Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic ODK0501 assay for detecting Streptococcus pneumoniae antigens in the sputum of pneumonia patients with positive S. pneumoniae urinary antigens.

BACKGROUND: A novel, rapid and noninvasive test (ODK0501, RAPIRUN(®)Streptococcus pneumoniae) uses polyclonal antibodies to detect C polysaccharide of S. pneumoniae derived from sputum samples using an immunochromatographic assay. We evaluated its usefulness in Japanese patients with pneumonia who exhibited positive urinary antigen tests for S. pneumoniae (BinaxNOW(®)S. pneumoniae). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty adult patients with pneumonia treated between May 2011 and August 2013 were enrolled. Bacterial cultures, Gram staining and ODK0501 assays of sputum as well as urinary antigen tests for S. pneumoniae using urine samples obtained from the same patients were performed upon admission, the fourth day after starting antimicrobial treatment and at the end of the antimicrobial treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of the 40 patients were positive for ODK0501, while a negative result for ODK0501 was associated with low-quality sputum samples according to the Geckler classification of sputum. The sensitivity and specificity of the ODK0501 assay in the 40 patients were 90.9% and 61.1%, respectively, based on the culture results. The results obtained with this kit were more favorable than those observed on Gram staining. The ODK0501 assay also showed a rapid reaction to the disappearance of S. pneumoniae in the sputum samples, while approximately 80% of the patients exhibited persistent positive results on the urinary antigen detection tests at the end of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The ODK0501 test is a noninvasive, rapid and accurate tool for diagnosing respiratory infections caused by S. pneumoniae, although good quality sputum must be obtained prior to adequate treatment with antibiotics.

[Efficacy and safety of azithromycin infusion in patients with mild or moderate community-acquired pneumonia].

Azithromycin (AZM) is one of 15-membered rings macrolide antibiotics with wide spectrum of antimicrobial efficacy for Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and also atypical bacteria. So far, there had been no reports of the prospective studies evaluating efficacy and safety of AZM infusion in patients with mild or moderate community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study was conducted to evaluate prospectively the efficacy and safety of AZM in patients with mild or moderate CAP. AZM 500 mg was intravenously administered once daily, and the clinical efficacy were evaluated by clinical symptoms, peripheral blood laboratory findings and chest X-rays. Sixty-four patients were firstly registered, and eventually 61 and 62 patients were enrolled for the evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety of AZM, respectively. The efficacy of AZM in 61 patients evaluated was 88.5%. In addition, the efficacies of AZM in each pneumonia severity index by A-DROP system by the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) guideline in CAP were 85.2% in mild and 91.2% in moderate. Furthermore, the efficacy of AZM in each differentiation between suspicion of bacterial pneumonia and that of atypical pneumonia by JRS guideline in CAP were 91.7% in suspicion of atypical pneumonia, and its efficacy was high than that of bacterial pneumonia. Nineteen patients (20 cases; 15 with liver dysfunction, 4 with diarrhea, 1 with vascular pain) out of 62 patients were reported to have possible adverse effects of AZM. All of the patients with these adverse effects demonstrated mild dysfunction and continued AZM treatment, and these dysfunctions normalized soon after cessation of AZM. In conclusion, AZM is effective drug for patients with mild or moderate CAP, and we believe that it may be one of effective choice in the treatment of CAP patients who need hospitalization.

[Efficacy and safety of levofloxacin in patients with nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia].

