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To assess the cervical magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) imaging quality obtained with compressed sensing and sensitivity-encoding (compressed SENSE; CS-SENSE) technique in comparison to that obtained with the conventional parallel imaging (i.e., SENSE) technique. Five healthy volunteers underwent a three-dimensional (3D) turbo spin-echo (TSE)-based cervical MRN examination using a 3.0 Tesla MR-unit. All MRN acquisitions were performed with CS-SENSE and conventional SENSE. We used four acceleration factors (4, 8, 16 and 32) in CS-SENSE. The image quality in MRN was evaluated by assessing the degree of cervical nerve depiction using the contrast ratio (CR) and contrast-noise ratio (CNR) between the cervical nerve and the background signal intensity and a visual scoring system (1: poor, 2: moderate, 3: good). In all of the CR, CNR and visual score, we calculated the ratio of the CS-SENSE-based MRN to that from SENSE-based MRN plus the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of these ratios. In the multiple comparison of MRN images with the control of conventional SENSE-based MRN, both the quantitative CR values and the visual score for the CS-SENSE factors of 16 and 32 were significantly lower, whereas the CS-SENSE factors of 4 and 8 showed a non-significant difference. In addition, the quantitative CNR values obtained with the CS-SENSE factors of 4 and 8 were significantly higher than that obtained with the conventional SENSE-based MRN while the CS-SENSE factor of 32 was significantly lower, in contrast, the CS-SENSE factors of 16 showed a non-significant difference. For CS-SENSE factors of 4 and 8, all ratios of the CS-SENSE-based MRN values for CR, CNR and visual scores to those from SENSE-based MRN were above 0.95. CS-SENSE-based MRN can accomplish fast scanning with sufficient image quality when using a high acceleration factor. • CS-SENSE demonstrated the accelerated scanning of MR neurography (MRN). • Acceleration factor of 8 was the most appropriate for fast acquisition in MRN. • CS-SENSE can reduce the scanning time in half with well-maintained image quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a worldwide public health problem and is often treated by non-nephrologists. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of non-nephrologists, undergraduate medical students and health professionals regarding AKI. An unsupervised and closed-response electronic questionnaire was sent to sixth-year medical students and non-nephrologist health professionals working in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 424 responses were returned from 650 invitations (40.1% males, 39.2% physicians, 34.0% senior medical students or resident physicians, 16.3% nurses and 10.6% pharmacists). The knowledge of medical students and health professionals about the prevalence and lethality of AKI in hospitals ranged from 40.8% to 59.2%. The most recognized susceptibilities and risk factors for AKI were sepsis/septic shock (95.0%) and diabetes mellitus (91.3%); the less-recognized susceptibilities and risk factors were exposure to gadolinium-based contrast (23.3%) and chronic liver disease (55.7%). The study participants' rate of knowledge regarding the diagnosis of AKI was 50.9–73.6%, and their rate of knowledge regarding the criteria of increased serum creatinine and reduced urine volume was 52.6%. The most-recognized nephrotoxic medications were vancomycin (82.3%) and diclofenac (80.4%), and the least-recognized were acyclovir (34.0%) and cotrimoxazole (30.4%). The indications for emergency renal replacement therapy that were recognized by the study respondents were metabolic acidosis (82.3%), uremic syndrome (81.6%), hyperkalemia unresponsive to clinical treatment (78.1%) and acute pulmonary edema (71.6%). The study showed knowledge gaps that can impact patient care and can be used to guide professional training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article proposes a method of estimating the dielectric constant or propagation velocity of a cylindrical object. The method is simple but robust, completely noninvasive, and suitable for in situ use. The method employs a set of transmission measurements, which record travel times through the object with various path lengths. The shape of the arrival time curve is evaluated and the dielectric constant that best describes the curve shape is obtained as the estimate. The measurement configuration can be seen similar to that of common shot, common midpoint (CMP), or multioffset measurement in ground-penetrating radar (GPR) measurements. The proposed method was demonstrated using synthetic data and in laboratory experiments using a tree log and cemented sand samples with various water contents. The results indicated that the dielectric constant was reasonably estimated by the proposed technique, with an estimation error at least within 10% for the experiments discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined college students' perceptions of the association between smoking and novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), changes in smoking behavior, and interest in quitting categorized by smoking device, to identify public health challenges. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 8,547 students in a Japanese university in March and April 2021. In response to "Awareness of the increased risk of COVID-19 infection due to smoking and the tendency to develop severe disease", current smokers (70.2%) were more aware of the risk than non-smokers (49.8%) (p < 0.001), with no significant difference according to smoking device (p = 0.213). "Interest in quitting smoking" (p = 0.323), and "Changes in smoking behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic" (p = 0.146) did not differ by smoking device. However, approximately 50% of the respondents answered that they were not interested in quitting smoking, while two-thirds reported that the number of cigarettes they smoked did not change during the pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, college students were found to be less interested in quitting and not likely to change their smoking behavior, despite the knowledge of the increased risk of COVID-19 transmission and severity of disease from smoking, regardless of smoking device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cactus is a connected graph that does not contain K4 − e as a minor. Given a graph G = (V,E) and an integer k ≥ 0, Cactus Vertex Deletion (also known as Diamond Hitting Set) is the problem of deciding whether G has a vertex set of size at most k whose removal leaves a forest of cacti. The previously best deterministic parameterized algorithm for this problem was due to Bonnet et al. [WG 2016], which runs in time 26knO(1), where n is the number of vertices of G. In this paper, we design a deterministic algorithm for Cactus Vertex Deletion, which runs in time 17.64knO(1). As an almost straightforward application of our algorithm, we also give a deterministic 17.64knO(1)-time algorithm for Even Cycle Transversal, which improves the previous running time 50knO(1) of the known deterministic parameterized algorithm due to Misra et al. [WG 2012]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Functional recoveries after rehabilitation of patients with branch atheromatous disease (BAD) have not been well investigated, however, clinical category of cerebral infarction including BAD itself could be a potential predictive factor for functional outcome. Objective: To describe characteristics of functional recoveries of patients with BAD through comparison with other types of cerebral infarction. Methods: We retrospectively compared outcomes of patients with BAD (N = 222), cardioembolic cerebral infarction (CE: N = 177) and atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (AT: N = 219) by using functional independence measure (FIM) and FIM effectiveness (the proportion of potential for improvement achieved). Results: Univariate analysis showed that FIM on discharge was comparable among three types of cerebral infarction, but that FIM effectiveness in patients with BAD was significantly higher than those with CE or AT. Stratified analysis revealed higher FIM effectiveness in patients with BAD compared to patients with CE or AT, if they were male, younger (≤72 years) or had supratentorial brain lesions. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that location of the brain lesion (supratentorial vs infratentorial) and gender (male vs female) were significantly associated with FIM on discharge, and that cognitive function on admission as well as gender were significantly associated with FIM effectiveness in patients with BAD, but not in patients with CE or AT. Conclusions: Outcomes after rehabilitation of patients with BAD may be characterized by better functional improvement, especially if patients are male, relatively younger or with supratentorial lesions. The impact and the type of factors related to functional recoveries of patients with BAD may be different from other types of stroke. The present study suggested that clinical category of stroke should be taken into consideration in prediction of outcomes and planning of rehabilitation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a major challenge to safely performing haemodialysis. Blood volume depletion due to fluid removal is a major cause of hypotension, so more emphasis should be placed on finding alternative modalities to traditional constant rate ultrafiltration. Summary: Intermittent back-filtrate infusion haemodiafiltration (I-HDF) utilises purified online quality dialysate with an automated dialysis machine. A bolus of 200 mL of dialysate is repetitively infused at 30-min intervals. A pilot study with 68 hypotension-prone patients revealed that I-HDF can reduce the frequency of IDH interventions, particularly in elderly patients and patients with large interdialytic weight gain (IDWG). This was typically accompanied by an increase in intradialytic blood pressure and decreased tachycardia in the latter half of the session, suggesting reduced sympathetic stimulation during I-HDF. Protective mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of IDH could be explained in part by the findings obtained in this pilot study. Intermittent increases in blood pressure during I-HDF may prevent venous pooling (i.e., the DeJager-Krogh phenomenon), and reduced sympathetic stimulation may maintain a physiological state less likely to induce the cardio-vagal reflex (i.e., the Bezold-Jarisch reflex). The plasma refilling rate (PRR), evaluated as the refilling fraction (RF), is unexpectedly smaller in I-HDF. However, in patients who respond, the RF is well achieved, which suggests that adequate PRR is the central physiology for preventing IDH. Patients for whom I-HDF is effective are characteristically relatively elderly and show increased IDWG. Blood pressure increment and reduced sympathetic activation in I-HDF may be a mechanism for prevention of IDH. Key Messages: Evaluating relative changes in blood volume during I-HDF will provide a new perspective for exploring appropriate ultrafiltration modification that circumvents IDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and obesity can decrease the patients’ cardiopulmonary capacity, physical functioning and quality of life. The search for effective and practical alternative methods of exercise to engage patients in training programs is of great importance. