Clinical utility of exhaled carbon monoxide in assessing preoperative smoking status and risks of postoperative morbidity after esophagectomy

Whereas smoking constitutes a significant risk factor for postesophagectomy morbidity, there is no reliable method to assess the smoking status of patients prior to the procedure. Since exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) is an indicator of recent smoking, this paper hypothesizes that this is a useful parameter in assessing current smoking status and may help predict morbidity following esophagectomy. Sixty-nine patients, who had undergone elective three-incision esophagectomy with two- or three-field lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer, were prospectively studied between February 2015 and September 2017. At surgical admission, they were asked about their smoking history, their exhaled CO levels were evaluated, and they were grouped into three based on their CO levels. These were 0 parts per million (ppm), >0 and <7 ppm, and ≥7 ppm. Their postoperative morbidity was also assessed. Approximately 13.5% of the patients showed high levels of exhaled CO ≥ 7 ppm, despite preoperatively reporting smoking cessation for over a month. Morbidities of the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDc) ≥ II increased as exhaled CO levels increased and severe morbidity of CDc ≥ IIIb frequently was observed in patients with exhaled CO levels ≥7 ppm. The logistic regression analysis showed that exhaled CO level ≥7 ppm was an independent risk factor for severe postesophagectomy morbidity. Overall, the results of this study suggest that exhaled CO levels may be useful in estimating current smoking status and that it may also help give an estimation of the risk of postesophagectomy morbidity.

Oesophagectomy with or without supraclavicular lymphadenectomy after neoadjuvant treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus

Background

Treatment of supraclavicular nodes remains controversial among patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. This study assessed the outcomes of patients who underwent oesophagectomy with or without supraclavicular lymphadenectomy after neoadjuvant treatment.

Methods

This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study. Patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma and clinically negative supraclavicular nodes who underwent oesophagectomy after neoadjuvant treatment between January 2005 and December 2015 were included. Overall and relapse-free survival were compared between patients who did or did not undergo supraclavicular nodal dissection. Propensity score matching was used to correct for differences in prognostic factors between the groups.

Results

Some 223 patients underwent supraclavicular lymphadenectomy. The prevalence of pathologically confirmed supraclavicular metastasis was 10·3 per cent, and these patients had poor 5-year relapse-free (7 per cent) and overall (14 per cent) survival. Only two of 55 patients who did not undergo supraclavicular lymphadenectomy had recurrent disease in the supraclavicular region without distant metastasis. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in relapse-free survival (hazard ratio (HR) 0·95, 95 per cent c.i. 0·61 to 1·47; P = 0·821) or overall survival (HR 0·86, 0·52 to 1·40; P = 0·544). Similarly, no significant difference in relapse-free or overall survival was observed between the propensity score-matched groups.

Conclusion

For patients with clinically negative supraclavicular lymph nodes, prophylactic supraclavicular lymphadenectomy may be omitted when neoadjuvant treatment is administered.

Examination of cryptococcal glucuronoxylomannan antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for diagnosing pulmonary cryptococcosis in HIV-negative patients

We clarified the performance of a cryptococcal glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) antigen test using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples, in an HIV-negative Japanese population. Between March 2008 and December 2014, we examined cryptococcal GXM antigens in both serum and BALF specimens from 429 cases at Nagasaki University hospital. The diagnoses, underlying diseases, chest computed tomography findings, and cryptococcal GXM antigen test results were retrospectively investigated. Twenty-three patients were confirmed to have pulmonary cryptococcosis, another six were clinically diagnosed with cryptococcosis because they were seropositive for the GXM antigen, and five possible cryptococcosis cases had BALF samples that were positive for the GXM antigen and serum samples that were negative. The test's sensitivities for detecting cryptococcal GXM antigens in serum and BALF samples, for confirmed cases, were 73.9% and 82.6%, respectively, and their respective specificities were 98.5% and 97.8%. Three of the five putative patients with cryptococcosis were treated with antifungal agents; the pulmonary lesions decreased in size in all treated patients. Both the BALF and serum GXM antigen titers showed positive correlations with the lesion sizes; however, the serum antigen titers showed a higher correlation (r = 0.490, P = .0033) than did the BALF titres (r = 0.312, P = .0724). The rate of GXM-positive BALF samples was higher than the rate for serum samples, especially for patients with pulmonary lesion diameters ≤25 mm. Testing for the presence of the cryptococcal GXM antigen in BALF specimens might contribute to the early diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis.

