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.

Nationwide Survey of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Japan.

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) presents some clinical overlap with Kawasaki disease (KD). Although KD is common in Japan, the clinical characteristics of MIS-C in Japan remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the epidemiological and clinical features of MIS-C in Japan.

Diagnostic Utility of Preserved Dried Umbilical Cord Polymerase Chain Reaction in Intrauterine Herpes Simplex Virus Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Intrauterine herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is uncommon and challenging to diagnose, requiring detection of HSV in skin lesions within 48 h post-birth.

Case Presentation: A preterm female infant presented with the typical triad of blisters, microcephaly, and chorioretinitis, but the initial diagnostic approach was elusive due to negative results for TORCH pathogens from vesicles/serum. Referred at 7 months for developmental delay and epilepsy, her brain imaging showed calcification and cortical dysplasia.

Association between a past history of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and fever after the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination.

Purpose: Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) are common among pregnant women and can be severe enough to require hospitalization. However, the mechanism underlying NVP pathogenesis remains unclear. This study examined factors associated with adverse events after vaccination, including a past history of NVP.

Launch of Board Certification in Pediatric Infectious Diseases in Japan.

To cultivate specialists in pediatric infectious diseases (ID) in Japan, the Japanese Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases initiated board certification for pediatric ID in 2017. Previously, in 2014, we had formed a committee for board certification in pediatric ID and discussed the fundamentals of the board certification system, including the goals, requirements for designated training institutions, provisional certification of pediatric ID specialists and eligibility for and content of the board certification examination. After approval from 31 programs, the pediatric ID programs started in 2017 with 8 fellows in 7 programs.

Possible vertical transmission of Chikungunya virus infection detected in the cord blood samples from a birth cohort in Vietnam.

Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus (genus Alphavirus, family Togaviridae) that is primarily transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes, and can be transmitted from mother to child. Little is known about CHIKV transmission in Vietnam, where dengue is endemic and Aedes mosquitoes are abundant. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of vertical CHIKV infection in a birth cohort, and seroprevalence of anti-CHIKV antibodies with or without confirmation by neutralization tests among women bearing children in Vietnam.

Assessment of patients' characteristics associated with the efficacy and safety of oral valganciclovir treatment for infants with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus disease.

Introduction: Insurance coverage for oral valganciclovir (VGCV) began in Japan in April 2023 on the basis of results, including our clinical trials for symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. The VGCV treatment is available throughout Japan, so clinicians must consider the likelihood of hearing improvement and the possibility of neutropenia before dosing.

Materials And Methods: We performed a substudy of an investigator-initiated, single-arm, prospective, multicenter, clinical trial in which 24 infants with symptomatic congenital CMV disease were orally administered 16 mg/kg VGCV twice daily for 6 months as an intervention.

Characterization of enzyme-crosslinked albumin hydrogel for cell encapsulation.

Albumin is an attractive component for the development of biomaterials applied as biomedical implants, including drug carriers and tissue engineering scaffolds, because of its high biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. Additionally, albumin-based gelators facilitate cross-linking reactions under mild conditions, which maintains the high viability of encapsulated living cells. In this study, we synthesized albumin derivatives to undergo gelation under physiological conditions via the peroxidase-catalyzed formation of cross-links.

Acute valve malfunction with thrombosed bioprosthetic valve after surgical aortic valve replacement.

Acute valve thrombosis after bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement even under anticoagulation therapy is extremely rare. Cardiac computed tomography is a powerful imaging tool to detect valve thrombosis, and surgery is necessary in case of unstable hemodynamics.

A Birth Cohort Follow-Up Study on Congenital Zika Virus Infection in Vietnam.

We assessed the development, sensory status, and brain structure of children with congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection (CZI) at two years and preschool age. CZI was defined as either ZIKV RNA detection or positive ZIKV IgM and neutralization test in the cord or neonatal blood. Twelve children with CZI born in 2017-2018 in Vietnam, including one with Down syndrome, were assessed at 23-25.

Surgical, endovascular, and hybrid treatment of deep femoral artery aneurysm: Three case reports.

Key Clinical Message: Deep femoral artery aneurysms (DFAA) are extremely rare. We treated four DFAAs with different procedures including surgical, endovascular, and hybrid surgery. The best treatment should be selected for each individual case.

