Muscle Biopsy-proven Drug-induced Microscopic Polyangiitis in a Patient with Tuberculosis.

We herein report a case of muscle biopsy-proven microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) in a patient with tuberculosis. The patient had developed a persistent fever after the initiation of treatment for tuberculosis and was positive for myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). However, because conventional symptoms were lacking, determination of the biopsy site was difficult.

Fibroblast-epithelial cell interactions drive epithelial-mesenchymal transition differently in cells from normal and COPD patients.

Background: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which involves changes in cellular morphology of highly polarized epithelial cells and the gain of mesenchymal cell phenotype with migratory and invasive capacities, is implicated in smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the interactions of fibroblasts and epithelial cells and the participation of fibroblasts in the EMT processes in COPD are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that EMT is active in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells of COPD patients, and that mediators secreted by lung fibroblasts from COPD patients induce EMT.

Potential role of pentosidine on susceptibility to small airway closure in elderly and smoking asthma.

Background: Small airway closure in asthma is determined by a complex interaction of structural and functional characteristics including lung elastic recoil. Recently, we determined that loss of elastic recoil might be attributable to pentosidine level in the airways. This study was designed to investigate the influences of aging and smoking on small airway closure in asthma.

Dose escalation and feasibility study of amrubicin combined with cisplatin in previously untreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Cisplatin is a key drug used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and amrubicin is one of the new active agents for NSCLC. The objective of this study was to determine the recommended dose (RD) of amrubicin in combination with a fixed dose of cisplatin, and to assess the toxicity profile and feasibility of this regimen.

Methods: We conducted a dose escalation study of amrubicin and cisplatin in previously untreated patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC.

Measurement of soluble perforin, a marker of CD8+ T lymphocyte activation in epithelial lining fluid.

Background: CD8(+) T lymphocytes in the peripheral airways have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. However, the significance of CD8(+) T lymphocyte activation in COPD is not well understood. A biomarker of CD8(+) T lymphocyte activation in patients with COPD is required.

Comparison of alveolar nitric oxide concentrations using two different methods for assessing small airways obstruction in asthma.

Background And Objective: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (F(E) NO) is considered a potentially useful biomarker for airway inflammation. A two-compartment model (2CM) of pulmonary NO dynamics has been used for the evaluation of bronchial NO flux (J'awNO) and alveolar NO concentration (C(A) NO) in asthmatic patients. Recently, the trumpet shape of the airway tree and axial diffusion (TMAD) model has been reported as a modification of the 2CM.

Potential roles of pentosidine in age-related and disease-related impairment of pulmonary functions in patients with asthma.

Background: Pentosidine is well established as an intermolecular cross-linking type of advanced glycation end products, and it accumulates with aging in various connective tissues.

Objective: To determine whether pentosidine contributes to age-related and disease-related impairment of pulmonary functions in patients with asthma.

Methods: We measured pentosidine levels in induced sputum from young to elderly patients with asthma and assessed the slope of the nitrogen (N(2)) alveolar plateau (delta N(2)), closing volume (CV), and closing capacity (CC) from a nitrogen washout curve in a single breath.

Validity of measurement of two specific biomarkers for the assessment of small airways inflammation in asthma.

Background: Small airways inflammation in asthma has been supposed to contribute to instability of the disease and therapy resistance. This study was designed to determine the validity of measurement of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) levels in induced sputum and alveolar concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) for the assessment of small airways inflammation in asthma.

Methods: The authors measured CML levels in induced sputum and the bronchial flux (Jno) and alveolar concentration (C(alv)) of NO in 37 asthmatic patients and 15 normal controls.

[Potential mechanisms of airway remodeling initiated by activated thrombin in asthma].

Background: High expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces subepithelial fibrosis associated with angiogenesis in asthma. Thrombin is recognized as a new candidate mediating airway remodeling. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the potential mechanisms of airway remodeling initiated by activated thrombin in asthma.

Plasma concentration of amrubicinol in plateau phase in patients treated for 3 days with amrubicin is correlated with hematological toxicities.

Amrubicinol (AMR-OH) is an active metabolite of amrubicin (AMR), a novel synthetic 9-aminoanthracycline derivative. The time-concentration profile of AMR-OH exhibits a continuous long plateau slope in the terminal phase. To determine the relationships between the steady-state plasma concentration of AMR-OH and treatment effects and toxicities associated with AMR therapy, we carried out a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study in patients treated with AMR alone or the combination of AMR+cisplatin (CDDP).

Phase II study of docetaxel and carboplatin in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Mainly single-agent chemotherapy has been considered as standard treatment for elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Docetaxel monotherapy is regarded as a standard treatment for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC, and recent subset analyses have suggested that platinum-based chemotherapy can be safely used in the elderly. This phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel and carboplatin in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.

A technological advance comparing epithelial lining fluid from different regions of the lung in smokers.

Cigarette smoking causes inflammatory responses in the airways. However, not all smokers exhibit the development of airflow limitation. This study was designed to determine the implications of small airways inflammation in the development of airflow limitation in smokers by our newly explored method.

Comparison of N-epsilon-(Carboxymethyl)Lysine levels and percentage of eosinophils in induced sputum for assessment of small airway involvements in asthma.

Background: N-epsilon-(Carboxymethyl)Lysine (CML), a major advanced glycation end product, is expressed in the lower respiratory tract. In this study, we compared the validity of measuring CML levels and percentage of eosinophils in induced sputum for assessment of airway functions, and evaluated the clinical implications of sputum CML levels in the asthmatic airways.

Material/methods: We examined CML levels and percentage of eosinophils in induced sputum from 37 asthmatic patients and 15 normal controls, and evaluated the relationships between these parameters and clinical profiles of asthmatic patients.

Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine, a major advanced glycation end product in exhaled breath condensate as a biomarker of small airway involvement in asthma.

N(epsilon) -(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) expression is selectively present in the lower respiratory tract. We compared CML levels in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) between 19 asthmatics and 10 normal control subjects and its levels before and after tiotropium therapy in 11 non-smoking asthmatics and 10 smoking asthmatics. CML levels were significantly lower in asthmatics than in normal control subjects.

Role of vascular endothelial growth factor in pulmonary endothelial cell injury by exercise challenge in asthmatic patients.

This study was designed to examine the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pulmonary endothelial cell injury by exercise in asthmatics. Post-exercise circulating thrombomodulin (TM) levels were significantly increased in asthmatics. Moreover, the increase in TM levels with exercise was significantly correlated with VEGF level in induced sputum from asthmatics (r = 0.