Distribution of ticks and their possession of spotted fever group Rickettsia in Ibaraki prefecture.

Introduction: Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a growing threat in Japan. However, distribution of ticks and their possession of human pathogens remain poorly understood.

Methods: In the present study, we collected 3477 ticks at 6 remote, woodland sites in Ibaraki prefecture between May 23 and November 4, 2021, and investigated the distribution and the possession of spotted fever group Rickettia (SFGR).

Development of a mobile laboratory system in hydrogen fuel cell buses and evaluation of the performance for COVID-19 RT-PCR testing.

We designed and developed two new types of hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) buses (motorcoach and minibus) with a mobile laboratory system. Feasibility studies have been performed for mobile laboratory testing, particularly for the laboratory performance of COVID-19 RT-PCR (PCR). We evaluated the driving range capability, PCR sample size capacity, turnaround time (TAT), and analytical performance for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Analytical performance of the rapid qualitative antigen kit for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 during widespread circulation of the Omicron variant.

Introduction: Rapid qualitative antigen testing is essential in the clinical management of COVID-19. However, most evaluations of antigen tests have been performed before the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Methods: This prospective observational study evaluated QuickNavi-COVID19 Ag, a rapid antigen detection test between December 2021 and February 2022 in Japan, using real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR as a reference.

Clinical Performance of the cobas Liat SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B Assay in Nasal Samples.

Background And Objective: Point-of-care type molecular diagnostic tests have been used for detecting SARS-CoV-2, although their clinical utility with nasal samples has yet to be established. This study evaluated the clinical performance of the cobas Liat SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B (Liat) assay in nasal samples.

Methods: Nasal and nasopharyngeal samples were collected and were tested using the Liat, the cobas 6800 system and the cobas SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B (cobas), and a method developed by National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan (NIID).

A prospective evaluation of diagnostic performance of a combo rapid antigen test QuickNavi-Flu+COVID19 Ag.

Introduction: Since respiratory sample collection is an uncomfortable experience, simultaneous detection of pathogens with a single swab is preferable. We prospectively evaluated the clinical performance of a newly developed antigen test QuickNavi-Flu+COVID19 Ag (Denka Co., Ltd.

A prospective clinical evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of the SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test using anterior nasal samples.

Introduction: The diagnostic accuracy of antigen testing of anterior nasal (AN) samples for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has not been evaluated in the Japanese population. This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the Roche SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test (rapid antigen test) using AN samples.

Methods: Two AN samples and one nasopharyngeal (NP) sample were collected from individuals undergoing screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A case of pneumonia in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome who showed eosinophilia and an increased serum TARC/CCL17 level.

pneumonia (PCP) in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) shows eosinophilic pneumonia like condition. The detailed mechanisms how AIDS-associated PCP causes eosinophilic pneumonia has not been elucidated, but it has been suggested that beta-D-glucan, a major component of , and T helper type 2 immunity may be involved in the mechanism of eosinophilia in the lung. We experienced the case who developed an eosinophilic pneumonia-like condition in a patient with AIDS-associated PCP, whose clinical course indicated the importance of TARC/CCL17 but not IL-4 and IL-5 as involved in eosinophilia caused by HIV and infection.

The evaluation of the utility of the GENECUBE HQ SARS-CoV-2 for anterior nasal samples and saliva samples with a new rapid examination protocol.

Introduction: GENECUBE® is a rapid molecular identification system, and previous studies demonstrated that GENECUBE® HQ SARS-CoV-2 showed excellent analytical performance for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) with nasopharyngeal samples. However, other respiratory samples have not been evaluated.

Methods: This prospective comparison between GENECUBE® HQ SARS-CoV-2 and reference real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 using anterior nasal samples and saliva samples.

Evaluation and clinical implications of the time to a positive results of antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2.

Introduction: Antigen tests for severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 sometimes show positive lines earlier than their specified read time, although the implication of getting the results at earlier time is not well understood.

Methods: We prospectively collected additional nasopharyngeal samples from patients who had already tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription PCR. The swab was used for an antigen test, QuickNavi™-COVID19 Ag, and the time periods to get positive results were measured.

