川﨑 剛

BACKGROUND: Serum levels of stratifin (SFN), a member of the 14-3-3 protein family, increase in patients with drug-induced lung injury associated with diffuse alveolar damage. Therefore, we hypothesised that SFN levels would be higher in those experiencing acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease (AE-ILD). A secondary analysis was also planned to determine whether SFN levels could discriminate survival in those with AE. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with clinically stable ILD (CS-ILD) and 22 patients with AE-ILD were examined to assess whether high serum SFN levels were associated with AE-ILD and whether SFN levels reflected disease severity or prognosis in patients with AE-ILD. RESULTS: Serum SFN levels were higher in the AE-ILD group than in the CS-ILD group (8.4 ± 7.6 vs. 1.3 ± 1.2 ng/mL, p < 0.001). The cut-off value of the serum SFN concentration for predicting 90-day and 1-year survival was 6.6 ng/mL. SFN levels were higher in patients who died within 90 days and 1 year than in patients who survived beyond these time points (13.5 ± 8.7 vs. 5.6 ± 5.3 ng/mL; p = 0.011 and 13.1 ± 7.5 vs. 3.1 ± 1.9 ng/mL; p < 0.001, respectively) in the AE-ILD group. When this cut-off value was used, the 90-day and 1-year survival rates were significantly better in the population below the cut-off value than in those above the cut-off value (p = 0.0017 vs. p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: High serum SFN levels are associated with AE-ILD and can discriminate survival in patients with AE-ILD.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has been used to diagnose and stage lung cancer. Acquire™ Pulmonary and Expect™ Pulmonary dedicated EBUS-TBNA needles were introduced as the Franseen and Lancet needles, respectively. It is still unclear whether the Franseen or Lancet needles yield a higher quality specimen especially focusing on next-generation sequencing-based molecular testing. METHODS: A single-center, prospective study performed at the Chiba University Hospital randomly assigned patients to two groups: Group A, wherein the first and second EBUS-TBNA were performed using Lancet and Franseen needles, respectively, and Group B, wherein the first and second EBUS-TBNA were performed using Franseen and Lancet needles, respectively. Each specimen was compared and analyzed pathologically. The primary outcome was the histological tissue area except blood clot and the cellularity of each sample. We also examined the success rate of molecular testing. RESULTS: Twelve patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA between November 2022 and February 2023 were enrolled in this study. The tissue area of the specimens obtained by the Franseen and Lancet needles was 13.3 ± 6.4 mm2 and 10.6 ± 6.3 mm2, respectively (P = .355). The tumor cellularity in the specimens obtained using the Franseen and Lancet needles was 54.0 ± 30.3 and 46.2 ± 36.3%, respectively (P = .608). The success rate of molecular testing using the single-pass sample by Franseen needle was 85.7 and 57.1% by Lancet needle. No serious complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The Franseen needle tended to show a greater amount of specimen with higher tumor cellularity than the Lancet needle which may contribute higher success rate of molecular testing. Further studies must be conducted to validate the results of this study. KEY FINDINGS: What is known and what is new?  What is the implication, and what should change now?

INTRODUCTION: The accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children is essential for its effective management and control. Reliable diagnostic tools that are currently available for identifying TB infection include the in vivo tuberculosis skin test (TST) and ex vivo interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of IGRAs in children. METHODS: Of the 768 screened studies, 47 met the eligibility criteria. Data from 9065 patients, including 1086 (12.0 %) with confirmed TB, were included in the analysis. The overall quality of the included studies, assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool, was unclear. RESULTS: The calculated pooled sensitivity and specificity of IGRAs in children were 0.85 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-0.89) and 0.94 (95 % CI: 0.88-0.97), respectively. Subpopulation analysis revealed that the sensitivities and specificities were as follows: QuantiFERON tests: 0.83 (95 % CI: 0.74-0.89) and 0.93 (95 % CI: 0.87-0.96), T-SPOT: 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.79-0.91) and 0.99 (95 % CI: 0.85-1.00), IGRAs in children under 15 years: 0.77 (95 % CI: 0.43-0.94) and 0.96 (95 % CI: 0.84-0.97), and IGRAs in children under 5 years: 0.85 (95 % CI: 0.52-0.97) and 0.94 (95 % CI: 0.90-0.99), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the sensitivity and specificity of the IGRAs in children were moderate and high, respectively. Therefore, the IGRAs may be useful for detecting TB infection in children. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The review protocol was prospectively registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000046737).

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by dysregulated inflammation and increased permeability of lung microvascular cells. CD26/Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is a type II membrane protein that is expressed in several cell types and mediates multiple pleiotropic effects. We previously reported that DPP4 inhibition by sitagliptin attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury in mice. The current study characterized the functional role of CD26/DPP4 expression in LPS-induced lung injury in mice, isolated alveolar macrophages, and cultured lung endothelial cells. In LPS-induced lung injury, inflammatory responses (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) neutrophil numbers and several pro-inflammatory cytokine levels) were attenuated in Dpp4 knockout (Dpp4 KO) mice. However, multiple assays of alveolar capillary permeability were similar between the Dpp4 KO and wild-type mice. TNF-α and IL-6 production was suppressed in alveolar macrophages isolated from Dpp4 KO mice. In contrast, in cultured mouse lung microvascular endothelial cells (MLMVECs), reduction in CD26/DPP4 expression by siRNA resulted in greater ICAM-1 and IL-6 expression after LPS stimulation. Moreover, the LPS-induced vascular monolayer permeability in vitro was higher in MLMVECs treated with Dpp4 siRNA, suggesting that CD26/DPP4 plays a protective role in endothelial barrier function. In summary, this study demonstrated that genetic deficiency of Dpp4 attenuates inflammatory responses but not permeability in LPS-induced lung injury in mice, potentially through differential functional roles of CD26/DPP4 expression in resident cellular components of the lung. CD26/DPP4 may be a potential therapeutic target for ARDS and warrants further exploration to precisely identify the multiple functional effects of CD26/DPP4 in ARDS pathophysiology.

Two anti-fibrotic drugs, pirfenidone (PFD) and nintedanib (NTD), are currently used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are immunocompetent cells that could orchestrate cell-cell interactions associated with IPF pathogenesis. We employed RNA sequencing to examine the transcriptome signature in the bulk PBMCs of patients with IPF and the effects of anti-fibrotic drugs on these signatures. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between "patients with IPF and healthy controls" and "before and after anti-fibrotic treatment" were analyzed. Enrichment analysis suggested that fatty acid elongation interferes with TGF-β/Smad signaling and the production of oxidative stress since treatment with NTD upregulates the fatty acid elongation enzymes ELOVL6. Treatment with PFD downregulates COL1A1, which produces wound-healing collagens because activated monocyte-derived macrophages participate in the production of collagen, type I, and alpha 1 during tissue damage. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) regulates wound healing by inhibiting plasmin-mediated matrix metalloproteinase activation, and the inhibition of PAI-1 activity attenuates lung fibrosis. DEG analysis suggested that both the PFD and NTD upregulate SERPINE1, which regulates PAI-1 activity. This study embraces a novel approach by using RNA sequencing to examine PBMCs in IPF, potentially revealing systemic biomarkers or pathways that could be targeted for therapy.

