Two cases of pseudo-achalasia with lung cancer: Case report and short literature review.

Pseudo-achalasia with lung cancer is a rare complication. We present 2 cases of pseudo-achalasia with lung cancer and summarize previous reports. The previous reports suggested that lung cancer can be complicated with pseudo-achalasia caused by paraneoplastic neurological syndromes rather than direct invasion of the tumor cells to the lower esophageal sphincter, irrespective of the histology of the lung cancer; this can strongly influence the performance status.

Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Advanced Pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma.

Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare subtype of non-small cell lung cancer with a poor prognosis. We herein report on a case of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma that was treated successfully by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. A 65-year-old man was diagnosed to have pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (clinical T4N2M0 stage IIIB).

Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists and Antiallergy Drugs.

As one of the candidates of the therapeutic strategy for asthma in addition to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are known to be useful for long-term management of asthma patients complicated by allergic rhinitis (AR) or exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Currently available LTRAs are pranlukast hydrate, zafirlukast, and montelukast. These LTRAs have a bronchodilator action and inhibit airway inflammation, resulting in a significant improvement of asthma symptoms, respiratory function, inhalation frequency of as-needed inhaled β2-agonist, airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, dosage of ICSs, asthma exacerbations, and patients' QOL.

Coexisting COPD in elderly asthma with fixed airflow limitation: Assessment by DLco %predicted and HRCT.

Background: Asthma patients with fixed airflow limitation (FL) are theoretically classified into two phenotypes, that is, coexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthmatic airway remodeling. However, the precise percentages of such patients are not known.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of patients with both FL and COPD components in elderly asthma.

[Asthma prevention and management guidelines 2015, Japan: comparison with GINA2015].

Asthma prevention and management guidelines (JGL) 2015 were published by the Japanese Society of Allergology. In the JGL2015, asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflam- mation and symptoms, such as wheeze and cough, that vary over time as also described in Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2015. Concerning the pharmacotherapy for asthma, medications are divided into 2:types, such as controller agents used continuously for long-term management (controllers) and reliever agents used for a short period to treat asthma symptoms(relievers) in both the JGL2015 and GINA2015.

Extracellular ATP is involved in dsRNA-induced MUC5AC production via P2Y2R in human airway epithelium.

Background: In response to tissue damage or inflammation, adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) is released into the extracellular compartment and has been demonstrated to augment inflammation via purinergic P2 receptors (P2Rs). Recently, ATP has been shown to be increased in the airways of COPD patients. In the present study, we examined the possible involvement of extracellular ATP in airway mucus hypersecretion during viral-induced COPD exacerbations.

The efficacy and safety of combined tiotropium and olodaterol via the Respimat(®) inhaler in patients with COPD: results from the Japanese sub-population of the Tonado(®) studies.

Background: The efficacy and safety of once-daily tiotropium + olodaterol (T+O) maintenance treatment was demonstrated in the large, multinational, replicate, randomized, Phase III, Tonado(®) 1 (NCT01431274) and 2 (NCT01431287) studies in patients with moderate to very severe COPD. However, there may be racial differences in the effects of T+O on lung function in patients with COPD.

Methods: In this Tonado(®) subgroup analysis, we assessed efficacy and safety of T+O in Japanese participants.

Inflammatory responses in the initiation of lung repair and regeneration: their role in stimulating lung resident stem cells.

The lungs are the primary organs for respiration, the process by which carbon dioxide and oxygen are exchanged. The alveolus, which is the site of gas exchange in the lungs, consists of multiple cell types including alveolar epithelial cells, lung capillary endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Because of their complexity, lung parenchymal cells including epithelial lineage have been thought to have a lower rate of cellular turnover in adult lung.

Serum extracellular vesicular miR-21-5p is a predictor of the prognosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease with a poor prognosis. Although the median survival is 3 years, the clinical course varies to a large extent among IPF patients. To date, there has been no definitive prognostic marker.

Effects of Neoadjuvant Laparoscopic Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy and Neoadjuvant Intraperitoneal/Systemic Chemotherapy on Peritoneal Metastases from Gastric Cancer.

Background: The Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) is the most important prognostic factor following comprehensive treatment for peritoneal metastasis (PM) from gastric cancer (GCPM); however, 70 % of patients with GCPM showed a PCI score above the cut-off level at the time of diagnosis. Furthermore, neoadjuvant chemotherapy may reduce the PCI score to lower than the cut-off levels. In this study, the effects of neoadjuvant laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (NLHIPEC) and neoadjuvant intraperitoneal/systemic chemotherapy (NIPS) were investigated.

