start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=e0241120 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2021 dt-pub=20211022 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Local perspectives on Ebola during its tenth outbreak in DR Congo: A nationwide qualitative study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) struggled to end the tenth outbreak of Ebola virus disease (Ebola), which appeared in North Kivu in 2018. It was reported that rumors were hampering the response effort. We sought to identify any rumors that could have influenced outbreak containment and affected prevention in unaffected areas of DR Congo.
Methods
We conducted a qualitative study in DR Congo over a period of 2 months (from August 1 to September 30, 2019) using in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). The participants were recruited from five regional blocks using purposeful sampling. Both areas currently undergoing outbreaks and presently unaffected areas were included. We collected participants’ opinions, views, and beliefs about the Ebola virus. The IDIs (n = 60) were performed with key influencers (schoolteachers, religious and political leaders/analysts, and Ebola-frontline workers), following a semi-structured interview guide. FGDs (n = 10) were conducted with community members. Interviews were recorded with a digital voice recorder and simultaneous note-taking. Participant responses were categorized in terms of their themes and subthemes.
Results
We identified 3 high-level themes and 15 subthemes (given here in parentheses): (1) inadequate knowledge of the origin or cause of Ebola (belief in a metaphysical origin, insufficient awareness of Ebola transmission via an infected corpse, interpretation of disease as God’s punishment, belief in nosocomial Ebola, poor hygiene, and bathing in the Congo River). Ebola was interpreted as (2) a plot by multinational corporations (fears of genocide, Ebola understood as a biological weapon, concerns over organ trafficking, and Ebola was taken to be the result of business actions). Finally Ebola was rumored to be subject to (3) politicization (political authorities seen as ambivalent, exclusion of some community leaders from response efforts, distrust of political authorities, and distrust in the healthcare system).
Conclusions
Due to the skepticism against Ebola countermeasures, it is critical to understand widespread beliefs about the disease to implement actions that will be effective, including integrating response with the unmet needs of the population. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MuzemboBasilua Andre en-aut-sei=Muzembo en-aut-mei=Basilua Andre kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NtontoloNgangu Patrick en-aut-sei=Ntontolo en-aut-mei=Ngangu Patrick kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NgatuNlandu Roger en-aut-sei=Ngatu en-aut-mei=Nlandu Roger kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KhatiwadaJanuka en-aut-sei=Khatiwada en-aut-mei=Januka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NgombeKabamba Leon en-aut-sei=Ngombe en-aut-mei=Kabamba Leon kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NumbiOscar Luboya en-aut-sei=Numbi en-aut-mei=Oscar Luboya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NzajiKabamba Michel en-aut-sei=Nzaji en-aut-mei=Kabamba Michel kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaotelaKabinda Jeff en-aut-sei=Maotela en-aut-mei=Kabinda Jeff kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NgoyiMukonkole Jean en-aut-sei=Ngoyi en-aut-mei=Mukonkole Jean kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiTomoko en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaKoji en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkedaShunya en-aut-sei=Ikeda en-aut-mei=Shunya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Family Medicine and Primary health, Protestant University of Congo kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Public Health, University of Kamina kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Research Unit, ISTM-Lubumbashi kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=e0240936 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2020 dt-pub=20201019 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The inclusion of blastomeres into the inner cell mass in early-stage human embryos depends on the sequence of cell cleavages during the fourth division en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The fate of the ICM in humans is still unknown, due to the ethical difficulties surrounding experimentation in this field. In this study we have explored the existing time-lapse recording data of embryos in the early stages of development, taking advantage of the large refractile bodies (RBs) within blastomeres as cellular markers. Our study found that the cellular composition of the ICM in humans is largely determined at the time of the fourth division and blastomeres which cleave first to fourth, during the fourth division from 8 cells to 16 cells, have the potential to be incorporated in the ICM. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OtsukiJunko en-aut-sei=Otsuki en-aut-mei=Junko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwasakiToshiroh en-aut-sei=Iwasaki en-aut-mei=Toshiroh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=EnatsuNoritoshi en-aut-sei=Enatsu en-aut-mei=Noritoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatadaYuya en-aut-sei=Katada en-aut-mei=Yuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FuruhashiKohyu en-aut-sei=Furuhashi en-aut-mei=Kohyu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShiotaniMasahide en-aut-sei=Shiotani en-aut-mei=Masahide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Hanabusa Women’s Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Hanabusa Women’s Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Hanabusa Women’s Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Hanabusa Women’s Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Hanabusa Women’s Clinic kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=e0240333 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2020 dt-pub=20201015 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Fgf10-CRISPR mosaic mutants demonstrate the gene dose-related loss of the accessory lobe and decrease in the number of alveolar type 2 epithelial cells in mouse lung en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing often generates founder generation (F0) mice that exhibit somatic mosaicism in the targeted gene(s). It has been known thatFibroblast growth factor 10(Fgf10)-null mice exhibit limbless and lungless phenotypes, while intermediate limb phenotypes (variable defective limbs) are observed in theFgf10-CRISPR F0 mice. However, how the lung phenotype in theFgf10-mosaic mutants is related to the limb phenotype and genotype has not been investigated. In this study, we examined variable lung phenotypes in theFgf10-targeted F0 mice to determine if the lung phenotype was correlated with percentage of functionalFgf10genotypes. Firstly, according to a previous report,Fgf10-CRISPR F0 embryos on embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5) were classified into three types: type I, no limb; type II, limb defect; and type III, normal limbs. Cartilage and bone staining showed that limb truncations were observed in the girdle, (type I), stylopodial, or zeugopodial region (type II). Deep sequencing of theFgf10-mutant genomes revealed that the mean proportion of codons that encode putative functional FGF10 was 8.3 +/- 6.2% in type I, 25.3 +/- 2.7% in type II, and 54.3 +/- 9.5% in type III (mean +/- standard error of the mean) mutants at E16.5. Histological studies showed that almost all lung lobes were absent in type I embryos. The accessory lung lobe was often absent in type II embryos with other lobes dysplastic. All lung lobes formed in type III embryos. The number of terminal tubules was significantly lower in type I and II embryos, but unchanged in type III embryos. To identify alveolar type 2 epithelial (AECII) cells, known to be reduced in theFgf10-heterozygous mutant, immunostaining using anti-surfactant protein C (SPC) antibody was performed: In the E18.5 lungs, the number of AECII was correlated to the percentage of functionalFgf10genotypes. These data suggest theFgf10gene dose-related loss of the accessory lobe and decrease in the number of alveolar type 2 epithelial cells in mouse lung. Since dysfunction of AECII cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of parenchymal lung diseases, theFgf10-CRISPR F0 mouse would present an ideal experimental system to explore it. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HabutaMunenori en-aut-sei=Habuta en-aut-mei=Munenori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasueAkihiro en-aut-sei=Yasue en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiKen-Ichi T. en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Ken-Ichi T. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujitaHirofumi en-aut-sei=Fujita en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoKeita en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Keita kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KonoHitomi en-aut-sei=Kono en-aut-mei=Hitomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakayamaAyuko en-aut-sei=Takayama en-aut-mei=Ayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=BandoTetsuya en-aut-sei=Bando en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyaishiSatoru en-aut-sei=Miyaishi en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OyadomariSeiichi en-aut-sei=Oyadomari en-aut-mei=Seiichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaEiji en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhuchiHideyo en-aut-sei=Ohuchi en-aut-mei=Hideyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Center for the Development of New Model Organisms, National Institute for Basic Biology kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Legal Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Division of Molecular Biology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= END