Impact of C-Reactive Protein-to-Albumin Ratio on Lung Cancer With Interstitial Pneumonia.

Background: Lung cancer with interstitial pneumonia is known to be a refractory disease. We explored whether systemic inflammatory response markers are associated with outcomes in these patients.

Methods: The participants of this multicenter retrospective study, consisting of 17 medical institutions, were treatment-naïve patients with lung cancer combined with interstitial pneumonia who underwent surgical resection between 2012 and 2017.

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus platinum-based chemotherapy as 1st line treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer harboring HER2 mutations: Results from LC-SCRUM-Asia.

Introduction: HER2 mutations are reported to occur in 2%-5% of all cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The clinical outcomes in patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus platinum-based chemotherapy as 1st line treatment still remain unclear.

Methods: Using the large-scale clinico-genomic database of LC-SCRUM-Asia, the clinico-genomic characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC were investigated.

Characterizing soluble immune checkpoint molecules and TGF-β in pleural effusion of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The clinical impact of soluble molecules in pleural effusion (PE) is unclear in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, we assessed soluble forms of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), and PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; three TGF-β isoforms were measured via multiplex assay in PE of patients with fibrinous pleuritis (FP) or MPM, to assess relationships between the levels of six molecules, clinicopathological characteristics, and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Soluble forms of CTLA-4, PD-L1, PD-1, TGF-β, TGF-β, and TGF-β were variably produced in PE of FP (n = 34) and MPM (n = 79); we found significant relationships between the six molecules and clinicopathological features.

Kinetics of pro- and anti-inflammatory spike-specific cellular immune responses in long-term care facility residents after COVID-19 mRNA primary and booster vaccination: a prospective longitudinal study in Japan.

Background: The magnitude and durability of cell-mediated immunity in older and severely frail individuals following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination remain unclear. A controlled immune response could be the key to preventing severe COVID-19; however, it is uncertain whether vaccination induces an anti-inflammatory cellular immune response. To address these issues, a 48-week-long prospective longitudinal study was conducted.

Management Reality of Female Patients with COPD: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional CAP Study in Japan.

Background: Reports from Europe and North America suggest that female chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have a higher symptom burden and mortality than male patients. However, little is known about the management reality of female patients with COPD in Japan.

Patients And Methods: We compared the clinical characteristics of female COPD patients with those of male using the cohort of the COPD Assessment in Practice study, which is a cross-sectional multicenter observational study.

A quantitative analysis of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease on computed tomography for the assessment of decreased vital capacity.

Background: The results of a quantitative analysis of computed tomography (CT) of interstitial lung disease (ILD) using a computer-aided detection (CAD) technique were correlated with the results of pulmonary function tests.

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between a quantitative analysis of CT of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and non-IPF, which can manifest progressive pulmonary fibrosis and the vital capacity (VC), and to identify indicators for the assessment of a decreased VC.

Material And Methods: A total of 73 patients (46 patients with IPF and 27 patients with non-IPF) were included in this study.

Pan-cancer prognostic model and immune microenvironment analysis of natural killer cell-related genes.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells play a significant role in antitumor immunity and are closely related to tumor prognosis and recurrence. NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibition and CAR-engineered NK cells, is a promising area of research. However, there is a need for better NK cell-related models and associated biomarkers.

Albuterol Delivery via In-Line Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation Superimposed on Invasive Ventilation in an Adult Lung Model.

Background: Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV) is frequently used for airway clearance, together with delivery of aerosolized medications. Drug delivery via IPV alone increases with decreasing percussion frequency and correlates with tidal volume ([Formula: see text]), whereas drug delivery via IPV during invasive ventilation is not well characterized. We hypothesized that drug delivery via IPV-invasive ventilation would differ from IPV alone due to control of ventilation by invasive ventilation.

Intraoperative chylous leak diagnosis by preoperative oral administration of ice cream: a case report.

Background: Chylothorax is an intractable postoperative complication of thoracic surgery. Preventing postoperative chylothorax following initial surgery is important. Most cases of chylothorax are caused by injury to the thoracic duct or its branches.

A case of primary lung adenocarcinoma mimicking metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma.

A 61-year-old woman, who had a history of total thyroidectomy for follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), visited our hospital for assessment of an enlarging nodule which appeared in the lung with multiple metastatic lesions of PTC which had been stable for 17 years. Wedge resection of the lung was performed. Miliary nodules were confirmed to be metastatic PTCs based on their morphological as well as immunohistochemical findings.

Relationship Between Corticosteroid Administration and Survival Period in Terminal Cancer Patients.

Corticosteroids are commonly used for symptom relief in patients with terminal cancer, but their use may have an impact on patient survival. We compared the survival of patients with terminal cancer who did and did not receive corticosteroid treatment for symptom relief, stratified by their predicted prognosis. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with cancer who received corticosteroid treatment for symptom relief in a single palliative care unit.

Nationwide prospective registry database of patients with newly diagnosed untreated pleural mesothelioma in Japan.

Due to the scarcity of large-sized prospective databases, the Japanese Joint Committee for Lung Cancer Registry conducted a nationwide prospective registry for newly diagnosed and untreated pleural mesothelioma. All new cases diagnosed pathologically as any subtype of pleural mesothelioma in Japan during the period between April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2019, were included before treatment. Data on survival were collected in April 2021.

