石川 鎮清

This study examined the association between the latest blood pressure (BP) classification and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk, using data from 70,570 individuals across 10 Japanese cohorts. Participants were stratified by age (40-64 and 65-89 years) and antihypertensive treatment use. BP was classified according to the 2019 Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines. During a follow-up period of approximately 10 years, 2304 CVD deaths occurred. Cox models demonstrated that CVD mortality risk increased stepwise with the BP category, with this association being especially pronounced in patients aged 40-64 years, where the Grade I hypertension group showed the highest population-attributable fraction (PAF). When the treated participants were included in the hypertension group, the overall PAF for CVD mortality was 41.1%. Similar patterns were observed for CVD subtype mortality risk, with hypertension showing particularly high PAFs for intracerebral hemorrhage. These findings highlight the importance of early-stage prevention and management of hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Our study investigated the prognostic impacts of the interval between collapse and the initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and subsequent intervals to defibrillation or epinephrine administration, on 30-day favorable neurological outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS AND RESULTS: This nationwide population-based cohort study used the All Japan Utstein Registry, encompassing OHCA patients in Japan between January 2006 and December 2021. The primary outcome was 30-day favorable neurological outcomes, defined as Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2. Three-dimensional plots and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the time-dependent prognostic impacts of prehospital CPR interventions. In all, 184,731 OHCA patients (86,246 with shockable rhythm and 98,485 with non-shockable rhythm) were included in the study. Three-dimensional plots revealed that the interval between collapse and initiation of CPR, and subsequent intervals to defibrillation or epinephrine, were independently associated with 30-day favorable neurological outcomes in the groups with shockable and non-shockable rhythms, respectively (P<0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with witnessed OHCA, there was a dose-response relationship between delays in the collapse-CPR initiation interval, and subsequent intervals to defibrillation or epinephrine administration, and 30-day favorable neurological outcomes. Our findings provide valuable insights into OHCA management.

<sec xml:lang="en"> <title>Background</title> <p xml:lang="en">Lifetime risk is an informative estimate for driving lifestyle and behavioral changes especially for young adults. The impact of composite risk factors for cardiovascular disease on lifetime risk stratified by sex has not been investigated in the Japanese population, which has a much lower mortality of coronary heart disease compared with the Western population. We aimed to estimate lifetime risk of death from cardiovascular disease attributable to traditional risk factors. </sec> <sec xml:lang="en"> <title>Methods and Results</title> <p xml:lang="en">We analyzed pooled individual data from the Evidence for Cardiovascular Prevention from Observational Cohorts in a Japanese cohort study. A modified Kaplan–Meier approach was used to estimate the remaining lifetime risk of cardiovascular death. In total, 41 002 Japanese men and women with 537 126 person‐years of follow‐up were included. The lifetime risk at the index‐age of 45 years for those with optimal risk factors (total cholesterol &lt;4.65 mmol/L, systolic blood pressure &lt;120 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure &lt;80 mm Hg, absence of diabetes, and absence of smoking habit) was lower compared with the highest risk profile of ≥2 risk factors (6.8% [95% CI, 0%–11.9%] versus 19.4% [16.7%–21.4%] for men and 6.9% [1.2%–11.5%] versus 15.4% [12.6%–18.1%] for women). </sec> <sec xml:lang="en"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p xml:lang="en">The magnitude and the number of risk factors were progressively associated with increased lifetime risk even in individuals in early adulthood who tend to have low short‐term risk. The degree of established cardiovascular risk factors can be converted into lifetime risk. Our findings may be useful for risk communication in the early detection of future cardiovascular disease risk. </sec>

Previous studies have found the prevention paradox in the association between stroke events and a single specific risk factor, indicating that a population-based strategy may be more effective than a high-risk-based strategy for prevention. We tested the hypothesis that the prevention paradox does not apply when focusing on multiple potential risk factors simultaneously. The study cohort included 9051 individuals from Japan aged 40-89 years. The time-dependent Cox proportional-hazards models were used to identify the primary risk factor associated with stroke onset. We classified participants based on risk factors in two distinct ways: 1) classifying the high-risk group participants according to a single specific risk factor that had a large association with stroke in both sexes and all ages and 2) classifying the high-risk group participants according to 1-3 risk factor(s) including hypertension, hyperglycemia, and/or dyslipidemia. Then, we compared the proportions of the total number of participants who developed stroke in both groups to assess the prevention paradox. We found that hypertension was a primary risk factor for stroke incidence, regardless of sex and age. The percentage of patients with a single specific risk of and developed stroke was 46%-63%, while the percentage of patients with 1-3 risk factor(s) was 71-83%. This finding leads to the conclusion that the prevention paradox does not hold when multiple stroke risk factors were associated, suggesting that a high-risk-based strategy that focuses on patients with multiple risk factors may be more effective in preventing strokes.

