Mortality outcomes and clinical background of children on maintenance dialysis without receiving kidney transplantation

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Some pediatric patients on maintenance dialysis may need end-of-life care in the future because of being excluded from the indication of kidney...     

Weekly chemotherapy with alternating low-dose CPT-11 and low-dose FP against a far advanced pancreatic cancer--a case report

We attempted a new regimen of weekly chemotherapy with alternating low-dose CPT-11 and low-dose FP against a case of far advanced pancreatic cancer with invasion to the super mesentric artery, celiac artery, and left renal vein. CPT-11 was administered at 25 mg/m2/day x 3/week, and CDDP and 5-FU were administered at 7 mg and 350 mg/m2/day x 3/week by intravenous infusion. These regimens were alternated every week. The serum CA19-9 level decreased gradually with a half time of approximately 2 months (from 972 to 126 U/ml). The tumor was reduced more than 50% 4 months after chemotherapy, and continuing decreasing for more than 6 months. There were no adverse effects except mild leukopenia (less than Grade 1). These results suggest that the combination of low-dose chemotherapy with fewer side effects may be effective not only for tumor shrinkage, but also for a prolonged time to progression.     

Transient renal dysfunction with reversible splenial lesion

We report the case of a 6‐month‐old boy with transient renal dysfunction who had an intensified signal in the splenium of the corpus callosum on magnetic resonance imaging. He presented to hospital with fever and sudden disturbance of consciousness. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis did not show pleocytosis. The mild consciousness disturbance disappeared after 30 min, but the splenial signal persisted even after 8 days. Further, renal glucosuria, increased excretion of select amino acids, and abnormal fractional excretion of electrolytes were observed, indicating renal tubular dysfunction. The abnormal urinary findings spontaneously resolved by day 9 of hospitalization. The splenial lesion took 21 days to normalize. There were no signs of neurological complications 2 months later. This case suggests the possibility of renal involvement in splenial lesions.     

Low-dose CPT-11 against a recurrent rectal cancer--a case report]

We attempted a new regimen of low-dose CPT-11 on a 5-FU resistant recurrent rectal cancer patient with multiple lung metastases and a paraaortic lymph node metastasis. CPT-11 was administered at 25 mg/m2/day x 3/week by intravenous infusion. Serum CEA level decreased gradually with a half time of approximately 4 weeks. The lung metastases almost disappeared and the paraaortic lymph node was also reduced more than 50%. There were no adverse effects except slight alopetia. This treatment could be continued on an outpatient basis. These results suggest that low-dose CPT-11 may be more effective and tolerable than the conventional, CPT-11 therapy.     

Presacral ganglioneuroma arising in an elderly man with persistent constipation

Presacral ganglioneuroma in a 70-year-old man with persistent constipation and its features on computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and endoscopic ultrasonography are presented. Barium enema study and laparotomy showed that constipation was caused mainly by extrinsic compression from this tumor. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance, endoscopic ultrasonographic features such as well-defined solid tumor with a cystic component and punctate calcifications may facilitate early diagnosis of this rare tumor.