| 1. |
Shunsuke Kanno, Hisanori Nishio, Tamami Tanaka, Yoshitomo Motomura, Kenji Murata, Kenji Ihara, Mitsuho Onimaru, Sho Yamasaki, Hajime Kono, Katsuo Sueishi, Toshiro Hara, Activation of an innate immune receptor, Nod1, accelerates atherogenesis in Apoe-/- mice., Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 10.4049/jimmunol.1302841, 194, 2, 773-80, 2015.01, Atherosclerosis is essentially a vascular inflammatory process in the presence of an excess amount of lipid. We have recently reported that oral administration of a nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (Nod)-1 ligand, FK565, induced vascular inflammation in vivo. No studies, however, have proven the association between Nod1 and atherosclerosis in vivo. To investigate a potential role of NOD1 in atherogenesis, we orally administered FK565 to apolipoprotein E knockout (Apoe(-/-)) mice for 4 wk intermittently and performed quantification of atherosclerotic lesions in aortic roots and aortas, immunohistochemical analyses, and microarray-based gene expression profiling of aortic roots. FK565 administration accelerated the development of atherosclerosis in Apoe(-/-) mice, and the effect was dependent on Nod1 in non-bone marrow origin cells by bone marrow transplantation experiments. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the increases in the accumulation of macrophages and CD3 T cells within the plaques in aortic roots. Gene expression analyses of aortic roots demonstrated a marked upregulation of the Ccl5 gene during early stage of atherogenesis, and the treatment with Ccl5 antagonist significantly inhibited the acceleration of atherosclerosis in FK565-administered Apoe(-/-) mice. Additionally, as compared with Apoe(-/-) mice, Apoe and Nod1 double-knockout mice showed reduced development of atherosclerotic lesions from the early stage as well as their delayed progression and a significant reduction in Ccl5 mRNA levels at 9 wk of age. Data in the present study show that the Nod1 signaling pathway in non-bone marrow-derived cells contributes to the development of atherosclerosis.. |
| 2. |
Motomura Y, Kanno S, Asano K, Tanaka M, Hasegawa Y, Katagiri H, Saito T, Hara H, Nishio H, Hara T, Yamasaki S., Identification of Pathogenic Cardiac CD11c+ Macrophages in Nod1-Mediated Acute Coronary Arteritis., Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol., 10.1161/ATVBAHA.114.304846, 35, 6, 1423-1433, 35(6):1423-33, 2015.06, Objective - Nod1 is an intracellular pattern recognition receptor for bacterial peptidoglycan fragments. We previously reported that a synthetic Nod1 ligand, FK565, induced acute coronary arteritis in mice similar to that of Kawasaki disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this characteristic inflammation have remained elusive. Approach and Results - We found that CD11c MHC class II cells accumulated in the heart of FK565-treated mice before arteritis development. Morphological features and gene expression signatures of the cardiac CD11c MHC class II cells suggested that this population is closely related to macrophages, and thus, we designated them cardiac CD11c macrophages. Nod1 in nonhematopoietic cells, rather than hematopoietic cells, was required for the increase of cardiac CD11c macrophages and arteritis development. Among nonhematopoietic cells, cardiac endothelial cells produced a large amount of chemokines in response to FK565. Endothelial cell-specific blockade of Nod1 signaling suppressed FK565-induced expression of these chemokines, accumulation of cardiac CD11c macrophages, and subsequent coronary arteritis development. We also found that CCR2 Ly6C inflammatory monocytes in peripheral blood supplied precursors of cardiac CD11c macrophages. CCR2-deficient mice or pertussis toxin-treated mice exhibited decreased numbers of cardiac CD11c macrophages and reduced arteritis. Conclusions - These results suggest that Ly6C monocytes are recruited to FK565-activated endothelial cells to generate cardiac CD11c macrophages, which play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary arteritis. + + + + + + + + hi + + hi +. |
| 3. |
C-Type Lectin Receptor DCAR Recognizes Mycobacterial Phosphatidyl-Inositol Mannosides to Promote a Th1 Response during Infection.
