1.Associations of Ambient Air Pollutant Concentrations With Respiratory Symptoms and Perceived Health Status in Japanese Adults With and Without Chronic Respiratory Diseases: A Panel Study
Motoyuki NAKAO ; Keiko YAMAUCHI ; Satoshi MITSUMA ; Tetsuro ODAIRA ; Hideto OBATA ; Yoichi CHIJIMATSU ; Yoko ISHIHARA
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health 2019;52(6):416-426
OBJECTIVES:
In recent years, transboundary air pollution from mainland East Asia has led to growing concerns about air pollution in Japan. Air pollution is reportedly associated with the exacerbation of respiratory diseases. In this study, we assessed the effects of air pollution on respiratory symptoms and the health status of participants with and without chronic respiratory diseases.
METHODS:
Participants (n=2753) with and without chronic respiratory diseases who visited healthcare facilities in Japan during February from 2010 to 2015 filled out a self-report questionnaire regarding their symptoms and perceived health status. Participants were followed up during April-May and June-July.
RESULTS:
Oxidant concentrations were associated with respiratory symptoms, overall health, and quality of life (QoL). Suspended particulate matter (SPM) and particulate matter <2.5 μm levels were associated with physical fitness; SPM was also associated with QoL. Recent experience of an Asian sand dust event had a significant effect on allergic symptoms, change in health, and QoL.
CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory symptoms were more strongly affected by oxidants than by other pollutants. Significant associations of air pollutants were found with a comprehensive range of items related to perceived health status, including overall health and QoL. Although the effects of air pollutants on respiratory symptoms and health status were more apparent among patients with respiratory diseases, the adverse effects of air pollutants were significant even among participants without such conditions.
2.Impact of TTF-1 Expression on the Prognostic Prediction of Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer with PD-L1 Expression Levels of 1% to 49%, Treated with Chemotherapy vs. Chemoimmunotherapy: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study
Naoya NISHIOKA ; Tae HATA ; Tadaaki YAMADA ; Yasuhiro GOTO ; Akihiko AMANO ; Yoshiki NEGI ; Satoshi WATANABE ; Naoki FURUYA ; Tomohiro OBA ; Tatsuki IKOMA ; Akira NAKAO ; Keiko TANIMURA ; Hirokazu TANIGUCHI ; Akihiro YOSHIMURA ; Tomoya FUKUI ; Daiki MURATA ; Kyoichi KAIRA ; Shinsuke SHIOTSU ; Makoto HIBINO ; Asuka OKADA ; Yusuke CHIHARA ; Hayato KAWACHI ; Takashi KIJIMA ; Koichi TAKAYAMA
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):412-421
Purpose:
Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) expression is a useful predictor of treatment efficacy in advanced non-squamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to evaluate whether TTF-1 could predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy versus chemoimmunotherapy in patients with non-squamous NSCLC with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression between 1% and 49%.
Materials and Methods:
We conducted a retrospective study of patients with NSCLC who were treated with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy between March 2016 and May 2023. The patients had histologically confirmed NSCLC, stage III-IV or postoperative recurrence, TTF-1 measurements, and PD-L1 expression levels between 1% and 49%. Clinical data were analyzed to evaluate the effect of TTF-1 expression on treatment efficacy.
Results:
This study included 283 of 624 patients. TTF-1–positive patients showed longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (PFS: 6.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.0 to 9.4] vs. 4.1 months [95% CI, 2.7 to 6.1], p=0.03; OS: 17.9 months [95% CI, 15.2 to 28.1] vs. 9.4 months [95% CI, 6.3 to 17.0], p < 0.01) in the chemotherapy cohorts (n=93). In the chemoimmunotherapy cohort (n=190), there was no significant difference in PFS and OS between TTF-1–positive and –negative groups (PFS: 7.6 months [95% CI, 6.4 to 11.0] vs. 6.0 months [95% CI, 3.6 to 12.6], p=0.59; OS: 25.0 months [95% CI, 18.0 to 49.2] vs. 21.3 months [95% CI, 9.8 to 28.8], p=0.09).
Conclusion
In patients with NSCLC with PD-L1 expression between 1% and 49%, TTF-1 expression was a predictor of chemotherapeutic, but not chemoimmunotherapeutic, efficacy.
