Internal medicine
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Comparative Study
Progression of pneumoconiosis in coal miners after cessation of dust exposure: a longitudinal study based on periodic chest X-ray examinations in Hokkaido, Japan.
The progression rate of pneumoconiosis in retired coal miners over ten years has not been studied in Japan. ⋯ The progression of pneumoconiosis was observed after the cessation of dust exposure, especially during the first 10 years.
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Comparative Study
Relationship between habit of cigarette smoking and airflow limitation in healthy Japanese individuals: the Takahata study.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic airflow limitation. The prevalence of airflow limitation in Japan is 10.9% (16.4% of males and 5.0% of females). Cigarette smoking is well known as a major cause of COPD. However, few epidemiological studies have evaluated the effects of cigarette smoking on pulmonary function in healthy subjects. ⋯ Cigarette smoking increased the prevalence and severity of airflow limitation. It is concluded that cigarette smoking increases the risk of airflow limitation in a healthy Japanese population.
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A 73-year-old woman developed subacute meningitis-retention syndrome (MRS), dermatitis, and latent pneumonitis likely due to the herbal medicines Shinbu-Tou and Rikkunshi-Tou. The responsible site of lesions for urinary retention seemed to be the spinal micturition pathways and, to a lesser extent, the sacral spinal cord. All of her clinical manifestations were successfully ameliorated within three weeks of discontinuation of the herbal remedies.
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Oxidant stress is thought to be involved in the establishment of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). Thioredoxin 1 (TRX1) plays a role as a strong antioxidant in vivo, suggesting that TRX1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of IIPs. However, there is no report on TRX1 levels in the sera of IIPs. In addition, TRX1 expression in the lungs of non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) patients also has not been reported. Here, we investigated whether or not TRX1 levels are altered in the lungs and sera of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), NSIP, and COP. ⋯ Overproduction of TRX1 in the lungs and sera may play an important role in the pathogenesis of IIPs.
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Comparative Study
Noninvasive ventilation improves the outcome of pulmonary complications after liver resection.
Pulmonary complications are associated with increased mortality after liver resection. Although noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has proved to be an effective treatment for respiratory failure after abdominal surgery, including organ transplantation, its efficacy for pulmonary complications following liver resection per se has not been reported. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effects of NIV in patients with postoperative pulmonary complications after liver resection. ⋯ NIV is effective in patients with respiratory failure and/or massive atelectasis after liver resection.