Changes in fears and worries related to COVID-19 during the pandemic among current employees in Japan: a 5-month longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates and describes the time course of fears and worries about COVID-19 among current employees during this outbreak. STUDY DESIGN: This was a longitudinal study. METHODS: This study was a part of the Employee Cohort Study in Japan. The study comprised 4120 individuals from February 2019. A baseline survey in March 2020, a 2-month follow-up survey in May 2020, and a 5-month follow-up survey in August 2020 were conducted. Questions surveyed respondents' global fear and worry and six items related to COVID-19. A mixed model for repeated measures of an analysis of variance was used. RESULTS: A total of 1421 respondents completed the baseline survey. At 2- and 5-month follow-ups, 1032 and 1181 respondents completed surveys, respectively. Of those, 64 and 33 individuals who were temporarily laid off or on leave were recorded as missing values. Global fear and worry about COVID-19 significantly increased from March to August 2020. Fears of personal or family infection, limiting one's activities and national and local government policies also significantly increased with time. In contrast, fears of lack of knowledge and difficulty of obtaining hygiene products significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: To conduct efficient risk communication during a pandemic, knowing the concerns of the populace, providing correct information and a sufficient supply of products, and setting clear guidelines are essential.

Omega filter installed in the 1MV microscope of Kyushu University.

A 1.25MV high-voltage electron microscope with a B-type omega filter has been successfully installed at Kyushu University. An image detection chamber has been set inside a concrete block below the ground level without changing the frame structure for anti-vibration. Nearly the same design as that for the 200kV microscope has been kept for the present omega filter except for its size. A new pre- and post-filter lens system with rotation-free imaging has been designed. Energy resolution, beam shape and stability of the filter have been measured. Some application data have been obtained to demonstrate the performance of the filter.

Differential diagnosis of the infundibular dilation and aneurysm of internal carotid artery: assessment with fusion imaging of 3D MR cisternography/angiography.

Fusion imaging of 3D MR cisternography/angiography was used for the assessment of the vascular bulging finding detected by MR angiography from the viewpoint of the outer wall configuration of the corresponding internal carotid artery depicted by MR cisternography. With a fusion image, useful information was obtained to distinguish an infundibular dilation and enlarged origin of the normal posterior communicating artery from an aneurysm. This imaging technique can be a feasible addition to a noninvasive screening of cerebrovascular lesions with MR angiography alone.

Esterase gene frequency differences and linkage equilibrium in Drosophila virilis populations from different ecological habitats.

In order to study the gene frequency and linkage equilibrium in natural populations, about 5740 chromosomes of Drosophila virilis flies from eight natural populations were analyzed by the null strain method for two linked esterase loci. The frequencies of these esterase genes appear to depend on habitat characteristics rather than on geographical distribution. The populations kept a high degree of linkage equilibrium among them (D-.005).

Association of Chromosome and Enzyme Polymorphisms in Natural and Cage Populations of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER.

The frequencies of a polymorphic inversion, In(2L)t, and of Adh and alphaGpdh alleles were analyzed in three natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster from Japan. Significant positive correlations between the frequencies of In(2L)t and Adh(S) or alphaGpdh(F) were detected due to tight linkage. An analysis of correlation with latitude showed that the negative cline of Adh(S) frequency could be explained entirely by its linkage with In(2L)t; the frequency of Adh(S) on the standard chromosome did not show a latitudinal cline. To the contrary, the cline of alphaGpdh(F) frequency itself was positive, and its linkage with In(2L)t makes the positive cline unclear. These results suggest that the two allozymes themselves respond to latitudinal natural selection in different ways. When these populations were transferred to laboratory cages and maintained for a long time, they lost the chromosomal polymorphism but retained stable enzyme polymorphisms, although allele frequencies in the cage were not the same as in nature. The frequencies of Adh and alphaGpdh alleles were close to those in earlier cage populations of the same geographical origin.