Levofloxacin (LVFX) is one of respiratory quinolones with wide spectrum of antimicrobial efficacy for Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and also atypical bacteria, and 500 mg of intravenous LVFX infusion has recently been able to use once daily based on pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics in Japan. So far, there had been no reports of the prospective studies evaluating efficacy and safety of LVFX in patients with nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP). This study was conducted to evaluate prospectively the efficacy and safety of LVFX in patients with NHCAP categories B and C (other antibacterial agents were allowed to use with LVFX) according to Japanese guideline for NHCAP by the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS). LVFX 500 mg was intravenously administered once daily, and the clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated by clinical symptoms, peripheral blood laboratory findings and chest X-rays. Sixty-two patients (average age was 81.2 years old, female/male was 22/40) were firstly registered and evaluated for the safety of LVFX, and eventually 54 patients were enrolled for the evaluation of clinical efficacy of LVFX. The percentage of these 54 patients aged over 65 years old was 96.3%, NHCAP category B/C was 33/21. The efficacy of LVFX in all 54 patients evaluated was 85.2% (categories B/C of NHCAP was 81.8/90.5%). In addition, the efficacies of LVFX in each pneumonia severity category by A-DROP system by JRS in NHCAP patients were 100% in mild, 86.7% in moderate, 77.8% in severe/very severe. Nine patients (2 with liver dysfunction, 6 with renal dysfunction and 1 with thrombocytopenia) out of 62 patients were reported to have possible adverse effects of LVFX. All of the patients with liver and renal dysfunctions after starting LVFX administration demonstrated mild dysfunctions and continued LVFX treatment, and these dysfunctions normalized soon after cessation of LVFX. LVFX was changed to other antibacterial agent in one patient with thrombocytopenia, and also thrombocytopenia was normalized thereafter. In conclusion, LVFX is effective and relatively safe for categories B and C in patients with NHCAP.

[Evaluation of the antiemetic effect of aprepitant in lung cancer patients receiving carboplatin-based chemotherapy using the Functional Living Index-Emesis questionnaire].

In the present study, we evaluated the antiemetic effect of aprepitant in combination with 5-hydroxytryptophan(5-HT3) receptor antagonist and dexamethasone for chemotherapy-induced emesis and nausea in lung cancer patients treated with carboplatin-based systemic chemotherapy using the Functional Living Index-Emesis, an emesis- and nausea-specific quality of life(QOL)questionnaire. Patients experiencing emesis and/or nausea during and/or after previous courses of carboplatin-based chemotherapy received aprepitant in the following treatment cycle with the same anti-cancer agent. Emesis- and nausea-specific QOL aspects were significantly improved with the addition of aprepitant to the existing regimen containing dexamethasone and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. Our result suggests that combined antiemetic treatment with aprepitant, dexamethasone, and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist is more effective in lung cancer patients receiving carboplatin-based systemic chemotherapy than dexamethasone and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist alone.

[Efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin in patients with nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia].

Moxifloxacin (MFLX) is a respiratory quinolone, and is effective against not only Gram-positive and negative bacteria but also anaerobes. There has been no prospective studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of MFLX in patients with nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP). Therefore, we assessed the efficacy and safety of MFLX in patients with NHCAP. NHCAP patients with mild and moderate severity assessed by the A-DROP system in community-acquired pneumonia guideline proposed by Japan Respiratory Society visited our hospitals from April 2011 to March 2012. Clinical symptoms, chest X-ray films and/or computed tomography, peripheral white and red blood cell and platelet counts, serum CRP, AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine were evaluated. Forty patients were eventually evaluated, and average age was 74.1 years old, male/female were 21/19, 92.5% (37/40) of them had one or more comorbidities. Median duration of MFLX administration was 7.1 days (4-15 days). The efficacy of MFLX in all patients was 87.5% (35/40). The efficacies in each age group were 87.9% (aged over 65 years old), 85.7% (aged under 64 years old), and in each pneumonia severity group by the A-DROP system were 91.7% (mild), 85.7% (moderate). Diarrhea and swelling of the breast were observed in one patient (2.5%) after starting MFLX administration. Mild elevated transaminases were observed in three patients (7.5%), and mild renal dysfunction was observed in two patients (5.0%). All abnormally increased levels of transaminases and serum creatinine were recovered after a cessation of MFLX. MFLX is effective and safe in patients with NHCAP.

[Retrospective analysis of the safety of four hours administration of liposomal amphotericin B in patients with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis].

