Clinical performance and shape analysis of trifocal intraocular lenses via scanning electron microscopy.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate visual performance after implantation of the TFNT (Acrysof Panoptix, Alcon, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) and CNWT (Clareon Panoptix, Alcon, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) intraocular lens (IOL), and compare the lens shape observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). METHODS: Eighteen patients (18 eyes) received implantation of the CNWT and Twenty patients (20 eyes) received implantation of the TFNT. Exclusion criteria were previous ocular surgeries, ocular pathologies, or corneal abnormalities. Intervention or Observational Procedure(s): Postoperative examination at 1 months including manifest refraction; evaluation of refractive error, distance-corrected visual acuity (DCVA) at 5 m, 1 m, 70 cm, 50 cm, 40 cm, and 30 cm, slit-lamp examination; defocus curve testing; contrast sensitivity (CS) was performed. The lens shape of the TFNT and the CNWT was examined under SEM. RESULTS: Mean spherical equivalent was 0.11 ± 0.41 D (CNWT group) and 0.12 ± 0.34 D (TFNT group) 1 month postoperation. DCVA and defocus curve showed no significant difference between the two groups. CS was significantly higher in CNWT group than TFNT group at spatial frequencies of 6 cycles per degree (cpd). Observation of the IOL with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that CNWT group had improved diffraction structure and edge processing accuracy compared to TFNT group. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the defocus curve and visual acuity at all distances. CS was better in the CNWT group than in the TFNT group. IOL surface features may affect CS.

[A Case of Lymphoepithelial Cyst of the Pancreas for Which Malignancy Could Not Be Ruled Out Difficult Preoperative Diagnosis].

Lymphoepithelial cyst(LEC)of the pancreas is a relatively rare benign cystic disease of the pancreas. In this report, we describe a case of LEC in which a malignant tumor could not be ruled out by preoperative diagnosis and surgery was performed. The patient was a 72-year-old man. A simple CT scan of the chest and abdomen performed as a follow-up for another disease incidentally revealed a mass in the pancreatic tail. Enhanced CT of the abdomen showed a tumor approximately 3 cm in size at the pancreatic tail with no contrast effect. MRCP showed moderate signal on T2WI, high signal on T1WI, and high signal on T2WI on some cysts inside the pancreas. PET-CT showed slight uptake of FDG. Both tumor markers CEA and CA19-9 were normal. Therefore, malignant disease such as pancreatic IPMC could not be ruled out, and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy plus splenectomy was performed. The pathology results showed a diagnosis of pancreatic lymphoepithelial cyst with slight differentiation into sebaceous gland.

Comparison of spinous process-splitting laminectomy versus posterolateral fusion for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have recently shown that spinous process-splitting laminectomy (SPSL) maintains lumbar spinal stability by preserving posterior ligament components and paraspinal muscles as compared with conventional laminectomy, evidence is scarce on the treatment outcomes of SPSL limited to lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. We herein compare the surgical results and global alignment changes for SPSL versus posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF) without instrumentation for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. METHODS: A total of 110 patients with Grade 1 lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis who had undergone SPSL (47 patients) or PLF (63 patients) with minimum 1-year follow-up were retrospectively enrolled from a single institutional database. RESULTS: Mean operating time per intervertebral level and intraoperative blood loss per intervertebral level were comparable between the SPSL group and PLF group. Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores, Oswestry disability index, and visual analog scale scores were significantly and comparably improved at 1 year postoperatively in both groups as compared with preoperative levels. The numbers of vertebrae with slip progression to Grade 2 and slip progression of 5% or more at 1 year postoperatively were similar between the groups. In the SPSL group, mean pelvic tilt (PT) was significantly decreased at 1 year postoperatively. In the PLF group, mean lumbar lordosis (LL) was significantly increased, while mean sagittal vertical axis, PT, and pelvic incidence-LL were significantly decreased at 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with PLF without instrumentation, SPSL for Grade 1 lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis displayed comparable results for slip progression and clinical outcomes at 1 year postoperatively.

[A Case of Schwannoma in the Ascending Colon].

A 69-year-old man who was diagnosed with a submucosal tumor in the ascending colon by colonoscopy in X-7 year was presented. The endoscopic biopsy showed normal mucosa, and he had been followed up. During follow-up, computed tomography and colonoscopy performed in X year showed an enlargement of the tumor. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed intense FDG uptake. Malignant tumor was suspected, and laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy was performed. The histopathological diagnosis showed spindle-shaped tumor cells proliferating in a fascicular manner. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for S-100 protein and negative for CD34, c-kit, and desmin, and schwannoma was diagnosed. Schwannomas are tumors derived from Schwann cells and therefore rarely develop in the gastrointestinal tract. Careful preoperative diagnosis is important because they do not normally metastasize or undergo malignant transformation.

