Serum TARC Level as a Predictive Marker of Severe Disease in COVID-19 During the Omicron Variant Period of the Pandemic.

Objectives Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) can predict severe disease in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, no reports have addressed the predictive value of TARC with the widespread use of vaccines and medications for COVID-19 during the Omicron variant period of the pandemic. Methods This single-center prospective cohort study enrolled COVID-19 patients admitted to our institution between December 1, 2021, and August 15, 2022.

Analysis of immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in patients receiving antacids.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are reported to decrease the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but there are few reports on the association between ICI efficacy and antacids other than PPIs, and simultaneous examination of the effects of antacids, corticosteroids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on ICI therapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 381 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who received ICI therapy from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2022. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and the secondary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

Findings from a discontinued clinical trial of favipiravir in high-risk patients with early-onset COVID-19.

Introduction: Favipiravir terminates severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) replication. Accordingly, early administration of favipiravir to SARS-CoV-2-infected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients may be expected to suppress disease progression.

Methods: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted to demonstrate efficacy of favipiravir in reducing disease progression in patients with mild COVID-19.

Antibody titers among healthcare workers for coronavirus disease 2019 at 6 months after BNT162b2 vaccination.

Background: Antibody levels decrease substantially at 6 months after the BNT162b2 vaccine. The factors influencing titer of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) among healthcare workers for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unclear.

Methods: We conducted a 6-month longitudinal prospective study in Japanese healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital for COVID-19.

A retrospective analysis of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus pembrolizumab monotherapy for advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Although clinical trials have investigated the addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer, none have investigated the addition of chemotherapy to pembrolizumab.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 71 NSCLC patients including 33 treated with pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (combination therapy group) and 38 treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy (monotherapy group) from 1 May 2016 to 31 August 2020.

Results: Eleven of 33 (33.

Outcome and risk factor of immune-related adverse events and pneumonitis in patients with advanced or postoperative recurrent non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with pre-existing respiratory diseases have been excluded in clinical trials of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, and it is unknown whether the same degree of response can be expected as that in patients without pre-existing respiratory diseases and if they are associated with increased risk for various immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and ICI pneumonitis. This study aimed to evaluate predictive factors of clinical response, prognostic factors, risk factors of irAEs, and ICI pneumonitis in NSCLC patients with or without pre-existing respiratory diseases.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 180 NSCLC patients who received ICI monotherapy of nivolumab, pembrolizumab, or atezolizumab from 1 January 2016 to 31 March 2019.

Clinical course and findings of 14 patients with COVID-19 compared with 5 patients with conventional human coronavirus pneumonia.

Objective: To clarify what future problems must be resolved and how clinical findings of SARS-CoV-2 infection differ from those of cHCoV infection.

Methods: Patients and Methods Clinical characteristics of 14 patients with laboratory-confirmed Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 5 patients with cHCoV pneumonia admitted to our institution and treated up to March 8, 2020, were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: On admission, 10 patients had pneumonia, 5 of whom had pulmonary shadows detectable only via computed tomography (CT).

Changes in airway diameter and mucus plugs in patients with asthma exacerbation.

Background: Airway obstruction due to decreased airway diameter and increased incidence of mucus plugs has not been directly observed in asthma exacerbation. We studied the changes in the inner diameter of the airway (Din) and the frequency of mucus plugs by airway generation in patients with asthma exacerbation. We compared these patients to those in a stable phase using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage caused by IgA deposition associated with multiple myeloma.

We report a man with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage caused by multiple myeloma who was diagnosed with the aid of bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy. Multiple myeloma should be considered as an important differential diagnosis in patients with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, and bronchoscopy may help to differentiate the cause.

Restrictive ventilatory impairment improved by laminoplasty for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

We report a woman with severe restrictive ventilatory impairment because of respiratory muscle paralysis caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Laminoplasty improved her respiratory function and quality of life. Cervical myelopathy including OPLL should be considered as an important differential diagnosis in patients with respiratory dysfunction.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Mycosis Due to Schizophyllum commune Treated Effectively with Voriconazole.

A 63-year-old woman presented to our hospital for cough, sputum, and abnormal shadows on chest X-ray. Schizophyllum commune was isolated from mucous plugs. Positive specific IgE and IgG against the fungi, elevated serum IgE, and mucous plugs with typical histologic findings of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) led to the diagnosis of ABPM due to S.

Re-evaluation of the etiology and clinical and radiological features of community-acquired lobar pneumonia in adults.

Objective: The aims of this study were to elucidate the frequency and etiology of community-acquired lobar pneumonia (CALP) and the clinical and radiological differences between CALP and tuberculous lobar pneumonia (TLP).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (n = 1032) and tuberculosis (n = 1101) admitted to our hospital.

Results: Sixty-nine (6.

Grade 4 asbestosis does not extend directly from the respiratory bronchiole to the peripheral lung.

Aims: To confirm whether or not grade 4 asbestosis progresses from the respiratory bronchiole to the peripheral lung.

Methods And Results: We examined retrospectively the autopsy or lobectomy specimens from 31 cases (29 males; mean age 64 years) satisfying the pathological criteria of grade 4 asbestosis. Asbestos bodies (ABs) were quantified in samples of dissolved lung and in tissue preparations on glass slides.

Smoking history and emphysema in asthma-COPD overlap.

