Derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio has the potential to predict safety and outcomes of durvalumab after chemoradiation in non-small cell lung cancer.

The usefulness of the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) and its dynamics before/after durvalumab consolidation therapy to predict safety or efficacy remains unclear. We retrospectively reviewed patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with durvalumab consolidation therapy after chemoradiotherapy (D group) or chemoradiotherapy alone (non-D group) at multiple institutions. We investigated the association between dNLR, or its dynamics, and pneumonitis, checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (CIP), irAEs, and efficacy.

Newly diagnosed ANCA-associated vasculitis after COVID-19 infection: a case report.

Background: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by mononuclear cell infiltration and small and medium-sized blood vessel destruction leading to renal failure. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been shown to have the potential to induce the presentation or exacerbation of autoimmune disease. This report describes the clinical features of a case of newly diagnosed ANCA-associated vasculitis after COVID-19 Infection.

Modified Lengthening Temporalis Myoplasty Using an Intraoral Approach.

Background: Lengthening temporalis myoplasty (LTM) is a unique and definite facial reanimation procedure that involves inserting the whole temporal tendon directly into the nasolabial fold. However, the nasolabial fold incision remains one of the difficulties of this procedure, particularly in young or female patient. To avoid the need for this incision, the authors developed an intraoral approach to manipulate the temporal muscle tendon toward the nasolabial fold.

Sliding Flap for the Wide Upper Eyelid Margin Defect After Cancer Removal.

Background: Reconstruction of eyelid margin defects following resection of upper-eyelid skin malignancies is typically performed using a lower eyelid switch flap, including eyelash reconstruction. However, a subsequent procedure for flap separation, and prolonged swelling of the flap may occur as a complication.

Objective: The authors performed anterior lamellar reconstruction using a sliding flap with excess upper eyelid skin, a procedure that is a less invasive and simpler.

Clinical analysis of 71 spontaneous pneumomediastinum cases: an observational study from a tertiary care hospital in Japan.

Background: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is characterized by the presence of interstitial air in the mediastinum without any underlying disease. Some cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum have been reported in the past, although only few reports are available, and its management remains uncertain. This study reviewed our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Developed from the Parotid Gland to the Ear Lobe of a Young Woman.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a relatively rare malignant tumor. It is more common in women than in men and typically develops in the lacrimal, salivary, and breast glands. ACC of the external auditory canal (EAC) is exceedingly rare, and its invasion into the ear lobe is even more unusual.

Oncoplastic Lower Eyelid Reconstruction Analysis.

Background: Oncoplastic lower eyelid reconstruction is a challenging task due to the complicated structure of the eyelid and requirement of high operative accuracy. Poorly treated defects result in ectropion and ptosis which may lead to keratitis and corneal ulceration. Previous related studies do not include a detailed comparison of the common reconstructive methods of the lower eyelid in terms of results and complication rates.

Nuclear Protein in Testis Carcinoma of the Thorax.

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma (NUT-C) is an exceedingly rare and aggressive neoplasm. We herein report a case of a 57-year-old man with a rapidly progressing tumor of the thorax and left pleural effusion. The pathological features and immunohistochemical staining of specimens obtained by a transbronchial lung biopsy initially indicated poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.

Difficult intubation due to unknown congenital tracheal stenosis in the adult: a case report and literature review.

Congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) is a rare disorder almost always diagnosed in infancy due to respiratory failure and other cardiopulmonary abnormalities. We experienced a 42-year-old female undiagnosed with CTS until difficult intubation upon surgery. Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) images revealed bronchial narrowing, which could already be seen prior to intubation, but was left unnoticed.

Comparison of long-term prognosis and relapse of dermatomyositis complicated with interstitial pneumonia according to autoantibodies: anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase antibodies versus anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody.

The aim of this study was to investigate long-term prognosis and relapse of dermatomyositis complicated with interstitial pneumonia (DMIP) according to anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibodies and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody. This retrospective study comprised 36 patients with DMIP who were divided into the anti-ARS antibody-positive group (ARS+) (n = 12), anti MDA5 antibody-positive group (MDA5+) (n = 11), double-negative group (ARS-/MDA5-) (n = 11), and double-positive group (ARS+/MDA5+) (n = 1). Clinical features, treatment, prognoses, and relapses during the 2 years after initiation of treatment were compared between three groups excluding ARS+/MDA5+ group.

Application of Kuhnt-Szymanowski Procedure to Lower Eyelid Margin Defect after Tumor Resection.

Background: Lower eyelid reconstruction after tumor removal is always challenging, and full-thickness defects beyond half of the eyelid length require a flap from a part other than the remaining lower eyelid, such as the temporal area or the cheek.

Objective: We aimed to report our experience of applying Smith-modified Kuhnt-Szymanowski, one of the most popular procedures for paralytic ectropion, for reconstructing oblong full-thickness lower eyelid margin defect.

Materials And Methods: We performed Smith-modified Kuhnt-Szymanowski on 5 cases of oblong full-thickness lower eyelid margin defect after skin cancer removal.

Three Simultaneous Cases of Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum With Epidural Pneumatosis During Vocal Training.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe a case series of three simultaneous cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) with epidural pneumatosis during vocal training.

Methods: A report of three cases with chart review was performed. Literature review was carried out using PubMed.

