Molecular Characterization of Invasive Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, Japan.

We collected β-hemolytic streptococci (1,611 isolates) from patients with invasive streptococcal infections in Japan during April 2010-March 2013. Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) was most common (n = 693); 99% of patients with SDSE infections were elderly (mean age 75 years, SD ±15 years).

Does Baseline Prostate Volume Affect the Short-Term Outcome of Tamsulosin?

Objective: To investigate the short-term efficacy of tamsulosin treatment for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) according to baseline prostate volume (PV).

Methods: Tamsulosin, 0.2 mg/day, was prospectively given to 112 patients aged 50 years or older who had International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS) ≥ 8.

Prevalence of macrolide resistance among group A streptococci isolated from pharyngotonsillitis.

A GAS Surveillance Study Group was organized to analyze group A streptococci (GAS) isolated from patients with acute pharyngotonsillitis, with participating pediatricians submitting swab samples between April and October 2012. Molecular analysis of emm typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), as well as antimicrobial susceptibility testing, were carried out for 363 GAS isolates. Strains belonging to emm1 were most prevalent (25.

Associations between capsular serotype, multilocus sequence type, and macrolide resistance in Streptococcus agalactiae isolates from Japanese infants with invasive infections.

SUMMARY Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus; GBS) isolates (n = 150) from infants with invasive infections between 2006 and 2011 were analysed for capsular serotype, multilocus sequence type, and antibiotic susceptibility. In cases with late-onset disease (n = 115), primary meningitis was predominant (62.6%), but represented only 39.

Clinical efficacy of sitafloxacin 100 mg twice daily for 7 days for patients with non-gonococcal urethritis.

To clarify the clinical efficacy of STFX for patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), including chlamydial urethritis and Mycoplasma genitalium-positive urethritis, this study included male patients with NGU who were 20 years old or older. The pathogens, including Chlamydia trachomatis, M. genitalium and Ureaplasma urealyticum, were detected by nucleic acid amplification tests and the patients were treated with sitafloxacin 100 mg twice daily for 7 days.

α1-blocker tamsulosin as initial treatment for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: 5-year outcome analysis of a prospective multicenter study.

Objective: To comprehensively analyze the 5-year outcomes of tamsulosin treatment for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Methods: Tamsulosin (0.2 mg/day) was given to 112 patients who had International Prostate Symptom Scores ≥8.

Nonhemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes isolates that lack large regions of the sag operon mediating streptolysin S production.

Among nonhemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) strains (n = 9) isolated from patients with pharyngitis or acute otitis media, we identified three deletions in the region from the epf gene, encoding the extracellular matrix binding protein, to the sag operon, mediating streptolysin S production.

Molecular emm genotyping and antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis isolated from invasive and non-invasive infections.

To analyse the characteristics of infections caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, clinical isolates (n=145) were collected at 11 medical institutions between September 2003 and October 2005. These isolates belonged to Lancefield group A (n=5), group C (n=18) or group G (n=122).

Clinical aspects of invasive infections with Streptococcus dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis in Japan: differences with respect to Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus agalactiae infections.

Streptococcus dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis (SDSE) is increasingly being identified as a pathogen responsible for invasive and non-invasive infections. We compared the clinical features of invasive SDSE infections with those of invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus (GAS)) and Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus (GBS)).

Serotype and antibiotic resistance of isolates from patients with invasive pneumococcal disease in Japan.

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is of concern in Japan, where the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) is unavailable. We determined serotypes, genotypes indicating beta-lactam resistance, and antibiotic susceptibilities of 496 isolates from normally sterile sites in patients (193 children, 303 adults) from 186 institutions between August 2006 and July 2007. Disease presentations included sepsis (46.

[Prevalence of intestinal canine and feline parasites in Saitama Prefecture, Japan].

We studied the prevalence of intestinal parasites in animal companions in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, where no detailed data is currently available. Between May 1999 and December 2007, fecal samples were collected from 906 dogs and 1,079 cats in public animal shelters and examined by microscopy. Overall, prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs was 38.

Capsular type and antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus agalactiae isolates from patients, ranging from newborns to the elderly, with invasive infections.

Streptococcus agalactiae isolates (n = 189) from patients with invasive infections were analyzed for capsular type by PCR, for antimicrobial susceptibility, and for the presence of resistance genes. In contrast to the predominance of capsular type III in children, types Ib and V were most common among adults. All 45 levofloxacin-resistant strains had two amino acid substitutions, Ser(81)Leu in the gyrA gene and Ser(79)Phe in the parC gene, and showed similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns.

Distribution of emm type and antibiotic susceptibility of group A streptococci causing invasive and noninvasive disease.

To determine the prevalence of macrolide antibiotic and levofloxacin resistance in infections with Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus or GAS), strains were collected from 45 medical institutions in various parts of Japan between October 2003 and September 2006. Four hundred and eighty-two strains from patients with GAS infections were characterized genetically. Strains were classified into four groups according to the type of infection: invasive infections (n=74) including sepsis, cellulitis and toxic-shock-like syndrome; acute otitis media (AOM; n=23); abscess (n=53); and pharyngotonsillitis (n=332).

[Hydrodistention of the bladder in patients with interstitial cystitis--clinical efficacy and its association with immunohistochemical findings for bladder tissues].

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical relevance of hydrodistention under anesthesia for patients having urgency and/or lower abdominal pain who were clinically diagnosed as having interstitial cystitis (IC) from May 1996 to May 2005. Their symptoms were refractory to anticholinergic or antiinflammatory agents. Hydrodistention was performed under general or spinal anesthesia with direct vision by cystoscopy and irrigation fluid was instilled into the bladder at a pressure of 80 cmH2O.

[Emm typing by genetic identification of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and susceptibility to oral antibiotics].

A total of 593 beta-hemolytic streptococci belonging to Lancefield group A (GAS), group C (GCS) or group G (GGS) according to agglutination tests were collected from 11 medical institutions between September 2003 and October 2005. In total, 128 strains were identified as Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (S.

[Large-scale questionnaire surveillance concerning invasive infections with group C and G streptococci].

A large-scale questionnaire surveillance was conducted regarding the onset of invasive infections with beta-hemolytic group C (GCS) and group G (GGS) streptococci from clinical specimens that are normally aseptic and the backgrounds of these cases. The surveillance period of the questionnaire was 8 months from January to August 2005. Completed questionnaires were received from the clinical laboratories of 193 medical institutions.

Massive hematuria after cystoscopy in a patient with an internal iliac artery aneurysm.

An unusual case is reported here of a patient with internal iliac artery aneurysm who developed massive hematuria after cystoscopic examination. A 75-year-old man presented with asymptomatic gross hematuria. Cystoscopic examination revealed that the bladder neck was congested and that the right-side wall was being pressed on by an extrinsic mass.

Lymphangioma of the kidney.

Lymphangiomas are rare benign tumors that are congenital malformations of the lymphatic system. Most cases present in children as a soft, cystic mass in the neck and the axilla. Primary renal lymphangioma is exceedingly rare, with only 35 cases reported so far.