Effects of Alkaline Solutions on the Structure and Function of Influenza A Virus.

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection contributes to high annual morbidity and mortality, thus necessitating measures aimed at protecting against the disease. Alcohol-based disinfectants are commonly used to inactivate IAV, but they have several undesirable properties. In search of other means which would inactivate IAV, we focused on the effect of alkaline solutions on IAV.

Factors Influencing Willingness to Undergo Lung Cancer Screening in the Future: A Cross-Sectional Study of Japanese University Students.

Lung cancer (LC) is currently the leading cause of cancer deaths in Japan. Early detection through lung cancer screening (LCS) is important for reducing mortality. Therefore, exploring the factors affecting willingness to undergo LCS, particularly among young people, is important.

Association between the experience of exertional heat illness (EHI) and living conditions of collegiate student athletes.

Exertional heatstroke (EHS), a severe form of exertional heat illness (EHI), is the third leading cause of death in athletes; thus, early detection and prevention of EHI can help prevent EHS, which is a life-threatening condition. This study aimed to clarify the association between the cognizance of experiencing EHI and living conditions and specific EHI symptoms among collegiate athletes. This study was conducted in October 2022 by administering a questionnaire to 237 male collegiate athletes.

Mechanical, bioactive, and long-lasting antibacterial properties of a Ti scaffold with gradient pores releasing iodine ions.

The ideal bone implant would effectively prevent aseptic as well as septic loosening by minimizing stress shielding, maximizing bone ingrowth, and preventing implant-associated infections. Here, a novel gradient-pore-size titanium scaffold was designed and manufactured to address these requirements. The scaffold features a larger pore size (900 μm) on the top surface, gradually decreasing to small sizes (600 μm to 300 μm) towards the center, creating a gradient structure.

Enhancement of in vitro antibacterial activity and bioactivity of iodine-loaded titanium by micro-scale regulation using mixed-acid treatment.

Postoperative infection and subsequent device loss are serious complications in the use of titanium dental implants and plates for jawbone reconstruction. We have previously reported that NaOH-CaCl -thermal-ICl -treated titanium (NaCaThIo) has a nano-scale surface and exhibits antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The present study examined the surface properties of mixed-acid treated and then iodine-treated titanium (MA-NaCaThIo), and evaluated oral antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity compared with the results obtained with NaCaThIo.

University students' living conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and predictors of their subjective health views: A cross-sectional survey.

This study aimed to explore the factors influencing subjective health views based on the living conditions and concerns of university students during the coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. From March to April 2021, a questionnaire survey was administered to 8,547 Japanese university students, and logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors related to subjective health views. The results showed that satisfaction with quality of sleep (OR = 2.

Nicotine Dependence among College Students Uninterested in Smoking Cessation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

This study investigated nicotine dependence among Japanese university students who had reached the smoking age (20 years or older) by the time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and examined factors that encourage early smoking cessation. Social dependence on nicotine was evaluated using the Kano Total Social Nicotine Dependence Level (KTSND), and physiological dependence was evaluated using the Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Index (FTND). Of the 356 college students who smoked (4.

Factors affecting health-related quality of life among firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center study.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, firefighters have been working in an environment that is both physically and mentally taxing. This study aimed to investigate factors affecting health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among firefighters in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 227 firefighters from a single firefighting organization were surveyed in June 2021, during the fourth infection spread period of COVID-19 in Japan.

Effects of Heat-Not-Burn Cigarette Smoking on the Secretion of Saliva and Its Innate Immune System Components.

Saliva and salivary antimicrobial proteins play important roles in the innate immunity, which prevents infections of orally invading bacteria and viruses. In this study, we compared the secretion rates of salivary lactoferrin (Lac) and lysozyme (Lys) in heat-not-burn (HNB) cigarette smokers and non-smokers. The analysis population for this study included 212 members of the fire department, including 32 HNB cigarette smokers, 17 paper cigarette smokers, 14 combined HNB and paper cigarette smokers, and 149 non-smokers.

A Survey of Living Conditions and Psychological Distress in Japanese University Freshmen during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Since the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, educational institutions have implemented measures such as school closures, raising concerns regarding the increase in psychological distress among university students. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that have influenced psychological distress among college freshmen during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire survey was conducted at the conclusion of the sixth wave of COVID-19 in Japan.

Willingness and Predictors of Bystander CPR Intervention in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Freshmen Enrolled in a Japanese University.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has decreased bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) intervention rates. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the willingness of university freshmen to provide BCPR during the COVID-19 pandemic and the predictors thereof. A cross-sectional survey of 2789 newly enrolled university students was conducted after the end of the sixth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Japan; predictors of willingness to provide BCPR were assessed by regression analysis.

Cross-infection risks of SARS-CoV-2 while playing catch using a baseball: Creating a safe sporting environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is found primarily in the respiratory tract secretions of infected individuals with one of the main routes of transmission being direct or indirect contact. In this study, using fluorescent paint, we evaluated the spread of contaminants while playing catch with a baseball. Fluorescent paint was applied to the right hand of a right-handed baseball player who then engaged in playing catch with 10 other right-handed players (partners) for 5 min each.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among university athletic club members: A cross-sectional survey.

School-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing is an important part of a comprehensive prevention strategy in public health. To assess the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in a university athletic club community with repeated occurrences of SARS-CoV-2 infections, we conducted a cross-sectional survey for asymptomatic antibody prevalence using a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antibody test kit. On January 26, 2021 we administered questionnaires to determine their history of contact with infected individuals and took blood samples from 129 undergraduates.

Evaluation of Japanese university students' perception of smoking, interest in quitting, and smoking behavior: An examination and public health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study examined college students' perceptions of the association between smoking and novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), changes in smoking behavior, and interest in quitting categorized by smoking device, to identify public health challenges. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 8,547 students in a Japanese university in March and April 2021. In response to "Awareness of the increased risk of COVID-19 infection due to smoking and the tendency to develop severe disease", current smokers (70.

Reliability and validity of lower limb joint range of motion measurements using a smartphone.

This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of using a smartphone to measure the multi-joint range of motion of the lower limbs. We measured the straight leg raise angle, ankle dorsiflexion angle, and hip internal rotation angle in each of the 40 lower extremities of 20 healthy adults. Measurements were compared between a conventional method using a goniometer and a smartphone application method.

Antibody response of smokers to the COVID-19 vaccination: Evaluation based on cigarette dependence.

Smokers may have lower antibody titers after vaccination with a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccine. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has evaluated antibody titers after COVID-19 vaccination based on the level of smokers' cigarette dependence. In this study, we measured the level of serum anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) immunoglobulin-G (IgG) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay of 55 actively smoking Japanese social workers (firefighters, paramedics, and rescue workers) who had received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine.

CaO-BO-SiO glass fibers for wound healing.

It was reported by Jung and Day in 2011 that a cotton-like glass fiber pad made of borate glass 13-93B3 demonstrated a remarkable wound healing effect. It was approved for sale as a novel wound dressing in the management of acute and chronic wounds in 2016. However, the detailed mechanism of its wound healing effect has not been reported.

Iodine-Loaded Calcium Titanate for Bone Repair with Sustainable Antibacterial Activity Prepared by Solution and Heat Treatment.

In the orthopedic and dental fields, simultaneously conferring titanium (Ti) and its alloy implants with antibacterial and bone-bonding capabilities is an outstanding challenge. In the present study, we developed a novel combined solution and heat treatment that controllably incorporates 0.7% to 10.

Relationships between and Osteoclastogenesis.

() encodes a small neutral amino-acid exchanger and is the most well-studied glutamine transporter in cancer cells. To investigate the role of in osteoclastogenesis, we developed -deficient mice by using a conventional gene-targeting approach. The 5 mice showed no obvious abnormalities in growth.

Bioactivation Treatment with Mixed Acid and Heat on Titanium Implants Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting Enhances Preosteoblast Cell Differentiation.

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a promising technology capable of producing individual characteristics with a high degree of surface roughness for implants. These surfaces can be modified so as to increase their osseointegration, bone generation and biocompatibility, features which are critical to their clinical success. In this study, we evaluated the effects on preosteoblast proliferation and differentiation of titanium metal (Ti) with a high degree of roughness (Ra = 5.

Hydrocolloid dressing improves wound healing by increasing M2 macrophage polarization in mice with diabetes.

Impaired wound healing is one of the most common complications of diabetes, and is known to be caused by multiple complicated factors. For instance, impaired angiogenesis, neuropathy, and hyperglycemia all function to delay subsequent wound closure. Alternatively, moist wound healing, which provides an appropriate environment for wounds, was reported to permit rapid healing by managing wound exudate.

Forced expression of miR-143 and -145 in cardiomyocytes induces cardiomyopathy with a reductive redox shift.

Background: Animal model studies show that reductive stress is involved in cardiomyopathy and myopathy, but the exact physiological relevance remains unknown. In addition, the microRNAs miR-143 and miR-145 have been shown to be upregulated in cardiac diseases, but the underlying mechanisms associated with these regulators have yet to be explored.

Methods: We developed transgenic mouse lines expressing exogenous miR-143 and miR-145 under the control of the alpha-myosin heavy chain (αMHC) promoter/enhancer.

Loss of the branched-chain amino acid transporter CD98hc alters the development of colonic macrophages in mice.

Comprehensive development is critical for gut macrophages being essential for the intestinal immune system. However, the underlying mechanisms of macrophage development in the colon remain elusive. To investigate the function of branched-chain amino acids in the development of gut macrophages, an inducible knock-out mouse model for the branched-chain amino acid transporter CD98hc in CX3CR1 macrophages was generated.

Effect of Using a Cardiac Catheterization Table-Stabilizing Stick on the Quality of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory: A Simulation-Based Study.

Rapid defibrillation and high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are necessary for patients with cardiopulmonary arrest, one of the most serious and frequently encountered complications in cardiac catheterization laboratories. However, when the catheterization table is withdrawn from its neutral position for fluoroscopy, it is unstable and unsuitable for resuscitation because of its cantilever structure. To stabilize the table in its withdrawn position, the use of a table-stabilizing stick might improve CPR quality.

The Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase (HN) Head Domain and the Fusion (F) Protein Stalk Domain of the Parainfluenza Viruses Affect the Specificity of the HN-F Interaction.

Membrane fusion by the parainfluenza viruses is induced by virus-specific functional interaction between the attachment protein (HN) and the fusion (F) protein. This interaction is thought to be mediated by transient contacts between particular amino acids in the HN stalk domain and those in the F head domain. However, we recently reported that replacement of specified amino acids at or around the dimer interface of the HN head domain remarkably affected the F protein specificity.