[Influenza in the patient of chronic respiratory disease].

The patient of chronic respiratory disease belongs to high risk group of the influenza, and when influenza will happen, they will become sever. Therefore, these patient should take the vaccination at first. Being vaccinated, even if the influenza will occur, the condition will not be sever and with the antiviral agents, anti-bacterial agents should be given with or without the existence of bacterial infection.

[Usefulness of urinary antigen and sputum Gram stain for rapid diagnosis of pneumococcal respiratory infections].

We evaluated the usefulness of a rapid urinary antigen detection kit (Binax NOW) to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae in the early diagnosis of pneumococcal respiratory tract infections in 313 patients with presumptive respiratory tract infections. We compared results of this test with those of sputum Gram staining. Urinary antigen and sputum Gram staining were respectively positive in 37 and 36 of 57 patients with pneumococcal respiratory infections.

[Pathogenesis of beta-lactam-resistant Haemophilus influenzae isolated from sputum].

Haemophlus influenzae persists in the respiratory tract and sometimes causes respiratory tract infections. To evaluate the pathogenesis of beta-lactam-resistant Haemophilus influenzae, we classified 193 Haemophilus influenzae strains isolated from sputum of patients with respiratory tract disease in 24 beta-lactamase positive (BLP) strains, 65 beta-lactamase negative ampicillin resistant (BLNAR) strains and 104 beta-lactamase negative ampicillin sensitive (BLNAS) strains and reviewed the pathogenesis of the strains. The pathogenesis of the strains was evaluated as definite pathogen, presumptive pathogen, colonization and contamination.

[Use of the antibacterial agent levofloxacin for acute upper respiratory tract infection accompanied by fever (> or = 38 degrees C)].

The appropriate administration method of levofloxacin in relation to symptoms was investigated by following up 2,353 patients prescribed either levofloxacin (300 mg divided into 3 doses) or 400 mg (divided into 2 doses) for the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infection accompanied by fever (temperature (> or = 38 degrees C) of suspected bacterial infection. 1) The cure rate based on body temperature as an index was significantly higher in the group administered 400 mg/day compared with the group administered 300 mg/day. No significant difference between the two regimens was observed in patients with a temperature < or = 38.

[Effect of glycyrrhizin on anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatitis].

In cases in which hepatotoxicity developed during anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, the rapid recovery of liver function is essential for the completion of the anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy protocol. Glycyrrhizin (Stronger Neo-Minophagen C: SNMC) is widely used in Japan for the treatment of patients with drug eruption or chronic hepatitis. However, a consensus on the clinical effects of glycyrrhizin for the treatment of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatitis has not yet been reached.

Cytology of basaloid squamous carcinoma of the bronchus. A case report.

Background: The cytologic appearance of basaloid squamous carcinoma (BSC) arising in the lower respiratory tract has not been described very well because of its rarity. This article describes a surgical case of bronchial BSC and provides the first documentation of the sputum and imprint cytologic features of the tumor.

Case: A 74-year-old man presented with hemoptysis.

Preliminary report on DU-6859a for lower respiratory tract infection.

The efficacy, safety, and clinical utility of DU-6859a, a novel "new quinolone" antibacterial agent, were evaluated in patients with mild-to-moderate pneumonia or chronic respiratory tract infection (RTI) in a multicenter study. DU-6859a was administered orally after meals at a dose of 50 to 100mg, mainly twice daily, for 6 to 14 days. The clinical efficacy rate was 100% (26/26) for pneumonia and 89% (66/74) for chronic RTI, for an overall clinical efficacy rate of 92% (92/100).