A Practice of the Laboratory Course Using a Personal Spectrometer and Learning Management System

学生実験は，限られた授業時間，実験作業スペース，限られた数の機器など，いくつかの制約の下で行われている。これらの制約を緩和するために，予習用のコンテンツを学習管理システム（LMS）でオンライン公開した。2017年度前期より，学生一人ひとりが利用できる計測機器とタブレットを導入した。その後，アプリの改良を重ね，貸出用のタブレットではなく，学生が自分のスマートフォンを利用できるようになった。2022年度前期には，学生実験に一通りの方法が確立した。また，今後の改良点を模索するためにも学生実験終了後にアンケートを取った。本稿では，学生実験の概要，アンケート結果について報告する。Laboratory courses are conducted under some constraints, such as limited class hours, insufficient experimental workspace, and limited numbers of instruments. We released online preparatory content on the learning management system (LMS) to alleviate these restrictions. We introduced a measurement device and a tablet available to each student in the first semester of 2017. The measurement application has improved since then, and now students can use their own smartphones instead of tablets. An appropriate method for our laboratory course was completed in the first semester of 2022. In addition, a questionnaire was taken for further improvements after the laboratory course was finished. In this paper, we report the outline of the laboratory course and the questionnaire results

Aging and CMV Infection Affect Pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-Reactive CD8⁺ T Cells in Unexposed Individuals

加齢やサイトメガロウイルス感染が新型コロナウイルス反応性キラーT細胞に与える影響. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-08-23.Severe COVID-19 symptoms in the elderly are consistent with a weaker immune system. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-08-23.Age is a major risk factor for COVID-19 severity, and T cells play a central role in anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity. Because SARS-CoV-2-cross-reactive T cells have been detected in unexposed individuals, we investigated the age-related differences in pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells. SARS-CoV-2-reactive CD4⁺ T cells from young and elderly individuals were mainly detected in the central memory fraction and exhibited similar functionalities and numbers. Naïve-phenotype SARS-CoV-2-reactive CD8⁺ T cell populations decreased markedly in the elderly, while those with terminally differentiated and senescent phenotypes increased. Furthermore, senescent SARS-CoV-2-reactive CD8⁺ T cell populations were higher in cytomegalovirus seropositive young individuals compared to seronegative ones. Our findings suggest that age-related differences in pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-reactive CD8+ T cells may explain the poor outcomes in elderly patients and that cytomegalovirus infection is a potential factor affecting CD8⁺ T cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, this study provides insights for developing effective therapeutic and vaccination strategies for the elderly

Comparison of six antibody assays and two combination assays for COVID-19

[Introduction] In this work, six SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody assays were evaluated, namely, two pan-immunoglobulin (pan-Ig) assays [Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (named "Elecsys" in this study) and the PerkinElmer SuperFlex™ Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab Assay (SuperFlex_Ab)], two IgM assays [SuperFlex™ Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM Assay (SuperFlex_IgM) and YHLO iFlash-SARS-CoV-2 IgM (iFlash_IgM)], and two IgG assays [SuperFlex™ Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay (SuperFlex_IgG) and iFlash-SARS-CoV-2 IgG (iFlash_IgG)]. Combination assays of SuperFlex™ (SuperFlex_any) and iFlash (iFlash_any) were also evaluated. [Methods] A total of 438 residual serum samples from 54 COVID-19 patients in the COVID-19 group and 100 samples from individuals without evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the negative control group were evaluated. [Results] In the early stage of COVID-19 infection, within 14 days of symptom onset, the seropositive rate was lower than that of the late stage 15 days after onset (65.4% vs 99.6%). In the total period, the pan-Ig and IgG assays had higher sensitivity (90.8–95.3%) than the IgM assays (36.5–40.7%). SuperFlex_Ab and SuperFlex_any had higher sensitivity than Elecsys and SuperFlex_IgG (p < 0.05). The specificity of all the assays was 100%, except for SuperFlex_IgM (99.0%). The concordance rate between each assay was higher (96.4–100%) in the late stage than in the early stage (77.4–98.1%). [Conclusion] For the purpose of COVID-19 diagnosis, antibody testing should be performed 15 days after onset. For the purpose of epidemiological surveillance, highly sensitive assays should be used as much as possible, such as SuperFlex_Ab, iFlash_IgG and their combination. IgM assays were not suitable for these purposes

カテイナイ ニオケル コミュニケーション ノウリョク ノ イクセイ オ メザシタ ショウガッコウ カテイカ ノ ジュギョウ ジッセン

家庭内における児童のコミュニケーション能力の育成をめざし,小学校家庭科で「自分の気持ちを率直に伝える大切さに気づき,生活に生かそうとする態度を身につける」ことを目的とした授業実践を行った。その結果,ほとんどの児童が家族を対象としたコミュニケーションの生活実践を行い,事後調査におけるコミュニケーションの正解率も高かったため,授業で取り上げたコミュニケーションスキルは児童に定着したといえる。コミュニケーションスキルを活用できなかった児童に対する支援・指導の工夫が今後の課題である。This report analyzed the effect of learning of communication with family in home economics education in elementary school. The learning items were awareness of importance of communication and to get practical attitude. The results were as follows: 1) Most of students practiced on communication with family in their lives. 2) Level of post test of students on communication was high. 3) Learning of communication with family in home economics education was proven to be effective. The problem to be solved is to support for students without practice on communication with family.国立情報学研究所『研究紀要公開支援事業』により電子化

Development of a quantitative prediction model for peripheral blood stem cell collection yield in the plerixafor era

BACKGROUND AIMS: Predicting autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection yield before leukapheresis is important for optimizing PBSC mobilization and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for treating hematological malignancies. Although guidelines for plerixafor usage based on peripheral blood CD34+ (PB-CD34+) cell count are available, their predictive performance in the real world remains unclear. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed 55 mobilization procedures for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma and developed a novel quantitative prediction model for CD34+ cell collection yield that incorporated four clinical parameters available the day before leukapheresis; namely, PB-CD34+ cell count the day before apheresis (day -1 PB-CD34+), number of prior chemotherapy regimens, disease status at apheresis and mobilization protocol. RESULTS: The effects of PB-CD34+ cell counts on CD34+ cell collection yield varied widely per patient characteristics, and plerixafor usage was recommended in patients with poorly controlled disease or those with a history of heavy pre-treatments even with abundant day -1 PB-CD34+ cell count. This model suggested a more proactive use of plerixafor than that recommended by the guidelines for patients with poor pre-collection condition or those with a higher target number of CD34+ cells. Further, the authors analyzed the clinical outcomes of ASCT and found that plerixafor use for stem cell mobilization did not affect short- or long-term outcomes after ASCT. CONCLUSIONS: Although external validations are necessary, the results can be beneficial for establishing more effective and safer mobilization strategies