Virucidal efficacy of hypochlorous acid water for aqueous phase and atomization against SARS-CoV-2.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged at the end of 2019. SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted through droplets, aerosols, and fomites. Disinfectants such as alcohol, quaternary ammonium salts, and chlorine-releasing agents, including hypochlorous acid, are used to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Quantitative Evaluation of Changes in Three-Dimensional CT Density Distributions in Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis after GM-CSF Inhalation.

Background: A previous clinical trial for autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (APAP) demonstrated that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) inhalation reduced the mean density of the lung field on computed tomography (CT) across 18 axial slice planes at a two-dimensional level. In contrast, in this study, we challenged three-dimensional analysis for changes in CT density distribution using the same datasets.

Methods: As a sub-study of the trial, CT data of 31 and 27 patients who received GM-CSF and placebo, respectively, were analyzed.

Single nucleotide polymorphism leads to daptomycin resistance causing amino acid substitution-T345I in MprF of clinically isolated MRSA strains.

Daptomycin (DAP) is one of the most potent antibiotics used for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Due to an increase in its administration for combating MRSA infections, DAP non-susceptible (DAP-NS) MRSA strains have recently been reported in clinical settings. The presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the multiple peptide resistance factor (mprF) gene is the most frequently reported cause for the evolution of DAP-NS MRSA strains; however, there are some variations of SNPs that could lead to DAP-NS.

Complete genome sequencing and comparative plasmid analysis of KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from hospital sewage water in Japan.

Objectives: The Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (bla) gene is one of the most widespread carbapenemase genes in the world. However, there are few reports on KPC-producing bacteria in Japan. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate KPC-producing K.

Trends and molecular characteristics of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Japanese hospital from 2006 to 2015.

Background: The increasing number of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) has become a global problem. Most carbapenemases detected in Japan are imipenemase, which is an imipenem-degrading enzyme with low ability; thus, CPE could have been overlooked. Therefore, this study aimed to detect and analyze CPE, without overlooking CPE showing the low minimum inhibitory concentration phenotype.

Characterization of the IncFII-IncFIB(pB171) Plasmid Carrying in ST405 Clinical Isolate in Japan.

Purpose: New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 5 (NDM-5) shows stronger resistance to carbapenems and broad-spectrum cephalosporins than NDM-1 because NDM-5 differs from NDM-1 by two amino acid substitutions. In this study, our aim was to characterize a NDM-5-producing isolate KY1497 from a patient with urinary tract infection in Japan, who had no recent history of overseas travel.

Patients And Methods: NDM-5-producing isolate KY1497 was detected in the urine sample of a patient hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Japan.

Inhaled GM-CSF for Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis.

Background: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a disease characterized by abnormal accumulation of surfactant in the alveoli. Most cases are autoimmune and are associated with an autoantibody against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) that prevents clearing of pulmonary surfactant by alveolar macrophages. An open-label, phase 2 study showed some therapeutic efficacy of inhaled recombinant human GM-CSF in patients with severe pulmonary alveolar proteinosis; however, the efficacy in patients with mild-to-moderate disease remains unclear.

A Semiquantitative Computed Tomographic Grading System for Evaluating Therapeutic Response in Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis.

Rationale: A useful semiquantitative method of using computed tomographic (CT) images to evaluate therapeutic response in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) has not been established, although the extent score or grading score of ground-glass opacities has been used.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to establish a semiquantitative method for evaluating therapeutic response in PAP.

Methods: CT scans were obtained within 1 month before and after therapy from 32 patients with PAP who participated in a multicenter phase II trial of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor inhalation therapy.

Excitatory GABA induces BDNF transcription via CRTC1 and phosphorylated CREB-related pathways in immature cortical cells.

Although the excitatory action of GABA has been shown to activate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Using cultured rat cortical cells, we here demonstrated that GABA induced Bdnf mRNA expression mainly via L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (L-VDCC) at the early stage and inhibited it at the late stage of the culture, which corresponded to the excitatory and inhibitory states of cortical cells. The excitatory GABA-induced Bdnf mRNA expression was controlled by multiple Ca(2+) signaling pathways including Ca(2+) /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and calcineurin (CN).

Duration of benefit in patients with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis after inhaled granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor therapy.

Background: Treatment of autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP) by subcutaneous injection or inhaled therapy of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has been demonstrated to be safe and efficacious in several reports. However, some reports of subcutaneous injection described transient benefit in most instances. The durability of response to inhaled GM-CSF therapy is not well characterized.

