Search

Introduction Nivolumab has been shown to be effective and safe in previously treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, little is known regarding its performance in real-world (i.e., non-trial) settings. Furthermore, nivolumab efficacy is unknown in patients who are ineligible for clinical trials or who are categorized into small subgroups in such trials. Methods We conducted a 15-center, observational, retrospective cohort study of patients with advanced NSCLC who received nivolumab monotherapy between January and December 2016. Results Of 613 patients included in our study, 141 had poor performance status (PS) and 106 were EGFR mutation – or ALK rearrangement-positive. The response and disease control rates were 20% and 44%, respectively; the estimated 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 18%. Multivariate analysis identified never smoking, poor PS, and EGFR mutation/ALK rearrangement as independent negative predictors of PFS. The most frequently reported grade ≥3 adverse event was pneumonitis (5% of patients). Severe pneumonitis (grade ≥3) occurred significantly earlier than mild pneumonitis (1.6 vs. 2.3 months, P = 0.031). Patients with pneumonitis achieved higher response rates and longer PFS than those without (37% vs. 18%, and 5.8 vs. 2.1 months, respectively; P = 0.002). Conclusions Smoking status, PS, and EGFR mutation/ALK rearrangement were independent predictors of PFS. Our study elucidated nivolumab's efficacy in previously underreported patient populations; i.e., those with poor PS and/or with driver oncogenes. We also found that pneumonitis is not infrequent, and carries key implications for outcomes. These data should be useful for improving the clinical courses of nivolumab-treated patients with NSCLC.

Background and objective: Septic pulmonary embolism due to periodontal disease (SPE-PD) is rarely reported and little is known about its clinical features. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological features, as well as outcome, in SPE-PD. Methods: Patients' records were retrospectively reviewed and 12 patients with SPE-PD were identified (10 men, mean age 60.5 years). The patients' demographic features, laboratory data, physical and radiological findings, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. Results: All but one patient were smokers. Eight of the 12 patients had comorbidities including hypertension (58%) and/or diabetes mellitus (17%). Prevalent symptoms were fever (67%) and chest pain (58%). Only two patients fulfilled the criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome; most of the subjects were not clinically severely ill. Blood cultures were negative in all cases. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) showed multiple peripheral nodules in all 12 patients, wedge-shaped peripheral lesions abutting on the pleura in 10 (83%) and a feeding-vessel sign in 9 (75%). All patients recovered from their illness after antimicrobial therapy concomitant with tooth extraction or periodontal care. The median duration of antibiotic administration was 51 days. Conclusions: Most patients with SPE-PD were not seriously ill. Contrast-enhanced chest CT appeared to be useful to diagnose SPE-PD.

The availability of many types of inhalers in the treatment of asthma has resulted in a wide range of prescription choices for clinicians. With so many devices available, however, there is some confusion regarding their proper use among both medical staff and patients. Since 2007, Kitano Hospital and Kita-ku Pharmaceutical Association, Osaka, Japan, have provided a network system for delivering instruction on correct inhalation technique through community pharmacists. We examined the clinical effects of this network system.Our measurements included the manner in which community pharmacists instruct patients with asthma, the frequency of asthma exacerbations, patients' adherence to inhalation therapy using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, and patients' health status both prior to this system and at 4 years after.Usable information was obtained from 53 community pharmacists and 146 patients with asthma at baseline and from 60 community pharmacists and 148 patients at 4 years. When compared with baseline values, significant improvement was found in pharmacists' instruction and significant decreases were observed in the frequency of asthma exacerbations (1.4 ± 1.6 vs. 1.0 ± 1.4 times/yr, p = .042) and emergency room visits (0.5 ± 1.0 vs. 0.2 ± 0.5 times/yr, p = .004). Adherence to the inhalation regimen significantly increased (4.0 ± 0.7 vs. 4.2 ± 0.8, p = .041), but health status was unchanged.Our network system may improve asthma control and adherence to inhalation regimens.

