著者
Xiqi Hu Jun Peng Wei Tang Ying Xia Peipei Song
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2023.01221, (Released:2023-09-17)
参考文献数
145
被引用文献数
1

Diet and circadian rhythms have been found to have a profound impact on health, disease, and aging. Skipping breakfast, eating late, and overeating have adverse effects on the body's metabolism and increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Disturbance of circadian rhythms has been associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other diseases. Abnormal deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) and tau proteins in the brain and impaired synaptic function are linked to cognitive dysfunction. A restrictive diet following the circadian rhythm can affect the metabolism of lipids, glucose, and amino acids such as branched chain amino acids and cysteine. These metabolic changes contribute to autophagy through molecular mechanisms such as adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), rapamycin (mTOR), D-β-hydroxybutyrate (D-BHB), and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Autophagy, in turn, promotes the removal of abnormally deposited proteins and damaged organelles and improves cognitive function, ultimately prolonging lifespan. In addition, a diet restricted to the circadian rhythm induces increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the forebrain region, regulating autophagy and increasing synaptic plasticity, thus enhancing cognitive function. Consequently, circadian rhythm-restricted diets could serve as a promising non-pharmacological treatment for preventing and improving cognitive dysfunction and prolonging lifespan.
著者
Peipei Song Takashi Karako
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2020.01056, (Released:2020-02-25)
参考文献数
9
被引用文献数
116

Rapidly sharing scientific information is an effective way to reduce public panic about COVID-19, and doing so is the key to providing real-time guidance to epidemiologists working to contain the outbreak, clinicians managing patients, and modelers helping to understand future developments and the possible effectiveness of various interventions. This issue has rapidly reviewed and published articles describing COVID-19, including the drug treatment options for SARS-CoV-2, its clinical characteristics, and therapies involving a combination of Chinese and Western medicine, the efficacy of chloroquine phosphate in the treatment of COVID-19 associated pneumonia according to clinical studies, and reflections on the system of reserve medical supplies for public health emergencies. As an academic journal, we will continue to quickly and transparently share data with frontline healthcare workers who need to know the epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19.
著者
Rong Chen Ping Xu Peipei Song Meifeng Wang Jiangjiang He
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.13, no.4, pp.287-291, 2019-08-31 (Released:2019-09-17)
参考文献数
21
被引用文献数
10 81

The aging of a population structure is an inevitable path of demographic transition, as an inescapable result of decline in fertility rate and extension in life expectancy. Although demographic transition occurred earlier in Japan than in China, the two countries had similar patterns, both of which took a much shorter period of time than Western countries to complete demographic transition, as well as have been aging at a rapid speed that has rarely been seen in the world. Japan has the highest level of population aging in the world, and China has been experiencing a very fast pace of the population aging process and has the largest older population. Drawing upon data from World Population Prospects (2019), this paper compares changes in population aging in both China and Japan. Findings show that Japan's aging process is 30 years ahead of China, but China has been changing in a similar way as Japan. To be specific, both countries experienced four phases of the population aging process: accelerated development period, rapid development period, slow down period and high-level maintained period. In addition, both countries had a quick growing rate of population aging. It will take China 23 years and 10 years respectively for the aging rate increasing from 7% to 14% and then to 20%, while Japan took 24 and 11 years respectively, which is much shorter than developed countries in the West. Furthermore, China has a faster pace than Japan in population aging in the next 25 years. We found that from 2019-2044, China's aging rate, elderly dependency ratio, oldest-old coefficient and median age of population will increase 13.24 percent points, 24.21 percent points, 8.33 percent points, and 8.47 years, while the four indicators of Japan will increase 8.38 percent points, 22.52 percent points, 8.29 percent points, and 6.20 years, respectively.
著者
Peipei Song Takashi Karako
出版者
National Center for Global Health and Medicine
雑誌
Global Health & Medicine (ISSN:24349186)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.2, no.2, pp.56-59, 2020-04-30 (Released:2020-05-10)
参考文献数
19
被引用文献数
1 6