3.Impact of TTF-1 Expression on the Prognostic Prediction of Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer with PD-L1 Expression Levels of 1% to 49%, Treated with Chemotherapy vs. Chemoimmunotherapy: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study
Naoya NISHIOKA ; Tae HATA ; Tadaaki YAMADA ; Yasuhiro GOTO ; Akihiko AMANO ; Yoshiki NEGI ; Satoshi WATANABE ; Naoki FURUYA ; Tomohiro OBA ; Tatsuki IKOMA ; Akira NAKAO ; Keiko TANIMURA ; Hirokazu TANIGUCHI ; Akihiro YOSHIMURA ; Tomoya FUKUI ; Daiki MURATA ; Kyoichi KAIRA ; Shinsuke SHIOTSU ; Makoto HIBINO ; Asuka OKADA ; Yusuke CHIHARA ; Hayato KAWACHI ; Takashi KIJIMA ; Koichi TAKAYAMA
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):412-421
Purpose:
Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) expression is a useful predictor of treatment efficacy in advanced non-squamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to evaluate whether TTF-1 could predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy versus chemoimmunotherapy in patients with non-squamous NSCLC with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression between 1% and 49%.
Materials and Methods:
We conducted a retrospective study of patients with NSCLC who were treated with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy between March 2016 and May 2023. The patients had histologically confirmed NSCLC, stage III-IV or postoperative recurrence, TTF-1 measurements, and PD-L1 expression levels between 1% and 49%. Clinical data were analyzed to evaluate the effect of TTF-1 expression on treatment efficacy.
Results:
This study included 283 of 624 patients. TTF-1–positive patients showed longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (PFS: 6.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.0 to 9.4] vs. 4.1 months [95% CI, 2.7 to 6.1], p=0.03; OS: 17.9 months [95% CI, 15.2 to 28.1] vs. 9.4 months [95% CI, 6.3 to 17.0], p < 0.01) in the chemotherapy cohorts (n=93). In the chemoimmunotherapy cohort (n=190), there was no significant difference in PFS and OS between TTF-1–positive and –negative groups (PFS: 7.6 months [95% CI, 6.4 to 11.0] vs. 6.0 months [95% CI, 3.6 to 12.6], p=0.59; OS: 25.0 months [95% CI, 18.0 to 49.2] vs. 21.3 months [95% CI, 9.8 to 28.8], p=0.09).
Conclusion
In patients with NSCLC with PD-L1 expression between 1% and 49%, TTF-1 expression was a predictor of chemotherapeutic, but not chemoimmunotherapeutic, efficacy.
4.Impact of TTF-1 Expression on the Prognostic Prediction of Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer with PD-L1 Expression Levels of 1% to 49%, Treated with Chemotherapy vs. Chemoimmunotherapy: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study
Naoya NISHIOKA ; Tae HATA ; Tadaaki YAMADA ; Yasuhiro GOTO ; Akihiko AMANO ; Yoshiki NEGI ; Satoshi WATANABE ; Naoki FURUYA ; Tomohiro OBA ; Tatsuki IKOMA ; Akira NAKAO ; Keiko TANIMURA ; Hirokazu TANIGUCHI ; Akihiro YOSHIMURA ; Tomoya FUKUI ; Daiki MURATA ; Kyoichi KAIRA ; Shinsuke SHIOTSU ; Makoto HIBINO ; Asuka OKADA ; Yusuke CHIHARA ; Hayato KAWACHI ; Takashi KIJIMA ; Koichi TAKAYAMA
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):412-421
Purpose:
Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) expression is a useful predictor of treatment efficacy in advanced non-squamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to evaluate whether TTF-1 could predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy versus chemoimmunotherapy in patients with non-squamous NSCLC with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression between 1% and 49%.
Materials and Methods:
We conducted a retrospective study of patients with NSCLC who were treated with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy between March 2016 and May 2023. The patients had histologically confirmed NSCLC, stage III-IV or postoperative recurrence, TTF-1 measurements, and PD-L1 expression levels between 1% and 49%. Clinical data were analyzed to evaluate the effect of TTF-1 expression on treatment efficacy.
