Comparing catch-up vaccination programs based on analysis of 2012-13 rubella outbreak in Kawasaki City, Japan.

During the 2012-13 rubella outbreak in Japan, local governments implemented subsidy programs for catch-up vaccination to mitigate the rubella outbreak and prevent congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). In most local governments, to prevent CRS, eligible persons of the subsidy program were women who were planning to have a child and men who were partners of pregnant women. On the other hand, in Kawasaki City, unimmunized men aged 23-39 years were additionally included in the eligible persons, because they were included in an unimmunized men group resulting from the historical transition of the national routine vaccination in Japan. The number of rubella cases in the city decreased earlier than that in the whole Japan. First, in order to estimate the effect of the catch-up vaccination campaign in Kawasaki City on the epidemic outcome, we performed numerical simulations with a Susceptible-Vaccinated-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SVEIR) model incorporating real data. The result indicated that the catch-up vaccination campaign showed a beneficial impact on the early decay of the rubella cases. Second, we numerically compared several different implementation strategies of catch-up vaccinations under a fixed amount of total vaccinations. As a result, we found that early and intensive vaccinations are vital for significant reduction in the number of rubella cases and CRS occurrences. Our study suggests that mathematical models with epidemiological and social data can contribute to identifying the most effective vaccination strategy.

Association Between Seasonal Influenza and Absolute Humidity: Time-Series Analysis with Daily Surveillance Data in Japan.

Seasonal influenza epidemics are associated with various meteorological factors. Recently absolute humidity (AH) has garnered attention, and some epidemiological studies show an association between AH and human influenza infection. However, they mainly analyzed weekly surveillance data, and daily data remains largely unexplored despite its potential benefits. In this study, we analyze daily influenza surveillance data using a distributed lag non-linear model to examine the association of AH with the number of influenza cases and the magnitude of the association. Additionally, we investigate how adjustment for seasonality and autocorrelation in the model affect results. All models used in the study showed a significant increase in the number of influenza cases as AH decreased, although the magnitude of the association differed substantially by model. Furthermore, we found that relative risk reached a peak at lag 10-14 with extremely low AH. To verify these findings, further analysis should be conducted using data from other locations.

Effect of Lithium Compound Addition on the Dehydration and Hydration of Calcium Hydroxide as a Chemical Heat Storage Material.

Many studies on calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] as a chemical heat storage material have been conducted. Generally, calcium hydroxide undergoes a dehydration reaction (heat storage operation) efficiently at about 400 °C or higher. In this study, we aimed to lower the dehydration reaction temperature and increase the dehydration reaction rate to expand the applicability of calcium hydroxide as a chemical heat storage material. For the purpose of improving the dehydration reactivity, calcium hydroxide with added lithium compounds was prepared, and the dehydration/hydration reactivities were evaluated. From the results, it was confirmed that the addition of the lithium compounds lowered the dehydration reaction temperature of calcium hydroxide and enhanced the reaction rate. The dehydration reaction of Ca(OH)2 with Li compounds proceeded efficiently even at 350 °C, and the reversibility of the dehydration/hydration reaction was confirmed. The reason for the improvement of the calcium hydroxide dehydration reactivity upon the addition of a lithium compound was examined from the viewpoint of its crystal structure. It was presumed that when lithium ions enter the calcium hydroxide crystals, the crystals became fragile and the dehydration reaction was accelerated.

[Evaluation of real-time surveillance of influenza incidence in Kawasaki City by comparison using the National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases].

