The effects of bright light treatment via ear canals on quality of sleep and depressive mood among overworked employees: A randomized-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Many overworked employees need tools to improve their depressive mood or sleep disorder. In Finland, a new device of bright light therapy was developed. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of bright light treatment via ear canals on improving the depressive mood and sleep disorder. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, controlled, crossover designed, open-label trial. We examined 27 participants aged 23-52 years, assigned to either Early treatment or Later treatment groups. The Early treatment group used the device on weekdays for the first 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week observation period. The Later treatment group had an observation period for the first 4 weeks, followed by device treatment for the subsequent 4 weeks. Every Friday, the participants were asked to answer questionnaires: A Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), an Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and a Profile of Mood States (POMS) Brief Form. RESULTS: While no significant effect was found on the SDS following treatment (p = 0.16), the AIS showed a significant improvement (p = 0.004), and the scores for the Depression (D) and Vigor (V) of POMs decreased significantly (p = 0.045, p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Bright light treatment via ear canals may improve sleep quality and depressive mood.

Pyrrole adducts in globin and plasma of workers exposed to hexane.

OBJECTIVES: Urinary excretion of 2,5-hexanedione is currently used to estimate the exposure levels of hexane occurring to an individual during the previous work shift. However, because hexane exposures and urinary 2,5-hexanedione levels can vary considerably from day to day, and subchronic to chronic exposures to hexane are required to produce neuropathy, this biomarker may not accurately reflect the risk of an individual for developing hexane neuropathy. This investigation examines the potential of hexane-derived pyrrole adducts produced on globin and plasma proteins as markers for integrating cumulative exposures. Because the pyrrole markers incorporate bioactivation of hexane to 2,5-hexandione and the initial step of protein adduction involved in hexane-induced neuropathy, they potentially can serve as biomarkers of effect through reflecting pathogenetic events within the nervous system. Additionally, pyrrole formation is an irreversible reaction suggesting that hexane-derived protein pyrroles can be used to assess cumulative exposures to provide a better characterization of individual susceptibilities. METHODS: To examine the utility of the proposed markers, blood samples were obtained from eleven workers who used hexane for granulating metal powders in a slurry to produce metal machining die tools and four non-exposed volunteers. Globin and plasma were isolated, and the proteins were digested using pepsin, reacted with Ehrlich's reagent and the level of pyrrole adducts were determined by absorbance at 530 nm. To determine the dose-response curve and dynamic range of the assay, erythrocytes were incubated with a range of 2,5-hexanedione concentrations and the net absorbance at 530 nm of isolated globin was measured. RESULTS: Pyrrole was detected in both the globin and plasma samples of the workers exposed to hexane and the levels of pyrroles in plasma were positively correlated with the levels of pyrroles in globin for most of the workers. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrates that detectable levels of hexane-derived protein pyrrole adducts are produced on peripheral proteins following occupational exposures to hexane and supports the utility of measuring pyrroles for integrating cumulative exposures to hexane.

Impact of Diarrhea after Drinking on Colorectal Tumor Risk: A Case Control Study

Background: Recently, the number of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases in Japan has been increasing, and is strongly influenced by alcohol consumption. On the other hand, there are several reports suggesting a relationship between bowel movement (constipation and diarrhea) and CRC development. Moreover, it is generally known that diarrhea may occur after drinking. However, the mechanism by which drinking alcohol increases CRC is not fully clarified yet. We hypothesized that diarrhea after drinking may play an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Methods: We examined the presence of diarrhea after drinking and further evaluated the correlation of diarrhea after drinking with the incidence of colorectal tumors. To obtain the status of the feces, a self-recorded questionnaire survey was administered using the dietary-recording method. Blood samples were obtained to analyze the ALDH2 Glu504Lys and ADH1B His48Arg polymorphisms. Results: The participants were 417 patients who had undergone a total colonoscopy. The control was selected from 186 patients who underwent a medical checkup at the same hospital during the same time period. The odds ratio for all subjects was 2.1 (95% CI: 1.18 - 3.80), and that for heavy drinkers was 4.2 (1.48 - 11. 90). Conclusions: The results demonstrated that those who have diarrhea after drinking possess a high risk of developing colon tumors.

Exposure to house dust phthalates in relation to asthma and allergies in both children and adults.

