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Abstract Background The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been followed by many reports of the development and relapse of autoimmune diseases associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Some of these reports have involved relapse or onset of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Here, we report on a patient with IgA nephropathy who presented with gross hematuria and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Case presentation A 63-year-old male patient with a history of habitual tonsillitis underwent bilateral tonsillectomy. He had a history of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver and microscopic hematuria and proteinuria were indicated during a health checkup 2 years before hospital admission. He developed hematuria after the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, which led to rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, for which he was hospitalized. A renal biopsy led to the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy. Although pulse steroid therapy during his condition resulted in hepatic encephalopathy, three courses combined with mizoribine improved his renal function. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines activate T cells, which are involved in the pathophysiology of IgA nephropathy. Therefore, this case suggests that the exacerbation of IgA nephropathy by the vaccine favors the vasculitis aspect of the disease.

Abstract Insufficient evidence has been accumulated regarding associations of heated tobacco products (HTPs) use with coronavirus infection and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an ongoing pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from an internet questionnaire administered in February 2022 to 30,130 individuals from the general Japanese population (age range, 16–81 years). Single users of HTPs and dual users of combustible cigarettes and HTPs comprised 5.2% and 7.3% of respondents, and 6.7% and 38.0% of those infected (n = 1117). Approximately 70% of infected dual users experienced severe disease. Single users of HTPs and dual users were more likely to be infected with coronavirus than never-users (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.65/4.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26–2.15/3.89–5.58). Regarding severity, former and current tobacco users (former/combustible cigarettes/HTPs: aOR = 1.88/3.17/1.90; 95%CI 1.11–3.19/1.77–5.67/1.01–3.59) were more likely to be administered oxygen than never-users, and dual users required oxygen administration the most (aOR = 4.15, 95%CI 2.70–6.36). Use of HTPs may increase risks of coronavirus infection and severe COVID-19. Our results provide an opportunity to consider the safety of tobacco products use, including HTPs, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Considering that iodine is highly volatile and has low solubility in water, it is utilized as an antiseptic in its complex form (iodophor) with a carrier material. Herein, we prepared the polysorbate 80– iodine complex and investigated its properties. In the presence of 0%, 0.01%, 0.1%, and 1% polysorbate, Pseudomonas putida NBRC 100650 growth was inhibited at 75, 75, 50, and 25 ppm iodine, respectively, indicating that high concentrations of polysorbate 80 enhanced the antibacterial activity of iodine. Absorption spectra of the mixtures of polysorbate 80 and iodine were analyzed; we observed that two peaks at 287 and 350 nm, derived from triiodide ions, shifted to the longer wavelength side in the presence of 0.1% and 1% polysorbate 80. Further, when 1% polysorbate 80 was added to the mixture of soluble starch and iodine, the peak around 580 nm arising from the amylose–iodine complex disappeared, indicating that polysorbate 80 captured iodine from the starch–iodine complex. We also found that polysorbate 80 retained iodine for approximately 4 months and prevented its volatilization; moreover, the mixture did not lose its growth inhibitory activity upon storage for approximately 4 months. Collectively, our data indicated that polysorbate 80 firmly retains low concentrations of iodine and that the polysorbate 80–iodine complex can serve as an antiseptic that can be stably stored for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu has been explored by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft to elucidate the actual nature of hydrous asteroids. Laboratory analyses revealed that the samples from Ryugu are comparable to unheated CI carbonaceous chondrites; however, reflectance spectra of Ryugu samples and CIs do not coincide. Here, we demonstrate that Ryugu sample spectra are reproduced by heating Orgueil CI chondrite at 300°C under reducing conditions, which caused dehydration of terrestrial weathering products and reduction of iron in phyllosilicates. Terrestrial weathering of CIs accounts for the spectral differences between Ryugu sample and CIs, which is more severe than space weathering that likely explains those between asteroid Ryugu and the collected samples. Previous assignments of CI chondrite parent bodies, i.e., chemically most primitive objects in the solar system, are based on the spectra of CI chondrites. This study indicates that actual spectra of CI parent bodies are much darker and flatter at ultraviolet to visible wavelengths than the spectra of CI chondrites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]