Successful long-term outcome of neoadjuvant sequential targeted therapy and chemotherapy for stage III non-small cell lung carcinoma: 10 case series.

Background: Perioperative treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is attracting attention. The effect of neoadjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy on postoperative long-term outcomes in patients with driver gene mutations remains unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the long-term survival outcomes of patients with stage III NSCLC harboring driver gene mutations who received preoperative TKI therapy.

En Bloc Resection of a Primary Tumor and Lymph Nodes in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: We established a novel surgical procedure for resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which involves resection of the affected lobe and regional lymph nodes without separation, namely en bloc surgery. We introduced the technical details and early and late outcomes by comparing them with those of conventional surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection for stages I-III NSCLC.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Addition to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background/aim: The prognostic impact of adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy for patients with resectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains unclear.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients who underwent surgery following neoadjuvant therapy for clinical T3N0 or N1-N2 resectable NSCLC between 2011 and 2016 at our hospital. Survival outcomes were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and a Cox proportional hazard model.

SF is a useful expander for post-pneumonectomy syndrome in the long-term course: a case report.

Background: Post-pneumonectomy syndrome (PPS) is a rare but serious condition that can occur after pneumonectomy. It is characterized by a mediastinal shift towards the vacated hemithorax, which can potentially lead to respiratory failure. The management of PPS poses a clinical challenge, especially in the context of the limited availability of certain therapeutic devices due to regulatory restrictions in Japan.

Prognostic Outcome of Pulmonary Resection for Pulmonary Metastases from Gastric Cancer.

Purpose: Regardless of the devastating outcomes of pulmonary resection for metastases from gastric cancer, a handful of patients survive long after pulmonary metastasectomy. This study aimed to identify a good candidate for pulmonary resection for metastases from gastric cancer.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2023, 564 patients underwent pulmonary metastasectomy in our department, of which 12 patients underwent pulmonary resection for metastases from gastric cancer.

Direct production of low-oxygen-concentration titanium from molten titanium.

Titanium (Ti) is an attractive material, abundant in nature and possessing superior mechanical and chemical properties. However, its widespread use is significantly hampered by the strong affinity between titanium and oxygen (O), resulting in elevated manufacturing costs during the refining, melting, and casting processes. The current work introduces a high-throughput technique that effectively reduces the oxygen content in molten titanium to a level suitable for structural material applications (1000 mass ppm, equivalent to 0.

Prognostic significance of preoperative to postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen ratio after lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Lung adenocarcinoma with a preoperatively elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) value has a relatively poor postoperative prognosis. Although surgical resection generally results in a reduction in the CEA value, the significance of the change in the CEA value on the prognostic outcome remains unclear.

Methods: Our study included 133 patients who underwent lobectomy with curative intent for lung adenocarcinoma representing a preoperative CEA value > 5.

A case of attempted transbronchial spigot insertion for fistulous pyothorax in the residual pleural airspace after pleurectomy/decortication for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Pleurectomy/decortication for malignant pleural mesothelioma is a relatively recent surgical approach for which there is a dearth of information on complications, especially in the late postoperative period. A 70-year-old man was diagnosed with right epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma and underwent pleurectomy/decortication. Computed tomography at 6 months after surgery revealed nodules on the surface of the right lung.

Effect of Tegafur-Uracil in Resected Stage IB Lung Adenocarcinoma According to Presence or Absence of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Mutation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Tegafur-uracil (UFT) is the standard postoperative adjuvant therapy for stage IB lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in Japan. This study aimed to determine whether UFT is effective in stage IB LUAD with and without epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.

Methods: This retrospective study included 169 patients with stage IB LUAD who underwent complete resection at our department between 2010 and 2021.

Successful Treatment with Osimertinib Based on Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in a Hemodialysis Patient with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report.

Although osimertinib is a key drug in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, the safety in hemodialysis patients has not been established. A 76-year-old man was diagnosed with NSCLC with EGFR deletion mutation in exon 19. After treatment failure with first- and second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, a T790M mutation was revealed by liquid biopsy.

Transonic dislocation propagation in diamond.

The motion of line defects (dislocations) has been studied for more than 60 years, but the maximum speed at which they can move is unresolved. Recent models and atomistic simulations predict the existence of a limiting velocity of dislocation motion between the transonic and subsonic ranges at which the self-energy of dislocation diverges, though they do not deny the possibility of the transonic dislocations. We used femtosecond x-ray radiography to track ultrafast dislocation motion in shock-compressed single-crystal diamond.

Clinical Significance of Nodal DCsign Expression in Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: Dendritic cells (DCs) are difficult to evaluate in lung regional lymph nodes because of region-specific structures, such as abundant trabeculae connecting the medullary and subcapsular sinuses, the latter of which contains few anthracotic macrophages. Therefore, DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DCsign)-positive DCs and CD68-positive macrophages are unlikely to show a typical distribution. The present study therefore explored quantitative factors connecting the nodal DC morphology to the patient outcome.

A case of a transient phrenic nerve paralysis after resection of a giant lymphangioma evaluated by dynamic digital radiography.

Background: Lymphangioma is a relatively rare benign congenital malformation composed of dilated cystic lymphatic vessels; however, its occurrence in adults and manifestation as mediastinal lymphangioma are even rarer. In general, the incidence of mediastinal lymphangiomas has been reported to range from 0.01 to 4.

Localization of macrophages and dendritic cells in human thoracic lymph nodes: An immunohistochemical study using surgically obtained specimens.

Both dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages are bone marrow-derived cells that perform antigen presentation. The distribution of DCs and CD68-positive macrophages were immunohistochemically examined in 103 thoracic nodes obtained from 23 lung cancer patients (50-84 years old) without metastasis. Among three antibodies tested initially-CD209/DCsign, fascin, and CD83-DCsign was chosen as the DC marker.

Left atrial CT volume and CHADS-VASc score predict early pulmonary vein stump thrombus after left upper lobectomy.

The purpose of this study is to clarify the feasibility of left atrial (LA) volume measurement and CHADS-VASc score for predicting the development of pulmonary vein (PV) stump thrombus after left upper lobectomy (LUL). The study population comprised 50 patients who underwent LUL for pulmonary lesions. All patients were evaluated for the development of PV stump thrombus at 7 days after LUL.

Risk factors indicating immune-related adverse events with combination chemotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors and platinum agents in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) ushered in a new era for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, they carry the risk of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Recently, various studies have been conducted on the predictive factors for irAEs, but there are no reports focusing only on ICI plus platinum agents.

A case of ectopic cervical thymoma with myasthenia gravis mimicking a parathyroid tumour.

Reports of cervical thymoma with myasthenia gravis are rare. In addition, 99mTc-MIBI (methoxyisobutylisonitrile:sestamibi) scintigraphy is a useful diagnostic examination for enlarged parathyroid tumours; however, there are a few reports of its accumulation in thymoma. Among them, there are no reports of cervical thymomas with 99mTc-MIBI accumulation complicated by myasthenia gravis.

Human lymph node degeneration in the thoracic region: A morphometric and immunohistochemical analysis using surgically obtained specimens.

Lymph node degeneration was examined in 539 mediastinal and intrapulmonary nodes removed from 78 patients, aged 49-82 years, without cancer metastasis. Medullary sinus hyalinization observed in 36.2% of the hilar and 38.

A case of schwannoma at the origin of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve resected under uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery.

Mediastinal neurogenic tumours are mostly derived from sympathetic nerves and intercostal nerves, and vagus nerve-derived schwannomas are rare. We encountered a tumour originating from the origin of the recurrent laryngeal nerve that was accompanied by the azygos lobe, which made it difficult to approach; it was ultimately able to be removed via uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery. This case involved a 63-year-old female patient.

Clinical significance of ALKBH4 expression in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Gene methylation is deeply involved in epigenetics and affects both the development and maintenance of homeostasis and carcinogenesis. ALKBH4 is a member of the AlkB homolog (ALKBH) family that controls demethylation of DNA and RNA.

Methods: This study enrolled 160 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent complete resection.

Intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography to secure the surgical margin in pulmonary wedge resection for indistinct intrapulmonary lesions.

Objective: The objective of this study was to use cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for intraoperative imaging of a pulmonary wedge resection line that contributes to securing the required surgical margin in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery for indistinct intrapulmonary lesions.

Methods: Data of 16 consecutive patients with potentially impalpable intrapulmonary lesions were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperatively, we simulated a rhomboidal cut line on the surface of a 3-dimensional lung model with reference to multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography images.

Altered lymphatic structure and function in pleural anthracosis: negative role in skip N2 metastasis.

Objectives: The present study investigated whether or not pleural anthracosis is associated with changes in the pleural lymphatic structures or function, which would interfere with nodal skip metastasis.

Methods: This study comprised 2 different case series. In the first series, we observed pleural lymphatic drainage using near-infrared fluorescent endoscopy by the subpleural injection of indocyanine green immediately after thoracotomy for lung cancer.