[A Case of Retroperitoneal Leiomyosarcoma Treated with Repeated Surgical Resection].

A 55-year-old male revealed with a 5 cm-diameter mass in the lower abdomen on ultrasonography incidentally. Computed tomography showed a mass of 7 cm in size on the left side of the bladder. A malignant tumor was suspected, and surgically excised for purpose of diagnosis and treatment. Pathological examination confirmed retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma, and the resection margins were negative. Follow-up computed tomography scan was performed every 3 months. Repeated resections were performed for twice recurrences within a year after surgery. A year after the first surgery, lung metastasis was detected and chemotherapy was started. Although retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma is considered to have a poor prognosis, the present case had relatively good prognosis. This may be due to early detection and repeated surgical resection.

[Peritoneal Recurrence of Gastric Cancer Treated with Chemoradiotherapy-A Case Report].

A 76-year-old male patient underwent a distal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. As the postoperative serum CA19-9 level was elevated, chemotherapy was initiated. Computed tomography(CT)detected a solitary peritoneal recurrence in the left subhepatic space 17 months later. Consequently, chemoradiotherapy(CRT)at a total dose of 60 Gy, combined with S-1 therapy, was administered for local tumor control. After CRT, CT scans revealed a remarkable reduction in the peritoneal recurrence. Presently, 8 months after CRT, the patient remains alive with no indications of regrowth. CRT could prove efficacious as a treatment for gastric cancer patients with localized peritoneal recurrences.

[A Case of Pathologic Complete Response Achieved with Preoperative Pembrolizumab Therapy for Transverse Colon Cancer].

A 77-year-old female patient presented with a medical history of 4 cancerous lesions, each with a surgical history. She was referred to our hospital due to anemia. Upon examination, she was diagnosed with transverse colon cancer. Duodenal invasion was suspected, which made performing R0 surgery difficult; therefore, the NAC approach was chosen. Three courses of CAPOX were administered, resulting in tumor obstruction, leading to the formation of an ileum stoma. MSI testing revealed MSI-H, and pembrolizumab treatment was initiated. CT scans showed tumor shrinkage, and PET scans indicated no accumulation, resulting in a cCR. Colon resection including the lesion suspected of stenosis was performed with a strong desire for stoma closure and the determination of potential curative resection. Additionally, a partial resection of the duodenum was performed. Pathological examination did not reveal any evident tumor cells, leading to the determination for a pCR. The patient has been under postoperative surveillance for 1 year without any recurrence.

Familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification with a heterozygous missense variant (c.902C>T/p.P307L) in SLC20A2 showing widespread cerebrovascular lesions.

We describe a postmortem case of familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (FIBGC) in a 72-year-old Japanese man. The patient showed progressive cognitive impairment with a seven-year clinical course and calcification of the basal ganglia, thalami, and cerebellar dentate nuclei. A novel heterozygous missense variant in SLC20A2 (c.920C>T/p.P307L), a type III sodium-dependent phosphate transporter (PiT-2), was subsequently identified, in addition to typical neuropathological findings of FIBGC, such as capillary calcification of the occipital gray matter, confluent calcification of the basal ganglia and cerebellar white matter, widespread occurrence of vasculopathic changes, cerebrovascular lesions, and vascular smooth muscle cell depletion. Immunohistochemistry for PiT-2 protein revealed no apparent staining in endothelial cells in the basal ganglia and insular cortex; however, the immunoreactivity in endothelial cells of the cerebellum was preserved. Moreover, Western blot analysis identified preserved PiT-2 immunoreactivity signals in the frontal cortex and cerebellum. The variant identified in the present patient could be associated with development of FIBGC and is known to be located at the large intracytoplasmic part of the PiT-2 protein, which has potential phosphorylation sites with importance in the regulation of inorganic phosphate transport activity. The present case is an important example to prove that FIGBC could stem from a missense variant in the large intracytoplasmic loop of the PiT-2 protein. Abnormal clearance of inorganic phosphate in the brain could be related to the development of vascular smooth muscle damage, the formation of cerebrovascular lesions, and subsequent brain calcification in patients with FIBGC with SLC20A2 variants.

