Nationwide and long-term molecular epidemiologic studies of mumps viruses that circulated in Japan between 1986 and 2017.

In Japan, major mumps outbreaks still occur every 4-5 years because of low mumps vaccine coverage (30-40%) owing to the voluntary immunization program. Herein, to prepare for a regular immunization program, we aimed to reveal the nationwide and long-term molecular epidemiological trends of the mumps virus (MuV) in Japan. Additionally, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using next-generation sequencing to assess results from conventional genotyping using MuV sequences of the small-hydrophobic (SH) gene.

Comparison of immunogenicity between candidate influenza A(H3N2) virus vaccine strains in Japan: A randomized controlled trial using a monovalent vaccine of A/Saitama/103/2014 (CEXP-002) and A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (X-263).

Background: For the 2017-18 influenza season, A/Saitama/103/2014 (CEXP-002) (Saitama strain) was antigenically more similar to prior circulating strains than A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (X-263) (Hong Kong strain) in a ferret model and was selected as the A(H3N2) vaccine virus strain in Japan. However, the Saitama strain grew poorly, and the Japanese government switched to the Hong Kong strain, raising public concerns of poor effectiveness. To enhance understanding of the correlation between antigenicity in experimental models and immunogenicity, as a surrogate measure of vaccine effectiveness, in the human population, we compared the immunogenicity of specially-prepared single dose monovalent influenza A(H3N2) vaccines containing the Saitama or the Hong Kong strain.

Urinary β2-microglobulin as an early marker of infantile enterovirus and human parechovirus infections.

Enterovirus and human parechovirus (HPeV) are RNA viruses belonging to the family Picornaviridae that frequently infect infants. These infections show a wide variety of clinical manifestations, from mild to severe. However, there are no known early clinical markers for diagnosis and prediction of disease severity.

Surveillance of Adenovirus Respiratory Infections in Children from Osaka, Japan.

Human adenovirus (HAdV) strains isolated from respiratory specimens of 139 children were analyzed to evaluate the endemic situation of HAdV infections in Osaka, Japan, between 2008 and 2015. The cases increased during spring and winter, and the infections were confirmed mainly in children aged ≤ 5 years, comprising 91.9% of the total population examined.

First report of human parechovirus type 3 infection in a pregnant woman.

Human parechovirus type 3 (HPeV3) can cause serious conditions in neonates, such as sepsis and encephalitis, but data for adults are lacking. The case of a pregnant woman with HPeV3 infection is reported herein. A 28-year-old woman at 36 weeks of pregnancy was admitted because of myalgia and muscle weakness.

Antiviral activity of acid beta-glucosidase 1 on enterovirus 71, a causative agent of hand, foot and mouth disease.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a causative agent of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). EV71 causes fever, rash, diarrhoea and, in some cases, acute encephalopathy/encephalitis, which can be fatal. No specific treatment is currently available for EV71 infection.

A child with acute encephalopathy associated with quadruple viral infection.

Unlabelled: Pediatric acute encephalopathy (AE) was sometimes attributed to virus infection. However, viral infection does not always result in AE. The risk factors for developing infantile AE upon virus infection remain to be determined.

Detection of influenza vaccine effectiveness among nursery school children: Lesson from a season with cocirculating respiratory syncytial virus.

In the winter influenza epidemic season, patients with respiratory illnesses including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections increase among young children. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of influenza vaccine against influenza-like illness (ILI) using a technique to identify outbreaks of RSV infection and to distinguish those patients from ILI patients. The study subjects were 101 children aged 12 to 84 months attending nursery school.

Trivalent influenza vaccine-induced antibody response to circulating influenza a (H3N2) viruses in 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons.

To evaluate antibody response induced by trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) against circulating influenza A (H3N2) strains in healthy adults during the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons, a hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assay was utilized to calculate geometric mean antibody titer (GMT), seroprotection rate (post vaccination HI titers of ≥1 :40), and seroresponse rate (4-fold increase in antibody level). In the 2010/11 season, GMT increased 1.8- to 2.

Impact of genotype-specific herd immunity on the circulatory dynamism of norovirus: a 10-year longitudinal study of viral acute gastroenteritis.

Human norovirus is a major cause of viral acute gastroenteritis worldwide. However, the transition of endemic norovirus genotypes remains poorly understood. The characteristics of natural immunity against norovirus are unclear because few studies have been performed in the natural infection setting.

Changes in brain tissue and behavior patterns induced by single short-term fasting in mice.

In humans, emaciation from long-term dietary deficiencies, such as anorexia, reportedly increases physical activity and brain atrophy. However, the effects of single short-term fasting on brain tissue or behavioral activity patterns remain unclear. To clarify the impact of malnutrition on brain function, we conducted a single short-term fasting study as an anorexia model using male adult mice and determined if changes occurred in migratory behavior as an expression of brain function and in brain tissue structure.

An approach to normalizing micro-CT depth profiles of mineral density for monitoring enamel remineralization progress.

To indicate the possibility of a new approach to creating mineral density profiles, and to examine longitudinal changes in 'the rate of remineralization (RA)' and 'the mineral density (DAs) at 4 different depths' (surface zone: SZ, lesion body: LB, middle zone: MZ, deep zone near to sound area: DZ) in enamel subsurface lesions, eight demineralized bovine enamel-dentin blocks were remineralized for 1 to 4 week and investigated using Micro-focus X-ray CT (micro-CT). After CT scanning, mineral density profiles were created.Mineral densities at each depth after demineralization were SZ is approximately equal to LB View Article and Find Full Text PDF

[Assessment of viral gastroenteritis diagnosis using an immunochromatography-based method].

We evaluated the norovirus (NoV) detection reagent kit, which uses immunochromatography (IC), against outbreaks of food-borne acute viral gastroenteritis having occurred in Osaka Prefecture between November 2008 and March 2009. A total of 33 outbreaks, RT-PCR identified 27 NoV-positive cases, whereas the IC kit identified 26 cases. Out of 103 specimens positive for NoV using RT-PCR, the IC kit identified 68 positive cases, with a positive conformity ratio of 66%.

Relationship between fluorescence loss of QLF and depth of demineralization in an enamel erosion model.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) values and demineralization depths in an enamel erosion model in vitro. Flat labial enamel surfaces of bovine incisors were ground with 800-grit SiC and coated with nail varnish, but also leaving rectangular windows of enamel uncoated. Subsequently, they were immersed in a lactic acid gel (pH 5.

Modification of the dentin surface by using carbon nanotubes.

Recent studies have shown that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be used as biomedical materials because of their unique properties. CNTs effect nucleation of hydroxyapatite, because of which considerable interest has been generated regarding the use of CNTs in dentistry. However, there are only a few reports on the use of CNTs as dental materials.