Kinetics of COVID-19 mRNA primary and booster vaccine-associated neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in long-term care facility residents: a prospective longitudinal study in Japan.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a threat to vulnerable populations such as long-term care facility (LTCF) residents, who are often older, severely frail, and have multiple comorbidities. Although associations have been investigated between COVID-19 mRNA vaccine immunogenicity, durability, and response to booster vaccination and chronological age, data on the association of clinical factors such as performance status, nutritional status, and underlying comorbidities other than chronological age are limited. Here, we evaluated the anti-spike IgG level and neutralizing activity against the wild-type virus and Delta and Omicron variants in the sera of LTCF residents, outpatients, and healthcare workers before the primary vaccination; at 8, 12, and 24 weeks after the primary vaccination; and approximately 3 months after the booster vaccination.

Health Care Resource Use Among Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Japan, 2017-2019.

Background: First-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was introduced in Japan in February 2017. Limited information is available since that time regarding health care resource use for NSCLC in Japan, where the hospitalization burden is high.

Objective: We evaluated health care resource use from first- through third-line systemic anticancer therapy for patients with advanced NSCLC included in a multicenter, retrospective chart review study.

A case of development of autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis during the treatment of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Herein, we report the case of a 73-year-old woman with an occupational history of plaster grinding who developed autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) during the treatment of fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Based on the changes in computed tomography imaging findings, poor response to steroid therapy, and markedly elevated KL-6 levels, PAP was suspected and diagnosed by bronchoscopy. Repeated segmental bronchoalveolar lavage under high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy resulted in slight improvement.

Randomized phase II study of daily versus alternate-day administrations of S-1 for the elderly patients with completely resected pathological stage IA (tumor diameter > 2 cm)-IIIA of non-small cell lung cancer: Setouchi Lung Cancer Group Study 1201.

Background: It is shown that the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was associated with survival benefit in an elderly population. We aimed to analyze the feasibility and efficacy of alternate-day S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine, for adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients with completely resected pathological stage IA (tumor diameter > 2 cm) to IIIA (UICC TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours, 7th edition) NSCLC.

Methods: Elderly patients were randomly assigned to receive adjuvant chemotherapy for one year consisting of either alternate-day oral administration of S-1 (80 mg/m2/day) for 4 days a week (Arm A) or a daily oral administration of S-1 (80 mg/m2/day) for 14 consecutive days followed by 7-day rest (Arm B).

A quantitative analysis of long-term follow-up computed tomography of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the correlation with the progression and prognosis.

Background: Quantitative analyses of computed tomography (CT) images using computer-aided detection (CAD) are correlated with visual assessments and pulmonary function test findings and might be useful for predicting the prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Purpose: To evaluate the association between the quantitative analysis of long-term follow-up CT of IPF and the progression and prognosis.

Material And Methods: A total of 48 patients with IPF who received over one year of follow-up CT were included in this study.

Multidrug chemotherapy, whole-brain radiation and cytarabine therapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma in elderly patients with dose modification based on geriatric assessment: study protocol for a phase II, multicentre, non-randomised study.

Introduction: Multidrug chemoimmunotherapy with rituximab, high-dose methotrexate, procarbazine and vincristine (R-MPV) is a standard therapy for younger patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL); however, prospective data regarding its use in elderly patients are lacking. This multi-institutional, non-randomised, phase II trial will assess the efficacy and safety of R-MPV and high-dose cytarabine (HD-AraC) for geriatric patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL.

Methods And Analysis: Forty-five elderly patients will be included.

Safety of anti-SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA vaccine in lung cancer patients undergoing anticancer chemotherapy: A multicenter, prospective, observational, patient-reported outcome study.

Background: COVID-19 incidence is high in patients with cancer. The fatality rate was high for the Delta variant, necessitating infection prevention by vaccination. This study evaluated the safety of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with advanced lung cancer receiving anticancer therapy.

Effects of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, PD1/PD-L1 axis, and expression patterns of HLA class I on the prognosis of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent extra-pleural pneumonectomy.

Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD1), PD1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecule play pivotal roles in T cell-induced anti-tumor immunity; however, the clinical impact of these parameters in resected malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cases is unknown. We immunohistochemically evaluated the tumor infiltrated lymphocytes (TILs), PD1/PD-L1 axis, and expression of HLA class I in resected specimens from 58 patients with MPM who underwent extra-pleural pneumonectomy (EPP). Higher infiltration of CD3-TIL, CD8-TIL, and PD1-TIL, loss of HLA class I, and overexpression of PD-L1 by tumor cells (PD-L1 TC) or immune cells (PD-L1 IC) were observed in 34 (58.

Home High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy for Stable Hypercapnic COPD: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The long-term effects of using a high-flow nasal cannula for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remain unclear. To assess whether long-term high-flow nasal cannula use reduces the number of exacerbations and improves other physiological parameters in patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We enrolled 104 participants (aged ⩾40 yr) with daytime hypercapnia (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stages 2-4) receiving long-term oxygen therapy (⩾16 h/d for ⩾1 mo) and randomly assigned them to high-flow nasal cannula/long-term oxygen therapy and long-term oxygen therapy groups.