Abstract: Objectives: Although attention has been paid to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among health care professionals after disasters, the impact of traumatic events on their work has not ...been elucidated. The aim of this study was to examine whether disaster-related distress, resilience, and post-traumatic growth (PTG) affect work engagement among health care professionals who had been deployed to the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011. Methods: We recruited disaster medical assistance team members who were engaged in rescue activities after the earthquake. The short version of the Resilience Scale (RS-14) and Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) were administered one month after the earthquake, and the short form of Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (SF-PTGI) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) were administered four years after the earthquake. Work engagement is composed of vigor, dedication, and absorption. Regression analyses were used to examine the relationship of UWES with RS-14, PDI, and SF-PTGI. Results: We obtained baseline data of 254 participants in April 2011, and 191 (75.2%) completed the follow-up assessment between December 2014 and March 2015. The results showed that RS-14 predicted vigor, dedication, and absorption; in addition, SF-PTGI was positively related with these three parameters (p<0.01 for all). Conclusions: Resilience at baseline and PTG after rescue activities may increase work engagement among health care professionals after disasters. These findings could be useful for establishing a support system after rescue activities during a large-scale disaster and for managing work-related stress among health care professionals.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract Background Psychophysiological symptoms (e.g., pounding heart) are known to be a prominent feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ...(PUFAs) have a beneficial potential pharmacological effect of preventing these psychophysiological symptoms, no clinical data is yet available. Therefore, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Japanese accident survivors. Methods A total of 83 participants received either omega-3 PUFAs (1,470 mg docosahexaenoic acid and 147 mg eicosapentaenoic acid per day) or placebo within 10 days of the accidental injury. After 12-week supplementation, participants performed script-driven imagery of their traumatic event during monitoring of their heart rate and skin conductance. Results Analysis revealed that heart rate during both rest and script-driven imagery was significantly lower in the omega-3 group than the placebo group, whereas baseline heart rate was comparable between the two groups. Limitations The present trial was conducted at a single-center in Japan and psychophysiological PTSD symptoms in most participants were not serious. Conclusion These findings suggest that post-trauma supplementation of omega-3 PUFAs might be effective for the secondary prevention of psychophysiological symptoms of PTSD.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2001 left around 20,000 dead or missing. Previous studies showed that rescue workers, as well as survivors, of disasters are at high risk for ...posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the predictive usefulness of the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) among rescue workers of Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) deployed during the acute disaster phase of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
In this prospective observational study, the DMAT members recruited were assessed 1 month after the earthquake on the PDI and 4 months after the earthquake on the Impact of Event Scale-Revised to determine PTSD symptoms. The predictive value of the PDI at initial assessment for PTSD symptoms at the follow-up assessment was examined by univariate and multiple linear regression analysis. Of the 254 rescue workers who participated in the initial assessment, 173 completed the follow-up assessment. Univariate regression analysis revealed that PDI total score and most individual item scores predicted PTSD symptoms. In particular, high predictive values were seen for peritraumatic emotional distress such as losing control of emotions and being ashamed of emotional reactions. In multiple linear regression analysis, PDI total score was an independent predictor for PTSD symptoms after adjusting for covariates. As for covariates specifically, watching earthquake television news reports for more than 4 hours per day predicted PTSD symptoms.
The PDI predicted PTSD symptoms in rescue workers after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Peritraumatic emotional distress appears to be an important factor to screen for individuals at risk for developing PTSD among medical rescue workers. In addition, watching television for extended period of time might require attention at a time of crisis.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Previous studies indicate that oxytocin (OT) might play a major role in the prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that the effects of OT might differ by gender. This exploratory ...study aimed to clarify the relationships between the OT level and physical and psychosocial factors by gender in accident survivors.
Two hundred and thirty-five accident survivors offered blood samples at baseline, 155 of whom participated in follow-up assessments 1 month later. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated between the serum OT levels and physical and psychosocial factors assessed at baseline by gender. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were then used to examine the relationships between the serum OT levels and psychological variables by gender.
In men, the OT levels were negatively associated with C-reactive protein at baseline and did not predict any psychological variables at the 1-month follow-up. On the other hand, in women, the OT levels were positively associated with cooperativeness at baseline and predicted seeking social support, positive reappraisal, accepting responsibility and planful problem solving at the 1-month follow-up. The OT levels were not associated with PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms.
The findings suggest that the role of OT in posttraumatic coping and inflammation differs by gender in accident survivors. Gender differences in the effects and mechanism of OT might be a key consideration when developing interventions using OT.
