[A CHILD CASE OF EGOMA (PERILLA FRUTESCENS) ALLERGY DUE TO SCHOOL LUNCH, PROBABLY CAUSED BY PERCUTANEOUS SENSITIZATION].

Herein, we report the case of a 7-year-old girl with a history of atopic dermatitis because of infancy. Her grandfather grew Egoma (Perilla frutescens), and her family frequently consumed food items prepared using Egoma; however, she never consumed them because she did not enjoy these food items; she experienced vomiting, facial swelling, and oral discomfort upon ingesting Egoma during school lunch for the first time. Her food oral challenge test was positive, as well as a skin-prick test with sesame powder. Egoma antigen protein was extracted and reacted with patient serum by immunoblotting, which detected a positive band of approximately 26kDa. She was brought up in an environment with high exposure to Egoma; hence, she most likely developed an allergy to Egoma because of percutaneous sensitization. This is the first time an Egoma allergen analysis has been conducted in Japan, and we consider it to be a valuable case.

Molecular Epidemiology of Human Metapneumovirus in East Japan before and after COVID-19, 2017-2022.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is genetically classified into two major subgroups, A and B, based on attachment glycoprotein (G protein) gene sequences. The A2 subgroup is further separated into three subdivisions, A2a, A2b (A2b1), and A2c (A2b2). Subgroup A2c viruses carrying 180- or 111-nucleotide duplications in the G gene (A2c 180nt-dup or A2c 111nt-dup ) have been reported in Japan and Spain. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted the epidemiological kinetics of other respiratory viruses, including hMPV. In this study, we analyzed the sequences of hMPV isolates in Tokyo and Fukushima obtained from 2017 to 2022, i.e., before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Subgroup A hMPV strains were detected from 2017 to 2019, and most cases were A2c 111nt-dup, suggesting ongoing transmission of this clade, consistent with global transmission dynamics. Subgroup B viruses, but not subgroup A viruses, were detected in 2022 after the COVID-19 peak. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the subgroup B viruses were closely related to strains detected in Yokohama from 2013 to 2016, and strains detected in Fukushima in 2019, suggesting the reappearance of local endemic viruses in East Japan.

Evidence of the simultaneous replications of active viruses in specimens positive for multiple respiratory viruses.

IMPORTANCE: Since the pandemic of coronavirus diseases 2019, the use of real-time PCR assay has become widespread among people who were not familiar with it in virus detection. As a result, whether a high real-time PCR value in one time test indicates virus transmissibly became a complicated social problem, regardless of the difference in assays and/or amplification conditions, the time and number of diagnostic test during the time course of infection. In addition, the multiple positives in the test of respiratory viruses further add to the confusion in the interpretation of the infection. To address this issue, we performed virus isolation using pediatric SARI (severe acute respiratory infections) specimens on air-liquid interface culture of human bronchial/tracheal epithelial cell culture. The result of this study can be a strong evidence that the specimens showing positivity for multiple agents in real-time PCR tests possibly contain infectious viruses.

Patients With Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis in Japan: A 2022 Nationwide Survey.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, the incidence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) has reduced; however, the medical conditions and factors associated with disease progression remain unclear. METHODS: A nationwide survey of SSPE was conducted using a questionnaire in 2022. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the patients with SSPE in 2022 and Cox proportional hazards analyses for disease progression. We compared the patients with SSPE with those in a 2007 survey. RESULTS: A total of 37 surviving patients with SSPE were enrolled [median age: 32 years (range: 16-52 years)]. No new cases have been identified since 2017 in the survey. Jabbour stage IV was the most common stage (66.7%). The hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of male sex and age at the time of measles infection (years) were 2.56 (1.13-5.76) and 0.57 (0.34-0.93), respectively. Compared with those in 2007, the proportion of patients in hospitals decreased from 13.7% to 2.7%, whereas that of patients in nursing facilities increased from 17.6% to 29.7%. The proportions of patients prescribed inosine pranobex, interferon and ribavirin at the time of the survey decreased from 96.1% to 79.4%, 74.8% to 14.3% and 25.3% to 0%, respectively. The proportions of patients with gastrostomy, tracheostomy and ventilator use increased from 5.9% to 69.7%, 23.3% to 60.0% and 10.8% to 32.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased measles cases in Japan reduced new SSPE cases. However, surviving patients in 2022 had advanced disease stages and needed medical care. Male sex and early measles infection were significantly associated with disease progression.