Initial limited three-level thin-section computed tomography scorings predict the prognosis of acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia in patients with dermatomyositis.

Objectives: We investigated the prediction of outcomes of patients with dermatomyositis with acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (DM-A/SIP) on the basis of chest computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods: In 20 patients with DM-A/SIP (13 survivors; seven deaths), the relationships between prognostic outcomes and chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings or limited three-level thin-section CT scoring on the first examination were retrospectively investigated.

Results: No significant difference was noted in chest HRCT findings between the survivor group and death group.

Successful treatment with intravenous high-dose immunoglobulin for cardiomyopathy in dermatomyositis complicated with rapid progressive interstitial pneumonia.

Cardiomyopathy and rapid progressive interstitial pneumonia (IP) are potentially fatal complications in polymyositis/dermatomyositis. We experienced a dermatomyositis patient with multiple adverse prognostic factors, complicating rapid progressive IP, macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), and cardiomyopathy. IP and MAS improved with strong immunosuppressive therapy, despite which cardiomyopathy developed.

Parametrial involvement in FIGO stage IB1 cervical carcinoma diagnostic impact of tumor diameter in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: In the surgical treatment for early-stage cervical carcinoma, it is important to identify preoperatively a low-risk group of patients as candidates for less radical surgery to avoid the morbidity associated with radical hysterectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between tumor diameter measured preoperatively using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathological prognostic factors in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB1 cervical carcinoma.

Methods: A total of 125 patients with FIGO stage IB1 cervical cancer were included in this study.

[A case of Wegener's granulomatosis with pachymeningitis].

A 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of headache, rhinorrhea, and general fatigue. Chest CT revealed some lung nodules bilaterally, and laboratory data were positive for C-ANCA. Brain MRI revealed the findings of pachymeningitis.

[A case of pulmonary amebiasis].

A 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea and right abdominal pain. Chest X-ray radiogram showed right massive pleural effusion. Ultrasonic echogram of abdomen showed a unilocular liver cyst.

Additive inoculation of influenza vaccine and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine to prevent lower respiratory tract infections in chronic respiratory disease patients.

Background: An increased incidence of pneumococcal infection triggered by influenza infection has been reported.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of the additive inoculation of influenza vaccine (I-V) and 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine (P-V) to prevent lower respiratory tract infections.

Methods: 105 Japanese patients with chronic respiratory disease underwent the additive inoculation of I-V and P-V between October 2002 and January 2003, and their medical records were used to retrospectively examine the number of bacterial respiratory infections, number of hospitalizations, and length of hospital stay in the 2 years prior to and after P-V inoculation.

[A case of chronic pleuritis by Paragonimus Westermani infection resistant to standard chemotherapy and cured by three additional cycles of chemotherapy].

A 16-year-old boy had eaten Chinese freshwater crabs soaked in liquor in October 2000, and the left pleural effusion was pointed out on chest X-ray films at a regular medical checkup at school in June 2002. Since his father and friends had suffered from Paragonimiasis Westermani and had been treated in January 2001, the patient agreed to immunoserological examination, and Paragonimiasis Westermani was diagnosed. After drainage of pleural effusion, the patient was treated with praziquantel for three days at a daily dosage of 75 mg/kg, but without effect.

An autopsy case of primary pericardial mesothelioma in arc cutter exposed to asbestos through talc pencils.

An autopsy case of a primary pericardial mesothelioma in a 53-year-old arc cutter is reported. He had often had the chance to inhale dust generated by sharpening the slate pencils composed of talc. He was admitted for heart failure due to pericardial tumor, but later died.

[Paragonimiasis westermani caused by ingestion of Chinese freshwater crabs].

We encountered three cases of paragonimiasis westermani caused by ingestion of Chinese freshwater crabs. All patients are Chinese living in Japan who had a history of eating raw Shanghai crabs at the Chinese restaurant owned by one of them. A few months later they complained of cough, chest pain and dyspnea.

Second primary tumours in more than 2-year disease-free survivors of small-cell lung cancer in Japan: the role of smoking cessation.

Patients with small-cell lung cancer who survive more than 2 years have a significantly increased risk (relative risk of 3.6) of developing a second primary tumour. The cessation of cigarette smoking after successful therapy is associated with a significantly decreased risk of a second primary tumour.

[Correlation between the tumor marker Pro-GRP and prognosis in patients with small-cell lung cancer].

We studied 90 patients with small-cell lung cancer in whom levels of Pro-GRP were abnormally high before therapy. Changes in the serum Pro-GRP level have been said to correlate strongly with therapeutic responses in patients with small-cell lung cancer. We found that changes in the serum Pro-GRP level (half-life > or = 30 vs < 30 days) were a significant prognostic factor.

A pilot study of concurrent whole-brain radiotherapy and chemotherapy combined with cisplatin, vindesine and mitomycin in non-small-cell lung cancer with brain metastasis.

We have evaluated the feasibility, toxicity, and tumour response of concurrent whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and chemotherapy with cisplatin, vindesine and mitomycin in the treatment of 33 patients with brain metastasis from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The imaging response demonstrated that 25 patients (75.8%) responded to brain lesions, including five complete responders, and the response rate to primary lesion was 18%.