Correlation of 4-meter gait speed with clinical indicators of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Measuring daily physical activity and exercise capacity is recommended in the routine care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The 4-m gait speed (4mGS) is simple and effective in stratifying patients according to exercise performance, dyspnea, health status, and prognosis. We assessed the reliability of the 4mGS as a clinical marker by examining its association with established clinical indicators among hospitalized patients with COPD. METHODS: This retrospective study included 78 patients hospitalized with COPD (mean age: 76.3 ± 0.9 years; males, n = 69) between January 2016 and June 2018 who were assessed using the 4mGS and divided into slow (<0.8 m/s) and normal (≥0.8 m/s) 4mGS groups. Clinical characteristics were compared, including death during the observation period, time to first exacerbation, and long-term oxygen therapy requirement. RESULTS: There were strong relationships between 4mGS performance, the 6-min walk test (R = 0.70; p < 0.0001), and the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (R = 0.68; p < 0.0001) among the 78 patients. The slow 4mGS group had a higher frequency of death during the observation period (p = 0.0095) and a greater requirement for long-term oxygen therapy (p = 0.0063). The 4mGS correlated with inspiratory capacity (IC) and IC/total lung capacity ratios, which are respiratory failure indicators. CONCLUSIONS: The 4mGS is a simple and easy method of assessing the physical condition as well as estimating the prognosis of patients with COPD, and may serve as a useful marker in home medical treatment or clinical settings.

The Evaluation of the Sputum Antigen Kit in the Diagnosis of Pneumococcal Pneumonia.

Objective A previously developed sputum antigen detection kit for Streptococcus pneumoniae enabled the early diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia using sputum samples. We conducted a prospective study to compare the sensitivity of the sputum and urinary antigen kits. Methods Pneumonia patients who were treated from April 2014 to September 2015 were recruited for the present study. Patients with pneumococcal pneumonia who could not participate in the prospective arm of the study were analyzed in the retrospective arm. Results Nine of the 69 participants in the prospective study had pneumococcal pneumonia. The sputum antigen kit results correlated well with the sputum culture results. The sensitivity of the sputum antigen kit was 88.9% (8/9), which was higher than that of the urinary antigen kit (5/9; 55.6%). When patients from the retrospective arm of the study were included, the sensitivity of the sputum culture was 93.5% (29/31), which was significantly higher than that of the urinary antigen kit (19/31; 60.6%). False positives were obtained using the sputum antigen kit in four cases. Three of the four false positives were suspected to have resulted from the administration of antibiotics prior to the use of the kit; the remaining case likely occurred due to a false reaction to S. milleri-induced pyothorax. Conclusion Collectively, our findings suggest that the sputum antigen kit has a higher sensitivity for detecting S. pneumoniae than the urinary antigen kit. However, the prior administration of antibiotics can render the sputum culture results negative or lead to a false-positive result.

The clinical efficacy and safety of micafungin-itraconazole combination therapy in patients with pulmonary aspergilloma.

In spite of recent advances in chemotherapy, the treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma remains unsatisfactory. To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of combination therapy for pulmonary aspergilloma, we conducted a multi-institutional prospective study using micafungin (MCFG) and itraconazole (ITCZ). Adult patients who fulfilled the criteria for pulmonary aspergilloma were enrolled in this study. After patient consent had been obtained, intravenous MCFG 150 mg/day and an oral capsule of ITCZ 200 mg/day were administered for at least 1 month. The primary endpoint was the response assessed using an algorithm that incorporated the levels of improvement by evaluating clinical symptoms and signs, mycological and serological tests, and diagnostic imaging. A total of 17 patients were enrolled from three facilities. The response rate to the combination therapy was 58.8% (10/17). The long-term control in the group of patients who responded to treatment was better than that in the group of patients who did not respond. Adverse events occurred in 6 of the 17 patients (35.3%), but there were no severe adverse events. MCFG-ITCZ combination therapy appeared to be relatively safe and effective in patients with pulmonary aspergilloma.

The clinical efficacy and safety of a fluoroquinolone-containing regimen for pulmonary MAC disease.

