Case report of a patient with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma and uncommon/compound EGFR mutations who responded to afatinib.

There is no established treatment for lung adenocarcinoma with uncommon/compound epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. We report a case of a 73-year-old man with stage IVB lung adenocarcinoma harboring E709G and L861Q EGFR mutations. After 2 months of afatinib treatment, significant tumor shrinkage was observed, and the patient's condition remained stable for 1 year.

Safety of Tocilizumab on Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease.

Purpose: The prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with interstitial lung disease (ILD) is particularly poor. Although drugs that do not contribute to the progression of ILD should be used in RA treatment, none have been established. This study evaluated the safety of tocilizumab in terms of ILD activity.

Clinical significance of a basophil activation test for Japanese beekeepers naturally sensitized to honey bee venom.

Background: The basophil activation test (BAT) has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing Hymenoptera venom allergy and is useful for predicting the clinical sensitivity of bee venom-allergic patients after venom immunotherapy. Patients sensitized to Hymenoptera venom are at risk for systemic reactions (SRs) to subsequent stings. Therefore, a tool that can predict the occurrence of SRs and the severity of Hymenoptera stings is needed.

Current situation of anaphylaxis in Japan: Data from the anaphylaxis registry of training and teaching facilities certified by the Japanese Society of Allergology - secondary publication.

Background: Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal severe systemic hypersensitivity reaction that causes symptoms in multiple organs such as the skin, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract; however, no nationwide epidemiological survey on anaphylaxis has been conducted in Japan. This survey aimed to elucidate the triggers and treatment of anaphylaxis in Japan.

Methods: Between February 2015 and October 2017, we prospectively collected clinical data on the triggers and treatment of patients who developed anaphylaxis or were admitted to the emergency room with anaphylaxis in the training and teaching facilities of the Japanese Society of Allergology.

[CURRENT SITUATION OF ANAPHYLAXIS IN JAPAN: DATA FROM THE ANAPHYLAXIS REGISTRY OF TRAINING AND TEACHING FACILITIES CERTIFIED BY THE JAPANESE SOCIETY OF ALLERGY].

Background: No nationwide epidemiological survey of anaphylaxis in Japan has been conducted. The aim of this study was to elucidate the triggers and treatment of anaphylaxis in Japan.

Methods: We prospectively collected clinical information on the triggers and treatment of patients who developed anaphylaxis or were admitted to the emergency room with anaphylaxis in the training and teaching facilities of the Japanese Society of Allergology between February 2015 and October 2017.

Expression of SATB2 in Neuroendocrine Carcinomas of the Lung: Frequent Immunopositivity of Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma with a Diagnostic Pitfall.

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) are both classified as lung neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC). It has recently been reported that the special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (STAB2), known as a colorectal cancer marker, is also expressed in NECs occurring in various organs including the lung. However, few studies have examined any differences of SATB2 immunopositivity between SCLC and LCNEC.

The role of anti-elastin antibodies in a mouse model of asthma.

Background: The role of anti-elastin antibody (Ab) in the lung is unclear, although they may be involved in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recently, increased anti-elastin Ab levels were reported in asthma.

Objective: To elucidate the role of anti-elastin Ab in asthma, we created a murine asthma model.

Elevation of anti-elastin antibody in patients with asthma.

Background: It is often difficult to differentiate between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and useful biomarkers are needed for accurate diagnosis.

Objective: We evaluated anti-elastin antibody to identify useful biomarkers for differentiating between a diagnosis of asthma and COPD.

Methods: Patients with asthma (male to female ratio = 10/13; mean age, 67.

Effect of inhaled corticosteroids on bone mineral density in patients with asthma.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are a safe treatment for asthma. However, at higher doses, ICS use has been reported to inhibit adrenocortical function.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ICS on bone mineral density (BMD) in adult patients with asthma.

Emergency Treatment of Anaphylaxis in Japanese Beekeepers.

: Honeybee stings often lead to anaphylactic shock. We surveyed Japanese beekeepers to examine whether adrenaline auto-injectors are properly used after honeybee stings.: We contacted representatives of the Japanese Beekeeping Association in all 47 prefectures for assistance distributing allergist-developed questionnaires.

