Indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of non-COVID-19 infectious diseases: a region-wide, patient-based database study in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to change many behaviours, including physical distancing, hygiene measures and lifestyles. This study aimed to evaluate the indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of non-COVID-19 infections and medical care costs/visits using health insurance claims. STUDY DESIGN: This was an observational study using patient-based administrative claims covering approximately 800,000 insured persons and their dependents in the Mie Prefecture in Japan. METHODS: This study identified non-COVID-19 infectious disease incidences, number of outpatient visits and healthcare costs between 2017 and 2021. Each year was divided into quarters. The adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) during the pandemic (January 2020 to September 2021) and during the prepandemic period (January 2017 to December 2019) were determined using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The adjusted influenza IRRs from April 2020 were close to zero. The incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and bacterial pneumonia was significantly reduced (IRRs range: 0.39-0.73 and 0.43-0.84, respectively). Gastrointestinal and urinary tract infection incidences decreased by approximately 30% and 10%, respectively. In contrast, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including syphilis, gonococcal infection and Chlamydia trachomatis infection, did not decrease during the pandemic but increased significantly between April and June 2021 (adjusted IRR, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.60). The adjusted IRRs for outpatient visits and healthcare costs were 0.86-0.93 and 0.91-0.97, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to other infections, STIs did not decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic. The IRR of STIs during the pandemic period is an area of public health concern. Appropriate screening and medical consultations are strongly recommended.

Roles of cytokines and T cells in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue caused by the presence of autoantibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or the muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK). Activated T, B and plasma cells, as well as cytokines, play important roles in the production of pathogenic autoantibodies and the induction of inflammation at the neuromuscular junction in MG. Many studies have focused on the role of cytokines and lymphocytes in anti-AChR antibody-positive MG. Chronic inflammation mediated by T helper type 17 (Th17) cells, the promotion of autoantibody production from B cells and plasma cells by follicular Th (Tfh) cells and the activation of the immune response by dysfunction of regulatory T (Treg ) cells may contribute to the exacerbation of the MG pathogenesis. In fact, an increased number of Th17 cells and Tfh cells and dysfunction of Treg cells have been reported in patients with anti-AChR antibody-positive MG; moreover, the number of these cells was correlated with clinical parameters in patients with MG. Regarding cytokines, interleukin (IL)-17; a Th17-related cytokine, IL-21 (a Tfh-related cytokine), the B-cell-activating factor (BAFF; a B cell-related cytokine) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL; a B cell-related cytokine) have been reported to be up-regulated and associated with clinical parameters of MG. This review focuses on the current understanding of the involvement of cytokines and lymphocytes in the immunological pathogenesis of MG, which may lead to the development of novel therapies for this disease in the near future.

Cubic Rashba Effect in the Surface Spin Structure of Rare-Earth Ternary Materials.

Spin-orbit interaction and structure inversion asymmetry in combination with magnetic ordering is a promising route to novel materials with highly mobile spin-polarized carriers at the surface. Spin-resolved measurements of the photoemission current from the Si-terminated surface of the antiferromagnet TbRh_{2}Si_{2} and their analysis within an ab initio one-step theory unveil an unusual triple winding of the electron spin along the fourfold-symmetric constant energy contours of the surface states. A two-band k·p model is presented that yields the triple winding as a cubic Rashba effect. The curious in-plane spin-momentum locking is remarkably robust and remains intact across a paramagnetic-antiferromagnetic transition in spite of spin-orbit interaction on Rh atoms being considerably weaker than the out-of-plane exchange field due to the Tb 4f moments.

Individual response of humans to ionising radiation: governing factors and importance for radiological protection.

Tissue reactions and stochastic effects after exposure to ionising radiation are variable between individuals but the factors and mechanisms governing individual responses are not well understood. Individual responses can be measured at different levels of biological organization and using different endpoints following varying doses of radiation, including: cancers, non-cancer diseases and mortality in the whole organism; normal tissue reactions after exposures; and, cellular endpoints such as chromosomal damage and molecular alterations. There is no doubt that many factors influence the responses of people to radiation to different degrees. In addition to the obvious general factors of radiation quality, dose, dose rate and the tissue (sub)volume irradiated, recognized and potential determining factors include age, sex, life style (e.g., smoking, diet, possibly body mass index), environmental factors, genetics and epigenetics, stochastic distribution of cellular events, and systemic comorbidities such as diabetes or viral infections. Genetic factors are commonly thought to be a substantial contributor to individual response to radiation. Apart from a small number of rare monogenic diseases such as ataxia telangiectasia, the inheritance of an abnormally responsive phenotype among a population of healthy individuals does not follow a classical Mendelian inheritance pattern. Rather it is considered to be a multi-factorial, complex trait.

