Combined detection of lymphocyte clonality and MALT1 translocations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for diagnosing pulmonary lymphomas.

Diagnosis of pulmonary lymphoma using small tissue samples is difficult and often requires surgical procedures; thus, a less invasive sampling method is desirable. We previously showed that pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma can be diagnosed by detecting MALT lymphoma translocation gene 1 (MALT1) translocations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells. Analysis of B-cell clonality based on immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) gene rearrangements was also reportedly useful for diagnosing pulmonary lymphoma. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the yet unknown diagnostic potential of combined detection of MALT1 translocations and clonality using BALF. We analyzed B- and T-cell clonality based on IGH and T-cell receptor (TCR) rearrangements together with MALT1 translocations using BALF of patients with clinically suspected pulmonary lymphomas. In total, 39 patients were evaluated and categorized into three groups: B-cell lymphoma, lymphoproliferative disorders, and other diseases. IGH rearrangement detection for B-cell lymphoma diagnosis exhibited sensitivity and specificity of 88.9% and 90.0%, respectively. TCR rearrangements were not observed in patients with B-cell lymphomas. The presence of IGH rearrangements together with the absence of TCR rearrangements indicated 96.0% specificity for the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma. The sensitivity and specificity of MALT1 translocations for diagnosing MALT lymphoma were 28.6% and 100%, respectively. The combined detection of lymphocyte clonality and MALT1 translocations using BALF is suitable for screening and diagnosis of B-cell lymphomas. Analysis of specific genes such as MALT1 should improve the precision of B-cell lymphoma diagnosis.

The role of comprehensive analysis with circulating tumor DNA in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients considered for osimertinib treatment.

BACKGROUND: EGFR mutations are good predictive markers of efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI), but whether comprehensive genomic analysis beyond EGFR itself with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) adds further predictive or prognostic value has not been clarified. METHODS: Patients with NSCLC who progressed after treatment with EGFR-TKI, and with EGFR T790 M detected by an approved companion diagnostic test (cobas® ), were treated with osimertinib. Plasma samples were collected before and after treatment. Retrospective comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) of ctDNA was performed with Guardant360® . Correlation between relevant mutations in ctDNA prior to treatment and clinical outcomes, as well as mechanisms of acquired resistance, were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 147 patients tested, 57 patients received osimertinib, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 58%. NGS was successful in 54 of 55 available banked plasma samples; EGFR driver mutations were detected in 43 (80%) and T790 M in 32 (59%). The ORR differed significantly depending on the ratio (T790 M allele fraction [AF])/(sum of variant AF) in ctDNA (p = 0.044). The total number of alterations detected in plasma by NGS was higher in early resistance patients (p = 0.025). T790 M was lost in 32% of patients (6 out of 19) after acquired resistance to osimertinib. One patient with RB1 deletion and copy number gains of EGFR, PIK3CA, and MYC in addition to T790 M, showed rapid progression due to suspected small cell transformation. CONCLUSIONS: NGS of ctDNA could be a promising method for predicting osimertinib efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC harboring EGFR T790 M.

Characteristics of tobacco-related lung diseases in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan: A prospective, multi-institutional, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking causes a variety of smoking-related diseases, death, and economic damage. Despite targeted anti-smoking campaigns, tobacco-related deaths are expected to increase in Japan. We investigated the current state of non-cancerous lung diseases such as idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE), which are known to be highly related to tobacco smoking. METHODS: This prospective multi-institutional observational study involved 29 major hospitals within the Fukuoka Prefecture area (Fukuoka tobacco-related lung disease registry study group). Patients diagnosed with IIPs, including CPFE and COPD, registered from September 1, 2013 to April 30, 2016 were included. Clinical background information, laboratory and pulmonary function test results, findings of imaging tests, including chest radiography and chest computed tomography, and DNA isolated from peripheral blood were collected from each patient. Follow-up surveillance involved collection of data regarding the exacerbation of disease and death until 5 years of registration. In the present study, we report the baseline characteristics of the patients registered in this surveillance study. RESULTS: Overall, 1016 patients (524 with IIPs, including 145 CPFE and 492 with COPD) were enrolled. Among the patients with COPD, 96.8% were current or former smokers. Among the patients with IIPs, 69.9% were current or former smokers. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the current status of lung diseases potentially related to tobacco smoking in Fukuoka Prefecture. Both COPD and CPFE were highly related to tobacco smoking, whereas 30% of patients with IIPs had never smoked.

Pulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus Infection with Reactive AA Amyloidosis: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature.

We herein report a case involving a 64-year-old Japanese woman with a pulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus infection complicated by reactive AA amyloidosis, which, to our knowledge, has not been reported to date. The patient underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy for diarrhea during the treatment of pulmonary M. abscessus infection and was diagnosed with AA amyloidosis according to the histopathological findings from the endoscopic specimen. She died four months later. The prognosis of AA amyloidosis associated with pulmonary M. abscessus infection may be very poor, and physicians should pay attention to this rare condition when difficult-to-treat diarrhea occurs in patients with pulmonary M. abscessus infection.

Utility of the Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment in Japanese patients with nursing- and healthcare-associated pneumonia.

AIM: To clarify the utility of sepsis evaluation using the Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) tool in addition to the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI); age, dehydration, respiration, orientation and blood pressure (A-DROP) index; and immunodeficiency, respiration, orientation, age and dehydration (I-ROAD) scoring systems, and risk factor evaluation of potentially drug-resistant (PDR) pathogens are suggested in the 2017 guidelines for pneumonia of the Japanese Respiratory Society in nursing- and healthcare-associated pneumonia patients. METHODS: We included 289 hospitalized nursing- and healthcare-associated pneumonia patients between April 2016 and March 2017, and investigated the ability of PSI, A-DROP, I-ROAD and qSOFA to predict pneumonia-related mortality. We also evaluated the associations among the risk factors for PDR pathogens, the detection ratio of PDR pathogens and pneumonia-related mortality. RESULTS: The mortality rate of pneumonia during hospitalization was 6.9% (20/289). The area under the curve for pneumonia-related mortality predicted using PSI, A-DROP, I-ROAD and qSOFA was 0.697 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.80), 0.63 (95% CI 0.51-0.76), 0.61 (95% CI 0.52-0.70) and 0.701 (95% CI 0.59-0.81), respectively. In addition, higher areas under the curve were observed for pneumonia-related mortality predicted according to a combination of PSI and hypoalbuminemia (<2.5 g/dL) (0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.86), and qSOFA and hypoalbuminemia (0.74, 95% CI 0.62-0.86) than for PSI and qSOFA alone. No significant associations were observed among the risk factors for PDR pathogens, the detection ratios of PDR pathogens and pneumonia-related mortality. CONCLUSIONS: qSOFA and the combination of qSOFA and hypoalbuminemia might be simple and useful evaluation tools for predicting pneumonia-related mortality in nursing- and healthcare-associated pneumonia patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 177-183.

[Efficacy and Safety of Carboplatin/Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel Combination Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer or Recurrent Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Following Surgery].

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective analysis on carboplatin(CBDCA)/nanoparticle albumin-boundpaclitaxel(nab-PTX)combination chemotherapy was conducted in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)to evaluate both the efficacy and toxicity based on age, treatment line, histology, and underlying diseases. SUBJECTS: A total of 27 patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC following surgery who receivedCBDCA /nab-PTX as first- andsecond -line combination chemotherapy, respectively, were investigatedfrom March 2013 to December 2015. RESULTS: The overall response rate, median progressionfree survival, andmed ian overall survival of all patients were 37.0%, 5.5 months, and 11.4 months, respectively. With regard to toxicity, 3.7%and 14.8%of all patients had peripheral disorder and interstitial lung disease(ILD), respectively. Treatmentrelatedd eaths were not observed. No difference in the efficacy basedon age, treatment line, histology, andund erlying diseases was observed. CONCLUSION: CBDCA/nab-PTX combination chemotherapy was safe for elderly patients and those with ILD. However, the occurrence of new interstitial lung lesions should be carefully considered.

Using oral health assessment to predict aspiration pneumonia in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of comprehensive assessment of oral health using the revised oral assessment guide (ROAG) in older adults with pneumonia. BACKGROUND: Oral health plays a major role in the eating-swallowing process. The role of comprehensive assessment of oral health in older adults with aspiration pneumonia has not been evaluated in detail. The ROAG is a screening tool for comprehensive assessment and has been shown to have a high sensitivity and specificity for the assessment of oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 238 adults with pneumonia, aged 65 years and above, in whom the ROAG score had been assessed between December 2014 and June 2016. Participants were divided into two groups based on aspiration risk, as defined by Marik et al; correlation between the ROAG score and the risk of aspiration was evaluated. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifteen adults (90.3%) were found to be at aspiration risk. According to the ROAG score, mild-to-moderate and severe oral problems were noted in 38 (16.0%) and 200 (84.0%) adults, respectively. Aspiration risk was noted in 68.4% and 94.5% of adults with mild-to-moderate and severe oral problems, respectively (P < .0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for ROAG to predict aspiration risk was 0.72 (95% confidence interval: 0.60-0.84). Furthermore, a high ROAG score was an independent predictor of aspiration risk in our study population. CONCLUSION: In clinical practice, oral health assessment using ROAG can help predict aspiration risk in older adults with pneumonia.

