Research activity information

• Association between FDG accumulation in interstitial lesions and acute exacerbation risk in lung cancer: multicenter analysis.
  Yuriko Ishida; Shiro Watanabe; Jun Sakakibara-Konishi; Yasuyuki Ikezawa; Hajime Kikuchi; Yasutaka Kawai; Hirokazu Kimura; Sho Nakakubo; Kenji Hirata; Kohsuke Kudo; Satoshi Konno
  Japanese journal of radiology, 44, 1, 147, 155, Jan. 2026, [Peer-reviewed], [Domestic magazines]
  English, Scientific journal, PURPOSE: Interstitial pneumonia (IP) is associated with poor prognosis in lung cancer and increases the risk of acute exacerbation (AE). Few studies analyzed the relationship between fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation in IP with lung cancer complicated with IP and the incidence of AE. This study investigates the association between FDG accumulation in the interstitial lesions and the AE incidence in patients with lung cancer complicated with IP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study included patients with lung cancer complicated with IP who received chemotherapy. All CTs at baseline and the onset of AE were centrally adjudicated. The SUVpeak and FDGscore for interstitial lesions were calculated from FDG positron emission tomography images before chemotherapy, and these values were corrected using reference uptake. To determine the association with AE risk, clinical characteristics and imaging findings were compared between patients who developed AE and those who did not. Subsequently, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for the development of AE. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen patients who met the eligibility criteria were enrolled from three centers. However, 9 patients with a clinical diagnosis of collagen-related interstitial pneumonia were excluded due to predominant FDG accumulation in the interstitial lesions, and 104 patients were analyzed. Of those patients, 31.7% (33/104) developed all grade AE and 18.3% (19/104) developed grade 3 or higher. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics and imaging patterns between those with and without AE. SUVpeak in the ipsilateral and contralateral interstitial lesions to the tumor and the FDGscore did not differ between those with or without AE. CONCLUSIONS: No association was observed between FDG accumulation in interstitial lesions and AE in patients with lung cancer complicated with IP. We may have to remain cautious about the risk of AE in lung cancer complicated with IP, even when FDG accumulation in interstitial lesions is high or low.
• Determinants of airway morphology in asthma: Inflammatory and noninflammatory factors.
  Kaoruko Shimizu; Naoya Tanabe; Hirokazu Kimura; Jun Miyata; Shotaro Chubachi; Yuji Nakamaru; Akira Oguma; Nobuyasu Wakazono; Kazufumi Okada; Houman Goudarzi; Ichizo Tsujino; Hironi Makira; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. Global, 4, 4, 100555, 100555, Nov. 2025, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Patients with asthma may exhibit impaired airway tree morphology. The impact of difficult-to-treat traits on airway tree morphology remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify determinants of total airway branch count (TAC) detectable via computed tomography and explore associated blood and sputum biomarkers in nonsmokers and smokers with asthma. METHODS: Baseline computed tomography scans and pulmonary function tests (spirometry, diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide, and lung volume) were analyzed from the Hokkaido Severe Asthma Cohort (N = 190). TAC, segmental airway, visually evident mucus plugging and bronchiectasis, and parenchymal and extrapulmonary indices, such as the Lund-Mackay score, were evaluated. Relationships between TAC, difficult-to-treat traits, and blood/sputum biomarkers were analyzed using crude or multivariable regression models, adjusted for demographic factors. RESULTS: Blood or sputum eosinophilia, mucus plugs, high body mass index (BMI), asthma duration, and higher Lund-Mackay score correlated with low TAC. Low TAC was linked to airflow obstruction and heterogeneous ventilation (low alveolar volume/total lung capacity). BMI was inversely associated with TAC, independent of age, sex, smoking status, sputum eosinophil ratio, and asthma duration. The presence of bronchiectasis correlated with an increase in TAC. Sputum IL-5, IL-6, RANTES, and circulating YKL-40 (chitinase-3-like-1 protein) and leptin also inversely correlated with TAC. CONCLUSIONS: BMI, asthma duration, sinusitis, and the presence of bronchiectasis are significant determinants of airway tree morphology in asthma, alongside inflammation and mucus plugs. Both inflammatory and noninflammatory biomarkers were associated with low TAC.
• High Airway-To-Vessel Volume Ratio and Visual Bronchiectasis Are Associated With Exacerbations in COPD.
  Nobuyasu Wakazono; Kaoruko Shimizu; Naoya Tanabe; Akira Oguma; Hironi Makita; Kazufumi Okada; Miho Wakazono; Hiroki Nishimura; Yuichi Kojima; Michiko Takimoto-Sato; Munehiro Matsumoto; Yuki Abe; Ayako Igarashi-Sugimoto; Nozomu Takei; Hirokazu Kimura; Houman Goudarzi; Takeshi Hattori; Ichizo Tsujino; Susumu Sato; Shigeo Muro; Masaharu Nishimura; Toyohiro Hirai; Satoshi Konno
  Respirology (Carlton, Vic.), 31 Aug. 2025, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The effects of the volume mismatch between the airway and lung vasculature on exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is uncertain. We aimed to examine the association between an increased volume ratio of the airway to lung blood vessels (AVR) and exacerbations, regardless of visually assessed bronchiectasis (modified Reiff [mReiff] score) and extrapulmonary vasculature on computed tomography (CT), in patients with COPD during a 5-year follow-up period. METHODS: Participants were recruited from the Hokkaido COPD Cohort Study (original, N = 96) and Kyoto University cohort (validation, N = 130). CT-derived indices of the airway and vasculature, mReiff scores, and ratio of pulmonary artery diameter to aorta diameter (PA/Ao) were evaluated. The Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests was used to compare the high (highest quartile) and low (other quartiles) groups, while multivariable Cox proportional hazards models explored the factors associated with the time to first exacerbation. RESULTS: The high AVR group showed a shorter time to first exacerbation than the low AVR group in analyses of both all patients and those without visual bronchiectasis. High AVR was significantly associated with exacerbations [Hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: original, 3.85 [1.17, 12.6]; validation, 2.01 [1.15, 3.52]), irrespective of mReiff scores and PA/Ao in all patients. The lung-volume-corrected airway or blood vessel volumes did not correlate with the time to first exacerbation. CONCLUSION: High AVR was associated with a shorter time to first exacerbation, complementary to mReiff score and PA/Ao, suggesting that AVR is a novel CT-derived predictor of exacerbation in COPD.
• Prevalence, incidence, and clinical features of cardiac involvement in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.
  Junichi Nakamura; Takahiro Sato; Hiroshi Ohira; Shuhei Yoshikawa; Takeshi Hattori; Osamu Manabe; Noriko Oyama-Manabe; Satonori Tsuneta; Hirokazu Kimura; Sakae Takenaka; Toshiyuki Nagai; Toshihisa Anzai; Masaharu Nishimura; Isao Yokota; Ichizo Tsujino; Satoshi Konnno
  Respiratory medicine, 238, 107954, 107954, Mar. 2025, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: The epidemiology and characteristics of cardiac involvement in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis remain unclear. We aimed to determine the prevalence, incidence, and clinical features of cardiac sarcoidosis in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. METHODS: The characteristics of patients with biopsy-proven pulmonary sarcoidosis were retrospectively evaluated. Cardiac sarcoidosis was diagnosed via evaluations, including 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography at the time of diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis and during follow-up. Characteristics of patients with and without cardiac complications were compared. RESULTS: In total, 438 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis were included, of which 40 (9.1 %) were diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis at the time of diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. During the follow-up period, 14 patients (4 %) developed cardiac complications (0.0075/person-years). Electrocardiographic abnormalities were the most common findings leading to the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (85 %). Compared to patients without cardiac involvement, those with cardiac sarcoidosis had lower serum angiotensin converting enzyme concentration [19.9 (15.5-25.1) vs. 17.4 (12.6-23.8) U/L)], higher rates of kidney complications (3 vs. 13 %), fewer ocular complications (78 vs. 17 %), and lower lymphocyte levels [35.8 (18.6-53) vs. 25.1 (14.2-38.2)%] and CD4/CD8 ratios [4.8 (3.1-7.5)% vs. 3.9 (1.8-6)%] in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis. CONCLUSION: At the time of diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis, cardiac complications occurred in approximately 10 % of the patients and developed in 0.0075/person-year during follow-up. Low serum angiotensin converting enzyme concentration, lymphocyte level and CD4/CD8 ratio in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid may be unique features of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.
• Clinical characteristics of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis treated with systemic steroids in Japan.
  Michiru Sawahata; Hirokazu Kimura; Takeshi Hattori; Tsutomu Tamada; Masashi Bando; Makoto Maemondo; Takeshi Kawanobe; Chiyoko Kono; Tetsuo Yamaguchi; Noriharu Shijubo; Takafumi Suda; Satoshi Konno
  Frontiers in medicine, 12, 1567334, 1567334, 2025, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Severe pulmonary sarcoidosis is less common in Japan than in other countries, and the actual clinical situation of systemic steroid use in Japan requires clarification. METHODS: This study analyzed 65 patients with histologically diagnosed sarcoidosis who initially received systemic steroids for pulmonary lesions and made regular outpatient visits to Hokkaido University Hospital, JR Sapporo Hospital, or JR Tokyo General Hospital in September 2017. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 35 (interquartile range [IQR] 26-48) years. Thirty-four patients (52.3%) were men. Median time from diagnosis to steroid initiation was 5 (IQR, 1-9) years. Median maximum steroid dose was prednisolone (PSL) 30 (range 5-60) mg/day. Immunosuppressants were used in 19 patients (29.2%). Twenty-one patients (32.3%) received PSL ≤ 10 mg/day and 7 (10.8%) received 5 mg/day. The PSL ≤ 10 mg/day group included a significantly lower proportion of men than the group treated with higher doses (33.3% vs. 61.4%, p = 0.034). Most cases were effectively treated, but some required long-term steroid administration. Even when steroid inhalation therapy was ineffective, systemic administration of PSL 5 mg/day effectively resolved chest imaging findings and respiratory symptoms. The successful steroid withdrawal rate was 18.5% overall, increasing to 23.8 and 42.9% in the PSL ≤ 10 mg/day and 5 mg/day groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Approximately one-third of patients received an initial steroid dose of PSL ≤ 10 mg/day for pulmonary sarcoidosis. This was mostly effective and the withdrawal rate was relatively high. Our results support that some Japanese patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis may successfully receive an initial dose of PSL ≤ 10 mg/day.
• Prevalence and clinical impact of asthma-COPD overlap in severe asthma.
  Miho Wakazono; Hirokazu Kimura; Ichizo Tsujino; Nobuyasu Wakazono; Michiko Takimoto-Sato; Munehiro Matsumoto; Kaoruko Shimizu; Houman Goudarzi; Hironi Makita; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology, 11 Dec. 2024, [Peer-reviewed], [Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Patients with asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) have a greater symptom burden, worse respiratory function, and more frequent exacerbations than those with asthma alone. However, only a few studies have investigated the prevalence and clinical course of ACO in severe asthma. This study aimed to examine the comorbid rate of ACO and its clinical impact on severe asthma. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 127 patients with severe asthma from 30 hospitals and clinics. Favorable treatment adherence was ensured, and the prevalence of ACO was assessed using the Japanese Respiratory Society ACO criteria. Patients were categorized into two groups, ACO and non-ACO, and their clinical characteristics were compared. The exacerbation rates with a 3-year follow-up and the annual change in FEV1 with a 5-year follow-up of 105 individuals were evaluated. The exacerbation-free rate was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The prevalence of ACO in severe asthma was 31.5 %. Patients with ACO were older, more frequently male, and had a longer duration of asthma than those without. No significant difference was observed in exacerbation rates between the ACO and non-ACO groups (62.2 % vs. 63.2 %, P = 0.91) or the annual change in FEV1 (-39.2 mL/year vs. -31.2 mL/year, P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ACO in our multicenter cohort study on severe asthma was approximately 30 %. The presence of ACO was not an independent risk for exacerbations or decline in FEV1.
• 中等・重症自己免疫性肺胞蛋白症に対するサルグラモスチム吸入試験の速報
  中田 光; 半田 知宏; 坂上 拓郎; 鈴木 拓児; 谷野 功典; 赤坂 圭一; 伊藤 理; 富井 啓介; 坂本 憲穂; 江田 良輔; 木村 孔一; 北村 信隆
  日本呼吸器学会誌, 13, 4, 140, 147, (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Jul. 2024
  Japanese
• Increased adiposity to muscle ratio and severity of sinusitis affect quality of life in asthma—Computed tomographic analysis—
  Kaoruko Shimizu; Hirokazu Kimura; Naoya Tanabe; Kazuya Tanimura; Shotaro Chubachi; Hiroaki Iijima; Susumu Sato; Nobuyasu Wakazono; Yuji Nakamaru; Kazufumi Okada; Hironi Makita; Houman Goudarzi; Masaru Suzuki; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global, 100277, 100277, Elsevier BV, May 2024, [Peer-reviewed]
  Scientific journal
• High attenuation mucus in bronchi with allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis.
