Factors associated with COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy/fatigue is increasing as the pandemic enters the endemic phase. The present study aimed to explore current perceptions about COVID-19 booster vaccination among the Japanese public. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey conducted in September 2021 and September 2022. The public's perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination and factors associated with COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 56,735 respondents were included. In the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey 2021, 75.1% of the participants (21,126/28,118) had completed the primary vaccination series. In the 2022 survey, 74.1% of the respondents (21,216/28,617) completed the primary series of vaccination with booster doses. The proportion of fear toward COVID-19 and obtaining information about COVID-19 has decreased from 2021 to 2022. Factors independently associated with booster vaccine hesitancy were young age (range: 18-29 years; adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 6.56), history of COVID-19 (aOR: 1.82), distrust of the Japanese government's COVID-19 prevention measures (aOR: 1.55), lack of confidence in COVID-19 vaccine efficacy (aOR: 1.30), lack of confidence in COVID-19 vaccine safety (aOR: 1.62), low reliance on the COVID-19 vaccine (aOR: 1.92), and belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories (aOR: 1.77). CONCLUSIONS: Providing clear and trustworthy information is critically important, especially targeted and tailored messages for the young generation, to promoting COVID-19 booster vaccination. Policymakers should therefore develop consistent and transparent communication strategies and the ability to respond promptly and flexibly to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the public while preparing for the next pandemic.

Effects of cell death-induced proliferation on a cell competition system.

Cell death-induced proliferation (CDIP) is a phenomenon in which cell death activates neighboring cells and promotes their proliferation. It was first reported as "compensatory proliferation" in injured tissues, which functions to maintain normal tissues. On the other hand, this phenomenon also affects potentially tumorigenic mutant cells and promotes tumorigenesis. This discrepancy may complicate the understanding of a phenomenon called "cell competition" observed in a system consisting of wild-type (WT) cells and mutant cells in a single-layer tissue. In this system, the WT cells induce cell death in the adjacent mutant cells to eliminate them. Therefore, it is believed that CDIP serves WT cells by compensating the space previously occupied by mutant cells. On the other hand, CDIP may contribute to the expansion of a potentially tumorigenic mutant clone because this clone activates itself. With the aim to investigate the role of CDIP in cell competition, a mathematical model was constructed here by introducing a CDIP effect into the population-based cell competition model that was proposed in our previous work. In contrast to the above-mentioned first expectation, the model suggests that the CDIP of WT cells that is derived from cell competition does not affect the fate whether it follows formation of normal tissue or overgrowth of a mutant clone after cell competition. It should be noted, however, that CDIP accelerates the speed of normal tissue formation; only this point is in agreement with our expectations. In contrast, the CDIP of mutant cells that is derived from either autonomous cell death or cell competition helps mutant cells to survive.

First report of serotype 23B Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from an adult patient with invasive infection in Japan.

Serotype 23B Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from a 67-year-old Japanese patient with meningitis. This isolate was susceptible to penicillin G, while genotyped as gPISP with a mutation in a penicillin-binding motif in PBP2b. The 23B isolate was assigned to ST11996 that is related to CC439, a dominant group among serotype 23B.

Purine nucleotide pyrophosphotransferase from Streptomyces morookaensis, capable of synthesizing pppApp and pppGpp.

Purine nucleotide pyrophosphotransferase was purified to apparent homogeneity from a culture filtrate of Streptomyces morookaensis. It is a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of 24 000-25 000, and its isoelectric point is 6.9. The enzyme synthesizes purine nucleoside 5'-phosphate (mono, di, or tri) 3'-diphosphates such as pppApp, ppApp, pApp, pppGpp, ppGpp and pppIpp by transferring a pyrophosphoryl group from the 5'-position of ATP, dATP and ppApp to the 3'-position of purine nucleotides. The purified enzyme catalysed the formation of 435 mumol of pppApp and 620 mumol of pppGpp from ATP and GTP per min mg protein under the standard conditions. The enzyme requires absolutely a divalent cation for activity, and optimum pH for the enzyme activity lay above 10 for Mg2+, for Co2+ and Zn2+ from 9 to 9.5, and for Fe2+ from 7.5 to 8. The following Michaelis constants were determined: AMP, 2.78 mM; ADP, 3.23 mM; GMP, 0.89 mM; GDP, 0.46 mM and GTP, 1.54 mM, in the case of ATP donor. The enzyme is inhibited by guanine, guanosine, dGDP, dGTP, N-bromosuccinimide, iodacetate, sodium borate and mercuric acetate.