Rationale: Hospital readmission within 30 days poses challenges for healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients because of its impact on care quality, costs, and outcomes. Patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are particularly affected by readmission, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and reduced quality of life. Because small sample sizes have hindered previous studies, this study seeks to address this gap in knowledge by examining a large-scale dataset. Objective: To determine the rate and probability of 30-day all-cause readmission and secondary outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or ILD admitted to the hospital. Methods: This study is a nested cohort study that used the PearlDiver patient records database. Adult patients (age ⩾18 yr) who were admitted to hospitals in 28 states in the United States with COVID-19 or ILD diagnoses were included. We defined and analyzed two separate cohorts in this study. The first cohort consisted of patients with COVID-19 and was later divided into two groups with or without a history of ILD. The second cohort consisted of patients with ILD and was later divided into groups with COVID-19 or with a non-COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis at admission. We also studied two other subcohorts of patients with and without idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis within the second cohort. Propensity score matching was employed to match confounders between groups. The Kaplan-Meier log rank test was applied to compare the probabilities of outcomes. Results: We assessed the data of 2,286,775 patients with COVID-19 and 118,892 patients with ILD. We found that patients with COVID-19 with preexisting ILD had an odds ratio of 1.6 for 30-day all-cause readmission. Similarly, an odds ratio of 2.42 in readmission rates was observed among hospitalized individuals with ILD who contracted COVID-19 compared with those who were hospitalized for non-COVID-19 pneumonia. Our study also found a significantly higher probability of intensive care admission among patients in both cohorts. Conclusions: Patients with ILD face heightened rates of hospital readmissions, particularly when ILD is combined with COVID-19, resulting in adverse outcomes such as decreased quality of life and increased healthcare expenses. It is imperative to prioritize preventive measures against COVID-19 and establish effective postdischarge care strategies for patients with ILD.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) often causes intractable conditions. CD26/Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is expressed in lung constituent cells and may be related to the pathogenesis of various respiratory diseases. We aimed to clarify the functional roles of CD26/DPP4 in PH-ILD, paying particular attention to vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Dpp4 knockout (Dpp4KO) and wild type (WT) mice were administered bleomycin (BLM) intraperitoneally to establish a PH-ILD model. The BLM-induced increase in the right ventricular systolic pressure and the right ventricular hypertrophy observed in WT mice were attenuated in Dpp4KO mice. The BLM-induced vascular muscularization in small pulmonary vessels in Dpp4KO mice was milder than that in WT mice. The viability of TGFβ-stimulated human pulmonary artery SMCs (hPASMCs) was lowered due to the DPP4 knockdown with small interfering RNA. According to the results of the transcriptome analysis, upregulated genes in hPASMCs with TGFβ treatment were related to pulmonary vascular SMC proliferation via the Notch, PI3K-Akt, and NFκB signaling pathways. Additionally, DPP4 knockdown in hPASMCs inhibited the pathways upregulated by TGFβ treatment. These results suggest that genetic deficiency of Dpp4 protects against BLM-induced PH-ILD by alleviating vascular remodeling, potentially through the exertion of an antiproliferative effect via inhibition of the TGFβ-related pathways in PASMCs.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease that often causes progressive pulmonary fibrosis (HPS-PPF) in some genetic types with high mortality rates. No effective treatment for HPS-PPF other than lung transplantation has been established. Herein, we report a case of HPS type 1 with progressive pulmonary fibrosis treated with long-term nintedanib administration followed by lung transplantation. The resected lungs revealed diffuse interstitial lung lesions, including fibroblastic foci, suggesting the potential beneficial effects of anti-fibrotic drugs in HPS-PPF. Together with previous reports, the present case suggests that nintedanib might be a safe and effective drug for HPS-PPF.

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) experience prolonged viral shedding, and they are forced to stay in the hospital because of the requirement for COVID-19 isolation. Here, we present two cases (lung and renal transplant recipients), wherein the isolation period was shortened by reducing the dosage of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Both patients recovered well from COVID-19 pneumonia. This case study suggests that a reduction in MMF dosage may lead to a shorter hospitalization period in SOT recipients with COVID-19.

Non-emphysematous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is defined based on chest computed tomography findings, presented different transcriptome features of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) compared with emphysematous COPD. Enrichment analysis of transcriptomic data in COPD demonstrated that the "Hematopoietic cell lineage" pathway in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis was highly upregulated, suggesting that cellular dynamic dysregulation in COPD lungs is affected by pathologically modified PBMCs. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) upregulated in PBMCs reflected the disease state of non-emphysematous COPD. Upregulated DEGs such as XCL1, PRKCZ, TMEM102, CD200R1, and AQP1 activate T lymphocytes and eosinophils. Upregulating keratan sulfate biosynthesis and metabolic processes is associated with protection against the destruction of the distal airways. ITGA3 upregulation augments interactions with extracellular matrix proteins, and COL6A1 augments the profibrotic mast cell phenotype during alveolar collagen VI deposition. Upregulating HSPG2, PDGFRB, and PAK4 contributes to the thickening of the airway wall, and upregulating SERPINF1 expression explains the better-preserved vascular bed. Therefore, gene expression and pathway analysis in PBMCs in patients with non-emphysematous COPD represented type 2 immune responses and airway remodeling features. Therefore, these patients have asthmatic potential despite no clinical signs of asthma, in contrast to those with emphysematous COPD.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) progresses slowly but sometimes relatively quickly, leading to decreased activities of daily living (ADL) and muscle weakness. Skeletal muscle atrophy and muscle weakness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients may be caused by cachexia and are associated with reduced ADLs and increased risk of death. However, the association between skeletal muscle mass and the prognosis of PPFE patients remains unknown. We retrospectively analysed the clinical significance of the cross-sectional area of the erector spinae muscle (ESMCSA), a skeletal muscle index, and predictors of mortality within 3 years in PPFE 51 patients, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) 52 patients and COPD 62 patients. PPFE patients had significantly lower ESMCSA than IPF or COPD patients, and lower ESMCSA (< 22.57 cm2) was associated with prognosis within 3 years (log-rank test; p = 0.006), whereas lower body mass index (BMI) showed no association. Multivariate analysis showed that ESMCSA was an independent predictor of mortality within 3 years in PPFE patients (hazard ratio, 0.854; 95% confidence interval: 0.737-0.990, p = 0.036). These results suggest the importance of monitoring ESMCSA in PPFE patients and that assessing ESMCSA in PPFE patients could be a more useful prognostic indicator than BMI.

