Using the Fukushima accident experience, this letter discusses recent efforts on measuring scient... more Using the Fukushima accident experience, this letter discusses recent efforts on measuring scientific consensus views—that is, quantifying the agreement among scientists. In the field of radiological protection, the efforts to measure scientific consensus views deserve attention, because hoaxes have been spreading even after the Fukushima nuclear accident. We discussed two points. First, the visualization of the diversity of scientific opinions shatters the diversity illusion caused by the mass media’s irresponsible dissemination of pro and con arguments. Second, the use of scientific consensus views without an ethical code is dangerous. Measuring scientific consensus views should be accompanied with the development of ethical guidelines on using it.
BackgroundDuring a global infectious disease pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID... more BackgroundDuring a global infectious disease pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), individuals’ infection prevention/risk-taking behaviours are likely to differ depending on their health literacy and beliefs regarding the disease. To effectively promote infection prevention behaviours, it is necessary to enable information dissemination and risk communication that consider individuals’ health literacy and beliefs. In this study, we exploratorily characterised segments based on individual health literacy and beliefs regarding COVID-19 among the Japanese during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and investigated whether infection prevention/risk-taking behaviours and fear of COVID-19 differed among these segments.MethodsIn this study, we conducted two web-based longitudinal surveys in Japan (PHASE 1, 1–30 November 2020, 6,000 participants; PHASE 2, 1–31 December 2020, 3,800 participants). We characterised segments of the target population using cluster analy...
In this scoping review, we investigated psychotherapies and psychological support provided the co... more In this scoping review, we investigated psychotherapies and psychological support provided the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to clarify its recipients and the methods employed. We used Scopus and PubMed as the search engines on October 18, 2022, employing specific search terms ("COVID*" AND ("Psychotherap*" OR "psychological support*") AND "psychological distress*"). The initial search yielded 153 articles, of which 18 met the eligibility criteria after two rounds of screening. The distribution of participants ranged from the general population to patients with COVID-19 and those who had recovered. However, no studies of patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae were found. The distribution of the types of and psychological support varied and the use of new technology was suggested. Online interventions comprised the majority of the means of psychotherapies and psychological support. This study suggests that psychotherapies and psych...
In our previous study Survey 1, we found infection prevention behaviors were characterized by hea... more In our previous study Survey 1, we found infection prevention behaviors were characterized by health literacy and found to be divided into six segments: "majority/social defense”, “self-judgment/self-protection”, "threat denying”, "hoax affinity/optimism," "vigilance/self-protection”, and "hyper-vigilance/social defense”.The purpose of this study is to confirm the validity of segmentation by health literacy and to examine its relationship with risk-taking behavior and infection prevention behavior.The 6,000 respondents to Survey 1 were asked to answer again, and the 3,800 who responded were targeting in the study.In the results, we found that the fear of infectious diseases and the cognitive bias to believe that they will not be infected led to a regression to each segment, with significant differences between the segments. Significant differences in risk-taking and infection prevention behaviors were also found among the segments. In addition, there wa...
The purpose of this study is to identify the types of the risk communication for COVID-19. We con... more The purpose of this study is to identify the types of the risk communication for COVID-19. We conducted the cross-sectional questionnaire survey, for 6,000 people (male = 3000, female = 3000, M = 49.41±16.59), regarded as health literacy. In the result, it is revealed there were 6 segments: "majority/social defense" in which people had the most common beliefs and thought PCR testing is necessary for all, "self-judgment/self-protection" that was highly literate, "threat denying" that completely denied threats and prevention of infection, "hoax affinity/optimism" that took in information without discernment, "vigilance/self-protection," in which people felt threatened by infection but thought that PCR testing was unnecessary, and "hyper vigilance/social defense," in which people protected others if there was even a small risk.
