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Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 with good efficacy are now available worldwide. However, gained immunity diminishes over time. Here, we investigate the course of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity in response to three doses of the Pfizer mRNA BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthcare workers in Japan. SARS-CoV-2 anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) antibodies (total Ig, IgG), neutralizing antibodies (NAb), and ELISpot were measured in serum and whole blood samples collected after each vaccine dose. ELISpot numbers were higher than the cutoff values in most participants at all times. It was suggested that the difference in behavior between humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity with age is complementary. Anti-RBD total Ig, IgG, and NAb indicated a high correlation at each time point after vaccine doses. Total Ig was retained long-term after the second dose and increased significantly faster by the booster dose than IgG. Nab levels of all subjects were ≤20% six months after the second dose, and the correlation coefficient was greatly reduced. These are due to the avidity of each antibody and differences among commercial kits, which may affect the evaluation of immunokinetics in previous COVID-19 studies. Therefore, it is necessary to harmonize reagents categorized by the same characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are composed of DNA and antimicrobial proteins, including myeloperoxidase (MPO). Recent studies have demonstrated that impaired regulation of NETs could trigger an autoimmune response. Propylthiouracil (PTU), an antithyroid drug, is associated with a risk of MPO antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) production and MPO ANCA-associated vasculitis (MPO AAV). This study was undertaken to clarify the mechanism of MPO ANCA production, using the PTU-induced model of MPO AAV. Methods NETs were induced by treating human neutrophils with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in vitro. We examined whether the addition of PTU influenced the NET formation induced by PMA and the degradation of NETs by DNase I, which is regarded as a regulator of NETs. Furthermore, we examined whether NETs generated by the combination of PMA and PTU induced MPO ANCA and MPO AAV in vivo in rats. Results When NETs were induced by PMA with PTU using human neutrophils in vitro, abnormal conformation of NETs was observed. Interestingly, the abnormal NETs were hardly digested by DNase I. Moreover, rats immunized with the abnormal NETs, which had been induced by PMA with PTU using rat neutrophils, produced MPO ANCA and developed pulmonary capillaritis. When rats were given oral PTU with intraperitoneal injection of PMA, pauci-immune glomerulonephritis and pulmonary capillaritis occurred with MPO ANCA production in the serum. Conclusion Our findings indicate that abnormal conformation and impaired degradation of NETs induced by PTU are involved in the pathogenesis of PTU-induced MPO ANCA production and MPO AAV. These findings suggest that disordered NETs can be critically implicated in the pathogenesis of MPO AAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-fetoprotein-producing carcinoma (AFPC)/hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) and neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) are uncommon in the stomach. Composite tumors consisting of these carcinomas and their histologic phenotypes are not well known. Between 2002 and 2007, to estimate the prevalence of composite tumors consisting of tubular adenocarcinoma, AFPC/HAC and NEC, we reviewed specimens obtained from294 consecutive patients treated surgically for gastric cancer. We examined histological phenotype of tumors of AFPC or NEC containing the composite tumor by evaluating immunohistochemical expressions of MUC2, MUC5AC,MUC6, CDX2, and SOX2. Immunohistochemically, AFPC/HAC dominantly showed the intestinal ormixed phenotype, and NEC frequently showed the gastric phenotype. In the composite tumor, the tubular and hepatoid components showed the gastric phenotype, and the neuroendocrine component showed the mixed type. The unique composite tumor predominantly showed the gastric phenotype, and the hepatoid and neuroendocrine components were considered to be differentiated from the tubular component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the results of a study of inter-subspecies hybrid dikaryons of oyster mushroom independently isolated in Vietnam and Japan. A description of the experimental set-up and measurement methods is presented. The study concluded that the asexual reproduction might allow stable maintenance of a particular pair of nuclei.

Business continuity plans (BCPs) can be effective and proactive countermeasures to respond flexibly to crises caused by unexpected natural disasters such as large tsunamis. BCP guidelines for fisheries are being issued by the Fisheries Agency (Japan) and the utilization of such BCPs has been spreading in Japan. Despite the need to promote the social implementation of BCPs in the fisheries industry, there is a lack of quantitative criteria for the tsunami damage threshold of various fishing ports and facilities. In this research, we surveyed the damage to the fishing facilities from the tsunami generated by the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake. Data were collected on the tsunami damage for various fishery facilities and used to establish criteria for tsunami damage thresholds. In addition, tsunami damage inferred from 1506 scenarios of tsunami computations was predicted probabilistically for a model region as the Nachi Katsu'ura Fishery Port in Wakayama Prefecture. The method we developed in this research makes it possible to assess the probabilistic tsunami damage by combining a tsunami hazard assessment method with criteria for damage occurrence for fishery port facilities and equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to patient health. However, data to optimize antimicrobial use are limited. Furthermore, reducing antibiotic use raises concerns regarding patient safety. The effectiveness of antibiotics in reducing the prevalence of AMR is controversial. Researchers at the Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital (JRCIH), the only tertiary care hospital in the medical zone, along with local medical and pharmacy associations and public health centers have been leading the AMR control program since 2018. The program involves lectures aimed at optimizing antimicrobial use, regular publication of surveillance data of drug-resistant strains at the JRCIH, and presentation of first-line treatments for community-acquired infections. The delivery of oral antimicrobial agents across the region in 2020 was 28.7% lower than that in 2013, with delivery of cephalosporins, quinolones, and macrolides decreasing by 34.8%, 46.8%, and 56.0%, respectively. Despite these reductions, there has been no associated increase in the number of patients with severe infectious diseases admitted to the JRCIH. The rates of representative drug-resistant bacterial strains, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, decreased by half. Herein, we demonstrated the potential of collaborative efforts to optimize antimicrobial agent use and reduce the AMR prevalence without compromising patient safety.