Objectives　In Japan, nationwide data of the incidence of infectious diseases have been collected via the National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (NESID) since 1981. In addition, since March 2014, Kawasaki City has operated its own real-time surveillance (RTS) system to collect data of the incidence of influenza from medical institutions across the city. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of the RTS system and compare the two surveillance systems to improve measures against infectious diseases in the future.Methods　NESID and RTS data from March 2014 to October 2017 were obtained from the Kawasaki City Institute for Public Health. First, the operating methodologies of the two surveillance systems were compared. Second, RTS data were used to analyze the daily epidemic curve, and then the daily number of influenza cases was converted into weekly data for comparison with NESID data. Pearson's correlation coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Correlations were also analyzed after data for the last and first weeks of each year were excluded because few hospitals remain open around the New Year holiday, resulting in a disproportionately large number of patients visiting the few institutions that remain open.Results　The NESID relies on data provided by a fixed number of medical institutions determined each fiscal year (mean: 56.0±4.2 institutions), while the number of institutions providing data for the RTS varies daily or monthly. In September 2017, 691 of the 1,032 eligible institutions (67.0%) were registered for the RTS. Pearson's correlation coefficient for the two surveillance systems was 0.975 (95%CI, 0.967-0.981); when data for the last and first week of each year were excluded, it was 0.989 (95%CI 0.986-0.992). In each of the three seasons that were investigated, an increase in the incidence of type A influenza preceded an increase in the incidence of type B influenza.Conclusion　The operating methodologies of the two surveillance systems differed; however, the results identified a strong correlation, confirming the reliability of the RTS. The RTS collects daily data by influenza type; therefore, it detects epidemic onsets at an earlier stage, facilitating more detailed epidemiological analysis, compared with that of the NESID. It is necessary to understand differences in the characteristics between two surveillance systems when we analyze influenza surveillance data.

Influence of Microbubbles on Free Radical Generation by Ultrasound in Aqueous Solution: Dependence of Ultrasound Frequency.

The influence of microbubbles on sonochemical efficiencies has been investigated under 28, 45, and 100 kHz ultrasound irradiation. For the 28 and 100 kHz ultrasound frequencies, microbubbles suppressed the I3(-) formation from KI solution as well as the 7-hydroxycoumarin formation from coumarin solution caused by the ultrasonic irradiation. On the other hand, for the 45 kHz ultrasound frequency, microbubbles enhanced the I3(-) formation from KI solution as well as 7-hydroxycoumarin formation from coumarin solution caused by the ultrasonic irradiation. Detection of H2O2 after the irradiation of ultrasound in the presence or absence of microbubbles was also performed, and it was found that H2O2 formation was enhanced only when microbubbles were introduced under the 45 kHz ultrasonic irradiation, which was in good agreement with the results of KI oxidation dosimetry measurements and of coumarin fluorescent probe measurements. Based on these present results, plausible mechanisms that explain the dependence of the ultrasound frequency on the enhancement and suppression of free radical formation in the presence of MBs were proposed.

Design and application of group-specific oligonucleotide probes for detecting and monitoring mouse clostridia.

Clostridia dominate the rodent intestinal bacterial community and play an important role in physiological functions of the host. However, their ecology and diversity are still unclear. In our previous report, we showed that phylogenetically novel groups of clostridia inhabit the mouse intestine and contribute to the normalization of germfree mice. In this study, five new oligonucleotide probes were designed and applied to detect these clostridial groups that are essential for the normalization of germfree mice. Faecal microbiota of conventional mouse strains and specific pathogen-free mice from different breeding colonies were analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridization using these five probes. Our results showed that the composition of clostridia differed among mouse strains and also among mouse groups of the same inbred strain from different breeding colonies. These five new probes for mouse clostridia were able to detect the difference in clostridial diversity in each mouse group. In addition to Clostridium, we also analysed Bacteroides and Lactobacillus using previously described probes and the number or the frequency of occurrence of Bacteroides was shown to be different among mouse groups analysed. The oligonucleotide probe set including our newly developed and previously described probes used in this study can be applied to monitoring of significant groups of mouse intestinal microbiota.

Study of association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and the human coagulation factor XI gene.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are among the most common and serious complications of pregnancy. Persuasive evidence implicaties genetic factors in the genesis of HDP. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human coagulation factor XI (F11) gene and HDP, by conducting a haplotype-based case-control study. METHODS: We chose 3 SNPs (rs925453, rs925451, and rs12500151) in the human F11 gene as genetic markers. We then conducted an association study with 77 HDP patients and 154 age-matched non-HDP subjects. RESULTS: The frequency of rs925453 genotypes significantly differed between the two groups. The frequency of the T-G-G haplotype was significantly higher in the HDP group than in the non-HDP group (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The T allele of rs925453 and the T-G-G haplotype appear to be useful genetic markers of HDP.