Heterogeneity of Treg/Th17 According to Cancer Progression and Modification in Biliary Tract Cancers via Self-Producing Cytokines.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We previously demonstrated that inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) was produced during cancer progression, worked together with transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1), and induced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) with chemo-resistance against gemcitabine (GR) at the invasion front of biliary tract cancers (BTCs). However, the significance of cytokine-induced T cell accumulation at the tumor microenvironment in biliary tract cancer (BTC) is not well understood. Because these cytokines (IL-6 and TGF-ß1) are able to differentiate naïve T cells into Foxp3-expressing T cells (Tregs) and/or IL-17-producing T helper 17 (Th17) cells, we investigated the relationship between heterogeneous, cancer-producing cytokines and T cell differentiation. METHODS: In total, 127 curative resected specimens from patients with BTCs at Osaka University Hospital between 2000 and 2012 were evaluated for IL-6, TGF-ß1, Tregs, and Th17 cells by immunohistochemistry. The ability of BTC-GR cells to undergo T cell differentiation was investigated in vitro. RESULTS: Tregs accumulated at the tumor center and Th17 cells accumulated at the invasion front during cancer progression and/or metastasis; each signaled poor prognosis. Treg accumulation was related to TGF-ß1 expression by cancer cells, and Th17 cell accumulation was related to IL-6 expression by cancer cells, in resected specimens; this was confirmed in vitro. Compared with parent cells, GR cells produced IL-6 but not TGF-ß1 in a time-dependent manner, had EMT features, and induced T cell differentiation to Th17 cells but not Tregs. CONCLUSION: Cytokines produced by cancer cells (IL-6 and TGF-ß1) induced heterogeneity of Tregs and Th17 cells in the tumor microenvironment, supporting progression of BTC.

Esophagectomy for the patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The number of long-term survivors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has increased recently. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma occurs at a particularly high incidence as a secondary cancer after HSCT. However, standard treatment for these patients has not been established yet. The objectives of this study were to investigate outcomes of esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma developed in HSCT patients, and to provide the appropriate perioperative management. METHODS: Ten HSCT patients underwent esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma between December 2007 and September 2017 at the National Cancer Center Hospital. The surgical outcomes and long-term prognosis of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: In the former group, 5 of the 7 patients (71.4%) developed pneumonia after esophagectomy, with two of them requiring intubation because of respiratory failure. None of the three patients of the latter group, who received broad-spectrum antibiotics for more than 7 days after the surgery, developed any postoperative complications. The estimated survival probability of these patients at 5 years after the surgery was 53.3%. CONCLUSIONS: HSCT patients have an extremely high risk of developing pneumonia after esophagectomy, and the condition can easily become serious. Therefore, broad-spectrum antibiotics should be administered prophylactically to prevent severe pneumonia during the perioperative period in these patients.

[A Case of Successful Treatment of Simultaneous Multiple Liver Metastasis from Gastric Cancer with Multidisciplinary Therapy].

The patient was a 63-year-old male. The upper esophagogastroduodenoscopy for anemia found a type 2 tumor at the greater curvature of the gastric angular region, which was revealed as a low-differentiated adenocarcinoma by biopsy. The abdominal CT showed a total of 10 metastases of 11-27 mm in size at the bilateral hepatic lobes. T3(SS)N0M1H1P0 and cStage Ⅳ of gastric cancer was diagnosed. SP therapy was performed for 1 year: the size of gastric primary focus reduced, and a metastatic lesion of 7 mm in size was found only at S1. We performed a gastrectomy of the pylorus side and hepatic S1 radiofrequency ablation. Postoperatively, S-1 single therapy has continued, and the patient has survived to date for 2 years without any recurrence. Although the prognosis of a simultaneous multiple liver metastasis from gastric cancer tends to be poor, our multidisciplinary approach resulted in a favorable prognosis.

[Laparoscopic Abdominoperineal Resection Following Intensive Chemotherapy for Stage â £ Rectal Cancer with Unresectable Metastases].

The need to remove palliative primary tumors in the incurable Stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer patients remains debatable. Here, we describe the case of a 62-year-old man diagnosed with rectal cancer(cT3N2bM1b, cStage Ⅳb)with both primary tumor and metastatic lesions that were unresectable. Systemic chemotherapy was administered with 5-fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and oxaliplatin(FOLFOX)or FOLFOX with bevacizumab(BEV). After 12 months of treatment, CT scan revealed that both the primary tumor and metastases had shrunk significantly, leading to the conclusion that the primary tumor was resectable. Subsequently, laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection was performed. The patient was discharged 21 days postoperatively, and chemotherapy(FOLFOX plus BEV)was reintroduced 24 days after discharge. The patient was alive 25 months after the first consultation. Palliative primary tumor resection involves risks of operative complications and tumor progression owing to the absence of chemotherapy; however, some recent evidence has shown that primary tumor resection was associated with better prognosis and could be a good option on an individual patient basis. Further studies are required to establish the optimal strategy for patients with Stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer.

