Glycemic metrics in Japanese isCGM users - Analysis by diabetes type and therapy.

Aims/introduction: The FreeStyle Libre (FSL) intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) system continually measures interstitial glucose levels and provides the data to users in numerical and graphical formats that guide users in their daily diabetes self-management. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the glycemic benefits of FSL in pediatric and adult populations, few studies have characterized FSL use specifically by Japanese adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes. We utilized established CGM metrics to assess glycemic control in a large cohort of Japanese adults with type 1 and 2 diabetes.

Structural basis of HEAT-kleisin interactions in the human condensin I subcomplex.

Condensin I is a multi-protein complex that plays an essential role in mitotic chromosome assembly and segregation in eukaryotes. It is composed of five subunits: two SMC (SMC2 and SMC4), a kleisin (CAP-H), and two HEAT-repeat (CAP-D2 and CAP-G) subunits. Although balancing acts of the two HEAT-repeat subunits have been demonstrated to enable this complex to support the dynamic assembly of chromosomal axes in vertebrate cells, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Detection of pathogens by real-time PCR in adult patients with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma.

Background: Respiratory tract infection is a major cause of acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma (AEBA). Although recent findings suggest that common bacteria are causally associated with AEBA, a comprehensive epidemiologic analysis of infectious pathogens including common/atypical bacteria and viruses in AEBA has not been performed. Accordingly, we attempted to detect pathogens during AEBA by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in comparison to conventional methods.

Pathogens in COPD exacerbations identified by comprehensive real-time PCR plus older methods.

Respiratory infection is a major cause of exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Infectious contributions to exacerbations remain incompletely described. We therefore analyzed respiratory tract samples by comprehensive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in combination with conventional methods.

Clinical efficacy of anti-glycopeptidolipid-core IgA test for diagnosing Mycobacterium avium complex infection in lung.

Background And Objective: It is difficult to verify the bacteriological diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection. The anti-glycopeptidolipid (GPL)-core IgA antibody test was recently developed as a diagnostic method for MAC pulmonary disease. Only a few studies evaluate its clinical efficacy.

PARK2-mediated mitophagy is involved in regulation of HBEC senescence in COPD pathogenesis.

Cigarette smoke (CS)-induced mitochondrial damage with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been implicated in COPD pathogenesis by accelerating senescence. Mitophagy may play a pivotal role for removal of CS-induced damaged mitochondria, and the PINK1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1)-PARK2 pathway has been proposed as a crucial mechanism for mitophagic degradation. Therefore, we sought to investigate to determine if PINK1-PARK2-mediated mitophagy is involved in the regulation of CS extract (CSE)-induced cell senescence and in COPD pathogenesis.

A survival case of invasive thymoma accompanied by acute fulminant myocarditis.

Thymomas are associated with a wide spectrum of autoimmune paraneoplastic diseases. Here we report the case of 31-year-old male with invasive thymoma, myasthenia gravis, polymyositis, and acute fulminant myocarditis that presented with cardiogenic shock requiring intra-aortic balloon pumping and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. Corticosteroid therapy was effective.

Lung adenocarcinoma complicated by Trousseau's syndrome successfully treated by a combination of anticoagulant therapy and chemotherapy.

A 63-year-old woman was diagnosed with advanced lung adenocarcinoma complicated by Trousseau's syndrome characterized by non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis, asymptomatic brain infarction, deep venous thrombosis, and low-grade disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The patient's DIC rapidly became widespread, and multiple micropulmonary embolisms led to severe respiratory failure. She received a blood transfusion and anticoagulant treatment with heparin and recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin, which modestly ameliorated her symptoms, and additional chemotherapy led to tumor shrinkage with concomitant resolution of Trousseau's syndrome.

Autophagy induction by SIRT6 through attenuation of insulin-like growth factor signaling is involved in the regulation of human bronchial epithelial cell senescence.

Cigarette smoke (CS)-induced cellular senescence has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and SIRT6, a histone deacetylase, antagonizes this senescence, presumably through the attenuation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-Akt signaling. Autophagy controls cellular senescence by eliminating damaged cellular components and is negatively regulated by IGF-Akt signaling through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). SIRT1, a representative sirtuin family, has been demonstrated to activate autophagy, but a role for SIRT6 in autophagy activation has not been shown.

[A case of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia accompanied by acute respiratory distress syndrome and epilepsy].

