An Elderly Patient Developed Ulcerative Colitis after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

An 86-year-old man presented to our hospital with symptoms of diarrhea and bloody stool, which had manifested two weeks after receiving his third severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mRNA vaccination. Colonoscopy revealed diffuse, rough-surfaced mucosa extending from the ascending colon to the rectum. Despite attempting probiotic treatment, the patient's condition did not improve, leading to admission.

Short-latency reaction time and accuracy are impaired in patients with cirrhosis: An international multicenter retrospective study.

Aim: The inability to quickly react to an external event can lead to an increased risk for accidents (e.g., falls, car crashes) in patients with cirrhosis.

Impact of infection control measures on the related costs and the amount of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents used in a hospital: A time-series analysis.

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) worsen patient prognoses and increase medical costs. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), which involves appropriate use of antimicrobial agents and antiseptics, may be beneficial for addressing the issue of HAIs. In hospitals, an infection control team (ICT) plays an important role on the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents and antiseptics based on AMS.

Cost-effectiveness analysis and effectiveness of pharmacist-managed outpatient clinics in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is involved in many upper gastrointestinal diseases such as peptic ulcers and gastric cancers. In this study, we compared the cost-effectiveness of lansoprazole and vonoprazan in H. pylori eradication therapy and examined the effectiveness of pharmacist-managed outpatient clinics.

Economic evaluation of infection control activities.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections by drug-resistant bacteria affect a patient's prognosis. Infection control activities at medical institutions in Japan are increasingly focused on the threat from these bacteria.

Aim: To undertake a full cost analysis that included the costs of consumables and labour required for infection control activities.

Impact of 5-fluorouracil metabolizing enzymes on chemotherapy in patients with resectable colorectal cancer.

Although 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an important drug for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment, no useful biomarker is currently available to predict treatment response. Since 5-FU is converted into active or inactive forms by orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) or dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), a correlation between these enzymes and response to 5-FU has been suggested. However, such a correlation has not been investigated prospectively.

Inhibitory effects of carbon dioxide insufflation on pneumoperitoneum and bowel distension after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Aim: To evaluate the inhibitory effects of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) insufflation on pneumoperitoneum and bowel distension after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).

Methods: A total of 73 consecutive patients who were undergoing PEG were enrolled in our study. After eliminating 13 patients who fitted our exclusion criteria, 60 patients were randomly assigned to either CO(2) (30 patients) or air insufflation (30 patients) groups.

The Effects of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy on Quality of Life in Patients With Dementia.

Background: To examine the effects of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) on quality of life (QOL) in patients with dementia.

Methods: We retrospectively included 53 Japanese community and tertiary hospitals to investigate the relationship between the newly developed PEG and consecutive dementia patients with swallowing difficulty between Jan 1st 2006 and Dec 31st 2008. We set improvements in 1) the level of independent living, 2) pneumonia, 3) peroral intake as outcome measures of QOL and explored the factors associated with these improvements.

Retrospective analyses of complications associated with transcutaneous replacement of percutaneous gastrostomy and jejunostomy feeding devices.

Background: Feeding device replacement is often required for long-term maintenance after initial percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or jejunostomy placement. Although there are several case reports on serious complications of gastrostomy device replacement, there are few reports of an overall analysis of the complications associated with feeding device replacement.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency and variety of complications of transcutaneous replacement of feeding devices.

Predominant copper deficiency during prolonged enteral nutrition through a jejunostomy tube compared to that through a gastrostomy tube.

Background & Aims: Trace element deficiencies are known to occur during long-term enteral nutrition feeding. We compared the serum concentrations of trace elements between patients treated with gastrostomy and those treated with jejunostomy.

Methods: Our subjects were 36 patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG group) and 23 patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ group) and were maintained with enteral tube feeding for more than one year.

[Three cases of lung cancer detected after smoking cessation].

COPD is an independent risk factor for lung cancer. There is emerging evidence that chronic inflammation may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer as a tumor promoter. Cigarette smoke exponentially up-regulates the production of cytokines.

[A case of cardiac sarcoidosis occurring during combination therapy by IFN alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C].

A 72-year-old woman received combination therapy with peginterferon alpha and ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Approximately 40 weeks after starting treatment, she developed an eruption in the left inner canthus and sarcoidosis was diagnosed after biopsy of the eruption. Combination therapy was discontinued, and further detailed examinations revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, uveitis, and complete atrioventricular block.

Clinical investigation of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is sometimes reported as one of the serious complications. Our purpose was to clarify the cause of upper GI hemorrhage after PEG.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively investigated the causes of upper GI hemorrhage among a total of 416 patients out of 426 consecutive patients who underwent PEG in our institution, excluding 10 patients who showed upper GI tumors on PEG placement.

Inhibition of gastroesophageal reflux by semi-solid nutrients in patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Background: Aspiration is one of the major complications after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). The administration of semi-solid nutrients by means of gastrostomy tube has recently been reported to be effective in preventing aspiration pneumonia. The effects of semi-solid nutrients on gastroesophageal reflux, intragastric distribution, and gastric emptying were evaluated.