Respiratory investigation最新文献

{"title":"Both DLCO and KCO are vital indices in assessment of diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide by the single-breath method","authors":"Masafumi Yamamoto ,&nbsp;Masaharu Nishimura ,&nbsp;Kaoruko Shimizu ,&nbsp;Naoki Yamashita ,&nbsp;Hideki Goto ,&nbsp;Hironi Makita ,&nbsp;Ichiro Kuwahira ,&nbsp;Takanori Teshima ,&nbsp;Satoshi Konno","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2026.101382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2026.101382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The measurement of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL_CO) is an invaluable pulmonary function test for assessing gas exchange in the lungs. Typically, the test is conducted via the single-breath method, wherein after maximum inhalation of carbon monoxide and helium simultaneously, the breath is held for 10 s. The test provides the single value of DL_CO, and sometimes, the DL_CO corrected by alveolar volume (V_A) at the measurement. However, DL_CO is the product of two independent components in reality—the transfer coefficient for carbon monoxide (K_CO) and V_A. Conventionally, K_CO has often been expressed as DL_CO/V_A. In this report, we will demonstrate the change in relationship of DL_CO with K_CO uniquely and characteristically due to emphysema, fibrosis, and their combined disease. Therefore, the assessment of both indices is highly desirable in the precise interpretation of the test. The term “K_CO” is preferable to DL_CO/V_A to avoid misleading.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 2","pages":"Article 101382"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146166482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of olfactory stimulation with L-menthol on sensations of discomfort on exertion in patients with chronic lung diseases","authors":"Soh Imamura ,&nbsp;Takeshi Inagaki ,&nbsp;Koichiro Tatsumi ,&nbsp;Mitsuhiro Abe ,&nbsp;Jun Ikari ,&nbsp;Takeshi Kawasaki ,&nbsp;Hideki Katsura ,&nbsp;Yuri Suzuki ,&nbsp;Megumi Katsumata ,&nbsp;Takuro Imamoto ,&nbsp;Yoshihito Ozawa ,&nbsp;Seiichiro Sakao ,&nbsp;Takuji Suzuki","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2026.101380","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2026.101380","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Olfactory stimulation with L-menthol may reduce certain discomfort sensations, including dyspnea. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) have distinct physiological characteristics and may elicit different qualitative sensations of dyspnea. Therefore, the qualitative effects of L-menthol inhalation on dyspnea may differ between these chronic lung diseases (CLDs). This study aimed to determine which aspects of dyspnea are influenced by olfactory stimulation with L-menthol in patients with CLDs.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Thirty-four patients with stable COPD or IIPs (17 each) performed a 6-min walk test (6MWT) under two conditions: wearing a surgical mask alone (control) or wearing a mask with a peppermint oil aroma sticker (0.105 ml, containing 30% L-menthol). A modified Borg scale, the Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP), and the Language of Dyspnea Questionnaire (LDQ) were used to evaluate endpoints. The 6MWT was selected to induce breathlessness with and without L-menthol.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the COPD group, L-menthol significantly improved Mental breathing effort on the MDP, and Rapid, Gasping, and Air hunger on the LDQ. In the IIPs group, L-menthol improved only the MDP Hyperpnea dimension. No significant differences were observed in the modified Borg scale before and after the 6MWT between L-menthol and control conditions in either group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Olfactory stimulation with L-menthol selectively improved aspects of dyspnea in patients with COPD and IIPs, likely reflecting differences in the pathophysiology and severity of each disease.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs031200400).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 2","pages":"Article 101380"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Desaturation in the six-minute walk test predicts progressive pulmonary fibrosis in fibrotic interstitial lung disease","authors":"Reoto Takei ,&nbsp;Jun Fukihara ,&nbsp;Yasuhiko Yamano ,&nbsp;Kensuke Kataoka ,&nbsp;Tomoki Kimura ,&nbsp;Fumiko Watanabe ,&nbsp;Taiki Furukawa ,&nbsp;Junya Fukuoka ,&nbsp;Takeshi Johkoh ,&nbsp;Yasuhiro Kondoh","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.11.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.11.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a widely used functional test that assesses desaturation on exercise. However, the clinical impact of desaturation on progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) has been insufficiently studied. We aimed to evaluate the association between desaturation and future progression in patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (FILD).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We retrospectively analysed consecutive patients with FILD from 2008 to 2015. Desaturation was defined as oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO₂) at the end of the 6MWT being less than 90 %. It was divided into two groups: mild (SpO₂ was 89 %) and moderate desaturation (SpO₂ was 88 % or less).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 810 patients, 498 (61.5 %) had desaturation (45 mild and 453 moderate). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis showed desaturation was associated with a higher mortality (HR: 1.69, 95 % CI: 1.37–2.08, p &lt; 0.0001). Both mild and moderate desaturation were also associated with a higher mortality compared with no desaturation, although there was no significant difference between them. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that desaturation was associated with PPF in the overall cohort (OR: 2.20, 95 % CI: 1.59–3.05, p &lt; 0.0001), in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (OR: 2.59, 95 % CI: 1.56–4.29, p = 0.0002), and in patients with non-IPF FILD (OR: 1.86, 95 % CI: 1.17–2.96, p = 0.0091).