Persistent Bleeding After Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy

Background and Objectives:

In our clinical experience, there seemed to be a correlation between cervical stump bleeding and adenomyosis. Therefore, we wanted to conduct a study to determine whether there was an actual correlation and to identify other risk factors for persistent bleeding after a laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy.

Methods:

The study included women who underwent laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2012. Data were collected on age, postmenopausal status, body mass index (BMI), uterine weight, indication for hysterectomy, concomitant bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), presence of endometriosis, surgical ablation of the endocervix, adenomyosis, presence of endocervix in the specimen, and postoperative bleeding.

Results:

The study included 256 patients, of whom 187 had no postoperative bleeding after the operation, 40 had bleeding within 12 weeks, and 29 had bleeding after 12 weeks. The 3 groups were comparable in BMI, postmenopausal status, uterine weight, indication for hysterectomy, BSO, surgical ablation of the endocervix, adenomyosis, and the presence of endocervix. However, patients who had postoperative bleeding at more than 12 weeks were significantly younger (P = .002) and had a higher rate of endometriosis (P < .001).

Conclusions:

Risks factors for postoperative bleeding from the cervical stump include a younger age at the time of hysterectomy and the presence of endometriosis. Therefore, younger patients and those with endometriosis who desire to have no further vaginal bleeding may benefit from total hysterectomy over supracervical hysterectomy. All patients who are undergoing supracervical hysterectomy should be counseled about the possible alternatives, benefits, and risks, including continued vaginal bleeding from the cervical stump and the possibility of requiring future treatment and procedures.     

Effects of three kinds of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on renal anemia in Japanese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients

Background

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are standard therapy for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with renal anemia. However, few studies have compared the effects of different ESAs on anemia in identical pre-dialysis CKD patients.

Methods

Seventy-nine patients who switched from epoetin beta to darbepoetin alfa (Group 1), and 82 patients who switched from darbepoetin alfa to epoetin beta pegol (Group 2) were enrolled in this study. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed for 6 months before and after switching ESAs. The prevalence of adverse events, the dose conversion ratio of ESAs, and the frequency of ESA administration were also analyzed.

Results

Analysis of variance showed that switching ESAs did not significantly change hemoglobin levels for the study duration in both groups (mean hemoglobin 10.3–10.5 g/dL in Group 1 and 10.4–10.7 g/dL in Group 2). Estimated glomerular filtration rate, blood pressure, transferrin saturation, ferritin, and albumin remained constant in both groups. The prevalence of adverse effects was quite low (0–3.8 %) during both 6-month study periods. The mean dose conversion ratio for epoetin beta:darbepoetin alfa was 163.7 units:1 μg and for darbepoetin alfa:epoetin beta pegol was 1.08 μg:1 μg. The intervals of ESA administration significantly differed (epoetin beta pegol > darbepoetin alfa > epoetin beta).

Conclusions

Epoetin beta, darbepoetin alfa, and epoetin beta pegol are effective and well-tolerated agents for managing anemia in Japanese pre-dialysis CKD patients. The intervals of ESA administration to maintain a patient’s target hemoglobin were longer in the order of epoetin beta pegol > darbepoetin alfa > epoetin beta.     

Kinematic and Kinetic Profiles of Trunk and Lower Limbs during Baseball Pitching in Collegiate Pitchers