In the face of COVID-19, the scientific community has rapidly come together to address this outbreak in an open and collaborative manner to support the global response to this outbreak by rapidly sharing and highlighting research data and relevant findings. COVID-19 research is being published at a furious pace. Over 6,000 articles have been published as of 20 April 2020, and at least 15 online resource centers/websites for COVID-19 have been created by publishers to enable fast and free access to the latest research, evidence, and data available. Moreover, many evidence-based guidelines for COVID-19 have been issued based on academic articles and summaries of the experiences of frontline medical personnel. Various academic medical associations are also actively sharing information and providing technical support. As an example, 93 guides/proposals/responses to COVID-19 have been issued so far by 50 medical associations in Japan. However, few publications and national situation reports have provided information on the number of infected healthcare workers (HCWs). More publications and national situation reports are urgently needed to provide scientific information to devise specific infection prevention and control measures in order to protect HCWs from infection.
著者
Ya-Nan Ma Xuemei Jiang Wei Tang Peipei Song
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2023.01207, (Released:2023-09-01)
参考文献数
165
被引用文献数
3

Studies have found that intermittent fasting (IF) can prevent diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and neuropathy, while in humans it has helped to alleviate metabolic syndrome, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and many other disorders. IF involves a series of coordinated metabolic and hormonal changes to maintain the organism's metabolic balance and cellular homeostasis. More importantly, IF can activate hepatic autophagy, which is important for maintaining cellular homeostasis and energy balance, quality control, cell and tissue remodeling, and defense against extracellular damage and pathogens. IF affects hepatic autophagy through multiple interacting pathways and molecular mechanisms, including adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), silent mating-type information regulatory 2 homolog-1 (SIRT1), peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR), as well as signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms such as glucagon and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). These pathways can stimulate the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), play a cytoprotective role, downregulate the expression of aging-related molecules, and prevent the development of steatosis-associated liver tumors. By influencing the metabolism of energy and oxygen radicals as well as cellular stress response systems, IF protects hepatocytes from genetic and environmental factors. By activating hepatic autophagy, IF has a potential role in treating a variety of liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, drug-induced liver injury, viral hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. A better understanding of the effects of IF on liver autophagy may lead to new approaches for the prevention and treatment of liver disease.
著者
Kenji Karako Peipei Song Yu Chen Wei Tang
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.14, no.2, pp.134-138, 2020-04-30 (Released:2020-05-21)
参考文献数
21
被引用文献数
8 68

To assess the effectiveness of response strategies of avoiding large gatherings or crowded areas and to predict the spread of COVID-19 infections in Japan, we developed a stochastic transmission model by extending the Susceptible-Infected-Removed (SIR) epidemiological model with an additional modeling of the individual action on whether to stay away from the crowded areas. The population were divided into three compartments: Susceptible, Infected, Removed. Susceptible transitions to Infected every hour with a probability determined by the ratio of Infected and the congestion of area. The total area consists of three zones crowded zone, mid zone and uncrowded zone, with different infection probabilities characterized by the number of people gathered there. The time for each people to spend in the crowded zone is curtailed by 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 hours, and the time spent in mid zone is extended accordingly. This simulation showed that the number of Infected and Removed will increase rapidly if there is no reduction of the time spent in crowded zone. On the other hand, the stagnant growth of Infected can be observed when the time spent in the crowded zone is reduced to 4 hours, and the growth number of Infected will decrease and the spread of the infection will subside gradually if the time spent in the crowded zone is further cut to 2 hours. In conclusions The infection spread in Japan will be gradually contained by reducing the time spent in the crowded zone to less than 4 hours.
著者
Kenji Karako Peipei Song Yu Chen Wei Tang
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2020.01482, (Released:2020-03-19)
参考文献数
21
被引用文献数
5 68

To assess the effectiveness of response strategies of avoiding large gatherings or crowded areas and to predict the spread of COVID-19 infections in Japan, we developed a stochastic transmission model by extending the Susceptible-Infected-Removed (SIR) epidemiological model with an additional modeling of the individual action on whether to stay away from the crowded areas. The population were divided into three compartments: Susceptible, Infected, Removed. Susceptible transitions to Infected every hour with a probability determined by the ratio of Infected and the congestion of area. The total area consists of three zones crowded zone, mid zone and uncrowded zone, with different infection probabilities characterized by the number of people gathered there. The time for each people to spend in the crowded zone is curtailed by 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 hours, and the time spent in mid zone is extended accordingly. This simulation showed that the number of Infected and Removed will increase rapidly if there is no reduction of the time spent in crowded zone. On the other hand, the stagnant growth of Infected can be observed when the time spent in the crowded zone is reduced to 4 hours, and the growth number of Infected will decrease and the spread of the infection will subside gradually if the time spent in the crowded zone is further cut to 2 hours. In conclusions The infection spread in Japan will be gradually contained by reducing the time spent in the crowded zone to less than 4 hours.
著者
Ya-Nan Ma Xuemei Jiang Wei Tang Peipei Song
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.17, no.5, pp.335-355, 2023-10-31 (Released:2023-11-18)
参考文献数
165
被引用文献数
3