  Shigeaki Hattori; Tsuyoshi Oguma; Takashi Ishiguro; Junko Suzuki; Koichi Fukunaga; Terufumi Shimoda; Hirokazu Kimura; Yasushi Obase; Naoki Okada; Jun Tanaka; Asako Kitahara; Katsuyoshi Tomomatsu; Yoshiki Shiraishi; Koichiro Asano
  Mycoses, 67, 2, e13705, Feb. 2024, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: High-attenuation mucus (HAM) is a specific manifestation of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) on chest computed tomography (CT). OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the two definitions of HAM and to clarify the clinical and radiographic characteristics of HAM-positive and HAM-negative ABPM. METHODS: CT images at the diagnosis of ABPM using Asano's criteria were retrospectively analysed. In Study #1, radiographic data obtained using the same CT apparatus in a single institute were analysed to determine the agreement between the two definitions of HAM: a mucus plug that is visually denser than the paraspinal muscles or that with a radiodensity ≥70 Hounsfield units. In Study #2, HAM was diagnosed by comparison with the paraspinal muscles in patients with ABPM reporting to 14 medical institutes in Japan. RESULTS: In Study #1, 93 mucus plugs from 26 patients were analysed. A substantial agreement for HAM diagnosis was observed between the two methods, with a κ coefficient of 0.72. In Study #2, 60 cases of ABPM were analysed; mucus plugs were present in all cases and HAM was diagnosed in 45 (75%) cases. The median A. fumigatus-specific IgE titre was significantly lower in HAM-positive patients than in HAM-negative patients (2.5 vs. 24.3 UA /mL, p = .004). Nodular shadows were observed more frequently in the airways distal to HAM than in those distal to non-HAM mucus plugs (59% vs. 32%, p < .001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, agreement between the two methods to diagnose HAM was substantial. HAM was associated with some immunological and radiographic characteristics, including lower levels of sensitization to A. fumigatus and the presence of distal airway lesions.
• Nine-Year Trend in the Prevalence of Allergic Diseases and Their Associated Factors in Young Adults.
  Munehiro Matsumoto; Hirokazu Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Masaru Suzuki; Satoshi Asakura; Satoshi Hashino; Satoshi Konno
  International archives of allergy and immunology, 1, 10, 05 Dec. 2023, [Peer-reviewed], [Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, INTRODUCTION: Notably, few studies have evaluated the recent changes in the prevalence of allergic diseases in young adults. Studies examining the risk of allergy in two populations with similar social backgrounds, other than the region in which they live, are rare. METHODS: First-year students from Hokkaido University were enrolled in this study between 2011 and 2019. A questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the annual prevalence of current wheeze, seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), and perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) in nonsmoking young adults. Trends in the presence of these disease conditions were evaluated based on their hometowns (Hokkaido and outside Hokkaido separately) due to the low prevalence of cedar pollen allergies in Hokkaido. The association between these disease conditions and body mass index (BMI) was also assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of current wheeze and PAR food allergies did not change in both regions. SAR showed a significantly increasing trend; however, the prevalence of SAR was higher among those whose place of origin was not Hokkaido. Current wheeze was positively associated with obesity (p < 0.05), whereas the high prevalence of SAR was not associated with body weight. In contrast, a lean body type was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of PAR (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The prevalence of current wheeze was stable and that of PAR has decreased over the past 9 years. However, the prevalence of SAR in Hokkaido has been increasing in Japanese young adults. A differential association between current wheeze and BMI was observed when comparing PAR and SAR.
• Applicable predictive factors extracted from peak flow trajectory for the prediction of asthma exacerbation.
  Yichi Yang; Hirokazu Kimura; Isao Yokota; Hironi Makita; Michiko Takimoto-Sato; Machiko Matsumoto-Sasaki; Munehiro Matsumoto; Akira Oguma; Yuki Abe; Nozomu Takei; Houman Goudarzi; Kaoruko Shimizu; Masaru Suzuki; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 23 Nov. 2023, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Real-time asthma exacerbation prediction and acute asthma attack detection are essential for patients with severe asthma. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) exhibits a potential for use in long-term asthma self-monitoring. However, the method for processing PEF calculations remains to be clarified. OBJECTIVE: Present research was conducted to develop clinically applicable novel exacerbation predictors calculated using PEF records. METHODS: Previously proposed exacerbation predictors, including the slope of PEF, percentage predicted PEF, percentage best PEF, the highest PEF over the lowest PEF within specific periods, and PEF coefficient of variation, as well as a novel indicator delta PEF moving average (ΔMA), defined as the difference between 14-day and 3-day average PEF values along with MA adjusted for PEF reference (%ΔMA), were verified using the Hokkaido-based Investigative Cohort Analysis for Refractory Asthma data of 127 patients with severe asthma from whom 73,503 PEF observations were obtained. Receiver operating characteristic curves for all predictors were drawn and the corresponding areas under the curve (AUCs) were computed. Regression analysis for MA and % MA were conducted. RESULTS: The most outstanding performance was demonstrated by ΔMA and %ΔMA, with AUC values of 0.659 and 0.665 in the univariate model, respectively. When multivariate models incorporated with random intercepts for individual participants, the AUC for ΔMA and %ΔMA soared to 0.907 and 0.919, respectively. CONCLUSION: The MA and % MA are valuable indicators that should be considered when deriving predictors from the PEF trajectory for monitoring exacerbations in patients with severe asthma.
• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis with atopic, nonatopic, and sans asthma-Factor analysis.
  Naoki Okada; Yoshiro Yamamoto; Tsuyoshi Oguma; Jun Tanaka; Katsuyoshi Tomomatsu; Yoshiki Shiraishi; Hiroto Matsuse; Terufumi Shimoda; Hirokazu Kimura; Kentaro Watai; Toshiyuki Harada; Yuka Fujita; Yasushi Obase; Maho Suzukawa; Junko Suzuki; Noboru Takayanagi; Takashi Ishiguro; Katsunori Masaki; Koichi Fukunaga; Koichiro Asano
  Allergy, 17 Jul. 2023, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) develops in the presence or absence of asthma, either atopic or nonatopic. We have tried to explore the essential components in the pathogenesis of the disease, which are either consistent and variable according to the presence and type of asthma. METHODS: Non-cystic fibrosis ABPA cases satisfying Asano's criteria were extracted from a prospective registry of ABPA and related diseases in Japan between 2013 and 2023. According to the type of preceding asthma, ABPA was classified into three groups: ABPA sans asthma (no preceding asthma), ABPA with atopic asthma, and ABPA with nonatopic asthma. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to identify the components that determined the clinical characteristics of ABPA. RESULTS: Among 106 cases of ABPA, 25 patients (24%) had ABPA sans asthma, whereas 57 (54%) and 24 (23%) had ABPA with atopic and nonatopic asthma, respectively. Factor analysis identified three components: allergic, eosinophilic, and fungal. Patients with atopic asthma showed the highest scores for the allergic component (p < .001), defined by total and allergen-specific IgE titers and lung opacities, and the lowest scores for the fungal component defined by the presence of specific precipitin/IgG or positive culture for A. fumigatus. Eosinophilic components, including peripheral blood eosinophil counts and presence of mucus plugs/high attenuation mucus in the bronchi, were consistent among the three groups. CONCLUSION: The eosinophilic component of ABPA is considered as the cardinal feature of ABPA regardless of the presence of preceding asthma or atopic predisposition.
• Relationships of computed tomography-based small vessel indices of the lungs with ventilation heterogeneity and high transfer coefficients in non-smokers with asthma.
  Kaoruko Shimizu; Hirokazu Kimura; Naoya Tanabe; Shotaro Chubachi; Susumu Sato; Masaru Suzuki; Kazuya Tanimura; Hiroaki Iijima; Akira Oguma; Yoichi M Ito; Nobuyasu Wakazono; Michiko Takimoto-Sato; Machiko Matsumoto-Sasaki; Yuki Abe; Nozomu Takei; Hironi Makita; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Frontiers in physiology, 14, 1137603, 1137603, 2023, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, Background: The mechanism of high transfer coefficients of the lungs for carbon monoxide (Kco) in non-smokers with asthma is explained by the redistribution of blood flow to the area with preserved ventilation, to match the ventilation perfusion. Objectives: To examine whether ventilation heterogeneity, assessed by pulmonary function tests, is associated with computed tomography (CT)-based vascular indices and Kco in patients with asthma. Methods: Participants were enrolled from the Hokkaido-based Investigative Cohort Analysis for Refractory Asthma (Hi-CARAT) study that included a prospective asthmatic cohort. Pulmonary function tests including Kco, using single breath methods; total lung capacity (TLC), using multiple breath methods; and CT, were performed on the same day. The ratio of the lung volume assessed using single breath methods (alveolar volume; VA) to that using multiple breath methods (TLC) was calculated as an index of ventilation heterogeneity. The volume of the pulmonary small vessels <5 mm2 in the whole lung (BV5 volume), and number of BV5 at a theoretical surface area of the lungs from the plural surface (BV5 number) were evaluated using chest CT images. Results: The low VA/TLC group (the lowest quartile) had significantly lower BV5 number, BV5 volume, higher BV5 volume/BV5 number, and higher Kco compared to the high VA/TLC group (the highest quartile) in 117 non-smokers, but not in 67 smokers. Multivariable analysis showed that low VA/TLC was associated with low BV5 number, after adjusting for age, sex, weight, lung volume on CT, and CT emphysema index in non-smokers (not in smokers). Conclusion: Ventilation heterogeneity may be associated with low BV5 number and high Kco in non-smokers (not in smokers). Future studies need to determine the dynamic regional system in ventilation, perfusion, and diffusion in asthma.
• Association of serum CC16 levels with eosinophilic inflammation and respiratory dysfunction in severe asthma.
  Houman Goudarzi; Hirokazu Kimura; Hiroki Kimura; Hironi Makita; Michiko Takimoto-Sato; Yuki Abe; Akira Oguma; Munehiro Matsumoto; Nozomu Takei; Machiko Matsumoto-Sasaki; Kaoruko Shimizu; Masaru Suzuki; Noriharu Shijubo; Shau-Ku Huang; Nobuyuki Hizawa; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Respiratory medicine, 206, 107089, 107089, Jan. 2023, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: There are knowledge gaps in the potential role of Club cell 16-kDa secretory protein (CC16) in severe asthma phenotypes and type 2 inflammation, as well as the longitudinal effect of CC16 on pulmonary function tests and exacerbation risk in epidemiological studies. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To assess whether serum CC16 is associated with eosinophilic inflammation in patients with severe asthma. We also examined the effect of this protein on the annual decline in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and the risk of exacerbation using a longitudinal approach. We recruited 127 patients with severe asthma from 30 hospitals/pulmonary clinics in Hokkaido, Japan. The least square means and standard error were calculated for T-helper 2 (Th2) biomarkers and pulmonary function test across CC16 tertiles at baseline. We did the same for asthma exacerbation and annual decline in FEV1 with 3 and 5 years' follow-up, respectively. RESULTS: We found that serum CC16 was inversely associated with sputum eosinophils and blood periostin in a dose-response manner. Baseline CC16 and FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio were positively associated in adjusted models (p for trend = 0.008). Patients with the lowest tertile of serum CC16 levels at baseline had a -14.3 mL decline in FEV1 than those with the highest tertile over 5 years of follow-up (p for trend = 0.031, fully adjusted model). We did not find any association of CC16 with exacerbation risk. CONCLUSION: Patients with severe asthma with lower circulatory CC16 had enhanced eosinophilic inflammation with rapid FEV1 decline over time.
• Blood eosinophil count variability in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe asthma.
  Yuki Abe; Masaru Suzuki; Hirokazu Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Nozomu Takei; Akira Oguma; Machiko Matsumoto-Sasaki; Houman Goudarzi; Hironi Makita; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology, 29 Dec. 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Blood eosinophils are essential biomarkers that vary substantially over time in patients with COPD and asthma. However, no study has identified the changes and effects in the changes of the blood eosinophil counts over time in both diseases. This study aimed to demonstrate blood eosinophil variability in patients with COPD and severe asthma based on these backgrounds. METHODS: A total of 172 patients with COPD from the Hokkaido COPD cohort study and 96 patients with severe asthma from the Hokkaido Severe Asthma Cohort Study, whose blood eosinophil counts were measured annually over a 3-year period, were analyzed. The factors contributing to consistently high or low blood eosinophil counts were examined in each cohort. The stability of the eosinophil classification (<150, 150-299, ≥300 cells/μL) was compared based on the number of asthma-like features in patients with COPD and the smoking status in patients with severe asthma. RESULTS: Among all the patients, the most stable range of baseline blood eosinophil counts differed between the two diseases, with <150 cells/μL in COPD and ≥300 cells/μL in severe asthma. In COPD, the number of asthma-like features (bronchodilator reversibility, blood eosinophilia, and atopy) affects the blood eosinophil count variation patterns. In severe asthma, smoking status did not affect the blood eosinophil count variation patterns. CONCLUSIONS: We identified variations in the blood eosinophil counts and their contributing factors in patients with COPD and severe asthma.
• Differential role of mucus plugs in asthma: Effects of smoking and association with airway inflammation.
  Akira Oguma; Kaoruko Shimizu; Hirokazu Kimura; Naoya Tanabe; Susumu Sato; Isao Yokota; Michiko Takimoto-Sato; Machiko Matsumoto-Sasaki; Yuki Abe; Nozomu Takei; Houman Goudarzi; Masaru Suzuki; Hironi Makita; Toyohiro Hirai; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology, 72, 2, 262, 270, 16 Nov. 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: The physiological importance of mucus plugs in computed tomography (CT) imaging is being increasingly recognized. However, whether airway inflammation and smoking affect the association between mucus plugs and clinical-physiological outcomes in asthma remains to be elucidated. The objective of this study is to examine how airway inflammation and/or smoking affect the correlation of CT-based mucus plug scores with exacerbation frequency and airflow limitation indices in asthma. METHODS: A total of 168 patients with asthma who underwent chest CT and sputum evaluation were enrolled and classified in eosinophilic asthma (EA; n = 103) and non-eosinophilic asthma (NEA; n = 65) groups based on sputum eosinophil percentage (cut-off: 3%). The mucus plug score was defined as the number of lung segments with mucus plugs seen on CT. RESULTS: More mucus plugs were detected on CT scans in the EA group than in the NEA group, regardless of smoking status. Mucus plug score and exacerbation frequency during one year after enrollment were significantly associated in the EA group but not in the NEA group after adjusting for demographics, blood eosinophil count, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide. Mucus plug score was associated with percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s in non-smoking individuals in the EA and NEA group and in smoking individuals in the EA group but not in the NEA group after adjusting for demographics. CONCLUSIONS: The association of mucus plug score with exacerbation frequency and reduced lung function may vary due to airway inflammatory profile and smoking status in asthma.
