Treatment of prosthetic graft infection after thoracic aorta replacement.

Purpose: Prosthetic graft infection is a fatal complication after thoracic aorta replacement, and it is sometimes difficult to perform a prompt re-operation when the patient carries the infectious source of the graft. We evaluated the early and mid-term outcomes of aortic graft infection after thoracic aorta replacement, focusing on the timing of the surgery.

Methods: This study included eight consecutive patients with thoracic graft infection from 1997 to 2011 among 513 patients of graft replacement during this period.

An extremely rare case of small-cell lung cancer harboring variant 2 of the EML4-ALK fusion gene.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fuses echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) to acquire a transforming activity in lung adenocarcinomas. However, the presence of an EML4-ALK fusion gene in other lung cancer histologies is an extremely rare phenomenon. A 43-year-old female was referred to our department due to dyspnea on effort and left back pain.

A Lethal Case of Bacteremia Due to Soft Tissue Infection.

is an uncommon cause of skin and soft tissue infections. It is often associated with trauma or immunocompromised state. We present the first lethal case of bacteremia due to skin and soft tissue infections, which had malnutrition, immobility, and peripheral vascular disease as risk factors.

Crizotinib versus chemotherapy in advanced ALK-positive lung cancer.

Background: In single-group studies, chromosomal rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) have been associated with marked clinical responses to crizotinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting ALK. Whether crizotinib is superior to standard chemotherapy with respect to efficacy is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a phase 3, open-label trial comparing crizotinib with chemotherapy in 347 patients with locally advanced or metastatic ALK-positive lung cancer who had received one prior platinum-based regimen.

Ethnic difference in liver fat content: a cross-sectional observation among Japanese American in Hawaii, Japanese in Japan, and non-Hispanic whites in United States.

Background: We recently reported that Japanese had higher liver fat at a lower level of BMI compared with non-Hispanic whites (NHW).

Objective: We hypothesize that ethnic difference in fat storage capacity contributes to this ethnic difference in liver fat.

Design: To examine this, we assessed liver fat among 244 Japanese-American aged 40-49, using regional computed-tomography images, along with metabolic variables.

Noninvasive cardiac monitoring in pregnancy: impedance cardiography versus echocardiography.

Objective: The objective of this study was to report thoracic impedance cardiography (ICG) measurements and compare them with echocardiography (echo) measurements throughout pregnancy and in varied maternal positions.

Method: A prospective cohort study involving 28 healthy parturients was performed using ICG and echo at three time points and in two maternal positions. Pearson's correlations, Bland-Altman plots and paired t-tests were used for statistical analysis.

Paravalvular abscess of the mitral valve with fistula to the left ventricle and detachment of the coronary sinus in a young woman.

Infective endocarditis (IE) of the mitral valve (MV) manifesting paravalvular abscess (PA) is challenging. A 30-year-old woman presented with PA fistulating to the left ventricle, detachment of the coronary sinus and systemic embolization. During a course of fever of unknown origin, the patient received laparoscopic surgery under the diagnosis of strangulating intestinal obstruction due to colitis.

Structural valve deterioration of porcine bioprosthesis soon after mitral valve repair and replacement.

An 81-year-old woman, who had undergone mitral valve replacement (MVR) with a porcine bioprosthesis after mitral valve repair, presented with hemolysis 4 years and 6 months after MVR. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed trivial mitral regurgitation, which was diagnosed based on the observed perivalvular leakage. Hemolysis gradually increased, and she developed dyspnea and edema 2 years after the appearance of mitral regurgitation.

CH5424802 (RO5424802) for patients with ALK-rearranged advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (AF-001JP study): a single-arm, open-label, phase 1-2 study.

Background: Currently, crizotinib is the only drug that has been approved for treatment of ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to study the activity and safety of CH5424802, a potent, selective, and orally available ALK inhibitor.

Methods: In this multicentre, single-arm, open-label, phase 1-2 study of CH5424802, we recruited ALK inhibitor-naive patients with ALK-rearranged advanced NSCLC from 13 hospitals in Japan.

Mutations of the EGFR and K-ras genes in resected stage I lung adenocarcinoma and their clinical significance.

Purpose: This study retrospectively assessed the mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and K-ras genes and their clinical significance in patients with resected stage I adenocarcinomas.

Methods: A total of 354 patients with resected lung adenocarcinomas were included, and 256 patients with stage I disease were analyzed for the prognostic and predictive value of these mutations.

Results: Mutations of EGFR and K-ras genes were detected in 149 (41.

Genetic and biological characterization of tick-borne encephalitis virus isolated from wild rodents in southern Hokkaido, Japan in 2008.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic agent causing severe encephalitis in humans. A recent epizootiological survey indicated that endemic foci of TBEV have been maintained in the southern part of Hokkaido until recently. In this study, we sought to isolate TBEV from wild rodents in the area.

Histology and smoking status predict survival of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Results of West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG) Study 3906L.

