Primaquine plus clindamycin as a promising salvage therapy for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia: A retrospective analysis in Japanese patients.

Treatment of intractable Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) patients with primaquine (PQ) in combination with clindamycin (CLDM) was conducted by the Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases (RG-CTD), as a kind of compassionate use. Primaquine was not nationally licensed at the time but imported by RG-CTD for the use in a clinical research to investigate safety and efficacy in malaria treatment. Eighteen Japanese adult patients thus treated were analyzed.

Retrospective observational study of the use of artemether-lumefantrine in the treatment of malaria in Japan.

Background: The Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases, Japan, introduced artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in late 2002, mainly for treating uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Because AL was on the market in Japan in March 2017, the effectiveness and safety of AL were analyzed to help medical personnel use AL optimally.

Methods: Case report forms submitted by the attending physicians were analyzed.

Severe delayed haemolytic anaemia associated with artemether-lumefantrine treatment of malaria in a Japanese traveller.

Delayed haemolytic anaemia has been reported in association with intravenous artesunate treatment in patients with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, and furthermore, oral artemisinin-based combination therapies including artemether-lumefantrine (AL) have also been incriminated. However, definite cases of delayed haemolytic anaemia associated with AL appear to be scarce, as reported cases were often treated concomitantly with other anti-malarials. In this study, we report a severe case of delayed haemolytic anaemia following AL alone in a Japanese traveller with severe parasitaemia caused by numerous P.

Imported malaria in pregnant women experienced in Japan.

Introduction: With ever-growing global exchanges, the number of travelers, including pregnant women, to the tropics is increasing, which poses a risk of contracting malaria. Although there are several reports on imported malaria in pregnancy from Western countries, those focusing on cases experienced in Japan are very limited.

Methods: We searched for cases of malaria in pregnancy in the treatment records submitted to the Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases, Japan, during the period 1993-2016.

Imported malaria in pregnant women: A retrospective pooled analysis.

Background: Data on imported malaria in pregnant women are scarce.

Method: A retrospective, descriptive study of pooled data on imported malaria in pregnancy was done using data from 1991 to 2014 from 8 different collaborators in Europe, the United States and Japan. National malaria reference centres as well as specialists on this topic were asked to search their archives for cases of imported malaria in pregnancy.

Optimal primaquine use for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale malaria in Japanese travelers--A retrospective analysis.

Background: Recently, a dose of 30 mg (base) primaquine daily for 14 days is increasingly recommended for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria. However, total primaquine doses, or those per body weight, are also recognized as important. In Japan, primaquine is not a licensed medicine, but has been used through the Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases for >3 decades.

Prioritising immunisations for travel: international and Japanese perspectives.

Immunisation has traditionally played an important role in travel medicine practice and unlike routine immunisations, vaccines for travel are sought by and often paid for by the traveller. A convenient way of looking at vaccines for travel is by grouping them into those that are: Required, Routine, or Recommended, although this classification is not always consistent. Prioritising the use of vaccines classed as "Recommended" has proved the most controversial.

Efficacy and safety of paromomycin for treating amebiasis in Japan.

The clinical management of amebiasis is a growing concern, particularly among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals who are predisposed to severe illness. Treatment with a luminal amebicide is strongly recommended following acute-stage treatment with a nitroimidazole. In 2004, the Japanese Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases introduced paromomycin, which was not nationally licensed, and offered it to a number of patients.

[Pharmacotherapy of parasitic and tropical diseases in Japan].

Parasitic and tropical diseases are relatively rare in Japan. However, physicians have to realize that a patient may visit your hospital today, who is infected with a potentially fatal parasite. This review focuses on the treatment of the domestic and imported parasitic infections in Japan.

Efficacy and safety of atovaquone-proguanil in treating imported malaria in Japan: the second report from the research group.

Malaria remains an important health risk among travelers to tropical/subtropical regions. However, in Japan, only 2 antimalarials are licensed for clinical use - oral quinine and mefloquine. The Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases introduced atovaquone-proguanil in 1999, and reported on its excellent antimalarial efficacy and safety for treating non-immune patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria (20 adult and 3 pediatric cases) in 2006.

Effects of anti-malarial drugs on the electrocardiographic QT interval modelled in the isolated perfused guinea pig heart system.

Background: Concern over the potential cardiotoxicity of anti-malarial drugs inducing a prolonged electrocardiographic QT interval has resulted in the almost complete withdrawal from the market of one anti-malarial drug - halofantrine. The effects on the QT interval of four anti-malarial drugs were examined, using the guinea pig heart.

Methods: The guinea pig heart was isolated, mounted on a Langendorff apparatus, and was then perfused with pyruvate-added Klebs-Henseleit solutions containing graded concentrations of the four agents such as quinidine (0.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Japanese travelers on infectious disease risks and immunization uptake.

Background: There is concern that Japanese travelers are poorly protected against travel-associated infectious diseases including vaccine-preventable infections. This prompted us to study Japanese travelers for measures taken to reduce their risk of acquiring an infectious disease and their immunization uptake.

Methods: During April 2007 to May 2008, a questionnaire study was conducted using the European Travel Health Advisory Board (ETHAB) protocol and targeting Japanese group tour clients as well as individual travelers to developing countries.

Elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2 in human malaria.