Intratracheal pulmonary ventilation at low airway pressures in a ventilator-induced model of acute respiratory failure improves lung function and survival.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The pulmonary parenchyma in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) is commonly not involved in a homogenous disease process. Conventional mechanical ventilation (MV) at elevated positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) aims at recruiting collapsed or nonventilated lung units. Invariably, those pressures are also transmitted to the healthiest regions, with possible extension of the disease process (barotrauma). During intratracheal pulmonary ventilation (ITPV), a continuous flow of fresh gas is delivered directly at the carina, bypassing the dead space proximal to the catheter tip. In healthy sheep, it allows lowering tidal volume (VT) to as low as 1.0 mL/kg, at respiratory rates (RR) up to 120 breaths/min, while maintaining normocapnia. In a model of ventilator-induced lung injury, we wished to explore whether ITPV, applied at low VT and low PEEP and tailored to ventilate the healthiest regions of the lungs, could provide adequate oxygenation and alveolar ventilation, without any attempt to recruit lungs. DESIGN: Randomized study in sheep. SETTING: Animal research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: We induced ARF in 12 sheep following 1 to 2 days of MV at a PIP of 50 cm H2O, except that 5 to 8% of lungs were kept on apneic oxygenation of 5 cm H2O, sparing those regions from the injury process. INTERVENTIONS: Sheep were randomized to volume-controlled MV (control group) (n = 6) with VT of 8 to 12 mL/kg, PEEP of 5 to 10 cm H2O, or to ITPV (n = 6) at PEEP of 3 to 5 cm H2O, VT of 2.5 to 4 mL/kg, PIP of <20 cm H2O, at RRs sufficient to sustain normocapnia. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Hemodynamic status in the ITPV group progressively improved, and all six sheep were weaned to room air within 83+/-54 h. Sheep in the control group had progressively deteriorating conditions and all animals died after a mean of 50+/-39 h. Barotrauma and postmortem histopathologic changes were more pronounced in the control group. CONCLUSION: In this model of ventilator-induced lung injury, low PEEP-low VT ventilation with ITPV sustained normocapnia and prevented further lung injury, allowing weaning to room air ventilation.

Newborn extracorporeal lung assist using a novel double lumen catheter and a heparin-bonded membrane lung.

We report the clinical application of a novel double lumen catheter for veno-venous extracorporeal lung assist (ECLA) and the use of a heparin-bonded hollow fiber membrane lung, in the treatment of newborn respiratory failure. The outer lumen of the double lumen catheter was 14 Fr and was used for blood drainage; while the inner 8 Fr catheter was used for blood return. The double lumen catheter was made of spiral wire reinforced polyurethane, with a wall thickness of 0.25 mm. The hollow fiber membrane was made of non-microporous polyolefin, and was not permeable to water or plasma. We used this system to treat a newborn patient with meconium aspiration syndrome. Heparin was infused continuously at a rate of 18-25 units/kg/h, equal to 1/3 of the usual amount when a non-heparin bonded ECLA system was used and maintaining the activated clotting time near 120 s. Bleeding from cutdown sites was negligible. Only the right internal jugular vein was sacrificed. The patient was successfully weaned from ECLA and appears normal one year following discharge.

To-and-fro veno-venous extracorporeal lung assist for newborns with severe respiratory distress.

A veno-venous to-and-fro bypass method through a single blood access for extracorporeal lung assist with an artificial membrane lung is introduced. A premature newborn with severe respiratory distress was treated with this method. A 12 Fr. single lumen catheter with a spiral-embedded thin-wall, 0.25 mm in wall thickness, was placed in the right internal jugular vein. Venous blood was withdrawn and oxygenated blood returned alternately through the same catheter. Thus both carotid arteries and other large veins were kept intact. During the extracorporeal bypass, the patient was put on intermittent mandatory ventilation of 2 times/min for lung rest providing adequate arterial blood gases, and he survived.

Acute lung injury from mechanical ventilation at moderately high airway pressures.

We have explored adverse pulmonary effects of mechanical ventilation at a peak inspiratory pressure of 30 cmH2O in paralyzed and anesthetized healthy sheep. A control group of eight sheep (group A) was mechanically ventilated with 40% oxygen at a tidal volume of 10 ml/kg, a frequency of 15 breaths/min, a peak inspiratory pressure less than 18 cmH2O, and a positive end-expiratory pressure of 3-5 cmH2O. During the ensuing 48 h, there were no measurable deleterious changes in lung function or arterial blood gases. Another 19 sheep were ventilated with 40% oxygen at a peak inspiratory pressure of 30 cmH2O under a different set of conditions and were randomly assigned to two groups. In group B, the respiratory rate was kept near 4 breaths/min to keep arterial PCO2 in the normal range; in group C, the frequency was kept near 15 breaths/min by including a variable dead space in the ventilator circuit to keep arterial PCO2 near baseline values. There was a progressive deterioration in total static lung compliance, functional residual capacity, and arterial blood gases. After some hours, there were abnormal chest roentgenographic changes. At time of death we found severe pulmonary atelectasis, increased wet lung weight, and an increase in the minimum surface tension of saline lung lavage fluid.

