Epidemiological features of tuberculosis infection in a rural prefecture of Japan from 2007 to 2018

This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological features of reported tuberculosis (TB) infections in a western prefecture (Nagasaki Prefecture) from 2007 to 2018, and to identify the high-risk group for TB infection. The characteristics of 12 years of reported TB infections from the Nagasaki Prefectural Informational Center of Infectious Diseases were summarized by median (interquartile range [IQR]) and proportion; the annual TB infections’ notification rate regarding sex/age was calculated accordingly. The diagnosis of TB infection was made according to clinic symptoms and laboratory examination. In total, 4364 TB infections were reported in 2007 and 2018, with a median age (IQR) of 74 (55–84) years. The majority of TB infections were male (52.6%, 2297/4364), > 65 years (65.8%, 2869/4364), and indigenous (98.1%, 4276/4364). Among active TB, 66.9% (1833/2740) had pulmonary TB, and 25.3% (694/2740) were diagnosed as extrapulmonary TB. The highest notification rate of TB infection was observed in the elderly male population (> 85 years). The annual notification rate of TB infections ranged between 19.4/and 34.0/100,000 for 12 years. The notification rates of TB infections were high in older people of both sexes, especially in men aged > 85. Therefore, appropriate interventions and health management are essential for TB control in (and with a focus on) the elderly population

The role of education in the association between self-rated health and levels of C-reactive protein: a cross-sectional study in rural areas of China

Objectives This study aims to examine the association between self-rated health (SRH) and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) among adults aged 45 to 101 years old in rural areas of China, and to explore the role of education in the association. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting The study population was derived from two databases in China: Nanping project (NP) and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Participants There were 646 participants from a rural area of Nanping (NP) and 8555 rural participants from a national representative sample of China (CHARLS). Methods CRP was measured using a high sensitivity sandwich enzyme immunoassay in the NP and immunoturbidimetric assay in the CHARLS. SRH was assessed by SRH questionnaires and categorised into good and poor. Education was measured by the maximum years of schooling and dichotomised into illiterate and literate. Multivariate linear regression models were used to study the associations. Results Compared to people with good SRH, those with poor SRH had higher levels of CRP in NP (β=0.16, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.34) and in CHARLS (β=0.07, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.11) after adjusting for potential confounders. Similar findings were observed in the pooled population (β=0.08, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.12), especially in men (β=0.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.20) and in literate people (β=0.12, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.18). Conclusion Poor SRH may be a predicator of elevated levels of CRP among middle-aged and older people in rural areas, especially in men and literate people

Polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera Improve Glucose Metabolism in Diabetic Rats

This study investigated the effects of polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera (PEP) on glucose metabolism in a rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM). PEP (0, 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically to rats for four weeks. After treatment, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and insulin (INS) levels were measured, and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was calculated. The morphopathological changes in the pancreas were observed. Serum samples were collected to measure the oxidant-antioxidant status. The mRNA expression levels of glucokinase (GCK) and insulin receptor (InsR) in liver tissue and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4) and adiponectin (APN) in adipose tissue were determined. Compared with the model group, the FBG and INS levels were lower, the ISI was higher, and the number of islet β-cells was significantly increased in all the PEP groups. In the medium- and high-dose PEP groups, MDA levels decreased, and the enzymatic activities of SOD and GSH-Px increased. The mRNA expression of InsR and GCK increased in all the PEP groups; APN mRNA expression increased in the high-dose PEP group, and GLUT-4 mRNA expression increased in adipose tissue. These findings suggest that PEP is a potential therapeutic agent that can be utilized to treat DM

Spatial-temporal analysis of tuberculosis infections in a rural prefecture in Japan

