Impact of cigarette smoking on maximal expiratory flows in a general population: the Takahata study.

Background: Maximal expiratory flows (MEFs) depend on the elastic recoil pressure in the alveoli, airway resistance and bronchial collapsibility. MEFs at lower levels of vital capacity [MEFs at x% FVC (MEF(x))] would indicate the patency of peripheral airways. In Japan, a ratio of MEF(50) to MEF(25) (MEF(50)/MEF(25)) greater than 4.

Impairment of pulmonary function is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation: the Takahata study.

Background: Chronic pulmonary disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and fibrosing lung diseases, and atrial fibrillation (AF), are prevalent in elderly people. The impact of cardiac co-morbidities in the elderly, where pulmonary function is impaired, cannot be ignored as they influence mortality. The relationship between the prevalence of AF and pulmonary function is unclear.

The relationship between serum uric acid and spirometric values in participants in a health check: the Takahata study.

Background: Tissue hypoxia induces the degradation of adenosine triphosphate, resulting in the production of uric acid (UA). Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been reported to have high serum levels of UA (sUA), compared with control subjects. However, the relationship between sUA levels and spirometric measures has not been investigated in detail in a general population.

Soluble endothelial selectin in acute lung injury complicated by severe pneumonia.

Background: Pneumonia is still one of the most frequent causes of death in the elderly. Complication of acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) by pneumonia makes patients very ill due to severe respiratory failure. Biomarkers that can discriminate the presence of complicating ALI/ARDS are required for early detection.

FEV6 and FEV1/FEV6 in Japanese participants of the community-based annual health check: the Takahata study.

Background: Forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV(6)) is becoming a substitute of forced vital capacity (FVC). However, the Japanese predictive equation for FEV(6) has not been established, and the validity for the use of FEV(1)/FEV(6) for diagnosing airflow limitation in Japanese has not been confirmed.

Methods: Subjects aged 40 or older, who had participated in a community-based health check in Takahata, Japan, from 2004 through 2005, were enrolled.

Relationship between habit of cigarette smoking and airflow limitation in healthy Japanese individuals: the Takahata study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic airflow limitation. The prevalence of airflow limitation in Japan is 10.9% (16.

Azithromycin suppresses interleukin-12p40 expression in lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma stimulated macrophages.

Azithromycin (AZM), a 15-member macrolide antibiotic, possesses anti-inflammatory activity. Macrophages are important in innate and acquired immunity, and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12, which are composed of subunit p40 and p35. The key function of IL-12 is the induction and maintenance of T-helper-1 responses, which is associated with the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Gly80Ser polymorphism of phospholipase A2-IID is associated with cytokine inducibility in A549 cells.

Background: The Gly80Ser polymorphism in phospholipase A2-IID (PLA2G2D, NCBI SNP reference: rs584367) is associated with a loss in body weight in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The T allele missense mutation results in the 80th amino acid of the PLA2G2D protein changing from a glycine (Gly; C allele) to a serine (Ser; T allele). COPD patients carrying Ser lose a significant amount of weight compared with those carrying Gly.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positive alveolar haemorrhage during propylthiouracil therapy for hyperthyroidism.

Recently, propylthiouracil (PTU) has been thought to be one of the possible causes of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated small vessel vasculitis syndrome, resulting in glomerulonephritis and, infrequently, diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH). The mechanism of ANCA-positive vasculitis during PTU therapy is still unknown. Herein, we describe the case of a 59-year-old woman who developed myeloperoxidase (MPO)- and proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA positive DAH, without any other organ system involvement, during PTU therapy.