Comparison of the subtotal and narrow gastric conduit for cervical esophagogastrostomy after esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patients: a propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Several reports have compared narrow gastric conduit (NGC) with subtotal gastric conduit (SGC) for cervical esophagogastrostomy after esophagectomy; however, whether which one is more beneficial in terms of postoperative complications remains unclear. To determine the optimal gastric conduit type, we retrospectively investigated and compared the postoperative complications between NGC and SGC used in cervical circular-tapered esophagogastrostomy after esophagectomy through a propensity score-matched analysis.

METHODS

Between 2008 and 2022, 577 consecutive esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy and cervical circular-stapled esophagogastrostomy were enrolled in this study.

RESULTS

Of the 577 patients, 77 were included each in the SGC and NGC groups, after propensity score matching. Clinical characteristics did not differ between the two groups. The anastomotic leakage rate was significantly lower in the SGC group than in the NGC group (5% vs. 22%, p < 0.01). The anastomotic stenosis rate was significantly higher in the SGC group (16% vs. 5%, p = 0.03). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that NGC, subcutaneous route, and age were significant independent factors associated with anastomotic leakage (odds ratios, 8.58, 6.49, and 5.21; p < 0.01, < 0.01 and 0.03, respectively) and that SGC was a significant independent factor associated with anastomotic stricture (odds ratios, 4.91; p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

In cervical circular-stapled esophagogastrostomy after esophagectomy, SGC was superior to NGC in terms of reducing the risk of anastomotic leakage, although the risk of anastomotic stricture needs to be resolved.

Association between combined spinal-epidural analgesia and neurodevelopment at 3 years old: The Japan Environment and Children's Study

AIM

To investigate the association between maternal combined spinal-epidural analgesia during vaginal delivery and neurodevelopment in 3-year-old children.

METHODS

Using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a birth cohort study on pregnant women and their offspring, we described the background, perinatal outcomes, and neurodevelopmental outcomes of participants with a singleton pregnancy who received combined spinal-epidural analgesia during vaginal delivery and those who did not. The association between maternal combined spinal-epidural analgesia and abnormalities in five domains of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition, was analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

Among 59 379 participants, 82 (0.1%) children (exposed group) were born to mothers who received combined spinal-epidural analgesia during vaginal delivery. In the exposed versus control groups, 1.2% versus 3.7% had communication abnormalities (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.30 [0.04-2.19]), 6.1% versus 4.1% exhibited gross-motor abnormalities (1.36 [95% CI: 0.55-3.36]), 10.9% vs. 7.1% had fine-motor abnormalities (1.46 [95% CI: 0.72-2.96]), 6.1% vs. 6.9% showed difficulties with problem-solving (0.81 [95% CI: 0.33-2.01]), and 2.4% vs. 3.0% had personal-social problems (0.70 [95% CI: 0.17-2.85]).

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to combined spinal-epidural analgesia during vaginal delivery was not associated with the risk of neurodevelopmental abnormalities; however, the sample size of our study might not be appropriate for the study design.

Cerebral blood flow abnormalities with central sparing on arterial spin labeling in mild encephalopathy associated with excitotoxicity: a case report

BACKGROUND

Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) and mild encephalopathy associated with excitotoxicity (MEEX) are the most frequent acute encephalopathies in pediatric patients in Japan. AESD typically presents with biphasic seizures and delayed reduced diffusion in the subcortical area, called bright tree appearance (BTA), on radiological examination. In patients with AESD, arterial spin labeling (ASL) shows decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the hyperacute stage and increased CBF in the acute stage, suggesting the usefulness of ASL for the early diagnosis of AESD. Additionally, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) shows elevated glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln) in AESD. MEEX is a group of mild encephalopathies with transient elevation of Gln on MRS similar to that in AESD; however, MEEX does not include any clinical biphasic course or abnormalities, including BTA on diffusion-weighted imaging. Although the usefulness of ASL for AESD has been reported, there are no reports for patients with MEEX. In this study, we report our experience with a 4-year-old girl diagnosed with MEEX who showed unique findings on ASL.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 4-year-old girl admitted to the emergency room with febrile status epilepticus. Considering the possibility of AESD, vitamin therapy was initiated. ASL-MR imaging (MRI) of the brain performed on the second day showed increased blood flow in the frontal, temporal, and occipital regions with spared central sulcus, which indicated AESD with central sparing. The patient was diagnosed with AESD, and the treatment included pulse steroid therapy and immunoglobulin therapy from day 3. The patient remained mildly unconscious but gradually became conscious by day 7 with no seizures. Brain MRI performed on day 8 did not show any characteristic AESD findings, such as BTA. Furthermore, MRS showed elevated Gln, which, along with the clinical course, led to the diagnosis of MEEX. The patient was discharged on day 16 without obvious sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

ASL may be useful in the early diagnosis of MEEX as well as AESD, facilitating early intervention.

Association of prepregnancy physical activity with obesity in offspring: The Japan Environment and Children's Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between maternal prepregnancy physical activity (PA) and overweight/obesity in 3-year-old children.

METHODS

Using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (a birth cohort study), maternal prepregnancy PA was categorized into low, moderate, and high with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The reference group was defined as children born to mothers with moderate PA. The association between prepregnancy PA and overweight/obesity or obesity in children was investigated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 65,245 participants, 48.7%, 32.7%, and 18.6% were born to mothers in the low, moderate, and high PA groups, respectively. Furthermore, 24.9%, 24.6%, and 25.9% of children with overweight/obesity and 9.4%, 9.2%, and 10.4% of children with obesity were born to mothers in the low, moderate, and high PA groups, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios for overweight/obesity in the low and high PA groups were 1.02 (95% CI: 0.98-1.06) and 1.04 (95% CI: 0.98-1.09), and those for obesity were 1.03 (95% CI: 0.97-1.09) and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.99-1.16), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal prepregnancy PA was not associated with overweight/obesity or obesity in 3-year-old children.

Clinical Outcome After Esophagectomy or Definitive Chemoradiotherapy in Elderly Patients (≥80 Years) With Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Given the increased incidence of esophageal cancer (EC) in individuals over 80 years old, the optimum therapeutic strategy for elderly patients is needed to be established with scientific evidence. Here, we studied the short-term and long-term outcomes after treatment of patients aged 80 years old or older with EC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighty patients with EC aged 80 years old or older, who underwent esophagectomy (n=23), definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) (n=46) or best supportive care (n=11) between January 2010 and March 2019 were included in this study, and clinical data were compared among these groups.

RESULTS

Surgery had a great benefit on the 3-year overall survival (OS) compared to dCRT (68.4% vs. 29.3%, p<0.01). The cure rates of treatment were 86.9% in surgery and 34.8% in dCRT. dCRT led to a better 3-year OS compared to BSC (29.3% vs. 0%, p<0.01); however, dCRT did not improved OS in patients with T4. Patients with T4 had high frequency of adverse events and treatment-related death in dCRT; CTCAE Grade 3-5 was observed in 100% of all T4 patients and Grade 5 in 57.1%. Multivariate analysis revealed that T4 was an independent risk factor of treatment-related death after dCRT (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Surgery is the first treatment option for resectable EC even in elderly patients, and dCRT can be considered as an alternative. However, dCRT may induce severe toxicity especially in T4 EC patients.

