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Objective Paternal involvement in child-rearing is an action goal of Healthy Parents and Children 21 (Tier 2), and should be actively promoted. Clarifying the related factors may contribute to countermeasures for promoting paternal involvement in child-rearing. This study aimed to examine the association between fathers' gender role attitudes and social support from their spouses (i.e., the mothers of the children) and their involvement in child-rearing.Methods We obtained the data of fathers involved in childcare (aged 25-50 years; all full-time workers) through an internet research company. The paternal involvement in childcare scale (11 items, 4-point scale, e.g., "taking care of children," "cooking") was used as the dependent variable. The independent variables were gender role attitude ("Husbands should work outside the home and wives should take care of the home," 4-point scale) and social support from the mothers of the children (including appraisal, emotional, and instrumental support). The control variables were father's age, mother's employment status, number of children, the age of the youngest child, children going to nursery school or kindergarten, use of childcare services, self-evaluation of low economic status, work hours on weekdays, and marital relationship satisfaction.Results The data of 360 men were analyzed (mean age 36.8 years, standard deviation 5.6). The results of the multivariable regression analyses with interaction terms are as follows: gender role attitude was significantly associated with childcare (β=-0.103) and housework (β=-0.125); appraisal support was significantly associated with childcare (β=0.142) and housework (β=0.199); and the interaction between gender role attitude and instrumental support was significant (β=0.176), indicating that, in individuals with a high gender role attitude score, a higher level of instrumental support was related to a higher childcare score (β=0.242).Conclusions Fathers with egalitarian gender role attitudes and those who receive appraisal support from the other parent are more likely to participate in childcare. In addition, fathers with traditional gender role attitudes who receive instrumental support from the other parent may tend to participate in childcare.

Information on longitudinal effects of natural/environmental disasters on obstetrics outcomes is limited. This study analyzed longitudinal changes, over an 8-year period, in obstetrics outcomes after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima power plant accident. We used data from the first 8 years of the Pregnancy and Birth Survey by the Fukushima prefectural government and compared data on obstetrics outcomes by year. Longitudinal changes in the occurrence of preterm birth before 37 gestational weeks, low birth weight, and anomalies in newborns were assessed in all six districts in Fukushima. The total number of participants was 57537. In 8 years, maternal age, rate of conception after sterility treatment, and incidence of cesarean section delivery tended to increase (p

To identify factors, including mental health, associated with smoking relapse among women in Japan from pregnancy to early parenthood.Secondary analysis of data from an ongoing cross-sectional study conducted between 2013 and 2016.We mailed questionnaires to all women who received a maternal and child health handbook from a municipality in Fukushima Prefecture or who underwent a maternal health checkup and gave birth in Fukushima Prefecture.Of the 28,562 women who responded to the questionnaire, 6,747 who previously smoked and quit around the time they registered their pregnancies were included in the analysis.Participants were divided into groups according to smoking relapse status: a nonrelapse group, which included those who maintained smoking cessation, and a relapse group, which included those who quit smoking but later relapsed. We further classified the latter group into those who quit smoking before or after pregnancy registration. We used a logistic regression model with forced entry to calculate adjusted odds ratios.Of the 6,747 participants who previously smoked, 881 (13.1%) relapsed. Regardless of the timing of smoking cessation, younger age and living in a specific region of Fukushima Prefecture were associated with smoking relapse. Relapse was associated with symptoms of depression in participants who quit smoking before registration and with multiparity in participants who quit smoking after registration of their pregnancies.Support for women at risk of smoking relapse after pregnancy requires consideration of regional characteristics and incorporation of family and mental health support with a focus on younger women.

Postpartum depression is a serious problem not only for mothers, but also for their children and families. Evidence is scarce on the effectiveness of couple-targeted antenatal interventions aimed at preventing postpartum depression in Asia. Therefore, we implemented an antenatal parenting support program from Australia ("empathy program") at three sites in Japan, and assessed the characteristics of participating couples and changes in their mental health indicators before and after the program (during pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum, respectively). In this program, participant couples discussed concerns during pregnancy and a "difficult day" scenario with other same-gender participants and then with their own partners. In total, 100 couples attended the program. Among 60 participating mothers, 20% screened positive for maternal depression symptoms (defined as an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale greater than 9). Changes in paternal empathy and maternal antenatal Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score were significantly associated with maternal postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score in multivariable analyses. Our results indicate that a key in preventing postpartum depression is paternal involvement and long-term support from antenatal phase.

