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Amir I, Eguchi Y, Saotome K, Ogawa S, Kojima Y, Tamaki T, Tsubokura M. The "GU-GU-RU" project to eliminate discrimination related to the health effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2050. [PMID: 37858066 PMCID: PMC10588131 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16883-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although 12 years have passed since Great East Japan Earthquake and following Fukushima nuclear accident, approximately 40% of Japanese citizen still believe that the current radiation exposure in Fukushima residents will likely/ very likely to cause genetic effects of radiation. This incorrect understanding could continue unexpected discrimination and prejudice towards those from Fukushima now and in the future. In order to provide updated knowledge and eliminate rumors related to radiation, Japanese Ministry of the Environment has launched "GU-GU-RU" project in 2021 with consisting of five sections. OBJECTIVE (1) To discuss the objectives and effects of the "GU-GU-RU" project (results after the first year), (2) to present administrative measures that may be effective in the long-term to prevent unjustified discrimination and prejudice, and (3) to eliminate rumors in the event of future large-scale disasters, including radiation disasters. METHODS We showed the contents of each sections carried out under the project and observed the result of first-year activities in each section. RESULTS Among the programs, the "Radiation College" has steadily produced positive results, with nearly 1,300 students participating and 50 students sharing their thoughts and ideas. In addition, the project has adopted strategies such as creating and broadcasting a TV program and collaborations with manga, which are expected to have a significant impact on society. CONCLUSIONS Compared to previous efforts on disseminating information related to health effect of radiation exposure, the "GU-GU-RU" project has taken a different approach in providing primary data of radiation and its health effects, which could become a better understanding of health effects of radiation for the general public, in order to eliminate rumors that may lead unjustified discrimination and prejudice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isamu Amir
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima-city, 960-1295, Fukushima, Japan.
| | - Yuichiro Eguchi
- Loco-Medical General Institute, 1178-1 Kanada, Mikatsuki-cho, Ogi-city, 845-0032, Saga, Japan
| | - Kousaku Saotome
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of Health Sciences, 10-6 Sakae-machi, 960-8516, Fukushima-city, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Soichiro Ogawa
- Department of Urology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima-city, 960-1295, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Kojima
- Department of Urology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima-city, 960-1295, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Tamaki
- Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima-city, 960-1295, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima-city, 960-1295, Fukushima, Japan
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Kyozuka H, Ohhira T, Murata T, Yasuda S, Ishii K, Yasumura S, Fujimori K, Ohto H, Kamiya K. Eight-Year Trends in the Effect of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Obstetrics Outcomes: A Study from the Fukushima Health Management Survey. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1702. [PMID: 37629559 PMCID: PMC10455406 DOI: 10.3390/life13081702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Information regarding the longitudinal effects of natural/environmental disasters on obstetrics outcomes is limited. This study aimed to analyze the longitudinal changes in obstetrics outcomes over 8 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima power plant accident. We used data from the first 8 years of the Pregnancy and Birth Survey by the Fukushima prefectural government, launched in 2011. We compared data on obstetrics outcomes by year and divided Fukushima Prefecture into six districts based on administrative districts. Longitudinal changes in the occurrence of preterm birth before 37 gestational weeks, low birth weight, and anomalies in newborns were accessed using the Mantel-Haenszel test for trends in all six districts. Overall, 57,537 participants were included. In 8 years, maternal age, conception rate after sterility treatment, and cesarean section delivery incidence increased. Although significant differences were observed in preterm birth and low birth weight occurrence among districts, there was no significant trend in the occurrence of preterm birth, low birth weight, and anomalies in newborns in all six districts of Fukushima Prefecture. The Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima power plant accident were associated with increased cesarean section delivery incidence but had no significant adverse effects on obstetrics outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Kyozuka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ohhira
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Murata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Shun Yasuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Kayoko Ishii
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Seiji Yasumura
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Keiya Fujimori
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Ohto
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Kenji Kamiya
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
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Nishigori H, Fujimori K, Hosoya M, Nishigori T, Murata T, Kyozuka H, Ogata Y, Sato A, Shinoki K, Yasumura S, Hashimoto K. Congenital Anomalies in Infants in Fukushima from 2011 to 2014: The Japan Environment and Children's Study. JMA J 2023; 6:36-47. [PMID: 36793518 PMCID: PMC9908376 DOI: 10.31662/jmaj.2022-0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study aimed to assess congenital anomalies among infants from 2011 to 2014 in Fukushima and compare the assessment with that from other geographical regions in Japan. Methods We used the dataset of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), which is a nationwide prospective birth cohort study. For the JECS, participants were recruited through 15 regional centers (RC), including Fukushima. Pregnant women were recruited between January 2011 and March 2014. The Fukushima RC recruited all municipalities in the Fukushima Prefecture, from where we compared congenital anomalies in infants from