Intractable diffuse pulmonary diseases: Manual for diagnosis and treatment.

This manual has been compiled by a joint production committee with the Diffuse Lung Disease Assembly of the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) to provide a practical manual for the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of intractable diffuse pulmonary diseases. The contents are based upon the results of research into these diseases by the Diffuse Pulmonary Diseases Study Group (principal researcher: Sakae Homma) supported by the FY2014-FY2016 Health and Labor Sciences Research Grant on Intractable Diseases. This manual focuses on: 1) pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis, 2) bronchiolitis obliterans, and 3) Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome with interstitial pneumonia.

Horizontal Cervix as a Novel Sign for Predicting Adhesions on the Posterior Extrauterine Wall in Cases of Placenta Previa.

We aimed to identify a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feature that can predict posterior extrauterine adhesion (posterior adhesion) antenatally, in patients with placenta previa. We retrospectively reviewed patients with placenta previa who underwent a preoperative MRI examination of placenta accreta spectrum. We categorized the patients into two groups based on whether the cervix was anterior or posterior to a line perpendicular to the anatomical conjugate on the MRI.

Clinical characteristics of acute encephalopathy with acute brain swelling: A peculiar type of acute encephalopathy.

Objectives: Acute encephalopathy has been observed with acute brain swelling (ABS) that is characterized by rapid progression to whole-brain swelling. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of ABS.

Methods: We encountered four patients with ABS and retrospectively investigated their clinical data with a medical chart review.

Distinct genetic clades of enterovirus D68 detected in 2010, 2013, and 2015 in Osaka City, Japan.

The first upsurge of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a causative agent of acute respiratory infections (ARIs), in Japan was reported in Osaka City in 2010. In this study, which began in 2010, we surveyed EV-D68 in children with ARIs and analyzed sequences of EV-D68 strains detected. Real-time PCR of 19 respiratory viruses or subtypes of viruses, including enterovirus, was performed on 2,215 specimens from ARI patients (<10 years of age) collected between November 2010 and December 2015 in Osaka City, Japan.

Thoracoscopic resection of congenital esophageal stenosis.

Congenital esophageal stenosis (CES) is rare and usually manifests in infants as dysphagia, failure to thrive, and food impaction. Dilatation is considered to be the first-line therapy for CES, but the incidence of complications (perforation and mediastinitis) is relatively high. We report two cases of CES treated by thoracoscopic resection without prior dilatation.

Incidence and risk factors for recurrent spontaneous preterm birth: A retrospective cohort study in Japan.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and risk factors for recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) in Japan.

Material And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at five tertiary perinatal centers in Osaka, Japan from 2008 through 2012. Perinatal data were collected from medical records of women with a singleton gestation and a previous spontaneous PTB.

Long-term outcomes of antenatal corticosteroids treatment in very preterm infants after chorioamnionitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of antenatal corticosteroids (AC) therapy on short- and long-term outcomes among very low birth weight preterm infants after histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 5240 single very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born at 22 + 0 and 33 + 6 weeks of gestation between 2003 and 2007, who registered to the Neonatal Research Network Japan. The effects of AC therapy on mortality, neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years of age and neonatal morbidities were analyzed in the groups with or without HCA using logistic regression analysis.

The Effects of Antenatal Corticosteroids on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of antenatal corticosteroids (ANS) on short- and long-term outcomes in small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants.

Methods: A retrospective database analysis was performed. A total of 1,931 single infants (birth weight <1,500 g) born at a gestational age between 22 weeks and 33 weeks 6 days who were determined to be SGA registered in the Neonatal Research Network Database in Japan between 2003 and 2007 were evaluated for short-term outcome and long-term outcome.

In vitro activity of five quinolones and analysis of the quinolone resistance-determining regions of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE in Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum clinical isolates from perinatal patients in Japan.