Phosphatidyl-inositol mannosides (PIM) are glycolipids unique to mycobacteria and other related bacteria that stimulate host immune responses and are implicated in mycobacteria pathogenicity. Here, we found that the FcRγ-coupled C-type lectin receptor DCAR (dendritic cell immunoactivating receptor; gene symbol Clec4b1) is a direct receptor for PIM. Mycobacteria activated reporter cells expressing DCAR, and delipidation of mycobacteria abolished this activity. Acylated PIMs purified from mycobacteria were identified as ligands for DCAR. DCAR was predominantly expressed in small peritoneal macrophages and monocyte-derived inflammatory cells in lungs and spleen. These cells produced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) upon PIM treatment, and absence of DCAR or FcRγ abrogated MCP-1 production. Upon mycobacterial infection, Clec4b1-deficient mice showed reduced numbers of monocyte-derived inflammatory cells at the infection site, impaired IFNγ production by T cells, and an increased bacterial load. Thus, DCAR is a critical receptor for PIM that functions to promote T cell responses against mycobacteria.. |
| 4. |
Yuko Ichimiya, Noriyuki Kaku, Yasunari Sakai, Fumiya Yamashita, Wakato Matsuoka, Mamoru Muraoka, Satoshi Akamine, Soichi Mizuguchi, Michiko Torio, Yoshitomo Motomura, Yuichiro Hirata, Yoshito Ishizaki, Masafumi Sanefuji, Hiroyuki Torisu, Hidetoshi Takada, Yoshihiko Maehara, Shouichi Ohga, Transient dysautonomia in an acute phase of encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion., Brain & development, 10.1016/j.braindev.2017.03.023, 39, 7, 621-624, 2017.08, Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) is a dysautonomic condition that is associated with various types of acquired brain injuries. Traumatic brain lesions have been documented as the leading cause of PSH. However, detailed clinical features of pediatric PSH caused by intrinsic brain lesions remain to be elusive. We present a 3-year-old boy, who had been diagnosed as having cerebral palsy, developmental delay and epilepsy after perinatal hypoxia-induced brain injury. He developed status epilepticus with fever on the third day of respiratory infection. Whereas the seizure was terminated by systemic infusion of midazolam, consciousness remained disturbed for the next 48h. Serial magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed that acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) evolved on 3days after the seizure. Therapeutic hypothermia was immediately introduced, however, the brain lesion extended to the whole subcortical white matters on day 8. The intermittent bilateral dilation of pupils with increased blood pressure and tachycardia were observed until day 12. Real-time monitoring of electroencephalograms ruled out the recurrent attacks of seizures. The abnormal signs of autonomic nervous system gradually ceased and never relapsed after recovery from the hypothermia. PSH or a transient condition of dysautonomia may emerge and persist during the acute phase of AESD.. |
| 5. |
Yuko Ichimiya, Noriyuki Kaku, Masafumi Sanefuji, Michiko Torio, Soichi Mizuguchi, Yoshitomo Motomura, Mamoru Muraoka, Sooyoung Lee, Haruhisa Baba, Yuri Sonoda, Yoshito Ishizaki, Momoko Sasazuki, Yasunari Sakai, Yoshihiko Maehara, Shouichi Ohga, Predictive indicators for the development of epilepsy after acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion., Epilepsy research, 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2018.04.006, 143, 70-74, 2018.07, Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) is a newly defined clinicoradiologic syndrome characterized by biphasic seizures and altered consciousness followed by restricted diffusion in the white matter on magnetic resonance imaging in acute phase. Intractable epilepsy commonly occurs as the late complication. This study aimed to search predisposing factors to the development of epilepsy after AESD. Consecutively treated 22 patients with AESD in our institution from 2006 to 2016 were grouped into those with post-encephalopathic epilepsy (PEE, n = 10) or without PEE (n = 12). There was no difference between two groups in age at the onset of AESD, duration of the initial seizures, or the follow-up periods after discharge. PEE group patients more frequently showed coma or involuntary movements during the course of AESD than non-PEE group patients (36% vs. 8%, p = 0.008). The quantitative analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map revealed that PEE group showed broader areas with reduced diffusion in the posterior lobes at the onsets of AESD than non-PEE group (0.113 vs. 0.013, p = 0.035). On the other hand, the atrophy on day 30-ADC map did not correlate with the development or control of epilepsy. These results suggest that the clinical severity and ADC profiles in acute phase, rather than the brain atrophy in convalescent phase, may predict the development of post-AESD epilepsy.. |
