Radiological and Pathological Analysis of Pembrolizumab-Associated Lung Lesions: Diagnostic Challenges and Management.

BACKGROUND Pembrolizumab, a programmed cell-death protein-1 (PD-1)-targeting antibody, extends survival in cancer patients but may cause lung injury as a side effect. This immunotherapy enhances the immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. However, its immunomodulatory action can sometimes lead to immune-related adverse events, including lung injury.

Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Transgenic Mice Carrying the Human rs35705950 Variant.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, often fatal lung disease characterized by tissue scarring and declining lung function. The promoter polymorphism rs35705950, a significant genetic predisposition for IPF, paradoxically associates with better survival and slower disease progression than other IPF genotypes. This study investigates the potential paradoxical protective effects of this variant in lung fibrosis.

Impact of immune-related adverse events on survival outcomes in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have recently become the standard of care in the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Although immune-related adverse events have been reported to influence prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients, few studies have investigated the prognostic value of immune-related adverse events in small cell lung cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated the prognosis of patients who developed immune-related adverse events after first-line treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitor-based chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

Role of microbiota-derived corisin in coagulation activation during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Coagulopathy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Hypercoagulability in COVID-19 results in deep vein thrombosis, thromboembolic complications, and diffuse intravascular coagulation. Microbiome dysbiosis influences the clinical course of COVID-19.

Close-to-lesion transbronchial biopsy: a novel technique to improve suitability of specimens for genetic testing in patients with peripheral pulmonary lesions.

Bronchoscopy with radial-probe endobronchial ultrasound, a guide sheath, and electromagnetic navigation can improve the diagnostic yield of peripheral lung nodules. However, the suitability of specimens for genetic analysis remains unsatisfactory. We hypothesized that a transbronchial biopsy performed after closely approaching the bronchoscope tip to the lesion might provide more suitable specimens for genetic analysis.

Prognostic Value of CXCL12 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Tumor Resection.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is commonly indicated in lung cancer patients undergoing surgical therapy because tumor recurrence is frequent. A biomarker that can predict tumor recurrence in the postoperative period is currently unavailable. CXCR4 receptor and its ligand CXCL12 play important roles in metastasis.

Inhibition of a Microbiota-Derived Peptide Ameliorates Established Acute Lung Injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a diffuse lung inflammation that commonly evolves into acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure. The lung microbiota is involved in the pathogenesis of ALI. Corisin, a proapoptotic peptide derived from the lung microbiota, plays a role in ALI and acute exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis.

Transforming Growth Factorβ1 Overexpression Is Associated with Insulin Resistance and Rapidly Progressive Kidney Fibrosis under Diabetic Conditions.

Diabetes mellitus is a global health problem. Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. The clinical course, response to therapy, and prognosis of nephropathy are worse in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients.

Tenascin C in radiation-induced lung damage: Pathological expression and serum level elevation.

Radiation-induced lung damage (RILD) is a critical problem in lung cancer radiotherapy, and it is difficult to predict its severity. Although no biomarkers for RILD have been established, tenascin C (TNC) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein involved in the remodeling of damaged tissues and has been implicated in inflammation and fibrosis. We report the unique case of a 36-year-old man with adenocarcinoma of the lung, Union for International Cancer Control stage IIIB, who was treated with radiotherapy before lung surgery.

Good Response of Advanced Thymic Carcinoma with Low PD-L1 Expression to Chemotherapy plus Pembrolizumab as First-Line Therapy and to Pembrolizumab as Maintenance Therapy: A Case Report.

Thymic carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. No standard treatment is currently available. The present case was a 64-year-old male smoker with no symptoms referred to our hospital because of abnormal chest radiological findings.

Is the Efficacy of Adding Ramucirumab to Docetaxel Related to a History of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Real-World Clinical Practice?

Reports on the efficacy of second-line treatment with cytotoxic agents after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors are limited. Here, we retrospectively evaluated patients in the real-world clinical practice treated with docetaxel or docetaxel plus ramucirumab. Ninety-three patients treated with docetaxel or docetaxel plus ramucirumab as a second- or later-line therapy were included.