Association between the HAL score and the development of progressive pulmonary fibrosis in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia: A prospective observational study.

Background: Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is a critical concern in interstitial lung disease (ILD) management. The HAL score, which incorporates honeycombing (H), age >75 years (A), and serum lactate dehydrogenase >222 U/L (L), can predict acute exacerbations in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). This study aims to evaluate the predictive utility of the HAL score for PPF development.

Spontaneously regressing pulmonary tuberculosis detected by computed tomography in a patient with positive interferon-gamma release assay.

We present a case of pulmonary tuberculosis with a positive interferon-gamma release assay showing spontaneous regression followed by progression of radiological findings. Physicians should be aware that tuberculosis lesions can temporarily regress and careful follow up should be done if there are suspicious radiological findings.

Association between preoperative antifungal therapy and postoperative complications in patients with pulmonary aspergilloma: A national database study in Japan.

Postoperative complications of pulmonary resection in patients with pulmonary aspergilloma are common. Preoperative antifungal therapy is a perioperative management strategy to reduce postoperative complications; however, the benefit of the treatment remains controversial. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database (July 2010-March 2021), a national inpatient database in Japan.

Seroprevalence in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is complicated with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Gastroesophageal reflux disease is prevented by infection and is a predisposing factor for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, the prevalence of infection in RA patients with ILD has not been sufficiently investigated.

Effectiveness of benralizumab in the Tokyo Asthma Study (TOAST): A real-world prospective interventional trial.

Background: Biologics are integral in the management of severe asthma. As the effectiveness of the anti-IL-5 receptor antibody benralizumab in Japan remains elusive, this study aimed to assess its real-world effectiveness in Japanese patients with severe asthma.

Methods: This prospective, interventional, single-arm clinical trial was conducted across ten facilities in Japan between September 2020 and July 2022.

Mortality in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Despite antifungal treatment, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate rates of mortality and its predictors in CPA.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science to identify studies in English, reporting mortality in CPA, from database inception to Aug 15, 2023.

Serum Anti-Aminoacyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase Antibody Levels Are Involved in Rheumatoid Arthritis Complicated with Interstitial Lung Disease.

A common complication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is interstitial lung disease (ILD). Antibodies (Abs) to anti-aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase (ARS) are linked to ILD in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). There have been limited studies of anti-ARS Abs in RA.

Urgent Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography before Early Colonoscopy in the Management of Colonic Diverticular Bleeding: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) has been gaining attention as an initial investigation in the management of colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB), yet the role of CE-CT other than its diagnostic yield has not been adequately clarified. We aimed to determine whether the use of urgent CE-CT improves identification of stigmata of recent hemorrhage (SRH) in subsequently performed early colonoscopy (≤24 h of arrival) or other clinical outcomes of CDB.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, open-label, controlled trial at 23 institutions in Japan.

CXCL10 predicts autoimmune features and a favorable clinical course in patients with IIP: post hoc analysis of a prospective and multicenter cohort study.

Background: Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF), which does not meet any of the criteria for connective tissue diseases (CTD), has been attracting an attention in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). However, the biomarkers that reflect the clinical course of these patients have not been fully elucidated.

Objective: To identify useful serum biomarkers reflecting CTD-related features and favorable prognoses in patients with IIP.

Bayesian parametric estimation based on left-truncated competing risks data under bivariate Clayton copula models.

In observational/field studies, competing risks and left-truncation may co-exist, yielding 'left-truncated competing risks' settings. Under the assumption of independent competing risks, parametric estimation methods were developed for left-truncated competing risks data. However, competing risks may be dependent in real applications.

Clinical analysis of progressive destroyed lung after lung cancer surgery.

Background: "Progressive destroyed lung (PDL)" refers to a state in which the normal structure and function of the lung are permanently disrupted owing to repeated inflammation. After lung cancer surgery, the remaining lung tissue can experience progressive destruction; however, the exact cause remains unclear. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed cases in which the remaining lung deteriorated after lung cancer surgery and investigated the associated risk factors.

New diagnostic criteria and current issues for pulmonary hypertension.

In 2022, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) proposed new diagnostic criteria for pulmonary hypertension (PH). These criteria include significant changes to the definitions of pulmonary hemodynamic indices. Specifically, the threshold for mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) has been lowered from ≥25 mmHg to >20 mmHg, and the threshold for pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) has been adjusted from ≥3 Wood units (WU) to >2 WU.

Clinical research using real-world data: A narrative review.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and studies using real-world data (RWD) each have their strengths and weaknesses, and can effectively complement each other. When RCTs are not feasible, RWD studies offer a valuable alternative. In this narrative review, we examine several types of RWD studies, focusing on studies utilizing administrative claims databases.

Baseline genetic abnormalities and effectiveness of osimertinib treatment in patients with chemotherapy-naïve EGFR-mutated NSCLC based on performance status.

Background/aim: For patients treated with osimertinib as first-line therapy, there have been no studies comparing both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) according to performance status (PS). Furthermore, no studies have examined differences in baseline genetic abnormalities between patients with poor and good PS. Therefore, we aimed to investigate differences in baseline genetic abnormalities and treatment effects between patients with poor and good PS who received osimertinib as the primary treatment.

Mechanisms of resistance and correlation between pre-treatment co-alterations and p-prognosis to osimertinib in chemo-naïve advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Several patients treated with osimertinib experience progressive disease. The aim was to clarify the mechanisms underlying resistance to osimertinib.

Methods: ELUCIDATOR: A multi-centre, prospective, observational study involved chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving osimertinib.

Association of rare single nucleotide variant MUC5B rs35705950 with interstitial lung disease in Japanese rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is sometimes complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD) with a poor prognosis. A single nucleotide variant (SNV) in MUC5B was associated with ILD in European RA patients. However, associations of this SNV were not found in Japanese RA patients, because its frequency in Japanese populations is very low.

ZFP36 family expression is suppressed by Th2 cells in asthma, leading to enhanced synthesis of inflammatory cytokines and cell surface molecules.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease, in which inflammatory cytokines play a pivotal role. The zinc finger binding protein 36 (ZFP36) family includes ZFP36, ZFP36L1, and ZFP36L2 and is among the RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) reported to cause inflammation. The present study aimed to clarify the roles of the ZFP36 family in asthma, particularly highlighting the relationship between the ZFP36 family and Th2 cells, which are key players in type 2 inflammation in asthma.

Pulmonary Hypertension With Interstitial Pneumonia: Initial Treatment Effectiveness and Severity in a Japan Registry.

Background: Recent guidelines discourage the use of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-targeted therapies in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with respiratory diseases. Therefore, stratifications of the effectiveness of PAH-targeted therapies are important for this group.

Objectives: The authors aimed to identify phenotypes that might benefit from initial PAH-targeted therapies in patients with PH associated with interstitial pneumonia and combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.

Stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation with 5-year relapse-free survival after D2 gastrectomy and chemotherapy: A case report.

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation (GACED), a rare subtype of gastric cancer, is associated with a more aggressive behavior than conventional gastric adenocarcinomas. We report a rare case of stage IV GACED treated with D2 gastrectomy and postoperative chemotherapy.

Case Presentation: A 39-year-old woman with acute upper abdominal pain immediately underwent surgery for gastric perforation.

Acute exacerbation predicting poor outcomes in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and advanced lung cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Effective treatment for advanced lung cancer and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) remains an unmet medical need. The relationship between chemotherapy's effectiveness in advanced lung cancer and the risk of acute exacerbation of IIP is poorly investigated. There is limited evidence that patients who experience an acute exacerbation of IIPs during cytotoxic chemotherapy have poorer outcomes than those who do not.