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Desaturation in the 6MWT was associated with future risk of progression in patients with newly diagnosed FILD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101334"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical appraisal of “Effects of Daikin air purifiers on asthma control and pulmonary function: A multicenter, single-arm, observational pilot study”","authors":"Parth Aphale,&nbsp;Himanshu Shekhar,&nbsp;Shashank Dokania","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.11.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.11.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101325"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145532469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical characteristics and healthcare resource utilization among patients hospitalized for pulmonary tuberculosis: A national inpatient database study in Japan","authors":"Jumpei Taniguchi ,&nbsp;Shotaro Aso ,&nbsp;Hiroki Matsui ,&nbsp;Kiyohide Fushimi ,&nbsp;Hideo Yasunaga","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.11.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.11.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In Japan, discharge for pulmonary tuberculosis requires microbiological confirmation of non-infectivity, leading to prolonged hospitalization. International guidelines increasingly support early discharge based on clinical stability. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and healthcare utilization of hospitalized tuberculosis patients in Japan and to estimate the proportion potentially eligible for early discharge and associated cost savings.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This nationwide retrospective cohort study analyzed patients hospitalized for pulmonary tuberculosis, who received rifampicin and isoniazid within 7 days of admission. Data were extracted from an inpatient claims database between June 2010 and March 2023. Patients who met the following predefined clinical criteria were eligible for early discharge: absence of drug resistance, absence of severe comorbidities, and functional independence. Cost simulation was performed under the assumption that patients eligible for early discharge were discharged 14 days after treatment initiation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, 22,634 patients were eligible. Their mean age was 71.1 years; approximately 40 % required some assistance with activities of daily living. The mean length of hospitalization was 59.2 days (standard deviation, 50.7); the median hospitalization cost was USD 8,974 (interquartile range, 5,696–14,706). Overall, 32.9 % of patients met the criteria for early discharge. Under the hypothetical early discharge scenario, the median estimated cost saving per patient was USD 4,625 (interquartile range, 2,332–8,560).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Early discharge may be feasible for a subset of hospitalized pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Japan and could contribute toward optimizing healthcare resource utilization by reducing hospitalization costs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101328"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145532472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IL1RL1 rs11685480 polymorphism is associated with IL-33/IL1RL1 pathway activity and asthma severity in a Japanese population","authors":"Keita Hirai ,&nbsp;Saya Kobayashi ,&nbsp;Yuuka Ogasawara ,&nbsp;Sekiko Uehara ,&nbsp;Taisuke Akamatsu ,&nbsp;Toshihiro Shirai ,&nbsp;Kunihiko Itoh","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Severe asthma is characterized by frequent exacerbations and reduced quality of life. Determining the factors that influence disease severity is essential for optimizing treatment. Epithelial cell-derived cytokines, including interleukin-33 (IL-33) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), activate group 2 innate lymphoid cells, promoting type 2 inflammation. Genetic polymorphisms in the <em>IL33</em> and <em>TSLP</em> genes, as well as their receptors interleukin-1 receptor-like 1 (<em>IL1RL1</em>) and interleukin-7 receptor (<em>IL7R</em>), have been linked to increased asthma susceptibility. The specific contributions of these polymorphisms to asthma pathogenesis remain undefined. This study examines the impact of genetic variations in epithelial cell-derived cytokine genes on asthma severity.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This observational study included 169 adults with asthma, of whom 53 had severe asthma. The analysis focused on ten polymorphisms with minor allele frequencies above 10 % in the <em>IL33</em>, <em>IL1RL1</em>, <em>TSLP</em>, and <em>IL7R</em> genes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The A allele of the <em>IL1RL1</em> rs11685480 polymorphism was a risk factor for severe asthma (odds ratio 3.54, 95 % confidence interval 1.17–10.72). This allele was associated with elevated <em>IL1RL1</em> mRNA expression in T cells, which correlated with higher fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels and increased peripheral blood eosinophil counts. Additionally, this allele is linked to reduced plasma concentrations of soluble ST2 (sST2), and lower sST2 levels are associated with increased FeNO.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The <em>IL1RL1</em> rs11685480 polymorphism is associated with severe asthma. This polymorphism increases <em>IL1RL1</em> expression and decreases sST2 levels, intensifying type 2 inflammation. These results elucidate the mechanism by which this gene variant modulates the IL-33/IL1RL1 signaling axis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101362"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interstitial lung abnormality or interstitial lung disease; is that the question?","authors":"Kiminori Fujimoto","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101351","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101351","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101351"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145782709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical characteristics of pulmonary infections caused by Exophiala dermatitidis","authors":"Toshiyuki Yonezawa ,&nbsp;Akiko Nakamura ,&nbsp;Yuka Onda ,&nbsp;Takuma Katano ,&nbsp;Hiroto Murao ,&nbsp;Masaya Fukami ,&nbsp;Tomoyuki Ogisu ,&nbsp;Kenji Baba ,&nbsp;Satoru Ito","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101355","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101355","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Exophiala dermatitidis</em> is a ubiquitous black fungus found in the environment, but the clinical characteristics of <em>E. dermatitidis</em> in respiratory diseases without cystic fibrosis (CF) remain unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of non-CF patients who had <em>E. dermatitidis</em> isolated from respiratory specimens.