“Go To Travel” Campaign and Travel-Associated Coronavirus Disease 2019 Cases: A Descriptive Analysis, July–August 2020

This article belongs to the Special Issue Real Time Clinical and Epidemiological Investigations on Novel Coronavirus - Part IThe Japanese government initiated the Go To Travel campaign on 22 July 2020, offering deep discounts on hotel charges and issuing coupons to be used for any consumption at travel destinations in Japan. In the present study, we aimed to describe the possible epidemiological impact of the tourism campaign on increasing travel-associated cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country. We compared the incidence rates of travel-associated and tourism-related cases prior to and during the campaign. The incidence of travel-associated COVID-19 cases during the tourism campaign was approximately three times greater than the control period 22 June to 21 July 2020 and approximately 1.5 times greater than the control period of 15 to 19 July. The incidence owing to tourism was approximately 8 times and 2–3 times greater than the control periods of 22 June to 21 July and 15 to 19 July, respectively. Although the second epidemic wave in Japan had begun to decline by mid-August, enhanced domestic tourism may have contributed to increasing travel-associated COVID-19 cases during 22 to 26 July, the early stage of the Go To Travel campaign

CFTR gene mutations in Japanese individuals with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens

AbstractCongenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) is a monosymptomatic disease confined to the male reproductive system with similarity to the phenotype of cystic fibrosis (CF), and mutations in the CFTR gene are highly prevalent in Caucasian CBAVD patients. While CF is very rare in Japan, CBAVD is not. Our previous study demonstrated high prevalence of the 5T allele in the CFTR gene in Japanese CBAVD patients. We analyzed whole exons of the CFTR gene in 19 CBAVD patients and 53 normal individuals using polymerase chain reaction amplification-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing. Three missense mutations (W216X, G1349S, Q1352H) were found in seven CFTR alleles, and the 5T allele was positive in 11 of 38 CFTR patient alleles. Consequently, 47% of CFTR chromosomes in the patients were affected, and 11 individuals (58%) had at least one mutated CFTR allele. In contrast, three of 53 normal individuals (5.7%) had a missense mutation in one of the CFTR genes, but no 5T allele was detected (both P<0.0001). Mutations of the CFTR gene are closely associated with Japanese patients with CBAVD

Myocardial sympathetic denervation prevents chamber-specific alteration of beta-adrenergic transmembrane signaling in rabbits with heart failure

Objectives.The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of myocardial sympathetic denervation on the chamber-specific alteration of beta-adrenergic signaling in left ventricular failure in rabbits.Background.Local abnormalities in sympathetic nerve terminals, including the neuronal reuptake of norepinephrine, are thought to be responsible for the chamber-specific regulation of beta-adrenergic signaling in heart failure.Methods.Sixteen rabbits were given 6-hydroxydopamine, 25 mg/kg body weight intravenously on days 1 and 2 and 50 mg/kg intravenously on days 7 and 8. Another 16 rabbits received vehicle. Aortic regurgitation was induced in eight of the 6-hydroxydopamine—treated and eight of the vehicle-treated rabbits on day 14. Another eight of the 6-hydroxydopamine—treated and eight of the vehicletreated rabbits underwent a sham operation. The hearts were excised for biochemical analysis on day 21.Results.Hemodynamic characteristics on day 21 showed left ventricular failure in both the aortic regurgitation groups. The plasma norepinephrine concentration on day 21 was higher in both the aortic regurgitation groups than in the sham groups. The beta-adrenoceptor densities and isoproterenol plus 5′guanylylimidodiphosphate-, 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate- and sodium fluoride-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activities were decreased only in the failing left ventricle of the vehicle-pretreated aortic regurgitation group, but in both ventricles of the 6-hydroxydopamine-pretreated aortic regurgitation group. The basal and forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activities were similar in both the aortic regurgitation groups and in the sham groups.Conclusions.Sympathetic denervation prevented chamberspecific alterations in beta-adrenergic signaling in acute left ventricular failure. Local loss of sympathetic nerve endings, and especially the defective neuronal norepinephrine reuptake, are likely to be responsible for the chamber-specific alteration of the beta-adrenoceptor-G protein-adenylyl cyclase system in heart failure in rabbits