| 6. |
Sayaka Okuzono, Masataka Ishimura, Shunsuke Kanno, Motoshi Sonoda, Noriyuki Kaku, Yoshitomo Motomura, Hisanori Nishio, Utako Oba, Masuo Hanada, Jun-Ichi Fukushi, Michiyo Urata, Dongchon Kang, Hidetoshi Takada, Shouichi Ohga, Streptococcus pyogenes-purpura fulminans as an invasive form of group A streptococcal infection., Annals of clinical microbiology and antimicrobials, 10.1186/s12941-018-0282-9, 17, 1, 31-31, 2018.07, BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pyogenes is an uncommon pathogen of purpura fulminans, and the pathogenesis of S. pyogenes-purpura fulminans remains unclear because of paucity of cases. We reported a pediatric case of S. pyogenes-purpura fulminans with literature review of the disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 3-year-old boy showed limping, lethargy and acral gangrene within 24 h. A diagnosis of S. pyogenes-purpura fulminans was made for bacterial isolation from throat and peripheral blood. Intensive therapy led to a survival with amputation of the left distal metatarsal bone, and normal development. The isolated M12 carried no mutation of csrS/R or rgg. Thrombophilia or immunodeficiency was excluded. DISCUSSION: Twelve-reported cases (9 pediatric and 3 elderly) of S. pyogenes-purpura fulminans started with shock and coagulopathy. Five patients age < 8 years had no underlying disease and survived. One youngest and two immunocompromised patients died. CONCLUSION: Streptococcus pyogenes-acute infectious purpura fulminans is a distinctive rare form of aggressive GAS infections.. |
| 7. |
Noriyuki Kaku, Kenji Ihara, Yuichiro Hirata, Kenji Yamada, Sooyoung Lee, Hikaru Kanemasa, Yoshitomo Motomura, Haruhisa Baba, Tamami Tanaka, Yasunari Sakai, Yoshihiko Maehara, Shouichi Ohga, Diagnostic potential of stored dried blood spots for inborn errors of metabolism: a metabolic autopsy of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency., Journal of clinical pathology, 10.1136/jclinpath-2017-204962, 71, 10, 885-889, 2018.10, AIM: It is estimated that 1-5% of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases might be caused by undiagnosed inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs); however, the postmortem identification of IEMs remains difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of dried blood spots (DBSs) stored after newborn screening tests as a metabolic autopsy to determine the causes of death in infants and children who died suddenly and unexpectedly. METHODS: Infants or toddlers who had suddenly died without a definite diagnosis between July 2008 and December 2012 at Kyushu University Hospital in Japan were enrolled in this study. Their Guthrie cards, which had been stored for several years at 4-8°C, were used for an acylcarnitine analysis by tandem mass spectrometry to identify inborn errors of metabolism. RESULTS: Fifteen infants and children who died at less than 2 years of age and for whom the cause of death was unknown were enrolled for the study. After correcting the C0 and C8 values assuming the hydrolysation of acylcarnitine in the stored DBSs, the corrected C8 value of one case just exceeded the cut-off level for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency screening. Genetic and biochemical analyses confirmed this patient to have MCAD deficiency. CONCLUSION: DBSs stored after newborn screening tests are a promising tool for metabolic autopsy. The appropriate compensation of acylcarnitine data and subsequent genetic and biochemical analyses are essential for the postmortem diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism.. |
| 8. |
Masafumi Sanefuji, Yuko Ichimiya, Noriyuki Kaku, Momoko Sasazuki, Kosuke Yonemoto, Michiko Torio, Soichi Mizuguchi, Yoshitomo Motomura, Mamoru Muraoka, Sooyoung Lee, Haruhisa Baba, Kazuhiro Ohkubo, Yuri Sonoda, Yoshito Ishizaki, Yasunari Sakai, Shouichi Ohga, Vascular pathomechanism in acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion., Journal of the neurological sciences, 10.1016/j.jns.2018.10.007, 395, 141-146, 2018.12, Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) is a childhood-onset encephalopathy, but the precise pathophysiology remains unclear. We encountered a child with Moyamoya syndrome and AESD. He exhibited left-predominant stenosis of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), and later developed broad lesions in the left hemisphere, raising the possibility that insufficient blood supply relates to formation of the lesions. To test the hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between MCA volume and lesion extent in seven AESD children without preexisting diseases. The MCA volume and lesion extent were quantified with time of flight images for construction of magnetic resonance angiography and apparent diffusion coefficient maps, respectively. Lateralization indices ([right - left]/[right + left]) of the MCA volume and lesion extent were calculated. We found that the lateralization indices were negatively correlated (r = -0.786, p = .036), that is, when the MCA volume was smaller in one side than the other side, the lesions were likely to develop more extensively in the ipsilateral side than the contralateral side. This indicates the association of insufficient blood supply with the lesions. The present study provides the first observation to suggest the involvement of vascular mechanism in AESD and has potential implications for novel therapeutic approach.. |
| 9. |
Ryuichi Takemoto, Yoshitomo Motomura, Noriyuki Kaku, Yuko Ichimiya, Mamoru Muraoka, Shunsuke Kanno, Tamami Tanaka, Yasunari Sakai, Yoshihiko Maehara, Shouichi Ohga, Late-onset sepsis and encephalopathy after bicycle-spoke injury: a case report., BMC infectious diseases, 10.1186/s12879-019-4082-4, 19, 1, 472-472, 2019.05, BACKGROUND: Bicycle-spoke injuries rarely cause late complications of infection, including sepsis and sepsis-associated encephalopathy, with appropriate treatments. CASE PRESENTATION: We experienced a 2-year-old girl who developed the signs of encephalopathy with fever 6 months after a spoke-injury. On admission, the injured skin was inflamed with cellulitis. The blood culture was positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Electroencephalogram showed diffuse slow-wave activity. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging detected a high-intensity lesion with decreased diffusivity at the right frontal cortex. She received immunoglobulin and combined antibiotics treatments in the intensive care unit, and successfully overcame the sepsis-associated encephalopathy without neurological impairments. CONCLUSION: This is the first report demonstrating that sepsis and its associated encephalopathy occurs in a remote period after the bicycle-spoke injury.. |
| 10. |
Soichi Mizuguchi, Yoshitomo Motomura, Jun Maki, Rieko Baba, Yuko Ichimiya, Kentaro Tokuda, Noriyuki Kaku, Hidetoshi Takada, Yoshihiko Maehara, Shouichi Ohga, Tracheal Size and Morphology on the Reconstructed CT Imaging., Pediatric critical care medicine : a journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies, 10.1097/PCC.0000000000001996, 20, 8, e366-e371, 2019.08, OBJECTIVES: To characterize the real size and morphology of tracheas in childhood for the optimal selection of endotracheal tube. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients who received CT scan of the cervical spine from July 2011 to March 2018. Cross-sectional CT images vertical to trachea were reconstructed and the accurate tracheal diameters were measured. The validity of the traditional age-based formula for predicting the endotracheal tube size was assessed for the best fit to trachea. SETTING: Tertiary Emergency and Critical Care Center of Kyushu University Hospital. PATIENTS: Children, who are 1 month to 15 years old, received CT scan of the cervical spine. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We enrolled 86 children with median age of 53 months. The cross-sectional shape of pediatric trachea was circular at the cricoid level and elliptical at the infraglottic level. The narrowest part of pediatric trachea was the transverse diameter at the infraglottic level at any age. Significant positive correlation between age and the narrowest diameter was observed. When compared the transverse diameter at the infraglottic level with the outer diameter of endotracheal tubes, uncuffed endotracheal tubes selection based on the traditional age-based formula ran a significant risk of oversized endotracheal intubation until 10 years old compared with cuffed endotracheal tubes selection (60.0% vs 23.8%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate the safety and efficacy of cuffed endotracheal tubes in infants and children and the reconsideration for the airway management in pediatric anesthesia and intensive care.. |
| 11. |
