Usefulness of bronchial sputum aspirate specimens for the diagnosis of Non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

Background: The usefulness of bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of NTM pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) has been reported. However, performing bronchoscopy for aspirated sputum and airway secretion specimens (sputum aspirate specimens) in the region extending from the trachea down to the orifice of each segmental bronchus has been poorly documented. We evaluated the diagnostic yield of sputum aspirate specimens collected from the central airway using bronchoscopy.

BRCA2-positive lung adenocarcinoma treated with olaparib: A case report.

A 66-year-old woman was found to have abnormal shadows on a chest radiograph at a previous hospital 4 years ago, which led to a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, cT2aN1M1b stage IVA. First-line treatment included carboplatin and paclitaxel plus thoracic radiotherapy and stereotactic radiation therapy for brain metastases. The patient later underwent second-line pemetrexed treatment, followed by third-line nivolumab, fourth-line docetaxel and bevacizumab, fifth-line tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil, and sixth-line gemcitabine.

Intrinsic clarithromycin heteroresistance in Mycobacterium avium.

Background: Mycobacterium avium is associated with pulmonary disease in otherwise healthy adults. Several clarithromycin-refractory cases have been reported, including some cases caused by clarithromycin-susceptible strains.

Objectives: To characterize the reason for the discrepancy between clinical response and antibiotic susceptibility results.

The First Case of Mycobacterium interjectum Pulmonary Disease in Japan.

We herein report a case of Mycobacterium interjectum pulmonary disease (M. interjectum-PD) that improved considerably after azithromycin (AZM), rifampicin (RFP), and ethambutol (EB) therapy. A 69-year-old woman, managed locally for suspected NTM-PD based on chest computed tomography (CT) findings was referred to our hospital for worsening productive cough six years after the initial diagnosis.

Outcomes and prognosis of progressive pulmonary fibrosis in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive interstitial lung disease.

Approximately one-third of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases exhibit progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), a clinicopathological condition distinct yet resembling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). PPF in ANCA-positive ILD (ANCA-ILD) is poorly documented. To clarify incidence, predictors of PPF in ANCA-ILD, and their prognostic impact, 56 patients with ANCA-ILD were followed for ≥ 1 year (April 2004 to April 2021).

Upregulation of long non‑coding RNA LINC00460 in EGFR‑mutant lung cancer indicates a poor prognosis in patients treated with osimertinib.

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00460 is involved in tumor growth, metastasis and drug resistance. The present study investigated the clinical significance of LINC00460 expression in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor () mutation-positive lung cancer treated with osimertinib. Osimertinib-resistant cells we derived from -mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, after which, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing and -transcribed (IVT), synthetic LINC00460 RNA transfection were used to investigate the effects of LINC00460 expression on acquired resistance to osimertinib.

ATS/JRS/ALAT Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Guidelines for Diagnosis of humidifier lung and summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Background: The ATS/JRS/ALAT Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (GL for HP) were published in 2020. Humidifier lung and summer-type HP are forms of HP, but it is unclear whether they can be diagnosed using GL for HP. This study examined the level of confidence where humidifier lung and summer-type HP can be diagnosed with GL for HP.

Efficacy of three sputum specimens for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

Background: In Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD), diagnosis requires a positive culture from at least two separate expectorated sputum specimens. The optimal number of sputum examinations remains unclear.

Objective: This study sought to elucidate the diagnostic yield of acid-fast bacilli in MAC-PD using 3 sputum specimens and to clarify the clinical characteristics of patients with MAC-PD diagnosed using 3 sputum specimens.

Apoptosis Inhibitor of Macrophages Contributes to the Chronicity of Mycobacterium avium Infection by Promoting Foamy Macrophage Formation.

In Mycobacterium avium infections, macrophages play a critical role in the host defense response. Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM), also known as CD5L, may represent a novel supportive therapy against various diseases, including metabolic syndrome and infectious diseases. The mechanisms of AIM include modulating lipid metabolism in macrophages and other host cells.

A 52-Year-Old Obese Man With Persistent Cough.

A 52-year-old man was referred to our hospital with an abnormal chest radiography infiltrate. He presented with cough that persisted for 1 month without fever, chills, dyspnea, or sputum. He has been treated with clarithromycin 400 mg/d for 1 week with no improvement.

Multifocal locules including the anterior mediastinum side as a surgical indicator in pleural infection.

Background: The indication for and the timing of surgery in patients with pleural infection remains unclear. Determining the need for surgery in patients with pleural infection may help in the early consultation of surgeons.

Methods: Data of 167 consecutive patients with pleural infection were retrospectively reviewed.

Impact of chronic co-infection in pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease after treatment initiation.