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Thirteen patients were enrolled in the study. <em>E. dermatitidis</em> was isolated from sputum aspirated by bronchoscopy (n = 6), sputum (n = 5), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (n = 1), and empyema pus (n = 1). Preceding pulmonary comorbidities included bronchiectasis (n = 6), COPD (n = 4), nontuberculous <em>Mycobacterium</em> (NTM) infection (n = 3), lung cancer (n = 2), interstitial lung disease (ILD) (n = 2), and asthma (n = 2). Non-pulmonary immunosuppressive comorbidities included diabetes (n = 4), immunosuppressive drug use (n = 3), and malignancies treated with chemotherapy (n = 2). Six patients (46.2 %) were defined as “definite” infection and seven (53.8 %) were as “possible” infection. Levels of serum β-D-glucan (cut-off &lt;20 pg/mL) were elevated in two of 10 patients. Chest CT showed various shadows such as bronchiectasis (n = 9), infiltrative shadow (n = 9), and mucoid impaction (n = 8). Among six patients who were treated with itraconazole (ITCZ), three patients improved, one was unchanged, and two worsened. Despite ITCZ therapy, one patient died due to exacerbation of ILD. In the non-treated group, two patients died due to advanced lung cancer. NTM was also detected with <em>E. dermatitidis</em> in three patients.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our data suggest that <em>E. dermatitidis</em> may cause respiratory infections in patients with bronchiectasis or immunocompromised conditions. Further studies are needed to distinguish colonization from true infection of <em>E. dermatitidis</em> in the respiratory tract.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101355"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A case of persistent pneumothorax after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction successfully treated with video-assisted thoracic surgery without removal of endobronchial valves","authors":"Tadashi Sakaguchi ,&nbsp;Tomohito Tarukawa ,&nbsp;Yoichi Nishii ,&nbsp;Motoshi Takao ,&nbsp;Osamu Hataji","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With proper patient selection excluding collateral ventilation, bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) with endobronchial valves (EBVs) offers significant benefits but increases pneumothorax risk. Prioritized management of persistent pneumothorax post-BLVR remains unclear, with both EBV removal and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) considered options. We report a 76-year-old man with severe emphysema who developed persistent pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema after left upper lobe BLVR. Following the patient's wishes, VATS was performed instead of EBV removal, resulting in a favorable outcome without delaying BLVR benefits. Depending upon the situation and patient wishes, prioritizing VATS over valve removal may be a reasonable strategy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101338"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erector spinae muscle thickness predicts mortality in patients with pulmonary diseases","authors":"Masafumi Shimoda,&nbsp;Haruka Hamada,&nbsp;Takashi Yoshiyama,&nbsp;Kozo Morimoto,&nbsp;Kozo Yoshimori,&nbsp;Shoji Kudoh","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101342","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101342","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objective</h3><div>Loss of skeletal muscle mass contributes to poor respiratory disease outcomes. We previously developed an easy method for assessing physical activity by measuring erector spinae muscle thickness (ESM_T) via routine chest computed tomography (CT). Since chest CT is commonly performed in hospitalized patients with pulmonary diseases, ESM_T can be readily evaluated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between ESM_T and 1-year mortality in such patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We prospectively enrolled patients hospitalized for pulmonary diseases between February 2023 and January 2024. Among the 636 patients included, 162 died within one year (mortality group), and 474 survived (survival group). ESM_T was compared between the groups, and its correlations with clinical parameters were examined. Subgroup analyses were conducted for patients with major pulmonary conditions to assess the broader clinical utility of ESM_T.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Lower ESM_T was significantly associated with higher 1-year mortality risk according to the Cox proportional hazard model (hazard ratio: 0.96, 95 % confidence interval: 0.92–0.99, <em>p</em> = 0.035). An ESM_T ≤20.55 mm predicted increased mortality risk. Subgroup analyses confirmed the associations between low ESM_T and mortality across pneumonia, interstitial lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and nontuberculous mycobacteria and/or bronchiectasis. ESM_T also correlated significantly with age, males, body weight, body mass index, activities of daily living (ADL), pre-admission living place, use of home oxygen therapy, and SARC-F scores.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>ESM_T is a useful and easy marker for predicting 1-year mortality and impaired ADL status in patients with pulmonary diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101342"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145681717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}