ラオスの農村部における母子保健継続ケアの決定要因

平成29年度東京女子医科大学医学部・基礎系教室研究発表会 平成29年12月22日(金) 東京女子医科大学弥生記念講堂地下A会議

Coral-spawn slicks : Reflectance spectra and detection using optical satellite data

This study provides the first report of reflectance spectra of coral-spawn slicks and their detection using optical satellite data. The reflectance spectra show that coral-spawn slicks can be discriminated from other sea-surface features such as wave foam and floating Sargassum. Analysis of Planet Dove and Sentinel-2B imagery allowed successful detection of coral-spawn slicks at Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan (24°31′40″N, 124°17′31″E), by using reflectance values in the green and red wavelength regions. This detection was attributable to both their high spatial resolution (3.7 m and 10 m, respectively) and high temporal resolution (1 day and 5 days, respectively), given that coral spawning occurs within a short period (up to several days), typically once a year, and that the coral-spawn slicks have narrow widths of ~10 m. The number of the detected coral-spawn slicks was small, possibly because of coral decline around Ishigaki Island caused by the 2016 worldwide mass coral bleaching event. High-frequency satellite observations, including those from satellite constellations, should provide a powerful tool for understanding coral-reef processes and features whose detection requires high spatial and temporal resolution

Determinants of continuum of care for maternal, newborn, and child health services in rural Khammouane, Lao PDR.

IntroductionThe concept of continuum of care has gained attention as measures to improve maternal, newborn, and child health. However, little is known about the factors associated with the coverage level of continuum of care in Lao PDR. Therefore, this study was conducted 1) to investigate the coverage level of continuum of care and 2) to identify barriers and promoting factors that are associated with mothers' continuation in receiving services in rural Lao PDR.MethodsA community-based, cross sectional study was conducted in a rural district in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR, using a structured questionnaire. The outcome to the express continuum of care was assessed by the modified composite coverage index (CCI) that reflects ten maternal and child health services.ResultsIn total, 263 mothers were included in the final analyses. Only 6.8% of mothers continued to receive all MNCH services. Five factors were shown to have statistically significant associations with modified CCI score: higher educational attainment (B = 0.070, pConclusionsIn this study, we introduced the modified CCI to better explain the utilization of preventive maternal and child health services along with the continuum of care. By utilizing the modified CCI, we identified five factors as determinants of continuum of care. Furthermore, new and modifiable promoting factors were identified for continuum of care: receiving the first antenatal care within the first trimester and family and male involvement. Such demand side actions should be encouraged to improve the continuity of MNCH service use

Genetic Diversity of the Hemagglutinin Genes of Influenza a Virus in Asian Swine Populations

Swine influenza (SI) is a major respiratory disease of swine; SI is due to the influenza A virus of swine (IAV-S), a highly contagious virus with zoonotic potential. The intensity of IAV-S surveillance varies among countries because it is not a reportable disease and causes limited mortality in swine. Although Asia accounts for half of all pig production worldwide, SI is not well managed in those countries. Rigorously managing SI on pig farms could markedly reduce the economic losses, the likelihood of novel reassortants among IAV-S, and the zoonotic IAV-S infections in humans. Vaccination of pigs is a key control measure for SI, but its efficacy relies on the optimal antigenic matching of vaccine strains with the viral strains circulating in the field. Here, we phylogenetically reviewed the genetic diversity of the hemagglutinin gene among IAVs-S that have circulated in Asia during the last decade. This analysis revealed the existence of country-specific clades in both the H1 and H3 subtypes and cross-border transmission of IAVs-S. Our findings underscore the importance of choosing vaccine antigens for each geographic region according to both genetic and antigenic analyses of the circulating IAV-S to effectively manage SI in Asia

Genetic Diversity of the Hemagglutinin Genes of Influenza a Virus in Asian Swine Populations

Swine influenza (SI) is a major respiratory disease of swine; SI is due to the influenza A virus of swine (IAV-S), a highly contagious virus with zoonotic potential. The intensity of IAV-S surveillance varies among countries because it is not a reportable disease and causes limited mortality in swine. Although Asia accounts for half of all pig production worldwide, SI is not well managed in those countries. Rigorously managing SI on pig farms could markedly reduce the economic losses, the likelihood of novel reassortants among IAV-S, and the zoonotic IAV-S infections in humans. Vaccination of pigs is a key control measure for SI, but its efficacy relies on the optimal antigenic matching of vaccine strains with the viral strains circulating in the field. Here, we phylogenetically reviewed the genetic diversity of the hemagglutinin gene among IAVs-S that have circulated in Asia during the last decade. This analysis revealed the existence of country-specific clades in both the H1 and H3 subtypes and cross-border transmission of IAVs-S. Our findings underscore the importance of choosing vaccine antigens for each geographic region according to both genetic and antigenic analyses of the circulating IAV-S to effectively manage SI in Asia

Genetics of H5N1 and H5N8 High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated in Japan in Winter 2021–2022

