Notch3-dependent β-catenin signaling mediates EGFR TKI drug persistence in EGFR mutant NSCLC.

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors cause dramatic responses in EGFR-mutant lung cancer, but resistance universally develops. The involvement of β-catenin in EGFR TKI resistance has been previously reported, however, the precise mechanism by which β-catenin activation contributes to EGFR TKI resistance is not clear. Here, we show that EGFR inhibition results in the activation of β-catenin signaling in a Notch3-dependent manner, which facilitates the survival of a subset of cells that we call "adaptive persisters".

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease associated with community acquired pneumonia showing intrathoratic lymphadenopathy without cervical lesions.

Introduction: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a rare entity of unknown etiology in young adults that is typically characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy and persistent fever. The pathogenesis of KFD has been suggested to be an abnormal immune response, and infections or autoimmune diseases are considered to be involved in KFD. However, KFD associated with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) has not been reported.

Extensive rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation in recurrent low-grade urothelial carcinoma of the bladder after transurethral resection: a case report.

Introduction: Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the urinary bladder is a rare bidirectional malignant neoplasm with epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation. The epithelial component is mainly high-grade urothelial carcinoma, and the mesenchymal component includes rhabdomyosarcoma. However, proper differential diagnosis of adult rhabdomyosarcomatous tumors of the bladder can be a challenge.

Immunostaining for thyroid transcription factor 1, Napsin A, p40, and cytokeratin 5 aids in differential diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma.

The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of immunostaining of cytological specimens in discerning squamous from non-squamous cell carcinoma. Various combinations of six antibodies were examined in order to determine the optimal combination for use in differential diagnosis. Immunostaining was performed using tumor imprint smears obtained from 70 lung carcinoma cases.

Asymptomatic tracheal MALT lymphoma discovered on spirometric findings presenting with elevated respiratory resistance.

Background: Central airway obstruction (CAO) may be caused by various etiologies. However, conventional chest X-rays are rarely diagnostic for patients with CAO.

Case Presentation: We here described a 64-year-old asymptomatic female with tracheal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma discovered on spirometric findings during a complete physical examination.

Improvement in idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia after smoking cessation.

Although cigarette smoking has been recognized as a risk factor for the development of several interstitial lung diseases, the relationship between smoking and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) has not yet been fully elucidated. We here present a case of fibrotic NSIP with mild emphysema in an elderly male with normal pulmonary function, whose symptoms, serum KL-6 level, and high-resolution computed tomography findings of interstitial changes markedly improved without medication following the cessation of smoking. Our case suggests that smoking may be an etiological factor in some patients with NSIP and that early smoking cessation before a clinically detectable decline in pulmonary function may be critical for smokers with idiopathic NSIP.

Hepatosplenic Hodgkin lymphoma without lymphadenopathy following reversible methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder.

Lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) occur more frequently in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with immunosuppressive agents than in the non-RA population. However, the various forms of disease progression have not yet been elucidated in detail. We encountered a case of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive atypical polymorphous LPD in the cervical and intraabdominal lymph nodes with hepatosplenomegaly in an 88-year-old female with RA who had taken infliximab and methotrexate (MTX) for six years.

BCG-induced pneumonitis with lymphocytic pleurisy in the absence of elevated KL-6.

Background: Pneumonitis is a rare complication of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy seen in patients with urothelial cancer following the repeated administration of BCG. However, no case of BCG-induced pleurisy has been reported.

Case Presentation: We here report the first case of pneumonitis with lymphocytic pleurisy following bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy.

Bronchopleural fistula following M. abscessus infection 11 years after lobectomy for lung cancer.

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a potentially fatal complication of lung cancer resection surgery that occurs during the healing process of the bronchial stump. However, the vulnerability of the healed surgical wound to overlapping acquired airway destruction has not yet been determined in detail. We herein present a case of fatal BPF following Mycobacterium abscessus (M.

Asymptomatic primary tuberculous pleurisy with intense 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake mimicking malignant mesothelioma.

Background: The pathogenesis of primary tuberculous pleurisy is a delayed-type hypersensitivity immunogenic reaction to a few mycobacterial antigens entering the pleural space rather than direct tissue destruction by mycobacterial proliferation. Although it has been shown that pulmonary tuberculosis induces 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in active lesions, little is known about the application of FDG positron emission/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) to the management of primary tuberculous pleurisy.

Case Presentation: We report a case of asymptomatic primary tuberculous pleurisy presenting with diffuse nodular pleural thickening without distinct pleural effusion and parenchymal lung lesions mimicking malignant mesothelioma.

CD5-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma infiltrating the central nervous system presenting Guillain-Barré-like syndrome after chemotherapy.

An 83-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain. Examination revealed mediastinal lymphoadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and infiltration of abnormal cells into the bone marrow with hemophagocytosis, and CD5-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma was diagnosed. Chemotherapy was administered and progressive weakness of the limbs, resembling a Guillain-Barré-like syndrome, subsequently appeared.

Extragonadal seminoma presenting as a large mass in the pelvic cavity without c-kit-activating mutations.

Extragonadal germ cell tumors are relatively rare tumors, which usually occur in the mediastinum or retroperitoneum. In this report, we present a case of primary seminoma arising in the pelvic cavity. A 58-year-old man with urinary retention and abdominal distension was admitted to our hospital.

[Exacerbation of cranial nerurological symptoms by platelet transfusion before the diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura].

A 47-year-old woman was transported to our hospital because of vomiting and syncope after breakfast. Physical examination revealed icterus and anemia of bulbar conjunctivas, and abnormal neurological findings were detected. Laboratory data indicated marked anemia and thrombocytopenia (Hb 5.

Acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes mimicking acute promyelocytic leukemia.

We describe a patient with acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) that clinically resembled acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The karyotype of his leukemic cells was 46, XY, del (3) (q?) and did not include a chromosomal translocation involving the retinoic acid receptor-α gene. However, retinoic acid syndrome developed, and partial remission was achieved after treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) followed by chemotherapy.

Chylothorax caused by acupuncture.

Chylothorax, the accumulation of fatty fluid within the chest cavity, is associated with multiple etiologies including surgical injuries. A rare complication of acupuncture in a 37-year-old woman who developed left pneumothorax and pleural fluid collection after acupuncture was performed on the neck and upper back is described. Chest tube drainage resulted in complete lung expansion, and analysis of the milky fluid revealed chyle leakage.

Immunoglobulin D-lambda type multiple myeloma presenting with FDG-PET/CT negative bone marrow involvement.

We here report a rare case of a patient with IgD-lambda-positive multiple myeloma presenting with FDG-PET/CT negative bone marrow involvement. A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of a paravertebral tumor of the chest. Thoracotomy was performed and a histopathological evaluation of resected intrathoracic tumor demonstrated a plasmacytic neoplasma.

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) induces production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by bronchial epithelial cells via the epidermal growth factor receptor and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is known as one of causes of occupational asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. To investigate the stimulatory effect on bronchial epithelial cells in response to TDI, the authors examined production of cytokines by the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B and intercellular signal transduction stimulated by TDI-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate. The production of interleukin (IL)-8, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) from the bronchial epithelial cells were augmented by the TDI-HSA conjugate.