Studies have found that intermittent fasting (IF) can prevent diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and neuropathy, while in humans it has helped to alleviate metabolic syndrome, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and many other disorders. IF involves a series of coordinated metabolic and hormonal changes to maintain the organism's metabolic balance and cellular homeostasis. More importantly, IF can activate hepatic autophagy, which is important for maintaining cellular homeostasis and energy balance, quality control, cell and tissue remodeling, and defense against extracellular damage and pathogens. IF affects hepatic autophagy through multiple interacting pathways and molecular mechanisms, including adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), silent mating-type information regulatory 2 homolog-1 (SIRT1), peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR), as well as signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms such as glucagon and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). These pathways can stimulate the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), play a cytoprotective role, downregulate the expression of aging-related molecules, and prevent the development of steatosis-associated liver tumors. By influencing the metabolism of energy and oxygen radicals as well as cellular stress response systems, IF protects hepatocytes from genetic and environmental factors. By activating hepatic autophagy, IF has a potential role in treating a variety of liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, drug-induced liver injury, viral hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. A better understanding of the effects of IF on liver autophagy may lead to new approaches for the prevention and treatment of liver disease.
著者
Jufeng Xia Peipei Song Lingzhong Xu Wei Tang
出版者
バイオ&ソーシャル・サイエンス推進国際研究交流会
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2015.01047, (Released:2015-04-21)
参考文献数
15
被引用文献数
4

Over the past few years, genetically modified organisms (GMO) have gradually become more familiar after numerous reports of problems with GMO safety, such as genetically modified (GM) potatoes disrupting immunity, GM corn inducing tumors, and GM rice being fed to unwitting Chinese children. Every time, these reports cause panic among the population and lead to objections to GMO in various fora. After each incident, the scientific community has delivered its academic appraisal and refuted rumors through slow and cautious investigations and evaluations. Unfortunately, during each event media outlets quickly scare the public about food safety and ignore the ensuing comments from scientists. Although scientists have investigated each GMO crisis and reached scientific and rational conclusions, they have less ability to disseminate information than the media, so the public is not promptly informed of their rational and objective viewpoints as experts. Thus, scientists need greater ability to disseminate information from scientific investigations and evaluations in order to correct the intemperate reporting by attention-seeking media.
著者
Yi Deng Haiyin Wang Kaicheng Gu Peipei Song
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.17, no.4, pp.283-292, 2023-08-31 (Released:2023-09-15)
参考文献数
52
被引用文献数
1

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions worldwide and is expected to surge in prevalence due to aging populations. Frailty, characterized by muscle function decline, becomes more prevalent with age, imposing substantial burdens on patients and caregivers. This paper aimed to comprehensively review the current literature on AD coupled with frailty, encompassing prevalence, screening, assessment, and treatment while delving into the field's challenges and future trajectories. Frailty and AD coexist in more than 30% of cases, with hazard ratios above 120% indicating a mutually detrimental association.Various screening tools have emerged for both frailty and AD, including the Fried Frailty Phenotype (FP), FRAIL scale, Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), and General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG). However, none has solidified its role as the definitive gold standard. The convergence of electronic health records and brain aging biomarkers heralds a new era in AD with frailty screening and assessment. In terms of intervention, non-pharmacological strategies spanning nutrition, horticulture, exercise, and social interaction, along with pharmacological approaches involving acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, and anti-amyloid beta-protein medications, constituted cornerstones for treating AD coupled with frailty. Technological interventions like repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) also entered the fold. Notably, multi-domain non-pharmacological interventions wield considerable potential in enhancing cognition and mitigating disability. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions necessitate further validation. Diagnosing and managing AD with frailty present several daunting challenges, encompassing low rates of early co-diagnosis, limited clinical trial evidence, and scarce integrated, pioneering service delivery models. These challenges demand heightened attention through robust research and pragmatic implementation.
著者
Rui Liao Peipei Song Yuxin Duan Wentao Ye Kunli Yin Meiqing Kang Yanxi Yu Jian Yang Wei Tang
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2022.01373, (Released:2022-09-11)
参考文献数
20
被引用文献数
2