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of home-based versus center-based aerobic exercise on the cardiopulmonary and functional capacities, quality of life and quality of sleep of overweight non-dialysis-dependent patients with CKD (NDD-CKD).Methods: Forty sedentary overweight patients CKD stages 3 and 4 were randomly assigned to an exercise group [home-based group (n = 12) or center-based exercise group (n = 13)] or to a control group (n = 15) that did not perform any exercise. Cardiopulmonary exercise test, functional capacity tests, quality of life, quality of sleep and clinical parameters were assessed at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks.Results: The VO2peak and all cardiopulmonary parameters evaluated were similarly improved (p < 0.05) after 12 and 24 weeks in both exercise groups. The functional capacity tests improved during the follow-up in the home-based group (p < 0.05) and reached values similar to those obtained in the center-based group. The benefits achieved in both exercise groups were also reflected in improvement of quality of life and sleep (p < 0.05). No differences were observed between the exercise groups, and no changes in any of the parameters investigated were found in the control group.Conclusion: Home-based aerobic training was as effective as center-based training in improving the physical and functional capabilities, quality of life and sleep in overweight NDD-CKD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is one of the major problems in performing safe hemodialysis (HD). As blood volume depletion by fluid removal is a major cause of hypotension, careful regulation of blood volume change is fundamental. This study examined the effect of intermittent back-filtrate infusion hemodiafiltration (I-HDF), which modifies infusion and ultrafiltration pattern. Methods: Purified on-line quality dialysate was intermittently infused by back filtration through the dialysis membrane with a programmed dialysis machine. A bolus of 200 ml of dialysate was infused at 30 min intervals. The volume infused was offset by increasing the fluid removal over the next 30 min by an equivalent amount. Seventy-seven hypotension-prone patients with over 20-mmHg reduction of systolic blood pressure during dialysis or intervention-requirement of more than once a week were included in the crossover study of 4 weeks duration for each modality. In a total of 1632 sessions, the frequency of interventions, the blood pressure, and the pulse rate were documented. Results: During I-HDF, interventions for symptomatic hypotension were reduced significantly from 4.5 to 3.0 (per person-month, median) and intradialytic systolic blood pressure was 4 mmHg higher on average. The heart rate was lower during I-HDF than HD in the later session. Older patients and those with greater interdialytic weight gain responded to I-HDF. Conclusions: I-HDF could reduce interventions for IDH. It is accompanied with the increased intradialytic blood pressure and the less tachycardia, suggesting less sympathetic stimulation occurs. Thus, I-HDF could be beneficial for some hypotension-prone patients. UMIN registration number: 000013816. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the factors influencing subjective health views based on the living conditions and concerns of university students during the coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. From March to April 2021, a questionnaire survey was administered to 8,547 Japanese university students, and logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors related to subjective health views. The results showed that satisfaction with quality of sleep (OR = 2.651, 95% Cl 2.370-2.966, p < 0.001), satisfaction with university life (OR = 2.486, 95%Cl 2.215-2.789, p < 0.001), satisfaction with diet (OR = 1.849, 95% CI: 1.496-2.285, p < 0.001), regular exercise (OR = 1.759, 95% CI: 1.594-1.941, p < 0.001), consciousness of nutritional balance (OR = 1.276, 95% CI: 1.147-1.420, p < 0.001), eating breakfast every day (OR = 1.247, 95% CI: 1.121-1.387, p < 0.001), and consuming soft drinks at least once a week (OR = 0.865, 95% CI: 0.755-0.966, p = 0.010) were positive factors for subjective views of health. On the other hand, anxiety about whether the necessary credits can be obtained (OR = 0.885, 95% CI: 0.799-0.980, p = 0.019), infection from minimal outings (OR = 0.881, 95% CI: 0.794-0.976, p = 0.016) building and maintaining friendships on campus (OR = 0.867, 95% CI: 0.767-0.980, p = 0.023), and being able to continue working (OR = 0.713, 95% CI: 0.640-0.795, p < 0.001) were identified as negative factors. To ensure a healthy university life during the COVID-19 pandemic or future pandemic, supports tailored to students' living conditions and measures to address their anxieties are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon materials with nano-sized particles were found to be synthesized by defluorination of perfluoroorganic compound monomer, octafluoronaphthalene, at very low temperature of only 150°C. In this reaction, the precursor compound reacted with sodium at their vapor phases to deposit solid carbon particles like a kind of chemical vapor deposition system. Their structural and morphological change by heat-treatment of product carbon was investigated. It was found that non-graphitized fibrous carbon and graphitized spherical carbon were co-synthesized at the same time. Lithium insertion behavior of OFN carbon was also investigated preliminarily in order to discuss the more detailed character of carbon by this defluorination method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tribological characteristics of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) disks molded at 130–190°C were studied. The highest crystallinity was obtained for the sheet molded at 130°C, but crystallinity decreased with increasing molding temperature. Beyond 150°C, the resultant crystallinity reached a constant level. The dynamic friction coefficients of these UHMW-PE disks were measured using a ball-on-disk friction tester. The friction coefficient decreased with increasing number of rotations in the early stage of the measurement, and achieved at an equilibrium level, independent of the molding temperature. The steady-state friction coefficient was 0.04 for the disk molded at 130°C and increased with increasing molding temperature. The disks molded at 150–190°C always had a steady-state friction coefficient of 0.065. The surface deformation of each