Factors related to the diagnosis of lung cancer by transbronchial biopsy with endobronchial ultrasonography and a guide sheath.

Background: Transbronchial biopsy (TBB) with endobronchial ultrasonography and a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) is an effective examination tool for the diagnosis of lung cancer. Factors related to making the diagnosis are still not fully understood.

Methods: A total of 367 patients who underwent EBUS-GS and were diagnosed with lung cancer in Saga University Hospital were investigated retrospectively.

Obesity affects pulmonary function in Japanese adult patients with asthma, but not those without asthma.

Obesity is associated with the severity of asthma, which is characterized by airway obstruction. Pulmonary function testing is one of the important examinations for evaluating airway obstruction. However, the impact of obesity on pulmonary function in patients with asthma is not fully understood.

Factors Associated with Reduction of Sedentary Time Following Tiotropium/Olodaterol Therapy in Treatment-Naïve Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Prolonged sedentary behavior is associated with worse prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our previous study found that first-line dual therapy with tiotropium/olodaterol significantly reduces sedentary time compared to tiotropium monotherapy in Japanese patients with treatment-naïve COPD, although the characteristics of responders to dual-therapy versus monotherapy for COPD are still unclear.

Methods: Patients with treatment-naïve COPD were randomized to receive either tiotropium or tiotropium/olodaterol treatment for 12 weeks.

Ipragliflozin Improves the Hepatic Outcomes of Patients With Diabetes with NAFLD.

Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are now widely used to treat diabetes, but their effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain to be determined. We aimed to evaluate the effects of SGLT2is on the pathogenesis of NAFLD. A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes with NAFLD.

Skeletal muscle is associated with exercise tolerance evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise testing in Japanese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Decreasing exercise tolerance is one of the key features related to a poor prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is useful for evaluating exercise tolerance. The present study was performed to clarify the correlation between exercise tolerance and clinical parameters, focusing especially on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of skeletal muscle.

[Comparison of the Accuracy of Measuring the Amount of Urine in the Bladder by Ultrasound Devices and Their Operability for the Bladder].

We investigated the accuracy and operability of two ultrasound devices for the bladder. The study included 232 adult patients who underwent surgery at our hospital. Before surgery, a nurse measured the amount of urine in the bladder using Lilium α-200® and Bladder Scan BVI 6100®.

Clinical features of Japanese patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Exacerbations are critical events in chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD). The frequency of COPD exacerbations is associated with the prognosis, including mortality, but no useful biomarker has been established.

Methods: The present retrospective study investigated 481 COPD patients.

Biomarkers for Overweight in Adult-Onset Asthma.

Purpose: Overweight and obesity are associated with one of the severe phenotypes of asthma, with an increased rate of exacerbations, low level of lung function, and reduced response to corticosteroid therapy. The present study focused on identifying useful biomarkers of severity in overweight patients with adult-onset asthma using real-world data.

Patients And Methods: A total of 56 patients with adult-onset asthma who visited Saga University Hospital between 2018 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.

First-Line Treatment with Tiotropium/Olodaterol Improves Physical Activity in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Comparative effects on physical activity of mono and dual bronchodilators remain unclear in patients with treatment-naïve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We sought to compare the changes in physical activity before and after tiotropium and tiotropium/olodaterol treatment in treatment-naïve COPD patients.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-labeled, and parallel interventional study was conducted.

Clinical impact of advanced chronic kidney disease in patients with non-HIV pulmonary cryptococcosis.

Background: Pulmonary cryptococcosis is an uncommon infectious disease that can develop in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. The severity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was reported to be one of the risk factors for pulmonary cryptococcosis, but its clinical characteristics have not been fully assessed. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical characteristics of advanced CKD in patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis.