Unwillingness to cooperate with COVID-19 contact tracing in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Contact tracing for COVID-19 relies heavily on the cooperation of individuals with authorities to provide information of contact persons. However, few studies have clarified willingness to cooperate and motivation to provide information for contact tracing. This study sought to describe willingness to cooperate and motivation to report contact persons for COVID-19 contact tracing among citizens in Japan, and to assess any associated sociodemographic factors. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: This was an online-based survey using quota sampling. Participants were asked about their willingness to cooperate in reporting contacts for COVID-19 contact tracing if they tested positive. Participants also responded to questions regarding their reasons for cooperating or not cooperating and provided sociodemographic data. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to clarify associations between sociodemographic factors and willingness to cooperate. RESULTS: This study included 2844 participants. The proportion of participants who were not willing to cooperate in reporting contacts was 27.6%, with their main reasons being concerns about causing trouble for the other person and being criticised for revealing their names. Willingness to cooperate was lower among men, young adults and those with an educational level less than a university degree. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the effectiveness of contact tracing, educational campaigns, such as reducing the fear and stigma associated with COVID-19, may be important. Furthermore, it is essential to understand that individuals may have contacts whom they do not wish to disclose to others and to be considerate when handling such situations.

Occurrence of human respiratory syncytial virus in summer in Japan.

In temperate zones, human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) outbreaks typically occur in cold weather, i.e. in late autumn and winter. However, recent outbreaks in Japan have tended to start during summer and autumn. This study examined associations of meteorological conditions with the numbers of HRSV cases reported in summer in Japan. Using data from the HRSV national surveillance system and national meteorological data for summer during the period 2007-2014, we utilized negative binomial logistic regression analysis to identify associations between meteorological conditions and reported cases of HRSV. HRSV cases increased when summer temperatures rose and when relative humidity increased. Consideration of the interaction term temperature × relative humidity enabled us to show synergistic effects of high temperature with HRSV occurrence. In particular, HRSV cases synergistically increased when relative humidity increased while the temperature was ⩾28·2 °C. Seasonal-trend decomposition analysis using the HRSV national surveillance data divided by 11 climate divisions showed that summer HRSV cases occurred in South Japan (Okinawa Island), Kyushu, and Nankai climate divisions, which are located in southwest Japan. Higher temperature and higher relative humidity were necessary conditions for HRSV occurrence in summer in Japan. Paediatricians in temperate zones should be mindful of possible HRSV cases in summer, when suitable conditions are present.

Monoiodoacetic acid induces arthritis and synovitis in rats in a dose- and time-dependent manner: proposed model-specific scoring systems.

OBJECTIVE: In a rat monoiodoacetic acid (MIA)-induced arthritis model, the amount of MIA commonly used was too high, resulting in rapid bone destruction. We examined the effect of MIA concentrations on articular cartilage and infrapatellar fat pad (IFP). We also established an original system for "macroscopic cartilage and bone score" and "IFP inflammation score" specific to the rat MIA-induced arthritis model. DESIGN: Male Wistar rats received a single intra-articular injection of MIA in the knee. The amount of MIA was 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1 mg respectively. Articular cartilage was evaluated at 2-12 weeks. IFP was also observed at 3-14 days. RESULTS: Macroscopically, low MIA doses induced punctate depressions on the cartilage surface, and cartilage erosion proceeded slowly over 12 weeks, while higher MIA doses already induced cartilage erosion at 2 weeks, followed by bone destruction. MIA macroscopic cartilage and bone score, OARSI histological score, and Mankin score increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IFP inflammation score peaked at 5 days in low dose groups, then decreased, while in high dose groups, the IFP score continued to increase over 14 days due to IFP fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Punctate depressions, cartilage erosion, and bone destruction were observed in the MIA-induced arthritis model. The macroscopic cartilage and bone scoring enabled the quantification of cartilage degeneration and demonstrated that MIA-induced arthritis progressed in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IFP inflammation scores revealed that 0.2 mg MIA induced reversible synovitis, while 1 mg MIA induced fibrosis of the IFP body.

Delayed norovirus epidemic in the 2009-2010 season in Japan: potential relationship with intensive hand sanitizer use for pandemic influenza.

