Association between coffee and green tea intake and pneumonia among the Japanese elderly: a case-control study.

A large prospective cohort study in the United States examined the association between coffee intake and overall and cause-specific mortality and showed a inverse association between pneumonia and influenza deaths and coffee intake. In Japan, the mortality rate of pneumonia in elderly people is high, and its prevention is an important issue. The present study investigated the association between coffee and green tea intake and pneumonia among the elderly.

Preventive effects of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines on community-acquired pneumonia in older individuals in Japan: a case-control study.

At present, there are few reports that have clarified the effectiveness of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) against all-cause pneumonia or pneumococcal pneumonia in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in older individuals in Japan. We conducted a hospital-based matched case-control study to investigate separately the preventive effects of PPSV23 and trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) on all-cause CAP and pneumococcal CAP in older individuals in Japan. Cases were individuals aged 65 years or older who were newly diagnosed with CAP from October 2010 to September 2014.

Utility of a Sputum Antigen Detection Test in Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Lower Respiratory Infectious Disease in Adults.

Objective: To compare the utility of Gram staining, a urinary antigen detection kit and a sputum antigen detection kit were examined for the rapid and early detection of pneumococcal pneumonia and lower respiratory infectious diseases.

Methods: A newly developed sputum pneumococcal antigen detection kit (RAPIRUN), Gram staining, and urinary antigen detection kit (BinaxNOW) were comparatively evaluated for their ability to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients with pneumonia or lower respiratory tract infection. Sputum culture results were used as a standard for comparison.

[Opioid induction using rapid release drugs and the shift to fentanyl patches].

Subject And Methods: From April 2011 to March 2013, 20 patients with cancer pain that was not controlled by non-opioid analgesics were treated with a short-acting opioid for cancer pain management.The primary carcinoma sites were the stomach( n=5), colo-rectum(n=5), lungs(n=3), urinary bladder(n=2), breast(n=2), pancreas(n=2), and liver(n=1). The analgesic effects and adverse events were evaluated, and a shift to fentanyl patches was made for patients whose cancer pain was relieved.

[Susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from patients with lower respiratory infectious diseases to antibiotics (2006)].

From October 2006 to September 2007, we collected the specimen from 356 patients with lower respiratory tract infections in 14 institutions in Japan, and investigated the susceptibilities of isolated bacteria to various antibacterial agents and patients' characteristics. Of 414 strains that were isolated from specimen (mainly from sputum) and assumed to be bacteria causing in infection, 407 strains were examined. The isolated bacteria were: Staphylococcus aureus 64, Streptococcus pneumoniae 96, Haemophilus influenzae 87, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid) 52, P.

Efficacy of inhaled N-acetylcysteine monotherapy in patients with early stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background And Objective: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal disorder for which there are currently no specific or effective medical treatments. A multicentre, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of inhaled N-acetylcysteine (NAC) monotherapy in Japanese patients with early stage IPF.

Methods: Eligible patients had well-defined IPF of mild-to-moderate severity, with no desaturation on exercise.

A case of concurrent sarcoidosis, aortitis syndrome and Crohn's disease.

A 24-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy on chest radiography. He had been under medication for aortitis syndrome and Crohn's disease for 12 years. Surgical biopsy from the anterior segment of the left upper lobe and mediastinal lymph nodes was performed under video-assisted thoracoscopy.

[A nationwide survey concerning lung surgery for lung cancer associated with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia].

Acute exacerbation (AE) of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is a near-fatal condition with especially high risk following lung surgery. We conducted a nationwide survey concerning prophylactic therapy to prevent possible AE following lung surgery in Japan. We sent a questionnaire concerning prophylactic therapy immediately before and after lung surgery to a total of 701 institutions, including specific questions about anesthesia.

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia following lung surgery in 3 of 68 consecutive patients: a retrospective study.

Background: Acute exacerbation (AE) of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is occasionally observed after lung surgery. However, the risk of lung surgery in patients with IIPs is not yet clearly known.

Subjects And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent lung surgery for cancer or for the diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia (IP) between 2000 and 2006.

Cyclosporin A in the treatment of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Acute exacerbation (AE) of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is considered to be a nearly fatal condition during the clinical course of IPF, as it is unresponsive to most conventional therapies.

Subjects And Methods: To evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporin A (CsA) for AE of IPF, we conducted a retrospective study on autopsied IPF cases who developed AE and were treated with corticosteroids (CS) combined with CsA. The subjects comprised 11 males with a mean age of 69.

Efficacy of gefitinib for elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations: a retrospective analysis.

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor mutations.