Electron excitation of the Schumann–Runge continuum, longest band, and second band electronic states in O2

We report measurements of differential and integral cross sections for electron excitation of the Schumann–Runge continuum, longest band, and second band electronic states in molecular oxygen. The energy range of the present study is 15–200 eV, with the angular range of the differential cross section (DCS) measurements from 2 to 130°. A generalized oscillator strength analysis is then employed in order to derive integral cross sections (ICSs) from the corresponding DCSs, and these ICSs are compared with relevant energy and oscillator strength scaled Born cross section results determined as a part of this investigation. Interestingly, while the present Schumann–Runge continuum and second band ICSs were in reasonable agreement with the respective BEf-scaling results, agreement for the longest band was poor below 100 eV with a possible reason for this apparently anomalous behavior being canvassed here. Finally, where possible all present data are compared with the results from earlier measurements and calculations with the level of agreement found being very good in some cases and marginal in others

Epidemiological impact of travel enhancement on the inter-prefectural importation dynamics of COVID-19 in Japan, 2020

Mobility restrictions were widely practiced to reduce contact with others and prevent the spatial spread of COVID-19 infection. Using inter-prefectural mobility and epidemiological data, a statistical model was devised to predict the number of imported cases in each Japanese prefecture. The number of imported cases crossing prefectural borders in 2020 was predicted using inter-prefectural mobility rates based on mobile phone data and prevalence estimates in the origin prefectures. The simplistic model was quantified using surveillance data of cases with an inter-prefectural travel history. Subsequently, simulations were carried out to understand how imported cases vary with the mobility rate and prevalence at the origin. Overall, the predicted number of imported cases qualitatively captured the observed number of imported cases over time. Although Hokkaido and Okinawa are the northernmost and the southernmost prefectures, respectively, they were sensitive to differing prevalence rate in Tokyo and Osaka and the mobility rate. Additionally, other prefectures were sensitive to mobility change, assuming that an increment in the mobility rate was seen in all prefectures. Our findings indicate the need to account for the weight of an inter-prefectural mobility network when implementing countermeasures to restrict human movement. If the mobility rates were maintained lower than the observed rates, then the number of imported cases could have been maintained at substantially lower levels than the observed, thus potentially preventing the unnecessary spatial spread of COVID-19 in late 2020

Detection of adenovirus hepatitis and acute liver failure in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients

Human adenovirus (HAdV) is an important cause of the common cold and epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in immunocompetent individuals. In immunocompromised patients, HAdV can sometimes cause severe infection such as cystitis, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, encephalitis, hepatitis, or disseminated disease, resulting in significant morbidity and also mortality. In particular, severe cases have been reported in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT). Indeed HAdV has been recognized as a pathogen that requires careful monitoring in allo‐HSCT patients. While HAdV hepatitis leading to severe acute liver failure is rare, such liver failure progresses rapidly and is often fatal. Unfortunately, HAdV hepatitis has few characteristic symptoms and physical findings, which makes it difficult to promptly confirm and start treatment. We report here four cases of HAdV hepatitis after allo‐HSCT and their autopsy findings

Comparison of postmenopausal endogenous sex hormones among Japanese, Japanese Brazilians, and non-Japanese Brazilians