<title>Abstract</title><sec> <title>Background</title> Japan has established comprehensive education-scholarship programs to supply physicians in rural areas. Their entrants now comprise 16% of all medical students, and graduates must work in rural areas for a designated number of years. These programs are now being adopted outside Japan, but their medium-term outcomes and inter-program differences are unknown. </sec><sec> <title>Methods</title> A nationwide prospective cohort study of newly licensed physicians 2014–2018 (<italic>n</italic> = 2454) of the four major types of the programs—Jichi Medical University (Jichi); regional quota with scholarship; non-quota with scholarship (scholarship alone); and quota without scholarship (quota alone)—and all Japanese physicians in the same postgraduate year (<italic>n</italic> = 40,293) was conducted with follow-up workplace information from the Physician Census 2018, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. In addition, annual cross-sectional survey for prefectural governments and medical schools 2014–2019 was conducted to obtain information on the results of National Physician License Examination and retention status for contractual workforce. </sec><sec> <title>Results</title> Passing rate of the National Physician License Examination was highest in Jichi, followed in descending order by quota with scholarship, the other two programs, and all medical graduates. The retention rate for contractual rural service of Jichi graduates 5 years after graduation (<italic>n</italic> = 683; 98%) was higher than that of quota with scholarship (2868; 90%; <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001) and scholarship alone (2220; 81% &lt; 0.001). Relative risks of working in municipalities with the least population density quintile in Jichi, quota with scholarship, scholarship alone, and quota alone in postgraduate year 5 were 4.0 (95% CI 3.7–4.4; <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001), 3.1 (2.6–3.7; &lt; 0.001), 2.5 (2.1–3.0; &lt; 0.001), and 2.5 (1.9–3.3; &lt; 0.001) as compared with all Japanese physicians. There was no significant difference between each program and all physicians in the proportion of those who specialized in internal medicine or general practice in postgraduate years 3 to 5 </sec><sec> <title>Conclusions</title> Japan’s education policies to produce rural physicians are effective but the degree of effectiveness varies among the programs. Policymakers and medical educators should plan their future rural workforce policies with reference to the effectiveness and variations of these programs. </sec>

<title>Abstract</title><sec> <title>Background</title> Developing self-regulated learning in preclinical settings is important for future lifelong learning. Previous studies indicate professional identity formation, i.e., formation of self-identity with internalized values and norms of professionalism, might promote self-regulated learning. We designed a professional identity formation-oriented reflection and learning plan format, then tested effectiveness on raising self-regulated learning in a preclinical year curriculum. </sec><sec> <title>Methods</title> A randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted using 112 students at Jichi Medical University. In six one-day problem-based learning sessions in a 7-month pre-clinical year curriculum, Groups A (<italic>n</italic> = 56, female 18, mean age 21.5y ± 0.7) and B (<italic>n</italic> = 56, female 11, mean age 21.7y ± 1.0) experienced professional identity formation-oriented format: Group A had three sessions with the intervention format in the first half, B in the second half. Between-group identity stages and self-regulated learning levels were compared using professional identity essays and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. </sec><sec> <title>Results</title> Two-level regression analyses showed no improvement in questionnaire categories but moderate improvement of professional identity stages over time (<italic>R</italic>² = 0.069), regardless of timing of intervention. </sec><sec> <title>Conclusions</title> Professional identity moderately forms during the pre-clinical year curriculum. However, neither identity nor self-regulated learning is raised significantly by limited intervention. </sec>

Introduction: Previous studies indicate that professional identity formation (PIF), the formation of a self-identity with the internalised values and norms of professionalism, may influence self-regulated learning (SRL). However, it remains unclear whether a PIF-oriented intervention can improve SRL in clinical education. The aim of this study was to explore whether a PIF-oriented mentoring platform improves SRL in a clinical clerkship. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted. Forty-one students in a community-based clinical clerkship (CBCC) used a PIF-oriented mentoring platform. They articulated the values and norms of professionalism in a professional identity essay, elaborated on future professional self-image, and reflected on their current compared to future selves. They made a study plan while referring to PIF-based self-reflection and completed it. The control group of 41 students completed CBCC without the PIF-oriented mentoring platform. Changes in SRL between the two groups were quantitatively compared using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. We explore how PIF elements in the platform affected SRL by qualitative analysis of questionnaire and interview data. Results: A moderate improvement in intrinsic goal orientation (p = 0.005, ε2 = 0.096) and a mild improvement in critical thinking (p = 0.041, ε2 = 0.051) were observed in the PIF-oriented platform group. Qualitative analysis revealed that the PIF-oriented platform fostered professional responsibility as a key to expanding learning goals. Gaining authentic knowledge professionally fostered critical thinking, and students began to elaborate knowledge in line with professional task processes. Conclusion: A PIF-oriented mentoring platform helped students improve SRL during a clinical clerkship.

