start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=19 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=e0299700 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240228 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Changes in the place of death before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background
In the global aging, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have affected the place of death (PoD) in Japan, where hospital deaths have dominated for decades. We analyzed the PoD trends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.
Methods
This nationwide observational study used vital statistics based on death certificates from Japan between 1951 and 2021. The proportion of PoD; deaths at home, hospitals, and nursing homes; and annual percentage change (APC) were estimated using joinpoint regression analysis. Analyses were stratified by age groups and causes of death.
Results
After 2019, home deaths exhibited upward trends, while hospital death turned into downward trends. By age, no significant trend change was seen in the 0-19 age group, while hospital deaths decreased in the 20-64 age group in 2019. The trend change in home death in the >= 65 age group significantly increased since 2019 with an APC of 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.0 to 15.7), while their hospital death trends decreased by -4.0% (95% CI: -4.9 to -3.1) in 2019-2021. By cause of death, home death due to cancer and the old age increased since 2019 with an APC of 29.3% (95% CI: 25.4 to 33.2) and 8.8% (95% CI: 5.5 to 12.2), respectively.
Conclusion
PoD has shifted from hospital to home during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. The majority of whom were older population with cancer or old age. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShibataMasashi en-aut-sei=Shibata en-aut-mei=Masashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaYuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoyamaToshihiro en-aut-sei=Koyama en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KashiwagiHideyuki en-aut-sei=Kashiwagi en-aut-mei=Hideyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaFumio en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Fumio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Iizuka Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Transitional and Palliative Care, Iizuka Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=19 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=e0298292 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240220 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Fluorescence-guided assessment of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas for predicting the efficacy of telomerase-specific oncolytic adenovirus en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Bone and soft-tissue sarcomas are rare malignancies with histological diversity and tumor heterogeneity, leading to the lack of a common molecular target. Telomerase is a key enzyme for keeping the telomere length and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression is often activated in most human cancers, including bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. For targeting of telomerase-positive tumor cells, we developed OBP-301, a telomerase-specific replication-competent oncolytic adenovirus, in which the hTERT promoter regulates adenoviral E1 gene for tumor-specific viral replication. In this study, we present the diagnostic potential of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing oncolytic adenovirus OBP-401 for assessing virotherapy sensitivity using bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. OBP-401-mediated GFP expression was significantly associated with the therapeutic efficacy of OBP-401 in human bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. In the tumor specimens from 68 patients, malignant and intermediate tumors demonstrated significantly higher expression levels of coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) and hTERT than benign tumors. OBP-401-mediated GFP expression was significantly increased in malignant and intermediate tumors with high expression levels of CAR and hTERT between 24 and 48 h after infection. Our results suggest that the OBP-401-based GFP expression system is a useful tool for predicting the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy on bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UotaniKoji en-aut-sei=Uotani en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TazawaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Tazawa en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaseiJoe en-aut-sei=Hasei en-aut-mei=Joe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraTomohiro en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaAki en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Aki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamakawaYasuaki en-aut-sei=Yamakawa en-aut-mei=Yasuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmoriToshinori en-aut-sei=Omori en-aut-mei=Toshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiuKazuhisa en-aut-sei=Sugiu en-aut-mei=Kazuhisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KomatsubaraTadashi en-aut-sei=Komatsubara en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoHiroya en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Hiroya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaTakuya en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiyonoMasahiro en-aut-sei=Kiyono en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokooSuguru en-aut-sei=Yokoo en-aut-mei=Suguru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HataToshiaki en-aut-sei=Hata en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunisadaToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Kunisada en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakedaKen en-aut-sei=Takeda en-aut-mei=Ken kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=UrataYasuo en-aut-sei=Urata en-aut-mei=Yasuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraToshiyoshi en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Toshiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Oncolys BioPharma, Inc. kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=19 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=e0297347 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240208 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Japan-epiretinal membrane (J-ERM) registry: A prospective cohort study protocol investigating the surgical outcome of epiretinal membrane en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background
Epiretinal membrane (ERM) causes visual impairment such as reduction in visual acuity and metamorphopsia due to retinal traction. With the improvement of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and microincision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS), the surgery of ERM has significantly advanced. However, there have been no large-scale studies on the following: (1) how to evaluate visual impairment in ERM, (2) the relationship between OCT findings and visual function, (3) when is the optimal timing of surgery, and (4) the relationship between the surgical instruments as well as techniques and prognosis. The purpose of this study was to obtain evidence regarding these ERM surgeries.
Methods and design
This is a prospective, multicenter cohort study of ERM surgery in Japan from March 1, 2023, to March 31, 2027 (UMIN000048472, R-3468-2). Patients who underwent ERM surgery during the study period and agreed to participate in this study will be included. The goal is to have a total of 5,000 eyes surgically treated for ERM. The following data will be collected: age, gender, medical history, subjective symptoms, visual function before and 6 and 12 months after surgery, clinical findings, OCT data, surgical technique, instruments used in surgery, and complications.
Discussion
The results of this study will support the surgical decisions and procedures in ERM practices. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KanzakiYuki en-aut-sei=Kanzaki en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatobaRyo en-aut-sei=Matoba en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiharaKenji en-aut-sei=Ishihara en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaTetsuro en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Tetsuro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MuraokaYuki en-aut-sei=Muraoka en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraShuhei en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Shuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KotoTakashi en-aut-sei=Koto en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawasakiRyo en-aut-sei=Kawasaki en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=BabaTakayuki en-aut-sei=Baba en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoFumiki en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Fumiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueMakoto en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoTaiji en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Taiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujikawaAkitaka en-aut-sei=Tsujikawa en-aut-mei=Akitaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorizaneYuki en-aut-sei=Morizane en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Kyorin Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Kyorin University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Kyorin Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Kyorin University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= END