Determining the prevalence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in manure of dairy lagoons.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of microbial pathogens in manure of dairy lagoons in California.

Methods And Results: To determine pathogens in dairy manure stored in anaerobic lagoons of dairy farm, an extensive field study was conducted across California to sample manure from 20 dairy farms. Samples were analyzed to determine the prevalence of indicator Escherichia coli, Shiga toxin producing E.

Two Cases of Exacerbation of Asthma during Treatment with Enfortumab Vedotin.

Enfortumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate against nectin-4 that is recently being used in the management of patients with urothelial carcinoma. The common adverse events include rashes, peripheral neuropathy, and hyperglycemia. Only a few cases of associated respiratory symptoms have been reported.

Relationship between the Responsiveness of Amyloid β Protein to Platelet Activation by TRAP Stimulation and Brain Atrophy in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 DM is a risk factor for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), and is associated with brain atrophy. Amyloid β protein (Aβ) deposition in the brain parenchyma is implicated in the neurodegeneration that occurs in AD. Platelets, known as abundant storage of Aβ, are recognized to play important roles in the onset and progression of AD.

Regular intake of cow's milk with oral immunotherapy improves statures of children with milk allergies.

Background: Children who avoid cow's milk (CM) because of food allergy may show disturbed growth. Calcium insufficiency, in particular, was reported among those who completely avoided dairy products. We retrospectively examined whether oral immunotherapy (OIT) affected the stature of patients who had completely avoided CM owing to their severe CM allergy.

＜Editors' Choice＞ Renewed Japanese spirometric reference variables and risk stratification for postoperative outcomes in COPD patients with resected lung cancer.

Although the lower limit of normal (LLN) of FEV1/FVC detects at-risk patients for postoperative outcomes among Japanese chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with resected lung cancer, there was a lack of a Japanese reference equation to calculate the LLN of FEV1/FVC. Renewed Japanese spirometric reference variables might enable us to verify clinical impact of the LLN of FEV1/FVC among the Japanese population. To evaluate the clinical impact of the LLN of FEV1/FVC by using this renewed reference, data were retrospectively analyzed from 609 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients who had undergone thoracic surgery between 2006 and 2011.

Thin-section computed tomography-determined usual interstitial pneumonia pattern affects the decision-making process for resection in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients: a retrospective study.

Background: There is only limited information on the impact of thin-section computed tomography (TSCT)-determined usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern in the decision-making for resection in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, data were reviewed from 499 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients who received bronchoscopy between 2010 and 2014. The clinical impact of TSCT-determined UIP pattern on the decision-making process for resection in this cohort was evaluated.

Subclinical Manic Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have varied comorbidities. With regard to comorbidity, there has been increasing interest in bipolar disorder (BP) in children. However, the prevalence of BP with ASD has varied because of the methodological differences used.

Heated egg yolk challenge predicts the natural course of hen's egg allergy: a retrospective study.

Background: Children do not always outgrow hen's egg allergies in early childhood. Because egg yolks are less allergenic than egg whites, we performed an oral food challenge with heated egg yolk slightly contaminated with egg white (EYSEW OFC) in infants allergic to hen's egg. We hypothesized that the EYSEW OFC results would predict the egg allergy's natural course.

Factors influencing sustainable efficacy of smoking cessation treatment with varenicline beyond nine months.

Pharmacological therapies play an important role in the success of interventions for smoking cessation; however, long-term follow-up studies with analysis of influencing factors are scarce. We examined the sustainable effects of smoking cessation therapy with varenicline, beyond nine months as well as the factors influencing effectiveness. Our sample consisted of 193 patients (126 men [68.

High Prevalence of Non-psychotic Delusions in Children with High-functioning Pervasive Develonmental Disorder.

Background: Non-psychotic delusions are reported to be associated with depression and anxiety. When these delusions occur in high-functioning pervasive developmental disorder (HFPDD) children, they are often misdiagnosed as schizophrenia and have consequently been studied less. This study has three goals: to investigate the prevalence of non-psychotic delusions in HFPDD children, to test the hypothesis that HFPDD children are more likely to have non-psychotic delusions than non-HFPDD children, and to test the hypothesis that non-psychotic delusions are associated with depression and anxiety.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures as a manifestation of psychological distress associated with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are observable changes in behavior or consciousness that are similar to epileptic seizures but are not associated with electrophysiologic changes. PNES occur in children with underlying psychological distress and are especially frequent in those with epilepsy. Because PNES are heterogeneous, comprehensive treatment tailored to each patient is required to reduce psychosocial stress.

