Exploring Concurrent Approach for Respiratory Epidemiological Surveillance and Symptom Screening (CARES): a new strategy for preventing respiratory infection outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

Objective: The Concurrent Approach for Respiratory Epidemiological Surveillance and Symptom Screening (CARES) combines symptom screening to prevent external respiratory infections by managing staff and visitor health and surveillance to monitor the infection rates within the facility and take timely decisions on activity programs based on outbreak prevalence. This study examines the efficacy of the CARES strategy in preventing respiratory infection outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

Design: Prospective cohort study utilizing historical controls including an intervention and control group.

Culinary continuity in central Japan across the transition to agriculture.

Unlabelled: Rice and millet arrived in Western Japan from Korea around 3,000 years ago and spread eastwards across the archipelago in the next 700 years. However, the extent to which agriculture transformed traditional Jōmon hunter-gatherer-fisher communities is debated. Central Japan is a key area of study as remodelling of radiocarbon dates shows a slowdown in the dispersal rate of rice agriculture in this area.

TIM-3 Expression and M2 Polarization of Macrophages in the TGFβ-Activated Tumor Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer.

TGFβ signaling in the tumor microenvironment (TME) drives immune evasion and is a negative predictor of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy in colorectal cancer (CRC). TIM-3, an inhibitory receptor implicated in anti-tumor immune responses and ICI resistance, has emerged as an immunotherapeutic target. This study investigated TIM-3, M2 macrophages and the TGFβ-activated TME, in association with microsatellite instability (MSI) status and consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs).

The Impact of Tumor Cell-Intrinsic Expression of Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase (cGAS)-Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) on the Infiltration of CD8 T Cells and Clinical Outcomes in Mismatch Repair Proficient/Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer.

The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway plays a crucial role in activating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, thereby contributing to a more favorable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the impact of the expression of cGAS-STING in tumor cells on the infiltration of CD8 T cells and clinical outcomes in mismatch repair proficient/microsatellite stable (pMMR/MSS) CRC remains largely unknown. Our findings reveal that 56.

Healthcare workers' presenteeism causing an outbreak of respiratory infections in a facility for patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities.

Background: This study aimed to identify the source of infection and medical costs for a respiratory infection outbreak in a facility for patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID). Presenteeism refers to a situation wherein a person continues going to work despite being ill.

Methods: The cohort included 1 healthcare worker and 17 patients who developed a fever of ≥37.

Pseudoaneurysm after an ultrasound-guided breast core needle biopsy in a lactating woman.

This is a case report of a lactating woman in her twenties diagnosed with a breast pseudoaneurysm following a 14-gauge ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy detected by a Color Doppler exam, and treated with surgery. Further discussion concerning the patient's symptoms, useful imaging modalities, and treatment options are included. Knowledge on this complication is crucial for the correct diagnosis and best management and treatment.

Chromolaena laevigata (Asteraceae) as a source of endophytic non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus: chemical profile in different culture conditions and biological applications.

Endophytes are microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with their host. These microorganisms can produce a variety of secondary metabolites, some of which have inhibitory effects on pests and pathogens or even act to promote plant growth. Due to these characteristics, these microorganisms are used as sources of biologically active substances for a wide range of biotechnological applications.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Induces IL34 Signaling and Promotes Chemoresistance via Tumor-Associated Macrophage Polarization in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in solid tumors including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the TME profile of ESCC treated with NAC is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of NAC on the TME especially tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), the important immunosuppressive components of the TME, in ESCC.

Circulating tumor cells after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are related with recurrence in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are known to be a systemic process of malignant progression of cancer cells and there is a possibility that analysis for CTCs as a liquid biopsy become predictive or prognostic tools for cancer patients.

Methods: In the present study with the novel CTCs detection system (Celsee system), we performed quantitative and qualitative analysis of CTCs in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with 5FU + CDDP regimen. CTCs are defined as having both DAPI positive and CD45 negative.

Downregulation of PAICS due to loss of chromosome 4q is associated with poor survival in stage III colorectal cancer.

Phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase, phosphoribosylaminoimidazole succinocarboxamide synthetase (PAICS) encodes an enzyme that catalyzes de novo purine biosynthesis. Although PAICS has been implicated as a potential therapeutic target in several cancers, its clinical and prognostic significance in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not fully understood. To elucidate the roles of PAICS in CRC, we investigated PAICS expression in four cohorts consisting of a total of 1659 samples based on quantitative RT-PCR, microarray and RNA-seq analysis.

