Incidence of severe illness in pediatric influenza outpatients treated with baloxavir or neuraminidase inhibitors.

Introduction: A single oral dose of baloxavir marboxil, a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, is approved for patients with influenza A or B infection; however, real-world evidence is limited. We evaluated the effectiveness of baloxavir vs neuraminidase inhibitors in reducing the incidence of severe illness in influenza outpatients aged 5-11 years.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed individual-level data from patients treated with these antivirals, using a large, Japanese health insurance claims database (JMDC).

Enzymatic and quantitative properties of Rubisco in some conifers and lycopods.

Information on the kinetic properties of Rubisco, a key enzyme for photosynthesis, is scarce in land plants that emerged early during the evolutionary process. This study examined the carboxylase activity and abundance of Rubisco in five conifers, two lycopods, and three control C crops. The turnover rates of Rubisco carboxylation (k) under saturated-CO conditions in conifers and lycopods were comparable to those in the control C crops.

Modeling the Impact of Ensitrelvir on SARS-CoV-2 Dynamics and Its Application for Assessment of Transmission Mitigation of Patients with COVID-19.

Introduction: Mathematical modeling can provide quantitative understanding of the viral dynamics and viral reduction effects of drugs and enable simulations of the dynamics in various scenarios. In this study, a drug effect model of ensitrelvir was developed to describe the viral reduction effect. Using the model, we also estimated the impact of treatment with ensitrelvir on the reduction in the number of infected patients at the population level in Japan.

Treatment with ensitrelvir for COVID-19 in hospitalized patients of very advanced age: Case series.

Introduction: Ensitrelvir fumaric acid (ensitrelvir) is an orally active 3C-like protease inhibitor used to treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Ensitrelvir was granted an emergency use authorization in Japan in 2022, but reports on the effectiveness and safety of ensitrelvir in actual clinical settings are limited.

Methods: Here, we report a case series of 9 patients with laboratory-confirmed symptomatic coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) who completed a 5-day course of ensitrelvir at Tomita Hospital from November 2022 to April 2023.