Comparison of Efficacy of Antimicrobial Agents Among Hospitalized Patients With Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia in Japan During Large Epidemics of Macrolide-Resistant M. pneumoniae Infections: A Nationwide Observational Study

Background

Mycoplasma pneumoniae strains with resistance to macrolides have been spreading worldwide. Here, we aimed to clarify which antimicrobial agent is a better treatment for patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia in a setting with large epidemics of macrolide resistance.

Methods

Adult patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed M. pneumoniae pneumonia from 2010 to 2013 were identified from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination national database. Drug switching, length of stay (LOS), 30-day mortality, and total costs for patients who underwent macrolide, quinolone, and tetracycline therapy were compared using propensity score analyses.

Results

Eligible patients (N = 1650) from 602 hospitals were divided into the macrolide group (n = 508), quinolone group (n = 569), or tetracycline group (n = 573). We found that 52.8%, 21.8%, and 38.6% of patients in the macrolide, quinolone, and tetracycline groups, respectively, had to switch drugs (P < .0001). There was no significant difference in the LOS and the 30-day mortality rates among these 3 groups. Cost was highest in the quinolone group (P = .0062). The propensity score-matched pairs (n = 487×2) generated from the quinolone and tetracycline groups also showed a lower proportion of patients who require switches in the quinolone group than in the tetracycline group (21.2% vs 39.6%, P < .0001) but not in the LOS, mortality, and cost.

Conclusions

There were no significant differences in the LOS and mortality among any antimycoplasmal drugs as initial treatment for hospitalized M. pneumoniae pneumonia patients despite the lower switching rate in the quinolone group.

Stable DHLA–PEG capped PbS quantum dots: from synthesis to near-infrared biomedical imaging

Stability, biocompatibility and near-infrared photoluminescence of PbS nanocrystals capped with PEG-based ligands open up realistic prospects for non-invasive bioimaging applications.

Adjunctive corticosteroid therapy for inpatients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Background

There is conflicting evidence regarding the benefit of adjunctive corticosteroid therapy in patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. We hypothesised that corticosteroid therapy could reduce mortality and length of stay (LOS) in such patients.

Methods

Adult patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia from January 2010 to December 2013 were identified from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database. The effects of low-dose and high-dose corticosteroid therapies on mortality, LOS, drug costs and hyperglycaemia requiring insulin treatment were evaluated using propensity score analyses.

Results

Eligible patients (n = 2228) from 630 hospitals were divided into no-corticosteroid (n = 1829), low-dose corticosteroid (n = 267) and high-dose corticosteroid (n = 132) groups. The propensity score-matched pairs were generated from no-corticoid and low-dose corticoid groups (251 pairs), or no-corticoid and high-dose corticosteroid groups (120 pairs). Adjunctive corticosteroid therapy did not decrease 30-day mortality. In addition, both low-dose and high-dose corticosteroid therapies were associated with increases in LOS. Furthermore, hyperglycaemia requiring insulin treatment and drug cost increased with corticosteroid use.

Conclusions

Adjunctive treatment with low-dose or high-dose corticosteroids may not be beneficial in M. pneumoniae pneumonia.

In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of T-2307, a novel arylamidine, against Cryptococcus gattii: an emerging fungal pathogen

Objectives

T-2307, a novel arylamidine, exhibits potent broad-spectrum activities against the majority of fungal pathogens. In this study, the antifungal activity of T-2307 against Cryptococcus gattii was evaluated in comparison with those of amphotericin B, fluconazole and voriconazole in vitro and in vivo .

Methods

The MICs for 15 clinical isolates were determined according to CLSI guidelines and time-kill studies were performed using C. gattii YF2784. In a murine model for intranasal pulmonary infection caused by C. gattii YF2784, the test compounds were administered once daily for 7 days from 2 h or 14 days post-infection. The viable counts in the lungs and brain were determined at 21 days post-infection.