the Fukushima RC to those in the infants from 14 other RCs. Crude and multivariate logistic regression analyses were also performed, with the multivariate logistic regression analysis being adjusted for maternal age, maternal body mass index (kg/m2), infertility treatment, multiple pregnancies, maternal smoking, maternal alcohol consumption, pregnancy complications, maternal infection, and infant sex. Results In the Fukushima RC, 12,958 infants were analyzed, and 324 infants were diagnosed with major anomalies (2.50%). In the remaining 14 RCs, 88,771 infants were analyzed and 2,671 infants were diagnosed with major anomalies (3.01%). Crude logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the odds ratio for the Fukushima RC was 0.827 (95% confidence interval, 0.736-0.929) using the other 14 RCs as a reference. Multivariate logistic regression analysis also demonstrated that the adjusted odds ratio was 0.852 (95% confidence interval, 0.757-0.958). Conclusions Fukushima Prefecture was found not to be an area at high risk for the occurrence of congenital anomalies in infants compared nationwide in Japan from 2011 to 2014.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidekazu Nishigori
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Development and Environmental Medicine, Fukushima Medical Center for Children and Women, Fukushima Medical University Graduate School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Keiya Fujimori
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Mitsuaki Hosoya
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Toshie Nishigori
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Murata
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hyo Kyozuka
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yuka Ogata
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Akiko Sato
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kosei Shinoki
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Seiji Yasumura
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Koichi Hashimoto
- Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
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Kyozuka H, Murata T, Yasuda S, Ishii K, Fujimori K, Goto A, Yasumura S, Ota M, Hata K, Suzuki K, Nakai A, Ohira T, Ohto H, Kamiya K. The Effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Perinatal Outcomes: Results of the Pregnancy and Birth Survey in the Fukushima Health Management Survey. J Epidemiol 2022; 32:S57-S63. [PMID: 36464301 PMCID: PMC9703925 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20210444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
There are limited studies on the long-term effects of natural/environmental disasters, especially nuclear disasters, on obstetric outcomes. This study aimed to review the results of perinatal outcomes immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, as well as their long-term trends over 8 years, in the Fukushima Health Management Survey. The annual population-based Pregnancy and Birth Survey is conducted as part of the Fukushima Health Management Survey. The Fukushima Prefecture government launched it to assess the health conditions of pregnant women and their neonates after the GEJE. The self-reported questionnaire was sent to 115,976 pregnant women by mail from January 2012, with 58,344 women responding to the questionnaire (50.3% response rate). Pregnancy complications, such as gestational hypertension, respiratory diseases, and mental disorders, increased in some women who were pregnant at the time of the earthquake and immediately after the earthquake. However, the direct effects on newborns, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies, were not immediately clear after the earthquake. Although there were significant differences in the occurrence of preterm birth and low birth weight among the districts, there was no change in the occurrences of preterm birth, low birth weight, or anomalies in newborns in Fukushima Prefecture from the fiscal year 2011 to the fiscal year 2018. Therefore, the long-term effects of the post-disaster radiation accident on perinatal outcomes are considered to be very small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Kyozuka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Murata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Shun Yasuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan,Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kayoko Ishii
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Keiya Fujimori
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan,Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Aya Goto
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan,Center for Integrated Science and Humanities, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Seiji Yasumura
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Misao Ota
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Midwifery and Maternal Nursing, Fukushima Medical University School of Nursing, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kenichi Hata
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan,Fukushima Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kohta Suzuki
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Health and Psychosocial Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akihito Nakai
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan,Nippon Medical School Tamanagayama Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ohira
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan,Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Ohto
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kenji Kamiya
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