Pleurisy Caused by Mycobacterium abscessus in a Young Patient with Dermatomyositis: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature.

M. abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) and is the most common cause of pulmonary RGM infection. M. abscessus pleurisy is extremely rare. We herein report the case of a young patient with M. abscessus pleurisy without any lung lesions. A laboratory analysis of the pleural effusion revealed lymphocyte predominance and increased adenosine deaminase, similar to the findings observed in tuberculous pleurisy. The patient was initially treated for tuberculous pleurisy, which resulted in the partial improvement of the patient's symptoms and pleural effusion. M. abscessus pleurisy should be considered, especially in immunocompromised individuals, even in the absence of pulmonary involvement.

Smoking Status and a Pulmonary Function Test in Patients with Rotator Cuff Tears.

Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects one in several smokers, only a few patients are correctly diagnosed compared to the estimated number of patients. Several recent reports indicate that the development of rotator cuff tears is related to smoking. In this study, we investigated smoking status in patients with rotator cuff tears and evaluated the possibility of undiagnosed COPD by a pulmonary function test. The subjects were 150 consecutive patients over 40 years old, who had been diagnosed with rotator cuff tears and had been examined by a pulmonary function test before surgery in our orthopedic department between April 2011 and June 2015. They consisted of 96 men and 54 women, which included 59 non-smokers (39.3%), 62 ex-smokers (41.3%), and 29 smokers (19.3%). The smoking rate of the subjects was the same as that of the general Japanese population. However, the ever-smokers who smoked more than 21 cigarettes per day were 31.9%, which was high compared to the Japanese ever-smokers population, i.e. 15.2% of men and 5.5% of women. Twenty-five subjects (16.7%) showed airflow limitation, and they consisted of 7 cases of COPD, 3 cases of bronchial asthma, one case of bronchiectasis, and 14 undiagnosed cases. The undiagnosed cases consisted of 7 non-smokers, 5 ex-smokers, and 2 smokers. Their stages of COPD were stage 1 in 11 cases and stage 2 in 3 cases. The prevalence of airflow limitation increased with increasing age: 0% for 40's, 8.3% for 50's, 20.7% for 60's, and 25.6% for over 70's. From these results, we recognized that paying attention to the numbers of cigarettes smoked per day are important in addition to the smoking history, for the patients with rotator cuff tears. Also, sharing the data of a pulmonary function test before surgery can contribute to the early diagnosis of COPD.

IgG4-related Lung Disease Associated with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: A Case Report and a Literature Review.

We herein report a case of IgG4-related lung disease (IgG4-RLD) associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). A 73-year-old Japanese female visited our hospital for an examination following an abnormal chest X-ray in 1999. She was diagnosed with bronchiolitis and AIHA, and treatment with prednisolone was started. After seven years, she visited our department due to a cough. Chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated focal consolidation with ground-glass attenuations and thickened bronchial walls in the bilateral lungs. She was clinically diagnosed and treated for bronchial asthma. CT findings had shown no changes, and a lung biopsy was performed using video-assisted thoracic surgery at eleven years from the first diagnosis of AIHA. The pathological findings demonstrated the presence of peribronchovascular lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates with stromal fibrotic changes, admixed with many IgG4-positive plasma cells. Furthermore, the patient's serum IgG4 level was high, and her CT findings did not show any obvious abnormal findings in the any organs other than the lungs. She was diagnosed with IgG4-RLD based on the findings. We believe that this case report of IgG4-RLD associated with AIHA is clinically helpful for a better understanding of these diseases, although there are five reported cases of IgG4-related disease associated with AIHA.

Adrenal Insufficiency Associated with Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review.

