Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Takanao Hashimoto, Akihiko Ozaki, Saori Nonaka, Yasuhiro Kotera, Toyoaki Sawano, Masaharu Tsubokura, Kitae Ito, Tomoyoshi Oikawa
Summary: This study illustrates the crucial role of pharmacists and drug logistics in major disasters, including nuclear accidents. The research findings demonstrate that pharmacists face various psychological challenges but still make efforts to supply drugs and collect information. The leadership of upper managers in hospitals plays a key role in supporting pharmacists.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kayoko Ishii, Aya Goto, Hiromi Yoshida-Komiya, Tetsuya Ohira, Keiya Fujimori
Summary: Since 2011, we have conducted an annual survey to monitor the mental and physical health of mothers and children after the Fukushima nuclear accident. The survey results show that depressive symptoms are most prevalent in the postpartum period but decrease over time. The proportion of mothers with radiation anxiety is higher immediately after childbirth, especially among those who gave birth right after the disaster. Specific characteristics of mothers who receive telephone parenting counseling include first delivery, caesarean section, living in evacuation zones, missed medical examinations, and radiation anxiety. Continuous care should be provided to mothers who gave birth immediately after the nuclear accident.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Nidam Siawsh, Konrad Peszynski, Huan Vo-Tran, Leslie Young
Summary: Community engagement and involvement are crucial in disaster management and response. This article explores the role of the Machizukuri in the recovery from the Tohoku Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, highlighting the importance of local communities in filling the gaps left by the central government. However, coordination issues and communication failures hindered a more effective response. Bottom-up recovery practices have played a key role in maintaining the vitality and culture of the affected community.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Olivier Evrard, Caroline Chartin, J. Patrick Laceby, Yuichi Onda, Yoshifumi Wakiyama, Atsushi Nakao, Olivier Cerdan, Hugo Lepage, Hugo Jaegler, Rosalie Vandromme, Irene Lefevre, Philippe Bonte
Summary: A study compiled data on gamma-emitting artificial radionuclide activities measured in 782 sediment samples collected during 16 fieldwork campaigns in Japan from November 2011 to November 2020. This dataset may help in evaluating and anticipating the post-accidental redistribution of radionuclides in the environment and validating models simulating the transfer of radiocesium across continental landscapes.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Sachiko Yashima, Koichi Chida
Summary: This paper discusses the efforts of radiologic technologists in providing personalized consultations in southern Miyagi following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. In response to the actual nuclear disaster, radiologic technologists carried out activities aimed at alleviating anxiety among pregnant women and parents with infants. The results of a questionnaire survey conducted after the activities are also discussed.
TOHOKU JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fenfen Wang, Wu Men, Jiang Huang, Tao Yu, Jianhua He, Wen Yu, Yiliang Li
Summary: This study reported the distribution of Cs-134 and Cs-137 in seawater in the public areas east of Japan, which were derived from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The study found that the FDNPPA-derived radio cesium existed at a relatively high level in the seawater, mainly distributed north of 36.5N.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Akihiko Ozaki, Sawano Toyoaki, Manabu Tsukada, Yuki Shimada, Ayumu Kawamoto, Ji-Wei Wang, Divya Bhandari, Masaharu Tsubokura, Hiromichi Ohira
Summary: Following the 2011 triple disaster in Japan, there was an elevated proportion of patients with undiagnosed symptomatic breast cancer in the coastal area of Fukushima. The prolonged patient interval was associated with advanced-stage disease among female patients with breast cancer, leading to higher proportions of advanced-stage cases as the patient interval increased in duration.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Jun Shigemura, Takero Terayama, Mie Kurosawa, Yuki Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Toda, Masanori Nagamine, Aihide Yoshino
Summary: The systematic review of survivor studies concerning the Fukushima disaster revealed high rates of individuals with psychological conditions and a wide range of mental conditions in the first 8 years after the disaster. The study emphasizes the importance of focusing on vulnerable populations and providing effective intervention methods.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Fumikazu Hayashi, Tetsuya Ohira, Hironori Nakano, Masanori Nagao, Kanako Okazaki, Mayumi Harigane, Seiji Yasumura, Masaharu Maeda, Atsushi Takahashi, Hirooki Yabe, Yuriko Suzuki, Kenji Kamiya
Summary: This study found that disaster-induced PTSD symptoms and insomnia contribute to an increased risk of fracture among older adults residing in evacuation areas within the Fukushima Prefecture.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Miranda A. Schreurs
Summary: The article discusses how the Tohoku region in Japan is working towards deeper transformative changes to become more sustainable and resilient following the triple disaster. The region aims to become a global leader in tsunami disaster management, nuclear disaster recovery, renewable energy development, and hydrogen fuel technologies. Challenges include evacuees' reluctance to return and complex issues related to the aftermath of the nuclear accident.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Jaeeun Lee, Suk Hyun Kim, Huisu Lee, Hyunmi Lee, Intae Kim
Summary: The distribution of artificial radionuclides in the Korean seas and the North Pacific after the Fukushima accident was examined. It was found that Cs-134 was detected in 2011 but disappeared gradually, indicating atmospheric input. The study also revealed the eastward movement of Cs-137 in the North Pacific, and estimated the retention time of Cs-137 in Korean seas.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Naomi Ito, Yuri Kinoshita, Tomohiro Morita, Sho Fujioka, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: This study examines an older Japanese woman who lived independently in a rowhouse after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, with minimal nursing or informal support. The case report highlights the effectiveness of Idobata nagaya as a municipal measure and presents an evidence-based approach to post-disaster reconstruction. Given the global trends of aging population and social isolation, the lessons from this case may have broader implications beyond disasters.
