Publications by authors named "Hidetoshi Nomoto"
Background: Dexamethasone is currently administered for Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19); however, there are concerns about its effect on specific antibodies' production. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether specific antibodies were affected by COVID-19 severity and corticosteroid treatment.
Methods: Of 251 confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to our hospital between January 26 and August 10, 2020, the early period of the pandemic, 75 patients with sera within 1 month of onset and 1 month or longer were included in the research.
Article Synopsis
- Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is a severe condition mainly caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci (BHS), with the study investigating other BHS species' roles in STSS development.
- The study analyzed medical records from 2002 to 2022, identifying 43 STSS cases and examining their clinical features compared to 285 non-STSS cases, while factoring in age and diabetes.
- Results showed a high mortality rate of about 35% in STSS cases, with certain BHS species being more strongly associated with STSS than others, highlighting the need for further understanding of these infections.
Article Synopsis
- International travel increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to factors like more sexual opportunities and the appeal of the sex industry.
- A study in Japan from October 2017 to December 2022 found that out of 4,545 travel-related illnesses, only 52 (1.1%) were STIs, predominantly affecting males with a median age of 31.
- The most common STIs reported were HIV (17%), genital herpes (13%), syphilis (13%), and gonorrhea (12%), highlighting the need for greater awareness and vaccination to prevent these infections.
Article Synopsis
- Cefmetazole (CMZ) is being studied as an alternative treatment for infections caused by ESBL-producing bacteria, with this pilot study comparing its effects to meropenem (MP) and a control group with no treatment.
- The study involved collecting feces and saliva samples from patients at different time points to analyze changes in their microbiome due to the antimicrobial treatments.
- Results indicated that meropenem had a more significant negative impact on the fecal microbiome compared to CMZ, especially in the later stages of treatment among Japanese patients.
Article Synopsis
- * After IVIg treatment, the patient's viral load decreased significantly, and there was no recurrence of symptoms.
- * The findings suggest that combining IVIg with antiviral therapies may be an effective approach for treating relapsed COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients, particularly those who have undergone CD20 depleting therapy.
Article Synopsis
- Few studies in Asia have assessed how effective COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are in preventing disease severity and death after hospitalization, particularly during the delta and omicron variants.
- A cohort study in Japan analyzed data from vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, showing that while full vaccination significantly reduced the need for oxygen therapy and mortality during the omicron phase, booster doses offered limited additional benefits.
- The findings suggest that while full vaccination is effective in lowering disease severity, booster doses might not provide further protection, indicating that vaccination strategies should adapt based on the dominant variant.
Article Synopsis
- Non-traumatic chronic skin lesions can lead to tetanus, which was the case for an 85-year-old woman who died from the infection after refusing treatment.
- Many individuals born in Japan before 1968 are unvaccinated against tetanus, increasing their risk of severe outcomes.
- The text emphasizes the importance of vaccinating older adults with chronic skin conditions in Japan to prevent tetanus, especially those who have never received the vaccine.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to analyze changes in participant characteristics over time to improve convalescent plasma donation methods for COVID-19 patients.
- Data from April 2020 to November 2021 showed a decrease in sample eligibility, initially below 20% after a year, with a shift toward enrolling more participants beyond 120 days post-infection.
- The research concluded that monitoring eligibility rates and factors like vaccination and infection rates is crucial for effective plasma donation recruitment as pandemics evolve.
Article Synopsis
- Japan has maintained a rabies-free status for over 50 years, yet some travelers have reported rabies exposure abroad; this study aimed to analyze animal encounters among these travelers.
- The study reviewed data from the Japanese Registry for Infectious Diseases from Abroad (J-RIDA) for travelers between October 2017 and October 2019, focusing on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and types of animals involved in incidents.
- Findings revealed that a majority of travelers were exposed to animals in rabies-risk countries, with most injuries linked to dogs, cats, and monkeys; the study emphasizes the need for better pre-travel consultations and awareness about rabies risks.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates the prevalence and impact of bacteremia in older adults (ages 65+) to understand their unique susceptibility to infections and the factors influencing their mortality rates.
- A total of 1716 cases were analyzed, with different age groups (pre-old, old, and super-old) showing distinct patterns of infections and varying 7-day mortality rates (7.4%, 5.8%, and 14.2%, respectively).
- Key findings indicate that super-old age and hospital-onset bacteremia significantly increase the risk of death, while consulting infectious disease specialists can help reduce mortality rates among these patients.
