Young Adults In Japan Research Articles

Correlation between habitual dietary fibre intake and postprandial plasma glucose levels in early adulthood

Background: Increasing dietary fibre (DF) intake through a habitual diet is recommended for preventing diabetes.Aim: To investigate a stepwise approach to nutrition education on DF intake among young adults in Japan with the largest deficit in habitual DF intake from the recommended value.Subjects and methods: Plasma glucose levels were measured in 54 adults in their 20s and 30s (29 men, 25 women) during fasting and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. Habitual DF intake and postprandial plasma glucose level were analysed.Results: DF intake was low (men = 5.7 ± 1.5 g/1000 kcal; women = 6.3 ± 1.2 g/1000 kcal) with no sex difference. Comparison between low- and high-DF groups based on the cut-off point (7.0 g/1000 kcal) showed that the pattern of changes in postprandial plasma glucose levels was significant, and a significant increase was observed at 30 minutes in the low-DF group. Comparison by food group demonstrated that habitual intake of potatoes, green/yellow vegetables, other vegetables, seaweed, peas and beans, and fruits was significantly higher in the high-DF group.Conclusion: This study provides valuable information regarding food selection for preventing diabetes and suggests that 7.0 g/1000 kcal of DF is an effective target value for a stepwise approach to nutrition education in Japan.

Trends in heterosexual inexperience among young adults in Japan: analysis of national surveys, 1987\u20132015

BackgroundIt has been suggested that an increasing number of Japanese adults remain sexually inexperienced; however, no study has assessed this issue using nationally representative data.MethodsWe used data from seven rounds of the National Fertility Survey of Japan, 1987–2015, and included adults aged 18–39 years (18–34 years in the 1987 survey) in the analyses (sample size 11,553–17,850 [1987–2010]; response rate 70.0–92.5%). For each survey year, sex and age group, we estimated the age-adjusted prevalence of heterosexual inexperience, defined as reporting no experience of sexual intercourse with someone of the opposite sex. We used logistic regression, adjusted for age, to identify factors associated with heterosexual inexperience in the 2010 survey. Information about same-sex sexual experience was not available.ResultsBetween 1992 and 2015, the age-standardized prevalence of heterosexual inexperience in adults aged 18–39 years increased from 21.7 to 24.6% for women (p-values for linear and quadratic trend < 0.05) and from 20.0 to 25.8% for men (p-values for trend < 0.05). Among those aged 30–34 years, the prevalence was 6.2% in 1987 and 11.9% in 2015 for women (p-values for trend ≥0.05) and 8.8% (1987) and 12.7% (2015) for men (p-values for trend ≥0.05). Among those aged 35–39 years, prevalence increased from 4.0% in 1992 to 8.9% in 2015 among women (p-values for trend < 0.05). The corresponding numbers for men in the same age group were 5.5 and 9.5%, respectively (p-values for trend ≥0.05). Among men aged 25–39 years, unemployment, temporary/part-time employment and lower income were associated with heterosexual inexperience.ConclusionsThe proportion of young Japanese adults with no experience of heterosexual intercourse had increased in the past two decades. Among adults in their thirties, around one in ten had no heterosexual experience. Unemployment, temporary/part-time employment and low income were associated with heterosexual inexperience among men. Further research is needed on the factors contributing to and the potential public health and demographic implications of the high proportion of the Japanese population that remains sexually inexperienced well into adult age.

Long-Term Effects of In-Game Purchases and Event Game Mechanics on Young Mobile Social Game Players in Japan

Background. The mobile game market has been rapidly growing worldwide, especially in Japan. Because mobile games often use a free-to-play business model that involves additional in-game purchases, some monetary and event mechanics of mobile games have been controversial in Japan. Purpose. This study explored the long-term effects of monetary and event features of game mechanics on pathological gaming, weekly exposure and monthly expenditure among teenagers and young adults in Japan. Method. A total of 948 teenagers and young adults participated two surveys in November 2013 and in May 2014. Pathological gaming, weekly game exposure, monthly expenditure and preference for gambling were measured. The participants listed up to three games they played, and their monetary and event mechanics were analysed using content analysis. The degrees of exposure to each mechanics were calculated by combining the content analysis with a longitudinal study. Results. Players who were exposed to a higher amount of limited-time only gacha, a virtual lottery machine, were likely to spend more money six months later. However, players who were exposed to a lower amount of normal gacha were likely to spend more money later among players who preferred gambling. No monetary effects on pathological gaming per se were found. Conclusion. This study shows that some game mechanics can cause excessive use of time and money for certain players.

