Complete genome sequence of cfr(B)-carrying Enterococcus raffinosus isolated from bile in a patient in Japan.

Objectives: Linezolid is an antibiotic used to treat infectious diseases caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Recently, Enterococcus Spp.-carrying mobile linezolid resistance genes were reported.

Complete genome sequence of optrA-carrying Enterococcus faecalis isolated from open pus in a Japanese patient.

Objectives: The occurrence of linezolid resistance in enterococci has recently increased. Here, we report the genomic characterization of Enterococcus faecalis strain JARB-HU0796-isolated from the open pus of a patient in Hiroshima, Japan-which shows nonsusceptibility to linezolid (MIC of 4 µg/mL).

Methods: JARB-HU0796 whole-genome sequencing was performed using short-read sequencing with Illumina Hiseq X Five and long-read sequencing using GridION.

Prevalence of , , and detection in urine and respiratory tract samples in Hiroshima, Japan.

Background: , , and are commensal bacteria that are associated with colonization and infection of the urogenital tract. However, colonization of the respiratory tract by these microorganisms in adults has not been fully investigated.

Methods: Urine and respiratory tract samples (sputum, tracheal aspirates, and bronchoalveolar lavage) of patients aged 20-80 years were analyzed to detect the presence of , , and using a conventional PCR method.

Different CprABC amino acid sequences affect nisin A susceptibility in Clostridioides difficile isolates.

Clinical isolates of Clostridioides difficile sometimes exhibit multidrug resistance and cause diarrhea after antibiotic administration. Metronidazole and vancomycin are often used as therapeutic agents, but resistance to these antibiotics has been found clinically. Therefore, the development of alternative antimicrobial agents is needed.

The tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte ultrasonography score can provide a diagnostic prediction of lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer preoperatively.

Purpose: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are known to predict the therapeutic effect in breast cancer. Although a preoperative tissue biopsy can be used to evaluate TILs, TILs that are heterogeneously distributed might require examination of all preoperative tissue biopsy samples. We have recently reported that the TIL ultrasonography (US) score, as determined by characteristic US findings, provides excellent predictive performance for lymphocyte predominant breast cancer (LPBC).

A longitudinal study of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in a random sample of the general population in Hiroshima in 2020.

Background: This longitudinal study aimed to determine chronological changes in the seroprevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, including asymptomatic infections in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.

Methods: A stratified random sample of 7,500 residents from five cities of Hiroshima Prefecture was selected to participate in a three-round survey from late 2020 to early 2021, before the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine. The seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was calculated if at least two of four commercially available immunoassays were positive.

Ultrasonography Combined With Contrast-enhanced Ultrasonography Can Predict Lymphocyte-predominant Breast Cancer.

Background: We investigated whether contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) scores can predict lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC).

Patients And Methods: We evaluated 75 patients who underwent US and CEUS. LPBC was defined as tissues with ≥50% stromal tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) preoperatively.

Concomitant emphysema might increase the false-negative rate of urinary antigen tests in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia: results from a retrospective study.

The urinary antigen test (UAT) is a rapid diagnostic method for pneumococcal pneumonia, but the high false-negative rate of 30% may affect its reliability. To maximize the utility of UAT, it is necessary to investigate the patient factors affecting UAT results. However, there is no report elucidating the association between its utility and pre-existing lung abnormalities.

Liver fibrosis assessments using FibroScan, virtual-touch tissue quantification, the FIB-4 index, and mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer levels compared with pathological findings of liver resection specimens in patients with hepatitis C infection.

Background: Evaluation of fibrosis stage is important to monitor progression of liver disease and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While liver biopsy is the gold standard, the method is invasive and faces several limitations. The aim of this study was to determine correlations among METAVIR scores and FibroScan, Virtual-Touch tissue quantification (VTQ), fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4 index), and Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) level, and for examine differences in the reliability of non-invasive methods to evaluate fibrosis.

Novel tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes ultrasonography score based on ultrasonic tissue findings predicts tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer.

Background: The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is a prognostic factor for breast cancer. However, because of tumor tissue heterogeneity, an accurate and simple evaluation method is needed. We determined if preoperative characteristic ultrasonography (US) image findings are predictive of lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC).

Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac-2-binding protein level increases in patients with acute liver injury.

Background: Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive human Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) is a novel serum glycomarker for liver fibrosis. However, it is not known whether or not M2BPGi reflects only liver fibrosis. We measured serum M2BPGi levels in patients with acute liver injury.

Clinical features and predictive value of serum inflammatory markers of perivascular involvement in immunoglobulin G4-related disease.

Vascular and/or perivascular involvements of sclerotic inflammation (perivasculitis) are a complication of immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD). We sought to examine clinical manifestations of perivasculitis by computed tomography (CT) in patients with elevated serum IgG4 levels, and then to evaluate some potential predictors of perivasculitis in definite IgG4-RD patients. From a database of patients with serum IgG4 measurements, we selected 81 patients with elevated serum IgG4 levels (≥135 mg/dl).

Complete nucleotide sequence of the IncN plasmid encoding IMP-6 and CTX-M-2 from emerging carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Japan.

We have determined the DNA sequence of Klebsiella pneumoniae multidrug resistance plasmid pKPI-6, which is a self-transmissible IncN-type plasmid. pKPI-6 harboring blaIMP-6 and blaCTX-M-2 confers a stealth-type carbapenem resistance phenotype on members of the family Enterobacteriaceae that is not detectable with imipenem. pKPI-6 is already epidemic in Japan, favoring the dissemination of IMP-6 and CTX-M-2 in members of the family Enterobacteriaceae.

[In vitro combined effects of double antibacterial drugs against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates: comparison among combinations of colistin, arbekacin, aztreonam, rifampicin and piperacillin].

This in vitro study examined the combined effects of double antibacterial drugs against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP). The tested clinical isolates from Hiroshima University Hospital were 40 strains which met the criteria for MDRP, that is, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was > or = 16 microg/mL of meropenem, > or = 4 microg/mL of ciprofloxacin and > or = 32 microg/mL of amikacin. Using the original checkerboard plates for colistin (CL), arbekacin (ABK), aztreonam (AZT), rifampicin (RFP) and piperacillin (PIPC), MIC values were determined for single and double combinations.

[Nationwide surveillance of parenteral antibiotics containing meropenem activities against clinically isolated strains in 2012].

The nationwide surveillance of antibacterial susceptibility to meropenem (MEPM) and other parenteral antibiotics against clinical isolates during 2012 in Japan was conducted. A total of 2985 strains including 955 strains of Gram-positive bacteria, 1782 strains of Gram-negative bacteria, and 248 strains of anaerobic bacteria obtained from 31 medical institutions were examined. The results were as follows; 1.

Detection of Mucor velutinosus in a blood culture after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation : a pediatric case report.

Filamentous fungi were detected in the blood culture of a one-year-old boy after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The patient was suspected to have aspergillosis and received micafungin. Fungi were isolated on potato dextrose agar medium and incubated at 37℃ for 2-5 days.

Meropenem resistance in imipenem-susceptible meropenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates not detected by rapid automated testing systems.

Klebsiella pneumoniae showing high resistance to all β-lactams except imipenem, designated as ISMRK (imipenem-susceptible meropenem-resistant Klebsiella) is emerging in Japan. The carbapenem resistance of ISMRK cannot be screened by the Vitek and the RAISUS rapid automated susceptibility test systems, which may lead to inappropriate antimicrobial therapy, resulting in compromised patient outcomes.