Fournier gangrene (FG) is a necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) of the perineum. Recent retrospective studies from quaternary centers suggest improved outcomes and a potentially less aggressive clinical course for FG than non-perineal NSTIs. However, comprehensive nationwide data remain limited.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (2016–2020) to compare outcomes between FG and non-perineal NSTIs. Adult patients undergoing surgical debridement with a diagnosis of FG or NSTI were identified using ICD-10 codes. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), hospital costs, and home discharge rates. Multivariable regression analyses adjusted for patient demographics, comorbidities, and hospital characteristics.

A total of 5,007 FG and 24,782 non-perineal NSTI patients were identified. Crude in-hospital mortality rates were 5.8% for FG and 5.4% for non-perineal NSTIs, with stable trends observed over five years. After adjustment, no significant difference in mortality was observed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.90–1.20). However, FG was associated with longer LOS (adjusted mean difference: 1.99 days; 95% CI: 1.53–2.46) and higher hospital costs ($37,809 higher; 95% CI: $29,540–$46,077). Home discharge rates were similar between groups (aOR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.89–1.05).

Despite similar mortality rates, FG hospitalizations were associated with increased LOS and higher costs compared to non-perineal NSTIs. These findings may suggest potential nationwide disparities in FG care quality, particularly outside specialized referral centers. Further research is needed to understand if standardized care pathways tailored to FG may optimize management and reduce resource utilization.

This study focused on exploring the relationship between antimicrobial use indicators, including the modified antibiotic heterogeneity index (mAHI), and the carbapenem susceptibility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Survey-based observational study conducted across multiple facilities.

Public community hospital institutions.

This survey was conducted in 15 community hospitals in Japan. Indicators, such as the defined daily doses (DDDs), days of therapy (DOTs), antibiotic heterogeneity index (AHI), and mAHI, were analyzed for P. aeruginosa carbapenem susceptibility using Spearman’s rank correlation. The predictive accuracies of the AHI and mAHI for carbapenem susceptibility were compared using DeLong’s test for the 2 correlated receiver operating characteristic curves.

No significant correlations were observed between DDDs or DOTs and carbapenem susceptibility. However, a significant correlation was observed between carbapenem susceptibility and the mAHI (r = 0.261, P = .02), which also demonstrated a higher predictive accuracy for high susceptibility rates than that of the AHI (area under the curve: 0.75 vs 0.58, p < .01). The optimal mAHI cutoff value for predicting 90% susceptibility was 0.765, with a sensitivity of 67.7% and specificity of 76.5%.

The mAHI may be a better predictor of carbapenem susceptibility than other commonly used indicators. This study underscores the utility of the mAHI as an effective indicator of antimicrobial usage patterns for managing carbapenem susceptibility in P. aeruginosa. Incorporating the mAHI into antimicrobial stewardship programs could enhance the effectiveness of antimicrobial interventions across diverse healthcare settings.

In addition to national nuclear disaster training, local training is conducted once a year to identify issues with training.

The facility is located in the urgent protective action planning zone (UPZ), an exposure medical facility was built in 2015 and has conducted four trainings so far. The fifth training was conducted this time to develop human resources (training), manage equipment and materials, receive medical teams, collaborate with the Advanced Radiation Medical Support Center, review manuals, and inform local residents.

There are currently eleven nurses registered as nuclear disaster response nurses at the facility, and two nurses participate in the national nuclear disaster training program each year. On the other hand, unlike physicians and other professionals, the number of nurses enrolled for reasons such as relocation has not increased. The facility also functions as a core hospital in the event of a disaster, and currently has about 30 nurses who are willing to be dispatched in the event of a disaster. It was found that even in core facilities for nuclear disaster response, awareness of nuclear disasters within the facilities is low and few personnel are willing to work there. Previous studies have shown that they are anxious about radiation, the possibility of late effects from low-dose exposure, and concerns about the genetic effects of exposure and its effects on themselves in nursing.

As a core facility for nuclear disasters, issues were reported on and identified through training, such as human resource development, management of materials and equipment, and review of manuals.