In winter 2021–2022, H5N1 and H5N8 high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses (HPAIVs) caused serious outbreaks in Japan: 25 outbreaks of HPAI at poultry farms and 107 cases in wild birds or in the environment. Phylogenetic analyses divided H5 HPAIVs isolated in Japan in the winter of 2021–2022 into three groups—G2a, G2b, and G2d—which were disseminated at different locations and times. Full-genome sequencing analyses of these HPAIVs revealed a strong relationship of multiple genes between Japan and Siberia, suggesting that they arose from reassortment events with avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in Siberia. The results emphasize the complex of dissemination and reassortment events with the movement of migratory birds, and the importance of continual monitoring of AIVs in Japan and Siberia for early alerts to the intrusion of HPAIVs

Different Infectivity and Transmissibility of H5N8 and H5N1 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Chickens in Japan in the 2021/2022 Season

H5N8 and H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) caused outbreaks in poultry farms in Japan from November 2021 to May 2022. Hemagglutinin genes of these viruses belong to clade 2.3.4.4B and can be divided phylogenetically into the following groups: 20A, 20E, and 21E. In this study, we compared the infectivity and transmissibility of HPAIVs from three groups of chickens. Representative strains from 20A, 20E, and 21E groups are A/chicken/Akita/7C/2021(H5N8)(Akita7C), A/chicken/Kagoshima/21A6T/2021(H5N1)(Kagoshima6T), and A/chicken/Iwate/21A7T/2022(H5N1)(Iwate7T), respectively. Fifty percent lethal dose of Akita7C in chickens (103.83 fifty percent egg infectious dose (EID50)) was up to seven times lower than those of Kagoshima6T and Iwate7T (104.50 and 104.68 EID50, respectively). Mean death times for Akita7C- and Kagoshima6T-infected chickens (3.45 and 3.30 days, respectively) were at least a day longer than that of Iwate7T (2.20 days). Viral titers of the trachea and cloaca of Iwate7T-infected chicken were the highest detected. The transmission rate of the Akita7C strain (100%) was markedly higher than those of the two strains (<50%). These data suggest that the infectivity and transmissibility of the Akita7C strain (H5N8) in chickens are higher than those of H5N1 viruses, providing fundamental information needed for formulating effective prevention and control strategies for HPAI outbreaks

Different Infectivity and Transmissibility of H5N8 and H5N1 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Chickens in Japan in the 2021/2022 Season

H5N8 and H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) caused outbreaks in poultry farms in Japan from November 2021 to May 2022. Hemagglutinin genes of these viruses belong to clade 2.3.4.4B and can be divided phylogenetically into the following groups: 20A, 20E, and 21E. In this study, we compared the infectivity and transmissibility of HPAIVs from three groups of chickens. Representative strains from 20A, 20E, and 21E groups are A/chicken/Akita/7C/2021(H5N8)(Akita7C), A/chicken/Kagoshima/21A6T/2021(H5N1)(Kagoshima6T), and A/chicken/Iwate/21A7T/2022(H5N1)(Iwate7T), respectively. Fifty percent lethal dose of Akita7C in chickens (103.83 fifty percent egg infectious dose (EID50)) was up to seven times lower than those of Kagoshima6T and Iwate7T (104.50 and 104.68 EID50, respectively). Mean death times for Akita7C- and Kagoshima6T-infected chickens (3.45 and 3.30 days, respectively) were at least a day longer than that of Iwate7T (2.20 days). Viral titers of the trachea and cloaca of Iwate7T-infected chicken were the highest detected. The transmission rate of the Akita7C strain (100%) was markedly higher than those of the two strains (&lt;50%). These data suggest that the infectivity and transmissibility of the Akita7C strain (H5N8) in chickens are higher than those of H5N1 viruses, providing fundamental information needed for formulating effective prevention and control strategies for HPAI outbreaks

Plasma sphingolipid abnormalities in neurodegenerative diseases.

BackgroundIn recent years, there has been increasing evidence that several lipid metabolism abnormalities play an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is still unclear which lipid metabolism abnormalities play the most important role in neurodegenerative diseases. Plasma lipid metabolomics (lipidomics) has been shown to be an unbiased method that can be used to explore lipid metabolism abnormalities in neurodegenerative diseases. Plasma lipidomics in neurodegenerative diseases has been performed only in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and comprehensive studies are needed to clarify the pathogenesis.MethodsIn this study, we investigated plasma lipids using lipidomics in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases and healthy controls (CNs). Plasma lipidomics was evaluated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in those with IPD, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), multiple system atrophy (MSA), AD, and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and CNs.ResultsThe results showed that (1) plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) was significantly lower in all neurodegenerative disease groups (IPD, DLB, MSA, AD, and PSP) than in the CN group. (2) Plasma monohexylceramide (MonCer) and lactosylceramide (LacCer) were significantly higher in all neurodegenerative disease groups (IPD, DLB, MSA, AD, and PSP) than in the CN group. (3) Plasma MonCer levels were significantly positively correlated with plasma LacCer levels in all enrolled groups.ConclusionS1P, Glucosylceramide (GlcCer), the main component of MonCer, and LacCer are sphingolipids that are biosynthesized from ceramide. Recent studies have suggested that elevated GlcCer and decreased S1P levels in neurons are related to neuronal cell death and that elevated LacCer levels induce neurodegeneration by neuroinflammation. In the present study, we found decreased plasma S1P levels and elevated plasma MonCer and LacCer levels in those with neurodegenerative diseases, which is a new finding indicating the importance of abnormal sphingolipid metabolism in neurodegeneration