Background: Japan has remained medium-burden tuberculosis (TB) country for many years. However, a considerable variation was observed in the TB space-time distribution among Japan’s eight regions. This study aimed to investigate the spatial, temporal, and space-time dynamics of TB at the machi-level in Nagasaki prefecture.Methods: Data on the reported TB infections from 2007 to 2018 were collected from the information center for infectious diseases of the Nagasaki Prefectural Institute of Environment and Public Health. The time series, temporal trends, and spatial patterns of TB at the machi-level were explored using Moran’s I and Kulldorff’s space-time scan statistics.Results: A total of 4,364 TB infections were reported between April 2007 and December 2018 in Nagasaki prefecture. The infections were frequently reported in October, June, and January, and they showed spatial clustering with Moran’s I value ranging from 0.07 to 0.17 (p = 0.001). Ten significant clusters were identified, including one most likely cluster and nine secondary clusters, which were mainly concentrated in the densely inhabited districts of the two biggest cities in Nagasaki prefecture (Nagasaki city and Sasebo city), Shimabara peninsula, and Iki island.Conclusion: This study showed significant and unique spatial-temporal characteristics of TB infections in Nagasaki prefecture. Therefore, such information on the prevailing epidemiological situation of TB infections could help develop strategies that could effectively eliminate TB in Japan

The relationship between oxygen therapy, drug therapy, and COVID-19 mortality

Since December, 2019, Wuhan, China, has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted a retrospective study of COVID-19 inpatients in Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (Wuhan, China) from January 1 to February 29, 2020. The subjects were divided into four groups due to different treatment regimes. We used the Kaplan–Meier method to determine the cumulative rates of in-hospital death and the Cox proportional hazard model to calculate the risk factors and corresponding hazard ratios. A total of 185 patients were included in this study. The median age of the patients was 62 years, including 94 men and 91 women. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that mortality was higher in older patients, higher in men, and lower in the low-flow oxygen therapy group. Body mass index (BMI) had no influence on mortality, as well as high flow oxygen therapy, Lopinavir–ritonavir (LPV/r) therapy, and the interferon-alpha add LPV/r therapy. Cox proportional hazard regression confirmed that the low flow oxygen therapy was independent protective factor for in-hospital death after adjusting for age, gender, and BMI. In conclusion, the mortality was higher in older patients, higher in men, and lower in the low-flow oxygen therapy group. BMI had no influence on mortality, as well as high flow oxygen therapy, LPV/r therapy, and interferon-alpha add LPV/r therapy

Acceptance and Preference for COVID-19 Vaccine among Japanese Residents at Early Stage of the Epidemic in Japan

Background: This study aimed to survey the attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and their acceptability among the Japanese public as soon as the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized vaccines and their rollouts started around the world. Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted in Japan between 4 January and 5 March 2021. A questionnaire was administered to evaluate attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines according to demographic characteristics, vaccine characteristics, and vaccine production. Results: A total of 1037 completed responses were received. More than half (63.5%) of the participants responded positively (extremely likely/likely) toward COVID-19 vaccines. The highest acceptance to be vaccinated was discovered among the youngest age group. As expected, participants who had never delayed acceptance or refused the vaccine in their history of vaccination had a significantly higher willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Females (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.99–3.58) and participants who had ever delayed acceptance or refuse the vaccine (OR = 3.49, 95% CI: 2.42–5.05) had higher odds of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Participants with a postgraduate degree (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.40–1.00) presented the highest willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19. More than two-thirds (72.9%, 95% CI: 70.4%–75.8%) of the participants did not mind a booster dose required following primary vaccination. A total of 63.2% (95% CI: 60.0%–66.0%) of the participants only accepted a nearly 90% effective or above vaccine at preventing COVID-19. At the same, 86.4% (95% CI: 84.4%–88.4%) of the participants reported only accepting a vaccine with minor side effects. Conclusions: The moderate levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance found in the early phase of the pandemic demonstrate that it is important to improve the implementation of effective management for vaccine promotion and the acceptability of the vaccine to slow or delay transmission

COVID-19 vaccination intention and vaccine characteristics influencing vaccination acceptance: a global survey of 17 countries