Objective We evaluated the clinical differences in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients between the sixth wave with the Omicron BA.1/BA.2 dominant variant (from January to April 2022) and seventh wave with the Omicron BA.5 dominant variant (from July to August 2022). Methods This retrospective, single-center, observational study included COVID-19 patients admitted to our institution in the sixth wave (sixth-wave group) and the seventh wave (seventh-wave group). Inter-group comparisons of clinical presentations, the prognosis, and proportion of nosocomial infections were performed. Results A total of 190 patients were included (93 and 97 patients in the sixth- and seventh-wave groups, respectively). While there were no significant differences in severity, significantly more patients developed pneumonia caused by COVID-19 in the sixth-wave group than in the seventh-wave group. Although there was no marked difference in in-hospital deaths, more patients died from COVID-19 in the sixth-wave group than in the seventh-wave group. There were significantly more COVID-19 inpatients with nosocomial infections in the seventh-wave group than in the sixth-wave group. Pneumonia from COVID-19 was significantly more severe in the sixth-wave group than in the seventh-wave group. Conclusion COVID-19 patients in the seventh wave are at a lower risk of pneumonia than those in the sixth wave. However, even in the seventh wave, patients with underlying diseases have a risk of death because of the exacerbation of underlying diseases triggered by COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) occurs as one of the complications associated with interstitial pneumonia (IP). Chest drainage is performed when there is a large volume of air in the pleural space. Notably, SSP with IP (SSP-IP) is frequently not curable by chest drainage only. A digital drainage system (DDS) provides an objective evaluation of air leakage and maintains a pre-determined negative pressure, compared to an analog drainage system (ADS). Few studies have reported the effectiveness of DDS in the treatment of SSP-IP. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of DDS for SSP-IP. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with SSP-IP who had undergone chest drainage. We reviewed the included patients' medical records, laboratory data, computed tomography findings, and pulmonary function data. RESULTS: DDS was used in 24 patients and ADS in 49 patients. The mean duration of chest drainage was 11.4 ± 1.9 days in the DDS group and 14.2 ± 1.3 days in the ADS group, which was not significantly different (p = 0.218). Surgery, pleurodesis, and/or factor XIII administration were performed in 40 patients. Additionally, five (20.8%) patients in the DDS group and nine (18.4%) in the ADS group had a recurrence of pneumothorax within 4 weeks (p = 1.000). One patient (14%) in the DDS group and six (12.2%) in the ADS group (p = 0.414) were cured of pneumothorax but later died. CONCLUSION: DDS did not demonstrate a significant difference in the shortening of chest drainage duration. Further study is needed to validate the results of this study.

RATIONALE: Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases are difficult-to-treat infections, especially in lung transplant (LTx) candidates. Currently, there is a paucity of recommendations on the management of NTM infections in LTx, focusing on Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), M. abscessus and M. kansasii. METHODS: Pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, LTx surgeons and Delphi experts with expertise in NTM were recruited. A patient representative was also invited. Three questionnaires comprising questions with multiple response statements were distributed to panellists. Delphi methodology with a Likert scale of 11 points (5 to -5) was applied to define the agreement between experts. Responses from the first two questionnaires were collated to develop a final questionnaire. The consensus was described as a median rating >4 or <-4 indicating for or against the given statement. After the last round of questionnaires, a cumulative report was generated. RESULTS: Panellists recommend performing sputum cultures and a chest computed tomography scan for NTM screening in LTx candidates. Panellists recommend against absolute contraindication to LTx even with multiple positive sputum cultures for MAC, M. abscessus or M. kansasii. Panellists recommend MAC patients on antimicrobial treatment and culture negative can be listed for LTx without further delay. Panellists recommend 6 months of culture-negative for M. kansasii, but 12 months of further treatment from the time of culture-negative for M. abscessus before listing for LTx. CONCLUSION: This NTM LTx study consensus statement provides essential recommendations for NTM management in LTx and can be utilised as an expert opinion while awaiting evidence-based contributions.

The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis involves complex interplay between cell types and signaling pathways. Recurrent alveolar epithelial injury can occur during pulmonary inflammation, causing dysregulation of epithelial repair. Dysregulated repair interacts with mesenchymal, inflammatory, and endothelial cells to trigger fibroblast-to-myofibroblast activation. CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is a type II membrane protein mediating pleiotropic effect. However, the mechanistic role of CD26/DPP4 in pulmonary fibrosis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to characterize Dpp4 deficiency in a mouse bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis model and in cell culture systems of human lung fibroblasts (HLFs). Dpp4 knockout (Dpp4 KO) mouse lungs exhibited lower Ashcroft scale indices, collagen content, and numbers of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts compared with those in C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice. Upregulation of Tgfb1 and Tgfb2 mRNA levels in the lungs after BLM treatment was lower in Dpp4 KO mice compared with those in WT mice. Although TGF-β-driven endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has been implicated as one of the mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis, a number of partial EndMT cells in lungs did not differ between Dpp4 KO mice and WT mice. The proliferation capacity and mRNA levels of COL1A1, a collagen deposition-related gene, in cultured HLFs were suppressed in DPP4 small interfering RNA-treated cells. This study indicates that the genetic deficiency of DPP4 has protective effects against BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis, partly through the reduction in TGF-β expression and inhibition of fibroblast activation in the lung. Our study suggests that CD26/DPP4 inhibition is a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a common assessment of exercise-induced hypoxemia and exercise capacity used in patients with chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia (CFIP). However, whether the dynamic changes in SpO2 and heart rate during the 6MWT are associated with mortality in patients with CFIP has been undefined. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 63 subjects with mild to severe CFIP who underwent the 6MWT. Subjects with CFIP were divided into 2 groups according to disease severity: mild, diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide percentage predicted (%DLCO) > 55% and %FVC > 75%; and severe, %DLCO ≤ 55% and/or %FVC ≤ 75%. This study aimed to evaluate dynamic changes in the 6MWT including 6-min walk distance, change in SpO2 (ΔSpO2 ), SpO2 reduction time, SpO2 recovery time, change in heart rate (Δ heart rate), heart rate acceleration time, slope of heart rate acceleration, heart rate recovery at 1 min of rest after the 6MWT (HR-recovery), and dyspnea on exertion that are reflected by static pulmonary function and are related to exacerbation of CFIP and mortality. RESULTS: Compared with subjects with mild CFIP, subjects with severe CFIP had significantly larger ΔSpO2 and longer SpO 2 reduction time and recovery time. The slope of heart rate, heart rate immediately after the 6MWT, and HR-recovery were lower in subjects with severe CFIP than in those with mild CFIP. In multiple regression analysis, percent vital capacity was significantly associated with SpO2 reduction time, and %DLCO was significantly associated with ΔSpO2 and SpO2 recovery time. Subjects with ΔSpO2 of > 10% and SpO2 recovery time of > 79 s had a significantly higher risk for exacerbation and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic changes in SpO2 and heart rate during the 6MWT were associated with risk for exacerbation and mortality in subjects with CFIP. Impaired dynamic response of SpO2 could reflect likelihood of exacerbation and increased mortality in CFIP.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Urinary antigen tests have been used for the rapid identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in patients with pneumonia, thereby leading to earlier targeted therapy than when using conventional diagnostic culture methods. This study aimed to update the knowledge on the diagnostic accuracy of urinary antigen tests for S. pneumoniae among patients with acute respiratory failure suspected of pneumonia based on a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic search was performed using MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies published up to 3 June 2020. Prospective and retrospective cohort studies (in English) that reported on the diagnostic performance of urinary antigen tests versus culture or smear diagnostic methods in adult patients with clinically diagnosed pneumonia were selected and analysed. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and a bivariate random effects model was applied to perform a meta-analysis of the selected studies. RESULTS: A total of 2179 studies were screened, of which 30 met the eligibility criteria for quality assessment and meta-analysis. Overall, data from 12 366 patients, including 1548 patients (12.5%) with the target condition and suspected pneumococcal pneumonia, were included in the analysis. The overall quality of the included studies was determined to be serious. The calculated pooled sensitivity and specificity were of 0.66 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.69) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.93), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The urinary antigen test is useful for achieving a definitive diagnosis of S. pneumoniae infection in patients with pneumonia.

