{"title":"Effect of large-volume intrapleural saline lavage for empyema: a single-center, prospective cohort study","authors":"Masanori Kawataki , Akihiro Ito , Hiromasa Tachibana , Yosuke Nakanishi , Shotaro Ide , Akitsugu Furumoto , Hiroshi Mukae , Tadashi Ishida","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101354","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101354","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy has emerged as a preferred treatment for empyema, helping to reduce the need for surgery and shorten hospital stays. However, fibrinolytic drugs may not be available in some regions due to distribution challenges. In such situations, intrapleural saline lavage can serve as an effective alternative treatment option. Evidence supporting the use of intrapleural saline lavage remains limited, primarily because previous studies have used low lavage volumes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We aimed to compare hospital stays, 30-day mortality rates, rates of referral to surgery, length of drainage, and adverse events between two groups of empyema patients: one receiving pleural lavage with urokinase administration; and the other receiving pleural lavage using 500 mL of saline. This was a single-center, prospective cohort study that analyzed patients contracting empyema with positive culture of pleural fluids admitted to our hospital between March 2021 and March 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The 33 patients comprised 18 in the urokinase group and 15 in the saline group. No significant differences were seen in 30-day mortality rate (p = 0.08) or referral for surgery (p = 0.618). Although the overall duration of hospital stay appeared comparable between the groups, competing risk analysis accounting for death as a competing event demonstrated a significant difference in time to discharge (p = 0.023), with a longer hospital stay observed in the saline group. Non-inferiority analysis showed significant differences between groups in additional drainage tubes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>No significant difference in surgical referrals or mortality was evident between intrapleural saline lavage and urokinase therapy. However, saline lavage in acute empyema may be less effective and result in longer hospital stays, even with larger volumes.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>This study was performed using data from a prospective epidemiological study for patients with pneumonia (UMIN000004353).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101354"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145775603","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":"High-intensity inspiratory muscle training and diaphragm thickness in severe COPD: a prospective pilot study","authors":"Daisuke Minamishima , Yuko Asato , Kazuhiro Tsuji , Rin Anamizu , Nami Hasegawa , Daisuke Shiihara","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101348","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101348","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-intensity inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been reported to increase diaphragm thickness in healthy adults, but evidence in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains scarce. This prospective pilot study evaluated the effects of high-intensity IMT on diaphragm thickness and functional outcomes in nine patients with severe COPD who had completed standard respiratory rehabilitation. Participants performed 30 breaths per day at 60 % of maximum inspiratory pressure for 12 weeks. Diaphragm thickness at maximum inspiration increased from 4.7 to 5.6 mm, maximum inspiratory pressure from 57.1 to 68.1 cmH<sub>2</sub>O, 6-min walk distance from 318 to 366 m, and COPD Assessment Test scores from 19 to 12, both exceeding the minimal clinically important difference thresholds (all p < 0.01). These findings suggest that high-intensity IMT may be a feasible and beneficial adjunct for improving inspiratory function and symptoms in patients with severe COPD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101348"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145736909","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":"BRAF V600E-mutant squamous cell carcinoma of the lung in patients with a history of papillary thyroid carcinoma: A three-case series","authors":"Naozumi Hashimoto , Ryoma Moriya , Ken Akao , Hisashi Kako , Yasuhiro Goto , Tomohide Souma , Yuko Oya , Yuka Kondo , Tetsuya Tsukamoto , Sumito Isogai , Masashi Kondo , Kazuyoshi Imaizumi","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is limited data on BRAF V600E-mutant squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We report three cases of SCC of the lung with a history of resected papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), showing p40 positivity, TTF-1 negativity, and PAX8 expression. While treated as lung SCC, metastatic thyroid carcinoma was unconfirmed due to absence of PTC recurrence, clinicopathologic features consistent with primary lung origin, and unavailable archival PTC pathology. BRAF inhibitors yielded only transient responses, and outcomes were poor. These cases underscore the diagnostic and therapeutic value of multigene testing in SCC, highlighting the need to integrate detailed clinical history into precision oncology strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101344"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145661782","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":"Bronchoscopic lung insufflation for post-transplant lobar atelectasis: Efficacy and a rare complication of cerebral gas embolism","authors":"Yojiro Yutaka , Akira Matsumoto , Ichiro Sakanoue , Hidenao Kayawake , Satona Tanaka , Daisuke Nakajima , Hiroshi Date","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101339","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101339","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bronchoscopic lung insufflation (BLI) allows re-expansion of collapsed lung lobes after