A 78-year-old Japanese man with fatigue, appetite loss, skin hyperpigmentation, hypotension and hypoglycemia, visited our hospital to evaluate an abnormal chest X-ray and adrenal gland swelling in echography in February 2015. Chest computed tomography showed a mass lesion in the right lower lobe and bilateral adrenal swellings, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with bilateral adrenal metastasis was diagnosed after bronchoscopy. According to low levels of serum cortisol, elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and rapid ACTH test, the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency associated with SCLC was made. Treatment with hydrocortisone (20 mg/day) was started in addition to systemic chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide. The patient's symptoms were slightly improved, however, systemic chemotherapy was discontinued according to the patient's request after 1 course of chemotherapy. Thereafter, he received only supportive care, and his general condition gradually worsened and he ultimately died in August 2015. Adrenal insufficiency associated with SCLC, which is caused by tissue destruction more than 90% of the adrenal glands, is rare although adrenal metastasis is not rare in patients with lung cancer. The findings such as general fatigue, appetite loss, hypotension, and hyponatremia are often got follow up as findings of advanced cancer, but appropriate therapy for adrenal insufficiency, supplement of the adrenal corticosteroid hormone, may lead to a significant improvement in the symptoms and quality of life in clinical practice of lung cancer. Therefore, physicians must consider potential adrenal insufficiency in lung cancer patients with bilateral adrenal metastasis.

Obtaining Information from Family Caregivers Is Important to Detect Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms and Caregiver Burden in Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study are to clarify the differences between the difficulties in daily life experienced by patients with both mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and chronic disease and those experienced by healthy elderly individuals. METHODS: We assessed (a) cognitive function; (b) gait ability; (c) behavioral and psychological symptoms (observed at home); (d) activities of daily living (observed at home); (e) family caregiver burden, and (f) intention to continue family caregiving of 255 cognitively normal and 103 MCI subjects attending adult day care services covered by long-term care insurance, and compared the two groups. RESULTS: Subjects with MCI display more behavioral and psychological symptoms than cognitively normal subjects, posing a heavy caregiver burden (p < 0.01). Behavioral and psychological symptoms most commonly observed in subjects with MCI are apathy, hallucinations, delusions, agitation, and aberrant motor behavior. CONCLUSION: Information regarding the behavioral and psychological symptoms displayed at home by patients with MCI can only be obtained from family caregivers living with the patients. To provide early-stage support for elderly patients with MCI, adult day care workers should collect information from family caregivers regarding behavioral and psychological symptoms observed at home.

[Three Cases of Bacteremia due to Helicobacter cinaedi Infection and the Usefulness of Gene Analysis of Isolated Bacteria].

Helicobacter cinaedi is typically isolated from immunocompromised patients. Some reports of infection caused by H.cinaedi have been found in recent years. We experienced three cases of H.cinaedi bacteremia in one year and ten months in our hospital, although the detection of H.cinaedi in blood cultures is extremely rare. In case 1, a 77-year-old female had been treated with a steroid and immunosuppressive agent for interstitial pneumonia. In cases 2 and 3, two 71-year-old men had been treated with chemotherapy for lung cancer. Although the identification of the bacteria could not be performed by the culture method in the three cases, H.cinaedi bacteremia was diagnosed by a 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis in case 1, and by nested PCR in cases 2 and 3. H.cinaedi bacteremia often tends to recur and also requires prolonged antimicrobial therapy. We believe that gene analysis is useful in the identification of H.cinaedi.

Primary Pulmonary Angiosarcoma Presenting with Hemoptysis and Ground-Glass Opacity: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Angiosarcoma originates from the vascular endothelium and accounts for only 1-2% of all sarcomatous malignancies. The skin is one of the most common primary sites. However, primary pulmonary angiosarcoma is rare, and only 31 cases of primary pulmonary angiosarcoma have been reported. A 79-year-old Japanese female developed bloody sputum, and chest X-ray and chest computed tomography (CT) showed consolidation with ground-glass opacity (GGO) on the right middle and lower lung fields. The bronchoscopic findings demonstrated bleeding from the right B(4) and B(5), and bronchial arterial embolization was subsequently performed. However, the CT findings demonstrated new pulmonary nodules with GGO in the left lung, and she presented with hemosputum and a progression of anemia. Right hemothorax also occurred, and surgical lung resection was performed to control the bleeding. The pathological analysis of the resected lung revealed the focal growth of atypical alveolar epithelioid-like cells that were positive for CD31 and negative for epithelial membrane antigen, and these atypical cells were replacing the endothelium of the pulmonary artery. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with pulmonary angiosarcoma, which might originate from the endothelium of the pulmonary artery. No abnormal findings were observed except for the pulmonary involvement on systemic CT scanning. However, the patient passed away due to respiratory failure with compression of the brainstem caused by brain metastasis three months after the first visit. Early surgical resection is the important treatment for patients with angiosarcoma. In addition, we review the literature reporting the patients with primary pulmonary angiosarcoma.

