Sudden hemorrhage without skin invasion in a patient with Breast Cancer: A case report and literature review

We report a rare case of sudden hemorrhage caused by breast cancer. A 70-year-old Japanese woman noted fresh bleeding from her left breast. On physical examination, continuous hemorrhage accompanied by an open cavity was observed in the left breast. Mammography and ultrasonography revealed a well-circumscribed mass, with solid and cystic components, that was highly suggestive of intracystic breast carcinoma with direct skin invasion. Computed tomography and bone scintigraphy showed no distant metastasis. Aspiration biopsy of the lesion showed several clusters of adenocarcinoma cells. Modified radical mastectomy was performed with a presumptive diagnosis of stage III B left breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma without skin invasion was diagnosed histologically. To the best of our knowledge, only 6 other cases of sudden hemorrhage caused by breast cancer without skin invasion have been reported in Japan. We review the literature and discuss the clinical characteristics of this unusual phenomenon.     

Detection of Three Genetic Polymorphisms in the 5'-Flanking Region and Intron 1 of Human CYP1A2 in the Japanese Population

Interindividual variability of the activity of CYP1A2 may be expected to affect cancer susceptibility, since the enzyme is capable of activating several carcinogens. In the present study, we found three new polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking region (CYP1A2/B) and intron 1 ( CYP1A2/C and CYP1A2/D ) of CYP1A2 in Japanese by using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism. We developed methods to detect these polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and performed a population study (159 subjects) to estimate the frequencies of the alleles. The frequencies of the CYP1A2/A (adenine), CYP1A2/B (thymine-deleted), CYP1A2/C (guanine) and CYP1A2/D (adenine) variants were 21.1, 42.0, 8.2 and 61.3%, respectively. The results of family study supported the idea that these CYP1A2 genotypes are inherited with an autosomal codominant transmission.     

Preoperative factors related to the ambulatory status at 1 year after total knee arthroplasty

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether preoperative factors can predict the ambulatory status at 1?year after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: The subjects were 115 patients who had undergone TKA. Isometric lower limb muscle strength was measured and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the 2011 knee society scoring were conducted preoperatively. Then, the patients were divided into two groups after surgery: a cane-assisted walking group (n?=?42) and independent walking group (n?=?73). Unpaired t-test, chi-square test, Mann–Whitney U-test, logistic regression analysis and the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis were used in this study.

Results: A multiple logistic regression analysis selected age, TUG test and functional activities as significant variables estimating the use of a cane after surgery. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that the cut-off score for TUG test was 10.8?s (sensitivity?=?69%, specificity?=?67%, area under curve?=?0.81) and the cut-off score for functional activities was 39 points (sensitivity?=?83%, specificity?=?63%, area under curve?=?0.83) in predicting the ambulatory status.

Conclusions: Preoperative TUG test with a cut-off score of 10.8?s and functional activities with a cut-off score of 39 points are reliable assessment tools for predicting the use of walking aid following TKA.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• An accurate prediction of the ambulatory status after total knee arthroplasty can aid patients in understanding their own goals of the activities of daily living.

• Preoperative timed up and go test of <10.8?s and a preoperative functional activities functional activities score in the 2011 knee society scoring >39 points are useful for predicting the ambulatory status after total knee arthroplasty.

     

Surgical management of severe scoliosis with high-risk pulmonary dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Between 2005 and 2007, 14 patients who had severe scoliosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and a poor forced vital capacity (FVC) of <30% at admission underwent scoliosis surgery. FVC on admission was 21.6% (range, 16–27%). The patients were given respiratory muscle training using a pulmonary trainer (Threshold IMT, Philips Respironics, Inc.) for six weeks before operation. FVC increased to 26.2% (range, 22–31%) the day before operation. The mean preoperative scoliosis was 98° (range, 81°–130°). All patients underwent posterior fusion and all-screw construction and were extubated on the operative day. No patients developed any respiratory complications. The postoperative scoliosis was 34° (range, 20°–40°) (65%). FVC remained stable at six weeks after operation. FVC decreased to 19.8% (range, 16–25%) and the mean scoliosis was 35° (range, 23°–40°)(64%) at two years after operation. DMD patients with severe scoliosis and FVC considered too low to permit reasonable surgical risk could undergo surgery and could benefit from surgery.     

