Publications by authors named "Etsuko Murakami"
Article Synopsis
- - A 59-year-old woman was diagnosed with a rare infection using mass spectrometry on bronchioalveolar lavage fluid.
- - Treatment was initiated with clarithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol after drug susceptibility testing, leading to improvement in lung opacities.
- - Unlike most previous cases that used standard treatment, this regimen might offer a new therapeutic option for nontuberculous infections.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the frequency of apnea episodes during bronchoscopy procedures using fentanyl and midazolam sedation in 85 patients at Okayama Medical Center from August 2017 to March 2018.
- Apnea was defined as airflow cessation for over 10 seconds, and the results showed that all patients experienced apnea, with a median duration of 18 seconds, and 65.8% had episodes lasting more than 30 seconds.
- The research concluded that end-tidal capnography was effective for detecting apnea and could help prevent inadvertent oversedation during bronchoscopic examinations.
Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax associated with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection is often difficult to treat. Pneumothorax associated with pulmonary MAC is characterized by a large fistula with a cavity or bronchodilation, and pleural thickening due to pleurisy. Herein, we report two cases of pneumothorax with pulmonary MAC successfully treated by minimally invasive thoracoscopic intra-fistula filling with a suture closure method.
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- Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been found to extend survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients, particularly in those aged 65 and older, but their effectiveness in patients 75 and older remains debated.
- A study analyzed data from 434 patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, focusing on 100 patients aged 75 and older, revealing varying survival outcomes based on treatment line and overall health status as measured by the Geriatric (G) 8 tool.
- Results showed that patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors had median survival times of 10.7 months for first-line treatment, and the effectiveness correlated with higher G8 scores and better performance status, with 36.8% experiencing significant adverse events.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) rechallenge in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who previously discontinued ICI treatment.
- Out of 434 patients analyzed, only 14 (4.4%) underwent ICI rechallenge, showing limited results with a median progression-free survival of 1.5 months and an overall survival of 6.5 months, alongside a modest objective response rate of 7.1%.
- The findings indicate that while ICI rechallenge may not be highly effective, careful evaluation is essential; the study suggests the need for larger trials to better understand who might benefit from this treatment.
Background: Retinoid X receptors (RXRs) are members of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily that mediate signaling by 9-cis retinoic acid, a vitamin A (retinol) derivative. RXRs play key roles not only as homodimers but also as heterodimeric partners-e.g.
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- The Japanese pharmacy education program transitioned from a four-year to a six-year system in 2005 to enhance students' clinical knowledge and moral understanding.
- The new curriculum emphasizes the importance of accurately assessing vital signs, enabling pharmacists to safely recommend over-the-counter drugs.
- A study involving 142 fourth-year students showed that a majority were satisfied with their training on physical assessments using figures, with over 60% feeling they successfully learned the skills and over 70% recognizing the importance of these assessments.