Additional Effects of Docetaxel on Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy With Cisplatin/5-Fluorouracil for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

To further improve the prognosis of locally advanced esophageal cancer patients, investigating new perioperative treatment strategies is necessary. The current study aimed to retrospectively investigate neoadjuvant radiotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (CF-RT) and radiotherapy with docetaxel and CF (DCF-RT) and compare their treatment outcomes in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 95 patients with ESCC who received CF-RT or DCF-RT followed by esophagectomy. The CF-RT group received chemotherapy consisting of two courses of CF repeated every 4 weeks. The DCF-RT group received chemotherapy consisting of two courses of DCF repeated every 2 weeks. A radiotherapy dose of 1.8-2 Gy was administered per session, up to a total of 40-41.4 Gy. Adverse events of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, surgical outcomes, pathological responses, prognosis, and recurrence patterns were evaluated.

RESULTS

Both the CF-RT and DCF-RT groups had equivalent pathological complete response rates of the primary tumor at 31.6% and 38.6%, respectively. However, the DCF-RT group had significantly better 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival than (HR=0.50, 95%CI=0.26-0.97, p=0.0392) than the CF-RT group.

CONCLUSION

DCF-RT may be a candidate neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced ESCC.

Longitudinal study of body mass index and percentage of overweight in Japanese children grouped by maturity

Childhood obesity is a known risk factor for adult diseases, making its evaluation highly important. However, the evaluation is complex because there is no gold standard method. Body mass index (BMI) and percentage of overweight (POW) are widely used in Japan. However, they have the following limitations: it is difficult to set cutoffs for BMI because it dynamically varies in childhood, and POW has not been studied extensively, especially regarding its difference during maturity. Therefore, our study analyzed BMI/POW in Japanese children grouped by maturity. We used longitudinal school check-up data collected from elementary and junior high schools in 20 municipalities. We made percentile curves of BMI/POW and calculated the percentage of participants considered overweight/obese by sex, age, and maturity. Maximum increment age (MIA) was calculated using the graphical fitting method. We included 35,461 subjects aged 15 in 2018. Early-maturing children had higher BMI. The difference among maturity groups decreased by shifting the percentile curves by differences in MIA. Therefore, the use of BMI might lead to the overestimation of overweight/obesity in early-maturing children and underestimation in late-maturing children. The POW percentile curves were "N"-shaped around the MIA, indicating the inappropriate evaluation during this period. The percentile curves of children categorized as overweight/obese were also "N"-shaped, confirming that MIA affects the evaluation of childhood obesity. The possibility of overestimation/underestimation needs verification with the data of accurate age, pubertal changes, and adult diseases. In conclusion, it is difficult to evaluate childhood obesity only with height and weight.

The Boy:Girl Ratio of Children Diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency-Induced Short Stature Is Associated with the Boy:Girl Ratio of Children Visiting Short Stature Clinics

BACKGROUND

About twice as many boys as girls undergo growth hormone (GH) therapy in GH deficiency (GHD). However, this sex difference may not correctly reflect a real incidence.

OBJECTIVES

We analyzed the evidence of a selection bias whereby more boys seek treatment at short stature clinics.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The present study included 3,902 children who visited 17 short stature clinics with a height SD score of -2 SD or less. The percentage of children who underwent the GH stimulation test was compared between boys and girls, as was the percentage of children ultimately diagnosed with GHD.

RESULTS

The children comprised 2,390 boys (61.3%) and 1,512 girls (38.7%), with a boy:girl ratio of 1.58:1. The percentage of children who underwent the GH stimulation test did not differ between boys (45.7%) and girls (49.8%). Among the children who underwent the GH stimulation test, the percentage diagnosed with GHD did not differ significantly between boys (22.0%) and girls (20.1%). The boy:girl ratio of children diagnosed with GHD was 1.59:1.

CONCLUSIONS

The boy:girl ratio of children with short stature (1.58:1) did not differ significantly from that of children diagnosed with GHD (1.59:1). These results indicate that the predominance of boys in GHD does not reflect a real incidence, but rather a selection bias whereby a higher proportion of boys with short stature seek treatment at clinics. This difference arises because parents are more concerned about boys' height, and because boys reach adult height at an older age.

Early growth hormone treatment accelerates delayed onset of puberty in patients with growth hormone deficiency

We investigated whether growth hormone (GH) treatment could accelerate the onset of puberty in patients with isolated GH deficiency (GHD). Of the 135 boys and 89 girls who started GH treatment before the onset of puberty and were followed up at Tanaka Growth Clinic, 83 boys and 51 girls who started GH treatment sufficiently earlier than the average age at onset of puberty of GHD patients (<10 years vs. 11.7 years for boys; <9.5 years vs. 11.4 years for girls) were analyzed. Age at onset of puberty significantly positively correlated to age at the start of GH treatment (boys: r = 0.427, p < 0.0001; girls: r = 0.302, p < 0.05). When the subjects were divided into two groups each: for boys, Groups A (n = 45) and B (n = 39), treatment was started at age <8 and 8 to <10 years, respectively; for girls, Groups A (n = 26) and B (n = 21), treatment was started at age <7 and 7 to <9.5 years, respectively, age at the onset of puberty was significantly lower in Groups A than in Groups B by the Mann-Whitney U test (boys: p < 0.01; girls: p < 0.05) and Kaplan-Meier log-rank test (boys: p < 0.01; girls: p < 0.05). These results indicate that GH treatment accelerates the delayed onset of puberty in patients with GHD. Heights at the onset of puberty in Groups A and B were not significantly different, suggesting that early treatment does not increase adult height.

The Clinical Significance of CA19-9 and Tumor Size Ratios for Predicting Prognosis After Conversion Surgery in Patients With Stage IV Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

The clinical benefit of conversion surgery (CS) after chemotherapy remains unclear for stage IV gastric cancer (GC) patients. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors used to determine whether CS is a promising therapeutic strategy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data from 156 patients diagnosed with unresectable stage IV GC who underwent chemotherapy as the initial treatment, including 40 patients who had R0 resection in CS.

RESULTS

The median survival time of the CS patients was significant longer than that of patients who underwent chemotherapy alone. A multivariate analysis identified only pN3 as an independent prognostic factor in CS patients. Among the differentiated tumor type patients, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels were significantly higher in pN3 patients than in pN0-2 patients before chemotherapy. Among undifferentiated tumor type patients, pN3 patients had a significantly lower tumor size ratio (before chemotherapy/before surgery) than pN0-2 patients.

CONCLUSION

Although it is clinically difficult to diagnose lymph node metastasis using preoperative examinations, CA19-9 levels and tumor size ratios may be preoperative indicators for predicting pN3, which is associated with a poor prognosis in CS.