• Association of longitudinal changes in quality of life with comorbidities and exacerbations in patients with severe asthma.
  Machiko Matsumoto-Sasaki; Masaru Suzuki; Hirokazu Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Hironi Makita; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology, 71, 4, 481, 489, Oct. 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) assessment is important in the management of severe asthma, and comorbidities and/or exacerbations may affect longitudinal QoL. However, there are few reports on the longitudinal assessment of QoL in patients with asthma over multiple years and its related factors. This study aimed to clarify the relationship of longitudinal changes in QoL with comorbidities and/or exacerbations during a prolonged observation period in patients with severe asthma. METHODS: A total of 105 subjects who participated in the Hokkaido-based Investigative Cohort Analysis for Refractory Asthma (Hi-CARAT) with a six-year follow-up were analyzed. QoL was assessed annually, using the Standardized Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the subjects were divided into three groups: (1) persistently good QoL, (2) persistently poor QoL, and (3) fluctuating QoL. Assessed comorbidities comprised depression, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a key symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. RESULTS: Of 105 subjects with severe asthma, 53 (50%) were classified in the persistently good QoL group, 10 (10%) in the persistently poor QoL group, and 42 (40%) in the fluctuating QoL group. The persistently poor QoL group was associated with shorter time to hospitalization due to exacerbation and the presence of multiple comorbidities. In addition, the presence of EDS was an independent contributor to the fluctuating QoL group compared to the persistently good QoL group. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of multiple comorbidities and hospitalization due to exacerbation contribute to longitudinal changes in QoL in patients with severe asthma.
• オマリズマブの長期投与後、投与間隔延長による不応を呈した重症喘息の1例
  佐々木 真知子; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 正宣; 鈴木 雅; 木村 孔一; 中丸 裕爾; 今野 哲
  アレルギー, 71, 8, 944, 948, (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Sep. 2022, [Peer-reviewed]
  Japanese
• Effects of obesity on CC16 and their potential role in overweight/obese asthma.
  Houman Goudarzi; Hirokazu Kimura; Hiroki Kimura; Hironi Makita; Munehiro Matsumoto; Nozomu Takei; Kaoruko Shimizu; Masaru Suzuki; Taku Watanabe; Eiki Kikuchi; Hiroshi Ohira; Ichizo Tsujino; Jun Sakakibara-Konishi; Naofumi Shinagawa; Noriharu Shijubo; Hirokazu Sato; Katsunori Shigehara; Kichizo Kaga; Yasuhiro Hida; Soichi Murakami; Yuma Ebihara; Akinobu Nakamura; Hideaki Miyoshi; Satoshi Hirano; Nobuyuki Hizawa; Tatsuya Atsumi; Shau-Ku Huang; Yoichi M Ito; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Respiratory research, 23, 1, 174, 174, 29 Jun. 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, INTRODUCTION: Club cell secretory protein-16 (CC16) is a major anti-inflammatory protein expressed in the airway; however, the potential role of CC16 on overweight/obese asthma has not been assessed. In this study, we examined whether obesity reduces airway/circulatory CC16 levels using experimental and epidemiological studies. Then, we explored the mediatory role of CC16 in the relationship of overweight/obesity with clinical asthma measures. METHODS: Circulating CC16 levels were assessed by ELISA in three independent human populations, including two groups of healthy and general populations and asthma patients. The percentage of cells expressing club markers in obese vs. non-obese mice and human airways was determined by immunohistochemistry. A causal mediation analysis was conducted to determine whether circulatory CC16 acted as a mediator between overweight/obesity and clinical asthma measures. RESULTS: BMI was significantly and monotonously associated with reduced circulating CC16 levels in all populations. The percentage of CC16-expressing cells was reduced in the small airways of both mice and humans with obesity. Finally, mediation analysis revealed significant contributions of circulatory CC16 in the association between BMI and clinical asthma measures; 21.8% of its total effect in BMI's association with airway hyperresponsiveness of healthy subjects (p = 0.09), 26.4% with asthma severity (p = 0.030), and 23% with the required dose of inhaled corticosteroid (p = 0.042). In logistic regression analysis, 1-SD decrease in serum CC16 levels of asthma patients was associated with 87% increased odds for high dose ICS requirement (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that airway/circulating CC16, which is inversely associated with BMI, may mediate development and severity in overweight/obese asthma.
• 今月の症例 両側滲出性胸水と全身浮腫で発症し、局所麻酔下胸腔鏡でサルコイドーシスと診断した1例
  篠崎 鮎香[臺]; 木村 孔一; 山下 優; 堀井 洋志; 佐藤 一紀; 中村 順一; 中久保 祥; 鎌田 啓佑; 鈴木 雅; 中里 信一; 松野 吉宏; 今野 哲
  日本内科学会雑誌, 111, 5, 984, 989, (一社)日本内科学会, May 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [Invited], [Corresponding author]
  Japanese
• Lymphocytic panhypophysitis and anti-rabphilin-3A antibody with pulmonary sarcoidosis.
  Yuka Takahashi; Hiraku Kameda; Aika Miya; Hiroshi Nomoto; Kyu Yong Cho; Akinobu Nakamura; Hiroki Nishimura; Hirokazu Kimura; Masaru Suzuki; Satoshi Konno; Ai Shimizu; Yoshihiro Matsuno; Michinari Okamoto; Hiroaki Motegi; Naoko Iwata; Haruki Fujisawa; Atsushi Suzuki; Yoshihisa Sugimura; Hideaki Miyoshi; Tatsuya Atsumi
  Pituitary, 25, 2, 321, 327, Apr. 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, PURPOSE: To explore the clinical significance of anti-rabphillin-3A antibody for the differential diagnosis of lymphocytic panhypophysitis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 58-year-old Japanese man developed uveitis of unknown cause in 2017. In 2019, he became aware of polyuria. In August 2020, he noticed transient diplopia and was diagnosed with right abducens nerve palsy. At the same time, he complained of fatigue and loss of appetite. Head magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated enlargement of the pituitary stalk and pituitary gland, corresponding to hypophysitis. Hormone stimulation tests showed blunted responses with respect to all anterior pituitary hormones. Central diabetes insipidus was diagnosed on the basis of a hypertonic saline loading test. Taking these findings together, a diagnosis of panhypopituitarism was made. Computed tomography showed enlargement of hilar lymph nodes. Biopsies of the hilar lymph nodes revealed non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas that were consistent with sarcoidosis. Biopsy of the anterior pituitary revealed mild lymphocyte infiltration in the absence of IgG4-positive cells, non-caseating granulomas, or neoplasia. Western blotting revealed the presence of anti-rabphilin-3A antibody, supporting a diagnosis of lymphocytic panhypophysitis. Because the patient had no visual impairment or severe uveitis, we continued physiological hormone replacement therapy and topical steroid therapy for the uveitis. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of anti-rabphilin 3A antibody positive lymphocytic panhypophysitis comorbid with sarcoidosis, diagnosed by both pituitary and hilar lymph node biopsy. The utility of anti-rabphilin-3A antibody for the differential diagnosis of hypophysitis like this case should be clarified with further case studies.
• Further evidence for association of YKL-40 with severe asthma airway remodeling.
  Hirokazu Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Naoya Tanabe; Hironi Makita; Natsuko Taniguchi; Hiroki Kimura; Masaru Suzuki; Yuki Abe; Machiko Matsumoto-Sasaki; Akira Oguma; Michiko Takimoto-Sato; Nozomu Takei; Munehiro Matsumoto; Houman Goudarzi; Susumu Sato; Junya Ono; Kenji Izuhara; Toyohiro Hirai; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 128, 6, 682, 688, 24 Mar. 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author, Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: The chitinase-like protein YKL-40 is associated with airflow limitation on spirometry and airway remodeling in patients with asthma. It remains unclear whether YKL-40 is associated with morphologic changes in the airways and parenchyma or with future progression of airflow limitation in severe asthma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of circulating YKL-40 levels with morphologic changes in the airways and parenchyma and with longitudinal progression of airflow limitation. METHODS: The patients were participants in the Hokkaido Severe Asthma Cohort Study (n = 127), including smokers. This study consisted of 2 parts. In analysis 1, we analyzed associations between circulating YKL-40 levels and several asthma-related indices, including computed tomography-derived indices of proximal wall area percentage, the complexity of the airways (airway fractal dimension), and the parenchyma (exponent D) cross-sectionally (n = 97). In analysis 2, we evaluated the impact of circulating YKL-40 levels on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) decline longitudinally for a 5-year follow-up (n = 103). RESULTS: Circulating YKL-40 levels were significantly associated with proximal wall area percentage and airway fractal dimension (r = 0.25, P = .01; r = -0.22, P = .04, respectively), but not with exponent D. The mean annual change in FEV1 was -33.7 (± 23.3) mL/y, and the circulating YKL-40 level was a significant independent factor associated with annual FEV1 decline (β = -0.24, P = .02), even after controlling for exponent D (β = -0.26, P = .01). CONCLUSION: These results provide further evidence for the association of YKL-40 with the pathogenesis of airway remodeling in severe asthma.
• Case Report: Hereditary Fibrosing Poikiloderma With Tendon Contractures, Myopathy, and Pulmonary Fibrosis (POIKTMP) Presenting With Liver Cirrhosis and Steroid-Responsive Interstitial Pneumonia.
  Michiko Takimoto-Sato; Toshinari Miyauchi; Masaru Suzuki; Hideyuki Ujiie; Toshifumi Nomura; Tomoo Ikari; Tomohiko Nakamura; Kei Takahashi; Machiko Matsumoto-Sasaki; Hirokazu Kimura; Hiroki Kimura; Yuichiro Matsui; Takashi Kitagataya; Ren Yamada; Kazuharu Suzuki; Akihisa Nakamura; Masato Nakai; Takuya Sho; Koji Ogawa; Naoya Sakamoto; Naoko Yamaguchi; Noriyuki Otsuka; Utano Tomaru; Satoshi Konno
  Frontiers in genetics, 13, 870192, 870192, 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Background: Hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma with tendon contractures, myopathy, and pulmonary fibrosis (POIKTMP) is an extremely rare disease caused by mutations in FAM111B, and only approximately 30 cases have been reported worldwide. Some patients develop interstitial pneumonia, which may lead to progressive pulmonary fibrosis and poor prognosis. However, no effective treatment for interstitial pneumonia associated with POIKTMP has been reported. Here, we report an autopsy case of POIKTMP, wherein interstitial pneumonia was improved by corticosteroids. Case Presentation: A 44-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital due to poikiloderma, hypotrichosis, and interstitial pneumonia. He developed progressive poikiloderma and muscle weakness since infancy. He also had tendon contractures, short stature, liver cirrhosis, and interstitial pneumonia. Mutation analysis of FAM111B revealed a novel and de novo heterozygous missense mutation, c.1886T > G (p(Phe629Cys)), through which we were able to diagnose the patient with POIKTMP. 3 years after the POIKTMP diagnosis, interstitial pneumonia had worsened. After 2 weeks of administrating 40 mg/day of prednisolone, his symptoms and lung shadows improved. However, he subsequently developed severe hepatic encephalopathy and eventually died of respiratory failure due to bacterial pneumonia and pulmonary edema. Autopsy revealed an unclassifiable pattern of interstitial pneumonia, as well as the presence of fibrosis and fatty degeneration in several organs, including the liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, heart, pancreas, and thyroid. Conclusions: We report a case of POIKTMP in which interstitial pneumonia was improved by corticosteroids, suggesting that corticosteroids could be an option for the treatment of interstitial pneumonia associated with this disease.
• Clinical Characteristics of Patients and Factors Associated with Switching Biologics in Asthma.
  Machiko Matsumoto-Sasaki; Kaoruko Simizu; Masanobu Suzuki; Masaru Suzuki; Hirokazu Kimura; Yuji Nakamaru; Yoichi M Ito; Akihiro Honma; Satoshi Konno
  Journal of asthma and allergy, 15, 187, 195, 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, Purpose: Biologics have been used increasingly for the treatment of severe asthma. However, established guidelines for the selection, switching, or discontinuation of biologics do not exist. We aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of patients with asthma who required switching biologics and the factors associated with switching biologics. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 42 patients with severe asthma treated with biologics at the Hokkaido University Hospital between 23rd June 2016 and 30th April 2021, when two biologics were available in Japan. We compared the characteristics of subjects who continued and switched biologics. The time to switch the biologics was assessed by type 2 inflammatory biomarkers, pulmonary function indices, and the presence of comorbidities, including the Japanese Epidemiological Survey of Refractory Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis (JESREC) score and aspirin exacerbated respiratory diseases (AERD), using the Kaplan-Meier method and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Eight and five patients were treated by mepolizumab and benralizumab at baseline, respectively among the 31% (13/42) who switched the biologics. Subjects who required switching biologics were characterized by high blood eosinophil counts, younger age, JESREC scores of 11 points or higher, and AERD. The time taken to switch biologics was significantly shorter in the subgroups with high JESREC scores (≥11) or AERD, compared with their counterparts with low JESREC scores or without AERD (both, P < 0.05). JESREC scores of ≥11, but not the presence of AERD, were associated with time to switch biologics. Conclusion: The presence of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis based on JESREC scores of ≥11 and younger age were factors associated with switching biologics in asthma.
