Low Phase Angle Is Correlated With Worse General Condition in Patients with Advanced Cancer

Objectives: Phase angle (PA) is a poor prognostic factor in patients with advanced cancer. This study aimed to identify possible correlations between PA and symptoms, quality of life, fluid retention, and laboratory data in cancer patients in palliative care settings.

Methods: Individuals who visited the outpatient clinic or were admitted to the palliative care unit were eligible. Patients with a performance status of 4 and/or those unable to complete questionnaires were excluded. PA was evaluated using a bioanalyzer device. The correlation coefficient between PA and the variables of interest was analyzed.

Results: A total of 102 patients were analyzed. PA was weakly correlated with age (ρ = ?0.22), performance status (ρ = ?0.30), functional well-being (ρ?=?0.20), anorexia/cachexia subscale (ρ?=?0.22), and Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy trial outcome index (ρ?=?0.26). PA was also correlated with fluid retention (ρ = ?0.34) and albumin (ρ?=?0.32), C-reactive protein (ρ = ?0.31), and hemoglobin (ρ?=?0.41) levels. Sub-analysis stratified according to sex revealed that males demonstrated the same results; however, female sex demonstrated a correlation between PA and social well-being (ρ = ?0.43).

Conclusions: PA was correlated with physical condition, but not with psychological well-being.     

Long-term skeletal stability in the treatment of mandibular prognathism with a physiological positioning strategy

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term skeletal stability of the mandible in 21 patients after orthognathic surgery with physiological positioning. The measurement points SNB, B point (X, Y), Pog (X, Y), and the angle of the ramus were measured on cephalometric photographs to assess skeletal stability preoperatively, immediately after operation, and one and two years postoperatively. In addition, we evaluated the clinical symptoms of disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The analysis of the cephalometric photographs showed that SNB, B point X, and Pog X showed no significant differences among the postoperative time points. On the other hand, B point Y and Pog Y showed no significant differences throughout the study period. We compared the angle of the ramus before operation and two years postoperatively, and no significant difference was found. In addition, no cases showed any pathological symptoms of disorders of the TMJ two years postoperatively. The long-term stability after orthognathic surgery with physiological positioning was confirmed, and it seems to be a reliable orthognathic treatment in patients with mandibular prognathism.     

Quality of life after single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized,clinical trial

Background

Controversy continues as to whether single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with the somewhat larger incision at the umbilicus, may lead to a worse postoperative quality of life and more pain compared with the more classic 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to compare single-incision and 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy from the perspective of quality of life.

Feasibility and mid- to long-term results of endovascular treatment for portal vein thrombosis after living-donor liver transplantation

PURPOSEWe aimed to evaluate mid- to long-term results of endovascular treatment for portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT).METHODSThirty cases (14 males, 16 females; age range, 0.67–65 years) who underwent endovascular treatment including thrombolysis, angioplasty, stent placement, and/or collateral embolization for PVT after LDLT from 2001 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and procedural data were collected and analyzed regarding the patency of the PVT site at the last follow-up date (PVT-free persistency) using Log-rank test. Results were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.RESULTSMedian follow-up was 120 months. The technical success rate was 80% (n=24). Patency rates at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 12, 36, and 60 months were 73%, 59%, 55%, 51%, 51%, 51%, and 51% for primary patency and 80%, 70%, 66%, 66%, 66%, 61%, and 61% for assisted patency after secondary endovascular treatment. PVT-free persistency rates regarding the subgroups were as follows: children under 12 years vs. adults, 50% vs. 68% (p = 0.42); acute vs. nonacute, 76% vs. 46% (p = 0.10); localized vs. extensive, 90% vs. 50% (p = 0.035); transileocolic approach vs. percutaneous-transhepatic approach, 71% vs. 54% (p = 0.39); and thrombolysis-based treatment vs. non-thrombolysis-based treatment, 71% vs. 44% (p = 0.12), respectively. Among technically successful cases, PVT-free persistency rate was 94% for those with hepatopetal flow in the peripheral portal vein vs. 17% for those without hepatopetal flow (p < 0.001). The only major complication occurring was pleural hemorrhage (n=1). Minor complications (i.e., fever) occurred in 18 patients (60%).CONCLUSIONIn conclusion, mid- to long-term portal patency following endovascular treatment was approximately 50%–60% in PVT patients after LDLT. PVT site patency over three months after the first endovascular treatment, localized PVT, and hepatopetal flow in the peripheral portal vein were identified as key prognostic factors for mid- to long-term portal patency.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a vascular complication of living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), with an estimated incidence of up to 4% (1, 2). The risk of vascular complications, including PVT, is higher in LDLT compared with conventional deceased-donor liver transplantation, because of the smaller vessels, insufficient vessel length for reconstruction, neointimal proliferation, and higher risk of twisting and kinking of the vascular pedicle (3) due to smaller graft size than in deceased-donor liver transplantation. PVT after LDLT can lead to graft failure and the need for retransplantation or death (2), making immediate treatment crucial.Endovascular-based treatment is one option for treating PVT. The utility of target-focused thrombolysis, balloon angioplasty, and stent placement to restore portal flow has been reported previously (4–10). However, the efficacy of endovascular treatment after LDLT has only been presented in some case reports (11, 12) and the mid- to long-term outcomes remain unclear.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the technical success, feasibility, and mid- to long-term results of endovascular treatment for PVT after LDLT in our institution.     