Development of a high energy resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy microscope.

We have developed a high energy resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) microscope, which can take spectra from specified small specimen areas and specified small reciprocal space areas to investigate detailed electronic structures. The EELS microscope is equipped with retarding Wien filters as the monochromator and the analyser. The filters are designed to achieve a stigmatic focus. The energy resolutions are 12 meV and 25 meV for cases without and with a specimen, respectively. Spatial and momentum resolutions are 30-110 nm in diameter and 1.1 nm-1 in angular diameter, respectively. EELS spectra are presented to show the performance of this instrument.

A new 200 kV Omega-filter electron microscope.

A new 200 kV Omega-filter electron microscope was developed under a project supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Specially Promoted Research of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan. The performance of the microscope is described.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of DNA polymerase alpha in human brain-tumor cells.

The proliferative capacity of brain-tumor cells was analyzed in vitro and in situ using monoclonal antibody (MAb) against deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase alpha. For the in vitro studies, two cultured human glioma cell lines were investigated using MAb against DNA polymerase alpha, the MAb Ki-67, a serum against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/cyclin), bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR), and an anti-BUdR MAb. During exponential growth of the cells, the percentage of polymerase alpha-positive cells (the "polymerase alpha score") ranged from 72.0% to 77.1%, the Ki-67-positive cells (the "Ki-67 score") ranged from 43.4% to 59.4%, the PCNA/cyclin-positive cells from 30.9% to 41.4%, and the BUdR labeling index from 28.6% to 39.3%. For the in situ studies, tissue from 60 human brain tumors and from two normal human brains was investigated and the polymerase alpha scores and Ki-67 scores were compared. In normal brain tissue, no immunostaining was found by either method. In brain tumors, both the polymerase alpha scores and the Ki-67 scores correlated with the histological grade of malignancy. Polymerase alpha scores were generally higher than Ki-67 scores in the same specimen, especially in malignant brain tumors. These findings suggest that immunostaining of DNA polymerase alpha is a convenient and important new method by which to estimate the cellular proliferation rate of brain tumors. Polymerase alpha scores may be closer to the growth fraction of the individual tumor than the MAb Ki-67 or other scores.

Design of Wien filters with high resolution.

The design of a compact high-energy resolution device based on a symmetrical double Wien filter is presented. An accurate version of the boundary element method (BEM) is employed to model the shape and behaviour of the filters very precisely. Using a direct ray tracing technique, we investigate the geometrical aberrations in the basic filter, in which dipole and quadrupole electric fields and a dipole magnetic field are present. The additions of a quadrupole magnetic component along with some slight modifications in the geometry produce a drastic reduction in the aberrations.

BEM simulation of Wien filters.

The boundary element method can provide accurate solutions to the electromagnetic problem in numerical simulations of electron optics devices. In this paper, we describe our approach, which applies a subsectional-bases method to generate a boundary division, representing the shape and behaviour of the Wien filter precisely. We investigate by direct ray tracing the origin of the second-order geometrical aberrations of this filter and propose new designs to reduce them.

Pharmacologic inhibition of collagen in an experimental model of subglottic stenosis.

Subglottic stenosis occurs as a complication of prolonged endotracheal intubation secondary to inflammation with development of scar tissue and subsequent fibrosis. Collagen I and III levels increase during the healing process. Steroids alter the inflammatory response, decreasing recruitment of macrophages and fibroblasts. Beta-aminopropionitrile (betaAPN) inhibits the development of collagen cross-linking. A mechanism that would minimize hypertrophic scarring was sought. Eighteen dogs were anesthetized, had tracheostomies performed, and later had cautery of the mucosa and inner layer of the cricoid cartilage. Of 18 survivors, 6 animals were used as controls, 6 animals received oral Decadron, 2 mg/d, and 6 animals received oral betaAPN, 40 mg/d. There were 9 early deaths--5 in the steroid group. Animals were painlessly sacrificed, and the specimens were sectioned at the cricoid cartilage level and were stained immunohistochemically for antibodies to collagen types I to VI. Analysis of the area of scar and the intensity of stain was performed with Mocha image analysis software. Collagen III increased in control animals to 14.38 +/- 1.85 (intensity stain index), but this reaction was reduced by betaAPN (5.77 +/- 1.78, p < .01). Steroids had no significant effect on formation of any type of collagen. Lathyrogens (betaAPN) may offer a pharmacologic tool to reduce scar tissue.