transplantation. Among 254 transplant cases at our center, two patients underwent BLI for lobar atelectasis. Case 1 had recurrent right middle-lobe collapse after initial recovery, and BLI under conscious sedation led to durable re-expansion without complications. Case 2 underwent BLI for right upper-lobe atelectasis but developed transient neurological deficits due to presumed cerebral gas embolism, despite initial re-expansion. Full recovery was achieved with supportive care. These cases highlight BLI as an effective treatment for post-transplant atelectasis, although rare but serious complications require careful monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101339"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616020","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":"High diagnostic yield and treatment impact of bronchoscopy in elderly lung cancer patients (≥ 80 years): A single-center retrospective study","authors":"Shingo Maeda , Takuma Ina , Atsuhiko Ota , Masaaki Matsunaga , Tomoya Horiguchi , Aki Ikeda , Ryoma Moriya , Takaya Sato , Chiaki Sawada , Yuko Oya , Shotaro Okachi , Yasuhiro Goto , Sumito Isogai , Naozumi Hashimoto , Masashi Kondo , Kazuyoshi Imaizumi","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Although bronchoscopic biopsy serves as a cornerstone for diagnosing lung cancer in elderly patients, whether this procedure leads to clinically relevant outcomes is still unclear. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of diagnostic bronchoscopy in lung cancer patients aged ≥80 years.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We retrospectively analyzed 803 patients diagnosed with lung cancer who underwent bronchoscopy at our hospital from April 2015 to March 2019. Those aged ≥80 years and <80 years were classified as the elderly group (n = 154) and young group (n = 649), respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy in the elderly and young groups was 92.9 % and 83.5 %, respectively; complication rates were 9.6 % and 7.2 %. Approximately 89 % of the patients in the elderly group received specific lung cancer treatment. The 5-year survival rates for elderly and young patients who underwent surgery were 74.5 % and 78.2 %, respectively. In the elderly group, 11 % of the patients chose best supportive care (BSC) only, compared with 2 % in the young group. Notably, patients with non-diagnostic bronchoscopic results selected BSC more frequently in the elderly versus young groups (30.4 % versus 0 %, respectively).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Bronchoscopy in elderly patients with lung cancer demonstrated a high diagnostic yield and an acceptable safety profile, enabling specific treatments in the majority of cases. These findings support the clinical usefulness of bronchoscopy in guiding treatment decisions for elderly patients. However, non-diagnostic results were associated with a higher likelihood of BCS, highlighting the importance of achieving a definitive diagnosis in this population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101335"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145564599","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":"Impact of bendopnea on indicators of pulmonary hypertension, health-related quality of life, and pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease","authors":"Toshitaka Shomura , Yosuke Wada , Norihiko Goto , Yusuke Suzuki , Yoshiaki Kitaguchi , Atsuhito Ushiki , Taku Osawa , Masanori Yasuo , Masayuki Hanaoka","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101346","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.101346","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Bendopnea is a recognized symptom in patients with systolic heart failure; however, its clinical relevance in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of bendopnea on the coexistence of comorbid pulmonary hypertension (PH), various metrics of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), chest CT findings, and respiratory function in a cohort of patients with COPD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 133 patients with COPD at Shinshu University Hospital (Matsumoto, Japan). Bendopnea was defined as a positive response to a bendopnea-related question based on the corresponding item in the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Pulmonary artery and descending aorta diameters were measured on CT scans. To assess emphysema severity, the percentage of low-attenuation volume (LAV%) was calculated from the same CT scans using specialized image analysis software. Respiratory impedance was evaluated using oscillometry. Indicators of PH, emphysema severity, HRQoL, and pulmonary function were compared between patients who reported bendopnea and those who did not.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared to those without bendopnea, patients with the symptom had a significantly higher pulmonary artery-to-descending aorta diameter ratio and LAV%, as well as markedly poorer HRQoL. Regarding oscillometry parameters, reactance at 5 Hz (X5) was significantly decreased in the bendopnea group, while elevated resonant frequency (Fres) and area under the low-frequency reactance curve (ALX) values were also observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Bendopnea may serve as a clinical indicator of a more advanced disease state in COPD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"64 1","pages":"Article 101346"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145725529","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":"Differential associations between type 2 inflammation and airway mucus plugs in asthma, asthma-COPD overlap, and COPD","authors":"Kazuki Oga , Yusuke Hayashi , Naoya Tanabe , Tomoki Maetani , Yusuke Shiraishi , Ryo Sakamoto , Hironobu Sunadome , Susumu Sato , Hisako Matsumoto , Atsuyasu Sato , Toyohiro Hirai","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.10.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.10.