Administration of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors to Patients on Warfarin May Elevate PT-INR.

The relationship between the concomitant use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and elevated prothrombin time-to-international standard ratio (PT-INR) in patients receiving warfarin remains unclear. In the present study, 26 patients treated with ICIs during warfarin therapy were examined for increases in PT-INR within 60 d of ICI administration. Of these patients, 13 developed Grade 2 or higher PT-INR elevations, 5 of which required the immediate administration of vitamin K.

Effects of microvascular decompression on quality-of-life in trigeminal neuralgia patients aged 70 years and older.

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) occasionally affects older adults, frequently worsens, and becomes refractory to medication. Older adult patients with TN may consider microvascular decompression (MVD) for their treatment. No study examines MVD effects on older adult TN patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Trends and future projections of cervical cancer-related outcomes in Japan: What happens if the HPV vaccine program is not implemented?

Contrary to other developed countries, in Japan, recent years have seen increases in cervical cancer incidence and mortality among young people. However, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine program, a key measure for avoiding cervical cancer, has been virtually suspended. Temporal changes in cervical cancer profiles in this unique situation have not been fully investigated epidemiologically.

[Possibility of Prolonging Treatment by Preventing Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Using Compression Therapy].

We evaluated the efficacy of surgical glove(SG)-compression therapy for paclitaxel (PTX)-induced peripheral neuropathy (PN)and the impact of PN prevention on treatment duration. Patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer underwent a combined treatment of PTX and bevacizumab with(n=20; patients wore 2 SGs for 120 min)or without(n=15) compression therapy. SG-compression therapy significantly decreased the incidence of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events(CTCAE)v4.

The Clinical Evaluation of Third-generation Cephalosporins As Definitive Therapy for Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella aerogenes Bacteremia.

Objective Third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs) may be susceptible in vitro to Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella aerogenes. However, treatment with mainly fourth-generation cephalosporins or carbapenems is currently recommended.

One-rescuer newborn CPR using a face mask or an i-gel supraglottic airway and two-finger compressions - A manikin study with cross-over desgin.

Introduction: When unanticipated neonatal asphyxia occurs, it may be necessary for a single resuscitator to commence advanced resuscitation before others arrive. We hypothesised that a single rescuer can provide positive pressure ventilations and chest compressions using higher inflation pressures and better adherence to the recommended compression rate with an i-gel supraglottic airway than with a face mask.

Method: A manikin-based cross-over study was conducted.

Fentanyl titration for cancer pain: continuous subcutaneous injection and a once-daily transdermal patch - case series.

Objectives: Continuous subcutaneous injection (CSCI) followed by a once-daily transdermal patch is a reasonable strategy for rapid titration of fentanyl in patients with cancer pain who are unable to take oral medication or have renal impairment, but the effectiveness and safety have not been demonstrated.

Methods: Medical records of patients with moderate to severe cancer pain who underwent titration of fentanyl by CSCI between October 2019 and October 2021 at Kitano Hospital, Osaka, Japan, were retrospectively reviewed. The dose of fentanyl was increased to a maximum of 0.

New practical scoring system to predict post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis: Development and validation.

Background And Aim: Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) is the most serious adverse event of ERCP. Therefore, it is important to identify high-risk patients who require prophylactic measures. The aim of this study was to develop a practical prediction model for PEP that identifies high-risk patients.

Risk factor analysis for early rebleeding after endoscopic treatment for colonic diverticular bleeding with stigmata of recent hemorrhage.

Background And Aim: Colonic diverticular bleeding is a common cause of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Endoscopic hemostasis is generally selected as the first-line treatment; however, a considerable number of patients experience early rebleeding after endoscopic treatment. We investigated the risk factors for early rebleeding after endoscopic treatment.

Chemosensitivity of Patient-Derived Cancer Stem Cells Identifies Colorectal Cancer Patients with Potential Benefit from FGFR Inhibitor Therapy.

Some colorectal cancer patients harboring (fibroblast growth factor receptor) genetic alterations, such as copy number gain, mutation, and/or mRNA overexpression, were selected for enrollment in several recent clinical trials of FGFR inhibitor, because these genetic alterations were preclinically reported to be associated with FGFR inhibitor sensitivity as well as poor prognosis, invasiveness, and/or metastatic potential. However, few enrolled patients were responsive to FGFR inhibitors. Thus, practical strategies are eagerly awaited that can stratify patients for the subset that potentially responds to FGFR inhibitor chemotherapy.