Successful thoracoscopic resection of an esophageal bronchogenic cyst

Esophageal bronchogenic cysts are rare, and since a limited number of cases has been reported, the treatment plan for asymptomatic patients is difficult. A 55-year-old man without any symptoms visited our hospital for further examination of an esophageal mass detected on simple computed tomography. Upper endoscopy showed the protruding, submucosal mass covered by normal mucosa, and endoscopic sonography confirmed hypoechoic lesions originating from the muscularis propria. The patient was diagnosed as having an esophageal duplication cyst and underwent thoracoscopic resection. Pathological findings were consistent with an esophageal bronchogenic cyst. The patient was discharged without any problems on the 6th postoperative day. Upper endoscopy was performed 6 months after surgery, and no evidence of esophageal diverticula or narrowing was present. In conclusion, early thoracoscopic resection of esophageal bronchogenic cysts, before appearance of the symptom, can be a considerable treatment option because it is less invasive and may be advantageous for obtaining a definitive diagnosis in patients who are candidates for safe surgical resection.

First-line antibiotic prescription patterns for acute otitis media in children: A descriptive study using Japanese claims data (2014-2018)

INTRODUCTION

Acute otitis media is a highly prevalent disease in children. Although guidelines in many countries recommend amoxicillin as the first-line treatment for acute otitis media, the prescribing pattern in Japan is not clear. Our objective was to clarify the amoxicillin prescriptions as first-line antibiotics for acute otitis media and factors associated with amoxicillin prescriptions. Also, changes in amoxicillin prescriptions during the study period by medical facilities were investigated.

METHODS

Using an administrative claims database, we included new episodes of acute otitis media prescribed antibiotics in children under seven years of age between 2014 and 2018. The proportion of amoxicillin prescription was described. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with amoxicillin prescription were evaluated. Rate differences were calculated to describe changes in amoxicillin prescription by medical facilities.

RESULTS

207,213 episodes in 149,929 patients were identified. Amoxicillin prescription was 24.0% and increased over the study period (P for trend <0.001). Characteristics of medical facilities were associated with amoxicillin prescriptions, and hospitals were more likely to prescribe amoxicillin (adjusted odds ratio: 1.71, 95% confidence intervals: 1.63 to 1.79). Compared to 2014, the range of increase in amoxicillin prescription in 2018 was greater in hospitals (14.9%) and pediatric clinics (10.5%) than in otolaryngology clinics (5.9%) and other specialty clinics (6.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

During the study period, amoxicillin prescriptions had increased compared to 2014, but the proportion was still low. Clinics prescribed less amoxicillin than hospitals, and the range of increase was small. Our results suggested that some interventions focused on clinics are needed.

Clinical Impact of the Prognostic Nutritional Index as a Predictor of Outcomes in Patients with Stage II/III Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines recommend S-1 and S-1 plus docetaxel as postoperative chemotherapy for pathological stage II and III gastric cancer (GC). There is currently no strategy for using chemotherapy to treat high-risk recurrent pathological stage II/III. Previous studies reported that the several nutritional, immunological, and inflammatory markers examined the association with clinical outcomes after surgery for GC.

METHODS

Ninety patients with GC (stage II, n = 48; stage III, n = 42) for whom gastrectomy was performed at our institution between November 2009 and September 2018 were examined. Nutritional, immunological, and inflammatory markers were calculated from blood samples within 1 week before surgery.

RESULTS

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) status correlated with the pathological stage and disease recurrence after surgery (p = 0.015 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Thirty-three patients had disease recurrence after gastrectomy (stage II, n = 11; stage III, n = 22). The PNI was significantly lower in the recurrent group than in the non-recurrent group (p = 0.0003). The PNI correlated with overall survival and recurrence-free survival after gastrectomy (p = 0.0021 and p = 0.0001, respectively). A multivariate analysis identified the PNI as an independent prognostic factor (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

The PNI may be useful for predicting the outcomes of patients with pathological stage II/III GC and may contribute to the selection of an appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

Successful treatment of post chemotherapy esophageal cicatricial atresia in a pediatric patient with anaplastic large cell lymphoma through minimally invasive esophagectomy: a case report

Background

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a CD30-positive T-cell lymphoma, which is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. ALCL rarely presents in the gastrointestinal tract, and the esophageal involvement in of ALCL is extremely rare.

Case presentation

An 11-year-old boy who complained of abdominal pain and cough was diagnosed with ALK-positive ALCL on the basis of systemic lymphadenopathy findings and immunohistochemistry results of pleural effusion. Although remission was observed after chemotherapy at 5 months after diagnosis, dysphagia persisted, and esophagoscopy revealed a severe stricture in the middle thoracic esophagus. At 9 months after diagnosis, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation was performed to ensure that complete remission was maintained; however, dysphagia and saliva retention did not improve. Approximately 10 months after diagnosis, esophagoscopy revealed a blind end in the middle thoracic esophagus, similar to that in congenital esophageal atresia. Subsequently, we performed minimally invasive subtotal esophagectomy under thoracoscopy and laparoscopy and gastric conduit reconstruction via the retrosternal route more than 2 years after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The final pathological diagnosis was esophageal atresia with esophagitis, with no malignancy. During postoperative evaluation, the patient required swallowing training for a few months, although no major complications were noted. Oral intake was possible, and complete remission was maintained at 14 month post-surgery.

Conclusions

Oncologists must consider the possibility of acquired esophageal cicatricial atresia as a complication during chemotherapy for ALCL. If esophageal obstruction or esophageal atresia occur and if remission is maintained, esophagectomy and esophageal reconstruction are useful treatment options for maintaining oral intake.

Clinical Outcomes of Fully Covered Self-expanding Metallic Stent Placement for Palliation of Incurable Esophageal Cancer With or Without Radiotherapy

BACKGROUND/AIM

A combination therapy of esophageal stent and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is currently considered risky for severe complications. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a fully covered self-expandable metallic stent (FCSEMS) placement in palliating incurable esophageal cancer before and/or after CRT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical outcomes of 64 incurable advanced esophageal cancer patients with FCSEMS placement. Forty-two of 64 patients had FCSEMS placement with RT.

RESULTS

The rate of all of stent-related complications tended to be higher in patients who had RT, although no significant difference was observed. The stent-related deaths occurred in one patient due to hemorrhage after FCSEMS placement in the RT-negative group.

CONCLUSION

Palliation of dysphagia or fistulas with FCSEMS in patients with incurable esophageal cancer before and/or after RT is not associated with an increased risk of life-threatening complications.

