Three-dimensional inline inspection for substrate warpage and ball grid array coplanarity using stereo vision.

We present a method for full-field 3D measurement of substrate warpage and ball grid array coplanarity, which is suitable for inline back-end inspection and process monitoring. For evaluating the performance of the proposed system, the linearity between our system and a reference confocal microscope is studied by repeating measurements 35 times with a particular substrate sample (38 mm×28.5 mm). The point-to-point correlation coefficient with 1σ between two methods is 0.968±0.002, and the 2σ difference is 25.15±0.20 µm for warpage measurement. 1σ repeatability of the substrate warpage is 4.2 µm. For BGA coplanarity inspection the bump level correlation coefficient is 0.957±0.001 and the 2σ difference is 28.79±0.14 µm. 1σ repeatability of BGA coplanarity is 3.7 µm. Data acquisition takes about 0.2 s for full field measurements.

Kerion Celsi Caused by Nannizzia gypsea in a Two-Year-Old Child Who Had Been Hospitalized Since Birth.

Nannizzia gypsea, previously known as Microsporum gypseum, is a geophilic dermatophyte that infects humans from the soil. We isolated N. gypsea from a two-year-old girl with kerion celsi. Because of her serious medical condition, she was admitted to the pediatric ward immediately after birth. We struggled to identify the route of infection, and eventually identified her grandmother's handmade belt, which covered the endotracheal-tube-holding device, as the infection source. To prevent indirect transmission of pathogenic microorganisms from outside the hospital environment, our hospital prohibited the bringing of belongings from outside.

[Analysis of predominant bacterial species and clinical backgrounds in lung abscess patients].

We reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics of lung abscesses retrospectively. We analyzed 89 patients hospitalized from July 1984 to May 2009. Most were men (76/89). There were large proportions with alcohol consumption (29.2%) and dental caries or gingivitis (60.7%). Furthermore, those without other diseases accounted for only 13.5%. Predominant infectious species were clear in 43 cases (48.3%) including identification of bacteria. The identification rate of predominant bacteria improved from 38.5% to 56.0% after initiation of the introduction of expectoration culture, bronchoscopic specimen collection and gingival culture in 2003, facilitating clarification of the predominant bacteria. The Streptococcus anginosus group with predominant bacteria being slightly aerobic streptococci, anaerobic bacterium, and aerobic bacterium was detected in 10, 12, and 31 cases, respectively. The improvement in the identification rate of predominant bacteria was achieved by carrying out examination with close liaison with the staff of our inspection room. In selecting antimicrobials based on diagnostic significance, we should focus on positive identification of predominant bacteria, a factor which appears to have major clinical significance.

Genomic analysis of antibiotic resistance for Acinetobacter baumannii in a critical care center.

AIM: Acinetobacter baumannii is commonly associated with outbreaks and antibiotic-resistant nosocomial infection. This study aimed to determine the relationship between antibiotic resistance and genotypes of A. baumannii. METHODS: A study was undertaken in the critical care center (CCC) of Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital (Urayasu, Japan) between January 2012 and September 2015. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried out according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. All A. baumannii isolates were verified to carry carbapenemase genes and the ISA ba1 element using polymerase chain reaction. The genetic relationship of all A. baumannii isolates was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing. RESULTS: During the study period, 1634 patients were admitted to the CCC. Acinetobacter baumannii was detected in 43 patients (average age, 58 ± 19 years; 67.4% men). Six patients were determined to be extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii and 21 patients determined to be multidrug-resistant A. baumannii. Antimicrobial susceptibility linked genotypes of A. baumannii. Molecular characterization by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing showed that closely related clones of A. baumannii had spread in the CCC. CONCLUSION: Resistance to antimicrobial drugs was significantly associated with certain A. baumannii genotypic types and molecular types. Thus, we might be able to predict whether the genotype has spread in the CCC or not when the susceptibility is examined, facilitating the appropriate isolation of patients.

Late i.v. steroid treatment for severe COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of steroid treatment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is unknown. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old man was transported to our hospital due to impaired consciousness and respiratory failure. After admission, tracheal aspirate of the patient was harvested, and it tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 nucleic acid. He required veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to sustain his oxygenation. However, his respiratory failure did not improve for 20 days. On day 20 of admission, we started to use i.v. steroid therapy. On day 23, lung opacity on the chest X-ray cleared and the patient's oxygen saturation improved significantly. We successfully removed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on day 27. CONCLUSION: Our case report encourages more future trials to evaluate the therapeutic use of i.v. steroid in severe COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Release of antihypertensive peptides in miso paste during its fermentation, by the addition of casein.

Casein hydrolysate by Aspergillus oryzae protease has been developed to obtain two kinds of antihypertensive peptides, Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro. In this study, casein miso paste was prepared by adding casein at various concentrations during miso paste fermentation in order to release angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides. Increase of peptide concentration and ACE inhibitory activity in casein miso paste was observed and corresponded to the degradation of casein and soy bean proteins during fermentation for 7 days. ACE inhibitory activity of the casein miso paste was higher than that of the general (casein-free) miso paste after fermentation for 7 days. The levels of ACE inhibitory peptides, Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro, were increased in the casein miso paste during the fermentation. Significant antihypertensive effects of casein miso paste compared to water and the general miso paste (P<0.05 and P<0.05) were confirmed in spontaneously hypertensive rats at a dosage of 1.8 g of the casein miso paste/kg of BW. Taken into account of minimum effective dosages of Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro in previous clinical studies, these results suggest that casein miso paste might have the potential to control blood pressure in humans.

The first case of keratitis caused by Nocardia exalbida.

BACKGROUND: Nocardia exalbida was first reported in 2006. We describe a first case of keratitis caused by Nocardia exalbida. METHODS: Case report RESULTS: A patient presented after two weeks of unsuccessful treatment of a corneal ulcer in her right eye. Nocardia keratitis was diagnosed from her culture results, and the species Nocardia exalbida was determined by phylogenetic studies using gene sequence analysis of 16S RNA. The disk diffusion method showed that this Norcardia sp. was sensitive to many antibiotics. Initially, the patient was treated with topical and systemic antibiotics, and corneal epithelium quickly regenerated. But when corticosteroid eyedrops were added, there was a recurrence of the keratitis. Corticosteroids were stopped, and systemic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and topical tobramycin, colistin, chloramphenicol and sulfisoxazole were given. Within one month the corneal ulcer and infiltration disappeared. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of keratitis caused by Nocardia exalbida. This species is susceptible to many antibiotics in vitro and clinically. However, supplementation with corticosteroids can lead to recurrence, and care should be taken when corticosteroids are being considered.