Introduction The Australian "empathy session," which is a parenting program aimed at alleviating postpartum depression by increasing empathy among expecting couples, was adapted to a life-planning education program for Japanese high school students. In this present study, we aimed to assess changes in high school students' empathy levels. Methods A nonrandomized, controlled, waitlist intervention was performed in 210 first-year students. They were divided into intervention and waitlist control groups. The life-planning lecture consisted of two parts: (1) reproductive health and (2) empathy and communication skills. The main outcome indicator was the Perspective-Taking subscale of an empathy index. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between the intervention and change in the Perspective-Taking scale score controlling for background factors. Results As per our findings, a significant difference was noted in the scale scores of Perspective-Taking before and after the program within the intervention group (3.76 ± 0.61 before the lecture and 3.86 ± 0.64 after the lecture; P = 0.01). In the between-group analysis, the likelihood of an increase in the scale score of Perspective-Taking was significantly higher in the intervention group (OR = 2.29, 95 % confidence interval = 1.23-4.26). Conclusions Japanese high school students' Perspective-Taking improved through learning reproductive life-planning and communication skills.

Objectives Child care involves mentally and physically intensive work. Women involved in child care are prone to various cognitive failures (e.g., forgetting to carry something or missing an appointment) because of being overburdened with child care activities and chores, constantly limited attention for coping with the frequent demands of children, and cognitive deterioration in the perinatal period. We conducted a survey of women caring for children aged 3 months to 6 years old, aiming to 1) develop a Japanese version of the cognitive failure scale (named the Short Inventory of Minor Lapses [SIML]), and 2) examine the psychometric properties of the scale (including factor structure, validity, reliability, and score distribution), and comparing the scale score according to job status, the youngest child's age, and the number of children.Methods We used data obtained through an internet research company from 310 women (aged 25-45 years; 155 full-time workers and 155 housewives), caring for children aged 3 months to 6 years old. We used the 15-item SIML with a five-point Likert-type scale. We also collected information about employment status, maternal age, the youngest child's age, the number of children, income, the status of using child-care services, sleep duration, fatigue, and neuroticism.Results The scale consisted of one factor. Cognitive failure was found to have the following correlations with memory complaints (polyserial correlation=0.66), sleep duration (r=-0.17), fatigue (r=0.32), and neuroticism (r=0.22). Cronbach's alpha for the scale was 0.94. A three-way analysis of variance (including main effects of working status, the youngest child's age, and the number of children) in cognitive failure revealed significant main effects of the youngest child's age (aged 0-3 years: mean (standard deviation [SD])=34.9 (11.5) point,aged 4-6 years: mean (SD)=32.6 (10.5) point, partial η

Although Japan has a long history of disaster response experience with comprehensive disaster preparedness plans and management, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami generated an unexpected and massively devastating tsunami that affected the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011. This led to catastrophic destruction in the coastal areas of the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. Besides massive physical destruction, the tsunami disaster also created significant socio-economic impacts on people and put them into vulnerable situations. Among the tsunami victims, there was a small group of Thai women who lived in Ishinomaki city, one of the worst tsunami-effected areas. They were struggling with their life, actually even before the tsunami disaster happened. Findings from this exploratory study conducted through qualitative research provide understanding of the pre-existing socio-cultural conditions of Thai women in Ishinomaki. Their conditions of living were addressed which lead to understanding conditions of degrees of social vulnerability in times of disaster as a ‘double vulnerability’ for Thai women in this case. They needed assistance in both the physical aspect to reboot their living condition and mental assistance to recover from the stress of the tsunami experience. There is a discussion on intersecting issues found in this case including gender inequality, limited access to information and assistance, language barriers, immigration statues, and even limited social network for support as all these issues are vulnerabilities threatening marginalized people. Implications from this exploratory study could help to raise awareness and understanding of marginalization in disaster management by considering the importance of social vulnerability in relation to the diversity issue and marginalized people as it can become significant challenge of disaster management Government, aid agencies, and other related authorities and organizations, then, would be able to identify a resilient strategy for those marginalized in times of disaster recovery and management.

