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Effects of interferon-β (IFN-β) on the gene expressions occurring in vitro in mouse spleen cells after the treatment with concanavalin A (Con A) were examined by Northern analysis. The results show that IFN-β strongly suppressed the induction of IFN-γ mRNA transcription and, interestingly, profoundly decreased the steady-state level of the T-cell receptor β-chain (TCRβ) gene mRNA without any substantial effect on some other gene expressions, such as those of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes. These indicate that although the IFN-γ and IL-2 genes are co-induced by Con A stimulation, only the former is specifically susceptible to the inhibitory effect of 1FN-β. Moreover, the expression of the TCRβ gene was suppressed by IFN-β under Con A stimulation, suggesting that IFN-β might work as a negative regulator in immune recognition by activated T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Murine peritoneal macrophages pretreated with interferon (IFN)-α and then stimulated by opsonized zymosan produced two to three times more LTB4 than untreated macrophages. However, PGE2 production was not changed by IFN-α. Meanwhile, IFN-γ did not affect the production of LTB4 and PGE2. From the results it is considered that IFN-α can modulate inflammation or host defence through the production of LTB4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several models have been used to predict outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited success. We developed a simple mathematical model to accurately predict future epidemic waves., Methods: We used data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan for newly confirmed COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 case data were summarized as weekly data, and epidemic waves were visualized and identified. The periodicity of COVID-19 in each prefecture of Japan was confirmed using time-series analysis and the autocorrelation coefficient, which was used to investigate the longer-term pattern of COVID-19 cases. Outcomes using the autocorrelation coefficient were visualized via a correlogram to capture the periodicity of the data. An algorithm for a simple prediction model of the seventh COVID-19 wave in Japan comprised three steps. Step 1: machine learning techniques were used to depict the regression lines for each epidemic wave, denoting the "rising trend line"; Step 2: an exponential function with good fit was identified from data of rising straight lines up to the sixth wave, and the timing of the rise of the seventh wave and speed of its spread were calculated; Step 3: a logistic function was created using the values calculated in Step 2 as coefficients to predict the seventh wave. The accuracy of the model in predicting the seventh wave was confirmed using data up to the sixth wave., Results: Up to March 31, 2023, the correlation coefficient value was approximately 0.5, indicating significant periodicity. The spread of COVID-19 in Japan was repeated in a cycle of approximately 140 days. Although there was a slight lag in the starting and peak times in our predicted seventh wave compared with the actual epidemic, our developed prediction model had a fairly high degree of accuracy., Conclusion: Our newly developed prediction model based on the rising trend line could predict COVID-19 outbreaks up to a few months in advance with high accuracy. The findings of the present study warrant further investigation regarding application to emerging infectious diseases other than COVID-19 in which the epidemic wave has high periodicity., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A 47-year-old Japanese woman presented with a 1-year history of right-sided epiphora. On initial consultation, the patient had a high right tear meniscus height. CT images revealed bilateral soft tissue opacification in the nasal cavity and maxillary, frontal, and ethmoid sinuses. The lesion in the right nasal cavity and maxillary sinus involved the right lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct. Blood test results showed elevated eosinophil count. Endoscopic sinus surgery and excisional biopsy of the nasolacrimal duct were performed. Histopathological examinations of the excised right nasolacrimal duct and nasal polyps from the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus showed high levels of eosinophilic inflammatory infiltrates. The definite diagnosis of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis was made, based on clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings. At 1.5-year follow-up, tear meniscus height was normal, the lacrimal drainage system remained patent, and the rhinosinusitis did not recur., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.)

Background: Given the global shortage of child psychiatrists and barriers to specialized care, remote assessment is a promising alternative for diagnosing and managing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, only a few studies have validated the accuracy and acceptability of these remote methods., Objective: This study aimed to test the agreement between remote and face-to-face assessments., Methods: Patients aged between 6 and 17 years with confirmed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition diagnoses of ADHD or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were recruited from multiple institutions. In a randomized order, participants underwent 2 evaluations, face-to-face and remotely, with distinct evaluators administering the ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the reliability of face-to-face and remote assessments., Results: The participants included 74 Japanese children aged between 6 and 16 years who were primarily diagnosed with ADHD (43/74, 58%) or ASD (31/74, 42%). A total of 22 (30%) children were diagnosed with both conditions. The ADHD-RS-IV ICCs between face-to-face and remote assessments showed "substantial" agreement in the total ADHD-RS-IV score (ICC=0.769, 95% CI 0.654-0.849; P<.001) according to the Landis and Koch criteria. The ICC in patients with ADHD showed "almost perfect" agreement (ICC=0.816, 95% CI 0.683-0.897; P<.001), whereas in patients with ASD, it showed "substantial" agreement (ICC=0.674, 95% CI 0.420-0.831; P<.001), indicating the high reliability of both methods across both conditions., Conclusions: Our study validated the feasibility and reliability of remote ADHD testing, which has potential benefits such as reduced hospital visits and time-saving effects. Our results highlight the potential of telemedicine in resource-limited areas, clinical trials, and treatment evaluations, necessitating further studies to explore its broader application., Trial Registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000039860; http://tinyurl.com/yp34x6kh., (©Shunya Kurokawa, Kensuke Nomura, Nana Hosogane, Takashi Nagasawa, Yuko Kawade, Yu Matsumoto, Shuichi Morinaga, Yuriko Kaise, Ayana Higuchi, Akiko Goto, Naoko Inada, Masaki Kodaira, Taishiro Kishimoto. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 19.02.2024.)