BACKGROUND Although sotrovimab reduces the risk of hospitalization or death due to COVID-19, there have been few reports of its use in clinical practice. Particularly, information on the effectiveness of sotrovimab against the omicron variant of the virus is limited. We present 10 cases of COVID-19 treated with sotrovimab at our unit between December 2021 and February 2022. CASE REPORT The age of the patients ranged from 32 to 81 years (median: 40 years). The comorbidities included lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease requiring hemodialysis, and AIDS. Two of the patients were also organ recipients. Oxygen saturation (SpO2) was above 97% in all patients. None of the patients presented with pneumonia on admission. However, blood test results showed that all patients had risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. The interval from symptom onset to sotrovimab administration and resolution ranged from 2 to 5 days (median: 2 days) and 2 to 15 days (median: 5 days), respectively. Only 1 patient developed pneumonia and was treated with remdesivir after sotrovimab administration. However, this patient did not require oxygen therapy. Although no moderate to severe adverse events were observed, a mild adverse event was observed in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS Sotrovimab could be safe and effective in preventing progression of COVID-19 in patients with a variety of underlying diseases and who are at high risk of severe disease outcomes.

71歳女性。2年以上持続し6ヵ月前より増悪傾向の湿性咳嗽あり、胸部単純X線で左下肺野浸潤影を指摘された。同時に血清CA19-9高値が判明したが、精査で明らかな消化器悪性腫瘍は認められなかった。慢性気管支炎に対して、14員環マクロライド系薬剤の抗炎症・免疫調整作用を念頭にエリスロマイシン(erythromycin:EM)内服治療が開始された。その結果、自覚症状および胸部画像所見の改善とともに血清CA19-9値が低下した。血清CA19-9値は、消化器悪性腫瘍マーカーとしての役割のみならず、気道炎症の程度を反映する炎症指標にもなりうることが示唆された。(著者抄録)

BACKGROUND: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a useful examination for the evaluation of interstitial lung disease. A high BAL fluid (BALF) recovery rate is desirable because low recovery rates lead to inaccurate diagnoses and increased adverse events. Few studies have explored whether BALF recovery rates are influenced by clinical factors. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the clinical parameters affecting the recovery rates of BALF and the extent of their effects. METHOD: Data from patients who underwent BAL at the Chiba University Hospital between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. BAL was performed with three aliquots of 50-ml physiological saline. The potential association of the BALF recovery rate with clinical parameters such as age, sex, smoking status, underlying disease, bronchus used for the procedure and pulmonary function, was analysed. RESULTS: Eight hundred twenty-six patients had undergone BAL. The average recovery rate was 52.4%. Factors affecting BALF recovery rates included male sex (odds ratio [OR]: 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20-0.53, p < 0.001); age ≥ 65 years (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.33-0.76, p < 0.001); use of the left bronchus (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.30-0.71, p = 0.001) and bronchi other than the middle lobe bronchus or lingula (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.25-0.65, p < 0.001); and forced expiratory volume in 1 s divided by forced vital capacity <80% (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.40-1.00, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Sex, age, bronchus used for the procedure and pulmonary function may be useful as pre-procedural predictors of BALF recovery rates.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous systemic disease of unknown etiology. Mononuclear cells such as macrophages or lymphocytes in lung tissue and hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes have been recognized to play an essential role in granuloma formation in pulmonary sarcoidosis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) consist of several immunocompetent cells and have been shown to play a mechanistic role in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. However, the genetic modifications that occur in bulk PBMCs of sarcoidosis remain to be elucidated. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the pathobiological markers of sarcoidosis in PBMCs by comparing the transcriptional signature of PBMCs from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis with those of healthy controls by RNA sequencing. Methods: PBMC samples were collected from subjects with pulmonary sarcoidosis with no steroid/immunosuppressant drugs (n = 8) and healthy controls (n = 11) from August 2020 to April 2021, and RNA sequencing was performed with the PBMC samples. Results: Principal component analysis using RNA sequencing datasets comparing pulmonary sarcoidosis with healthy controls revealed that the two groups appeared to be differentiated, in which 270 differentially expressed genes were found in PBMCs between sarcoidosis and healthy controls. Enrichment analysis for gene ontology suggested that some biological processes related to the pathobiology of sarcoidosis, such as cellular response to interleukin (IL)-1 and IFN-γ, regulation of IL-6 production, IL-8 secretion, regulation of mononuclear cell migration, and response to lipopolysaccharide, were involved. Enrichment analysis of the KEGG pathway indicated the involvement of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), toll-like receptor signaling, IL-17 signaling pathways, phagosomes, and ribosomes. Most of the genes involved in TNF and IL-17 signaling pathways and phagosomes were upregulated, while most of the ribosome-related genes were downregulated. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that bulk gene expression patterns in PBMCs were different between patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and healthy controls. The changes in the gene expression pattern of PBMCs could reflect the existence of sarcoidosis lesions and influence granuloma formation in sarcoidosis. These new findings are important to strengthen our understanding of the etiology and pathobiology of sarcoidosis and indicate a potential therapeutic target for sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Urinary antigen tests (UATs) have been used for the early detection of legionellosis and have demonstrated moderate sensitivity and high specificity. However, the most recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2009 evaluated the accuracy of UATs; since then, UAT accuracy may have changed owing to advances and developments in UAT technology and epidemiological changes in the frequency of Legionella species that cause legionellosis. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to update the accuracy of UATs for legionellosis among patients with suspected pneumonia. METHODS: Overall, 1326 studies were screened, 21 of which fulfilled the eligibility criteria for quality assessment and meta-analysis. Data from 5772 patients, including 1368 (23.7%) with the target condition (i.e., suspected legionellosis), were included in the analysis. The overall quality of the included studies, which was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool, was unclear. RESULTS: The calculated pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-0.85) and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99-1.00), respectively. Subpopulation analysis revealed that the accuracy of UATs for sensitivity and specificity for Legionella pneumophilia serogroup 1 was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.91) and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99-1.00), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the sensitivity and specificity of UATs were moderate and high, respectively, which is comparable to the results reported in 2009. Therefore, UATs may be a useful method for the early detection of legionellosis caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The review protocol was prospectively registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000041080).

