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Pregnancy intention is reported to be associated with the risk of postpartum depression (PPD), but the impact of feelings toward being pregnant on PPD is unknown. We aimed to examine whether feelings toward being pregnant are associated with PPD at 1 month after childbirth. In our nationwide study between 2011 and 2014 in Japan, we used multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine the associations between pregnancy intention and feelings toward being pregnant with PPD [Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS score > 9 or > 12)] among Japanese women. Among 92,431 women, 14.0 and 5.4% had PPD with EPDS scores > 9 and > 12, respectively. Compared with women who felt very happy to be pregnant, those whose pregnancy was unintended but happy, unintended and confused, those who felt troubled, and those who felt no emotion toward being pregnant had increased risks of PPD [multivariable odds ratios (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) = 1.17 (1.11–1.22), 1.39 (1.29–1.49), 1.74 (1.42–2.14), and 1.58 (1.22–2.02), respectively, for EPDS score > 9]. Those associations were more evident without antenatal possible mental illness (K6 score < 13). Women whose pregnancy was unintended should be regarded as targets for the early detection and prevention of PPD irrespective of whether they felt happy or confused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: High‐income countries are now experiencing a decline in fertility. After experiencing baby booms in 1947–1949 and 1971–1974, Japan's population has been decreasing since 2015. In an attempt to predict the next baby boom, we searched for any upward demographic trends occurring after 1974. Methods: We analyzed time trends of the numbers and rates of live births, stillbirths and induced abortions using Japanese government data from 1975 to 2014. We then selected two birth cohorts: the first baby boomers who were 0–4 years old in 1950, and the second baby boomers who were 0–4 years old in 1975, and analyzed their rates of live births, stillbirths, and abortions by five‐year age groups. Results: There was no upswing in the numbers of births, stillbirths, or induced abortions; however, the abortion rate increased during 1996–2002. Compared with the first baby boomer cohort, the second baby boomer cohort had half the peak live birth rate for the same age group (25–29 years old), and half the peak rate of abortions, with a shift toward a younger age group (20–24). Conclusions: This analysis of Japanese fertility trends derived from all pregnancy outcomes showed no upward trend in fertility in Japan since 1974. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Teenage motherhood is strongly associated with a range of disadvantages for both the mother and the child. No epidemiological studies have examined related factors for teenage motherhood at both area and individual levels among Japanese women. Therefore, we performed a multilevel analysis of nationwide data in Japan to explore the association of area- and individual-level factors with teenage motherhood. Methods: The study population comprised 21,177 mothers living in 47 prefectures who had their first, singleton baby between 10 and 17 January or between 10 and 17 July, 2001. Information on the prefecture in which the mothers resided was linked to prefecture-level variables. Primary outcomes were area-level characteristics (single-mother households, three-generation households, college enrollment, abortions, juvenile crime, and per capita income) and individual-level characteristics, and divided into tertiles or quintiles based on their variable distributions. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was then performed. Results: There were 440 teenage mothers (2.1%) in this study. In addition to individual low level of education [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 7.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 5.59–9.78], low income [4.23 (2.95–6.08)], and smoking [1.65 (1.31–2.07)], high proportions of single-mother households [1.72 (1.05–2.80)] and three-generation household [1.81 (1.17–2.78)], and per capita income [2.19 (1.06–3.81)] at an area level were positively associated, and high level of college enrollment [0.46 (0.25–0.83)] and lower crime rate [0.62 (0.40–0.98)] at area level were inversely associated with teenage motherhood compared with the corresponding women living in prefectures with the lowest levels of these variables. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that encouraging the completion of higher education and reducing the number of single-mother household at an area level may be important public health strategies to reduce teenage motherhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The paper examines recent time trends, explores potentially influential background factors and discusses prevention strategies of pregnancy among girls under 15 years of age in Japan. Methods: Using Japanese government data, we first analyzed time trends of early adolescence (<15 years of age) abortion, live birth and child sexual abuse from 2003 to 2010. Second, we analyzed ecological correlations of early adolescent pregnancy (abortion, live birth and stillbirth) with pregnancy in other age groups, child sexual abuse, and indicators of juvenile victimization and juvenile delinquency, using prefectural data. Results: We found that rates of both abortion and live birth in early adolescents have increased since 2005 (annual percent change 5.3% and 2.3%, respectively), despite declining rates in older age groups. The abortion ratio in early adolescence remained the highest among all age groups in Japan. The early adolescent pregnancy rate showed significant correlation with the rates of juvenile victimization of welfare crimes (obscenity, alcohol drinking, smoking and drug use) ( Spearman's rank correlation coefficient [rs] = 0.42, P = 0.00) and juvenile delinquency among junior high school students (12-14 years of age) (rs = 0.69, P = 0.00). Conclusion: The observed rise in rates of abortion, live birth and child sexual abuse among early adolescents along with strong ecological correlations of their pregnancy rate with juvenile victimization and delinquency indicators