Development and effectiveness of an educational program to foster psychological safety: A randomized controlled trial focusing on care workers in geriatric care facilities.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a program for improving interpersonal relationships to foster psychological safety among geriatric care workers. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 192 care workers in seven geriatric care facilities. Participants were divided into intervention or control groups; intervention groups attended a 60-minute program twice.

The usefulness of nuclear area in the diagnosis of high-grade urothelial carcinoma cells in voided urine cytology.

Objective: The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology considered the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic (N:C) ratio as the most important cytomorphological feature for detecting high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) cells. Few quantitative studies have been conducted on other features although quantitative studies on the N:C ratio have been reported. Therefore, this study quantitatively analysed important cytomorphological features in distinguishing benign reactive cells from HGUC cells.

Performance evaluation of whole genome metagenomics sequencing with the MinION nanopore sequencer: Microbial community analysis and antimicrobial resistance gene detection.

Recently, the human gut microbiota has been implicated in various diseases such as immunological and neuropsychiatric disorders, and comprehensive gut microbiota analysis by metagenomic analysis using next-generation sequencers has been attracting attention. In this study, we compared microbial communities of 16S rDNA metagenome sequencing (16S-meta) and whole genome metagenome sequencing (WG-meta) using the nanopore sequencer MinION and 16S-meta using the Illumina Miseq sequencer with simulated and fecal samples, and evaluated the ability of WG-meta to detect antimicrobial resistance genes. We used the commercial Microbial Community DNA Standard as the DNA standard and a simulated sample comprising 17 strains of 15 bacterial species.

Comparison of Microorganism Detection, Time to Positivity, and Time-Dependent Shift in Viable Bacterial Count from VersaTREK and BacT/ALERT 3D Blood Culture Systems.

Rapid positive blood culture reporting allows early and appropriate treatment of severe infections to improve patient prognosis. This study evaluated performance of the VersaTREK system with gas pressure detection and tornado stirring method and the conventional BacT/ALERT 3D system. Time to positivity (TTP) of simulated blood cultures without whole blood using 17 ATCC strains was faster with VersaTREK than BacT/ALERT 3D, averaging 6.

Rapid Detection of Carbapenemase-producing Genes by Multiplex Real-Time PCR with Melting Curve Analysis using a BD MAX™ Open System.

Recently, the global spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales has become a concern, and rapid detection methods are required. We have developed a rapid and inexpensive multiplex real-time PCR with melting curve analysis using the BD MAX™ system and evaluated it. We used 31 carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria ( group, 12; group, 6; group, 5; group, 3; group, 3; -like group, 1 strain; and group + , 1 strain), 10 AmpC-producing Gram-negative bacteria, and 10 ESBLproducing Gram-negative bacteria.

Association of women's empowerment with anaemia and haemoglobin concentration in children in sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel analysis.

We assessed the associations between women's empowerment and anaemia and haemoglobin concentration among children (6-59 months) in 31 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. We included 72,032 mother-child pairs from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2006 and 2019. A three-dimensional women's empowerment index (attitude towards violence, decision making and social independence) was constructed using principal components analysis, and associations between the index and any anaemia and Hb concentration were assessed using multilevel regression.

Evaluations of Funerals and Health Trajectories in the Second Year After Bereavement-The Ongoing Japan National Survey.

Our nationwide postal survey analyzing 190 responses from Japanese bereaved who had responded a year earlier found that funeral dissatisfaction during the second year after the funeral. Controverting previous research advocating participation in funeral planning, elderly bereaved spouses forced to decide about and/or pay for the funeral showed elevated grief as much as 2 years later. While not reaching levels diagnosed as prolonged, traumatic, or complicated grief, nevertheless one out of three of our bereaved sample showed continuing daily symptoms of grief from 14 to 24 months after their bereavement, with continued or increasing use of tranquillizers or antidepressants.

A case of a young boy with hyper-fibrinolysis associated with natural fibrin precipitates suspected to have occurred through a novel coagulation and fibrinolysis mechanism.

An 8-year-old Japanese boy with no underlying disease presented with severe intramuscular hematoma of the hip, and was admitted for a disseminated intravascular coagulation-like state with fibrinolytic dominance. Laboratory examinations revealed severe hyper-fibrinolysis with elevated markers, markedly shortened euglobulin clot lysis time, mildly decreased prothrombin, and severely decreased fibrinogen and factor XIII. Natural fibrin precipitates rapidly appeared in citrate-treated, ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic-treated, and heparin-treated samples, but not in argatroban-treated samples, indicating that the mechanism of thrombin and fibrin formation was Ca-independent.

Urinary Podocyte Count as a Potential Routine Laboratory Test for Glomerular Disease: A Novel Method Using Liquid-Based Cytology and Immunoenzyme Staining.

Introduction: This study investigated whether our urinary podocyte detection method using podocalyxin (PDX) and Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) immunoenzyme staining combined with liquid-based cytology can serve as a noninvasive routine laboratory test for glomerular disease.

Methods: The presence of PDX- and WT1-positive cells was investigated in 79 patients with glomerular disease and 51 patients with nonglomerular disease.

Results: The frequencies and numbers of PDX- and WT1-positive cells were significantly higher in the glomerular disease group than in the nonglomerular disease group.

Evaluation of the VITEK2 AST-XN17 card for the detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in isolates primarily producing metallo β-lactamase.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are not always resistant to carbapenem antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and can be difficult to detect. With the newly created VITEK2 AST-XN17 card, the types of antibiotics measured in AST can be increased. In this study, we evaluated the detectability of CPE using the results of AST with multiple antimicrobial agents with additional measurements of the AST-XN17 card.

