Self-expandable metallic stent for unresectable malignant strictures in the esophagus and cardia

Objective Self-expandable metallic stent (EMS) placement has been the first choice for dysphagia because of the certainty over its safety, low invasiveness, and immediate efficacy. However, there still remain some problems in relation to the EMS placement site and anticancer therapies before and after EMS placement. Methods: Consecutive 78 patients in whom EMS was placed due to the unresectable malignant stricture in the esophagus or cardia from July 1995 to August 2003 in our department were studied. Results: Gastroesophageal reflux was found in 5 of 8 patients after placement of conventional EMS for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. Meanwhile, acid and bile reflux into the esophagus were not detected by pH and bilirubin monitoring, respectively, in 6 patients after placement of the EMS with an anti-reflux mechanism for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. The median survival period of all patients after EMS placement was 123 days. The median survival period of 7 patients with radiotherapy only after EMS placement was 138 days and that of 17 patients with radiotherapy before EMS placement was 60 days, which was shorter than that of the former (p<0.05). On the other hand, the median survival period after hospital admission due to dysphagia of these 7 patients was longer than that of 17 patients with radiotherapy only before EMS placement, although, the difference was not significant. Conclusion: EMS with an antireflux mechanism is not commercially available in Japan and approval is urgently required. The indication of radiotherapy associated with EMS placement is to be studied further.     

Bilateral symmetric tonic posturing suggesting propagation to the supplementary motor area in a patient with precuneate cortical dysplasia.

We report a patient manifesting seizures with bilateral symmetric tonic posturing, which were markedly reduced after resection of the left precuneus. A 16-year-old man had sudden onset, complex partial seizures with bilateral symmetric tonic posturing since the age of eight years. Magnetic resonance fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery imaging revealed a hyperintense lesion in left precuneus. In almost all focal seizures recorded during an invasive EEG evaluation, ictal onset was detected from the inferomesial aspect of the lesion, but fast paroxysmal discharges from the ipsilateral supplementary motor area (SMA) were observed just before the clinical onset. After surgical excision of the EEG onset zone, including the lesion, seizure frequency was markedly (> 95%) reduced. By the 20th month after surgery, there were only brief nocturnal seizures involving slight elevation of both shoulders and slight abduction of both arms, with preservation of consciousness occurring once every few days. Invasive EEG findings and surgical outcome suggested that the epileptic activity originating from the epileptogenic zone may have propagated to the symptomatogenic zone including mainly the ipsilateral SMA. In summary, we report an interesting case of bilateral symmetric tonic posturing suggesting propagation to the SMA. MRI and invasive EEG confirmed the epileptogenic focus as a precuneate cortical dysplasia lesion.[Published with video sequences].     

Elevated anti-alginate serum titers in patients with acute cholangitis and gallstones imbedded withPseudomonas aeruginosa

Electron microscopy and bacteriological culture revealed viable bacteria covered with a glycocalyx (biofilm) in choledochal stones recovered from two patients with acute cholangitis. On the cut surface of the choledochal stones, the cholesterol stone component was surrounded with a layer of brown pigment stone. In each case, bacterial culture of the choledochal stone recoveredPseudomonas aeruginosa. Since alginate is the main component of the glycocalyx produced byP. aeruginosa, serum IgM, IgG and IgA anti-alginate antibodies were measured in each patient. The present study is the first to demonstrate acute and transient IgM seroconversion to alginate in cases of acute cholangitis. In one case, the elevation of anti-alginate IgM preceded the elevation of anti-alginate IgG. The authors propose that the bacterial glycocalyx may play a significant role in acute cholangitis.     

妊娠早期人巨细胞病毒感染与妇女自然流产的关系探讨

目的：探讨妊娠早期人巨细胞病毒（ＨＣＭＶ）感染和妇女自然流产的关系。方法：采用ＥＬＩＳＡ和ＰＣＲ分别为４０例自然流产妇女和４０例人工流产妇女和血清中人巨细胞病毒ＩｇＭ抗体（ＨＣＭＶ－ＩｇＭ）胎盘组织中人巨细胞病毒核酸（ＨＣＭＶ－ＤＮＡ）进行检测。结果自然流产组妇女ＨＣＭＶ－ＩｇＭ检出率为５５％（２２／４０）,人工流产组妇女为２５％（１０／４０）,自然流产组妇女胎盘组织ＨＣＭＶ－ＤＮＡ检出率为１０％     

S-1 plus cisplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a multi-institutional phase II trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a novel combination chemotherapeutic regimen including cisplatin with an oral anticancer agent, S-1 that consisted of tegafur, 5-chloro-2, 4-dihydroxypyridine, and potassium oxonate, for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this phase II trial, patients with locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC were treated with the oral administration of S-1 at 40 mg/m(2) twice a day for 21 consecutive days while cisplatin (60 mg/m(2)) was administered intravenously on day 8. This schedule was repeated every 5 weeks. RESULTS: Of 56 patients enrolled in the study, 55 patients were eligible and analyzed. The median number of cycles administered was 3 (range, 1-12 cycles). Among these 55 patients, one complete response and 25 partial responses were observed with an overall response rate of 47% (95% confidence interval, 34-61%). The median survival time was 11 months and the 1-year survival rate was 45%. Hematologic toxicities of grades 3 and 4 included neutropenia (29%) and anemia (22%). No grade 4 nonhematologic toxicity was observed. Grade 3 toxicity included anorexia (13%), vomiting (7%), or diarrhea (7%). CONCLUSIONS: S-1 plus cisplatin combination chemotherapy showed a promising effectiveness with acceptable toxicity rates in patients with advanced NSCLC. These results warrant further investigations of this regimen including a randomized controlled trial for its use as a first line treatment for NSCLC.     