The clinical features of respiratory infections caused by the Streptococcus anginosus group.

BACKGROUND: The Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) play important roles in respiratory infections. It is ordinarily difficult to distinguish them from contaminations as the causative pathogens of respiratory infections because they are often cultured in respiratory specimens. Therefore, it is important to understand the clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of respiratory infections caused by the SAG members. The aim of this study is to clarify the role of the SAG bacteria in respiratory infections. METHODS: A total of 30 patients who were diagnosed with respiratory infections which were caused by the SAG bacteria between January 2005 and February 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Respiratory infections caused by the SAG were mostly seen in male patients with comorbid diseases and were typically complicated with pleural effusion. Pleural effusion was observed in 22 (73.3%) patients. Empyema was observed in half of the 22 patients with pleural effusion. S. intermedius, S. constellatus and S. anginosus were detected in 16 (53.3 %), 11 (36.7 %) and 3 (10.0 %) patients, respectively. Six patients had mixed-infections. The duration from the onset of symptoms to the hospital visit was significantly longer in "lung abscess" patients than in "pneumonia" patients among the 24 patients with single infections, but not among the six patients with mixed-infection. The peripheral white blood cell counts of the "pneumonia" patients were higher than those of the "lung abscess" patients and S. intermedius was identified significantly more frequently in patients with pulmonary and pleural infections (pneumonia and lung abscess) than in patients with bacterial pleurisy only. In addition, the patients in whom S. intermedius was cultured were significantly older than those in whom S. constellatus was cultured. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory infections caused by the SAG bacteria tended to be observed more frequently in male patients with comorbid diseases and to more frequently involve purulent formation. In addition, S. intermedius was mainly identified in elderly patients with having pulmonary infection complicated with pleural effusion, and the aspiration of oral secretions may be a risk factor in the formation of empyema thoracis associated with pneumonia due to S. intermedius.

In-hospital airborne tuberculous infection from a lesion of calcified pleural thickening during thoracic surgery in a patient with lung cancer.

A 75-year-old Japanese man underwent thoracic surgery to treat a large lung cancer lesion in the left upper lobe with calcified pleural thickening. Postoperatively, viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected in the margin of the resected thickened calcified pleural lesion. Therefore, an infection control investigation of medical staff who had come in contact with the patient was conducted. Consequently, two of the 14 healthcare professionals who had been in the operating room were diagnosed with latent tuberculous infections. Therefore, strict precautions against airborne infections are required to prevent the in-hospital transmission of M. tuberculosis in such cases.

A Case of Rapid Exacerbation of Pulmonary Mycobacterium Avium Complex Infection Mimicking Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

We herein report a case of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection with pulmonary multiple nodules and the "halo sign" on chest computed tomography (CT) in which the patient showed rapid exacerbation seven years after undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT). A 68-year-old Japanese female visited our hospital due to a productive cough and dyspnea. She had undergone allogeneic BMT for acute myelocytic leukemia and received both prednisolone (2 mg/day) and cyclosporine (30 mg/day). Chest CT demonstrated no abnormal findings on admission; however, multiple pulmonary nodules and the "halo sign" were detected three weeks later. Although a fungal infection was initially suspected, a bronchoscopic examination revealed pulmonary MAC infection. In the present case, pulmonary MAC infection exhibited rapid progression with unique CT findings. Physicians should consider MAC infection in the differential diagnosis in patients who receive BMT and/or immunosuppressive agents, even if the clinical and radiological findings are atypical of the disease.

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.

An autopsy case of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome: a case report and review of the literature on treatment.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare genetic disorder, the most common complication of which influencing the prognosis is pulmonary fibrosis. In the present report, we describe an autopsy case of a Japanese woman with HPS. The patient was diagnosed at 50 years of age based on the presence of oculocutaneous albinism, hemorrhagic diathesis, ceroid-lipofuscin accumulation and pulmonary fibrosis. Although systemic steroids, immunosuppressants and pirfenidone were administered for pulmonary involvement, she died from respiratory failure two years later. Obtaining an early diagnosis and taking into consideration the need for lung transplantation is necessary in order to improve the prognosis of HPS. We herein report this very rare Japanese case of HPS with a review of the treatment approaches for HPS complicated with pulmonary fibrosis.

[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.