Key diagnostic characteristics of fever of unknown origin in Japanese patients: a prospective multicentre study.

Objective: To identify the key diagnostic features and causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in Japanese patients.

Design: Multicentre prospective study.

Setting: Sixteen hospitals affiliated with the Japanese Society of Hospital General Medicine, covering the East and West regions of Japan.

A New Influenza-Tracking Smartphone App (Flu-Report) Based on a Self-Administered Questionnaire: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Influenza infections can spread rapidly, and influenza outbreaks are a major public health concern worldwide. Early detection of signs of an influenza pandemic is important to prevent global outbreaks. Development of information and communications technologies for influenza surveillance, including participatory surveillance systems involving lay users, has recently increased.

Performance Evaluation of a Novel Fully Automated Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction Kit for the Detection of Norovirus.

Objective: Rapid and accurate detection of norovirus is essential for the prevention and control of the out- breaks. The aim of this study is to compare the fully automated real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method (EV-kit) with the conventional immunochromatography method (IC) for diagnosis of norovirus, using one-tube reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis as the gold standard.

Methods: Between November 2013 and March 2014, clinical data and fecal specimens (53 bulk stools, 41 rectal swabs) were collected from 94 patients who visited the Department of General Medicine, Juntendo University Hospital for acute diarrhea.

Relationships between Causes of Fever of Unknown Origin and Inflammatory Markers: A Multicenter Collaborative Retrospective Study.

Objective: Although inflammatory markers, such as the white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin, are widely used to differentiate causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO), little is known about the usefulness of this approach. We evaluated relationships between the causes of classical FUO and the levels of inflammatory markers.

Methods: A nationwide retrospective study including 17 hospitals affiliated with the Japanese Society of Hospital General Medicine was conducted.

Relationship between public subsidies and vaccination rates with the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine in elderly persons, including the influence of the free vaccination campaign after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Low vaccination rates with pneumococcal vaccine in elderly persons in Japan are thought to be related to low levels of public subsidy. To identify strategies to increase future pneumococcal vaccination rates, we examined the relationship between public subsidies and vaccination rates. We also investigated the influence of free vaccinations after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake on vaccination rates in the three Tohoku prefectures of Japan.

Factors influencing the diagnostic accuracy of the rapid influenza antigen detection test (RIADT): a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the rapid influenza antigen detection test (RIADT) and determine which symptoms are relevant to results.

Design: Single-centre, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Primary care centre, Tokyo, Japan.

Near point-of-care administration by the attending physician of the rapid influenza antigen detection immunochromatography test and the fully automated respiratory virus nucleic acid test: contribution to patient management.

Rapid influenza antigen detection tests (RIADTs) using immunochromatography are the most readily available tools for the diagnosis and management of influenza. This study was designed to assess whether near point-of-care administration by primary care physicians of the RIADT and a fully automated respiratory virus nucleic acid test (Verigene Respiratory Virus Plus®; RV+) would contribute to improved patient management. When viral culture and RT-PCR/bi-directional sequencing were used as the gold standard, sensitivities and specificities for RIADT and RV+ were 58.