suggests that epidemiological investigation and public health programs at the individual and community levels are needed to address the complex social roots of these trends and to produce effective improvements in early adolescent reproductive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prenatal exposure to Swedish snuff (including nicotine and other components in grinded tobacco) is reported to increase stillbirth risk, but the effect of snuff on early neonatal mortality is unknown. Prenatal smoking exposure is associated with risks for both stillbirth and early neonatal mortality. We aimed to study if women who quit using snuff or quit smoking before first antenatal visit reduce their risks. Methods: In a nationwide study of 851,371 singleton births in Sweden from 1999 to 2010, we used multiple logistic regression models to examine associations between cessation or continuation of snuff use or smoking and risks for stillbirth (at 28 weeks or later) and early neonatal mortality (death during the first week of life). Results: Compared with nontobacco users, snuff users and smokers in early pregnancy had increased risks for stillbirths, and adjusted odds ratios (ORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CI), were 1.43 (1.02–1.99) and 1.59 (1.40–1.80), respectively. Women who stopped using snuff or stopped smoking before first visit to antenatal care had no increased risks. Compared with nontobacco users, smokers had an increased risk for early neonatal mortality (adjusted OR = 1.37 [95% CI 1.11–1.71]). Women who stopped smoking and snuff users in early pregnancy had no increased risks of early neonatal mortality. Conclusions: Both snuff and smoking influence risk for stillbirth, and women who stop using snuff or smoking have a similar stillbirth risk as nontobacco users. Smoking but not snuff use influences risk for early neonatal mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BACKGROUND No epidemiological studies have examined risk factors for early spontaneous abortions among Japanese women. In this matched case–control study, we investigated the associations of reproductive, physical, and lifestyle characteristics of women and their husbands with early spontaneous abortion <12 weeks of gestation. METHODS Information was collected through medical records for 430 cases of early spontaneous abortion and 860 controls of term delivery. Two controls were individual-matched to one case according to maternal age (±3 years) and calendar year of events (either early spontaneous abortion or delivery). Multivariable conditional odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated with conditional logistic-regression. RESULTS The risk of early spontaneous abortions was higher for women with a past history of early spontaneous abortions; OR was 1.98 (95% CI: 1.35, 2.89) for one previous spontaneous abortion, 2.36 (95% CI: 1.47, 3.79) for two, and 8.73 (95% CI: 5.22, 14.62) for three or more. Other factors also influence risk; an OR of 2.39 (95% CI: 1.26, 4.25) was found for women who smoked, and 1.65 (95%CI: 1.17, 2.35) for women working outside the home. CONCLUSIONS Our finding suggests that for Japanese women, smoking and working may be important public health issue targets for the prevention of early spontaneous abortions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses a study which examined the efficacy of landiolol in attenuating hemodynamic responses to local epinephrine infiltration in patients undergoing vaginal total hysterectomy. Increase in systolic blood pressure and heart rate after epinephrine infiltration; Number of patients given either calcium blockers or sevoflurane in the control group compared to landiolol groups; Adverse reaction caused by epinephrine application.

Highlights: [•] Flurbiprofen ameliorated obesity in mice after the onset of obesity. [•] Flurbiprofen did not affect growth. [•] Flurbiprofen reduced circulating leptin levels in obesity. [•] It may have therapeutic potency against obesity by ameliorating leptin resistance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract There are many psychosocial and biomedical risk factors for postpartum depression (PPD). However, associations between co-resident family members and PPD risk have not been examined. This study investigated whether co-resident family members were associated with risk for PPD during 1 month postpartum among Japanese women, and if these associations were modified by household income and their perceived partner's involvement in childcare. The sample comprised 86,490 women. Data were drawn from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a large-scale national cohort study started in 2011. Our major predictor was co-resident family members when they registered around the first trimester of the women's pregnancy: partner, parent(s), parent(s)-in-law, or child(ren). The outcome was PPD at 1 month after delivery, assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for family members and PPD incidence were calculated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted by household income and perceived partner's involvement in childcare. Adjusted ORs (95% confidence interval) for PPD for those not living with their partner, parent(s), parent(s)-in-law, or child(ren) compared with those who lived with these family members were 1.21 (1.07–1.37), 1.13 (1.03–1.24), 0.91 (0.84–0.98), and 1.42 (1.31–1.53), respectively. The level of perceived partner's involvement in childcare changed the identified association between family member and PPD. We found that "who a pregnant woman lives with" affects the risk of PPD in the first month postpartum, and high levels of perceived partner's involvement in childcare reduced harmful effects/increased protective effect of family members on PPD incidence. These findings suggested that interventions to increase perceived partner's support for childcare may be effective in preventing PPD, regardless of living situation. Highlights • No studies have examined whether family structure is associated with PPD risk. • Risk of PPD differs by "who a pregnant woman lives with.". • Perceived partner's childcare support affect these associations. • Assessing family structure/economic situation may help identify high-risk groups. • Interventions to promote