Development of a duplex real-time RT-PCR assay for the detection and identification of two subgroups of human metapneumovirus in a single tube.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a common cause of respiratory infections in children. Many genetic diagnostic assays have been developed, but most detect hMPV regardless of the subgroup. In this study, we developed a real-time RT-PCR assay that can detect and identify the two major subgroups of hMPV (A and B) in one tube. Primers and probes were designed based on the sequences of recent clinical isolates in Japan. The assay showed comparable analytical sensitivity to a previously reported real-time RT-PCR assay and specific reactions to hMPV subgroups. The assay also showed no cross-reactivity to clinical isolates of 19 species of other respiratory viruses. In a validation assay using post-diagnosed clinical specimens, 98% (167/170) positivity was confirmed for the duplex assay, and the three specimens not detected were of low copy number. The duplex assay also successfully distinguished the two major subgroups for all 12 clinical specimens, for which the subgroup had already been determined by genomic sequencing analysis. The duplex assay described here will contribute to the rapid and accurate identification and surveillance of hMPV infections.

Molecular Diversity of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Neighboring Japanese Cities.

Human respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSVs) are divided into subgroups A and B, which are further divided based on the nucleotide sequence of the second hypervariable region (HVR) of the attachment glycoprotein (G) gene. Understanding the molecular diversity of HRSV before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can provide insights into the effects of the pandemic on HRSV dissemination and guide vaccine development. Here, we analyzed HRSVs isolated in Fukushima Prefecture from September 2017 to December 2021. Specimens from pediatric patients were collected at two medical institutions in neighboring cities. A phylogenetic tree based on the second HVR nucleotide sequences was constructed using the Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method. HRSV-A (ON1 genotype) and HRSV-B (BA9 genotype) were detected in 183 and 108 specimens, respectively. There were differences in the number of HRSV strains within clusters prevalent at the same time between the two hospitals. The genetic characteristics of HRSVs in 2021 after the COVID-19 outbreak were similar to those in 2019. HRSVs within a cluster may circulate within a region for several years, causing an epidemic cycle. Our findings add to the existing knowledge of the molecular epidemiology of HRSV in Japan. IMPORTANCE Understanding the molecular diversity of human respiratory syncytial viruses during pandemics caused by different viruses can provide insights that can guide public health decisions and vaccine development.

Association of soap use when bathing 18-month-old infants with the prevalence of allergic diseases at age 3 years: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

BACKGROUND: Atopic march is defined as the progression from atopic dermatitis (AD) during early life to other allergic diseases in later childhood. In a nationwide birth cohort study, the Japan Environment and Children's Study, we investigated the association of bathing habits, which are known to affect skin conditions, for infants with their later development of allergic diseases. METHODS: Pregnant women who lived in 15 designated regional centers throughout Japan were recruited. We obtained information on bathing habits for their 18-month-old infants and the prevalence of allergic diseases when they were aged 3 years. RESULTS: Data for 74,349 children were analyzed. Most 18-month-old infants were bathed or showered almost every day. When they were divided into four groups according to the frequency of soap use during bathing (every time, most of the time, sometimes, and seldom), the risk of AD later at age 3 was shown to increase in association with a decreasing frequency of soap use [most of the time: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.34; sometimes: aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.46-2.03; seldom: aOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.58-2.50], compared with soap use every time during bathing at 18 months of age. Similar results were obtained for food allergy but not for bronchial asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent soap use when bathing 18-month-old infants was associated with a decreased risk of them developing allergic diseases at age 3. Further well-designed clinical studies are warranted to determine an effective bathing regimen for preventing the development of allergic diseases.

Serotypes and Antibiotic Resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae before and after the Introduction of the 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine for Adults and Children in a Rural Area in Japan.

The increase in non-vaccine serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae and their multidrug resistance have become an issue following the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). In this study, we investigated the serotypes and drug resistance of S. pneumoniae detected in adult and pediatric outpatients at a hospital in a rural area of Japan between April 2012 and December 2016. Serotypes of the bacterium were identified using the capsular swelling test and multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing of DNA extracted from the specimens. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the broth microdilution method. The serotype 15A was classified using multilocus sequence typing. The results showed that the prevalence of non-vaccine serotypes increased significantly in children from 50.0% in 2012-2013 to 74.1% in 2016 (p ≤ 0.006) and in adults from 15.8% in 2012-2013 to 61.5% in 2016 (p ≤ 0.026), but no increase in drug-resistant isolates was evident. However, an increase in the drug-resistant serotypes 15A and 35B was observed in children. Although isolates of these two serotypes showed cefotaxime susceptibility, cefotaxime resistance was confirmed for the serotype 15A isolates. Future trends in the spread of these isolates should be monitored with caution.