Frequency and risk factors of thoracic metastases and optimisation of the use of cross-sectional chest imaging in follow-up patients with cervical cancer.

AIM: To optimise cross-sectional chest imaging usage by identifying frequency and risk factors associated with thoracic metastases in cervical cancer patients after initial definitive treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study, conducted during 2004-2015, examined 361 consecutive patients with histopathologically proven cervical carcinoma with at least 1 year of follow-up. Electronic medical records and all available imaging modes were used to record and assess patient and tumour characteristics and timing of thoracic metastases. Associations with these characteristics and thoracic metastases were assessed using univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modelling. RESULTS: Of the 361 patients, 31 developed thoracic metastases. Multivariate regression results showed that adeno/adenosquamous carcinomas (hazard ratio [HR], 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 5.72), other histology (HR, 5.61; 95% CI, 1.81 to 17.42), high International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (HR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.09 to 7.37), and presence of initial intra-abdominal lymph node metastases (HR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.02 to 5.90) were associated significantly and independently with thoracic metastases. The second analysis among the subgroup of surgical treatment identified intermediate-high risk classification of recurrence (HR, 5.12; 95% CI, 1.14 to 22.94), high FIGO stage (HR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.05 to 7.13), and other histology (HR, 11.51; 95% CI, 3.66 to 36.19) as independent predictors of thoracic metastases. Two of the 361 and 2/313 patients with thoracic metastases who did not correspond to the conditions above were in the respective evaluation groups. CONCLUSION: Assessment of negative prognostic factors for thoracic metastases might contribute to reduced need for chest cross-sectional chest computed tomography examinations.

Relationship between the administration of nicardipine hydrochloride and the development of delirium in patients on mechanical ventilation.

A history of hypertension is a known risk factor for delirium in patients in intensive care units, but the effect of antihypertensive agents on delirium development is unclear. Nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, is widely used in ICU as a treatment agent for hypertensive emergency. This study investigated the relationship between the administration of nicardipine hydrochloride and delirium development in patients under mechanical ventilation. We conducted a medical chart review of 103 patients, who were divided into two groups according to the use of nicardipine hydrochloride. The prevalence of delirium was compared with respect to factors such as age, sex, laboratory data, and medical history, by multivariate analysis. 21 patients (20.4 %) were treated with nicardipine hydrochloride in 103 patients. The treatment and non-treatment groups differed significantly in age (72 vs. 65 years) and history of high blood pressure (57% vs. 11%). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients in the treatment group developed delirium significantly less often than those in the non-treatment group (19% vs. 48%). These results suggested that treatment of high blood pressure with nicardipine hydrochloride is a possible method for preventing the development of delirium.

Health state utility values and patient-reported outcomes before and after vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in an osteoporosis clinical trial.

We assessed the health state utility value (HSUV) reductions associated with vertebral fractures using data collected in the Japanese Osteoporosis Intervention Trial-03 (JOINT-03). Our analysis revealed that assessment of HSUVs after morphometric vertebral fracture is important to capture the burden of vertebral fractures. INTRODUCTION: Evaluation of the HSUV after fracture is important to calculate the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of osteoporosis patients, which is essential information in the context of health economic evaluation. METHODS: JOINT-03 study patients were aged ≥65 years and treated with risedronate and vitamin K2 or risedronate alone. Radiographic information and patient-reported outcomes measured by EQ-5D and a visual analogue scale (VAS) were assessed at registration and followed up after 6, 12, and 24 months. According to differences among the dates of these assessments and the radiographic information, we classified the follow-up HSUVs calculated based on EQ-5D results into before or after fracture categories regardless of clinical symptoms. RESULTS: Among 2922 follow-up HSUVs, 201 HSUVs were categorized as HSUVs that were observed after incident vertebral fractures on X-ray films. The median time from the detection of an incident vertebral fracture until the EQ-5D assessment was 53 days (25th percentile, 0 day; 75th percentile, 357 days). The impact of incident vertebral fractures on HSUVs was quantified as -0.03. Among the five health profile domains on the EQ-5D, an incident vertebral fracture had significant effects on anxiety/depression, self-care, and usual activities. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that incident morphometric vertebral fracture was associated with impairment of the HSUV for patients with osteoporosis not only immediately but also several months after the fracture.