Diagnostic performance of a novel digital immunoassay (RapidTesta SARS-CoV-2): A prospective observational study with nasopharyngeal samples.

Introduction: Digital immunoassays are generally regarded as superior tests for the detection of infectious disease pathogens, but there have been insufficient data concerning SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated a novel digital immunoassay (RapidTesta SARS-CoV-2). Two nasopharyngeal samples were simultaneously collected for antigen tests and Real-time RT-PCR.

Prospective analytical performance evaluation of the QuickNavi™-COVID19 Ag for asymptomatic individuals.

Introduction: Antigen testing may help screen for and detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in asymptomatic individuals. However, limited data regarding the diagnostic performance of antigen tests for this group are available.

Methods: We used clinical samples to prospectively evaluate the analytical and clinical performance of the antigen test QuickNavi™-COVID19 Ag.

The evaluation of a novel digital immunochromatographic assay with silver amplification to detect SARS-CoV-2.

Introduction: Rapid antigen tests are convenient for diagnosing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); however, they have lower sensitivities than nucleic acid amplification tests. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of Quick Chaser Auto SARS-CoV-2, a novel digital immunochromatographic assay that is expected to have higher sensitivity than conventional antigen tests.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted between February 8 and March 24, 2021.

A Prospective Evaluation of the Analytical Performance of GENECUBE HQ SARS-CoV-2 and GENECUBE FLU A/B.

Background: Molecular tests are the mainstay of detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, their accessibility can be limited by the long examination time and inability to evaluate multiple samples at once.

Objective: This study evaluated the analytical performance of the newly developed rapid molecular assays GENECUBE HQ SARS-CoV-2 and GENECUBE FLU A/B.

Infective endocarditis caused by Nocardia nova: A case report and literature review of nocardial endocarditis.

Although a variety of microorganisms have caused infective endocarditis, Nocardia species have rarely been reported as a causative agent of the disease. We describe a case of nocardial endocarditis, occurring to a 22-year-old Japanese woman during long-term corticosteroid therapy for adult-onset Still's disease and diagnosed after the rupture of cerebral mycotic aneurysm. Echocardiography showed that the causative organism, isolated from the blood and identified as Nocardia nova with an analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA sequences, affected the posterior papillary muscle of the left ventricle.

Characteristics of invasive Acinetobacter infection: A multicenter investigation with molecular identification of causative organisms.

We examined microbiological and clinical characteristics of invasive Acinetobacter infection occurring in four hospitals located in the Minami-Ibaraki Area. Glucose-non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli isolated from the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid in independent cases between 2001 and 2014 were consecutively collected and those possibly to be Acinetobacter species were re-identified using molecular methods. Of 158 strains identified as Acinetobacter species, 155 were classified into 16 officially designated species, including 42 Acinetobacter pittii and 40 Acinetobacter baumannii.

Pericarditis caused by Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus associated with ingestion of raw beef liver.

Campylobacter fetus is an organism residing primarily in the gastrointestinal tracts of cattle and sheep and transmitting to humans through ingestion of contaminated food products or surface water. The organism has caused various extraintestinal infections but, to date, purulent pericarditis due to the organism has rarely been described. We report a case of purulent pericarditis due to C.

Fanconi syndrome-like tubular acidosis associated with a tenofovir-containing antiretroviral regimen in a human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected Asian woman.

A 49-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected Asian woman developed Fanconi syndrome-like tubular acidosis while taking tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine plus lopinavir/ritonavir for 9 months. All of her symptoms and abnormalities in laboratory tests resolved completely after switching TDF/emtricitabine to zidovudine and lamivudine. We consider that TDF caused symptomatic tubular acidosis in the present case, one of the few that has been reported in Japan to date.

An influenza virus replicon system in yeast identified Tat-SF1 as a stimulatory host factor for viral RNA synthesis.

Influenza viruses infect vertebrates, including mammals and birds. Influenza virus reverse-genetics systems facilitate the study of the structure and function of viral factors. In contrast, less is known about host factors involved in the replication process.