Serum alanine aminotransferase as an early marker of outcomes in patients receiving anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 antibody.

Immune-oncology (IO) drug therapy is effective against various types of cancer. Although several, potential, clinical predictive markers have been identified, none so far have proven reliable. Herein we evaluated changes in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), which is upregulated by the accumulation of activated CD8+T cells in the liver, as a potentially reliable predictive marker.

Beneficial Effect of Intradialytic Electrical Muscle Stimulation in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Many hemodialysis (HD) patients cannot perform self-administered exercise training for their muscle wasting, weakness, and sarcopenia. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) has the advantages of easy application, and minimal risks for these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of intradialytic EMS.

Effect of dutasteride on castration-resistant prostate cancer.

It has previously been demonstrated that the intratumoral generation of the potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), contributes critically to the progression of prostate cancer and its castration-resistant form, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Circulating testosterone is converted into DHT by 5α-reductase (SRD5A). Dutasteride is a dual inhibitor of type I and II SRD5A.

[Cardiac Rehabilitation in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting].

Objectives: A purpose is to compare the in-hospital rehabilitation progress after minimally invasive cardiac surgery coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) with that after off pump coronary artery bypass grafting( OPCAB).

Methods: We analyzed 60 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery from January 2015 to December 2016. Fourteen patients underwent MICS CABG (MICS CABG group) and 46 patients underwent OPCAB (OPCAB group).

The safety and effect of chemotherapy with short hydration for urothelial cancer on patients' quality of life.

Objective: Our aim was 2-fold: first, to assess the safety of short hydration treatment for urothelial cancer; and second, to assess the resultant quality of life of patients who received the treatment.

Methods: We assessed 61 patients including 31 outpatients and 30 inpatients, who received a combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy with short hydration. The serum creatinine (Cr) level and the estimated glomerular filtration rate were measured to assess renal function using linear mixed model analysis.

Influence of Naftopidil on Plasma Monoamine Levels and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Objectives: To clarify the influence of naftopidil, an α1D/A -adrenergic receptor antagonist, on the autonomic nervous system, we examined the relation between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and the plasma monoamine levels before and after naftopidil treatment in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients.

Methods: A total of 43 patients with BPH were studied. The frequency of urination, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) index, overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), and plasma monoamine levels (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin) were evaluated before and after naftopidil treatment.

[Effect of distigmine at 5 mg daily in patients with detrusor underactivity].

Purpose: Since distigmine can cause the serious side effect of cholinergic crisis, its dosage regimen has been reduced to 5 mg/day for patients with difficulty in urination due to detrusor underactivity. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of add-on therapy with distigmine at 5 mg daily were examined in patients with persistent urination problems due to detrusor underactivity despite administration of alpha1-blockers.

Patients And Methods: The subjects were 39 patients with underactive bladder (18 men and 21 women with an average age of 75 years) who showed no improvement of difficulty in urination or had a residual urine volume > or = 50 ml despite the administration of alpha1-blockers for more than 4 weeks.

Preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as an independent prognostic marker for patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Background: To predict the prognosis, we evaluated the significance of the preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUTUC).

Patients And Methods: A cohort of 137 patients diagnosed with UUTUC from 1994 to 2008 at Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center was enrolled in this retrospective study. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for univariate and multivariate analyses.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma change vascularity.

Several molecular targeted agents have been approved for clinical use for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). A case of a 32-year-old woman with mRCC is presented. These tumors could change vascularity by administration of molecular agents.

Neutrophil number after interferon-alfa treatment is an independent predictive marker of overall survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome in patients treated by immunotherapy using interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and to evaluate the significance of the neutrophil count after IFN-α immunotherapy as a predictive marker for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Patients And Methods: We identified 84 patients with metastatic RCC who underwent immunotherapy with IFN-α between 1998 and 2006. The predictive values of the neutrophil count before and after IFN-α treatment as well as other clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed retrospectively.

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the testis.

Ovarian-type surface epithelial neoplasms of the testis and paratestis are uncommon, and the mucinous subtype is particularly rare. These tumors represent a counterpart to ovarian cancer. Malignant tumors have the potential for metastatic spread and are often fatal.

Infusion rate of propofol and jugular venous oxygen saturation.

We compared jugular venous blood oxygen saturation (Sj(O) (2)) and the arterial-to-jugular-bulb venous oxygen content difference (AjD(O) (2)) between bispectral index (BIS) values of 40 and 60, adjusted by the infusion rate of propofol. Eighteen postoperative neurosurgical patients (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] scores, 11-15) were enrolled. Normocapnia, normothermia, and a mean arterial blood pressure greater than 70 mmHg were maintained.

Measurement of cerebral reserve capacity using acetazolamide loading xenon CT CBF before carotid endarterectomy.

Background And Purpose: Brain swelling and/or hemorrhage can occur after carotid endarterectomy. This phenomenon is called the hyperperfusion syndrome. Several factors contribute to this syndrome.