A Report on Nursing Information During Volunteer Activities Conducted by Nursing Faculty Members and Students After the Great East Japan Earthquake.

A survey was conducted about nursing information in volunteer activities of nursing faculty members and students after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Results indicated that it was important to attempt collecting information in every possible way and to always be prepared. During activities, it is important to record information, to share information with individuals other than nursing professionals and to make good use of it.

Should total gastrectomy and total colectomy be considered for selected patients with severe tumor burden of pseudomyxoma peritonei in cytoreductive surgery?

Background: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) including total gastrectomy and total colectomy in selected pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) patients with entire stomach and colon covered by mucinous tumor.

Methods: A total of 48 patients received this extensive treatment between January 2006 and January 2014. The main focus of this study was survival after CRS as well as perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Health behaviors and their correlates among participants in the Continuing to Confront COPD International Patient Survey.

Background And Aims: We used data from the Continuing to Confront COPD International Patient Survey to test the hypothesis that patients with COPD who report less engagement with their disease management are also more likely to report greater impact of the disease.

Methods: This was a population-based, cross-sectional survey of 4,343 subjects aged ≥40 years from 12 countries, fulfilling a case definition of COPD based on self-reported physician diagnosis or symptomatology. The impact of COPD was measured with COPD Assessment Test, modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, and hospital admissions and emergency department visits for COPD in the prior year.

Contribution of Contrast-Enhanced Sonography With Perfluorobutane Microbubbles for Diagnosis of Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objectives: The role of contrast-enhanced sonography in the diagnosis of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma is still unclear. This study aimed to clarify the usefulness and limitations of contrast-enhanced sonography with a perfluorobutane microbubble contrast agent (Sonazoid; Daiichi-Sankyo, Tokyo, Japan) after contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma and to establish its optimal use.

Methods: A total of 514 patients, who were suspected to have recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma on contrast-enhanced CT, underwent contrast-enhanced sonography.

Prevention of COPD exacerbation by lysozyme: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Background/aim: Lysozyme (mucopeptide N-acetyl-muramyl hydrolase) is widely used as a mucolytic and anti-inflammatory agent in Japan. We evaluated the effects of long-term lysozyme administration on COPD exacerbation.

Methods: In a 1-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial, patients with moderate-to-severe COPD and one or more episodes of COPD exacerbation in the previous year before enrollment were selected.

P-class pentatricopeptide repeat protein PTSF1 is required for splicing of the plastid pre-tRNA(I) (le) in Physcomitrella patens.

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are widely distributed in eukaryotes and are mostly localized in mitochondria or plastids. PPR proteins play essential roles in various RNA processing steps in organelles; however, the function of the majority of PPR proteins remains unknown. To examine the function of plastid PPR proteins, PpPPR_4 gene knock-out mutants were characterized in Physcomitrella patens.

Two cases of endobronchial aspergilloma complicated with primary and metastatic lung cancer: A case report and literature review.

Endobronchial aspergilloma is a rare and unusual presentation of lung aspergilloma; the natural history for such rare diseases is poorly understood. This report presents two cases of endobronchial aspergilloma complicated by primary and metastatic lung cancer, and summarizes previous reports that suggest that an endobronchial lung cancer lesion may promote the colonialization and growth of Aspergillus species in the bronchus. Therefore, if endobronchial aspergilloma is found, the complication of primary or metastatic endobronchial lung cancer should be carefully considered.

Continuing to Confront COPD International Patient Survey: Economic Impact of COPD in 12 Countries.

Background: The Continuing to Confront COPD International Patient Survey estimated the prevalence and burden of COPD across 12 countries. Using data from this survey we evaluated the economic impact of COPD.

Methods: This cross-sectional, population-based survey questioned 4,343 subjects aged 40 years and older, fulfilling a case definition of COPD based on self-reported physician diagnosis or symptomatology.

Serum pepsinogen levels can quantify the risk of development of metachronous gastric cancer after endoscopic resection.

We have previously reported that serum pepsinogen (PG) can quantify the level of gastric mucosal atrophy, and that H. pylori eradication reduces cancer development in subjects with mild atrophy identified by serum PG levels. The aim of this study was to elucidate the predictive ability of serum PG levels for the development of metachronous gastric cancer (MGC) after endoscopic resection (ER) of primary cancer in association with H.