Ivabradine reduces neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury by inhibiting excitatory synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn.

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can lead to severe neuropathic pain and increased risk of myocardial infarction and heart failure; therefore, the use of analgesics against SCI-induced pain should be minimized because of their adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Ivabradine, a blocker of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation (HCN) channels, is used as a bradycardic agent, but recent studies focused on it as an analgesic agent for peripheral neuropathic pain. However, the analgesic effects of ivabradine on central neuropathic pain, such as SCI-induced pain, have not been examined.

Diagnostic artificial intelligence model predicts lymph node status in non-small cell lung cancer using simplified examination.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) technology was introduced in medical data area and applied disease prediction models. This study aimed to establish an AI model for predicting lymph node metastasis based on simple medical examinations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 988 patients with NSCLC who underwent radical pulmonary resection with mediastinal lymph node dissection between January 2011 and October 2022.

A prospective 10-year follow-up study after sublobar resection for ground-glass opacity-dominant lung cancer.

This single-arm multi-institutional prospective study aimed to evaluate the 10-year outcomes of sublobar resection for small-sized ground-glass opacity-dominant lung cancer. Among 73 patients prospectively enrolled from 13 institutions between November 2006 and April 2012, 53 ground-glass opacity-dominant lung cancer patients underwent sublobar resection with wedge resection as the first choice. The inclusion criteria were maximum tumor size of 8-20 mm; ≥ 80% ground-glass opacity ratio on high-resolution computed tomography; lower F-fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation than the mediastinum; intraoperative pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in situ; and no cancer cells on intraoperative cut margins.

Actions of remimazolam on inhibitory transmission of rat spinal dorsal horn neurons.

Remimazolam is an ultra-short benzodiazepine that acts on the benzodiazepine site of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain and induces sedation. Although GABA receptors are found localized in the spinal dorsal horn, no previous studies have reported the analgesic effects or investigated the cellular mechanisms of remimazolam on the spinal dorsal horn. Behavioral measures, immunohistochemistry, and in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of dorsal horn neurons were used to assess synaptic transmission.

Delayed paraparesis after posterior spinal fusion for congenital scoliosis: a case report.

Introduction: Although multimodal intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), which has high sensitivity and specificity, is typically performed during spinal deformity surgery, neurological status may deteriorate with delay after surgical maneuvers. Here, we report a rare case of delayed postoperative neurological deficit (DPND) that was not detected by IONM during posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for congenital scoliosis.

Case Presentation: A 14-year-old male presented with congenital scoliosis associated with T3 and T10 hemivertebrae.

Optimal period of smoking cessation to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in lung cancer.

Objectives: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) provoke an extended hospital stay and increased postoperative mortality. Although several factors can cause PPCs, smoking is the only factor that can be adjusted within a short period of time preoperatively. However, the optimal period of smoking cessation to reduce the risk of PPCs remains unclear.

Surgical treatment for lung metastasis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the lung: A case report.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare disease that is considered an intermediate neoplasm, with the risk of recurrence and metastasis. Surgical treatment is the standard therapy for IMT, although there are only a few reports of surgery for lung metastasis of pulmonary IMT. We opine that surgical treatment might be effective not only for localized tumors, but also for cases of lung metastasis of IMT.

Assessment of lymph node metastasis of ≤20 mm non-small cell lung cancer originating from superior segment compared to basal segment.

Background: Segmentectomy with curative intention is occasionally performed for early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, a major problem has been pointed out, in that the rate of locoregional recurrence is higher after segmentectomy than after lobectomy. This study aimed to investigate differences in rates of lymph node metastasis between segment 6 and basal segment NSCLC as potential candidates for segmentectomy and to explore factors associated with locoregional recurrence of segmentectomy.

Evaluation of pulmonary artery bleeding during thoracoscopic pulmonary resection for lung cancer.

Background: Bleeding from the pulmonary artery (PA) can be fatal in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer. We evaluated intraoperative PA injury and assessed precautions for thoracoscopic anatomic pulmonary resection.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 1098 patients who underwent radical surgery for lung cancer utilizing complete VATS from January 2010 to December 2021.

No-drain management after thoracoscopic lung wedge resection with a novel intraoperative sealing test.

Objective: Although previous studies have reported the safety of no-drain management after thoracoscopic wedge resection, most of those studies were non-inferiority trials. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether no-drain management with an optimal sealing test affects post-operative complications in patients after thoracoscopic wedge resection.

Methods: A total of 906 patients who underwent thoracoscopic lung wedge resection for various disorders except secondary pneumothorax between 2011 and 2020 were analyzed.

Utility of mass spectrometry and artificial intelligence for differentiating primary lung adenocarcinoma and colorectal metastatic pulmonary tumor.

Background: Rapid intraoperative diagnosis for unconfirmed pulmonary tumor is extremely important for determining the optimal surgical procedure (lobectomy or sublobar resection). Attempts to diagnose malignant tumors using mass spectrometry (MS) have recently been described. This study evaluated the usefulness of MS and artificial intelligence (AI) for differentiating primary lung adenocarcinoma (PLAC) and colorectal metastatic pulmonary tumor.