Human papilloma virus detection in oropharyngeal cancer with gargle samples.

Human papilloma virus detection in oropharyngeal cancer with gargle samples. OBJECTIVE: human papilloma virus (HPV) is a major risk factor for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and knowledge of a patient's HPV status is clinically important in terms of treatment and prognosis. The practicality of using oral gargle samples to reliably detect HPV in patients with OPSCC remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of HPV detection in gargle samples of OPSCC patients using an HPV-dedicated nucleic acid amplification test (cobas 4800 HPV Test; Roche Diagnostics K.K.). METHODOLOGY: 15 patients with histologically proven OPSCC were evaluated from May 2014 to March 2015. Swab sam- ples served as positive controls and were tested using both the Hybrid Capture II HPV Test (HC-II; Digene Corporation) and the cobas 4800 HPV Test. Oral gargle samples were tested using the cobas 4800 HPV Test. Five of the 15 patients were confirmed to be HPV-positive by a combination of p16 immunohistochemistry, HPV-DNA in situ hybridization and nucleic acid amplification. RESULTS: the sensitivity and specificity of the gargling method were 60% and 100%, respectively. No false-positives were obtained. Detection of HPV in two very small tumours rising from the base of the tongue was difficult and these cases were overlooked as HPV-negative. CONCLUSIONS: use of the gargling method to determine HPV positivity in OPSCC patients appears feasible, except in patients with very small tumours. Real-time polymerase chain reaction using gargle samples may have greater clinical efficacy than the swabbing method.

NMR investigation of the quasi-one-dimensional superconductor K(2)Cr(3)As(3).

We report ^{75}As NMR measurements on the new quasi-one-dimensional superconductor K_{2}Cr_{3}As_{3} (T_{c}∼6.1 K) [J. K. Bao et al., Phys. Rev. X 5, 011013 (2015)]. We found evidence for strong enhancement of Cr spin fluctuations above T_{c} in the [Cr_{3}As_{3}]_{∞} double-walled subnanotubes based on the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T_{1}. The power-law temperature dependence, 1/T_{1}T∼T^{-γ} (γ∼0.25), is consistent with the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid. Moreover, absence of the Hebel-Slichter coherence peak of 1/T_{1} just below T_{c} suggests an unconventional nature of superconductivity.

Hydrogen sulphide increases hepatic differentiation of human tooth pulp stem cells compared with human bone marrow stem cells.

AIM: To determine the differences in stem cell properties, in hepatic differentiation and in the effects of hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) on hepatic differentiation between human bone marrow stem cells (hBMC) and stem cells from human exfoliated primary tooth pulp (SHED). METHODOLOGY: CD117(+) cells were magnetically separated and subjected to hepatic differentiation. CD117(+) cell lineages were characterized for transcription factors indicative of stem cells by qRT-PCR. For the last 9 days of the differentiation, the test cells were exposed to 0.1 ng mL(-1) H2 S. Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry of albumin, alpha-fetoprotein and carbamoyl phosphate synthetase were carried out after differentiation. Urea concentration and glycogen synthesis were also determined. RESULTS: Genes expressed in SHED were also expressed in BMC. No difference in expression level of hepatic markers was shown by immunofluorescence. SHED showed more positive cells than hBMC (P < 0.01). H2 S increased the number of positive cells in both cultures (P < 0.01). Urea concentration and glycogen synthesis increased significantly after H2 S exposure (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Real-time PCR data were analysed by RT(2) profiler RT-PCR Array Data Analysis version 3.5 (Qiagen), and ELISA data were analysed by Bonferroni's multiple comparison using Windows spss version 16 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Bonferroni's multiple comparison test was also carried out after angle transformation for the percentage data of flow cytometer using Windows spss(®) version 16 (SPSS Inc). Statistical significance was accepted at P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Stem cells from human exfoliated primary tooth pulp and BMC have similar properties. The level of hepatic differentiation in SHED compared with BMC was the same or higher. H2 S increased the level of hepatic differentiation.