Motoshi Sonoda, Masataka Ishimura, Katsuhide Eguchi, Akira Shiraishi, Shunsuke Kanno, Noriyuki Kaku, Hirosuke Inoue, Yoshitomo Motomura, Masayuki Ochiai, Yasunari Sakai, Manabu Nakayama, Osamu Ohara, Shouichi Ohga, Prognostic factors for survival of herpes simplex virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis., International journal of hematology, 10.1007/s12185-019-02738-3, 111, 1, 131-136, 2020.01, Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) occurs in neonates with disseminated infection of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Little has been reported on the control of rapid HLH progression. We studied the cytokine profile and genetic basis of two index cases with divergent outcomes after early treatment of type 2 HSV infection. One survivor had fever and elevated serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon (IFN)-β, and IFN-γ at diagnosis. The other neonate had no fever or TNF-α production, but significant IL-6 or IFN responses during the treatment course, and died 19 days after birth. Among 16 reported cases of neonatal HSV-HLH including index cases, eight deceased neonates experienced significantly less fever at presentation (p = 0.028), lower platelet counts (p = 0.019), and lower ratios of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) to ferritin levels (p = 0.044) than eight survivors. The 100-day overall survival rates were significantly higher in patients with fever (p = 0.004), > 100 × 109/L of platelet counts (p = 0.035) or > 20 of sIL-2R/ferritin ratio at diagnosis (p = 0.004). The first febrile and cytokine responses to HSV infection predict the early outcome of neonatal HSV-HLH.. |
| 12. |
Kei Nishiyama, Yuka Watanabe, Masataka Ishimura, Kenichi Tetsuhara, Takashi Imai, Hikaru Kanemasa, Kenji Ueki, Yoshitomo Motomura, Noriyuki Kaku, Yasunari Sakai, Ken-Ichi Imadome, Shouichi Ohga, Parvovirus B19-Infected Tubulointerstitial Nephritis in Hereditary Spherocytosis., Open forum infectious diseases, 10.1093/ofid/ofaa288, 7, 8, ofaa288, 2020.08, BACKGROUND: Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) causes glomerulopathy or microangiopathy, but not tubulopathy. We experienced an 11-year-old girl with spherocytosis who developed acute kidney injury on a primary infection of B19V. She presented with anuria, encephalopathy, thrombocytopenia, and coagulopathy, along with no apparent aplastic crisis. METHODS: Continuous hemodiafiltration, immunoglobulin, and intensive therapies led to a cure. RESULTS: A kidney biopsy resulted in a histopathological diagnosis of tubulointerstitial nephritis without immune deposits. The virus capsid protein was limitedly expressed in the tubular epithelial cells with infiltrating CD8-positive cells. CONCLUSIONS: Viral and histopathological analyses first demonstrated B19-infected tubulointerstitial nephritis due to the aberrant viremia with hereditary spherocytosis.. |
| 13. |
Yutaro Yada, Yuhki Koga, Hiroaki Ono, Yoshitomo Motomura, Genshiro Esumi, Kenichi Kohashi, Yasunori Muraosa, Katsuhiko Kamei, Toshiharu Matsuura, Yoshinao Oda, Shouichi Ohga, Acute isolated Aspergillus appendicitis in pediatric leukemia., Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy, 10.1016/j.jiac.2020.07.016, 26, 11, 1229-1231, 2020.11, Aspergillus is a widespread fungus in the environment, usually invades through the respiratory tract. Invasive aspergillosis is a fatal disseminated infection in immunocompromised hosts. Appendicitis occurs scarcely in patients with leukemia. We report a case of Aspergillus appendicitis that underwent an urgent appendectomy. An 11-year-old boy received the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, because of the bone pain and results of the bone marrow study. He obtained a complete remission after cancer chemotherapy and received peripheral blood stem cell transplantation from a histocompatible sibling. Leukemia relapsed 5 months post-transplant. Induction therapy with etoposide, cytarabine and mitoxantrone was started on Candida prophylaxis. Fifteen days after the end of chemotherapy, he presented with febrile neutropenia and abdominal pain, that did not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Serum levels of C-reactive protein, β-D-glucan and procalcitonin were unremarkable. Computed tomography scan revealed a swollen appendix and the adjacent tissue inflammation. An urgent appendectomy led to a tentative diagnosis of Aspergillus appendicitis based on the histopathological findings of many fungal hyphal forms. Panfungal polymerase chain reaction using DNA extracted from the lesion determined the pathogen of Aspergillus niger. There was no evidence of invasive aspergillosis. During the prolonged anti-fungal therapy, he achieved a remission of leukemia and underwent the second hematopoietic cell transplantation. To our knowledge, Aspergillus appendicitis was reported to occur in 5 leukemia patients. Four of them survived after appendectomy and one died from intestinal perforation. Early surgical intervention is mandatory for a cure of Aspergillus appendicitis in neutropenic patients on Candida prophylaxis.. |
