Evaluation of Nosocomial Infection Control Measures to Minimize the Risk of Dispersion During Major Demolition Work: A Case Study of a Japanese University Hospital.

Objectives: To verify the effectiveness of our infection control measures based on the infection control risk assessment (ICRA) to minimize the risk of dispersion before, during, and after demolition work in a university hospital.

Background: It is widely accepted that invasive aspergillosis is associated with construction, renovation, and demolition activities within or close to hospital sites. However, the risk is underestimated, and only limited preventive measures are taken in Japanese hospitals.

Association between prophylactic antibiotic use for transarterial chemoembolization and occurrence of liver abscess: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Clinical evidence on prophylactic antibiotics for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to prevent liver abscess is limited because liver abscess is a rare event. This study aimed to analyse the association between prophylactic antibiotic use for TACE and the occurrence of liver abscess after TACE.

Methods: Using the nationwide Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in Japan, we retrospectively identified patients who underwent TACE for hepatic cancer between July 2010 and March 2017.

Analysis of the predictive factors for a critical illness of COVID-19 during treatment － relationship between serum zinc level and critical illness of COVID-19.

Objectives: Because most severely ill patients with COVID-19 in our hospital showed zinc deficiency, we aimed to examine the relationship between the patient's serum zinc level and severe cases of COVID-19.

Methods: Serum zinc <70 μg/dL was defined as the criterion for hypozincemia, and patients continuously with serum zinc <70 μg/dL were classified in the hypozincemia cohort. To evaluate whether hypozincemia could be a predictive factor for a critical illness of COVID-19, we performed a multivariate analysis by employing logistic regression analysis.

Necessity to screen and treat latent tuberculosis before ruxolitinib treatment-Ruxolitinib-associated disseminated tuberculosis: A case report and literature review.

Ruxolitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, considerably improves symptoms of patients with polycythemia vera and primary or secondary myelofibrosis. However, its association with the development of infectious complications is a concern. Herein, we report the case of an 80-year-old man with primary myelofibrosis who developed disseminated tuberculosis during treatment with ruxolitinib at 15 mg twice daily and prednisone at 5 mg.

The incidence of endophthalmitis or macular involvement and the necessity of a routine ophthalmic examination in patients with candidemia.

Background: The incidence of ocular candidiasis (OC) in patients with candidemia varies across different reports, and the issue of whether routine ophthalmoscopy improves outcomes has been raised. This study investigated the incidence of OC and evaluate whether the extent of OC impacts the clinical outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective study included non-neutropenic patients with candidemia who underwent treatment at one of 15 medical centers between 2010 and 2016.

Molecular diagnosis and characterization of a culture-negative mycotic aneurysm due to ST54 Haemophilus influenzae type b with PBP 3 alterations.

Mycotic aneurysm is a rare but life-threatening disease that warrants an integrated therapeutic approach involving surgical intervention and prolonged antibiotic use. However, the causative organisms are often unidentified because antibiotics started empirically render blood and tissue cultures negative. Molecular diagnosis has been reported to be useful in such culture-negative cases.

Lifestyle factors are significantly associated with the locomotive syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The Japanese Orthopedic Association first proposed the concept of "locomotive syndrome" in 2007. It refers to circumstances in which elderly people need nursing care services or are at high risk of requiring such services within a short time. Recently, the public health burden of providing nursing care for elderly individuals has increased.

Mycobacterium wolinskyi Peritonitis after Peritoneal Catheter Embedment Surgery.

Mycobacterium wolinskyi belongs to the Mycobacterium smegmatis group, which comprises rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The number of case reports on M. wolinskyi infections associated with postoperative wounds has increased in recent years.

Pulmonary involvement of secondary syphilis.

Pulmonary involvement in secondary syphilis is considered a rare occurrence; however, the number of cases has increased in the 2000s. This is likely due to the increased use of computed tomography scans and molecular diagnostic testing. We report a case of an HIV-positive man with pleural chest pain and bilateral subpleural nodules on chest computed tomography.

Relationship Between Difficulties in Daily Activities and Falling: Loco-Check as a Self-Assessment of Fall Risk.

Background: People aged 65 years or older accounted for 25.1% of the Japanese population in 2013, and this characterizes the country as a "super-aging society." With increased aging, fall-related injuries are becoming important in Japan, because such injuries underlie the necessity for nursing care services.