Distal Vessel Imaging via Intra-arterial Flat Panel Detector CTA during Mechanical Thrombectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Obtaining information on invisible vasculature distal to the occlusion site helps to deploy a stent retriever safely during mechanical thrombectomy for large-vessel occlusion. It is essential to reduce the amount of contrast used for detecting the vessels distal to the occlusion site because acute ischemic stroke patients tend to have chronic kidney disease and patients with severe chronic kidney disease are at an increased risk of contrast-associated acute kidney injury. We assessed whether vessels distal to the occlusion site during acute ischemic stroke with large-vessel occlusion could be visualized on angiographic images using flat panel detector CT acquired following intra-arterial diluted contrast injection, compared with MRA findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between May 2019 and January 2020, we enrolled 28 consecutive patients with large-vessel occlusions of the anterior circulation eligible for mechanical thrombectomy following MR imaging. The patients underwent CBV imaging using flat panel detector CT with an intra-arterial diluted contrast injection instead of intravenous injection. Flat panel detector CT angiographic images reconstructed from the same dataset were evaluated for image quality, collateral status of the MCA territory, and visualization of the vessels distal to the occlusion site. These findings were compared with MRA findings.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were retrospectively examined. Flat panel detector CT angiographic image quality in 20 patients (91%) was excellent or good. The distal portion of the occluded vessel segment was visualized in 14 patients (70%), while the proximal portion of the segment adjacent to the occluded vessel in 3 (15%) was visualized. No visualization was observed in only 1 patient (5%) with no collateral supply. Flat panel detector CT angiographic images were shown to evaluate vessels distal to the occlusion site more accurately than MRA.

CONCLUSIONS

In acute ischemic stroke with large-vessel occlusion, flat panel detector CT angiographic images could successfully visualize vessels distal to the occlusion site with a small amount of contrast material.

Recurrent gastric cancer sustaining a partial response after the nivolumab discontinuation because of immune-related adverse events: a case report

Background

The prognosis of patients with recurrent gastric cancer is poor despite chemotherapy being clinically recommended as the first therapeutic strategy. Recent clinical trials have established the clinical utility of nivolumab in the third-line treatment of such patients. Immune-related adverse events (irAE) have been focused as a promising predictor for tumor response to nivolumab. This report aims to present a long-term survivor of recurrent gastric cancer who was followed up without any treatments after the nivolumab discontinuation because of irAE.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old male with stage III gastric cancer (cT4aN1M0) underwent surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Owing to the final pathological stage IIIB (ypT4bN1M0), the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy. Nevertheless, during adjuvant chemotherapy 1-year post-surgery, computed tomography (CT) revealed lymph node swelling in station no. 9. Thus, upon diagnosis with lymph node recurrence, the patient was treated with two courses of capecitabine + oxaliplatin and three courses of ramucirumab + paclitaxel as the first- and second-line regimens, respectively. Based on these regimens, the patient had a progressive disease to chemotherapy. Consequently, we administered nivolumab as the third-line regimen. After four courses of nivolumab, CT revealed a significant shrinkage of the metastatic lymph node, with a 45.6% reduction. We confirmed a partial response during 11 courses of nivolumab. Since the occurrence of grade 4 diabetes mellitus after 12 courses of nivolumab, the patient was followed up without any treatment after the nivolumab discontinuation. Currently, the patient remains a partial response for 15 months, since the nivolumab discontinuation and is alive for 31 months after disease recurrence.

Conclusions

Acute irAE during nivolumab chemotherapy could be one of the crucial clinical factors to predict tumor suppression in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Comparison of greater curvature and lesser curvature circular-stapled esophagogastrostomy after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer: a prospective randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

Using a circular stapler to create an anastomosis for esophagogastrostomy after esophagectomy is well accepted; however, it remains uncertain if the greater curvature (GC) or lesser curvature (LC) of the gastric conduit is better for the anastomosis. We conducted this prospective study to compare the integrity of esophagogastrostomy between the esophagus and the GC or LC side of the gastric conduit.

METHODS

The subjects of this study were 70 patients who underwent esophagectomy and were randomized to a "GC" group and an "LC" group (n = 35 each). The primary and secondary end points were anastomotic leakage (AL) and anastomotic stricture (AS), respectively.

RESULTS

The overall AL rate was 22.1%, without a significant difference between the groups. Stump leakage developed in eight of nine patients in the GC group, whereas leakage developed at the esophagogastric anastomosis in five of six patients in the LC group. The rate of stump leakage was significantly higher than that of esophagogastric AL in the GC group. The overall AS rate was 4.4%, with a significant difference between the groups (0% in the GC group vs. 9.1% in the LC group).

CONCLUSIONS

AL rates were comparable in the two groups, but the sites of leakage were significantly different.

Clinical Significance of Conversion Surgery for Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Dissemination: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

Although chemotherapy has been clinically recommended as the initial treatment for patients with peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer, poor prognosis has been noted among the same patients. However, the prognostic significance of conversion surgery after chemotherapy remains unclear. The present study therefore aimed to assess the clinical impact of conversion surgery among patients with peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer.

METHODS

A total of 93 patients with peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy between February 2002 and October 2019 were retrospectively enrolled and subsequently divided into progressive disease (PD) and non-PD groups based on tumor response to chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Among the included patients, 17 developed distant metastases at another site besides peritoneal dissemination. Based on tumor response, 24 and 69 patients were determined to have PD and non-PD, respectively, with the former having significantly poorer prognosis than the latter (p < 0.0001). A total of 19 patients underwent conversion surgery after chemotherapy, with the presence or absence of conversion surgery being significantly correlated with age, first-line chemotherapy regimen, and tumor response (p = 0.0134, p = 0.0337, and p = 0.0024, respectively). Patients in the non-PD group who underwent conversion surgery or chemotherapy alone had 3-year overall survival rates of 55.6 and 6.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified conversion surgery alone as an independent prognostic factor in the non-PD group (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our retrospective study demonstrated that conversion surgery for gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination might improve the prognosis of responders who developed no peritoneal dissemination after chemotherapy.

Conversion surgery for stage IV gastric cancer with a complete pathological response to nivolumab: a case report

Background

Patients with stage IV gastric cancer have a poor prognosis despite the recent development of multidisciplinary treatments that include chemotherapy. However, conversion surgery has emerged as a promising strategy to improve the prognosis in responders with unresectable gastric cancer after chemotherapy. Moreover, nivolumab is currently recommended as a third-line treatment in patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer. However, there are few reports of conversion surgery after nivolumab in patients with stage IV gastric cancer.

Case presentation

A 68-year-old woman complaining of nausea was diagnosed with stage I gastric cancer (T2N0M0). Although we planned gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy, multiple liver metastases were detected during the surgery. After staging laparoscopy, we diagnosed this patient as having stage IV unresectable gastric cancer, and we administered chemotherapy and immunotherapy for 39 months (first-line regimen: 6 courses of S-1 plus oxaliplatin; second-line regimen: 6 courses of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel; and third-line regimen: 20 courses of nivolumab). Although the liver metastases completely disappeared after the second-line chemotherapy, lung metastases and a rapid enlargement of the primary tumor were confirmed. Consequently, the patient received nivolumab at a dose of 3 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks, then a dose of 240 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks from September 2018. After 20 courses of nivolumab, the primary tumor dramatically shrank and the lung metastases disappeared. The patient had a partial primary tumor response to nivolumab. Therefore, the patient underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. The macroscopic examination of the resected specimen showed an ulcer scar in the primary tumor site. The pathological examination demonstrated no residual tumors and no lymph node metastases, and the histological response of the primary tumor was categorized as grade 3. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient is receiving nivolumab to control potential liver and lung metastases.

