Abstract
In high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy, verification of the
Ir-192 source's position during treatment is needed because such a
source is extremely radioactive. One of the methods used to ...measure
the source position is based on imaging the gamma rays from the
source, but the absolute position in a patient cannot be
confirmed. To confirm the absolute position, it is necessary to
acquire an optical image in addition to the gamma ray image at the
same time as well as the same position. To simultaneously image the
gamma ray and optical images, we developed an imaging system
composed of a low-sensitivity, high-resolution gamma camera
integrated with a CMOS camera. The gamma camera has a 1-mm-thick
cerium-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite (YAIO3: YAP(Ce))
scintillator plate optically coupled to a position-sensitive
photomultiplier (PSPMT), and a 0.1-mm-diameter pinhole collimator
was mounted in front of the camera to improve spatial resolution and
reduce sensitivity. We employed the concept of a periscope by
placing two mirrors tilted at 45 degrees facing each other in front
of the gamma camera to image the same field of view (FOV) for the
gamma camera and the CMOS camera. The spatial resolution of the
imaging system without the mirrors at 100 mm from the Ir-192 source
was 3.2 mm FWHM, and the sensitivity was 0.283 cps/MBq. There was
almost no performance degradation observed when the mirrors were
positioned in front of the gamma camera. The developed system could
measure the Ir-192 source positions in optical and gamma ray
images. We conclude that the developed imaging system has the
potential to measure the absolute position of an Ir-192 source in
real-time clinical measurements.
Objectives
This study aimed to examine the relationships among subjective well-being, food and health behaviors, socioeconomic factors, and geography in chronically ill older Japanese adults living ...alone.
Design
The design was a cross-sectional, multilevel survey. A questionnaire was distributed by post and self-completed by participants.
Setting
The sample was drawn from seven towns and cities across Japan.
Participants
A geographic information system was used to select a representative sample of older people living alone based on their proximity to a supermarket. Study recruitment was conducted with municipal assistance.
Measurements
To assess subjective well-being and food and health behaviors of respondents with disease, a logistic regression analysis was performed using stepwise variable analyses, adjusted for respondent age, socioeconomic status, and proximity to a supermarket. The dependent variable was good or poor subjective well-being.
Results
In total, 2,165 older people (744 men, 1,421 women) completed the questionnaire (63.5% response rate). Data from 737 men and 1,414 women were used in this study. Among people with a chronic disease, individuals with good subjective well-being had significantly higher rates than those with poor subjective well-being for satisfaction with meal quality and chewing ability, food diversity, food intake frequency, perception of shopping ease, having someone to help with food shopping, eating home-produced vegetables, preparing breakfast themselves, eating with other people, and high alcohol consumption. A stepwise logistic analysis showed that the factors strongly related to poor subjective well-being were shopping difficulty (men: odds ratio OR = 3.19, 95% confidence interval CI, 1.94–5.23; P < 0.0001; women: OR = 2.20, 95% CI, 1.54–3.14; P < 0.0001), not having someone to help with food shopping (women: OR = 1.41, 95% CI, 1.01–1.97; P = 0.043), not preparing breakfast (women: OR = 2.36, 95% CI, 1.40–3.98; P = 0.001), and eating together less often (women: OR = 1.99, 95% CI, 1.32–3.00; P = 0.002).
Conclusion
Subjective well-being of people with chronic diseases is associated with food intake and food behavior. The factors that affect poor subjective well-being in chronically ill older Japanese people living alone include food accessibility and social communication.
Abstract
The gamma camera has a 1-mm-thick cerium-doped yttrium
aluminum perovskite (YA1O_3: YAP(Ce)) scintillator plate optically
coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT), and a
...0.1-mm-diameter pinhole collimator was mounted in front of the
camera to improve spatial resolution and reduce sensitivity.
Contact tracing for COVID-19 relies heavily on the cooperation of individuals with authorities to provide information of contact persons. However, few studies have clarified willingness to cooperate ...and motivation to provide information for contact tracing. This study sought to describe willingness to cooperate and motivation to report contact persons for COVID-19 contact tracing among citizens in Japan, and to assess any associated sociodemographic factors.