Relationship between the thromboxane A2 receptor gene and susceptibility to cerebral infarction.

The risk of cerebral infarction (CI) in an individual is dependent on the interplay between genetic risk factors and environmental influences. Binding of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) to its receptor (TP) modulates thrombosis/hemostasis and plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of CI. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between human TP gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes and CI in a Japanese population. A genetic association study was performed in 194 CI patients and 365 non-CI subjects by specifically characterizing 6 SNPs in the human TP gene (rs2271875, rs768963, rs2238634, rs11085026, rs4523 and rs4806942). Analysis demonstrated that there were significant differences in the overall distribution of genotypes and dominant or recessive models of rs2271875 and rs768963 between the CI and the non-CI groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the C allele of rs768963 was significantly associated with CI (p = 0.029), even after adjusting for confounding factors (odds ratio: 2.41). Further, the C-T-C haplotype of rs768963-rs2238634-rs4806942 was significantly more frequent in the CI group (23.0%) than in the non-CI group (17.7%). These results suggest that specific SNPs and haplotypes may have utility as genetic markers for the risk of CI and that TP or a neighboring gene is associated with the increased susceptibility to CI.

Association study between the human Renin gene and preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: We recently reported on a missense mutation in exon 9 of the human renin gene (G1051A) that may affect the functioning of this enzyme, and is associated with essential hypertension. The aim of the present study is to assess the association between the genotypes of this missense mutation in the renin gene and preeclampsia (PE) via a case-control study. METHODS: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and genotyping of G1051A was performed in 117 PE patients and in 171 non-PE controls. RESULTS: The frequency of genotypes for G1051A was not significantly different between the two groups. The frequency of the A1051 allele was also not significantly different between PE patients (52.6%) and non-PE controls (50.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The missense mutation G1051A in the human renin gene is not associated with PE.

[A case of synchronous double cancer responding to UFT--dermoid cyst with secondary malignant transformation and uterine endometrial adenocarcinoma].

We report here a case of synchronous dermoid cyst with secondary malignant tumor and uterine endometrial adenocarcinoma that responded to UFT. A 35-year-old female complained of abdominal fullness and visited our hospital. She had an abdominal mass which was newborn-head size. We performed right salpingo-oophorectomy and partial omentectomy. The pathological findings were dermoid cyst with secondary malignant transformation. After the operation she had underwent cyclic chemotherapy with CDDP, CPA, THP and 5-FU. After three cycles of chemotherapy, a uterine recurrence was suspected from her uterine endocervical smear test. Then we performed a second operation, but radical surgery was impossible due to the presence of multiple metastases to pelvic lymph nodes. The pathological findings were primary uterine endometrial adenocarcinoma, not metastasis from dermoid cyst with secondary malignant tumor. After the second operation, she was treated with oral UFT (400 mg/day), as she refused chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Two months after the start of UFT, the tumor markers were reduced remarkably, and the patient maintained good QOL throughout the treatment without serious adverse events. We conclude that UFT might be benefical in the treatment of advanced gynecologic cancer.

Association study using single nucleotide polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor beta (ESR2) gene for preeclampsia.

The pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE) remains uncertain despite many research efforts. Actual hypotheses seek to explain the vascular damage that characterizes the disease. Recently, it was reported that the mouse disrupted estrogen receptor beta (ESR2) gene was associated with abnormal vascular function and hypertension. Moreover, some investigators have reported that subjects with a family history of hypertension have a statistically significant increased risk for PE. Thus, it is thought that the pathophysiology of PE overlaps that for hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human ESR2 gene and PE in Japanese subjects, and to assess the involvement of a family history of hypertension in these relationships. Based on a database search on the web site of the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI), we chose four SNPs in the human ESR2 gene, and performed an association study in 84 PE patients and 160 age-matched non-PE subjects. The overall distribution in each SNP did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, after dividing the groups into subjects with and without a family history of hypertension, the allelic distribution of one of the SNPs (rs928554) revealed a positive association. Thus, a possible mutation linked to a SNP may prescribe a genetic predisposition for patients with a family history of hypertension in PE.