Conclusions

Conversion surgery might help control tumor progression in responders after chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of the cervical esophagus confirmed by detection of the SS18-SSX2 fusion transcripts: case report and literature review

Background

Synovial sarcoma (SS) of the esophagus is extremely rare. Because of the microscopic features of SS, the monophasic type can easily be misdiagnosed as other spindle cell tumors. Here, we present the first case of a primary SS of the esophagus in the presence of SS18-SSX2 fusion transcripts.

Case presentation

A 47-year-old Japanese woman was initially diagnosed with thyroid papillary carcinoma in the left lobe and leiomyoma of the cervical esophagus and subsequently underwent left thyroid lobectomy and enucleation of the esophageal tumor. Four years after the first surgery, the esophageal tumor recurred. Endoscopic biopsy of the tumor revealed atypical cell proliferation with spindle cell features and mitoses. Immunohistochemistry showed focal positivity for bcl-2 and HHF35. Furthermore, the presence of SS18-SSX2 fusion transcripts was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, using a paraffin-embedded tumor specimen. Therefore, the tumor was diagnosed as monophasic SS of the cervical esophagus. We re-evaluated the surgical specimen enucleated 3 years previously, which was initially diagnosed as leiomyoma, and the diagnosis of SS was confirmed. The patient underwent cervical esophagectomy with isolated jejunal interposition reconstruction. Three years after the second surgery, SS recurred in the distal anastomotic site between the jejunum and the esophagus, and the patient underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction. The pathological grade of the lesion worsened with every recurrence.

Conclusions

Monophasic SS can be difficult to discriminate from other spindle cell tumors based on microscopy alone, and molecular analysis could be useful for confirming the precise diagnosis of monophasic SS.

RNA sequencing-based microRNA expression signature in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: oncogenic targets by antitumor miR-143-5p and miR-143-3p regulation

Aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) disrupt intracellular RNA networks and contribute to malignant transformation of cancer cells. Utilizing the latest RNA sequencing technology, we newly created the miRNA expression signature of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 47 miRNAs were downregulated in ESCC tissues, and these miRNAs were candidates for antitumor miRNAs in ESCC cells. Analysis of the signature revealed that several passenger strands of miRNAs were significantly downregulated in ESCC, e.g., miR-28-3p, miR-30a-3p, miR-30c-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-139-3p, miR-143-5p, and miR-145-3p. Recent studies indicate that some passenger strands of miRNAs closely involved in cancer pathogenesis. In this study, we focused on both strands of pre-miR-143, and investigated their antitumor roles and target oncogenes in ESCC. Ectopic expression of miR-143-5p and miR-143-3p significantly attenuated malignant phenotypes (e.g., proliferation, migration, and invasive abilities) in ESCC cell lines. We revealed that six genes (HN1, HMGA2, NETO2, STMN1, TCF3, and MET) were putative targets of miR-143-5p regulation, and one gene (KRT80) was a putative target of miR-143-3p regulation in ESCC cells. Our ESCC miRNA signature and analysis strategy provided important insights into the molecular pathogenesis of ESCC.

Evaluation of postoperative quality of life by PGSAS-45 following local gastrectomy based on the sentinel lymph node concept in early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The usefulness of sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) for early gastric cancer has been demonstrated in a multicenter prospective study. However, quality of life (QOL) after local resection remains unclear. This present study investigated QOL after local resection and distal gastrectomy.

METHODS

We examined 69 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LADG) (n = 44) and laparoscopic local resection (LLR) (n = 25) in our hospital between September 2011 and May 2018. We conducted a combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with non-exposure technique (CLEAN-NET) with SNNS as LLR. All patients had pStage I or II and none had received adjuvant chemotherapy. We evaluated QOL using the postgastrectomy syndrome assessment scale questionnaire (PGSAS-45) 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery.

RESULTS

In PGSAS-45, no significant differences were observed between LLR and LADG at 1 and 6 months after surgery. At 12 months, the LLR group scored better for some of the subscales (SS). In the endoscopic evaluation, the LLR group showed significant improvements in residual gastritis at 6 months (P = 0.006) and esophageal reflux and residual gastritis at 12 months (P = 0.021 and P = 0.017). A significant difference was observed in the prognostic nutritional index, which was assessed using serum samples, between the two groups at 6 months (P = 0.028). The body weight ratio was better in the LLR group than in the LADG group at 6 and 12 months (P = 0.041 and P = 0.007, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

CLEAN-NET with SNNS preserved a better QOL and nutrition status than LADG in patients with early gastric cancer.

Response Rate and Prognostic Impact of Salvage Chemotherapy after Nivolumab in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer

OBJECTIVE

Nivolumab is recommended as a third-line treatment in patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. Although recent studies have demonstrated the prognostic impact of salvage chemotherapy after immune checkpoint inhibitors in several malignancies, its clinical significance remains unclear in patients with gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate tumor response to subsequent chemotherapy after nivolumab in patients with advanced gastric cancer and assess the prognostic effect of salvage chemotherapy.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 31 patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer receiving nivolumab.

RESULTS

Twenty-two and nine patients received nivolumab as third-line and fourth- to sixth-line treatments, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) to nivolumab were 20.0% (4/20) and 55.0% (11/20), respectively. Eleven patients received salvage chemotherapy after nivolumab. The ORR and DCR to salvage chemotherapy were 37.5% (3/8) and 75.0% (6/8), respectively. The median progression-free survival and overall survival following salvage chemotherapy were 285 and 360 days, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary study indicates that nivolumab exposure may enhance subsequent chemosensitivity in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Association of maternal prepregnancy weight and early childhood weight with obesity in adolescence: A population-based longitudinal cohort study in Japan

BACKGROUND

The impact of birth weight and obesity in early childhood on obesity in adolescence remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association of overweight/obesity at age 15 years with birth weight, overweight/obesity in early childhood and overweight/obesity in mothers.

METHODS

This population-based retrospective cohort study used early childhood and school age health check-up data of 1581 children in Japan, followed-up until age 15 years. Generalized estimation equation analyses were used to investigate the association of overweight/obesity at age 15 years with low/high birth weight, overweight/obesity in 3 years of age and overweight/obesity in mothers. The cutoff points for all variables were defined by international criteria.

RESULTS

Of 1581 mother-child pairs, 130 (8.2%) children had low birth weight, while 93 (5.9%) and 167 (10.6%) were overweight/obese at age 3 and 15 years, respectively. Overweight/obesity at age 3 years and overweight/obesity in mothers were associated with overweight/obesity at age 15 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.51-7.25 and (aOR, 2.46; 95% CI: 1.41-4.30). No association between low birth weight and overweight/obesity at age 15 years was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight/obesity in mothers and overweight/obesity at 3 years of age, but not birth weight, were associated with overweight/obesity at age 15 years.