[Spinal anesthesia with isobaric 0.5% bupivacaine for lower limb surgery: effects of different volumes].

Background: The effects of different volumes (2.4, 2.6, 2.

[Postoperative nausea and vomiting after open heart surgery].

We investigated the incidence of the postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. We conducted a prospective study of 65 cases with direct interviews by anesthesiologists who are blind to this protocol every 6 hours during ICU stay. There were no differences in age, body mass index, dose of fentanyl, operating time, cardiopulmonary bypass time and ventilation time in ICU between PONV(+) and PONV(-).

Massive rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure after acetonitrile exposure.

A case of systemic rhabomyolysis after acetonitrile exposure is reported. A 35-year-old previously healthy man suffered from vomiting, convulsion and consciousness loss 15 hours after exposure to acetonitrile. Since acetonitrile is known to be metabolized into cyanide, antidote therapy against cyanide poisoning was given.

[Light-wand (Trachlight) guided nasotracheal intubation].

We report that Trachlight-guided nasotracheal intubation might be achieved successfully and traumatically without removal of a stiff internal stylet. Endotracheal tube was mounted on a Trachlight with the stylet in position and bent to form a less sharp curvature than a right angle, namely 40-60 degree, at 7 cm proximal to the endotracheal tube tip. Forty-six patients scheduled for nasal intubation were studied to measure the intubation time and the success rate with the use of Trachlight.

[Equilibration period for PaO2 following alteration of FIO2 in mechanically ventilated patients].

To determine arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) in mechanically ventilated patients, we repeatedly measured arterial blood gas (ABG) to examine changes in PaO2 until equilibration following alteration of fractional concentrations of oxygen in inspired gas (FIO2). Forty anesthetized patients with normal arterial oxygenation were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Group 1 (n = 10): Arterial blood samples were drawn every one minute during a 15-min period of equilibration after change of FIO2 from 1.

[Propofol-air-oxygen anesthesia reduces the incidence of sore throat after laryngeal mask anesthesia].

We investigated the effects of the presence or absence of N2O in propofol anesthesia using a laryngeal mask on the incidence of postoperative sore throat. In the N2O-combined anesthesia group (n = 25), score 0 (no sore throat) was observed in 11 patients; score 1 (slight pain and discomfort that improved on the next day of operation) in 9; and score 2 (persistent pain on the next day) in 5. In the non-N2O-combined anesthesia group (n = 25), score 0 was observed in 21 patients, score 1 in 3; and score 2 in 1, showing a significantly lower incidence of sore throat and milder sore throat than in the N2O-combined anesthesia group.

Radiation therapy for early glottic carcinoma (T1N0M0). The adverse effect of treatment interruption.

Purpose: Clarification of the adverse effects of treatment interruption on the local control of early glottic carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: From May 1982 through February 1992, 273 patients with early glottic carcinoma (T1N0M0) were treated at this department. Of 253 patients administered 60 Gy in 30 fractions 77 patients had no treatment interruption and treatment was completed within 6 weeks (group I), overall treatment time was prolonged for 176 patients: 141 patients 43 to 49 days (group II) and 35 patients 50 to 62 days (group III).

High-dose rate intracavitary irradiation for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The adverse effect of treatment prolongation.

Aim: To investigate the adverse effect of treatment prolongation on the local control and survival of the cervical carcinoma of the uterus.

Patients And Method: Two hundred and sixteen patients with stage IIB and III cervical carcinoma treated with a combination of external radiation and high-dose rate (HDR) intracavitary irradiation between 1978 and 1989 were retrospectively studied. A multivariate analysis was used to determine the effect of treatment time on local control and survival.

[Aprotinin 2 million KIU reduces perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing primary total hip replacement].

We investigated consecutive patients undergoing primary total hip replacement surgery who were randomly assigned into two groups; those who received a blinded solution of aprotinin 2 million KIU (kallikrein inactivation units) (n = 11) and those who received an equivalent volume of normal saline placebo (n = 10) throughout the surgical procedure. Anesthesia and surgical techniques were standardized. All patients received spinal anesthesia combined with general anesthesia.

[Adjuvant therapies in combination with pancreatectomy for carcinoma of the pancreas].

In the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, surgical resection is the only curative strategy. However, the long-term survival rate after pancreatectomy remains poor, and most patients died of loco-regional and/or hepatic recurrence. Thus, we should perform effective adjuvant therapies in combination with surgery, in order to completely prevent these two types of cancer relapse.

Morphologic changes in intercostal muscle tissue associated with a viper (Agkistrodon halys blomhoffi) bite.

This study examined a 73-year-old woman who had been bitten in the right thumb by a viper (Agkistrodon halys blomhoffi). She suffered acute renal failure and respiratory failure after the bite. On the 20th day, respiratory failure persisted, although she had recovered from renal failure.