Introduction: Smoking status is one of the prognostic factors in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, adenocarcinoma (Ad) histology is considered a predictive factor in advanced NSCLC. We investigated the correlation between histology or smoking status and survival of NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapy.

Anemia affects the quality of life of Japanese cancer patients.

The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia (FACT-An) was developed to measure the effect of anemia on quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients. We have previously validated the Japanese version of the FACT-An in Japanese cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation therapy. That analysis was limited to evaluating the relationship between QOL scores and hemoglobin (Hb) levels.

Role of the ubiquitin proteasome system in the heart.

Proper protein turnover is required for cardiac homeostasis and, accordingly, impaired proteasomal function appears to contribute to heart disease. Specific proteasomal degradation mechanisms underlying cardiovascular biology and disease have been identified, and such cellular pathways have been proposed to be targets of clinical relevance. This review summarizes the latest literature regarding the specific E3 ligases involved in heart biology, and the general ways that the proteasome regulates protein quality control in heart disease.

A case of TUBA1A mutation presenting with lissencephaly and Hirschsprung disease.

Gene mutation of tubulin alpha-1A (TUBA1A), a critical component of microtubules of the cytoskeleton, impairs neural migration and causes lissencephaly (LIS). The approximately 45 cases of disease-associated TUBA1A mutations reported to date demonstrate a wide spectrum of phenotypes. Here we describe an 8-year-old girl with lissencephaly, microcephaly, and early-onset epileptic seizures associated with a novel mutation in the TUBA1A gene.

Disparities among Asians and native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders with ischemic stroke.

Objectives: To evaluate disparities in cardiovascular risk factors among Asians and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHPI) in Hawaii who are hospitalized with ischemic stroke.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study on consecutive patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke at a single tertiary center in Honolulu between 2004 and 2010. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was compared for NHPI, Asians, and whites who were hospitalized for ischemic stroke.

Continuous ambulatory Peritoneal dialysis beyond a decade: cases from a single center.

A broad consensus has not been reached on the appropriate timing for cessation of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Decreasing urine volume, repeated and refractory peritonitis, and deterioration of the peritoneal membrane are major reasons to stop PD. Also, the link between length of time on PD and encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) should be an additional concern.

Aging is an important risk factor for peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis.

Peritonitis remains a leading complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of this observational retrospective cohort study, conducted at our single center, was to determine the risk factors for peritonitis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used for the multivariate analysis.

Oncoshare: lessons learned from building an integrated multi-institutional database for comparative effectiveness research.

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) using observational data requires informatics methods for the extraction, standardization, sharing, and integration of data derived from a variety of electronic sources. In the Oncoshare project, we have developed such methods as part of a collaborative multi-institutional CER study of patterns, predictors, and outcome of breast cancer care. In this paper, we present an evaluation of the approaches we undertook and the lessons we learned in building and validating the Oncoshare data resource.

Influence of nitrogen excited species on the destruction of naphthalene in nitrogen and air using surface dielectric barrier discharge.

The destruction of naphthalene, as representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, by surface dielectric barrier discharge is investigated in air as well as dry and humidified nitrogen at ambient temperature. Naphthalene destruction efficiency is evaluated in terms of chemical change vis-a-vis energy utilization. The detected byproducts are qualitatively evaluated in order to understand the role of the active species in the destruction process.

Efficacy and safety analysis according to histology for S-1 in combination with carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: updated results of the West Japan Oncology Group LETS study.

Background: A phase III study (Lung Cancer Evaluation of TS-1) previously demonstrated noninferiority in terms of overall survival (OS) at interim analysis for carboplatin-S-1 compared with carboplatin-paclitaxel for first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 564 patients were randomly assigned to receive either carboplatin on day 1 plus oral S-1 on days 1-14 or carboplatin-paclitaxel on day 1 every 21 days. Updated results and post hoc subgroup analysis according to tumor histology are presented.

Regression of thymoma associated with a multilocular thymic cyst: report of a case.

A 28-year-old male was diagnosed with acute pericarditis after presenting with acute chest pain, fever and an abnormality in an electrocardiogram. No symptoms suggestive of myasthenia gravis were observed. Although the symptoms were alleviated by antibiotics, computed tomography (CT) showed an anterior mediastinal mass with bilateral pleural effusion.

Predictive factors associated with change rates of LV hypertrophy and renal dysfunction in CKD patients.

Background: This longitudinal study is the first report on the factors associated with change rates of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) using echocardiography in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Methods: Measurements of biochemical and physical values, and LVMI evaluated by echocardiography were performed twice (baseline and follow-up period) in pre-dialysis CKD patients. Blood and urine samples were collected at the time of the echocardiographic study.

A comparative clinical evaluation of the assay of serum extracellular domain of HER2 protein using a chemiluminescent immunoassay method in breast cancer patients with or without HER2 protein expression in immunohistochemistry.

Objective: The human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) protein has been used as a biomarker for breast cancer. A new method based on chemiluminescent immunoassay for measuring the serum levels of the extracellular domain of HER2 protein (sHER2-ECD) has been developed. Its clinical usefulness has not been clearly established.