Mobility Patterns in Different Age Groups in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Small Area Time Series Analysis through March 2021

In the COVID-19 era, movement restrictions are crucial to slow virus transmission and have been implemented in most parts of the world, including Japan. To find new insights on human mobility and movement restrictions encouraged (but not forced) by the emergency declaration in Japan, we analyzed mobility data at 35 major stations and downtown areas in Japan—each defined as an area overlaid by several 125-meter grids—from September 1, 2019 to March 19, 2021. Data on the total number of unique individuals per hour passing through each area were obtained from Yahoo Japan Corporation (i.e., more than 13,500 data points for each area). We examined the temporal trend in the ratio of the rolling seven-day daily average of the total population to a baseline on January 16, 2020, by ten-year age groups in five time frames. We demonstrated that the degree and trend of mobility decline after the declaration of a state of emergency varies across age groups and even at the subregional level. We demonstrated that monitoring dynamic geographic and temporal mobility information stratified by detailed population characteristics can help guide not only exit strategies from an ongoing emergency declaration, but also initial response strategies before the next possible resurgence. Combining such detailed data with data on vaccination coverage and COVID-19 incidence (including the status of the health care delivery system) can help governments and local authorities develop community-specific mobility restriction policies. This could include strengthening incentives to stay home and raising awareness of cognitive errors that weaken people''s resolve to refrain from nonessential movement.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11524-021-00566-7.     

Osteogenic matrix sheet-cell transplantation using osteoblastic cell sheet resulted in bone formation without scaffold at an ectopic site

We previously reported that in vivo bone formation could be observed in composites of porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds and cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In the present study, we developed a new method for transplantation of cultured MSCs without the necessity of using a scaffold to form bone tissue. MSCs were culture-expanded and lifted as cell sheet structures. These cell sheets, designated osteogenic matrix sheets, showed positive alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, high ALP activities and high osteocalcin (OC) contents, indicating their osteogenic potential. We transplanted these sheets into subcutaneous sites in rats to assess whether they possessed in vivo bone-forming capability. The transplanted sheets showed mineralized matrix together with osteocytes and an active osteoblast lining, indicating new bone formation, at 6 weeks after transplantation. HA scaffolds were also wrapped with the sheets to make HA/sheet composites and implanted into subcutaneous sites in rats. Histological sections of the composites revealed bone formation in the HA pores at 4 weeks after implantation. Our present results indicate that MSCs can be cultured as sheet structures, and the resulting sheets themselves or HA-sheet composites represent osteogenic implants that can be used for hard tissue reconstruction.     

Triamcinolone-assisted pars plana vitrectomy improves the surgical procedures and decreases the postoperative blood–ocular barrier breakdown

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of a triamcinolone-assisted pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on the visibility of hyaloid during surgery and the postoperative clinical outcome. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with proliferative retinal disease [8 with diabetic macular edema (DME), 10 with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), 13 with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR)] underwent PPV, where the vitreous body was visualized by the intravitreal injection of triamcinolone solution during the operation. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), tamponade, corneal pathology, after-cataract, vitreous hemorrhage, and necessity of reoperation, were thereafter examined for at least 3 months after surgery. The anterior chamber laser flare cell meter was used on postoperative day 8 in DME eyes with triamcinolone-assisted PPV and with routine PPV to evaluate the breakdown of the blood-ocular barrier. RESULTS: The vitreous body was clearly seen by means of triamcinolone during surgery, which greatly helped us to perform a posterior hyaloid resection safely and thoroughly. Six of 8 DME eyes, 8 of 10 PDR eyes, and 5 of 13 PVR eyes showed an improvement in their vision postoperatively. No eye except one experienced IOP elevation above 21 mmHg for 7 days. Six eyes had vitreous hemorrhage. The DME eyes which received triamcinolone-assisted PPV showed significantly less breakdown of the blood-ocular barrier than those with routine PPV (Mann-Whitney U-test, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Triamcinolone improved the visibility of the hyaloid and the safety of the surgical procedures during PPV and also inhibited the postoperative breakdown of the blood-ocular barrier. Although the long-term effects are still unknown, this method appears potentially useful as an improved treatment for proliferative retinal diseases.     

A case of alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer with hepatic metastasis successfully treated with combination chemotherapy

The patient was a 79-year-old woman. We became introduction consultation than a nearby doctor in alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)high level. Abdominal ultrasonography showed 30mm great tumor in liver lateral segment area and gastric fiber showed type2 tumor which is AFP producing gastric cancer. On admission AFP level is high(403ng/ml). Multiple liver metastases were noted it by abdominal angiography. We started FLAP(5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, etoposide, cisplatin)combination chemotherapy by a diagnosis of AFP producing gastric cancer StageIV. It is reduction of a liver tumor after one course, and the stomach lesion almost disappeared after three courses end points.     

Effects of a fish oil-based emulsion on rat hepatoma cell invasion in culture

OBJECTIVE: Total parenteral nutrition containing a lipid emulsion is often employed after surgical tumor resection. This study investigated the effects of a fish oil-based infusion on rat hepatoma cell invasion. METHODS: Rat ascites hepatoma cell line AH109A was precultured with a fish oil-based or safflower oil-based emulsion for 48 h. Changes in membranous fatty acid composition were evaluated by gas chromatography. The invasiveness of hepatoma cells was assessed by coculturing with mesentery-derived mesothelial cells. To examine ex vivo effects of the fish oil-based infusion on hepatoma invasion, sera were prepared from rats infused with fish oil- or safflower oil-based emulsion and the effects of these sera were assessed. To clarify the mechanism of inhibition of invasion by the fish oil-based emulsion, the effects of prostaglandin (PG) E(2) and PGE(3) on invasion were examined. RESULTS: Pretreatment with the fish oil-based emulsion reduced invasiveness without affecting growth compared with the safflower oil-based emulsion. Pretreatment with the sera from rats infused with the fish oil-based emulsion also reduced invasiveness compared with the sera from rats infused with the safflower oil-based emulsion. The addition of PGE(2) eliminated the inhibitory effect of the fish oil-based emulsion, and the addition of PGE(3) reduced the invasiveness of hepatoma cells pretreated with the safflower oil-based emulsion. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the fish oil-based emulsion may have anti-invasive effects. Changes in the membranous fatty acid composition and consequent changes in the prostaglandins produced may be involved in this inhibitory effect.     

Programmed cell death 1‐expressing CD56‐negative natural killer (NK) cell expansion is a hallmark of chronic NK cell activation during dasatinib treatment

Dasatinib treatment markedly increases the number of large granular lymphocytes including natural killer (NK) cells in a proportion of Ph⁺ leukemia patients, which associates with a better prognosis. In‐depth immune profiling of NK cells can predict therapeutic response in these patients. In the present study, we showed that CD56‐negative (CD56^neg) NK cells increased exclusively in cytomegalovirus‐seropositive (CMV⁺) patients treated with dasatinib. The increase longitudinally paralleled with progressive differentiation of CD56^dim NK cells during dasatinib therapy driven by CMV reactivation as shown by principal component analysis on 19 NK cell markers. The CD56^neg NK cells showed downregulation of NK‐activating receptors, upregulation of PD‐1, and lower cytotoxicity and cytokine production, indicating that these cells are anergic and dysfunctional as seen in chronic infections with HIV‐1 or hepatitis C virus. Moreover, cytolytic activity of CD56^dim and CD56^neg NK cells against leukemia cells was partially restored by nivolumab in proportion to the frequency of PD‐1⁺ NK cells. The proportion of patients who achieved deep molecular responses at 2 years was significantly higher in dasatinib‐treated patients with ≥3% CD56^neg NK cells than in those with fewer CD56^neg NK cells (54.5% vs 15.8%, P = .0419). These findings suggest that CD56^neg NK cells may be an exhausted population induced by chronic activation through CMV reactivation during dasatinib therapy. Expansion of CD56^neg NK cells is a hallmark of chronic NK cell activation in patients treated with dasatinib and may predict a better clinical outcome. Furthermore, PD‐1 blockade may enhance anti‐leukemia responses of such NK cells.