The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to economic contraction and significant restrictions on society. The shock to the economy could lead to a deterioration of physical health ...outcomes, including dental health. The present study investigated the association between worsened socioeconomic conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and dental pain in Japan. The mediating effects of psychological distress and oral health–related behaviors were also evaluated. Cross-sectional data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey conducted from August to September 2020 (n = 25,482; age range, 15–79 y) were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the independent associations of household income reduction, work reduction, and job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic with dental pain within a month. Dental pain was reported by 9.8%. Household income reduction, work reduction, and job loss were independently associated with dental pain after adjusting for confounders (odds ratios: 1.42 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.28−1.57, 1.58 95% CI, 1.41−1.76, 2.17 95% CI, 1.64−2.88, respectively). The association related to household income reduction was mediated by psychological distress, postponing dental visits, toothbrushing behavior, and between-meals eating behavior by 21.3% (95% CI, 14.0−31.6), 12.4% (95% CI, 7.2−19.6), 1.5% (95% CI, −0.01 to 4.5), and 9.3% (95% CI, 5.4−15.2), respectively. Our findings showed that worsened socioeconomic conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic deteriorated dental health. Policies that protect income and job loss may reduce dental health problems after the pandemic.
Smoking is a well-known risk factor for cancer; however, there is little evidence as to whether the smoking status of cancer survivors has any risk for subsequent primary cancer (SPC) incidence, ...regardless of the first cancer sites.
In total, 29 795 eligible patients with a first cancer between 1985 and 2004 were examined for SPC until the end of 2006, using a record linkage between hospital-based and population-based cancer registries. The association between smoking at the time of the first cancer diagnosis and three SPC groups (i.e. specific SPC, smoking-related SPCs, and all SPCs) was calculated by Poisson regression.
Ever smokers had 59% and 102% higher risk for all SPCs and smoking-related SPCs, respectively, than never smokers. Cancer survivors who had recently stopped smoking had 18% and 26% less risk, respectively, for these SPCs than those who smoked at the diagnosis. We also found that, compared with those who had never smoked, cancer survivors who had ever smoked had a significantly elevated risk of oral/pharyngeal, esophageal, stomach, lung, and hematological SPCs, regardless of the first cancer sites.
These findings indicate that smoking increases not only the first cancer but also a second or SPC. Moreover, the results from recent quitters versus current smokers suggest that smoking cessation may decrease the risk for SPC, especially for smoking-related SPCs in cancer survivors. Preventive measures are necessary to reduce not only SPC incidence but also tobacco use.
Summary Objective The induction of synovial tissue to the meniscal lesion is crucial for meniscal healing. Synovial Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive cell source because of their high ...proliferative and chondrogenic potentials. We examined whether transplantation of synovial MSCs promoted healing after meniscal repair of extended longitudinal tear of avascular area in a microminipig model. Design Longitudinal tear lesion was made in medial menisci and sutured in both knees, and then a synovial MSC suspension was administered for 10 min only in unilateral knee. The sutured meniscus was evaluated morphologically and biomechanically at 2, 4, and 12 weeks. The behavior of transplanted MSCs was also examined. Results The meniscal healing at 12 weeks was significantly better in the MSC group than in the control group; macroscopically, histologically and by T1rho mapping analysis. Transmission electron microscopic analysis demonstrated that the meniscus lesion was occupied by dense collagen fibrils only in the MSC group. Biomechanical analysis revealed that the tensile strength to failure of the meniscus higher in the MSC group than in the control group in each microminipig. Synovial tissue covered better along the superficial layer from the outer zone into the lesion of the meniscus in the MSC group at 2 and 4 weeks in each microminipig. Synovial MSCs labeled with ferucarbotran were detected in the meniscus lesion and adjacent synovium by MRI at 2 weeks. Conclusion Transplantation of synovial MSCs promoted healing after meniscal repair with induction of synovium into the longitudinal tear in the avascular zone of meniscus in pigs.
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy/fatigue is increasing as the pandemic enters the endemic phase. The present study aimed to explore current perceptions about COVID-19 booster vaccination among the Japanese ...public.
This was a cross-sectional study.
This cross-sectional study used data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey conducted in September 2021 and September 2022. The public's perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination and factors associated with COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy were analyzed.
In total, 56,735 respondents were included. In the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey 2021, 75.1% of the participants (21,126/28,118) had completed the primary vaccination series. In the 2022 survey, 74.1% of the respondents (21,216/28,617) completed the primary series of vaccination with booster doses. The proportion of fear toward COVID-19 and obtaining information about COVID-19 has decreased from 2021 to 2022. Factors independently associated with booster vaccine hesitancy were young age (range: 18–29 years; adjusted odds ratio aOR: 6.56), history of COVID-19 (aOR: 1.82), distrust of the Japanese government's COVID-19 prevention measures (aOR: 1.55), lack of confidence in COVID-19 vaccine efficacy (aOR: 1.30), lack of confidence in COVID-19 vaccine safety (aOR: 1.62), low reliance on the COVID-19 vaccine (aOR: 1.92), and belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories (aOR: 1.77).
