Phase angle as an indicator of sarcopenia and malnutrition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Phase angle (PhA), which is measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, is an indicator of muscle quality and malnutrition. PhA has been shown to be correlated with sarcopenia and malnutrition; however, studies on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are limited. In this study, we investigated the correlation between PhA and sarcopenia and malnutrition and determined the cutoff values of PhA for those in patients with COPD.

A case report of Indium lung with progressive emphysema and fibrosis underwent lung unilateral transplantation 20 years after the end of the exposure.

Background: Indium lung is characterized by interstitial pneumonia and/or emphysema which occurs in indium-tin oxide (ITO) workers. Indium lung is now known to progress after stopping exposure to ITO, but the long-term influences of ITO remain unclear.

Case Presentation: Forty seven years old, a never-smoker, who had been engaged in an ITO manufacturing process for 8 years.

Metabolic and Epigenetic Regulation of SMAD7 by STC1 Ameliorates Lung Fibrosis.

As shown in our previous studies, the intratracheal-administration of STC1 (stanniocalcin-1) ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis by reducing oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress through the uncoupling of respiration in a bleomycin-treated mouse model. However, the overall effect of STC1 on metabolism was not examined. Therefore, we first conducted a comprehensive metabolomics analysis to screen the overall metabolic changes induced by STC1 in an alveolar epithelial cell line using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Association between Fathers' Use of Heated Tobacco Products and Urinary Cotinine Concentrations in Their Spouses and Children.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) have become increasingly popular among smokers, especially among young adults in Japan in recent years. Assessments of secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure due to HTPs are scarce. The present study aimed to assess the urinary levels of total nicotine metabolites (TNMs) of non-smoking spouses and their children following SHS exposure due to their fathers' use of HTPs.

Risk prediction for new-onset atrial fibrillation using the Minnesota code electrocardiography classification system.

Background: Few risk models are available to predict future onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) in workers. We aimed to develop risk prediction models for new-onset AF, using annual health checkup (HC) data with electrocardiogram findings.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively included 56,288 factory or office workers (mean age = 51.

Questionnaire survey on nurses and speech therapists regarding dysphagia rehabilitation in Japan.

Objective: Current interventions of dysphagia are not generalizable, and treatments are commonly used in combination. We conducted a questionnaire survey on nurses and speech therapists regarding dysphagia rehabilitation to understand the current situation in Japan.

Methods: The questionnaire was sent to 616 certified nurses in dysphasia nursing and 254 certified speech-language-hearing therapists for dysphagia.

Improvement of native pulmonary alveolar proteinosis after contralateral single living-donor lobar lung transplantation: A case report.

PAP is a rare disease characterized by the accumulation of surfactant materials in the alveolar spaces due to the imbalance of surfactant homeostasis (production and clearance). We herein report a case of an 8-year-old girl who developed PAP after BMT from her mother for the treatment of DBA. The anemia was improved by BMT; however, respiratory dysfunction due to graft-versus-host disease gradually progressed.

Novel Respiratory Impedance-Based Phenotypes Reflect Different Pathophysiologies in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients.

Purpose: The forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a non-invasive method to measure respiratory impedance, the respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs). The disease probability measure (DPM) is a useful computed tomography (CT) imaging variable for the assessment of gas trapping and emphysema in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using pairs of inspiratory and expiratory CT images. We aimed to develop FOT-based phenotypes and determine whether the phenotypes and their imaging characteristics could facilitate the understanding of COPD pathophysiology.

Technical standards for respiratory oscillometry.

Oscillometry (also known as the forced oscillation technique) measures the mechanical properties of the respiratory system (upper and intrathoracic airways, lung tissue and chest wall) during quiet tidal breathing, by the application of an oscillating pressure signal (input or forcing signal), most commonly at the mouth. With increased clinical and research use, it is critical that all technical details of the hardware design, signal processing and analyses, and testing protocols are transparent and clearly reported to allow standardisation, comparison and replication of clinical and research studies. Because of this need, an update of the 2003 European Respiratory Society (ERS) technical standards document was produced by an ERS task force of experts who are active in clinical oscillometry research.

Association between Family History of Cancer and Lung Cancer Risk among Japanese Men and Women.