Physico-chemical properties of new acyl derivatives of tylosin produced by microbial transformation.

By microbial transformation of tylosin (I), the following eight new acyl derivatives were obtained: 3-acetyltylosin (II), 3-propionyltylosin (III), 4"-butyryltylosin (IV), 4"-isovaleryltylosin (V), 3-acetyl-4"-butyryltylosin (VI), 3-acetyl-4"-isovaleryltylosin (VII), 3-propionyl-4"-butyryltylosin (VIII) and 3-propionyl-4"-isovaleryltylosin (IX).

Antitumor anthracycline antibiotics, aclacinomycin A and analogues. I. Taxonomy, production, isolation and physicochemical properties.

Aclacinomycin A and B, two major components of a new antitumor antibiotic complex, and their 19 analogues were produced by a culture of strain No. MA144-M1, which was identified as Streptomyces galilaeus. They were isolated by chelation with copper ion and silicic acid chromatography, and characterized by physicochemical methods in the anthracycline group of antibiotics.

Spontaneous switching of frequency-locking by periodic stimulus in oscillators of plasmodium of the true slime mold.

Microfabrication technique was used to construct a model system with a living cell of plasmodium of the true slime mold, Physarum polycephalum, a living coupled oscillator system. Its parameters can be systematically controlled as in computer simulations, so that results are directly comparable to those of general mathematical models. As the first step, we investigated responses in oscillatory cells, the oscillators of the plasmodium, to periodic stimuli by temperature changes to elucidate characteristics of the cells as nonlinear systems whose internal dynamics are unknown because of their complexity. We observed that the forced oscillator of the plasmodium show 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 frequency locking inside so-called Arnold tongues regions as well as in other nonlinear systems such as chemical systems and other biological systems. In addition, we found spontaneous switching behavior from certain frequency locking states to other states, even under certain fixed parameters. This technique can be applied to more complex systems with multiple elements, such as coupled oscillator systems, and would be useful to investigate complicated phenomena in biological systems such as information processing.

Control of interaction strength in a network of the true slime mold by a microfabricated structure.

The plasmodium of the true slime mold, Physarum polycephalum, which shows various nonlinear oscillatory phenomena, for example, in its thickness, protoplasmic streaming and concentration of intracellular chemicals, can be regarded as a collective of nonlinear oscillators. The plasmodial oscillators are interconnected by microscale tubes whose dimensions can be closely related to the strength of interaction between the oscillators. Investigation of the collective behavior of the oscillators under the conditions in which the interaction strength can be systematically controlled gives significant information on the characteristics of the system. In this study, we proposed a living model system of a coupled oscillator system in the Physarum plasmodium. We patterned the geometry and dimensions of the microscale tube structure in the plasmodium by a microfabricated structure (microstructure). As the first step, we constructed a two-oscillator system for the plasmodium that has two wells (oscillator part) and a channel (coupling part). We investigated the oscillation behavior by monitoring the thickness oscillation of the plasmodium in the microstructure with various channel widths. It was found that the oscillation behavior of two oscillators dynamically changed depending on the channel width. Based on the results of measurements of the tube dimensions and the velocity of the protoplasmic streaming in the tube, we discuss how the channel width relates to the interaction strength of the coupled oscillator system.

