[A Case of Concomitant Administration of Anti-Cancer Drug and Anti-Tuberculosis Drug for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Developed during Postoperative Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer].

An 86-year-old man was referred to our hospital with pulmonary tuberculosis developed during postoperative chemotherapy for gastric cancer. We initiated treatment with an anti-tuberculosis drug. Following confirmation of the effectiveness of this regimen, we combined the treatment with anti-cancer drugs. Tuberculosis treatment was completed without any drug interactions or serious side effects due to multidrug administration. For cancer patients who developed tuberculosis, combination treatment requires careful observation; however, it is a treatment option that can control both diseases.

[THE GENETIC EXAMINATION OF BRONCHIAL LAVAGE ENABLES THE PROMPT DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY MYCOBACTERIUM KANSASII--A CASE REPORT].

A 59-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma presented at our hospital with an abnormal shadow on the chest radiograph, which was obtained as part of a routine medical examination. Computed tomography of the chest revealed two nodules in the right upper lung with the longest diameter measuring 29 mm and 10 mm, respectively. A granulomatous disease was strongly suspected based on the histological features of the transbronchial lung biopsy specimen. Results of smear examination for mycobacteria and genetic examination of the bronchial lavage aspirate by the transcription reverse transcription concerted (TRC) reaction method for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. avium complex (MAC), were both negative. However, three days after the bronchoscopic examination, an additional genetic examination by the TRC method confirmed the diagnosis of M. kansasii infection. About two weeks later, the culture results were positive and M. kansasii infection was re-confirmed with the DNA probe method. The patient responded well to treatment with a combination of isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol. In Japan, among the nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, the prevalence of pulmonary M.kansasii disease is second only to infection with MAC. However, it is often difficult to distinguish this disease from pulmonary tuberculosis. In this patient, a genetic examination with the TRC method enabled a prompt diagnosis of M. kansasii infection. The TRC method appears to be a useful tool for diagnosing nontubercular mycobacterial infections.

A case of acute and severe thrombocytopenia due to readministration of rifampicin.

A 49-year-old-woman was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the left humerus. She had received treatment, including rifampicin, for tuberculosis 17 years previously. Treatment was begun with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide, but these were discontinued because of mild neutropenia and thrombocytopenia 2 weeks posttreatment. Rifampicin and ethambutol were readministered after a 4-day interruption; however, generalized purpura appeared several hours later. By the next day, her platelet count was reduced from 160 × 10(3) to 3 × 10(3)/µl. The patient improved rapidly after platelet transfusion and steroid treatment. Readministration of drugs other than rifampicin did not induce thrombocytopenia; therefore, thrombocytopenia was likely due to rifampicin.

Minimal influence of tocilizumab on IFN-gamma synthesis by tuberculosis antigens.

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production is a critical step of antituberculosis (anti-TB) immune response. The purpose of this study was to determine the influences of biologics, including the interleukin (IL)-6 receptor-inhibitor tocilizumab (TCZ), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists infliximab (INF) and etanercept (ETA), on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) antigen-induced IFN-gamma production. MTB antigen (ESAT-6 and CFP-10)-induced IFN-gamma-releasing assay was performed with or without addition of biologics (TCZ, ETA, and INF) using whole blood from patients with active TB. ETA and INF inhibited IFN-gamma production in a dose-dependent manner. In whole blood from TB patients, ESAT-6 stimulated significant production of IFN-gamma (1.30 +/- 1.95 IU/ml), and TCZ did not inhibit IFN-gamma production (1.56 +/- 1.88 IU/ml). IFN-gamma production by ESAT-6 was inhibited by ETA and INF (0.98 +/- 1.74, 0.75 +/- 1.66 IU/ml, respectively). CFP-10 stimulated significant production of IFN-gamma (1.46 +/- 1.60 IU/ml), and TCZ did not inhibit IFN-gamma production (1.51 +/- 1.77 IU/ml). IFN-gamma production by CFP-10 was inhibited by ETA and INF (0.91 +/- 0.99, 0.72 +/- 0.88 IU/ml, respectively). TCD did not inhibit MTB antigen-induced IFN-gamma production. As IFN-gamma production is important in antimycobacterial host defenses, the minimal influence of TCZ on IFN-gamma-releasing assay suggests a low risk of latent TB infection reactivation during tocilizumab therapy.

[Tuberculosis and its control measures for homeless people: implementation of chest X-ray examination for three successive years].

PURPOSE: To clarify the status of tuberculosis and its control measures for homeless people. OBJECT AN METHODS: Chest X-ray examinations were conducted for 1,309, 1,545, 1,546 homeless people, annually between 2003 and 2005. RESULTS: Homeless people with old tuberculous foci accounted for about 30%, and about 2% were judged to need immediate medical treatment. Thirty cases needed treatment in 2005, and thirteen of these twenty cases had shown healed tuberculous shadows at the previous examinations. The annual incidence rate (3/20) of tuberculosis cases among persons with Type IV (inactive) lesions in 857 participants in both 2004 and 2005 was 11.2 times higher than the rate (8/597) among those who did not show chest X-ray abnormalities. CONCLUSION: The annual incidence of tuberculosis among persons with Type IV lesions was higher than those who did not show chest radiographic abnormalities. It is thus necessary to establish prophylactic treatment criteria for persons with Type IV lesions by using a new method such as QFT.

Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax observed during the administration of gefitinib for lung adenocarcinoma with multiple lung metastases.

A 41-year-old man with productive cough was admitted to our hospital. His chest roentgenogram showed multiple small nodules in the bilateral lung fields. The nodules were revealed as intrapulmonary metastases of the adenocarcinoma of the lung. Systemic chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin was not effective, and continuous oral gefitinib therapy was initiated. Twenty-one days later, spontaneous pneumothorax was found in the left lung, and four days after that, in the right lung as well. The extent of the pneumothorax was slight; therefore, he recovered without drainage within several days. Spontaneous pneumothorax, especially bilateral pneumothorax, is a rare complication of chemotherapy for lung cancer.

Infective tricuspid valve endocarditis with pulmonary emboli caused by Campylobacter fetus after tooth extraction.

We describe a case of infective endocarditis caused by Campylobacter fetus accompanied by pulmonary emboli. A 52-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to febrile temperatures with a history of dental treatment followed by eating raw meat. Computed tomography revealed multiple infiltrations and a nodule with low attenuation area and feeding vessels. A mobile mass, possible vegetation, attached to the tricuspid valve was detected by transthoracic echocardiography. Two blood cultures disclosed Campylobacter fetus. Long-term antibiotic therapy was given, curing the infection with valvuloplasty. We presented the possibility that infective Campylobacter fetus endocarditis after dental treatment was caused by eating raw meat.