Indication and Prognostic Significance of Conversion Surgery in Patients with Liver Metastasis from Gastric Cancer

OBJECTIVE

Chemotherapy is generally recommended as the first-line standard treatment in patients with liver metastasis from gastric cancer. However, the clinical impact of surgical treatment remains unclear in responders after chemotherapy. The present study aimed to investigate the tumor response and prognosis after chemotherapy and to assess the clinical indication of conversion surgery in responders.

METHODS

The study retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 44 patients with liver metastasis from gastric cancer who were treated with chemotherapy between February 2002 and January 2019. These patients were classified into progressive disease (PD) and non-PD groups according to tumor response.

RESULTS

Among the 44 patients, 7 and 26 had peritoneal dissemination and ≥5 had metastatic liver nodules. Additionally, 15 and 29 patients had PD and non-PD, respectively. Surgical treatment was significantly correlated with tumor response (p < 0.0321). Prognostic differences between the PD and non-PD groups were significant (p < 0.0001). Moreover, gastrectomy and hepatectomy were significantly correlated with the number of liver metastases (≥5 vs. <5, respectively) in the non-PD group (p = 0.0025 and p = 0.0169, respectively). The 3-year survival rates among patients with non-PD undergoing both gastrectomy and hepatectomy (n = 6), gastrectomy alone (n = 7), and nonsurgical treatments (n = 16) were 100, 66.7, and 0%, respectively (p = 0.0026). Multivariate analysis identified peritoneal dissemination as an independent prognostic factor (p = 0.0225).

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary results suggest that conversion surgery for gastric cancer with liver metastasis might be clinically indicated in chemotherapy responders with <5 metastatic liver nodules and without peritoneal dissemination.

Successful conservative treatment of spontaneous intrathoracic esophageal perforation using a temporary covered esophageal stent with a check valve: a case report

Background

Spontaneous esophageal perforation is a potentially life-threatening condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. While surgical treatment has been employed for esophageal perforation, we have adopted conservative treatment with an esophageal stent for patients in a poor physical condition because we consider controlling sepsis and improving the physical status are the highest priorities; additionally, the surgical trauma could be fatal for these patients.

Case presentation

A 60-year-old male complaining of left chest and back pain after vomiting was transferred to a local hospital. Computed tomography and chest X-ray examinations showed left tension pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and bilateral pleural effusion suspicious of spontaneous intrathoracic esophageal perforation. He was transferred to our hospital for further treatment. After arrival, he developed septic shock with acute respiratory failure. We considered that surgical treatment was too invasive and chose conservative treatment with an esophageal stent. Under general anesthesia, we first inserted a 20-Fr. trocar in the left posterior pleural space, and a large volume of the dark pleural effusion was discharged. We then performed endoscopy and found a pinhole perforation in the left posterolateral wall of the lower esophagus. We inserted both a silicon-covered esophageal stent with a check valve and a double elemental diet (W-ED) tube. We then inserted an 18-Fr. trocar into the left anterior wall. These procedures were performed less than 24 h after onset. As intensive medical care, the patient was administered broad-spectrum antibiotics and catecholamine. The two trocars and the W-ED tube were under continuous suction at − 5 cmH₂O and at − 20 cmH₂O every 30 s. On the 6th day, we inserted an additional thoracic drainage tube into the left pleura under CT guidance. The patient was discharged from the ICU to the general ward on the 7th day. We removed the stent almost triweekly, and the esophageal perforation was completely healed on the 45th day. He was discharged home on the 70th day.

Conclusion

Conservative treatment with a temporary self-expanding covered stent with a check valve, sufficient drainage, and W-ED tube nutrition was useful and effective in this unstable case of spontaneous intrathoracic esophageal perforation.

Evaluation of bone healing following Er:YAG laser ablation in rat calvaria compared with bur drilling

The Er:YAG laser is currently used for bone ablation. However, the effect of Er:YAG laser irradiation on bone healing remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate bone healing following ablation by laser irradiation as compared with bur drilling. Rat calvarial bone was ablated using Er:YAG laser or bur with water coolant. Er:YAG laser effectively ablated bone without major thermal changes. In vivo micro-computed tomography analysis revealed that laser irradiation showed significantly higher bone repair ratios than bur drilling. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed more fibrin deposition on laser-ablated bone surfaces. Microarray analysis followed by gene set enrichment analysis revealed that IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling and inflammatory response gene sets were enriched in bur-drilled bone at 6 hours, whereas the E2F targets gene set was enriched in laser-irradiated bone. Additionally, Hspa1a and Dmp1 expressions were increased and Sost expression was decreased in laser-irradiated bone compared with bur-drilled bone. In granulation tissue formed after laser ablation, Alpl and Gblap expressions increased compared to bur-drilled site. Immunohistochemistry showed that osteocalcin-positive area was increased in the laser-ablated site. These results suggest that Er:YAG laser might accelerate early new bone formation with advantageous surface changes and cellular responses for wound healing, compared with bur-drilling.

Periodontal regenerative effect of enamel matrix derivative in diabetes

The present study aimed to investigate the periodontal regenerative effect of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in diabetes. Thirty-six rats were assigned to streptozotocin-induced diabetes or control (non-diabetic) groups. Three-wall intrabony defects were surgically generated in the bilateral maxilla molar, followed by application of EMD or saline. Primary wound closure and defect fill were evaluated via histomorphological analysis and micro-computed tomography. mRNA expression levels of inflammatory and angiogenic factors in the defects were quantified via real-time polymerase chain reaction. Gingival fibroblasts were isolated from control animals and cultured in high-glucose (HG) or control medium. The effects of EMD on insulin resistance and PI3K/Akt/VEGF signaling were evaluated. The achievement rate of primary closure and the parameters of defect fill were significantly higher at EMD-treated site than at EMD-untreated sites in both diabetic and non-diabetic rats, although defect fill in the diabetic groups was significantly lower in the control groups on two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (for both, p<0.05). Newly formed bone and cementum were significantly increased at EMD-treated sites in diabetic rats than at EMD-untreated sites in control rats (for both, p<0.05). Vegf was significantly upregulated at EMD-treated sites in both diabetic and non-diabetic rats (for both, p<0.05). In vitro, insulin or EMD-induced Akt phosphorylation was significantly lower in cells cultured in HG medium (p<0.05). EMD-mediated Vegf upregulation was suppressed by the Akt inhibitor wortmannin, although the effect was significantly lower in HG medium (p<0.01). In conclusion, EMD might promote periodontal tissue regeneration via Akt/VEGF signaling, even in a diabetic condition.

Management of De Novo Mycobacterial Infection After Lung Transplantation Without Rifampicin: Case Series of a Single Institution

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To treat organ transplant patients with mycobacterial infection, physicians need to pay attention to interaction between drugs used against mycobacteria and immunosuppressants. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical features of and treatment for mycobacterial infection in lung transplant (LTx) recipients.

METHODS

To investigate the incidence, treatment, and outcome for mycobacterial infection, we retrospectively reviewed 100 LTx recipients in our program since 2000.