Labial ring flap: a new flap for metaidoioplasty in female-to-male transsexuals.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technical details of our experience in performing metaidoioplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After the first officially approved sex-reassignment surgery on a patient with transsexualism was performed in Japan, we performed metaidoioplasties on 69 female-to-male transsexuals between 1998 and 2007. Oophorohysterectomy and metaidoioplasty were performed by a one-stage procedure. Hage's technique was used on the first 26 cases. The labial ring flap technique was performed on 43 patients (aged 18-33 years) after 2005. This new technique uses all the labia minora skin incorporated with the anterior vaginal flap for urethral lengthening. The clitoral chordee is also released by this procedure. RESULT: Using this method, we obtained a neo-urethra of a good diameter and a more male-like appearance for external genitalia along with a minipenis. The postoperative course was uneventful in 28 of 43 cases. Urethral fistula occurred in 12 cases, which was spontaneously closed in eight cases. Four other cases required secondary repair. Three cases with neo-urethral stenosis were treated by urethral dilation. Of the 43 cases, 28 can void in a standing position. For five patients who desired a larger phallus, various phalloplasty techniques were performed subsequently. CONCLUSION: Satisfactory urine stream and appearance were achieved. Metaidoioplasty with minimal scarring can be selected independently or as the first step followed by phalloplasty if the patient requires such an operation.

Time delay effect in a living coupled oscillator system with the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum.

A living coupled oscillator system was constructed by a cell patterning method with a plasmodial slime mold, in which parameters such as coupling strength and distance between the oscillators can be systematically controlled. Rich oscillation phenomena between the two-coupled oscillators, namely, desynchronizing and antiphase/in-phase synchronization were observed according to these parameters. Both experimental and theoretical approaches showed that these phenomena are closely related to the time delay effect in interactions between the oscillators.

Ca effect on protoplasmic streaming in Nitella internodal cell.

Ca(2+) ion effect on protoplasmic streaming in an internodal cell of Nitella has been investigated for various temperatures. We have found that the protoplasmic streaming at low temperature is remarkably affected by the Ca(2+) ions in the internodal cell but larger concentrations of the Ca(2+) ions are needed to suppress the streaming velocity at higher temperatures. These streaming behaviors of the protoplasm, furthermore, have been elucidated on the basis of the reaction equations which take into account ATP hydrolysis due to actin-myosin molecules and inactivity of the molecules due to the Ca(2+) ions.

Selection of appropriate recipient vessels in difficult, microsurgical head and neck reconstruction.

In a series of 327 cases of head and neck microsurgical reconstruction during 22 years beginning in 1974, the authors have reviewed 16 cases in which the first choice of recipient vessels was not available. The problems of selecting alternative and appropriate recipient vessels are discussed. Recipient vessels could be classified into three groups: adjacent small vessels that are usually considered to be the first choice; major vessels; and distant vessels. A correlation between the selection of substitute vessels and the region of reconstruction was found. Representative cases in each category are presented. In difficult cases in freeflap transfer, it is of prime importance to select healthy recipient vessels. Additionally, special precautions, including choice of anastomotic technique, are required.

Stochastic behavior of organelle motion in Nitella internodal cells.

The stochastic behavior of organelles during the recovery process of protoplasmic streaming is investigated in Nitella internodal cells at a nanometer space resolution. The motions of organelles in the components parallel and perpendicular to the alignment of actin filaments in the cell are analysed from the traces of displacement of 860 organelles in 1/30s (= video rate). The analysis of those traces shows that the generation of motive forces to the organelle follows the Poisson process. Therefore, we have been able to estimate the step size corresponding to the single force generation as approximately 100 nm.

The pedicled, extended serratus anterior musculocutaneous flap for cervical contracture release.

The pedicled, extended serratus anterior musculocutaneous flap has been used as a pedicled flap for cervical contracture repair. This flap has a long vascular pedicle, texture and color like those of the cervical surface, and appropriate thickness. This article describes the anatomy of the flap and typical cases.

Bipedicled submental island flap for upper lip reconstruction.

A case of reconstruction of the upper lip with a bipedicled submental flap is described. Although the mobility of the flap was restricted, the arterial blood supply was abundant by altering the single-pedicled flap into a bipedicled flap. This flap is a good color and texture match to the face, and surpasses other flaps in reconstruction of the mustache or beard in male patients.