Nitric oxide (NO) is a bioactive product that is generated by NO synthases within the cell. Small amount of NO is detected in exhaled breath. Fractional exhaled NO (FeNO) is increased in patients with respiratory inflammatory diseases specifically bronchial asthma and eosinophilic pneumonia. It is widely known that measurement of FeNO is useful for the diagnosis and management of asthma. In this review, I discuss physiological roles of NO and relationships between FeNO and pathophysiology of asthma.

　Background: We report two cases of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who underwent critical care management and were able to return home after implementation of interventions tailored to their respiratory status.

　Case report: Case 1: A 58-year-old-man was transferred to our hospital on the 26th day after onset of COVID-19 following mechanical ventilation therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The patient had difficulty in ambulation due to respiratory distress at admission. Along with rehabilitation intervention, discharge support was provided by multiple departments, and on the 62nd day, the patient was discharged home on home oxygen therapy (HOT) and was independent in activities of daily living (ADL). Physical function at discharge was low at 63％ for knee extension strength, 46％ for handgrip strength, and 65％ for 6-minute walk distance compared to healthy subjects.

　Case 2: A 51-year-old-man was transferred to our hospital on the 26th day after onset following high-flow nasal oxygen therapy. At the beginning of the intervention, the patient had dyspnea and hypoxia and was discharged on the 50th day on HOT. Physical function at discharge was low at 47％ for knee extension strength, 15％ for one-leg standing time, and 64％ for 6-minute walk distance compared to healthy subjects.

　Conclusion: Both patients were discharged from hospital with independence in ADL, but they still had a significant decline in physical function in addition to respiratory disability. Long-term support for patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, not only during hospitalization but also after discharge, is important.

　Background: The relationship between job category and the onset of hypertension remains to be clarified. Objectives and Methods: A total of 2,357 employees who were normotensive in 2010 and who had their BP checked in 2020 were enrolled in this study. Age, BMI, uric acid, HbA1c, LDL-C, eGFR, and the results of a stress check were evaluated as factors potentially related to hypertension among office workers (O), station workers (S), engineers (E), and train operators (T). Results: 1) Of the total, 1,879 were normotensive (NT) and 478 hypertensive (HT) in 2020. 2) The rate of new-onset hypertension was 14％ in O, 15.8％ in S, 19％ in E, and 25.2％ in T. 3) Age, delta BMI, and delta UA in O, age in S, and delta BMI and delta UA in T were significantly higher in those who were HT than in those who were NT. 4) Obesity (BMI ≧ 25) and hyperuricemia (UA ≧ 8.0) in T, and obesity in O and S were identified as independent risk factors according to the results of multivariate analysis. 5) A significant correlation between high stress and HT was only found in T. Conclusion: Obesity, hyperuricemia, and high stress were found to be related to new-onset hypertension. Significant differences were found in their level of involvement depending on job category, however.