An adult Japanese man who had just returned from Thailand developed dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). A primary infection of dengue virus (DENV) was confirmed, specifically DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2), on the basis of the detection of the virus genome, a significant increase in the neutralizing antibody and the isolation of DENV-2. DHF is often observed following a secondary infection from another serotype of dengue virus, particularly in children, but this case was a primary infection of DENV. Japan is a non-endemic country for dengue disease. In fact, only Japanese encephalitis (JE) is known to be a member of the endemic flavivirus family. In this study, IgG antibody against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was detected. JEV belongs to the family of dengue virus and prevails in Japan, particularly Kyushu. Among many risk factors for the occurrence of DHF, a plausible candidate could be a cross-reactive antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) mechanism caused by JEV antibody. This indicates that most Japanese travelers who living in dengue non-endemic areas, particularly Kyushu, should be aware of the occurrence of DHF.

　　Case: A 62-year-old woman underwent high anterior resection and partial lobectomy for colon cancer and lung metastasis, respectively, and postoperative chemotherapy. During the follow-up period, she visited the Department of Otolaryngology at our hospital, complaining of expectoration of a mass. Laryngeal fiberscopy showed no abnormality, but thoracic computed tomography revealed nodular lesions protruding into the bronchial lumen. Bronchoscopy confirmed the presence of multiple granular nodules protruding from the bronchial wall. The nodules had a polyp-like appearance and were easily dissected or detached. Anti-cancer drug therapy was initiated for endobronchial metastases from colorectal cancer diagnosed in transbronchial biopsy. Conclusion: This was a rare case of endobronchial metastases that were discovered after expectoration of tumor masses. Bronchoscopic findings were extremely unusual, showing multiple tumors that were easily detached because of their extremely weak connection to the bronchial wall. The findings suggest that it is important to consider endobronchial metastasis from colorectal cancer and perform early diagnostic imaging and bronchoscopy when patients present with recurrent expectoration of masses after surgery for colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory surgery, including short-stay surgery, has become a common choice in clinical practice. For the success of ambulatory surgery, perioperative care with safe and effective anesthesia and postoperative analgesia, which can reduce the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), is essential. The effect of remifentanil on the occurrence and severity of PONV has not been thoroughly examined, particularly, in an ambulatory surgery setting. Here, we investigate whether remifentanil influences the occurrence and severity of PONV in a university hospital-based ambulatory unit. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 1,765 cases of patients who had undergone general anesthesia at our ambulatory surgery unit. Parameters, such as occurrence and severity of nausea, vomiting or retching, use of antiemetic drugs, amount of postoperative analgesic and patient satisfaction, were extracted from the records and analyzed between the groups that received and not received remifentanil. RESULTS: Within 565 patients of the RF group, 39 patients (6.6%) experienced nausea, 7 patients (1.2%) experienced vomiting or retching, and 10 patients (1.8%) were given antiemetic; in addition, the maximum VAS value for nausea was 12.1 mm. In 1,200 patients of the non RF group, 102 patients (8.5%) experienced nausea, 19 patients (1.6%) experienced vomiting or retching, and 34 patients (2.8%) were given antiemetic, and the maximum VAS value was 13.2 mm. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that remifentanil did not increase the occurrence of PONV in patients within the ambulatory surgery unit.
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Antiemetics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Patient Satisfaction ; Perioperative Care ; Piperidines ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Retrospective Studies ; Vomiting

A patient, an adultJapanese traveler who had just returned from Thailand, had developed denguehemorrhagic fever (DHF). A primary infection of dengue virus (DENV) wasconfirmed, in particular, DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2) via the detection of the virusgenome, a significant increase in its specific neutralizing antibody and the isolationof DENV-2. DHF is often observed following a secondary infection from another serotypeof dengue virus, particularly in children, but this case was a primaryinfection of DENV. Japan is a non-endemic country of dengue disease. Instead,only Japanese encephalitis (JE) is known to be an endemic flavivirus family. Inthis study, IgG antibody against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was detected.JEV belongs to the family of dengue virus and prevails in Japan, particularly inKyushu. Among many risk factors for the occurrence of DHF, a plausiblecandidate could be a cross-reactive antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)mechanism by JEV antibody. This indicates that most Japanese travelers, wholive in non-endemic areas of dengue, particularly in Kyushu, should payattention to the occurrence of DHF.