Norovirus (NoV) epidemics normally peak in December in Japan; however, the peak in the 2009-2010 season was delayed until the fourth week of January 2010. We suspected intensive hand hygiene that was conducted for a previous pandemic influenza in 2009 as the cause of this delay. We analysed the NoV epidemic trend, based on national surveillance data, and its associations with monthly output data for hand hygiene products, including alcohol-based skin antiseptics and hand soap. The delayed peak in the NoV incidence in the 2009-2010 season had the lowest number of recorded cases of the five seasons studied (2006-2007 to 2010-2011). GII.4 was the most commonly occurring genotype. The monthly relative risk of NoV and monthly output of both alcohol-based skin antiseptics and hand soap were significantly and negatively correlated. Our findings suggest an association between hand hygiene using these products and prevention of NoV transmission.

Characterization of influenza outbreaks in Lebanon during the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons.

Despite the significant burden of influenza outbreaks, active disease monitoring has been largely absent in the Middle East, including Lebanon. In this study we characterized influenza virus in 440 nasopharyngeal swabs collected from patients with acute respiratory infections during two influenza seasons in Lebanon. Influenza A(H3N2) was dominant in the 2013/14 season while the A(H1N1)pdm09 and B/Yamagata strains were most prevalent in the 2014/15 season. All tested isolates were susceptible to 4 neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir and laninamivir). Genetic analysis of the haemagglutinin gene revealed multiple introductions of influenza viruses into Lebanon from different geographic sources during each season. Additionally, large data gaps were identified in the Middle East region, as indicated by the lack of current influenza sequences in the database from many countries in the region.

Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium difficile isolated from a university teaching hospital in Japan.

Clostridium difficile infection control strategies require an understanding of its epidemiology. In this study, we analysed the toxin genotypes of 130 non-duplicate clinical isolates of C. difficile from a university hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and eBURST analysis were performed for these isolates and nine strains previously analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotyping. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for six antibiotics, and the bacterial resistance mechanisms were investigated. Ninety-five toxigenic strains (73%), including seven tcdA-negative, tcdB-positive and cdtA/cdtB-negative strains (A(-)B(+)CDT(-)) and three A(+)B(+)CDT(+) strains, and 35 (27%) non-toxigenic strains, were classified into 23 and 12 sequence types, respectively. Of these, sequence type (ST)17 (21.8%) was the most predominant. MLST and eBURST analysis showed that 139 strains belonged to seven groups and singletons, and most A(+)B(+)CDT(-) strains (98%, 89/91) were classified into group 1. All isolates were susceptible to metronidazole, vancomycin and meropenem; the ceftriaxone, clindamycin and ciprofloxacin resistance rates were 49, 59 and 99%, respectively. Resistance rates to ceftriaxone and clindamycin were higher in toxigenic strains than in non-toxigenic strains (P < 0.001). All ST17 and ST81 strains were resistant to these antibiotics. The clindamycin- and fluoroquinolone-resistant strains carried erm(B) and mutations in GyrA and/or GyrB, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first MLST-based study of the molecular epidemiology of toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains in Japan, providing evidence that non-toxigenic and toxigenic strains exhibit high genetic diversity and that toxigenic strains are more likely than non-toxigenic strains to exhibit multidrug resistance.

The spatial diffusion of norovirus epidemics over three seasons in Tokyo.