BACKGROUND: The availability of various types of COVID-19 vaccines and diverse characteristics of the vaccines present a dilemma in vaccination choices, which may result in individuals refusing a particular COVID-19 vaccine offered, hence presenting a threat to immunisation coverage and reaching herd immunity. The study aimed to assess global COVID-19 vaccination intention, vaccine characteristics influencing vaccination acceptance and desirable vaccine characteristics influencing the choice of vaccines. METHODS: An anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted between 4 January and 5 March 2021 in 17 countries worldwide. Proportions and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and vaccine characteristics influencing vaccination acceptance were generated and compared across countries and regions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS: Of the 19,714 responses received, 90.4% (95% CI 81.8-95.3) reported likely or extremely likely to receive COVID-19 vaccine. A high proportion of likely or extremely likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was reported in Australia (96.4%), China (95.3%) and Norway (95.3%), while a high proportion reported being unlikely or extremely unlikely to receive the vaccine in Japan (34.6%), the U.S. (29.4%) and Iran (27.9%). Males, those with a lower educational level and those of older age expressed a higher level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Less than two-thirds (59.7%; 95% CI 58.4-61.0) reported only being willing to accept a vaccine with an effectiveness of more than 90%, and 74.5% (95% CI 73.4-75.5) said they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine with minor adverse reactions. A total of 21.0% (95% CI 20.0-22.0) reported not accepting an mRNA vaccine and 51.8% (95% CI 50.3-53.1) reported that they would only accept a COVID-19 vaccine from a specific country-of-origin. Countries from the Southeast Asia region reported the highest proportion of not accepting mRNA technology. The highest proportion from Europe and the Americas would only accept a vaccine produced by certain countries. The foremost important vaccine characteristic influencing vaccine choice is adverse reactions (40.6%; 95% CI 39.3-41.9) of a vaccine and effectiveness threshold (35.1%; 95% CI 33.9-36.4). CONCLUSIONS: The inter-regional and individual country disparities in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy highlight the importance of designing an efficient plan for the delivery of interventions dynamically tailored to the local population

The Effect of Central Loops in miRNA:MRE Duplexes on the Efficiency of miRNA-Mediated Gene Regulation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) guide posttranscriptional repression of mRNAs. Hundreds of miRNAs have been identified but the target identification of mammalian mRNAs is still a difficult task due to a poor understanding of the interaction between miRNAs and the miRNA recognizing element (MRE). In recent research, the importance of the 5′ end of the miRNA:MRE duplex has been emphasized and the effect of the tail region addressed, but the role of the central loop has largely remained unexplored. Here we examined the effect of the loop region in miRNA:MRE duplexes and found that the location of the central loop is one of the important factors affecting the efficiency of gene regulation mediated by miRNAs. It was further determined that the addition of a loop score combining both location and size as a new criterion for predicting MREs and their cognate miRNAs significantly decreased the false positive rates and increased the specificity of MRE prediction

Anxiety and its risk factors among non-Japanese residents living in Japan undergoing COVID-19 situation: A cross-sectional survey

Introduction In the context of collective efforts taken in Japan to control the spread of COVID-19, the state of emergency and social distancing have caused a negative impact on the mental health of all residents, including foreign communities in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the level of anxiety and its associated factors among non-Japanese residents residing in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A web-based survey in 13 languages was conducted among non-Japanese residents living in Japan during the COVID-19 situation. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory assessed the level of anxiety–State (STAI-S) scores prorated from its six-item version. The multivariable logistic regression using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) method was performed to identify the associated factors of anxiety among participants. Results From January to March 2021, we collected 392 responses. A total of 357 valid responses were analyzed. 54.6% of participants suffered from clinically significant anxiety (CSA). In multivariable logistic model analysis, the CSA status or the high level of anxiety was associated with three factors, including having troubles/difficulties in learning or working, decreased sleep duration, and decreased overall physical health (p<0.05). Conclusion Our study suggests several possible risk factors of anxiety among non-Japanese residents living in Japan undergoing the COVID-19 pandemic, including the troubles or difficulties in learning or working, the decrease in sleep duration, and the decrease in overall physical health.Revisión por pare