Lessons from Chernobyl to Fukushima: Natural history of thyroid ultrasound findings

• Project/Area Number: 18KK0265
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 58:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: 高村 昇 長崎大学, 原爆後障害医療研究所, 教授 (30295068)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 平良 文亨 長崎大学, 原爆後障害医療研究所, 准教授 (10542524) ; 折田 真紀子 長崎大学, 原爆後障害医療研究所, 准教授 (90737305) ; 高橋 純平 長崎大学, グローバル連携機構, 助教 (50574026)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-10-09 – 2024-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2022)
• Budget Amount: ¥17,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,990,000); Fiscal Year 2022: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2021: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥3,250,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥750,000)
• Keywords: 甲状腺 / 超音波 / チェルノブイリ / 福島 / 甲状腺がん / 超音波画像 / 被ばく / 超音波検査

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

本研究で明らかにすることは、1）チェルノブイリ周辺地域における甲状腺超音波所見の自然史と、2）甲状腺がんの自然史およびその長期的予後、である。
研究代表者が20年以上にわたって共同研究を行ってきたジトーミル州立診断センターでは、2006年からは現在福島県民健康調査で使用されている超音波装置と同じ機器を使用して甲状腺超音波検査を実施し、全ての受診者の画像を経年的に保存している。
本研究では、事故（1986年）前に生まれ、放射性ヨウ素による甲状腺の内部被ばくをうけた群（被ばく群）と事故後に生まれ、甲状腺の内部被ばくを受けていない群（非被ばく群）の両群における初診時の画像を、福島県民健康調査の甲状腺検査の診断基準に合わせて分類（A1、A2、B）し、それぞれの群の画像を前向きに解析していくことで、甲状腺超音波所見の自然史を明らかにしていくと同時に、被ばく群と非被ばく群における所見の違いの有無についても解析を行った。その結果、被ばく群と非被ばく群において、甲状腺超音波所見に差異があったが、年齢で調整することによって有意差は消失することを明らかにした。
本結果については論文を執筆し、国際専門雑誌に投稿している。今後は、甲状腺がんと診断された症例については、診断される以前の画像を後ろ向きに解析することで、甲状腺がん超音波所見の自然史を明らかにしていく。放射線被ばく群と非被ばく群における所見の違いの有無についても明らかにすると同時に、甲状腺がん症例の手術後の経過について前向きに解析することで、甲状腺がんの長期的予後についても明らかにする。

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

残念なことに、新型コロナウイルス感染症によって、日本からウクライナを訪問することが困難となった。さらに2022年3月に始まったロシア連邦によるウクライナ侵攻によって、ウクライナの研究者とのデータや画像のやり取りも困難な状況となった。このため研究者交流を含めたウクライナ側との共同研究は当面困難な状況になってしまった。

