Clinical characteristics and mortality risk among critically ill patients with COVID-19 owing to the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant in Vietnam: A retrospective observational study.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant caused a large number of COVID-19 cases in many countries, including Vietnam. Understanding mortality risk factors is crucial for the clinical management of severe COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at an intensive care center in Ho Chi Minh City that urgently built by Bach Mai Hospital during the COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam, when the Delta variant predominated.

Effect of asthma, COPD, and ACO on COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The prevalence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) in patients with COVID-19 varies, as well as their risks of mortality. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of asthma, COPD, and ACO as comorbidities, and to determine their risks of mortality in patients with COVID-19 using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We systematically reviewed clinical studies that reported the comorbidities of asthma, COPD, and ACO in patients with COVID-19.

Spatiotemporal distribution of COVID-19 during the first 7 months of the epidemic in Vietnam.

Background: Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of emerging infectious diseases is crucial for implementation of control measures. In the first 7 months from the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has documented comparatively few cases of COVID-19. Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of these cases may contribute to development of global countermeasures.

Trends in clinical features of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19): A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published from December 2019 to February 2020.

Background: Since novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged, various clinical features of COVID-19 have been reported.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of published studies reporting the clinical features of COVID-19. Two investigators independently searched PubMed (December 2019-February 2020) for eligible articles.

Difficulties in tuberculosis infection control in a general hospital of Vietnam: a knowledge, attitude, and practice survey and screening for latent tuberculosis infection among health professionals.

Background: In Vietnam, a country with a high tuberculosis (TB) burden, health professionals in both TB-specialized and non-TB-specialized general hospitals have a high risk of acquiring TB. The aims of the present study were to clarify the difficulties in TB infection control at non-TB specialized hospitals and whether any associated risks of latent TB infection exist among health professionals in Vietnam.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a national tertiary and general hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam.

Clinical epidemiology and mortality on patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in Vietnam.

Background: The clinical epidemiology and disease prognosis in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have not yet been fully elucidated in Vietnam.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study at a national tertiary hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam. Participants were adult patients (age ≥18 years) who were admitted and diagnosed with ARDS during 2015-2017.

Tuberculosis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a rare but known cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with a high mortality. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) may be an alternative option for treating TB-induced ARDS. However, the literature on TB-induced ARDS treated with VV-ECMO is limited and the most of them were prolonged therapy.

Seasonality of newly notified pulmonary tuberculosis in Japan, 2007-2015.

Background: The seasonality of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) incidence may indicate season-specific risk factors that could be controlled if they were better understood. The aims of this study were to elucidate how the incidence of TB changes seasonally and to determine the factors influencing TB incidence, to reduce the TB burden in Japan.

Methods: We assessed the seasonality of newly notified TB cases in Japan using national surveillance data collected between 2007 and 2015.

Pneumonia-associated death in patients with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pneumonia is a serious disease associated with mortality among patients with dementia. However, the reported frequency of pneumonia as a cause of death in patients with dementia varies, the reason for which has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search in PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (inception to December 2016).

Effectiveness of clarithromycin in patients with yellow nail syndrome.

Background: Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare disease characterized by the triad of thickened, slow-growing yellow nails, lymphedema, and chronic respiratory manifestations. The cause of YNS is not known; however, it is suggested to be due to a congenital lymph abnormality. Since YNS is accompanied by chronic bronchial infection in more than half of patients, we hypothesized that treatment with clarithromycin (CAM) could be effective.

Sensitivity and specificity of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus compared with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube and T-SPOT.TB on active tuberculosis in Japan.

Background: The QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) was introduced in 2015 as a new generation of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) designed to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (TB). Examination of its diagnostic accuracy is crucial before it is launched in Japan.

Method: We examined 99 patients with laboratory-confirmed active TB (patients) and 117 healthy volunteers with no risk of TB infection (controls) at a medical center in Tokyo, Japan.

Factors Associated with Pneumonia-caused Death in Older Adults with Autopsy-confirmed Dementia.

Objective A better understanding of risk factors for pneumonia-caused death may help to improve the clinical management of dementia. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted by reviewing the medical charts and autopsy reports of 204 patients who were admitted to hospital, underwent a post-mortem examination, and who were neuropathologically diagnosed with dementia. The risk factors for pneumonia-caused death were examined both as underlying and immediate causes of death using logistic regression models.

Markers of Disease Severity in Patients with Spanish Influenza in the Japanese Armed Forces, 1919-1920.

