mental Health Status of New Police Trainees before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to investigate the mental health of new police trainees during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Korea. Two groups of police trainees were surveyed considering the distribution of gender, age, and education level: those who joined the school before COVID-19 and those who joined during the outbreak. Mental health indicators, including insomnia, depression, and anxiety, were compared between the two groups. The prevalence of insomnia, depression, and anxiety significantly varied in the group that joined during COVID-19 compared with the group that joined before. Specifically, insomnia showed a significant change in women, with a higher rate of 2.6%. Although the prevalence of depression was initially low, it increased from 0.4% to 1.3% during the pandemic. Anxiety rates also showed notable differences, particularly among women, with a higher rate of 4.7%. The highest differences in prevalence were observed in the low-income group, with a rate of 7.7% for anxiety. The findings highlight the vulnerability of police officers to psychosocial effects during disasters such as pandemics. Disaster preparedness programs or education can be integrated into new police officer training institutions to help manage mental health changes and promote overall well-being.

Development of occupation-based exposure matrix of lead for Korean workers: challenges and opportunities.

OBJECTIVES: Industry- and occupation-based carcinogen exposure matrices play a pivotal role in preventing occupational cancer. While the Korean CARcinogen EXposure (K-CAREX) has been developed in recent years to assess exposure prevalence and intensity by industry, the feasibility of constructing an occupation-based exposure matrix remains unexplored. Hence, the objective of this study is to explore the potential of combining the nationwide work environment measurement database (WEMD) and the special health examination database (SHED) to develop a comprehensive occupation-based exposure matrix. METHODS: The WEMD provides information on airborne lead measurements, including industry codes, but it does not include data related to occupations. In contrast, the SHED contains information on both occupation and blood lead levels. By integrating these 2 databases, we attempted to assess airborne lead exposure levels by occupation. Additionally, we performed a rank correlation analysis to compare the airborne exposure levels with corresponding blood lead levels according to occupation. RESULTS: A total of 35 425 workers who both wore air samplers for lead and underwent special health examinations for lead were extracted between 2019 and 2021. An occupation-based exposure matrix was developed to evaluate the intensity of lead exposure across a range of occupations, encompassing 51 minor occupations and 70-unit occupations. Rank correlation analyses showed strong positive correlations between airborne lead and blood lead measurements according to occupation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study findings suggest that combining 2 nationwide surveillance databases can be an effective approach for creating an occupation-based exposure matrix. However, our results also highlight several limitations that need to be addressed in future studies to improve the accuracy and reliability of such matrices.

Group I pharmaceuticals of IARC and associated cancer risks: systematic review and meta-analysis.

We aimed to summarize the cancer risk among patients with indication of group I pharmaceuticals as stated in monographs presented by the International Agency for Research on Cancer working groups. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed database. Pharmaceuticals with few studies on cancer risk were identified in systematic reviews; those with two or more studies were subjected to meta-analysis. For the meta-analysis, a random-effects model was used to calculate the summary relative risks (SRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Heterogeneity across studies was presented using the Higgins I square value from Cochran's Q test. Among the 12 group I pharmaceuticals selected, three involved a single study [etoposide, thiotepa, and mustargen + oncovin + procarbazine + prednisone (MOPP)], seven had two or more studies [busulfan, cyclosporine, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methoxsalen + ultraviolet (UV) radiation therapy, melphalan, and chlorambucil], and two did not have any studies [etoposide + bleomycin + cisplatin and treosulfan]. Cyclosporine and azathioprine reported increased skin cancer risk (SRR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.07-1.62; SRR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.25-1.93) compared to non-use. Cyclophosphamide increased bladder and hematologic cancer risk (SRR = 2.87, 95% CI 1.32-6.23; SRR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.65-3.58). Busulfan increased hematologic cancer risk (SRR = 6.71, 95% CI 2.49-18.08); melphalan was associated with hematologic cancer (SRR = 4.43, 95% CI 1.30-15.15). In the systematic review, methoxsalen + UV and MOPP were associated with an increased risk of skin and lung cancer, respectively. Our results can enhance persistent surveillance of group I pharmaceutical use, establish novel clinical strategies for patients with indications, and provide evidence for re-categorizing current group I pharmaceuticals into other groups.