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a health challenge with increasing incidence worldwide. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a potentially curative option for patients with early-stage HCC. However, the high rate of tumor recurrence limits long-term survival when the tumors are larger than 2 cm and undergoing insufficient RFA (iRFA). Notably, in situ tumor necrosis due to thermal ablation is assumed to be a source of antigens that induce antitumor immunity. Therefore, mounting studies and trials have attempted to provide a rational and effective therapeutic strategy combining RFA and immunotherapy to treat HCC. Nowadays, many controversies and challenges with this combined therapeutic strategy remain to be resolved, such as the indications for adjuvant immunotherapy along with RFA in early HCC, the sequence of the two treatments in advanced HCC, and the optimal timing of immunotherapy before or after RFA. In addition, individualized treatment strategies need to be perfected for patients with HCC.
著者
Kenji Karako Peipei Song Yu Chen Takashi Karako
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2022.01390, (Released:2022-09-12)
参考文献数
8
被引用文献数
6

During a six-week period from July 20 to August 31, 2022, Japan experienced its highest level of COVID-19 infection ever, with an average of nearly 200,000 new infections per day nationwide. Cases requiring inpatient care peaked at 1,993,062. Twenty-seven prefectures (out of 47 prefectures) had an average hospital bed occupancy of 50% or higher, and bed occupancy in Kanagawa in particular reached 98% in mid-August. In Tokyo, bed occupancy by patients with severe COVID-19 reached 57% and peaked at 64% in mid-August. Although the number of new infections per day has decreased since September, hospital bed occupancy, the number of severe cases, and deaths remain high nationwide. Efforts including vaccination campaigns, domestic surveillance, and routine infection control measures based on the varied knowledge that the Japanese public already has should be thoroughly implemented to reduce the number of the infected in order to avoid an increase the number of serious cases and deaths.
著者
Kenji Karako Peipei Song Yu Chen Wei Tang
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.16, no.1, pp.4-6, 2022-02-28 (Released:2022-03-11)
参考文献数
14
被引用文献数
8

As the number of people with COVID-19 increases daily around the world, point-of-care testing (POCT) is gaining attention as a tool that can provide immediate test results and greatly help to deter infection and determine what to do next. POCT has several drawbacks such as a low sensitivity and specificity, but according to studies POCT has increased sensitivity on par with that of polymerase chain reaction testing. The advantage of POCT is that the results can be obtained quickly, regardless of the location. To further enhance its benefits, POCT is being developed and researched in conjunction with the Internet of medical things (IoMT), which allows POCT results to be collected, recorded, and managed over a network. IoMT will be beneficial not only for the use of POCT simply as a testing tool but also for its integration into diagnostic and health management systems. IoMT will enable people to regularly receive their test results in their daily lives and to provide personalized diagnosis and treatment of individual conditions, which will be beneficial in terms of disease prevention and maintenance of health.
著者
Ningyuan Wen Yulong Cai Fuyu Li Hui Ye Wei Tang Peipei Song Nansheng Cheng
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2022.01061, (Released:2022-02-24)
参考文献数
69
被引用文献数
50

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This review is an updated version that summarizes comprehensive guidelines published from January 2001 to January 2022 worldwide with a focus on the clinical management of HCC. The electronic databases MEDLINE, the Chinese SinoMed, and the Japanese CiNii were systematically searched. A total of 22 characteristic guidelines for HCC management were ultimately included, including 1 international guideline, 11 guidelines from Asia, 5 from Europe, 4 from the America, and 1 from Australia. If guidelines were published in multiple versions, the most recent update was included, and surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment were compared. The composition of and recommendations in current guidelines on HCC varied, so these guidelines were regrouped and diagnostic and treatment algorithms were summarized graphically to provide the latest information to clinicians. The diagnostic criteria were grouped into 2 categories: a "Size-based pathway" and a "Non-size-based pathway". The treatment criteria were summarized according to different treatment algorithms, and mainstream treatment options were reviewed. Findings from comparison of current guidelines might help target and concentrate efforts to improve the clinical management of HCC. However, further studies are needed to improve the management and outcomes of HCC. More straightforward or refined guidelines would help guide doctors to make better decisions in the treatment of HCC in the future.
著者
Peipei Song Takashi Karako
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2021.01560, (Released:2021-12-28)
参考文献数
13
被引用文献数
19