The purpose of this study was to clarify differences in the kinematic and kinetic profiles of the trunk and lower extremities during baseball pitching in collegiate baseball pitchers, in relation to differences in the pitched ball velocity. The subjects were 30 collegiate baseball pitchers aged 18 to 22 yrs, who were assigned to high- (HG, 37.4 ± 0.8 m·s^-1) and low-pitched-ball-velocity groups (LG, 33.3 ± 0.8 m·s^-1). Three-dimensional motion analysis with a comprehensive lower-extremity model was used to evaluate kinematic and kinetic parameters during baseball pitching. The ground-reaction forces (GRF) of the pivot and stride legs during pitching were determined using two multicomponent force plates. The joint torques of hip, knee, and ankle were calculated using inverse-dynamics computation of a musculoskeletal human model. To eliminate any effect of variation in body size, kinetic and GRF data were normalized by dividing them by body mass. The maxima and minima of GRF (Fy, Fz, and resultant forces) on the pivot and stride leg were significantly greater in the HG than in the LG (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Fy, Fz, and resultant forces on the stride leg at maximum shoulder external rotation and ball release were significantly greater in the HG than in the LG (p < 0.05). The hip abduction, hip internal rotation and knee extension torques of the pivot leg and the hip adduction torque of the stride leg when it contacted the ground were significantly greater in the HG than in the LG (p < 0.05). These results indicate that, compared with low-ball-velocity pitchers, high-ball-velocity pitchers can generate greater momentum of the lower limbs during baseball pitching.

Key points

• High-ball-velocity pitchers are characterized by greater momentum of the lower limbs during pitching motion.
• For high-pitched-ball velocity, stabilizing lower limbs during pitching plays an important role in order to increase the rotation and forward motion of the trunk.
• Computation of the lower-extremity kinetics and measurement of lower-extremity strength may help clarify the role of muscle strength in determining knee and hip function in baseball pitching.

Key words: Throwing movement, pitching ball velocity, ground-reaction force, lower limbs, pivot and stride legs     

Pathomorphological description of the shunted portion of a filum terminale arteriovenous fistula

Background contextThe clinical morphology of a filum terminale arteriovenous fistula (f-AVF) is well known; however, pathological details of the fistulized portion are unknown. Herein, we report the pathological findings of the f-AVF.Study designCase report and literature review.PurposeTo present a detailed pathological examination of the fistulized portion of the f-AVF.MethodsA 71-year-old man presented with gradually worsening bilateral foot paresthesias and anal dysesthesia. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed flow voids surrounding an edematous conus medullaris and cauda equina with spinal stenosis at L3–L4 and L4–L5. Spinal digital subtraction angiography demonstrated an f-AVF fed by the left T9 intercostal artery.ResultsWe performed laminotomies of L3 and L4 to open the dura mater and found a hypertrophic filum terminale. It was resected, leaving a length of 2 cm between the abnormal proximal end and normal distal end. The f-AVF completely disappeared after the surgery. On pathological examination, the filum terminale included two vessels at the proximal end and one at the distal end. At the proximal end, immunostaining showed one vessel that was definitively an artery with both an internal elastic membrane (IEM) and smooth muscle. The other was a vein and lacked an IEM. On the distal side, the collagen fibers gradually increased, the IEM partially disappeared from the arterial wall, and the vein became arterialized with a thin IEM. At the distal end the two vessels joined. Therefore, we speculated that the fistulized portion of the f-AVF was not a fistula point but had some lengths where the artery had characteristics of a vein and there was venous arterialization.ConclusionsThe filum arteriovenous shunting occurred at the portion where there was venous arterialization and the artery had the characteristics of a vein. Therefore, resecting the filum terminale requires more proximal from the normal distal end.     

Regorafenib in Japanese patients with solid tumors: phase I study of safety,efficacy, and pharmacokinetics