RESULTS

Four recipients (4.0%) developed mycobacterial infection. Three recipients took tacrolimus, and 1 received cyclosporine with mycophenolate mofetil and a steroid for immunosuppression. Tuberculosis (TB) was isolated from 2 recipients, and non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis (NTM) was detected in the other 2. We treated the patients with levofloxacin + isoniazid + pyrazinamide + ethambutol (EB) for TB and clarithromycin (CLM) + EB for NTM to avoid interaction of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI: 8-10 ng/mL in trough level) with rifampicin (RFP). In treating the patients with NTM, we were able to maintain an adequate blood concentration of CNI by decreasing the dosage from one-half to one-quarter. All mycobacterial infections were controlled with treatment. In 1 patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) infected with TB in the native lung, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) unexpectedly increased from 1890 mL before infection to 2320 mL possibly due to organization of the native lung.

CONCLUSIONS

We were able to manage the mycobacterial infections using drugs other than RFP without any cases of acute rejection under adequate immunosuppression. Organization of the native lung with TB infection unexpectedly resulted in improvement of FEV1 in a COPD patient.

Expression of SOX9 Is Related to Prognosis in Patients with Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Sex-determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) is an important transcription factor for the development and differentiation of cells and their organization. In the present study, the clinical significance of SOX9 expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma was examined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SOX9 expression in surgical specimens of primary tumours were immunohistochemically investigated in 175 patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas.

RESULTS

SOX9 was expressed (moderately or strongly) in 62.9% of samples. Expression of SOX9 was significantly positively correlated with depth of invasion, advanced stage, lymphatic and venous invasion, and poor prognosis. Univariate analysis showed that depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, stage, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, and SOX9 expression were prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis indicated that depth of invasion and stage were independent prognostic factors, but SOX9 expression was not.

CONCLUSION

SOX9 expression is related to prognosis in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, although it is not an independent prognostic factor.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and related metabolites in hypophosphatasia: Effects of enzyme replacement therapy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the utility of serum pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxal (PL), and 4-pyridoxic acid (PA) as a diagnostic marker of hypophosphatasia (HPP) and an indicator of the effect of, and patient compliance with, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), we measured PLP, PL, and PA concentrations in serum samples from HPP patients with and without ERT.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from HPP patients and serum was frozen as soon as possible (mostly within one hour). PLP, PL, and PA concentrations were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection after pre-column derivatization by semicarbazide. We investigated which metabolites are associated with clinical phenotypes and how these metabolites change with ERT.

RESULTS

Serum samples from 20 HPP patients were analyzed. The PLP-to-PL ratio and PLP concentration were elevated in all HPP patients. They correlated negatively with serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and showed higher values in more severe phenotypes (perinatal severe and infantile HPP) compared with other phenotypes. PL concentration was reduced only in perinatal severe HPP. ERT reduced the PLP-to-PL ratio to mildly reduced or low-normal levels and the PLP concentration was reduced to normal or mildly elevated levels. Urine phosphoethanolamine (PEA) concentration did not return to normal levels with ERT in most patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The serum PLP-to-PL ratio is a better indicator of the effect of ERT for HPP than serum PLP and urine PEA concentrations, and a PLP-to-PL ratio of <4.0 is a good indicator of the effect of, and patient compliance with, ERT.

Therapy with propylthiouracil for T3-predominant neonatal Graves' disease: a case report

This case report describes a male neonate with Graves’ disease. The mother’s pregnancy was complicated by poorly controlled Graves’ disease. The neonate was diagnosed with thyroxine (T3)-predominant Graves’ disease with low free triiodothyronine (T4) and high free T3 during antithyroid drug therapy. The patient also presented with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn due to hyperthyroidism and airway stenosis caused by goiter. It was difficult to control thyroid function and maintain free T4 levels with inorganic iodine, thiamazole, and levothyroxine sodium hydrate. We successfully controlled thyroid function using the previous treatments in combination with propylthiouracil. Propylthiouracil suppresses type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase, and its pharmacological action suppresses the conversion of T4 to T3. Therefore, we used propylthiouracil at an earlier stage of intervention in this case. We ceased administration of antithyroid drugs on day 85 of life. Subsequently, as the TRH loading test revealed central hypothyroidism, oral administration of levothyroxine sodium hydrate was continued. Its administration was discontinued at the age of 1 yr. Thyroid-stimulating hormone recovered to normal values, and his development had progressed without complications by the age of 2 yr.

Optimal suture anchor direction in arthroscopic lateral ankle ligament repair

PURPOSE

In this study, the distance between the insertion point of the suture anchors and posterior surface of the fibula during arthroscopic lateral ankle ligament repair was investigated on computed tomography (CT) images. The hypothesis of this study was that there is an optimal insertional direction of the suture anchor to avoid anchor-related complications.

METHODS

One hundred eleven ankles of 98 patients who had undergone three-dimensional CT scans for foot or ankle disorders without deformity of the fibula were assessed (59 males, 52 females; median age 25.5 years; age range 12-78 years). The shortest distance from the insertion point of the suture anchor to the deepest point of the fossa/top of the convex aspect of the fibula was measured on the axial plane, tilting from the longitudinal axis of the fibula at 90°, 75°, 60°, and 45°. The distance from the insertion point of the suture anchor to the posterior surface of the fibula was also measured in a direction parallel to the sagittal plane of the lateral surface of the talus on the axial plane, tilting from the longitudinal axis of the fibula at 90°, 75°, 60°, and 45°.

RESULTS

The posterior fossa was observed in all cases on the 90° and 75° images. The distance from the insertion point to the posterior surface of the fibula in the parallel direction was 15.0 ± 3.4 mm at 90°, 17.5 ± 3.2 mm at 75°, 21.7 ± 3.3 mm at 60°, and 25.7 ± 3.6 mm at 45°. The posterior points in the parallel direction were located on the posterior fossa in 36.0% of cases at 90°, in 12.6% at 75°, and in 0.0% at 60° and 45°.

CONCLUSIONS

The suture anchor should be directed from anterior to posterior at an angle of <45° to the longitudinal axis of the fibula, parallel to the lateral surface of the talus, to avoid passing through the fibula.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Cohort study, Level III.

Predictive performance of a genetic risk score using 11 susceptibility alleles for the incidence of Type 2 diabetes in a general Japanese population: a nested case-control study

AIMS

To assess the predictive ability of a genetic risk score for the incidence of Type 2 diabetes in a general Japanese population.

METHODS

This prospective case-control study, nested within a Japan Public Health Centre-based prospective study, included 466 participants with incident Type 2 diabetes over a 5-year period (cases) and 1361 control participants, as well as 1463 participants with existing diabetes and 1463 control participants. Eleven susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms, identified through genome-wide association studies and replicated in Japanese populations, were analysed.