Cross-sectional study.
This was an online-based survey using quota sampling. Participants were asked about their willingness to cooperate in reporting contacts for COVID-19 contact tracing if they tested positive. Participants also responded to questions regarding their reasons for cooperating or not cooperating and provided sociodemographic data. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to clarify associations between sociodemographic factors and willingness to cooperate.
This study included 2844 participants. The proportion of participants who were not willing to cooperate in reporting contacts was 27.6%, with their main reasons being concerns about causing trouble for the other person and being criticised for revealing their names. Willingness to cooperate was lower among men, young adults and those with an educational level less than a university degree.
To improve the effectiveness of contact tracing, educational campaigns, such as reducing the fear and stigma associated with COVID-19, may be important. Furthermore, it is essential to understand that individuals may have contacts whom they do not wish to disclose to others and to be considerate when handling such situations.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Some cases of seasonal influenza virus (human influenza A virus (IAV)/human influenza B virus (IBV)) are associated with abdominal symptoms. Although virus RNA has been detected in faeces, intestinal ...infection has not been clearly demonstrated. We aimed to provide evidence that IAV/IBV infects the human intestine. This prospective observational study measured virus RNA in faecal and sputum samples from 22 patients infected with IAV/IBV (19 IAV positive and three IBV positive). Nineteen patients were included in the analysis and were assigned to faecal IAV-positive and -negative groups. Virus kinetics were examined in faecal samples from an IAV-infected patient (patient 1) and an IBV-infected patient (patient 2). Finally, intestinal tissue from an IAV-diagnosed patient who developed haemorrhagic colitis and underwent colonoscopy was examined for the presence of replicating IAV (patient 3). Virus RNA was detected in faecal samples from 8/22 IAV/IBV-infected patients (36.4%). Diarrhoea occurred significantly more often in the faecal IAV-positive group (p 0.002). In patients 1 and 2, virus RNA became undetectable in sputum on days 7 and 10 after infection, respectively, but was detected in faeces for a further 2 weeks. Virus mRNA and antigens were detected in intestinal tissues (mucosal epithelium of the sigmoid colon) from patient 3. These findings suggest that IAV/IBV infects within the intestinal tract; thus, the human intestine may be an additional target organ for IAV/IBV infection.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Objective
This study aimed to examine perceptions of shopping difficulty, and the relationships with satisfaction with state of health and meals, physical condition, food diversity and health ...behavior in older people living alone in Japan.
Design
A cross-sectional, multilevel survey was designed. The questionnaire was distributed by mail and self-completed by participants.
Setting
The sample was drawn from seven towns and cities across Japan.
Participants
A geographic information system was used to select the sample of older people living alone, by proximity to a supermarket. In total, 2,346 older people (827 men and 1,519 women) completed the questionnaire.
Measurements
The dependent variable was whether shopping was easy or difficult. A logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for age, socioeconomic status and proximity of residence to a supermarket using stepwise variable analyses.
Results
The response rate was 67.8%. Overall, 14.5% of men and 21.7% of women considered shopping difficult. The stepwise logistic analysis showed that the factors most strongly related to shopping difficulty were a subjective feeling of poor health (men: OR = 3.01, women: OR = 2.16) and lack of satisfaction with meals (men: OR = 2.82, women: OR = 3.69). Other related physical condition and dietary factors were requiring nursing care (men: OR = 3.69, women: OR = 1.54), a high level of frailty, measured using the frailty index score (women: OR = 0.36) and low food diversity score (men: OR = 1.84, women: OR = 1.36).
Conclusion
The study found that older people’s assessment of their shopping difficulty was related to satisfaction aspects, including a subjective feeling of poor health, and lack of satisfaction with meals, as well as physical condition. These have a greater influence on shopping difficulty than income in both sexes, and proximity to a supermarket in women.