Ureaplasma spp. cause several disorders, such as nongonococcal urethritis, miscarriage, and preterm delivery with lung infections in neonates, characterized by pathological chorioamnionitis in the placenta. Although reports on antibiotic resistance in Ureaplasma are on the rise, reports on quinolone-resistant Ureaplasma infections in Japan are limited.

Impact of chorioamnionitis on short- and long-term outcomes in very low birth weight preterm infants: the Neonatal Research Network Japan.

Objective: To evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes among very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants after histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 5849 single infants (birth weight <1500 g) born at a gestational age between 22 + 0 and 33 + 6 weeks. Clinical data were obtained from the Neonatal Research Network Japan between 2003 and 2007.

Predicting onset of chronic lung disease using cord blood cytokines.

Background: Applicability of cord blood interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) as markers for early prediction of the onset of chronic lung disease (CLD) due to intrauterine infection was investigated in the present study.

Methods: Eighty very low-birthweight infants with chorioamnionitis were divided into two groups: the CLD group (42 patients) and the non-CLD group (38 patients), according to the presence or absence of CLD, and the clinical background and cord blood IL-6 and IL-8 levels in each group were compared and investigated.

Results: The CLD group had significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization (P < 0.

Change of salivary stress marker concentrations during pregnancy: maternal depressive status suppress changes of those levels.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to show changes in salivary cortisol and chromogranin A/protein concentrations as stress markers during pregnancy and to clarify the effect of chronic stress on stress markers.

Material And Methods: Salivary samples were collected from 69 pregnant women during pregnancy. Salivary cortisol levels and chromogranin A/protein titers were determined.

[Evaluation of once a day of arbekacin administration to neonates as a new object of peak concentration].

Once a day of arbekacin (ABK) administrations based on a new object of peak concentration setting on 9-20 microg/mL were performed to 14 neonates. The gestational ages were 27.3 +/- 4.

Sarcoidosis in the aged: review and management.

Purpose Of Review: We intend to update the data of various clinical features and management of sarcoidosis in the aged.

Recent Findings: Subclinical or inapparent systemic involvement of sarcoidosis was found at autopsy in elderly patients who died from sarcoidosis, complication of malignancy, or cerebrovascular accidents. Sarcoidosis in the aged presents with unusual intrathoracic and extrapulmonary clinical features.

A1C but not serum glycated albumin is elevated because of iron deficiency in late pregnancy in diabetic women.

OBJECTIVE We have already reported that A1C is elevated because of iron deficiency in late pregnancy among nondiabetic pregnant women. This report examined whether the same phenomenon is observed in pregnant women with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This longitudinal study was conducted in 17 pregnant women with diabetes (20-35 weeks of pregnancy).

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: review and management.

Purpose Of Review: Our knowledge of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) has significantly increased since its detailed description by Sosman in 1957. Here we provide updated information on the long-term clinical course, the specific findings in imaging studies and the genetics of this disease.

Recent Findings: The responsible gene, the mutation of which is associated with PAM, has been identified as SLC34A2.

A1C but not serum glycated albumin is elevated in late pregnancy owing to iron deficiency.

Objective: A1C levels have been shown to be elevated in relation to glycemia in late pregnancy, although the precise mechanisms remain undetermined. We hypothesized that iron deficiency is involved in the A1C increase in late pregnancy.

Research Design And Methods: In study 1, A1C, serum glycated albumin, erythrocyte indexes, and iron metabolism indexes were determined in 47 nondiabetic pregnant women not receiving iron supplementation who were divided into four groups according to gestational period (group I, 21-24 weeks; group II, 25-28 weeks; group III, 29-32 weeks; and group IV, 33-36 weeks).

PTHrP-producing tumor: squamous cell carcinoma of the liver accompanied by humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, increased IL-6 and leukocytosis.

A 77-year-old man was admitted to our hospital showing symptoms of general fatigue and appetite loss. He had leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and hypercalcemia with elevated serum levels of parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). An increase in tumor markers SCC and CYFURA21-1 was observed.