Real-world effect of gastroesophageal reflux disease on cough-related quality of life and disease status in asthma and COPD.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common causes of chronic cough and often coexists with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, it is unknown whether there are differences in the effect of GERD on these diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the difference in the effect of GERD on cough-related quality of life and disease status in asthma and COPD in a real-world setting.

Methods: Subjects were 132 patients with overall controlled asthma and 102 patients with stable COPD.

Predictors of phase III slope of nitrogen single-breath washout in COPD.

The nitrogen (N₂) single-breath washout (SBW) test is a measure of ventilation distribution inhomogeneity and also a small airway function that offers complementary information to spirometry; however, the relevance to the forced oscillation technique (FOT) and pulmonary emphysema in COPD is not fully understood. We hypothesized that pulmonary functions, forced oscillatory parameters, and emphysema extent would contribute independently to the results of the SBW test. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the relationship between the phase III slope (delta N₂) derived from N₂ SBW and these parameters.

Switching from salmeterol/fluticasone to formoterol/budesonide combinations improves peripheral airway/alveolar inflammation in asthma.

Background: Combination therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) in a single inhaler is the mainstay of asthma management. We previously showed that switching from salmeterol/fluticasone combination (SFC) 50/250 μg bid to a fixed-dose formoterol/budesonide combination (FBC) 9/320 μg bid improved asthma control and pulmonary functions, but not fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), in patients with asthma not adequately controlled under the former treatment regimen.

Objective: To assess whether switching from SFC to FBC improves peripheral airway/alveolar inflammation in asthma (UMIN000009619).

Effect of exposure and sensitization to indoor allergens on asthma control level.

Background: Reducing risk factors, such as exposure to allergens, and stepwise pharmacotherapy to achieve and maintain control of asthma are the mainstay of asthma care. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of exposure and sensitization to indoor allergens, including house dust mites, cats, and dogs, on the asthma control level.

Methods: Dust samples were collected from the mattresses of 101 adult asthma patient homes and the Dermatophagoides mite group 1 (Der 1), Fel d 1, and Can f 1 concentrations were measured using ELISA.

[Inconsistency in the A-DROP system of the JRS guidelines for the management of community-acquired pneumonia and its outcome in adults].

We evaluated the consistency of the A-DROP system for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and its outcomes, and developed a new severity classification of community-acquired pneumonia using nonlinear discriminant analysis. A total of 615 patients with CAP were enrolled between 2004 and 2009. A poor outcome was defined as patients requiring ventilation and/or death from CAP.

[Case of pulmonary aspergilloma in the apices of both lungs which was associated with welder's lung].

A 48-year-old man, who had worked as a welder for 30 years, was admitted to our hospital with bloody sputum. His chest CT scan showed diffuse centrilobular micronodules and fungus balls within cavities in the apices of both lungs. We diagnosed pulmonary aspergilloma associated with welder's lung in the apices of both lungs, by bronchoscopy.

[The influence of pathological diagnosis on outcome in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].

The definitive diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) requires a pathologic pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). However, it is not clear that whether there is a difference in outcome between patients with IPF diagnosed by clinical findings, and those diagnosed by pathological findings. We investigated differences in survival between patients diagnosed with IPF based on clinical findings, and patients who underwent surgical biopsy for a pathological diagnosis of IPF/UIP based on findings showing a UIP pattern.

[Case of rapid progressive interstitial pneumonia associated with primary Sjogren syndrome].

A 72-year-old woman with a dry cough and dyspnea on exertion was admitted to our hospital. A chest radiograph showed reticular opacities and volume loss in both lower lung fields. She was troubled with xerostomia and her laboratory test showed positive reaction for anti SS-A and SS-B antibody.

A validation and potential modification of the pneumonia severity index in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Objectives: To evaluate the discriminatory power of the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and to improve its performance.

Design: Retrospective review of 193 patients from 1999 to 2001 to derive prognostic rules. The rules were prospectively validated in 144 patients from 2002 to 2003.

Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia in collagen vascular diseases: comparison of the clinical characteristics and prognostic significance with usual interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) has recently been described as a distinct clinicopathological entity among idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP), having more favorable prognosis than usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Although NSIP was initially reported to also occur in patients with interstitial pneumonia associated with collagen vascular diseases (IP-CVD), the prevalence of NSIP and its prognostic significance in IP-CVD remains to be determined. Thus, we attempted to clarify clinical characteristics and prognostic significance of NSIP in IP-CVD.

Dendritic cell involvement in pulmonary granuloma formation elicited by bacillus calmette-guérin in rats.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells that play a central role in initiating the primary immune response. However, their role in granulomatous inflammation has not been well studied. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of DCs in granuloma formation.

[Recurrence of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung with endobronchial lesion after resection].

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow in the left middle lung field on chest radiography. Since a transbronchial biopsy was not diagnostic, a left lower lobectomy was performed. Histopathologically, the patient was diagnosed as having an inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung.