Quality of life with docetaxel plus cisplatin versus paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer: quality of life analysis of TORG 0503.

Purpose: The TORG0503 study was undertaken to select a preferred platinum-based third-generation regimen for patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to describe the quality of life (QOL) analysis of that study.

Methods: Patients with completely resected NSCLC were randomized to receive three cycles of docetaxel plus cisplatin (DC) or paclitaxel plus carboplatin (PC) on day 1 every 3 weeks.

Meningitis retention syndrome associated with complicated mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion in a young adult patient: a case report.

Meningitis retention syndrome (MRS), comprising aseptic meningitis and urinary retention, is a self-limiting disease that resolves within a few weeks. Refractory urinary retention and encephalitic syndromes are rare. A 32-year-old man presented with acute fever and headache followed by acute urinary retention (UT).

Randomized phase II trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel plus cisplatin versus paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer: TORG 0503.

Objective: Adjuvant chemotherapy is standard of care for patients with completely resected stage IB, II and IIIA NSCLC. However, optimum chemotherapy regimen has not been determined. TORG0503 was undertaken to select a preferred platinum-based 3 generation regimen in this clinical setting.

Phase I/II Study of Docetaxel and S-1 in Previously-Treated Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: LOGIK0408.

Background: As docetaxel plus S-1 may be feasible for cancer treatment, we conducted a phase I/II trial to determine the recommended docetaxel dose and the fixed S-1 dose (phase I), as well as confirm the regimen's efficacy and safety (phase II) for previously-treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: Patients ≤75 years with performance status ≤1 and adequate organ function were treated at three-week intervals with docetaxel on day 1 and 80 mg/m oral S-1 from days 1-14. The starting docetaxel dose was 45 mg/m and this was escalated to a maximum of 70 mg/m.

Reocclusion of the treated vessel due to endothelial injury after mechanical thrombectomy in a patient with acute ischaemic stroke.

A 92-year-old woman developed sudden consciousness disturbance, global aphasia and right hemiparesis. She had atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke was diagnosed. Tissue plasminogen activator was administered, and endovascular treatment was initiated.

Ischemic or Nonischemic Functional Mitral Regurgitation and Outcomes in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure With Preserved or Reduced Ejection Fraction.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR), preserved or reduced ejection fraction (EF), and ischemic or nonischemic origin with outcomes in patients discharged alive after hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (HF). Of the 4,842 patients enrolled in the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Syndromes (ATTEND) registry, 3,357 patients were evaluated to assess the association of FMR, preserved or reduced EF, and ischemic or nonischemic origin with the primary end point (all-cause death and readmission for HF after discharge). At the time of discharge, FMR was assessed semiquantitatively (classified as none, mild, or moderate to severe) by color Doppler analysis of the regurgitant jet area.

An unusual enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma with MYC translocation arising in a Japanese patient: a case report.

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is a rare peripheral T-cell lymphoma classified into 2 types, with or without celiac disease, based on histology. Type 2 EATL is less commonly associated with celiac disease, in which cells are characterized by being monomorphic and small- to medium-sized. Cells are characterized by CD8 and CD56 expression and c-MYC oncogene locus gain.

Combining head-neck position and head-down tilt to prevent pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents during induction of anaesthesia: a volunteer and manikin study.

Context: Although a life-threatening complication, pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents caused by vomiting or regurgitation during induction of anaesthesia cannot be prevented. It may be prevented if the mouth is placed more inferiorly than the larynx and tracheal bifurcation by the use of head-down tilt and head-neck positioning.

Objective: We aimed to determine the head-down tilt required to prevent aspiration in the neutral, simple extension, sniffing and full cervical spine extension (Sellick) positions and to investigate the relationship between pulmonary aspiration and the vertical height of the mouth, larynx and tracheal bifurcation.

[A case of primary pleural angiosarcoma metastasing to the bladder].

The patient was a 79-year-old man who underwent right extrapleural lucite ball plombage for pulmonary tuberculosis at aged 19. He was followed BPH with medication from May 2008 at our hospital. He presented with macrohematuria in January 2010, but cystoscopy and CT scan showed no significant abnormalities.

Effectiveness of biweekly low-dosage peginterferon treatment on the improvement of serum alanine aminotransferase and α-fetoprotein levels.

Aim:   The purpose of this clinical study was to determine the effect of a biweekly low-dosage peginterferon α-2a treatment program on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels.

Methods:   Fifty-five patients participated in the study. The inclusion criteria included chronic genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, liver cirrhosis, or the absence of cirrhosis in subjects 65 years old or above, and interferon therapy naivety or a lack of sustained response to therapy with interferon-plus-ribavirin or peginterferon-plus-ribavirin.

Pegylated interferon α-2b plus ribavirin for Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients with normal alanine aminotransferase.

Aim:   To investigate the efficacy and safety of a pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) α-2b plus ribavirin (RBV) combination treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (NALT).

Methods:   This multicenter study included 989 patients with HCV genotype 1 (114 with NALT and 875 with elevated ALT) who received weight-based doses of PEG-IFN α-2b plus RBV for 48 weeks. We compared the sustained viral response (SVR) rates of patients with NALT and elevated ALT who received at least 80% or more of the target dosage of PEG-IFN α-2b and 60% or more of the target RBV (minimum acceptable dosage).

Severe sepsis caused by Aeromonas hydrophila in a patient using tocilizumab: a case report.