Japan has experienced five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic so far. Four states of emergency were declared, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic (July 23-August 8, 2021) and Paralympic Games (August 24-September 5, 2021) were held during the fifth wave of the pandemic. Although a record 5,773 new cases were reported in Tokyo on August 13, the number abruptly decreased afterwards, and only 9 new cases were confirmed in Tokyo on November 1, 2021. The high vaccination rates (79.2% of the total population has received the first dose and 77.8% has received the second dose as of December 24, 2021) and behavioral changes (such as mask wearing rate in public places remains close to 100%) are considered to be important factors in curbing the spread of the virus. However, the new Omicron variant poses future challenges due to its uncertainty. A cumulative total of 231 cases of the Omicron variant were reported in Japan between November 30 and December 25, 2021. Preliminary data indicated that the Omicron variant could be more contagious but less deadly than the Delta variant. Since mankind may be forced to coexist with COVID-19, efforts such as vaccination campaigns will need to continue and behavioral changes will become increasingly important as the "new normal" to reduce population density and contact with people. This is evinced at least in Japan's successful practices in fighting the past five waves of the pandemic.
著者
Tatsuo Sawakami Kenji Karako Peipei Song
出版者
National Center for Global Health and Medicine
雑誌
Global Health & Medicine (ISSN:24349186)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.3, no.3, pp.125-128, 2021-06-30 (Released:2021-07-05)
参考文献数
21
被引用文献数
18

Respiratory disease deaths associated with seasonal influenza are estimated to be 290,000 to 650,000 per year globally. In Japan, seasonal influenza affects more than 10 million people per year, and especially children, the elderly, and patients with underlying medical conditions, and seasonal influenza can cause severe illness. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread, the combined risk of concurrent influenza epidemics and the COVID-19 pandemic are a concern. When the status of influenza virus infections during the 2020-2021 flu season was compared to the 2011 to 2020 flu seasons, data indicated the absence of seasonal influenza outbreaks in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of flu patients was roughly estimated to be 14,000 nationwide from September 2020 to March 2021, which marks the first sharp decrease since national influenza surveillance started in 1987 in conjunction with National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (NESID). Moreover, approximately 500 sentinel sites (designated medical facilities) nationwide reported only 112 patients with severe influenza who required hospitalization. Since prevention and control measures amidst the COVID-19 pandemic have become the "new normal", one can reasonably assume that the absence of a seasonal influenza outbreak is related to prevention and control measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Basic infection prevention measures were thoroughly implemented, such as wearing masks, handwashing, and avoiding confined spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings. More importantly, the behavioral changes adopted to constrain COVID-19 during three declared states of emergency reduced population density and contact with people, including closing schools, asking restaurants to reduce their business hours, teleworking, curbing the flow of people during vacation week, etc. These behavioral changes will serve as a valuable reference to reduce the spread of seasonal influenza in the future.
著者
Tatsuo Sawakami Kenji Karako Peipei Song Wataru Sugiura Norihiro Kokudo
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2021.01269, (Released:2021-07-13)
参考文献数
26
被引用文献数
10

