End-of-Life Care of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Compared with Aggressive lymphoma in Patients Who Are Eligible for Intensive Chemotherapy: An Observational Study in a Japanese Community Hospital.

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies (HMs) are reported to receive more aggressive care at the end of life (EOL) than patients with solid tumors. However, the reasons behind this occurrence are not fully understood.

Objectives: To examine whether the care at EOL for HMs is mainly because of the disease characteristics or hematologists' attitudes and systems of care, we compared the EOL care of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Prognostic impact of the number of peri-tumoral alveolar macrophages in patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Intratumoral macrophages are reportedly involved in tumor progression in non-small cell lung cancer; however, little is known about the prognostic impact and function of alveolar macrophages (AMs). This study aims to investigate the prognostic impact of the number of peri-tumoral AMs in patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We investigated 514 patients with pathological stage I lung adenocarcinoma who underwent complete resection with lobectomy or pneumonectomy.

Role of resection for extrahepatopulmonary metastases of colon cancer.

Background: Although surgical resection for liver or lung metastases of colorectal cancer has been widely accepted, the use of this approach for extrahepatopulmonary metastases remains debatable due to the systemic nature of the disease. The aim of this study was to clarify the utility of resection along with perioperative chemotherapy for patients with extrahepatopulmonary metastases of colon cancer.

Methods: This is a retrospective single-arm study at a single institution.

Single-nucleotide Fcγ receptor polymorphisms do not impact obinutuzumab/rituximab outcome in patients with lymphoma.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to influence Fcγ receptor (FcγR) affinity and activity, but their effect on treatment response is unclear. We assessed their importance in the efficacy of obinutuzumab or rituximab combined with chemotherapy in untreated advanced follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the GALLIUM (www.clinicaltrials.

Clinical Impact of Worsening Renal Function in Elderly Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background And Objectives: The clinical significance of worsening renal function (WRF) in elderly patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is not completely understood. We compared the clinical conditions between younger and elderly patients with ADHF after the appearance of WRF to establish its prognostic influence.

Methods: We included 654 consecutive patients (37% women) admitted for ADHF.

The role of surgery for locally recurrent and second recurrent rectal cancer with metastatic disease.

Background: The role of surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) with resectable distant metastases or second LRRC remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the influence of synchronous distant metastases (SDMs), a history of distant metastasis resection (HDMR), and a second LRRC on the outcome.

Methods: The long-term outcomes of 70 surgically treated patients with LRRC between 2006 and 2018 were compared by SDM (n = 10), HDMR (n = 17), and second LRRC (n = 7).

Pelvic exenteration associated with future renal dysfunction.

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the long-term change in the renal function after pelvic exenteration (PE) and to evaluate the risk factors for any future dysfunction.

Methods: This study comprised 40 patients. A greater than 25% decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 3 years was defined as early renal function disorder (ERFD), possibly predicting future chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Tumor Location Is Associated With the Prevalence of Braf And Pik3ca Mutations in Patients with Wild-Type Ras Colorectal Cancer: A Prospective Multi-Center Cohort Study in Japan.

Background: Primary tumor location is a critical prognostic factor that also impacts the efficacy of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy in wild-type RAS (KRAS/NRAS) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the association between the incidence of BRAF and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) mutations and primary tumor location remains unclear.

Methods: We prospectively collected tumor samples and clinical data of patients from 15 hospitals between August 2014 and April 2016 to investigate RAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations using a polymerase chain reaction-based assay.

Importance of the neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score to the outcome of neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Purpose: The neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score is a promising indicator of survival after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer. However, its effectiveness after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) alone has not been fully investigated.

Methods: We analyzed data retrospectively on 61 patients with rectal cancer, who received NAC followed by surgical resection between 2010 and 2015, and evaluated the impact of the NAR score on survival.

The impact of somatic SMAD4 mutations in colorectal liver metastases.

Recent advances in cancer genomics have led to the identification of many molecular pathways involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) carcinogenesis. Pre-clinical and clinical data have shown that gene mutations involved in several of these pathways have an important prognostic impact, particularly on the outcomes of patients with metastatic CRC. Therefore, specific information on such gene mutational status can be potentially used as biomarkers to guide genome-oriented personalized treatment and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Development of the Inpatient Dignity Scale Through Studies in Japan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Purpose: The importance of human dignity in care is well-recognized. Care recipients' experiences with undignified care have been reported in many countries. However, few studies have measured these situations quantitatively, especially as there are no tools applicable to inpatients receiving ordinary daily care.

