Monitoring epidermal growth factor receptor C797S mutation in Japanese non-small cell lung cancer patients with serial cell-free DNA evaluation using digital droplet PCR.

Osimertinib is a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) that is effective in treating both naïve and T790M-mutated EGFR-TKI-resistant non-small cell lung cancer patients. The EGFR C797S mutation is the major osimertinib resistance mechanism. The present study monitored the EGFR C797S mutation during osimertinib treatment in Japanese patients using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR).

Alcohol Dehydrogenase Activity Converts 3″-Hydroxy-geranylhydroquinone to an Aldehyde Intermediate for Shikonin and Benzoquinone Derivatives in Lithospermum erythrorhizon.

Shikonin derivatives are red naphthoquinone pigments produced by several boraginaceous plants, such as Lithospermum erythrorhizon. These compounds are biosynthesized from p-hydroxybenzoic acid and geranyl diphosphate. The coupling reaction that yields m-geranyl-p-hydroxybenzoic acid has been actively characterized, but little is known about later biosynthetic reactions.

Drug resistance mechanisms in Japanese anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive non-small cell lung cancer and the clinical responses based on the resistant mechanisms.

The treatment for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive lung cancer has been rapidly evolving since the introduction of several ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKI) in clinical practice. However, the acquired resistance to these drugs has become an important issue. In this study, we collected a total of 112 serial biopsy samples from 32 patients with ALK-positive lung cancer during multiple ALK-TKI treatments to reveal the resistance mechanisms to ALK-TKI.

Overcoming resistance by ALK compound mutation (I1171S + G1269A) after sequential treatment of multiple ALK inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion genes are found in 3%-5% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). ALK inhibitors show a very high response rate to ALK-positive NSCLCs. However, the emergence of acquired resistance is inevitable.

The low incidence of bacteremia after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) obviates the need for prophylactic antibiotics in esophageal ESD.

Background: Although a high incidence of bacteremia after esophageal endoscopic procedures has been reported, the incidence of bacteremia associated with esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the incidence of bacteremia associated with esophageal ESD.

Methods: From April 2013 to March 2014, patients who underwent esophageal ESD were enrolled prospectively.

Paragonimus westermani infection mimicking recurrent lung cancer: A case report.

Herein, we report a case of Paragonimus westermani infection, which required differentiation from recurrent lung cancer. A 66-year old Japanese man with a history of lung cancer who had undergone a lobectomy was referred to our clinic for treatment of cough, sputum, dyspnea, and a right pulmonary nodule. He had previously eaten seafood he visited China.

Cellulitis and Bacteremia due to Corynebacterium striatum Identified by Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Corynebacterium striatum has been described as a pathogen in immunocompromised patients; however, correctly identifying Corynebacterium spp. is often difficult, and cases of cellulitis caused by C. striatum are only rarely reported.

Helicobacter fennelliae Bacteremia: Three Case Reports and Literature Review.

Helicobacter fennelliae is a gram-negative, spiral bacillus that appears as thin-spread colonies on sheep blood agar and is similar to Helicobacter cinaedi. H fennelliae is diagnosed by genetic testing, which is not readily available in all laboratories. Therefore, H fennelliae bacteremia has only been reported sporadically, and little is known about its clinical characteristics.

Evaluation of Streptococcus pneumoniae in bile samples: A case series review.

Although Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogen of humans, pneumococcal cholangitis is rare because of the rapid autolysis of S. pneumoniae. The aim of this case series was to review patients with bile cultures positive for S.

Microbiology of Pelvic Lymphocyst Infection after Lymphadenectomy for Malignant Gynecologic Tumors.

Background: Pelvic lymphocyst infection is a rare complication after lymphadenectomy for malignant gynecologic tumors. Although medical therapy is a useful addition to surgical drainage, the appropriate antibiotic regimen is unknown because few studies have examined the causative organisms. The purpose of this case series was to identify the micro-organisms infecting pelvic lymphocysts.

Surveillance of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae at a comprehensive cancer center in Japan, 2009-2013.

We examined the results of surveillance of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are pathogens known to cause nosocomial outbreaks, at a comprehensive cancer center in Japan over a 5-year period. We found that the admission prevalence and the incidence of ESBL-producing E coli increased during the study period, in contrast with ESBL-producing K pneumoniae, in which the parameters remained low throughout the study period.

Infection control for extrapulmonary tuberculosis at a tertiary care cancer center.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) can be infectious when diagnostic or therapeutic procedures are performed on infected lesions. We retrospectively describe infection control and evaluate isolation failure rates during the manipulation of active extrapulmonary TB lesions at a comprehensive cancer center over a 5-year period. Among patients with a high suspicion of cancer, extrapulmonary TB was not suspected, and airborne precautions often were not used when manipulating infected lesions.

Cryptococcus gattii genotype VGIIb infection in Japan.

This report describes a case of Cryptococcus gattii VGIIb infection of the pulmonary and central nervous systems in an immunocompetent Japanese man with a travel history, and it hypothesizes the place where he was infected with C. gattii using the genotype information.

[Evaluation of anesthetic management and renal function in open and endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm].

Background: Since 2007, the number of patients receiving endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVARs) is increasing in Japan. Although EVAR is less invasive and has a lower short-term mortality, it has no long-term advantages and may lead to deterioration of renal function.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated anesthetic management and renal function in patients undergoing EVAR and open repair (OR) between July 2010 and June 2011.

Raoultella ornithinolytica bacteremia in cancer patients: report of three cases.

Raoultella ornithinolytica is a Gram-negative aerobic bacillus reclassified in the new genus from the Klebsiella species based on new genetic approaches; however, human infections caused by R. ornithinolytica are rare. We herein report three cases of R.