In our previous study Survey 1, we found infection prevention behaviors were characterized by hea... more In our previous study Survey 1, we found infection prevention behaviors were characterized by health literacy and found to be divided into six segments: "majority/social defense”, “self-judgment/self-protection”, "threat denying”, "hoax affinity/optimism," "vigilance/self-protection”, and "hyper-vigilance/social defense”.The purpose of this study is to examine the real-life influences and behaviors of different types of health literacy. The 3,800 respondents to Survey 2 were asked to answer again, and the 3,000 who responded were targeting in the study.In the result, we found that "majority/social defense" and "hyper-vigilance/social defense" were lowered in their visits to the hospital for the purpose of prevention and visitation. In addition, the intention to vaccinate was lower for "hoax affinity/optimism" and "Threat denial”. Furthermore, "Threat denial" was the highest that respondents thought vaccines w...
The nociceptive and autonomic nervous systems (ANS) are significantly intertwined. Decoupling of ... more The nociceptive and autonomic nervous systems (ANS) are significantly intertwined. Decoupling of these systems may occur in pathological pain conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated ANs activity and its association with visceral perception and brain activity during rectal distention in 27 patients with non-constipated IBS and 33 controls by assessing heart rate variability (HRV) using electrocardiography at rest, before, and during colorectal distention. Brain responses to colorectal distention were measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging and correlated with individual ANS function parameters. The IBS group displayed blunted sympathovagal balance [low/high-frequency ratio (LF:HF) of HRV] in response to colorectal distention compared with controls (P = 0.003). In controls, basal parasympathetic tone (HF component of HRV) was significantly negatively correlated with toleration threshold to the rectal distention, but not in patients with IBS (group comparison P = 0.04). Further, a positive correlation between baseline HF values and neural responses to rectal distension was found in the right caudate, bilateral dorsolateral anterior cingulate cortex, and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex in the control group but not in the IBS group. The results indicate abnormal interactions between ANs activity and the brain mechanisms underlying visceral perception in patients with IBS.
Stress is a known trigger of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and exacerbates its gastrointestinal ... more Stress is a known trigger of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and exacerbates its gastrointestinal symptoms. However, underlying the physiological mechanism remains unknown. Here, we investigated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, colonic motility, and autonomic responses to corticotropinreleasing hormone (CRH) administration as well as brain activity alterations in IBS. The study included 28 IBS patients and 34 age and sex-matched healthy control subjects. IBS patients demonstrated greater adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responses to CRH than control subjects. Male IBS patients had greater increases in colonic motility than male HCs after CRH. Female IBS patients showed altered sympathovagal balance and lower basal parasympathetic tone relative to female control subjects. Brain responses to rectal distention were measured in the same subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and their associations with individual ACTH responses to CRH were tested. A negative association between ACTH response to CRH and activity in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) during rectal distention was identified in controls but not in IBS patients. Impaired top-down inhibitory input from the pregenual ACC to the HPA axis may lead to altered neuroendocrine and gastrointestinal responses to CRH. Centrally acting treatments may dampen the stress induced physical symptoms in IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by idiopathic, chronic recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel habits 1. Stress is a known trigger of IBS; for example, stressful life events and gastrointestinal symptom exacerbations are correlated in patients with IBS 2,3. Psychological stress also increases colonic contractions in patients with IBS 4. Given this influence of stress on IBS, a conceptualization of IBS as a disorder of brain-gut interactions has been adopted both clinically and scientifically 5,6. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a key mediator of the stress response, both in the brain and in the gut 7,8. The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus governs the neuroendocrine stress response via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis 8-10. CRH also acts outside the HPA axis in the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, through which it regulates adaptive stress responses to both physiological and psychological stimuli 9,10. CRH-positive neuronal populations have also been identified in the lateral hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex (PFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and hippocampus 9. The hippocampus inhibits stress-induced HPA activation via glucocorticoid receptor-mediated negative feedback 11 , and the medial (m)PFC and adjacent pregenual (p)ACC, via connections with the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and brainstem, execute top-down modulation of the CRH system 12. It has been proposed that IBS is associated with autonomic and HPA axis imbalances related to a disturbed balance in prefrontal-amygdala activity 1 .