Results

The MIC range, MIC 50 , MIC 90 and geometric mean MIC of T-2307 were 0.0078-0.0625, 0.0313, 0.0625 and 0.0394 mg/L, respectively. The MIC of T-2307 was significantly lower than those of fluconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B. T-2307 showed concentration-dependent fungicidal activity at 4 times the MIC or higher. Administration of T-2307 at 2 mg/kg/day, amphotericin B at 1 mg/kg/day and fluconazole at 160 mg/kg/day from 2 h post-infection significantly reduced viable counts in the lungs and brain. However, when the administration was started 14 days post-infection, only T-2307 significantly reduced the viable counts in both the lungs and the brain at 1 mg/kg/day.

Conclusions

T-2307 shows excellent in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities against C. gattii and would be a promising new candidate for the treatment of cryptococcosis.

Associations of aniseikonia with metamorphopsia and retinal displacements after epiretinal membrane surgery

PurposeTo determine the correlation of the degree of aniseikonia with the retinal displacements and metamorphopsia in patients that have undergone successful epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery.MethodsSubjects were 28 eyes with an ERM in 28 patients. The New Aniseikonia Test (NAT) and M-CHARTS were used to quantify the degree of preoperative and postoperative aniseikonia and metamorphopsia. We also evaluated the distance between the intersections of 2 sets of retinal vessels situated vertically or horizontally by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images in 28 patients.ResultsThe vertical score of M-CHARTS (MV) was not significantly improved, but the horizontal score of M-CHARTS (MH) was significantly improved at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. The preoperative NAT score was significantly correlated with the preoperative MH. The NAT score at 3 months was significantly correlated with the MH at 3 months and the MV at 3 months. The preoperative NAT score was significantly correlated with the ratio of the vertical retinal displacement at 1 month and at 3 months after surgery. However, the NAT scores did not improve significantly at any postoperative times.ConclusionsThe degree of aniseikonia was significantly correlated with the degree of metamorphopsia and the tangential displacement of the retina after ERM surgery. Aniseikonia is difficult to improve and metamorphopsia may be a more sensitive parameter to detect the functional recovery after successful ERM surgery.

Failure of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Neoadjuvant treatment has become standard care for patients with resectable esophageal cancer. However, some patients cannot undergo surgery or curative resection because of disease progression during neoadjuvant treatment. The aim of this study is to identify the pretreatment characteristics of patients in whom neoadjuvant treatment failed. The study enrolled 231 patients who underwent chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (CF) as neoadjuvant therapy for T1N1-3 or T2-3 any-N esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Of these patients, 201 (87.0%) underwent curative resection (R0) and 30 (13.0%) could not undergo curative resection; 19 patients (8.2%) underwent incomplete resection (R1 or R2), and 11 patients (4.8%) could not undergo surgery because of disease progression. We compared clinical characteristics and survival between patients who underwent curative resection (curative group) and those who could not undergo curative resection (noncurative group) to determine the factors predicting noncurative treatment. The noncurative group had significantly worse disease-specific survival than the curative group (P < 0.001). All patients in the noncurative group had cT3 tumors. In 141 patients with cT3 tumors, those in the noncurative group were more likely to have higher serum SCC antigen concentration (P = 0.021), location of the main tumor in the upper to the middle third of the esophagus (P = 0.071), intramural metastases (P < 0.001), advanced N category (P = 0.016), and bulky lymph node metastases (P = 0.060). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified location of the main tumor in the upper to the middle third of the esophagus (P = 0.047), intramural metastases (P = 0.002), and nodal metastases (N1, P = 0.014; N2, P = 0.015, respectively) as independent predictors of treatment failure in patients with cT3 tumors. Neoadjuvant CF therapy alone may not be effective for patients with cT3 tumors accompanied by these risk factors, and the efficacy of alternative strategies, such as triplet chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, should be evaluated.

