Effect of pre-hospital living setting on nutritional intake route upon discharge in older adults with aspiration pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Aspiration pneumonia, which often recurs due to dysphagia, worsens as patients move between homes, facilities, and hospitals. The impact of pre-hospital living setting on oral intake at discharge remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the pre-hospital living setting on the nutritional intake route upon discharge in older patients with aspiration pneumonia.

Use of Internet/Application-Based E-consults by General Practitioners in Japan to Resolve Patients' Problems: A Descriptive Observational Study.

Introduction Electronic consultations (e-consults) refer to digital health technologies that enhance clinical information sharing and improve patients' access to expert healthcare providers. This study aims to describe the current utilization of the Internet/application-based e-consult system and to assess how effectively it resolves clinical questions. Methods Participants were general practitioners (GPs) who had installed the e-consult platform on their personal computers or cell phones.

Evaluation of ChatGPT-Generated Differential Diagnosis for Common Diseases With Atypical Presentation: Descriptive Research.

Background: The persistence of diagnostic errors, despite advances in medical knowledge and diagnostics, highlights the importance of understanding atypical disease presentations and their contribution to mortality and morbidity. Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative pre-trained transformers like GPT-4, holds promise for improving diagnostic accuracy, but requires further exploration in handling atypical presentations.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ChatGPT in generating differential diagnoses for atypical presentations of common diseases, with a focus on the model's reliance on patient history during the diagnostic process.

Rationale and protocol for a prospective cohort study of respiratory viral infections in patients admitted from emergency departments of community hospitals: Effect of respiratory Virus infection on EmeRgencY admission (EVERY) study.

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a causative virus for the common cold worldwide and can result in hospitalisations and even death in patients with high-risk conditions and older adults. However, the relationship between RSV or other incidental respiratory infections and acute exacerbations of underlying conditions has not been well investigated. The primary objective of this study is to estimate RSV prevalence, risk factors for adverse outcomes or hospitalisation and their effect on the hospital course of patients with acute respiratory symptoms admitted from emergency departments.

Lack of Physician-Dentist Collaboration in Aspiration Pneumonia Prevention.

This opinion paper addresses the challenges and future directions for preventing aspiration pneumonia in Japan's rapidly aging population. It highlights the increasing proportion of elderly individuals and the associated rise in health issues like decreased swallowing function, a risk factor for aspiration pneumonia. The paper emphasizes the effectiveness of dentist-provided oral care in preventing this condition but notes the lack of collaboration between dentists and physicians in Japan's clinical practice.

Hospitalists' COVID-19 management roles in hospitals without infectious disease specialists.

Background: Hospitalists may work in a variety of clinical settings to manage COVID-19 cases. However, the extent of their involvement in COVID-19 care is unknown, particularly in hospitals without infectious disease (ID) specialists.

Methods: This study aimed to confirm whether hospitalists provided COVID-19 management in various clinical settings when ID specialists were unavailable.

Effectiveness of primary series, first, and second booster vaccination of monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and severe diseases during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.5 epidemic in Japan: vaccine effectiveness real-time surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 (VERSUS).

Background: This study aimed to evaluate VE of primary, first, and second booster ancestral-strain monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccination against symptomatic infections and severe diseases in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a test-negative case-control study. We included medically attended episodes and hospitalizations involving individuals aged 16 with signs and symptoms from July to November 2022, when Omicron BA.

Dental Care to Reduce Aspiration Pneumonia Recurrence: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Aspiration pneumonia has a high recurrence rate, and oral care by dentists has been found effective in preventing its onset; however, this has not been evaluated using prospective studies. Therefore, we conducted a prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of professional oral care by dentists in reducing aspiration pneumonia recurrence in older adult patients.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated a dental oral care intervention, using a historical control group (control group).

Effect of poor oral health status at hospital admission on in-hospital outcomes of older patients with aspiration pneumonia.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of oral health status at admission on in-hospital outcomes and how it varies during hospitalization in older patients with aspiration pneumonia.

Methods: This prospective cohort study involved patients aged ≥ 65 years who were admitted to an acute care hospital with a diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia. The patients' basic health information, length of hospital stay (LOS), and oral health assessment tool (OHAT), functional oral intake scale (FOIS), pneumonia severity index, and clinical frailty scale scores were recorded.

Efficacy and safety of lascufloxacin for nursing- and healthcare-associated pneumonia: A single-arm, open-label clinical trial.

Background: Nursing- and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP) constitutes most of the pneumonia in elderly patients including aspiration pneumonia in Japan. Lascufloxacin (LSFX) possesses broad antibacterial activity against respiratory pathogens, such as Streptococcus spp. And anaerobes inside the oral cavity.

"Diagnose, Treat, and SUPPORT". Clinical competencies in the management of older adults with aspiration pneumonia: a scoping review.

Background: Aspiration pneumonia in older adults is increasingly common, with a high care burden and morbidity. However, clinical competencies in its management have not been developed, and healthcare professionals struggle on how to care for these patients with multimodal treatment needs. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review to investigate what is known about the desired clinical competencies for the management of older adults with aspiration pneumonia, to utilise in clinical practice, education, and future research.

Effectiveness of a computerized clinical decision support system for prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Glucocorticoids are widely used for a variety of diseases, but the prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is sometimes neglected. Therefore, the effectiveness of a computerized clinical decision support system (CDSS) to improve the performance rate of preventive care for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis was evaluated. We conducted a prospective cohort study of outpatients who used glucocorticoids for three months or longer and who met the indication for preventive care based on a guideline.

Effectiveness of Messenger RNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccines Against Symptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections During the Delta Variant Epidemic in Japan: Vaccine Effectiveness Real-time Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 (VERSUS).

Background: Although high vaccine effectiveness of messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines has been reported in studies in several countries, data are limited from Asian countries, especially against the Delta (B.1.617.