Post-thoracotomy pain syndrome in the era of minimally invasive thoracic surgery.

Post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) is defined as pain around the wound that persists for more than 2 months after surgery. Persistent pain not only increases the use of analgesics and their side effects but also causes many social problems, such as decreased activities of daily living, decreased quality of life, and increased medical costs. In particular, thoracic surgery is associated with a higher frequency and severity of chronic pain than is surgery for other diseases.

Designer umbilical cord-stem cells induce alveolar wall regeneration in pulmonary disease models.

Background: Researchers are focusing on cellular therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hBM-MSCs) leading the way. However, BM-MSCs may not be as optimal as therapeutic cells owing to their low growth potential, invasive harvesting, and high expression of aging-related genes with poor differentiation potential. Consequently, umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs), which have many excellent features as allogeneic heterologous stem cells, have received considerable attention.

Curved Axillary Incision with Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: An Alternative Approach for Teenage Female with Large Apical Chest Wall Tumor.

Primary chest wall tumors are rare, their common clinical features are not well known, and surgical resection remains the main treatment. Apical chest wall tumors require large skin incisions and dissection of the chest wall muscles, making it difficult to maintain cosmetic appearance, respiratory function, and support of the upper extremity. There are few treatment options and no studies have reported on thoracotomy that spares muscles and preserves cosmetic superiority.

Does the human leukocyte antigen's relatively homogeneous genetic background relate to better lung transplantation outcomes in Japan?

The outcomes of lung transplantation in Japan are better than in other countries; however, the reasons for this are unclear. While the genetic background of the Japanese may be relatively homogeneous compared with those of other countries, whether this genetic similarity is related to better lung transplantation outcomes is an interesting question. We reviewed the literature to define the relationship between genetic similarity and better lung transplantation outcomes.

Timing of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy Defines its Immunosuppressive Effects in a Rat Lung Transplantation Model.

Cell therapy using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is being studied for its immunosuppressive effects. In organ transplantation, the amount of MSCs that accumulate in transplanted organs and other organs may differ depending on administration timing, which may impact their immunosuppressive effects. , adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) suppress lymphocyte activation under cell-to-cell contact conditions.

A novel lung cancer model based on bioengineered rat lungs.

Two-dimensional cell cultures have contributed substantially to lung cancer research, but 3D cultures are gaining attention as a new, more efficient, and effective research model. A model reproducing the 3D characteristics and tumor microenvironment of the lungs , including the co-existence of healthy alveolar cells with lung cancer cells, is ideal. Here, we describe the creation of a successful lung cancer model based on bioengineered lungs formed by decellularization and recellularization.

Spontaneous pleural aspergillosis in an immunocompetent young adult treated with minimally invasive surgery.

Spontaneous cases of pleural aspergillosis in healthy adults are rare, and the optimal therapeutic approach has not been established. Here we report a rare case of spontaneous pleural aspergillosis in an otherwise healthy young adult. Two-stage surgery with decortication and cavernostomy, followed by systemic antifungal therapy, finally resulted in a successful resolution of his empyema without any serious complications.

Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate Immune Reactions Against Pig Decellularized Bronchi Engrafted into Rat Tracheal Defects.

Decellularized scaffolds are promising biomaterials for tissue and organ reconstruction; however, strategies to effectively suppress the host immune responses toward these implants, particularly those without chemical crosslinking, remain warranted. Administration of mesenchymal stem cells is effective against immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. Herein, we investigated the effect of isogeneic abdominal adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (ADMSCs) on xenogeneic biomaterial-induced immunoreactions.

Donor and Recipient Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Rat Lung Transplantation.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are beginning to be proven as immunosuppressant in the field of organ transplantation. However, the effects of MSC origin (donor or recipient) on immunosuppression are not clear. Hence, we investigated the effects of recipient and donor adipose-derived MSCs (ADMSCs) on immunosuppression in a rat lung transplantation model.

Preoperative respiratory intervention eliminated the operation cancelations of lobectomy surgery.

In Nagasaki University Hospital, the patients undergoing surgery with abnormal respiratory function have been automatically referred to specialized clinic by Medical Support Center (MSC) since July 2016 to reduce surgery cancellations due to insufficient preoperative evaluation. Whether the MSC system decreased post-hospital surgery cancellation, variance rate, or length of hospital stays in patients received "lobectomy" were retrospectively compared between Period A (n = 264, before MSC introduction) and Period B (n = 264, after MSC introduction). Four patients' operations were cancelled after hospitalization in Period A, while 0 patients in Period B (p < 0.

[Airway Complications after Lung Transplantation].

