Eisuke Mochizuki

Association of the forced oscillation technique with negative expiratory pressure in COPD.

Expiratory flow limitation (EFL) during tidal breathing is common in patients with severe COPD, and a major determinant of dynamic hyperinflation and exercise limitation. The negative expiratory pressure (NEP) technique has been the gold standard to detect EFL, while the forced oscillation technique (FOT) has also been reported to detect it. However, the association of FOT with NEP is not fully understood. We assessed whether broadband frequency FOT would predict the presence of EFL measured by NEP. FOT, NEP, and spirometry were performed in 51 patients with COPD. The extent of emphysema was measured by high-resolution computed tomography and scored. Fifteen patients were classified into the EFL-positive group and 36 into the EFL-negative group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, EFL was independently predicted by emphysema score, forced vital capacity, and whole-breath respiratory system reactance at 5Hz (X5). The receiver operator characteristic curve analysis revealed that inspiratory X5 best predicted EFL-positivity. X5-related forced oscillatory parameters are useful for detecting EFL in the management of COPD.

A case of treatment with voriconazole for chronic progressive pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient receiving tacrolimus for dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease

We report a successful treatment with voriconazole (VRCZ) for chronic progressive pulmonary aspergillosis (CPPA) in a patient with dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (DM-ILD) treated with tacrolimus. A 73-year-old man with DM-ILD, treated with tacrolimus and prednisolone, complained of productive cough and his chest X-ray showed infiltration in the left upper lung field. We diagnosed CPPA and added VRCZ. Although we reduced the dose of tacrolimus for drug interaction, serum VRCZ level increased after the treatment. The patient was found to have cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 *2/*2, a genetic polymorphism in poor metabolizers of VRCZ. We adjusted the doses of both drugs and treated him successfully. We recommend performing individual therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in CYP-mediated drug interactions and considering the effect of CYP polymorphisms.

Severe acute asthma caused by Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection

Asthma exacerbation is associated with respiratory infections, including those by viruses and atypical bacteria. We herein report a case of severe acute asthma in an adult caused by Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection. A 39‐year‐old woman without a history of asthma reported to the emergency department with progressive worsening of cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing with low oxygen saturation. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed patchy ground‐glass opacity and bronchial wall thickening. She was treated with systemic corticosteroids, inhaled short‐acting β2 agonists, aminophylline, doripenem, and levofloxacin. Through successful treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU), her condition and the chest X‐ray and CT findings improved. Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection was confirmed by elevated paired serum C. pneumoniae‐specific IgA antibodies. Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection is an important cause of severe acute asthma. On CT, findings typical of C. pneumoniae pneumonia were noted.

Forced oscillation technique as a predictor of FEV1 improvement in asthma.

The usefulness of the forced oscillation technique (FOT) for predicting the treatment outcomes in untreated asthmatic patients is unknown. We investigated whether FOT could predict an improvement in FEV1 following treatment. FOT, spirometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide were performed in 31 outpatients before and after undergoing a minimum of two months combination therapy of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonists. The patients were classified as responders or nonresponders to treatment based on the presence or absence of a 10% improvement in the FEV1. The responders to the treatment regimen exhibited lower FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%, and higher respiratory resistance at 5Hz (R5), as well as a difference between R5 and R20 (R5-R20) at baseline compared to the nonresponders. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, a change in FEV1 greater than 10% was independently predicted by the R5 (adjusted odds ratio: 15.9). The ROC curve analyses revealed that the area under the curve for R5 (0.731) was larger than that of the other parameters. Thus, R5 is a forced oscillatory parameter and predicts an improvement in FEV1 following treatment.

Sarcoidosis with Pancreatic Mass, Endobronchial Nodules, and Miliary Opacities in the Lung

Sarcoidosis affects multiple organs and rarely has unusual manifestations. A 78-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for coughing symptoms. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed bilateral diffuse miliary patterns and right pleural effusion. Bronchoscopy showed multiple nodules in the carina and the bronchus intermedius. A CT scan of her abdomen revealed hypovascular lesions involving the pancreatic head and body. A transbronchial lung biopsy, bronchial mucosal biopsy, and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of the pancreatic mass demonstrated non-caseating granulomas. We diagnosed the patient with sarcoidosis. She received no treatment for sarcoidosis and has been followed up for one year, during which no pulmonary disease progression had been observed and the pancreatic masses partially regressed.

Undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in hospitalized patients with pneumonia in Japan

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an underdiagnosed lung disease in Japan and worldwide. A nationwide survey in Japan estimated the prevalence to be at least 8.6% (5 million patients) [1]. However, it has been reported that only 220,000 patients are receiving treatment [2]. We hypothesized that some patients hospitalized with pneumonia would have undiagnosed COPD. In this prospective observational single-center study, we clarified the prevalence and clinical features of undiagnosed COPD in hospitalized patients diagnosed with pneumonia.

Early surgical resection for stage I high-grade neuroendocrine caricinoma of lung

RATIONALE: Since high-grade neuroendocrine tumors are rapidly progressive, most cases are inoperable when diagnosed. There are few reports about the prognosis of patients or the course of the disease after surgery. OBJECTIVES: To clarify the clinical course of the disease after surgery and factors influencing the prognosis. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 27 patients receiving surgery for small cell carcinoma (22 cases) and large neuroendocrine carcinoma (5 cases) from January 2005 through January 2015 at our hospital. RESULTS: Patients were all male, with an average age of 70.9 years. Of the 27 patients, 22 had received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 1.1 and 5.5 years, respectively. Ten patients were recurrence-free. Ten patients who underwent surgery within 60 days after the diagnosis demonstrated a better prognosis regarding OS (p CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical resection for high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma stage I may lead to a better prgonosis.

Anaphylaxis caused by tipepidine hibenzate, a central antitussive drug.

Tipepidine hibenzate, a central antitussive drug, is widely used in the management of cough and is generally safe and well tolerated. We present here a case of anaphylaxis caused by this drug. When the patient had caught a cold over the previous 10 years, she had received medications, including tipepidine hibenzate, from her family doctor. However, this time, she developed dyspnea, skin eruption, and anaphylactic shock after taking a Chinese herbal medicine and this drug. After her conditions improved due to adequate treatment, she was referred to our hospital to confirm the causative drug. Double‐blind placebo‐controlled oral challenge tests were performed after obtaining informed consent. Oral challenge with one‐third tablet dose of tipepidine hibenzate caused a positive reaction. Urinary leukotriene E4 rose during the challenge with tipepidine hibenzate, but not with control. Clinicians should keep in mind that common antitussive drug use can cause anaphylactic reactions in very rare cases and can be harmful.

Pollen count and exhaled nitric oxide levels in a seasonal allergic rhinitis patient

The subject was a 52‐year‐old man with Japanese cedar pollinosis, which developed between February and May. He had no history of asthma and was an ex‐smoker. He underwent fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurements twice a week from 2010 to 2012. The pollen counts in 2010 were the lowest during the last decade, and the FeNO level was less than 30 ppb for the whole year. In contrast, the mean pollen count in 2011 was very high and the patients FeNO level rose to more than 100 ppb. The mean pollen count in 2012 was comparable with that of 2010; however, high counts were detected in April and May, and the FeNO level rose to 70 ppb during the latter stages of the pollen season. These results indicate that pollen counts should be taken into consideration during the interpretation of FeNO data in asthma or allergic rhinitis.