• Annual Body Weight Change and Prognosis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  Yuki Abe; Masaru Suzuki; Hiroshi Shima; Yusuke Shiraishi; Naoya Tanabe; Susumu Sato; Kaoruko Shimizu; Hirokazu Kimura; Hironi Makita; Toyohiro Hirai; Satoshi Konno; Masaharu Nishimura
  International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 16, 3243, 3253, Informa UK Limited, Nov. 2021, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, Purpose: Low body mass index (BMI) has been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In contrast, a detailed analysis of the association between body weight change over time and prognosis is not sufficient, particularly in Japanese patients with COPD who have been reported to be much thinner compared to Westerners. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between annual body weight change and long-term prognosis in Japanese patients with COPD in two independent cohorts. Patients and Methods: We analyzed 279 patients with COPD who participated in the Hokkaido COPD cohort study as a discovery cohort. We divided participants into three groups according to quartiles of annual body weight change calculated by the data from the first 5 years: weight loss group (<-0.17 kg/year), no change group (-0.17 to ≤0.20 kg/year), and weight gain group (>0.20 kg/year). The association between annual body weight change and prognosis was replicated in the Kyoto University cohort (n = 247). Results: In the Hokkaido COPD cohort study, the weight loss group had significantly worse mortality than the other groups, whereas there was no difference in BMI at baseline. In the multivariate analysis, annual body weight change was an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality, which was confirmed in the Kyoto University cohort. Conclusion: Annual body weight loss is associated with poor prognosis in Japanese patients with COPD, independent of baseline BMI. Longitudinal assessment of body weight is important for the management of COPD.
• Association of abdominal visceral adiposity with sputum IL-5 levels in asthma.
  Houman Goudarzi; Hirokazu Kimura; Hironi Makita; Yuki Abe; Akira Oguma; Michiko Sato; Munehiro Matsumoto; Nozomu Takei; Hiroki Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Masaru Suzuki; Yoichi M Ito; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology, 71, 1, 137, 139, 14 Sep. 2021, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Parenchymal destruction in asthma: Fixed airflow obstruction and lung function trajectory.
  Kaoruko Shimizu; Naoya Tanabe; Akira Oguma; Hirokazu Kimura; Masaru Suzuki; Isao Yokota; Hironi Makita; Susumu Sato; Toyohiro Hirai; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 149, 3, 934, 942, 23 Aug. 2021, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Fixed airflow obstruction (FAO) in asthma, particularly in non-smoking subjects, is generally believed to be caused by airway remodeling. However, parenchymal destruction may also contribute to FAO and longitudinal decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate parenchymal destruction using emphysema indices, exponent D and low attenuation area percent (LAA%) on computed tomography (CT), and test whether the parenchymal destruction and airway disease are independently associated with FAO and FEV1 decline in both smoking and non-smoking asthma. METHODS: D, LAA%, wall area percent (WA%) at segmental airways, and airway fractal dimension (AFD) in asthmatics were measured on inspiratory CT and compared to those in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. RESULTS: D was lower and LAA% was higher in COPD (N = 42) and asthma with FAO (N = 101) than in asthma without FAO (N = 88). The decreased D and increased LAA% were associated with FAO regardless of smoking status or asthma severity. In multivariable analysis, decreased D and increased LAA% were associated with an increased odds ratio of FAO and decreased FEV1, irrespective of WA% and AFD. Moreover, decreased D affected the longitudinal decline in FEV1 in severe asthmatics, independent of smoking status . CONCLUSIONS: Asthmatics with FAO showed the parenchymal destruction regardless of smoking status and asthma severity. The parenchymal destruction was associated with an accelerated FEV1 decline, suggesting the involvements of both airway and parenchyma in the pathophysiology of a subgroup of asthma.
• Combined assessment of pulmonary arterial enlargement and coronary calcification predicts the prognosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  Nozomu Takei; Masaru Suzuki; Naoya Tanabe; Akira Oguma; Kaoruko Shimizu; Hirokazu Kimura; Hironi Makita; Susumu Sato; Toyohiro Hirai; Isao Yokota; Satoshi Konno; Masaharu Nishimura
  Respiratory medicine, 185, 106520, 106520, 23 Jun. 2021, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, INTRODUCTION: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chest computed tomography (CT) provides clinically important cardiovascular findings, which include diameter of pulmonary artery (PA), its ratio to the diameter of the aorta (PA:A ratio), and coronary artery calcium score (CACS). The clinical importance of these cardiovascular findings has not been fully assessed in Japan, where cardiovascular morbidity and/or mortality is reported to be much less compared with Western counterparts. METHODS: PA diameter and PA:A ratio were measured in 172 and 130 patients with COPD who enrolled in the Hokkaido COPD cohort study and the Kyoto University cohort, respectively. CACS was measured in 131 and 128 patients in each cohort. RESULTS: While the highest quartile group in PA diameter was associated with higher all-cause mortality compared to the lowest quartile group in both cohorts, individual assessments of PA:A ratio and CACS were not associated with the long-term clinical outcomes. When PA diameter and CACS were combined, patients with PA enlargement (diameter >29.5 mm) and/or coronary calcification (score >440.8) were associated with higher all-cause mortality in both cohorts. CONCLUSION: Combined assessment of PA enlargement and CACS was associated with poor prognosis, which provides a clinical advantage in management of patients with COPD even in geographical regions with lower risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• One-year clinically important deterioration and long-term clinical course in Japanese patients with COPD: a multicenter observational cohort study.
  Yuki Abe; Masaru Suzuki; Hironi Makita; Hirokazu Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Satoshi Konno; Masaharu Nishimura
  BMC pulmonary medicine, 21, 1, 159, 159, 12 May 2021, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease with a complex progression of many clinical presentations, and clinically important deterioration (CID) has been proposed in the Western studies as a composite endpoint of disease progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between 1-year CID and the following long-term clinical outcomes in Japanese patients with COPD who have been reported to have different characteristics compared to the Westerners. METHODS: Among Japanese patients with COPD enrolled in the Hokkaido COPD cohort study, 259 patients who did not drop out within the first year were analyzed in this study. Two definitions of CID were used. Definition 1 comprised ≥ 100 mL decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), ≥ 4-unit increase in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score from baseline, or moderate or severe exacerbation. For Definition 2, the thresholds for the FEV1 and SGRQ score components were doubled. The presence of CID was evaluated within the first year from enrollment, and analyzed the association of the presence of CID with following 4-year risk of exacerbations and 9-year mortality. RESULTS: Patients with CID using Definition 1, but not any single CID component, during the first year had a significantly worse mortality compared with those without CID. Patients with CID using Definition 2 showed a similar trend on mortality, and had a shorter exacerbation-free survival compared with those without CID. CONCLUSIONS: Adoption of CID is a beneficial and useful way for the assessment of long-term disease progression and clinical outcomes even in Japanese population with COPD. The definition of CID might be optimized according to the characteristics of COPD population and the observation period for CID.
• Determination of the cutoff values of Th2 markers for the prediction of future exacerbation in severe asthma: An analysis from the Hokkaido Severe Asthma Cohort Study
  Hirokazu Kimura; Hironi Makita; Natsuko Taniguchi; Nozomu Takei; Munehiro Matsumoto; Hiroki Kimura; Houman Goudarzi; Kaoruko Shimizu; Masaru Suzuki; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Allergology International, 70, 1, 68, 73, Elsevier BV, Jan. 2021, [Peer-reviewed], [Invited], [Lead author], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: We recently reported that severe asthma patients with frequent exacerbations showed high blood eosinophil counts (Eo) and fractions of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) compared with non-exacerbators. However, we did not determine exact cutoff values related to exacerbation. The aim of this study was to determine the cutoff values of Eo and FeNO that could be related to the exacerbation of severe asthma. We also aimed to confirm the clinical utility of Th2 markers related to exacerbation. METHODS: This study included 105 severe asthma patients who completed a three-year follow-up of a severe asthma cohort study, including smokers. Three Th2 markers were selected, viz., Eo, FeNO, and positive atopic status. Regarding Eo and FeNO, we determined the cutoff values for the definition of "positive" Th2 features using receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, based on the comparisons between frequent exacerbators and other patients. RESULTS: The cutoff values for positive Th2 features were Eo ≥ 250 cells/μL and FeNO ≥31 ppb. Sixteen patients (15.2%) had no Th2 features, 40 (38.1%) had one, 25 (23.8%) had two, and 24 (22.9%) had three. A high number of positive Th2 features was significantly associated with exacerbation frequencies over three years (p < 0.05). Similarly, compared to patients with one or no Th2 features, those with three Th2 features had a significantly higher probability of having more than one exacerbation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The cutoff values determined in the current analysis were good predictors of future exacerbations in severe asthma patients.
• クライオ生検で診断し得たT細胞性リンパ腫再発の1例
  佐藤 理子; 品川 尚文; 辻 康介; 松本 宗大; 木村 孔一; 鈴木 雅; 米田 和樹; 清水 亜衣; 松野 吉宏; 今野 哲
  気管支学, 42, 4, 343, 348, (NPO)日本呼吸器内視鏡学会, Jul. 2020, [Peer-reviewed], [Domestic magazines]
  Japanese, Scientific journal
• Annual Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurements and Exacerbations in Severe Asthma.
  Yuki Abe; Masaru Suzuki; Hirokazu Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Hironi Makita; Masaharu Nishimura; Satoshi Konno
  Journal of asthma and allergy, 13, 731, 741, 2020, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, Purpose: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) reflects eosinophilic inflammation of the airways. However, the significance of longitudinal assessment of FENO, including its variability, in the clinical course of severe asthma remains unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the association between long-term changes in FENO and the development of exacerbations in severe asthma. Patients and Methods: Among the severe asthma patients enrolled in the Hokkaido Severe Asthma Cohort Study, 100 patients with severe asthma who completed a 3-year follow-up in which FENO was measured annually were included. According to the FENO level at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years, the patients were classified into three groups: the sustained high group (≥50 ppb at all three visits), the sustained low group (<25 ppb at all three visits), and the intermediate group (other). Subjects in the intermediate group were further classified into two groups based on the median value of the coefficient of variation (CV) of FENO during the 3 years (high CV and low CV intermediate groups). Results: The sustained high group experienced shorter exacerbation-free survival and more frequent exacerbations than the sustained low group (median number of exacerbation events, 3 vs 0, p = 0.01). In the intermediate group, the high CV group experienced shorter exacerbation-free survival than the low CV group, and the CV of FENO was an independent contributing factor to the development of exacerbations. Conclusion: Persistence of FENO above 50 ppb over the years as well as the presence of large variations in FENO levels was associated with the development of exacerbations in patients with severe asthma.
• Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis-predominant vasculopathy in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: An autopsy report.
  Junichi Nakamura; Ichizo Tsujino; Gaku Yamamoto; Toshitaka Nakaya; Kei Takahashi; Hirokazu Kimura; Takahiro Sato; Taku Watanabe; Shimpei Nakagawa; Noriyuki Otsuka; Hiroshi Ohira; Satoshi Konno
  Respiratory medicine case reports, 31, 101215, 101215, 2020, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is a rare cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with poor prognosis. Clinically, it is characterized by severe hypoxemia, centrilobular ground-glass opacities on computed tomography, and pulmonary congestion triggered by pulmonary vasodilating therapy. In some cases, PCH has been reported to develop with other disorders including connective tissue disease; however, to date, no reports have described PCH in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. We report a case of a 59-year-old male PCH patient with rheumatoid arthritis and associated pulmonary fibrosis. He was initially diagnosed with severe group 3 PH and received sildenafil, which generated a favorable hemodynamic response. However, 5 years later, his pulmonary hemodynamics deteriorated, and he died at the age of 67. An autopsy was performed, and thickening of alveolar septa and capillary proliferation, pathological features of PCH, were extensively observed in both lungs. We discuss when PCH developed, how sildenafil improved his hemodynamics, and how PCH could be clinically detected by noninvasive evaluations.
• Lung metastasis from gastric cancer presenting as diffuse ground-glass opacities.
  Yuki Abe; Masaru Suzuki; Kosuke Tsuji; Mineyoshi Sato; Hirokazu Kimura; Hiroki Kimura; Kentaro Nagaoka; Emi Takakuwa; Yoshihiro Matsuno; Satoshi Konno
  Respiratory medicine case reports, 30, 101104, 101104, 2020, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Most metastatic lung tumors display well-defined, round, multiple nodular shadows, whereas the presence of diffuse ground-glass opacities on chest computed tomography generally suggests non-malignant conditions. Here, we report an unusual case of pulmonary metastasis from gastric cancer in which diffuse ground-glass opacities were observed in all lung segments. A 59-year-old man with a 3-month history of worsening chest pain and shortness of breath was referred to the pulmonary clinic. Chest computed tomography revealed low attenuation areas, suggesting emphysema, along with diffuse ground-glass opacities and interlobular septal thickening in both lungs. A transbronchial lung biopsy specimen revealed signet-ring cell carcinoma infiltrating the alveolar septa. Immunohistochemical staining of the cancer cells was positive for CDX-2, cytokeratin 7, and cytokeratin 20, and negative for surfactant apoprotein-A, TTF-1, and Napsin A. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an ulcerative tumor in the stomach, and a biopsy from the tumor demonstrated malignant cells with similar morphology and immunophenotypes as those in the lungs. The final diagnosis was diffuse lung metastasis from gastric cancer. Our case shows that although multiple, well-defined nodules are typically considered to be the classic presentation of pulmonary metastasis, clinicians should also be aware of the possibility of pulmonary metastasis presenting as diffuse ground-glass opacities.
