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Commercially available assays for measuring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) anti‐spike (S) or anti‐nucleocapsid (N) antibodies differ in units, making results comparisons challenging. This study aimed to develop conversion equations between five quantitative anti‐S antibody tests and to assess the agreement over time between three qualitative anti‐N antibody tests. Blood samples from 24 216 vaccinated healthcare workers in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, were analyzed for anti‐S antibodies using five quantitative tests (Abbott, Fujirebio, Ortho, Sysmex, Roche) and for anti‐N antibodies using three qualitative tests (Abbott, Sysmex, Roche). Geometric mean regression was performed to establish equations for converting measured values between the five quantitative tests. Fleiss κ statistic was used to assess the agreement between the three qualitative tests. A strong correlation (Pearson's coefficient r > 0.9) was found for each pair of the five quantitative tests measuring anti‐S antibodies, enabling the development of equations to convert values between each pair. Using these equations, which are based on the original output unit of each test, values obtained from one test can be transformed to be equivalent to the corresponding values in another test. For the three tests for anti‐N antibodies, the agreement was substantial in the total sample (Fleiss' κ, 0.74) and moderate among those with self‐reported past coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection (Fleiss' κ, 0.39). The agreement decreased with time after infection. Reduced agreement between anti‐N antibodies tests over time suggests caution in comparing seroepidemiological studies of COVID‐19 exposure based on anti‐N antibodies measurement. The findings could help improve antibody measurement systems and inform public health decision‐makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: We conducted a study using the Fibrosis‐3 (FIB‐3) index, which is the established age‐independent index of fibrosis in nonviral liver disease and addresses the limitations of the FIB‐4 index in older age group, to assess the liver fibrosis risk among diverse demographic groups in the general population. Methods: We analyzed 31 327 individuals who underwent health examinations between 2013 and 2020 and investigated the distribution of the FIB‐3 index by age group. In addition, we examined the age distribution of the FIB‐3 index stratified by background factors, such as sex, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption habits, and the presence or absence of fatty liver. Results: In terms of age‐specific distribution, the FIB‐3 index remained below 1.5 in >90% of cases until the age of 50 years but exceeded 1.5 beyond the age of 50 years, in approximately 30% among those aged 70 years. Notably, the FIB‐3 index above 31 years old was significantly higher in men than in women. Among the different BMI categories, individuals with BMI < 18.5 exhibited the highest prevalence of fibrosis. Habitual drinkers had a higher proportion with FIB‐3. index ≥1.5, and some had FIB‐3 index ≥2.5, raising the suspicion of advanced hepatic fibrosis. No distinct association was identified between the FIB‐3 index and the presence of fatty liver. Conclusions: The FIB‐3 index was useful for identifying cases of advancing hepatic fibrosis in a health checkup population. Liver fibrosis progresses with age in the general population, especially among men, those with low BMI, and habitual drinkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the long‐term prognosis of liver disease in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication after antiviral therapy versus those with persistent HCV infection. Four hundred and eighty patients (5259 person‐years [PYs]) who received interferon‐based therapy and achieved sustained virologic response and 848 patients (3853 PYs) with persistent HCV infection were included. In the analysis of 1‐year liver disease state transition probability matrices using Markov chain models, progression to cirrhosis from the chronic hepatitis state was observed (0.00%–0.63%) in patients with HCV eradication. Among patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis and HCV eradication, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development was observed in males aged ≥ 50 years (0.97%–1.96%) and females aged ≥ 60 years (0.26%–5.00%). Additionally, in patients with cirrhosis and HCV eradication, improvement to chronic hepatitis was also observed (4.94%–10.64%). Conversely, in patients with chronic hepatitis and persistent HCV infection, progression to cirrhosis was observed in males aged ≥ 30 years and female aged ≥ 40 years (0.44%–1.99%). In males aged ≥ 40 years and female aged ≥ 50 years with cirrhosis, the transition probability for HCC was relatively high (4.17%–14.02%). Under the assumption of either chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis at age 40 or 60 years as the starting condition for simulation over the next 30 or 40 years, respectively, the probability of HCC was higher in patients with persistent HCV infection than those with HCV eradication. In conclusion, HCV