Using the Fukushima accident experience, this letter discusses recent efforts on measuring scient... more Using the Fukushima accident experience, this letter discusses recent efforts on measuring scientific consensus views—that is, quantifying the agreement among scientists. In the field of radiological protection, the efforts to measure scientific consensus views deserve attention, because hoaxes have been spreading even after the Fukushima nuclear accident. We discussed two points. First, the visualization of the diversity of scientific opinions shatters the diversity illusion caused by the mass media’s irresponsible dissemination of pro and con arguments. Second, the use of scientific consensus views without an ethical code is dangerous. Measuring scientific consensus views should be accompanied with the development of ethical guidelines on using it.
BackgroundDuring a global infectious disease pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID... more BackgroundDuring a global infectious disease pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), individuals’ infection prevention/risk-taking behaviours are likely to differ depending on their health literacy and beliefs regarding the disease. To effectively promote infection prevention behaviours, it is necessary to enable information dissemination and risk communication that consider individuals’ health literacy and beliefs. In this study, we exploratorily characterised segments based on individual health literacy and beliefs regarding COVID-19 among the Japanese during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and investigated whether infection prevention/risk-taking behaviours and fear of COVID-19 differed among these segments.MethodsIn this study, we conducted two web-based longitudinal surveys in Japan (PHASE 1, 1–30 November 2020, 6,000 participants; PHASE 2, 1–31 December 2020, 3,800 participants). We characterised segments of the target population using cluster analy...
In this scoping review, we investigated psychotherapies and psychological support provided the co... more In this scoping review, we investigated psychotherapies and psychological support provided the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to clarify its recipients and the methods employed. We used Scopus and PubMed as the search engines on October 18, 2022, employing specific search terms ("COVID*" AND ("Psychotherap*" OR "psychological support*") AND "psychological distress*"). The initial search yielded 153 articles, of which 18 met the eligibility criteria after two rounds of screening. The distribution of participants ranged from the general population to patients with COVID-19 and those who had recovered. However, no studies of patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae were found. The distribution of the types of and psychological support varied and the use of new technology was suggested. Online interventions comprised the majority of the means of psychotherapies and psychological support. This study suggests that psychotherapies and psych...
In our previous study Survey 1, we found infection prevention behaviors were characterized by hea... more In our previous study Survey 1, we found infection prevention behaviors were characterized by health literacy and found to be divided into six segments: "majority/social defense”, “self-judgment/self-protection”, "threat denying”, "hoax affinity/optimism," "vigilance/self-protection”, and "hyper-vigilance/social defense”.The purpose of this study is to confirm the validity of segmentation by health literacy and to examine its relationship with risk-taking behavior and infection prevention behavior.The 6,000 respondents to Survey 1 were asked to answer again, and the 3,800 who responded were targeting in the study.In the results, we found that the fear of infectious diseases and the cognitive bias to believe that they will not be infected led to a regression to each segment, with significant differences between the segments. Significant differences in risk-taking and infection prevention behaviors were also found among the segments. In addition, there wa...
The purpose of this study is to identify the types of the risk communication for COVID-19. We con... more The purpose of this study is to identify the types of the risk communication for COVID-19. We conducted the cross-sectional questionnaire survey, for 6,000 people (male = 3000, female = 3000, M = 49.41±16.59), regarded as health literacy. In the result, it is revealed there were 6 segments: "majority/social defense" in which people had the most common beliefs and thought PCR testing is necessary for all, "self-judgment/self-protection" that was highly literate, "threat denying" that completely denied threats and prevention of infection, "hoax affinity/optimism" that took in information without discernment, "vigilance/self-protection," in which people felt threatened by infection but thought that PCR testing was unnecessary, and "hyper vigilance/social defense," in which people protected others if there was even a small risk.