Effectiveness and safety of surgical glove compression therapy as a prophylactic method against nanoparticle albumin-bound-paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Background: We have developed a surgical glove (SG)-compression therapy and reported that this method significantly reduced the overall occurrence of grade 2 or higher nanoparticle albumin-bound-paclitaxel (nab-PTX)-induced peripheral neuropathy (PN) from 76.1% to 21.4%.

Age-related survival disparity in stage IB and IIB cervical cancer patients.

Aim: Whether young cervical cancer patients have poorer prognosis compared to older ones has remained controversial over the past half century. The last three decades have seen a rise in morbidity and mortality among young Japanese women with cervical cancer. This reflects the fact that the importance of prevention has not been fully recognized due to limited clinical studies.

Altered immunogenicity of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in elderly patients with diabetes who revealed lower responses to concomitant administration of BIKEN varicella zoster vaccine: Results of post hoc analysis of a randomized double-blind trial.

Aims: This double-blind randomized controlled study of 52 elderly patients with diabetes assessed cell-mediated immunity and safety of BIKEN varicella-zoster vaccine (BVZV). Cellular and humoral responses to VZV at 3 months after BVZV and 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV23) vaccination elicited poor results. Post-hoc analyses assessed the effects of immunogenicity of PPSV23.

Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Pancreatic Metastases: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis.

Objectives: Pancreatic metastases (PMs) account for 1% to 2% of pancreatic tumors, and their prognostic significance is poorly defined. We evaluated the incidence and clinical characteristics of primary tumors and defined prognostic factors.

Methods: This retrospective study of 39 Japanese tertiary referral hospitals (January 2005 to August 2015) analyzed patient and tumor characteristics and survival time.

The features in IgA-dominant infection-related glomerulonephritis distinct from IgA nephropathy: a single-center study.

Background: IgA-dominant infection-related glomerulonephritis (IgA-IRGN) is a unique form of IRGN, which needs to be distinguished from IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Methods: Thirteen patients with IgA-IRGN (IgA-IRGN group) and 122 with IgAN (IgAN group) were selected from 1788 patients who underwent kidney biopsy between 2000 and 2015 in Kitano Hospital. Data selected included clinical and serological parameters; light and electron microscope findings; immunofluorescence findings; and prognostic parameters like renal and overall survival and creatinine increase by > 50%.

Development and validation of a preoperative prognostic index independent of TNM stage in resected non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Previously reported prognostic tools for patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include factors found postoperatively, but not preoperatively. However, it would be important to predict patient prognosis before NSCLC resection. To suggest a novel preoperative prognostic tool, we evaluated the relationship of preoperative prognostic factors with the survival of patients with resected NSCLC.

Long acting β-adrenocepter agonists are not associated with atrial arrhythmias after pulmonary resection.

Background: Long-acting β-adrenoceptor agonists have been shown to increase the risk of atrial arrhythmias in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether perioperative long-acting β-adrenoceptor agonists treatment would increase the risk of postoperative atrial arrhythmias after lung cancer surgery in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 174 consecutive chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy.

Reticular Appearance on Gadolinium-enhanced T1- and Diffusion-weighted MRI, and Low Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values in Microcystic Meningioma Cysts.

Purpose: Microcystic meningioma, a rare meningioma subtype, can present diagnostic difficulty. We aimed to investigate the historadiological properties of microcystic meningioma using conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) analysis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed conventional MRI and DWI results of six microcystic meningioma cases by examining their appearance and determining their apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values.

Emphysematous lungs do not affect visibility of virtual-assisted lung mapping.

Background: It has recently been suggested that virtual-assisted lung mapping may enable safer and more reliable intraoperative navigation compared to conventional preoperative lung marking strategies. This study aimed to examine the relationship between emphysematous lungs and the intraoperative visibility of virtual-assisted lung mapping markings.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 21 patients who underwent virtual-assisted lung mapping followed by lung resection between October 2013 and May 2015.

Fetal Erythroblastosis May Be an Indicator of Neonatal Transient Hyperinsulinism.

Background: Small for gestational age and birth asphyxia are associated with neonatal transient hyperinsulinism (THI). Some newborns with THI showed marked erythroblastosis on admission to our neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: This study was designed to test our hypothesis that fetal erythroblastosis may be a risk factor for developing THI.