Influence of gender on diaphragm thickness using a method for determining intima media thickness in healthy young adults.

Background: To clarify the differences in diaphragm thickness between male and female participants in healthy young adults with ultrasonography using the mean intima media thickness (IMT) method and to investigate the relationship between diaphragm thickness and respiratory pressure.

Methods: Twenty-nine healthy individuals (16 females and 13 males) participated in the study. Diaphragm thickness was measured at total lung capacity (TLC) and at functional residual capacity (FRC) in each participant.

Mourners' Dissatisfaction with Funerals May Influence Their Subsequent Medical/Welfare Expenses-A Nationwide Survey in Japan.

Japan's super-aged mortality rate bereaves millions of people annually, threatening the mental health of the bereaved population. Previous research suggests that participation in satisfying funeral rituals can protect or improve the health of a bereaved population-but pandemic restrictions threaten traditional funeral assemblies. To determine how bereaved mourners' mental health-and consequent dependence upon medical, pharmaceutical, or social services-are affected by funerals and the aspects of funerals most likely to cause satisfaction or dissatisfaction, we conducted an anonymous nationwide survey across Japan.

Expectations of respiratory physicians from psychologists in palliative care for patients with non-cancer respiratory diseases.

Background: Psychological symptoms are common in patients with non-malignant respiratory disease (NMRD). Psychologists can likely play a role in NMRD palliative care. We aimed to explore the expectations of respiratory physicians from psychologists in NMRD palliative care.

A case of pyogenic spondylitis caused by Paludibacteriumpurpuratum.

Paludibacterium purpuratum was first reported as a Gram stain-negative, curved, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from a wetland soil in 2016. We report the first case in the world, to our knowledge, of pyogenic spondylitis caused by P. purpuratum.

Orotic acid protects pancreatic β cell by p53 inactivation in diabetic mouse model.

Impairment of pancreatic β cells is a principal driver of the development of diabetes. Restoring normal insulin release from the β cells depends on the ATP produced by the intracellular mitochondria. In maintaining mitochondrial function, the tumor suppressor p53 has emerged as a novel regulator of metabolic homeostasis and participates in adaptations to nutritional changes.

p53 expression in repair/reactive renal tubular cells: A potential pitfall leading to a false-positive diagnosis of urine cytology.

Background: p53 immunostaining is routinely used as a surrogate marker for TP53 mutational status. In urine cytology, p53 immunocytochemistry is reportedly useful in detecting urothelial carcinoma cells as well as in improving the detection sensitivity and specificity. However, to the best of our knowledge, p53 expression in repair/reactive renal tubular cells (RRTCs) from urine cytologic specimens has not been assessed to date.

Measuring serum prothrombin in patients treated with warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants.

Background: Warfarin therapy influences generation of γ-carboxyglutamyl (Gla) residues in prothrombin, causing reduced coagulation activity. It will leave such inactive prothrombin in serum after clot formation, resulting in serum prothrombin constituting total inactive prothrombin in these patients.

Methods: An ELISA was developed to measure biologically inactive prothrombin in serum, and applied to serum from warfarin therapy causing a decrease in Gla residues or direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy as its contrast.

Genomic Characterization of ESBL- and Carbapenemase-Positive Enterobacteriaceae Co-harboring in Japan.

Worldwide spread of Enterobacteriaceae resistant to colistin, a polypeptide antibacterial drug for last-resort treatment of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) infections, is concerning. This study aimed to elucidate colistin MICs and molecular characteristics of to of ESBL-producing (ESBL-Ec) and CPE in Japan and clarify the genomic structure of strains harboring genes (especially ). This study included 168 ESBL-Ec and 126 CPE strains isolated at Japanese medical facilities.

Nosocomial infections caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus in a Japanese general hospital and molecular genetic analysis.

Introduction: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is a rare bacterium in Japan, but an outbreak due to nosocomial transmission in medical facilities has been reported in recent years. Here, we report the outbreak of vanA vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) in multiple wards of Nara Prefectural General Medical Center in 2019 and results of the molecular epidemiology analysis.

Methods: An aggressive screening program was conducted after the first VREfm was detected in a patient in the A ward.

Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein in Cancer and Diabetes.

Thioredoxin-interacting protein (Txnip) is an α-arrestin protein that acts as a cancer suppressor. Txnip is simultaneously a critical regulator of energy metabolism. Other alpha-arrestin proteins also play key roles in cell biology and cancer.

Comparison of the performance of three carbapenem inactivation methods for the detection of carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacilli.

Introduction: The carbapenem inactivation method test (CIM) was developed as a method for detecting carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli, and the modified CIM (mCIM) was recommended by the CLSI for as an improved method in M100-S27. However, few studies have evaluated the influence of bacterial species and genotype on its sensitivity and specificity. In this study, we evaluate the performance of these improved modified CIM methods with mCIM.

Evaluation of five Legionella urinary antigen detection kits including new Ribotest Legionella for simultaneous detection of ribosomal protein L7/L12.

Urinary antigen tests are a widely used rapid diagnostic method for Legionella pneumonia. However, conventional urinary antigen tests are unable to detect anything other than Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. The Ribotest Legionella (Ribotest) can detect all serogroups by using antibodies recognizing L.

Reference intervals of red blood cell parameters and platelet count for healthy adults in Japan.

Although it is known that red blood cell (RBC) parameters and platelet count depend on ethnicity and sex, their reference intervals in healthy Asian populations are limited. The aim of this study was to establish reference intervals for RBC parameters and platelet count for healthy adults in Japan. A total of 750 healthy adults (447 women and 303 men; median age 40 years (18-67 years) at seven Japanese centers who participated in regular medical checkups entered this study.