Left ventricular pseudo-false aneurysm perforating the right ventricle: two case reports.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) pseudo-false aneurysm is a rare and fatal complication secondary to myocardial infarction. Sometimes, it may perforate the right ventricle (RV) and lead to acute heart failure. We experienced 2 cases of surgical repair of an LV pseudo-false aneurysm perforating the RV.

Spontaneous Cervical Epidural Hematoma Presenting with Respiratory Failure: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Case: A 62-year-old woman who had an unremarkable medical history presented with sudden headache and neck pain. After the presentation, complete quadriplegia and respiratory arrest developed, and the patient was urgently intubated. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an extensive epidural hematoma (EH), and emergency hematoma evacuation was performed.

Usefulness of arterial spin labeling imaging, which contributed to the early detection of cerebellitis complicated by clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion: Lessons from three cases.

Background: Cerebellitis is a rare complication of clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS); however, MERS with cerebellitis is associated with a higher risk of neurological sequelae in comparison to MERS alone. Although the disease is difficult to diagnose by conventional MRI in the early disease phase, arterial spin labeling (ASL), a noninvasive MRI perfusion technique using magnetically-labeled arterial blood water protons, is considered promising.

Case Report: We experienced three cases of MERS with cerebellitis.

The fecal carriage rate of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing or carbapenem-resistant among Japanese infants in the community at the 4-month health examination in a rural city.

Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing (ESBL-E) is a great public health concern globally not only in hospitals but also in the community. To our knowledge, there have been few studies on the prevalence of ESBL-E and much less about carbapenem-resistant (CRE) among children in the community, and there is no such study in Japan despite such situations. This study aimed to clarify their carriage status among Japanese infants in the community by taking the opportunity of the 4-month health checkup.

Expanded targeted screening for congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

An early diagnosis and intervention for congenital cytomegalovirus infection can reduce long-term disability; however, the introduction of universal neonatal screening has been controversial worldwide. The present study clarified the outcome of a targeted screening protocol for detecting congenital cytomegalovirus infection based on suggestive perinatal conditions. In addition, the positive rate was compared to those from the reported studies and the validity of the targeted screening criteria was discussed.

Correlation of cytomegalovirus viral load between whole blood and plasma of congenital cytomegalovirus infection under valganciclovir treatment.

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (cCMV) can cause sensorineural hearing loss and neurodevelopmental disabilities in children. Oral valganciclovir (VGCV) therapy has been reported to improve long-term audiological and neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with cCMV. The levels of CMV DNA in whole blood have been monitored in previous studies.

Frequency of HTLV-1 seroconversion between pregnancies in Nagasaki, Japan, 2011-2018.

Background: Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is transmitted vertically from an infected mother to her child breastfeeding during infancy or horizontally sexual contact. However, little information is available on the HTLV-1 seroconversion rate in pregnant mothers and the impact of new HTLV-1 infection on mothers and babies during the perinatal period.

Methods: From the database of a prefecture-wide antenatal adult T-cell leukemia prevention program in Nagasaki, Japan, we extracted data on 57,323 pregnant women who were screened for anti-HTLV-1 antibody during 2011-2018.

Endovascular treatment after the fenestrated frozen elephant trunk technique.

Recently, several centers have performed total arch replacement using the fenestrated frozen elephant trunk technique for acute Stanford type-A aortic dissection. However, the long-term results and need for additional treatment following this procedure are unclear. We report a case of a 54-year-old man who underwent endovascular therapy for endoleaks after total arch replacement using the fenestrated frozen elephant trunk technique for acute type-A aortic dissection with an isolated left vertebral artery.

[Early Structure Valve Deterioration after Aortic Valve Replacement with the Externally Mounted Bioprosthetic Valve( Trifecta):Report of Two Cases].

Trifecta valve is made from single bovine pericardial sheet, which is externally mounted on a titanium stent. This valve design provides good hemodynamic performance and wide effective orifice area. However, there have been some reports of early structural valve dysfunction which caused acute heart failure.

A familial case of B-cell expansion with NF-κB and T-cell anergy caused by a G123D heterozygous missense mutation in the CARD11 gene.

B-cell expansion with NF-κB (nuclear factor-kappa B) and T-cell anergy (BENTA) is a rare congenital lymphoproliferative disorder caused by germline gain-of-function mutations in the CARD11 gene. We herein report a familial case of BENTA due to a G123D heterozygous missense mutation in CARD11 inherited by a male from his mother. The mother's clinical course was characterized by polyarthritis and encephalitis in young adulthood, suggesting that autoimmune-like manifestations can occur in BENTA.