Background: Post-artemisinin delayed hemolysis (PADH) is a serious complication in patients who recover from severe malaria after receiving artemisinin-based combined therapy (ACT), including artemether-lumefantrine. In Japan, among the antimalarial drugs recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline for severe malaria, intravenous quinine gluconate is available only in 29 designated hospitals, and intravenous artesunate is unavailable. Therefore, oral artemether-lumefantrine is occasionally administered as an alternative, even though it may be a suboptimal treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe conducted a cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire in three major Japanese cities from August 03 to 24, 2020 to clarify the current situation of health checkups, including vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), among international students at Japanese universities (JUs) and Japanese language schools (JLSs). The total response rate was 36%: 69 JUs (31%) and 137 JLSs (39%). Over 90% of these institutions conducted chest X-ray screening for tuberculosis among their students, whereas only 24.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- In Japan, infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are linked to a national financial incentive system that classifies facilities into three tiers, but its effectiveness at the facility level is unclear.
- A nationwide study utilized the World Health Organization's IPC Assessment Framework (IPCAF) to evaluate IPC programs across 59 facilities, looking into their IPC scores and how they relate to their financial tier status.
- Results showed that most facilities received "Advanced" or "Intermediate" ratings on their IPC practices, with significant differences observed between facilities receiving Tier 1 and Tier 2 incentives, indicating a potential impact of financial support on IPC quality.
Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzed COVID-19 patients in Japan, comparing the characteristics of 28,093 Japanese patients with 1,335 non-Japanese patients, including East Asians, South Asians, and Latin Americans, based on data collected before March 31, 2021.
- - Non-Japanese patients were generally younger and more frequently exposed to COVID-19 risks through travel, social dining, and working in crowded environments, but there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the groups.
- - Minorities showed less severe disease risk but faced higher exposure rates, suggesting equal access to care in Japan's healthcare system; however, more investigation is needed into their social health determinants.
Article Synopsis
- The study explored the effectiveness of anterior nasal (AN) sampling compared to nasopharyngeal (NP) sampling for diagnosing coronavirus disease using rapid antigen tests.
- Three rapid antigen tests (ESP, LUMI, and LUMI-P) were analyzed for their sensitivity and specificity using samples from 128 symptomatic patients.
- Results indicated that AN sampling had comparable diagnostic accuracy to NP sampling, with no significant factors affecting the agreement between the two methods.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on COVID-19 infection rates in individuals evacuated from Wuhan, China to Japan, finding 12 out of 14 returnees tested positive for the virus.
- Interestingly, most returnees adhered to IPC measures like wearing masks and practicing hand hygiene, but asymptomatic cases were present among them.
- The research suggests that stricter IPC protocols and enforced social distancing during the evacuation might have helped lower infection rates in later flights compared to earlier ones.
Article Synopsis
- The article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231966 has been identified as needing correction.
- The corrections aim to address specific errors or issues found in the original article.
- This notice serves to inform readers about the updated and accurate information.
is a gram-negative coccobacillus that is a part of the normal flora in the human upper airway and sometimes causes infective endocarditis. We present a case of a 68-year-old Japanese man who had vascular graft infection caused by 4 years after surgery for chronic aortic dissection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of convalescent plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients as a treatment option for those with mild illness, in light of limited approved therapies in Japan as of December 2020.
- An open-label, randomized controlled trial is designed, comparing a group receiving convalescent plasma to a standard-of-care group, measuring changes in SARS-CoV-2 viral load over several days as the primary outcome.
- While previous trials in other countries have had mixed results, this research aims to clarify the potential benefits of convalescent plasma therapy for preventing the progression of mild COVID-19 to more severe forms.
The Japanese government implemented a large-scale vaccination policy against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, primarily using messenger RNA vaccines in 2021. Its hallmark was prioritized vaccination for the elderly after healthcare workers in a short period of time. Vaccination for the elderly, vulnerable to infection and severe disease, was carried out rapidly in approximately 4 months since April 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- A case of leptospirosis occurred in Tokyo during winter, surprisingly linked to a rat bite rather than the typical exposure to fresh water.
- Historically, leptospirosis infections in Japan are more common during summer and from specific geographic areas, with a few winter cases reported in Tokyo.
- The study highlights the need for quicker diagnostic methods to better understand the disease's spread and ensure timely treatment in urban settings.
Article Synopsis
- A 67-year-old woman experienced a severe invasive infection caused by Streptococcus anginosus, leading to complications such as pulmonary septic emboli and an intracranial subdural abscess.
- Despite high doses of antibiotics and urgent surgical intervention, she was left with lasting effects, including aphasia and hemiplegia.
- Her underlying health issues, like diabetes and monoclonal gammopathy, may have influenced the severity and treatment challenges of the infection, highlighting the need for clinicians to better understand invasive S. anginosus infections.
Article Synopsis
- Old age significantly increases the risk of severe COVID-19, and this study aimed to explore the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized elderly patients across different age groups.
- A retrospective analysis of 4,701 patients revealed that most had comorbidities, with hypertension being common, while the prevalence of dementia and other serious conditions increased with age.
- The study found that while the death rate rose with age, factors like male sex and specific health conditions distinguished the risk levels for severe COVID-19 differently among the younger elderly (65-74) and older age groups (75-89 and 90+).