p53-Pathway activity and apoptosis in hydrogen sulfide-exposed stem cells separated from human gingival epithelium.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hydrogen sulfide ( H2S ) is a volatile sulfur compound responsible for physiological halitosis. H2S was also reported as having periodontal pathologic activities. Gingival crevicular epithelium is the first barrier against periodontal pathogens and their products; oral keratinocyte stem cells OKSCs play key roles in maintaining this barrier. The p53 pathway is responsible for regulating key biological events. Increased apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest of DNA repair can affect keratinocyte stem cells, having a direct impact on the architecture of the oral epithelial tissue. However, the link between H2S , p53 activity and OKSCs has not yet been fully explored. The main objective of the present study was to explore the implications of the p53 pathway in OKSCs following exposure to H2S. MATERIAL AND METHODS: OKSCs were isolated from human gingival epithelium and incubated with physiological levels of H2S for 24 and 48 h. Apoptosis and the mitochondrial membrane potential were detected using flow cytometry. Cytochrome c, total p53, phosphorylated p53 and caspase activity were assessed using specific ELISAs. p53 Pathway gene activity was assayed using quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: The levels of apoptosis were significantly increased following incubation in the presence of H2S, especially after 48 h (36.95 ± 1.91% vs. 4.77 ± 0.74%). Caspases 9 and 3 were activated, whereas caspase-8 activity remained low. Total p53 activity and particularly phosphorylated p53 at serine 46, were significantly enhanced compared with controls (47.11 ± 9.84 units/mL vs. 1.5 ± 0 units/mL and 32.22 ± 10.23 units/mL vs. 0.15 ± 0 units/mL, respectively, at 48 h). Among p53 pathway genes, apoptosis-related genes [i.e. phosphatase and tensin homolog ( PTEN ), B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 ( BCL2), sirtuin 3 ( SIRT3) and caspases]) were dramatically increased when compared with controls. Moreover, cell-cycle progression genes [i.e. E2F transcription factor (E2F) family and histone deacetylase ( HDAC )] and DNA-repair genes [i.e. growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible, gamma ( GADD45G ) family and serine/threonine-protein kinase Chk2 ( CHEK2)] were also increased. CONCLUSION: Following incubation with H2 S , OKSCs express multiple p53-associated genes, including programmed cell death, cell-cycle control and DNA-repair genes.

Structure and physical map of 64 variable segments in the 3'0.8-megabase region of the human immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus.

We have constructed the physical map of the 0.8 megabase DNA fragment which contains the 3' 64 variable region (V) gene segments of the human immunoglobulin heavy chain (H) locus. The organization of the VH locus showed several features that indicate dynamic reshuffling of this locus. The sequenced 64 VH segments include 31 pseudogenes, of which 24 are highly conserved except for a few point mutations. Comparison of the 64 germline VH sequences shows that each VH family has conserved sequences, suggesting that there might be some genetic or selection mechanisms involved in maintenance of each family. The total number of the human VH segments was estimated to be about 120, including at least 7 orphons.

Inactivation of bacteriophages by high levels of dissolved CO2.

We developed a system with high levels of dissolved CO2 for water disinfection. Bacteriophages MS2, Qbeta and phiX174 were selected as the inactivation targets. A relatively mild inactivation effect was observed on MS2 and Qbeta at different initial concentrations of dissolved CO2 at 0.3 MPa in 20-30 min. When the pressure was increased to 0.6 MPa, the inactivation of MS2 and Qbeta was differentially improved. However, this system was less effective for the inactivation of phiX174. The capsid surface property is a probable reason for the low inactivation of phiX174. The pH was not a key factor in the inactivation of bacteriophages; moreover, the results obtained using alternative gases (pressurized air and O2) indicated that only CO2 inactivated these bacteriophages. A comparison between the results of real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and plaque assay showed that some RNA moved out from the capsid after treatment. Capsid damage by CO2 expansion was the likely mechanism of inactivation with our method.

