Strengthening health systems during non-pandemic period: Toward universal health coverage in the pandemic agreement.

Reflecting the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global response was reviewed by the Independent Review Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. Based on the panel reports, the World Health Organization (WHO) member states decided to establish the intergovernmental negotiating body for drafting a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, aiming for approval at the 77 World Health Assembly in 2024 (May 27- June 1). Amidst this process, the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Japan (NCGM), as a global health organization focusing on health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries, from the perspective of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), provided technical inputs to the representatives of the Japanese government.

Age-specific prevalence of IgG against measles/rubella and the impact of routine and supplementary immunization activities: A multistage random cluster sampling study with mathematical modelling.

Background: Vietnam continues to have measles and rubella outbreaks following supplementary immunization activities (SIA) and routine immunization despite both having high reported coverage. To evaluate immunization activities, age-specific immunity against measles and rubella, and the number of averted Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) cases, must be estimated.

Methods: Dried blood spots were collected from 2091 randomly selected individuals aged 1-39 years.

Comparison between a rapid diagnostic test and dried blood spot-based immunoassay for hepatitis B surface antigen testing: Performance and cost implications in a population-based serosurvey in Vietnam.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the agreement between a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and a dried blood spot (DBS)-based electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) of hepatitis B surface antigen and to compare the costs of conducting serosurveys using RDTs and DBS in a field setting.

Methods: A serosurvey was conducted in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam in May 2019. Participants aged 1-39 years were recruited using a four-stage random sampling method and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen using an RDT kit (Alere Determine) and a DBS-based ECLIA.

Algorithm and hyperparameter optimizations for hetero-device classification by near-infrared spectra of falsified and substandard amoxicillin capsules.

In this work, we optimized classification algorithms and the hyperparameters for screening falsified and substandard amoxicillin capsules. The distribution of low-quality medical products is a serious problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been proposed as the first choice for a screening device.

Effectiveness of immunization activities on measles and rubella immunity among individuals in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess measles and rubella immunity by measuring virus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) prevalence among individuals and evaluate the effectiveness of recent supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) by comparing the antibody positivity rates of the SIA target age groups in 2015 with those in 2019 as measles and rubella are endemic in Papua New Guinea.

Methods: A cross-sectional study. The measles- and rubella-specific IgG levels of patients aged ≥1 year at two clinics in East Sepik province, Papua New Guinea were assessed with commercially available virus-specific IgG EIA kits.

Device-Independent Discrimination of Falsified Amoxicillin Capsules Using Heterogeneous Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Devices for Training and Testing of a Support Vector Machine.

The objective of this work is to demonstrate the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy for common screening of falsified medicines in the field by means of a device-independent universal discrimination approach. In order to provide a useful discrimination tool to protect people from low-quality medical products, not only is a low-cost and portable screening device necessary, but a reference library is also essential. The authors believe that a device-dependent reference library inhibits near-infrared spectroscopy from becoming a popular screening tool.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: A systematic review.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has been performed for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) or residual pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). We performed a systematic review to assess the efficacy and safety of BPA, especially compared to medical treatment or PEA.

Methods: We reviewed all studies investigating pre- and post-treatment pulmonary hemodynamics, mortality, or complications from three electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Japan Medical Abstracts Society) prior to February 2017.

The effects of pirfenidone in patients with an acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia.

Introduction: The prognosis of patients with an acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia (AE-IP) is poor. Pirfenidone (PFD) reduces the disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was evaluating whether the administration of PFD improved the outcomes of AE-IP.

Comparison of clinical and pathological features of lung lesions of systemic IgG4-related disease and idiopathic multicentric Castleman's disease.

Aims: The lung lesion [immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-L] of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a condition that occurs together with IgG4-RD and often mimics the lung lesion [idiopathic multicentric Castleman's disease (iMCD-L)] of idiopathic multicentric Castleman's disease (iMCD). Because no clinical and pathological studies had previously compared features of these diseases, we undertook this comparison with clinical and histological data.

Methods And Results: Nine patients had IgG4-L (high levels of serum IgG4 and of IgG4 cells in lung specimens; typical extrapulmonary manifestations).

Quality control in QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube for screening latent tuberculosis infection in health care workers.

QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube has been used for screening latent tuberculosis infection in newly employed health care workers in Japan. There have been a few studies concerning quality control. We retrospectively analysed QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube results in a hospital in Japan.

Predictive factors for the effect of pirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Pirfenidone is one of the anti-fibrotic drugs used for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Pirfenidone exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the influx of inflammatory cells. The purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in the baseline parameters in responsive and unresponsive patients, and to assess the clinical and radiological changes after pirfenidone therapy.

Efficacy of thrombomodulin for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia: a nonrandomized prospective study.

Purpose: Acute exacerbation (AE) is an important outcome of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhTM) is a new drug for the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation in Japan. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rhTM for AE of IPF/NSIP.

Estimation using the impulse oscillation system in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Background: Limitations in airflow are detected in some patients with sarcoidosis in association with a poor prognosis. The impulse oscillation system (IOS) is used to treat patients with obstructive lung disease, as it can sensitively detect increased airway resistance.

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of parameters obtained with IOS in patients with sarcoidosis.

Thrombomodulin for acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a proof of concept study.

Introduction: The mortality of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) is high. Anticoagulation therapy (recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhTM)) is recognized as a potential new strategy for treating disseminated intravascular coagulation in Japan. This preliminary study was to evaluate whether the coagulation factors increase or decrease in AE-IPF-patients, and whether the additional administration of rhTM for AE-IPF-patients has any beneficial effects on inflammatory mediators and activated coagulation.

Effect of lifestyle on asthma control in Japanese patients: importance of periodical exercise and raw vegetable diet.

Background: The avoidance of inhaled allergens or tobacco smoke has been known to have favorable effects on asthma control. However, it remains unclear whether other lifestyle-related factors are also related to asthma control. Therefore, a comprehensive study to examine the associations between various lifestyle factors and asthma control was conducted in Japanese asthmatic patients.

A case of yellow nail syndrome with dramatically improved nail discoloration by oral clarithromycin.

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with pneumonia and exacerbation of sinobronchial syndrome (SBS). She presented with yellow discoloration of the nail beds of all fingers and toes, and her nails were recognized as growing slowly. Chest X-ray revealed bronchiectasis in the bilateral lower lobe and bilateral pleural effusion.