Role of neuraminidase inhibitor chemoprophylaxis in controlling nosocomial influenza: an observational study.

Background: An influenza outbreak might result in disruption of services at acute care setting hospitals.

Objectives:  In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the use of neuraminidase inhibitor chemoprophylaxis for prevention of nosocomial spread of influenza in a university hospital.

Patients/methods: During the 3-year study period, 202 index cases of influenza [30 hospitalized patients and 172 healthcare workers (HCW)] and 762 individuals who had had close contact with the index cases (248 hospitalized patients and 514 HCW) were identified.

Assessment of serum anti-Bordetella pertussis antibody titers among medical staff members.

This study comparatively evaluated the titers of the bacterial agglutination (BA) antibody for Bordetella pertussis, anti-pertussis toxin (PT) antibody, and anti-filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) antibody in the serum of medical staff members. The geometric means of the anti-PT and anti-FHA antibody titers were 5.83 and 17.

Investigation of biochemical factors related to non-bothersome nocturnal urination.

We investigated the factors related to nocturnal urination that was not considered bothersome by comparing various parameters between subjects who felt nocturnal urination as bothersome and those who did not. A total of 94 persons (50 males and 44 females) were enrolled. They urinated >or= once per night.

Biochemical and body composition analysis of nocturia in the elderly.

Aims: Nocturia is a common symptom in the elderly, and various contributing factors have been suggested. Therefore, in order to investigate which factors are strongly related to occurrence of nocturia, we performed a suite of examinations.

Methods: One hundred eighty volunteers were divided into three groups: a young adult control group (60 healthy persons without nocturia), an elderly control group (60 healthy persons with a low mean frequency of nocturnal urination, i.

Effects of walking exercise on nocturia in the elderly.

We investigated whether nocturia in the elderly was improved by walking exercise, which involved walking rapidly for 30 min or more in the evening or night for 8 weeks. A questionnaire related to micturition and exercise, blood pressure, body composition analysis, blood biochemistry tests, and urinalysis were performed before and after 8 weeks of exercise to investigate the effects of walking. Thirty men (71 years old on average) continued the walking exercise for long enough to undergo evaluation.

Prospective monitoring study: isolating Legionella pneumophila in a hospital water system located in the obstetrics and gynecology ward after eradication of Legionella anisa and reconstruction of shower units.

We previously reported on the sporadic contamination by Legionella anisa of shower units and sink taps at Ryukyu University Hospital. Starting in July 2003, the neonatal area underwent an 8-month reconstruction, and in March 2005, the boiler system was replaced. We therefore examined shower water and tap water for the presence of Legionella just after replacement of the boiler system.

Location of spina bifida occulta and ultrasonographic bladder abnormalities predict the outcome of treatment for primary nocturnal enuresis in children.

Objective: We examined whether the existence of spina bifida occulta or ultrasonographic bladder abnormalities was related to the outcome of treatment for primary nocturnal enuresis in children.

Methods: Between April 1996 and September 2005, a total of 77 subjects (53 boys and 24 girls, aged 5-18 years; mean age, 9.9 years) with primary nocturnal enuresis were studied.

Device to promote pelvic floor muscle training for stress incontinence.

Aim: Many patients with stress urinary incontinence do not have enough motivation to continue pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) by themselves. Therefore, a device was created to support PFMT, and its effect was examined.

Methods: Forty-six women with stress urinary incontinence were assigned to a control group or a device group in order of presentation.

Urination assessment after the removal of bladder catheter using a novel urination chart.

We investigated the difficulties involved in assessing post prostatectomy voiding according to 20 nurses working in urology and dermatology wards. Problems they encountered included completing a urination (frequency/volume) chart and performing an assessment. We constructed a hourly urination chart for basic nursing education in urinary incontinence.

Transabdominal vesical sonography of urethral syndrome and stress incontinence.

Background: Transabdominal ultrasonography was used to study the bladder neck morphology in women with urethral syndrome or stress urinary incontinence, in order to determine the ultrasonographic findings of these conditions.

Methods: A total of 210 female patients with a normal bladder, asymptomatic trigonitis, urethral syndrome, and stress incontinence were studied. The mucosal thickness around the bladder neck, the length of the anterior base plate of the bladder, and the anteroposterior vesical wall angle (APVA) at the bladder neck were measured on sagittal transabdominal vesical ultrasonograms with the patient in the supine position.

Ultrasonographic changes of the female bladder neck during development.

Background: Our previous study showed that the anteroposterior vesical wall angle (APVA) at the bladder neck on transabdominal ultrasonography varied widely between women. The present study examines whether the APVA changes during development in girls with a normal bladder.

Methods: Seventy-four females aged 0-29 years with normal bladders were examined by transabdominal ultrasonography.

[Risk factors for duration of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy].

Purpose: In this study, we examined risk factors for duration of incontinence after radical prostatectomy at our hospital.

Materials And Methods: From April 1988 to March 2000, 45 patients with prostate cancer underwent retropubic radical prostatectomy at our hospital. Thirty-eight of 45 patients could be followed up.