Two-Channel Portable Biopotential Recording System Can Detect REM Sleep Behavioral Disorder: Validation Study with a Comparison of Polysomnography.

Background: Sleep disorders are frequent nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Polysomnography (PSG) has been the gold standard for its assessment. However, it requires patients to stay overnight in a hospital or sleep center.

Direct comparison of Xpert Xpress, FilmArray Respiratory Panel, Lumipulse antigen test, and RT-qPCR in 165 nasopharyngeal swabs.

Background: The nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) and antigen test are approved diagnostic tests for COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to investigate the assay performance of two NAATs (Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 and FilmArray Respiratory Panel) and a quantitative antigen test (Lumipulse).

Methods: One hundred and sixty-five nasopharyngeal swabs were subjected to Xpert, FilmArray, Lumipulse, and RT-qPCR assays.

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura as a Hemorrhagic Versus Thrombotic Disease: An Updated Insight into Pathophysiological Mechanisms.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a blood disorder characterized by a low platelet count of (less than 100 × 10/L). ITP is an organ-specific autoimmune disease in which the platelets and their precursors become targets of a dysfunctional immune system. This interaction leads to a decrease in platelet number and, subsequently, to a bleeding disorder that can become clinically significant with hemorrhages in skin, on the mucous membrane, or even intracranial hemorrhagic events.

The balance of comprehensive coagulation and fibrinolytic potential is disrupted in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Coagulation and fibrinolytic mechanisms are enhanced in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19), but disturbances in the balance of both functions in COVID-19 patients remain unclear. We assessed global coagulation and fibrinolysis in plasma from 167 COVID-19 patients (mild/moderate/severe: 62/88/17, respectively) on admission using clot-fibrinolysis waveform analysis (CFWA). Maximum coagulation velocity (|min1|) and maximum fibrinolysis velocity (|FL-min1|) were expressed as ratios relative to normal plasma.

Trichilemmal cysts with proteinaceous material: A potential diagnostic pitfall.

Background: Cysts of the skin are observed frequently and their diagnoses are generally straightforward. However, atypical cystic lesions for which differentiation is indistinct have been noted.

Methods: We examined five cases of trichilemmal cyst with proteinaceous material (TCPM), which required differentiation from sweat duct/gland tumors.

BRAF Immunoexpression Can Be Intralesionally Heterogeneous but BRAF V600E Mutation Status Is Intralesionally Homogeneous and Interlesionally Concordant in Melanoma: A Study of 140 Lesions From 98 Patients.

This study sought to confirm the homogeneity of BRAF V600E mutation status in melanoma. BRAF immunohistochemistry was performed on 102 lesions from 60 patients of melanoma with BRAF V600E mutation and 38 negative-control melanoma lesions from 38 patients, both of which were confirmed by real-time PCR or the MassARRAY System. In the positive-control lesions, 9 lesions from 7 patients with preceding BRAF-inhibitor therapy were included.

The Role of , , and in the Regulation of the Class A Carbapenemase NmcA in .

Various carbapenemases have been identified in the Enterobacteriaceae. However, the induction and corresponding regulator genes of carbapenemase NmcA has rarely been detected in the complex (ECC). The NmcA-positive isolate ECC NR1491 was first detected in Japan in 2013.

Metabolomic analysis reveals potential biomarkers and the underlying pathogenesis involved in pneumonia.

Although previous studies have reported the use of metabolomics for infectious diseases, little is known about the potential function of plasma metabolites in children infected with (MP). Here, a combination of liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and random forest-based classification model was used to provide a broader range of applications in MP diagnosis. In the training cohort, plasma from 63 MP pneumonia children (MPPs), 37 healthy controls (HC) and 29 infectious disease controls (IDC) was collected.

Boosting Humoral Immunity from mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

The immune response to the primary (two-dose) series of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is very weak. We conducted a longitudinal observational study to compare the humoral response to a third, additional primary dose of mRNA vaccines between infection-naïve (IN-KTRs) and previously infected KTRs (PI-KTRs). Methods: We measured the levels of anti-spike (anti-s) IgG antibodies before and 14-21 days after the third dose and, in the secondary analysis, we compared the antibody response to BNT162b2 versus mRNA-1273.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 epidemic changed detection rates of other circulating respiratory pathogens in Japan.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has circulated worldwide and causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, infection control measures were taken, such as hand washing, mask wearing, and behavioral restrictions. However, it is not fully clear how the effects of these non-pharmaceutical interventions changed the prevalence of other pathogens associated with respiratory infections.

Artificial intelligence-based detection of aortic stenosis from chest radiographs.

Aims: We aimed to develop models to detect aortic stenosis (AS) from chest radiographs-one of the most basic imaging tests-with artificial intelligence.

Methods And Results: We used 10 433 retrospectively collected digital chest radiographs from 5638 patients to train, validate, and test three deep learning models. Chest radiographs were collected from patients who had also undergone echocardiography at a single institution between July 2016 and May 2019.

Effect of the introduction of a management bundle for blood culture collection.