Culture and cannabinoid receptor gene polymorphism interact to influence the perception of happiness.

Previous studies have shown that a cytosine (C) to thymine (T) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the human cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene is associated with positive emotional processing. C allele carriers are more sensitive to positive emotional stimuli including happiness. The effects of several gene polymorphisms related to sensitivity to emotional stimuli, such as that in the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5HTTLPR), on emotional processing have been reported to differ among cultures–e.g., between those that are independent and interdependent. Thus, we postulated that the effects of the CNR1 genotype on happiness might differ among different cultures because the concept of happiness varies by culture. We recruited healthy male and female young adults in Japan, where favorable external circumstances determine the concept of happiness, and Canada, where the concept of happiness centers on positive inner feelings, and compared the effects of the CNR1 genotype on both subjective happiness levels (self-evaluation as being a happy person) and situation-specific happiness (happy feelings accompanying various positive events) by using a questionnaire. We found that the effect of CNR1 on subjective happiness was different between the Japanese and Canadian groups. The subjective happiness level was the highest in Japanese individuals with the CC genotype, whereas in Canadian participants, it was the highest in individuals with the TT genotype. Furthermore, the effects of CNR1 genotype on situation-specific happiness were also different between the groups. Happiness accompanied with being surrounded by happy people was the highest among Japanese individuals with the CC genotype, whereas among Canadian individuals, it was the highest in TT genotype carriers. These findings suggest that culture and CNR1 polymorphism interact to influence the perception of happiness.

Correction to: Current situation of cancer among adolescents and young adults in Japan.

In the original publication, Tables4 and 5 have not been published in a readable format. The corrected clear version is given in this Correction.

Current situation of cancer among adolescents and young adults in Japan.

Cancer is rare among adolescents and young adults (AYA). Affected persons need generation-specific attention and care; however, no nationwide study has investigated the medical care structure for AYA cancer treatment in Japan. We conducted a nationwide survey of AYA cancer for frequency of AYA patients, type of cancer, medical facilities, and certified cancer professionals. Data were collected from 14,713 patients at 218 Core Cancer Treatment Hospitals. The average proportion of AYA cancer patients to all cancer patients was 3.6%. The median number of patients aged 15 to 24years per hospital was small (n = 5, range 1-51). The most frequent primary site of AYA cancer was the cervix uteri, but when cancer in situ was excluded, the hematopoietic malignancies were the most frequent cancer in males and females aged 15-24years. In the age group 25-39 years, testicular and breast cancers were the most frequent cancers in males and females, respectively. Certified cancer professionals and facilities are necessary for appropriate care of AYA cancer patients, but the availability of such professionals varied greatly among hospitals. Hospitals with few AYA cancer patients were less likely to employ such physicians. The present findings suggest that medical care for AYA cancer in Japan requires further refinement and a multidisciplinary approach.

Randomized controlled trial of educational intervention to increase consumption of vegetables by Japanese university students

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention to increase vegetable consumption by university students.Design/methodology/approachThis study is an open, parallel randomized controlled trial for 25 weeks. University students aged 18-24 years were divided into an intervention group (n=52) and a control group (n=52). Vegetable intake was assessed using a questionnaire.FindingsOn investigation, the results indicated that the vegetable intake of the intervention group was well maintained at the end of the study, whereas that of the control group was significantly decreased by the seasonal change. This research showed that using three educational projects could significantly improve the vegetable consumption of university students.Research limitations/implicationsThese results suggest that the educational approach is a promising method to improve the vegetable consumption status, particularly the consumption of green and yellow vegetables, by university students.Originality/valueThis parallel randomized controlled study investigated intervention via educational approaches, including a lecture on the nutritional significance of vegetable intake, a tour of an agricultural farm, and learning of cooking skills, focusing on increasing the consumption of vegetables by university students. Although there have been many intervention studies aimed at improving intake of vegetables in the world, there have been no intervention studies on the vegetable intake of young adults in Japan.

Randomized controlled trial: PPI-based triple therapy containing metronidazole versus clarithromycin as first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori in adolescents and young adults in Japan.

