Comparison of User Satisfaction and Preference with Inhalant Devices Between a Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhaler and Ellipta in Stable Asthma Patients: A Randomized, Crossover Study.

Introduction: Inhalation therapy involves two types of adherence: adherence to the drug and adherence to the procedures for the inhalation device. User satisfaction and preference are key factors for maintaining good adherence of both types, and they should be evaluated based on three conditions being well maintained: asthma control level (ACL), adherence, and adequate device operability during usage duration. We compared user satisfaction and preference between a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) and a dry powder inhaler (Ellipta), while maintaining the three conditions during usage in stable asthma patients.

Open-label study to evaluate the treatment continuation rate after a dose reduction of lubiprostone due to onset of adverse events.

Objective: To investigate the continuation rate with a reduced lubiprostone dose (12 mcg twice daily, BD) after the onset of adverse events (AEs) in patients with chronic constipation (CC).

Methods: In this exploratory, open-label, multicenter study, patients with CC received lubiprostone 24 mcg BD and the dose was reduced to 12 mcg BD in subjects experiencing AEs. The primary objective was the continuation rate after dose reduction due to nausea/vomiting.

Serum periostin reflects dynamic hyperinflation in patients with asthma.

Introduction: Dynamic hyperinflation (DH) is sometimes observed and is associated with impaired daily life activities of asthma. We assessed the relationship between DH and asthma biomarkers (blood eosinophil, fractional exhaled nitric oxide ( ) and serum periostin) in patients with asthma.

Methods: Fifty patients with stable asthma were prospectively recruited and underwent blood test, measurement, spirometry and metronome-paced tachypnoea (MPT) test to assess DH.

A novel pathophysiologic link between upper and lower airways in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: Association of sputum periostin levels with upper airway inflammation and olfactory function.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and asthma are collectively called unified airway diseases. Periostin has been implicated in the pathophysiologic link of these conditions but only by serum measurements. We sought to investigate sputum levels of periostin and their association with upper airway inflammation and olfactory function in CRS patients.

Effect of anti-reflux treatment on gastroesophageal reflux-associated chronic cough: Implications of neurogenic and neutrophilic inflammation.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an important cause of chronic cough. Substance P (SP) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of cough. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and prokinetic agents are the current treatment for GER-associated cough.

Clinical impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with subacute/chronic cough.

Background: While gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the commonest causes of subacute/chronic cough along with cough-variant asthma (CVA) and rhinosinusitis, its clinical impact remains unknown. Therefore, we sought to investigate the impact of GERD in patients with subacute/chronic cough.

Methods: Between April 2012 and March 2018, a total of 312 patients presenting subacute or chronic cough lasting for ≥3 weeks [median cough duration, 4.

Small airway inflammation is associated with residual airway hyperresponsiveness in Th2-high asthma.

Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation, variable airflow obstruction, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Generally, AHR takes longer to resolve than does airflow obstruction or clinical symptoms. AHR occasionally persists despite adequate asthma treatment.

Prevention of hypoxemia during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: Usefulness of high-flow nasal cannula.

Background: Hypoxemia during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is often encountered even in patients without respiratory impairment before the procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in preventing hypoxemia during EBUS-TBNA.

Methods: The present investigation was designed as a prospective pilot study.

A Rare Case of Isolated Chronic Cough Caused by Pulmonary Lymphangitic Carcinomatosis as a Primary Manifestation of Rectum Carcinoma.

A 36-year old man was referred to our hospital due to isolated chronic cough that was refractory to anti-asthma medications, including inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β agonists. Chest X-ray showed diffuse nodular and enhanced vascular shadows with Kerley lines in both lungs. A blood analysis showed elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19-9 levels.

Tiotropium Attenuates Refractory Cough and Capsaicin Cough Reflex Sensitivity in Patients with Asthma.

Background: Asthmatic cough is often refractory to standard treatments such as inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting β agonists (LABA). Tiotropium may modulate cough reflex sensitivity of acute viral cough, but its efficacy in asthmatic cough remains unknown.

Objective: To evaluate whether tiotropium improves cough and cough reflex sensitivity in patients with asthma refractory to ICS/LABA.

