Relationship Between Episodic Nocturnal Hypercapnia and History of Exacerbations in Patients with Advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Purpose: An episodic increase in transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (PtcCO) is often recognized in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by overnight PtcCO monitoring. This phenomenon, called episodic nocturnal hypercapnia (eNH), mainly corresponds to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-related hypoventilation. However, it is unclear whether eNH is associated with the frequency of COPD exacerbation.

SARS-CoV-2-related Progressive Brain White Matter Lesion Associated with an Increased Cerebrospinal Fluid Level of IL-6.

We herein report a 49-year-old man with a fever, diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. After two weeks of hospitalization, he suddenly mentioned visual field impairment. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed white matter damage and vasogenic edema.

Pneumonia Caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Influenza Virus: A Multicenter Comparative Study.

Background: Detailed differences in clinical information between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia (CP), which is the main phenotype of SARS-CoV-2 disease, and influenza pneumonia (IP) are still unclear.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted by including patients with CP who were hospitalized between January and June 2020 and a retrospective cohort of patients with IP hospitalized from 2009 to 2020. We compared the clinical presentations and studied the prognostic factors of CP and IP.

The utility of serial procalcitonin measurements in addition to pneumonia severity scores in hospitalised community-acquired pneumonia: A multicentre, prospective study.

Objectives: The usefulness of serial procalcitonin (PCT) measurements for predicting the prognosis and treatment efficacy for hospitalised community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients was investigated.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre, cohort study enrolled consecutive CAP patients who were hospitalised at 10 hospitals in western Japan from September 2013 to September 2016. PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured on admission (PCT D1 and CRP D1), within 48-72 h after admission (PCT D3 and CRP D3), and within 144-192 h after admission.

Secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis during corticosteroid therapy for organising pneumonia associated with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is frequently complicated by pulmonary disease. Here, we describe secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (sPAP) that developed during corticosteroid therapy for organising pneumonia (OP) associated with MDS. A 75-year-old woman with MDS complained of cough for 2 weeks.

Prognostic significance of crazy paving ground grass opacities in non-HIV Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia: an observational cohort study.

Background: In patients with non-HIV Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PjP), computed tomography imaging reveals ground grass opacities (GGO). Previous reports show that some patients with non-HIV PjP exhibit GGO with crazy paving. However, there have been no studies on the association between crazy paving GGO and non-HIV PjP clinical outcomes.

Clinical impact of episodic nocturnal hypercapnia and its treatment with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in patients with stable advanced COPD.

Purpose: Episodic nocturnal hypercapnia (eNH) caused by rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-related hypoventilation is often noted in patients with advanced COPD. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of eNH and the effectiveness of eNH-targeted noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV).

Patients And Methods: We enrolled patients with stable, severe, or very severe COPD with daytime arterial partial oxygen pressure PaO ≥55 mmHg and daytime arterial partial carbon dioxide pressure PaCO <55 mmHg, who underwent overnight transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (PtcCO) monitoring from April 2013 to April 2016.

Effectiveness of Shin'iseihaito in Asthmatic Patients with Upper Airway Diseases: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Severe asthma is often associated with sinonasal diseases. Shin'iseihaito is a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, which is used to treat rhinosinusitis. However, its effectiveness in the treatment of asthma has not been elucidated.

Co-existence and seasonal variation in rhinitis and asthma symptoms in patients with asthma.

Background: Asthma and rhinitis are common diseases that often occur concomitantly. However, in patients with asthma, the concurrent assessment of seasonal variation in rhinitis and asthma symptoms has not been comprehensively addressed. We prospectively evaluated seasonal changes in rhinitis and asthma symptoms over one year.

Site-specific cleavage of acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase by legumain.

Acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase (AACS) is a ketone body-utilizing enzyme and is responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. We have previously shown that AACS is cleaved by legumain, a lysosomal asparaginyl endopeptidase. In this study, we attempted to determine the cleavage site of AACS.

A pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung producing multiple cytokines and forming a rapidly progressive mass-like opacity.

Background: Lung cancer cells have been reported to produce cytokines, resulting in systemic reactions. There have been few reports showing that these cytokines induced the formation of an inflammatory mass around lung cancers.

Case Presentation: We encountered a patient with a pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung.

Effect of a network system for providing proper inhalation technique by community pharmacists on clinical outcomes in COPD patients.

Introduction: Nonadherence to inhalation therapy is very common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Few data are available to support the role of community pharmacists in optimizing inhalation therapy in COPD patients. Since 2007, the Kitano Hospital and the Kita-ku Pharmaceutical Association have provided a network system for delivering correct inhalation techniques through certified community pharmacists.

Septic pulmonary embolism due to periodontal disease.

Background And Objective: Septic pulmonary embolism due to periodontal disease (SPE-PD) is rarely reported and little is known about its clinical features. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological features, as well as outcome, in SPE-PD.

Methods: Patients' records were retrospectively reviewed and 12 patients with SPE-PD were identified (10 men, mean age 60.

Impact of a network system for providing proper inhalation technique by community pharmacists.

Objective: The availability of many types of inhalers in the treatment of asthma has resulted in a wide range of prescription choices for clinicians. With so many devices available, however, there is some confusion regarding their proper use among both medical staff and patients. Since 2007, Kitano Hospital and Kita-ku Pharmaceutical Association, Osaka, Japan, have provided a network system for delivering instruction on correct inhalation technique through community pharmacists.

[Effectiveness of the HighFO novel oxygen nebulizer for respiratory failure patients with severe hypoxia].

Optimal oxygen delivery is an essential component of therapy for patients with respiratory failure. Reservoir masks or air entrainment nebulizers have often been used for patients who require highly concentrated oxygen, but these may not actually deliver a sufficient fraction of inspired oxygen if there is a marked increase in the patient's ventilatory demands, or if oxygen flow becomes limited due to high resistance in the nebulizer nozzles. The HighFO nebulizer is a novel air entrainment nebulizer equipped with unique structures which reduce nozzle resistance, and as a result, it is possible to supply a sufficient flow of highly concentrated-oxygen.