Although an association between exposure to phthalates in house dust and childhood asthma or allergies has been reported in recent years, there have been no reports of these associations focusing on both adults and children. We aimed to investigate the relationships between phthalate levels in Japanese dwellings and the prevalence of asthma and allergies in both children and adult inhabitants in a cross-sectional study. The levels of seven phthalates in floor dust and multi-surface dust in 156 single-family homes were measured. According to a self-reported questionnaire, the prevalence of bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis in the 2 years preceding the study was 4.7%, 18.6%, 7.6%, and 10.3%, respectively. After evaluating the interaction effects of age and exposure categories with generalized liner mixed models, interaction effects were obtained for DiNP and bronchial asthma in adults (Pinteraction=0.028) and for DMP and allergic rhinitis in children (Pinteraction=0.015). Although not statistically significant, children had higher ORs of allergic rhinitis for DiNP, allergic conjunctivitis for DEHP, and atopic dermatitis for DiBP and BBzP than adults, and liner associations were observed (Ptrend<0.05). On the other hand, adults had a higher OR for atopic dermatitis and DEHP compared to children. No significant associations were found in phthalates levels collected from multi-surfaces. This study suggests that the levels of DMP, DEHP, DiBP, and BBzP in floor dust were associated with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis in children, and children are more vulnerable to phthalate exposure via household floor dust than are adults. The results from this study were shown by cross-sectional nature of the analyses and elaborate assessments for metabolism of phthalates were not considered. Further studies are needed to advance our understanding of phthalate toxicity.

Effects of woodland walking on salivary stress markers cortisol and chromogranin A.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of walking through woodland on salivary endocrinological stress markers, cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA). DESIGN: From 20 healthy males, saliva samples were collected immediately before and after the walk, and 20min and 40min after that. In addition, using visual analog scales, subjective perceptions of stress and of feeling tired and uplifted were evaluated. On another day, as a control, they sat around in their office and samples were collected at the same times. Salivary cortisol and CgA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Samples taken after the walk showed a significant increase in the levels of CgA. Meanwhile, there was no significant change in the levels of cortisol. In control samples, there was a statistically significant decrease in the levels of both CgA and cortisol. Feelings uplifted and tired increased and subjective perception of stress decreased significantly after the walk. During the control period, there were no such changes. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that, while walking in woodland becomes a physical stressor, such activity may also bring about feeling uplifted.

The change in lifestyle data during 9 years: the reliability and continuity of baseline health practices.

OBJECTIVES: To reveal change patterns in self-reported lifestyle data for 9 years, and examine the characteristics of changes by type of lifestyle and ageing. METHODS: The authors used the lifestyle data of 7,080 male workers aged 20-59 who received checkups for 9 years. The proportions of change patterns during the 9 years were determined in seven health practices; smoking, eating breakfast, sleeping hours, working hours, physical exercise, eating nutritional balanced diets, and mental stress. RESULTS: Among seven health practices, the keep rate of good health practice was highest for the non-smoking (90.8 %), followed by eating breakfast (69.0 %);and the lowest was physical exercise (13.7 %). The keep rate of poor health practice was highest for smoking (73.8 %), followed by non-physical exercise (67.1 %). The lowest rate of multiple changes during 10 years was smoking (7.1 %); the highest was mental stress (68.5 %). CONCLUSIONS: As for the life style on smoking and eating breakfast seemed to be stable, using the data obtained at a specific point in time wouldn't much affect the results. On the contrary, for other life styles, they showed poor continuity during 9 years, so it would be necessary to take into consideration the time point of data collection.

Associations between chronotype and salivary endocrinological stress markers.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of chronotype on salivary cortisol or salivary α-amylase (sAA). METHODS: From 108 male university students, saliva samples were collected in the afternoon (between 15:00 and 17:00). The salivary cortisol and sAA levels were determined with commercial kits. Chronotype was quantitatively evaluated using the Horne and Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Subjects were categorized into morning types and evening types. RESULTS: The sAA levels were lower in the morning types than in the evening types. We found no significant difference in salivary cortisol levels between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the sAA levels may be associated with chronotype.

The relationship between exposure to microbial volatile organic compound and allergy prevalence in single-family homes.

Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) are a type of VOCs produced by microorganisms. Exposure to 1-octen-3-ol, one of the known MVOCs, has been reported to reduce nasal patency and increase nasal lavage myeloperoxidase, eosinophil cationic proteins, and lysozymes in both experimental and field studies. We reported in a previous paper that 1-octen-3-ol exposure at home is associated with mucosal symptoms. In this study, our aim was to investigate the relationship between asthma and allergies and MVOC exposure in single-family homes. The subjects were 624 inhabitants of 182 detached houses in six regions of Japan. Air samples were collected using diffusive samplers, and the concentrations of eight selected MVOCs were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in selected-ion-monitoring mode. Each inhabitant of each of the dwellings was given a self-administered questionnaire. Among the 609 subjects who answered all of the questions about allergies, history of the medical treatment for asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis within the preceding two years was 4.8%, 9.9%, 18.2%, and 7.1%, respectively. A significant association between 1-octen-3-ol (per log(10) unit) and allergic rhinitis odds ratio (OR): 4.10, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.71 to 9.80 and conjunctivitis (OR: 3.54, CI: 1.17 to 10.7) was found after adjusting for age, sex, tobacco, wall-to-wall carpeting, signs of dampness, history of treatment for hay fever, and other potentially relevant environmental factors. No relationships were found between any MVOCs and asthma or atopic dermatitis after the adjustment. The levels of MVOCs and airborne fungi were only weakly correlated. These results are consistent with previous studies that have associated higher levels of 1-octen-3-ol exposure with increased irritation of nasal and ocular mucosae. Although the indoor-air concentrations of 1-octen-3-ol found in this study were relatively low, we conclude that exposure to MVOC may be related to rhinitis and conjunctivitis.

A longitudinal study of aldehydes and volatile organic compounds associated with subjective symptoms related to sick building syndrome in new dwellings in Japan.

To determine whether indoor chemicals act as possible environmental risk factors responsible for sick building syndrome (SBS)-related symptoms in new houses (<6 years old) in Japan, we studied 871 people living in 260 single-family houses in 2004 and 2005. We measured the indoor concentrations of aldehydes and volatile organic compounds and longitudinal changes in the living rooms over two consecutive years. Participants answered standardized questionnaires on SBS symptoms and lifestyle habits. Approximately 14% and 12% of subjects were identified as having SBS in the first and second year, respectively. According to analysis adjusted for sex, age, smoking, and allergic diseases, increases in aldehydes and aliphatic hydrocarbons contributed to the occurrence of SBS. Elevated levels of indoor aldehydes and aliphatic hydrocarbons increased the possible risk of SBS in residents living in new houses, indicating that source controls against indoor chemicals are needed to counter SBS.

Daily intake of Lactobacillus casei Shirota increases natural killer cell activity in smokers.

Dietary probiotics supplementation exerts beneficial health effects. Since cigarette smoking reduces natural killer (NK) activity, we evaluated the effect of Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) intake on NK cytotoxic activity in male smokers. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study was conducted on seventy-two healthy Italian blue-collar male smokers randomly divided for daily intake of LcS powder or placebo. Before and after 3 weeks of intake, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and NK activity and CD16⁺ cells' number were assessed. Daily LcS intake for 3 weeks significantly increased NK activity (P < 0.001). The increase in NK activity was paralleled by an increase in CD16⁺ cells (P < 0.001). Before intake, NK cytotoxic activity inversely correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked (R - 0.064). LcS intake prevented the smoke-dependent expected NK activity reduction. The analysis of the distribution of changes in smoke-adjusted NK activity demonstrated that the positive variations were significantly associated with LcS intake, while the negative variations were associated with placebo intake (median value of distributions of differences, 20.98 lytic unit (LU)/107 cells for LcS v. - 4.38 LU/107 cells for placebo, P = 0.039). In conclusion, 3 weeks of daily LcS intake in Italian male smokers was associated with a higher increase in cytotoxic activity and CD16⁺ cells' number in comparison to the placebo intake group.

Association between night-shift work and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in Japanese male indoor workers: a cross-sectional study.

Although low vitamin D status resulting from night work is a suspected cause of various health disorders, few studies have investigated the association between night-shift work and vitamin D status. Here, we examined serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels in 19 Japanese indoor workers, including night-shift workers, in blood samples collected at the annual medical checkup (late July) in a metal tool factory. Analyses were finally restricted to 14 male workers (33-59 yr) in 3 groups: fixed daytime work (n=6), and rotating shift work with (n=4) and without (n=4) night shifts. No significant differences in serum 25OHD levels were observed among the three groups (p=0.98, Kruskal-Wallis test). One to two participants in each group had 25OHD levels lower than the 20 ng/ml reference value for vitamin D deficiency even in summer. These results clearly indicate the need for large-scale studies to test the hypothesis that night-shift work is associated with lower 25OHD levels.

