First Japanese autopsy case showing LRRK2 mutation G2019S and TDP-43 proteinopathy

This is the first Japanese autopsy case of Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) G2019S mutation with atypical TDP43 proteinopathy. Our case is important that presented clinically dysphagia and pathologically TDP-43 proteinopathy. TDP43 may play an important role of clinical presentation with LRRK2 G2019S mutation carriers.     

Differentiating autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with CT radiomics features

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine whether computed tomography (CT)-based machine learning of radiomics features could help distinguish autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).Materials and MethodsEighty-nine patients with AIP (65 men, 24 women; mean age, 59.7 ± 13.9 [SD] years; range: 21–83 years) and 93 patients with PDAC (68 men, 25 women; mean age, 60.1 ± 12.3 [SD] years; range: 36–86 years) were retrospectively included. All patients had dedicated dual-phase pancreatic protocol CT between 2004 and 2018. Thin-slice images (0.75/0.5 mm thickness/increment) were compared with thick-slices images (3 or 5 mm thickness/increment). Pancreatic regions involved by PDAC or AIP (areas of enlargement, altered enhancement, effacement of pancreatic duct) as well as uninvolved parenchyma were segmented as three-dimensional volumes. Four hundred and thirty-one radiomics features were extracted and a random forest was used to distinguish AIP from PDAC. CT data of 60 AIP and 60 PDAC patients were used for training and those of 29 AIP and 33 PDAC independent patients were used for testing.ResultsThe pancreas was diffusely involved in 37 (37/89; 41.6%) patients with AIP and not diffusely in 52 (52/89; 58.4%) patients. Using machine learning, 95.2% (59/62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 89.8–100%), 83.9% (52:67; 95% CI: 74.7–93.0%) and 77.4% (48/62; 95% CI: 67.0–87.8%) of the 62 test patients were correctly classified as either having PDAC or AIP with thin-slice venous phase, thin-slice arterial phase, and thick-slice venous phase CT, respectively. Three of the 29 patients with AIP (3/29; 10.3%) were incorrectly classified as having PDAC but all 33 patients with PDAC (33/33; 100%) were correctly classified with thin-slice venous phase with 89.7% sensitivity (26/29; 95% CI: 78.6–100%) and 100% specificity (33/33; 95% CI: 93–100%) for the diagnosis of AIP, 95.2% accuracy (59/62; 95% CI: 89.8–100%) and area under the curve of 0.975 (95% CI: 0.936–1.0).ConclusionsRadiomic features help differentiate AIP from PDAC with an overall accuracy of 95.2%.     

单纯 Ilizarov 环形外固定技术治疗合并骨筋膜室综合征的胫骨平台骨折

目的探讨单纯 Ilizarov 环形外固定技术治疗合并骨筋膜室综合征的胫骨平台骨折的疗效。方法2013 年 9 月—2017 年 3 月，收治 30 例合并骨筋膜室综合征的胫骨平台骨折患者，采用单纯 Ilizarov 环形外固定技术治疗。男 23 例，女 7 例；年龄 23～43 岁，平均 34.4 岁。致伤原因：交通事故伤 12 例，高处坠落伤 4 例，摔伤 8 例，重物砸伤 6 例。受伤至入院时间 1～12 h，平均 4.8 h。骨折 Schatzker 分型：Ⅱ型 1 例、Ⅲ型 3 例、Ⅳ型 10 例、Ⅴ型 7 例、Ⅵ型 9 例。30 例均因骨筋膜室综合征行切开减压；切开减压至手术时间为 10～15 d，平均 12.5 d。治疗后采用膝关节学会评分系统（KSS）及 Ilizarov 方法研究与应用协会（ASAMI）协议评价膝关节功能。结果手术时间 110～155 min，平均 123.1 min；术中出血量 100～500 mL，平均 245 mL；术后住院时间 3～5 d，平均 3.8 d。患者均获随访，随访时间 20～24 周，平均 22.7 周。除 2 例患者出现针道感染征象外，无其他并发症发生。X 线片复查显示骨折均愈合，愈合时间 10～20 周，平均 14.6 周。末次随访时，膝关节 KSS 临床评分总分为 70～95 分，平均 87.5 分；功能评分总分为 70～90 分，平均 79.0 分。参照 ASAMI 协议评价获优 24 例、良 3 例、可 2 例、差 1 例。结论对于合并骨筋膜室综合征的胫骨平台骨折，单纯 Ilizarov 环形外固定技术治疗后患者关节功能可以基本恢复且并发症少，是一项相对安全、有效的治疗方法。     

High plasma microfibrillar-associated protein 4 is associated with reduced surgical repair in abdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectiveIdentifying biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) could prove beneficial in prognosis of AAA and thus the selection for treatment. Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an extracellular matrix protein that is highly expressed in aorta. MFAP4 is involved in several tissue remodeling-related diseases. We aimed to investigate the potential role of plasma MFAP4 (pMFAP4) as a biomarker of AAA.MethodsPlasma samples and data were obtained for 504 male AAA patients and 188 controls in the Viborg Vascular (VIVA) screening trial. The pMFAP4 levels were measured by Alphalisa. The Mann-Whitney U test assessed differences in pMFAP4 levels between the presence and absence of different exposures of interest. The correlation between pMFAP4 and aorta growth rate were investigated through spearman's correlation analysis. Immunohistochemistry and multiple logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders assessed the association between pMFAP4 and AAA. Multiple linear regression assessed the correlation between pMFAP4 and aorta growth rate. Cox regression and competing risk regression were used to investigate the correlation between AAA patients with upper tertile pMFAP4 and the risk of undergoing later surgical repair.ResultsA significant negative correlation between pMFAP4 and aorta growth rate was observed using spearman's correlation analysis (ρ = −0.14; P = .0074). However, this finding did not reach significance when applying multiple linear regression. A tendency of decreased pMFAP4 was observed in AAA using immunohistochemistry. Competing risk regression adjusted for potential confounders indicated that patients with upper tertile pMFAP4 had a hazard ratio of 0.51 (P = .001) for risk of undergoing later surgical repair.ConclusionsHigh levels of pMFAP4 are associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving surgical repair in AAA. This observation warrants confirmation in an independent cohort.     

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Toxicities

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are molecules that increase the endogenous immune response against tumors. They have revolutionized the field of oncology. Since their initial approval for the treatment of advanced melanoma, their use has expanded to the treatment of several other advanced cancers. Unfortunately, immune checkpoint inhibitors have also been associated with the emergence of a new subset of autoimmune-like toxicities, known as immune-related adverse events. These toxicities differ depending on the agent, malignancy, and individual susceptibilities. Although the skin and colon are most commonly involved, any organ may be affected, including the liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart. Most of these toxicities are diagnosed by excluding other secondary infectious or inflammatory causes. Corticosteroids are commonly used for treatment of moderate and severe immune-related adverse events, although additional immunosuppressive therapy may occasionally be required. The occurrence of immune-related toxicities may require discontinuation of immunotherapy, depending on the specific toxicity and its severity. In this article, we provide a focused review to familiarize practicing clinicians with this important topic given that the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors continues to increase.