Comparison of viral load in the nasopharyngeal swabs of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in different epidemic seasons in Gunma prefecture, Japan.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has repeatedly undergone mutations since its emergence, based on which it has been assumed that there was a change in its characteristic, including virulence or antigenicity. In this study, we investigated the viral load in the nasopharyngeal samples of patients with SARS-CoV-2 in Gunma prefecture, Japan, from April 2, 2020, to April 1, 2023. The amount of virus in samples in the Omicron-variant-prevalent period was higher than that of strains detected in samples before week 50 of 2020, the B.

Cytokine profiling in 128 patients with transient abnormal myelopoiesis: a report from the JPLSG TAM-10 trial.

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) occurs in 10% of neonates with Down syndrome (DS). Although most patients show spontaneous resolution of TAM, early death occurs in ∼20% of cases. Therefore, new biomarkers are needed to predict early death and determine therapeutic interventions.

A Nosocomial Outbreak Caused by Human Rhinovirus Species A Type 61 in a Welfare Facility in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections are generally referred to as the common cold, and are the main cause of mild symptoms. HRV is less frequently implicated in the development of severe respiratory infections. This study reports a nosocomial outbreak of bronchitis and pneumonia caused by HRV in a hospital during the COVID-19 epidemic in September 2022 in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Erythema nodosum-like eruption in coronavirus disease 2019: A case report and literature review of Asian countries.

In the worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, skin manifestations were seen in COVID-19 patients. We report a case in which a COVID-19 patient developed cutaneous lesions that were diagnosed as erythema nodosum-like lesions, which were associated with COVID-19. Nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Relationships between Viral Load and the Clinical Course of COVID-19.

To predict the clinical outcome of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), we examined relationships among epidemiological data, viral load, and disease severity. We examined viral loads of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in fatal (15 cases), symptomatic/survived (133 cases), and asymptomatic cases (138 cases) using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). We examined 5768 nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and attempted to detect the SARS-CoV-2 genome using RT-qPCR.

Improvement of Severe COVID-19 in an Elderly Man by Sequential Use of Antiviral Drugs.

Although a variety of existing drugs are being tested for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), no efficacious treatment has been found so far, particularly for severe cases. We report successful recovery in an elderly patient with severe pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Despite administration of multiple antiviral drugs, including lopinavir/ritonavir, chloroquine, and favipiravir, the patient's condition did not improve.

Meningitis and bacteremia by nonhemolytic Group B Streptococcus strain: A whole genome analysis.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal infections. Most isolates are β-hemolytic, and their activity is considered to be pivotal for GBS pathogenicity. We report a case of a neonate with meningitis caused by nonhemolytic GBS.

Molecular evolution of the capsid () region in human norovirus genogroup II genotype 3.

Norovirus GII.3 has been suggested to be a prevalent genotype in patients with acute gastroenteritis. However, the genetic properties of the region encoding the major GII.

Flagellum expression and swimming activity by the zoonotic pathogen Escherichia albertii.

Flagella are the well-known structural appendages used by bacteria for motility. Although generally reported to be non-motile, the enteropathogenic bacterial species Escherichia albertii produces flagella intermittently. We found that E.

Rhinovirus-associated acute encephalitis/encephalopathy and cerebellitis.

Background: Rhinovirus is a common respiratory pathogen for children throughout the year; nevertheless, its central nervous system involvement is extremely rare, and only two cases have been reported to date: meningitis and sepsis-like illness.

Patient: A previously healthy 2-year-old Japanese boy developed fever, followed by seizures and lethargy. His cerebrospinal fluid cell count and protein level were slightly increased; brain magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal intensities in the bilateral cerebellar dentate nuclei, which were prominent in diffusion-weighted images.

The Association Between Documentation of Koplik Spots and Laboratory Diagnosis of Measles and Other Rash Diseases in a National Measles Surveillance Program in Japan.

Koplik spots are considered a disease-specific sign for measles, although comprehensive virological studies have not been conducted to date. In Japan, a national survey of 3023 measles and measles-suspected cases was conducted between 2009 and 2014 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) to detect various rash/fever-associated viruses. Koplik spots were observed in 717 of 3023 cases (23.

Next-generation DNA sequencing analysis of two Streptococcus suis ST28 isolates associated with human infective endocarditis and meningitis in Gunma, Japan: a case report.

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is an important emerging zoonotic agent. Here, we report two cases of S.

A case of mumps-related acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion.

Background: Mumps is a common childhood viral disease characterized by fever and swelling of the parotid gland. The prognosis is generally good, although some complications, such as encephalitis (0.1%), exist.

Molecular evolution of the fusion protein (F) gene in human respiratory syncytial virus subgroup B.

In this study, we examined the molecular evolution of the fusion protein (F) gene in human respiratory syncytial virus subgroup B (HRSV-B). First, we performed time-scale evolution analyses using the Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. Next, we performed genetic distance, linear B-cell epitope prediction, N-glycosylation, positive/negative selection site, and Bayesian skyline plot analyses.

Genetic analyses of the fusion protein genes in human parainfluenza virus types 1 and 3 among patients with acute respiratory infections in Eastern Japan from 2011 to 2015.

Purpose: To genetically explore the fusion protein gene (F) in human parainfluenza virus type 1 (HPIV1) and type 3 (HPIV3) strains, we analysed them in patients with acute respiratory infections in Eastern Japan from 2011 to 2015.

Methodology: We constructed phylogenetic trees based on the HPIV and HPIV3 F gene using the maximum likelihood method and conducted P-distance and selective pressure analyses. We also predicted the linear epitopes of the protein in the prototype strains.

Molecular evolution of respiratory syncytial virus subgroup A genotype NA1 and ON1 attachment glycoprotein (G) gene in central Vietnam.

We performed molecular evolutionary analyses of the G gene C-terminal 3rd hypervariable region of RSV-A genotypes NA1 and ON1 strains from the paediatric acute respiratory infection patients in central Vietnam during the 2010-2012 study period. Time-scaled phylogenetic analyses were performed using Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, and pairwise distances (p-distances) were calculated. Bayesian Skyline Plot (BSP) was constructed to analyze the time-trend relative genetic diversity of central Vietnam RSV-A strains.