Evaluation on the Sex-Specific Association Between Cigarette Smoke Exposure and Inflammation Markers-C-Reactive Protein and White Blood Cell Count.

INTRODUCTION: Cigarette smoke increases peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count. However, the dose-dependent association between smoking and C-reactive protein (CRP), an important inflammatory marker, has been reported as inconsistent. AIMS AND METHODS: Here, we evaluated the associations between smoking and CRP using both smoking questionnaires and urine cotinine as exposure markers. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were used for analyzing the associations. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between cigarette smoke exposure, as assessed by questionnaires and urine cotinine, and health effects, as measured by CRP and WBC count, controlling for potential confounders. The confounders, including age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, and uric acid, were selected a priori based on the literature. RESULTS: A total of 11 435 participants were included for analysis. For the exposure-response relationship, the results indicated a significant increase in CRP levels in male smokers compared to male nonsmokers (p = .002), whereas no significant increase was found in female smokers compared to female nonsmokers (p = .680). For the dose-response relationship, a significant positive association was observed between urine cotinine and CRP in male smokers (p = .018), whereas no significant association was found in female smokers (p = .508). WBC count consistently showed significant exposure-response and dose-response relationships in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: WBC count was found to be a consistent effect marker of cigarette smoke exposure, while the association between CRP level and smoking was inconsistent and varied by sex. The sex-specific response to cigarette smoke exposure warrants further exploration in future studies. IMPLICATIONS: Cigarette smoke exposure is known to increase inflammation and has been thought to increase CRP, a significant inflammation marker. However, recent studies have reported conflicting results regarding the dose-dependent association between cigarette smoke exposure and CRP. This study found that the association between smoking and CRP is inconsistent and varies by sex, showing significant exposure response in men but not in women. Furthermore, the study suggests that WBC count is a more consistent marker for cigarette smoke exposure.

Working hours and the regulations in Korea.

South Korea has the highest policy priority for working hour regulations because it has longer annual working hours than other Organization for Economic Development Co-operation and Development countries and has fewer holidays. According to the results of the Working Conditions Surveys between 2006 and 2020, in 2020, 6% of wage earners worked for > 52 hours weekly. The percentage of workers exceeding 52 hours weekly has decreased over time; however, disparities exist based on age, industry, occupation, company type, and company size, particularly in service-, arts-, and culture-related occupations and workplaces with fewer than 5 employees. South Korea's working hours system is greatly influenced by the 52-hour weekly maximum; sometimes, a maximum of 64-69 hours, including overtime, is theoretically possible. To ensure healthy working hours, it is important to actively protect workers who fall through the cracks, such as those in businesses with fewer than 5 employees.

Association of clinical manifestations of secondary lymphedema and lymph node dissection sites in the lower extremities of patients with melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema is a chronic, debilitating disease that often requires life-long management. Predicting clinical manifestations and prognosis is crucial in clinical practice because the treatment of lymphedema should be individualized for best clinical outcome. The aim of this study is to explore the location and severity of lymphedema secondary to inguinal and/or iliac lymph node dissection (LND) in patients with melanoma. METHODS: Patients with melanoma who received LND at a single tertiary medical center between 1 January 2010 and 31 September 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient who received inguinal LND only were designate as the inguinal group while those who received both ilioinguinal LND were included in the ilioinguinal group. Volumetric measurement was used to objectify the severity and location of lymphedema. Clinical data was acquired for 12-15 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Among 81 patients, 43 (53%) had developed lymphedema in the lower extremities at an average of 33 days after the surgery. Initially, patients manifested with medial thigh lymphedema in the inguinal group while patients were presented with whole leg lymphedema in the ilioinguinal group. Lower leg volume of the ilioinguinal group was significantly higher than the inguinal group. After more than 12 months of lymphedema treatment, upper leg volume was higher in the ilioinguinal group than the inguinal group (12.7% vs 5.4%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lymphedema developed in early post-op period. The ilioinguinal group presented with a larger volume of lymphedema in the distal area of the legs. Even after sufficient treatment, predominant lymphedema remained in the proximal leg for the ilioinguinal group. Patients with both inguinal and iliac LND were associated with more severe lymphedema. Based on the dissection sites, the clinical manifestations and prognosis of leg lymphedema can vary widely. Thus, clinicians should consider the dissection site when approaching melanoma patients with lymphedema.

