Kiyoshi Ninomiya

Increased circulating levels of soluble Fas ligand are correlated with disease activity in patients with fibrosing lung diseases

Objective: The Fas–Fas ligand (FasL) pathway is one of the important apoptosis‐signalling molecule systems. We previously determined that this pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of fibrosing lung diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical significance of the levels of soluble forms of Fas (sFas) and FasL (sFasL) in serum from patients with fibrosing lung diseases.

Steroid treatment based on the findings of transbronchial biopsy in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia

This study was performed to find the rationale for administering steroids to patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), which was unlikely to be usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) but was not surgically biopsied. Among IIP patients in the file of the departments, nine patients who met the following criteria were selected for this study (“non-UIP” group): 1) transbronchial lung biopsy showed dense mononuclear cell infiltration in thickened alveolar septa; 2) chest radiograph and computed tomography showed irregular linear, reticular or ground-glass opacities with alveolar consolidation without honeycombing in the lung base; and 3) spirometry was performed before and after steroid therapy. Ten patients with pathologically confirmed nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (“NSIP” group) were also selected for the comparison. Baseline values and percentage increase of vital capacity (VC) after steroid therapy were plotted. Steroids improved VC in both groups of patients. After 1 yr of steroid therapy, percentage increase of VC in “non-UIP” was 28.8±7.7%, which was not significantly different from that in NSIP (30.0±11.7%). One “non-UIP” patient and one NSIP patient died after 6.4 and 4.3 yrs of follow-up, respectively. Patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia presenting cellular interstitial pneumonia in transbronchial lung biopsy, in addition to radiographic findings not typical for usual interstitial pneumonia, could expect a beneficial effect of steroids without undergoing surgical biopsy.

Phase II study of uracil‐tegafur plus cisplatin in patients with previously untreated advanced non‐small cell lung cancer

Background and objective:  A multi‐institutional phase II trial combining uracil‐tegafur (UFT) and cisplatin (CDDP) was conducted in patients with previously untreated advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this combined treatment regimen.

Phase II trial of combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, carboplatin and etoposide in stage IIIB and IV small-cell lung cancer

Purpose: A phase II trial combining cisplatin, carboplatin and etoposide was conducted in previously untreated patients with stage IIIB and IV small-cell lung cancer, in an attempt to increase response rates and prolong survival. Methods: Previously untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer, with measurable disease, aged ≤ 72 years, performance status ≤ 2, and adequate hematologic, hepatic and renal function were enrolled in the study. They were treated with 80 mg/m2 cisplatin on day 1, 100 mg/m2 carboplatin on days 2, 3 and 8, and 50 mg/m2 etoposide on days 1, 2, 3 and 8. Results: A total of 46 patients (20 with stage IIIB and 26 with stage IV disease) were enrolled in the study. A total of 186 courses of chemotherapy were given, and the dose was reduced in 27 courses (15%). The chemotherapy was repeated for four or more courses in 30 patients. There were 10 complete responses and 32 partial responses, for a total response rate of 91% (95% confidence interval, 79% to 98%). The median survival time and 2-year survival rates were 18 months and 22% for stage IIIB disease, and 14 months and 15% for stage IV disease. Major side effects were hematologic: leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia of grade 3 or more occurred in 48%, 46%, and 43% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: The three-drug regimen of cisplatin, carboplatin and etoposide is feasible and active against small-cell lung cancer.

A Comparative Study of Ofloxacin Twice and Three Times Daily in the Treatment of Respiratory Tract Infections

~-Streptococci 2 4 Staphylococcus 6 2 aureus Haemophilus 2 5 influenzae Pseudomonas 2 3 aeruginosa Other 4 5 Normal flora 12 11 a Mean ± standard deviation. Abbreviations: BID = twice daily; TID = three times daily. In Japan, ofloxacin 100 to 200mg three times daily is the usual dosage regimen in the treatment of RTIs, while in Europe 200mg twice daily is the usual regimen, based on its elimination half-life of about 4 hours. We performed a study comparing ofloxacin 200mg twice daily (BID group) vs 200mg three times daily (TID group), in the treatment of RTIs.

Chloramine-T potenciate elastase-induced emphysema in guinea pigs

場 合のみ有意 差を もって平均肺胞径 の拡大が認め られた (図3).ク ロラ ミンT腹 腔 内処置 のみ の平均肺胞径は, 生食処置群 とのあい だに差 を認 めなか った. (2)血 清中お よび気 管支肺 洗浄液 中の蛋 白分解酵素阻 害物 質の機能 を示すEIC, TICは,生 食 の腹腔処置群 を100%と す る と,今 回われわれ の用いた量 のクロラ ミ ンTで は有意の機能低下 は認 め られ なか った(図4) . (3)摘出肺ヘエ ラスタ ーゼの気管 内注入 を行い一定時 間後の肺組織の組織像 にて,肺 組織破壊 による気腫化 の 程度は,生 食処置群 に比 しクロラ ミンT処 置群 において も有意 の差 は認 め られ なか ったこ とよ り,ク ロラ ミンT に よる肺結合織 の直接 的破壊作用 および注入 エラスター ゼに よる肺結合織 の破壊 を助 ける作用 は認 め られなか っ た(data not shown). 試験管 内で α1ア ンチ トリプシ ンのエ ラスターゼ結合 部位にあ るメチオ ニル残 基を不活化す る酸化剤 クロラ ミ *Research Institute for Diseases of The Chest , Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University九 州