Introduction : We initiated an ambulatory care training program at five community hospitals in Nagasaki, including hospitals on remote islands, for the residents of Nagasaki University Hospital. We examined the educational effect of the ambulatory care training program in meeting the achievement targets for clinical training.
Methods : The study included all residents (n=49) working in Nagasaki University Hospital in 2012. Following completion of the ambulatory care training program, the residents answered a questionnaire on the number of patients and their symptoms, inaddition to a self-assessment, and assessment by their supervisor.
Results : The mean number of patients seen was 3.29 persons / training session. The number of symptoms to be encountered, which are established by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, was positively correlated with the total number of patients seen. Although residents initially had a low rating of self-assessment on diagnosis or treatment, this rating tended to increase with time. The gap in levels on assessment of history taking, diagnosis, or treatment by residents versus those by the supervisors reduced with time in the program.
Conclusion : Our ambulatory care training program is an effective program for meeting the achievement targets in clinical training for residents.

Purpose: Toxins produced by Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) can cause enteritis and diarrhea. Although the number of pediatric CDI cases is increasing, the clinical management of pediatric CDI, including patient characteristics and prognosis, remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the background and clinical course of patients with CDI and evaluate the reliability of diagnostic tests in a tertiary pediatric hospital in Japan. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of children diagnosed with CDI between 2011 and 2021 at the Saitama Children’s Medical Center in Saitama, Japan. Results: During the study period, 1,252 C. difficile antigen/toxin tests were performed, and 37 patients were diagnosed with CDI. The main underlying diseases among the patients were hematological and malignant disorders and gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (59.4%). Two patients (5.4%) had an unremarkable medical history. Among the 37 patients, 27 (73.0%) were immunocompromised, 25 (67.6%) had a history of antibiotic use within the past two months, and 6 (16.2%) were negative on the initial test but were positive on the second test. Finally, 28 patients (75.7%) required primary antibiotic therapy only, and two patients with IBD required additional antibiotic therapy as secondary treatment. Conclusion The number of pediatric patients with CDI is increasing. Both a comprehensive interview, including underlying diseases and history of antibiotic use, and an understanding of the features of clinical examinations should be emphasized to appropriately diagnose and treat CDI.

The patient was a 76-year-old woman who developed involuntary movements in both hands and gait disorder. Weakness in both lower limbs gradually worsened, and she was referred to our hospital. Neurological findings included spastic paraplegia, deep sensory disturbance, sensory ataxia, and bladder and bowel dysfunction. Approximately 4 months after the onset, she became unable to walk independently and had to use a walker. MRI showed a long spinal cord lesion extending from the cervical to thoracic spinal cord. Blood and spinal fluid samples tested positive for anti-human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) antibodies. Given these findings and subacute course, she was diagnosed with rapidly progressive HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM). High levels of neopterin and CXCL10 in the cerebrospinal fluid suggested high disease activity；thus, she underwent steroid pulse therapy followed by treatment with maintenance oral prednisolone in our convalescent rehabilitation ward. After approximately 3 months of muscle strength training, mainly for the trunk muscle and the proximal muscle of the lower limbs, and balance exercise, she was able to walk independently and her activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) improved；however, dysuria persisted. The use of clean intermittent self-catheterization instead of indwelling urethral catheter improved her quality of life (QOL). Although rapidly progressive HAM is generally associated with poor prognosis, steroid therapy combined with comprehensive rehabilitation treatment was effective in the present case.

The patient was a 76-year-old woman who developed involuntary movements in both hands and gait disorder. Weakness in both lower limbs gradually worsened, and she was referred to our hospital. Neurological findings included spastic paraplegia, deep sensory disturbance, sensory ataxia, and bladder and bowel dysfunction. Approximately 4 months after the onset, she became unable to walk independently and had to use a walker. MRI showed a long spinal cord lesion extending from the cervical to thoracic spinal cord. Blood and spinal fluid samples tested positive for anti-human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) antibodies. Given these findings and subacute course, she was diagnosed with rapidly progressive HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM). High levels of neopterin and CXCL10 in the cerebrospinal fluid suggested high disease activity；thus, she underwent steroid pulse therapy followed by treatment with maintenance oral prednisolone in our convalescent rehabilitation ward. After approximately 3 months of muscle strength training, mainly for the trunk muscle and the proximal muscle of the lower limbs, and balance exercise, she was able to walk independently and her activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) improved；however, dysuria persisted. The use of clean intermittent self-catheterization instead of indwelling urethral catheter improved her quality of life (QOL). Although rapidly progressive HAM is generally associated with poor prognosis, steroid therapy combined with comprehensive rehabilitation treatment was effective in the present case.

Objective：To investigate the physical functions of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT), and their association with physical activity before EVT.Methods：One hundred and one PAD patients underwent EVT. Physical functions were specified as grip strength, walking speed, and the weight ratio of knee extension isometric muscle strength (KEIS). We divided the patients into 3 groups, based on the amount of physical activity per week：(a) low activity (0 kcal/week：n＝52), (b) moderate activity (0 kcal to less than 500 kcal/week：n＝22), and (c) high activity (more than 500 kcal/week：n＝27). Physical activity data were collected using an international standardized physical activity questionnaire. A multivariate regression analysis (cumulative logit model) was used to evaluate the association between physical activity (low activity, moderate activity, high activity) and KEIS＜0.4 kgf/kg.Results：The averages of the physical functions were：grip strength (kg；Men 28.1, Women 16.6), walking speed (m/s；Men 1.10, Women 0.96), KEIS (kgf/kg；Men 0.42, Women 0.28). The prevalence of KEIS＜0.4 kgf/kg was 56.4％ (n＝57). KEIS＜0.4 kgf/kg was not significantly different between low and moderate activity groups (Odds：0.99, p＝0.98). However, KEIS＜0.4 kgf/kg was significantly different between low and high activity groups (Odds：5.02, p＝0.007).Conclusion：Physical functions were lower in PAD patients undergoing EVT than in healthy adults of the same age, and KEIS was related to physical activity before EVT.

Objective：To investigate the physical functions of peripheral arterial disease (PAD）patients undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT), and their association with physical activity before EVT.Methods：One hundred and one PAD patients underwent EVT. Physical functions were specified as grip strength, walking speed, and the weight ratio of knee extension isometric muscle strength (KEIS). We divided the patients into 3 groups, based on the amount of physical activity per week：(a) low activity (0 kcal/week：n＝52), (b）moderate activity (0 kcal to less than 500 kcal/week：n＝22), and (c) high activity (more than 500 kcal/week：n＝27). Physical activity data were collected using an international standardized physical activity questionnaire. A multivariate regression analysis (cumulative logit model) was used to evaluate the association between physical activity (low activity, moderate activity, high activity) and KEIS＜0.4 kgf/kg.Results：The averages of the physical functions were：grip strength (kg；Men 28.1, Women 16.6), walking speed (m/s；Men 1.10, Women 0.96), KEIS (kgf/kg；Men 0.42, Women 0.28). The prevalence of KEIS＜0.4 kgf/kg was 56.4％ (n＝57). KEIS＜0.4 kgf/kg was not significantly different between low and moderate activity groups (Odds：0.99, p＝0.98). However, KEIS＜0.4 kgf/kg was significantly different between low and high activity groups (Odds：5.02, p＝0.007).Conclusion：Physical functions were lower in PAD patients undergoing EVT than in healthy adults of the same age, and KEIS was related to physical activity before EVT.