Strategy for Future Research Activity

引き続き、甲状腺がんと診断された症例については、診断される以前の画像を後ろ向きに解析することで、甲状腺がん超音波所見の自然史を明らかにしていく。放射線被ばく群と非被ばく群における所見の違いの有無についても明らかにすると同時に、甲状腺がん症例の手術後の経過について前向きに解析することで、甲状腺がんの長期的予後についても明らかにする。
以上の研究を遂行し、福島での甲状腺超音波検査で診断されている甲状腺がんの自然史の予測に有益なエビデンスを提供すると同時に、住民へ正しい情報を発信することで安全・安心の担保に貢献することとする。
研究代表者は、引き続き研究デザインを策定した上で、ジトーミル州立診断センターと協議して画像および臨床データ、推定甲状腺被ばく線量の収集を行う。研究分担者の平良文亨は、得られた超音波診断結果の再確認（ダブルチェック）を行い、同時にデータセットの準備から解析を行う。研究分担者の折田真紀子は、甲状腺がん症例の診断される以前の画像を後ろ向きに解析すると同時に、手術後の経過について前向きに解析する。平良、折田はそれぞれの解析結果について研究代表者と相談しながら論文を執筆する。また研究分担者の高橋純平は、長崎大学ベラルーシ拠点の代表代行であり、ロシア語も堪能であることから、長崎大学とジトーミル州立診断センターとの連絡交渉にあたるほか、住民への説明書作成等を行う。以上については、現在のウクライナ情勢を慎重に見極めながら進めていくものとする。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Assessment of Radiation Risk Perception and Interest in Tritiated Water among Returnees to and Evacuees from Tomioka Town within 20 km of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (2023)
  • Author(s): Xiao Xu、Matsunaga Hitomi、Orita Makiko、Kashiwazaki Yuya、Taira Yasuyuki、Win Thu Zar、Lochard Jacques、Schneider Thierry、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Pages: 2690-2690
  • DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032690
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Comparison of quality of life between elderly and non-elderly adult residents in Okuma town, Japan, in a post-disaster setting (2023)
  • Author(s): Hande Varsha、Orita Makiko、Matsunaga Hitomi、Kashiwazaki Yuya、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: PLOS ONE Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Pages: e0281678-e0281678
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281678
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Assessment of localized and resuspended 137Cs due to decontamination and demolition in the difficult‐to‐return zone of Tomioka town, Fukushima Prefecture (2022)
  • Author(s): Taira Yasuyuki、Matsuo Masahiko、Orita Makiko、Matsunaga Hitomi、Takamura Noboru、Hirao Shigekazu
  • Journal Title: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management Volume: 18 Issue: 6 Pages: 1555-1563
  • DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4625
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Occupational Difficulties of Disaster-Affected Local Government Employees in the Long-Term Recovery Phase after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Modeling Analysis (2022)
  • Author(s): Kashiwazaki Yuya、Matsunaga Hitomi、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Oishi Keiko、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Volume: 19 Issue: 7 Pages: 3979-3979
  • DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073979
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Risk perception of internal and external radiation exposure among administration staff affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident (2022)
  • Author(s): Matsunaga Hitomi、Kashiwazaki Yuya、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Volume: 248 Pages: 106869-106869
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106869
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] LIFE SATISFACTION AND FACTORS AFFECTING SATISFACTION IN KAWAUCHI VILLAGE RESIDENTS AT 10 Y AFTER THE FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ACCIDENT (2022)
  • Author(s): Matsunaga Hitomi、Orita Makiko、Liu Mengjie、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Radiation Protection Dosimetry Volume: 198 Issue: 1-2 Pages: 23-30
  • DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncab186
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Evaluation of Residents’ Timing of Return to or New Settlement in Kawauchi Village, at 10 Years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident (2022)
  • Author(s): Matsunaga Hitomi、Orita Makiko、Liu Mengjie、Kashiwazaki Yuya、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Pages: 543-543
  • DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010543
  • NAID: 120007190858
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Risk perception of genetic effects and mental health among residents of Kawauchi village, 10 years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident (2022)
  • Author(s): Liu Mengjie、Matsunaga Hitomi、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Journal of Radiation Research Volume: 63 Issue: 2 Pages: 261-263
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrab108
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Risk Perception of Health Risks Associated with Radiation Exposure among Residents of Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture (2021)
  • Author(s): Oishi Keiko、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Kashiwazaki Yuya、Matsunaga Hitomi、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Volume: 18 Issue: 24 Pages: 13208-13208
  • DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413208
  • NAID: 120007190862
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Awareness of the implementation of stable iodine prophylaxis by parental guardians living in the urgent protective action planning zone of an operating nuclear power plant in Japan (2021)
  • Author(s): Matsunaga Hitomi、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: BMC Public Health Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Pages: 2235-2235
  • DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12349-5
  • NAID: 120007190872