Acute mental stress is believed to induce transient arterial dysfunction, but relatively few data are available. We therefore examined the effect of mental stress tasks that could induce differential ...hemodynamic responses on arterial dysfunction. Forty‐eight participants conducted either a mental arithmetic (MA) task or a mirror‐tracing (MT) task. Cardiovascular indices and arterial stiffness were measured before, during, and after these tasks. Analysis revealed that increases in arterial stiffness during the task and during recovery were more pronounced for the MA than for the MT, and that evoked hemodynamic response was more myocardial for MA than for MT. These results clearly show that MA and MT tasks that induce differential hemodynamic responses have a differential effect on arterial stiffness. This finding sheds light on the underlying mechanism that may account for the relationship between cardiovascular reactivity and cardiovascular disease.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
For the detection of chromosome translocations/chimeric genes and specific genetic abnormalities in soft tissue tumors, we conducted fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis on 280 cases of ...soft tissue and other tumors using formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue sections. The detection rate of the FISH split‐signal was 84% (129/154 cases) for the translocation‐associated soft tissue tumors, such as Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor, synovial sarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, clear cell sarcoma and so forth. Positive split‐signals from EWSR1, SS18 and FOXO1A probes were detected in 3% (2/64) of various histological types of carcinoma, lymphoma, melanoma, meningioma and soft tissue tumors. In FISH using the INI1/CEP22 probe, the INI1 deletion signal was detected in 100% (9/9) of epithelioid sarcoma. In well‐differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcomas, detection of MDM2 amplification signals in FISH using the MDM2/CEP12 probe were both as high as 85% (11/13) and 100% (13/13), respectively. In other adipocytic and non‐adipocytic tumors requiring differentiation from these types, detection was only 13% (5/39), and CEP12 polysomy was frequently detected. As these results demonstrate the high sensitivity and specificity of FISH, we concluded FISH to be a useful pathological diagnostic adjunct for definite and differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumors.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Empirical evidence is divided on whether n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels are associated with quality of life (QOL). This study investigated the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ...supplementation on QOL in survivors of traumatic injury. In this secondary analysis of a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, we recruited 110 trauma patients (82% men; mean age, 39.6 years) in an intensive care unit. Fifty-three received DHA-rich supplements and 57 received placebo for 12 weeks. We used the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess QOL at the end of intervention. DHA did not significantly affect any QOL domain on the SF-36 after 12 weeks. In the DHA group, changes in the erythrocyte levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + DHA and EPA were positively correlated with the SF-36 mental component. DHA did not influence QOL of trauma patients, but increased EPA levels during the trial were associated with better QOL in patients receiving omega-3.
•Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) did not have beneficial effects on health-related QOL.•Eicosapentaenoic acid might improve health-related QOL.•DHA might not benefit individuals with good mental health.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
A 60-year-old man had a malignant left lower lung tumour with no metastases and underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic left lower lobectomy and lymphadenectomy. Pathological examination led to a ...diagnosis of capicua transcriptional repressor (CIC)-rearranged sarcoma. He has had 3.5 years of recurrence-free survival. CIC-rearranged sarcoma is a Ewing-like sarcoma that shows pathological findings similar to Ewing sarcoma. Most of CIC-rearranged sarcoma is CIC-double homeobox 4 protein (DUX4) fusion. Pulmonary CIC-rearranged sarcoma is extremely rare and has an unfavourable prognosis. However, complete resection can produce prognosis of long-term survival, and thus, surgery is an important option.
Abstract Growing evidence has shown that psychometrically identified schizotypes among student populations have subtle cognitive impairments in several domains such as attention, working memory and ...executive function, but the possible association between psychometric schizotypy in adult populations and cognitive function has not been well documented. Here we examined the association between schizotypal traits as assessed by the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and cognitive function including memory, attention, executive function, and general intelligence in 124 healthy adults. Cognitive functioning was assessed with the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R), and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). SPQ scores showed a significant inverse correlation with verbal IQ and the information, comprehension and similarities subtests. No correlation was found between SPQ scores and memory, attention, performance IQ, or executive functioning. These results indicate that schizotypal traits in healthy adults are associated with verbal IQ decrements, suggesting that schizotypal traits themselves, even at a non-clinical level, may play unfavorable roles in cognitive functioning, which is in line with the viewpoint that schizotypy is on a continuum with normality, with its extreme form being clinically expressed as schizophrenia.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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