Background: Inappropriate blood collection subjected to blood culture (BC) causes BC contamination and may complicate the diagnose is of infectious diseases. Therefore, we developed a bundle based on the guideline recommendations for appropriate blood collection and examined the effects of bundle introduction.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of BC samples to determine the contamination rates before and after introducing the BC bundle.

Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for molecular serotyping of Shigella flexneri Serotypes 2 and Xv.

Aims: This study developed and evaluated a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay to simply, rapidly and accurately identify Shigella flexneri serotypes 2 and Xv.

Methods And Results: The LAMP assay based on the O-antigen synthesis and modification genes of S. flexneri including gtrII, gtrX, opt and wzx was developed.

RASGRF1-rearranged Cutaneous Melanocytic Neoplasms With Spitzoid Cytomorphology: A Clinicopathologic and Genetic Study of 3 Cases.

Spitz neoplasms, according to 2018 WHO Blue Book, are morphologically defined by spindled and/or epithelioid melanocytes and genetically by either HRAS mutations or kinase gene fusions. The terminology "spitzoid" refers to lesions with similar morphology but with alternate or undefined genetic anomalies. Herein, we present 3 melanocytic neoplasms with a spitzoid cytomorphology, variable nuclear atypia, and harboring undescribed fusions involving RASGRF1.

Co-existence of BRAF V600E-mutated malignant melanoma and BRAF V600E-mutated Langerhans cell histiocytosis: A case report.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a neoplastic condition of Langerhans cells, and can be associated with other neoplasms, especially BRAF-mutant hematological tumors and papillary thyroid carcinoma. Here we present the first case of co-existing LCH and low cumulative sun damage (low-CSD) melanoma, both of which had a BRAF V600E mutation. A 49-year-old man had a 45 × 43 × 15 mm semi-pedunculated, pigmented tumor in his back but had no other systemic symptoms.

Recurrence of cervical intramedullary gliofibroma.

Introduction: Gliofibroma is a rare tumor that develops in the brain and spinal cord. Due to the rarity of its nature, its pathophysiology and appropriate treatment remain elusive. We report a case of intramedullary spinal cord gliofibroma that was surgically treated multiple times.

Characteristics of Cases with Poor Transcranial Motor-evoked Potentials Baseline Waveform Derivation in Spine Surgery: A Prospective Multicenter Study of the Monitoring Committee of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research.

Study Design: Prospective multicenter study.

Objective: The purpose of the study is to examine cases with poor baseline waveform derivation for all muscles in multichannel monitoring of transcranial motor-evoked potentials (Tc-MEPs) in spine surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is useful for identifying neurologic deterioration during spinal surgery.

Predictors of Humoral Response to mRNA COVID19 Vaccines in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Longitudinal Study-The COViNEPH Project.

Background: The efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is low. The main goal of this study was to analyze factors that may influence the humoral response to vaccination.

Methods: We analyzed the titer magnitude of IgG antibodies directed against spike (S)-SARS-CoV-2 antigen after the second dose of the mRNA vaccine in 142 infection naïve KTR (83 men, i.

Transcranial Motor-evoked Potential Alert After Supine-to-Prone Position Change During Thoracic Ossification in Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Surgery: A Prospective Multicenter Study of the Monitoring Committee of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research.

Study Design: A prospective, multicenter study.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of transcranial motor-evoked potentials (Tc-MEPs) during supine-to-prone position change for thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL).

Summary Of Background Data: Supine-to-prone position change might be a risk of spinal cord injury in posterior decompression and fusion surgeries for T-OPLL.

Validity of the Alarm Point in Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring of the Spinal Cord by the Monitoring Working Group of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study of 1934 Cases.

Study Design: Prospective multicenter cohort study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate an alarm point of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring () formulated by the Monitoring Working Group (WG) of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research (JSSR).

Summary Of Background Data: The Monitoring WG of the JSSR formulated an alarm point of IONM using transcranial electrical stimulation-muscle motor evoked potentials (Tc(E)-MEPs) and has conducted a prospective multicenter study.

LAMP-CRISPR-Cas12-based diagnostic platform for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex using real-time fluorescence or lateral flow test.

A CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection platform, termed LACD (loop-mediated isothermal amplification coupled with CRISPR-Cas12a-mediated diagnostic) has been developed. In the LACD system, the core primer used in conventional LAMP (forward inner primer or backward inner primer) was engineered to contain a PAM (protospacer adjacent motif) site (TTTT) at the linker region. As a result, the LAMP amplicons contained a specific PAM site for CRISPR-Cas12a recognition.

Robust Antibody Responses to the BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine Occur Within a Week After the First Dose in Previously Infected Individuals and After the Second Dose in Uninfected Individuals.

Background: Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 can trigger acquired immunity in infection-naïve individuals and offer a path toward ending the coronavirus disease pandemic that began in 2019. However, the kinetics of early antibody responses in vaccinated individuals remain poorly understood.

Method: We followed BNT162b2 mRNA-vaccinated health care workers (HCWs, N=108) including 103 infection-naïve and five previously infected individuals.