Despite recent advances in chemotherapy, the treatment of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease remains unsatisfactory. Judging from its MIC, fluoroquinolones including gatifloxacin (GFLX) are expected to demonstrate efficacy against MAC disease. However, there have been few clinical studies using fluoroquinolones. Therefore, a prospective study to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a fluoroquinolone-containing regimen for the treatment of pulmonary MAC disease was conducted. In this trial, patients with pulmonary MAC disease received protocol-guided combined chemotherapy with rifampin (RFP) and ethambutol (EB) plus either GFLX or clarithromycin (CAM). Adult patients who fulfilled the criteria of the ATS definition of pulmonary MAC disease were enrolled in this study. The patients provided their informed consent, and treatments were administered for 1 year. Of 27 patients enrolled from three facilities, 14 patients were treated with the CAM-containing regimen and 13 patients were treated with the GFLX-containing regime. Four patients did not complete the 1-year treatment because of adverse events. Nine patients (64.3%) in the CAM group and 11 patients (84.6%) in the GFLX group achieved eradication of pathogens. Adverse events were observed more frequently in the GFLX group than in the CAM group. However, there were no severe adverse events in either group. The long-term results showed a similar relapse rate between the CAM and GFLX groups. The fluoroquinolone-containing regimen demonstrated both high efficacy and relative safety for pulmonary MAC disease that was similar to that of the CAM-containing regimen, which is considered to be the standard regimen.

[Clinical investigation of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis --investigation of inpatients in the Kyushu region between 2004 and 2009].

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a clinical investigation of patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis who received either drug therapy alone or drug therapy in combination with surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 56 patients with MDR tuberculosis who were admitted to hospitals of the National Hospital Organization in the Kyushu region between January 2004 and September 2009 and received drug therapy either alone or in combination with surgery were investigated. RESULTS: As surgery could not be performed in patients with advanced age or with bilateral extensive lesions, only 12 patients (21%) were able to undergo surgery. Initial drug resistance was seen in 10 patients (23%) in the drug therapy group and four patients (33%) in the combination therapy group. Underlying diseases included diabetes in 15 patients (34%) in the drug therapy group and in 6 patients (50%) in the combination therapy group. Negative conversion of the sputum culture result was observed in 43% in the drug therapy group and in 75% in the combination therapy group. The death within three years was seen in 20 patients (45%) in the drug therapy group and 1 patient (8%) in the combination therapy group. In the drug therapy group there were more cases with resistance to 5 drugs, resistance to levofloxacin (LVFX), and/or kanamycin (KM) in those who died of tuberculosis than in non-tuberculous death cases. CONCLUSION: Resistance to 5 drugs, resistance to LVFX, and resistance to KM were contributing factors of tuberculous death. Patient's operability was one of the factors associated with a good prognosis.

[A case of pulmonary actinomycosis mimicking chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis].

A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with fever, appetite loss, and fatigue. Chest X-ray films and computed tomography scans showed fungus-ball-like lesions in the thoracic cavity, and pleural thickening with surrounding infiltration in the left upper lobe, developing over several months. The white blood cell count (WBC) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of the patient at the time of admission were 8800/microl and 2.7 mg/dl, respectively. He showed a negative reaction for the serum Aspergillus precipitating antibody, and a positive reaction for the serum Aspergillus antigen (Pletelia Aspergillus) according to the new cut-off index (the result was 0.8). From these clinical findings, we diagnosed this lesion as chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA) and administered anti-fungal drugs (itraconazole plus micafungin, voriconazole) for several months. Despite medication, his condition appeared to deteriorate, and Aspergillus was never confirmed from frequent sputum cultures and bronchial lavage specimens. Finally, a pneumectomy was performed. Histopathological findings revealed a Gram-positive, filament-form Actinomyces cluster inside the cavity, which we diagnosed pulmonary actinomycosis. In this case, there was a possibility that the serum aspergillus antigen showed a false-positive reaction. Case must be taken in the evaluation of serum Aspergillus antigen testing.

