Diagnostic accuracy of 16S ribosomal RNA gene polymerase chain reaction in bacteremia: A prospective observational study

　The standard method for diagnosing bacteremia is blood culture. However, the sensitivity of blood culture is low when the number of bacteria in the blood is low or when antibiotics have already been administered. Furthermore, some bacteria are difficult to detect in blood cultures. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) contains conserved sequences that are targeted for PCR amplification using universal primers. We investigated whether the threshold cycle (Ct) value of 16S rRNA real-time PCR in whole-blood samples can be used for early diagnosis of bacteremia. Ct values of the 16S rRNA real-time PCR in 307 collected specimens showed a bimodal distribution. Ct values of the blood culture-positive group were significantly lower than those of the blood culture-negative group (P < 0.001). The cutoff value of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 38.80, as determined using finite-mixture modeling and expectation-maximization algorithm. Analysis of the diagnostic accuracy at this cutoff value showed a sensitivity of 91.4%, specificity of 33.5%, positive predictive value of 15.0%, and negative predictive value of 96.8%. The Ct value of 16S rRNA real-time PCR shows high negative predictive value, it may be useful for excluding bacteremia when the cutoff value is set appropriately

Source Molecular Effect on Amorphous Carbon Film Deposition

We investigated deposition process of amorphous carbon films using acetylene and methane as a source molecule, by using infrared spectroscopy in multiple internal reflection geometry (MIR-IRAS). We found that deposited film structures were different due to source molecules.ナノダイナミクス国際シンポジウム 平成20年1月46日(木) 於長崎大学Nagasaki Symposium on Nano-Dynamics 2009 (NSND2009), January 27, 2022, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan, Poster Presentatio

Substrate Bias Effect on Deposition Process of Amorphous Carbon Films

Substrate bias effects on the deposition process of amorphous carbon films were investigated by using infrared spectroscopy in multiple internal reflection geometry (MIR-IRAS). The density of the sp-CH species was increased in amorphous carbon films with substrate bias; on the other hand, the density of the sp3-CHX (X=1～3) species was decreased in amorphous carbon films with substrate bias.ナノダイナミクス国際シンポジウム 平成20年1月45日(木) 於長崎大学Nagasaki Symposium on Nano-Dynamics 2009 (NSND2009), January 27, 2021, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan, Poster Presentatio

Diagnostic accuracy of 16S ribosomal RNA gene polymerase chain reaction in bacteremia: A prospective observational study

Regular Articlejournal articl

A case of successful endoscopic removal in a patient who took aconite for the purpose of suicide.

　トリカブトは山野に自生しており，山菜・薬草と間違われ誤食事故を引き起こしている．また自殺目的に用いられることもある．トリカブト中毒ではアコニチンなどのアルカロイドにより経 口摂取間もなく重症不整脈をきたし，多量摂取例では致死的となりうる．トリカブトを摂取した患 者に対し内視鏡的除去を行い良好な予後を得たので報告する．症例は20代女性，自殺目的に観賞用トリカブトの根を切って飲み，当院へ救急搬送された．来院時自覚症状を認めなかった．胃洗浄を行ったがトリカブトは確認できなかった．摂取後早期であり，トリカブトの根を切って咀嚼せず飲み込んだという病歴から，トリカブト除去目的に上部消化管内視鏡を施行したところ胃内にトリカブトの根を認め内視鏡的に除去しえた．入院後症状の出現なく，心電図変化も認めなかった．経過良好であり翌日退院となった．来院時の胃液ではヒパコニチン 5.1 ng/ml，メサコニチン 21.0 ng/ml，アコニチン 1.1 ng/ml，ベンゾイルメサコニン 3.4 ng/ml が検出されたが，血清，尿からは検出されなかった．一般的にトリカブト中毒が疑われた場合，吸収阻害を目的に胃洗浄さらに活性炭の投与を行うとされている．本症例では，病歴から固形のトリカブトが胃内に残っていると推測し，早期に内視鏡的除去を行った結果，中毒症状を呈することなく経過した．固形物を咀嚼せずに飲み込んだこと，摂取から時間が経っていないこと，物質が吸収された場合致死的であることを満たす場合には，有効な治療法となる可能性がある．　Aconite grows wild in mountains and fields, and it is often mistaken for other edible or medicinal plants, resulting in poisoning. Whilst ingestion may be accidental, it is also sometimes used for the purpose of suicide. Aconitine and other alkaloid toxins may cause severe, often fatal arrhythmias in patients with aconite poisoning, especially after high oral intake. Herein, we report the endoscopic removal of aconite from a patient after intentional ingestion. A woman in her twenties was rushed to our hospital after consuming the roots of an ornamental aconite in an attempt to commit suicide. The patient exhibited no subjective symptoms on admission. Gastric lavage was performed, but no aconite was found. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed and the aconite root, found in the stomach, was removed. The patient exhibited no symptoms or ECG changes after admission. Aconitine alkaloids, such as hypaconitine (5.1 ng/mL), mesaconitine (21.0 ng/mL), aconitine (1.1 ng/mL), and benzoyl-mesaconine (3.4 ng/mL), were detected in the gastric juice but not in the serum or urine. The patient was discharged the following day. In general, when aconite poisoning is suspected, gastric lavage and activated charcoal are administered to inhibit absorption. The ingestion of solid materials without chewing may affect absorption time. Based on the history of this case, we assumed that solid aconite remained in the stomach, thus early endoscopic removal of the aconite resulted in no symptoms of poisoning. Hence, this may be an effective and fast treatment for aconite poisoning

The Current Status and Future Prospects of KAGRA, the Large-Scale Cryogenic Gravitational Wave Telescope Built in the Kamioka Underground

International audienceKAGRA is a gravitational-wave (GW) detector constructed in Japan with two unique key features: It was constructed underground, and the test-mass mirrors are cooled to cryogenic temperatures. These features are not included in other kilometer-scale detectors but will be adopted in future detectors such as the Einstein Telescope. KAGRA performed its first joint observation run with GEO600 in 2020. In this observation, the sensitivity of KAGRA to GWs was inferior to that of other kilometer-scale detectors such as LIGO and Virgo. However, further upgrades to the detector are ongoing to reach the sensitivity for detecting GWs in the next observation run, which is scheduled for 2022. In this article, the current situation, sensitivity, and future perspectives are reviewed.</jats:p