An Inhibitory Effect of Dexamethasone on A549 Cell Adhesion to Neutrophils: Possible Involvement of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B

In order to clarify the effects of dexamethasone on epithelial cells at the transcription factor level, protein synthesis level and functional level, we examined neutrophil adhesion to A549 cells (an immortalized human type II alveolar epithelial cell line), expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) into nuclei. The intranuclear localization of fluorescently stained NF-κB and an adhesion assay between neutrophils and A549 cells was analyzed quantitatively using laser scanning cytometry. ICAM-1 expression on A549 cells was measured by flow cytometric analysis. Stimulation of A549 cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in their adhesiveness for neutrophils. ICAM-1 expression on A549 cells after stimulation with TNF-α for 12 h was significantly up-regulated, compared with unstimulated cells (P< 0.05). Intranuclear NF-κB was induced 10 min after stimulation with TNF-α and was increased in a TNF-α-dose-dependent manner. Dexamethasone suppressed TNF-α-induced NF-κB translocation in A549 cells by approximately 60%, ICAM-1 expression on A549 cells by approximately 40%, and A549 adhesiveness for neutrophils completely. Therefore, we suggest that the inhibition of A549 adhesiveness for neutrophils by dexamethasone may be due in part to the suppression of NF-κB entry into nuclei and ICAM-1 expression in A549 cells

High plasma concentration of beta-D-glucan after administration of sizofiran for cervical cancer

A 69-year-old woman with a history of cervical cancer was admitted to our hospital for further investigation of abnormal shadows on her chest roentgenogram. Histologic examination of transbronchial lung biopsy specimens revealed epithelioid cell granuloma, and Mycobacterium intracellulare was detected in the bronchial lavage fluid. The plasma level of (1→3)-beta-d-glucan was very high, and this elevated level was attributed to administration of sizofiran for treatment of cervical cancer 18 years previously. Therefore, in patients with cervical cancer, it is important to confirm whether or not sizofiran has been administered before measuring (1→3)-beta-d-glucan levels

Effect of Asian dust on pulmonary function in adult asthma patients in western Japan: A panel study

AbstractBackgroundAsian dust (AD) has become a major health concern. The concentration of AD is typically expressed in particulate matter less than 10 μm (PM10) and 2.5 μm (PM2.5). However, PM10 and PM2.5 consist of various substances besides AD. Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems can selectively measure the quantity of AD particles to distinguish non-spherical airborne particles from spherical airborne particles. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between pulmonary function in adult asthma patients and AD using LIDAR data.MethodsSubjects were 231 adult asthma patients who had their morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) measured from March to May 2012. A linear mixed model was used to estimate the association of PEF with sand dust particles detected by LIDAR.ResultsIncreases in the interquartile range of AD particles (0.018 km−1) led to changes in PEF of −0.42 L/min (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.85 to 0.01). An increase of 11.8 μg/m3 in suspended particulate matter and 6.9 μg/m3 in PM2.5 led to decreases of −0.17 L/min (−0.53 to 0.21) and 0.03 L/min (−0.35 to 0.42), respectively. A heavy AD day was defined as a day with a level of AD particles >0.032 km−1, which was the average plus one standard deviation during the study period, and six heavy AD days were identified. Change in PEF after a heavy AD day was −0.97 L/min (−1.90 to −0.04).ConclusionsHeavy exposure to AD particles was significantly associated with decreased pulmonary function in adult asthma patients

Nationwide surveillance of bacterial respiratory pathogens conducted by the surveillance committee of Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and the Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology in 2010: General view of the pathogens\u27 antibacterial susceptibility

The nationwide surveillance on antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial respiratory pathogens from patients in Japan, was conducted by Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases and Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology in 2010.The isolates were collected from clinical specimens obtained from well-diagnosed adult patients with respiratory tract infections during the period from January and April 2010 by three societies. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted at the central reference laboratory according to the method recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institutes using maximum 45 antibacterial agents.Susceptibility testing was evaluable with 954 strains (206 Staphylococcus aureus, 189 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 4 Streptococcus pyogenes, 182 Haemophilus influenzae, 74 Moraxella catarrhalis, 139 Klebsiella pneumoniae and 160 Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Ratio of methicillin-resistant S.aureus was as high as 50.5%, and those of penicillin-intermediate and -resistant S.pneumoniae were 1.1% and 0.0%, respectively. Among H.influenzae, 17.6% of them were found to be β-lactamase-non-producing ampicillin (ABPC)-intermediately resistant, 33.5% to be β-lactamase-non-producing ABPC-resistant and 11.0% to be β-lactamase-producing ABPC-resistant strains. Extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing K.pneumoniae and multi-drug resistant P.aeruginosa with metallo β-lactamase were 2.9% and 0.6%, respectively.Continuous national surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of respiratory pathogens is crucial in order to monitor changing patterns of susceptibility and to be able to update treatment recommendations on a regular basis

Pulmonary Mycobacterium shinjukuense infection with cavitary lesion

Key message We report a rare case of pulmonary Mycobacterium shinjukuense infection with cavitary lesion. Chemotherapy with rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin was effective for the lesion

High plasma concentration of beta-D-glucan after administration of sizofiran for cervical cancer

Hirokazu Tokuyasu1, Kenichi Takeda1, Yuji Kawasaki1, Yasuto Sakaguchi2, Noritaka Isowa2, Eiji Shimizu3, Yasuto Ueda31Divisions of Respiratory Medicine, 2Thoracic Surgery, Matsue Red Cross Hospital, 200 Horomachi, Matsue, Shimane; 3Division of Medical Oncology and Molecular Respirology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, JapanAbstract: A 69-year-old woman with a history of cervical cancer was admitted to our hospital for further investigation of abnormal shadows on her chest roentgenogram. Histologic examination of transbronchial lung biopsy specimens revealed epithelioid cell granuloma, and Mycobacterium intracellulare was detected in the bronchial lavage fluid. The plasma level of (1&amp;rarr;3)-beta-D-glucan was very high, and this elevated level was attributed to administration of sizofiran for treatment of cervical cancer 18 years previously. Therefore, in patients with cervical cancer, it is important to confirm whether or not sizofiran has been administered before measuring (1&amp;rarr;3)-beta-D-glucan levels.Keywords: (1&amp;rarr;3)-beta-D-glucan, cervical cancer, Mycobacterium intracellulare, sizofira