Providing clear and trustworthy information is critically important, especially targeted and tailored messages for the young generation, to promoting COVID-19 booster vaccination. Policymakers should therefore develop consistent and transparent communication strategies and the ability to respond promptly and flexibly to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the public while preparing for the next pandemic.
Background Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in the maintenance of vascular integrity. Lipid lowering therapy (LLT) with statins may contribute to biologically relevant ...activities including the proliferation of endothelial cells. The physiological role of microRNA (miR)‐221/222, a newly discovered class of small RNA, is closely linked to the proliferation of endothelial cells. We therefore investigated whether LLT with statins might affect miR‐221/222 expression in EPCs obtained from patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Materials and methods This study included 44 patients with stable CAD and 22 subjects without CAD (non‐CAD). Patients with CAD were randomized to 12 months of LLT with atorvastatin (10 mg day−1) or pravastatin (10 mg day−1). EPCs were obtained from peripheral blood at baseline and after 12 months of statin therapy. Levels of miR‐221/222 in EPCs were measured by real‐time RT‐PCR.
Results Levels of miR‐221/222 were significantly higher in the CAD group than in the non‐CAD group (P < 0·01). Levels of miR‐221/222 were weakly negatively correlated with EPC number in the CAD group. After 12 months of therapy, changes in lipid profiles were greater in the atorvastatin group than in the pravastatin group. LLT with atorvastatin markedly increased EPC numbers and decreased miR‐221/222 levels (all P < 0·05), whereas LLT with pravastatin did not change EPC numbers or miR‐221/222 levels.
Conclusions This study demonstrates that LLT with atorvastatin increases EPC numbers and decreases miR‐221/222 levels in patients with CAD, possibly contributing to the beneficial effects of LLT with atorvastatin in this disorder.
Ternary Sn–Sb–Co alloy film was successfully prepared by the co-electroplating method using an aqueous solution bath containing SnCl
2·2H
2O, CoCl
2, SbCl
3, Na
2C
4H
4O
6·2H
2O, K
3C
6H
5O
7·H
2O, ...and gelatine. The alloy composition was found to be mainly controllable by the amount of Na
2C
4H
4O
6·2H
2O and SbCl
3 in the plating bath. The Sn–Sb–Co film electrode with a composition of 75.4% Sn, 6.5% Sb, and 18.1% Co gave an initial discharge capacity of 380
mAh
g
−1. The capacity gradually increased from the 1st to the 10th cycle and was then stabilized at a larger value of 580
mAh
g
−1. Furthermore, the electrode was found to give better cycle performance compared to binary Sn–Co and Sn–Sb alloys.
Microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si) thin films with low impurity (oxygen) concentrations were prepared by radio frequency hollow electrode enhanced glow plasma (RF-HEEPT). By using metal gasket seals ...with the RF-HEEPT system, the oxygen concentration in the thin films was reduced to 3.0 × 1017 cm−3, which is approximately two orders of magnitude less than that of films fabricated in a system using rubber gasket seals. Under the reduced oxygen conditions, we were able to deposit μc-Si thin films at a maximum deposition rate of 10.0 nm/s. We also investigated the spectral response of μc-Si thin-film solar cells. The spectral response of the solar cells fabricated with a low oxygen concentration was improved, especially in the near-infrared region. However, with increasing deposition rate of the thin films, the peaks of the spectral response shifted toward shorter wavelengths and the magnitudes decreased, especially in the near-infrared region, indicating that grain boundaries or defects in the thin films increased at higher deposition rate.
•We present the effect of reducing impurity concentration of μc-Si thin films.•The μc-Si thin films were deposited using RF-HEEPT system.•The maximum deposition rate of thin films reached 10.0 nm/s.•We fabricated the μc-Si thin film solar cells and measured their spectral response.•The spectral response of the solar cells was improved by the impurity reduction.
It is known that particle size obtained from Brownian motion of a particle is called the diffusion coefficient equivalent size (DCES) and is close to the geometric size independent of the physical ...properties of a particle. In this paper, it is described that real time measurement of the particle size and particle number concentration by observing the Brownian motion of the particles from which the influence of the flow field has been eliminated by the instrument combining the flow particle tracking (FPT) method and the L-shaped flow cell. Furthermore, we realized in evaluating the refractive index, which is the physical property information of the particles, from the DCES, the Rayleigh scattering equation and the light scattering intensity of particle that physical properties are known. In this paper, we also discuss that improvement of particle size accuracy and refractive index accuracy in the measurement of DCES.
Electrochemical performance of β-FeOOH thin film has been investigated for a low-cost and environmentally friendly negative electrode with a large capacity. The electrode was found out to give an ...initial large discharge capacity of 864
mAh
g
−1 and good cycleability with a constant value around 700
mAh
g
−1 at subsequent cycles. In the first charge process, one electron change reaction proceeded from the initial rest potential of 3.04–1.65
V vs. Li/Li
+, resulting in the formation of divalent product FeOOHLi. Further charging caused the surface film formation like solid electrolyte interface (SEI) between 1.65
V and 1.18
V vs. Li/Li
+ together with the reduction of Fe compound from divalent to partially zero-valent, followed by its film growth from 1.18
V to 0.07
V vs. Li/Li
+.
PDF