eradication can reduce the risk of developing cirrhosis or HCC in patients with chronic HCV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have tested a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping assay to fill the need for rapid and low‐cost HPV detection in Sub‐Saharan Africa. This method allows high throughput genotyping and simultaneous detection of 14 high‐risk and two low‐risk HPV types, by PCR amplification of HPV DNAs in a single reaction tube. In this study, we describe stepwise experiments to validate the multiplex HPV PCR assay for determination of HPV genotypes from 104 cervical brush samples from Tanzanian women. Assay performance was evaluated by determination of intra‐laboratory reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity. Further performance was assessed by comparison with the widely accepted and validated HPV My09/My11 amplification and hybridization assay. Statistics; the Cohen kappa (κ) and McNemar P values were used to analyze interobserver and intermethod agreement. Overall concordance between the multiplex and line blot hybridization assays was 99% (per sample) with a κ value equal to 0.95; and 96.49% (per detection event) with a κ value of 0.92. Interobserver reproducibility of the assay per sample was 95.76% with κ of 0.91. These results demonstrate that the multiplex HPV PCR assay has high analytical sensitivity and specificity in detecting as many as 16 different HPV genotypes and that its simplicity and low cost makes it well suited for sub‐Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover Caption: The cover image is based on the Research Article Analytical performance of a low-cost multiplex polymerase chain reaction human papillomavirus genotyping assay for use in Sub‐Saharan Africa, by Kandali Samwel et al., DOI 10.1002/jmv.25329. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Symptoms after novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recovery by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 strains are unspecified., Methods: This self-administered questionnaire-based study was conducted to investigate symptoms after COVID-19 recovery at one of the main hospitals for COVID-19 treatment in Hiroshima, Japan, from September 2020 to March 2022 for patients who visited follow-up consultations after COVID-19. Study subjects were divided into four groups (Wild-type, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron periods) according to COVID-19 onset date. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to determine symptom clusters and investigate risk factors for each symptom cluster using multivariate analysis., Results: Among 385 patients who enrolled in this study, 249 patients had any persistent symptoms at a median of 23.5 (interquartile range, 20-31) days after COVID-19 onset. Among patients with any persistent symptoms, symptom clusters including olfactory or taste disorders, respiratory symptoms, and cardiac symptoms were found. Respiratory symptoms were more frequent among patients infected in the Omicron period compared to the Wild-type period (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-7.48). Compared to patients who recovered from mild COVID-19, patients who needed oxygen or ventilation support suffered fewer post-COVID-19 respiratory symptoms (AOR 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22-0.97) but more post-COVID-19 cardiac symptoms among them (AOR 2.67; 95% CI, 1.26-5.65). Olfactory or taste disorders were fewer among patients infected in the Omicron period compared to the Wild-type period (AOR 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.46)., Conclusion: This study revealed that symptoms after COVID-19 may vary depending on the infected strain.

Introduction: The burden of epilepsy is thought to be high but is difficult to measure. Very few studies in Japan have attempted to estimate prevalence and incidence rates of epilepsy in Japan., Methods: This retrospective cohort study used commercially collected nationwide insurance claims data from a cohort of 10 million persons between 2012 and 2019 among those aged 0 to 74 years. Using the claims data, cases were identified, and incidence and prevalence rates were estimated., Results: A total of 9,864,278 persons were included. The average age was 34.5 (standard deviation, 18.5) years. A total of 77,312 persons were diagnosed with epilepsy over the 8-year observation period, with a prevalence rate of 6.0 per 1,000 persons with almost no difference by gender. The highest rates were seen among those aged 70-74 years; prevalence rates tended to rise with calendar year (5.4/1,000 in 2012 and 6.0/1,000 in 2019). The incidence rate of epilepsy was 72.1 per 100,000 person-years with slightly higher rates seen among females. Incidence rates were highest at ages less than 12 months (199.8/100,000 person-years), followed by the eldest age group (70-74 years, 179.4/100,000 person-years)., Conclusion: Understanding the magnitude of disease burden is the basis of determining health policies. In this study, the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in Japan was shown based on the analysis results of a large-scale general population insurance claims data covering all over Japan.