Medical treatment
For an accurate diagnosis and understanding the pathogenesis of a disease, we conduct bronchoscopy and pulmonary function tests including spirograph, FeNO, airway resistance measurement. We work closely with other departments such as the department of respiratory surgery, collagen disease, radiology, radiation therapy, pathology and so on to provide the best medical care to our patients.
| Year | Number of bronchoscopy procedures | Number of hospitalized patients |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 274 | 721 (Lung cancer; 432, interstitial lung disease; 96) |
| 2022 | 252 | 702 (Lung cancer; 414, interstitial lung disease; 101) |
| 2021 | 302 | 776 (Lung cancer; 500, interstitial lung disease; 99) |
| 2020 | 282 | 692 (Lung cancer; 458, interstitial lung disease; 70) |
| 2019 | 376 | 805 (Lung cancer; 471, interstitial lung disease; 101) |
| 2018 | 376 | 752 (Lung cancer; 454, interstitial lung disease; 109) |
| 2017 | 364 | 722 (Lung cancer; 472,Interstitial lung disease; 118) |
| 2016 | 361 | 720 (Lung cancer; 434,Interstitial lung disease; 101) |
| 2015 | 384 | 751 (Lung cancer; 379,Interstitial lung disease; 117) |
| 2014 | 426 | 682 (Lung cancer; 378,Interstitial lung disease; 124) |
| 2013 | 426 | 645 (Lung cancer; 349,Interstitial lung disease; 116) |
| 2012 | 385 | 689 (Lung cancer; 380,Interstitial lung disease; 154) |
Research
・Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1
We have demonstrated that PAI-1, an inhibitor of fibrinolytic system, is involved in the pathogenesis of various respiratory diseases such as interstitial pneumonia, bronchial asthma and lung cancer, and can be the promising therapeutic target.
Senoo T et al. Suppression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 by RNA interference attenuates pulmonary fibrosis. Thorax. 2010;65:334-40
Miyamoto S et al. Intra-airway administration of small interfering RNA targeting plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 attenuates allergic asthma in mice. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2011;301:L908-16
Masuda T et al. SK-216, an inhibitor of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, limits tumor progression and angiogenesis. Mol Cancer Ther. 2013;12:2378-88
Ohmori K et al. Inhibition of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Attenuates Transforming Growth Factor-β-Dependent Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition and Differentiation of Fibroblasts to Myofibroblasts. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0148969
Takayama T et al. Inhibition of PAI-1 Limits Tumor Angiogenesis Regardless of Angiogenic Stimuli in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancer Res. 2016;76:3285-94
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 serves an important role in radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Exp Ther Med. 2018 Oct;16(4):3070-3076.
Inhibition of PAI-1 limits chemotherapy resistance in lung cancer through suppressing myofibroblast characteristics of cancer-associated fibroblasts. J Cell Mol Med. 2019 [Epub ahead of print]
・Krebs von den Lungen (KL)-6
We have established the measurement assay of KL-6, the world's first serum biomarker for interstitial pneumonia, and have conducted extensive research from its molecular basis to clinical practice.
Kondoh T et al. KL-6 concentration in pulmonary epithelial lining fluid is a useful prognostic indicator in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Respir Res. 2011;12:32
Ishikawa N et al. Levels of surfactant proteins A and D and KL-6 are elevated in the induced sputum of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: a sequential sputum analysis. Respiration. 2011;82:10-8
Kawase S et al. Change in serum KL-6 level from baseline is useful for predicting life-threatening EGFR-TKIs induced interstitial lung disease. Respir Res. 2011;12:97
Tanaka S et al. Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is a prognostic biomarker in patients with surgically resected nonsmall cell lung cancer. Int J Cancer. 2012;130:377-87
Horimasu Y. Different MUC1 gene polymorphisms in German and Japanese ethnicities affect serum KL-6 levels. Respir Med. 2012;106:1756-64
Ohshimo S et al. Baseline KL-6 predicts increased risk for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Respir Med. 2014;108:1031-9
Ishikawa N et al. Airway inflammation in Japanese COPD patients compared with smoking and nonsmoking controls. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2015;10:185-92
Hamai K et al. Comparative Study of Circulating MMP-7, CCL18, KL-6, SP-A, and SP-D as Disease Markers of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Dis Markers. 2016;2016:4759040
Anti-KL-6/MUC1 monoclonal antibody reverses resistance to trastuzumab-mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by capping MUC1. Cancer Lett. 2019 Feb 1;442:31-39.
Serial measurements of KL-6 for monitoring activity and recurrence of interstitial pneumonia with anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody: A retrospective cohort study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Dec;97(49):e13542.
・Other clinical research
We are actively participating in group research conducted by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. We have also conducted various clinical studies of obstructive pulmonary diseases and diffuse lung diseases using airway resistance tests and induced sputum tests, and we also have been conducting longitudinal cohort study of COPD.
Sugiyama A et al. Characteristics of inspiratory and expiratory reactance in interstitial lung disease. Respir Med. 2013;107:875-82
Nakagawa M et al. Effect of increasing respiratory rate on airway resistance and reactance in COPD patients. Respirology. 2015;20:87-94
Omori K et al. Clinically remitted childhood asthma is associated with airflow obstruction in middle-aged adults. Respirology. 2017;22:86-92
・Longitudinal cohort study for former workers of poison gas factory
For more than half a century, we have continued longitudinal cohort study for former workers of Ohkuno-jima poison gas factory and have presented numerous reports.
Doi M et al. Effect of mustard gas exposure on incidence of lung cancer: a longitudinal study. Am J Epidemiol. 2011;173:659-66
Nishimura Y et al. Long-term pulmonary complications of chemical weapons exposure in former poison gas factory workers. Inhal Toxicol. 2016;28:343-8
Mukaida K et al. Mustard gas exposure and mortality among retired workers at a poisonous gas factory in Japan: a 57-year follow-up cohort study. Occup Environ Med. 2017 May;74(5):321-327.