A case report: Severe bone marrow suppression caused by 6-mercaptopurin in Crohn's disease patient]

A 23-year-old man was admitted for treatment of acute exacerbation of ileitis and perianal abscess caused by Crohn's disease. After incision and drainage of the abscess, coupled with antibiotic therapy, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) was commenced. His white blood cell (WBC) count on day 12 after initiation of 6-MP was not decreased. However, on day 24 he was re-admitted because of severe myelosuppression (WBC: 300/microl), which was complicated by the recurrence of the perianal abscess. Myelosuppression was prolonged and required the administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). G-CSF was continued for 17 days to achieve recovery of his WBC count to a normal level.     

CROSSOVER COMPARISON BETWEEN THE DEPRESSOR EFFECTS OF LOW AND HIGH WORK-RATE EXERCISE IN MILD HYPERTENSION

1. The relationship between work-rate and the antihypertensive effect of exercise in hypertensives, and the mechanism of that effect, were investigated by a crossover clinical trial. 2. Ten mild hypertensives were randomly divided into two groups. One group performed low work-rate exercise (LWE) on a cycle ergometer for 10 weeks (blood lactate threshold; ～50% of maximum oxygen consumption [V?_O2max]). After a 10 week interval without exercise training, these subjects were then switched to a high work-rate exercise (HWE) regimen (4 mmol/ L of blood lactate; ～75% of V?_O2max) for another 10 weeks. In the other group, the order of exercise training was reversed. Since two patients withdrew from the protocol during HWE periods, statistical analysis was performed on the data from the remaining eight patients. There were no order effects observed in any of the data from the two groups. 3. During both LWE and HWE, resting blood pressure (BP) fell significantly after the initiation of exercise therapy (P<0.05). Furthermore, the overall effects of 10 weeks of LWE and HWE on BP were not significantly different. 4. The work-rate at the lactate threshold, which reflects physical fitness, had increased significantly by 16 W (P<0.01) after the LWE period and by 11 W (P<0.01) after the HWE. 5. During the LWE period, changes in haemodynamic and humoral variables were not significant, except for a reduction in plasma norepinephrine at week 10 (P<0.05). In the HWE period, changes in haemodynamic and humoral variables were not significant. 6. Based on these findings, LWE is recommended for mild hypertensives because of its safety.     

Prognostic factors in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with transcatheter arterial embolization and arterial infusion.

From January 1986 to December 1988, a prospective trial of transcatheter arterial treatment was carried out for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two hundred seventy-five patients were included. Okuda's staging system was employed. Patients with Stage I and II HCC were treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with a gelatin sponge containing an anti-cancer agent (protocol 1a); a gelatin sponge and iodized oil mixed with an anti-cancer agent (protocol 1b); or iodized oil mixed with an anti-cancer agent (protocol 2). Patients with Stage III HCC were treated with iodized oil with anti-cancer agent (protocol 2). As an exception, patients with an unsuccessful superselective catheterization into the proper hepatic artery by Seldinger technique or obstruction of the main trunk of the portal vein were treated with percutaneous transcatheter arterial infusion into the common hepatic artery regardless of stage (protocol 3). Tumor type and extension, area of tumor involvement, portal vein involvement, method of treatment, and presence of ascites and icterus were found to be the significant factors for an initial response to therapy. Treatment method was the most important factor. Respective survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 70.9% and 55.3% for protocol 1a; 62.3% and 43.8% for protocol 1b; 37.8% and 18.3% for protocol 2; and 16.5% and 0% for protocol 3. Many factors proved to significantly influenced prognosis; however, tumor type had the most important prognostic significance followed by AFP value, ascites, treatment protocol, and area of tumor involvement.     

Ectopic cystic thymoma associated with Raynaud's phenomenon.

Mediastinal cystic tumors are well-marginated round lesions that comprise 12% to 18% of all mediastinal masses. These lesions include a variety of diseases with overlapping radiologic appearances and variable prognoses. Pathological examinations are almost always required for differential diagnosis. We encountered a case of anterior mediastinal tumor discovered in the process of investigation of Raynaud's phenomenon. Taking into account the tumor location, a pericardial cyst was initially suspected. However, the tumor was surgically resected and histopathological examinations demonstrated thymus-like tissue in the cyst walls. Raynaud's phenomenon greatly improved after surgery. These findings suggested that cystic thymoma originated from ectopic thymic tissue and is accompanied by paraneoplastic syndrome.     

Case of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR): a 15 years' mislabeling as retrobulbar optic neuritis]

A 30-year-old woman was admitted to Mie University Hospital for recurrence of sudden visual field defect with photopsia in the right eye. She had experienced the same episodes at the age of 15, 20, 25 and 28 years old. A diagnosis of retrobulbar optic neuritis had been made at each episode, but corticosteroid therapy failed to resolve the symptoms. Neurologic examination on admission was unremarkable except for the visual field defect of the right eye. Brain MRIs with and without gadolinium enhancement were normal. On ophthalmologic examination, visual acuity was normal, but the Mariotte blind spot of the right eye was expanded. Ophthalmoscopic examination, visual evoked potential, flicker electro-oculogram and Hess test were normal. Multifocal electroretinogram (ERG) revealed reduction in the inferior temporal response of the right eye that corresponded to the expansion of the Mariotte blind spot These findings were consistent with conditions of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR). The visual symptoms of AZOOR thus resemble those of retrobulbar optic neuritis and findings of multifocal ERG were useful to differentiate them. AZOOR is a newly established condition, and it is necessary to pay more attention to AZOOR on the differential diagnoses of acute-onset mono ocular visual disturbances.