[A case of follicular bronchiolitis in which progressive bronchiectasis developed over 7 years].

A 53-year-old man presented to our hospital with cough in August 2004. Chest computed tomography showed an anterior mediastinal tumor, centrilobular nodules and mild bronchiectasis. Centrilobular nodules were improved by the administration of clarithromycin, and we resected an anterior mediastinal tumor (thymoma).

[Comparison between pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza pneumonia and seasonal influenza pneumonia in adults].

We compared 126 cases of seasonal influenza pneumonia (seasonal flu) reported between January, 1996 and March, 2009, with 10 cases of laboratory-confirmed pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus pneumonia (novel flu), based on clinical condition, computed tomography (CT) findings, severity, treatment, and prognosis, to clarify the characteristics of this novel flu. The mean age of subjects was 52.4 years in the novel flu group and 64 years in the seasonal flu group, and novel flu patients were younger than seasonal flu patients.

[Eight cases of idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis followed up for more than 4 years].

Background: Few reports exist regarding the long-term clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Purpose And Methods: We retrospectively studied the clinical courses of 8 patients. The patients were 4 men and 4 women aged 48.

[A single-center prospective study of viral infection in community-acquired pneumonia in adults].

From July, 2008 to March, 2009, 125 adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who were admitted to our hospital were retrospectively investigated to elucidate the characteristics of viral infection in adult CAP in Japan. Nasopharyngeal swabs for real-time polymerase chain reaction for 7 types of influenza virus, rhinovirus, respiratory synctial virus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, coronavirus, and enterovirus were obtained. Diagnoses of viral infections were established according to positive results in real-time polymerase chain reaction and influenza rapid diagnostic testing, and based on a fourfold increase in antibody titer of influenza virus antibody in paired sera.

[Clinical study of pneumocystis pneumonia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

We reviewed case of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) with rheumatoid arthritis. We administered the antirheumatic drug methotrexate (MTX) at the time of to 13 patients, corticosteroids to 11 patients and a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor to 3 patients. Treatment for PCP was started on admission in all cases.

[A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis which initially deteriorated rapidly with exacerbation of pulmonary nocardiosis, responded promptly to treatment of the pulmonary nocardiosis].

A 37-year-old man was admitted with complaints of continuous cough and sputum production for 1 month. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed a solitary mass with a cavity in the apex of the left lung and bilateral ground-glass opacities (GGO). Thereafter, the patient complained of fever, and an increase in the mass shadow size and expansion of the ground-glass opacities were observed on serial CT.

[Hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by Hypsizigus marumoreus].

We present the case of a 53-year-old woman who was employed at a mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii and Hypsizigus marumoreus) cultivation factory for 15 years. She was admitted to our hospital because of fever and dry cough. Chest radiography and CT scanning revealed diffuse ground glass opacity and centrilobular nodules in both lung fields.

[A case of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome suspected from pulmonary hematoma due to disruption of the lung].

A 20-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to hemoptysis. Chest CT showed a ground-glass opacity, suggesting pulmonary bleeding; however, a diagnosis was not obtained. At a follow-up examination after 2 months, Chest CT showed improvement of the ground-glass opacity, however a cavitary nodule had newly appeared.

[Mucoid impaction of the bronchi caused by Schizophyllum commune which developed after discontinuation of itraconazole administration].

We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with mucoid impaction of the bronchi (MIB) due to Schizophyllum commune who improved with itraconazole (ITCZ) administration and relapsed after discontinuation of the drug. She improved again after readministration of ITCZ, and MIB has not recurred. This patient was not suffering from asthma and has been well without steroid administration.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces and cavitary lesion on chest X-ray as the initial complications.

A 17-year-old-man developed left-sided pneumothorax in 1995. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a thick-walled cavity in the left lower lobe. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed, and pathologic findings of the resected lung showed a cavity, organizing hematoma, and a fibrous nodule.

[Primary ciliary dyskinesia. A case report and comparison with 4 previous cases].

We encountered a 59-year-old man, whose chief complaints were sputum and dyspnea on effort. He had suffered from sinusitis since childhood, and chest computed tomography showed bronchiectasis. Electron microscopic examination of bronchial mucosa biopsied by bronchoscopy showed defect of the inner dynein arm in most of his cilia.

Changes in lung function and health status in patients with COPD treated with tiotropium or salmeterol plus fluticasone.

Background And Objective: The effects of tiotropium, a long-acting anticholinergic drug, were compared with those of the combination of salmeterol, a long-acting beta(2)-agonist, and fluticasone, an inhaled corticosteroid, in patients with COPD.

Methods: A 4-month, randomized, open cross-over study of tiotropium, 18 microg once daily, versus salmeterol, 50 microg, plus fluticasone, 200 microg, twice daily, was conducted in patients with COPD. Efficacy was assessed by spirometry and responses to the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).