Evaluation of Temporal Trends of Lead Exposure in Korean Workers Using Workplace Monitoring Data.

BACKGROUND: Lead, which is widely used in various industrial settings, is a major health hazard for manufacturing workers. Therefore, control of lead exposure has been implemented in an effort to prevent lead-related health problems. In this study, our aim was to evaluate temporal trends in occupational lead exposure in Korean lead workers using data from monitoring of workplace exposure. METHODS: A nationwide work environment monitoring database, data from a work environment monitoring institution, and data extracted from a review paper were utilized. Different versions of standard industrial classification codes were aligned with the 10th Korean Standard Industrial Classification, which is generally consistent with the 4th revision of the International Standard Industrial Classification. The multiple data sources were combined and temporal trends over the period from 1994-2021 were estimated. In addition, separate estimation of temporal trends in the storage battery manufacturing industry over the period from 1987-2021 was also performed. RESULTS: A total of 444,296 personal airborne lead measurements were used for the estimation process. The temporal trends in occupational exposure to lead declined by -6% annually over the study period. In particular, levels of lead exposure in the storage battery manufacturing industry showed a steeper decline of -12% annually. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of our study showed that occupational exposure to lead declined over the period from 1994 to 2021 in Korea. However, adverse effects of exposure to lead on health should be regarded with caution. The results will be useful in conduct of epidemiological studies examining lead-related effects on health.

Association between long working hours and unmet dental needs in wage workers.

BACKGROUND: Many previous studies on the reasons behind unmet dental needs focus on economic issues. However, in this research, we aimed to investigate the relationship between long working hours and unmet dental needs while considering the influence of occupational factors in wage workers. METHODS: This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012-2018) and analyzed a sample of 12,104 wage workers. Unmet dental needs were defined as cases in which individuals did not receive dental care, despite their need for examination or treatment, within the last year. Long working hours were defined as exceeding 52 h per week, based on the standard working hours stipulated by the Labor Standards Act. A binomial model was applied to calculate the prevalence ratio through multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of unmet dental needs was observed in 3,948 cases (32.5%), among which 1,478 attributed their presence to lack of time. The prevalence of unmet dental needs showed an inverse relationship with the education level and household income. The wage workers who worked long hours had the highest prevalence of unmet dental needs. Long working hours were found to be 1.18 times (95% CI 1.07-1.29) more likely to result in unmet dental care compared to working less than 40 h. The relationship between long working hours and unmet dental needs were statistically significant only in men (PR 1.24, 95% CI 1.07-1.43). However, the relationship between long working hours and unmet dental needs owing to time were in both men and women (men: PR 1.59, 95% CI 1.20-2.11, women: PR 1.90, 95% CI 1.48-2.43). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that long working hours and unmet dental needs are related when occupational factors are taken into consideration, despite the absence of oral health indicators. Using this study as a reference, further research is necessary to identify the underlying causes of unmet dental care and to improve access to dental services in the future.

Effectiveness of a personalized digital exercise and nutrition-based rehab program for patients with gastric cancer after surgery: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Patients with gastric cancer often encounter impaired quality of life and reduced tolerability to adjuvant treatments after surgery. Weight preservation is crucial for the overall prognosis of these patients, and exercise and supplemental nutrition play the main role. This study is the first randomized clinical trial to apply personalized, treatment stage-adjusted digital intervention with wearable devices in gastric cancer rehabilitation intervention for 12 months, commencing immediately after surgery. Methods: This is a prospective, multicenter, two-armed, randomized controlled trial and aims to recruit 324 patients from two hospitals. Patients will be randomly allocated to two groups for 1 year of rehabilitation, starting immediately after the operation: a personalized digital therapeutic (intervention) group and a conventional education-based rehabilitation (control) group. The primary objective is to clarify the effect of mobile applications and wearable smart bands in reducing weight loss in patients with gastric cancer. The secondary outcomes are quality of life measured by the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and STO22; nutritional status by mini nutrition assessment; physical fitness level measured by grip strength test, 30-s chair stand test and 2-min walk test; physical activity measured by IPAQ-SF; pain intensity; skeletal muscle mass; and fat mass. These measurements will be performed on enrollment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. Conclusions: Digital therapeutic programs include exercise and nutritional interventions modified by age, body mass index, surgery type and postoperative days. Thus, expert intervention is pivotal for precise and safe calibration of this program. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04907591 (registration date: June 11, 2020; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04907591).