disk was evaluated from the observation of the resultant wear track. Analyzing the relationship between the above friction coefficient and width of the wear track enabled us to interpret the tribological mechanism generated in this study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Flecainide, a class Ic antiarrhythmic drug, has been anecdotally reported to improve myotonia, but little is known about its kinetics on human skeletal muscle sodium channels applicable in vivo. Here we explored the anti-myotonic action of flecainide for human skeletal muscle sodium channels heterologously expressed in cultured cells. Flecainide blocked sodium channels in a highly state-dependent manner with 20-fold difference in IC50 between use-dependent and tonic blocks. When pulses of brief depolarization simulating myotonia were applied from a holding potential of −90 mV, flecainide at therapeutic concentrations significantly blocked sodium currents. Flecainide slowed the time course of recovery but most channels recovered from block within 10–20 s. In contrast to mexiletine, flecainide did not markedly block sodium current during prolonged depolarization, suggesting an open-channel blocking action. Considering the slow recovery from block and the specific action against repetitive depolarization, flecainide may represent a potent therapeutic agent for myotonia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have investigated the photoluminescence (PL) and the magnetic properties of CdPS3 intercalated with Ce and Eu ions. Two kinds of the intercalated phases are obtained. In the first phases (P Ce and P Eu), the hydrated rare earth ions exist in the van der Waals gap. The second phases (D Ce and D Eu) are obtained by the dehydration of P Ce and P Eu. Rare earth ions are inserted into the lamellar layers in them. All phases are paramagnetic. While the magnetic properties of P Ce, P Eu and D Ce are explained by Ce3+ and Eu3+ ions, respectively, those of D Eu suggest the coexistence of Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions. In the PL spectra at 4.2K, while 4f→5d transition of Ce3+ ions is observed in D Ce, 4f→4f transition of Eu3+ ions and 4f→5d transition of Eu2+ ions are observed in D Eu. These are consistent with the magnetic properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A 47-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with severe Legionella pneumonia. The respiratory symptoms improved dramatically and the X-rays revealed a decrease in the diffuse chest infiltrates after treatment with erythromycin and rifampicin. However, chest CT scans showed that the reticulonodular opacities persisted for several weeks after the onset of pneumonia. Two months after admission, the chest X-rays showed the progression of small nodules in both lungs and there was increasing respiratory distress. A diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis was confirmed. The present case should alert physicians to this potentially confusing combination of respiratory pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The removal of low- and medium-molecular-weight proteins has been improved with online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) and hemodialysis using high-flux membranes; however, the outcomes of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing dialysis treatment are still worse than in the general population. α1-Microglobulin (α1-m), with a molecular weight of 33,000 Da, may contribute to dialysis-related disorders and mortality. However, the removal is insufficient even with current OL-HDF using the polysulfone (PS) membrane, which is common in Japan. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) membranes can remove medium- to high-molecular-weight proteins by adsorption. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of removing medium- to high-molecular-weight proteins, such as α1-m and β2-microglobulin (β2-m), through post-dilution OL-HDF with PMMA (Post-PMMA). The assessment was conducted in comparison to pre-dilution OL-HDF with PS (Pre-PS), using an open-label, single-arm study. Methods: Seven patients with ESKD on Pre-PS underwent Post-PMMA with replacement volume of 30 mL/min (low flow) and 50 mL/min (high flow). Clearance and removal rates of α1-m, β2-m, small molecules, inflammatory cytokines, and albumin were measured at 60 and 240 min of treatment. Results: Clearance rates of α1-m at 60 min were −2.8 ± 5.2 mL/min with Pre-PS, −0.4 ± 2.6 mL/min with Post-PMMA (low), and 0.6 ± 3.4 mL/min with Post-PMMA (high). The removal rate of α1-m was higher in Post-PMMA than that in Pre-HDF-PS (Post-PMMA [high] 17.7 ± 5.9%, Post-PMMA [low] 15.0 ± 5.6%, and Pre-PS 4.1 ± 5.5%). Adsorption clearance of β2-m was increased with Post-PMMA. Albumin leakage in Post-PMMA was not higher than that in Pre-PS. Conclusion: The removal rate of α1-m with Post-PMMA was higher than that with Pre-PS. The PMMA membrane adsorbed β2-m, suggesting the removal effect of medium- to high-molecular-weight proteins by the adsorption method. Since Post-PMMA effectively removes α1-m without excessive albumin leakage, it will be useful for patients with ESKD, especially those with a poor nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic prediction (GP) is expected to become a powerful technology for accelerating the genetic improvement of complex crop traits. Several GP models have been proposed to enhance their applications in plant breeding, including environmental effects and genotype-by-environment interactions (G×E). In this study, we proposed a two-step model for plant biomass prediction wherein environmental information and growth-related traits were considered. First, the growth-related traits were predicted by GP. Second, the biomass was predicted from the GP-predicted values and environmental data using machine learning or crop growth modeling. We applied the model to a 2-year-old field trial dataset of recombinant inbred lines of japonica rice and evaluated the prediction accuracy with training