Treating Helicobacter pylori infection in young people is effective for preventing gastric cancer. This study compares the efficacy of triple therapies in adolescents and young adults in Japan. This multicenter, randomized trial was conducted between February 2012 and March 2015. Infected participants were stratified into adolescents (13-19 years) and young adults (20-39 years). They were randomly assigned to a clarithromycin based (PAC) or metronidazole based (PAM) triple therapy for 1 week. Overall, 137 and 169 participants received the PAC and PAM treatments, respectively. In adolescents, the H.pylori eradication rates were 60.5% and 63.4% for PAC, and 98.3% and 100% for PAM in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses, respectively. In young adults, the eradication rates were 67.0% and 66.7% for PAC, and 95.5% and 96.3% for PAM in ITT and PP analyses, respectively. The eradication rate of PAM was significantly higher than that of PAC in both strata. No severe adverse events were observed. In Japan, PAM may be selected as a first-line treatment for young people with H.pylori if antibiotic susceptibility tests cannot be performed.

569P - Cancers among adolescents and young adults in Japan

569P - Cancers among adolescents and young adults in Japan

How do future life perspective and present action work in Japanese youth development?

Future life perspective and present action, whose interaction affects how one’s current activity affects later life, offer a critical crossroads for young adults in Japan as stable career paths have become more uncertain. Past generations benefited from stable institutional pathways, but recent generations must forge their own ways. This article reviews how Japanese undergraduate students think about their present and future and relates these thoughts to identity and career development. We compare the Japanese conception with youth purpose in the US, which includes future intention, engagement in meaningful activities and beyond-the-self contribution. The Japanese emphasize intention and engagement. But many do not feel their present– future connections are meaningful, though because Japanese culture avoids giving negative meaning to struggle, they may avoid discussing. Considering one’s impacts on others is engrained in Japanese culture as a duty that beyond-the-self contribution would not be thought of as a personal choice.

「青年・成人前期女子におけるライフ・タスクとその評価の構造の推移」へのコメントに対するリプライ

「青年・成人前期女子におけるライフ・タスクとその評価の構造の推移」へのコメントに対するリプライ

青年・成人前期女子におけるライフ・タスクとその評価の構造の推移

青年・成人前期女子におけるライフ・タスクとその評価の構造の推移

Mental health and individual experience of unemployed young adults in Japan.

This study focused on the subjective experiences and mental health of young, unemployed adults in Japan. We explored how individuals describe their experiences of becoming unemployed and how these experiences influence their mental health within the current Japanese sociocultural context, using a social constructionist approach. We collected data from October 2012 to January 2013. Participants were 25 young unemployed Japanese job seekers (15 females), who were recruited using a purposive sampling strategy including snowball sampling. We conducted semi-structured interviews focusing on participants’ previous work and job search experience, their lifestyle and health, the social support they considered necessary, their future job-seeking plans, and their demographic characteristics. Using thematic analysis, we identified four key themes from the interview data: stress relief, re-energization for future work, new job skills acquisition, and lifestyle change. The findings indicate that unemployment is sometimes experienced as more beneficial than employment. This might be because of the poor working environment in Japan, the financial support participants received, and the experience of short-term unemployment. The findings suggest that intervention is necessary to help young adults in Japan find high-quality jobs and that we must promote fair employment and decent working conditions for them.

What is “Romantic Love” for Young Adults in Japan?

What is “Romantic Love” for Young Adults in Japan?

Living alone in Japan: Relationships with happiness and health.

BACKGROUNDOne-person households are the most common type of household in Japan, but relatively little is known about the causes and potential consequences of the rise in solo living in young adulthood.OBJECTIVEI address two questions: What accounts for the rise in one-person households in young adulthood? How is solo living in young adulthood related to well-being?METHODSI use census data to evaluate how much of the growth in one-person households at ages 20−39 between 1985 and 2010 is explained by change in marital behavior and how much is explained by other factors. I then use data from the 2000−2010 rounds of the Japanese General Social Survey to examine whether and why men and women living alone differ from those living with others in terms of happiness and self-rated health.RESULTSResults of the first set of analyses indicate that changes in marital behavior explain all of the increase in one-person households for men and three-fourths of the increase for women. Results of the second set of analyses indicate that those living alone are significantly less happy than those living with others, whereas the two groups do not differ with respect to self-rated health. The observed differences in happiness are not explained by differences in subjective economic well-being or social integration.CONCLUSIONSThe relatively small magnitude of estimated differences in happiness and health provides little evidence to suggest that the projected rise in one-person households is likely to play a significant role in contributing to lower levels of well-being among young adults in Japan.