Background: The impact of co-infection with other pathogenic microorganisms after initiation of treatment for Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) has not been clearly described. This study sought to clarify the clinical outcomes of co-infection with MAC after antimycobacterial therapy for MAC.

Methods: Co-infection status was defined as the detection of pathogenic microorganisms other than MAC in at least two consecutive sputum cultures 6-24 months after initiation of treatment.

pneumonia with bronchiectasis required prolonged voriconazole treatment.

is a black fungus that rarely causes respiratory infection. We report a case of . pneumonia with bronchiectasis that relapsed after 11 months of voriconazole (VRCZ) treatment in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient with bronchiectasis.

Bronchial Brushing and Diagnosis of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infection.

Background: The optimal bronchoscopy procedure for diagnosis of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection is unclear.

Objective: This study investigated the usefulness of bronchial brushing in bronchoscopy for diagnosis of pulmonary NTM infection in patients with suspected NTM lung disease and nodular bronchiectasis on chest computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods: Bronchoscopy was prospectively performed for 69 patients with clinically suspected pulmonary NTM infection on chest CT from December 2017 through December 2019.

Quantification of BIM mRNA in circulating tumor cells of osimertinib-treated patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung cancer.

Background: The response rate for osimertinib is high among patients with untreated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there exist no biomarkers to predict the efficacy of the same. This study investigated whether BIM-γ mRNA expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predicts poor outcomes for osimertinib treatment in patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC.

Clinical and radiological characteristics of ultrasonic humidifier lung and summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Background: Ultrasonic humidifier lung is a rare form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), and its clinical and radiological features are unclear. This study examined the clinical and radiological characteristics of humidifier lung.

Methods: Data from 18 patients with humidifier lung (mean age, 67.

Cutting the ovarian surface improves the responsiveness to exogenous hormonal treatment in aged mice.

Purpose: Ovarian vascular abnormality and ovarian fibrosis are observed in the low responder patients and aging mice. Vascularization and fibrosis are regulated by injury-repair system, such as wound. Thus, in this study, the authors tried to investigate the effect of the surgical treatment to ovarian surface with cutting on the functions of ovary in aging mouse model, gcKO.

Serial change in serum biomarkers during treatment of Non-HIV Pneumocystis pneumonia.

Background: For patients with non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), data are limited on serial changes in serum biomarkers and the correlations with clinical outcomes.

Objective: This study evaluated serial change in serum biomarkers and clinical outcomes of non-HIV PCP.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 63 patients treated for non-HIV PCP at Toho University Omori Medical Center.

Characteristics of patients with bronchoscopy-diagnosed pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex infection.

Background: We occasionally treat patients with clinically suspected pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection and negative MAC culture on bronchoscopy.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of bronchoscopy in patients with suspected MAC lung disease with nodular bronchiectasis on chest computed tomography (CT) and to clarify the clinical characteristics of these patients.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 71 patients with clinically suspected pulmonary MAC infection on chest CT who underwent bronchoscopy.

The association of epicardial fat volume with coronary characteristics and clinical outcome.

Recent studies have demonstrated the relationship between epicardial fat volume (EFV) and coronary atherosclerosis, but their association is modest at best. Our purpose is to elucidate the association of epicardial fat with coronary characteristics and clinical outcome. We performed coronary computed tomographic angiography in 651 patients and divided them into three groups according to tertiles of EFV; low-tertile (n = 215), 36-123 ml; middle-tertile (n = 218), 124-165 ml; high-tertile (n = 218), 166-489 ml.

Clinical Significance of Fibrinogen Degradation Product Among Traumatized Patients.

Objective: We retrospectively analyzed trauma patients who were transported by a physician-staffed helicopter (doctor helicopter) to investigate the clinical significance of the fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) level on arrival.

Methods: From February 2011 to July 2016, a medical chart review was retrospectively performed for all patients with trauma who were transported by the doctor helicopter. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: a survival group and a fatal group.

Usefulness of Two Aspergillus PCR Assays and Aspergillus Galactomannan and β-d-Glucan Testing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid for Diagnosis of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

We evaluated the usefulness of an galactomannan (GM) test, a β-d-glucan (βDG) test, and two different PCR assays of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). BALF samples from 30 patients with and 120 patients without CPA were collected. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio for each test individually and in combination with other tests.

Molecular epidemiologic analysis of a Pneumocystis pneumonia outbreak among renal transplant patients.

Between 18 November and 3 December 2011, five renal transplant patients at the Department of Nephrology, Toho University Omori Medical Centre, Tokyo, were diagnosed with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). We used molecular epidemiologic methods to determine whether the patients were infected with the same strain of Pneumocystis jirovecii. DNA extracted from the residual bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from the five outbreak cases and from another 20 cases of PCP between 2007 and 2014 were used for multilocus sequence typing to compare the genetic similarity of the P.