Infection- and Vaccine-Induced SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence, Japan, 2023.

We assessed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Japan during July-August 2023, with a focus on 2 key age groups, 0-15 and >80 years. We estimated overall seroprevalence of 45.3% for nucleocapsid antibodies and 95.4% for spike antibodies and found notable maternally derived spike antibodies in infants 6-11 months of age (90.0%).

Long-term body weight change assessed by non-contact load cells under the bed in older people with and without eating assistance: a preliminary study.

Utilizing automatic daily body weight (BW) measurements may be helpful for assessing nutritional status and detecting underlying diseases particularly in older people who require nursing care. This preliminary study aimed to verify effectiveness of eating assistance for maintaining BW in older people using a contact-free load cells under the bed (Bed Sensor System: BSS). BW was measured every night for 3 months in eight nursing home older people with severe cognitive and physical dysfunctions. Body composition of the subject's trunk and each limb was measured using a segmented multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA). A monthly BW loss was estimated as a slope of linear regression of the daily BW plot. BSS successfully measured daily BW for the study period in all participants. The 4 residents with eating assistance gained slightly more weight, while the 4 residents without eating assistance lost weight. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the monthly BW change (- 0.79 ± 0.51 kg/month versus 0.20 ± 0.49 kg/month, P = 0.030). None of the BIA-derived parameters was associated with the monthly BW change. BSS revealed effectiveness of eating assistance to maintain BW in nursing home residents with severe cognitive and physical dysfunctions.

[Efficacy of erlotinib after gefitinib administration in patients with non-small cell lung cancer].

We retrospectively evaluated the survival benefit of dispensing erlotinib after gefitinib administration in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer. Ninety patients treated with erlotinib in our hospital were divided into two groups: G+ group patients who were treated with erlotinib with prior gefitinib administration, and G- group patients who were treated with erlotinib without prior gefitinib administration. Median survival time (MST) in all 90 patients was 275 days. MST of 22 patients in the G+ group was shorter than that of 68 patients in G- group, but this difference was not statistically significant (283 days vs 177 days, p=0. 329). MST in 19 patients of the G+group who were administered erlotinib for over 1 month was shorter than that of 49G-group patients who were administered erlotinib over 1 month. However, this difference was also not statistically significant(395 days vs 238 days, p=0. 575). Univariate analysis demonstrated that EGFR mutation unknown, time to progression (TTP) with gefitinib longer than 1 year, gefitnib administration longer than 1 year, and responder to gefitinib, suggest a better prognosis. Mutivariate analysis revealed that only TTP with gefitinib longer than 1 year was an independent prognostic factor for patients in the G+ group.

Increased circulating CD16+ CD14dim monocytes in a patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is characterized by filling of the alveoli with a periodic acid-Schiff-positive proteinaceous material. Although the pathogenesis of primary or idiopathic PAP remains unknown, it has been proposed that a deficiency or loss of responsiveness of the monocyte/macrophage lineage to granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is involved in PAP. Secondary PAP is associated with haematological malignancies, especially in myeloid disorders. Herein, we report on an adult with PAP associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The CD16+ CD14dim monocytes comprise 5-10% of circulating monocytes in healthy volunteers. Flow cytometric analysis of the patient in the present study revealed increased CD16+ CD14dim monocytes in the peripheral blood. It has been demonstrated that the expression of CD16 and CD14 is regulated by macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and GM-CSF. Hence, serum cytokines were analysed in our patient and the concentration of serum GM-CSF was found to be less than the lower limit of the assay. In addition, serum M-CSF and granulocyte colony stimulating factor levels were only slightly increased above the normal range. These results suggest that the increase in the CD16+ CD14dim subpopulation in the circulation of our patient indicates another pathogenetic mechanism for secondary PAP, such as hyperresponsiveness of the monocyte/macrophage lineage to these cytokines.