The Pregnancy and Birth Survey was started by Fukushima Medical University as part of the Fukushima Health Management Survey in 2011 in order to assess the physical and mental health of mothers and provide parenting support (telephone counseling) for those in need. The present study reviewed the major findings from 4 annual surveys conducted from 2011 to 2014. Overall proportions of preterm deliveries, low birth weight infants, and congenital anomalies in the first year were almost the same as those in national surveillance data. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the mothers held steady at about 25% over the 4 years. Regarding the content of parenting counseling, the proportion of mothers who voiced concerns about radiation decreased each year. This survey should be continued to provide support to mothers in Fukushima.

This study aimed to clarify the frequency of and temporal changes in the content of mothers’ free written opinions obtained in the Fukushima Health Management Survey Pregnancy and Birth Survey from 2011 to 2013. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to women who delivered babies in Fukushima Prefecture. The questionnaire asked about maternal and child health. Expression of mothers’ concerns about radiation decreased over time. Common to the top 5 codes across the 3 years were “radiation effect on fetus and infant” and “information provision including survey results.” Participants who wrote free opinions were significantly more likely to be aged ≥30 years and to have depressive symptoms. Our descriptive analysis of the qualitative data showed a clear shift in mothers’ concerns from radiation-related issues to their own physical and mental health. Mothers who expressed concerns were more likely to report negative physical and mental health.

Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of and factors associated with infant feeding methods after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident using data from the Fukushima Health Management Survey. Methods We conducted an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey of 16,001 women who gave birth around the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake and registered their pregnancies at Fukushima Prefecture municipal offices between August 1, 2010 and July 31, 2011. The responses of 8366 women were analyzed. Chi square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to compare various factors between women who had formula-fed their children because of concern regarding radioactive contamination or other reasons and those who had breastfed exclusively. Results The percentage of women who had breastfed exclusively was 30.9 %. The percentage of women who had both breastfed and formula-fed or formula-fed exclusively was 69.1 %, of which 20.3 % formula-fed because of concern regarding radioactive contamination of breast milk. The use of formula feeding because of concern about radioactive contamination was significantly higher in women who had resided within the evacuation area and those whose regular antenatal care had been interrupted. The use of formula feeding for other reasons was significantly higher in women who had resided within the evacuation area and lower for those who had willingly switched to another medical institution. Conclusions for Practice Our results suggest the importance of providing breastfeeding support to women who are forced to evacuate or whose antenatal care is interrupted after a disaster.

This study aimed to clarify the frequency of and temporal changes in the content of mothers' free written opinions obtained in the Fukushima Health Management Survey Pregnancy and Birth Survey from 2011 to 2013. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to women who delivered babies in Fukushima Prefecture. The questionnaire asked about maternal and child health. Expression of mothers' concerns about radiation decreased over time. Common to the top 5 codes across the 3 years were "radiation effect on fetus and infant" and "information provision including survey results." Participants who wrote free opinions were significantly more likely to be aged ≥30 years and to have depressive symptoms. Our descriptive analysis of the qualitative data showed a clear shift in mothers' concerns from radiation-related issues to their own physical and mental health. Mothers who expressed concerns were more likely to report negative physical and mental health.

The Pregnancy and Birth Survey was started by Fukushima Medical University as part of the Fukushima Health Management Survey in 2011 in order to assess the physical and mental health of mothers and provide parenting support (telephone counseling) for those in need. The present study reviewed the major findings from 4 annual surveys conducted from 2011 to 2014. Overall proportions of preterm deliveries, low birth weight infants, and congenital anomalies in the first year were almost the same as those in national surveillance data. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the mothers held steady at about 25% over the 4 years. Regarding the content of parenting counseling, the proportion of mothers who voiced concerns about radiation decreased each year. This survey should be continued to provide support to mothers in Fukushima.

The Pregnancy and Birth Survey of the Fukushima Health Management Survey is a questionnaire survey that has been conducted annually since 2011 in Fukushima Prefecture. Since 2016, the survey has been available online as well as in paper form. This study aimed to determine whether making the survey available online improved response rates and to identify the characteristics of paper and online survey respondents and their results. Using LimeSurvey, we constructed an online survey environment that enabled responses via computer or mobile device. Respondents could choose whether to respond on paper or online. The response rate for the 2016 survey was 51.8%, an increase of 3.5% over the previous year. Of these responses, 15.8% were made online. Online respondents were mostly primiparous. Further, while there was no difference in the percentage of respondents who provided free responses, the amount written was higher in paper surveys than in online surveys. The combination of paper and online surveys increased convenience for respondents and contributed to improved response rates. In addition, paper surveys were superior in terms of allowing respondents to express their feelings and opinions.