Introduction: Aeromonas species do not commonly cause disease in humans. However, when disease is seen, it often occurs in patients with underlying immunosuppression or malignancy and has a high fatality rate.

Case Presentation: A 72-year-old Japanese woman with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab (which has an immunosuppressive effect) presented with severe epigastric pain.

[A brain abscess as a complication of hepatopulmonary syndrome coexisting with interstitial pneumonia].

A 76-year-old woman with a 20-year history of chronic hepatitis C was referred to our hospital for worsening exertional dyspnea. She had been given a diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia based on chest computed tomography findings 5 years previously. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography confirmed an intrapulmonary right-to-left shunt, and therefore we diagnosed hepatopulmonary syndrome comorbid with interstitial pneumonia.

Differences in diffusion-weighted image and transesophageal echocardiographical findings in cardiogenic, paradoxical and aortogenic brain embolism.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to clarify the difference in the infarct topography on diffusion-weighted image (DWI) and cardiac and aortic findings on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in stroke patients with different embolic sources.

Methods: We studied 270 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who had DWI-documented cortical or subcortical infarcts without significant stenosis of the cerebral arteries. As embolic sources, cardiac diseases, right-to-left shunt diseases and an aortic arch atheroma ≥4.

Preoperative diagnostic value of single-balloon enteroscopy for successful surgical treatment of three independent-origin gastrointestinal malignant tumors: report of a case.

A 67-year-old woman with bloody stools underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy, which revealed the presence of a submucosal tumor in the stomach and an adenocarcinoma in the ascending colon. Preoperative screening disclosed an additional 10-cm tumor in the abdomen between the gastric and colonic lesions. Single-balloon enteroscopy was therefore performed.

Physical assessment immediately after lobectomy via miniposterolateral thoracotomy assisted by videothoracoscopy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: We evaluated the invasiveness of videothoracoscopy-assisted mini-posterolateral thoracotomy (VAmPLT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: This study prospectively analyzed 50 NSCLC patients who underwent VAmPLT lobectomy. We measured maximal negative inspiratory pressure (PImax), maximal positive expiratory pressure (PEmax), quadriceps strength (QS), 6-min walk test (6mWT), and postoperative pain during the perioperative period.

Cilostazol improves outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a preliminary report.

Background: Cerebral vasospasm (VS) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Reversal of VS by intra-arterial infusion of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-elevating agents has been reported; however, the preventive role in the development of VS is not fully understood. This study is designed to evaluate the possible efficacy of using cilostazol, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 3 and a cAMP-elevating agent, in patients with SAH.

Efficacy of the Airway Scope on tracheal intubation in the lateral position: comparison with the Macintosh laryngoscope.

Background: The Airway Scope (AWS) may become a rescue airway device to secure the airway in the lateral position. We evaluated the efficacy of the AWS on tracheal intubation in patients in this position in comparison with the Macintosh laryngoscope.

Methods: Seventy patients scheduled for surgery in the lateral position under general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation were randomised into two groups: intubation with the Macintosh laryngoscope and that with the AWS.

[A case of IgG4-positive multi-organ lymphoproliferative syndrome associated with Kimura disease].

A 46-year-old man, who had been treated for Kimura disease, was found to have abnormal findings on a chest radiograph. Chest CT showed a mass shadow in the right lower lobe. Histological findings of a transbronchial biopsy specimen showed inflammatory cells infiltrating the alveolar septum.

[Efficacy of bougie in difficult intubation with the Airway Scope caused by inability to lift the epiglottis directly].

Background: There are some disadvantages of the Airway Scope (AWS), and the most crucial one is that the AWS has only one fixed-size AWS blade. When the blade is too short to reach beneath the epiglottis and to lift it directly, an endotracheal tube hits the epiglottis and cannot be advanced into the glottic aperture even when it is visible. A bougie may solve this difficulty because its angulated tip can be controlled in a desired direction.

Increased levels of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G in a patient with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

This report describes a rare case of thrombocytopenia with high levels of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (PA-IgG) in a patient with an adenocarcinoma of the lung. After surgical resection, the platelet count gradually increased and the serum PA-IgG levels decreased to within normal reference ranges. These findings suggest a relationship between pulmonary adenocarcinoma and PA-IgG.

Intra-arterial colforsin daropate for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Introduction: Cerebral vasospasm (CV) remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Here, we examined the effectiveness and safety of intra-arterial injection of colforsin daropate hydrochloride (CDH).

Methods: A consecutive series of 29 patients with angiographically confirmed CV received intra-arterial CDH (IAC) therapy.

[Electrical infusion pumps for postoperative epidural analgesia].

Two types of new electrical infusion pumps (pump) scheduled to be introduced to the Japanese market in this autumn, were featured focusing on patient controlled analgesia (PCA). For the successful introduction of PCA pumps into clinical practice, initial investments including both finance and manpower may be required. The clinical application of these PCA pumps should benefit both patients and medical staffs and gain more than the initial investment eventually.

Postoperative management using intensive patient-controlled epidural analgesia and early rehabilitation after an esophagectomy.

Purpose: Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) was developed for use after surgery for thoracic esophageal cancer to relieve wound pain, introduce early rehabilitation, and provide an uneventful postoperative recovery.

Methods: This retrospective study investigated 22 patients who underwent esophageal surgery to determine the efficacy of postoperative management with PCEA. In the PCEA group (n = 12), patients had two epidural catheters inserted to cover both the thoracic and abdominal incision with a patient-controlled bolus capability.