New approach for food allergy management using low-dose oral food challenges and low-dose oral immunotherapies.

A number of studies have suggested that a large subset of children (approximately 70%) who react to unheated milk or egg can tolerate extensively heated forms of these foods. A diet that includes baked milk or egg is well tolerated and appears to accelerate the development of regular milk or egg tolerance when compared with strict avoidance. However, the indications for an oral food challenge (OFC) using baked products are limited for patients with high specific IgE values or large skin prick test diameters.

A Single-Center, Case-Control Study of Low-Dose-Induction Oral Immunotherapy with Cow's Milk.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose-induction oral immunotherapy (OIT) with 3 ml of milk, which is a lower target volume than is conventionally used.

Methods: Children aged ≥5 years with milk allergies [confirmed by oral food challenge (OFC) against 3 ml of milk] were enrolled. The OIT group was admitted to the hospital for 5 days for build-up.

Better management of wheat allergy using a very low-dose food challenge: A retrospective study.

Background: Low-dose reactive wheat-allergic children are at a high risk of a positive oral food challenge (OFC). The present study aimed to evaluate whether the results of a very low-dose (VL) OFC would contribute to better wheat allergy management in this population.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed wheat-allergic subjects who underwent a VL OFC with 2 g of udon noodles (equivalent to 53 mg of wheat protein) and had a previous allergic reaction to <15 g of udon noodles (equivalent to 400 mg of wheat protein) within 2 years before the OFC.

Better management of cow's milk allergy using a very low dose food challenge test: a retrospective study.

Background: Low dose reactive cow's milk (CM) allergic children are at high risk of persistent CM allergy and a positive oral food challenge (OFC). The present study aimed to evaluate if the results of a very low dose (VL) OFC with these children contributes to better management of CM allergy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed subjects with CM allergy who underwent a VL OFC with 3 mL heated CM and had a previous allergic reaction to <25 mL heated CM in the 2 years before the OFC.

Sensory hypersensitivity in children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorder.

Background: Studies have shown that children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) have high rates of sensory hypersensitivity. In addition, a few recent studies suggested that sensory hypersensitivity was related to anxiety or depression. However, most studies had methodological limitations because they included children with mental retardation and did not examine broadband psychopathology.

Psychiatric comorbidity in children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorder.

Background: In previous studies for children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), the prevalence for psychiatric comorbidities has varied because of their methodological differences. In this research, our PDD subjects were strictly limited by age and IQ scores, and we utilized a semi-structured interview to diagnose their coexisting disorders. The purpose of this study is to identify reliable prevalence and types of psychiatric comorbidities in children with high-functioning PDD (HFPDD).

Immunotherapy in food allergy: towards new strategies.

Allergen avoidance is the standard treatment for managing food allergies. Complete avoidance is difficult, and accidental exposure often occurs. Immunotherapy is a significant focus for treating food allergies, and oral immunotherapy (OIT) appears to be particularly effective in inducing desensitization.

Clinical studies in oral allergen-specific immunotherapy: differences among allergens.

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a significant focus of treatment of food allergy. OIT appears to be effective in inducing desensitization, however, patients receiving OIT frequently developmild/moderate symptoms during the therapy. It has not been clearly established whether the clinical tolerance induced by OIT resembles natural tolerance.

Clinical impact of prevalence and severity of COPD on the decision-making process for therapeutic management of lung cancer patients.

Background: Recent studies suggest that coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might be independently related to a worse prognosis for lung cancer. However, because data on the substantial prevalence of COPD and its severity in Asian lung cancer patients remain limited, clinical impact of prevalence and severity of COPD among the population has not been fully evaluated. Furthermore, patients with COPD often have comorbidities.

Anxiety in children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorder.

Background: Anxiety symptoms in children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) often appear to be not as severe as those in children with anxiety disorders or often appear to be the core features of PDD, and therefore, they do not meet the diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. In this study, we assessed anxiety broadly in line with dimensions of anxiety and not with an operational categorical diagnosis. The objective of this study was to reveal that children with high-functioning PDD have more anxiety than children in the general population.