Values of the serum components in Japanese black beef steers at farms with high productivity and low frequencies of disease and death in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Few reference values for use in metabolic profile tests for the maintenance of high productivity and the prevention of production diseases have been reported in Japanese Black beef cattle. To obtain basic data, 101 healthy steers at farms with high productivity and low frequencies of disease and death in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, were examined for the values of their serum components in this preliminary study. At the later fattening stage (5 to 20 months after introduction), statistically significant increases were observed in the mean serum activities of lactic dehydrogenase, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and creatine phosphokinase, the mean serum contents of triglyceride, total cholesterol, albumin (Alb), total protein, blood urea nitrogen, magnesium, and vitamin E, and the mean serum calcium (Ca)/inorganic phosphorus (IP) ratio, and statistically significant decreases were seen in the mean serum alkaline phosphatase activity and the mean serum contents of glucose, IP, and vitamin A. The mean serum Alb/globulin ratio and the mean serum Ca and nonesterified fatty acids contents demonstrated no statistically significant changes.

Relationship between serum biochemical values and marbling scores in Japanese Black steers.

In order to obtain available biochemical parameters related to the marbling score (MS), by which the meat was graded from 1 to 12 in Japan, serum biochemical values were examined in 13 Japanese Black steers during the fattening stages. The steers were divided into high MS (8-11) and low MS (4-5) groups and the fattening stage was also divided into 4 stages according to their feed contents; Stage I (11-13 month-old; 0-4 months after the fattening (af)), II (5-9 months af), III (10-14 months af), and IV (15-20 months af). High MS group showed significantly higher levels in glucose and urea nitrogen (at Stage I), albumin/globulin ratio (at Stage II), and magnesium (at Stage I and III), and lower level in vitamin A (at Stage III) than low MS group. These biochemical parameters, indicating conditions of steers during the fattening stages, are considered to have a possibility related to MS in fattening steers.

[Effect of external decompression on the development of delayed ischemic neurological deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage].

The protective effect of a large decompressive craniectomy against delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND) was evaluated in patients operated on after subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured aneurysm. In 54 cases, a large decompressive craniectomy was performed (Group D), and 41 patients underwent conventional craniotomy (Group ND). Transient DIND appeared in three (17%) of the 18 Group D patients of Hunt and Kosnik grade I or II, but permanent deficits were not observed in this group. In Group ND, permanent DIND developed in seven (21%) of the 33 grade I or II patients, despite their having received the same medical care. This difference was statistically significant. However, there were no differences in outcome among patients of grades III, IV, and V. These results suggest that, at least in patients of grade I or II, a large decompressive craniectomy, performed early, will prevent DIND after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The procedure may prevent the increase in intracranial pressure and decrease in perfusion pressure brought on by vasospasm and the development of brain edema.

Preliminary results of interstitial 192Ir brachytherapy for malignant gliomas.

Twenty-six patients with recurrent or unremovable malignant gliomas were treated by interstitial brachytherapy with iridium-192 seeds. Stereotactic implantation of the afterloading catheters using the Brown-Roberts-Wells computed tomography (CT)-guided stereotactic system was performed in 24 patients and surgical implantation in two patients with pontine glioma. The response to therapy was measured by serial CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical examination. Tumor regression was seen in 17 patients 1-3 months after implantation. Tumor progression was seen in only three patients. After interstitial brachytherapy, the most commonly observed CT finding was central low density. Median survival time was 18 months after implantation. Autopsies in five patients revealed the delayed effects of radiation injury such as typical vascular changes, microcalcification, and coagulative necrosis in the implant area and tumor recurrence at the periphery. The results suggest that brachytherapy is not curative but prolonged the median survival time by 6 months.

A study on the lung function in alpha 1-antitrypsin-deficient (PiMZ) patients.

Laurel and Eriksson published the first report indicating that alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency predisposed patients to the development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). For the purpose of early detection, disturbances of pulmonary function in alpha 1-antitrypsin mild deficiency cases (PiMZ) were compared with those of normal cases (PiMM) in caucasian Americans. The marked results are as follows. 1) Parameters of flow-volume curves were more disturbed in PiMZ cases than in PiMM cases. 2) Volumes of isoflow are specially different between PiMZ and PiMM cases. 3) Mechanical properties, like lung work of breathing, were larger in PiMZ cases than in PiMM cases.