We studied the spatial trend of norovirus (NoV) epidemics using sentinel gastroenteritis surveillance data for patients aged <15 years (n = 140) in the Tokyo area for the 2006-2007 to 2008-2009 seasons utilizing the kriging method of geographical information system (GIS). This is the first study of the spreading pattern of NoV epidemics using sentinel surveillance data. Correlations of sentinel cases between the seasons and with demographic data were examined to identify the trend and related factors. A similar pattern of diffusion was observed over the seasons, and its mean correlation between seasons was significantly high. A higher number of cases were found in the peripheral area, which surrounds the most populated central area, and showed a correlation with the ratio of the children population (r = 0·321, P < 0·01) and the ratio of residents in larger families (r = 0·263, P < 0·01). While NoV susceptibility remained, the results suggest a transmission route in the local community as a possible epidemic factor. Prevention with focus on the peripheral area is desirable.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of interleukin-8 expression and its relationship to KRAS mutation in lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: On the basis of our recent findings of oncogenic KRAS-induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) overexpression in non-small cell lung cancer, we assessed the clinicopathological and prognostic significances of IL-8 expression and its relationship to KRAS mutations in lung adenocarcinomas. METHODS: IL-8 expression was examined by quantitative RT-PCR using 136 of surgical specimens from lung adenocarcinoma patients. The association between IL-8 expression, clinicopathological features, KRAS or EGFR mutation status and survival was analysed. RESULTS: IL-8 was highly expressed in tumours from elderly patients or smokers and in tumours with pleural involvement or vascular invasion. In a non-smokers' subgroup, IL-8 level positively correlated with age. IL-8 was highly expressed in tumours with KRAS mutations compared with those with EGFR mutations or wild-type EGFR/KRAS. Lung adenocarcinoma patients with high IL-8 showed significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with low IL8. DFS and OS were significantly shorter in the patients with mutant KRAS/high IL-8 than in those with wild-type KRAS/low IL-8. Cox regression analyses demonstrated that elevated IL-8 expression correlated with unfavourable prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that IL-8 expression is associated with certain clinicopathological features including age and is a potent prognostic marker in lung adenocarcinoma, especially in oncogenic KRAS-driven adenocarcinoma.

Using the G' Raman cross-section to understand the phonon dynamics in bilayer graphene systems.

The G' (or 2D) Raman band of AB stacked bilayer graphene comes from a double resonance Raman (DRR) process and is composed of four peaks (P(11), P(12), P(21), and P(22)). In this work, the integrated areas (IA) of these four peaks are analyzed as a function of the laser power for different laser lines. We show that the dependence of the IA of each peak on temperature is different for each distinct laser excitation energy. This special dependence is explained in terms of the electron-phonon coupling and the relaxation of the photon-excited electron. In this DRR process, the electron is scattered by an iTO phonon from a K to an inequivalent K' point of the Brillouin zone. Here, we show that this electron relaxes while in the conduction band before being scattered by an iTO phonon due to the short relaxation time of the excited electron, and the carrier relaxation occurs predominantly by emitting a low-energy acoustic phonon. The different combinations of relaxation processes determine the relative intensities of the four peaks that give rise to the G' band. Some peaks show an increase of their IA at the expense of others, thereby making the IA of the peaks both different from each other and dependent on laser excitation energy and on power level. Also, we report that the IA of the G' mode excited at 532 nm, shows a resonance regime involving ZO' phonons (related to the interlayer breathing mode in bilayer graphene systems) in which a saturation of what we call the P(12) process occurs. This effect gives important information about the electron and phonon dynamics and needs to be taken into account for certain applications of bilayer graphene in the field of nanotechnology.

Phonon self-energy corrections to nonzero wave-vector phonon modes in single-layer graphene.

Phonon self-energy corrections have mostly been studied theoretically and experimentally for phonon modes with zone-center (q=0) wave vectors. Here, gate-modulated Raman scattering is used to study phonons of a single layer of graphene originating from a double-resonant Raman process with q≠0. The observed phonon renormalization effects are different from what is observed for the zone-center q=0 case. To explain our experimental findings, we explored the phonon self-energy for the phonons with nonzero wave vectors (q≠0) in single-layer graphene in which the frequencies and decay widths are expected to behave oppositely to the behavior observed in the corresponding zone-center q=0 processes. Within this framework, we resolve the identification of the phonon modes contributing to the G(⋆) Raman feature at 2450 cm(-1) to include the iTO+LA combination modes with q≠0 and also the 2iTO overtone modes with q=0, showing both to be associated with wave vectors near the high symmetry point K in the Brillouin zone.

An ARC/Mediator subunit required for SREBP control of cholesterol and lipid homeostasis.

The sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) family of transcription activators are critical regulators of cholesterol and fatty acid homeostasis. We previously demonstrated that human SREBPs bind the CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300 acetyltransferase KIX domain and recruit activator-recruited co-factor (ARC)/Mediator co-activator complexes through unknown mechanisms. Here we show that SREBPs use the evolutionarily conserved ARC105 (also called MED15) subunit to activate target genes. Structural analysis of the SREBP-binding domain in ARC105 by NMR revealed a three-helix bundle with marked similarity to the CBP/p300 KIX domain. In contrast to SREBPs, the CREB and c-Myb activators do not bind the ARC105 KIX domain, although they interact with the CBP KIX domain, revealing a surprising specificity among structurally related activator-binding domains. The Caenorhabditis elegans SREBP homologue SBP-1 promotes fatty acid homeostasis by regulating the expression of lipogenic enzymes. We found that, like SBP-1, the C. elegans ARC105 homologue MDT-15 is required for fatty acid homeostasis, and show that both SBP-1 and MDT-15 control transcription of genes governing desaturation of stearic acid to oleic acid. Notably, dietary addition of oleic acid significantly rescued various defects of nematodes targeted with RNA interference against sbp-1 and mdt-15, including impaired intestinal fat storage, infertility, decreased size and slow locomotion, suggesting that regulation of oleic acid levels represents a physiologically critical function of SBP-1 and MDT-15. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that ARC105 is a key effector of SREBP-dependent gene regulation and control of lipid homeostasis in metazoans.

The effect of beta-2 adrenergic receptor haplotype variations on the haemodynamic response following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery.

We investigated whether genetic variations of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) modulate the haemodynamic response following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery. We focused on the effects of haplotypes formed by combinations of the Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu polymorphisms. Clinical data from 143 healthy parturients were collected. Only the ArgGln haplotype appeared to influence the risk of hypotension, most probably through a recessive mode of inheritance (p=0.027). Therefore, patients were grouped according to ArgGln homozygosity in two groups: presence of one or no copies of the haplotype (n=120) or two copies of the haplotype (n=23). Both groups presented similar baseline characteristics. Comparatively, patients homozygous for the ArgGln haplotype presented consistently higher blood pressure levels throughout the evaluation period (p=0.001 for systolic arterial pressure variation from baseline). In conclusion, our results demonstrate that haplotype variations of the the ADRB2 modulate the haemodynamic response following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery.

Outcomes of endoscopic and surgical resection for a second primary cancer in the residual cervical esophagus after thoracic esophagectomy.

Patients who have received subtotal esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer must be closely monitored for second primary malignancies. The purpose of this study is to review and assess patients who developed a second primary esophageal cancer in the residual cervical esophagus. Between 1996 and 2010, 10 patients were diagnosed in our hospital with esophageal squamous cell cancer in the residual cervical esophagus after undergoing thoracic esophagectomy and were treated with endoscopic or surgical resection. Data from these patients were reviewed retrospectively. Seven of the 10 patients (70%) had multiple primary carcinoma lesions at the time of their esophagectomy. A second primary cancer in the residual cervical esophagus was detected in eight patients during follow-up endoscopic examinations while the patients were still asymptomatic. Seven of the patients underwent endoscopic resection for a superficial cancer. None of those patients experienced any complications, and all are currently alive and cancer-free. The remaining three patients underwent resection of the cervical esophagus with regional lymph node dissection. Two of those patients experienced severe complications; one subsequently died (hospital death) from pneumonia, 12 months after surgery, while the other died from recurrence of his cancer. The third patient is alive and cancer-free. Early detection of a second primary malignancy in the residual cervical esophagus followed by endoscopic resection is the best treatment strategy for patients who previously received subtotal esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer. Surgical resection puts patients at high risk of mortality or morbidity.