Although cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer, genetic susceptibility may also affect lung cancer risk. To explore the role of genetic risk, this case-control study investigated the association between family history of cancer at several sites and lung cancer risk. A total of 1,733 lung cancer cases and 6,643 controls were selected from patients aged 30 years and over admitted to a single hospital in Japan between 1997 and 2009.

Respiratory resistance among adults in a population-based cohort study in Northern Japan.

Background: Forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a noninvasive method used to measure respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) during quiet breathing, which has been extensively studied in clinical settings. The distribution of measured FOT values was previously assessed in a community-based cohort study. In this study, we aimed to confirm the distribution of measured FOT values in a different cohort in order to investigate the relationship between these values and patient clinical and biological data.

Correlation between the native lung volume change and postoperative pulmonary function after single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Evaluation of lung volume by three-dimensional computed tomography volumetry.

Purpose: Whereas native lung overinflation has been thought to happen in recipients of single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis because of its increased compliance, there is no study that has reported the details on the change of the native lung volume after single lung transplantation by three-dimensional computed tomography volumetry. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the lung volume after single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis by three-dimensional computed tomography volumetry and investigate the correlation between the native lung volume change and postoperative pulmonary function.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 17 patients who underwent single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Update of occupational lung disease.

Objective: Occupational Lung Disease is an oldest but still a biggest problem in occupational health.

Methods: Steering Committee members of the Japan Society for Occupational Health (JSOH) Occupational Lung Disease Study Group selected and summarized current topics on occupational lung diseases based on expert opinion, as informed by governmental regulation, public health concerns, and frequently discussed in related academic conferences.

Results: The topics included in this review are professional education in medical screening skills, 2014 update of Helsinki Criteria, respiratory diseases found in the earthquake and tsunami affected regions, newly recognized occupational lung diseases, and potential respiratory health hazards.

Peripheral alveolar nitric oxide concentration reflects alveolar inflammation in autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

http://ow.ly/czCx30i12n8.

Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) and Spirometry as Indicators of Inhalation Exposure to Chemical Agents in Pathology Workers.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine whether fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and spirometry can be used as indices to evaluate adverse health effects of low-concentrated chemical inhalation exposure, mainly to formaldehyde.

Methods: Thirty-three subjects (pathology technicians) and 30 controls (workers without handling any chemicals in the same hospitals) participated in this study. All participants underwent FeNO measurement and spirometry before and after 5 days of work.

Sequential Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Inhalation after Whole-Lung Lavage for Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis. A Report of Five Intractable Cases.

Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP) is a rare disease characterized by the excessive accumulation of surfactant proteins within the alveolar spaces and by higher titers of autoantibodies to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The antibodies inhibit the maturation and phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages. Although the standard therapy for aPAP has been whole-lung lavage (WLL), this procedure is invasive and needs to be repeated for several years.

[Pulmonary function testing in bronchial asthma].

The lung function of asthma is characterized by the following points: - Airflow limitation that reverses after administration of a bronchodilator - Variable airflow limitation Airway hyperresponsiveness, that is, an excessive decrease in airflow in response to an aerosolized provocation that elicits little or no response in a normal person. Airflow limitation from asthma usually demonstrates some degree of reversibility following acute inhalation with a beta-agonist. But patients with mild asthma often do not show this reversibility.

[A STUDY OF INSPIRATORY RESISTANCE OF DRY POWDER INHALER OF AGENTS FOR ASTHMA CONTROL].

Objective: Because dry powder inhalers (DPI) aerosolize agents by means of inspiration of patients themselves, inspiratory resistance of DPI is an important factor for increasing inhalation efficiency. Therefore, we measured inspiratory resistance of DPI of agents for asthma control.

Methods: Using Flow/Volume Simulator, when setting flow rates at 6, 30, 60, 90, and 120L/min, we read off suction pressures and find inspiratory resistances by calculation (=suction pressure/flow rate) at each flow rate.

[Outline of JRS COPD guideline Ed. 4].

JRS COPD guideline Edition 4 updated current concept for clinical management of COPD in Japan. Minor but substantial changes were added to the definition and subtype of the disease. In pharmacological treatment, single use of LAMA or LABA is equally the first choice.

Clinical Application of the Forced Oscillation Technique.

The forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a noninvasive method with which to measure respiratory system resistance and reactance during tidal breathing. Recently, its clinical application has spread worldwide with the expansion of commercially available broadband frequency FOT devices, including MostGraph and Impulse Oscillometry. An increasing number of reports have supported the usefulness of the FOT in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).