Th2 cell differentiation from naive CD4 T cells is enhanced by autocrine CC chemokines in atopic diseases.

Background: Chemokines are involved not only in regulating leucocyte recruitment, but also in other activities. However, functions other than cell recruitment remain poorly understood. We have already shown that the production of CC chemokine ligand (CCL)17 and CCL22 by antigen-stimulated naïve CD4  T cells was higher in asthmatic patients than in healthy controls.

Effect of adjusting the combination of budesonide/formoterol on the alleviation of asthma symptoms.

Background: The combination of budesonide + formoterol (BFC) offers the advantages of dose adjustment in a single inhaler according to asthma symptoms. We analyzed the relationship between asthma symptoms in terms of peak expiratory flow (PEF) and dose adjustment by the patient.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with asthma who used BFC for alleviation of their symptoms (12 men, 16 women; 60 years old) were instructed that the inhaled BFC dose could be increased to a maximum of 8 inhalations per day according to symptom severity.

Allergic T2 Response Governed by B-Cell Lymphoma 6 Function in Naturally Occurring Memory Phenotype CD4 T Cells.

Transcriptional repressor B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6) appears to regulate T2 immune responses in allergies, but its precise role is unclear. We previously reported that Bcl6 suppressed IL-4 production in naïve CD4 T cell-derived memory T2 cells. To investigate Bcl6 function in allergic responses in naturally occurring memory phenotype CD4 T (MPT) cells and their derived T2 (MPT2) cells, -manipulated , highly conserved intron enhancer (hcIE)-deficient , and reporter mice for conserved noncoding sequence 2 (CNS2) 3' distal enhancer region were used to elucidate Bcl6 function in MPT cells.

Molecular biological analysis in a patient with multiple lung adenocarcinomas.

The utility of molecular biological analysis in lung adenocarcinoma has been demonstrated. Herein we report a rare case presenting as multiple lung adenocarcinomas with four different EGFR gene mutations detected in three lung tumors. After opacification was detected by routine chest X-ray, the patient, a 64-year-old woman, underwent chest computed tomography which revealed a right lung segment S4 ground-glass nodule (GGN).

Effect of Thrombomodulin Alfa on Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in Patients with Lung Cancer.

Objective The mortality rate due to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is higher in patients with lung cancer than in those without. We examined the effect of treatment with thrombomodulin alfa (TM-α) for DIC in lung cancer patients. Methods Subjects were 57 patients with DIC (43 men, 14 women; mean age, 71.

Development of chronic allergic responses by dampening Bcl6-mediated suppressor activity in memory T helper 2 cells.

Mice deficient in the transcriptional repressor B-cell CLL/lymphoma 6 (Bcl6) exhibit similar T helper 2 (T2) immune responses as patients with allergic diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Bcl6-directed regulation of T2 cytokine genes remain unclear. We identified multiple Bcl6/STAT binding sites (BSs) in T2 cytokine gene loci.

Improved sensitivity to venom specific-immunoglobulin E by spiking with the allergen component in Japanese patients suspected of Hymenoptera venom allergy.

Background: Ves v 5 and Pol d 5, which constitute antigen 5, are recognized as the major, most potent allergens of family Vespidae. Several studies have reported the diagnostic sensitivity of the novel recombinant (r)Ves v 5 and rPol d 5 allergens in routine clinical laboratory settings by analyzing a group of Vespula and Polistes venom-allergic patients. In this study, we analyzed the sensitivity to venom specific (s)IgE by spiking with rVes v 5 and rPol d 5 in Japanese patients suspected of Hymenoptera venom allergy.

Anaphylaxis due to caffeine.

We report a rare case of anaphylaxis due to caffeine intake. A 27-year-old woman suffered her first episode of anaphylaxis and a positive skin prick test suggested that the anaphylaxis was due to an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to caffeine. She was diagnosed with caffeine allergy and has not had an allergic reaction after avoiding foods and drinks containing caffeine.