Number of averted COVID-19 cases and deaths attributable to reduced risk in vaccinated individuals in Japan

Background: In Japan, vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was initiated on 17 February 2021, mainly using messenger RNA vaccines and prioritizing health care professionals. Whereas nationwide vaccination alleviated the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related burden, the population impact has yet to be quantified in Japan. We aimed to estimate the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths prevented that were attributable to the reduced risk among vaccinated individuals via a statistical modeling framework. Methods: We analyzed confirmed cases registered in the Health Center Real-time Information-sharing System on COVID-19 (3 March–30 November 2021) and publicly reported COVID-19-related deaths (24 March–30 November 2021). The vaccination coverage over this time course, classified by age and sex, was extracted from vaccine registration systems. The total numbers of prevented cases and deaths were calculated by multiplying the daily risk differences between unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals by the population size of vaccinated individuals. Findings: For both cases and deaths, the averted numbers were estimated to be the highest among individuals aged 65 years and older. In total, we estimated that 564, 596 (95% confidence interval: 477, 020–657, 525) COVID-19 cases and 18, 622 (95% confidence interval: 6522–33, 762) deaths associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection were prevented owing to vaccination during the analysis period (i.e., fifth epidemic wave, caused mainly by the Delta variant). Female individuals were more likely to be protected from infection following vaccination than male individuals whereas more deaths were prevented in male than in female individuals. Interpretation: The vaccination program in Japan led to substantial reductions in the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths (33% and 67%, respectively). The preventive effect will be further amplified during future pandemic waves caused by variants with shared antigenicity. Funding: This project was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency; the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development; the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Immunomodulating Activity of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 in Mice and in Human Volunteers

We performed studies on murine models and human volunteers to examine the immunoenhancing effects of the naturally outdoor-cultivated fruit body of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (i.e. Agaricus blazei). Antitumor, leukocyte-enhancing, hepatopathy-alleviating and endotoxin shock-alleviating effects were found in mice. In the human study, percentage body fat, percentage visceral fat, blood cholesterol level and blood glucose level were decreased, and natural killer cell activity was increased. Taken together, the results strongly suggest that the A. brasiliensis fruit body is useful as a health-promoting food

Primary T-cell Lymphoma of the Thyroid Associated with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Histologically Mimicking MALT-Lymphoma

Most of thyroid lymphomas are B-lineage, and T-cell lymphomas are rare. Here, we report a case of primary thyroid T-cell lymphoma associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. A 48-yr-old woman presented with incidentally found neck mass. Histologically, the resected right lobe of the thyroid was replaced by monomorphic small atypical lymphoid cells with lymphoepithelial lesion-like change, most of which were immunoreactive for CD3, CD8, βF-1, and TIA-1. Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified, was finally diagnosed after molecular study for TCR-γ gene rearrangement. This is the second case of cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma reported in the thyroid gland so far. Unique association between thyroid follicles and neoplastic lymphocytes may be characteristic feature of this type of T-cell lymphoma

Large CP Violation in B_s Meson Mixing with EDM constraint in Supersymmetry

Motivated by the recent measurement of the like-sign dimuon charge asymmetry, we investigate anomalous CP violation in the B_s- bar{B}_s mixing within the supersymmetry. We show that when gluino diagrams dominate supersymmetry contributions, it is very difficult to realize a large B_s- bar{B}_s mixing phase under the constraint from electric dipole moments barring cancellations. This constraint can be ameliorated by supposing superparticles decoupled. In this limit, we find that it is possible to achieve the large CP asymmetry, and the branching ratio of B_s -> mu^+ mu^- tends to become sizable.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure

Clusters of Coronavirus Disease in Communities, Japan, January-April 2020

We analyzed 3, 184 cases of coronavirus disease in Japan and identified 61 case-clusters in healthcare and other care facilities, restaurants and bars, workplaces, and music events. We also identified 22 probable primary case-patients for the clusters; most were 20-39 years of age and presymptomatic or asymptomatic at virus transmission

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) with Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy for Motor Impairment of Neuralgic Amyotrophy: Clinical Observations in 10 Cases

信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成24年3月31日授与（甲第914号）・内藤康介Background Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is a distinct peripheral nervous system disorder characterized by attacks of acute neuropathic pain and rapid multifocal weakness and atrophy unilaterally in the upper limb. The current hypothesis is that the episodes are caused by an immune-mediated response to the brachial plexus, however, therapeutic strategies for NA have not been well established. Methods and Results We retrospectively reviewed 15 case series of NA; 10 of the 15 patients received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) with methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPPT) and 9 of these10 patients showed clinical improvement of motor impairment. Conclusion Our clinical observations do not contradict the possibility that IVIg with MPPT may be one of the potential therapeutics for NA, however the efficacy remains to be established. Further confirmatory trials are needed in patients with various clinical severities and phases of NA. Further basic research and confirmatory trials should be performed to survey the efficacy of such immunomodulation therapy for NA.ArticleINTERNAL MEDICINE. 51(12):1493-1500 (2012)journal articl

Relationship of Test Positivity Rates with COVID-19 Epidemic Dynamics

Detection and isolation of infected people are believed to play an important role in the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some countries conduct large-scale screenings for testing, whereas others test mainly people with high prior probability of infection such as showing severe symptoms and/or having an epidemiological link with a known or suspected case or cluster of cases. However, what a good testing strategy is and whether the difference in testing strategy shows a meaningful, measurable impact on the COVID-19 epidemic remain unknown. Here, we showed that patterns of association between effective reproduction number (Rt) and test positivity rate can illuminate differences in testing situation among different areas, using global and local data from Japan. This association can also evaluate the adequacy of current testing systems and what information is captured in COVID-19 surveillance. The differences in testing systems alone cannot predict the results of epidemic containment efforts. Furthermore, monitoring test positivity rates and severe case proportions among the nonelderly can predict imminent case count increases. Monitoring test positivity rates in conjunction with the concurrent Rt could be useful to assess and strengthen public health management and testing systems and deepen understanding of COVID-19 epidemic dynamics

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) with Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy for Motor Impairment of Neuralgic Amyotrophy: Clinical Observations in 10 Cases

信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成24年3月31日授与（甲第914号）・内藤康介Background Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is a distinct peripheral nervous system disorder characterized by attacks of acute neuropathic pain and rapid multifocal weakness and atrophy unilaterally in the upper limb. The current hypothesis is that the episodes are caused by an immune-mediated response to the brachial plexus, however, therapeutic strategies for NA have not been well established. Methods and Results We retrospectively reviewed 15 case series of NA; 10 of the 15 patients received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) with methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPPT) and 9 of these10 patients showed clinical improvement of motor impairment. Conclusion Our clinical observations do not contradict the possibility that IVIg with MPPT may be one of the potential therapeutics for NA, however the efficacy remains to be established. Further confirmatory trials are needed in patients with various clinical severities and phases of NA. Further basic research and confirmatory trials should be performed to survey the efficacy of such immunomodulation therapy for NA.ArticleINTERNAL MEDICINE. 51(12):1493-1500 (2012)journal articl