| 14. |
Takuya Hara, Kenji Furuno, Kenichiro Yamamura, Junji Kishimoto, Yumi Mizuno, Kenji Murata, Sagano Onoyama, Ken Hatae, Megumi Takemoto, Yoshito Ishizaki, Shunsuke Kanno, Kazuo Sato, Yoshitomo Motomura, Yasunari Sakai, Shouichi Ohga, Mayumi Yashiro, Yoshikazu Nakamura, Toshiro Hara, Assessment of Pediatric Admissions for Kawasaki Disease or Infectious Disease During the COVID-19 State of Emergency in Japan., JAMA network open, 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.4475, 4, 4, e214475, 2021.04, Importance: The development of Kawasaki disease (KD) has been suggested to be associated with droplet- or contact-transmitted infection; however, its triggers and transmission modes remain to be determined. Under an epidemic of SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 state of emergency in Japan served as a nationwide social experiment to investigate the impact of quarantine or isolation on the incidence of KD. Objective: To assess the role of droplet or contact transmission in the etiopathogenesis of KD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, longitudinal, cross-sectional study was conducted from 2015 to 2020 at Fukuoka Children's Hospital and 5 adjacent general hospitals. The number of admissions for KD and infectious diseases were analyzed. Participants were pediatric patients admitted to the participating hospitals for KD or infectious diseases. Exposures: Quarantine and isolation owing to the COVID-19 state of emergency. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end points were the ratios of patients with KD to patients with respiratory tract or gastrointestinal infections admitted from April to May in 2015 to 2019 and 2020. A Poisson regression model was used to analyze them. Results: The study participants included 1649 patients with KD (median [interquartile range] age, 25 [13-43] months; 901 boys [54.6%]) and 15 586 patients with infectious disease (data on age and sex were not available for these patients). The number of admissions for KD showed no significant change between April and May in 2015 to 2019 vs the same months in 2020 (mean [SD], 24.8 [5.6] vs 18.0 [4.0] admissions per month; 27.4% decrease; adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.48-1.10; P = .12). However, the number of admissions for droplet-transmitted or contact-transmitted respiratory tract infections (mean [SD], 157.6 [14.4] vs 39.0 [15.0] admissions per month; 75.3% decrease; aIRR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.17-0.35; P < .001) and gastrointestinal infections (mean [SD], 43.8 [12.9] vs 6.0 [2.0] admissions per month; 86.3% decrease; aIRR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.43; P < .001) showed significant decreases between April and May in 2015 to 2019 vs the same months in 2020 (total, 12 254 infections). Thus, the ratio of KD to droplet- or contact-transmitted respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections incidence in April and May 2020 was significantly increased (ratio, 0.40 vs 0.12; χ21 = 22.76; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, the significantly increased incidence of KD compared with respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections during the COVID-19 state of emergency suggests that contact or droplet transmission is not a major route for KD development and that KD may be associated with airborne infections in most cases.. |
| 15. |
Kenichi Tetsuhara, Noriyuki Kaku, Yuka Watanabe, Masaya Kumamoto, Yuko Ichimiya, Soichi Mizuguchi, Kanako Higashi, Wakato Matsuoka, Yoshitomo Motomura, Masafumi Sanefuji, Akio Hiwatashi, Yasunari Sakai, Shouichi Ohga, Predictive values of early head computed tomography for survival outcome after cardiac arrest in childhood: a pilot study., Scientific reports, 10.1038/s41598-021-91628-y, 11, 1, 12090-12090, 2021.06, Predicting outcomes of children after cardiac arrest (CA) remains challenging. To identify useful prognostic markers for pediatric CA, we retrospectively analyzed the early findings of head computed tomography (CT) of patients. Subjects were non-traumatic, out-of-hospital CA patients < 16 years of age who underwent the first head CT within 24 h in our institute from 2006 to 2018 (n = 70, median age: 4 months, range 0-163). Of the 24 patients with return of spontaneous circulation, 14 survived up to 30 days after CA. The degree of brain damage was quantitatively measured with modified methods of the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (mASPECTS) and simplified gray-matter-attenuation-to-white-matter-attenuation ratio (sGWR). The 14 survivors showed higher mASPECTS values than the 56 non-survivors (p = 0.035). All 3 patients with mASPECTS scores ≥ 20 survived, while an sGWR ≥ 1.14 indicated a higher chance of survival than an sGWR < 1.14 (54.5% vs. 13.6%). Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging for survivors validated the correlation of the mASPECTS < 15 with severe brain damage. Thus, low mASPECTS scores were associated with unfavorable neurological outcomes on the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scale. A quantitative analysis of early head CT findings might provide clues for predicting survival of pediatric CA.. |
