Association between eating balanced meals and depressive symptoms in Japanese hospital workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: While accumulating evidence suggests a protective role of healthy diet against depression, evidence on this issue is limited among healthcare workers combating COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to determine the cross-sectional association between frequency of balanced meal consumption and depressive symptoms among Japanese hospital workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Participants were 2,457 workers of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine who responded to a questionnaire survey in October or December 2020.

Characteristics and potential quality indicators for evaluating pre-travel consultations in Japan hospitals: the Japan Pretravel consultation registry (J-PRECOR).

Background: Awareness of pre-travel consultations (PTCs) and prevention methods for overseas travel-related diseases, and the understanding of PTCs among Japanese travelers and medical professionals remains low in Japan. A multicenter registry was established to examine PTCs in Japan. This study assessed the PTC implementation rate and examined the indicators of PTCs that can be used as criteria for evaluating quality.

Effects of infectious disease consultation and antimicrobial stewardship program at a Japanese cancer center: An interrupted time-series analysis.

In cancer patients, appropriate diagnosis and management of infection are frequently challenging owing to subtle or atypical presentation. We investigated the effectiveness of infectious disease (ID) consultations and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) in a Japanese cancer center. This 36-month-period, single-institution, interrupted time series analysis was retrospectively conducted during April 1, 2018-March 31, 2021, to evaluate a two-phase intervention: Phase 1 (notification of antimicrobials by the infection control team) and Phase 2 (establishing an ID consultation service and implementing ASP).

Comparison of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in children before and after the emergence of Delta variant of concern in Japan.

Delta variant of concern (VOC) is the current predominant severe acute respiratory coronavirus type 2 strain causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, information regarding the impact of the Delta VOC on clinical features and outcomes in pediatric patients with COVID-19 is limited. We conducted a retrospective observational study using the data of patients <18 years of age in COVIREGI-JP, the COVID-19 registry in Japan. The patients were divided into two groups according to the timing of enrollment in the registry (pre-Delta VOC era, October 2020 to May 2021; and Delta VOC era, August to October 2021), and the clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Green tea consumption and SARS-CoV-2 infection among staff of a referral hospital in Japan.

Background & Aim: This study examined the association between green tea consumption and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among Japanese.

Methods: Participants were staff of a large referral hospital in Tokyo. Green tea consumption was ascertained via a questionnaire.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Pregnant Women: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Data From the COVID-19 Registry Japan.

Background: Several studies have investigated whether pregnancy is a risk factor for developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, the results remain controversial. In addition, the information regarding risk factors for developing severe COVID-19 in pregnant women is limited.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study analyzing the data from the nationwide COVID-19 registry in Japan was conducted.

Impact of regional heterogeneity on the severity of COVID-19.

The main objective of the study is to assess the impact of regional heterogeneity on the severity of COVID-19 in Japan. We included 27,865 cases registered between January 2020 and February 2021 in the COVID-19 Registry of Japan, to examine the relationship between the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) of COVID-19 patients on the day of admission and the prefecture where the patients live. A hierarchical Bayesian model was used to examine the random effect of each prefecture in addition to the patients' backgrounds.

Analysis of the Clinical Pipeline of Treatments for Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections: Despite Progress, More Action Is Needed.

There is an urgent global need for new strategies and drugs to control and treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a list of 12 antibiotic-resistant priority pathogens and began to critically analyze the antibacterial clinical pipeline. This review analyzes "traditional" and "nontraditional" antibacterial agents and modulators in clinical development current on 30 June 2021 with activity against the WHO priority pathogens mycobacteria and Clostridioides difficile.

Two Cases of Breakthrough Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infections Caused by the Omicron Variant (B.1.1.529 Lineage) in International Travelers to Japan.

In November 2021, the World Health Organization designated a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant of concern, Omicron (PANGO lineage B.1.1.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Breakthrough Infection and Post-Vaccination Neutralizing Antibodies Among Healthcare Workers in a Referral Hospital in Tokyo: A Case-Control Matching Study.

Background: While increasing coverage of effective vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), emergent variants raise concerns about breakthrough infection. Data are limited, however, whether breakthrough infection during the epidemic of the variant is ascribed to insufficient vaccine-induced immunogenicity.

Methods: We describe incident COVID-19 in relation to the vaccination program among workers of a referral hospital in Tokyo.

The intended purpose and regional patterns of use of antibiotics for managing Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infections: An analysis of the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups data of Japan.

Introduction: We previously showed the trend of antimicrobial use (AMU) for Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) using sales data. However, the details of the prescribing medical institutions and regional characteristics are unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the details of the medical institutions where antibiotics for CDI were prescribed, and evaluate the AMU for CDI and the regional characteristics.

Association between mortality and age among mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients: a Japanese nationwide COVID-19 database study.

Background: Only a few studies have reported the association between age and mortality in COVID-19 patients who require invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We aimed to evaluate the effect of age on COVID-19-related mortality among patients undergoing IMV therapy.

Methods: This cohort study was conducted using the COVID-19 Registry Japan database, a nationwide multi-centre study of hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

Clinical outcomes of corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine during the first wave of infections.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has been a significant concern worldwide since its outbreak in December 2019. Various treatments are being researched and developed, and there are reports that dexamethasone has reduced the mortality rate and improved the clinical course of critically ill patients with COVID-19. In this study, we examined the clinical efficacy of corticosteroid therapy for patients with COVID-19 in our hospital during the first wave of infections.

Outcomes and Future Prospect of Japan's National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2016-2020).

The threat from antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to grow. Japan's National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, which was formulated in 2016 and targets six areas, has already had a major impact on the countermeasures implemented against AMR. Particular advances have been made in AMR-related surveillance, and we now know the situation regarding antimicrobial use and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the country.

Catheter-related bloodstream infection caused by Tsukamurella ocularis: A case report.

Tsukamurella spp. causes mainly bacteremia and central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections. To the best of our knowledge, there is no documented evidence that Tsukamurella ocularis causes catheter-related bloodstream infections like other species of Tsukamurella.

The surveillance of colistin resistance and mobilized colistin resistance genes in multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolated in Japan.

Background: The plasmid-mediated bacterial colistin-resistant gene, mcr, is of global concern in clinical healthcare. However, there are few reports of surveillance for mcr in Japan. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of colistin resistance by identifying nine mcr genes in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolates in Japan.

Allogeneic islet transplantation with monitoring of islet-specific cellular autoimmunity in a Japanese patient with type 1 diabetes: A case report.

Here, we report a case of allogeneic islet transplantation in Japan. A 48-year-old man received intraportal islet transplantation (5,945 islet equivalent/kg), and stabilization of blood glucose levels and suppression of hypoglycemia were achieved. In the present case, we used our original assessment method to detect the responses of the recipient's T cells to islet autoantigens over time to monitor cellular autoimmunity.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of immunosuppressed inpatients with COVID-19 in Japan.

Introduction: We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of immunosuppressed inpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: In this observational study, we utilized a large nationwide registry of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Japan. Patients' baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared according to the immunosuppressed states of the patients.