An endoscopic hydro-mastoidectomy technique for cholesteatoma surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic hydro-mastoidectomy, in which mastoidectomy is performed underwater, can be employed during transcanal endoscopic ear surgery for cholesteatoma removal. It was hypothesised that endoscopic hydro-mastoidectomy might take less time than endoscopic non-underwater mastoidectomy because the endoscope does not need to be removed for cleaning. METHODS: This study compared the mastoidectomy and total operative durations between the endoscopic hydro-mastoidectomy (n = 25) and endoscopic non-underwater drilling (control, n = 8) groups. Moreover, it compared the size of resected areas of the external auditory canal between the two groups. RESULTS: The mastoidectomy time of the endoscopic hydro-mastoidectomy group was significantly shorter than that of the control group (p < 0.01). The total operative time did not differ significantly between the endoscopic hydro-mastoidectomy and control groups (p = 0.17). The resected area was significantly larger in the endoscopic hydro-mastoidectomy group than in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic hydro-mastoidectomy enables more extensive bone resection within a shorter period.

Prospective evaluation of corrected QT intervals and arrhythmias after exposure to epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil in women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation can induce fatal arrhythmias such as torsade de pointes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To assess the characteristics of QTc intervals and arrhythmias in women with early breast cancer who received FEC100 adjuvant chemotherapy, electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded before and after each chemotherapy. Associations between QTc interval prolongation and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of potassium channel genes were also investigated. RESULTS: A total of 131 ECG records were obtained in 34 patients who received 153 cycles of FEC100. QTc intervals could be measured in 127 records. There was a significant trend toward QTc interval prolongation after each treatment, persisting through four cycles of chemotherapy (P < 0.001). Median QTc interval prolongations were 13, 11, 18, and 14 ms in the first through fourth cycles of chemotherapy, respectively. QTc intervals differed significantly between cycles 1 and 4 before treatment as well as after treatment (P < 0.05). A single supraventricular premature contraction was noted in 3 (2.3%) of the 131 cycles in 2 (5.9%) of the 34 patients. There was no significant association between QTc interval prolongation and SNPs of potassium channel genes. CONCLUSION: This prospective study confirmed that FEC100 is associated with significant QTc interval prolongation in women with early breast cancer.

NMR search for the spin nematic state in a LaFeAsO single crystal.

We report a (75)As single crystal NMR investigation of LaFeAsO, the parent phase of a pnictide high T(c) superconductor. We demonstrate that spin dynamics develop a strong twofold anisotropy within each orthorhombic domain below the tetragonal-orthorhombic structural phase transition at T(TO) ≈ 156 K. This intermediate state with a dynamical breaking of the rotational symmetry freezes progressively into a spin density wave below T(SDW) ≈ 142 K. Our findings are consistent with the presence of a spin nematic state below T(TO) with an incipient magnetic order.

Oral malodorous compound causes caspase-8 and -9 mediated programmed cell death in osteoblasts.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hydrogen sulfide (H(2) S) is one of two volatile sulfur compounds that are known to be the main cause of oral malodor; the other is methyl mercaptan. Other known volatiles existing in mouth air do not contribute significantly to oral malodor originating in the oral cavity. Hydrogen sulfide is also known to be an etiological factor in periodontal disease. However, the effects of H(2) S on alveolar bone remain unclear. The objectives of this study were to determine the apoptotic effects of H(2) S on osteoblasts and to verify the apoptotic molecular pathways. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A clonal murine calvaria cell line was incubated with 50 ng/mL of H(2) S. To detect apoptosis, the cells were analysed by flow cytometry and ELISA. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was assessed using flow cytometry as well. ELISA was used to evaluate the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and to assess Fas ligand, p53, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin IL1-α IL-ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, interferon-γ, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. Caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities were estimated. Expression of BAX and Bcl-2 was assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. DNA fragmentation was detected by single-cell gel electrophoresis. Fas receptors were evaluated by western blotting. RESULTS: After H(2) S incubation, apoptotic levels increased significantly in a time-dependent manner. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization, the release of cytochrome c, p53 and caspase-3, -8 and -9 and DNA fragmentation were all significantly greater. BAX gene activity was upregulated, whereas Bcl-2 remained low. Fas ligand/Fas receptor, tumor necrosis factor α and other cytokines were not increased to a significant degree. CONCLUSION: At less-than-pathological concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid, H(2) S induces apoptosis in osteoblasts. The molecular mechanisms underlying the apoptotic process include p53, a mitochondrial pathway and caspase-8 activation.