Background: Emphysema is a distinct feature for classifying COPD, and smoking history (≥10 pack-years) is one of several newly proposed criteria for asthma-COPD overlap (ACO). We studied whether or not a smoking history (≥10 pack-years) and emphysema are useful markers for classifying ACO and differentiating it from asthma with chronic airflow obstruction (CAO).

Methods: We retrospectively studied the mortalities and frequencies of exacerbation in 256 consecutive patients with ACO (161 with emphysema and 95 without emphysema) who had ≥10 pack-years smoking history, 64 asthma patients with CAO but less of a smoking history (<10 pack-years) and 537 consecutive patients with COPD (452 with emphysema and 85 without emphysema) from 2000 to 2016.

Clinical Characteristics of Influenza-Associated Pneumonia of Adults: Clinical Features and Factors Contributing to Severity and Mortality.

: Pneumonia is a major complication of influenza that contributes to mortality. Clinical characteristics and factors of influenza virus contributing to the severity and mortality of pneumonia have not been fully elucidated. : The objective was to clarify clinical characteristics and factors contributing to the severity and mortality of influenza-associated pneumonia ().

How many instructions are required to correct inhalation errors in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

In the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), errors in handling and wrong techniques in using inhalation devices are associated with poor disease control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the number of instructions that are necessary to minimize errors in using pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI), soft mist inhaler (SMI), and dry powder inhaler (DPI). Among 216 patients with asthma (n = 135) and COPD (n = 81), we studied 245 cases that used different types of inhalation devices.

Development of myasthenia gravis 8 years after interstitial lung disease associated with antisynthetase (anti-EJ antibody) syndrome.

Patients with antisynthetase-positive interstitial lung disease (ILD) alone sometimes develop myositis during follow-up, but myasthenia gravis (MG) overlapping on antisynthetase syndrome is unusual. A 56-year-old woman with ILD and anti-EJ antibody treated for 8 years developed MG. Physicians should consider myositis and MG when patients develop muscle symptoms during follow-up.

Risk factors for the severity and mortality of pneumococcal pneumonia: Importance of premorbid patients' performance status.

Comorbidity is known to be associated with the severity and mortality of pneumonia. The severity of each underlying disease varies, and performance status, which is known to be a prognostic factor of malignant diseases, reflects the overall patient condition as affected by his/her comorbidity and underlying diseases of various severity. We investigated whether premorbid patients' performance status is associated with the severity and mortality of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Risk Factors for Pneumonia and the Effect of the Pneumococcal Vaccine in Patients With Chronic Airflow Obstruction.

To evaluate the risk factors for pneumonia and the efficacy of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) in patients with chronic airflow obstruction. We retrospectively studied the risk factors for pneumonia in 820 consecutive patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=509) and patients with asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) (n=311). The effects of asthma, age, smoking history, chronic sputum, use of inhaled corticosteroids, percent predicted forced vital capacity (%FVC), percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (%FEV), body mass index (BMI), computed tomography (CT)-diagnosed emphysema, and the pneumococcal vaccination on the frequency of pneumonia were assessed.

Combined Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis and Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: Three Cases and a Review of the Literature.

Previous reports of combined allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) are limited; however, among 41 cases of ABPM and 18 cases of EGPA treated at our hospital, we experienced three cases of combined ABPM and EGPA. In two of these cases, the diagnosis of EGPA preceded that of ABPM, however, one of the two cases had already shown findings suggestive of ABPM, such as mucous plugs and central bronchiectasis, at the time of the diagnosis of EGPA. In six previously reported cases of combined ABPM and EGPA, ABPM preceded EGPA in four cases.

Acute ischaemic lung injury due to pulmonary vascular obstruction.

Aims: We have encountered cases of a distinctive myxomatous alveolar wall thickening around pulmonary infarctions, and have termed it 'acute ischaemic lung injury' (AILI). In this study we determined if pulmonary infarction is the only cause of AILI and have elucidated its histological features.

Methods And Results: We examined 2941 cases that underwent lobectomy, surgical lung biopsies for nodular lesions or autopsies between 1994 and 2014.

COPD assessment test and severity of airflow limitation in patients with asthma, COPD, and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome.

Objective: The COPD assessment test (CAT) consists of eight nonspecific scores of quality of life. The aim of this study was to compare the health-related quality of life and severity of airflow limitation in patients with asthma, COPD, and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) using the CAT.

Methods: We examined CAT and lung functions in 138 patients with asthma, 99 patients with COPD, 51 patients with ACOS, and 44 patients with chronic cough as a control.

Lobe-based computed tomography assessment of airway diameter, airway or vessel number, and emphysema extent in relation to the clinical outcomes of COPD.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between computed tomography assessed lobe-based lung parameters and the clinical outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including the frequency of exacerbation and annual change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).

Patients And Methods: We studied 65 patients with COPD. We reconstructed computed tomography images to trace the bronchial tree from right B1 to B10 and created 3 cm circle images around the airways exactly perpendicular to the airway axis in the central, middle, and peripheral zones of the bronchi.

Asbestos exposure increases the incidence of histologically confirmed usual interstitial pneumonia.

Aims: We hypothesized that asbestos exposure increases the incidence of macroscopically visible and histologically confirmed usual interstitial pneumonia (histological UIP).

Methods And Results: We retrospectively examined 1718 cases (1202 males; mean age 66.7 years) who underwent lobectomy for resection of pleuropulmonary tumours.