| 16. |
Hikaru Kanemasa, Masataka Ishimura, Katsuhide Eguchi, Tamami Tanaka, Etsuro Nanishi, Akira Shiraishi, Motohiro Goto, Yoshitomo Motomura, Shouichi Ohga, The immunoregulatory function of peripheral blood CD71+ erythroid cells in systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis., Scientific reports, 10.1038/s41598-021-93831-3, 11, 1, 14396-14396, 2021.07, CD71+ erythroid cells (CECs) are recognized to have an immunoregulatory function via direct cell-cell interaction and soluble mediators. Circulating CECs appear in newborns or patients with hemolytic and cardiopulmonary disorders. To assess the biological role of CECs in systemic inflammation, we studied the gene expression and function in systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of SoJIA patients expressed upregulated erythropoiesis-related genes. It represented the largest expansion of CECs during active phase SoJIA among other inflammatory diseases. Despite the opposing roles of erythropoietin and hepcidin in erythropoiesis, both serum levels were in concert with the amounts of SoJIA-driven CECs. Circulating CECs counts in inflammatory diseases were positively correlated with the levels of C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-18, or soluble TNF receptors. Co-culture with active SoJIA-driven CECs suppressed secretions of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 from healthy donor monocytes. The top upregulated gene in SoJIA-driven CECs was ARG2 compared with CECs from cord blood controls, although cytokine production from monocytes was suppressed by co-culture, even with an arginase inhibitor. CECs are driven to the periphery during the acute phase of SoJIA at higher levels than other inflammatory diseases. Circulating CECs may control excessive inflammation via the immunoregulatory pathways, partly involving arginase-2.. |
| 17. |
Yuri Sonoda, Motoshi Sonoda, Kousuke Yonemoto, Masafumi Sanefuji, Ryoji Taira, Yoshitomo Motomura, Masataka Ishimura, Hiroyuki Torisu, Ryutaro Kira, Koichi Kusuhara, Yasunari Sakai, Shouichi Ohga, Favorable outcomes of interferon-α and ribavirin treatment for a male with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis., Journal of neuroimmunology, 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577656, 358, 577656-577656, 2021.09, Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a slow virus infection associated with mutant measles virus (MeV). The long-term outcome of antiviral treatments remains to be determined. We herein present a Japanese boy who was diagnosed with SSPE at 10 years of age. Intraventricular infusions of interferon-α effectively prevented the progress of symptoms during 14 years of follow-up period. Flow-cytometric analysis demonstrated higher proportion of T helper 17 cells (Th17, 18.2%) than healthy controls (4.8-14.5%) despite the normal subpopulation of peripheral lymphocytes. These data suggest that a group of patients with SSPE may show favorable responses to intraventricular infusions of interferon-α.. |
| 18. |
Yuko Ichimiya, Soichi Mizuguchi, Yoshitomo Motomura, Yuhki Koga, Noriyuki Kaku, Nobuhiro Hata, Koji Yoshimoto, Ayumi Sakata, Satoshi O Suzuki, Toru Iwaki, Yasunari Sakai, Shouichi Ohga, Acute-phase electroencephalography for an infantile atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor., Clinical neurology and neurosurgery, 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106922, 209, 106922-106922, 2021.10, BACKGROUND: Primary brain tumor is a leading cause of death in cancer-bearing children. Acutely progressive patterns of electroencephalography (EEG) remain to be investigated for children with rapidly growing brain tumors. CASE REPORT: A 14-month-old boy was transferred to our department for prolonged seizures and unrecovered consciousness on his fifth day of illness. The EEG recording on admission showed highly disorganized background activity with high-voltage rhythmic delta waves. Serial EEG monitoring revealed a rapid transition of the background activity to the suppression-burst pattern, and then to generalized suppression of cortical activity within a few hours after admission. Magnetic resonance imaging detected a midline tumor at the pineal gland extending to the midbrain and pons. The tumor was pathologically confirmed as atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) with absent expression of SMARCB1. He died of tumor progression on the 20th day after admission. CONCLUSION: AT/RT is an additional category of brain tumors that cause the clinically and electro-physiologically critical condition in a few days after the onset.. |
