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.

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.

New risk scoring system for predicting 3-month mortality after acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) is often fatal. A straightforward staging system for AE-IPF would improve prognostication, guide patient management, and facilitate research. The aim of study is to develop a multidimensional prognostic AE-IPF staging system that uses commonly measured clinical variables.

Prognostic and functional impact of perioperative LAMA/LABA inhaled therapy in patients with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important risk factor for postoperative complications and mortality. To determine the effects of perioperative combination therapy, using a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and a long-acting β agonist (LABA), on preoperative lung function, postoperative morbidity and mortality, and long-term outcome in COPD patients.

Methods: Between January 2005 and October 2019, 130 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed COPD underwent surgery for lung cancer.

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.

Long-term survival of airway silicone stents in patients with central airway stenosis or obstruction due to thoracic malignancy.

Objectives: Silicone airway stents are used to manage central airway stenosis or obstruction, although their impact on long-term survival remains unknown in patients with central airway stenosis or obstruction due to thoracic malignancy. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the impact of silicone stents on survival.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 106 patients with central airway stenosis or obstruction due to thoracic malignancy treated by stenting at Toho University Omori Medical Center between 1998 and 2018.

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.

Clinical importance of long non‑coding RNA LINC00460 expression in EGFR‑mutant lung adenocarcinoma.

Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in the physiological and pathological processes of tumor pathogenesis, including epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‑tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance is a major challenge in the treatment of advanced and recurrent EGFR‑mutant lung adenocarcinoma. An increased understanding of the underlying mechanisms would aid in the development of effective therapeutic strategies against EGFR‑TKI resistance, strategies which are urgently required for clinical therapy.

Clinical importance of deletion polymorphism in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can play a role in the pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) by contributing to epithelial damage. () is involved in the generation of ROS via forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), and a deletion polymorphism related to apoptosis has been reported to be specific to Asians. Here we examine the clinical features of IPF in patients with deletion polymorphism.

Successful Use of Pembrolizumab to Treat Refractory Thymic Carcinoma with High PD-L1 Expression.

Thymic carcinoma is a relatively rare and aggressive thymic epithelial tumor. Herein, we report successful treatment of thymic carcinoma with pembrolizumab. A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of chest pain.

New risk scoring system for predicting acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia after chemotherapy for lung cancer associated with interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Fatal acute exacerbation (AE) of interstitial pneumonia (IP) sometimes occurs after chemotherapy for lung cancer. We developed and evaluated a scoring system for assessing AE risk after chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer associated with IP.

Methods: A review of medical records identified 109 patients with primary lung cancer associated with IP who had received chemotherapy at our center during the period from June 2007 through September 2017.

The Utility of Virtual Bronchoscopy Using a Computed Tomography Workstation for Conducting Conventional Bronchoscopy: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Practice.

Background: Recent clinical trials demonstrated the benefits of several guided-bronchoscopy technologies for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). However, introduction of these technologies is expensive. Therefore, in clinical practice, these are unavailable in many hospitals.

PD-L1 mRNA expression in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma.

Molecular mechanisms of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) mRNA expression and roles of apoptosis and biomarkers are poorly understood in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients. Thirty-three patients with recurrent postoperative EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (exon 19 deletion in 16, L858R in 15, G719C in 2 patients) treated with gefitinib were studied. PD-L1 mRNA expression of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded paratumoral and intratumoral tissues was quantified by PCR.

Miliary Tuberculosis that Developed after Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Therapy.

As a treatment for superficial transitional cell carcinoma, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) intravesical instillation can rarely cause unpredictable systemic side effects. We describe a patient admitted due to continuous pyrexia and general fatigue. He was previously treated with intravesical BCG.

A feasibility study of bevacizumab and vinorelbine in patients with previously treated advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of bevacizumab combined with vinorelbine therapy in patients with previously treated non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (nonSq-NSCLC). Patients who had received at least one prior chemotherapy course were eligible for this study. The patients were treated with vinorelbine (25 mg/kg on days 1 and 8) and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg on day 1), which was repeated every 3 weeks until the development of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia after nonpulmonary surgery under general anesthesia: a retrospective study.

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is associated with increased risk of acute exacerbation after lung surgery, which has a poor prognosis and can be fatal. Although some studies have investigated acute exacerbation of IIP after lung surgery, the incidence and risks of acute exacerbation of IIP after nonpulmonary surgery have not been reported. The aim of present study to evaluate the characteristics and risk factors for acute exacerbation of IIP after nonpulmonary surgery.

Association of BIM Deletion Polymorphism and BIM-γ RNA Expression in NSCLC with EGFR Mutation.

Aim: This pilot study assessed the association of BIM deletion polymorphism and BIM RNA isoform in patients with EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: The study included 33 patients with EGFR-positive NSCLC treated with gefitinib. BIM deletion polymorphism and BIM RNA isoform (EL/L/S/γ) were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Thymoma exhibiting spontaneous regression in size, pleural effusion and serum cytokeratin fragment level: A case report.

A 30-year-old man was admitted to Toho University Omori Medical Center for assessment of right chest pain and fever. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an anterior mediastinal tumor sized 11.0×6.

Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome Associated with Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage and Pulmonary Thromboembolism.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is clinically characterized by arterial or venous thrombosis; however, non-thromboembolic lung manifestations, such as diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), have also been previously reported. DAH is relatively common in APS patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, although it is rare in primary APS. We encountered a 78-year-old man who presented with hemoptysis and dyspnea.

Effectiveness of combined therapy with pirfenidone and inhaled N-acetylcysteine for advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a case-control study.

Background And Objective: Treatment with pirfenidone may slow the decline in vital capacity and increase progression-free survival (PFS) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The effects of combination therapy with inhaled N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and pirfenidone are unclear. We assessed the effects of this combination therapy in patients with advanced IPF.

Usefulness of nanofluidic digital PCR arrays to quantify T790M mutation in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma.

Aim: The present pilot study assessed the usefulness of nanofluidic digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) arrays in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung adenocarcinoma after tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 12 patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma with sensitive EGFR mutation-confirmed T790M status by re-biopsy after TKI resistance. Nanofluidic digital PCR arrays were used to quantify T790M in genomic DNA from the pre-treatment primary site and in serum cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

Comparison of clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema versus idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis alone.

Background And Objective: The results of studies examining the outcome and the factors predicting prognosis in combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) have so far been contradictory. Our objective was to determine prognosis and the prognostic factors for CPFE.

Methods: Of 108 consecutive idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients admitted to our hospital, 46 were diagnosed as having CPFE and 62 patients diagnosed as having IPF alone.

Clinical significance of BIM deletion polymorphism in non-small-cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation.

Background: Germline alterations in the proapoptotic protein Bcl-2-like 11 (BIM) can have a crucial role in tumor response to treatment. To determine the clinical utility of detecting BIM deletion polymorphism in non-small-cell lung cancer positive for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, we examined outcomes of patients with and without BIM alterations.

Methods: We studied 70 patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer who were treated with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor between January 2008 and January 2013.

An anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein associated with a bone morphogenetic protein receptor II gene mutation.

Anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein (AUSPV), a rare congenital anomaly, is associated with an aberrant course but normal drainage, and resembles arteriovenous malformation (AVM). We treated a 26-year-old man with AUSPV in the right lung and an anomalous segmental pulmonary vein in the left lung. CT revealed a tortuous vascular shadow with an enhancement pattern identical to that of the pulmonary vein, suggesting AUSPV.