The increasing healthcare cost imposes a large economic burden for the Japanese government. Predicting the healthcare cost may be a useful tool for policy making. A database of the area-basis public health insurance of one city was analyzed to predict the medical healthcare cost by the dental healthcare cost with a machine learning strategy. The 30,340 subjects who had continued registration of the area-basis public health insurance of Ebina city during April 2017 to September 2018 were analyzed. The sum of the healthcare cost was JPY 13,548,831,930. The per capita healthcare cost was JPY 446,567. The proportion of medical healthcare cost, medication cost, and dental healthcare cost was 78%, 15%, and 7%, respectively. By the results of the neural network model, the medical healthcare cost proportionally depended on the medical healthcare cost of the previous year. The dental healthcare cost of the previous year had a reducing effect on the medical healthcare cost. However, the effect was very small. Oral health may be a risk for chronic diseases. However, when evaluated by the healthcare cost, its effect was very small during the observation period.

This study compared the physical fitness level and weight status of children and adolescents in China and Japan. Children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were recruited (China: n = 5660; Japan: n = 5660). Physical fitness was assessed using seven core items-grip strength, 30-s sit-ups, standing long jump, sit-and-reach, 20-s repeated straddling, 20-m shuttle run test, and 50-m dash. A physical fitness index (PFI) was calculated by adding all items' Z -scores. We conducted comparisons of PFI and its distribution, each physical fitness item, and weight status for individuals from China and Japan across all ages. The PFI was lower in China than in Japan for all age groups, with an especially large difference at age 18 years for boys (a difference of 9.05) and girls (a difference of 9.10) ( p < 0.001). The same result was seen for the seven items. The PFI distribution for children and adolescents was more disperse among those in Japan than among those in China. Obesity prevalence was 2.84 times higher in China than in Japan. An inverted U-shaped relationship was observed between physical fitness and nutritional status. Children and adolescents showed markedly lower physical fitness and higher obesity prevalence in China than in Japan.

Compromised oral health can alter food choices. Poor masticatory function leads to imbalanced food intake and undesirable nutritional status. The associations among nutritional status, oral health behavior, and self-assessed oral functions status were investigated using a community-based survey. In total, 701 subjects more than 50 years old living Ebina city located southwest of the capital Tokyo were investigated. The number of remaining teeth was counted by dental hygienists. Oral health behavior and self-assessed oral functions were evaluated by oral frailty checklist. Nutritional status was evaluated by the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire using Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese as reference. More than 80% of subjects' intakes of vitamin B 12 , pantothenic acid, copper, and proteins were sufficient. In contrast, only 19% of subjects' intake of vitamin A was sufficient and 35.5% for vitamin B 1 . More than 90% of subjects' intakes of vitamin D and vitamin K were sufficient. Only 35.5% of subjects' intakes of dietary fiber were sufficient. Overall, 88.9% of subjects had excess salt. The number of remaining teeth was not correlated with nutritional intakes. Oral health behavior significantly correlated with nutritional intakes. Oral functions are important for food choice; however, oral functions were not directly correlated with nutritional intakes. Comprehensive health instructions including nutrition and oral health education is necessary for health promotion.

The Izumi Plain in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, is a major wintering ground for wild cranes. Between October 2009 and March 2016, a total of 204 Hooded Cranes Grus monacha and White-naped Cranes G. vipio were found dead or in a weak condition in the plane. Of these, 56 cranes had bone fractures. The rate of incidence of fracture was considered to be higher in White-naped than in Hooded Cranes. Tibia fractures were the most common. The leg and wing fracture numbers were almost equal. Forty six percent of the fracture cases were believed to be caused by collisions with the power line.

We previously reported a hospital-based epidemiological study on enterovirus (EV)-D68 infection among children during the autumn of 2015, which indirectly inferred an outbreak in Sendai, Japan. In this study, stocked sera of children (aged 0-6 years; without symptoms of infectious diseases) in the Sendai community collected during 4 periods (1 year before, 6 months before, immediately after, and 1 year after the possible outbreak period) were analyzed using the neutralization antibody titer assay to determine community children's immunity levels against EV-D68 infection. The immunity levels were confirmed to have increased during the possible outbreak period and to have gradually waned over 1 year without another outbreak. These results provide background information supporting the results of our previous hospital-based surveillance study.