The aim of this study was to produce monoclonal antibodies specific for neurones that are generated earliest in the rat neocortex. One of the established clones, K1, showed a strong immunoreactivity in the marginal zone at the 19th day of gestation (E19). The immunoreactivity of K1 initially appeared in the primordial plexiform layer at E15, in the subplate at E16, and in the marginal zone by E17. It became undetectable in the first postnatal week. The immunoreactivity was not detected in the neocortex of adults or elderly. Western blotting analysis revealed reactive bands at positions corresponding to proteins of 290 and 280 kDa for the neocortical membrane fractions prepared from E16 to E21 embryos. In these stages, smears of bands were also found at positions corresponding to higher molecular weights. A single band of protein of 280 kDa was detected for the soluble fractions prepared from the embryos at E19 and E21. These reactivities were susceptible to protease, but not to enzymatic or chemical destruction of carbohydrate residues. Electron microscopic analysis showed that the K1 immunoreactivity was detected primarily on the cellular membranes of neurites. In the marginal zone at E19, the K1 immunoreactivity was localised where neurites make contact with other neurites or somata. A portion of these contact points had typical features of synapses. In the cortical plate of the same stage, arrays of tiny K1-immunoreactive puncta were observed on a subset of radial processes. These results suggest that monoclonal antibody K1 is a marker recognising neurites of subplate neurones that extend radially and make neuronal contacts in the marginal zone.

A monoclonal antibody, K1, immunostains neurones generated earliest in the rat neocortex. The K1 immunoreactivity was found in both mouse and human embryos. In the human marginal zone, the subpial granular layer and the inner sublayer were stained at the 19th and 20th week of gestation, respectively. Western blot analysis revealed that the K1 immunoreactivity was conserved in a variety of vertebrates. While a protein of low molecular weight (200 kDa) reacted dominantly in an amphibian (Xenopus laevis) and a reptile (Agkistrodon blomhoffii), proteins of higher molecular weights (280 and 290 kDa) reacted dominantly in mammals (mouse, rat and macaque). In the brain of the reptile (Lacerta triliniata) embryo, K1 stained a marginal part of the superficial molecular layer in the dorsal cortex that is probably homologous to the mammalian marginal zone in the neocortex. In the chick embryo at the 8th day of incubation, the immunoreactivity was observed on neurones generated earliest in the dorsal cortex but not in the superficial molecular layer. The dorsal ventricular ridge and pallial thickening in either the reptile or chick were not stained. The K1 antigen could be a good marker for evolutional study of the mammalian neocortex.

PMDC05, a leukemic plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) line which was established in our laboratory, showed a capacity of generating antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). In order to enhance an antigen presenting ability of PMDC05, PMDC05 was transduced with CD80 gene by lentiviral vector, which was named as PMDC11. PMDC11 displayed a strong antigen presenting ability even without any stimulation, and by culturing with stimulators such as calcium ionophore PMDC11 gained a more potent antigen presenting ability. Our data suggested PMDC11 could be applied as antigen presenting cells more efficiently in adoptive cellular immunotherapy for tumors and severe infections in comparison with PMDC05.

Complementary DNA clones containing the entire coding region of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were isolated from the spinal cords of rat and mouse. The cDNAs of rat and mouse coded for 640 and 641 amino acids, respectively, and showed 95% mutual homology and 80% homology with the cDNA of porcine ChAT. Northern blot analysis revealed a single band of 4.4 kb in the spinal cord and brain in each species. Introduction of the cDNAs into Chinese hamster ovary cells and neuron-derived cell lines, N1E115 and NG108-15, expressed a high ChAT activity, which was inhibited by a specific ChAT inhibitor. In situ hybridization using the rat cRNA probe revealed specific labeling of the motoneurons in the spinal cord and neurons in various forebrain nuclei of the rat where the existence of cholinergic neurons has been demonstrated immunohistochemically.

In freely moving rats, effects of unilateral haloperidol injection into the substantia nigra were monitored with in vivo voltammetry in the bilateral striata. The electrochemical responses at 120 mV versus Ag-AgCl, reflecting mainly a level of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), increased both in the striata within 1.5 h after 5 μg of haloperidol treatment. In the experiments of high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, the ratio of DOPAC to dopamine in the striata significantly increased at 2.75 h after drug treatment. These data support the idea that unilateral injection of haloperidol into the substantia nigra in freely moving rats increases dopamine turnover in the bilateral striata.

