Predictive factors for relapse in corticosteroid-treated patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.

Background: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is an idiopathic disorder characterised by an abnormal and marked accumulation of eosinophils in the interstitium and alveolar spaces of the lungs. Systemic corticosteroid (CS) therapy leads to marked improvement. However, relapse is common in the clinical course, and the predictive factors for relapse of CEP are not well known.

[Long-Term Survival of a Patient with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer with Hormone Receptor Status Conversion between Primary and Metastatic Tumors].

Patients with triple-negative breast cancer have poor survival after recurrence. However, previous studies have shown that receptor conversion can occur between primary breast tumor and metastatic sites. Herein, we describe the case of a 54- year-old woman with advanced breast cancer, which showed receptor conversion from primary tumor(triple-negative)to distant metastases(Luminal type).

Hemosiderin-Laden Macrophages in Bronchoalveolar Lavage: Predictive Role for Acute Exacerbation of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias.

Background: Hemosiderin-laden macrophages (HLMs) have been identified in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This retrospective study examined the ability of HLMs in BALF to predict the acute exacerbation (AE) of chronic idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs).

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-one patients with IIP diagnosed by bronchoscopy were enrolled in the study (IPF,  = 87; IIPs other than IPF,  = 134).

Adenomyoepithelioma with a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-fluorescence in situ hybridization-confirmed ductal carcinoma in situ component: A case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Breast adenomyoepithelioma (AME) is a rare tumor composed of myoepithelial cells and ductal or luminal cells. Most cases of AME are benign, but rare cases in which either or both cell types exhibited malignant features have been reported. Due to its rarity, no diagnostic criteria for malignancy have been established for AME.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary sarcoma of the breast: a case report.

Background: Primary sarcoma of the breast is rare. Surgery has been the only curative treatment available. Recently, neoadjuvant chemotherapy including anthracycline/ifosfamide has been reported effective for patients with high-risk sarcomas in a prospective trial.

Capillary electrophoretic reactor for estimation of spontaneous dissociation rate of Trypsin-Aprotinin complex.

A capillary electrophoretic reactor was used to analyze the dissociation kinetics of an enzyme-inhibitor complex in a homogeneous solution without immobilization. The complex consisting of trypsin (Try) and aprotinin (Apr) was used as the model. Capillary electrophoresis provided a reaction field for Try-Apr complex to dissociate through the steady removal of free Try and Apr from the Try-Apr zone.

Change in lung function in never-smokers with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease: A retrospective study.

Purpose: Never-smokers account for a large proportion of subjects in general population studies on nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease (NTM-LD). However, the influence of NTM infection on the lung function of never-smokers has not yet been evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine how NTM-LD impairs the lung function in never-smokers, and whether there are an association between successful NTM-LD treatment in radiologic outcomes and improvement in lung function of never-smokers with NTM-LD or not.

Combination of virtual bronchoscopic navigation, endobronchial ultrasound, and rapid on-site evaluation for diagnosing small peripheral pulmonary lesions: a prospective phase II study.

Background: The diagnostic yield of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) by flexible bronchoscopy (FB) is still insufficient. To improve the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy, several techniques such as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN), and rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) have been examined. The primary purpose of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of combining EBUS, VBN, and ROSE for diagnosing small PPLs.

Severe acute interstitial lung disease after nivolumab in three non-small cell lung cancer patients with imaging findings of airway obstruction adjacent to lung tumors.

Nivolumab has been associated with unique adverse events known as immune-related adverse events. Although interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a life-threatening immune-related adverse event, the risk of ILD during nivolumab treatment is unclear. In this report, we encountered three patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer with signs of lung obstruction caused by tumor-mediated compression on imaging who developed acute ILD within 10 days of commencing nivolumab treatment.

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy with polidocanol microfoam for lymphatic malformations.

Background: Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are low-flow congenital lesions that consist of cysts of varying size. Sclerotherapy with intralesional bleomycin and OK-432 has been reported to yield dramatically beneficial results for this disorder. However, inflammation-related symptoms are often seen after treatment with these sclerosing agents.

Low-Dose Morphine for Dyspnea in Terminally Ill Patients with Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias.

Background: Dyspnea is highly prevalent in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs).

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness and safety of continuous subcutaneous morphine for dyspnea in terminally ill IIP patients.

Setting/subjects: We retrospectively reviewed cases of terminally ill IIP patients who received continuous subcutaneous morphine for dyspnea.

