A Nosocomial Outbreak Caused by Human Rhinovirus Species A Type 61 in a Welfare Facility in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections are generally referred to as the common cold, and are the main cause of mild symptoms. HRV is less frequently implicated in the development of severe respiratory infections. This study reports a nosocomial outbreak of bronchitis and pneumonia caused by HRV in a hospital during the COVID-19 epidemic in September 2022 in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The patient continued to be symptomatic for nine days. During this outbreak, all 15 residents displayed respiratory symptoms. HRV-A was detected in 12 of the 12 samples, and phylogenetic analysis classified the strain as HRV-A type 61. HRV, COVID-19, and other respiratory infections cannot be differentiated based solely on clinical symptoms. A surveillance system to monitor them is thus needed.

Analysis of variant-pairing tendencies in lenticular martensite microstructures based on rank-1 connection.

Herein, variant-pairing tendencies of lenticular martensite in an Fe-30Ni-0.3C (wt%) alloy are analyzed based on rank-1 connection at martensite/martensite junction planes (JPs) to facilitate the understanding of martensite microstructure. The degree of incompatibility (θ) at the JPs successfully explained their observed frequency; in the actual microstructure, variant pairs with a small θ form preferentially. The experimentally obtained JPs were consistent with theoretical ones. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to confirm the validity of variant-pair crystallography in steel based on rank-1 connection, both theoretically and experimentally. Diamond, composite-spear, and composite-kink clusters are considered. The cumulative θ at the JPs can suppress diamond cluster formation because it exceeds the θ of a single variant pair, and the diamond cluster is not observed experimentally. However, θ at the JPs cancel out in composite-spear (CS) and composite-kink (CK) clusters, but CK clusters are rarely observed experimentally, while a few CS clusters are observed. This demonstrates the analytical limitations of 2D approaches used to evaluate the frequency of variant pairs and clusters. These two variant clusters have a narrow window of 2D observation because the orientation relationships between JPs and intersection lines between two habit planes affect the areas of JPs.

A case of autoimmune hepatitis with Graves' disease treated by propylthiouracil.

A 58-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of liver dysfunction. Her serum levels of AST (619 IU/l) and ALT (603 IU/l) had increased. Histological findings in the liver biopsy were compatible to autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and the diagnosis of AIH was confirmed by the diagnostic criteria. She was admitted to a nearby hospital 3 years ago, and diagnosed with Graves' disease. She received methimazole (MMI) at first, which was discontinued due to liver injury in one month, then propylthiouracil (PTU) was administered. One year later, transaminase increased and was decreased by stopping PTU administration. PTU was restarted after her transaminase decreased, but a recurrence of hepatotoxicity was observed, and she was referred to our hospital. Oral prednisolone decreased liver function immediately. In this case, PTU-induced liver injury was suspected as a possible trigger of AIH. While PTU remains a commonly used drug in the treatment of hyperthyroidism, severe liver injury is reported in some cases. If liver injury is observed in patients treated with PTU, rechallenge is not recommended in order to avoid severe hepatotoxicity.