• Anti-PcrV titers in non-cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory tract infection.
  Kentaro Nagaoka; Yu Yamashita; Hirokazu Kimura; Hiroki Kimura; Masaru Suzuki; Tatsuya Fukumoto; Kasumi Hayasaka; Mari Yoshida; Takafumi Hara; Hideki Maki; Tomoyuki Ohkawa; Satoshi Konno
  International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, 87, 54, 59, Oct. 2019, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, OBJECTIVE: The epidemiology and role of the anti-PcrV titer in non-cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway tract infections is not fully understood. This study was performed to compare the anti-PcrV titers of patients with and without P. aeruginosa respiratory tract infections. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Hokkaido University Hospital in Japan. Participants had blood and sputum specimens collected on admission. They were divided into two groups based on their sputum culture results. Those with a P. aeruginosa infection were assigned to the P. aeruginosa (PA) group and those without a P. aeruginosa infection were assigned to the non-PA group. Serum anti-PcrV titers were measured using a validated ELISA. RESULTS: Of the 44 participants, 15 were assigned to the PA group and 29 were assigned to the non-PA group. In the PA group, 10/15 participants (66.7%) had an anti-PcrV titer >1000ng/ml compared to 3/29 participants (10.3%) in the non-PA group (p<0.001). In the PA group, two of the five participants with an anti-PcrV titer <1000 ng/ml died of recurrent P. aeruginosa pneumonia; the other three participants did not develop pneumonia. CONCLUSION: The anti-PcrV titers in participants with P. aeruginosa infection varied considerably. Patients with low anti-PcrV titers and refractory P. aeruginosa infections need to be monitored closely.
• Impact of Abdominal Visceral Adiposity on Adult Asthma Symptoms.
  Goudarzi H; Konno S; Kimura H; Makita H; Matsumoto M; Takei N; Kimura H; Shimizu K; Suzuki M; Ito YM; Nishimura M; Hi-CARAT investigators
  The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice, 7, 4, 1222, 1229.e5, Apr. 2019, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown the association of anthropometric measures with poor asthma symptoms, especially among women. However, the potential influence of visceral adiposity on asthma symptoms has not been investigated well. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we have evaluated whether visceral adiposity is related to poor adult asthma symptoms independent of anthropometric measures and sex. If this relationship presented, we investigated whether it is explained by influence on pulmonary functions and/or obesity-related comorbidities. METHODS: We analyzed data from 206 subjects with asthma from Japan. In addition to anthropometric measures (body mass index and waist circumference), abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat were assessed by computed tomography scan. Quality of life was assessed using the Japanese version of the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. RESULTS: All obesity indices had inverse association with reduced asthma quality of life among females. However, only the visceral fat area showed a statistical inverse association with Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire in males. Only abdominal visceral fat was associated with higher gastroesophageal reflux disease and depression scores. Although all obesity indices showed inverse association with functional residual capacity, only visceral fat area had a significant inverse association with FEV1 % predicted, independent of other obesity indices. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of sex, abdominal visceral fat was associated with reduced asthma quality of life independent of other obesity indices, and this may be explained by the impact of abdominal visceral fat on reduced FEV1 % predicted and higher risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease and depression. Therefore, visceral adiposity may have more clinical influence than any other obesity indices on asthma symptoms.
• Serum Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Levels and the Clinical Course of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
  Nozomu Takei; Masaru Suzuki; Hironi Makita; Satoshi Konno; Kaoruko Shimizu; Hiroki Kimura; Hirokazu Kimura; Masaharu Nishimura
  International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 14, 2885, 2893, 2019, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, Purpose: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is associated with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas increased levels of serum alpha-1antitrypsin occur in response to inflammation. The effects of alpha-1 antitrypsin levels on the clinical course of COPD had been unclear. We investigated the association of serum alpha-1 antitrypsin levels with the clinical course of COPD patients based on data from a 10-year prospective cohort study. Patients and methods: We analyzed 278 COPD patients who participated in the Hokkaido COPD cohort study and who did not meet the criteria for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. We divided the subjects into 3 groups according to quartiles of serum alpha-1 antitrypsin levels at baseline: lower group (<116 mg/dL, n = 66); middle group (116 to ≤141 mg/dL, n = 145); and higher group (>141 mg/dL, n = 67). The annual change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and events of COPD exacerbation were monitored during the first 5 years, and mortality was followed-up during the entire 10 years. Results: At baseline, the higher group showed lower body mass index; higher computed tomography emphysema score; lower diffusing capacity; higher levels of acute-phase proteins; and higher blood neutrophil counts. Longitudinal analyses revealed that in the higher group, the annual decline in FEV1 was rapid and the 10-year mortality was higher, but there was no association between serum alpha-1 antitrypsin levels and time to first exacerbation. Conclusion: COPD subjects with higher serum alpha-1 antitrypsin levels were associated with a worse systemic inflammation status and higher 10-year mortality.
• Contrasting associations of maternal smoking and pre-pregnancy BMI with wheeze and eczema in children
  Houman Goudarzi; Satoshi Konno; Hirokazu Kimura; Atsuko Araki; Chihiro Miyashita; Sachiko Itoh; Yu Ait Bamai; Hiroki Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Masaru Suzuki; Yoichi M. Ito; Masaharu Nishimura; Reiko Kishi
  Science of the Total Environment, 639, 1601, 1609, Elsevier B.V., 15 Oct. 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Prospective predictors of exacerbation status in severe asthma over a 3-year follow-up.
  Kimura H; Konno S; Makita H; Taniguchi N; Shimizu K; Suzuki M; Kimura H; Goudarzi H; Nakamaru Y; Ono J; Ohta S; Izuhara K; Ito YM; Wenzel SE; Nishimura M; Hi-CARAT investigators
  Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 48, 9, 1137, 1146, Sep. 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author], ［Internationally co-authored］, [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Serum periostin is associated with body mass index and allergic rhinitis in healthy and asthmatic subjects
  Kimura Hirokazu; Konno Satoshi; Makita Hironi; Taniguchi Natsuko; Kimura Hiroki; Goudarzi Houman; Shimizu Kaoruko; Suzuki Masaru; Shijubo Noriharu; Shigehara Katsunori; Ono Junya; Izuhara Kenji; Minagawa Ito Yoichi; Nishimura Masaharu
  Allergology International, 67, 3, 357, 363, (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Jul. 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Transfer coefficients better reflect emphysematous changes than carbon monoxide diffusing capacity in obstructive lung diseases.
  Shimizu K; Konno S; Makita H; Kimura H; Kimura H; Suzuki M; Nishimura M
  Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 125, 1, 183, 189, Jul. 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Associations of Current Wheeze and Body Mass Index with Perennial and Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis in Young Adults
  Munehiro Matsumoto; Satoshi Konno; Hirokazu Kimura; Nozomu Takei; Hiroki Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Houman Goudarzi; Masaru Suzuki; Satoshi Hashino; Masaharu Nishimura
  International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 176, 2, 143, 149, S. Karger AG, 01 May 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Distinct phenotypes of smokers with fixed airflow limitation identified by cluster analysis of severe asthma
  Satoshi Konno; for the HiCARAT Investigators; Natsuko Taniguchi; Hironi Makita; Yuji Nakamaru; Kaoruko Shimizu; Noriharu Shijubo; Satoshi Fuke; Kimihiro Takeyabu; Mitsuru Oguri; Hirokazu Kimura; Yukiko Maeda; Masaru Suzuki; Katsura Nagai; Yoichi M. Ito; Sally E. Wenzel; Masaharu Nishimura; Akira Isada; Takeshi Hattori; Kenichi Shimizu; Takayuki Yoshida; Kentaro Nagaoka; Shinji Nakane; Yoshiyuki Saito; Tsukasa Sasaki; Hideko Honda; Miho Deai; Ayako Muramoto; Natsumi Kudo; Nozomi Sato; Masanobu Suzuki; Hiroshi Saito; Tetsuya Kojima; Shiho Ichimura; Takashi Choji; Motoko Kobayashi; Akihiko Ishikuro; Yoshihiro Ohtsuka; Fumihiro Honmura; Yasushi Akiyama; Toshiyuki Harada; Akira Kamimura; Norio Tashiro; Hiroshi Mikami; Mistuhide Ohmichi; Yoshitaka Sugawara; Toshiki Takahashi; Makoto Yamamoto; Kei Takamura; Yoshio Tokuchi; Yuji Inoue; Katsunori Shigehara; Hideaki Ukita; Kouki Kikuchi; Hiroyuki Koba; Kyuichirou Sekine; Tsuyoshi Nakano; Yoshihiro Ohata; Noritomo Ohnuma; Fumihiko Sato; Hiroyuki Taguchi; Hiroyuki Sugawara; Osamu Honjo; Seiya Togashi; Hirotaka Nishikiori; Junya Kitada; Masaru Fujii; Eiji Shibuya; Hiroshi Tanaka; Yoshihiro Okamoto; Hiromitu Hiroumi; Kazuhiko Watanabe
  Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 15, 1, 33, 41, American Thoracic Society, 01 Jan. 2018, [Peer-reviewed], ［Internationally co-authored］, [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Acute bronchodilator responses to beta 2-agonist and anticholinergic agent in COPD: Their different associations with exacerbation
  Satoshi Konno; Hironi Makita; Masaru Suzuki; Kaoruko Shimizu; Hirokazu Kimura; Hiroki Kimura; Masaharu Nishimura
  RESPIRATORY MEDICINE, 127, 14, 20, Jun. 2017, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Sinus Computed Tomographic Findings in Adult Smokers and Nonsmokers with Asthma. Analysis of Clinical Indices and Biomarkers.
  Hirokazu Kimura; Satoshi Konno; Yuji Nakamaru; Hironi Makita; Natsuko Taniguchi; Kaoruko Shimizu; Masaru Suzuki; Junya Ono; Shoichiro Ohta; Kenji Izuhara; Masaharu Nishimura
  Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 14, 3, 332, 341, Mar. 2017, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal, RATIONALE: When they occur together, sinusitis and asthma are often thought to represent anatomically separate components of the same chronic inflammatory airway disease. Information about the effect of smoking on the interaction between sinusitis and asthma in patients who have both disorders is limited. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on the relationship between the presence and severity of sinusitis and selected asthma-related indices in adults who have asthma. METHODS: This study included 127 patients with severe asthma and 79 patients with mild to moderate asthma. Clinical data were obtained from all subjects during a 2-day stay at Hokkaido University Hospital (Sapporo, Japan). The Lund-Mackay scoring system was used to assess the anatomic extent and severity of sinusitis as revealed by sinus computed tomographic (CT) images obtained during hospitalization. We examined associations between Lund-Mackay scores and a variety of asthma-related indices and levels of biomarkers in blood and sputum. To clarify the effect of smoking on these associations, we conducted separate analyses for nonsmoking (<10 pack-years; n = 130) and smoking subjects (≥10 pack-years; n = 76). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In our cohort of adults with asthma, we found significant positive relationships between the presence and severity of sinusitis as assessed by Lund-Mackay score and the severity of asthma as measured by percent predicted FEV1 or FEV1/FVC for nonsmoking subjects (<10 pack-years) but not for cigarette smokers (>10 pack-years). Lund-Mackay scores correlated with blood and sputum eosinophil counts, serum IgE levels, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide, regardless of smoking status. Lund-Mackay scores also showed significant positive associations with serum periostin and chemokine C-C motif ligand 18 levels, regardless of smoking status, whereas a positive association with plasma osteopontin level was seen only for nonsmoking subjects. CONCLUSIONS: We found an association between the severity of sinusitis on CT imaging and the severity of concomitant asthma on spirometry for nonsmoking adults but not for smokers. In adults with asthma, CT imaging evidence of severe sinusitis indicates intense Th2-related inflammation, regardless of smoking status.
• Asthma-like Features and Clinical Course of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease An Analysis from the Hokkaido COPD Cohort Study
  Masaru Suzuki; Hironi Makita; Satoshi Konno; Kaoruko Shimizu; Hiroki Kimura; Hirokazu Kimura; Masaharu Nishimura
  AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 194, 11, 1358, 1365, Dec. 2016, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Distinct Phenotypes of Cigarette Smokers Identified by Cluster Analysis of Patients with Severe Asthma.