Comparison of Aspergillus galactomannan antigen testing with a new cut-off index and Aspergillus precipitating antibody testing for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The usefulness of two tests in the serodiagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) was compared. The tests were the serum Aspergillus galactomannan antigen test (Platelia (R) Aspergillus) by enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) using old and new cut-off indexes, and the Aspergillus precipitating antibody test. METHODS: Both Aspergillus-precipitating antibody and Platelia Aspergillus EIA positivity were measured in the sera of 28 patients at the time of diagnosis of CPA. RESULTS: Serum Aspergillus precipitating antibody positivity was 89.3% (25/28) in CPA patients. Serum Platelia Aspergillus EIA positivity was 21.4% (6/28) using the old cut-off index (> or =1.5) and 50% (14/28) using the new cut-off index (> or =0.5)-still less than that for Aspergillus precipitating antibody. Three of the 28 CPA patients had positive reactions in the Platelia Aspergillus EIA using the old cut-off index but not in the Aspergillus precipitating antibody test. Positivity for (1,3) beta-d glucan was 15.4%, and that for culture on CHROMagar Candida was 17.9%. One patient with pulmonary actinomycosis had a false-positive reaction in the Platelia Aspergillus test with the new cut-off index. CONCLUSIONS: For the diagnosis of CPA, Aspergillus precipitating antibody testing is more sensitive than the Platelia Aspergillus EIA, even with the new cut-off index. False-positive reactions are observed with the Platelia Aspergillus EIA in patients with conditions such as pulmonary actinomycosis. Results should be interpreted with care when patients are positive for the Platelia Aspergillus EIA but negative for Aspergillus precipitating antibody.

[Clinical analysis of cases with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis--inpatients at National Hospitals in Kyushu between 1998 and 2003].

PURPOSE: Clinical analysis of inpatients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Kyushu. OBJECT AND METHOD: Clinical analysis of fifty-six patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, who were admitted between 1998 and 2003, at 12 national hospitals in Kyushu was performed retrospectively. RESULTS: The average age was 62.1 +/- 18.6 years, with an age range of 21 to 95 years. There were 44 males and 12 females. Seven of the 14 patients, who were under 49 years old, had not received treatment previously. Twenty nine patients had underlying diseases, which included 10 (17.9%) diabetes mellitus, 5 (8.9%) hepatic disease, and 4 (7.1%) renal insufficiency. Clinical classification of the cases were 54 pulmonary and 2 extrapulmonary tuberculosis. There were 41 (75.9%) bilateral lesions of the lung. In 8 cases, strains were resistant to only 2 drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin). In 27 cases, strains were resistant to at least 5 drugs. The prognosis was as follows: In 27 patients who were resistant to at least 5 drugs, six patients (22.2%) converted to negative on culture and 10 patients (37.0%) died. In 29 patients who were resistant to less than 5 drugs, seventeen patients (58.6%) converted to negative on culture and 6 patients (20.7%) died. Surgical operation was performed in only 7 cases. The sputum smear and culture of 2 surgical patients, who had poor control of diabetes mellitus, became positive thereafter. The other 5 surgical patients were in remission with negative cultures. CONSIDERATION: Half of the patients who were under 49 years old had not received treatment previously. More than half of the patients had underlying diseases. Patients, who were resistant to at least 5 drugs showed a lower bacteriological negative conversion-rate and higher death rate than patients who were resistant to less than 5 drugs.

[Clinical investigation of pulmonary Mycobacterium kansasii infection in our hospital].

There is evidence that the number of non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) cases is increasing at least in some areas of the world and as possible causes of the increase, the followings are pointed out; ageing of the population, improved methods for detecting organisms from clinical specimens, increased physician's awareness on the disease, increased exposure of patients to the source of the organism. In Japan, it has been estimated that the overall incidence of NTM disease is about 3 per 100,000. About 80% of NTM are MAC, and among the remainder, Mycobacterium kansasii is most common in our country. Our hospital located in Fukuoka prefecture in Kyushu, western part of Japan. In this study, clinical data of 24 cases of pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium kansasii in our hospital, from 1996 to 2000 were investigated. Primary infection type patients were younger than secondary infection type. Nearly all secondary infection type patients had underlying diseases and complications. Serum total protein and albumin in primary type is lower than that in secondary type. The results of mycobacterial drug sensitivity tests were as follows; for rifampicin, 23 cases were sensitive to 10 micrograms/ml, all cases to 50 micrograms/ml, for ethambutol, 15 cases were sensitive to 2.5 micrograms/ml, 22 cases to 5 micrograms/ml, and for isoniazid, all cases were resistant to 0.1 microgram/ml, 11 cases were sensitive to 1 microgram/ml and 23 cases to 5 micrograms/ml. Sputum cultures of patients treated with drug regimens containing RFP converted to negative within 2 months after starting chemotherapy. Although three patients with serious complications died, other 21 patients improved and showed no relapse at least 6 months after the completion of treatment.