Japan is the only country to have experienced the atomic bombings and still has many nuclear power plants. In 2011, a nuclear power plant accident occurred during a major magnitude 9.0 earthquake, and there was a great deal of concern about radiation exposure medicine for the public. It is necessary to provide appropriate radiation exposure medicine.

The facility is located within the IAEA's UPZ, and in the event of an emergency, it is necessary to provide medical care for a large number of people exposed to radiation, so an advanced radiation exposure medical facility was built in 2015 (the surrounding population is approximately 300,000).

The basics of radiation exposure medicine are: 1) medical priority, 2) prevention of the spread of radioactive materials, and 3) protection of our responders from radiation exposure. Everything from whole body assessments, contamination examinations due to exposure, medical procedures (including advanced medical procedures), and decontamination were able to be performed. The facility is also equipped with WBC (whole body counter) that can assess internal exposure. A support system for other medical facilities was being developed in the region by forming a team that can respond to radiation exposure.

With the current system, not only radiation exposure medicine will be handled, but also CBRNE and other such services in the future. For this reason, repeated training and human resource development are very important.

Mycobacterium lentiflavum is a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium that is widely distributed in soil and water systems, but it is sometimes pathogenic to humans. Although cases of M. lentiflavum infections are rare, 22 isolates of M. lentiflavum were identified at a single hospital in Japan. We suspected a nosocomial outbreak; thus, we conducted transmission pattern and genotype analyses.

Cases of M. lentiflavum isolated at Kushiro City General Hospital in Japan between May 2020 and April 2021 were analyzed. The patient samples and environmental culture specimens underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Additionally, we retrospectively collected clinical data from patient medical records.

Altogether, 22 isolates of M. lentiflavum were identified from sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage samples. Clinically, the instances with M. lentiflavum isolates were considered contaminants. In the WGS analysis, 19 specimens, including 18 patient samples and 1 environmental culture from the hospital’s faucet, showed genetic similarity. The frequency of M. lentiflavum isolation decreased after we prohibited the use of taps where M. lentiflavum was isolated.

WGS analysis identified that the cause of M. lentiflavum pseudo-outbreak was the water used for patient examinations, including bronchoscopy.

It remains unclear whether a follow-up blood culture (FUBC) for gram-negative bacilli (GNB) bacteremia should be routinely or selectively performed. To evaluate the value of the practice, we analyzed the association between current FUBC practices and length of stay, antibiotic treatment duration, and in-hospital mortality.

Retrospective cohort study.

The study was conducted in 4 acute-care hospitals in New York City.

The study included hospitalized adults with GNB bacteremia between 2017 and 2018.

An FUBC was defined as a blood culture performed between 24 hours and 7 days after an initial blood culture positive for GNB. Using propensity scores for FUBCs performed, patients were matched 1:1 for outcome comparison.

In total, 376 hospitalized adults with GNB bacteremia met eligibility criteria. Among them, FUBCs were performed in 271 patients (72%). After propensity score matching, we analyzed 87 pairs of patients with and without an FUBC to compare outcomes. The median length of stay was longer among patients with FUBCs than patients without FUBCs (9 days vs 7 days; P = .017). The median duration of antibiotic treatment was also longer among patients with FUBCs than patients without FUBCs (8 vs 6 days; P = .007). No statistically significant difference was observed in in-hospital mortality between patients with and without an FUBC (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.08–1.36).

Current FUBC practices for GNB bacteremia were associated with prolonged length of stay and duration of antibiotic treatment. Further data to better inform selectivity criteria for FUBCs in GNB bacteremia are needed.

Cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmia, and hepatic fibrosis are well-known complications after right heart bypass surgery in patients with single-ventricle physiology. However, little is known about coronary arterial fistulae, and only a few reports have been published. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of these rare coronary arterial fistulae that developed as complications in cases of single-ventricle physiology after right heart bypass surgery.

We retrospectively investigated the clinical features and courses of patients who developed acquired and progressive coronary arterial fistulae after right heart bypass surgery in our hospital.

