Background Coronavirus infections are spreading rapidly worldwide, and primary and middle schools are closed in many countries. After the state of emergency was lifted in Japan, schools have reopened, and teachers are conducting face-to-face classes while maintaining safety precautions. This study aimed to assess the factors contributing to infection-related anxiety and educational anxiety among teachers conducting face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic after schools reopened. Methods This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 263 primary and middle school teachers in the Shinagawa area of Tokyo (October 10–30, 2020). The questionnaire assessed the type of school (primary or middle school), sex, age, and factors contributing to infection-related anxiety and educational anxiety that arose from the pandemic. The levels of anxiety and the factors contributing to anxiety were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very anxious). Results In an analysis of the data of 237 participants excluding the missing data, many teachers reported feeling infection- and education-related anxiety. A majority of the participants were women (n = 152, 64.1%), and the mean age of the participants was 39.8 ± 11.3 years. A stepwise multiple regression analysis identified six factors for infection-related anxiety as significant (R2 = 0.61, p < 0.001). Among these variables, the largest partial regression coefficient value was reported for the following reason: “I feel anxious because we cannot ensure the safety of teachers themselves or of their families” (β = 0.37, p < 0.001). For educational anxiety, four of six reasons were identified as significant (R2 = 0.64, p < 0.001). Among these, “anxiety about the students’ home situations” (β = 0.41, p < 0.001) and “delay in education (students’ side)” (β = 0.27, p < 0.001) had stronger associations with anxiety compared to the others. Conclusion In-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused teachers to experience anxiety. This report provides useful information by highlighting the reasons for infection-related anxiety and educational anxiety that teachers experience in face-to-face classes during a pandemic. Even if the coverage of a COVID-19 vaccine becomes widespread worldwide, we will still be combating COVID-19 infections for at least a few years. Given concerns regarding such infections, to ensure students’ right to education, it is essential to understand why teachers feel anxious and to determine appropriate measures to decrease such anxiety.

A variant hemoglobin was found in a Japanese female whose hemoglobin was studied to clarify the cause of a low Hb A1c value, found during a routine medical examination. The detection and identification of the variant was performed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Its structure was revealed to be the same as Hb Peterborough [beta 111(G13)Val-->Phe]. For sequence determination, oxidized globin as well as non-derivatized globin were cleaved by trypsin and lysyl endopeptidase. An abnormal peptide was found in digests of oxidized globin, as shown by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Cysteic acid in oxidized peptides enhanced the abundance of fragment ions in tandem mass spectrometry, which helped to quickly and accurately determine the substitution in beta T-12, a peptide in the core region. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis of the hemolysate also showed a low level of glycated hemoglobin. The patient's hemolysate showed decreased stability in the isopropanol test. An abnormal band was detected on isoelectrofocusing on the cathodic side of normal Hb A. This is the second report of Hb Peterborough and the first of its occurrence in Japan.

The average age of patients with type 2 diabetes in Japan is over 70 years. Elderly patients tend to have poor medication compliance, therefore, it is important to understand their individual situations to improve medication compliance, the treatment of their diabetes, and their quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to identify factors associated with medication compliance in elderly type 2 diabetic patients. A cross-sectional study based on questionnaires was conducted on type 2 diabetes patients aged 65 years or older. The participants were recruited from patients who visited three dispensing pharmacies in the Shinagawa area of Tokyo between March 1 and September 30, 2019. The questionnaire consisted of patient information (sex, age, medication compliance status, knowledge of drug effects, and side effects), 12-Item Short Form Survey quality of life rating scale (SF-12), and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ). Factors related to medication compliance were then evaluated. In all, there were 47 respondents: 31 males and 16 females. Four factors were found to be associated with medication compliance in elderly type 2 diabetic patients: medication storage (P = 0.01), knowledge of drug effects (P &lt; 0.001), knowledge of side effects (P = 0.026), and physical functioning: (PF) (P = 0.045), a subscale of SF-12. Furthermore, the strength of the association between these four factors and medication compliance was calculated using Cramer's V coefficient of association. Knowledge of drug effects was the most strongly associated (knowledge of drug effects: V = 0.559; knowledge of side effects: V = 0.464; medication storage: V = 0.451; PF: V = 0.334). Because diabetes mellitus has no subjective symptoms and treatment effects are not felt to a great extent, it is difficult to motivate patients to consistently adhere to medication. When pharmacists provide medication guidance to elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is important to provide sufficient information to ensure they fully understand the drug effects to maintain medication compliance.

ABSTRACT. We have developed a rapid and efficient genotyping method for detection of the mouse leptin obese mutation (Lep ob ) using tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (tetra-primer ARMS-PCR). In this method, whole blood collected onto gamma-ray sterilized Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) filter paper is used as PCR template without a DNA purification step. Three genotypes (Lep ob /Lep ob , Lep ob /+ and +/+) differentiated by single-tube PCR and electrophoresis were perfectly consistent with those determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). This method can save material costs and operation time, because it does not require restriction enzyme digestion and could be set up in most specific pathogen-free (SPF) barrier facilities. Because of their short generation times and high breeding efficiency, rodents are extremely useful for researching disorders [2,12]. Point mutation-carrying strains, such as mice with an obese mutation in the leptin gene (Lep ob ) [16] and rats with a fatty mutation in the leptin receptor gene (Lepr fa ), [13] are included in representative rodent disease models [6]. For authentic research and for maintaining strains, it is important to verify the existence of point mutations.Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation systempolymerase chain reaction (tetra-primer ARMS-PCR) employs 2 primer pairs to amplify, respectively, the 2 different alleles of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a single PCR [15]. Moreover, the primers can be designed to amplify fragments of differing sizes for each allele [15]. Therefore, tetra-primer ARMS-PCR does not require restriction enzyme digestion and allows genotyping of a point mutation solely by inspection of PCR products with agarose gel electrophoresis. Combining Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) filter paper and appropriate PCR buffer allows for direct PCR amplification of DNA from unpurified blood on FTA filter paper [7]. To use FTA filter paper in our specific pathogenfree (SPF) barrier facility, we have so far used ethylene oxide gas (EOG) sterilization. However, ethylene oxide is a directly acting alkylating agent which is associated with an increase in chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchange [1,5]. On the other hand, radiation leaves no toxic residues on treated medical items [10]. Here, we describe a rapid and efficient point mutation genotyping of the mouse leptin gene using tetra-primer ARMS-PCR and gamma-ray sterilized FTA filter paper in SPF barrier facilities.All procedures involving the use of mice were approved by the animal welfare committee of CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES JAPAN. FTA filter paper (GE Healthcare Japan, Tokyo, Japan) was sterilized with EOG or with gamma-ray irradiation and carried into our in-house vivarium. Future breeders of the SPF B6.Cg-Lep ob /J strain (CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES JAPAN, Yokohama, Japan), housed in the in-house vivarium, were used when weaning age. A small drop of whole blood, exuded by cutting the mice ...

A new hemoglobin (Hb) variant, Hb Sagami [ p 139(H17)Asn+Thr] was accidentally found through the assay of Hb A,, by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in a screening test for diabetes mellitus (1). The amino acid substitution was determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) and confirmed by an automatic protein sequencer (1). The content of the abnormal p chain was about twice that of normal p chain, which was estimated by ESI/MS with intact globin mixture, and by high-resolution ion exchange column chromatography (PolyCAT A; Poly LC, Columbia, MD, USA) with Hb.