Infectious conjunctivitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from a bathroom

Background: The elucidation of the routes of transmission of a pathogen is crucial for the prevention of infectious diseases caused by bacteria that are not a resident in human tissue. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of suture-related conjunctivitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa for which we identified the transmission route using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Case presentation: A 38-year-old man, who had undergone surgery for glaucoma 2 years ago previously, presented with redness, discomfort, and mucopurulent discharge in the right eye. A 9–0 silk suture had been left on the conjunctiva. A strain of P. aeruginosa was isolated from a culture obtained from the suture, and the patient was therefore diagnosed with suture-related conjunctivitis caused by P. aeruginosa. The conjunctivitis was cured by the application of an antimicrobial ophthalmic solution and removal of the suture. We used PFGE to survey of the indoor and outdoor environments around the patient’s house and office in order to elucidate the route of transmission of the infection. Three strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated from the patient’s indoor environment, and the isolate obtained from the patient’s bathroom was identical to that from the suture. Conclusion: The case highlights the fact that an indoor environmental strain of P. aeruginosa can cause ocular infections

都市部における中波ビーコンとFM多重放送によるDGPS測位精度の評価

東京水産大学海洋システム工学講

超音波バイオテレメトリーシステムを応用した小型漁具深度モニタリングシステムの開発および性能試験

A system for real-time monitoring the depth of small fishing gear was developed using acoustic telemetry to improve the efficiency of fishing operations. The system consisted of an acoustic transmitter (pinger), an omni-directional hydrophone with a depressor, and a receiver. Using a pinger equipped with a depth sensor, a fisherman can confirm whether the fishing gear is at the intended depth. The battery of the developed pinger can be replaced easily for repeated use. The performance of the system was evaluated in a field experiment. The accuracy of measured depth was 0.4 m and was constant even if the pinger was moving. In the experiment, the system could successfully monitor the pinger depth every several second. The system was implemented in hairtail trolling to examine its effectiveness. The implementation experiments revealed some issues with the system, such as the effect of signal reflections or the installation method of the hydrophone. However, the system could monitor the depth of the fishing gear continuously in real time and it operated successfully without any problem during the fishing operation. Application of the developed system is expected to aid fishermen in adjusting the gear depth easily and accurately.小型漁具を対象とした，漁具深度をリアルタイムで測定・表示するシステムの開発を行った。開発したシステムの性能試験として，測定深度の精度評価とタチウオ漕釣り漁具への実装実験を行った。本システムの測定深度の精度は 0.4 m であった。実装実験では，漁具深度を連続的に測定・表示することにより，漁具深度の調整を支援することができた。本システムにより，効率的な漁具の操作が可能になる

Cross-sectional and prospective study of the association between lung function and prediabetes

Objectives: A growing body of evidence suggests that there is a relationship between impaired lung function and the risk of developing diabetes mellitus (DM). However, it is not known if this reflects a causal effect of lung function on glucose metabolism. To clarify the relationship between lung function and the development of DM, we examined the incidence of newly diagnosed prediabetes (a precursor of DM) among subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) at baseline. Design: Primary analysis of an occupational cohort with both cross-sectional and longitudinal data (follow-up duration mean±SD: 28.4±6.1 months). Setting and participants: Data were analysed from 1058 men in a cross-sectional study and from 560 men with NGT in a longitudinal study. Outcomes and methods: Impaired lung function (per cent predicted value of forced vital capacity (%FVC) or per cent value of forced expiratory volume 1 s/FVC (FEV1/FVC ratio)) in relation to the ratio of prediabetes or DM in a cross-sectional study and development of new prediabetes in a longitudinal study. NGT, prediabetes including impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and increased fasting glucose (IFG) and DM were diagnosed according to 75 g oral glucose tolerance tests. Measurements and main results: %FVC at baseline, but not FEV1/FVC ratio at baseline, was significantly associated with the incidences of DM and prediabetes. Among prediabetes, IGT but not IFG was associated with %FVC. During follow-up, 102 subjects developed prediabetes among those with NGT. A low %FVC, but not FEV1/FVC ratio, was predictive of an increased risk for development of IGT, but not of IFG. Conclusions: Low lung volume is associated with an increased risk for the development of prediabetes, especially IGT, in Japanese men. Although there is published evidence for an association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and DM, prediabetes is not associated with the early stage of COPD.This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid for scientific research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (No. 23390222 and 24659405), and a grant to the Respiratory Failure Research Group from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan

Efficacy of the Quickert procedure for involutional entropion : the first case series in Asia

Purpose : To report the efficacy of the Quickert procedure in the first case series of involutional entropion in an elderly Asian population, and to introduce the technique to Asian ophthalmologists including general ophthalmologisits and ophthalmic trainees. Methods : We conducted a retrospective review of 13 consecutive patients underwent the Quickert procedure for involutional entropion by occasional eyelid surgeons at Tokushima University Hospital or Mino Tanaka Hospital from September 2003 to April 2010. Demographic data, including gender, age, history of previous eyelid surgery, systemic disease, recurrence of entropion, postoperative complications, and symptoms were analyzed. Results : There were 5 male (38.5%) and 8 female (61.5%) subjects with a mean age of 77.8 years. Three patients underwent previous surgery for entropion were included. Entropion was rectified in all patients by a single Quickert procedure, and no recurrence was observed for a maximum of 89 months after the surgery. Although notching of the eyelid margin and mild symblepharon were observed in one patient, no symptoms associated with these complications were reported. Conclusion : The Quickert procedure can be one of the surgical procedures of choice for involutional entropion and should be common surgical approach for occasional eyelid surgeons in Asia as well as in western countries