Real-world data of first-line treatment with pembrolizumab for NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression in elderly patients: a subgroup analysis of HOT/NJLCG2001.

Background: In the first-line treatment of elderly patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (tumor proportion score ≥ 50%), this study aimed to determine whether pembrolizumab monotherapy (MONO) or pembrolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy (COMB) should be selected.

Methods: We performed a retrospective multicenter study (sub-analysis of the HOT/NJLCG2001 trial) of 299 patients with NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression who received MONO or COMB as the first-line treatment between December 2018 and January 2020. We selected patients aged 75 years and older and assessed the clinical efficacy and toxicity.

Burden of respiratory syncytial virus infections in older adults with acute respiratory infection in Japan: An epidemiological study among outpatients.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory illness, with severe outcomes in older adults. Information on the prevalence, hospitalization rate, and impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of RSV in older adults with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in outpatient settings in Japan is limited.

Methods: This multi-center epidemiological study included outpatients aged ≥60 years presenting with ARI between August 2021 and February 2023.

Editor's Choice - Impact of Infrapopliteal Revascularisation Establishing In Line Flow to the Wound in Patients with Chronic Limb Threatening Ischaemia.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of infrapopliteal (IP) revascularisation establishing in line flow to the wound (IFW) on wound healing in chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI), using a core laboratory assessment for wounds and in line flow.

Methods: The Wound directed Angiosome RevasculaRIsation apprOach to patients with cRitical limb iSchaemia (WARRIORS) multicentre observational study enrolled patients with CLTI with tissue loss undergoing IP revascularisation in Japan, with scheduled two year follow up. The primary outcome measure was complete wound healing, defined as achievement of complete epithelialisation of all wounds without major amputation.

Multicenter Registry of Common Femoral Artery Disease Treated With Endovascular Revascularization Using Interwoven Nitinol Stents: An Observational Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Surgical thromboendarterectomy has been the gold standard treatment for common femoral artery (CFA) disease. However, endovascular therapy (EVT) is conducted in certain patients with CFA lesions because of multiple comorbidities. The interwoven nitinol stent (IWS) has been developed to prevent stent fracture.

Psychological aspects of rehabilitation nutrition: A position paper by the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Nutrition (secondary publication).

Psychological aspects of rehabilitation nutrition affect physical, cognitive, and social rehabilitation nutrition. When depression is recognized, not only pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, but also non-pharmacological therapies such as exercise, nutrition, psychosocial, and other interventions can be expected to improve depression. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and intervention without overlooking depression is important.

Aetiological agents of adult community-acquired pneumonia in Japan: systematic review and meta-analysis of published data.

Objective: Epidemiological information is essential in providing appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy for pneumonia. This study aimed to clarify the epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) by conducting a systematic review of published studies in Japan.

Design: Systematic review.

Application of first-generation high- and low-dose drug-coated balloons to the femoropopliteal artery disease: a sub-analysis of the POPCORN registry.

Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have significantly changed endovascular therapy (EVT) for femoropopliteal artery (FPA) disease, in terms of the expansion of indications for EVT for symptomatic lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). However, whether there is a difference in the performance among individual DCBs has not yet been fully discussed. The present sub-analysis of real-world data from a prospective trial of first-generation DCBs compared the clinical outcomes between high- and low-dose DCBs using propensity score matching methods.

Endovascular Therapy with Interwoven Nitinol Stent Placement after Predilation for Heavily Calcified Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: Results of the BURDOCK Study.

Purpose: To investigate the 1-year and 2-year clinical outcomes of interwoven stent (IWS) implantation for symptomatic femoropopliteal arterial disease with calcification.

Material And Methods: This prospective multicenter study evaluated 308 limbs (63% with the peripheral arterial calcium scoring system 3 and 4 severe calcification and 87% with ≥180° calcification on intravascular ultrasound) of 299 patients (diabetes in 66.9%, chronic renal failure in 52.

TWIST1 is a prognostic factor for neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer: a preliminary study.

Recent advances in the development of chemotherapies have helped improve the prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, predicting factors for the outcomes of chemotherapies (either gemcitabine or S-1) have not yet been established. We analyzed the expression of 4 major epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-inducing transcription factors in 38 PDAC patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy after radical resection to examine the association with patients' prognoses.

Respiratory sarcopenia: A position paper by four professional organizations.

We defined respiratory sarcopenia as a coexistence of respiratory muscle weakness and decreased respiratory muscle mass. Although respiratory muscle function is indispensable for life support, its evaluation has not been included in the regular assessment of respiratory function or adequately evaluated in clinical practice. Considering this situation, we prepared a position paper outlining basic knowledge, diagnostic and assessment methods, mechanisms, involvement in respiratory diseases, intervention and treatment methods, and future perspectives on respiratory sarcopenia, and summarized the current consensus on respiratory sarcopenia.

Real-World Data Analysis of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy for NSCLC Using Japanese Postmarketing All-Case Surveillance Data.

Introduction: Pembrolizumab is a programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor that was initially indicated for monotherapy in patients with advanced lung cancer. The Japanese Lung Cancer Society conducted an observational study on pembrolizumab using confirmative data obtained through postmarketing all-case surveillance (PMACS), which was performed by a pharmaceutical company under the Japanese law in 2017.

Methods: This multicenter observational study was conducted by the Japanese Lung Cancer Society using PMACS data with the newly created central registration system regarding patients with NSCLC who received pembrolizumab monotherapy between February 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017; a new database was created by adding the clinical information regarding prognosis for 3 years after therapy to the existing data collected by PMACS.

Real-world outcomes of chemotherapy for lung cancer patients undergoing hemodialysis: A multicenter retrospective cohort study (NEJ-042).

Introduction: Malignant tumors are the major cause of death in hemodialysis patients. Management of these patients remains challenging as there is no evidence that chemotherapy is beneficial, and a lack of information about actual clinical practice.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included hemodialysis patients who were diagnosed with lung cancer from January 2002 to June 2018.

Comparison of sputum specimens and nasopharyngeal swab specimens for diagnosis of acute human metapneumovirus-related lower respiratory tract infections in adults.

Background: To detect human metapneumovirus, tests besides reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swab specimens are less accessible. Immunochromatography assays are rapid and simple without the need of any special equipment but sometimes are insufficiently sensitive. This study describes the usefulness of immunochromatography assays to detect human metapneumovirus in adult patients with human metapneumovirus-related acute lower respiratory tract infection using sputum specimens.

pneumonia immediately after recovery from COVID-19.

We experienced a patient with pneumonia developing immediately after discharge from COVID-19 recovery. Antibiotic treatment was successful. The source of infection was proven to be bathtub water in this case.