Identification of viral protein R of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) and interleukin-6 as risk factors for malignancies in HIV-infected individuals: A cohort study.

Background: Despite effective antiretroviral therapy, patients with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV) suffer from a high frequency of malignancies, but related risk factors remain elusive. Here, we focused on blood-circulating viral protein R (Vpr) of HIV, which induces proinflammatory cytokine production and genotoxicity by exogenous functions.

Methods And Findings: A total 404 blood samples of HIV patients comprising of 126 patients with malignancies (tumor group) and 278 patients without malignancies (non-tumor group), each of 96 samples was first selected by one-to-one propensity score matching.

Sitafloxacin- Versus Moxifloxacin-Based Sequential Treatment for Mycoplasma Genitalium Infections: Protocol for a Multicenter, Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging sexually transmitted pathogen associated with increasing antibiotic resistance. The current treatment guidelines recommend moxifloxacin-sequential therapy for macrolide-resistant Mgenitalium or strains with unknown resistance profiles. However, it is unclear whether sitafloxacin, a 4th-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is effective against resistant strains.

Effect of unintended short-term 3.0 g/day amoxicillin and probenecid treatment for early syphilis on patients with HIV-1 infection.

Background: Standard therapy for early syphilis involves intramuscular injections of penicillin G, which frequently faces shortages in several countries. Fourteen-day amoxicillin therapy has been suggested as an alternative to benzathine penicillin G, but the optimal duration of amoxicillin therapy remains unclear and could theoretically be shortened to less than 14 days. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of short-term amoxicillin therapy for early syphilis.

Prevalence of Asymptomatic Mpox among Men Who Have Sex with Men, Japan, January-March 2023.

We prospectively assessed asymptomatic monkeypox virus infections among men who have sex with men in Tokyo, Japan, during the initial phase of the mpox epidemic. Our findings suggest that asymptomatic infections were likely underestimated and were comparable in magnitude to symptomatic infections, highlighting the need to improve testing accessibility among high-risk populations.

Effectiveness of sitafloxacin monotherapy for quinolone-resistant rectal and urogenital Mycoplasma genitalium infections: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Mycoplasma genitalium has a tendency to develop macrolide and quinolone resistance.

Objectives: We investigated the microbiological cure rate of a 7 day course of sitafloxacin for the treatment of rectal and urogenital infections in MSM.

Patients And Methods: This open-label, prospective cohort study was conducted at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan from January 2019 to August 2022.

Combination of Amoxicillin 3000 mg and Probenecid Versus 1500 mg Amoxicillin Monotherapy for Treating Syphilis in Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: An Open-Label, Randomized, Controlled, Non-Inferiority Trial.

Background: Amoxicillin plus probenecid is an alternative to intramuscular benzathine penicillin G for treating syphilis in the United Kingdom. Low-dose amoxicillin is an alternative treatment option used in Japan.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial between 31 August 2018, and 3 February 2022, to compare 1500 mg low-dose amoxicillin monotherapy with the combination of 3000 mg amoxicillin and probenecid (non-inferiority margin 10%).

Effect of tenofovir-based HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis against HBV infection in men who have sex with men.

Background And Aims: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are vulnerable to contracting HBV as a sexually transmitted infection. We evaluated the incidence of HBV infection (HBI) and the prophylactic effect of tenofovir-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on HBI in an MSM cohort.

Methods And Results: MSM who were older than 16 years were enrolled from January 2018 and followed up until June 2021 and tested for HIV, bacterial sexually transmitted infections, and HBsAg/ HBsAb and HBcAb every 3 months based on inclusion criteria, including HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb, and HIV negativity at enrollment.

Analysis of cross-reactivity among flaviviruses using sera of patients with dengue showed the importance of neutralization tests with paired serum samples for the correct interpretations of serological test results for dengue.

Dengue is a febrile illness caused by the dengue virus (DENV) that belongs to the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. Cross-reactivity between flaviviruses poses a challenge while interpreting serological test results. In the present study, the cross-reactivity of sera of the patients with dengue, who traveled from Japan to DENV-endemic countries, was analyzed by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and neutralization test (NT).

Electrocautery ablation therapy for anal intraepithelial carcinoma: A study protocol.