Heterogeneity of incidence and outcome of acute exacerbation in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

Background And Objective: Acute exacerbations (AEs) of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) have a poor prognosis. This study aims to clarify the incidence and prognosis of AE in IPF and the other IIP.

Methods: A total of 229 patients were enrolled, of whom 92 had IPF and 137 had 'IIP other than IPF' based on the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society/Japanese Respiratory Society/Latin American Thoracic Association (ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT) 2011 IPF Guidelines.

Weight loss intervention reduces the risk of kidney stone formation in a rat model of metabolic syndrome.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of weight loss intervention on the urinary stone risk parameters in a rat model of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: In a prevention study, 4-week-old male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima "Fatty" rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control, food-restricted and food-restricted + exercise-trained groups. In a treatment study, 24-week-old male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima "Fatty" rats that had already developed type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to the same three groups.

Predictors of the clinical effects of pirfenidone on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with a poor prognosis. Recently, pirfenidone was reported to slow the rate of decline in vital capacity and improve progression-free survival in IPF. The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors that predicted a good response to pirfenidone, as well as its adverse effects.

Tracheobronchial lesions in eosinophilic pneumonia.

Background: Eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) is characterized by eosinophil infiltration in the lung parenchyma. However, tracheobronchial lesions associated with the disease have been poorly described. To clarify the frequency and characteristics of cases with tracheobronchial lesions in EP, we performed a retrospective review of EP patients.

Questionnaire survey on the continuity of home oxygen therapy after a disaster with power outages.

Background: After the Great East Japan Earthquake, oxygen-dependent patients in areas experiencing power outages could not continue home oxygen therapy (HOT) without oxygen cylinders. The purpose of this study was to examine use of oxygen cylinders in areas experiencing power outages and the effects of HOT interruption on patients' health.

Methods: Questionnaires were mailed to 1106 oxygen-dependent patients and HOT-prescribing physicians in Akita, near the disaster-stricken area.

Association of metabolic syndrome traits and severity of kidney stones: results from a nationwide survey on urolithiasis in Japan.

Background: Although metabolic syndrome and its individual components have been associated with kidney stone disease, whether the clustering of metabolic syndrome traits increases the severity of kidney stone disease has not been examined in a large-scale study.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting & Participants: Data were obtained from 30,448 patients enrolled in the 6th Nationwide Survey on Urolithiasis in Japan conducted in 2005.

[A case of collecting duct carcinoma originating from renal cyst].

In December 2003, a 32-year-old man underwent puncture for right renal cyst at a clinic. Since puncture fluid was dark red color in spite of negative cytology, he was being followed, but after a while he did not show up for further examination. In November 2007, he revisited the clinic due to low-grade fever.

Cytomegalovirus infection during immunosuppressive therapy for diffuse parenchymal lung disease.

Background And Objective: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a life-threatening condition in patients with diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs), who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of CMV infection and to propose a strategy for managing CMV infection in patients with DPLD who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods: A retrospective longitudinal observational study was performed on 69 patients with DPLDs (39 with acute/subacute onset, 30 with chronic onset) who were receiving immunosuppressive therapy and were positive for CMV pp65 antigen (CMV-pp65Ag) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs).

Docetaxel in combination with estramustine and prednisolone for castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel-based chemotherapy, and to investigate pretreatment factors that can predict overall survival (OS) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Methods: From June 2005 to July 2010, 70 patients with CRPC underwent docetaxel-based chemotherapy at Wakayama Medical University and related hospitals. Docetaxel was given at a dose of 70 mg/m(2) once every 3 weeks or 35 mg/m(2) twice every 3 weeks.

[Analysis of the clinical features of pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium szulgai].

Subjects & Methods: We reviewed the patient characteristics, radiological findings, treatments, and clinical outcomes in 12 cases of pulmonary Mycobacterium szulgai disease diagnosed at our hospital from April 1998 to March 2008. In addition, drug susceptibility testing of the causative isolates was performed with several antibiotics, including clarithromycin (CAM) and rifampicin (RFP), using BrothMIC NTM.

Results: The patients included 10 men and 2 women, with a mean age of 57.

[Laparoscopic pyelolithotomy in a horseshoe kidney].

A 66-year-old woman had a 22 mm right kidney stone accompanied with a horseshoe kidney. The size of this stone had been increasing gradually from 7 mm to 22 mm during the past 5 years. Although apparent pelviuretic junction stenosis could not be identified by intravenous urography, external pelvis was dilated in both kidneys.