Publications by authors named "Atsushi Otsuka"
Background/aim: Immuno-oncology (IO) improves the prognosis of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Since research has so far been limited to clinical trials, we herein focused on the effects of IO-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combination therapy in real-world clinical settings.
Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 125 patients with advanced RCC who received IO-TKI combination therapy or TKI monotherapy.
Article Synopsis
- Enfortumab Vedotin (EV) is an effective treatment for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients who have already undergone other therapies, but there’s limited understanding of the factors that impact patient outcomes.
- A retrospective study was conducted to identify clinical factors affecting progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in these patients, leading to the development of a new risk classification model based on identified prognostic factors.
- The study found that high levels of C-reactive protein and hypercalcemia were significant predictors of patient outcomes, allowing for the classification of patients into three distinct risk groups, which showed notable differences in survival rates.
Article Synopsis
- Combined treatment of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab is a standard first-line therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) patients, and this study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in Japanese patients who hadn't received prior treatment.
- A total of 50 treatment-naïve aRCC patients were analyzed, revealing a 66% overall response rate, with 14% achieving complete responses and 52% having partial responses; the patients were classified into risk groups showing varied response rates.
- The study concluded that the combined regimen's real-world efficacy and safety profiles are comparable to those seen in previous randomized clinical trials, with a notable incidence of adverse events in the patient population.
Article Synopsis
- Onychomycosis is a persistent fungal nail infection that can spread and negatively impact a person's ability to walk and their quality of life, making treatment crucial, especially through long-term topical therapies.
- A study revealed that many patients are unhappy with the effectiveness of their topical treatments—over half saw no clear improvement after more than two years—and most wished to explore different options, yet few discussed this with their doctors.
- There is a notable disconnect in communication between patients and dermatologists regarding treatment efficacy, leading to a lack of adjustments in therapy despite patient dissatisfaction, highlighting the need for better collaboration in managing onychomycosis.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to identify preoperative factors that predict poor outcomes from holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
- Out of 159 patients, 33.3% exhibited poor therapeutic efficacy three months post-surgery, with factors like high intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP), overactive bladder (OAB), and other symptoms linked to worse outcomes.
- The findings suggest that assessing the presence of OAB and measuring IPP is crucial for determining which BPH patients are likely to benefit from HoLEP.
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted on 16 patients with advanced or metastatic retroperitoneal sarcoma to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of doxorubicin monotherapy, which is commonly recommended in treatment guidelines.
- The results showed a 18.8% partial response rate, with the majority of patients experiencing stable disease, while the median progression-free survival was 8 months and overall survival was 24 months.
- Although severe adverse effects were common, such as neutropenia, the treatment was generally safe, with no gastrointestinal issues or treatment-related deaths reported.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated patient-physician communication and decision-making in onychomycosis treatment, highlighting issues with treatment goal alignment and shared decision-making practices.
- Findings showed dermatologists often do not prioritize complete cure, inadequately convey treatment risks and benefits, and mistakenly assume older patients resist oral medications; improved communication and patient-focused treatment options are necessary.
Article Synopsis
- Anti-PD-1 antibodies, commonly used to treat advanced melanoma, have reduced effectiveness in Asian patients and necessitate alternative therapies, prompting the investigation of TM5614 combined with nivolumab for treating patients with unresectable melanoma.
- The TM5614-MM study, a phase 2 clinical trial, enrolled patients who had not responded to previous anti-PD-1 treatments, administering nivolumab every 4 weeks with TM5614 taken orally in specified doses for 8 weeks.
- Results showed a 25.9% overall response rate after 8 weeks in 27 anti-PD-1 refractory patients, with a manageable safety profile, indicating that the combination therapy could benefit this patient population.
Article Synopsis
- The study assessed the burden of atopic dermatitis (AD) on pediatric patients and their caregivers in Japan, using data from a survey conducted between July and December 2022.
- Results indicated that both age and disease severity correlated with higher scores on quality of life and caregiver burden measures, meaning older patients and those with severe AD reported more significant impacts.
- The findings suggest that better disease management and treatment at younger ages could help reduce the overall burden of AD on patients and their families.
Article Synopsis
- - Atopic dermatitis (AD) is influenced by immune dysregulation, barrier dysfunction, and itching, with various immune cells and cytokines playing key roles in its development and progression.
- - Current treatments like Dupilumab and Nemolizumab target specific cytokines related to Th2 responses and itching, showing effectiveness in moderate to severe cases of AD.
- - Some potential therapies targeting cytokines like IL-33 and TSLP have not proven effective in clinical trials, highlighting the need for targeted treatment strategies based on disease severity and phase.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the effects of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), specifically anti-PD-1 antibodies, with different doses of cisplatin on urothelial cancer in a mouse model.
- Findings revealed that high-dose cisplatin led to larger tumor volumes compared to low-dose cisplatin, but combining cisplatin with anti-PD-1 significantly inhibited tumor growth more than either treatment alone.
- The results suggest that using a lower dose of cisplatin with ICIs could be more effective for preserving immune function and enhancing antitumor responses in patients with urothelial cancer.
