Comparative evaluation of nasopharyngeal swab and saliva specimens for the molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Japanese patients with COVID-19.

Considering the issues of shortage of medical resources and the invasiveness and infection risk involved in the collection of nasopharyngeal swab specimens, there is a need for an effective alternative test specimen for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection. Here, we investigated suitability of saliva as a non-invasively obtained specimen for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Japanese patients with COVID-19. In total, 28 paired clinical specimens of saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 12 patients at various time points after symptom onset.

Tear Film Osmolarity Measurement in Japanese Dry Eye Patients Using a Handheld Osmolarity System.

We studied the efficacy and safety of a handheld osmolarity measurement system (I-PEN) in Japanese patients with dry eye disease (DED) and non-DED subjects. In this prospective, multicenter study, tear osmolarity was examined using the I-PEN in a total of 122 eyes divided into DED ( = 71) and non-DED ( = 51) groups. Subjective symptoms were assessed using the Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-Life Score (DEQS) questionnaire.

Extended drip infusion of peripheral parental nutrition containing amino acids might be associated with Bacillus cereus bloodstream infection.

In some Japanese hospitals, patients using infusion bags for parenteral nutrition containing amino acids have developed Bacillus cereus bloodstream infections. We considered that proliferation of contaminated B cereus in the bag during prolonged drip infusion might be one of the causes of infection. This study indicated that 8 h is the maximum appropriate drip infusion time for peripheral parental nutrition containing amino acids to prevent B cereus bloodstream infections.

The Prophylactic Effect of Anti-influenza Agents for an Influenza Outbreak in a University Hospital.

Objective From November 24 to December 9, 2013, an outbreak of the influenza (flu) A (H3) virus occurred in a tertiary-care university hospital (1,014 beds). We herein report the prophylactic effect of anti-flu agents for controlling the flu outbreak. Methods We administered pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis with anti-flu agents in flu outbreak.

A Prospective, Randomized Trial of Two Mucin Secretogogues for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome in Office Workers.

The purpose of the study was to compare the two mucin secretogogues, diquafosol (DQS) and rebamipide (RBM), for the treatment of dry eye syndrome (DES) in office workers. Dry eye patients using computers for >4 h/day were randomly assigned treatment with either DQS or RBM. Main outcomes measures included changes in tear film break-up time (TBUT) and subjective symptoms assessed by the Dry Eye-Related Quality of Life Score (DEQS).

Impact of mucosal barrier injury laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (MBI-LCBI) on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in department of hematology at single university hospital in Japan.

Background: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are among the most serious complications especially in blood cancer patients. In January 2013, Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) introduced a new surveillance definition of mucosal barrier injury-associated laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (MBI-LCBI). This study was to determine the impact of MBI-LCBI on CLABSIs and compare the clinical characteristics of MBI versus non-MBI-LCBI cases.

Adverse events of prophylactic anti-influenza agents in medical staffs.

Background: We undertook a survey to evaluate the compliance and the tolerability of oseltamivir and zanamivir when they were used as post-exposure prophylaxis among the medical staffs in the 2014-2015 seasons to understand a characteristic of adverse events caused by anti-influenza (flu) agents.

Materials And Methods: During the study period, 540 medical staffs received oseltamivir (75 mg twice a day for 5 days) or zanamivir (twice a day for 5 days) as post-exposure prophylaxis of influenza, respectively.

Results: Four hundred eleven medical staffs of 540 medical staffs (76.

Synthesis of Pendant Radical- and Ion-Containing Block Copolymers via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization for Organic Resistive Memory.

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) using Grubbs third-generation catalyst directly yielded a norbornene-based polymer bearing robust redox-active radicals without any protection. Successive addition of imidazolium-containing norbornene in a one-pot reaction during ROMP produced pendant radical- and ion-containing block copolymers. The diode-structured thin-film devices fabricated with the obtained block polymers that had morphologies of spheres, lamellae, and inverse spheres exhibited conductive switching (write-once read-many-times, WORM) under a bias voltage, which revealed the dominant effect of the location of radicals and ions in the microphase-segregated domains on memory characteristics.

[A quality of life questionnaire for Japanese allergic conjunctival disease].

Purpose: To establish a specific quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for Japanese allergic conjunctival disease (ACD) (Japanese allergic conjunctival disease QOL questionnaire: JACQLQ).

Subjects And Methods: A multicenter study was conducted in 521 patients with ACD and 127 healthy volunteers (total 648 cases). The JACQLQ ver.