In our previous study Survey 1, we found infection prevention behaviors were characterized by hea... more In our previous study Survey 1, we found infection prevention behaviors were characterized by health literacy and found to be divided into six segments: "majority/social defense”, “self-judgment/self-protection”, "threat denying”, "hoax affinity/optimism," "vigilance/self-protection”, and "hyper-vigilance/social defense”.The purpose of this study is to examine the real-life influences and behaviors of different types of health literacy. The 3,800 respondents to Survey 2 were asked to answer again, and the 3,000 who responded were targeting in the study.In the result, we found that "majority/social defense" and "hyper-vigilance/social defense" were lowered in their visits to the hospital for the purpose of prevention and visitation. In addition, the intention to vaccinate was lower for "hoax affinity/optimism" and "Threat denial”. Furthermore, "Threat denial" was the highest that respondents thought vaccines w...
The nociceptive and autonomic nervous systems (ANS) are significantly intertwined. Decoupling of ... more The nociceptive and autonomic nervous systems (ANS) are significantly intertwined. Decoupling of these systems may occur in pathological pain conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated ANs activity and its association with visceral perception and brain activity during rectal distention in 27 patients with non-constipated IBS and 33 controls by assessing heart rate variability (HRV) using electrocardiography at rest, before, and during colorectal distention. Brain responses to colorectal distention were measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging and correlated with individual ANS function parameters. The IBS group displayed blunted sympathovagal balance [low/high-frequency ratio (LF:HF) of HRV] in response to colorectal distention compared with controls (P = 0.003). In controls, basal parasympathetic tone (HF component of HRV) was significantly negatively correlated with toleration threshold to the rectal distention, but not in patients with IBS (group comparison P = 0.04). Further, a positive correlation between baseline HF values and neural responses to rectal distension was found in the right caudate, bilateral dorsolateral anterior cingulate cortex, and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex in the control group but not in the IBS group. The results indicate abnormal interactions between ANs activity and the brain mechanisms underlying visceral perception in patients with IBS.
Stress is a known trigger of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and exacerbates its gastrointestinal ... more Stress is a known trigger of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and exacerbates its gastrointestinal symptoms. However, underlying the physiological mechanism remains unknown. Here, we investigated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, colonic motility, and autonomic responses to corticotropinreleasing hormone (CRH) administration as well as brain activity alterations in IBS. The study included 28 IBS patients and 34 age and sex-matched healthy control subjects. IBS patients demonstrated greater adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responses to CRH than control subjects. Male IBS patients had greater increases in colonic motility than male HCs after CRH. Female IBS patients showed altered sympathovagal balance and lower basal parasympathetic tone relative to female control subjects. Brain responses to rectal distention were measured in the same subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and their associations with individual ACTH responses to CRH were tested. A negative association between ACTH response to CRH and activity in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) during rectal distention was identified in controls but not in IBS patients. Impaired top-down inhibitory input from the pregenual ACC to the HPA axis may lead to altered neuroendocrine and gastrointestinal responses to CRH. Centrally acting treatments may dampen the stress induced physical symptoms in IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by idiopathic, chronic recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel habits 1. Stress is a known trigger of IBS; for example, stressful life events and gastrointestinal symptom exacerbations are correlated in patients with IBS 2,3. Psychological stress also increases colonic contractions in patients with IBS 4. Given this influence of stress on IBS, a conceptualization of IBS as a disorder of brain-gut interactions has been adopted both clinically and scientifically 5,6. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a key mediator of the stress response, both in the brain and in the gut 7,8. The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus governs the neuroendocrine stress response via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis 8-10. CRH also acts outside the HPA axis in the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, through which it regulates adaptive stress responses to both physiological and psychological stimuli 9,10. CRH-positive neuronal populations have also been identified in the lateral hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex (PFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and hippocampus 9. The hippocampus inhibits stress-induced HPA activation via glucocorticoid receptor-mediated negative feedback 11 , and the medial (m)PFC and adjacent pregenual (p)ACC, via connections with the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and brainstem, execute top-down modulation of the CRH system 12. It has been proposed that IBS is associated with autonomic and HPA axis imbalances related to a disturbed balance in prefrontal-amygdala activity 1 .
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