Solitary pulmonary nodule caused by pulmonary infection.

An 82-year-old Japanese man who previously had descending colon cancer and underwent partial resection showed a growing solitary pulmonary nodule, suspected as lung cancer, on follow-up computed tomography. Thoracoscopic partial lobectomy was therefore performed. The surgical specimen showed granulomatous lesions with necrosis.

Impact of osteopenia on surgical and oncological outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Introduction: Osteopenia, which is defined as a decrease in bone mineral density, has been recently recognized as a metabolic and an oncological biomarker for surgery in patients with malignancy. We aimed to study the prognostic impact of osteopenia in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) after resection.

Methods: A total of 56 patients who underwent curative resection of PC were retrospectively investigated.

Three different CT and FGD PET/CT findings of pulmonary involvement in methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disease.

Lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) is one of the complications of methotrexate (MTX) therapy. In MTX-associated LPD (MTX-LPD), LPD lesions limited to the lungs are rare and show various types of opacity. A 75-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented with myalgia.

Long-lasting response to afatinib that persisted after treatment discontinuation in a case of -mutated lung adenocarcinoma.

It is unknown whether tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can be discontinued in patients in whom -mutated lung cancer has well stabilised. We present a case of a 73-year-old Japanese woman with no history of smoking. Right pulmonary lower lobectomy, lymph node dissection and segmental resection of the right middle lobe were performed.

Effects of photodynamic therapy plus intravitreal aflibercept with subtenon triamcinolone injections for aflibercept-resistant polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of triple therapy of photodynamic therapy combined with injections of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) and subtenon triamcinolone acetonide for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) resistant to IVA.

Methods: A retrospective chart review at a single institution was conducted to identify patients with PCV resistant to treatment with IVA who were switched to treatment with triple therapy. In total, 13 eyes from 13 patients were included in the study.

Paradoxical response with increased tumor necrosis factor-α levels to anti-tuberculosis treatment in a patient with disseminated tuberculosis.

It has been reported that tuberculosis (TB) worsens after cessation of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors and starting anti-TB treatment. Little is known about the immunological pathogenesis of this paradoxical response (PR). We report the first case of a TB patient in whom PR occurred concurrently with elevation of circulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) levels.

Stepwise increase of MIB-1 index in frequently relapsed malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

We identified the stepwise increase of MIB-1 index in a long-surviving malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) patient with a history of frequent relapse. A 29-year-old Japanese woman showed upper abdominal induration with adnexal tumor. Imaging study with biochemical analyses strongly suggested peritoneal tumor.

Concurrent high-grade serous carcinoma and borderline tumor demonstrating different chemo-sensitivity.

Ovarian high-grade serous adenocarcinoma responds well to regular platinum/taxane chemotherapy, while borderline tumor survives and demonstrates persistent disease. A 69-year-old Japanese woman was suspected for having advanced ovarian carcinoma. MRI showed cystic tumor containing solid component of the right adnexal region with massive ascites and peritoneal dissemination.

Radical resection of T1 pancreatic adenocarcinoma with a pseudocyst of the tail due to acute obstructive pancreatitis: report of a case.

A 53-year-old male visited his primary physician for epigastric and back pain. Abdominal-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a simple cyst of the pancreatic tail attached to the stomach. A distal main pancreatic duct (MPD) was clearly dilated, but no pancreatic tumor was identified around the stenosis of MPD by CT scan and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).

Establishment and characterization of a clear cell carcinoma cell line, designated NOCC, derived from human ovary.

A cell line, designated NOCC, was established from the ascites of a patient with clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary. The cell line has been grown without interruption and continuously propagated by serial passaging (more than 76 times) over 7 years. The cells are spherical to polygonal-shaped, display neoplastic, and pleomorphic features, and grow in a jigsaw puzzle-like pattern while forming monolayers without contact inhibition.

Long-term safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of omalizumab in children with severe uncontrolled asthma.

Background: Omalizumab is effective and well-tolerated in children with moderate to severe allergic asthma. However, the effects of long-term treatment with omalizumab in this population haven't been well investigated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of omalizumab in children with uncontrolled severe asthma.

Mitotically active cellular fibroma of the ovary: a case report and literature review.

Background: The ovarian cellular fibrous tumor with mitotic figure >4 per 10 high power field without moderate to severe atypia is defined as mitotically active cellular fibroma according to the 2014 World Health Organization classification. As this category is new and rare now, we described here a case of MACF and reviewed the literature.