and testing data by cross-validation performed over two years. Therefore, the proposed model achieved an equivalent or a higher correlation between the observed and predicted values (0.53 and 0.65 for each year, respectively) than the model in which biomass was directly predicted by GP (0.40 and 0.65 for each year, respectively). This result indicated that including growth-related traits enhanced accuracy of biomass prediction. Our findings are expected to contribute to the spread of the use of GP in crop breeding by enabling more precise prediction of environmental effects on crop traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We examine the effect of very light exercise on pupil size and prefrontal function. • Very light exercise improved executive function and task-related neural activation. • Pupil dilation mediated beneficial effects of exercise on executive function. • Pupil-linked neural substrate may account for cognitive potentiation post-exercise. Physical exercise, even stress-free very-light-intensity exercise such as yoga and very slow running, can have beneficial effects on executive function, possibly by potentiating prefrontal cortical activity. However, the exact mechanisms underlying this potentiation have not been identified. Evidence from studies using pupillometry demonstrates that pupil changes track the real-time dynamics of activity linked to arousal and attention, including neural circuits from the locus coeruleus to the cortex. This makes it possible to examine whether pupil-linked brain dynamics induced during very-light-intensity exercise mediate benefits to prefrontal executive function in healthy young adults. In this experiment, pupil diameter was measured during 10 min of very-light-intensity exercise (30% V ˙ o 2peak). A Stroop task was used to assess executive function before and after exercise. Prefrontal cortical activation during the task was assessed using multichannel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). We observed that very-light-intensity exercise significantly elicited pupil dilation, reduction of Stroop interference, and task-related left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation compared with the resting-control condition. The magnitude of change in pupil dilation predicted the magnitude of improvement in Stroop performance. In addition, causal mediation analysis showed that pupil dilation during very-light-intensity exercise robustly determined subsequent enhancement of Stroop performance. This finding supports our hypothesis that the pupil-linked mechanisms, which may be tied to locus coeruleus activation, are a potential mechanism by which very light exercise enhances prefrontal cortex activation and executive function. It also suggests that pupillometry may be a useful tool to interpret the beneficial impact of exercise on boosting cognition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, firefighters have been working in an environment that is both physically and mentally taxing. This study aimed to investigate factors affecting health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among firefighters in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 227 firefighters from a single firefighting organization were surveyed in June 2021, during the fourth infection spread period of COVID-19 in Japan. Regression analysis was performed to examine factors affecting HRQOL of firefighters measured with the SF-8. In the present study, factors affecting HRQOL among firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic were lack of sleep, physical abnormalities due to infection control measures, exercise habits, living with family members, and history of suspected COVID-19 infection. The present findings may help develop support services for first responders, including firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) membranes were first developed in Japan in 1977. Over its 30-year history, use of PMMA has given rise to a new generation of dialysers and continues to evolve. In long-term observation of patients treated with PMMA membranes (BK series), it has been found that serum β2-microglobulin is maintained at a significantly lower level than in haemodialysis (HD) patients undergoing treatment with conventional cellulosic membranes. Regarding long-term side effects, radiolucent bone cysts (RBC) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have developed in relatively few patients undergoing HD with PMMA membranes.The profiles of various proteins in the blood of HD patients differ from those in normal subjects. PMMA membranes remove a wide variety of solutes not only via permeation, but also adsorption. Numerous reports have noted that pruritus can be ameliorated with the use of slightly anionic PMMA membranes (BG series). We have been performing proteomic analysis of plasma from HD patients with pruritus. We have confirmed that slightly anionic PMMA membranes can adsorb components with a molecular weight of 160 000 Da, which have stimulatory effect on mast cells from pruritus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing is an important part of a comprehensive prevention strategy in public health. To assess the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in a university athletic club community with repeated occurrences of SARS-CoV-2 infections, we conducted a cross-sectional survey for asymptomatic antibody prevalence using a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antibody test kit. On January 26, 2021 we administered questionnaires to determine their history of contact with infected individuals and took blood samples from 129 undergraduates. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among the subjects was 3.9%. Only 6.2% of the participants reported close contact with infected individuals. In this study, we clarified the prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in university athletic clubs where SARS-CoV-2 infections had repeatedly occurred, which will be helpful in discussing how to identify and prevent the transmission of infections within university athletic club communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smokers may have lower antibody titers after vaccination with a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccine. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has evaluated antibody titers after COVID-19 vaccination based on the level of smokers' cigarette dependence. In this study, we measured the level of serum anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) immunoglobulin-G (IgG) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay of 55 actively smoking Japanese social workers (firefighters, paramedics, and rescue workers) who had received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Further, we assessed their cigarette dependence using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), measured their serum cotinine levels, and tested for their correlation with anti-RBD IgG levels. Serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD protein IgG levels after BNT162b2 vaccination showed a significant negative correlation with FTND (Ï = -0.426, p = 0.001). In addition, serum cotinine level showed a significant positive correlation with FTND (Ï = 0.470, p = 0.000). However, no significant negative correlation was noted between serum cotinine and serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD protein IgG levels (Ï = -0.156, p = 0.256). Our results suggest that smokers with strong cigarette dependence have inadequate anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD protein IgG levels after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The prevalence of obesity has markedly increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Studies on the impact of exercise focusing on obese CKD patients are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise performed either in an exercise centre or at home on visceral fat in overweight non-dialysed CKD patients. Methods Twenty-seven sedentary men (52.1 ± 9.5 years, body mass index 30.4 ± 3.8 kg/m2, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 27.5 ± 11.6 mL/min) were randomly assigned to a centre-based exercise group (n = 10), home-based exercise group (n = 8) or control group (n = 9). The aerobic training was prescribed according to ventilatory threshold and performed three times per week during 12 weeks. Body composition was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and the distribution of abdominal fat by computed tomography. Results In the centre-based group, visceral fat and waist circumference decreased 6.4 ± 6.4 mm (P < 0.01) and 2.0 ± 2.3 cm (P = 0.03) and leg lean mass increased 0.5 ± 0.4 kg (P < 0.01). No significant changes were observed in the home-based group. Visceral fat increased 5.0 ± 4.4 mm in the control group (P = 0.01). In relation to the control, a group-by-time interaction was significant for visceral fat and waist circumference for both exercise groups and for leg lean mass for the centre-based group. Mean blood pressure decreased in both exercise groups (centre-based 13%, P < 0.01 and home-based 10%, P = 0.03) and eGFR increased 3.6 ± 4.6 mL/min (P = 0.03) in the centre-based group. These parameters remained unchanged in the control group. Conclusions Centre-based aerobic exercise is an effective approach to reduce visceral fat besides promoting relevant clinical benefits in male overweight CKD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ∼50 Myr old Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) arc consists mostly of Oligocene middle and lower crust that underlies the upper crust; these units are in turn covered by Quaternary volcanic rocks. Seismic imaging, forearc geology, Ocean Drilling Program drilling and magnetic anomalies suggest that most IBM arc crust was created in Eocene–Oligocene times. However, remnants of this old crust have never been found at the northern end of the arc, where it is colliding with the Honshu arc (Izu collision zone). Two batholiths in this collision zone (the Tanzawa tonalites and the Kofu Granitic Complex) were emplaced during the Miocene (4–17 Ma). Major elements, Zr/Y, rare earth element ratios and normalized abundance patterns, and Sr–Nd isotopic data indicate that these plutonic bodies are compositionally similar to the Oligocene IBM volcanic rocks, and that they are dissimilar to the Miocene, Pliocene and Quaternary IBM lavas and volcaniclastic rocks. We suggest that the Miocene plutonic rocks in the Izu collision zone were derived from partially melted Oligocene middle crust. A model is proposed in which IBM arc middle crust in the collision zone was partially melted during the collision and then intruded into the overlying upper crust of the Honshu and IBM arcs. This resulted in the complete loss of chronological information related to their original source. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Arc volcanism of the past 10 my in the northeast Honshu and Izu-Bonin Arcs shows several notable features. In the northeast Honshu Arc, the spatial distribution of volcanism exhibits several clusters elongated nearly perpendicular to the arc and the possible migration of volcanism from the back-arc side to the volcanic front side, at least, during the past 5 my. The pattern of clusters seems to have flip-flopped around 5 Ma. In the Izu-Bonin Arc, there are a series of across-arc seamount chains, in which volcanic activity occurred from ca 17 Ma to ca 3 Ma, similar to the clusters of the northeast Honshu Arc, although the recent active rifting occurs almost parallel to the arc. On the basis of studies of numerical modeling, these features might be explained, at least qualitatively, by the small-scale convection under the island arc. Several inferences can be made from our modeling results for the tectonics of the Izu-Bonin Arc. The angle of dip of subducting plate in the Izu-Bonin Arc might have increased. This can explain the disappearance of volcanism along the seamount