Tedizolid inhibits MUC5AC production induced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in human airway epithelial cells

The innate immune system plays an important role in early immunity against respiratory tract infection. Although airway epithelial cells produce mucus to eliminate pathogens and irritants, hypersecretion of mucus is harmful for the host as it may cause airway obstruction and inhibit influx of antimicrobial agents. It has been reported that several antimicrobial agents have an immunomodulatory effect in vitro and in vivo, but little is known about whether tedizolid, a novel oxazolidinone, can modulate immune responses. In this study, we evaluated whether tedizolid can suppress MUC5AC production in human airway epithelial cells stimulated by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Compared with the control, tedizolid significantly inhibited MUC5AC protein production and mRNA overexpression at concentrations of both 2 and 10 μg/mL (representative of trough and peak concentrations in human epithelial lining fluid). Among the mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors tested, only extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation was inhibited by tedizolid as indicated by western blot analysis. These results indicate that tedizolid inhibits the overproduction of MUC5AC protein by inhibiting phosphorylation of ERK1/2. This study revealed that tedizolid suppresses excessive mucin production in human airway epithelial cells. The immunomodulatory effect of tedizolid may improve outcomes in patients with severe respiratory infectious diseases caused by MRSA.

Risk Factors for Acquisition of Fluoroquinolone or Aminoglycoside Resistance in Addition to Carbapenem Resistance in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Background:

Carbapenems, fluoroquinolones (FQs), and aminoglycosides (AGs) are key drugs for treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, and accumulation of drug resistances make antibiotic therapy difficult.

Methods:

We evaluated 169 patients with imipenem (IPM)-resistant P. aeruginosa and compared patient background and microbiological characteristics between groups with or without FQ resistance. Similar analyses were performed for AG.

Results:

Of the 169 IPM-resistant strains, 39.1% showed resistance to FQs and 7.1% to AGs. The frequency of exposure to FQs within 90 days previously was higher in the group with FQ resistance (45.5%) than in the group without FQ resistance (13.6%). Similarly, 33.3% of patients in the group with AG resistance had been previously administered AGs, higher than the 7.6% of patients without AG resistance. Frequencies of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) production were higher in the group with FQ or AG resistance (16.7% or 33.3%) than in the group without FQ or AG resistance (2.9% or 6.4%). Multivariate analyses showed exposures to FQs or AGs were related to the respective resistances. MBL production was a common factor for resistance to FQs or AGs, in addition to IPM-resistant P. aeruginosa.

Conclusion:

As well as promoting appropriate use of antibiotics, MBL production should be detected as a target of intervention for infection control.

Transplant Procurement Management Model Training: Marked Improvement in the Mindset of In-Hospital Procurement Coordinators at Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

BACKGROUND

The organ donation rate in Japan is much lower than that in other developed countries for several reasons. An advanced educational program for in-hospital procurement coordinators is a possible solution for this. We introduced a Transplant Procurement Management (TPM) educational program at Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

METHODS

Ten healthcare professionals at Hyogo Prefecture participated in the Advanced International TPM course to educate themselves on TPM and held 2 TPM Model Organ Procurement Training Workshops at Hyogo Prefecture for in-hospital procurement coordinators. Furthermore, we held 2 workshops outside Hyogo Prefecture and at the same time undertook a pre-workshop questionnaire survey to evaluate the ability and motivation with respect to organ donation. To evaluate the effectiveness of the workshops, we conducted post-workshop and 3-months-after workshop questionnaire surveys.

RESULTS

The results of the pre-workshop survey revealed that in-hospital procurement coordinators lacked the knowledge regarding the entire organ donation process, the current status of organ donation in Japan, and the definition of brain death. Moreover, they did not completely understand the meaning of "organ donation." The results of the post-workshop questionnaire survey showed that the educational program was effective to improve the knowledge and skills of organ donation and motivated behavioral changes among the participants.

CONCLUSIONS

The survey results showed that our TPM model educational program offered sufficient knowledge and skills to increase organ donation at Hyogo Prefecture. We will continue this program and make an effort to further contribute to the Japanese organ donation activities.