  Konno S; Taniguchi N; Makita H; Nakamaru Y; Shimizu K; Shijubo N; Fuke S; Takeyabu K; Oguri M; Kimura H; Maeda Y; Suzuki M; Nagai K; Ito YM; Wenzel SE; Nishimura M; Hi-CARAT Investigators
  Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 12, 12, 1771, 1780, Dec. 2015, [Peer-reviewed]
• Contrasting associations of body mass index and measles with asthma and rhinitis in young adults
  Hirokazu Kimura; Satoshi Konno; Akira Isada; Yukiko Maeda; Manabu Musashi; Masaharu Nishimura
  ALLERGY AND ASTHMA PROCEEDINGS, 36, 4, 293, 299, Jul. 2015, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Regional bronchodilator response assessed by computed tomography in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  Kaoruko Shimizu; Hironi Makita; Masaru Hasegawa; Hirokazu Kimura; Satoshi Fuke; Katsura Nagai; Takayuki Yoshida; Masaru Suzuki; Satoshi Konno; Yoichi M. Ito; Masaharu Nishimura
  EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY, 84, 6, 1196, 1201, Jun. 2015, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Association of the CAT-262C > T polymorphism with asthma in smokers and the nonemphysematous phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  Natsuko Taniguchi; Satoshi Konno; Akira Isada; Takeshi Hattori; Hirokazu Kimura; Kaoruko Shimizu; Yukiko Maeda; Hironi Makita; Nobuyuki Hizawa; Masaharu Nishimura
  ANNALS OF ALLERGY ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY, 113, 1, 31, +, Jul. 2014, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal
• Prevalence of adult asthma and allergic rhinitis in kamishihoro, hokkaido -Trends from 2006 through 2011-
  Kaoruko Shimizu; Satoshi Konno; Hirokazu Kimura; Takahiro Ogi; Natsuko Taniguchi; Kenichi Shimizu; Akira Isada; Takeshi Hattori; Nobuyuki Hizawa; Masami Taniguchi; Akira Akazawa; Masaharu Nishimura
  Japanese Journal of Allergology, 63, 7, 928, 937, Japanese Society of Allergology, 2014, [Peer-reviewed], [Domestic magazines]
  Japanese, Scientific journal

• 【喘息・COPDと関連疾患の重要知識Up-to-date】喘息・COPD患者の長期管理と急性期の対応 喘息・COPD急性増悪の対応
  若園 美保; 木村 孔一, Medicina, 61, 13, 2294, 2298, Dec. 2024
  (株)医学書院, Japanese
• 肺サルコイドーシス組織診断例における心病変合併例の割合および臨床的特徴
  吉川 修平; 佐藤 隆博; 辻野 一三; 中村 順一; 永井 利幸; 木村 孔一; 今野 哲, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 44, サプリメント号, 58, 58, Oct. 2024
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• アナフィラキシー・その他 薬物アレルギー及び金属アレルギーを合併する患者像に関する傾向スコアマッチング解析
  野上 和剛; 親谷 佳佑; 下川 萌; 木村 孔一; 田中 暁生; 高橋 亨平; 小池 由美; 徳永 舞; 加藤 泰輔; 吉田 幸一; 梶田 直樹; 福家 辰樹; 松原 優里; 高橋 雅和; 中村 好一; 桑原 優; 豊國 賢治; 森桶 聡; 伊藤 靖典, アレルギー, 73, 6-7, 847, 847, Aug. 2024
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 金属アレルギーの全国調査
  森桶 聡; 田中 暁生; 伊藤 靖典; 小池 由美; 徳永 舞; 加藤 泰輔; 吉田 幸一; 高橋 雅和; 高橋 亨平; 松原 優里; 福家 辰樹; 木村 孔一; 野上 和剛; 桑原 優; 親谷 佳佑; 下川 萌; 梶田 直樹; 豊國 賢治; 中村 好一; 足立 雄一, アレルギー, 73, 6-7, 913, 913, Aug. 2024
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 形態・機能 COPD患者における肺内気道内腔容積(TAV)/肺内血管容積(TBV)と増悪との関連
  若園 順康; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 田辺 直也; 小熊 昂; 牧田 比呂仁; 岡田 和史; 木村 孔一; 佐藤 晋; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 13, 増刊, 186, 186, Mar. 2024
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• びまん性肺胞出血を呈したリンパ脈管筋腫症の一例
  木村 太俊; 武井 望; 小熊 昂; 堀井 洋志; 中村 順一; 中久保 祥; 木村 孔一; 鈴木 雅; 大高 和人; 加藤 達哉; 大川 紘弥; 松野 吉宏; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 13, 増刊, 244, 244, Mar. 2024
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 若年成人におけるアレルギー疾患の有病率の変遷と関連因子の解析
  松本 宗大; 木村 孔一; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 朝倉 聡; 橋野 聡; 今野 哲, 日本内科学会雑誌, 113, 臨増, 191, 191, Feb. 2024
  (一社)日本内科学会, Japanese
• 発熱を契機に発症し、短期間で自然寛解したサルコイドーシスの一例
  吉川 修平; 服部 健史; 岡本 佳裕; 網島 優; 木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 須甲 憲明, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 43, サプリメント号, 68, 68, Oct. 2023
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• 【ガイドラインから見るびまん性肺疾患診療の進歩】サルコイドーシス診療の手引き2020 診断と治療の進歩
  木村 孔一, 呼吸器内科, 44, 3, 302, 308, Sep. 2023
  (有)科学評論社, Japanese
• 吸入ステロイド薬をめぐる最近のTopics ICSによる肺感染症
  木村 孔一, アレルギー, 72, 6-7, 738, 738, Aug. 2023
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 気管支喘息患者における新旧基準による気管支拡張薬反応性に影響する因子の検討
  山本 雅史; 清水 薫子; 木村 孔一; 牧田 比呂仁; 三谷 麻子; 中出 江美; 大沼 有美; 渡邊 千秋; 鈴木 雅; 後藤 秀樹; 豊嶋 崇徳; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 12, 増刊, 336, 336, Mar. 2023
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• Associated factors for bronchodilator responsiveness testing in asthma: a comparison between“2005 ATS/ERS interpretation statement”and“2021 ERS/ATS technical standard”.
  山本雅史; 清水薫子; 木村孔一; 牧田比呂仁; 三谷麻子; 中出江美; 大沼有美; 渡邊千秋; 鈴木雅; 後藤秀樹; 豊嶋崇徳; 西村正治; 今野哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌(Web), 12, 2023
• 共感と協調の臨床:多科連携で挑むサルコイドーシス治療の最前線 肺サルコイドーシスにおけるステロイド治療用量の検討 低用量ステロイドを中心に
  木村 孔一, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 42, サプリメント号, 37, 37, Oct. 2022
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• むずむず脚症候群を合併したサルコイドーシスの2例
  鈴木 孝敏; 木村 孔一; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 白井 慎一; 堀之内 徹; 藤田 雅彦; 今野 哲, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 42, サプリメント号, 66, 66, Oct. 2022
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• リモデリング抑制薬
  木村 孔一, 呼吸器内科, 42, 3, 330, 334, Sep. 2022
  (有)科学評論社, Japanese
• 【COPDと気管支喘息、その周辺疾患-病態・診断・治療の最新動向-】喘息病態up-to-date 喘息増悪における血中好酸球数とFeNOのカットオフ値
  木村 孔一, 日本臨床, 80, 増刊6 COPDと気管支喘息,その周辺疾患, 547, 551, Jun. 2022
  (株)日本臨床社, Japanese
• 【喘息の発症メカニズムと治療・管理】診断と治療・管理 喘息の診断
  木村 孔一, 医学のあゆみ, 281, 1, 72, 74, Apr. 2022
  医歯薬出版(株), Japanese
• 【マイナーエマージェンシー 外来診療・一人当直に強くなる!いざというときの対処法】内科的minor emergency 気管支喘息発作
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲, Medical Practice, 39, 臨増, 93, 96, Apr. 2022
  (株)文光堂, Japanese
• 呼吸器病学の若手研究最前線 喘息-COPDオーバーラップの多様性 PIRICA研究解析より
  武井 望; 鈴木 雅; 佐々木 真知子; 小熊 昴; 阿部 結希; 清水 薫子; 木村 孔一; 牧田 比呂仁; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 11, 増刊, 43, 43, Apr. 2022
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 難治性喘息 重症喘息における生物学的製剤の変更に影響する因子の検討
  佐々木 真知子; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 正宣; 鈴木 雅; 松本 宗大; 木村 孔一; 中丸 裕爾; 伊藤 陽一; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 11, 増刊, 143, 143, Apr. 2022
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 肺病変にステロイドが奏功したPOIKTMPの1例(アンコール演題)
  佐藤 理子; 鈴木 雅; 猪狩 智生; 中村 友彦; 高橋 桂; 佐々木 真知子; 木村 孔一; 木村 裕樹; 宮内 俊成; 乃村 俊史; 氏家 英之; 山口 直子; 大塚 紀幸; 外丸 詩野; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 11, 増刊, 272, 272, Apr. 2022
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 治療法の再整理とアップデートのために専門家による私の治療 慢性呼吸不全
  武井 望; 木村 孔一; 鈴木 雅, 日本医事新報, 5108, 40, 40, Mar. 2022
  (株)日本医事新報社, Japanese
• 抗rabphilin-3A抗体が陽性であったリンパ球性汎下垂体炎の一例
  高橋 由華; 亀田 啓; 曹 圭龍; 中村 昭伸; 西村 弘基; 木村 孔一; 清水 亜衣; 岡本 迪成; 茂木 洋晃; 岩田 尚子; 藤沢 治樹; 鈴木 敦詞; 椙村 益久; 三好 秀明; 渥美 達也, 日本内分泌学会雑誌, 97, 2, 495, 495, Oct. 2021
  (一社)日本内分泌学会, Japanese
• 両側滲出性胸水と全身浮腫で発症し、局所麻酔下胸腔鏡でサルコイドーシスと診断した一例
  篠崎 鮎香; 木村 孔一; 山下 優; 堀井 洋志; 佐藤 一紀; 中村 順一; 中久保 祥; 鎌田 啓佑; 鈴木 雅; 中里 信一; 松野 吉宏; 山口 哲夫; 大橋 健一; 江石 義信; 今野 哲, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 41, サプリメント号, 67, 67, Oct. 2021
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• 肝移植後にPleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis(PPFE)合併肺癌を発症した一例
  大塚 慎也; 加藤 達哉; 氏家 秀樹; 椎谷 洋彦; 加賀 基知三; 若狭 哲; 中村 順一; 中久保 祥; 木村 孔一; 渡辺 正明; 嶋村 剛; 岡崎 ななせ; 松野 吉宏; 田中 敏, 移植, 56, 総会臨時, P2, 7, Sep. 2021
  (一社)日本移植学会, Japanese
• 日本人COPD患者の短期clinically important deteriorationと長期臨床経過に関する検討
  阿部 結希; 鈴木 雅; 木村 孔一; 清水 薫子; 牧田 比呂仁; 今野 哲; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 10, 増刊, 190, 190, Apr. 2021
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 重症喘息におけるQoLの経年的変化と併存症および増悪との関連
  佐々木 真知子; 鈴木 雅; 木村 孔一; 清水 薫子; 牧田 比呂仁; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 10, 増刊, 235, 235, Apr. 2021
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 気管支喘息における粘液栓と喀痰中炎症プロファイルの関係
  小熊 昂; 清水 薫子; 木村 孔一; 鈴木 雅; 牧田 比呂仁; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 10, 増刊, 175, 175, Apr. 2021
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 日本人COPD患者の短期clinically important deteriorationと長期臨床経過に関する検討
  阿部 結希; 鈴木 雅; 木村 孔一; 清水 薫子; 牧田 比呂仁; 今野 哲; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 10, 増刊, 190, 190, Apr. 2021
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 重症喘息におけるQoLの経年的変化と併存症および増悪との関連
  佐々木 真知子; 鈴木 雅; 木村 孔一; 清水 薫子; 牧田 比呂仁; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 10, 増刊, 235, 235, Apr. 2021
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 【内科疾患の診断基準・病型分類・重症度】(第1章)呼吸器 好酸球性肺炎
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲, 内科, 127, 4, 540, 541, Apr. 2021
  (株)南江堂, Japanese
• 血気胸を発症したPleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis(PPFE)合併肺癌の1切除例
  大塚 慎也; 加藤 達哉; 佐々木 明洋; 山崎 洋; 氏家 秀樹; 藤原 晶; 樋田 泰浩; 加賀 基知三; 若狭 哲; 中村 順一; 篠崎 鮎香; 中久保 祥; 木村 孔一; 渡辺 正明; 岡崎 ななせ; 松野 吉宏, 肺癌, 61, 1, 67, 67, Feb. 2021
  (NPO)日本肺癌学会, Japanese
• COPD 疫学・病因・病態 胸部単純CTの心血管指標を用いたCOPD患者の長期臨床経過についての検討
  武井 望; 鈴木 雅; 牧田 比呂仁; 清水 薫子; 木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 9, 増刊, 125, 125, Aug. 2020
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 喘息に関する臨床研究 重症喘息患者における呼気一酸化窒素濃度の経年変化と臨床経過に関する検討
  阿部 結希; 鈴木 雅; 木村 孔一; 清水 薫子; 牧田 比呂仁; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 9, 増刊, 136, 136, Aug. 2020
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 重症喘息患者における呼吸機能の経年変化とその関連因子について
  木村 孔一; 牧田 比呂仁; 谷口 菜津子; 木村 裕樹; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 武井 望; 松本 宗大; Goudarzi Houman; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 9, 増刊, 223, 223, Aug. 2020
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 当科における重症気管支喘息患者に対する生物学的製剤の使用状況
  佐々木 真知子; 清水 薫子; 松本 宗大; 武井 望; 山下 優; 鎌田 啓佑; 中久保 祥; 木村 孔一; 木村 裕樹; 長岡 健太郎; 鈴木 雅; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 9, 増刊, 279, 279, Aug. 2020
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 当科のサルコイドーシス患者145例における肺門縦隔リンパ節腫大の画像的検討
  佐藤理子; 木村孔一; 服部健史; 清水薫子; 鈴木雅; 澤幡美千瑠; 四十坊典晴; 山口哲生; 今野哲, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 40, 2020
• 当科におけるリンパ管脈管筋腫症33症例のまとめ
  瀧本 理子; 鈴木 雅; 松本 宗大; 武井 望; 山下 優; 木村 孔一; 木村 裕樹; 長岡 健太郎; 清水 薫子; 今野 哲, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 39, 1-2, 115, 115, Oct. 2019
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• 気道炎症・バイオマーカー 重症喘息患者における増悪状況とTh2マーカー陽性数の検討