chains and the recent along-arc volcanism with narrow rifting. The trend of seamount chains, which is oblique to the arc, might not be their intrinsic feature but rather a result of the lateral movement of the back-arc region after their formation. These inferences can be tested by the future detailed morphological and chronological studies of the Izu-Bonin Arc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time course of B-cell memory development to a dinitrophenyl (DNP) T-independent type-2 (TI-2) antigen was investigated by adoptive cell transfer. Strong IgM and IgG memory developed in BALB/c mice after immunization with DNP-dextran, to be recalled by challenge with either T-dependent (TD) antigen or TI-2 antigen. However, only weak IgM memory and very feeble IgG memory were detected in athymic nude mice receiving the same immunization as euthymic mice. Once memory was established under probable T cell influence, its recall by TI-2 antigen challenge seemed independent of T cell help and did not require sharing of carriers between priming and challenge antigens. The following may be concluded. (i) Long-term IgM and IgG memory is induced by TI-2 antigen priming in the presence of functional T cells. (ii) The class switch from IgM to IgG in the memory B cell pool is driven effectively by TI-2 antigen and is probably T cell-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that vitamin D regulates the immune system. However, whether vitamin D repletion modulates inflammatory responses in lymphocytes from dialysis patients is unclear. In the clinical trial, thirty-two (32) dialysis patients with 25 vitamin D ≤ 20ng/mL were randomized to receive either supplementation of cholecalciferol 100,000 UI/week/3 months (16 patients) or placebo (16 patients). In the in vitro study, B and T lymphocytes from 12 healthy volunteers (HV) were incubated with or without uremic serum in the presence or absence of 25 or 1,25 vitamin D. We evaluated the intracellular expression of IL-6, IFN-γ TLR7, TLR9, VDR, CYP27b1 and CYP24a1 by flow cytometry. We observed a reduction in the expression of TLR7, TLR9, INF-γ and CYP24a1 and an increase in VDR and CYP27b1 expression in patients which were supplemented with cholecalciferol, whereas no differences were found in the placebo group. Uremic serum increased the intracellular expression of IL-6, IFN-γ, TLR7, TLR9, VDR, CYP27b1 and CYP24a1. Treatment with 25 or 1,25 vitamin D decreased IL-6 and TLR9. CYP24a1 silencing plus treatment with 25 and/or 1,25 vitamin D had an additional reduction effect on IL-6, IFN-γ, TLR7 and TLR9 expression. This is the first study showing that cholecalciferol repletion has an anti-inflammatory effect and improves vitamin D intracellular regulatory enzymes on lymphocytes from dialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iodine concentration and radioisotopic composition (129I/I) were measured in the pore waters from the gas hydrate occurrence in the forearc basin offshore Shimokita Peninsula, north-eastern Japan, to determine the source formation of I and accompanying hydrocarbons. Iodine concentrations correlate well with the alkalinity and SO4 patterns, reflecting degradation stages of I-rich buried organic matter, rapidly increasing in the sulfate reduction interval, and becoming constant below 250 meters below the seafloor with an upwelling flux of 1.5 × 10−11 µmol cm−2 year−1. The 129I/I ratios of 300 × 10−15–400 × 10−15 in deep pore waters suggest ages for iodine and hydrocarbon sources as old as 40 Ma. These ages correlate well with the coaly source formations of the Eocene age thought to be responsible for the conventional natural gas deposits underlying the gas hydrate stability zone. Similar profiles are observed in 129I/I ratios of pore waters in the gas hydrate stability zone from the forearc basin in the eastern Nankai Trough, offshore central Japan, where pore waters are enriched in I and reach ages as old as ∼50 Ma through the sediment column. At the outer ridge site along the trough, on the other hand, relatively younger I are more frequently delivered probably through thrusts/faults associated with subduction. The nature of source formations of I and hydrocarbons in the offshore Shimokita Peninsula has a more terrestrial contribution compared with those in the Nankai Trough, but these formations are also considerably older than the host sediments, suggesting long-term transport of I and hydrocarbons for the accumulation of gas hydrates in both locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myotonia manifests in several hereditary diseases, including hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HyperPP), paramyotonia congenita (PMC), and potassium-aggravated myotonia (PAM). These are allelic disorders originating from missense mutations in the gene that codes the skeletal muscle sodium channel, Nav1.4. Moreover, a severe form of PAM has been designated as myotonia permanens. A new mutation of Nav1.4, Q1633E, was identified in a Japanese family presenting with the PAM phenotype. The proband suffered from cyanotic attacks during infancy. The mutated amino acid residue is located on the EF-hand calcium-binding motif in the intracellular C-terminus. A functional analysis of the mutant channel using the voltage-clamp method revealed disruption of fast inactivation, a slower rate of current decay, and a depolarized shift in the voltage dependence of availability. This study has identified a new mutation of PAM with a severe phenotype and emphasizes the importance of the C-terminus for fast inactivation of the sodium channel. Muscle Nerve 39: 666-673, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic reflections across the accretionary prism of the North Sulawesi provide excellent images of the various structural domains landward of the frontal thrust. The structural domain in the accretionary prism area of the North Sulawesi Trench can be divided into four zones: (i) trench area; (ii) Zone A; (iii) Zone B; and (iv) Zone C. Zone A is an active