A case series of histoplasmosis patients with elevated serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels

Histoplasmosis is a common endemic mycosis that is usually asymptomatic but occasionally results in severe illness. Histoplasmosis and its causative agent, Histoplasma capsulatum, are found worldwide but rarely in Japan. In recent years, however, the number of histoplasmosis patients in Japan has increased. In addition, to our knowledge, there are no previous reports of increased serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in patients with histoplasmosis. We report a case series of histoplasmosis in three Japanese temporary workers in Manzanillo, Mexico. All three patients developed a persistent high fever and general fatigue. Laboratory tests showed increased C-reactive protein levels and mild liver dysfunction. All patients also showed increased soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels. Chest computed tomography revealed multiple nodules in both lung fields. All patients were positive for serum anti-Histoplasma antibodies, and two patients were positive for Histoplasma on polymerase chain reaction tests. After treatment that included antifungals, their conditions gradually improved and laboratory data normalized. Although one patient developed respiratory failure, this patient recovered with antifungal therapy in combination with methylprednisolone. Serum sIL-2R levels in all patients gradually declined to normal levels, indicating their recovery from Histoplasma infection. From our experience with these patients, sIL-2R levels may be a useful biomarker for patients with histoplasmosis.

Prognostic and clinical impact of sarcopenia in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Recently, depletion of skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) has been linked to poor prognosis in several types of cancers, but has not been investigated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This retrospective study investigates the relationship between sarcopenia and clinical outcome in ESCC patients treated by surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation therapy (dCRT). The study was retrospectively conducted in a single academic hospital in Kumamoto, Japan, and involved 325 ESCC patients (256 surgical cases and 69 dCRT cases) treated between April 2005 and April 2011. Skeletal muscle mass was quantified by radiologic measures using standard computed tomography scans. The skeletal muscle tissue in the 325 ESCC patients was distributed as follows: mean: 47.10; median: 46.88; standard deviation (SD): 7.39; range: 31.48-71.11; interquartile range, 46.29-47.90. Skeletal muscle tissue was greater in male patients than in female patients (P < 0.0001), but was independent of other clinical and tumor features. Sarcopenia was not significantly associated with overall survival (log rank P = 0.54). Lymph node involvement significantly altered the relationship between sarcopenia and survival rate (P for interaction = 0.026). Sarcopenia significantly reduced the overall survival of patients without lymph node involvement (log rank P = 0.035), but was uncorrelated with overall survival in patients with lymph involvement (log rank, P = 0.31). The anastomosis leakage rate was significantly higher in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group (P = 0.032), but other surgical complications did not significantly differ between the two groups. Sarcopenia in ESCC patients without lymph node involvement is associated with poor prognosis, indicating sarcopenia as a potential biomarker for identifying patients likely to experience an inferior outcome. Moreover, sarcopenia was associated with anastomosis leakage but no other short-term surgical outcome.

Spatial and Temporal Brain Responses to Noxious Heat Thermal Stimuli in Burning Mouth Syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is an idiopathic orofacial pain condition. Although the pathophysiology of BMS is not clearly understood, central and peripheral neuropathic mechanisms are thought to be involved. The authors compared brain response to noxious heat stimuli in 16 right-handed women with primary BMS and 15 sex- and age-matched right-handed healthy female controls. A thermal stimulus sequence of 32 °C to 40 °C to 32 °C to 49 °C was repeated 4 times in a cycle. Warm and noxious heat stimuli were delivered with a Peltier thermode placed on the right palm or right lower lip for 32 s each in a session. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained by recording echoplanar images with a block design. Statistical Parametric Mapping 8 software was used to analyze the data. Patients and controls both reported feeling more pain during palm stimulation than during lip stimulation. Repetition of noxious heat stimulus on the lower lip but not on the palm induced habituation in brain activity in the cingulate cortex without reduction in pain perception. Multiple regression analysis revealed a correlation between perceived pain intensity and suppression of brain activity in the anterior cingulate cortex when the repeated thermal sequence was applied at the lower lip. Furthermore, the response of the parahippocampal area differed in BMS patients and controls when the same repeated thermal sequence was applied at the palm. The authors’ findings indicate that BMS patients show specific brain responses due to impaired function of the central and peripheral nervous systems (clinical trial registration: UMIN000015002).