Introduction: A newly developed surgical robot system, hinotori, with various unique advantages has been in clinical use in Japan; however, there have not been any studies of robot-assisted radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy using hinotori.
Case Presentation: We describe two male patients aged 67 and 76 years old with right renal cell carcinoma and a level II and I inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, respectively, undergoing robot-assisted radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy using hinotori. Both operations were successfully completed with a purely robotic procedure without any major perioperative complications, resulting in the following findings: time using robotic system, 158 and 156 min; total operative time, 228 and 214 min; estimated blood loss, 535 and 200 mL, respectively.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the link between adverse events (AEs) from cabozantinib and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).
- A total of 40 patients were analyzed, revealing that hypertension was the only AE associated with longer PFS, while most patients experienced at least one AE.
- The findings indicate that treatment-induced hypertension could be a significant indicator of better PFS in this patient population.
Article Synopsis
- * A study in Japan revealed that the continuation rate for oral medications is significantly higher than that for topical treatments, with less than 10% of patients continuing topical treatments for a year.
- * The prescribing habits of dermatologists have shifted, with a 10% increase in the preference for oral medications as the first choice, although topical drugs are still mistakenly prescribed for some cases where oral treatments would be more effective.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the initial use of the hinotori surgical robot for robot-assisted radical nephroureterectomy (RANU) in eight patients with upper urinary tract tumors.
- All surgeries were completed without converting to open surgery, and there was no major complications, highlighting the technique's safety and effectiveness.
- Results indicated a median operative time of 230 minutes, minimal blood loss, and a median hospital stay of 8 days, showcasing favorable outcomes despite the small sample size.
Article Synopsis
- The integumentary system, particularly the stratum corneum, acts as a key protective barrier for the skin, with keratinocytes producing filaggrin (Flg) essential for skin health; however, the role of sensory nerves in the skin's recovery process after damage remains unclear.
- This study aimed to explore how sensory nerves contribute to the repair of the skin barrier post tape stripping, using a mouse model to analyze nerve activity, skin recovery rates, and the involvement of specific neuropeptides.
- Results indicated that TRPV1-positive sensory nerves are crucial for skin barrier recovery, as their absence led to inflammation and reduced production of Flg; treatment with somatostatin showed potential in improving barrier recovery, highlighting
Objectives: The aims of the present study were to describe the perioperative findings of the first series of patients undergoing robot-assisted radical nephrectomy (RARN) with a newly launched platform, the hinotori surgical robot system, and compare the findings with a similar set receiving RARN with the existing system, da Vinci.
Methods: This study included 34 patients, consisting of 13 and 21 undergoing RARN using the hinotori and da Vinci robotic systems, respectively. As a rule, RARN was performed via an intraperitoneal approach employing 3 robotic arms, irrespective of the robotic systems.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on the effectiveness of salvage therapies in Japanese patients with advanced acral melanoma (AM) after they failed PD-1 monotherapy, a common treatment for melanoma.
- 108 patients were analyzed, receiving various treatments such as ipilimumab, nivolumab plus ipilimumab, or cytotoxic chemotherapy, with varying objective response rates (ORR) and overall survival (OS) outcomes.
- Results indicated that while the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab showed the longest median OS, it was not significantly more effective than other treatments, and nail apparatus melanoma patients had poorer survival outcomes compared to those with palm and sole melanoma.
Article Synopsis
- The study compared the perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) using two different surgical platforms: the newly developed hinotori and the established da Vinci system.
- A total of 303 patients used the da Vinci platform, while 40 used hinotori, with a propensity score-matching method ensuring fair comparison between the two groups.
- The results indicated no significant differences in key surgical outcomes such as operative time and complications, suggesting that the hinotori platform performs similarly to the da Vinci system for RAPN.
Article Synopsis
- Recent studies on advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) using tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) suggest that the timing of these treatments affects their effectiveness.
- A mouse model (RenCa) was used to compare the impact of simultaneous treatment, starting with TKI, or starting with ICI on tumor growth and survival.
- Results showed that simultaneous administration or starting with ICI led to better tumor growth inhibition and longer survival than starting with TKI, indicating that optimal treatment strategy for aRCC may involve using ICI first or simultaneously with TKIs.
Article Synopsis
- CCR4 is identified as an important receptor for T-helper 2 (Th2) and Th17 cells and is a potential target for treating atopic dermatitis (AD).
- In a mouse model of AD induced by MC903 (a TSLP inducer), increased levels of Th2 and Th17-related cytokines and immune cell infiltration were observed, leading to skin lesions.
- Using a CCR4 inhibitor, Compound 22, showed promise in reducing Th2 and Th17 cells and improving AD-like symptoms, suggesting CCR4 antagonists could help manage allergic reactions in AD.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the hinotori surgical robot system's performance in robot-assisted adrenalectomy (RAA) on six patients and compared the outcomes with five patients who underwent the same procedure with the da Vinci system.
- Researchers analyzed data from 11 patients with adrenal tumors who underwent RAA from July 2020 to November 2022, focusing on their perioperative outcomes.
- Results showed that the hinotori system was effective, with no major complications or significant differences in outcomes compared to the da Vinci system, indicating it could be a viable option for such surgeries.