We aimed to determine how municipal subsidies for seasonal influenza vaccines for the elderly affected vaccination coverage and health outcomes and how responses to vaccine prices changed during the ...COVID-19 pandemic.
This ecological study includes 1245 municipalities in Japan between 2019 and 2020. Fixed-effects regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of influenza vaccine cost subsidy for people aged 65 years or older on vaccination coverage, all-cause mortality, and influenza-related mortality.
The vaccination rate increased when patients' copayments decreased, and reducing the copayment by 1000 Japanese Yen (JPY) was estimated to increase the vaccination rate by 6.3% (95% confidence interval CI 4.5–8.2%) in the adjusted model. When examining the additional effect of a zero price compared to a nearly zero price, we found that a zero price increased the immunization rate by 6.4% (95% CI 1.4–11.5%). The effect of copayment on the increase in vaccination coverage was significantly lower during the pandemic than in the pre-pandemic period. The municipal and prefectural analyses found no association between influenza vaccine copayments and all-cause, influenza, or pneumonia mortality.
Cost subsidies and the zero-price effect were shown to increase vaccination coverage but were not associated with relevant mortality measures. Although the impact was attenuated under pandemic conditions, cost subsidy effectively increases the vaccination rate.
Streptococcus dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis (SDSE) is increasingly being identified as a pathogen responsible for invasive and non-invasive infections. We compared the clinical features of invasive ...SDSE infections with those of invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus (GAS)) and Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus (GBS)). Active surveillance for invasive SDSE, GAS and GBS was maintained over 1 year at 142 medical institutions throughout Japan. Clinical information was collected together with isolates, which were characterized microbiologically. Two hundred and thirty-one invasive SDSE infections were identified, 97 other patients had infections with GAS, and 151 had infections with GBS. The median age of the SDSE patients was 75 years; 51% were male and 79% had underlying diseases. Forty-two SDSE patients (19%) presented to the emergency department. Among the 150 patients (65%) for whom follow-up was completed, 19 (13%) died and eight (5%) had post-infective sequelae (poor outcome). Insufficient white blood cell responses (<5000 cells/µL) and thrombocytopenia on admission each suggested significantly higher risk of poor outcome (ORs 3.6 and 4.5, respectively). Of 229 isolates, 55 (24%) showed an stG6792 emm type, which was significantly associated with poor outcome (OR 2.4). Clinical manifestations of invasive SDSE infections were distinct from those of invasive GBS infections. Primary-care doctors should consider invasive SDSE infections when treating elderly patients.
Pulmonary fibrosis is caused by various known and unknown aetiologies, but the key pathogenic mechanisms are still ill-defined. Chemokines are a large family of chemotactic cytokines that play ...pivotal roles in various inflammatory diseases. In the present study, the roles of chemokines in a rat model of radiation pneumonitis/ pulmonary fibrosis were examined. Accumulation of inflammatory cells and pneumonitis were observed on day 28, and diffuse alveolar wall thickening with extensive fibrosis was observed on day 56. In addition to the previously reported CCL2 (macrophage chemoattractant protein-1) induction, selective upregulation of CCL22 (macrophage-derived chemokine) and CCL17 (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine) were demonstrated for the first time in the irradiated lung tissues. Immunohistochemically, it was demonstrated that CCL22 and CCL17 were localised primarily to alveolar macrophages, whereas their receptor CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) was detected on alveolar lymphocytes and macrophages. On further analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis, elevated levels of CCL22, but not of CCL17, were observed in the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. Since these two chemokines play pivotal roles in various type-2 T-helper cell-dominant diseases, it was speculated that CCL22, and probably CCL17, are involved in the pathophysiology of radiation pneumonitis/pulmonary fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis through the recruitment of CC chemokine receptor 4-positive type-2 T-helper cells and alveolar macrophages.
Neutrophils play a key role in the development of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Since the lungs are the main target in these ...syndromes, with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as the outcome, extensive research has been undertaken to prevent or mitigate ARDS. As evidence of the involvement of neutrophils in ARDS has accumulated, modulation of their function has become a major goal in terms of a therapeutic approach. In this short review, we sought to update our knowledge about neutrophils. Firstly, we summarized the various stimuli which activate neutrophils. Secondly, we described the different mediators, including cytokines, which are released by neutrophils. Lastly, we discussed the possible modulation of their function. Although we cannot assess the clinical usefulness of biochemical substances merely on the basis of their in vitro effects, understanding these mechanisms is fundamental to the success of the new therapeutic approach which is currently under way.
The history of ceramic filters Fujishima, S.
IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control,
2000-Jan., 2000, 2000-00-00, 2000-01-00, 20000101, Letnik:
47, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The history of ceramic filters is surveyed. Included is the history of piezoelectric ceramics. Ceramic filters were developed using technology similar to that of quartz crystal and electro-mechanical ...filters. However, the key to this development involved the theoretical analysis of vibration modes and material improvements of piezoelectric ceramics. The primary application of ceramic filters has been for consumer-market use. Accordingly, a major emphasis has involved mass production technology, leading to low-priced devices. A typical ceramic filter includes monolithic resonators and capacitors packaged in unique configurations.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of moisture content on anaerobic digestion of dewatered sewage sludge under mesophilic condition. The moisture contents of sludge fed to ...reactors were 97.0%, 94.6%, 92.9%, 91.1% and 89.0%. The VS removal efficiency changed from 45.6% to 33.8%, as the moisture content of sludge fed to digester decreased from 97.0% to 89.0%. The carbohydrate removal efficiency also decreased from 71.1% to 27.8%. Methane production decreased when the moisture content of sludge was lower than 91.1%. The number of glucose consuming acidogenic bacteria was decreased from 3.1 x 10(6) to 3.1 x 10(8) (MPN/mL) as the moisture content decreased from 91.1% to 89.0%. The numbers of hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenic bacteria decreased by one order of magnitude when the moisture content was lower than 91.1%. The decrease in numbers of glucose consuming acidogenic bacteria and methanogenic bacteria was found to correspond to the decrease in the carbohydrate removal efficiency and the accumulation of propionic acid. Batch experiments showed that acetoclastic methanogenic bacteria were acclimated to high ammonia concentration, on the other hand, glucose consuming acidogenic bacteria were inhibited.
The AKARI All-Sky Catalogues are an important infrared astronomical database for next-generation astronomy that take over theIRAScatalog. We have developed an online service, AKARI Catalogue Archive ...Server (AKARI-CAS), for astronomers. The service includes useful and attractive search tools and visual tools. One of the new features of AKARI-CAS is cached SIMBAD/NED entries, which can match AKARI catalogs with other catalogs stored in SIMBAD or NED. To allow advanced queries to the databases, direct input of SQL is also supported. In those queries, fast dynamic cross-identification between registered catalogs is a remarkable feature. In addition, multiwavelength quick-look images are displayed in the visualization tools, which will increase the value of the service. In the construction of our service, we considered a wide variety of astronomers’ requirements. As a result of our discussion, we concluded that supporting users’ SQL submissions is the best solution for the requirements. Therefore, we implemented an RDBMS layer so that it covered important facilities, including the whole processing of tables. We found that PostgreSQL is the best open-source RDBMS products for such purpose, and we wrote codes for both simple and advanced searches into the SQL stored functions. To implement such stored functions for fast radial search and cross-identification with minimum cost, we applied a simple technique that is not based on HTM or HEALPix. In contrast, the online application layer became compact and was written in simple procedural PHP codes. In total, our system realizes cost-effective maintenance and enhancements.
Background: Nicotine is responsible for smoking dependence and is mainly metabolised by CYP2A6. Several types of genetic polymorphism of CYP2A6 have been reported, but their relation to smoking habit ...and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) phenotypes has not been fully clarified. Methods: 203 current or ex-smokers (lifelong cigarette consumption (CC) ≥10 pack years) with subclinical and established COPD phenotypes were clinically evaluated and pulmonary function tests and a chest CT scan were performed (smoker group). The non-smoker group consisted of 123 healthy volunteers. CYP2A6 genotypes were determined in both groups. Results: The percentage of subjects with a CYP2A6del allele (genotype D) was lower in heavy smokers (20.5%, n=88, CC ≥60 pack years) than in light smokers (37.4%, n=115, CC 10–59 pack years, χ2=6.8, p=0.01) or non-smokers (36.1%, n=122, χ2=6.0, p=0.01); lower in ex-smokers (20.7%, n=111) than in current smokers (41.3%, n=92, χ2=10.1, p<0.01); and lower in smokers with a high LAA (low attenuation area) score on the chest CT scan (18.4%, n=76, LAA ≥8.0) than in those with a low LAA score (37.0%, n=127, LAA <8.0, χ2=7.8, p<0.01). Conclusions: Subjects with the CYP2A6del allele tend not to be heavy habitual smokers but can be light habitual smokers. The CYP2A6del polymorphism may inhibit smokers from giving up smoking, but appears to function as a protective factor against the development of pulmonary emphysema independent of smoking habit.
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