Lung transplantation is the only option for patients with end-stage pulmonary diseases. During recent years, satisfactory results in terms of long-term survival and quality of life have been achieved with improvements in perioperative management, surgical technique, and immunosuppression. Airway complications after lung transplantation are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Successful pulmonary artery stenting for occlusion at a constructed pericardial conduit after right upper double sleeve lobectomy.

The patient was a 53-year-old man. His chief complaint was a cough and dyspnea on exertion. Computed tomography (CT) showed a 3-cm-diameter tumor in the right upper lobe with invasion from hilar lymph nodes to the superior vena cava, right main bronchus, and pulmonary artery.

Mirogabalin treatment of postoperative neuropathic pain after thoracic surgery: study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, interventional trial.

Background: Intercostal nerve damage due to thoracotomy or thoracoscopic manipulation is a major contributor to chronic postsurgical pain after pulmonary resection. Chronic postsurgical pain may last for months or years and can negatively impair physical functioning and daily activities. Global consensus on severe postoperative pain management is lacking, and chronic pain incidence after thoracic surgery remains high.

Anticancer agent α-sulfoquinovosyl-acylpropanediol enhances the radiosensitivity of human malignant mesothelioma in nude mouse models.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly malignant disease that develops after asbestos exposure. Although the number of MPM cases is predicted to increase, no effective standard therapies have been established. The novel radiosensitizer α-sulfoquinovosyl-acylpropanediol (SQAP) enhances the effects of γ-radiation in human lung and prostate cancer cell lines and in animal models.

Increased In Vitro Intercellular Barrier Function of Lung Epithelial Cells Using Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells.

With the emergence of coronavirus disease-2019, researchers have gained interest in the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) in acute respiratory distress syndrome; however, the mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of MSCs are unclear. We have previously reported that adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) strengthen the barrier function of the pulmonary vessels in scaffold-based bioengineered rat lungs. In this study, we evaluated whether AD-MSCs could enhance the intercellular barrier function of lung epithelial cells in vitro using a transwell coculture system.

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the thymus; a rare type of thymic carcinoma. Case Report.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the thymus is a particularly rare type among thymic carcinomas. Here, we report a patient who underwent complete surgical resection of the primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the thymus. She was 74 years old and presented with a 60-mm multilocular cystic tumor in her right anterior mediastinum.

Preoperative tracheal resection and reconstruction simulations with patient-specific three-dimensional models.

Three-dimensional (3D) printers are increasingly being used for a variety of applications. In the surgical field, patient-specific organ models are increasingly being used as preoperative simulators for complicated surgeries. In this study, we describe the use of patient-specific 3D models for tracheal resection.

Enhanced airway stenting using a preoperative, three-dimensionally printed airway model simulation.

Three-dimensionally printed organ models that facilitate preoperative simulations have the potential to improve outcomes of surgical procedures. Here, we report a case involving a 54-year-old man diagnosed with lung cancer of the right upper bronchus that was invading the right main bronchus. A right upper lobectomy with carinoplasty was performed.

Surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy for metachronous primary lung cancer? A propensity score matching analysis.

Objective: We compared outcomes after surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) among patients with metachronous primary lung cancer (MPLC).

Methods: Patients with MPLC were treated with either surgery (2008-2018) or SBRT (2010-2018). We used propensity score matching (PSM) to reduce bias from various clinicopathological factors.

Lung Microvascular Niche, Repair, and Engineering.

Biomaterials have been used for a long time in the field of medicine. Since the success of "tissue engineering" pioneered by Langer and Vacanti in 1993, tissue engineering studies have advanced from simple tissue generation to whole organ generation with three-dimensional reconstruction. Decellularized scaffolds have been widely used in the field of reconstructive surgery because the tissues used to generate decellularized scaffolds can be easily harvested from animals or humans.

Cephalic Vein Cut-down for Totally Implantable Central Venous Access Devices With Preoperative Ultrasonography by Surgical Residents.

Background/aim: Cephalic vein (CV) cut-down for totally implantable central venous access devices (TICVADs) is not frequently used due to its low success rate. We compared the outcomes of CV cut-down using preoperative ultrasonography (US) performed by experienced surgeons versus surgical residents.

Patients And Methods: From December 2015 to December 2017, 10 surgeons implanted 212 TICVADs using CV cut-down with preoperative US.

A case of emergent operation for a life-threatening infectious mediastinal cyst.

Purpose: Congenital mediastinal cysts are an uncommon but important diagnostic group. Most of these cysts are benign and asymptomatic in adults. However, some of them are clinically problematic due to the compression of neighboring organs, infection, or perforation.

[Resection of Lung Cancer with Chest Wall Invasion Using Posterior Paramedian Incision].

We report a case of lung cancer with chest wall invasion resected with the posterior paramedian incision. A man in his 60s exhibited hemosputum and cough. Chest X-ray revealed a large mass below the right hilum.