Endurance time is the most responsive exercise measurement in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Although pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been reported to improve exercise capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, it is unknown which exercise measurement is the most responsive for evaluation of PR efficacy. The purpose of this study was to compare the responsiveness of 5 exercise measurements by evaluating the efficacy of PR in subjects with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study in which 53 subjects with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were enrolled.

Spectomycin B1 as a novel SUMOylation inhibitor that directly binds to SUMO E2.

Conjugation of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) to protein (SUMOylation) regulates multiple biological systems by changing the functions and fates of a large number of proteins. Consequently, abnormalities in SUMOylation have been linked to multiple diseases, including breast cancer. Using an in situ cell-based screening system, we have identified spectomycin B1 and related natural products as novel SUMOylation inhibitors.

Hyperpolarized (129)Xe spectra from C6 glioma cells implanted in rat brains.

Tumor cell density is dramatically different from normal tissue. Since the chemical shift of hyperpolarized (129)Xe reflects local cell structure, we hypothesized that the presence of tumor cells could potentially be determined from (129)Xe spectra. Spectra and washout decay rate from three rats implanted with C6 glioma cells were compared with eight control rats.

A small compound targeting TACC3 revealed its different spatiotemporal contributions for spindle assembly in cancer cells.

The mitotic spindle is assembled by the coordinated action of centrosomes and kinetochore microtubules. An evolutionally conserved protein family, transforming acidic coiled-coil (TACC), has been shown to be involved in this process. In humans, TACC3 is aberrantly expressed in a variety of human cancers, but its biological significance remains to be elucidated.

Identification and characterization of an inhibitor of trichothecene 3-O-acetyltransferase, TRI101, by the chemical array approach.

Trichothecene 3-O-acetyltransferase (TRI101) is an indispensable enzyme for the biosynthesis of trichothecenes, a group of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium graminearum. In this study, an inhibitor of TRI101 was identified by chemical array analysis using compounds from the RIKEN Natural Products Depository (NPDepo) library. Although the addition of the identified enzyme inhibitor to the fungal culture did not inhibit trichothecene production, it can serve as a candidate lead compound in the development of a mycotoxin inhibitor that inactivates fungal defense mechanisms.

Opioid use in end-of-life care in patients with interstitial pneumonia associated with respiratory worsening.

The authors investigated the treatment outcome of patients with severe interstitial pneumonia (IP) who received opioids during end-of-life care. Twenty-two consecutive patients were retrospectively evaluated before and after continuous administration of opioids for 24 hours. All subjects died within 21 days; the mean survival period after opioid administration was 5.

Predictors of the need to initiate noninvasive ventilation in stable outpatients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: Predictors of the need to initiate noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in stable COPD outpatients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD-AE) are insufficiently defined. The objective of this study was to investigate predictors of the need to initiate NIV in stable COPD-AE outpatients.

Methods: A total of 140 consecutive stable COPD outpatients who were hospitalized for COPD-AE for the first time were retrospectively examined.

Endovascular embolization strategy for renal arteriovenous malformations.

Background: Renal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare vascular malformations that cause hematuria. Treatment for renal AVMs has evolved from open nephrectomy to transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate efficacy and adverse events of TAE for renal AVMs.

Affinity-based screening of MDM2/MDMX-p53 interaction inhibitors by chemical array: identification of novel peptidic inhibitors.

MDM2 and MDMX are oncoproteins that negatively regulate the activity and stability of the tumor suppressor protein p53. The inhibitors of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of MDM2-p53 and MDMX-p53 represent potential anticancer agents. In this study, a novel approach for identifying MDM2-p53 and MDMX-p53 PPI inhibitor candidates by affinity-based screening using a chemical array has been established.

Chemotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is associated with an independent increased risk of lung carcinogenesis. The benefit of chemotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) in cases of IPF remains unknown. This study was conducted to elucidate the efficacy of chemotherapy for ED-SCLC in patients with IPF.

Enhancement of 5-fluorouracil-induced cytotoxicity by leucovorin in 5-fluorouracil-resistant gastric cancer cells with upregulated expression of thymidylate synthase.

Background: Elucidation of the mechanisms by which gastric cancer cells acquire resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5FU) may provide important clues to the development of effective chemotherapy for 5FU-resistant gastric cancer

Methods: Four 5FU-resistant cell lines (MKN45/5FU, MKN74/5FU, NCI-N87/5FU, and KATOIII/5FU) were established by continuous exposure of the cells to progressively increasing concentrations of 5FU for about 1 year. Then, mRNA expression levels of four genes associated with 5FU metabolism, i.e.

Disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis without pulmonary function impairment.

Background And Objective: Despite significant recent progress in the understanding of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the early phase of the disease is still poorly understood. We studied patients with IPF without pulmonary function impairment in order to determine the clinical features, natural history and key findings for physiological progression.

Methods: Twenty-five patients without pulmonary function impairment were identified from among patients with previously diagnosed IPF who underwent surgical lung biopsies between January 1997 and December 2006 at our institutions.

Health-related quality of life does not predict mortality in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Although health-related quality of life (HRQL) has recently been considered to be an important outcome in clinical trials of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), its relationship with survival is unknown.

Objective: To determine the prognostic significance of HRQL scores in IPF assessed with the SGRQ.

Design: Eighty-seven consecutive patients with IPF, who had undergone evaluations and completed the St.

Quadriceps weakness contributes to exercise capacity in nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

Background And Objective: It has been shown that peripheral muscle dysfunction is a critical factor in determining exercise intolerance in patients with several chronic lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We hypothesized that exercise capacity would be, at least in part, determined by peripheral muscle dysfunction in patients with fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (f-NSIP), another major subtype of fibrotic interstitial lung disease. The aim of the current study was to elucidate the relevance of peripheral muscle dysfunction and its contribution to exercise intolerance in f-NSIP.

Pulmonary hypertension as a prognostic indicator at the initial evaluation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: The impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on survival has been demonstrated in severe cases with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who were referred for transplantation. However, whether PH is a predictor of survival remains unclear in milder cases.

Objectives: To evaluate the survival impact of pulmonary artery pressure measured during the initial evaluation in patients with IPF.

Boron-based inhibitors of acyl protein thioesterases 1 and 2.

Ras proteins are of importance in cell proliferation, and hence their mutated forms play causative roles in many kinds of cancer in different tissues. Inhibition of the Ras-depalmitoylating enzyme acyl protein thioesterases APT1 and -2 is a new approach to modulating the Ras cycle. Here we present boronic and borinic acid derivatives as a new class of potent and nontoxic APT inhibitors.

Prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who received erlotinib treatment and subsequent dose reduction due to skin rash.

Background: Severe skin rash as toxicity of erlotinib has been reported in relation to better response and survival. However, some patients require dose reduction due to skin toxicities, and their prognosis remains uncertain. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course of non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving erlotinib at a reduced dose because of skin rash.

Efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and is associated with an independent increased risk of lung carcinogenesis. The benefit of chemotherapy for lung cancer in cases of IPF remains unknown.

Objectives: This study was conducted to elucidate the efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with IPF.

The lunule of caligid copepods: an evolutionarily novel structure.

Nearly half of the genera of the family Caligidae possess an evolutionarily novel structure called the "lunule" on the ventral surface of the frontal plate. Lunules are paired cup-like suckers that assist in securing attachment of the copepod parasite to its host. Although present in genera such as Caligus and Pseudocaligus, lunules are absent in other caligid genera such as Lepeophtheirus as well as in more primitive caligiforms such as members of the families Trebiidae and Dissonidae.

[Effect of Gorei-san with tranexamic acid for preventing recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma].

Object: Chronic subdural hematoma is often seen in elderly patients. One burr hole surgery with subdural drainage has been performed and prognosis is good, but the recurrence rate is still about 10%. To prevent the recurrence, we used Kampo-medicine Gorei-san with tranexamic acid after surgery.

Acute calcific prevertebral tendonitis mimicking tension-type headache.

A 74-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to severe nuchal pain and occipitalgia. Neurological examination found neck stiffness but no throat pain or dysphagia. Blood examination showed slight elevation of white blood cell count, but C-reactive protein level was normal.

Interstitial pneumonia associated with MPO-ANCA: clinicopathological features of nine patients.

Myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (MPO-ANCA) is a well known marker for small vessel vasculitis. Recent reports have demonstrated that interstitial pneumonia (IP) may rarely be associated with serum MPO-ANCA. Yet, little is known about the histological features.

High-throughput screening identifies small molecule inhibitors of molecular chaperones.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are involved in a number of cellular processes, including cell cycle, growth, and survival, apoptosis, stress responses, angiogenesis, and oncogenesis. Among the characterized HSPs, the molecular chaperone HSP90 has emerged as an exciting molecular target for cancer therapy since its discovery as the target protein of the antibiotic geldanamycin. The stress-inducible HSP70, which is upregulated in many cancers, contributing to tumor cell survival and resistance to therapy, has important roles as a housekeeper in the cell, assisting in the correct folding, trafficking, and degradation of many proteins.