Change of salivary stress marker concentrations during pregnancy: maternal depressive status suppress changes of those levels.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to show changes in salivary cortisol and chromogranin A/protein concentrations as stress markers during pregnancy and to clarify the effect of chronic stress on stress markers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Salivary samples were collected from 69 pregnant women during pregnancy. Salivary cortisol levels and chromogranin A/protein titers were determined. We surveyed the women's chronic stress using the Zung self-rating depression scale and General Health Questionnaire-28. RESULTS: Cortisol levels in the saliva of pregnant women showed biphasic change during pregnancy. Chromogranin A/protein levels in the saliva of pregnant women increased in the second and the early third trimesters and decreased to the puerperal period. Salivary cortisol concentrations of the chronic high stress group were significantly lower compared with those of the normal group. Salivary chromogranin A/protein concentrations of the chronic high stress group were also significantly lower than those of the normal group. CONCLUSION: The titration of salivary cortisol concentrations and chromogranin A/protein levels is a useful tool to determine maternal stress levels. The elevation of cortisol and chromogranin A/protein in the saliva was suppressed in the chronic high stress group during pregnancy.

Levels of awakening salivary CgA in response to stress in healthy subjects.

OBJECTS: To determine the changes in salivary chromogranin A (CgA) levels upon awakening in response to of stress by investigating the relationship between salivary CgA levels and the stress response as assessed by GHQ-28 tests. METHODS: The study cohort comprised 40 healthy male university students (age range 19-22 years). Salivary CgA levels were measured at 7:00 a.m. (awakening) and at 7:30, 8:00, and 8:30 a.m. (after awakening). RESULTS: The salivary CgA level was 0.91 ± 0.20 and 0.42 ± 0.1 pmol/ml at 7:00 a.m. in students scoring low (n = 26) and high (n = 14), respectively, on the "severe depression" subscale. This difference in salivary CgA levels at 7:00 between high and low scorers was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that depression may influence secretions of salivary CgA via chronic stress-related attenuation of the sympathetic-adrenomedullary system activity.

Stress hormone levels in saliva after shogi competition are modified by stress coping strategies.

OBJECTIVE: Using shogi, a representative table game popular in Japan, to model a stress situation, we investigated the modulatory effects of player characteristics on changes in the levels of cortisol and testosterone in the saliva of the players. METHODS: Saliva samples were collected at the following time-points: (1) 30 min after awakening on the day of the shogi convention; (2) immediately before the game; (3) immediately after the game; (4) 30 min after the end of game; (5) 30 min after awakening the following morning. The study cohort comprised 90 healthy male university students who were members of a shogi club, who were subsequently classified into either the emotional strategy (Em) or cognitive strategy (Co) group based on their scores on a Lazarus-type stress coping inventory. RESULTS: Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the Em group than in the Co group the morning following the convention, and this difference was not affected by either outcome (victory or defeat) or perception (competitive or noncompetitive) of the match. A similar but non-significant trend was observed for testosterone levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the Em group had a greater capacity to manage the stress from a shogi convention than the Co group.

Assessment of accuracy of immediate blood separation method: a novel blood analysis strategy.

OBJECTIVES: This study assesses the accuracy of the immediate blood separation method, a novel blood sampling strategy that enables blood analysis in any possible location. METHODS: We conducted a cross-validation study between data from immediate blood separation and conventional methods. During the annual medical examinations in 2006 of a company located in an Osaka suburb, blood was drawn from workers (n = 256; males 200, females 56) by puncturing their middle finger as well as venipuncture of the antecubital vein, by medical personnel. The following nine parameters were evaluated by autoanalyzer: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGT), triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, urea nitrogen, uric acid, and creatinine. RESULTS: After comparing data from the two methods using correlation analysis and regression analysis, we found a close R (2) value (coefficient of determination) relationship that ranged from 0.996 to 1.000 for each item. The R (2) value was 0.998 for Log AST, 0.997 for Log ALT, 0.999 for Log Î³GT, 1.000 for Log triglyceride, 1.000 for total cholesterol, 0.999 for HDL cholesterol, 0.998 for urea nitrogen, 0.999 for uric acid, and 0.996 for creatinine. Relationship was satisfactory for all nine items tested. CONCLUSION: Our results prove the reliability of data from the immediate blood separation method in an occupational health setting. The method enables self-testing by medically unskilled people, which is an important process to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.