A 32-year-old female with epilepsy presented at our hospital with high-grade fever, seizures, and unconsciousness. She was initially treated for aspiration pneumonia with ampicillin/sulbactam. Despite antibiotic therapy, her chest X-ray findings dramatically worsened, showing extension to the bilateral lung field.

An effective active surveillance method for controlling nosocomial MRSA transmission in a Japanese hospital.

Hospital-wide active surveillance for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) targeted to adult patients with a history of MRSA carriage within the past 5 years was performed in Juntendo University Hospital (JUH) over a 2-year period. In the first year, MRSA screening culture was ordered by physicians in charge. In the second year, infection-control practitioners (ICPs) took samples for active surveillance culture.

Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM) expression in alveolar macrophages in COPD.

Background: Marked accumulation of alveolar macrophages (AM) conferred by apoptosis resistance has been implicated in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM), has been shown to be produced by mature tissue macrophages and AIM demonstrates anti-apoptotic property against multiple apoptosis-inducing stimuli. Accordingly, we attempt to determine if AIM is expressed in AM and whether AIM is involved in the regulation of apoptosis in the setting of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure.

[A case of descending necrotizing mediastinitis caused by infection with Streptococcus agalactiae in a patient with diabetes mellitus].

We report a case with an atypical presentation of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM). A 47-year-old woman with a medical history of untreated type 2 diabetes mellitus and influenza type A virus infection 2 weeks prior to admission was referred to our hospital complaining of right cervical pain and right upper limb swelling. A chest enhanced computed tomographic (CT) scan showed a ring-enhanced mass-like shadow extending from the right sternomastoid muscle down to the right upper mediastinum, compressing the right subclavicular vein.

Organizing pneumonia complicated by cyst and pneumothorax formation.

We present a case of organizing pneumonia complicated by pneumothorax in association with cyst formation that developed during corticosteroid treatment. Although it has been reported that the check-valve mechanism is a plausible cause of cyst and pneumothorax formation in patients with organizing pneumonia, the details of the corresponding pathological changes that occur in air-trapping have not been elucidated. A pathological examination of lung specimens obtained with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery suggested that granulation tissues plugging the bronchiole lumens might be a potential cause of the check-valve mechanism in this case.

Neurally mediated syncope associated with small cell lung cancer: a case report and review.

We encountered a case of limited-disease small cell lung cancer with episodic syncope. The frequency of the syncopal attacks increased with the increase in the tumor size, thus a relationship was suspected to exist between the SCLC and syncope. Syncope was evaluated by history taking, 24-hour ECG monitoring, and coronary angiography.

Involvement of creatine kinase B in cigarette smoke-induced bronchial epithelial cell senescence.

Cigarette smoke induces damage to proteins and organelles by oxidative stress, resulting in accelerated epithelial cell senescence in the lung, which is implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. Although the detailed molecular mechanisms are not fully understood, cellular energy status is one of the most crucial determinants for cell senescence. Creatine kinase (CK) is a constitutive enzyme, playing regulatory roles in energy homeostasis of cells.

[A surgical case of congenital bronchial atresia with right-sided descending aorta].

A 35-year-old man visited his physician complaining of fever and a productive cough. He was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal chest X-ray film, which showed a mass-like lesion with air fluid level in the left lower lobe. He was then treated for a lung abscess with panipenem/betamipron (PAPM/BP).

[A case of familial sarcoidosis accompanied by Heerfordt syndrome with pericardial effusion].

We found no cases of familial sarcoidosis with Heerfordt syndrome in the literature. A 25-year-old woman presented with high grade fever and parotid gland swelling in April 2004. An accompany with Right peripheral facial palsy developed in June, following which she was treated with corticosteroid therapy for 7 days, and her condition temporarily improved.

[A case of cellular NSIP with anti-OJ (anti-isoleucyl tRNA synthetase) antibodies].

A 54-year-old woman, complaining of a dry cough in the beginning of December 2004, was admitted to our hospital because of its exacerbation in January 2005. Interstitial pneumonia was suspected according to a chest Xray and chest CT. The pathological diagnosis of cellular nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) was made after video assisted thoracic surgery.

Cognitive function in Japanese centenarians according to the Mini-Mental State Examination.

Background/aims: We examined the effect of aging on cognitive function at the limit of human life expectancy by characterizing state of cognition in centenarians without clinical cognitive impairment.

Methods: Participants were 68 centenarians without cognitive impairment (Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) 0), 96 controls 60 to 74 years old, and 46 controls 75 to 89 years old. We visited the places where centenarians were living and administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) individually.