Outcomes of Combined Atezolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in Clinical Practice.

Background/aim: Atezolizumab, one of the anti-PD-L1 antibodies, targets PD-L1 expressed on cancer cells and antigen-presenting cells. This immune checkpoint inhibitor is now commonly used in combination with chemotherapy. The objectives of this study were to confirm the treatment outcomes of combined atezolizumab plus chemotherapy, and to identify prognostic factors, with a particular focus on the impact of the site of metastasis in real-world clinical practice.

Is Intraoperative Blood Loss Volume in Elderly Cervical Spine Injury Surgery Greater in Patients with Ankylosis? A Multicenter Survey.

Introduction: Preoperative estimations of blood loss are important when planning surgery for cervical spine injuries in older adults. The association between ankylosis and blood loss in perioperative management is of particular interest. This multicenter database review aimed to evaluate the impact of ankylosis on surgical blood loss volume in elderly patients with cervical spine injury.

Association of walking and activities of daily living with muscle thickness of the trunk and lower extremity muscles in children with down syndrome.

Purpose: We examined the association of walking and activities of daily living(ADL) with trunk and lower extremity muscle thickness in children with Down syndrome (DS).

Methods: 27 children with DS participated in this study. Walking was assessed using measurements of the maximal walking speed and step length, while ADL was assessed using the Pediatric Evaluation of DisabilityInventory (PEDI).

Early Resolution of Abnormal Vascular Networks After Superficial Temporal Artery to Middle Cerebral Artery (STA-MCA) Bypass Surgery for Twig-Like Middle Cerebral Artery With Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Case Report.

The twig-like middle cerebral artery (T-MCA) is a rare condition characterized by unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and abnormal vascular networks, resembling Moyamoya Disease (MMD). While some reports mention bypass surgery for T-MCA, akin to MMD, there is no established treatment method. Previous reports highlight the efficacy of revascularization procedures in preventing recurrent strokes in T-MCA patients, but there is limited data on its usefulness for cases with intracerebral hemorrhagic onset.

Prognostic Factors for Patients with Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemoimmunotherapy: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate prognostic factors for predicting the survival of patients with extensive-disease-stage small-cell lung cancer treated with chemoimmunotherapy.

Methods: Patients were classified according to overall survival (OS): favorable corresponded to an OS ≥ 24 months, moderate corresponded to an OS of 6-24 months, and poor corresponded to an OS < 6 months. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate prognostic factors.

Factors prolonging antibiotic duration and impact of early surgery in thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis treated with minimally invasive posterior fixation.

Purpose: A standard 6-12-week course of antibiotics is recommended for pyogenic spondylitis. Recent evidence supports early minimally invasive posterior fixation surgery; however, its effect on antibiotic treatment duration is unclear. This study aims to identify factors associated with prolonged antibiotic treatment in thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis patients resistant to conservative treatment and assess whether early surgery can reduce treatment duration.

Impact of causative organism identification on clinical outcomes after minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis: multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the difference in treatment duration and unplanned additional surgeries between patients with unidentified causative organisms on empiric antibiotics and those with identified organisms on selective antibiotics in treating thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis with minimally invasive posterior fixation.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients with thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis refractory to conservative treatment who underwent minimally invasive posterior fixation. Patients were divided into the identified (known causative organism) and unidentified groups (unknown causative organism).

The efficacy and safety of the internal medication therapy of the triple drugs for chronic subdural hematoma: Retrospective analysis.

The recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) after surgical treatment is a severe problem with no effective prevention method. This retrospective study aimed to investigate factors associated with CSDH recurrence after burr hole surgery and hematoma changes on computed tomography before surgery to examine prevention methods for recurrence. A total of 166 hematomas were enrolled in this study, with 139 patients undergoing burr hole surgery for CSDH.

Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Bacteremia Caused by Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in Minami Ibaraki Area, Japan.

Although recent propagation of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) has become a problem worldwide, the picture of CPE infection in Japan has not fully been elucidated. In this study, we examined clinical and microbiological characteristics of invasive CPE infection occurring at 8 hospitals in Minami Ibaraki Area between July 2001 to June 2017. Of 7294 Enterobacterales strains isolated from independent cases of bacteremia and/or meningitis, 10 (0.