In Japan, the Law Concerning the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Medical Care for Patients with Infectious Diseases (the "Infectious Diseases Control Law") classifies infectious diseases as category I-V infectious diseases, pandemic influenza, and designated infectious diseases based on their infectivity, severity, and impact on public health. COVID-19 was designated as a designated infectious disease as of February 1, 2020 and then classified under pandemic influenza as of February 13, 2021. According to national reports from sentinel surveillance, some infectious diseases transmitted by droplets, contact, or orally declined during the COVID-19 epidemic in Japan. As of week 22 (June 6, 2021), there were 704 cumulative cases of seasonal influenza, 8,144 cumulative cases of chickenpox, 356 cumulative cases of mycoplasma pneumonia, and 45 cumulative cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis; these numbers were significantly lower than those last year, with 563,487 cumulative cases of seasonal influenza, 31,785 cumulative cases of chickenpox, 3,518 cumulative cases of mycoplasma pneumonia, and 250 cumulative cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Similarly, many infectious diseases transmitted by droplets or contact declined in other countries and areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. One can reasonably assume that various measures adopted to control the transmission of COVID-19 have played a role in reducing the spread of other infectious diseases, and especially those transmitted by droplets or contact. Extensive and thorough implementation of personal protective measures and behavioral changes may serve as a valuable reference when identifying ways to reduce the spread of infectious diseases transmitted by droplets or contact in the future.
著者
Kenji Karako Peipei Song Yu Chen Wei Tang Norihiro Kokudo
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2021.01019, (Released:2021-01-29)
参考文献数
40
被引用文献数
76

The first case of COVID-19 in Japan was reported on 16 January 2020. The total number of the infected has reached 313,844 and the number of deaths has reached 4,379 as of 16 January 2021. This article reviews the characteristics of and responses to the three waves of COVID-19 in Japan during 2020-2021 in order to provide a reference for the next step in epidemic prevention and control. The Japanese Government declared a state of emergency on 7 April 2020, which suppressed the increase in the number of the infected by curtailing economic activity. The first wave peaked at 701 new cases a day and it decreased to 21 new cases on May 25 when the state of emergency was lifted. However, the number of the infected increased again due to the resumption of economic activity, with a peak of 1,762 new cases a day during the second wave. Although the situation was worse than that during the first wave, the government succeeded in limiting the increase without declaring a state of emergency again, and that may be attributed to a decrease in crowd activities and an increase in the number of inspections. During the third wave, the number of the infected continued to exceed the peak during previous waves for two months. Major factors for this rise include the government’s implementation of further policies to encourage certain activities, relaxed immigration restrictions, and people not reducing their level of activity. An even more serious problem is the bed usage for patients with COVID-19; bed usage exceeds 50% not only in major cities but also in various areas. On 7 January 2021, 5,953 new cases were reported a day; this greatly exceeded the previous peak, and the state of emergency was declared again. Although Japan has been preparing its medical system since the first wave, maintaining that system has imposed a large economic burden on medical facilities, hence stronger measures and additional support are urgently needed to combat COVID-19 in the coming few months.
著者
Peipei Song Takashi Karako
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
BioScience Trends (ISSN:18817815)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.14, no.1, pp.1-2, 2020-02-29 (Released:2020-03-16)
参考文献数
9
被引用文献数
10 116

Rapidly sharing scientific information is an effective way to reduce public panic about COVID-19, and doing so is the key to providing real-time guidance to epidemiologists working to contain the outbreak, clinicians managing patients, and modelers helping to understand future developments and the possible effectiveness of various interventions. This issue has rapidly reviewed and published articles describing COVID-19, including the drug treatment options for SARS-CoV-2, its clinical characteristics, and therapies involving a combination of Chinese and Western medicine, the efficacy of chloroquine phosphate in the treatment of COVID-19 associated pneumonia according to clinical studies, and reflections on the system of reserve medical supplies for public health emergencies. As an academic journal, we will continue to quickly and transparently share data with frontline healthcare workers who need to know the epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19.
著者
Haowen Tang Peipei Song Zhiqiang Wang Bing Han Xiangfei Meng Yingwei Pan Xuan Meng Weidong Duan
出版者
International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement
雑誌
Intractable & Rare Diseases Research (ISSN:21863644)
巻号頁・発行日
pp.2020.03005, (Released:2020-04-13)
参考文献数
58
被引用文献数
9

Extrahepatic portosystemic shunt belongs to a family of rare vascular abnormalities. The clinical importance and manifestations of this vascular abnormality range from asymptomatic cases to liver or metabolic dysfunctions of various degrees. Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, also termed as Abernethy malformation, is a very rare congenital vascular malformation in which splenomesenteric blood drains into a systemic vein, bypassing the liver through a complete or partial extrahepatic shunt. So far, limited cases of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt have been reported. In this review, incidence, mechanisms, complications, diagnoses and treatments of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt are described.