Feasibility of dose-dense epirubicin and cyclophosphamide with subcutaneous pegfilgrastim 3.6 mg support: a single-center prospective study in Japan.

Background: Dose-dense chemotherapy consisting of a combination of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) improves the survival of patients with breast cancer. Although pegfilgrastim was used at a subcutaneous dose of 6.0 mg in a pivotal study of dose-dense EC treatment, pegfilgrastim at a dose of 3.

Association between plaque characteristics and the amount of debris captured by a filter-type distal protection device in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background And Aims: Disruption of atherosclerotic plaque and distal embolism often cause peri-procedural myocardial injury during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In the present study, we evaluate the association between the characteristics of the target lesion and the amount of debris captured by the filter-type distal protection device.

Methods: We enrolled 120 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome, who underwent coronary stent implantation with a filter-type distal protection device after integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) analysis.

Dilated cardiomyopathy associated with elephant trunk in Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

A 14-year-old boy presented to our institution with a diagnosis of acute type A dissection. He was diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz syndrome and underwent aortic valve sparing repair at the age of 9 years. Emergency total arch repair with elephant trunk (ET) was performed successfully; echocardiogram before discharge showed normal left ventricular function and size.

Anhedonia and its correlation with clinical aspects in Parkinson's disease.

Anhedonia is one of the non-motor symptoms observed in the Parkinson's disease (PD). However, there is no clear relationship between anhedonia and its correlation with other symptoms of PD. The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of anhedonia and its correlation with clinical aspects of PD in a relatively large cohort.

Evaluation of performance of the Omni mode for detecting video capsule endoscopy images: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background And Study Aims: Olympus recently developed a new algorithm called Omni mode that discards redundant video capsule endoscopy (VCE) images. The current study aimed to demonstrate the non-inferiority of the Omni mode in terms of true positives (TPs) and the superiority of the Omni mode with regard to reading time against a control (ordinary ES-10 system).

Patients And Methods: This multicenter prospective study included 40 patients with various small bowel diseases.

Pazopanib monotherapy in a patient with a malignant granular cell tumor originating from the right orbit: A case report.

Granular cell tumors are uncommon, usually benign tumors of Schwann cell origin. The malignant variant is extremely rare, representing <2% of all granular cell tumors. Therefore, standard systemic chemotherapy for this disease does not exist.

[Malnutrition and social isolation among elderly residents of city public housing].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine relations between malnutrition and social isolation among elderly residents of a city public housing facility.

Methods: The present participants were 442 residents aged 65 and older of a public housing facility in Nagoya city. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted regarding demographics, nutritional status, and social isolation.

Neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer: a systematic review.

We reviewed the history and the current status of neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) in Western countries and Japan. The introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) and preoperative radiotherapy (RT) were treatment revolutions that resulted in improved local control after curative resection for rectal cancer. However, local relapses still occur, even in the era of TME, and remain a cause of recurrence worldwide.

Impact of preoperative regular physical activity on postoperative course after open abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.

Early ambulation after open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery is assumed to play a key role in preventing postoperative complications and reducing hospital length of stay. However, the factors predicting early ambulation after open AAA surgery have not yet been sufficiently investigated. Here, we investigated which preoperative and intraoperative variables are associated with start time for ambulation in patients after open AAA surgery.

Radial artery cannulation decreases the distal arterial blood flow measured by power Doppler ultrasound.

Radial arterial cannulation is a popular technique for continuous hemodynamic monitoring in an area of anesthesia and intensive care. Although the risk for invasive monitoring is considerable, there is scarce information about the change in blood flow of cannulated vessel after the catheterization. In the current investigation, we evaluated the change in the cannulated arterial blood flow.

Rhinorrhea in Parkinson's disease: a consecutive multicenter study in Japan.

Recent reports suggest that rhinorrhea, defined as the presence of a runny nose unrelated to respiratory infections, allergies, or sinus problems, occurs more frequently among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) than among healthy controls. We conducted a questionnaire survey in a multicenter study throughout Japan and compared the frequency of rhinorrhea between 231 PD and 187 normal control (NC) subjects. After excluding patients with rhinitis or paranasal sinusitis, a total of 159 PD and 59 NC subjects were included in our analysis.