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The mechanisms by which type 2 (T2) inflammation affects airway mucus plugging in asthma, asthma‒chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO), and COPD remain unclear despite their clinical relevance. This study examined whether increased fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and peripheral blood eosinophil count (BEC) are differentially associated with mucus plugging among patients with asthma, ACO, and COPD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The presence and scores of mucus plugs were cross-sectionally visually assessed on ultra-high-resolution computed tomography. The T2 inflammation level was categorized into three groups: low (FeNO <25 ppb and BEC <300/μL), middle (FeNO ≥25 ppb or BEC ≥300/μL), and high (FeNO ≥25 ppb and BEC ≥300/μL).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 245 patients who did not receive biologics or oral corticosteroids, including 81, 45, and 119 patients with asthma, ACO, and COPD, respectively, were classified into low, middle, and high T2 inflammation groups. In patients with asthma, increased T2 inflammation was associated with increased mucus plugging. In patients with ACO, the high T2 inflammation group had the highest prevalence of mucus plugs and the highest mucus plug scores, whereas no difference was found between the middle and low T2 inflammation groups. In patients with COPD, the prevalence and scoring of mucus plugs did not differ among the groups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The combination of high FeNO and BEC was associated with mucus plugs in patients with asthma or ACO but not in patients with COPD, suggesting the need for a disease-based approach to mucus plug removal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"63 6","pages":"Pages 1279-1285"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318721","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}
Respiratory investigationPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-11-11DOI: 10.1016/j.resinv.2025.11.006
Yuma Sato , Hidenori Kitai , Yuta Takashima , Naofumi Shinagawa , Jun Sakakibara-Konishi , Hiroya Ohkawa , Kanako C. Hatanaka , Yutaka Hatanaka , Hiroshi Yokouchi , Satoshi Konno
{"title":"Successful treatment of huntingtin-interacting protein-1-anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive lung cancer with severe airway stenosis using silicone stent placement and alectinib","authors":"Yuma Sato , Hidenori Kitai , Yuta Takashima , Naofumi Shinagawa , Jun Sakakibara-Konishi , Hiroya Ohkawa , Kanako C. Hatanaka , Yutaka Hatanaka , Hiroshi Yokouchi , Satoshi Konno","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.11.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.11.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Huntingtin-interacting protein 1 (HIP1)-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a relatively rare fusion in ALK-positive lung cancers. HIP1-ALK (H19:A20) is a rare variant among HIP1-ALK-positive lung cancers, and data on the efficacy of ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors are limited. We report a 37-year-old man with HIP1-ALK (H19:A20) lung adenocarcinoma treated with silicone stent placement and alectinib. Stent placement was effective in improving symptoms, and the best treatment response with alectinib was a partial response. Routine ALK screening using IHC or comprehensive genomic profiling should be considered for patients with lung cancer with suspected ALK gene.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"63 6","pages":"Pages 1365-1368"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145506622","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":"Extent of pulmonary involvement on admission predicts long-term pulmonary and muscular sequelae of COVID-19: A longitudinal computed tomography study","authors":"Takashi Shimada , Naoya Tanabe , Shotaro Chubachi , Takanori Asakura , Ho Namkoong , Hiromu Tanaka , Shuhei Azekawa , Shiro Otake , Kensuke Nakagawara , Takahiro Fukushima , Mayuko Watase , Tomoki Maetani , Yusuke Shiraishi , Hideki Terai , Mamoru Sasaki , Soichiro Ueda , Yukari Kato , Norihiro Harada , Shoji Suzuki , Shuichi Yoshida , Koichi Fukunaga","doi":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.09.014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resinv.2025.09.014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Studies on the association between chest computed tomography (CT) findings of extensive pulmonary involvement and long-term pulmonary and extrapulmonary coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sequelae are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the severity of pneumonia on admission and residual pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications at three months post-hospitalization.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using data from the Japan COVID-19 Task Force database, we conducted quantitative analysis of CT scans of 164 patients obtained at admission and three months later. The parameters included pneumonia volume, total lung volume, and area and density of the pectoralis muscle (PM), subcutaneous and epicardial adipose tissue, and vertebral bone density.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Patients with extensive pneumonia on admission had high residual pneumonia volumes, reduced lung volumes, and decreased area and density of PM at three months. No significant differences were observed in the adipose tissue or bone parameters. The severity of pneumonia at admission was independently associated with PM atrophy.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>CT-based quantification of pneumonia extent during the acute phase of COVID-19 may be useful in predicting long-term pulmonary sequelae and muscle wasting. This approach may allow the objective evaluation of Long COVID and facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20934,"journal":{"name":"Respiratory investigation","volume":"63 6","pages":"Pages 1215-1220"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145207264","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}