Excessive inflammation in the lung is a primary cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is a transmembrane protein that is expressed in various cell types and exerts multiple pleiotropic effects. We recently reported that pharmacological CD26/DPP4 inhibition ameliorated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury in mice and exerted anti-inflammatory effects on human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs), in vitro. However, the mechanistic roles of CD26/DPP4 in lung injury and its effects on HLMVECs remain unclear. In this study, transcriptome analysis, followed by various confirmation experiments using siRNA in cultured HLMVECs, are performed to evaluate the role of CD26/DPP4 in response to the pro-inflammatory involved in inflammation, barrier function, and regenerative processes in HLMVECs after pro-inflammatory stimulation. These are all functions that are closely related to the pathophysiology and repair process of lung injury. Confirmatory experiments using flow cytometry; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; dextran permeability assay; WST-8 assay; wound healing assay; and tube formation assay, reveal that the reduction of CD26/DPP4 via siRNA is associated with altered parameters of inflammation, barrier function, and the regenerative processes in HLMVECs. Thus, CD26/DPP4 can play a pathological role in mediating injury in pulmonary endothelial cells. CD26/DPP4 inhibition can be a new therapeutic strategy for inflammatory lung diseases, involving pulmonary vascular damage.

INTRODUCTION: Intrahospital transport of critically ill patients is often necessary for diagnostic procedures, therapeutic procedures, or admission to the intensive care unit. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe safety and adverse events during intrahospital transport of critically ill patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic search was performed of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies published up to June 3, 2020, and of the International Clinical Trials Platform Search Portal and ClinicalTrials.gov for ongoing trials. We selected prospective and retrospective cohort studies published in English on intrahospital transport of critically ill patients, and then performed a meta-analysis. The primary outcome was the incidence of all adverse events that occurred during intrahospital transport. The secondary outcomes were death due to intrahospital transport or life-threatening adverse events, minor events in vital signs, adverse events related to equipment, durations of ICU and hospital stay, and costs. RESULTS: A total of 12,313 intrahospital transports and 1898 patients from 24 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Among 24 studies that evaluated the primary outcome, the pooled frequency of all adverse events was 26.2% (95% CI: 15.0-39.2) and the heterogeneity among these studies was high (I2 = 99.5%). The pooled frequency of death due to intrahospital transport and life-threatening adverse events was 0% and 1.47% each, but heterogeneity was also high. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that adverse events can occur during intrahospital transport of critically ill patients, and that the frequency of critical adverse events is relatively low. The results of this meta-analysis could assist in risk-benefit analysis of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures requiring intrahospital transport of critically ill patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000040963.

症例は57歳,女性.健診胸部X線にて異常影を指摘され前医を受診.CTで右肺上葉浸潤影,粒状影,小結節影を認め,当初は肺炎を疑われたが,抗菌薬による治療に不応であった.肺癌などの鑑別目的にガイドシース併用気管支腔内超音波断層法(EBUS-GS)を用いた気管支鏡検査を行い,病変がwithinに描出された上で検体を採取したが診断を得られず,当院紹介後2回目の気管支鏡検査を行ったが同様の結果であった.FDG-PETでは,肺,縦隔肺門リンパ節,腹腔内リンパ節,肝,肩甲骨,脊椎,腸骨など,全身性に多発集積を認めた.経皮的腸骨生検を行った結果,壊死を伴わない類上皮細胞肉芽腫が検出され,サルコイドーシスに矛盾しない病理診断が得られた.骨病変は病的骨折・脊髄圧迫の危険は低いと判断され,他に治療を要する臓器病変がなかったことから,無治療にて経過観察となった.脊椎骨盤に病変が多発した稀なサルコイドーシスの1例を経験した.(著者抄録)

症例は70歳女性で、呼吸困難および右下顎の発赤、腫脹、疼痛を主訴に当大学病院を受診した。4年前に左下葉の肺癌と診断されており、第7頸椎への骨転移も指摘されていた。転移巣には放射線療法が行われたが、下顎領域は照射範囲から外されていた。また肺癌に対する化学療法、およびビスホスホネート製剤(BP)投与も行われたが、その時点では歯科への診察依頼は為されていなかった。BP投与を10ヵ月間継続した後にデノスマブ治療が開始されたが、その開始から18ヵ月後に右顎痛を発症し、顎骨壊死の疑いで歯科を紹介受診した。ステージ2の顎骨壊死と診断され、洗浄と抗生物質による治療を受けた。並行して各種の化学療法も行われていたが、最終的に冒頭に記したような症状を発症して当院入院となった。検査結果から、右下顎の顎骨壊死の疑い、および頸部膿瘍、右下顎・頸部の蜂窩織炎、敗血症と診断した。膿瘍に対しては外科的ドレナージ術を施行し、気管切開と人工呼吸管理を行うことで術後の気道閉塞リスクに備えた。抗生物質治療も継続するなど集学的集中治療を行ったところ回復し、入院43日目に退院するに至った。退院後は口腔清掃処置を続け、6ヵ月間にわたり膿瘍は再発しなかった。

BACKGROUND: Cellular patterns in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) are used to distinguish or rule out particular diseases in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). However, whether BALF cellular patterns can predict mortality or not is unknown. We test the hypothesis that BALF cellular patterns have predictive value for mortality in patients with ARF. METHODS: This was a retrospective single-center observational study conducted in a Japanese University Hospital. Consecutive patients (n = 78) with both pulmonary infiltrates and ARF who were examined by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) between April 2015 and May 2018 with at least 1 year of follow-up were analyzed. Primary analysis was receiver operating characteristic curve-area under the curve (ROC-AUC) analysis for 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Among the final sample size of 78 patients, survivors (n = 56) had significantly increased lymphocyte and eosinophil counts and decreased neutrophil counts in BALF compared with non-survivors (n = 22). Among the fractions, lymphocyte count was the most significantly different (30 [12-50] vs. 7.0 [2.9-13]%, P <0.0001). In the ROC curve analysis of the association of BALF lymphocytes with 1-year mortality, the AUC was 0.787 (P <0.0001, cut-off value [Youden index] 19.0%). Furthermore, ≥20% BALF lymphocytes were significantly associated with increased survival with adjustment for baseline imbalances (1-year adjusted hazard ratio, 0.0929; 95% confidence interval, 0.0147-0.323, P <0.0001; 90-day P =0.0012). Increased survival was significantly associated with ≥20% BALF lymphocytes in both interstitial lung disease (ILD) and non-ILD subgroups (P =0.0052 and P =0.0033, respectively). In secondary outcome analysis, patients with ≥20% BALF lymphocytes had significantly increased ventilator-free days, which represents less respiratory dysfunction than those with <20% BALF lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: In the patients with ARF, ≥20% lymphocytes in BALF was associated with significantly less ventilatory support, lower mortality at both 90-day and 1-year follow-ups.