In cerebral malaria, the binding of parasitized erythrocytes to the cerebral endothelium and the consequent angiogenic dysregulation play a key role in pathogenesis. Because vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is widely regarded as a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, edema, inflammation, and vascular remodeling, the plasma levels of VEGF and the soluble form of the VEGF receptor (sVEGFR)-1 and -2 in uncomplicated malaria patients and healthy adults were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to examine their roles in malaria. The results showed that VEGF and sVEGFR-2 levels were significantly elevated in malaria patients compared with healthy adults.

Travelers' risk of malaria by destination country: a study from Japan.

Background: Country-specific information on the incidence of malaria in travelers provides the most reliable data on which to base the pre-travel risk assessment. Some such studies have been conducted among Western travelers; however, to our knowledge, there have been no reports on Japanese travelers.

Methods: Malaria cases that were diagnosed between April 1999 and December 2005 and were reported to the national infectious disease surveillance body were used as the numerators after grouped into countries of disease acquisition.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Japanese travelers towards malaria prevention during overseas travel.

Background: There has been some concern that Japanese travelers are not adequately protected against malaria, especially when compared to Western travelers. Multi-national studies of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding malaria risk have previously been conducted in travelers.

Methods: We conducted a KAP study in Japanese travelers using the same standardized questionnaire as the previous studies.

Preparedness for the spread of influenza: prohibition of traffic, school closure, and vaccination of children in the commuter towns of Tokyo.

In Greater Tokyo, many people commute by train between the suburbs and downtown Tokyo for 1 to 2 h per day. The spread of influenza in the suburbs of Tokyo should be studied, including the role of commuters and the effect of government policies on the spread of disease. We analyzed the simulated spread of influenza in commuter towns along a suburban railroad, using the individual-based Monte Carlo method, and validated this analysis using surveillance data of the infection in the Tokyo suburbs.

Experience with intravenous metronidazole to treat moderate-to-severe amebiasis in Japan.

Twenty-eight cases of either intestinal amebiasis, amebic liver abscess, or both, most of which were of moderate-to-severe intensity, were treated with intravenous metronidazole, pioneered by the Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases, Japan. This study was not conducted as a formal clinical trial, and all patients either underwent colectomy for intestinal amebiasis, received oral metronidazole, or both. Despite these limitations, intravenous metronidazole was shown to be well tolerated and seemed to be very effective.

Malaria and mefloquine prophylaxis use among Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel deployed in East Timor.

Background: Malaria poses a significant threat to military personnel stationed in endemic areas; therefore, it is important to examine the risks of military operations, particularly in areas where malaria-related data are scarce. The recent deployment of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) for a peacekeeping operation in East Timor provided an opportunity to investigate these risks. The results of these studies may be translated into chemoprophylactic strategies for travelers.

[Evaluation of the resolving power of different angles in MPR images of 16DAS-MDCT].

In this study, we evaluated the resolving power of three-dimensional (3D) multiplanar reformation (MPR) images with various angles by using 16 data acquisition system multi detector row computed tomography (16DAS-MDCT) . We reconstructed the MPR images using data with a 0.75 mm slice thickness of the axial image in this examination.

Diagnosis of febrile illnesses in returned travelers using the PC software GIDEON.

Background: The prompt and accurate diagnosis of febrile illnesses should have the highest priority when dealing with returned travelers. However, traditional diagnostic procedures aided by collecting information from printed materials may have drawbacks. Here, we conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the diagnostic capability of the software, Global Infectious Disease and Epidemiology Network (GIDEON).

Genetic analysis of mefloquine-resistant mechanism of Plasmodium falciparum.

We studied DNA sequence polymorphism, expression level of pfmdr1 gene and sensitivity of major antimalarial drugs in both mefloquine sensitive and resistant strains to elucidate mechanism of mefloquine resistance. Mefloquine-resistant 523a R/24 strain exhibited decreased susceptibility to mefloquine, artemisinin and halofantrine whereas increased susceptibility to chloroquine. We found a novel point mutation in pfmdr1 gene of 523a R/24 strain.

Efficacy and safety of atovaquone-proguanil compared with mefloquine in the treatment of nonimmune patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Japan.

Malaria treatment is becoming increasingly difficult due to the widespread drug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum. In Japan, only three antimalarials are approved for treatment: oral quinine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, and mefloquine. Recently, however, the Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases introduced atovaquone-proguanil for treating drug-resistant P.

Color compatibility of resin composites of identical shade designation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate color compatibility of corresponding resin composite shades keyed to Vitapan Classical shade guide (Vita).

Method And Materials: Twenty-one shades of 6 commercial resin composites were analyzed. Specimens (n = 5) were made as disks, 11 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick, using cylindrical molds.

Malaria prevention and stand-by emergency treatment among Japanese travelers.

Background: While chemoprophylaxis remains the safest option for most travelers to malaria high-risk areas, stand-by emergency treatment (SBET) may also be a sensible option especially for travelers to low-risk areas, due to the possible adverse effects (AEs) of prophylactic antimalarials. However, studies on the suitability of SBET actually implemented by travelers are scarce, especially those targeting Japanese travelers. We investigated to what extent malaria prevention measures are taken and how effectively SBET is used by Japanese travelers to malaria-endemic areas.