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Background Zosteriform skin metastasis (ZSM) is rare, and its etiology is not well understood. ZSM is possibly derived from the retrograde movement of cancer cells through the lymphatic vessels during disease development. However, it has been difficult to demonstrate it, as no specific findings have been observed. Case presentation A 68-year-old man presented to our department with neck lymphadenopathy. After detailed examinations, squamous cell lung carcinoma (cT2aN3M1c) was diagnosed. Although cisplatin combined with gemcitabine was administered, his cancerous lymphangiopathy was exacerbated, and ZSM was observed on his right chest. Pembrolizumab was initiated as a second-line chemotherapy; however, the patient died 7 months after the initial presentation. In this case, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography indicated the presence of skin metastasis and cancerous lymphangiopathy. Similarly, after performing an autopsy, tumor-cell filled lymph ducts were observed in the right subclavian and the cutaneous lymphatic vessel from the right hilar lymph nodes. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that the localization of ZSM in the cutaneous lymphatics was caused by the retrograde movement of cancer cells through the lymphatic vessels, using radiographical and pathological analysis. In addition, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography may help predict skin metastasis induced by cancerous lymphangiopathy.

Extremely low post-settlement survival is one of the largest barriers for artificial rehabilitation of Acropora corals. However, little data have been found for interspecific difference of the post-settlement survival probably because the observation of coral juvenile is difficult in the field. Here, we analyzed the survival of three dominant species of Acropora corals (A. digitifera, A. tenuis, A. yongei), with different colony morphologies and habitat preferences, for 2 years after settlement under the same environmental conditions. The post-settlement survival was significantly higher for A. tenuis than for A. digitifera 3 months after settlement. Two years later, the survival rate of A. tenuis was approximately 15 times higher than A. digitifera. In a separate analysis of three bottle-brush species (A. awi, A. echinata, A. subglabra) and A. tenuis, post-settlement survival was always higher for A. awi than for other two bottle-brush species, suggesting that the initial survival was different among morphologically sister species. Low survival was possibly associated with slow growth rates during the first 7 months. Thus, species selection is important for successful artificial coral rehabilitation, with A. tenuis being the most viable option. Alternatively, new techniques are required to improve post-settlement survival of slow growing coral species.

Background There are no reports on the prevalence of Chagas disease in Japan. Furthermore, screening programs and access to diagnosis and treatment have not been established. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence of Chagas disease among suspected cases in Japan and provide the reference data required for disease control. Methods Seventeen patients with suspected Chagas disease in Japan between 2012 and 2017 were included in the study. Patients were diagnosed with Chagas disease based on the two different serological tests for antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi. Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay and blood culture techniques were performed to confirm T. cruzi parasitemia. Results Of the 17 patients, 11 (64.7%) were immigrants from Latin America. Ultimately, 6 patients (35.3%) were diagnosed with Chagas disease. Of these 6 patients, median age was 53.5 years, 5 patients were immigrants from Latin American, and 1 was Japanese who had a congenital infection. T. cruzi parasitemia was confirmed in 4 patients (66.7%), and 5 (83.3%) were in the chronic phase (Chagas cardiomyopathy, 4; megacolon, 1). Two patients (33.3%) commenced benznidazole treatment. Conclusion Our study showed that some patients of Chagas disease living in Japan are already in the chronic phase at diagnosis because of substantial diagnostic delays. Further epidemiological studies on the prevalence of Chagas disease and systematic screening programs for the Latin American population are needed.

Background The advent of well-tolerated and effective anti-retroviral drugs against human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection has been a major step forward that has achieved long-term survival in recent years. The number of HIV-1 infected patients who experience difficulty in swallowing tablets is expected to increase as the HIV-infected population advances in age or develops comorbidities or treatment sequelae affecting the central nervous system. Case presentation Here, we describe two HIV-1-infected patients who experienced progressive dysphagia leading to inability to swallow the antiretroviral tablets included in the standard regimen. Both patients had a plasma viral load

Introduction Tuberculous lymphadenitis is the most frequent form of extrapulmonary tuberculous. Although nucleic acid amplification assays such as polymerase chain reaction have recently become mainstream techniques for diagnosing tuberculous lymphadenitis, they are still not routinely performed in developing countries because of their high costs and complicated procedures. Case presentation We describe a case of tuberculous lymphadenitis in a 79-year-old Japanese man who had been on continuous hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease. We employed loop-mediated isothermal amplification and the procedure for ultrarapid extraction to develop a fast and easy-to-perform procedure for diagnosing tuberculous lymphadenitis. Conclusions The commercially available loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay kit and a rapid purification procedure enabled us to identify and amplify a Mycobacterium tuberculosis–specific gene within just 1.5 hours.