Case: We present a case of mitotically active cellular fibroma of the ovary with 10-year history that was treated with laparoscopic surgery.

Omalizumab in Japanese children with severe allergic asthma uncontrolled with standard therapy.

Background: Omalizumab has demonstrated clinical benefits in children with moderate to severe allergic asthma. However, no studies have been performed in Japanese asthmatic children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy including free IgE suppression and safety of omalizumab in Japanese children with severe allergic asthma.

Stent graft placement and balloon dilation for pseudoaneurysm complicated by distal arterial stenosis of the hepatic artery after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Hemorrhage from ruptured pseudoaneurysm is a rapidly progressing and potentially fatal complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Stent graft placement for hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm has recently been reported as a valid alternative to transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). We report a case of pseudoaneurysm of the common hepatic artery (CHA) with distal arterial stenosis treated by stent graft placement for pseudoaneurysm and balloon dilation for arterial stenosis due to pancreatic fistula after PD.

Effects of Add-on Therapy Consisting of a Selective Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blocker on Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension.

Objective: Aldosterone plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis; however, the significance of mineralocorticoid receptor blockade for atherosclerosis has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the effect of add-on eplerenone on the degree of arterial stiffness was examined in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Methods: Forty-seven uncontrolled hypertensive patients who had previously been treated with anti-hypertensive drugs were examined retrospectively.

Laparoscopic repair for intraoperative injury of the right hepatic artery during cholecystectomy.

Right hepatic artery (RHA) injury is a complication that occurs during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which can sometimes cause hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm or ischemic hepatic necrosis. Therefore, RHA should be managed carefully. Herein, we report a case of intraoperative RHA injury that was successfully repaired during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Treatment-interval associated effect of irradiation on locoregionally-relapsed ovarian cancer.

Recurrent ovarian cancer following chemotherapy is usually incurable, particularly when the tumor acquires a drug resistance. The present study aimed to define the effect of irradiation on locoregional recurrences and the impact of the factors on the efficacy. The study retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 61 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who received irradiation following repeated chemotherapy between 1997 and 2006.

Development of AR Surgical Navigation Systems for Multiple Surgical Regions.

The purpose of our research is to develop surgical navigation systems to enhance surgical safety. Our systems make use of augmented reality technology to superimpose, on the surgery screen on a real time basis, patients' organ models reconstructed in 3D from their X-ray CT data taken before surgery. By doing so, the systems display anatomical risk materials, tumors and blood vessels which surgeons cannot see with their naked eyes.

Pathology-oriented treatment strategy of malignant ovarian tumor in pregnant women: analysis of 41 cases in Japan.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the histological findings on the treatment of malignant ovarian tumors in pregnant women.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 41 patients diagnosed and treated for ovarian malignancy during pregnancy between 1985 and 2010.

Results: The median age of the study group was 30 years old, ranging from 20 to 41.

A feasibility study on maintenance of docetaxel after paclitaxel-carboplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Objective: To test the concept of taxane sequencing, this feasibility trial evaluated maintenance of docetaxel after paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with stage IC-IV ovarian cancer.

Methods: All patients received debulking surgery followed by paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy. Attainment of clinically defined complete or partial response was confirmed by image scanning.

Effects of Transdermal Tulobuterol in Pediatric Asthma Patients on Long-Term Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Therapy: Results of a Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Clinical Trial in Japanese Children Aged 4-12 Years.

Background: Few studies have examined the efficacy or safety of a transdermal β2 agonist as add-on medicationto long-term leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) therapy in pediatric asthma patients.

Methods: In this randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial, children aged 4-12 years on long-term LTRA therapy were treated with tulobuterol patches (1-2 mg daily) or oral sustained-release theophylline (usual dose, 4-5 mg_kg daily) for 4 weeks. LTRAs were continued throughout the trial.

Effects of transdermal tulobuterol in pediatric asthma patients on long-term leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy: results of a randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial in Japanese children aged 4-12 years.

Background: Few studies have examined the efficacy or safety of a transdermal β(2) agonist as add-on medication to long-term leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) therapy in pediatric asthma patients.

Methods: In this randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial, children aged 4-12 years on long-term LTRA therapy were treated with tulobuterol patches (1-2mg daily) or oral sustained-release theophylline (usual dose, 4-5mg/kg daily) for 4 weeks. LTRAs were continued throughout the trial.