Identifying the Primary Tumor Site and Distinguishing False-positives in Patients With Elevated Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen.

Background/aim: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a tumor marker that is frequently evaluated clinically for gastrointestinal and lung cancers. CEA is a glycoprotein antigen, and only the "value" measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is provided in the clinical setting. At present, no method has been established to indicate whether the value is a false-positive elevation or whether there is a primary cancer site.

Age and smoking intensity in non-small cell lung cancer patients with the anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion gene.

Introduction: It is widely accepted that anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are more likely to be in their 50s, female, and non-smoking. This seems to be due to the background of patients involved in clinical trials of ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, in daily clinical practice, it is not uncommon to encounter elderly ALK-positive NSCLC patients with a smoking history.

Changes in peripheral blood test results among adults in the six years following the Great East Japan Earthquake: the Fukushima Health Management Survey.

The Fukushima Health Management Survey, conducted by Fukushima Prefecture since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), has not identified any health effects from radiation exposure.　Complete blood counts (CBC), which are sensitive to radiation exposure, have not shown lymphocytopenia, neutropenia, anemia, or thrombocytopenia, but the white blood cell fractions have not yet been analyzed since 2011.　We classified 25,885 residents (11,383 male, 14,502 female;age range, 16-84 years) in evacuation areas with external exposure dose estimates based on behavioral surveys conducted 4 months after the GEJE into two groups (0-1 [≥0 and <1] and ≥1 mSv) and analyzed changes in CBC and leukocyte fractions from fiscal year (FY) 2011 to FY2017 and their influencing factors.

Dose Reduction of -TKIs for -positive Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Background/aim: The gene was the first driver gene discovered in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has improved patient prognosis, but often at reduced doses. Conventional dose determination methods for cytotoxic antitumor drugs were not applicable to -TKIs and were determined differently. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of patients undergoing -TKI dose reduction, and the impact of such dose reduction on survival.

A Case of Pleuroparenchymal Fibroelastosis.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare fibrotic lung disease with a poor prognosis. Some patients with PPFE have prominent lesions in one upper lobe. Due to the unilateral nature of lesions, similarities between some patients of PPFE and unilateral upper field pulmonary fibrosis (unilateral upper-PF) have been indicated.

Outcomes of Combined Atezolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in Clinical Practice.

Background/aim: Atezolizumab, one of the anti-PD-L1 antibodies, targets PD-L1 expressed on cancer cells and antigen-presenting cells. This immune checkpoint inhibitor is now commonly used in combination with chemotherapy. The objectives of this study were to confirm the treatment outcomes of combined atezolizumab plus chemotherapy, and to identify prognostic factors, with a particular focus on the impact of the site of metastasis in real-world clinical practice.

Prognostic Factors for Patients with Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemoimmunotherapy: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate prognostic factors for predicting the survival of patients with extensive-disease-stage small-cell lung cancer treated with chemoimmunotherapy.

Methods: Patients were classified according to overall survival (OS): favorable corresponded to an OS ≥ 24 months, moderate corresponded to an OS of 6-24 months, and poor corresponded to an OS < 6 months. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate prognostic factors.

Improvement of Mucoid Impaction with Dupilumab in a Severe Asthma Patient.

Different from intrabronchial mucus accumulation in bronchiectasis caused by chronic inflammation, mucoid impactions are observed in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and bronchial asthma. A 62-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of bronchial asthma. Five years ago, he had a coronary stent insertion for myocardial infarction and was diagnosed with bronchial asthma.

Development of Pseudochylothorax in a Patient with Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Pseudochylothorax is a rare disease entity. It is characterized by a milky white pleural fluid with a cholesterol/triglyceride ratio >1. According to published reports, most patients had associated diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis, with only one patient having oropharynx carcinoma associated with lung metastases.

Investigation of age and smoking in NSCLC patients with uncommon EGFR mutations.

Introduction: In addition to the two common epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, there are many uncommon mutations. Due to the high number of uncommon types, as well as the rarity of patients, there is lack of information regarding patient demographics, especially age distribution and smoking status. Against this background, we conducted an analysis to clarify the background of patients with uncommon EGFR mutations, especially considering their age distribution and smoking status.

Control of pleural effusion with prednisolone in a patient with yellow nail syndrome: A case report.

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) can induce bilateral exudative pleural effusion; however, to the best of our knowledge, no standard treatment for YNS has been established. The present study describes a patient with YNS for whom the pleural effusion was controlled by prednisolone. A 73-year-old man was referred to the University of Tsukuba Hospital (Ibaraki, Japan) complaining of shortness of breath, which was diagnosed as being due to bilateral pleural effusion.

Patient Age and -positive Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background/aim: The median age of subjects in many clinical trials of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor conducted to date has been approximately 60 years. However, it is not uncommon to encounter EGFR gene-positive patients in their 70s or 80s. Based on information obtained from these clinical trials, EGFR gene-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are considered to be younger than EGFR-negative patients.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Due to Living Environmental Pollution Caused by Masked Musangs.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an allergic disease caused by various factors such as animal proteins and chemicals. The masked musang, a small animal of the Viverridae family native to East Asia, tends to infiltrate spaces like the attics of residences, causing damage through the deposition of excrement and other means. The older Japanese patient had been experiencing cough, shortness of breath, and fever for two months before presenting to our hospital.

Quantitative analysis of change in bone volume 5 years after sinus floor elevation using plate-shaped bone substitutes: a prospective observational study.

Purpose: Tricalcium phosphate (TCP) has osteoconductive ability and reportedly offers similar clinical results as autogenous bone grafts in dental implant treatment. However, few reports quantify temporal changes in augmented bone volume after sinus augmentation. We aimed to establish a three-dimensional (3D) quantification method to assess bone volume after sinus augmentation and to evaluate biocompatibility of the TCP plate.

Mesalazine-Induced Diffuse Lung Injury in a Patient Without Respiratory Signs and Symptoms.

Mesalazine is a drug used to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and is known to rarely cause lung injury. We show herein a unique case who developed this drug-induced injury. A 17-year-old boy presented with fever and anorexia after administration of mesalazine.

Prognostic Impact of Preoperative Assessment of Muscle Mass and Strength in Surgically Resected Lung Cancer.

Background/aim: The association between resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and long-term outcomes of muscle mass depletion and muscle weakness has also not been well documented. This study evaluated whether muscle mass depletion assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and low muscle strength assessed by the peak expiratory flow rate as a percentage of predicted value (%PEFR) were associated with surgical outcomes in patients with resected NSCLC.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study included 219 patients with resected NSCLC between 2016 and 2021.

On-Chip Modification of Titanium Electrothermal Characteristics by Joule Heating: Application to Terahertz Microbolometer.

This study demonstrates the conversion of metallic titanium (Ti) to titanium oxide just by conducting electrical current through Ti thin film in vacuum and increasing the temperature by Joule heating. This led to the improvement of electrical and thermal properties of a microbolometer. A microbolometer with an integrated Ti thermistor and heater width of 2.