RESULTS

Most single nucleotide polymorphism loci showed directionally consistent associations with diabetes. From the combined samples, one single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2206734 at CDKAL1) reached a genome-wide significance level (odds ratio 1.28, 95% CI 1.18-1.40; P = 1.8 × 10^-8 ). Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2206734 in CDKAL1, rs2383208 in CDKN2A/B, and rs2237892 in KCNQ1) were nominally significantly associated with incident diabetes. Compared with the lowest quintile of the total number of risk alleles, the highest quintile had a higher odds of incident diabetes (odds ratio 2.34, 95% CI 1.59-3.46) after adjusting for conventional risk factors such as age, sex and BMI. The addition to the conventional risk factor-based model of a genetic risk score using the 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly improved predictive performance; the c-statistic increased by 0.021, net reclassification improved by 6.2%, and integrated discrimination improved by 0.003.

CONCLUSIONS

Our prospective findings suggest that the addition of a genetic risk score may provide modest but significant incremental predictive performance beyond that of the conventional risk factor-based model without biochemical markers.

Possible association of oestrogen and Cryba4 with masticatory muscle tendon-aponeurosis hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE

Masticatory muscle tendon-aponeurosis hyperplasia, which is associated with limited mouth opening, progresses very slowly from adolescence. The prevalence rates of this disease are higher among women than among men, suggesting oestrogen involvement. As parafunctional habits are frequently observed, mechanical stress is likely involved in the pathogenesis and advancement of this disease. To elucidate the pathological condition, we examined the effect of oestrogen on tenocyte function and the relationship between mechanical stress and crystallin beta A4 (Cryba4), using murine TT-D6 tenocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell proliferation assays, RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, Western blot analysis and mechanical loading experiments were performed.

RESULTS

The physiological dose of oestrogen increased the levels of scleraxis and tenomodulin in TT-D6 tenocytes. In contrast, forced expression of Cryba4 inhibited scleraxis expression in these cells. Surprisingly, oestrogen significantly promoted cell differentiation in the Cryba4-overexpressing TT-D6 tenocytes. Moreover, tensile force induced Cryba4 expression in these tendon cells.

CONCLUSION

Oestrogen and Cryba4 may be associated with the progression of masticatory muscle tendon-aponeurosis hyperplasia.

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by the dissemination of an invasive emm3/ST15 strain of Streptococcus pyogenes

BACKGROUND

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) is a major human pathogen that causes a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Although invasive GAS (iGAS) infections are relatively uncommon, emm3/ST15 GAS is a highly virulent, invasive, and pathogenic strain. Global molecular epidemiology analysis has suggested that the frequency of emm3 GAS has been recently increasing.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 14-year-old patient was diagnosed with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and severe pneumonia, impaired renal function, and rhabdomyolysis. GAS was isolated from a culture of endotracheal aspirates and designated as KS030. Comparative genome analysis suggested that KS030 is classified as emm3 (emm-type) and ST15 (multilocus sequencing typing [MLST]), which is similar to iGAS isolates identified in the UK (2013) and Switzerland (2015).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the global dissemination of emm3/ST15 GAS strain has the potential to cause invasive disease.

Cytotoxicity of Natural Killer Cells Activated Through NKG2D Contributes to the Development of Bronchiolitis Obliterans in a Murine Heterotopic Tracheal Transplant Model

Bronchiolitis obliterans after lung transplantation is a major cause of postoperative mortality in which T cell-mediated immunity is known to play an important role. However, the exact contribution of natural killer (NK) cells, which have functions similar to CD8⁺ T cells, has not been defined. Here, we assessed the role of NK cells in murine bronchiolitis obliterans through heterotopic tracheal transplantations and found a greater percentage of NK cells in allografts than in isografts. Depletion of NK cells using an anti-NK1.1 antibody attenuated bronchiolitis obliterans in transplant recipients compared with controls. In terms of NK cell effector functions, an improvement in bronchiolitis obliterans was observed in perforin-KO recipient mice compared to wild type (WT). Furthermore, we found upregulation of NKG2D-ligand in allografts and demonstrated the significance of this using grafts expressing Rae-1, a murine NKG2D-ligand, which induced severe bronchiolitis obliterans in WT and Rag-1 KO recipients. This effect was ameliorated by injection of anti-NKG2D blocking antibody. Together, these results suggest that cytotoxicity resulting from activation of NK cells through NKG2D leads to the development of murine bronchiolitis obliterans.

Portosystemic shunt as a cause of congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia

Congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (CHH) is characterized by the inappropriate secretion of insulin from pancreatic beta cells in the presence of hypoglycemia. We herein describe the case of a 5-month-old boy with CHH due to congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS). Insulin secreted from pancreatic beta cells flows into the portal vein and is first metabolized in the liver. First-pass elimination of insulin in the liver leads to great decrease in insulin concentration by approximately 40-80% in humans. CPSS accounts for a large quantity of insulin delivery into the systemic circulation due to the lack of hepatic first-pass elimination. Hypoglycemia can result from consistently high levels of insulin after reaching normal glucose level. CPSS therefore should be considered as a rare cause of CHH, especially in the case of post-prandial hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.

Prolonged Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Followed by Split-Thickness Skin Graft Placement for Wide Dehiscence of Clamshell Incision After Bilateral Lung Transplantation: A Case Report

Clamshell incision is a standard approach for bilateral lung transplantation, providing a good operative field; however, once wide dehiscence occurs, its management is sometimes difficult because of intense immunosuppression and malnutrition of the recipient. A 22-year-old man with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension underwent cadaveric bilateral lung transplantation through a clamshell incision using standard cardiopulmonary bypass. He developed wound dehiscence on postoperative day (POD) 20 that resulted in exposure of the bilateral fifth ribs and open pneumothorax. Considering the extreme malnutrition and emaciation of the recipient, we avoided initial closure of the dehiscence. After the debridement of necrotic tissue, negative pressure wound therapy was initiated on POD 25 and was continued for approximately 6 months with trafermin spray application. Eventually, the wound, including the fifth ribs, was completely covered with granulation tissue except for the wire tying the sternum. On POD 217, the patient underwent removal of the sternal wire followed by split-thickness skin grafting. His wound was successfully closed and he was discharged without activity limitation on POD 265.

Comparison of Quantitative Analysis and Fractal Analysis of Center of Pressure Based on Muscle Fatigue

To examine the influence of muscle fatigue on center of pressure displacement during quiet standing using quantitative and fractal analyses, 12 healthy young men and women did the exercise stress test on the triceps surae muscle until fatigued. Subjects were measured for body stability for 60 sec. before and after the exercise. Quantitative analysis showed that center-of-pressure parameters for distance, velocity, amplitude distribution, and mean vector length of sway in the anterior/posterior direction changed significantly after muscle fatigue but not on the periodic parameters. This result suggested that quantitative analysis may identify the effects of muscle fatigue on the parameters that show displacement in the anterior/posterior direction of center of pressure. Fractal analysis indicated the value of critical point coordinates increased after muscle fatigue. This analysis can clarify the fundamental postural control strategy and time-series characteristics of postural sway which cannot be identified by spectral analysis.