Autogenous iliac crest bone graft versus banked allograft bone in scoliosis surgery in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

A total of 36 consecutive nonambulatory DMD patients underwent scoliosis surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: the autogenous iliac crest bone graft group (the ICBG group; 20 patients) and the allogenous bone graft group (the ALBG group; 16 patients). The mean preoperative curves measured 87° and 31° at the last follow-up in the ICBG group and 83° and 28° in the ALBG group. In the ICBG group, three (15%) patients had intraoperative sacroiliac joint penetration, five (25%) had iliac crest inner cortex penetration and three (15%) had postoperative prolonged wound drainage at the donor site. At three months after surgery, donor site pain caused by bone harvest was found in 50% with severe pain limiting their physical function and causing difficulties in sitting in a wheelchair in 40% of the patients, whereas patients in the ALBG group returned to their preoperative level of function soon after surgery.     

Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objectives: Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of muscle strength and mass, leading to falls and adverse health outcomes. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify factors associated with sarcopenia in these patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 388 consecutive women with RA was conducted, assessing muscle mass and strength, and walking speed. Falls and bone fractures sustained over the prior year were evaluated. The association between sarcopenia and RA characteristics, falls, and bone fractures was evaluated using logistic regression analyses.

Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 37.1% (14.7%, severe sarcopenia; 22.4%, sarcopenia), with 49.0% classified as having low muscle mass. The incidence of falls, fractures, and lower bone mineral density was higher in patients with than without sarcopenia. Age, RA duration, Steinbrocker’s stage, the high Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form score and the use of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were independent factors associated with sarcopenia.

Conclusion: We confirmed that sarcopenia develops in a significant proportion of patients with RA. Age, longer disease duration, joint destruction and malnutrition were positively associated with sarcopenia, with the use of bDMARDs being negatively associated.     

Ultrasound examination is useful for prediction of histologic type in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast

The aim of this study was to estimate the histologic type of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast according to the ultrasound (US) criteria and to identify the high-risk patients for lymph node metastases. An acceptable preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastasis is essential when performing the reduction of lymphadenectomy. The positive relationship between histology and prognosis has been reported in breast cancer. However, few reports have examined the relationship between preoperative US findings and histology. Ultrasound examination was performed in 252 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (91 papillotubular, 54 solid-tubular and 107 scirrhous carcinoma). Risk factors for nodal metastasis were analyzed in clinicopathological findings. After nine criteria were defined based on US findings, all tumors were classified into US histologic type. According to the multivariate analysis, lymph node metastases was significantly associated with tumor size (p < 0.001), histology (p < 0.001) and age (p = 0.038). Histology was an important risk factor for nodal metastasis, especially in scirrhous carcinoma. When comparing the US classification and histology, the accuracy rate of US for papillotubular, solid-tubular and scirrhous type was 75%, 78% and 75%, respectively. To predict the scirrhous carcinoma with frequent nodal metastasis, US criteria such as the larger ratio of depth-to-width, boundary echo and attenuation of the back echo was important. It is important to preoperatively estimate the histologic type by tumor property using US. Our US classifications may be useful to pick up high-risk patients for nodal metastasis in invasive breast cancer.     

Immediate reconstruction using thoracodorsal adipofascial flap after partial mastectomy

BCT (breast conserving therapy) has become a standard strategy for breast cancer and ensures local control and acceptable cosmetic results. However, an insufficient resection margin may increase local recurrence if too much attention is paid to cosmesis. Here, we describe a simple technique for reconstruction of the defect on the outer upper part of the breast with early breast cancer using thoracodorsal adipofascial flap.