Masaya Takemura1, Katsumi Mitsui2, Ryo Itotani1, Manabu Ishitoko1, Shinko Suzuki1, Masataka Matsumoto1, Kensaku Aihara1, Tsuyoshi Oguma1, Tetsuya Ueda1, Hitoshi Kagioka1, Motonari Fukui11Division of Respiratory Medicine, 2Division of Pharmacy, Tazuke Kofukai, Medical Research Institute, Kitano Hospital, Osaka, JapanPurpose: Adherence to inhalation therapy is a critical determinant of the success of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. However, in practice, nonadherence to inhalation therapy is very common in COPD patients. The effects of adherence to inhalation therapy in COPD have not been fully studied, and less is known about the relationship between medication adherence and quality of life in COPD. Our aim is to assess the factors that contribute to adherence to inhalation therapy and examine their correlation with quality of life.Patients and methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 88 COPD patients was performed using a self-reported adherence questionnaire with responses on a 5-point Likert scale.Results: Of the 88 patients who were potential participants, 55 (63%) responded with usable information. The only significant factor associated with the overall mean adherence score was receiving repeated instruction about inhalation techniques (P = 0.032). Of the 55 respondents, 22 (40.0%) were given repeated verbal instruction and/or demonstrations of inhalation technique by a respiratory physician. Significant correlations were found between the overall mean adherence score and the health-related quality of life score (St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire: total, r = −0.35, P = 0.023; symptoms, r = −0.43, P = 0.002; impacts, r = −0.35, P = 0.011). Furthermore, patients with repeated instruction showed better quality of life scores than those who did not receive instruction (total, P = 0.030; symptoms, P = 0.038; impacts, P = 0.019).Conclusions: Repeated instruction for inhalation techniques may contribute to adherence to therapeutic regimens, which relates to better health status in COPD.Keywords: COPD, adherence, quality of life, repeated instruction

Adherence to inhalation therapy is a critical determinant of the success of asthma management. Reasons for nonadherence have been well studied, but reasons for good adherence are poorly understood. Understanding the mechanisms of adherence to inhalation therapy is important in developing strategies to promote adherence. The objective of this study was to assess the factors and mechanisms that contribute to and the clinical outcomes relating to adherence to inhalation therapy.The factors and outcomes related to adherence to inhalation therapy were examined cross-sectionally in 176 adults with asthma using a self-reported adherence questionnaire that consisted of four items dealing with the use of inhaled controller medications. A 5-point Likert scale was used for the responses to each item. Adherence was assessed based on the overall mean adherence score.Of the 176 patients who were potential participants, 146 (83%) responded with usable information. Significant factors associated with the overall mean adherence score were older age (r = .18, p = .032) and receiving repeated instruction on inhalation techniques (p = .0016). Of the 146 respondents, 25 (17.1%) patients were given repeated verbal instruction or demonstrations of inhalation technique by a respiratory physician. On logistic regression analysis, good adherence to inhalation therapy was significantly related to the receiving of repeated instruction on inhalation technique, with an odds ratio of 2.90 (95% confidence interval 1.07-7.88; p = .037). Furthermore, less intentional nonadherent behavior was reported in patients with repeated instruction on inhalation technique compared to those without it. A significant correlation was found between the overall mean adherence score and the frequency of asthma exacerbations (r = -.19, p = .021), emergency room visits (r = -.19, p = .042), and the health-related quality of life score (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire: Total, r = -.22, p = .024; Symptoms, r = -.21, p = .022; Impacts, r = -.20, p = .035).Repeated instruction on inhalation techniques may contribute to adherence to inhalation therapy through decreasing intentional nonadherence. Furthermore, good adherence to the therapeutic regimen may offer good asthma-related outcomes.

Background Lung cancer cells have been reported to produce cytokines, resulting in systemic reactions. There have been few reports showing that these cytokines induced the formation of an inflammatory mass around lung cancers. Case presentation We encountered a patient with a pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung. This tumor produced interleukin (IL)-8, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and IL-6, which in turn recruited inflammatory cells, such as CD8 positive lymphocytes, around the tumor, resulting in a rapidly growing tumor shadow. Conclusion 18 F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography, in addition to a conventional radiological approach such as computed tomography, may detect immunological responses around a tumor.