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Fulltext Oxidative trans to cis Isomerization of Olefins in Polyketide Biosynthesis

Yamamoto T, Tsunematsu Y, Hara K, Suzuki T, Kishimoto S, Kawagishi H, et al.

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 2016 05 17;55(21):6207-10.
PMID: 27072782 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201600940

Geometric isomerization can expand the scope of biological activities of natural products. The observed chemical diversity among the pseurotin-type fungal secondary metabolites is in part generated by a trans to cis isomerization of an olefin. In vitro characterizations of pseurotin biosynthetic enzymes revealed that the glutathione S-transferase PsoE requires participation of the bifunctional C-methyltransferase/epoxidase PsoF to complete the trans to cis isomerization of the pathway intermediate presynerazol. The crystal structure of the PsoE/glutathione/presynerazol complex indicated stereospecific glutathione-presynerazol conjugate formation is the principal function of PsoE. Moreover, PsoF was identified to have an additional, unexpected oxidative isomerase activity, thus making it a trifunctional enzyme which is key to the complexity generation in pseurotin biosynthesis. Through the study, we identified a novel mechanism of accomplishing a seemingly simple trans to cis isomerization reaction.
Fulltext Relationship between cell number and clinical outcomes of autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cell implantation in critical limb ischemia

Yusoff FM, Kajikawa M, Takaeko Y, Kishimoto S, Hashimoto H, Maruhashi T, et al.

Sci Rep, 2020 11 16;10(1):19891.
PMID: 33199760 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76886-6

Cell therapy using intramuscular injections of autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) improves clinical symptoms and can prevent limb amputation in atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the number of implanted BM-MNCs on clinical outcomes in atherosclerotic PAD patients with CLI who underwent cell therapy. This study was a retrospective observational study with median follow-up period of 13.5 years (range, 6.8-15.5 years) from BM-MNC implantation procedure. The mean number of implanted cells was 1.2 ± 0.7 × 109 per limb. There was no significant difference in number of BM-MNCs implanted between the no major amputation group and major amputation group (1.1 ± 0.7 × 109 vs. 1.5 ± 0.8 × 109 per limb, P = 0.138). There was also no significant difference in number of BM-MNCs implanted between the no death group and death group (1.5 ± 0.9 × 109 vs. 1.8 ± 0.8 × 109 per patient, P = 0.404). Differences in the number of BM-MNCs (mean number, 1.2 ± 0.7 × 109 per limb) for cell therapy did not alter the major amputation-free survival rate or mortality rate in atherosclerotic PAD patients with CLI. A large number of BM-MNCs will not improve limb salvage outcome or mortality.
Fulltext Review of the Long-term Effects of Autologous Bone-Marrow Mononuclear Cell Implantation on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

Yusoff FM, Kajikawa M, Matsui S, Hashimoto H, Kishimoto S, Maruhashi T, et al.

Sci Rep, 2019 05 22;9(1):7711.
PMID: 31118440 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44176-5

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is associated with a high risk of limb amputation. It has been shown that cell therapy is safe and has beneficial effects on ischemic clinical symptoms in patients with CLI. The aim of this study was to further investigate the outcomes of intramuscular injection of autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) in a long-term follow-up period in atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients who have no optional therapy. This study was a retrospective and observational study that was carried out to evaluate long-term clinical outcomes in 42 lower limbs of 30 patients with atherosclerotic PAD who underwent BM-MNC implantation. The median follow-up period was 9.25 (range, 6-16) years. The overall amputation-free rates were 73.0% at 5 years after BM-MNC implantation and 70.4% at 10 years in patients with atherosclerotic PAD. The overall amputation-free rates at 5 years and at 10 years after implantation of BM-MNCs were significantly higher in atherosclerotic PAD patients than in internal controls and historical controls. There were no significant differences in amputation rates between the internal control group and historical control group. The rate of overall survival was not significantly different between the BM-MNC implantation group and the historical control group. Implantation of autologous BM-MNCs is feasible for a long-term follow-up period in patients with CLI who have no optional therapy.
Fulltext Assessing the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 during the first five months in the Western Pacific Region

Yeoh EK, Chong KC, Chiew CJ, Lee VJ, Ng CW, Hashimoto H, et al.

One Health, 2021 Jun;12:100213.
PMID: 33506086 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100213

While most countries in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) had similar trajectories of COVID-19 from January to May, their implementations of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) differed by transmission stages. To offer a better understanding for an implementation of multidisciplinary policies in COVID-19 control, we compared the impact of NPIs by assessing the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 in different phases of the epidemic during the first five months in WPR. In this study, we estimated the piecewise instantaneous reproduction number (R
t
) and the reporting delay-adjusted case-fatality ratio (dCFR) of COVID-19 in seven WPR jurisdictions: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Japan, Malaysia, Shanghai, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. According to the results, implementing NPIs was associated with an apparent reduction of the piecewise R
t
in two epidemic waves in general. However, large cluster outbreaks raised the piecewise R
t
to a high level. We also observed relaxing the NPIs could result in an increase of R
t
. The estimated dCFR ranged from 0.09% to 1.59% among the jurisdictions, except in Japan where an estimate of 5.31% might be due to low testing efforts. To conclude, in conjunction with border control measures to reduce influx of imported cases which might cause local outbreaks, other NPIs including social distancing measures along with case finding by rapid tests are also necessary to prevent potential large cluster outbreaks and transmissions from undetected cases. A comparatively lower CFR may reflect the health system capacity of these jurisdictions. In order to keep track of sustained disease transmission due to resumption of economic activities, a close monitoring of disease transmissibility is recommended in the relaxation phase. The report of transmission of SARS CoV-2 to pets in Hong Kong and to mink in farm outbreaks highlight for the control of COVID-19 and emerging infectious disease, the One Health approach is critical in understanding and accounting for how human, animals and environment health are intricately connected.
Fulltext Overview of Legal Measures for Managing Workplace COVID-19 Infection Risk in Several Asia-Pacific Countries

Derek M, Tsai FJ, Kim J, Tejamaya M, Putri V, Muto G, et al.