89锶内照射治疗转移性骨肿瘤骨痛的临床观察

目的:分析89锶治疗转移性骨肿瘤的临床疗效及其安全性.方法:42例转移性骨肿瘤患者接受了89锶治疗.治疗后定期测定血常规、血生化等指标,随访时间3个月以上.对患者骨痛缓解情况、不良反应和血液学、肝肾功能变化进行观察和评价.结果:42例中有效35例,总有效率83.3%,起效时间2～20 d,缓解持续时间3～14个月.毒性反应主要有轻度可逆性骨髓抑制,血液学毒性小于Ⅱ级.无过敏反应及其他特殊不良反应.对肝肾功能无明显影响.结论:89锶对于转移性骨肿瘤所致的剧烈疼痛有良好的止痛效果,毒副作用小,是提高患者的生存质量的一种有效、安全的治疗方法.     

Effect of H. pylori on COX-2 expression in gastric remnant after distal gastrectomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori infection is known to induce gastritis, oxidative stress, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in the gastric mucosa. However, the effect of H. pylori infection on remnant gastritis has not been studied. We investigated whether the severity of remnant gastritis and COX-2 expression were affected by H. pylori infection after distal gastrectomy. METHODOLOGY: The study included 97 patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative distal gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy in our department between May 1999 and April 2001. All patients underwent endoscopic examination 2 weeks before and 12 weeks after surgery. The presence of H. pylori infection was determined by urease activity, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunochemical staining. Histologic remnant gastritis was graded based on the degree of neutrophil infiltration using the updated Sydney System. COX-2 expression was estimated immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Both the degree of neutrophil infiltration and the level of COX-2 expression were significantly higher in patients with than without H. pylori (p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between the degree of neutrophil infiltration and the degree of COX-2 expression (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori eradication may become a treatment for preventing both remnant gastritis as well as remnant gastric carcinoma after distal gastrectomy.     

超声检查在胎儿中枢神经系统畸形诊断中的应用价值探析

目的：针对超声检查在胎儿中枢神经系统畸形诊断中的应用价值进行探讨分析。方法选择于2012年12月—2013年12月在该院进行产前超声诊断的70例单胎孕妇为研究对象,所有孕妇的胎儿经分娩后随访和引产后尸检证实为中枢神经系统畸形,分析超声表现和超声检查的临床符合率。结果所有胎儿中,引产68例,继续妊娠后生产2例。经病理检查证实该组胎儿严重小脑畸形1例,3例脊柱裂,11例脑膜脑膨出和脑膜膨出,23例为脑积水,31例为无脑畸形。通过产前超声检查诊断,胎儿中枢神经系统畸形包括：1例蛛网膜囊肿,3例脊柱裂,11例脑膜脑膨出和脑膜膨出,23例为脑积水,32例为无脑畸形。超声检查与病理检查结果的临床符合率98.9%,误诊率为1.1%。结论超声检查在胎儿中枢神经系统畸形诊断中的应用具有较高的诊断率,并且操作简便,无创伤,可以作为产前排除胎儿中枢神经系统畸形的重要方法。     

An environmentally sustainable plasticizer toughened polylactide

Cardanol (CD), derived from renewable natural cashew nutshell liquid, has been used as a new plasticizer for polylactide (PLA), to create blends which retain the environmentally friendly features of PLA. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results all reveal that PLA and CD show good miscibility at low CD content. CD significantly decreased the glass transition temperature and enhanced the crystallization ability of PLA, demonstrating good plasticizing efficiency with PLA. At 10 wt% CD, ultimate elongation and impact toughness increased to 472% and 9.4 kJ m⁻², respectively, which represented improvements of 31-fold and 2.6-fold over the corresponding measurements for neat PLA. The plasticization effect of CD was also demonstrated by the decreased melt complex viscosity and shear storage modulus at lower CD content for the blends when compared with neat PLA. Thus, the investigated CD presents an interesting candidate for a PLA plasticizer, meeting “double green” criteria. No cytotoxicity was found for the blends and hence they may be suitable for biomedical applications.

Cardanol, derived from renewable resources, exhibits good plasticizing efficiency for PLA, meeting “double green” criteria.     

Robotic-assisted lateral lymph node dissection for lower rectal cancer: short-term outcomes in 50 consecutive patients

Background

The goal of this study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of robotic-assisted lateral lymph node dissection for patients with advanced lower rectal cancer.

Methods

Between 2012 and 2013, 50 consecutive patients underwent robotic-assisted lateral lymph node dissection for rectal cancer in Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital. Perioperative outcomes including operative time, operative blood loss, length of stay, postoperative complications, and histopathological data were collected prospectively.

Results

Median patient age was 62 years (range 36–74 years). Operative procedures included low anterior resections (n = 27), intersphincteric resections (n = 16), and abdominoperineal resections (n = 7). Bilateral lymph node dissection was performed in 44 patients. The median operative time was 476 min (range 320–683 min), and the median time required for lateral lymph node dissection was 165 min (range 85–257 min). The median blood loss was 27 mL (range 5–690 mL). There were no cases of open surgery or laparoscopic conversion. The median duration of postoperative hospital stay was 8 days (range 6–13 days). Clavien–Dindo classification Grade III–IV complications occurred in only one patient (2.0 %). There were no cases of anastomotic leak. There was no perioperative mortality. The median number of harvested lateral lymph nodes was 19 (range 5–47).

Conclusions

Robotic-assisted lateral lymph node dissection is a safe, feasible, and useful approach for patients with advanced lower rectal cancer.