Antihypertensive effect of a fixed-dose combination of losartan/hydrochlorothiazide in patients with uncontrolled hypertension: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Achieving adequate blood pressure (BP) control often requires more than one antihypertensive agent. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a fixed-dose formulation of losartan (LOS) plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (LOS/HCTZ) is effective in achieving a greater BP lowering in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. METHODS: The study was a prospective, multicenter, observational trial exploring the antihypertensive effect of a single tablet of LOS 50 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg. A total of 228 patients whose BP had previously been treated with more than one antihypertensive agents without having achieved BP goal below 130/80 mmHg enrolled in the study. RESULTS: A significant decrease in systolic and diastolic BP was observed in both clinic and home measurement after switching from the previous treatment to LOS/HCTZ. There was a significant decrease in both B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and urinary albumin creatinine (Cr) excretion ratio (ACR), especially in patients with elevated values. In contrast, there was a significant increase in serum Cr concentration in conjunction with a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Overall serum uric acid (UA) concentration increased, whereas in patients with hyperuricemia there was a significant reduction in this value. CONCLUSION: Switching to LOS/HCTZ provides a greater reduction in clinic and home BP in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. This combination therapy may lead to cardio-, reno protection and improve UA metabolism.

Removal of hydrogen sulfide using palygorskite in a fixed bed adsorber.

This work describes the use of a novel palygorskite, a type of magnesium aluminium silicate clay possessing a high specific surface area and pore surface activity, as a low cost and highly efficient adsorbent for hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) removal. Adsorption of H(2)S on palygorskite pretreated with acid or base was investigated in a fixed bed adsorber. The samples after base pretreatment had better dynamic adsorption performances than raw material and samples pretreated with acid. The H(2)S adsorption capacity decreased with an increase in inlet H(2)S concentration. This can be interpreted by the fact that H(2)S adsorption on the surface of palygorskite is chemisorption. The adsorption capacity increased from 25 to 50 °C, then decreased from 50 to 100 °C, which indicates that chemisorption took place and its better reaction temperature was around 50 °C.

Association between the Mediterranean Diet Score and Healthy Life Expectancy: A Global Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVES: Extending healthy life expectancy (HALE), defined as the average number of years that a person can expect to live in "full health" by taking into account years lived in less than full health due to disease and/or injury, is a common topic worldwide. This study aims to clarify the relationships between the Mediterranean diet score (MDS) and life expectancy (LE) and HALE globally using publicly available international data. SETTING: Analyses were conducted on 130 countries with populations of 1 million or more for which all data were available. Individual countries were scored from 0 to 9 to indicate adherence to the Mediterranean diet according to the MDS scoring method. The supply of vegetables, legumes, fruits and nuts, cereals, fish, and olive oil per 1,000 kcal per country was calculated based on the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database, with a score of 1 for above the median and 0 for below. The same method was used to calculate scores of presumed detrimental components (meat and dairy), with consumption below the median given a value of 1, and consumption above the median given a value of 0. For ethanol, a score of 1 was given for 10g to 50 g of consumption. We investigated the cross-sectional associations between the MDS and LE and HALE at birth in 2009, and the longitudinal associations between the MDS in 2009 and LE and HALE between 2009 and 2019, controlling for covariates at baseline using linear mixed models. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional analysis, the MDS was significantly positively associated with LE (ß=0.906 [95% confidence interval, 0.065-1.747], p=0.037) and HALE (ß=0.875 [0.207-1.544], p=0.011) after controlling for all covariates. The longitudinal analysis also revealed significantly positive associations between the MDS and LE (0.621 [0.063-1.178], p=0.030) and HALE (0.694 [0.227-1.161], p=0.004) after controlling for all covariates. CONCLUSION: The present study, based on an analysis using 10 years of international data, showed that countries with a higher MDS showed a positive association with HALE.