The safety, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of the multikinase inhibitor regorafenib in Japanese patients was assessed in this multicenter, single-arm, phase I trial. Fifteen patients with treatment-refractory advanced solid tumors received regorafenib 160 mg once daily for the first 3 weeks of each 4-week cycle until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or investigator or patient decision to stop. The median duration of treatment was 2.1 months (range, 0.9–20.1 months). At data cutoff, one patient was still receiving regorafenib in cycle 21. Reasons for treatment discontinuation were disease progression (n?=?12) and adverse events (liver enzyme elevation n?=?1; anemia n?=?1). Adverse events necessitated dose reduction in six patients, interruption of daily treatment in seven patients, and cycle delay in four patients. All patients experienced at least one drug-related adverse event, particularly gastrointestinal (87 %), dermatologic (73 %), or hematologic (67 %) events. There was no significant change in time to maximum concentration or terminal half-life of regorafenib and its active metabolites M2 and M5 between single dosing and 21-day continuous dosing. The area under the concentration–time curve was 2.1-fold higher for regorafenib, 5.2-fold higher for M2, and 37.3-fold higher for M5, and the maximum concentration was 2.0-fold, 4.8-fold, and 36.0-fold higher, respectively, after continuous dosing than after single dosing. One patient had a partial response (duration 10.5 months) and seven patients had stable disease. This study indicates that regorafenib 160 mg orally once daily (21 days on/7 days off treatment) can be given to Japanese patients who have solid tumors, without undue toxicity.     

Assessment of Demineralization Inhibition Effects of Dentin Desensitizers Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanism of action and the inhibiting effects of two types of desensitizers against dentin demineralization using pre-demineralized hypersensitivity tooth model in vitro. In this study, we confirmed that a hypersensitivity tooth model from our preliminary experiment could be prepared by immersing dentin discs in an acetic acid-based solution with pH 5.0 for three days. Dentin discs with three days of demineralization were prepared and applied by one of the desensitizers containing calcium fluoro-alumino-silicate glass (Nanoseal, NS) or fluoro-zinc-silicate glass (Caredyne Shield, CS), followed by an additional three days of demineralization. Dentin discs for three days of demineralization (de3) and six days of demineralization (de6) without the desensitizers were also prepared. The dentin discs after the experimental protocol were scanned using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) to image the cross-sectional (2D) view of the samples and evaluate the SS-OCT signal. The signal intensity profiles of SS-OCT from the region of interest of 300, 500, and 700 µm in depth were obtained to calculate the integrated signal intensity and signal attenuation coefficient. The morphological differences and remaining chemical elements of the dentin discs were also analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. SS-OCT images of CS and NS groups showed no obvious differences between the groups. However, SS-OCT signal profiles for both the CS and NS groups showed smaller attenuation coefficients and larger integrated signal intensities than those of the de6 group. Reactional deposits of the desensitizers even after the additional three days of demineralization were observed on the dentin surface in NS group, whereas remnants containing Zn were detected within the dentinal tubules in CS group. Consequently, both CS and NS groups showed inhibition effects against the additional three days of demineralization in this study. Our findings demonstrate that SS-OCT signal analysis can be used to monitor the dentin demineralization and inhibition effects of desensitizers against dentin demineralization in vitro.     

Blood pressure after treatment with sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors influences renal composite outcome: Analysis using propensity score-matched models

Aims/IntroductionSodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve renal outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but the mechanism is not fully understood. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the association of achieved blood pressure with renal outcomes in Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with chronic kidney disease.Materials and MethodsWe assessed 624 Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with chronic kidney disease taking SGLT2i for >1 year. The patients were classified as those with post‐treatment mean arterial pressure (MAP) of ≥92 mmHg (n = 344) and those with MAP of <92 mmHg (n = 280) for propensity score matching (1:1 nearest neighbor match with 0.04 of caliper value and no replacement). The end‐point was a composite of progression of albuminuria or a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate by ≥15% per year.ResultsBy propensity score matching, a matched cohort model was constructed, including 201 patients in each group. The incidence of renal composite outcome was significantly lower among patients with MAP of <92 mmHg than among patients with MAP of ≥92 mmHg (n = 11 [6%] vs n = 26 [13%], respectively, P = 0.001). The change in estimated glomerular filtration rate was similar in the two groups; however, the change in the albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio was significantly larger in patients with MAP of <92 mmHg.ConclusionsIn Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with chronic kidney disease, blood pressure after SGLT2i administration influences the renal composite outcome. Blood pressure management is important, even during treatment with SGLT2i.