Background: This study aimed to compare the difference in cardiorespiratory fitness between Chinese and Japanese children and adolescents., Methods: Participants comprised 9025 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from China and Japan. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was measured by performance in the 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) and estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ). Differences in CRF between countries were evaluated by t -tests. Centile curves for the 20mSRT and VO 2max values were constructed for Chinese and Japanese children and adolescents, respectively, using the Lambda Mu and Sigma (LMS) method., Results: (1) For most of the age groups, the 20mSRT and VO 2max performances among Chinese participants were lower than among Japanese participants. (2) Japanese children had the most apparent gains in P 10 , P 50 , and P 90 VO 2max values in primary school; however, they gradually decreased in middle school. For Chinese girls, the P 10 , P 50 , and P 90 VO 2max values decreased gradually with age. (3) The VO 2max value among Japanese children increased; however, it decreased or remained flat among Chinese children in primary school., Conclusions: CRF among Chinese participants was lower than among Japanese participants while the VO 2max value showed different trends in primary school. Effective measures should be taken to improve CRF among children and adolescents.

From November 2009 to December 2013 in the Philippines, 15 influenza C viruses were isolated, using MDCK cells, from specimens obtained from children with severe pneumonia and influenza-like illness (ILI). This is the first report of influenza C virus isolation in the Philippines. In addition, from January 2008 to December 2013, 7 influenza C viruses were isolated from specimens that were obtained from children with acute respiratory illness (ARI) in Sendai city, Japan. Antigenic analysis with monoclonal antibodies to the hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoprotein showed that 19 strains (12 from the Philippines and 7 from Japan) were similar to the influenza C virus reference strain C/Sao Paulo/378/82 (SP82). Phylogenetic analysis of the HE gene showed that the strains from the Philippines and Japan formed distinct clusters within an SP82-related lineage. The clusters that included the Philippine and Japanese strains were shown to have diverged from a common ancestor around 1993. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of the internal genes showed that all strains isolated in the Philippines and Japan had emerged through reassortment events. The composition of the internal genes of the Philippine strains was different from that of the Japanese strains, although all strains were classified into an SP82-related lineage by HE gene sequence analysis. These observations suggest that the influenza C viruses analyzed here had emerged through different reassortment events; however, the time and place at which the reassortment events occurred were not determined., (Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

Influenza has a significant impact on public health when a natural disaster occurs during the influenza season. However, the epidemiological characteristics of influenza following natural disasters have not been well documented due to the difficulty of implementing laboratory-based influenza surveillance in such situations. The Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011, when influenza was already circulating. Since routine influenza surveillance was not performed in Miyagi Prefecture, we initiated an ad hoc laboratory-based monitoring system immediately after the earthquake. From March 15 to May 19, we tested 277 samples for influenza virus collected around Sendai City and from evacuation centers in Miyagi Prefecture. Influenza A (H3N2) was detected in 112 cases, influenza A (H1N1) 2009 in one case, and influenza B in 92 cases. The H3N2 virus was dominant until the 14th week. However, a sudden increase in the number of influenza B cases occurred after schools were reopened. According to phylogenetic analysis, a major clade switch of the H3N2 virus took place after the earthquake. The Yamagata lineage of influenza B was detected in one patient from western Japan, indicating the importing of viruses into the affected area.

Background and Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects one of five adults in the general population. Although a high prevalence of OSA has been reported among dialysis patients, the association between nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) and OSA has not been fully investigated. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of OSA among nondialysis CKD patients in Japan and the association between renal function and OSA., Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Consecutive nondialysis CKD patients hospitalized mainly for CKD educational program, regardless of their sleep complaints, were enrolled. The diagnosis of OSA and its severity were measured using a type 3 portable monitor., Results: Overall (n=100, 68.0% male, median age 66.5 years, body mass index [BMI] 23.1 kg/m(2), estimated GFR [eGFR] 28.5 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)), 65% were diagnosed as OSA: mild OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] 5.0 to 14.9) in 32%, moderate OSA (AHI 15.0 to 29.9) in 25%, and severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30.0) in 8%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a 10-ml/min per 1.73 m(2) decrease in eGFR was associated with a 42% increased odds of OSA after adjustment for age, BMI, and diabetes mellitus. Moreover, in a generalized linear model, eGFR was inversely correlated with AHI after adjustment for covariates., Conclusions: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of OSA among nondialysis CKD patients in Japan and that the increased risk of OSA was significantly associated with decreased GFR among these patients. Further investigations are warranted to determine OSA's direct influence on cardiovascular disease., (Copyright © 2011 by the American Society of Nephrology)

In the 2006-to-2007 influenza season, amantadine-sensitive strains were found among the N-lineage influenza A (H3N2) viruses, which were previously believed to be associated with amantadine resistance. Whole-genome sequencing results indicated that this was due to a further reassortment event.