Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Congenital Syphilis in Japan, 2023: Executive Summary.

Congenital syphilis (CS) is a mother-to-child infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, transmitted through the placenta. In Japan, the number of syphilis cases has recently increased, accompanied by an increase in CS cases. Thus, automated methods for serum antibodies with serial values, without a 2× dilution sequence, have been widely used.

Risks and Prevention of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection among Infants and Children with Pulmonary Hypoplasia, Airway Stenosis, Congenital Esophageal Atresia, Inborn Errors of Metabolism, or Neuromuscular Diseases in Japan.

Background: In March 2024, children with pulmonary hypoplasia, airway stenosis, congenital esophageal atresia, inborn errors of metabolism, and neuromuscular diseases became eligible for palivizumab in Japan. Despite limited epidemiological data, expert consensus guided the recommendation for palivizumab use in these children to ensure its proper application.

Objectives: This article outlines the proper use of palivizumab for RSV infection in infants and children with the specified conditions, aiming to enhance understanding of the medical basis for its clinical guidance.

Live-attenuated vaccine failure after liver transplantation: A 20-year cohort study.

Background: A recent conditional recommendation suggests considering live-attenuated vaccines for solid organ transplant recipients, yet the conditions of their safe and effective administration remain unclear.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted at Keio University Hospital from 2002 to August 2023. We gave a live-attenuated vaccine to liver transplant (LT) recipients fulfilling criteria for live-attenuated vaccines, including criteria for humoral and cell-mediated immunity.

Commensal consortia decolonize Enterobacteriaceae via ecological control.

Persistent colonization and outgrowth of potentially pathogenic organisms in the intestine can result from long-term antibiotic use or inflammatory conditions, and may perpetuate dysregulated immunity and tissue damage. Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae gut pathobionts are particularly recalcitrant to conventional antibiotic treatment, although an emerging body of evidence suggests that manipulation of the commensal microbiota may be a practical alternative therapeutic strategy. Here we isolated and down-selected commensal bacterial consortia from stool samples from healthy humans that could strongly and specifically suppress intestinal Enterobacteriaceae.

Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in children during the 2023/24 season: The first season after relaxation of intensive COVID-19 measures.

Background: The annual administration of the influenza vaccine is the most effective method for preventing influenza. We have evaluated the effectiveness of the inactivated influenza vaccine in children aged 6 months to 15 years across the seasons from 2013/2014 to 2022/2023. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the inactivated influenza vaccine in the 2023/2024 season, the first year following the easing of strict COVID-19 measures, and possibly the last season when only the inactivated vaccine is available on the market.