Validation of completion lobectomy after wedge resection for ≤20 mm non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Completion lobectomy after wedge resection is occasionally performed when final histopathology shows an unexpected primary lung cancer even though the primary lesion has already been resected. The objective of this study was to assess the necessity of completion lobectomy after wedge resection for ≤20 mm non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Between 2006 and 2016, a total of 112 patients with NSCLC underwent wedge resection in our department.

Low-dose Droperidol Reduces the Amplitude of Transcranial Electrical Motor-evoked Potential: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.

Background: Low-dose droperidol has been reported to suppress the amplitude of transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials (TCE-MEPs), but no randomized controlled trials have been conducted to assess this. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial aimed to test the hypothesis that low-dose droperidol reduced TCE-MEP amplitudes.

Methods: Twenty female patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, aged between 12 and 20 years, and scheduled to undergo corrective surgery were randomly allocated to receive droperidol (20 µg/kg) or 0.

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma arising from the lung: A case report.

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a rare sarcoma subtype that most commonly arises in young adults. This tumor typically presents in the deep soft tissues of the proximal extremities or trunk as a painless mass. Although the most common site of LGFMS metastasis is the lung, it is rarely the primary site.

Correlation with spontaneous pneumothorax and weather change, especially warm front approaching.

Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) occurs more frequently in young, tall men, with approximately 10,000 times video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) annually in Japan is undergoing for surgical treatment. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear, but several reports have suggested correlation with weather conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between onset of PSP and changes in weather.

Propofol reduces the amplitude of transcranial electrical motor-evoked potential without affecting spinal motor neurons: a prospective, single-arm, interventional study.

Purpose: Propofol inhibits the amplitudes of transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials (TCE-MEP) in a dose-dependent manner. However, the mechanisms of this effect remain unknown. Hence, we investigated the spinal mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of propofol on TCE-MEP amplitudes by evaluating evoked electromyograms (H-reflex and F-wave) under general anesthesia.

Relationship between Trace Element in Tumor and Prognosis in Lung Cancer Patients.

This study aimed to observe the relationship between trace element concentrations in lung tissue from lung non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients and prognosis. The concentrations of various trace elements in the lung tissues were measured by a particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) system, and the results were analyzed for statistical significance. Eight essential trace elements, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, and Mo, were analyzed.

Clinical significance of bifocal treatment for synchronous brain metastasis in T1-2 non-small-cell lung cancers: JNETS0301.

Objectives: The treatment of patients with brain metastases associated with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is frequently challenging. Starting in 2003, we conducted a phase II study of surgery for patients with clinical T1-2N0-1 NSCLC with oligometastasis. The aim of this subset study was to assess the clinical significance of bifocal treatment for synchronous brain metastases in T1-2N0-1 NSCLC using prospectively collected data.

Epidural Administration of Ropivacaine Reduces the Amplitude of Transcranial Electrical Motor-Evoked Potentials: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Background: An epidurally administered local anesthetic acts primarily on the epidural nerve roots and can act directly on the spinal cord through the dural sleeve. We hypothesized that epidurally administered ropivacaine would reduce the amplitude of transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials by blocking nerve conduction in the spinal cord. Therefore, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Utility of the powered stapler for radical pulmonary resection: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: Anatomical pulmonary resection, such as lobectomy, is a common procedure. Staplers play an important role in dividing an incomplete interlobular fissure, especially in thoracoscopic surgery. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a powered stapler for reducing the need for intraoperative fibrin glue and the incidence of air leakage after radical pulmonary resection.

Successful removal of a circular mapping catheter which perforated the pulmonary vein during cryoballoon ablation by lateral thoracotomy: a case report.

Background: Serious complications may occur during cryoballoon ablation (CBA). However, pulmonary vein (PV) perforation by a circular mapping catheter and the strategy for removing the catheter remain poorly understood.

Case Summary: A 40-year-old male presented with palpitations 2 years ago and was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation 5 months ago.

A phase 2 study of adjuvant carboplatin plus S-1 followed by maintenance S-1 therapy for patients with completely resected stage II/IIIA non-small cell lung cancer-Japanese Northern East Area Thoracic Surgery Study Group JNETS1302 study.

Background: The standard adjuvant chemotherapy regimen for completely resected pathological stage II/IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is four courses of cisplatin plus vinorelbine. However, the continuity and toxicity of cisplatin-based regimens remain problematic. Conversely, carboplatin-based chemotherapy is a less toxic and more tolerable regimen for various stages of NSCLC.

Prediction formula for predicted diffusion capacity of lung for carbon monoxide in pulmonary surgery.

Objectives: Diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D) is a useful value for perioperative risk assessment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The percentage of the predicted D (%D: D/predicted D × 100) is often evaluated by setting cutoff values as in the clinical field, but several formulae are available for calculating the predicted D, and the %D thus varies depending on the formula used to predict D. We examined differences in %D calculated using several commonly used prediction formulae.