Background: Anal cancer is a human papillomavirus-related cancer. Screening with high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) and subsequent therapeutic intervention are increasingly recognized as the standard procedure for anal cancer. Generally, lesions suspected as being high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions are biopsied and treated if they are grade 2 or 3 anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN).

Unmasking latent extrapulmonary tuberculosis with newly diagnosed HIV-1 infection in a COVID-19 patient with prolonged fever.

Prolonged fever is a common symptom of COVID-19 infection. However, other febrile diseases continue during the pandemic. Herein, we report a COVID-19-infected patient with prolonged fever despite the lack of oxygen requirement, who was finally diagnosed with tuberculotic lymphadenitis and HIV-1 infection.

Recent changes in the reporting of STIs in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had variable effects on the rates of STIs reported across the globe. This study sought to assess how the number of STI reports changed during the pandemic in Japan.

Methods: We used national infectious disease surveillance data from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (Tokyo, Japan) for the period between January 2013 and December 2021.

Imported African Tick Bite Fever in Japan: A Literature Review and Report of Three Cases.

African tick bite fever (ATBF) is an acute febrile illness caused by Rickettsia africae. ATBF is an important differential diagnosis of acute febrile illness among returned travelers. However, little information is available on ATBF cases imported to Japan, as only seven have been reported to date.

Anal human papillomavirus infection and its relationship with abnormal anal cytology among MSM with or without HIV infection in Japan.

Anal high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) infection is widely considered a cause of anal cancer. However, epidemiological data are quite limited in Japan. This study investigated anal HPV infections and cytological abnormalities among MSM with or without HIV infection.

Progressive Cytopenia Developing during Treatment of Cryptococcosis in a Patient with HIV Infection and Bone Marrow Cryptococcal Infection.

Cytopenia is a common complication in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Identifying the cause is demanding because of the wide range of possible diagnoses. We herein report an HIV-infected patient with disseminated cryptococcosis involving multiple organs including the blood, brain, lungs, and bone marrow, who developed progressive pancytopenia after initiation of anti-fungal treatment with liposomal amphotericin-B (L-AMB) and flucytosine (5FC).

Long-term weight gain after initiating combination antiretroviral therapy in treatment-naïve Asian people living with human immunodeficiency virus.

Objective: To investigate changes in weight following the initiation of antiretroviral therapy in treatment-naïve Asian people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH).

Methods: This retrospective observational study evaluated adult treatment-naïve Asian PLWH who started antiretroviral therapy based on an integrase strand transfer inhibitor, a protease inhibitor or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor at the AIDS Clinical Centre, Tokyo between January 2005 and February 2019. Patients were followed-up until October 2019.

High prevalence of circulating dual-class resistant in asymptomatic MSM in Tokyo, Japan.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of detected from urogenital/rectal swab samples obtained from MSM in Tokyo, Japan.

Methods: We performed PCR-based screening for urogenital/rectal infection in 982 asymptomatic MSM between 1 January 2019 and 5 November 2020. Mutations in the antibiotic resistance-associated genes and and the 23S rRNA of were analysed.

Efficacy of 1 g Ceftriaxone Monotherapy Compared to Dual Therapy With Azithromycin or Doxycycline for Treating Extragenital Gonorrhea Among Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Background: Evidence on efficacy of high-dose ceftriaxone monotherapy for extragenital Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection is lacking.

Methods: A cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM) were tested for NG/Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) every 3 months, in a single-center observational study in Tokyo, Japan. MSM aged > 19 years diagnosed with extragenital NG infection between 2017 and 2020 were included.

Modified self-obtained pooled sampling to screen for and infections in men who have sex with men.

Objectives: To assess whether pooled sample testing with nucleic acid amplification tests was a potential alternative to three single-site sample testing to screen for and infections in asymptomatic men who have sex with men.

Methods: We prospectively compared pooled sample testing with single-site sample testing in asymptomatic MSM. Self-obtained paired rectal samples, one gargle sample and one first-void urine sample were collected from participants to generate two sets of samples: one for pooled sample testing and the other for single-site testing.

Pseudo-renal failure: bladder rupture with urinary ascites.

We report a case of pseudo-renal failure caused by urinary ascites due to spontaneous bladder rupture following transurethral resection of a bladder tumour (TUR-BT). A 63-year-old man presented with 2 months of abdominal distension due to ascites. Laboratory findings showed elevated serum creatinine and hyperkalaemia.