Purpose: A change in diagnosis from ulcerative colitis (UC) to Crohn's disease (CD) has been reported in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease; however, only a few clinical characteristics and predictors of this diagnostic change have been reported. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with UC who underwent a change in diagnosis to CD and identify variables associated with the change. Methods: The medical records of pediatric patients with UC who were followed up at the National Center for Child Health and Development between 2006 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data on disease phenotype, laboratory parameters, endoscopic findings, and treatment of patients whose diagnosis changed to CD (cCD) were compared to those of patients whose diagnosis remained UC (rUC). Results: Among the 111 patients initially diagnosed with UC, 11 (9.9%) patients were subsequently diagnosed with CD during follow-up. There was no significant difference between the cCD and rUC groups in terms of sex, age at initial diagnosis, and the extent and severity of disease at initial diagnosis. Albumin and hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in the cCD group than in the rUC group. The proportion of patients who required biologics was significantly higher in the cCD group than in the rUC group (p<0.05). Conclusion Approximately 10% children initially diagnosed with UC were subsequently diagnosed with CD. Hypoalbuminemia and anemia at initial diagnosis and use of biologics could be predictors of this diagnostic change.

Purpose: A change in diagnosis from ulcerative colitis (UC) to Crohn's disease (CD) has been reported in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease; however, only a few clinical characteristics and predictors of this diagnostic change have been reported. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with UC who underwent a change in diagnosis to CD and identify variables associated with the change. Methods: The medical records of pediatric patients with UC who were followed up at the National Center for Child Health and Development between 2006 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data on disease phenotype, laboratory parameters, endoscopic findings, and treatment of patients whose diagnosis changed to CD (cCD) were compared to those of patients whose diagnosis remained UC (rUC). Results: Among the 111 patients initially diagnosed with UC, 11 (9.9%) patients were subsequently diagnosed with CD during follow-up. There was no significant difference between the cCD and rUC groups in terms of sex, age at initial diagnosis, and the extent and severity of disease at initial diagnosis. Albumin and hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in the cCD group than in the rUC group. The proportion of patients who required biologics was significantly higher in the cCD group than in the rUC group (p<0.05). Conclusion Approximately 10% children initially diagnosed with UC were subsequently diagnosed with CD. Hypoalbuminemia and anemia at initial diagnosis and use of biologics could be predictors of this diagnostic change.

Since late 2013 through March 2014, Japan experienced a rapid rise in measles cases. Here, we briefly report on the ongoing situation and share preliminarily findings, concerns and challenges and the public health actions needed over the coming months and years.

Measles is a notifiable disease in Japan based on nationwide case-based surveillance legally requiring physicians to report all clinically diagnosed and laboratory-confirmed cases within seven days, but preferably within 24 hours. After a large outbreak in 2007–2008 (more than 11 000 cases reported in 2008 alone) and a goal of elimination by April 2015, a catch-up programme using the bivalent measles-rubella (MR) vaccine was offered for grades seven and 12 (ages 12–13 and 17–18 years) from April 2008 through March 2013. During this period, there was an estimated 97% decline in measles notifications, and the cumulative number of reported cases has been steadily declining over the last five years (732 cases in 2009, 447 cases in 2010, 439 cases in 2011, 293 cases in 2012 and 232 cases in 2013). However, since late 2013 through March 2014, the country experienced a resurgence only a year after a large rubella outbreak.

A 57-year-old man presented with a one-month history of dyspnea. Computed tomography revealed a pulmonary embolism, and echocardiography revealed multiple linear floating thrombi in the right atrium. An urgent surgical thrombectomy was performed, and most of the thrombi in the right atrium and bilateral pulmonary arteries were removed under cardiopulmonary bypass. The thrombi in the right atrium adhered to the linear Chiari networks. The patient was treated with rivaroxaban uneventfully and subsequently discharged on postoperative day 26. Herein, we report a case of right atrial thrombi and pulmonary embolism likely augmented by the Chiari network, which was successfully treated with surgical thrombectomy.

Objectives: We compared cancer patients who were discharged home from inpatients hospices (Home), and who died at hospices (PCU) as a comparison group regarding patients’ quality of life, to clarify the patients’ experience after discharge home. Methods: We send self-reported questionnaires to bereaved families of cancer patients who were discharged home from 12 Japanese nation-wide hospices and died without readmission to the hospicies during Janually 2010 and August 2014. We used bereaved families’ data of patients who died at the same hospices during the same period of J-HOPE3 study. Results: We sent 495 questionnaires (returned 47.3%) and analyzed data of 188 as Home. The data of 759 bereaved families of J-HOPE3 study were also analyzed as PCU. In Good Death Inventory, Home was associated with higher score on some items (staying at favorite place, having pleasure, staying with families and friends, being valued as a person), and PCU was associated with higher score on being free from pain or other physical distress. Conclusions: Patients who were discharged home from inpatient hospices had good environmental QOL, but hospices may be better in palliation of symptoms.