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Intention to return in residents of Okuma and its characteristics: the evacuation order was lifted eight years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident (2021)
  • Author(s): Matsunaga Hitomi、Orita Makiko、Oishi Keiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Journal of Radiation Research Volume: 62 Issue: 5 Pages: 868-870
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrab058
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Risk perception of the pre-distribution of stable iodine to guardians of children living around the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant, Saga Prefecture, Japan (2021)
  • Author(s): Matsunaga Hitomi、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: PLOS ONE Volume: 16 Issue: 5 Pages: e0250570-e0250570
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250570
  • NAID: 120007163278
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Experiences of crisis communication during radiation emergency and risk communication for recovery of the community in Fukushima (2021)
  • Author(s): Takamura Noboru、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Matsunaga Hitomi、Yamashita Shunichi
  • Journal Title: Journal of Radiation Research Volume: 62 Issue: Supplement_1 Pages: i95-i100
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rraa113
  • NAID: 120007163283
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Risk perception regarding implementation of iodine thyroid blocking during a nuclear disaster of mothers living near a nuclear power station in Japan (2021)
  • Author(s): Yamada Yumiko、Orita Makiko、Matsunaga Hitomi、Yamaguchi Takumi、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Endocrine Journal Volume: 68 Issue: 5 Pages: 553-560
  • DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.EJ20-0627
  • NAID: 130008044605
  • ISSN: 0918-8959, 1348-4540
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Intention to Return and Perception of the Health Risk Due to Radiation Exposure Among Residents in Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture, Stratified by Gender and Generation (2020)
  • Author(s): Matsunaga Hitomi、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Kudo Takashi、Kondo Hisayoshi、Yamashita Shunichi、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness Volume: - Issue: 1 Pages: 1-8
  • DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.319
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Radiocesium levels in contaminated forests has remained stable, even after heavy rains due to typhoons and localized downpours (2020)
  • Author(s): Taira Yasuyuki、Matsuo Masahiko、Yamaguchi Takumi、Yamada Yumiko、Orita Makiko、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Scientific Reports Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-5
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75857-1
  • NAID: 120006988464
  • Open Access
• [Journal Article] Quality of Life and Intention to Return among Former Residents of Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture 9 Years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident (2020)
  • Author(s): Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Matsunaga Hitomi、Maeda Masaharu、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Volume: 17 Issue: 18 Pages: 6625-6625
  • DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186625
  • NAID: 120006988526
  • Open Access
• [Journal Article] Radiocesium concentrations in mushrooms collected in Kawauchi Village five to eight years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident (2020)
  • Author(s): Cui Limeng、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: PLOS ONE Volume: 15 Issue: 9 Pages: 296-296
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239296
  • NAID: 120006988510
  • Open Access
• [Journal Article] Factors affecting anxiety among administrative officers working within the urgent protective action planning zone of a nuclear power station (2020)
  • Author(s): Hori Hiroko、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Matsunaga Hitomi、Kudo Takashi、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: PLOS ONE Volume: 15 Issue: 8 Pages: 997-997
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236997
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Environmental Remediation of the difficult-to-return zone in Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture (2020)
  • Author(s): Cui Limeng、Taira Yasuyuki、Matsuo Masahiko、Orita Makiko、Yamada Yumiko、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Scientific Reports Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-4
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66726-y
  • NAID: 120006988139
  • Open Access
• [Journal Article] Radiocesium concentrations in wild boars captured within 20?km of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (2020)
  • Author(s): Cui Limeng、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Scientific Reports Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-3
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66362-6
  • NAID: 120006988157
  • Open Access
• [Journal Article] Intention to Return in Residents of Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan Stratified by Sex After the Accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. (2020)
  • Author(s): Matsunaga H, Orita M, Taira Y, Takamura N
  • Journal Title: Prehosp Disaster Med Volume: 35 Issue: 2 Pages: 235-236
  • DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x20000254
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Psychological health status among former residents of Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture and their intention to return 8?years after the disaster at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (2020)
  • Author(s): Orita Makiko、Mori Keisuke、Taira Yasuyuki、Yamada Yumiko、Maeda Masaharu、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Journal of Neural Transmission Volume: 127 Issue: 11 Pages: 1449-1454
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00702-020-02160-8
• [Journal Article] PET/computed tomography shows association between subjective pain in knee joints and fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake (2020)
  • Author(s): Kamasaki T, Mori K, Taira Y, Orita M, Miyamoto I, Usui T, Chiba K, Kudo T, Takamura N
  • Journal Title: Nucl Med Commun Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Pages: 241-245
  • DOI: 10.1097/mnm.0000000000001143
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Radiation education for nurses working at middle-sized hospitals in Japan (2019)
  • Author(s): Nagatomi M, Yamaguchi T, Shinkawa T, Taira Y, Urata H, Orita M, Takamura N.
  • Journal Title: J Radiat Res Volume: 60 Issue: 5 Pages: 708-709
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrz049
  • NAID: 120006988379
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Eight years post-Fukushima: is forest decontamination still necessary? (2019)
  • Author(s): Taira Y, Inadomi Y, Hirajou S, Fukumoto Y, Orita M, Yamada Y, Takamura N.
  • Journal Title: J Radiat Res Volume: 60 Issue: 5 Pages: 705-707
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrz047
  • NAID: 120006988380
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Evaluation of Environmental Contamination and Estimated Radiation Exposure Dose Rates among Residents Immediately after Returning Home to Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture (2019)
  • Author(s): Matsuo M, Taira Y, Orita M, Yamada Y, Ide J, Yamashita S, Takamura N
  • Journal Title: Int J Environ Res Public Health Volume: 16 Issue: 9 Pages: 1481-1481
  • DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091481
  • NAID: 120006987724
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Nurses' interest in nuclear disaster medicine: future capacity building (2019)
  • Author(s): Yamada Y, Orita M, Shinkawa T, Urata H, Kondo H, Takamura N
  • Journal Title: J Radiat Res Volume: 60 Issue: 3 Pages: 333-334
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrz008
  • NAID: 120006987699
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Risk perceptions regarding radiation exposure among Japanese schoolteachers living around the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant after the Fukushima accident. (2019)
  • Author(s): Hori H, Orita M, Taira Y, Kudo T, Takamura N.
  • Journal Title: PLoS One. Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Pages: e0212917-e0212917
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212917
  • NAID: 120006987772
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Intention to return to the town of Tomioka in residents 7 years after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: a cross-sectional study. (2019)
  • Author(s): Matsunaga H, Orita M, Iyama K, Sato N, Aso S, Tateishi F, Taira Y, Kudo T, Yamashita S, Takamura N.
  • Journal Title: J Radiat Res. Volume: 60 Issue: 1 Pages: 51-58
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rry094
  • NAID: 120006987796
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Seven years post-Fukushima: overcoming the resident?specialist gap (2018)
  • Author(s): Sato Nana、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Journal of Radiation Research Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Pages: 526-527
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rry037
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] RECOVERY FROM NUCLEAR DISASTER IN FUKUSHIMA: COLLABORATION MODEL (2018)
  • Author(s): Takamura Noboru、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Fukushima Yoshiko、Yamashita Shunichi
  • Journal Title: Radiation Protection Dosimetry Volume: 182 Issue: 1 Pages: 49-52
  • DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy150
  • NAID: 120006987850
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Thirty-two years post-Chernobyl: risk perception about radiation and health effects among the young generation in Gomel, Republic of Belarus (2018)
  • Author(s): Ohkuma Rei、Takahashi Jumpei、Sharshakova Tamara、Sachkouskaya Anastasiya、Lyzikov Anatoly、Voropaev Evgenii、Ruzanov Dmitrii、Orita Makiko、Taira Yasuyuki、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Journal of Radiation Research Volume: 59 Issue: 6 Pages: 765-766
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rry079
  • NAID: 120006987883
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Seven years post-Fukushima: long-term measurement of exposure doses in Tomioka Town (2018)
  • Author(s): Tsukazaki Akira、Taira Yasuyuki、Orita Makiko、Takamura Noboru
  • Journal Title: Journal of Radiation Research Volume: 60 Issue: 1 Pages: 159-160
  • DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rry082
  • NAID: 120006987803
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Book] 放射線・放射性物質Q&A第5巻 (2020)
  • Author(s): 高村 昇
  • Total Pages: 32
  • Publisher: 福島民報社