INTRODUCTION: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is useful for diagnosing diffuse lung disease and excluding other conditions. However, acute exacerbations (AEs) are recognized as important complications of BAL in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study aimed to identify risk factors for BAL-induced AEs in patients with IPF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 155 patients with suspected IPF who had undergone BAL between January 2013 and December 2018. BAL-related AE was defined as the development of AE within 30 days after the procedure. We compared clinical features and parameters between patients with AE (AE group) and without AE (non-AE group). We also reviewed the relevant reported literature. RESULTS: Among the 155 patients, 5 (3.2%) developed AE within 30 days after BAL. The average duration from BAL to AE onset was 7.8 days (2-16 days). Results from the univariate analysis revealed PaO2 < 75 mm Hg (p = 0.036), neutrophil content in BAL ≥ 7% (p = 0.0061), %DLCO < 50% (p = 0.019), Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) stage III (p = 0.034), and BAL recovery rates < 30% (p < 0.001) as significant risk factors for post-BAL AE. All five patients who developed AE recovered and were discharged. CONCLUSIONS: Disease severity, high neutrophil levels in BAL, and poor BAL recovery rates may be risk factors for BAL-induced AEs.

A 52-year-old man presented to our hospital complaining of general malaise, cough, and fever. Total body computed tomography revealed scattered pneumonia and urethral foreign bodies that had been inserted during adolescence. Candida glabrata was detected in blood and urine cultures. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with candidemia that developed due to Candida urinary tract infection, complicated by septic pulmonary embolism and severe diabetes mellitus. Candidemia likely persisted despite the initiation of intravenous antifungal therapy and control of blood sugar level. Therefore, surgical removal of the urethral foreign bodies was performed, which resulted in resolution of the patient's symptoms. Herein, we report a rare case of candidemia complicated by Candida urinary tract infection that developed due to the long-term presence of urethral foreign bodies. A multidisciplinary therapeutic approach, including surgical removal of the infected foreign bodies, is effective in such cases. This case indicates that long-term presence of foreign bodies and acquired immune dysfunction can be risk factors for candidemia. Therefore, detailed history should be obtained and systemic examination should be performed to identify the complicating risk factors on diagnosis of candidemia.

Introduction: An increased risk of sarcoidosis and sarcoid-like reactions in subjects with a history of malignancy has been suggested. We assessed the incidence and clinical characteristics of cancer patients with biopsies containing sarcoid-like granulomas on cancer metastasis and patient survival. Methods: This is a retrospective, multicentre, observational study involving endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration and a melanoma patient dataset at the University of Miami, USA, and a sarcoidosis patient database at Chiba University, Japan. Subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer and who subsequently developed granulomas in different organs were enrolled. The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03844698). Results: 133 patients met the study's criteria. The most common primary cancer sites were the skin (22.5%), breast (20.3%) and lymph node (12.8%). 24 (18%) patients developed sarcoid-like granulomas within 1 year of cancer diagnosis, 54 (40.6%) between 1 and 5 years and 49 (36.8%) after 5 years. Imaging showed possible sarcoid-like granulomas in lymph nodes in 51 cases (38.3%) and lung tissue and mediastinal lymph nodes in 73 cases (54.9%); some parenchymal reticular opacity and fibrosis was found in 5 (3.7%) and significant parenchymal fibrosis in 2 (1.5%) subjects. According to logistic regression analysis, the frequency of metastatic cancer was significantly lower in patients with sarcoid-like granulomas than in controls. Moreover, multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed a significant survival advantage in those with sarcoid-like granuloma. Conclusion: Sarcoid-like granulomas are uncommon pathology findings in cancer patients. There is a significant association between the presence of granulomas and reduced metastasis and increased survival. Further study is warranted to understand the protective mechanism involved.

症例は44歳,男性。6年前にアルコール性大腿骨頭壊死のため両側人工股関節置換術の既往あり。4ヵ月前より両側股関節痛および39℃台の弛張熱が出現し,人工股関節部の不安定性が原因と考えられ,人工股関節再置換術の方針となった。術前の胸部X線にて肺野異常陰影を指摘され,胸部CT検査にて肺野びまん性粒状影および左胸水を呈し,喀痰,尿,胸水のTb-CPRが陽性であったことから,肺結核,粟粒結核,結核性胸膜炎と診断された。イソニアジド,リファンビシン,エタンブトール,ピラジナミドによる抗菌化学療法を開始されたが,発熱,股関節痛および血液炎症所見が持続した。造影CT検査にて両側人工股関節感染および右腸腰筋膿瘍が疑われ,右人工股関節置換術を施行された。その後,複数回の洗浄,デブリードマンおよび左人工股関節置換術による外科的加療の追加にて,解熱傾向となり,股関節痛,血液炎症所見および胸部画像所見が改善した。粟粒結核を呈し,抗菌化学療法に治療抵抗性の場合には,全身性に播種性結核病巣が存在する可能性を念頭に精査し,外科的加療などの集学的加療を積極的に検討する必要がある。(著者抄録)

Background: Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) of cytologic material is widely performed because it provides clinicians with instant diagnostic information. However, the utility of ROSE of touch imprint cytology (ROSE-TIC) during transbronchial biopsy (TBB) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of ROSE-TIC for TBB. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on patients who underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy combined with ROSE-TIC. The results of ROSE-TIC, diagnosed as either positive or negative for malignancy, were compared with the histological findings and final diagnosis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. The success rate of molecular testing on TBB specimens was also assessed. Results: Overall, 460 patients underwent bronchoscopy with ROSE-TIC. Of these, 377 cases (82.0%) were malignant and 83 cases (18.0%) were non-malignant in the final diagnosis. Compared with the histological findings, ROSE-TIC showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy values of 91.1%, 90.4%, 94.8%, 84.0%, and 90.9%, respectively. Compared with the final diagnosis, ROSE-TIC showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy values of 75.3%, 91.6%, 97.6%, 45.0%, and 78.3%, respectively. Seven discordant cases (1.5%) were positive on ROSE-TIC and negative on final diagnosis. The success rates for molecular analysis from TBB samples were 96.6% for EGFR mutation, 87.3% for ALK rearrangement, 93.1% for ROS1 rearrangement, and 96.2% for PD-L1 expression. Conclusions: The accuracy of ROSE-TIC is high. It can be useful for obtaining instant diagnosis, contributing to a high success rate of molecular analysis for targeted therapy.

