[Associations Among Changes in Meridian Energy, Quality of Life During Surgery, and Prognoses in Newly Diagnosed Lung Cancer Patients: A Longitudinal Study].

Background: Approximately 30% of patients experience postoperative complications after surgery for early-stage lung cancer. However, the relationships among meridian energy during lung cancer surgery, changes in quality of life, and prognosis have not been investigated.

Purpose: This study was designed to explore the associations among meridian energy, changes in quality of life, and prognosis in patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer undergoing surgery.

Inflammatory and Nutritional Biomarkers in Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between pretreatment inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (nCRT).

Sample & Setting: 213 patients with newly diagnosed stage II-III ESCC who received nCRT at an academic hospital in Taiwan.

Methods & Variables: Electronic health record data were used.

A comparison of 18 F-FDG PET-based radiomics and deep learning in predicting regional lymph node metastasis in patients with resectable lung adenocarcinoma: a cross-scanner and temporal validation study.

Objective: The performance of 18 F-FDG PET-based radiomics and deep learning in detecting pathological regional nodal metastasis (pN+) in resectable lung adenocarcinoma varies, and their use across different generations of PET machines has not been thoroughly investigated. We compared handcrafted radiomics and deep learning using different PET scanners to predict pN+ in resectable lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed pretreatment 18 F-FDG PET from 148 lung adenocarcinoma patients who underwent curative surgery.

Risk factor analysis of postoperative complications after adjunctive pulmonary resection in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: A multi-institutional study.

Background And Objective: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) requires extended treatment with regimens with multiple side effects, resulting in high treatment failure rates. Adjunctive lung resection combined with anti-tubercular agents improves outcomes. However, few studies have evaluated the potential harm from surgery and determined the optimal conditions for surgery.

Comprehensive Assessment of the Clinical Risk Factors of Postoperative Adverse Events and Survival in Patients With Non-small-cell Lung Cancer.

Background/aim: Postoperative adverse events are associated with poor clinical outcomes and survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with curative operation. However, comprehensive evaluation of the clinical characteristics associated with postoperative adverse events and survival outcomes is lacking.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study that evaluated patients with NSCLC who underwent curative surgery between 2008 and 2019 was conducted in a medical center.

The combined tumor-nodal glycolytic entropy improves survival stratification in nonsmall cell lung cancer with locoregional disease.

Objective: To investigate whether combining primary tumor and metastatic nodal glycolytic heterogeneity on 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET ( 18 F-FDG PET) improves prognostic prediction in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with locoregional disease.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 18 F-FDG PET-derived features from 94 patients who had undergone curative treatments for regional nodal metastatic NSCLC. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models.

Glucose metabolic heterogeneity correlates with pathological features and improves survival stratification of resectable lung adenocarcinoma.

Objective: We investigated whether glycolytic heterogeneity correlated with histopathology, and further stratified the survival outcomes pertaining to resectable lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-derived entropy and histopathology from 128 patients who had undergone curative surgery for lung adenocarcinoma. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models.

Prognostic Values of Inflammatory Indexes and Clinical Factors in Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

This study aimed to access the predictive value of inflammatory indices and clinical factors in toxicity and survival in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated lung adenocarcinoma receiving first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-treatment. A total of 259 patients with stage IIIB−IV lung adenocarcinoma and actionable EGFR mutation who received first-line TKI treatment between 2008 and 2020 were retrospectively enrolled and analyzed. The prognostic factors of TKI-related toxicity, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were identified by using logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards models.

Tumor glycolytic heterogeneity improves detection of regional nodal metastasis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Objective: The diagnostic performance of F-FDG PET for detecting regional lymph node metastasis in resectable lung cancer is variable, and its sensitivity for adenocarcinoma is even lower. We aimed to evaluate the value of F-FDG PET-derived features in predicting pathological lymph node metastasis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed pretreatment F-FDG PET-derived features of 126 lung adenocarcinoma patients who underwent curative surgery.

Perioperative exercise intervention in patients with lung cancer: A systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: During perioperative, lung cancer (LC) patients are often left to experience debilitating disease-related symptoms, impaired physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and social difficulties, despite the progress achieved in terms of treatment efficacy. Nonpharmacological intervention, such as exercise, has been identified as an effective strategy in LC patients before and after lung resection. Therefore, we aimed to assess evidence of the effect of perioperative exercise among patients with LC.

Prognostic Value of Combing Primary Tumor and Nodal Glycolytic-Volumetric Parameters of F-FDG PET in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Regional Lymph Node Metastasis.

We investigated whether the combination of primary tumor and nodal F-FDG PET parameters predict survival outcomes in patients with nodal metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without distant metastasis. We retrospectively extracted pre-treatment F-FDG PET parameters from 89 nodal-positive NSCLC patients (stage IIB-IIIC). The Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify independent prognosticators of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Prognostic value of peak lactate during cardiopulmonary bypass in adult cardiac surgeries: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Tissue hypoperfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) affects cardiac surgical outcomes. Lactate, an end product of anaerobic glycolysis from oxygen deficit, is a marker of tissue hypoxia. In this study, we aimed to identify the prognostic value of blood lactate level during CPB in predicting outcomes in adults undergoing cardiac surgeries.