We examined preserved medical charts of 470 Spanish influenza patients (8 with fatal cases) hospitalized at former army hospitals in Japan during 1919-1920. The following factors were associated with longer periods of hospitalization: adventitious discontinuous lung sounds, maximum respiration rate, continuation of high fever after hospital admission, and diphasic fever.

Prognostic Factors Related to Dementia with Lewy Bodies Complicated with Pneumonia: An Autopsy Study.

Objective In patients demonstrating dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), pneumonia is a common complication. However, the prognostic factors for the survival time in DLB with pneumonia have not been investigated by autopsy in patients with neuropathologically confirmed DLB. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of the medical and autopsy reports of 42 patients admitted to a Japanese hospital between 2005 and 2014.

Chronological, geographical, and seasonal trends of human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) in Vietnam, 2003-2014: a spatial analysis.

Background: Human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection continue to occur in Southeast Asia. The objective of this study was to identify when and where human H5N1 cases have occurred in Vietnam and how the situation has changed from the beginning of the H5N1 outbreaks in 2003 through 2014, to assist with implementing methods of targeted disease management.

Methods: We assessed the disease clustering and seasonal variation of human H5N1 cases in Vietnam to evaluate the geographical and monthly timing trends.

Influence of pneumonia complications on the prognosis of patients with autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and vascular dementia.

Background: Pneumonia is a major, complicated disease in patients with dementia. However, the influence of pneumonia on the prognosis of patients with varying types of dementia has not been fully evaluated.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data from medical and autopsy reports.

Polymyxin-B-immobilized-fiber column hemoperfusion with oseltamivir treatment for ARDS due to influenza H1N1/09.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the severe complications of influenza H1N1/09 infection, resulting in high mortality. Effective treatment strategies for ARDS are needed. This report presents two cases of ARDS due to influenza in Vietnam.

Effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitors in reducing mortality in patients admitted to hospital with influenza A H1N1pdm09 virus infection: a meta-analysis of individual participant data.

Background: Neuraminidase inhibitors were widely used during the 2009-10 influenza A H1N1 pandemic, but evidence for their effectiveness in reducing mortality is uncertain. We did a meta-analysis of individual participant data to investigate the association between use of neuraminidase inhibitors and mortality in patients admitted to hospital with pandemic influenza A H1N1pdm09 virus infection.

Methods: We assembled data for patients (all ages) admitted to hospital worldwide with laboratory confirmed or clinically diagnosed pandemic influenza A H1N1pdm09 virus infection.

Effect of lifestyle on asthma control in Japanese patients: importance of periodical exercise and raw vegetable diet.

Background: The avoidance of inhaled allergens or tobacco smoke has been known to have favorable effects on asthma control. However, it remains unclear whether other lifestyle-related factors are also related to asthma control. Therefore, a comprehensive study to examine the associations between various lifestyle factors and asthma control was conducted in Japanese asthmatic patients.

[A case of an asthma patient receiving omalizumab during pregnancy].

We describe the first report in Japan of a woman who received omalizumab during pregnancy and delivery. Her asthma was so severe that she had been taking systemic corticosteroids since 22 years old, but asthma was poorly controlled. She had been pregnant seven times before, but almost every time asthma control had worsened and spontaneous abortion resulted, so she had only one child.

Clinical preparedness for severe pneumonia with highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1): experiences with cases in Vietnam.

Background: Avian influenza A (H5N1) in human presents a global pandemic threat, and preparedness is urgently required in high-risk countries.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 8 patients with H5N1 infection (aged 2-30 years; 3 fatal) who were hospitalized in Bach Mai Hospital (BMH), Vietnam, or in affiliated hospitals with consultation by physicians in BMH between 2007 and 2010. Demographic background, chest radiographs, and clinical and laboratory data were evaluated to determine the critical issues in relation to clinical outcomes.

Emergence of HA mutants during influenza virus pneumonia.

During the influenza pandemic of 2009, the number of viral pneumonia cases showed a marked increase in comparison with seasonal influenza viruses. Mutations at amino acid 222 (D222G mutations) in the virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule, known to alter the receptor-recognition properties of the virus, were detected in a number of the more severely-affected patients in the early phases of the pandemic. To understand the background for the emergence of the mutant amino acid D222G in human lungs, we conducted histological examinations on lung specimens of patients from Mexico who had succumbed in the pandemic.