Long working hours and increased risks of lean non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among Korean men and women.

Despite the increasing prevalence of lean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), its risk factors are not well established. We examined the association between long working hours and incident NAFLD in lean Korean workers with emphasis on sex-based effect modification. This cohort study involved 46,113 non-overweight (BMI < 23 kg/m2) and NAFLD-free Korean workers (mean age, 35.5 years). Working hours were categorized into 35-40 (reference), 41-52, and ≥ 53 h. The presence of fatty liver and its severity were determined using ultrasonography and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), respectively. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using parametric proportional hazards models. Incident cases of 5901 lean NAFLD developed over a median follow-up of 3.8 years. The incidence of lean NAFLD increased with increasing working hours with a stronger association in men than in women (P for interaction < 0.001). For men, multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for lean NAFLD in time-dependent models comparing working hours of 41-52 and ≥ 53 h compared to the reference category were 1.17 (1.07-1.28) and 1.25 (1.12-1.39), respectively. The excess relative risk of developing lean NAFLD with intermediate/high NFS was observed in working hours of 41-52 and ≥ 53 h with a corresponding HR of 1.66 (1.13-2.43) and 1.54 (0.94-2.51), respectively. Conversely, no significant associations were found between working hours and incidence of lean NAFLD in women. In conclusion, long working hours were significantly associated with an increased incidence of lean NAFLD and its severe form in men but not in women.

Comparison of Proportional Mortality Between Korean Atomic Bomb Survivors and the General Population During 1992-2019.

BACKGROUND: Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in August 1945 were estimated to have killed approximately 70,000 Koreans. In Japan, studies on the health status and mortality of atomic bomb survivors compared with the non-exposed population have been conducted. However, there have been no studies related to the mortality of Korean atomic bomb survivors. Therefore, we aimed to study the cause of death of atomic bomb survivors compared to that of the general population. METHODS: Of 2,299 atomic bomb survivors registered with the Korean Red Cross, 2,176 were included in the study. In the general population, the number of deaths by age group was calculated from 1992 to 2019, and 6,377,781 individuals were assessed. Causes of death were categorized according to the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases. To compare the proportional mortality between the two groups, the P value for the ratio test was confirmed, and the Cochran-Armitage trend test and χ² test were performed to determine the cause of death according to the distance from the hypocenter. RESULTS: Diseases of the circulatory system were the most common cause of death (25.4%), followed by neoplasms (25.1%) and diseases of the respiratory system (10.6%) in atomic bomb survivors who died between 1992 and 2019. The proportional mortality associated with respiratory diseases, nervous system diseases, and other diseases among atomic bomb survivors was higher than that of the general population. Of the dead people between 1992 and 2019, the age at death of survivors who were exposed at a close distance was younger than those who were exposed at a greater distance. CONCLUSION: Overall, proportional mortality of respiratory diseases and nervous system diseases was high in atomic bomb survivors, compared with the general population. Further studies on the health status of Korean atomic bomb survivors are needed.