Results:
This study included 283 of 624 patients. TTF-1–positive patients showed longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (PFS: 6.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.0 to 9.4] vs. 4.1 months [95% CI, 2.7 to 6.1], p=0.03; OS: 17.9 months [95% CI, 15.2 to 28.1] vs. 9.4 months [95% CI, 6.3 to 17.0], p < 0.01) in the chemotherapy cohorts (n=93). In the chemoimmunotherapy cohort (n=190), there was no significant difference in PFS and OS between TTF-1–positive and –negative groups (PFS: 7.6 months [95% CI, 6.4 to 11.0] vs. 6.0 months [95% CI, 3.6 to 12.6], p=0.59; OS: 25.0 months [95% CI, 18.0 to 49.2] vs. 21.3 months [95% CI, 9.8 to 28.8], p=0.09).
Conclusion
In patients with NSCLC with PD-L1 expression between 1% and 49%, TTF-1 expression was a predictor of chemotherapeutic, but not chemoimmunotherapeutic, efficacy.
5.A Case of Successful Valve Repair in Traumatic Aortic Regurgitation Associated with the Dilated Aortic Annulus
Satoshi ARIMURA ; Mitsutaka NAKAO ; Naritomo NISHIOKA ; Yohkoh MATSUMURA ; Michio YOSHITAKE ; Ryuichi NAGAHORI ; Ko BANDO ; Kiyozo MORITA ; Takashi KUNIHARA
Japanese Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2020;49(6):358-361
Here, we present a case of successful aortic valve repair of traumatic aortic regurgitation (AR). A man in his early twenties had a chest blunt trauma due to a bicycle accident 6 years earlier and suffered sternum fracture. He recovered without cardiovascular complications. Three months previously, a new diastolic murmur was detected on medical checkup. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed severe AR, and the left ventricular end-diastolic-/end-systolic dimension was 69/51 mm. Transesophageal echocardiography showed severe AR with perforation of the non-coronary cusp and dilatation of the aortic annulus (29.6 mm). Aortic valve repair was performed with an autologous pericardial patch and external suture annuloplasty. Postoperative TTE showed normal aortic valve function with trivial AR. He was discharged on postoperative day 11. Three months later, TTE showed trivial AR along with a reduced left ventricular dimension and improved left ventricular ejection fraction.
6.A Survey Regarding the Price Calculation Method for New Drugs Based on the Chuikyo-Document about the NHI Drug Price List
Shiori HASEGAWA ; Yamato KATO ; Toshinobu MATSUI ; Haruna HATAHIRA ; Sayaka SASAOKA ; Yumi MOTOOKA ; Satoshi NAKAO ; Ririka MUKAI ; Kazuyo SHIMADA ; Natsumi UEDA ; Mitsuhiro NAKAMURA
Japanese Journal of Drug Informatics 2018;20(2):120-128
In Japan, the National Health Insurance (NHI) prices of new drugs are set according to the NHI Drug Price Standard (NHI Price Standard). The NHI Price Standard was notified by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare based on the ”Drug Price Calculation Criteria” proposed by the Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) in Japan. The NHI Price Standard affects the research and development strategy of pharmaceutical companies. In order to discover undetected relationships, the factors influencing the ”drug price” were evaluated through the association rule mining technique. We surveyed the Chuikyo‐documents about NHI price listing over the period October 27, 2006 to February 8, 2007. The number of approved new drugs was 874, while that of drugs completed (”drug price per day”) was 314. The numbers of new compounds corresponding to a drug price per day of ”below 200 yen,” ”between 200 yen and 1,000 yen,” ”between 1,000 and 10,000 yen,” and ”above or equal to 10,000 yen” were 87 (27.7%), 91 (29.0%), 79 (25.2%), and 57 (18.2%), respectively. In the association rule mining method, we observed high lift values of the combined items ”above or equal to 30,000 patients expected to be administrated” and ”drugs affecting sensory organs” in the group of drug price per day below 200 yen. The lift values of the combinations of ”biological preparations” and ”similar efficacy comparison‐based price setting (Ⅱ)” or ”below 30,000 patients expected to be administrated” and ”antineoplastic drug” in the group of ”above or equal to 10,000 yen of drug price per day” were high. These results provide a basis for the development and application of new drugs in Japan.