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Differences in sex hormone levels among populations might contribute to the variation in breast cancer incidence across countries. Previous studies have shown higher breast cancer incidence and mortality among Japanese Brazilians than among Japanese. To clarify the difference in hormone levels among populations, we compared postmenopausal endogenous sex hormone levels among Japanese living in Japan, Japanese Brazilians living in the state of São Paulo, and non-Japanese Brazilians living in the state of São Paulo.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted using a control group of case-control studies in Nagano, Japan, and São Paulo, Brazil. Participants were postmenopausal women older than 55 years of age who provided blood samples. We measured estradiol, estrone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone and free testosterone by radioimmunoassay; bioavailable estradiol by the ammonium sulfate precipitation method; and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) by immunoradiometric assay. A total of 363 women were included for the present analyses, comprising 185 Japanese, 44 Japanese Brazilians and 134 non-Japanese Brazilians.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Japanese Brazilians had significantly higher levels of estradiol, bioavailable estradiol, estrone, testosterone and free testosterone levels, and lower SHBG levels, than Japanese. Japanese Brazilians also had significantly higher levels of bioavailable estradiol, estrone and DHEAS and lower levels of SHBG and androstenedione than non-Japanese Brazilians. Levels of estradiol, testosterone and free testosterone, however, did not differ between Japanese Brazilians and non-Japanese Brazilians. These differences were observed even after adjustment for known breast cancer risk factors. We also found an increase in estrogen and androgen levels with increasing body mass index, but no association for most of the other known risk factors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found higher levels of estrogens and androgens in Japanese Brazilians than in Japanese and levels similar to or higher than in non-Japanese Brazilians. Our findings may help explain the increase in the incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer among Japanese Brazilians.</p

The relationship between the size of caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte of the canine femoral neck and the radiographic view

Caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte (CCO), an osteophyte at the site of joint capsule attachment on the caudal aspect of the femoral neck, has been advocated as a radiographic criterion for coxofemoral subluxation. The correlation between the presence of CCO on radiographs (radiographic-CCO), the size of the CCO (CCO index) on three-dimensional computed tomographic (CT) images, and hip evaluation using transverse CT images was assessed in 22 Border Collies. CCOs were detected on the radiographs and CT images of 32% and 100% femurs, respectively. The CCO index correlated significantly with radiographic-CCO, but a large CCO index did not necessarily imply that the CCO was visible on radiographs. Hence, radiographic-CCO findings should be used cautiously in hip evaluation of Border Collies

The location of 8-shaped hatching influences inner cell mass formation in mouse blastocysts

The hatching of a blastocyst where the blastocyst portions on the inside and the outside of the zona pellucida feature a figure-of-eight shape is termed 8-shaped hatching; this type of hatching has been reported to affect the proper presentation of the inner cell mass (ICM) in both human and mouse embryos. Here, our aim was to investigate the factors that affect ICM presentation during 8-shaped hatching. We performed IVF by using B6D2F1 female mice and ICR male mice, and used the 104 captured blastocysts. Embryos were maintained in KSOM at 37 degrees C in a 5% CO2, 5% O-2, and 90% N-2 environment, and their growth behavior was monitored individually and continuously using time-lapse cinematography. At 120 h after insemination, embryos were immunostained and examined under a confocal microscope. We used the hatching form to identify 8-shaped hatching, and we classified the 8 shaped- hatching blastocysts into two groups, one in which the hatching site was near the ICM center, and the other in which the hatching site was far from the ICM center. We measured each group for ICM size and the number of Oct3/4-positive cells. Of the 95 hatching or hatched embryos, 74 were 8-shaped-hatching blastocysts, and in these embryos, the ICM was significantly wider when the hatching site was near the ICM than when the hatching site was far from the ICM (P = 0.0091). Moreover, in the 8-shaped-hatching blastocysts in which the ICM was included in the blastocyst portion outside the zona pellucida. the portion defined as the outside blastocyst. after the collapse of this outside blastocyst, the ICM adhered to the trophectoderm of the outside blastocyst, opposite the hatching site. Our results indicate that in 8-shaped-hatching blastocysts, the hatching site and the collapse of outside blastocyst affect ICM formation. Thus, the assessment of 8-shaped hatching behaviors could yield indices for accurately evaluating embryo quality