BACKGROUND: Nintedanib is an important drug for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the drug is discontinued in some patients who present with diarrhea. In this study, we aimed to assess the drug continuation rate in patients who developed diarrhea during nintedanib therapy and to evaluate if antidiarrheal drugs or nintedanib dose reductions improved clinical tolerability and efficacy. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with IPF were treated in our institution between December 2015 and March 2018. Among them, 50 patients who experienced nintedanib-related diarrhea were analyzed regarding tolerability and persistence rate. RESULTS: In 50 patients who experienced nintedanib-related diarrhea, 26 (n = 11, without reduction and n = 15, with reduction) continuously received nintedanib. Meanwhile, the drug was discontinued in 24 patients (n = 13, without reduction and n = 11, with reduction). In 9 of 24 patients, the drug was discontinued due to diarrhea. The annual rate of decline in forced vital capacity and the duration of nintedanib administration were not significantly different between groups with and without dosage reduction. Moreover, 23, 13, 8, and 2 patients received 1, 2, 3, and 4 agents, respectively. Clostridium butyricum is a probiotic bacterium most commonly used as an antidiarrheal agent. In this study, it was used in 28 of 46 patients. The total durations of nintedanib administration differed significantly according to the number of antidiarrheal drugs taken: 853 ± 221 days, more than three agents; 424 ± 365 days, without an agent (p = 0.043); and 460 ± 142, one agent (p = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: When diarrhea occurs within a year after using nintedanib, the dose reduction may be acceptable without affecting pulmonary function. Moreover, treatment with multiple antidiarrheals may be a practical option to maintain the use of nintedanib therapy compared with monotherapy and no therapy.

58歳男性。右腋窩潰瘍で救急外来を受診し、重度の皮膚軟部組織感染症にて入院となった。前縦隔腫瘍、口腔内カンジダ症の合併が判明し、加療中にニューモシスチス肺炎および細菌性肺炎を併発した。縦隔腫瘍は生検により胸腺腫WHO分類type Aと診断され、低γグロブリン血症の合併より、Good症候群と診断された。スルファメトキサゾール・トリメトプリム(sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim:ST)合剤、ステロイド、免疫グロブリン補充療法などにより軽快退院した。前縦隔腫瘍に多様な感染症を合併した場合には、Good症候群を念頭に置き、早期診断治療に努める必要がある。(著者抄録)

INTRODUCTION: The Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) system is a tool for predicting prognosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Yet, to date, the GAP system has not been evaluated in patients with IPF who received nintedanib. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included 89 patients with IPF who received Nintedanib for at least 3 months. All-cause mortality was set as the end point. Clinical parameters, including the GAP stage, were statistically analyzed for risk factors leading to mortality using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 16.4 months (range 3.7-37.4 months), during which 23 patients died. Univariate analysis revealed that the GAP stage (hazard ratio [HR] 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52-5.92, p = 0.0014) and PaO2 (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98, p = 0.0063) were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that the GAP stage was a significant prognostic factor (HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.07-4.78, p = 0.031). Log-rank analysis revealed that there were no significant differences in "Gender" (p = 0.47) and "Age" (p = 0.18) factors. However, there were significant differences in "Physiology" factors (% of forced vital capacity, p = 0.018; % of diffusing capacity of lung carbon monoxide, p < 0.001). The cumulative incidences of mortality at 1 and 2 years were as follows: GAP I: 5.1% and 6.8%; GAP II: 9.5% and 29.3%; and GAP III: 18.9% and 84.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The GAP system is useful as a prognostic tool in patients with IPF who have been treated with nintedanib.

Pulmonary vascular endothelial cells could contribute to maintain homeostasis in adult lung vasculature. "Tissue-resident" endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play pivotal roles in postnatal vasculogenesis, vascular repair, and tissue regeneration; however, their local pulmonary counterparts remain to be defined. To determine whether prominin-1/CD133 expression can be a marker of tissue-resident vascular EPCs in the pulmonary circulation, we examined the origin and characteristics of prominin-1/CD133-positive (Prom1(+)) PVECs considering cell cycle status, viability, histological distribution, and association with pulmonary vascular remodeling. Prom1(+) PVECs exhibited high steady-state transit through the cell cycle compared with Prom1(-) PVECs and exhibited homeostatic cell division as assessed using the label dilution method and mice expressing green fluorescent protein. In addition, Prom1(+) PVECs showed more marked expression of putative EPC markers and drug resistance genes as well as highly increased activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase compared with Prom1(-) PVECs. Bone marrow reconstitution demonstrated that tissue-resident cells were the source of >98% of Prom1(+) PVECs. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed that Prom1(+) PVECs preferentially resided in the arterial vasculature, including the resistant vessels of the lung. The number of Prom1(+) PVECs was higher in developing postnatal lungs. Sorted Prom1(+) PVECs gave rise to colonies and formed fine vascular networks compared with Prom1(-) PVECs. Moreover, Prom1(+) PVECs increased in the monocrotaline and the Su-5416 + hypoxia experimental models of pulmonary vascular remodeling. Our findings indicated that Prom1(+) PVECs exhibited the phenotype of tissue-resident EPCs. The unique biological characteristics of Prom1(+) PVECs predominantly contribute to neovasculogenesis and maintenance of homeostasis in pulmonary vascular tissues.

Pulmonary vascular endothelial function may be impaired by oxidative stress in endotoxemia-derived acute lung injury. Growing evidence suggests that endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) could play a pivotal role in various respiratory diseases however, it remains unclear whether EndMT participates in the injury/repair process of septic acute lung injury. Here, we analyzed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice whose total number of pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (PVECs) transiently decreased after production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), while the population of EndMT-PVECs significantly increased. NAD(P)H oxidase inhibition suppressed EndMT of PVECs. Most EndMT-PVECs derived from tissue-resident cells, not from bone marrow, as assessed by mice with chimeric bone marrow. Bromodeoxyuridine-incorporation assays revealed higher proliferation of capillary EndMT-PVECs. In addition, EndMT-PVECs strongly expressed c-kit and CD133. LPS loading to human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-Ls) induced reversible EndMT, as evidenced by phenotypic recovery observed after removal of LPS. LPS-induced EndMT-HMVEC-Ls had increased vasculogenic ability, aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, and expression of drug resistance genes, which are also fundamental properties of progenitor cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that LPS induces EndMT of tissue-resident PVECs during the early phase of acute lung injury, partly mediated by ROS, contributing to increased proliferation of PVECs.