[The relationships between the peak inspiratory flow and the characteristics factors in the asthmatics with inhaled corticosteroid -a multicenter study in Chugoku Shikoku area].

Background: Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) will be effective if used properly. Inadequate intake may result in insufficiency, such as for elderly asthmatics, in particular, for use of dry powder inhalers.

Methods: 312 asthmatics treated with ICS for at least 6 months in the 6 facilities belonging to the Chugoku Shikoku Adult Asthma Research Forum were subject to investigation of the peak inspiratory flow (PIF) measured using In-check® and related factors.

Direct evidence that GM-CSF inhalation improves lung clearance in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Background: Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP) is caused by granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) autoantibodies in the lung. Previously, we reported that GM-CSF inhalation therapy improved alveolar-arterial oxygen difference and serum biomarkers of disease severity in these patients. It is plausible that inhaled GM-CSF improves the dysfunction of alveolar macrophages and promotes the clearance of the surfactant.

Inhaled granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor as therapy for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Rationale: Inhaled granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a promising therapy for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) but has not been adequately studied.

Objectives: To evaluate safety and efficacy of inhaled GM-CSF in patients with unremitting or progressive PAP.

Methods: We conducted a national, multicenter, self-controlled, phase II trial at nine pulmonary centers throughout Japan.

Characteristics of a large cohort of patients with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in Japan.

Rationale: Acquired pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a syndrome characterized by pulmonary surfactant accumulation occurring in association with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor autoantibodies (autoimmune PAP) or as a consequence of another disease (secondary PAP). Because PAP is rare, prior reports were based on limited patient numbers or a synthesis of historical data.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiologic, clinical, physiologic, and laboratory features of autoimmune PAP in a large, contemporaneous cohort of patients with PAP.

Epidemiological and clinical features of idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in Japan.

Idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (IPAP) is a rare disease characterized by excessive amounts of lipoproteinaceous material in the alveolus. This report presents an interim analysis of nationwide epidemiological data from Japanese patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and the roles of serum markers for IPAP. (i) The nationwide demographic data from 166 Japanese patients with IPAP are shown.

Sudden onset of interstitial lung disease induced by gefitinib in a lung cancer patient with multiple drug allergy.

Gefitinib is an oral selective inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase which is effective for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. A 75-year-old man with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung was treated with gefitinib. He had a history of allergy to several antibiotics and Welder's lung.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome induced by paclitaxel in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: a case report.

We treated a 53-year-old man with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung who had developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening cutaneous reaction, after systemic chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin and paclitaxel. A critical assessment disclosed circumstantial evidence pointing to paclitaxel as the likely cause of this complication. As far as we are aware, this account is the first description of a paclitaxel-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Comparison of six biological markers for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis.

Study Objective: We sought a marker to differentiate tuberculous pleural effusions from nontuberculous pleural effusions, which otherwise can be difficult.

Patients: We studied 55 patients with pleural effusions, 20 (36%) with tuberculous pleuritis and 35 (64%) with a nontuberculous etiology.

Measurements And Results: Pleural fluid levels of adenosine deaminase, interferon (INF)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-12p40, IL-18, immunosuppressive acidic protein, and soluble IL-2 receptors were measured and were subjected to receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Simultaneous measurement of T-helper 1 cytokines in tuberculous pleural effusion.

Objective: Tuberculosis, the leading cause of death among infectious diseases worldwide, is a major cause of lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion. T-helper 1 cytokines, including interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin (IL)-12p40 and IL-18 are predominantly associated with cell-mediated immune responses, and play an important role in immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Design: We studied 55 patients presenting with pleural effusion at the National Sanyo Hospital between April 2000 and September 2001 (42 men and 13 women; mean age 67 years).

[Rifampicin-induced severe thrombocytopenia in a patient with miliary tuberculosis].

A 74-year-old female visited a local clinic complaining of fever on January 21, 2002. A chest X-ray and a chest computed tomography (CT) showed diffuse micronodules in all lung fields, which strongly suggested miliary tuberculosis. On January 23, she was referred to our hospital for further examinations.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the lung.

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the lung is very rare. To date, only 32 reports of 63 cases of primary MFH of the lung have appeared in English, excluding tumors arising from the pulmonary arteries and pleura. We describe a patient with primary MFH of the lung who developed brain metastasis and involvement of pulmonary great vessels.