Lymphocytosis in a baby with pertussis

A 4-month-old girl presented to the emergency department after 10 days of persistent cough, 2 days of vomiting, and respiratory distress. Her parents had had a persistent cough for over a month, and she had not received any vaccination against pertussis. Her peripheral white blood cell count was 24 640 cells per μL and 78% of cells were lymphocytes. A Giemsa stain of the peripheral blood smear showed atypical lymphocytes (fi gure) with cleaved or lobulated nuclei. A PCR assay of the nasopharyngeal aspirates for Bordetella pertussis DNA was positive, which confi rmed the diagnosis of pertussis. The girl completed oral therapy with azithromycin and her respiratory distress gradually improved, but her cough persisted for another month before complete resolution. The incidence of pertussis is increasing in young adults in Japan. This is possibly a result of waning immunity, in view of the fact that the pertussis immunisation programme is limited to the initial three doses administered starting at 3 months of age followed by a booster dose at 12–18 months. Infections in young parents result in infections in young infants, as in the case presented, who are at the highest risk of complications. Lymphocytosis is a common systemic laboratory feature in infants with pertussis and is caused by the pertussis toxin. Increased lympho cytosis is associated with pulmonary hypertension, pneu monia, and death. Small mature lymphocytes with deep nuclear clefts can occasionally be observed in a peripheral smear as shown, and might serve as a diagnostic clue.

Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Erwinia Asparaginase (ErwinaseR) in Combination with Prednisolone, Vincristine and Pirarubicin in Children and Young Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) or Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (LBL)

Introduction: L-asparaginase is an important component of multi-agent chemotherapy for children and young adults with ALL. In Japan, only one asparaginase preparation, native-E-coli-asparaginase (LeunaseR), has been approved so far by the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry. The incidence of clinical allergy to native-E-coli -asparaginase can be more than 30% with repeated administration. To continue treatment with asparaginase, Erwinia asparaginase (ErwinaseR), deriving from Erwinia chrysanthemi, is recommended for patients who develop clinical allergy to native-E-coli-asparaginase, because the drug has no cross reactivity. We planned phase I/II trial OP-01-001 to investigate the safety and efficacy of Erwinase in combination chemotherapy consist of prednisolone, vincristine and pirarubicin.Patients and Methods: Eligible patients on this study were children and young adults with ALL/ LBL in remission, >=1 to =<25 years of age, and had developed allergy to E-coli-asparaginase. Patients with a history of pancreatitis or previous administration of Erwinase were excluded. The study was approved by IRB at each institution and patients/guardians provided informed consent/assent. In this trial regimen OP-01-001, level 1 (25,000) or level 0 (20,000 IU/m2) x 6 doses of Erwinase were planned to administer intramuscularly (IM) on day 2, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 with 40 mg/m2/day x15 days of prednisolone, 1.5mg/m2 x 3 doses of vincristine and 20 mg/m2x 2 doses of pirarubicin. In phase I, we determined the maximum tolerated dose, dose limiting toxicity (DLT), and the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of Erwinase. Safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetic/dynamic study were evaluated in all patients. Blood samples were obtained at scheduled time points during Erwinase therapy and assayed for asparaginase activity and asparagine concentration in plasma. Primary endpoint was asparaginase activity in plasma at 48h after the first dosing.Results: A total of 24 eligible patients were enrolled to phase I/II study from February 2012 to January 2014. In phase I study, 6 eligible/evaluable patients were enrolled to level 1, starting at 25,000 IU/m2. Since all patients completed the scheduled treatments without DLT in level 1, RP2D was determined 25,000 IU/m2and 18 patients were enrolled in phase II study.PK, PD, safety and efficacy were evaluated as phase I/II study. The median age of 24 evaluated patients was 7.5 years (range 2-16) and 15 patients (62.5%) were male. In PK/PD study, one patient was excluded because essential clinical dataset was not obtained. After the first dosing, serum asparaginase activity exceeded 0.1 IU/mL in 23/23 patients (100%) at 48 hours and it did in 18/23 patients (78.3%) at 72 hours. After the sixth dosing, the activity at 72 hours was higher than 0.1 IU/mL in 19/23 (82.6%). Plasma asparagine was significantly depleted (<1.0 μM) in 22/23 (95.7%) 48 hours after the first dosing and it was also depleted in 22/23 (95.7%) 72 hours after the last dosing in all but one patients.All patients maintained remission status during the trial. No allergic reaction related to Erwinase was reported. Hypertriglyceridemia or blood triglycerides increased was reported in 12/24 (50%), 4 cases in grade 3 and 1 in grade 4. Increase in blood sugar was observed in 3 patients (12.5%), 2 in grade 1 and 1 in grade 2. In addition, 23 (95.8%) and 1 (4.2%) developed decrease in fibrinogen and increase in ammonia at grade 2-4. Grade 3 febrile neutropenia and bacteremia were reported in 8 patients (33.3%) and in 1 patient (4.2%), respectively. There were no reports of hemorrhage, thrombosis, pancreatitis, or death.Conclusion: Erwinase as administered using the OP-01-001 regimen was well tolerated without unexpected toxicities and achieved good serum asparaginase activity at both 48 and 72 hours after dosing. In previous reports, a much lower dose of Erwinase at 10,000 IU/m2/dose was used in the study of EORTC (Duval M. Blood 2002;99:2734), which was subsequently assessed as suboptimal and the identical dose of erwinase at 25,000 IU/m2/dose was used in the study of COG (Salzer WL. Blood 2013;122:507). We herein showed that following allergy to E-coli native-asparaginase, erwinase 25,000 IU/m2 x 6 doses IM in 2 or 3 days interval in 2 weeks was effective and safe in children and young adults in Japan. DisclosuresOgawa:OHARA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria. Manabe:OHARA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria. Fukushima:OHARA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria. Horibe:OHARA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria. Hamada:OHARA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Employment. Ohara:OHARA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria.