Influence of personal patterns of behavior on the effects of Tai Chi: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of individual patterns of personality and behavior on the change in mood status after a brief period of Tai Chi exercise. METHODS: The mood status in 22 healthy females was evaluated before and after a period of Tai Chi exercise using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) score. Patterns of personal behavior were also assessed by written questionnaire. RESULTS: In the type A behavior pattern group, the score for total mood disturbance decreased significantly after a brief period (20 min) of Tai Chi exercise. No change was observed in the type B behavior pattern group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a brief period of Tai Chi exercise is mentally beneficial, particularly to individuals with type A characteristics.

[Effects of Tai Chi exercise on physical and mental health].

Recently, Tai Chi, which is one of the Chinese traditional martial arts, has been receiving attention. The main feature of Tai Chi is its flowing movements including loosening up, relaxing, and practicing meditation with slow abdominal respiration. Tai Chi is widely taken as part of health-promotion activities or rehabilitation training, and significant mental and physical effects have been reported so far. In this review report, Tai Chi was confirmed to be beneficial not only as a rehabilitation training for old people or patients with various diseases but also as an exercise for healthy people. These findings suggest the potential of Tai Chi as a complementary and alternative therapy.

Effects of alcohol-drinking behaviour and ADH1B and ALDH2 polymorphisms on basal DNA damage in human mononuclear cells as determined by the comet assay.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of alcohol drinking and ADH1B and ALDH2 polymorphisms on basal DNA damage (measured by the alkaline comet assay) of mononuclear cells in 122 healthy Japanese workers. Our results showed that drinking frequency had a significant impact on the tail moment (TM) value, with the highest TM value observed in habitual drinkers. The presence of the ADH1B*2 or ALDH2*2 allele was associated with increased DNA damage in older habitual drinkers. Furthermore, habitual drinkers with a combined genotype of ADH1B*2/*2 and ALDH2*1/*2 demonstrated a significantly higher TM value than other groups. Moreover, the combination of drinking and smoking has a combined effect on DNA damage. Multiple regression analysis revealed that drinking frequency, smoking status, and ALDH2 polymorphisms significantly influence basal TM value, suggesting that these are important variables affecting individual basal DNA damage.

Job control and coworker support improve employee job performance.

We examined the prospective association of psychosocial job characteristics with employee job performance among 777 full-time employees at a manufacturing company in Japan, using data from a one-year follow-up survey. Psychosocial job characteristics were measured by the Job Content Questionnaire in 2008; job performance was evaluated using the item from the World Mental Health Survey Instrument in 2008 and 2009. The association between psychosocial job characteristics and job performance was tested using multiple regression analysis, controlling for demographic variables, work status, average working hours per day, job type and job performance in 2008. Job control and coworker support in 2008 were positively related to job performance in 2009. Stratified analyses revealed that job control for staff and coworker support for managers were positively related to job performance in 2009. These associations were prominent among men; however, supervisor support in 2008 was negatively related to job performance in 2009 among men. Job demand was not significantly related to job performance. Our findings suggest that it is worthwhile to enhance employees' job control and provide a mutually supportive environment to ensure positive employee job performance.

Nationwide study of sick house syndrome: comparison of indoor environment of newly built dwellings between Sapporo city and Southern areas including those in Honshu and Kyushu.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are to evaluate the associations between residential factors and sick house syndrome (SHS) in a cold region and in a temperate region in Japan. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on dwellings aged within 7 years from 2003 to 2004 in Sapporo and 'Honshu and northern Kyushu' including Fukushima, Aichi, Osaka, Okayama, and Kitakyushu. The questionnaire consisted of questions about the characteristics of dwellings, manner of living, and health problems of occupants. SHS was identified from the 'yes' responses to the questions on the five items on nasal, throat and respiratory, eyes, skin, and general symptoms that appeared frequently or sometimes at home and improved upon leaving the home. RESULTS: The dwellings with the SHS problem, where at least one inhabitant reported any symptoms of SHS, were 4.7% in Sapporo City and 3.3% in Honshu and northern Kyushu. Regarding ventilation, the principal method was the enforced ventilation in Sapporo and ventilation from open windows in Honshu and northern Kyushu. The sums of five signs of dampness were 0.8 +/- 1.0 in Sapporo and 1.3 +/- 1.0 in Honshu and northern Kyushu. The elevated scores were accompanied by the increased percentage of SHS in both groups. Condensation on both window panes and walls was strongly associated with SHS. CONCLUSIONS: Differences were found in the ventilation method and in the dampness state between Sapporo and Honshu and northern Kyushu. In both groups, the dampness state was associated with SHS.