partner's support for childcare may prevent maternal PPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy discrimination in the workplace is prevalent worldwide. However, few studies have examined the effects of pregnancy discrimination on mothers' perinatal mental health. We aimed to investigate the association between pregnancy discrimination and postpartum depressive symptoms, and the mediation effects of prenatal depressive symptoms on this association.Methods: Our sample consisted of 285 Japanese women employed during pregnancy who completed a baseline online survey in May 2020 and a follow-up mail survey two months postpartum. Pregnancy discrimination was defined as exposure to any of 16 forms of disadvantageous treatment or harassment related to pregnancy, prohibited by national guidelines. Prenatal (assessed at baseline) and postpartum (assessed at follow-up) depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were performed overall and stratified by regular (permanent) and non-regular (precarious) employees.Results: Overall, 23.9% of participants experienced pregnancy discrimination during pregnancy. After adjusting for potential confounders, pregnancy discrimination was significantly associated with postpartum depressive symptoms (coefficient 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-2.88). When stratified by employment type, these effects were observable among non-regular employees (coefficient 2.51, 95% CI 0.45-4.57) but not regular employees. Mediation analysis showed that prenatal depressive symptoms mediated 57.1% (95% CI 20.1-94.1%) of the association between pregnancy discrimination and postpartum depressive symptoms among all participants, with a greater effect among non-regular employees (64.1% [95% CI 18.5-109.8%]).Conclusions: Pregnancy discrimination has adverse effects on postpartum depressive symptoms, partially through prenatal depressive symptoms, especially among non-regular employees. To prevent perinatal depression in female workers, employers should comply with legislation and take preventive measures against pregnancy discrimination, while considering vulnerable employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cross-cultural studies studying work-family conflicts (W_F_Cs) are scarce. We compared the prevalence of W_F_Cs, factors correlated with them, and their association with self-rated health between Japan and Egypt.Methods: Among 4862 Japanese and 3111 Egyptian civil workers recruited by a convenience sample in 2018/2019 and reported self-rated health status, we assessed the W_F_Cs by the Midlife Development in the US (MIDUS) and attributed them to sociodemographic, family, and work variables. We also evaluated the W_F_Cs' gender- and country-specific associations with self-rated health by logistic regression analyses.Results: W_F_Cs were more prevalent in Egyptian than in Japanese women (23.7% vs. 18.2%) and men (19.1% vs. 10.5%), while poor self-rated health was more prevalent in Japanese than Egyptians (19.3% and 17.3% vs. 16.9% and 5.5%). Longer working hours, shift work, and overtime work were positively associated with stronger work-to-family conflict (WFC). Whereas being single was inversely associated with stronger family-to-work conflict (FWC). Living with children, fathers, or alone in Japan while education in Egypt was associated with these conflicts. The OR (95% CI) for poor self-reported health among those with the strong, in reference to weak total W_F_Cs, was 4.28 (2.91-6.30) and 6.01 (4.50-8.01) in Japanese women and men and was 2.46 (1.75-3.47) and 3.11 (1.67-5.80) in Egyptian women and men.Conclusions: Japanese and Egyptian civil workers have different prevalence and correlated factors of W_F_Cs and self-rated health. W_F_Cs were associated in a dose-response pattern with poor-self-rated health of civil workers in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of CNS diseases such as Alzheimer''s disease, Parkinson''s disease, and cerebral ischemia. In the present study, we investigated the effect of pranoprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on endoplasmic reticulum stress responses in the primary cultured glial cells. Pranoprofen inhibited ER stress-induced glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) expression, an ER-localized molecular chaperon. Moreover, pranoprofen inhibited ER stress-induced CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) expression, an apoptotic transcription factor. ER stress-induced phosphorylation of α-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF2α) has been reported to be involved in CHOP induction. Interestingly, pranoprofen alone induced eIF2α phosphorylation, which was further increased by ER stress. On the other hand, ER stress-induced X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP-1) splicing was inhibited in pranoprofen-treated cells. Thus, the inhibitory effect of pranoprofen on ER stress-related genes (GRP78 and CHOP) would be mediated through the inhibition of XBP-1 splicing. In the present study, pranoprofen has been suggested to affect ER stress. The present results may have important implications for understanding ER stress-related diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dynamic consent (DC) is an approach to consent that enables people, through an interactive digital interface, to make granular decisions about their ongoing participation. This approach has been explored within biomedical research, in fields such as biobanking and genomics, where ongoing contact is required with participants. It is posited that DC can enhance decisional autonomy and improve researcher–participant communication. Currently, there is a lack of evidence about the measurable effects of DC-based tools. This article outlines a framework for DC evaluation and reporting. The article draws upon the evidence for enhanced modes of informed consent for research as the basis for a logic model. It outlines how future evaluations of DC should be designed to maximize their quality, replicability, and relevance based on this framework. Finally, the article considers best-practice for reporting studies that assess DC, to enable future research and implementation to build upon the emerging evidence base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]