The indirect effect of disinhibition on drinking; interrelations among disinhibition, perceived peer drinking, and delay of gratification

Disinhibition, perceived peer drinking, and delay of gratification are considered significant predictors of drinking in young adults. This study examined whether perceived peer drinking and delay of gratification mediated the association between disinhibition and drinking among young adults. In this study, 258 Japanese college students (109 men and 149 women, mean age 19.17 (SD = 1.20) years old) completed a self-administered questionnaire. As predicted, the results of mediation analysis controlled for sex using structural equation modeling indicated that disinhibition indirectly influenced drinking through perceived peer drinking and delay of gratification. In the multiple mediator model, perceived peer drinking had the largest direct effect on participants’ drinking, followed by disinhibition and delay discounting. The results of this study imply that it is important to understand the association between personality traits and peer influences to develop programs to reduce drinking among young adults in Japan.

A study of posttraumatic stress symptoms among young adults in Japan : correlates and effects on mental health and quality of life

Objective：To ascertain posttraumatic stress symptoms（PTSS） as a result of experiencing intensely stressful events and to determine the correlates and effects of PTSS on mental health and quality of life（QOL） . Design：A cross sectional study. Subjects and Methods：An online survey of survey panelists ages 25－29 who registered with an online survey company. Results：1）Seventy percent of subjects had experienced stressful events, and the most stressful events they experienced related to“school” and“personal relationships”（in that order） . Subjects with an IES－R score of 25 points or more, suggesting PTSD, accounted for 28％ of subjects. 2）Severe PTSS were associated with a lower level of education. 3）Mental health and the mental component of health－related QOL tended to worsen with more severe PTSS. Overall mental health was also better with higher awareness of support from family. 4）Awareness of support from family or others was not found to moderate the effects of PTSS on mental health and health－related QOL. Conclusions：These findings suggested that a relatively high percentage of individuals experienced intensely stressful life events besides those that are considered to have a profound impact. Findings also suggested that some individuals with those experiences develop somewhat more intense stress symptoms and that these symptoms may affect mental health and quality of life.

Immunogenicity and safety after booster vaccination of diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis in young adults: an open randomized controlled trial in Japan.

The recent increase of pertussis in young adults in Japan is hypothesized to be due in part to waning protection from the acellular pertussis vaccine. While a booster immunization may prevent an epidemic of pertussis among these young adults, little is known about the safety and immunogenicity of such a booster with the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), which is currently available in Japan. One hundred and eleven medical students with a mean age of 19.4 years were randomly divided into 2 groups of 55 and 56 subjects and received, respectively, 0.2 or 0.5 ml of DTaP. Immunogenicity was assessed by performing the immunoassay using serum, and the geometric mean concentration (GMC), GMC ratio (GMCR), seropositive rate, and booster response rate were calculated. Adverse reactions and adverse events were monitored for 7 days after vaccination. After booster vaccination in the two groups, significant increases were found in the antibodies against pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, diphtheria toxoid, and tetanus toxoid, and the booster response rates for all subjects reached 100%. The GMCs and GMCRs against all antigens were significantly higher in the 0.5-ml group than in the 0.2-ml group. No serious adverse events were observed. Frequencies of local reactions were similar in the 2 groups, although the frequency of severe local swelling was significantly higher in the 0.5-ml group. These data support the acceptability of booster immunization using both 0.2 and 0.5 ml of DTaP for young adults for controlling pertussis. (This study was registered at UMIN-CTR under registration number UMIN000010672.).