Effectiveness of personalized treatment stage-adjusted digital therapeutics in colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer survivors often experience decline in physical performance and poor quality of life after surgery and during adjuvant therapies. In these patients, preserving skeletal muscle mass and high-quality nourishment are essential to reduce postoperative complications and improve quality of life and cancer-specific survival. Digital therapeutics have emerged as an encouraging tool for cancer survivors. However, to the best of our knowledge, randomized clinical trials applying personalized mobile application and smart bands as a supportive tool to several colorectal patients remain to be conducted, intervening immediately after the surgical treatment. METHODS: This study is a prospective, multi-center, single-blinded, two-armed, randomized controlled trial. The study aims to recruit 324 patients from three hospitals. Patients will be randomly allocated to two groups for one year of rehabilitation, starting immediately after the operation: a digital healthcare system rehabilitation (intervention) group and a conventional education-based rehabilitation (control) group. The primary objective of this protocol is to clarify the effect of digital healthcare system rehabilitation on skeletal muscle mass increment in patients with colorectal cancer. The secondary outcomes would be the improvement in quality of life measured by EORTC QLQ C30 and CR29, enhanced physical fitness level measured by grip strength test, 30-sec chair stand test and 2-min walk test, increased physical activity measured by IPAQ-SF, alleviated pain intensity, decreased severity of the LARS, weight, and fat mass. These measurements will be held on enrollment and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months thereafter. DISCUSSION: This study will compare the effect of personalized treatment stage-adjusted digital health interventions on immediate postoperative rehabilitation with that of conventional education-based rehabilitation in patients with colorectal cancer. This will be the first randomized clinical trial performing immediate postoperative rehabilitation in a large number of patients with colorectal cancer with a tailored digital health intervention, modified according to the treatment phase and patient condition. The study will add foundations for the application of comprehensive digital healthcare programs focusing on individuality in postoperative rehabilitation of patients with cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05046756. Registered on 11 May 2021.

Cohort Study Protocol: A Cohort of Korean Atomic Bomb Survivors and Their Offspring.

In 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Approximately 70 000 Koreans are estimated to have been exposed to radiation from atomic bombs at that time. After Korea's Liberation Day, approximately 23 000 of these people returned to Korea. To investigate the long-term health and hereditary effects of atomic bomb exposure on the offspring, cohort studies have been conducted on atomic bomb survivors in Japan. This study is an ongoing cohort study to determine the health status of Korean atomic bomb survivors and investigate whether any health effects were inherited by their offspring. Atomic bomb survivors are defined by the Special Act On the Support for Korean Atomic Bomb Victims, and their offspring are identified by participating atomic bomb survivors. As of 2024, we plan to recruit 1500 atomic bomb survivors and their offspring, including 200 trios with more than 300 people. Questionnaires regarding socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, past medical history, laboratory tests, and pedigree information comprise the data collected to minimize survival bias. For the 200 trios, whole-genome analysis is planned to identify de novo mutations in atomic bomb survivors and to compare the prevalence of de novo mutations with trios in the general population. Active follow-up based on telephone surveys and passive follow-up with linkage to the Korean Red Cross, National Health Insurance Service, death registry, and Korea Central Cancer Registry data are ongoing. By combining pedigree information with the findings of trio-based whole-genome analysis, the results will elucidate the hereditary health effects of atomic bomb exposure.

How Do Sleep Disturbances Relate to Daytime Functions, Care-related Quality of Life, and Parenting Interactions in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Sleep disturbance is prevalent in caregivers and associated with negative physical, mental, and functional outcomes. This study examined the effects of sleep disturbance on daytime functions (sleepiness, fatigue, mood, cognitive alertness), care-related quality of life, and daily parenting interactions in 20 mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder for 10 consecutive days using ecological momentary assessment design. Participants responded about daytime functions four times and care-related quality of life and daily parenting interactions once using an online survey. Sleep disturbance was significantly related to all daytime functions and frustration with childcare. Therefore, development of sleep hygiene interventions is warranted to effectively reduce the impact of sleep disturbance and enable these mothers to better tackle daily physical and mental challenges.

Sleep in Children With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities During COVID-19: An Integrative Review.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep issues occur at higher rates in children with neurodevelopmental disorders than in the typical population. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on sleep issues in this population METHOD: This integrative review aimed to characterize studies during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022) addressing the prevalence and management of sleep issues in children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders.Comprehensive database searches were used to identify articles, and 31 studies were considered suitable for this review. RESULTS: Most studies reported worsening sleep disturbances during COVID-19 restrictions. All studies were conducted when clinics were closed; only two studies addressed treatment options such as music therapy and sleep hygiene education and found improvement in sleep issues. DISCUSSION: Future research needs to concentrate on developing interventions to assist families remotely and empower families with a toolkit of preparedness in times of crisis.