imbrication zone where a decollement is well imaged. Zone B is dominated by out-of-sequence thrusts and small slope basins. Zone C is structurally high in the forearc basin, overlain by a thick sedimentary sequence. The subducted and accreted sedimentary packages are separated by the decollement. Topography of the oceanic basement is rough, both in the basin and beneath the wedge. The accretionary prism along the North Sulawesi Trench grew because of the collision between eastern Sulawesi and the Bangai–Sula microcontinent along the Sorong Fault in the middle Miocene. This collision produced a large rotation of the north arm of Sulawesi Island. Rotation and northward movement of the north arm of Sulawesi may have resulted in southward subduction and development of the accretionary wedge along North Sulawesi. Lateral variations are wider in the western areas relative to the eastern areas. This is due to greater convergence rates in the western area: 5 km/My for the west and 1.5 km/My for the east. An accretionary prism model indicates that the initiation of growth of the accretionary prism in the North Sulawesi Trench occurred approximately 5 Ma. A comparison between the North Sulawesi accretionary prism and the Nankai accretionary prism of Japan reveals similar internal structures, suggesting similar mechanical processes and structural evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Increased vascularity in airway mucosa is a distinctive feature of airway remodelling in asthma. While corticosteroids have proved most effective in modifying airway inflammation, the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on increased airway mucosal vascularity in asthmatics has been little studied. Objective We examined the effect of inhaled corticosteroid on airway vascularity in bronchial biopsy specimens taken from asthmatic patients. Subjects and methods We studied bronchial biopsies from 28 asthmatic patients before and after treatment with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) 800 µg/daily, or placebo, for 6 months in a double-blind manner. Biopsy specimens were evaluated for number of vessels and percentage of area occupied by vessels, using computerized image analysis after staining for type IV collagen in vessel walls. Specimens were also examined for extent of collagen III in the subepithelial basement membrane. In addition, we compared asthmatic specimens with biopsy specimens taken from non-asthmatic control subjects. Results There was a significant increase in number of vessels (P < 0.01) and percent vascularity (P < 0.001) in the submucosa of asthmatic patients compared with control subjects. After 6 months of treatment, we observed significant improvements in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1% and airway responsiveness (P < 0.05, each) in the BDP treatment group compared with the placebo group. This was accompanied by significant decreases in both vessel number and percent vascularity in the airways of BDP-treated patients (P < 0.05, each). We also observed a significant correlation between change in percent vascularity and change in collagen III thickness in the BDP-treated patients (rs = 0.90, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the change in percent vascularity was inversely correlated with both FEV1 (rs = -0.49, P < 0.05) and airway responsiveness (rs = -0.36, P < 0.05). Conclusion These findings suggest that inhaled corticosteroid treatment of asthma reduced airway wall vascularity during airway remodelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New short-lived strains of mice (SAM-P), which have been developed by Takeda et al. (1981), show a defective antibody response to T dependent (TD) antigen in vitro, as demonstrated in the accompanying paper (see page 419). In the present study, we investigated the cellular site of the defect, using a cell culture system. In this paper, it is demonstrated that T-helper (Th) cell activity for the antibody response to TD antigen is impaired, while other cellular immune responses, e.g. mixed leucocyte reaction, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response, and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, are normal. These results suggest that the defect in T-helper subset is limited in helper function for the antibody response, and that the helper function for the cell-mediated immune responses is intact. These two functions of the T-helper subset are apparently regulated in a different manner. The SAM-P strains of mice may thus serve as an appropriate model for studying functional heterogeneity in T-helper/inducer cell subsets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a cell culture system, age-associated changes in immune activities were investigated in newly developed, short-lived mouse strains. These SAM-P strains of mice (H-2k), which have a remarkably short life span (around 9 months) under conventional breeding conditions, showed an age-associated early decline in several immune functions, as compared to ordinary strains of AKR/J (H-2k) and C3H/He (H-2k) mice. Their antibody-forming capacity to T-independent antigen, DNP-Ficoll, and natural killer (NK) cell activity showed a markedly early onset of regression and a sharp decline from the level of control mice at 2 months of age. SAM-P strains of mice have a profound defect in antibody response to a T-dependent (TD) antigen, such as sheep red blood cells (SRBC), thus there was only a feeble antibody response to SRBC as early as the age of 2 months, and a negligible response at a later age. In contrast, the allo-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response of the mice was as high as that of control mouse strains at 2 months of age and declined little until at least 6 months of age. The early age-related functional decline in the immune system of SAM-P mice suggests that these new inbred strains are appropriate models for investigating the age-related appearance of immune dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]