The psychological effects of COVID-19 on hospital workers at the beginning of the outbreak with a large disease cluster on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and associated factors on hospital workers at the beginning of the outbreak with a large disease cluster on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. This cross-sectional, survey-based study collected demographic data, mental health measurements, and stress-related questionnaires from workers in 2 hospitals in Yokohama, Japan, from March 23, 2020, to April 6, 2020. The prevalence rates of general psychological distress and event-related distress were assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), respectively.

Tn Antigen Expression Defines an Immune Cold Subset of Mismatch-Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells often express Tn antigen, a tumor-associated truncated immature O-glycan (GalNAcα-O-Ser/Thr) that can promote tumor progression. Immunotherapies against Tn antigen have been developed and are being evaluated in clinical trials. Tn antigen can also be considered a novel immune checkpoint that induces immunosuppressive signaling through glycan-biding lectins to lead effector T cell apoptosis.

Control of the growth of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in industrialized orange juice using rosemary essential oil and nisin.

The use of rosemary essential oil (RO) and its combination with nisin (RO+N) in preventing the multiplication of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in orange juice was evaluated. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) for RO were both 125 μg ml while RO+N displayed a synergistic effect. The use of RO and RO+N at concentrations of 1, 4 and 8× MIC in orange juice for 96 h was evaluated in terms of their sporicidal effectiveness.

Ketoconazole-loaded poly-(lactic acid) nanoparticles: Characterization and improvement of antifungal efficacy in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.

Objective: In order to improve the effect of ketoconazole, poly-lactic acid (PLA) nanoparticles containing ketoconazole were prepared, characterized and tested against dermatophytes and Candida spp planktonic and biofilm cells.

Methods: The ketoconazole-PLA nanoparticles obtained by nanoprecipitation were characterized using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, quantification of encapsulated ketoconazole and the in vitro release profile were determined.

Tuberculous peritonitis; The effectiveness of diagnostic laparoscopy and the perioperative infectious prevention: A case report.

Background: Tuberculous peritonitis (TBP) is uncommon in Japan, and its diagnosis with conventional methods is time taking and requires a high clinical index of suspicion. Laparoscopy with peritoneal biopsy is a tool for rapid and accurate diagnosis of TBP. However, few cases have mentioned the infectious control and prevention during the perioperative period.

A TGFβ-Dependent Stromal Subset Underlies Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Efficacy in DNA Mismatch Repair-Deficient/Microsatellite Instability-High Colorectal Cancer.

Patients with DNA mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer represent a biomarker-defined population with distinct clinicopathologic features who are susceptible to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). However, their survival outcomes vary considerably and nearly half of them exhibit primary resistance to current ICIs, suggesting substantial molecular heterogeneity even among tumors with dMMR/MSI-H. We conducted an extensive analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME) using multiple transcriptomic, proteomic, and IHC cohorts of colorectal cancer, comprising 222 dMMR/MSI-H and 1440 MMR-proficient/microsatellite stable tumors.

New cadinene-sesquiterpene from (lam.) R. M. King & H. Rob (Asteraceae) aerial parts and biological activities.

Phytochemical investigation of led to the isolation of a new cadinene-sesquiterpene, chromolaevigone glucoside (), along with nine known compounds: daucosterol (), stigmasterol glycoside (), stigmasterol (), β-sitosterol (), pilloin (), gonzalitosin I (), quercetin-3--α-rhamnopyranoside (), 7,7-dihydroxy-calamen-12-oic acid lactone () and trachelanthic acid (). Others 11 known compounds were identified by UHPLC-HRMS/MS. These compounds are being described for the first time in this species, with the exception of cadinene .

[A Case of Rectovaginal Fistula after Rectal Cancer Surgery Cured with Estriol Vaginal Tablet and Vaginal Lavage].

Although rectovaginal fistula is a rare complication of rectal cancer surgery, it is usually difficult to cure with conservative treatment, and patients generally need surgical intervention. A woman in her 70s underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection with right lateral lymph node dissection for rectal cancer. On postoperative day(POD)6, she had an anastomotic leakage and received conservative treatment.

Preparation, characterization and antidermatophytic activity of free- and microencapsulated cinnamon essential oil.

Essential oils (EO) are effective natural antimicrobials but are susceptible to oxidation. Microencapsulation improves EO stability, reduces toxicity, and controls release. The aim of this study was preparation, characterization and antidermatophytic activity of free and microencapsulated cinnamon essential oil (MP).