In order to investigate self-regulation of dopamine (DA) neurons, the effects of intranigrally administered haloperidol (Hal), a DA receptor antagonist, on nigrostriatal DA systems were examined using differential pulse voltammetry with carbon fiber electrode. The measurements were achieved in the bilateral caudate-putamen (CP) of behaving rats, in the region of which DA or 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid made an oxidative current peak (P2) spontaneously. Unilateral injection of Hal (5 micrograms in 1 microliter) into the substantia nigra of rat increased P2 in a time-dependent manner. This phenomenon was observed in both CP, but a more significant increase was in the ipsilateral side (156 +/- 2% of spontaneous height 2.75 h after injection) than in the contralateral side (129 +/- 7%). These effects enlarged in a dose-dependent manner. The same results were found in tissue homogenates determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. In the latter case, however, no significant difference was observed between the left and right sides. The present results suggest that Hal, attaching nigral autoreceptors on the cell bodies and dendrites, blocks inhibitory influence of endogenous DA and then activates the nigrostriatal DA neurons, while the contribution of non-dopaminergic neurons is also possible.

A retina-specific cDNA clone (pCR18) was selected from a bovine retinal cDNA library and characterized. The clone pCR18 consisted of 905 base pairs and hybridized to the mRNA of about 12S from the bovine retina, but not that from the brain or liver. The nucleotide sequence revealed a long open reading frame which encodes a 147 amino acid polypeptide of about 15,700 Da. No significant sequence homology with the predicted protein was found in the protein sequence library of about 3500. Messenger RNA which hybridized to pCR18 translated a polypeptide of about 19,000 Da in a reticulocyte translation system. Southern blot analysis indicated that the bovine genome contains a single copy of this gene. Furthermore, RNA dot analysis showed that the poly(A) + RNA from the human retinoblastoma cell lines (Y79 and WERI) hybridized to pCR18, whose intensity was comparable to that of the bovine retina. In situ hybridization revealed that pCR18 was expressed mostly in some ganglion cells of the rat retina. The results suggest that cDNA clone (pCR18) encodes a protein specific for the retina and mRNA for pCR18 is mostly localized in the retinal ganglion cells and also expressed in the human retinoblastoma cells, although its function remains to be elucidated.

A dialysis cannula was implanted into rat striatum while the animals were anesthetized, and the area was perfused with Ringer solution while the animals were unanesthetized after at least 3 days following surgery. Concentrations of the metabolites of 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylethylamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the perfusate were determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Levels of the DA metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the perfusate significantly decreased after pargyline administration (50 mg/kg i.p.), which may inhibit not only monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B but also MAO-A in these high doses. The level of the 5-HT metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) also decreased after pargyline treatment, although change in the relative level of 5-HIAA was less than that of DOPAC or HVA. To clarify the mechanisms for the metabolism of monoamines in rat striatum, highly specific MAO-A and -B inhibitors were used in the following experiments. Treatment with l-deprenyl (10 mg/kg), a specific inhibitor for MAO-B, did not cause any statistically significant change in DOPAC, HVA, and 5-HIAA levels. No significant change was found in rat striatal homogenates at 2 h after the same treatment with l-deprenyl. In contrast, low-dose treatment (1 mg/kg) with clorgyline, a specific inhibitor for MAO-A, caused a significant decrease in levels of these three metabolites in both the perfusates and tissue homogenates. In addition to the above three metabolites, the level of 3-methoxytyramine, which is an indicator of the amount of DA released, greatly increased after treatment with a low dose (1 mg/kg) of clorgyline. These results suggest that DA and 5-HT in rat striatum may be preferentially deaminated by MAO-A in vivo.

This research examines how the economic benefits of working in the ethnic tour- ism industry affect households in the local minority community, with a special focus on the division of labor and power dynamics of gender complementarity. Household income data gathered from the inner-city communities of the Akha tribal people in Thailand are the primary data used in a linear regression framework. The results show that ethnic tourism provides income to the local minority community. This income, however, is higher for young people and women than for older men, a disparity that disrupts the com- munity's traditional patriarchal social system. This study contributes to a nested model of multiple marginalization based on ethnicity, gender, and legal status. This case shall contrib- ute to tourism planning and local policymaking in areas where ethnic tourism prospers. Key- words: ethnic tourism, ethnic minority, stateless, gender, Thailand. � 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.