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Sudheer KR, Mohammad Koya PK, Prakash AJ, Prakash AM, Manoj Kumar R, Shyni S, Jagadeesan CK, Jaikrishan G, Das B. Evaluation of risk due to chronic low dose ionizing radiation exposure on the birth prevalence of congenital heart diseases (CHD) among the newborns from high-level natural radiation areas of Kerala coast, India. Genes Environ 2022; 44:1. [PMID: 34983691 PMCID: PMC8725549 DOI: 10.1186/s41021-021-00231-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The human population residing in monazite bearing Kerala coast are exposed to chronic low dose and low dose rate external gamma radiation due to Th232 deposits in its beach sand. The radiation level in this area varies from < 1.0 to 45.0 mGy/year. This area serves as an ideal source for conducting large-scale epidemiological studies for assessing risk of low dose and low dose rate radiation exposure on human population. The areas with a dose level of ≤1.50 mGy/year are considered as normal level natural radiation areas (NLNRAs) and areas with > 1.50 mGy/year, as high level natural radiation areas (HLNRAs). HLNRAs were further stratified into three dose groups of 1.51-3.0 mGy/year, 3.01-6.00 mGy/year and > 6.0 mGy/year. The present study evaluates the effects of chronic low dose radiation (LDR) exposure on the birth prevalence of Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) among the live newborns monitored in hospital based prospective study from NLNRAs and HLNRAs of Kerala coast, India. Methodology Consecutive newborns were monitored from two hospital units located in the study area for congenital malformations. Referred CHD cases among the newborns screened were confirmed by conducting investigations such as pulse oximetry, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram etc. Results Among the newborns screened, 289 CHDs were identified with a frequency of 1.49‰ among 193,634 livebirths, which constituted 6.03% of overall malformations and 16.29% of major malformations. Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that the risk of CHD among the newborns of mothers from HLNRAs with a dose group of 1.51-3.0 mGy/year was significantly lower as compared to NLNRA (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.57-0.92), whereas it was similar in HLNRA dose groups of 3.01-6.00 mGy/year (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-1.00) and ≥ 6.0 mGy/year (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.50-1.85). The frequency of CHDs did not show any radiation dose related increasing trend. However, a significant (P = 0.005) reduction was observed in the birth prevalence of CHDs among the newborns from HLNRA (1.28‰) as compared to NLNRA (1.79‰). Conclusion Chronic LDR exposure did not show any increased risk on the birth prevalence of CHDs from high-level natural radiation areas of Kerala coast, India. No linear increasing trend was observed with respect to different background dose groups. The frequency of CHD was observed to be 1.49 per 1000 livebirths, which was similar to the frequency of severe CHD rate reported elsewhere in India and was much less than the reported frequency of 9 per thousand.
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Affiliation(s)
- K R Sudheer
- Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group (BSG), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam, Kerala, 691 001, India
| | - P K Mohammad Koya
- Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group (BSG), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam, Kerala, 691 001, India
| | - Anu J Prakash
- Department of Paediatrics, Victoria Hospital, Kollam, 691 001, India
| | - Ambily M Prakash
- Department of Gynaecology, Victoria Hospital, Kollam, 691 001, India
| | - R Manoj Kumar
- Department of Paediatrics, Taluk Head Quarters Hospital, Karunagapally, 690 544, India
| | - S Shyni
- Department of Gynaecology, Taluk Head Quarters Hospital, Karunagapally, 690 544, India
| | - C K Jagadeesan
- Directorate of Health Services, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 011, India
| | - G Jaikrishan
- Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group (BSG), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam, Kerala, 691 001, India
| | - Birajalaxmi Das
- Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group (BSG), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, 400 085, India. .,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400 094, India.
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Hirata Y, Shimizu H, Kumamaru H, Takamoto S, Motomura N, Miyata H, Okita Y. Congenital Heart Disease After the Fukushima Nuclear Accident: The Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database Study. J Am Heart Assoc 2020; 9:e014787. [PMID: 32613886 PMCID: PMC7670522 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.119.014787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Background In March 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster inflicted radiation damage across the Tohoku region of Northern Japan. The consequent harm to pregnant mothers and newborns was a matter of concern. We performed a registry‐based analysis of the incidence of congenital heart disease during 2010 to 2013 using the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database. Methods and Results We selected patients who had complex congenital heart disease and who were born between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2013 undergoing surgery, and assessed the trend in the number of first‐time surgeries performed for patients aged 2 years and younger by birth year over time. The numbers of first‐time surgeries for birth years 2010 to 2013 were 2978, 2924, 3077, and 2940, and no increasing trend was detected. Additionally, no increasing yearly trend was detected when the number of cases was divided by the total number of births in Japan in each birth month. The mortality of first‐time surgeries performed for complex diseases, which often involves multiple subsequent surgeries, decreased from 4.7% in 2010 to 2.2% in 2013. Conclusions Our analyses showed no increase in the number of patients with congenital heart disease during 2010 to 2013. The yearly increase in the total number of surgeries following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in a previous report can be explained by the decline in the mortality of first‐time surgeries for complex cases. Such use of only the increase in the total yearly number of surgeries to claim the effects of a nuclear disaster on the incidence of congenital heart disease is a far too simplistic and dangerous proposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasutaka Hirata
- The Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery Tokyo Japan.,Department of Cardiac Surgery The University of Tokyo Hospital Tokyo Japan
| | - Hideyuki Shimizu
- The Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery Tokyo Japan.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Keio University Hospital Tokyo Japan
| | - Hiraku Kumamaru
- Department of Healthcare Quality Assessment University of Tokyo Japan
| | | | - Noboru Motomura
- The Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database Organization Tokyo Japan.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Toho University Sakura Medical Center Sakura Japan
| | - Hiroaki Miyata
- Department of Healthcare Quality Assessment University of Tokyo Japan
| | - Yutaka Okita
- The Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery Tokyo Japan.,Takatsuki General Hospital Cardio-Aortic Center Osaka Japan
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