Saf Health Work, 2021 Dec;12(4):530-535.
PMID: 34462672 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2021.08.003

Background: Despite the lack of official COVID-19 statistics, various workplaces and occupations have been at the center of COVID-19 outbreaks. We aimed to compare legal measures and governance established for managing COVID-19 infection risks at workplaces in nine Asia and Pacific countries and to recommend key administrative measures.
Methods: We collected information on legal measures and governance from both general citizens and workers regarding infection risks such as COVID-19 from industrial hygiene professionals in nine countries (Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand) using a structured questionnaire.
Results: A governmental body overseeing public health and welfare was in charge of containing the spread and occurrence of infectious diseases under an infectious disease control and prevention act or another special act, although the name of the pertinent organizations and legislation vary among countries. Unlike in the case of other traditional hazards, there have been no specific articles or clauses describing the means of mitigating virus risk in the workplace that are legally required of employers, making it difficult to define the responsibilities of the employer. Each country maintains own legal systems regarding access to the duration, administration, and financing of paid sick leave. Many workers may not have access to paid sick leave even if it is legally guaranteed.
Conclusion: Specific legal measures to manage infectious disease risks, such as providing proper personal protective equipment, education, engineering control measures, and paid sick leave are recommended to be stipulated in Industrial safety and health-related acts.
Fulltext Characteristics of COVID-19 infection clusters occurring among workers in several Asia-Pacific countries

Tejamaya M, Phanprsit W, Kim J, Tsai FJ, Muto G, Miller D, et al.

Ind Health, 2022 Dec 01;60(6):589-598.
PMID: 35022363 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2021-0227

The types of workplaces and occupations with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) clusters vary between countries and periods. We aimed to characterize major occupational groups with mass outbreaks of COVID-19 infections in several Asia-Pacific countries. Data on the major occupations or workplaces reporting COVID-19 cases in workplaces from January 2020 to July 2021 was collected from industrial hygiene professionals in nine countries. The proportion of workers accounted for 39.1 to 56.6% of the population in each country. The number of workers covered in the national statistics varies among nations based on their definition of a worker. None of the countries examined here have systematically collected occupational data on COVID-19 illnesses and deaths classified by type of industry, occupation, or job. Most countries experienced COVID-19 clusters among health and social care workers (HSCW) in hospitals or long-term care facilities. The types of occupations or workplaces with virus clusters in some participating countries included prisons, call centers, workplaces employing immigrants, garment facilities, grocery stores, and the military, which differed among countries, except for a few common occupations such as HSCW and those populated by immigrants. Further study is necessary in order to seek ways to control infection risks, including revisions to industrial-health-related laws.
Changes in social norms during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic across 43 countries

Andrighetto G, Szekely A, Guido A, Gelfand M, Abernathy J, Arikan G, et al.

Nat Commun, 2024 Feb 16;15(1):1436.
PMID: 38365869 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44999-5

The emergence of COVID-19 dramatically changed social behavior across societies and contexts. Here we study whether social norms also changed. Specifically, we study this question for cultural tightness (the degree to which societies generally have strong norms), specific social norms (e.g. stealing, hand washing), and norms about enforcement, using survey data from 30,431 respondents in 43 countries recorded before and in the early stages following the emergence of COVID-19. Using variation in disease intensity, we shed light on the mechanisms predicting changes in social norm measures. We find evidence that, after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, hand washing norms increased while tightness and punishing frequency slightly decreased but observe no evidence for a robust change in most other norms. Thus, at least in the short term, our findings suggest that cultures are largely stable to pandemic threats except in those norms, hand washing in this case, that are perceived to be directly relevant to dealing with the collective threat.
Fulltext Global Impact of COVID-19 on Stroke Care and IV Thrombolysis

Nogueira RG, Qureshi MM, Abdalkader M, Martins SO, Yamagami H, Qiu Z, et al.

Neurology, 2021 Jun 08;96(23):e2824-e2838.
PMID: 33766997 DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011885

OBJECTIVE: To measure the global impact of COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of IV thrombolysis (IVT), IVT transfers, and stroke hospitalizations over 4 months at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to June 30, 2020) compared with 2 control 4-month periods.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study across 6 continents, 70 countries, and 457 stroke centers. Diagnoses were identified by their ICD-10 codes or classifications in stroke databases.
RESULTS: There were 91,373 stroke admissions in the 4 months immediately before compared to 80,894 admissions during the pandemic months, representing an 11.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] -11.7 to -11.3, p < 0.0001) decline. There were 13,334 IVT therapies in the 4 months preceding compared to 11,570 procedures during the pandemic, representing a 13.2% (95% CI -13.8 to -12.7, p < 0.0001) drop. Interfacility IVT transfers decreased from 1,337 to 1,178, or an 11.9% decrease (95% CI -13.7 to -10.3, p = 0.001). Recovery of stroke hospitalization volume (9.5%, 95% CI 9.2-9.8, p < 0.0001) was noted over the 2 later (May, June) vs the 2 earlier (March, April) pandemic months. There was a 1.48% stroke rate across 119,967 COVID-19 hospitalizations. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was noted in 3.3% (1,722/52,026) of all stroke admissions.
CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a global decline in the volume of stroke hospitalizations, IVT, and interfacility IVT transfers. Primary stroke centers and centers with higher COVID-19 inpatient volumes experienced steeper declines. Recovery of stroke hospitalization was noted in the later pandemic months.