We identified three cases of coronary arterial fistulae out of 21 patients who underwent right heart bypass surgery. All three cases underwent cardiac catheterisation for post-operative evaluation and were administered pulmonary vasodilators of phosphodiesterase type V inhibitors, antiplatelet, anticoagulation, and diuretics. Moreover, they had common clinical features such as right-dominant single ventricle and long-term exposure to chronic hypoxia. Serial angiograms revealed acquired and progressive coronary arterial fistulae. In addition, coronary arterial fistulae contributed to their symptoms of heart failure.

Patients with chronic hypoxia and dominant right ventricle, who are treated with phosphodiesterase type V inhibitors, should be followed up after right heart bypass surgery to monitor the possible development of coronary arterial fistulae. Moreover, the indication for pulmonary vasodilators in single-ventricle physiology after right heart bypass surgery should be optimised to avoid adverse effects.

Atrioventricular interval optimisation is important in patients with dual-chamber pacing, especially with heart failure. In patients with CHD, especially in those with Fontan circulation, the systemic atrial contraction is supposed to be more important than in patients without structural heart disease.

We retrospectively evaluated two patients after Fontan procedure with dual-chamber pacemaker with a unique setting of optimal sensed atrioventricular interval.

The optimal sensed atrioventricular interval determined by echocardiogram was extremely short sensed atrioventricular interval at 25 and 30 ms in both cases; however, the actual P wave and ventricular pacing interval showed 180 and 140 ms, respectively. In both cases, the atrial epicardial leads were implanted on the opposite site of the origin of their own atrial rhythm. The time differences between sensed atrioventricular interval and actual P wave and ventricular pacing interval occurred because of the site of the epicardial atrial pacing leads and the intra-atrial conduction delay.

We need to consider the origin of the atrial rhythm, the site of the epicardial atrial lead, and the atrial conduction delay by using electrocardiogram and X-ray when we set the optimal sensed atrioventricular interval in complicated CHD.

Repeated drug overdose is a major risk factor for suicide. Data are lacking on the effect of psychiatric intervention on preventing repeated drug overdose.

To investigate whether psychiatric intervention was associated with reduced readmission to emergency centres due to drug overdose.

Using a Japanese national in-patient database, we identified patients who were first admitted to emergency centres for drug overdose in 2010–2012. We used propensity score matching for patient and hospital factors to compare readmission rates between intervention (patients undergoing psychosocial assessment) and unexposed groups.

Of 29 564 eligible patients, 13 035 underwent psychiatric intervention. In the propensity-matched 7938 pairs, 1304 patients were readmitted because of drug overdose. Readmission rate was lower in the intervention than in the unexposed group (7.3% v. 9.1% respectively, P<0.001).

Psychiatric intervention was associated with reduced readmission in patients who had taken a drug overdose.

l-theanine, an amino acid uniquely contained in green tea (Camellia sinensis), has been suggested to have various psychotropic effects. This study aimed to examine whether l-theanine is effective for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in an open-label clinical trial.

Subjects were 20 patients with MDD (four males; mean age: 41.0±14.1 years, 16 females; 42.9±12.0 years). l-theanine (250 mg/day) was added to the current medication of each participant for 8 weeks. Symptoms and cognitive functions were assessed at baseline, 4, and 8 weeks after l-theanine administration by the 21-item version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-21), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Stroop test, and Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS).

HAMD-21 score was reduced after l-theanine administration (p=0.007). This reduction was observed in unremitted patients (HAMD-21>7; p=0.004) at baseline. Anxiety-trait scores decreased after l-theanine administration (p=0.012) in the STAI test. PSQI scores also decreased after l-theanine administration (p=0.030) in the unremitted patients at baseline. Regarding cognitive functions, response latency (p=0.001) and error rate (p=0.036) decreased in the Stroop test, and verbal memory (p=0.005) and executive function (p=0.016) were enhanced in the BACS test after l-theanine administration.

Our study suggests that chronic (8-week) l-theanine administration is safe and has multiple beneficial effects on depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep disturbance and cognitive impairments in patients with MDD. However, since this is an open-label study, placebo-controlled studies are required to consolidate the effects.