Factors associated with mortality among patients with culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in the urban poor population of Osaka City, Japan

@#Objective: To determine the characteristics associated with mortality in patients with culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Airin, Osaka City, Japan. Methods: The characteristics of patients with culture-positive PTB registered between 2015 and 2018 in Airin, Osaka City, Japan, were compared between those who died of all causes before or during treatment and those who completed treatment. Results: Of the 241 culture-positive PTB patients eligible for this study, 170 completed treatment, with negative sputum culture tests, and 62 died. The all-cause case fatality rate was 26.7% (62/232). Multivariate analysis showed that mortality was associated with age >70 years, having a positive sputum smear, a body mass index of <18.5 and serious comorbidities such as cancer and heart and renal disease. Detection of tuberculosis (TB) by screening or in an outpatient department (OPD) for other diseases was inversely associated with mortality. Discussion: Detection of PTB by chest X-ray screening and during regular visits to OPDs for other diseases was associated with non-fatal TB and might contribute to early case finding. Therefore, current active TB case finding and health education on regular visits to physicians for other diseases should be strengthened further for the urban poor population of Osaka City, Japan.

Ongoing rubella epidemic in Osaka, Japan, in 2018–2019

Abstract@#A large rubella epidemic is currently ongoing since 2018 in Osaka, Japan. The detected rubella viruses were classified into genotypes 1E lineage 2 and 2B lineage 1. These strains may have been imported from endemic countries, and these viruses spread within the susceptible population.

Characteristics of individuals with tuberculosis in an urban, poor population in Osaka City, Japan — a case-control study

Objective@#To identify individual characteristics related to the development of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among residents in the Airin area (Airin), Osaka City, Japan.@*Methods@#We conducted a retrospective case-control study of individual characteristics potentially related to the development of PTB by comparing PTB patients and residents without tuberculosis (TB) in Airin. The following binominal data of characteristics were compared: age (<65 or >65); body mass index (BMI) (<18.5 or >18.5); diabetes mellitus (diagnosed or not diagnosed); smoking (currently smoking any amount or not smoking); and alcohol use (currently drinking any amount or not drinking).@*Results@#We compared the individual characteristics of 192 PTB patients notified from January 2015 to December 2018 and 190 residents of supportive houses who attended a health education programme from April 2016 to March 2018. Univariable analysis showed that the following characteristics were significantly related with PTB: BMI <18.5 (odds ratio [OR]: 6.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.58–11.97, P < 0.001) and current alcohol use (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.24–2.85, P = 0.003). Multivariable analysis showed similar results: BMI <18.5 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 6.90, 95% CI: 3.72–12.79, P < 0.001) and current alcohol use (aOR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.36–3.42, P = 0.001).@*Discussion@#Undernutrition and alcohol use are individual characteristics associated with PTB among residents in Airin, Osaka City. To strengthen the TB control programme further, it is suggested to develop new programmes for primary prevention.

Relationship between testicular volume and testicular function: comparison of the Prader orchidometric and ultrasonographic measurements in patients with infertility / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To evaluate the relationship between testicular function and testicular volume measured by using Prader orchidometry and ultrasonography (US) to determine the critical testicular volume indicating normal testicular function by each method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total testicular volume (right plus left testicular volume) was measured in 794 testes in 397 men with infertility (mean age, 35.6 years) using a Prader orchidometer and also by ultrasonography. Ultrasonographic testicular volumes were calculated as length X width X height X 0.71. To evaluate volume-function relationships, patients were divided into 10 groups representing 5-mL increments of total testicular volume by each method from below 10 mL to 50 mL or more.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean total testicular volume based on Prader orchidometry and US were 36.8 mL and 26.3 mL, respectively. Semen volume, sperm density, total sperm count, total motile sperm count, and serum FSH, LH, and testosterone all correlated significantly with total testicular volume measured by either method. Mean sperm density was in the oligozoospermic range in patients with total testicular volume below 35 mL by orchidometry or below 20 mL by ultrasonography. Mean total sperm count was subnormal in patients with total testicular volume below 30 mL by orchidometry or under 20 mL by ultrasonography.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Testicular volume measured by either ultrasonography or Prader orchidometry correlated significantly with testicular function. However, critical total testicular volume indicating normal or nearly normal testicular function was 30 mL to 35 mL using Prader orchidometer and 20 mL using ultrasonography. Prader orchidometry morphometrically and functionally overestimated the testicular volume in comparison to US.</p>