  木村 孔一; 牧田 比呂仁; 谷口 菜津子; 木村 裕樹; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 武井 望; 松本 宗大; Goudarzi Houman; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, アレルギー, 68, 4-5, 491, 491, May 2019
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 気道炎症・バイオマーカー 重症喘息患者における増悪状況とTh2マーカー陽性数の検討
  木村 孔一; 牧田 比呂仁; 谷口 菜津子; 木村 裕樹; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 武井 望; 松本 宗大; Goudarzi Houman; 西村 正治; 今野 哲, アレルギー, 68, 4-5, 491, 491, May 2019
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 喘息患者における全身と痰の炎症バイオマーカーに対する肥満度指数の異なる影響(Differential impact of obesity indices on systemic and sputum inflammatory biomarkers among asthma patients)
  Goudarzi Houman; Konno Satoshi; Makita Hironi; Kimura Hirokazu; Matsumoto Munehiro; Takei Nozomu; Kimura Hiroki; Shimizu Kaoruko; Suzuki Masaru; Nishimura Masaharu, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 8, 増刊, 365, 365, Mar. 2019
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, English
• COPD患者における呼吸機能と気道内腔体積との関連
  小熊 昂; 清水 薫子; 牧田 比呂仁; 阿部 結希; 松本 宗大; 武井 望; 木村 孔一; 木村 裕樹; Goudarzi Houman; 鈴木 雅; 今野 哲; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 8, 増刊, 246, 246, Mar. 2019
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 北海道胆振東部地震に伴う大規模停電時の在宅酸素療法患者への対応の後方視的検討
  佐藤 峰嘉; 鈴木 雅; 松本 宗大; 武井 望; 山下 優; 木村 孔一; 木村 裕樹; 長岡 健太郎; 清水 薫子; 水柿 秀紀; 大平 洋; 品川 尚文; 辻野 一三; 南須原 康行; 今野 哲, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 8, 増刊, 309, 309, Mar. 2019
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• β2アドレナリン受容体遺伝子(ADRB2)多型とCOPD患者の長期臨床経過についての検討
  武井 望; 鈴木 雅; 牧田 比呂仁; 今野 哲; 清水 薫子; 木村 裕樹; 木村 孔一; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 8, 増刊, 315, 315, Mar. 2019
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 重症喘息コホートにおける増悪状況とその関連因子についての検討
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 牧田 比呂仁; 谷口 菜津子; 木村 裕樹; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 西村 正治, 日本内科学会雑誌, 108, Suppl., 237, 237, Feb. 2019
  (一社)日本内科学会, Japanese
• 低用量でステロイド導入した肺サルコイドーシス症の検討
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 四十坊 典晴; 山田 嘉仁; 山口 哲生, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 38, サプリメント号, 72, 72, Oct. 2018
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• 短期間の静注抗菌薬から経口抗菌薬に変更しても、良好な治療経過をたどったM.massiliense症の3例
  松本 宗大; 鈴木 雅; 山下 優; 武井 望; 木村 孔一; 長岡 健太郎; 今野 哲, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 38, サプリメント号, 81, 81, Oct. 2018
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• 治療方針決定に難渋した気管支閉鎖症の一例
  石田 有莉子; 松本 宗大; 佐藤 一紀; 木村 孔一; 長岡 健太郎; 鈴木 雅; 今野 哲; 西村 正治, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 38, 1-2, 102, 102, Oct. 2018
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• 細胞性免疫不全を伴い種々の感染症を併発したGood症候群の1例
  西村 弘基; 松本 宗大; 鈴木 雅; 木村 裕樹; 武井 望; 山下 優; 木村 孔一; 長岡 健太郎; 今野 哲; 西村 正治, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 38, 1-2, 104, 104, Oct. 2018
  日本サルコイドーシス, Japanese
• 母親の喫煙およびBMIと小児の喘鳴および湿疹との対照的な関連性(Contrasting associations of maternal smoking and BMI with wheeze and eczema in children)
  Goudarzi Houman; Konno Satoshi; Kimura Hirokazu; Araki Atsuko; Miyashita Chihiro; Itou Sachiko; Bamai Yu Ait; Kimura Hiroki; Shimizu Kaoruko; Suzuki Masaru; Ito Yoichi; Nishimura Masaharu; Kishi Reiko, アレルギー, 67, 4-5, 509, 509, May 2018
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, English
• COPDの診断に至らない喫煙者の長期臨床経過の検討:北海道COPDコホート研究より
  武井望; 鈴木雅; 牧田比呂仁; 今野哲; 清水薫子; 木村裕樹; 木村孔一; 西村正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌(Web), 7, 255, 10 Mar. 2018
  Japanese
• 全身性ステロイドによる治療を要した肺サルコイドーシス症の検討
  木村孔一; 今野哲; 山口哲生; 四十坊典晴; 服部健史; 山田嘉仁; 清水薫子; 鈴木雅; 西村正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌(Web), 7, 163, 10 Mar. 2018
  Japanese
• COPD患者の臨床経過に対する体重変化の影響
  阿部結希; 鈴木雅; 牧田比呂仁; 今野哲; 清水薫子; 木村裕樹; 木村孔一; 武井望; 松本宗大; 西村正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌(Web), 7, 135, 10 Mar. 2018
  Japanese
• 早期の経口抗菌薬スイッチ導入で,良好な治療経過をたどったM.massiliense症の3例
  松本宗大; 鈴木雅; 山下優; 武井望; 木村孔一; 長岡健太郎; 今野哲; 西村正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌(Web), 7, 224, 10 Mar. 2018
  Japanese
• COPDにおけるCTパラメーターの検討―フラクタル値,Low attenuation volumeの変動に着目して―
  清水薫子; THO Nguyen Van; 鈴木雅; 牧田比呂仁; 木村孔一; 木村裕樹; 今野哲; 小川惠美子; 中野恭幸; 西村正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌(Web), 7, 129, 10 Mar. 2018
  Japanese
• マクロライド抵抗性のマイコプラズマによる重症肺炎の1例
  松本宗大; 長岡健太郎; 山下優; 武井望; 木村孔一; 鈴木雅; 今野哲; 石黒信久; 西村正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌(Web), 7, 332, 10 Mar. 2018
  Japanese
• COPDにおけるCTパラメーターの検討 フラクタル値、Low attenuation volumeの変動に着目して
  清水 薫子; Nguyen Van Tho; 鈴木 雅; 牧田 比呂仁; 木村 孔一; 木村 裕樹; 今野 哲; 小川 惠美子; 中野 恭幸; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 7, 増刊, 129, 129, Mar. 2018
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• COPD患者の臨床経過に対する体重変化の影響
  阿部 結希; 鈴木 雅; 牧田 比呂仁; 今野 哲; 清水 薫子; 木村 裕樹; 木村 孔一; 武井 望; 松本 宗大; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 7, 増刊, 135, 135, Mar. 2018
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 全身性ステロイドによる治療を要した肺サルコイドーシス症の検討
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 山口 哲生; 四十坊 典晴; 服部 健史; 山田 嘉仁; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 7, 増刊, 163, 163, Mar. 2018
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 早期の経口抗菌薬スイッチ導入で、良好な治療経過をたどったM.massiliense症の3例
  松本 宗大; 鈴木 雅; 山下 優; 武井 望; 木村 孔一; 長岡 健太郎; 今野 哲; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 7, 増刊, 224, 224, Mar. 2018
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• COPDの診断に至らない喫煙者の長期臨床経過の検討 北海道COPDコホート研究より
  武井 望; 鈴木 雅; 牧田 比呂仁; 今野 哲; 清水 薫子; 木村 裕樹; 木村 孔一; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 7, 増刊, 255, 255, Mar. 2018
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• マクロライド抵抗性のマイコプラズマによる重症肺炎の1例
  松本 宗大; 長岡 健太郎; 山下 優; 武井 望; 木村 孔一; 鈴木 雅; 今野 哲; 石黒 信久; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 7, 増刊, 332, 332, Mar. 2018
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 「アレルギー疾患のバイオマーカー」に寄せる 副鼻腔CT,バイオマーカーからみた気管支喘息における上下気道の連関
  木村孔一; 今野哲, 月刊アレルギーの臨床, 508, 1367‐1372, 30 Dec. 2017
  Japanese
• 「特集/アレルギー疾患のバイオマーカー」に寄せる 副鼻腔CT、バイオマーカーからみた気管支喘息における上下気道の連関
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲, アレルギーの臨床, 37, 14, 1367, 1372, Dec. 2017
  (株)北隆館, Japanese
• 重症喘息患者における3年間の増悪頻度及びその関連因子の検討
  木村 孔一, 北海道医学雑誌, 92, 2, 119, 120, Nov. 2017
  北海道医学会, Japanese
• 重症喘息患者における3年間の増悪頻度及びその関連因子の検討
  木村孔一, 北海道医学雑誌, 92, 2, 119‐120, 01 Nov. 2017
  Japanese
• 重症肺サルコイドーシスの画像所見
  山口哲生; 山口哲生; 四十坊典晴; 今野哲; 山田嘉仁; 河野千代子; 鈴木未佳; 田中健介; 川述剛; 木村孔一; 上甲剛; 酒井文和; 酒井文和, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 37, 50, 03 Oct. 2017
  Japanese
• 肺病変に対してステロイド内服を要したサルコイドーシス症例の検討
  木村孔一; 今野哲; 清水薫子; 鈴木雅; 服部健史; 四十坊典晴; 山口哲生; 西村正治, 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会雑誌, 37, 44, 03 Oct. 2017
  Japanese
• 気管支喘息(成人)管理 増悪 重症喘息患者における3年間の増悪頻度及びその予測因子の検討
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 牧田 比呂仁; 清水 薫子; 木村 裕樹; 鈴木 雅; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 66, 4-5, 598, 598, May 2017
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 若年成人における、過去6年間の気管支喘息、アレルギー性鼻炎の有病率の変化
  松本 宗大; 今野 哲; 木村 孔一; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 橋野 聡; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 66, 4-5, 698, 698, May 2017
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 肥満の重症喘息患者におけるclub cell 16-kDa分泌タンパク質(CC16)とCCケモカインリガンド18(CCL18)の重要な役割(Potential roles of club cell 16-kDa secretory protein(CC16) and CC chemokine ligand 18(CCL18) in obese severe asthmatic patients)
  Goudarzi Houman; Konno Satoshi; Makita Hironi; Kimura Hirokazu; Kimura Hiroki; Shimizu Kaoruko; Suzuki Masaru; Nishimura Masaharu, アレルギー, 66, 4-5, 502, 502, May 2017
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, English
• COPD バイオマーカー COPD患者における血清α1、アンチトリプシン値と臨床経過についての検討
  武井 望; 鈴木 雅; 牧田 比呂仁; 今野 哲; 清水 薫子; 木村 裕樹; 木村 孔一; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 6, 増刊, 131, 131, Mar. 2017
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 気管支喘息における肺拡散能力指標と画像所見 DLcoとKcoに着目して
  清水 薫子; 今野 哲; 牧田 比呂仁; 木村 孔一; 木村 裕樹; 鈴木 雅; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 6, 増刊, 242, 242, Mar. 2017
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 重症喘息患者において次世代シークエンス分析により検出された血中エキソソーム性RNA組成の変化(Altered circulating exosomal RNA profiles detected by next-generation sequencing in patients with severe asthma)
  Suzuki Masaru; Konno Satoshi; Makita Hironi; Shimizu Kaoruko; Kimura Hiroki; Kimura Hirokazu; Nishimura Masaharu, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 6, 増刊, 339, 339, Mar. 2017
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, English
• COPD患者における肺癌の発症率と臨床的特徴 北海道COPD集団研究の結果(Incidence and Clinical Characteristics of Lung Cancer in Patients with COPD: from Hokkaido COPD Cohort Study)
  Suzuki Masaru; Makita Hironi; Konno Satoshi; Shimizu Kaoruko; Kimura Hiroki; Kimura Hirokazu; Nishimura Masaharu, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 6, 増刊, 349, 349, Mar. 2017
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, English
• Blood Total Lymphocyte Count And Prognosis Of Patients With COPD: An Analysis Of Data From The Hokkaido COPD Cohort Study And The Rotterdam Study
  M. Suzuki; L. Lahousse; H. Makita; S. Konno; K. Shimizu; H. Kimura; H. Kimura; G. G. Brusselle; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 195, 2017
  English, Summary international conference
• Potential Roles Of Club Cell 16-Kda Secretory Protein (cc16) And Cc Chemokine Ligand 18 (ccl18) In Obese Severe Asthmatic Patients
  H. Goudarzi; S. Konno; H. Makita; H. Kimura; H. Kimura; K. Shimizu; M. Suzuki; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 195, 2017
  English, Summary international conference
• Association Of Serum Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Levels With Clinical Course Of COPD
  N. Takei; M. Suzuki; H. Makita; S. Konno; K. Shimizu; H. Kimura; H. Kimura; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 195, 2017
  English, Summary international conference
• Six-Year Trend In The Prevalence Of Asthma And Allergic Rhinitis And Their Associated Factors In Young Adults: Analysis Of The Hokkaido University Students
  M. Matsumoto; S. Konno; H. Kimura; M. Suzuki; S. Hashino; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 195, 2017
  English, Summary international conference