Vascular disruption is one of the pathological hallmarks in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Bone marrow (BM)-derived circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and lung tissue-resident EPCs have been considered to play a pivotal role in pulmonary vascular repair; however, which population is predominant in local pulmonary vasculogenesis remains to be clarified. We therefore examined the origin of EPCs participating in the regenerative process of pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (PVECs) in experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome. Lung samples from mice administered LPS intratracheally were investigated for cell dynamics and EPC functions. Quantitative flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the number of PVECs decreased by roughly 20% on Day 1 and then recovered on Day 7 of LPS challenge. Bromodeoxyuridine-incorporation assays and immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that proliferating PVECs preferentially located in the capillary vessels. Experiments using BM chimera mice revealed that most of the regenerating PVECs were tissue-resident cells, and BM-derived cells hardly engrafted as PVECs. The population of circulating putative phenotypical EPCs decreased during the first week after LPS challenge. The regenerating PVECs were characterized by high colony-forming and vasculogenic capacities, intracellular reactive oxygen species scavenging and aldehyde dehydrogenase activites, and enhanced gene expression of Abcb1b (a drug-resistant gene), suggesting that the population of PVECs included tissue-resident EPCs activated during regenerative process of PVECs. The proliferating PVECs expressed CD34, Flk-1/KDR, and c-kit more strongly and Prom1/CD133 less strongly on the surface than nonproliferating PVECs. Our findings indicated that lung tissue-resident EPCs predominantly contribute to pulmonary vascular repair after endotoxin-induced injury.

Exposure to hypoxia induces changes in the structure and functional phenotypes of the cells composing the pulmonary vascular wall from larger to most peripheral vessels. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may be involved in vascular endothelial repair. Resident EPCs with a high proliferative potential are found in the pulmonary microcirculation. However, their potential location, identification, and functional role have not been clearly established. We investigated whether resident EPCs or bone marrow (BM)-derived EPCs play a major role in hypoxic response of pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (PVECs). Mice were exposed to hypoxia. The number of PVECs transiently decreased followed by an increase in hypoxic animals. Under hypoxic conditions for 1 wk, prominent bromodeoxyuridine incorporation was detected in PVECs. Some Ki67-positive cells were detected among PVECs after 1 wk under hypoxic conditions, especially in the capillaries. To clarify the origin of proliferating endothelial cells, we used BM chimeric mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). The percentage of GFP-positive PVECs was low and constant during hypoxia in BM-transplanted mice, suggesting little engraftment of BM-derived cells in lungs under hypoxia. Proliferating PVECs in hypoxic animals showed increased expression of CD34, suggesting hypoxia-induced gene expression and cell surface antigen of EPC or stem/progenitor cells markers. Isolated PVECs from hypoxic mice showed colony- and tube-forming capacity. The present study indicated that hypoxia could induce proliferation of PVECs, and the origin of these cells might be tissue-resident EPCs.

Although the link between pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and exposure to certain drugs has already been identified, we herein present the first case of herbal medicine-associated PAH in which the patient demonstrated spontaneous remission. A 38-year-old woman took the herbal medicine "bofutsushosan" for two weeks then stopped taking it due to exertional dyspnea. However, her dyspnea continued, and right heart catheterization revealed a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 41 mmHg with a normal wedge pressure. Several months after treatment with oxygen therapy, the patient's dyspnea disappeared, and her pulmonary arterial pressure normalized. Further studies focusing on susceptibility factors to drug-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension are needed. © 2013 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.

症例は64歳、女性。肺Mycobacterium avium complex(MAC)症に対して3年間化学療法を継続し病勢は安定していた。化学療法の中止6ヵ月後に陰影が悪化し、さらに右側気胸と胸水貯留を認めた。入院精査にて肺MAC症の悪化に伴う気胸および胸膜炎と診断し、胸腔ドレナージと化学療法を施行した。胸水は減少したが気胸が持続したため、気管支充填術を2回施行したところ肺の再膨張が得られた。本症例は肺MAC症に気胸および胸膜炎を合併し、難治性気胸に対して気管支充填術が有用であった貴重な症例と考えられた。(著者抄録)

PURPOSE: To observe the current situation of tuberculosis and its control measures in hemodialysis facilities in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. METHOD: Questionnaires on medical dialysis and tuberculosis were sent to hemodialysis facilities in Chiba Prefecture. RESULTS: The questionnaires were answered by 55 of 127 facilities. Of the respondents, 46 (83.6%) were not aware of the recommendation of treatment for latent tuberculosis infections in Japanese patients. Moreover, 30 (54.5%) facilities did not examine patients for tuberculosis prior to the initiation of hemodialysis. Of the 21 facilities that did assess patients for tuberculosis infection, only 5 (23.8%) performed a tuberculin skin test or QuantiFERON TB-2G. Three of the five (60.0%) that were treating tuberculosis by themselves expressed fear or uncertainty about the diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis infections. During January 2006 through December 2007, tuberculosis patients were detected in 11 facilities, and the proportion of extrapulmonary tuberculosis among these patients was 52.4%. Seven facilities reported that they took no control measures against tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: It is important to inform medical dialysis facilities about latent tuberculosis infections, the early diagnosis of tuberculosis, and the combination of nosocomial infection control. It is also important for experts in hemodialysis and tuberculosis to work closely together.

PURPOSE: To examine the clinical problems of died cases with pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: Clinical findings of 52 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, who had died in our hospital between April 2005 to March 2007, were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean age was 72.3 10.6 years old, 9 cases (17.3 %) were relapsed, and 35 cases (67.3%) had cavity on the chest X-ray. 34 cases (65.4%) were PS4 and none was PS0 or PS1 on admission. Complications were malignancy in 11 cases, diabetes mellitus in 10 cases, and respiratory diseases in 6 cases. 15 cases (28.8%) were treated with drugs including INH, RFP and PZA, 14 cases (26.9%) with drugs including INH and RFP, 16 cases (30.8%) with the other drugs, and 7 cases (13.5%) were not able to be administered any drug. 35 cases (67.3%) died of tuberculosis and 17 cases (32.7%) died of non-tuberculous conditions. CONCLUSION: Many died cases were under very poor general condition, needed frequent care, had many kind of complications and had difficulty with standard treatment on admission. Tuberculous death were observed highly, but death by complications were observed in many cases. It is necessary to control complications and enlighten society and docters about importance of early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis continuously.

A 79-year-old man with past history of thoracoplasty due to pulmonary tuberculosis visited a general clinic complaining of left back pain and left axillary tumor. As the pus of tumor aspirated was positive for PCR-TB, the patient was diagnosed as pericostal tuberculosis and introduced to our hospital. At first, the operation was considered, but the patient had high risk for the operation because he was old and low body weight and the lesion of tuberculosis in his thorax was very extensive. Anti-tuberculous drugs were administrated and exclusion of pus by needle aspiration was repeated. After starting the treatment, the size of tumor had reduced guradually. Pericostal tuberculosis should be taken into consideration in case of pericostal mass with past history of tuberculosis, and the method of treatment should be decided with considering patient's condition.