| 19. |
Takaaki Yamada, Chie Emoto, Tsuyoshi Fukuda, Yoshitomo Motomura, Hirosuke Inoue, Shouichi Ohga, Ichiro Ieiri, Optimal teicoplanin dosing regimen in neonates and children developed by leveraging real-world clinical information., Therapeutic drug monitoring, 10.1097/FTD.0000000000000930, 2021.10, BACKGROUND: Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic used for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. To ensure successful target attainment, therapeutic drug monitoring-informed dosage adjustment is recommended. However, it relies on the experience of the clinician and the frequency of drug measurements. This study aimed to design a new optimal dosing regimen of teicoplanin with a maintenance dosing strategy for neonates and children based on their physiological characteristics. METHODS: Data from teicoplanin-treated patients (n = 214) were collected from electronic medical records. Covariate analyses were performed using population pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling with 399 serum teicoplanin concentrations from 48 neonates and 166 children. Multiple PK simulations were conducted to explore optimal dosing regimens that would allow control of the trough concentration to the target of 15-30 mg/L quicker than the current standard regimen. RESULTS: Allometrically scaled body weight, postmenstrual age (PMA), renal function, and serum albumin were implemented as substantial covariates for teicoplanin clearance in a two-compartment PK model. Covariate analyses and comprehensive simulation assessments recommended the following modifications to the current regimen: 1) decreased dose for premature babies (PMA ≤ 28 weeks), 2) decreased dose for children with renal dysfunction, and 3) increased dose for children (0.5-11 years) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2. CONCLUSIONS: This study leverages real-world clinical information and proposes new optimal dosing regimens for teicoplanin in neonates and children through PK modeling and simulation analyses, taking into account the age, including PMA, and renal function of patients.. |
| 20. |
Shunichi Adachi, Michiko Torio, Sayaka Okuzono, Yoshitomo Motomura, Yuko Ichimiya, Yuri Sonoda, Jyunya Nagata, Misato Okamoto, Shoji Notomi, Masafumi Sanefuji, Yasunari Sakai, Shouichi Ohga, Vitamin A deficiency-associated corneal perforation in a boy with autism spectrum disorder: A case report and literature review., Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 10.1016/j.nut.2021.111275, 90, 111275-111275, 2021.10, BACKGROUND: Malnutrition and vitamin deficiency are growing concerns in the clinical management of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This case report presents a boy with ASD who developed vitamin A deficiency during follow-up. CASE REPORT: A 7-y-old boy had been diagnosed with ASD and developmental delay at age 18 mo. He developed convulsions associated with hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency at 3 y of age. Although vitamin D supplementation was continued, he was only able to eat rice, green tea, and fried potatoes from 3 y of age to age 7 y. He had started rubbing his eyes and had refused to open his eyes 9 mo before. An ophthalmologic examination showed bilateral corneal ulcers and right corneal perforation. Vitamin A was immediately supplemented with a nasogastric tube; however, his right eye was surgically enucleated against the persistent infection. LITERATURE REVIEW: A search of the relevant literature from 1993 to 2020 identified 11 cases of patients with ASD (5-17 y of age) who developed vitamin A deficiency owing to malnutrition. Only 4 cases (36%) had a full recovery in visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Vitamin A deficiency frequently causes irreversible visual impairment in children with ASD. Vigilant monitoring of vitamin levels prevents unfavorable outcomes in children with ASD and difficulty in food intake.. |
| 21. |
Shunichi Adachi, Motoshi Sonoda, Masataka Ishimura, Katsuhide Eguchi, Tamami Tanaka, Yoshitomo Motomura, Shouichi Ohga, Optimal biologics for juvenile idiopathic arthritis in an infection with SARS-CoV-2 α-variant., Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 10.1111/pai.13686, 33, 1, e13686, 2022.01. |
