A Prospective Observational Study on Analyzing Lung Cancer Gene Mutation Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) and Its Correlation with Treatment Efficacy.

A few studies have reported on the variability of the variant allele frequency (VAF) of gene mutations and the relationship between VAF and the therapeutic effect of molecular-targeted drugs. This joint study was conducted from May 2020 to January 2022 between St. Marianna University School of Medicine and the DNA Chip Research Institute.

90-Day outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia treated with invasive mechanical ventilation.

Background: There are few reports detailing the prognostic factors of severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring invasive ventilation. We investigated the long-term prognosis and evaluated which factors influenced outcomes in these patients.

Methods: Data was reviewed from severe adult COVID-19 cases admitted to our hospital and treated with mechanical ventilation between February 1, 2020, and October 30, 2021.

Diagnostic utility of pharyngeal follicular structures in COVID-19: A large-scale cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Pharyngeal follicles similar to those seen in influenza have been observed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), suggesting their potential as early-stage diagnostic markers. In this study, we examined the diagnostic potential of pharyngeal follicles for COVID-19, particularly the Omicron variant and its subtypes, to obtain basic data for AI-based diagnostic imaging tools.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 21, 2022, to March 31, 2023, at the Tokyo Shinagawa Hospital's fever clinic.

Clinical utility of rapid on-site evaluation of brush cytology during bronchoscopy using endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath.

Previous studies have shown that rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) improves the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy using endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL). While ROSE of imprint cytology from forceps biopsy has been widely discussed, there are few reports on ROSE of brush cytology. This study investigated the utility of ROSE of brush cytology during bronchoscopy.

Repeating late-phase pseudo-progression in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer treated with long-term nivolumab monotherapy; a case report.

Background: Immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) are standard treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nearly a decade has passed since nivolumab was approved by the FDA for NSCLC patients. However, long-term outcomes and clinical features remain unclear for individual cases.

Changes in fractional exhaled nitric oxide, forced expiratory volume in one second, and forced oscillation technique parameters over three years in adults with bronchial asthma managed under Yokohama Seibu Hospital's coordinated care system.

Background: In western Yokohama, our hospital and primary care clinics manage adults with asthma via a coordinated care system. We investigated the changes in the fractional expired nitric oxide (FeNO), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV), and forced oscillation technique (FOT) parameters over 3 years in a cohort of patients in our collaborative system.

Methods: From 288 adults with well controlled asthma managed under the Yokohama Seibu Hospital coordinated care system between January 2009 and May 2018, we selected 99 subjects to undergo spirometry, FeNO and FOT testing over 3 years and analyzed the changes in these parameters.

Pulmonary function and chest CT abnormalities 3 months after discharge from COVID-19, 2020-2021: A nation-wide multicenter prospective cohort study from the Japanese respiratory society.

Background: No comprehensive analysis of the pulmonary sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan based on respiratory function tests and chest computed tomography (CT) has been reported. We evaluated post-COVID-19 conditions, especially focusing on pulmonary sequelae assessed by pulmonary function tests and chest CT.

Methods: For this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 1069 patients who presented pneumonia at the time of admission in 55 hospitals from February 2020 to September 2021.

Surveillance of seasonal influenza viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan, 2018-2023, a single-center study.

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic led to significant reductions in influenza detection worldwide, fueling debates on whether influenza truly ceased circulating in communities. The number of influenza cases decreased significantly in Japan, raising concerns about the potential risk of decreased immunity to influenza in the population. Our single-center study aimed to investigate influenza trends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan.

A Quantitative Computed Tomography Analysis of Fissure Integrity and Emphysema Destruction in Japanese Patients with Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Objective Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) using a one-way endobronchial valve (EBV) can provide clinically meaningful benefits to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Although the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency approved EBVs in November 2022, information regarding the number of Japanese patients with severe COPD eligible for BLVR treatment is still lacking. We therefore screened computed tomography (CT) images of patients with severe COPD using a quantitative CT (QCT) analysis to estimate the proportion of candidates eligible for BLVR treatment with an EBV.

High efficacy of brigatinib for brain metastases in ALK fusion gene-positive non-small cell lung cancer: A case series.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene-positive lung cancer often shows brain metastasis at initial diagnosis or during the course of treatment. However, molecular-targeted drugs are known to pass through the blood-brain barrier and present positive effects for central nervous system lesions. There are few reports suggesting how effective molecular-targeted drug therapy alone is for brain metastasis lesions of ALK fusion-positive lung cancer, especially after the first use of ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) or for bulky brain metastases.

Dupilumab in a patient with severe asthma and glucocorticoid hypersensitivity: a case report.