Objective: Coffee consumption can be expected to reduce mortality due to cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This study tested the hypothesis of an inverse association between coffee intake and all-cause mortality and mortality due to cancer, coronary heart disease, or stroke. Study design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: We analyzed data from the Jichi Medical School Cohort Study, Japan, enrolling 9946 subjects (men/women: 3870/6,076, age: 19e93 years) from 12 communities. A food frequency questionnaire assessing the subjects’ daily coffee consumption was used. Results: During an average follow-up of 18.4 years, the total number of deaths was 2024, including 677 for cancer, 238 for coronary heart disease, and 244 for stroke. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all-cause mortality and cause specific mortality due to cancer, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Overall, no significant association was shown between coffee consumption and all-cause mortality. In the cause-specific mortality analyses, stroke mortality was significantly lower in those who consumed 1e2 cups of coffee daily (HR [95% CI]: 0.63 [0.42e0.95]) than in those who do not consume coffee, and this association occurred only in men. Conclusion: This study showed no significant association between coffee consumption and all-cause mortality. A U-shaped association between coffee consumption and stroke mortality with a 37% lower stroke mortality, only significant in men who consume 1e2 cups of coffee daily was observed. It is necessary to examine the possibility of intervention studies to reduce stroke mortality through coffee consumption.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between polarity of atrial premature complexes (APCs) and stroke. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 11 092 participants in the Jichi Medical School cohort study were included after excluding patients with atrial fibrillation. We analysed stroke events in patients with (n=136) and without (n=10 956) APCs. With regard to polarity of APCs, patients were subcategorised into having (1) negative (n=39) or non-negative (n=97) P waves in augmented vector right (aVR), and (2) positive (n=28) or non-positive (n=108) P waves in augmented vector left (aVL). OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was stroke. RESULTS: Patients with APCs were significantly older than those without APCs (64.1±9.2 vs 55.1±11.6 years, p<0.001). The mean follow-up period was 11.8±2.4 years. Stroke events were observed in patients with (n=13 events) and without (n=411 events) APCs. This difference was significant (log-rank 12.9, p<0.001); however, APCs were not an independent predictor of stroke after adjusting for age, sex, height, body mass index, current drinking, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, prior myocardial infarction, prior stroke and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p=0.15). The incidence of stroke in patients with APCs and non-negative P wave in aVR was significantly higher than in patients without APCs (log-rank 20.1, p<0.001), and non-negative P wave in aVR was revealed to be an independent predictor of stroke (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.30). The incidence of stroke in patients with APC with non-positive P wave in aVL was also significantly higher than in patients without APC (log-rank 15.3, p<0.001), and non-positive P wave in aVL was an independent predictor of stroke (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.54). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of APCs with non-negative P wave in aVR or non-positive P wave in aVL on 12-lead ECG was associated with a higher risk of incident stroke.

Background and study aims  We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the starting position during colonoscopy. Patients and methods  We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform through February 2019 to identify studies reporting the comparison between the right/supine/prone/tilt-down and left lateral starting position during colonoscopy. The primary outcomes were mean cecal insertion time and adverse events requiring medication. Two reviewers performed study selection and risk of bias assessment. We determined the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation method. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019124360). Results  We identified 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (2083 participants), including three trials on right/tilt-down versus left, two trials on supine/prone versus left, respectively. Mean difference in mean cecal insertion time in supine versus left was -41.0 s (95 % confidence interval [CI] -57.3 to -24.7) in one study and in tilt-down versus left was - 37.3 s (95 % CI -72.1 to -2.4; I 2  = 58 %) in three studies; however, there were no statistically significant differences in prone/right versus left position (very low certainty of evidence). Four of eight studies noted adverse effects requiring medication (moderate certainty of evidence). One RCT applying the tilt-down position was terminated because of increased occurrence of oxygen desaturation. Conclusion  We could not conclusively determine the efficacy and safety of the starting position during colonoscopy because of low certainty of evidence. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of the starting potion during colonoscopy.

AIM: Lifetime risk (LTR) indicates the absolute risk of disease during the remainder of an individual's lifetime. We aimed to assess the LTRs for coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality associated with blood pressure (BP) and total cholesterol levels in an Asian population using a meta-analysis of individual participant data because no previous studies have assessed this risk. METHODS: We analyzed data from 105,432 Japanese participants in 13 cohorts. Apart from grade 1 and 2-3 hypertension groups, we defined "normal BP" as systolic/diastolic BP ＜130/＜80 mmHg and "high BP" as 130-139/80-89 mmHg. The sex-specific LTR was estimated while considering the competing risk of death. RESULTS: During the mean follow-up period of 15 years (1,553,735 person-years), 889 CHD deaths were recorded. The 10-year risk of CHD mortality at index age 35 years was ≤ 0.11%, but the corresponding LTR was ≥ 1.84%. The LTR of CHD at index age 35 years steeply increased with an increase in BP of participants with high total cholesterol levels [≥ 5.7 mmol/L (220 mg/dL)]. This risk was 7.73%/5.77% (95% confidence interval: 3.53%-10.28%/3.83%-7.25%) in men/women with grade 2-3 hypertension and high total cholesterol levels. In normal and high BP groups, the absolute differences in LTRs between the low and high total cholesterol groups were ≤ 0.25% in men and ≤ 0.40% in women. CONCLUSIONS: High total cholesterol levels contributed to an elevated LTR of CHD mortality in hypertensive individuals. These findings could help guide high-risk young individuals toward initiating lifestyle changes or treatments.

BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular relevance of isolated low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is yet to be determined. Stroke often leads to long-term disability, and thus, not only stroke mortality but also stroke incidence is a topic of research. Although isolated low HDL-C level has been found to be a predictor for stroke mortality previously, whether it can predict stroke incidence is unknown. METHODS: In the Jichi Medical School cohort study, 11 025 community-living residents without a history of stroke were examined. Hazard ratios (HRs) for isolated and non-isolated low HDL-C levels were calculated relative to those for normal HDL-C levels in stroke patients using Cox's regression models. RESULTS: During the mean follow-up period of 10.7 years, 412 residents had their first-ever stroke. The multivariable-adjusted HRs for the levels of isolated and non-isolated low HDL-C were 1.11 (95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.44) and 1.35 (1.01-1.81), respectively, when compared to that for normal HDL-C. CONCLUSION: Low HDL-C levels with other dyslipidemias may contribute to the incidence of stroke, not isolated low HDL-C.

We aimed to investigate the relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration and the incident stroke subtypes. We enrolled 11 027 participants between the ages of 18 and 90 years without a history of stroke in 12 Japanese communities. Cox's regression models were used for stroke subtypes, adjusted for traditional risk factors, according to the categories based on HDL-C concentrations: 1.04 to 1.55 mmol/L, ≥1.56 mmol/L, and <1.03 mmol/L (as the reference). During a mean follow-up of 10.7 years, 412 stroke events had occurred. However, HDL-C was not significantly associated with the incidence of cerebral infarction and subarachnoid hemorrhage. High HDL-C concentration was associated with a decreased incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage in women (hazard ratio = 0.23; 95% confidence interval = 0.06-0.89), but not in men (hazard ratio = 0.73; 95% confidence interval = 0.27-1.97). Therefore, high HDL-C concentration might have a protective effect on the incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage, particularly in women.

<p>目的 地方紙における遺族の自己申告型死亡記事の記載事項を集計し，その地域での死亡やそれに伴う儀式の実態を明らかにするとともに，死亡記事のデータベースとしての利点と問題点を明らかにする。</p><p>方法 栃木の地方紙である下野新聞の自己申告型死亡記事「おくやみ」欄に掲載された2011～2015年の栃木県内の死亡者全員のデータを集計解析し，一部の結果は人口動態統計と比較した。観察項目は掲載年月日，市町村，住所の表示（市町村名のみ，町名・字まで，番地まで含めた詳細な住所），氏名，性別，死亡年月日，死因，死亡時年齢，通夜・告別式などの名称，通夜などの年月日，告別式などの年月日，喪主と喪主の死亡者との続柄の情報である。</p><p>結果 観察期間中の掲載死亡者数は69,793人で，同時期の人口動態統計による死亡者数の67.6%であった。人口動態統計と比較した掲載割合は男女で差がなく，小児期には掲載割合が低く，10歳代で高く，20歳台で低下し，以降は年齢とともに上昇していた。市町別の掲載割合は宇都宮市や小山市など都市化が進んだ地域では低く，県東部や北部で高い市町がみられた。最も掲載割合が高かったのは茂木町（88.0%），低かったのは野木町（38.0%）であった。死亡日から通夜や告別式などの日数から，東京などで起こっている火葬場の供給不足に起因する火葬待ち現象は起こっていないことが判明した。六曜の友引の日の告別式はほとんどなく，今後，高齢者の増加に伴う死者の増加によって火葬場の供給不足が起こった場合には，告別式と火葬を切り離して友引に火葬を行うことも解決策の1つと考えられた。死亡者の子供，死亡者の両親，死亡者の子供の配偶者が喪主の場合には，喪主は男の方が多いことが判明した。老衰，自殺，他殺の解析から，掲載された死因の妥当性は低いことが示された。</p><p>結論 栃木県の地方紙である下野新聞の自己申告型死亡記事「おくやみ」欄の5年分の観察を行い，実態を明らかにした。約3分の2に死亡が掲載されており，データベースとしての使用に一定の価値があると考えられたが，記載された死因の妥当性は低いことが判明した。</p>