Molecular evolutionary analysis of novel NSP4 mono-reassortant G1P[8]-E2 rotavirus strains that caused a discontinuous epidemic in Japan in 2015 and 2018.

In the 2010s, several unusual rotavirus strains emerged, causing epidemics worldwide. This study reports a comprehensive molecular epidemiological study of rotaviruses in Japan based on full-genome analysis. From 2014 to 2019, a total of 489 rotavirus-positive stool specimens were identified, and the associated viral genomes were analyzed by next-generation sequencing.

A significant outbreak of respiratory human adenovirus infections among children aged 3-6 years in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2023.

Human adenovirus (HAdV) infections present diverse clinical manifestations upon infecting individuals, with respiratory infections predominating in children. We surveyed pediatric hospitalizations due to respiratory HAdV infections across 18 hospitals in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, from July 2019 to March 2024, recording 473 admissions. While hospitalizations remained below five cases per week from July 2019 to September 2023, a notable surge occurred in late October 2023, with weekly admissions peaking at 15-20 cases from November to December.

Resurgence of human metapneumovirus infection and influenza after three seasons of inactivity in the post-COVID-19 era in Hokkaido, Japan, 2022-2023.

Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in February 2020, incidences of various infectious diseases decreased notably in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. However, Japan began gradually easing COVID-19 infection control measures in 2022. Here, we conducted a survey of children hospitalized with human metapneumovirus (hMPV), influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus infections in 18 hospitals across Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, spanning from July 2019 to June 2023.

Changing Patterns of Infectious Diseases Among Hospitalized Children in Hokkaido, Japan, in the Post-COVID-19 Era, July 2019 to June 2022.

Background: Many reports have reported a reduction in respiratory infectious diseases and infectious gastroenteritis immediately after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but data continuing into 2022 are very limited. We sought to understand the current situation of various infectious diseases among children in Japan as of July 2022 to improve public health in the post-COVID-19 era.

Methods: We collected data on children hospitalized with infectious diseases in 18 hospitals in Japan from July 2019 to June 2022.

Surveillance in hospitalized children with infectious diseases in Japan: Pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019.

Introduction: The epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide, and the various infection control measures have a significant influence on the spread of many infectious diseases. However, there have been no multicenter studies on how the number of hospitalized children with various infectious diseases changed before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective survey for hospitalized pediatric patients in 18 hospitals in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, from July 2019 to February 2021.

Molecular and clinical characterization of the equine-like G3 rotavirus that caused the first outbreak in Japan, 2016.

Since 2013, equine-like G3 rotavirus (eG3) strains have been detected throughout the world, including in Japan, and the strains were found to be dominant in some countries. In 2016, the first eG3 outbreak in Japan occurred in Tomakomai, Hokkaido prefecture, and the strains became dominant in other Hokkaido areas the following year. There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics of eG3 and non-eG3 rotavirus infections.

Synostosis of the joint between the body and greater cornu of the human hyoid bone.

The structure of the joint between the body and the greater cornu in the human hyoid bone was examined histologically in 259 cadavers (16-98 years). Joints were classified into three grades based on histological observations. Grade I showed fibrocartilage without degenerative change in the marginal region of the joint.

Quantitative study of ageing epiglottal taste buds in humans.

Objectives: This investigation aimed to demonstrate age-related changes of taste buds on the human epiglottis using histomorphometrical analysis.

Methods: Histological observation and measurement of taste bud density were performed on oral and laryngeal surfaces of 237 human epiglottises (138 male and 99 females). The cases were divided into two age groups: 67 cases in the younger group, for subjects aged 10-39 years and 170 cases in the older group, for those aged 70-98 years.

Histological evaluation of the effects of initially light and gradually increasing force on orthodontic tooth movement.

Objective: To investigate histologically the effect of initially light and gradually increasing force on tooth movement in the rat.

Materials And Methods: Cuboids made of neodymium-iron-boron magnets (experimental groups) or titanium (control group) were bonded to the lingual surface of the right and left maxillary first molars of 18-week-old male Wistar rats. The initial distances between materials were 1.

Age-related morphological changes in the human hyoid bone.

Object: Age-related morphological changes in the human hyoid bone were investigated radiographically and histologically.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two measurements were performed on radiographs of 238 hyoid bones from autopsy cases of known age and sex. Thirty-one hyoid bones that were studied by radiography were also examined histologically in horizontal sections.

A morphometric study of age-related changes in adult human epiglottis using quantitative digital analysis of cartilage calcification.

The epiglottis plays an important role in deglutition in humans. The present study investigated age-related changes in the epiglottis using macroscopic and microscopic measurements. Epiglottic specimens from 281 Japanese adult cadavers (177 males, 104 females) were obtained.

Asymmetry of the sphenoid bone and its suitability as a reference for analyzing craniofacial asymmetry.

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the asymmetry of the sphenoid bone and to determine its suitability as a reference for analyzing asymmetry of the skull. Thirty-seven dry skulls from India were divided into group A (n = 18), with a right-left length discrepancy of less than 2 mm for both the external acoustic meatus-frontozygomatic suture and external acoustic meatus-subspinale, and group B (n = 19), with a right-left length discrepancy of more than 2 mm for either of these 2 parameters. The skulls were then examined with regard to the percentage of asymmetry of the sphenoid bone, the angles between the cranial base and the facial axis, and the distance between reference surfaces of the sphenoid bone and facial landmarks by 3-dimensional measurement system.