Involvement of the Thalamus, Hippocampus, and Brainstem in Hypsarrhythmia of West Syndrome: Simultaneous Recordings of Electroencephalography and fMRI Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: West syndrome is a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by epileptic spasms, neurodevelopmental regression, and a specific EEG pattern called hypsarrhythmia. Our aim was to investigate the brain activities related to hypsarrhythmia at onset and focal epileptiform discharges in the remote period in children with West syndrome using simultaneous electroencephalography and fMRI recordings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen children with West syndrome underwent simultaneous electroencephalography and fMRI at the onset of West syndrome. Statistically significant blood oxygen level-dependent responses related to hypsarrhythmia were analyzed using an event-related design of 4 hemodynamic response functions with peaks at 3, 5, 7, and 9 seconds after the onset of each event. Six of 14 children had focal epileptiform discharges after treatment and underwent simultaneous electroencephalography and fMRI from 12 to 25 months of age. RESULTS: At onset, positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses were seen in the brainstem (14/14 patients), thalami (13/14), basal ganglia (13/14), and hippocampi (13/14), in addition to multiple cerebral cortices. Group analysis using hemodynamic response functions with peaks at 3, 5, and 7 seconds showed positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses in the brainstem, thalamus, and hippocampus, while positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses in multiple cerebral cortices were seen using hemodynamic response functions with peaks at 5 and 7 seconds. In the remote period, 3 of 6 children had focal epileptiform discharge-related positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses in the thalamus, hippocampus, and brainstem. CONCLUSIONS: Positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses with hypsarrhythmia appeared in the brainstem, thalamus, and hippocampus on earlier hemodynamic response functions than the cerebral cortices, suggesting the propagation of epileptogenic activities from the deep brain structures to the neocortices. Activation of the hippocampus, thalamus, and brainstem was still seen in half of the patients with focal epileptiform discharges after adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy.

Observation of electronic Raman scattering in metallic carbon nanotubes.

We present experimental measurements of the electronic contribution to the Raman spectra of individual metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (MSWNTs). Photoexcited carriers are inelastically scattered by a continuum of low-energy electron-hole pairs created across the graphenelike linear electronic subbands of the MSWNTs. The optical resonances in MSWNTs give rise to well-defined electronic Raman peaks. This resonant electronic Raman scattering is a unique feature of the electronic structure of these one-dimensional quasimetals.

The CDC-14 phosphatase controls developmental cell-cycle arrest in C. elegans.

Temporal control of cell division is critical for proper animal development. To identify mechanisms involved in developmental arrest of cell division, we screened for cell-cycle mutants that disrupt the reproducible pattern of somatic divisions in the nematode C. elegans. Here, we show that the cdc-14 phosphatase is required for the quiescent state of specific precursor cells. Whereas budding yeast Cdc14p is essential for mitotic exit, inactivation of C. elegans cdc-14 resulted in extra divisions in multiple lineages, with no apparent defects in mitosis or cell-fate determination. CDC-14 fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP-CDC-14) localized dynamically and accumulated in the cytoplasm during G1 phase. Genetic interaction and transgene expression studies suggest that cdc-14 functions upstream of the cki-1 Cip/Kip inhibitor to promote accumulation of CKI-1 in the nucleus. Our data support a model in which CDC-14 promotes a hypophosphorylated and stable form of CKI-1 required for developmentally programmed cell-cycle arrest.

Preoperative evaluation of the deep cerebral veins using 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of deep-seated tumors such as supratentorial intraventricular and thalamic-pineal-tectal region tumors carries a risk of postoperative deficits due to possible damage to deep cerebral veins including the internal cerebral vein. It is often difficult to identify whether the vessel encountered during surgery needs to be preserved or not through the small operative field. Therefore, preoperative evaluation of deep venous structures is important. We evaluated the usefulness of 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3 T MRI) for this purpose. METHODS: First, the ability to detect deep venous structures was compared with both 3-dimensional computed tomographical angiography (3D-CTA) and 3 T MRI in patients without any damage to deep venous structures. Images of 7 consecutive patients suffering from insulo-opercular gliomas who underwent both imaging modes for the identification of lateral striate arteries were reconstructed for evaluation of the deep cerebral veins. Subsequently, surgery for tumors at the supratentorial intraventricular and thalamic-pineal-tectal regions was prospectively performed with preoperative evaluation of deep venous system only using 3 T MRI. RESULTS: Information on the deep venous systems acquired by 3 T MRI was as useful as that acquired by 3D-CTA. Until today, we have treated 8 cases of supratentorial intraventricular and thalamic-pineal-tectal region tumors with preoperative evaluation of the deep venous system using 3 T MRI without any morbidity. CONCLUSION: Information on the deep venous system obtained with 3 T MRI aids the surgery of supratentorial intraventricular and thalamic-pineal-tectal region tumors. As the required sequences of 3 T MRI are same as those necessary for the neuronavigation system, and 3 T MRI can be achieved without the use of iodine-based contrast agents, 3 T MRI can be an alternative for preoperative evaluation of the deep venous systems.