• Dlco And Kco Revisited In Asthma And/or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  K. Shimizu; S. Konno; H. Makita; H. Kimura; H. Kimura; M. Suzuki; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 195, 2017
  English, Summary international conference
• Three-Year Follow-Up On Exacerbation Rate In Severe Asthmatic Subjects: An Analysis From The Hokkaido Severe Asthma Cohort Study
  H. Kimura; S. Konno; H. Makita; H. Kimura; K. Shimizu; M. Suzuki; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 195, 2017
  English, Summary international conference
• 喘息患者における副鼻腔CT所見とその関連因子
  木村 孔一, 北海道医学雑誌, 91, 1, 51, 51, May 2016
  北海道医学会, Japanese
• 喘息患者における副鼻腔CT所見とバイオマーカーの検討 喫煙が及ぼす影響
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 中丸 裕爾; 牧田 比呂仁; 谷口 菜津子; 清水 薫子; 木村 裕樹; 鈴木 雅; 小野 純也; 太田 昭一郎; 出原 賢治; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 65, 4-5, 654, 654, May 2016
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• AIM/IgMの低血清濃度は喘息およびその重症度と関連している(Lower serum AIM/IgM ratio is associated with asthma and its severity)
  Kimura Hiroki; Suzuki Masaru; Konno Satoshi; Makita Hironi; Kimura Hirokazu; Arai Satoko; Miyazaki Toru; Nishimura Masaharu, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 5, 増刊, 368, 368, Mar. 2016
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, English
• 抗コリン作動薬に対する気管支拡張反応はCOPD患者の悪化率と関連している(Bronchodilator response to anticholinergic agents is associated with exacerbation rate in patients with COPD)
  Konno Satoshi; Makita Hironi; Suzuki Masaru; Shimizu Kaoruko; Kimura Hiroki; Kimura Hirokazu; Nishimura Masaharu, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 5, 増刊, 375, 375, Mar. 2016
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, English
• COPDにおける喘息様の特徴と臨床経過 北海道COPD集団研究からのデータの分析(Asthma-like Features and Clinical Course in COPD: an Analysis from the Hokkaido COPD Cohort Study)
  Suzuki Masaru; Makita Hironi; Konno Satoshi; Shimizu Kaoruko; Kimura Hiroki; Kimura Hirokazu; Nishimura Masaharu, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 5, 増刊, 375, 375, Mar. 2016
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, English
• Sinus Computed Tomographic Findings In Smoking And Non-Smoking Asthmatics: Associations With Asthma-Related Indices And Biomarkers Analysis
  H. Kimura; S. Konno; Y. Nakamaru; H. Makita; H. Kimura; N. Taniguchi; K. Shimizu; M. Suzuki; J. Ono; K. Izuhara; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 193, 2016
  English, Summary international conference
• Asthma-Like Features And Clinical Course In COPD: An Analysis From The Hokkaido COPD Cohort Study
  M. Suzuki; H. Makita; S. Konno; K. Shimizu; H. Kimura; H. Kimura; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 193, 2016
  English, Summary international conference
• Bronchodilator Response To Anticholinergic Agent Is Associated With Exacerbation In Patients With COPD
  S. Konno; H. Makita; M. Suzuki; K. Shimizu; H. Kimura; H. Kimura; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 193, 2016
  English, Summary international conference
• 成人喘息病態 喘息患者における副鼻腔CT所見とその関連因子
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 中丸 裕爾; 牧田 比呂仁; 谷口 菜津子; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 64, 3-4, 468, 468, Apr. 2015
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 呼気中一酸化窒素濃度及び末梢血好酸球数による気管支喘息病態の評価
  照井 浩也; 今野 哲; 牧田 比呂仁; 谷口 菜津子; 木村 孔一; 清水 薫子; 鈴木 雅; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 64, 3-4, 553, 553, Apr. 2015
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• Sinus Computed Tomographic Findings In Asthmatics: Comparison Between Mild-To-Moderate And Severe Asthma And Associations With Asthma-Related Indices
  H. Kimura; S. Konno; Y. Nakamaru; H. Makita; N. Taniguchi; K. Shimizu; M. Suzuki; M. Nishimura, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 191, 2015
  English, Summary international conference
• 北海道上士幌町における成人喘息、アレルギー性鼻炎有病率の検討 2006年、2011年の比較
  清水 薫子; 今野 哲; 木村 孔一; 荻 喬博; 谷口 菜津子; 清水 健一; 伊佐田 朗; 服部 健史; 檜澤 伸之; 谷口 正実; 赤澤 晃; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 63, 7, 928, 937, Aug. 2014
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 難治性喘息患者における血清ペリオスチン濃度と呼吸機能・副鼻腔陰影重症度との関連
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 中丸 裕爾; 牧田 比呂仁; 谷口 菜津子; 清水 薫子; 前田 由起子; 鈴木 雅; 長井 桂; 小野 純也; 太田 昭一郎; 出原 賢治; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 63, 3-4, 568, 568, Apr. 2014
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 北海道大学新入生における喘息・鼻炎の有病率及び危険因子の検討 小児期ウイルス性疾患罹患歴との関連
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 伊佐田 朗; 前田 由起子; 武藏 学; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 62, 9-10, 1382, 1382, Oct. 2013
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 北海道上士幌町における成人喘息、アレルギー性鼻炎有病率の検討 2006年、2011年の比較
  清水 薫子; 今野 哲; 木村 孔一; 荻 喬博; 谷口 菜津子; 清水 健一; 伊佐田 朗; 服部 健史; 西村 正治; 檜澤 伸之; 谷口 正実; 赤澤 晃, アレルギー, 61, 9-10, 1465, 1465, Oct. 2012
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 気管支喘息患者における血清レプチン濃度の検討
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 伊佐田 朗; 荻 喬博; 清水 薫子; 清水 健一; 谷口 菜津子; 前田 由起子; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 61, 9-10, 1491, 1491, Oct. 2012
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• カタラーゼ遺伝子(CAT)多型が気管支喘息発症に及ぼす影響
  谷口 菜津子; 今野 哲; 木村 孔一; 荻 喬博; 清水 薫子; 清水 健一; 伊佐田 朗; 服部 健史; 前田 由起子; 檜澤 伸之; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 61, 9-10, 1514, 1514, Oct. 2012
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• 北海道大学新入生における気管支喘息の有病率とその危険因子
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 伊佐田 朗; 前田 由起子; 武藏 学; 西村 正治, 日本呼吸器学会誌, 1, 増刊, 156, 156, Mar. 2012
  (一社)日本呼吸器学会, Japanese
• 肺真菌症に対して投与された抗真菌薬ミカファンギンナトリウムの血中濃度モニタリングと臨床効果との検討 症例報告
  藤澤 真一; 横山 敏紀; 篠原 徹; 野田 久美子; 木村 孔一; 原田 敏之; 唯野 貢司; 秋山 也寸史; 渡邊 博文, 北海道社会保険病院紀要, 10, 53, 56, Dec. 2011
  北海道社会保険病院, Japanese
• 北大生の気管支喘息、アレルギー性鼻炎有病率とその危険因子
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 伊佐田 朗; 前田 由起子; 西村 正治; 武藏 学, 北海道医学雑誌, 86, 6, 296, 296, Nov. 2011
  北海道医学会, Japanese
• 北海道大学新入生における気管支喘息の有病率とその危険因子
  木村 孔一; 今野 哲; 伊佐田 朗; 前田 由起子; 武藏 学; 西村 正治, アレルギー, 60, 9-10, 1455, 1455, Oct. 2011
  (一社)日本アレルギー学会, Japanese
• ドネペジル(アリセプト)によるQT延長が原因と考えられた多形性心室頻拍(torsade de pointes)の1症例
  會澤 佳昭; 鈴木 章彦; 上村 明; 吉村 治彦; 大平 浩司; 原 豊道; 白間 信行; 加藤 総介; 中園 綾乃; 川畑 修平; 木村 孔一; 渡辺 雅弘; 板倉 てい子; 宮川 康宏; 小木 正明; 小木 睦美; 田中 伸哉; 西原 広史; 菅野 宏美; 谷野 美智恵; Rosman Mahabir, 岩見沢市立総合病院医誌, 37, 1, 60, 61, Jun. 2011
  岩見沢市立総合病院, Japanese
• HBVキャリアにおける肺MALTリンパ腫再発に対してRituximab併用CHO療法を施行した一例
  木村 孔一; 上村 明; 白間 信行; 會澤 佳昭; 岡本 賢三, 岩見沢市立総合病院医誌, 36, 1, 7, 11, Jun. 2010
  岩見沢市立総合病院, Japanese
• 肺MALTリンパ腫再発に対してR-CHO療法を施行した1例
  木村 孔一, 岩見沢市立総合病院医誌, 36, 1, 85, 85, Jun. 2010
  岩見沢市立総合病院, Japanese
• 2度のステロイドパルス治療で寛解傾向を示したネフローゼ症候群の1例
  木村 孔一, 岩見沢市立総合病院医誌, 36, 1, 87, 88, Jun. 2010
  岩見沢市立総合病院, Japanese
• 防水スプレー吸入による急性呼吸器障害の1例
  木村 孔一, 北海道社会保険病院紀要, 7, 52, 53, Dec. 2008
  北海道社会保険病院, Japanese
• 18FDG-PET陽性所見が心電図異常に先行した心サルコイドーシスの一例
  五十嵐 正; 神垣 光徳; 木村 孔一; 長谷川 幸生; 渡邊 安寿香; 横田 美紀; 池田 大輔; 大平 洋; 伊東 直史; 坂上 慎二; 辻野 一三; 西村 正治; 石丸 伸司, Circulation Journal, 71, Suppl.II, 826, 826, Apr. 2007
  (一社)日本循環器学会, Japanese

• 全科臨床実習, 2024年, 学士課程, 医学部
• 基本医学研究, 2024年, 修士課程, 医学院
• 基本医学総論, 2024年, 修士課程, 医学院
• 医学総論, 2024年, 博士後期課程, 医学院
• 基盤医学研究, 2024年, 博士後期課程, 医学院
• 臨床医学研究, 2024年, 博士後期課程, 医学院

• 日本サルコイドーシス/肉芽腫性疾患学会
• 日本アレルギー学会
• 日本呼吸器学会
• 日本内科学会

• Deep phenotyping toward the precision medicine for chronic airway diseases
  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
  01 Apr. 2023 - 31 Mar. 2026
  今野 哲; 村上 正晃; 杉森 博行; 清水 薫子; 木村 孔一; 鈴木 雅
  本研究は、慢性閉塞性肺疾患と気管支喘息はともに慢性気道炎症と気流閉塞を特徴とする慢性気道疾患であるが、歴史的には別個の疾患として扱われ、両疾患における病態解析ならびに治療法のエビデンスは互いの疾患を除外した形で積み重ねられてきた。一方で、特に高齢化社会を迎えた本邦における実臨床では両疾患を明確に区別できない症例が多く存在し、このような症例に対する診療エビデンスは明らかに不足している。本研究では、臨床情報・呼吸生理学的所見・CT画像所見・血中バイオマーカー・末梢血T細胞表面マーカー等の高次元データを用いて慢性気道疾患患者の既存の疾患名にとらわれない精細な表現型解析(deep phenotyping)を行い、その基盤となる分子・免疫病態ならびに至適な治療戦略の同定を目指すことを目的とする。
  
  
  閉塞性肺疾患患者の日常モニタリングの一つとして、PRF（ピークフロー）モニタリングがあるが、令和5年度においては、日々のPEFモニタリングのデータを用い、PEFの変化が数日後の増悪を予測することを明らかにし、英語論文発表をおこなった（Yang Y, et al.)。これは、閉塞性疾患のphenotyoeの一つとして、増悪をきたしやすい対象の選定に役立つものと思われる。
  
  
  令和5年度じゅうには、閉塞性疾患のEndtype同定の為、血清、喀痰上清中のバイオマーカーの一部の測定を終了した。本年度は、経過中の検体も含め、末梢血T細胞表面マーカー、microRNAを含む網羅的測定を予定している。更には、ベースラインで得られた胸部CT画像に対して3次元評価を行い、肺気腫病変（低吸収域体積割合）、気道（気道内腔面積・気道壁面積割合）、肺内血管（断面積が5mm2あるいは10mm2未満の肺血管容量および総肺血管体積に対する割合）の定量を深層学習を含めて行う。
  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Hokkaido University, 23K27606
• Deep phenotyping toward the precision medicine for chronic airway diseases
  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
  Apr. 2023 - Mar. 2026
  今野 哲; 村上 正晃; 鈴木 雅; 杉森 博行; 清水 薫子; 木村 孔一
  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Hokkaido University, 23H02915
• Epidemiological Studies for Stratified Snalysis of Allergic Diseases and the Impact of Living Environment
  Health and Labor Administration Promotion and Research Project Fundings
  Apr. 2023 - Apr. 2025
  伊藤靖典; 小池由美; 徳永舞; 加藤泰輔; 吉田幸一; 高橋雅和; 高橋亨平; 松原優里; 田中暁生; 福家辰樹; 木村孔一; 野上和剛
  Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Immunology and Allergy Disease Policy Research Project, Competitive research funding, 23FE2001
• Examination of the relationship between endotype and exacerbation in severe asthma
  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
  01 Apr. 2020 - 31 Mar. 2022
  Kimura Hirokazu
  Various analyzes were performed using data from a prospective 6-year refractory asthma cohort study, including smokers. In particular, we focused on the relationship between the endotype, which is a phenotype of cytokines in blood, sputum, and urine, and the situation of exacerbation, but no significant results have been obtained so far. We would like to continue the analysis in the future.
  On the other hand, it was shown that when the three items of high peripheral blood eosinophil count, high exhaled nitric oxide level, which is reflecting eosinophil airway inflammation, and positive atopic status were all present, the exacerbation occurred frequently. Regarding nitric oxide in exhaled breath, the period until the first exacerbation was short when the fluctuation was large.
  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, Hokkaido University, 20K17206
• 前向き難治性喘息コホートにおける、バイオマーカーの経年的変化についての研究
  科学研究費助成事業（若手研究）
  Apr. 2018 - Mar. 2020
  木村 孔一
  日本学術振興会, Principal investigator, Competitive research funding