The cost of antiemetic therapy for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving platinum-containing regimens in daily practice in Japan: a retrospective study

Purpose  

The objective of this study was to estimate the cost of antiemetic therapy for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in daily practice in Japan.     

Comparison of endoscopic findings with symptom assessment systems (FSSG and QUEST) for gastroesophageal reflux disease in Japanese centres

Background and Aim: We compared endoscopic findings of the frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG), a written questionnaire developed in Japan, to that for the questionnaire for the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis (QUEST) for the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis. Methods: We registered 475 patients with untreated symptoms of upper abdominal pain (male/female: 252/223, average age 52.4 ± 17.8 years). Subjects were assessed first with the FSSG and QUEST questionnaires, then by endoscopy, before allocation to a gastric ulcer (GU), duodenal ulcer (DU), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or functional dyspepsia (FD) group. Results: On the basis of the endoscopic findings the diagnoses for the 475 subjects were as follows: FD 52.2%, DU 7.6%, GU 7.8%, and GERD 32.4% (Grade M 10.1%, Grade A + B 20.2%, Grade C + D 2.3%). There was no difference between the FSSG and QUEST in sensitivity, specificity or accuracy for any condition. The FSSG score rose with increasing endoscopic severity of GERD, but there was no correlation between the QUEST score and endoscopic severity. The FSSG total score was inferior to QUEST in terms of distinguishing GERD from other conditions, but when only the questions relating to reflux symptoms were used, the FSSG was able to distinguish GERD from other conditions as well as QUEST. Conclusions: The FSSG score reflects the severity of the endoscopic findings of GERD.     

Vector manometric study of the sphincter of Oddi in the dog: Functional and morphological correlation

The relationship between sphincter of Oddi pressure and the morphological structure of the sphincter was studied in eight dogs prepared with a duodenal cannula. Sphincter of Oddi manometry was performed in awake animals in three directions, ventral, left dorsal, and right dorsal, using a catheter with three radial side holes for recording at one level. The pressure in the ventral direction (26.6 ± 1.06 mmHg) (mean ± SEM) was significantly lower than that in the left and right dorsal directions (30.6 ± 1.42 and 31.2 ± 1.23 mmHg, respectively). This functional manometric difference in the three directions correlated closely with the morphological structure of the sphincter of Oddi; the sum of the thickness of the sphincter of Oddi muscle and duodenal proper muscle was greater on the dorsal than on the ventral side. To our knowledge, this is the first report of axial asymmetry in sphincter of Oddi pressure. (Received May 27, 1997; accepted April 24, 1998)     

Surgical treatment of ventricular and pericardial perforation by a permanent pacing lead: a case report

An 83-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital because of pacing failure and suspected ventricular perforation by a permanent pacing lead. She had undergone permanent pacemaker implantation 5 months previously. Chest radiography showed the pacing lead running out of the cardiac shadow. Computed tomography and echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of ventricular perforation by the pacing lead. No evidence of cardiac tamponade was found. The lead was surgically removed through a median sternotomy. Intraoperatively, the lead was found perforating the ventricle and the pericardium, and reaching into the left pleural cavity but not injuring the left lung. A pacing lead may potentially injure the heart or the lung. Regular check-up of lead position and pacing status is recommended.