Recently, several biologics have been approved for the treatment of severe asthma. Dupilumab, a biologic used to treat severe asthma, is a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-4 and interleukin-13. In the present case, inhaled corticosteroid-induced glucocorticoid hypersensitivity was suspected, and the administration of omalizumab and mepolizumab had no beneficial effects.

Bilateral Pneumothorax after a Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy for Interstitial Lung Disease.

We herein report a case of bilateral pneumothorax after a unilateral transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC). A 73-year-old man with no history of cardiothoracic surgery underwent a TBLC for the reevaluation of interstitial lung disease. Five hours later, he developed bilateral pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema.

EML4-ALK Gene Mutation Detected with New NGS Lung Cancer Panel CDx Using Sputum Cytology in a Case of Advanced NSCLC.

The detection of driver gene mutations has become essential for lung cancer; however, insufficient sample sizes make gene panel tests difficult to use. We previously reported that the lung cancer compact panel TM (LCCP) could detect EGFR and MET gene mutations with sputum cytology. To date, the detection of gene mutation using RNA from sputum samples is considered practically difficult.

Pre-treatment bronchoscopic evaluation in a case of relapsing polychondrits.

Background: Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disease of the cartilage tissues in the body. The cause of RP is unknown, and since it is a rare disease with symptoms that affect multiple organs, diagnosis is often delayed.

Case Presentation: A 62-year-old woman with no smoking history visited our institution complaining of fever, cough, and dyspnoea.

Case report: Electrocardiographic changes in pembrolizumab-induced fatal myocarditis.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced myocarditis is rare but fatal. Because of the rapid course of ICI-induced myocarditis, understanding of clinical course is only possible through information from case reports. We report a case of pembrolizumab-induced myocarditis in which we were able to document the course of electrocardiographic changes from onset to death.

Efficacy of combined transbronchial lung cryobiopsy and conventional forceps biopsy for lung malignancies: a prospective cohort study.

There are few prospective reports of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) for malignant tumors in combination with forceps biopsy. We investigated the clinical parameters in which TBLC is superior to forceps biopsy. This is a prospective cohort study to analyse the efficacy of TBLC for suspected malignancy.

fusion mutation detected by re-biopsy 7 years after initial cytotoxic chemotherapy: A case report.

Personalized medicine using molecular-targeted drugs to achieve better therapeutic response and long-term prognosis is common practice for lung cancer treatment. However, in cases before gene batch tests were available, medical treatment continued without the detection of rare mutations. We report a sixty-seven-old year man diagnosed with adenocarcinoma T1cN3M1a, stage IVA.

Predicting the aggravation of coronavirus disease-19 pneumonia using chest computed tomography scans.

Presently, coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is spreading worldwide without an effective treatment method. For COVID-19, which is often asymptomatic, it is essential to adopt a method that does not cause aggravation, as well as a method to prevent infection. Whether aggravation can be predicted by analyzing the extent of lung damage on chest computed tomography (CT) scans was examined.

Temporary stenting in a case of bronchomalacia due to relapsing polychondritis.

Airway involvement in relapsing polychondritis (RP) can often be debilitating and life threatening. Interventional procedures such as stenting can be useful to improve airway stenosis. This case was diagnosed with RP with a circumferential obstruction at the left main bronchus.

Nationwide retrospective observational study of idiopathic dendriform pulmonary ossification: clinical features with a progressive phenotype.

Background: Diffuse pulmonary ossification is a specific lung condition that is accompanied by underlying diseases. However, idiopathic dendriform pulmonary ossification (IDPO) is extremely rare, and the clinical features remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to report the clinical characteristics of IDPO.

A Prospective Validation Study of Lung Cancer Gene Panel Testing Using Cytological Specimens.

Genetic panel tests require sufficient tissue samples, and therefore, cannot always be performed. Although collecting cytological specimens is easier than tissue collection, there are no validation studies on the diagnostic accuracy of lung cancer gene panel tests using cytology samples. Using an amplicon-based high-sensitivity next-generation sequencing panel test capable of measuring eight druggable genes, we prospectively enrolled consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic procedures.

Serum gasdermin D levels are associated with the chest computed tomography findings and severity of COVID-19.

Background: The role of programmed cell death, especially pyroptosis and apoptosis, in unfavorable immune responses in COVID-19 remains to be elucidated.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to investigate the association between the serum gasdermin D (GSDMD) levels, a pyroptotic marker, and caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 fragment (M30), an apoptotic marker, and the clinical status and abnormal chest computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with COVID-19.

Results: In this study, 46 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were divided into the following three groups according to the disease severity: mild to moderate group (n = 10), severe group (n = 14), and critical group (n = 22).