The world first two cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome: An epidemiological study in Nagasaki, Japan

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV), a novel phlebovirus belonging to the family Bunyaviridae, was reported in China for the first time in 2009. We observed two cases where the SFTSV was isolated for the first time in Nagasaki, Japan, in 2005. Two males in their 60s, a farmer and a hunter, respectively, living in Nagasaki developed SFTS during the same period. The patients developed similar clinical symptoms and signs, such as fever, loss of consciousness, and multiple organ dysfunction. The farmer died and the hunter survived. A retrospective diagnosis of SFTS was made in 2013, and genetic analysis revealed that the patients were infected with different SFTSV strains. Retrospective analysis of cytokine production in non-fatal case revealed interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and interferon-γ level of acute phase was low and could be potential prognostic factors. As there are no epidemiological studies of positive rate of SFTSV antibody in people living in endemic areas in Japan, a field study was performed. Volunteers at high risk for tick bites, such as hunters, farmers, and soldiers, were recruited in 6 regions, including the areas where the SFTS cases occurred. Three hundred and twenty six volunteers in Nagasaki prefecture were examined and none of these tested positive for the SFTSV antibody. Our data indicates that the risk for SFTSV infection is not high in Nagasaki prefecture. Further collection of blood samples from endemic areas is warranted for the prevention of SFTSV infection.

Successful Treatment of Aspergillus Empyema Using Open Window Thoracostomy Salvage Treatment and the Local Administration of an Antifungal Agent

A 76-year-old woman received long-term immunosuppressive treatment for collagen vascular disease-associated interstitial pneumonia. The patient developed a cavitary mass lesion in the right lower lung field, and both nontuberculous mycobacteria and Aspergillus spp. were isolated after bronchial washing. The patient underwent a right lower lobectomy but developed Aspergillus empyema. Empyema due to Aspergillus spp. is a rare and life-threatening condition; however, the standard therapeutic strategies for treating Aspergillus empyema are not clear. We herein report a case of Aspergillus empyema that was successfully treated with a combination therapy which included open-window thoracostomy and the administration of antifungal agents (systemic micafungin and local amphotericin-B).

Relapsed Pulmonary Cryptococcosis during Tumor Necrosis Factor α Inhibitor Treatment

A 35-year-old non-HIV patient developed pulmonary cryptococcosis after the initiation of infliximab. He recovered by fluconazole treatment and completed the therapy for a total of 6 months. However, he experienced a relapse 16 months later during retreatment with infliximab, revealing an interesting clinical course contradicting retreatment. This case also represents the first case of relapsed pulmonary cryptococcosis suspected during treatment with a biologic agent. Both of these aspects generated important clinical questions about the length of pulmonary cryptococcosis treatment and the necessity of introducing a second prophylaxis for such patients.

Recurrent Streptococcus agalactiae Toxic Shock Syndrome Triggered by a Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by group B streptococcus (GBS) is a rare, but lethal disease. We experienced a 45-year-old woman with pustular psoriasis who developed toxic shock-like syndrome during infliximab treatment. Surprisingly, similar episodes recurred three times in one year with restarting of infliximab treatments. In the third episode, GBS were detected in blood, urine, and vaginal secretion cultures. These episodes of shock syndrome were possibly due to GBS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of recurrent streptococcal toxic shock syndrome possibly caused by GBS which was induced by anti-TNF-α inhibitor therapy. The restarting of biological agents in patients with a history of toxic shock syndrome should therefore be avoided as much as possible.

Pulmonary Nocardiosis Caused by Nocardia concava with a Literature Review

A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with anorexia and leg pain. He was diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis through a renal biopsy. Immunosuppression with two courses of steroid pulse therapies and intravenous cyclophosphamide followed by oral prednisolone at 40 mg/day were administered. About one month after starting the immunosuppression therapy, he complained of hemosputum. Chest computed tomography showed a cavitary lesion in the lung. Cultures from his sputum showed Nocardia species, and we were able to identify the species as N. concava using a 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Only three detailed reports of N. concava infection have so far been published worldwide.