Pedicle screw insertion into infected vertebrae reduces operative time and range of fixation in minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: Minimally invasive posterior fixation surgery for pyogenic spondylitis is known to reduce invasiveness and complication rates; however, the outcomes of concomitant insertion of pedicle screws (PS) into the infected vertebrae via the posterior approach are undetermined. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of PS insertion into infected vertebrae in minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 70 patients undergoing minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis across nine institutions.

Transvenous Embolization for Isolated Superior Petrosal Sinus Dural Arteriovenous Fistula.

Isolated superior petrosal sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (SPSdAVF) is a rare condition for which transvenous embolization is a safe treatment, even if accessing the isolated sinus can be challenging. A 39-year-old female patient with dizziness and right facial palsy underwent magnetic resonance imaging, revealing a venous infarction at the posterior fossa and a dural arteriovenous fistula. Digital subtraction angiography showed an isolated SPSdAVF.

Atezolizumab for EGFR-mutated Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: An Observation Study in Ibaraki Group (ATTENTION-IBARAKI).

Background/aim: Atezolizumab, an anti-programed death-ligand 1 monoclonal antibody, targets programed death-ligand 1 expressed on cancer cells and antigen-presenting cells and is now commonly used in combination with chemotherapy. We conducted a study to clarify the efficacy of atezolizumab in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated patients who are considered less responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received atezolizumab-containing therapy at 11 hospitals from April 2018 to March 2023 was performed.

A case report of circular external fixator with low-profile mini-fragment plate fixation: A combination of two methods for a tibial pilon fracture.

Tibial pilon fractures are difficult to treat. These fractures are associated with a high frequency of soft tissue complications. Therefore, two-stage surgery and less invasive surgical strategies using external fixation have been reported.

Atezolizumab Monotherapy for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: An Observational Study in Ibaraki Group (ATTENTION-IBARAKI).

Background/aim: Atezolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressed on cancer cells derived from various organs and antigen-presenting cells and is currently commonly used in combination with chemotherapy. We conducted a study to clarify the current status of response to atezolizumab monotherapy in clinical practice and clarify the factors that contribute to long-term response and survival.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with atezolizumab monotherapy from April 2018 to March 2023 at 11 Hospitals.

Prognostic impact of respiratory dysfunction in elderly patients with cervical spinal cord injury and/or fractures: a multicenter survey.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of early post-injury respiratory dysfunction for neurological and ambulatory ability recovery in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and/or fractures.

Methods: We included 1,353 elderly patients with SCI and/or fractures from 78 institutions in Japan. Patients who required early tracheostomy and ventilator management and those who developed respiratory complications were included in the respiratory dysfunction group, which was further classified into mild and severe respiratory groups based on respiratory weaning management.

Atypical Remitting Seronegative Symmetrical Synovitis with Pitting Edema Syndrome in an Elderly Lung Cancer Patient.

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome develops in patients with various underlying diseases. The involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor in the development of this syndrome has been suggested and malignant disease could be one of the underlying diseases of RS3PE syndrome. This syndrome is interpreted as one of the paraneoplastic syndromes that often have a poor prognosis.

Long-term Progression-free Survival With Pemetrexed Plus Bevacizumab in NSCLC Patients.

Background/aim: Pemetrexed (PEM) and bevacizumab (BEV) are commonly used in combination as second or subsequent line regimens and maintenance therapy after platinum + PEM + BEV therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Median progression-free survival (PFS) for PEM + BEV has been reported to be less than six months in both clinical trials and clinical practice, but in clinical practice, we found that some patients demonstrate long-term PFS. Furthermore, there is a paucity of clinical practice data on whether long-term administration of PEM + BEV causes renal dysfunction.

Association of activities of daily living and cognitive function with thickness of the upper extremity muscles in children and adults with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: We examined the association of activities of daily living (ADL) and cognitive function with the upper extremity muscle thickness and upper extremity range of motion (ROM) and spasticity in children and adults with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: The subjects were 20 children and adults with CP. The ADL performed using the upper extremities and cognitive function were assessed using the self-care domain of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and the full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fourth edition (WISC-IV), respectively.

Characteristics of the cervical spine and cervical cord injuries in older adults with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Although the incidence of cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) has increased in older adults, its etiology and neurological outcomes remain unknown. We identified OPLL characteristics and determined whether they influence neurological severity and improvement of CSCI in older patients. This multicenter retrospective cohort study identified 1512 patients aged ≥ 65 years diagnosed with CSCI on admission during 2010-2020.