Department of Clinical Studies

The Department of Clinical Studies manages two major studies: the Adult Health Study (AHS) and the clinical health study on the children of A-bomb survivors (the F1 Clinical Study). 
        
The AHS
 is a subcohort of about 20,000 subjects selected from the Life Span Study (LSS) sample that are followed through biennial health examinations. The study began in 1958. About 2,400 LSS participants and 1,000 in-utero-exposed persons have been added to the sample since 1977.

General items in the AHS examination are physical examinations, ECG, chest X-ray, ultrasonography, blood tests (including biochemical tests), urinalysis, and stool tests. Using the data collected during these examinations, long-term follow-up studies of the prevalence and incidence rates of diseases and changes in physiological and biochemical endpoints are possible.

In the Adult Health Study, the medical history of each individual (morbidity, treatment, examination, etc.) and information on lifestyle (exercise, nutrition, smoking, etc.) are collected. Therefore, an evaluation of radiation effects can take these factors into consideration. In addition to the general examination, special tests, such as measurement of bone mineral content and gynecological examinations, are also conducted. The results of each examination are reported to the individual. Long-term observation of the changes in measurement values, such as blood pressure, benefits participants and contributes to the health management of the A-bomb survivors.

The findings from this study are useful in other epidemiological studies. One is the Ni-Hon-San (Nippon [Japan], Honolulu, and San Francisco) cardiovascular disease study, in which the Adult Health Study participants are compared with Japanese living in Honolulu and San Francisco to see how differences in environment, diet, and lifestyle influence the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and mortality. A wide range of basic research on the mechanisms of radiation-induced disease has been carried out in the Adult Health Study in cooperation with other RERF departments.

The health effects study of the children of A-bomb survivors consists of a mail survey, which is carried out by the Department of Epidemiology, and the F1 Clinical Study, which is carried out by the Department of Clinical Studies.

The Department of Clinical Studies conducted the F1 Clinical Study over a period of four years since 2002, targeting about 12,000 people whose willingness to be examined was confirmed in the mail survey.

The F1 Clinical Study includes health examinations such as interviews, medical examinations, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, urinalysis, hematological tests, stool blood reaction tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, thyroid ultrasonography, breath tests for Helicobacter pylori infection, serum pepsinogen, bone mineral density and many others.

Using the data collected during these examinations, we will investigate the prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, cancer, etc., which are often observed after middle age, and we hope to elucidate epidemiologically the effects of parental exposure to A-bomb radiation on the health condition among the children of A-bomb survivors. Furthermore, we contribute to the health and welfare of the participants via the health examinations and nutritional guidance.

Research scientists and their research interests

  • Hiroshima
    Waka Ohishi, MD, PhD, Department Chief

    Clinical studies regarding disease risks in atomic-bomb survivors
    Risk factors related to progression of liver disease
    Longitudinal clinical study of the F1 offspring of A-bomb survivors

    Yoshimi Tatsukawa, MD, PhD, Assistant Department Chief

    Studies regarding glucose and lipid metabolism
    Atomic-bomb radiation health effects in the in-utero exposed

    Michiko Yamada, MD, PhD

    Atomic-bomb radiation effects on noncancer diseases
    Epidemiological studies regarding aging
    Epidemiological studies regarding cognitive dysfunction

    Noriaki Yoshida, MD, PhD

    Identifying mechanisms for development of hematological malignancies among A-bomb survivors

    Hiroko Kitamura, MD, PhD, Visiting Research Fellow

    Epidemiological study of health effects in radiation workers

    Satoshi Kurisu, MD, PhD, Visiting Research Associate

    Clinical and epidemiological studies of heart diseases

    Kayoko Ishihara, MD, PhD, Visiting Research Associate

    Clinical and epidemiological studies of neurological diseases/ cardiovascular diseases

  • Nagasaki
    Ayumi Hida, MD, PhD, Department Chief

    Clinical studies regarding disease risks in atomic-bomb survivors
    Epidemiological studies of rheumatoid diseases
    Clinical research about radiation-associated ocular diseases

    Misa Imaizumi, MD, PhD, Assistant Department Chief

    Clinical and epidemiological studies of thyroid diseases

    Tomoki Nakamizo, MD, PhD

    Clinical and epidemiological studies of cardiovascular diseases

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