Resection of a cavernous hemangioma of the posterior mediastinum by sclerotherapy and uniport thoracoscopic surgery.

A 44-year-old female presented with cavernous hemangioma of the posterior mediastinum. Imaging revealed that it was approximately 2 cm in size and without an arterial supply from either the thoracic aorta or intercostal artery. The patient was treated with intraoperative sclerotherapy and hemangioma resection by uniport thoracoscopic surgery via a small 3-cm surgical wound.

Metastatic Parathyroid Hormone-Secreting Prostate Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Ectopic Parathyroid Adenoma Demonstrated on 99mTc-MIBI Image.

Tc-MIBI has long been used to localize hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue in patients with hyperparathyroidism. This tracer can also concentrate in various neoplastic tissues including prostate adenocarcinoma. We herein report a case with parathyroid hormone-secreting metastatic prostate cancer mimicking an ectopic parathyroid adenoma on the Tc-MIBI scan.

Combining the radiomic features and traditional parameters of F-FDG PET with clinical profiles to improve prognostic stratification in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery.

Objectives: To investigate the role of the traditional and radiomic parameters of F-FDG PET for predicting the outcomes of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC).

Methods: Forty-four patients with primary esophageal SqCC who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by esophagectomy (tri-modality treatment) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent F-FDG PET/CT before and after neoadjuvant CCRT.

Enteral Access Potentially Endangers Esophageal Carcinoma Patients Under Multi-modality Therapy: A Population-based Study.

Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of esophageal cancer (EC) patients with enteral access (EA) undergoing multimodality therapy.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data between 1997 and 2012 in Taiwan using the National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with newly-diagnosed EC undergoing multimodality therapy were identified and classified as either EA group or no-EA group.

Hematologic Markers as Prognostic Factors in Nonmetastatic Esophageal Cancer Patients under Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.

Nonmetastatic esophageal cancer can demonstrate a high local recurrence rate even under the standard treatment. We evaluated platelet counts before and after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio for predicting esophageal cancer prognosis under CCRT. Newly diagnosed patients with esophageal cancer (stages IA-IIIC) who underwent CCRT during January 2013-December 2017 were enrolled.

Estrogen and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor agonist G-1 cause relaxation of human gallbladder.

Objective: Estrogen interacts with a membrane receptor, G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). It was reported that 17β-estradiol was able to inhibit contraction of the human colon and cause relaxation of the guinea pig gallbladder, however, the involvement of GPER was not clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of estrogen on human gallbladder motility and the possible role of GPER.

Accidental pulmonary emboli noted by TEE during aortic valve replacement: a case report.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is difficult to diagnose clinically. In a patient who was scheduled for elective aortic valve replacement, several fresh emboli were recognized in the right atrium on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The PEs then disappeared on the echocardiographic image, with significant immediate hemodynamic changes noted by real-time monitors, such as tachycardia and increased pulmonary artery (PA) pressure.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to support prolonged conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults with cardiac arrest from acute myocardial infarction at a very low-volume centre.

We aimed to analyse the outcomes of the deployment of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) 11 times for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 10 adult patients at a very low-volume (VLV) centre, where perfusionists or surgeons are not always available. We conducted a three-year retrospective chart review. E-CPR was performed 13 times in 12 adult patients who had cardiac arrest events and who underwent conventional CPR for longer than 10 min.

Quality improvements of antimicrobial prophylaxis in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Although the principles of antibiotics prophylaxis are well established, more than 60% of hospitals that joined the international quality indicator project failed to discontinue the use of prophylactic antibiotics within 24h after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Our specific aims are to disseminate the gain obtained from breakthrough series model in knee arthroplasty and abdominal hysterectomy to increase the rate of prophylactic duration not longer than 24h in patients with CABG.

Methods: The control and intervention groups enrolled 55 and 78 patients with CABG before and after the project.

Total arch replacement under normothermic beating heart surgery.

The authors propose a new method for total arch replacement under normothermic beating heart surgery. The surgical procedure was performed with no time limit. The cardiopulmonary bypass was terminated without using inotropic agents.

Hypoglycemia in a patient with a huge malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) is rare. A 73-year-old man, without past history of diabetes mellitus, was admitted to hospital with profound hypoglycemia, loss of consciousness and respiratory failure. CT indicated a huge heterogenous mass lesion (12 x 12 x 17 cm) at the right thoracic cavity with total atelectasis of the right lower lung.

Natriuretic peptides cause relaxation of human esophageal mucosal muscle.

Natriuretic peptides have been demonstrated to cause relaxation of the human gallbladder muscle through interaction with natriuretic peptide receptor-B (NPR-B/NPR2). Effects of natriuretic peptides in the human esophageal muscle were unknown. To investigate the effects of natriuretic peptides in the human esophagus, we measured relaxation of muscularis mucosae strips isolated from the human esophagus caused by C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and des[Gln(18), Ser(19), Gly(20), Leu(21), Gly(22)]ANP(4-23) amide (cANP(4-23)), a selective natriuretic peptide receptor-C (NPR-C) agonist.