We measured plasma‐derived extracellular vesicle (EV) proteins and their microRNA (miRNA) cargos in normoglycemic (NG), glucose intolerant (GI), and newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) in ...middle‐aged male participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA‐Brazil). Mass spectrometry revealed decreased IGHG‐1 and increased ITIH2 protein levels in the GI group compared with that in the NG group and higher serotransferrin in EVs in the DM group than in those in the NG and GI groups. The GI group also showed increased serum ferritin levels, as evaluated by biochemical analysis, compared with those in both groups. Seventeen miRNAs were differentially expressed (DEMiRs) in the plasma EVs of the three groups. DM patients showed upregulation of miR‐141‐3p and downregulation of miR‐324‐5p and ‐376c‐3p compared with the NG and GI groups. The DM and GI groups showed increased miR‐26b‐5p expression compared with that in the NG group. The DM group showed decreased miR‐374b‐5p levels compared with those in the GI group and higher concentrations than those in the NG group. Thus, three EV proteins and five DEMiR cargos have potential prognostic importance for diabetic complications mainly associated with the immune function and iron status of GI and DM patients.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
OBJECTIVE:Hyperuricemia is thought to be one of risk factors for cardiovascular and renal conditions. Several responsible genes for gout have been identified including uromodulin (UMOD). UMOD is ...known as the disease gene of familial juvenile hypouricemic nephropathy. On the other hand, recent GWAS revealed UMOD is associated with hypertension. We therefore tested the hypothesis that a genetic variant of UMOD could show significant association with uric acid (UA) concentrations and blood pressure (BP).
DESIGN AND METHOD:We enrolled consecutive 924 subjects who had consulted our hospitals for life style related diseases (statistic power 80%, significance level 0.05). Genomic DNA was isolated from human leukocytes. Genotypes were assayed with genomic DNA for a C/T variant of UMOD (rs4293393) using real-time PCR system by TaqMan method. Associations between the genetic variant and serum UA (sUA), urinary UA excretion rate (uUA/uCr), Fractional excretion of UA (FEUA) and BP were tested.
RESULTS:The numbers of individuals with each genotype of UMOD were as follows (CC, CT and TT)2, 72 and 850 cases, respectively. Accordingly, data were analyzed by ANOVA between CC/CT group (74 cases) and TT group (850 cases). The sUA (mg/dl) were as followsCC/CT 4.74 ± 1.45, TT 5.23 ± 1.53 (p = 0.009). Thus, it has been revealed that sUA is significantly higher among the cases of T allele homozygotes. Other results of measurements were as followsuUA/uCr (rate); CC/CT 0.55 ± 0.15, TT 0.56 ± 0.20 (p = 0.59), FEUA (%); CC/CT 10.2 ± 8.8, 8.2 ± 3.6 (p = 0.0028), SBP (mmHg); CC/CT 138 ± 21, 146 ± 24 (p = 0.012), DBP (mmHg); CC/CT 82 ± 15, 86 ± 15 (p = 0.014).
CONCLUSIONS:The serum uric acid concentration is associated with genetic variation of uromodulin and the subjects with genetic variation of high serum uric acid have high blood pressure. Thus, from a view point of Mendelian randomization theory, it is found that high serum uric acid state might have a significant impact blood pressure elevation.
This paper reports the track multiplicity and kinematics of muons, charged pions, and protons from charged-current inclusive νμ and νμ interactions on a water target, measured using a nuclear ...emulsion detector in the NINJA experiment. A 3-kg water target was exposed to the T2K antineutrino-enhanced beam corresponding to 7.1 × 1020 protons on target with a mean energy of 1.3 GeV. Owing to the high granularity of the nuclear emulsion, protons with momenta down to 200 MeV=c from the neutrino-water interactions were detected. We find good agreement between the observed data and model predictions for all kinematic distributions other than the number of charged pions and the muon kinematics shapes. These results demonstrate the capability of measurements with nuclear emulsion to improve neutrino interaction models.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
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