Predictive and Prognostic Value of CYFRA 21-1 for Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with EGFR-TKIs.

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) directed against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are important in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially those harboring EGFR mutations. But little is known regarding the clinical value of serum tumor marker levels measured prior to treatment.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 95 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with EGFR-TKIs, and inspected the relationship between serum tumor marker levels and clinical outcome.

Optimal cut-off value and clinical usefulness of the Adherence Starts with Knowledge-12 in patients with asthma taking inhaled corticosteroids.

Background: Non-adherence to inhalation regimens is common in asthmatic patients. The Adherence Starts with Knowledge-12 (ASK-12) survey was developed to detect and address patient-specific barriers to medication adherence. Our objective is to investigate the clinical usefulness of the ASK-12 for assessing and addressing adherence to inhalation therapy in asthma.

Predictive Role of CYFRA21-1 and CEA for Subsequent Docetaxel in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical value of tumor marker levels for previously treated NSCLC patients.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively screened 113 previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with docetaxel monotherapy regarding the pretreatment serum level of cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

Results: The thirty-two patients with normal CYFRA21-1 levels and high CEA levels had a significantly higher response rate than the other 81 patients (25% vs.

Combined measurements of fractional exhaled nitric oxide and nasal nitric oxide levels for assessing upper airway diseases in asthmatic patients.

Background: Despite the close linkage between rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and asthma, relevant biomarkers of both upper and lower airway inflammation are rare.

Methods: Patients with asthma (without upper airway disease [UAD; n = 24], with rhinitis [n = 25], CRS [n = 24], and nasal polyps [n = 2]), isolated rhinitis (n = 13), isolated CRS (n = 13), and 10 healthy controls were prospectively recruited. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels at 50 mL/s (FeNO), nasal NO levels, Lund-Macay-scores of sinus computed tomography and an asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) were evaluated.

Serum Periostin as a Biomarker for Comorbid Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Patients with Asthma.

Rationale: Periostin is a matricellular protein that is involved in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and asthma. Associations of serum periostin with systemic and airway eosinophilic inflammation and comorbid chronic rhinosinusitis in patients with asthma have been demonstrated. Although serum periostin is positioned as a marker of helper T cell 2 immune responses, its implication regarding the presence of comorbid upper airway diseases in patients with asthma remains unclear.

Diagnostic utility of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in prolonged and chronic cough according to atopic status.

Background: Cough-variant asthma (CVA) and cough-predominant asthma (CPA) are the major causes of persistent cough in Japan. The utility of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement in the differential diagnosis of persistent cough has been reported, but the influence of atopic status, which is associated with higher FeNO levels, on the diagnostic utility of FeNO has been unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 105 non-smoking patients with prolonged and chronic cough that were not treated with corticosteroids and anti-leukotrienes.

The effect of bevacizumab for bone scintigraphy imaging: A case report.

A 65-year-old man presented with pulmonary nodules and a right humeral fracture. The 99mTc-hydroxy-methylene-diphosphonate (HMDP) bone scintigraphy showed high-intensity radioisotope (RI) uptake by a tumor of the right arm. Adenocarcinoma of the lung with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation was diagnosed on pathological examination of the computed tomography (CT)-guided needle biopsy of the right humerus.

Long-term use of a once-a-day fentanyl citrate transdermal patch in lung cancer patients.

Transdermal fentanyl is widely administered as an analgesic therapy for cancer patients. Recently, a novel fentanyl citrate transdermal patch was developed in Japan, which is the first such patch that requires changing only once a day. The patch releases more stable serum fentanyl concentrations and results in less frequent adverse skin symptoms compared with the conventional 72-h transdermal fentanyl patch.

Condensation reaction between angiotensin II and dicarboxylic acid in water at high temperature without any catalytic agent additive.

The condensation reaction of angiotensin II and tartaric acid in water at 100-140 degrees C proceeded without any added catalytic agent. One of the products, N-CO-tartarylangiotensin II, was confirmed by LC-MS, positive-ion MALDI-MS, and the fluorescamine method as a condensation product. The initial concentration of the substrates, temperatures, and initial pH affected the yield of the product.