Radiological fibrosis score is strongly associated with worse survival in rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) parenchymal patterns have been used to predict prognosis in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the fibrosis score (i.e.

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in IgA Vasculitis with an Atypical Presentation.

IgA vasculitis (IgAV) commonly occurs in young children, who present with a tetrad of purpura, abdominal pain, arthralgia and nephritis. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare complication of IgAV. We herein report an adult case of IgAV with a presentation of DAH and nephritis (pulmonary renal syndrome, PRS), but without other typical manifestations, such as purpura, abdominal pain and arthralgia.

Serological and morphological prognostic factors in patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features.

Background: To identify the prognostic factors for survival in patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) who meet the serological domain of the IPAF criteria.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 99 IPAF patients who met the serological domain and were hospitalised at the Respiratory Medicine Unit of Kurashiki Central Hospital from 1999 to 2015. The high-resolution computed tomography findings were usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP; n = 1), non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP; n = 63), NSIP with organizing pneumonia (OP) overlap (n = 15), and OP (n = 20).

Impact of lymphocyte differential count > 15% in BALF on the mortality of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic fibrosing idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Chronic fibrosing idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (CFIIP) has a potential risk of acute exacerbation (AE). However, the usefulness of cellular analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has never been evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the lymphocyte differential count > 15% in BALF on the mortality of patients with AE of CFIIP.

Risk factors for drug-resistant pathogens in immunocompetent patients with pneumonia: Evaluation of PES pathogens.

Rationale: The new acronym, PES pathogens (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-positive, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), was recently proposed to identify drug-resistant pathogens associated with community-acquired pneumonia.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk factors for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in immunocompetent patients with pneumonia and to validate the role of PES pathogens.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospective observational study of immunocompetent patients with pneumonia between March 2009 and June 2015 was conducted.

Interstitial lung disease in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with and without anti-MDA-5 antibody: to lump or split?

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM-ILD) is often refractory and rapidly progressive. Although the anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA-5) antibody is associated with rapidly progressive ILD (RP-ILD), differences in clinical features and prognosis of anti-MDA-5 antibody-positive and -negative CADM-ILD remain unclear.

Methods: To clarify the differences in the clinical features and prognosis between anti-MDA-5 antibody-positive and -negative cases, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with CADM-ILD with and without anti-MDA-5 antibody at Kurashiki Central Hospital from January 2005 to September 2014.

[A Study on the Clinical Course and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in a Community Hospital].

Recently, reports of macrolide-resistant strains of Mycoplasma pneumoniae have been increasing. We examined the antimicrobial susceptibility and clinical significance in patients with M. pneumoniae.

Comparative investigation of respiratory tract involvement in granulomatosis with polyangiitis between PR3-ANCA positive and MPO-ANCA positive cases: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The clinical characteristics of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) positive granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) remain unclear, as does the difference between MPO-ANCA positive GPA and proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA positive GPA, especially with regard to the details of respiratory tract involvement. We investigated the differences in clinical, radiological, and histopathological features between PR3-ANCA positive GPA and MPO-ANCA positive GPA.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 16 patients who were newly diagnosed with GPA between December 2000 and July 2014.

Incidence and impact of interstitial lung disease and malignancy in patients with polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis: a retrospective cohort study.

The aims of this study were to retrospectively review Japanese consecutive cases of polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), and clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), focusing on interstital lung disease (ILD) and malignancy, and to document any differences in the incidence, clinical features, and impact on prognosis among patients with PM, DM, and CADM. We retrospectively reviewed 62 consecutive patients diagnosed with PM, DM, and CADM according to Bohan and Peter's criteria (PM/DM) and Sontheimer's criteria and Gerami's criteria (CADM), focusing on ILD and malignancy. ILD occurrence rates were 48 % (11/23) in patients with PM, 46 % (11/24) in DM, and 100 % (15/15) in CADM.

Clinical characteristics of pneumonia in bedridden patients receiving home care: a 3-year prospective observational study.

Background: The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical features, antimicrobial treatment, and outcomes of bedridden pneumonia patients receiving home healthcare.

Methods: A 3-year prospective observational study of poor performance status (PS) 3-4 patients receiving long-term home healthcare and hospitalized at a single center with pneumonia between October 2010 and September 2013 was conducted, and their clinical characteristics were compared with non-bedridden community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients.

Results: A total of 131 CAP patients with PS 3-4, and 400 CAP patients with PS 0-2 were evaluated.

[Drug-induced pulmonary damage due to inhalation of a waterproof spray].

A 24-year-old woman smoked after using a waterproof spray in a poorly ventilated room. Two days later, she experienced a dry cough and dyspnea and was admitted to our hospital. A chest radiograph and CT showed ground-glass opacity.