Methods And Patients: Nine patients aged 70 years or older who had advanced NSCLC with mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene were treated with gefitinib, 250 mg daily. Clinical data, types of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations, efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib were evaluated in these patients.

Unique mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene of three cases of cystic fibrosis in Nagasaki, Japan.

Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal hereditary disorder in Caucasians, is quite rare in Southeast Asia including Japan. Here, we report three CF cases encountered in Nagasaki, Japan. Case 1; a 24-year-old man with dyspnea and cough was diagnosed as CF with a missense mutation Q98R in exon 4 and a polymorphic 125C in exon 1 in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene.

[A case of Candida glabrata empyema].

A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a low grade fever and malaise. He had received a middle to lower esophagectomy and proximal gastrectomy with reconstruction of a gastric conduit for esophageal cancer 12 years previously. Chest X-ray and CT scan revealed massive pleural effusion and consolidations on the right side.

Recurrence of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung after eleven years of remission.

The standard treatment of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung is surgical excision. However, little data is available on steroid therapy in patients with the unresectable disease. Here, we report a patient with recurrent inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung with pleural involvement who had been successfully treated with corticosteroid eleven years previously.

Inflammatory pseudotumour affecting the lung and orbit.

This report describes a rare case of inflammatory pseudotumour arising metachronously from the orbit and lung. A 78-year-old man with a 7-year history of orbital inflammatory pseudotumour developed a solitary mass in the right lung. Serological studies showed elevated levels of IgG and antinuclear antigen.

Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic ODK0501 assay for detecting Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen in sputum samples from patients with lower respiratory tract infection.

A novel, rapid, and noninvasive test (ODK0501) to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen was evaluated in a Japanese multicenter study. ODK0501 uses polyclonal antibodies to detect C polysaccharide of S. pneumoniae from sputum samples by an immunochromatographic assay.

[A case of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy associated with lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed by CT-guided lung biopsy].

A 46-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of bloody and chest pain. Chest X-ray and CT scan revealed a 17-mm nodule in the left upper lobe, consolidations in both lower lobes, and mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy. CT-guided lung biopsy from the right lower lobe revealed tumor cell embolism, intimal fibrocellular proliferation of small arteries, fibrin thrombi and recanalization.

[A case of large cell carcinoma of the lung associated with a sarcoid-like reaction inside the tumor].

A sarcoid-like reaction may occur inside a malignant tumor, in regional lymph-nodes or in adjacent tissues. An 83 year-old man who was found to have a mass in his left lower lung field on a chest radiograph. Transbronchial biopsy was performed and a non-caseating granulomatous lesion caused by a possible infectious disease was diagnosed.

[Susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from patients with lower respiratory infectious diseases to antibiotics (2005)].

From October 2005 to September 2006, we collected the specimen from 366 patients with lower respiratory tract infections in 12 institutions in Japan, and investigated the susceptibilities of isolated bacteria to various antibacterial agents and patients' characteristics. Of 411 strains that were isolated from specimen (mainly from sputum) and assumed to be bacteria causing in infection, 406 strains were examined. The isolated bacteria were: Staphylococcus aureus 70, Streptococcus pneumoniae 85, Haemophilus influenzae 78, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid) 46, P.

[A case of Ewing's sarcoma of the right femur associated with pulmonary metastases detected by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography].

A 32-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of a nodular shadow on his chest x-ray film. Chest computed tomography scan revealed multiple nodules in both lungs. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed to diagnose the tumor.

[Efficacy of domiciliary noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients].

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical features and efficacy of domiciliary noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 16 patients with COPD who received NPPV between March 1996 and April 2005. The patient characteristics, clinical features, a change in arterial PaCO2 and prognoses were evaluated.

Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis found in healthy Japanese individuals.

Background And Objective: Coccidioidomycosis is endemic in the south-western USA. This study described the clinicopathological features of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis found in otherwise healthy Japanese individuals.

Methods: Four male patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis were assessed by clinical examination, serology, PCR assay, high-resolution computed tomography and histopathological findings.

[A case of desquamative interstitial pneumonia with adenocarcinoma of the lung].

A 73-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea on effort and diffuse ground-glass opacities in bilateral lower lung fields on a chest radiograph. CT scans demonstrated a spiculated nodule measuring 9 mm in diameter in the right S3 and diffuse ground-glass opacities in bilateral lower lobes. Right upper lobectomy and lung biopsy of the right lower lobe were performed using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

[The efficacy of low-dose helical CT screening as an option for health examination].

We retrospectively evaluated the results of low-dose helical CT screening as an option for health examinations. From November 2002 to October 2005, CT screening was performed in 2,306 individuals (men 1,766, women 540, mean age 56.1 years).