CLINICAL CASE REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Cecile Asanuma-Brice, Olivier Evrard, Thomas Chalaux
Summary: Large volumes of radionuclides were deposited on the soils in North-eastern Japan after the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear Power Plant in 2011. The evacuation of the village of Iitate, located in the main radioactive plume, lasted from 2011 to 2017. Despite reopening, less than ten percent of the original population had returned to live in the village by January 2022, mostly elderly people. The difficulty of adjusting to the post-accident environment, contaminated forests, and lack of facilities are major challenges.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Akihiko Ozaki, Toyoaki Sawano, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: In disaster research, the involvement of local researchers is crucial for ethical behaviors; however, it is not always possible to fulfill these conditions due to the nature and preexisting resources of the affected area; following a disaster, healthcare providers transformed into local researchers by drawing on the commitment of local stakeholders.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Amanullah Mengal, Katsuichiro Goda, Muhammad Ashraf, Ghulam Murtaza
Summary: This study examines the social vulnerability of the Gwadar District in Pakistan to earthquake-tsunami hazards, showing disparities in vulnerability among villages and reflecting variations in vulnerability at local to regional scales. The research findings can assist emergency managers in identifying community sub-groups that are more susceptible to disaster risks and in developing tailored risk reduction strategies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kana Yamamoto, Morihito Takita, Masahiro Kami, Masaharu Tsubokura, Tetsuya Tanimoto, Toshio Kitamura, Yoshinobu Takemoto
Summary: Anemia is prevalent among adolescent students in sports clubs, with both iron deficiency and excessive training contributing to the risk. Physicians should take exercise into account when evaluating anemia in clinical practice.
Article
Immunology
Makoto Yoshida, Yurie Kobashi, Takeshi Kawamura, Yuzo Shimazu, Yoshitaka Nishikawa, Fumiya Omata, Tianchen Zhao, Chika Yamamoto, Yudai Kaneko, Aya Nakayama, Morihito Takita, Naomi Ito, Moe Kawashima, Sota Sugiura, Kenji Shibuya, Shingo Iwami, Kwangsu Kim, Shoya Iwanami, Tatsuhiko Kodama, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate factors associated with hesitancy towards receiving a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Younger age and higher antibody levels were found to be positively associated with hesitancy. Rapid increase in booster dose rate is necessary to control the pandemic, and specific approaches should be taken to address hesitancy in certain groups.
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Sota Sugiura, Toyoaki Sawano, Saori Nonaka, Tianchen Zhao, Makoto Yoshida, Akihiko Ozaki, Tomoyoshi Oikawa, Masaharu Tsubokura
JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tianchen Zhao, Nobuaki Moriyama, Naomi Ito, Toshiki Abe, Tomohiro Morita, Yoshitaka Nishikawa, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: This study reviewed the long-term care insurance measures taken in Katsurao Village after the Fukushima nuclear accident and summarized the measures that municipalities can take against such issues in the future.
CLINICAL CASE REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Biology
Yukihisa Sanada, Kazuya Yoshimura, Rina Sato, Mariko Nakayama, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: This article reviews the efforts made by the Japanese government and research institutes to assess radiation doses to residents after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, and summarizes the methods to determine individual radiation doses that residents need to consider after the evacuation order is lifted.
JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Toyoaki Sawano, Yuki Senoo, Saori Nonaka, Akihiko Ozaki, Yoshitaka Nishikawa, Arinobu Hori, Yasuhiro Kotera, Michio Murakami, Tianchen Zhao, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: This study examined factors related to emergency evacuations in hospitals affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident and recommended measures to mitigate health risks in future disasters. The study found that hospitals with more patients or higher proportions of bedridden patients faced more difficulty in emergency evacuations and experienced higher fatalities. It also highlighted the need for better disaster preparedness and coordination among medical facilities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Moe Kawashima, Hiroaki Saito, Takamitsu Nishiuchi, Hiroki Yoshimura, Masatoshi Wakui, Yuta Tani, Yoshitaka Nishikawa, Fumiya Omata, Morihito Takita, Tianchen Zhao, Chika Yamamoto, Yurie Kobashi, Takeshi Kawamura, Akira Sugiyama, Aya Nakayama, Yudai Kaneko, Toyoaki Sawano, Kenji Shibuya, Junichiro Kazama, Ryuzaburo Shineha, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: Intensive vaccination is recommended for vulnerable populations to COVID-19, but data on dialysis patients' immunity after vaccination are lacking. This study examined antibody levels, neutralizing activity, and interferon gamma levels in dialysis patients after receiving the BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccine. The study found that most dialysis patients developed both humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
Article
Immunology
Yuta Tani, Morihito Takita, Yurie Kobashi, Masatoshi Wakui, Tianchen Zhao, Chika Yamamoto, Hiroaki Saito, Moe Kawashima, Sota Sugiura, Yoshitaka Nishikawa, Fumiya Omata, Yuzo Shimazu, Takeshi Kawamura, Akira Sugiyama, Aya Nakayama, Yudai Kaneko, Tetsuhiko Kodama, Masahiro Kami, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: A study in Fukushima, Japan, evaluated the proportion of individuals with cellular immunity after booster vaccination using the T-SPOT.COVID test. It was found that 64.3% of participants had reactive cellular immunity, with age<40 and adverse reactions after vaccination being independent predictors of cellular immunity. Notably, a significant proportion of participants with high antibody titers did not have reactive cellular immunity.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Naomi Ito, Isamu Amir, Hiroaki Saito, Nobuaki Moriyama, Ayako Furuyama, Priya Singh, Stephanie Montesino, Chika Yamamoto, Mika Sato, Toshiki Abe, Tianchen Zhao, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: This report examines the impact of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster on the living arrangements of affected residents, specifically the prevalence of multisite living. Disasters have a significant impact on socially vulnerable groups, such as the elderly in an ageing society, who require strong support to restore their daily lives. Through an interview with a woman in her 90s practicing multisite living, our findings highlight the importance of support from neighbors and the local community for elderly individuals in rebuilding their lives after a disaster, which can be applied to disaster preparedness in general.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Moe Kawashima, Michio Murakami, Tomoyuki Kobayashi, Yoshitake Takebayashi, Masaharu Tsubokura, Tetsuo Yasutaka, Tomoaki Tamaki
Summary: The occurrence of human growth after a stressful experience, such as a disaster, is known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between PTG and response to COVID-19 among individuals affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). A survey was conducted among 582 participants aged 20-26 years in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, who experienced PTG after the GEJE. The results showed that experiencing PTG was significantly associated with COVID-19-related responses, suggesting that PTG may have enabled individuals affected by the GEJE to better respond to the pandemic.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Arinobu Hori, Michio Murakami, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: Despite a deterioration in the mental health of disaster survivors, there is still a scarcity of concrete evidence regarding increased psychiatric treatment seeking. This study found that patients with high traumatic stress during the disaster had a higher treatment discontinuation rate, but violence during treatment was correlated with a diagnosis of complex PTSD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Takanao Hashimoto, Akihiko Ozaki, Saori Nonaka, Yasuhiro Kotera, Toyoaki Sawano, Masaharu Tsubokura, Kitae Ito, Tomoyoshi Oikawa
Summary: This study illustrates the crucial role of pharmacists and drug logistics in major disasters, including nuclear accidents. The research findings demonstrate that pharmacists face various psychological challenges but still make efforts to supply drugs and collect information. The leadership of upper managers in hospitals plays a key role in supporting pharmacists.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Yurie Kobashi, Syed Emdadul Haque, Isamu Amir, Kayako Sakisaka, Sanzida Mubassara, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: This study examined the cluster groups of risk behaviors and beliefs associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the demographic factors that influence these cluster groups. A questionnaire survey was conducted in Bangladesh and included basic demographics and NCD-related items. The findings identified three cluster groups with varying levels of risk behaviors and beliefs, and the very high-risk group was significantly associated with certain demographic factors. Educational interventions in rural Bangladesh should be implemented to improve the risk behaviors and beliefs associated with NCDs.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yudai Kaneda, Akihiko Ozaki, Mira Namba, Toyoaki Sawano, Masahiro Wada, Hiroaki Saito, Yoshiaki Kanemoto, Tomohiro Kurokawa, Masaharu Tsubokura, Kazunoshin Tachibana, Tetsuya Tanimoto, Tohru Ohtake, Tomozo Ejiri, Hiroaki Shimmura, Norio Kanzaki
Summary: During disasters, delays in medical visits can occur due to various factors. Regular patient monitoring, high-risk individual alerts, and improvements in telemedicine can potentially address these issues and ensure timely interventions.
CLINICAL CASE REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Hiroaki Saito, Hiroki Yoshimura, Makoto Yoshida, Yuta Tani, Moe Kawashima, Taiga Uchiyama, Tianchen Zhao, Chika Yamamoto, Yurie Kobashi, Toyoaki Sawano, Seiya Imoto, Hyeongki Park, Naotoshi Nakamura, Shingo Iwami, Yudai Kaneko, Aya Nakayama, Tatsuhiko Kodama, Masatoshi Wakui, Takeshi Kawamura, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzed IgG antibodies against microbial antigens in the blood of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine recipients using microbial protein microarrays. The results showed that changes in antibodies against microbial antigens were extremely limited after COVID-19 vaccination, except for SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Additionally, antibodies against a staphylococcal complement inhibitor were identified as microbial antigens associated with increased levels of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, potentially serving as a predictor for the maintenance of neutralizing antibodies following the administration of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