We have retrospectively analyzed the safety of 4 hours administration of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) compared to less than or equal to 3 hours administration in patients with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA). The elevation of serum creatinine in the group with 4 hours administration of L-AMB in patients with CNPA was equal to the group with shorter administration time (less than or equal to three hours). During the administration of L-AMB, the group with 4 hours administration of LAMB had significantly a safer profile in relation to hypokalemia during L-AMB treatment than the group with shorter administration time. Additionally, white cell counts, platelet counts, serum creatinine, AST, ALT were not significantly different between L-AMB 4 hours administration group and less than or equal to 3 hours administration group. As the group with 4 hours administration of L-AMB had significantly a safer profile in relation to hypokalemia during L-AMB treatment, this modality can be one of the safer ways in the treatment of CNPA. As L-AMB is one of the fungicidal agents, 4 hours administration of L-AMB can be an optimal way of treating CNPA.

[A case of localized malignant pleural mesothelioma].

A 74-year-old man was referred to our hospital for examination of an abnormal chest shadow. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 5-cm mass attached to the pleura involving the right upper lobe, and a nodule in the right middle lobe. Transbronchial lung biopsy was performed twice, but no definitive diagnosis was achieved. 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed abnormal uptake in the chest lesion. Chemotherapy was initiated for advanced-stage lung cancer, but was not effective. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical examinations after CT-guided needle biopsy revealed malignant mesothelioma. The tumor cells were positive for calretinin and thrombomodulin, and negative for CEA, TTF-1, and SP-A. There was local tumor invasion and metastasis in the lung and brain, without diffuse pleural spread. This is a rare and important case of localized malignant mesothelioma pathologically confirmed by biopsy.

Detection of MALT1 gene rearrangements in BAL fluid cells for the diagnosis of pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma constitutes approximately 90% of primary pulmonary lymphoma, and the diagnosis of pulmonary MALT lymphoma often requires invasive methods such as surgical lung biopsy. Chromosomal rearrangements involving MALT lymphoma translocation gene 1 (MALT1) have been reported to be specific for MALT lymphoma. The combination of BAL and cytologic approaches with molecular methods is useful for the diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders. Therefore, we examined the detection of MALT1 gene rearrangements in BAL fluid (BALF) cells for the diagnosis of MALT lymphoma. METHODS: We determined the percentage of BALF cells with MALT1 gene rearrangements by using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method in 10 patients suspected to have pulmonary MALT lymphoma. RESULTS: MALT1 gene rearrangements in BALF cells were found in four of five cases with pulmonary MALT lymphoma (percentage of BALF cells with MALT1 gene rearrangements: 21.8% ± 6.8%). On the other hand, MALT1 gene rearrangements in BALF cells were negative in the five cases without pulmonary MALT lymphoma and one case with pulmonary MALT lymphoma. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the detection of MALT1 gene rearrangements in BALF cells is useful for the diagnosis of pulmonary MALT lymphoma, as it is a specific method that is less invasive than surgical biopsy. Because of the small number of patients in this study, further investigations are necessary to evaluate the detection rate of MALT1 gene rearrangements in BALF cells from patients with pulmonary MALT lymphoma.

A case of successful treatment with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column direct hemoperfusion in acute respiratory distress syndrome after influenza A infection.

We report a case of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after influenza A infection who was successfully treated with combined treatment including direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMX-DHP) column. A 56-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital in January 2010 because of progressive dyspnea, hypoxemia, fever and bilateral diffuse infiltration on chest radiograph after pandemic influenza A infection. His chest computed tomography showed diffuse and patchy bilateral ground-glass opacities, and we diagnosed ARDS after influenza A infection. The patient was successfully treated with PMX-DHP in addition to the treatment with oseltamivir, corticosteroid, sivelestat and antibiotics with mechanical ventilation, and the patient recovered with only minor pulmonary fibrotic change. Although the efficacy of PMX-DHP treatment in patients with acute lung injury (ALI)/ARDS after influenza virus infection is not well established, this treatment could be a possible therapeutic modality in treating the patients with this disease.