Associations between fetal or infancy pet exposure and food allergies: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that pet exposure is effective in preventing allergic disease, and some studies have reported the beneficial effects of dog exposure during fetal development or early infancy on food allergy. However, the effects of exposure to pets other than dogs on the kinds of food allergies remains unaddressed. This study aimed to explore the effect of exposure to various species of pets on the risk of food allergies. We obtained information on pet exposure and food allergy from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a nationwide, prospective birth cohort study that included 97,413 mothers and their children. We examined the associations between exposure to various species of pets during fetal development or early infancy and the incidence risk of food allergies. We conducted logistic regression analysis for each pet species, causative food, and timing of exposure. Exposure to dogs or cats during fetal development or early infancy was estimated to reduce the incidence risk of food allergies until the age of 3 years. Dog exposure was estimated to reduce the incidence risk of egg, milk, and nut allergies, and cat exposure was estimated to reduce the incidence risk of egg, wheat, and soybean allergies. However, hamster exposure was estimated to increase the incidence risk of nut allergy. In conclusion, the association between pet exposure and food allergies might differ depending on the pet species and causative food. Continued dog and cat exposure from fetal development to infancy was estimated to reduce the incidence risk of food allergies. The findings of this study shall aid in the design of future studies.

Neutralizing and Epitope-Specific Antibodies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Maternal and Cord Blood Paired Samples.

Only a few qualitative studies of neutralizing antibody titers (NATs) against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have focused on epitope-specific antibody (ESA) levels. Here, NATs against RSV in sera were measured using the blood of 412 mothers and cord blood (CB) of 95 of the 412 mother-child pairs. ESA levels against sites zero (Ø) and IIa of the F protein of RSV were measured in 87 of the 95 mother-child pairs. The median gestational age was 39 weeks. The NATs and ESA levels in CB were slightly higher than those in maternal blood (MB). The NATs for RSV subtype A (RSV-A) in MB and CB showed a positive correlation (r = 0.75). The ESA levels against sites Ø and IIa in MB and CB showed positive correlations, r = 0.76 and r = 0.69, respectively. In MB, the NATs and ESA levels against RSV were positively correlated, more significantly against site Ø (RSV-A: r = 0.70, RSV-B: r = 0.48) than against site IIa (RSV-A: r = 0.19, RSV-B: r = 0.31). Sufficient amounts of ESAs against sites Ø and IIa of RSV were transferred from mothers to term infants. ESA levels against site Ø contribute to NATs.

Nearly Complete Genome Sequences of 12 Types of Human Rhinoviruses Isolated from Pediatric Inpatients in Fukushima, Japan.

We reported nearly complete genomic sequences of 12 serotypes of human rhinoviruses (HRVs) isolated from pediatric inpatients in Fukushima, Japan using an air-liquid interface culture of human bronchial tracheal epithelial cells. We found that various serotypes of HRV circulated locally and simultaneously from 2018 to 2021.

Ten Nearly Complete Genome Sequences of Human Orthorubulavirus 4 Isolated from Pediatric Inpatients in Fukushima, Japan.

We report 10 nearly complete genomic sequences of human orthorubulavirus 4, also called human parainfluenza virus 4 (HPIV4), isolated from pediatric inpatients with respiratory infections in Fukushima, Japan, by using an air-liquid interface culture of human bronchial and tracheal epithelial cells.

Turtle-associated salmonellosis due to Salmonella Litchfield in a 57-day-old infant: a case report.

A 57-day-old boy presented with fever, watery diarrhea, and anorexia and was admitted with suspected acute gastroenteritis. His laboratory data suggested low-level inflammation and cholestasis. His stool culture was positive for Salmonella Litchfield. With suspicion of bacterial infection, the patient received intravenous ampicillin for 5 days. On the fifth day after admission, his inflammatory and cholestasis markers normalized, and he was discharged from the hospital in good condition. His family kept five Japanese pond turtles as pets for one year. As Salmonella Litchfield was isolated from a swab sample of the turtle's body. The patient was diagnosed with turtle-associated salmonellosis. In conclusion, families, particularly those with infants, should avoid keeping turtles in their homes. Pet shop owners and public health authorities must provide appropriate information regarding Salmonella in turtles.

[SUMMER-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS CAUSED BY A HUMIDIFIER INDUCED IN SPRING, IN A 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL LIVING IN FUKUSHIMA-A CASE REPORT].

A 5-year-old girl living in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture was admitted in April with cough persisting for 1 month and fever. Chest X-ray showed diffuse ground-glass shadows in both lungs. After treatment with antibiotics, her fever went down on the 2nd day, and her cough subsided gradually. She was discharged on the 7th day, but her symptoms relapsed on the 8th day. Due to her worsening symptoms, she was readmitted on the 16th day. Chest CT scans showed enhancement of interstitial density. Serum anti-Trichosporon asahii antibody was positive. Her symptoms rapidly improved on a steroid regimen, and she was discharged on the 23th day. She was diagnosed as having summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis (SHP). She was instructed not to use a moldy humidifier and not to go to her grandmother's 57 years old wooden house. She has had no symptom after discharge. However, suspected mold was not found at her grandmother's house, and a provocation test there was negative. The HLA typing of the patient showed HLA-DQ8, which was previously described as SHP-sensitive.