Prevention Measures for COVID-19 and Changes in Kawasaki Disease Incidence.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease is suspected to be triggered by previous infection. The prevention measures for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have reportedly reduced transmission of certain infectious diseases. Under these circumstances, the prevention measures for COVID-19 may reduce the incidence of Kawasaki disease. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using registration datasets of patients with Kawasaki disease who were diagnosed in all 11 inpatient pediatric facilities in Yamanashi Prefecture. The eligible cases were 595 cases that were diagnosed before the COVID-19 pandemic (from January 2015 through February 2020) and 38 cases that were diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic (from March through November 2020). Incidence of several infectious disease were evaluated using data from the Infectious Disease Weekly Report conducted by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. RESULTS: Epidemics of various infectious diseases generally remained at low levels during the first 9 months (March through November 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the incidence of COVID-19 was 50-80 times lower than the incidence in European countries and the United States. The total number of 38 cases with Kawasaki disease for the 9 months during the COVID-19 pandemic was 46.3% (-3.5 standard deviations [SDs] of the average [82.0; SD, 12.7 cases] for the corresponding 9 months of the previous 5 years. None of the 38 cases was determined to be triggered by COVID-19 based on their medical histories and negative results of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 testing at admission. CONCLUSION: These observations provide a new epidemiological evidence for the notion that Kawasaki disease is triggered by major infectious diseases in children.

[Aging effect on peripheral anterior chamber depth in male and female subjects investigated by scanning peripheral anterior chamber depth analyzer].

PURPOSE: To investigate the distribution of anterior chamber depth (ACD), the influence of age and sex on ACD, and the frequency of eyes with a shallow anterior chamber, the scanning peripheral anterior chamber (SPAC) depth analyzer was used in measuring these parameters in subjects visiting a health screening center. METHODS: Paramedical staff measured the ACD of 285 subjects (250 eyes of 141 men, 264 eyes of 144 women) who visited the health screening center between October 31 and December 22, 2005. Based on the data provided by SPAC, the following parameters were determined : distribution of ACD from the central region to the peripheral region, distribution of the grades of ACD, frequency of suspected or possible angle-closure eyes, and number of measurable points. RESULTS: ACD decreased with age, and peripheral ACDs of subjects 60 years of age or older were significantly shallower than those of subjects younger than 60, both in men and in women. The ACD tended to be shallower in women than in men in each generation. The high risk of angle closure among women was estimated as 1.6%, and possible angle closure was considered likely for 1.9% of women. Among men, 0.8% were considered vulnerable to possible angle closure. Women 50 years of age or older were at greater risk. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease with age in peripheral ACD was shown quantitatively in both men and women. Eyes at risk for angle closure were more frequent in women 50 years of age or older.

High plasma level of remnant-like particle cholesterol in the metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The metabolic syndrome is associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease even when the abnormalities present in the syndrome are mild. The underlying mechanism of the metabolic syndrome has not been elucidated. We investigated whether a strong atherogenic lipoprotein, remnant-like particle (RLP) lipoprotein cholesterol, is elevated in the metabolic syndrome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a health examination among the residents of a rural community in Japan. Complete datasets, including fasting RLP cholesterol levels, were obtained in 1,261 subjects (509 men and 752 women) without diabetes and who were not taking lipid-lowering drugs. The subjects' medical history, use of alcohol, and smoking habits were ascertained by a questionnaire. RESULTS: All of the components of the metabolic syndrome were significantly related to RLP cholesterol by univariate analysis. Total cholesterol and smoking habits were also positively associated with RLP cholesterol. The subjects with the metabolic syndrome showed only mild abnormalities of each component. When RLP cholesterol levels were stratified by the number of the components of the metabolic syndrome, there was a strong association between RLP cholesterol levels and the number of components (P < 0.001 and F = 72.7). CONCLUSIONS: RLP cholesterol levels are elevated in the metabolic syndrome, and this elevation may underlie the high incidence of cardiovascular disease in the metabolic syndrome.