[Autopsy case of diffuse pleural thickening presenting respiratory impairment and benign asbestos pleurisy].

A 51-year-old man presented with back pain in 1997. He had a 30-year-history of occupational asbestos exposure. His chest CT showed bilateral pleural thickening and pleural effusion.

[Long-term CT findings of X-linked agammaglobulinemia with bronchiectasis diagnosed in an adult].

We report a case of X-linked agammaglobulinemia who presented with bronchiectasis. The patient had suffered pneumonia about every five years since childhood until he presented to our hospital at age 34 years old. CT showed bronchiectasis predominantly in the right middle lobe, lingula, and lower lobes.

[A case of the metastatic calcification of trachea, bronchus, and lung].

A 43-year-old man with chronic renal failure who had been treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was admitted to our hospital because of dry cough. Blood gas analysis showed hypoxemia and metabolic alkalosis. Laboratory data showed elevated levels of phosphorus, BNP, and KL-6.

[A case of human T lymphotropic virus type I-related lung disease in which Legionella pneumonia led to the diagnosis].

A 46-year-old man whose parents were from Nagasaki had a 24-hour bath system in his house. He had had a cough for 26 years and dyspnea for 2 years. He consulted our hospital because of the increase of his cough and dyspnea.

Multiple tracheobronchial mucosal lesions in two cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is characterized by hypereosinophilia and a systemic necrotizing vasculitis seen almost exclusively in patients with asthma. The most common pathological findings in the chest in CSS are eosinophilic pneumonia, necrotizing vasculitis and granulomatous inflammation (extravascular granuloma). However, tracheobronchial mucosal lesions have rarely been reported in CSS.

Serum IgG and IgA antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and severity of emphysema.

Objective: Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been identified serologically in patients with COPD. The aim of this study was to examine whether the severity of emphysema is related to elevated antibody titres against C. pneumoniae.

High resolution CT and bronchial reversibility test for diagnosing COPD.

Background: COPD is defined by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible and is associated with relevant risk factors. The diagnosis requires that other causes of chronic airflow limitation (CAL) be excluded. We assessed the diagnostic utility of high resolution thoracic CT (HRCT) and bronchodilator reversibility to assist in making a diagnosis of COPD.

[Usefulness of Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen detection kit and the duration and intensity of reactivity with urinary antigen in patients with pneumonia].

We evaluated a rapid urinary antigen detection kit, Binax Now Streptococcus pneumoniae (Binax Inc., USA), which detects S. pneumoniae antigen in urine by immunochromatographic membrane assay, in 379 patients with presumptive pneumonia (total: 454 urine samples).

[Ct findings of drug-induced pneumonitis--characteristic CT findings by histological group and subgroup].

We examined the chest CT results of 27 cases of drug-induced pneumonitis. We classified the subjects into 3 groups in accordance with the clinicopathological findings: eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) group (5 cases), diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) group (3 cases), and interstitial pneumonia (IP) group (19 cases). We evaluated the CT findings in each group, and made a further subclassification.

[A case of combined hypersensitivity pneumonitis and bronchial asthma due to isocyanate (MDI)].

A 29-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of cough, wheezing, dyspnea, and fever one month after handling paint spray containing isocyanate (MDI). Chest HRCT findings showed diffuse ground-glass attenuation in both lung fields. A pulmonary function test revealed restrictive impairment, and the reversibility test was positive.

[A case of chronic pigeon breeder's disease accompanied with progressive pulmonary cysts and recurrent pneumothorax].

We followed up a case of chronic pigeon breeder's disease with progressive pulmonary cysts and recurrent pneumothorax. The patient was a 48-year-old man who started to breed pigeons 14 years ago. He was diagnosed 7 years ago as having hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to pigeons, but he refused to stay away from the birds until he experienced episodes of dyspnea on exertion 3 years ago.

[Prognostic significance of serum uric acid in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receiving home oxygen therapy].

Home oxygen therapy (HOT) not only prolongs life expectancy but also improves quality of life. Serum uric acid (UA), the final product of purine catabolism, has been shown to be increased in the hypoxic state. To elucidate the prognostic significance of serum UA in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receiving HOT, we assessed the ratio between the serum concentration of UA and creatinine (Cr) in 91 outpatients with COPD.

[A case of fulminant psittacosis with rhabdomyolysis].

We encountered a case of psittacosis accompanied with rhabdomyolysis in a 66-year-old woman admitted to our hospital because of myalgia, fever, diarrhea, and disorientation. A chest CT scan showed air-space consolidation and ground-glass attenuation in the left lung. Laboratory findings showed elevation of CPK, myoglobin, and aldolase, consistent with rhabdomyolysis.