Dual wavelength 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy using a novel flexible light-emitting diode unit

Background

Photosensitizers used for photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat dermatologic disease are metabolized into mainly protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), which has five absorption wavelength peaks: 410?nm, 510?nm, 545?nm, 580?nm, and 630?nm. Although only red light around 635?nm and blue light around 400?nm are used as light sources for PDT, the efficiency of PDT might be improved by using multiple wavelengths, including those that correspond to the other absorption peaks of PpIX. Furthermore, because the target disease often occurs on the face, a flexible-type light-source unit that can be fitted to the lesion without unnecessarily exposing the mucous membranes, e.g., the eyes, nostrils, and mouth, is preferred.

Postoperative development of sarcopenia is a strong predictor of a poor prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and upper gastric cancer

Background

There were few studies assessed the postoperative sarcopenia in patients with cancers. The objective of present study was to assess whether postoperative development of sarcopenia could predict a poor prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, (AEG) and upper gastric cancer (UGC).

Association of kidney function with cancer incidence and its influence on cancer risk of smoking: The Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study

The association between kidney function and cancer incidence is inconsistent among previous reports, and data on the Japanese population are lacking. It is unknown whether kidney function modifies the cancer risk of other factors. We aimed to evaluate the association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with cancer incidence and mortality in 55 242 participants (median age, 57 years; 55% women) from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. We also investigated differences in cancer risk factors between individuals with and without kidney dysfunction. During a median 9.3-year follow-up period, 4278 (7.7%) subjects developed cancer. Moderately low and high eGFRs were associated with higher cancer incidence; compared with eGFR of 60-74 ml/min/1.73 m², the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for eGFRs of ≥90, 75-89, 45-59, 30-44 and 10-29 ml/min/1.73 m² were 1.18 (1.07-1.29), 1.09 (1.01-1.17), 0.93 (0.83-1.04), 1.36 (1.00-1.84) and 1.12 (0.55-2.26), respectively. High eGFR was associated with higher cancer mortality, while low eGFR was not; the adjusted subdistribution HRs (95% CIs) for eGFRs of ≥90 and 75-89 ml/min/1.73 m² were 1.58 (1.29-1.94) and 1.27 (1.08-1.50), respectively. Subgroup analyses of participants with eGFRs ≥60 and <60 ml/min/1.73 m² revealed elevated cancer risks of smoking and family history of cancer in those with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m², with significant interactions. Our findings suggest that the relationship between eGFR and cancer incidence was U-shaped. Only high eGFR was associated with cancer mortality. Kidney dysfunction enhanced cancer risk from smoking.     

Cibenzoline-induced respiratory muscular paralysis in a hemodialysis patient

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our kidney center with endstage renal failure. We started intermittent peritoneal dialysis immediately because of severe azotemia, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis. Two weeks after admission, he developed uremic pericarditis with frequent ventricular premature contractions and supraventricular premature contractions. The intermittent peritoneal dialysis was then replaced by intensive hemodialysis, and oral administration of 300 mg/d of cibenzoline was started. Four days later, he developed thirst, weakness, and dyspnea due to respiratory muscular paralysis. We initiated respiratory support with a respirator because analysis of his blood gases revealed marked hypercapnia and hypoxia. He also developed hypoglycemia and prolonged PQ and QRS intervals on the electrocardiogram, which we believed were due to cibenzoline intoxication; we discontinued the cibenzoline immediately. All symptoms improved, and he was extubated 5 days later. After 2 months, his pericardial effusion disappeared. He now continues maintenance hemodialysis as an outpatient. We suspect that the cibenzoline induced the respiratory muscular paralysis for 2 reasons: 1) the patient experienced the respiratory muscular paralysis, at the same time he also experienced thirst, weakness, hypoglycemia, and prolonged PQ and QRS intervals on electrocardiogram, and all of these symptoms improved after the discontinuation of cibenzoline, and 2) his plasma concentration of cibenzoline became remarkably elevated, to 20 times above the standard therapeutic level. This patient's clinical course indicates that hemodialysis might be superior to intermittent peritoneal dialysis for treatment of cibenzoline intoxication.     

A case of cystadenocarcinoma of the liver

A case of cystadenocarcinoma of the liver is reported. The patient was a 73-year-old woman in whom a tumor was detected in the lateral segment of the liver during a health examination. Ultrasonograms and computed tomograms showed a multilocular cystic mass. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a multilocular lowintensity mass, including a high-intensity portion and a portal branch compressed by the tumor. MRI with gadolinium showed an enhanced cyst wall. The cystic part of the tumor became smaller and the solid part became larger over a 1-month period, indicating that the tumor was malignant. Subsegmentectomy (S₃) was performed and cystadenocarcinoma with cystadenoma was diagnosed by histopathological examination. Identification of changes in the appearance of a tumor should be helpful for the differential diagnosis of cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma.     

Clinical background of cases showing a positive culture of pleural effusion at Shin-Kokura Hospital over a period of 5 years

We investigated the clinical background of patients at Shin-Kokura Hospital who showed a positive culture of pleural effusion during the period from January 1998 through December 2002. Microorganism cultures of the pleural effusions of 127 patients were performed in this 5-year period. Seventeen patients showed a positive microorganism culture from a pleural effusion, and 12 of these patients (70.6%) were 60 years old or more. Ten patients were diagnosed with thoracic empyema. Thirteen patients had an underlying disease such as malignancy (5 cases), diabetes mellitus (4 cases), etc. A purulent effusion and a high concentration of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the pleural fluid were more frequently recognized in the positive-culture group. A total of 21 strains of microorganism were isolated from the 17 patients, including 10 strains of Gram-positive cocci, 6 strains of Gram-negative bacilli, 3 strains of anaerobes, 1 strain of mycobacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), and 1 strain of fungus. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was generally good for most of the microorganisms isolated. Of the 17 patients, chest-tube drainage was performed in 13, and 6 needed a surgical operation. Twelve patients improved, but 5 died. In this study, thoracic empyema accounted for 58.8% of the 17 cases with a positive culture of pleural effusion. Of the 10 thoracic empyema patients, 5 patients needed surgical treatment in spite of adequate antimicrobial treatment and chest-tube drainage. Our data indicate that thoracic empyema is still difficult to treat, and thus adequate and rapid treatment is needed for any pleural infection.