Nobumasa Kakemizu

Role of superoxide anions in airway hyperresponsiveness induced by cigarette smoke in conscious guinea pigs

To investigate the involvement of superoxide in airway hyperresponsiveness and bronchoconstriction induced by cigarette smoke (CS), we evaluated the effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD), a scavenger of superoxide anion, and apocynin, an inhibitor of superoxide anion-generating NADPH oxidase in phagocytes, on the airway responses induced by CS in conscious guinea pigs. Airway responsiveness was assessed by PC2OOMch, the concentration required to produce a doubling in the baseline specific airway resistance (sRaw) to an inhaled methacholine aerosol, in nonanesthetized spontaneously breathing animals. Before being exposed to ten puffs of CS, animals inhaled either SOD (5,000 units/ml or 25,000 units/ml) or vehicle. Although SOD did not affect PC2OOMch, in the air control group, this agent significantly reduced the CS-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. Repeated administration of apocynin (12 mg/kg for 4 days) did not affect PC2OOMch, after exposure to CS. These data suggest that the superoxide from CS was involved in the airway hyperresponsiveness induced by CS, whereas phagocytic reactive oxygen species were not. The data also suggest a potential therapeutic role for antioxidants in airway hyperresponsiveness.

Large cell carcinoma of the lung metastatic to nuchal muscle

Abstract Clinically apparent hematogenous skeletal muscle metastases from lung cancer are extremely rare. We present a 72‐year‐old man with a large cell lung carcinoma metastatic to nuchal muscle. Cervical computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the presence of a well‐defined mass in the left splenius capitis muscle. A percutaneous needle biopsy was performed to establish a diagnosis. Localized skeletal muscle swelling may rarely prove to be metastases in patients with lung cancer, but should be investigated in the case of muscle swelling.