Exosomal miR-155 Derived from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Under Hypoxia Promotes Angiogenesis in Endothelial Cells.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aim to clarify whether exosomes secreted from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells under hypoxia affect angiogenesis in endothelial cells. METHODS: Exosomes derived from human liver cancer cell lines were cultured under hypoxic or normoxic conditions for 24 h, isolated using ExoQuick-TC®, and co-cultured with HUVECs to evaluate angiogenic activity. We also evaluated the expression of miR-155 in the exosomes from 40 patients with HCC. RESULTS: Exosomes under hypoxia remarkably enhanced tube formation of HUVECs. Both cellular and exosomal miR-155 were significantly up-regulated under hypoxic conditions. Knockdown of miR-155 in HCC cells attenuated the promotion of tube formation by exosomes under hypoxia in HUVECs, and high expression of exosomal miR-155 in preoperative plasma was significantly correlated with early recurrence. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that exosomes derived from HCC cells under hypoxia induce tube formation of HUVECs and that exosomal miR-155 may affect angiogenic activity in HCC.

Obtaining Adequate Tension for Extensor Hallucis Longus Tendon Rupture Repair Using Wide-Awake Surgery: A Case Report.

Wide-awake surgery has potential advantages for treating extensor or flexor tendon injury. We present a case of chronic extensor hallucis longus injury treated with turn-down reconstruction using wide-awake surgery with a selective nerve block. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case reported. The patient had dropped a knife proximal to the right hallux metatarsophalangeal joint. Because direct suturing was thought to be difficult, turn-down reconstruction was performed under a selective nerve block. At 8 months postoperatively, the hallux had 75° of extension in the metatarsophalangeal joint and -5° of extension in the interphalangeal joint, similar to those of the healthy foot. The Japanese Society for Surgery of the foot objective hallux scale score had improved from 87 to 100, and the subjective scores in the subcategories of pain and pain-related, physical functioning and daily living, and shoe-related in the self-administered foot evaluation questionnaire had improved from 82.8 to 94.4, 97.7 to 100, and 50 to 83.3, respectively. Turn-down reconstruction using wide-awake surgery with a selective nerve block can be used for chronic extensor hallucis longus rupture and can be expected to provide good results.

Novel approach to pleurodesis with 50 % glucose for air leakage after lung resection or pneumothorax.

PURPOSE: Pleurodesis is performed in patients demonstrating air leakage after lung resection and in those with pneumothorax who must avoid surgery. However, there have so far been very few reports of pleurodesis with 50 % glucose. We herein examined the feasibility and effectiveness of this novel pleurodesis technique. METHODS: Thirty-five patients after lung resection and 11 pneumothorax patients without surgery were treated with pleurodesis using 50 % glucose. Approximately, 200 mL of 50 % glucose solution was injected into the pleural space and repeated until the air leakage stopped. Cases in which the air leakage did not stop after three injections were considered to be unsuccessful and subsequently treated with conventional pleurodesis using OK-432. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were successfully treated with 50 % glucose, although 7 patients required further treatment with OK-432. The unsuccessful group had some pulmonary comorbidities (P < 0.001), and the pleural effusion volume after pleurodesis was less than that in the successful group (P < 0.001). Although the air leakage did not stop in unsuccessful patients, the amount of air leakage markedly decreased. A temporary elevation of the blood sugar level was observed in 20 patients, but no other side effects had appeared. CONCLUSIONS: Pleurodesis with 50 % glucose is an easy, safe, and effective treatment modality. It is therefore considered to be a useful alternative method for pleurodesis.

Microbial Contamination of Ice Machines Is Mediated by Activated Charcoal Filtration Systems in a City Hospital.

Although microbial contamination of ice machines has been reported, no previous study has addressed microbial contamination of ice produced by machines equipped with activated charcoal (AC) filters in hospitals. The aim of this study was to provide clinical data for evaluating AC filters to prevent microbial contamination of ice. We compared microbial contamination in ice samples produced by machines with (n = 20) and without an AC filter (n = 40) in Shunan City Shinnanyo Municipal Hospital. All samples from the ice machine equipped with an AC filter contained 10-116 CFUs/g of glucose nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. No microorganisms were detected in samples from ice machines without AC filters. After the AC filter was removed from the ice machine that tested positive for Gram-negative bacteria, the ice was resampled (n = 20). Analysis found no contaminants. Ice machines equipped with AC filters pose a serious risk factor for ice contamination. New filter-use guidelines and regulations on bacterial detection limits to prevent contamination of ice in healthcare facilities are necessary.

Reversible acute bilateral blindness resulting from a frontal brain tumor: a case report.

We experienced an unusual case of a 15-year-old girl who suffered acute bilateral blindness caused by a frontal lobe tumour. She underwent emergent operation, after which her vision recovered. This case emphasizes that a brain mass can cause sudden onset blindness and an emergency intervention might save the patient's sight.

Painless Thyroiditis by Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha).

The Withania somnifera, also called Ashwagandha, is available everywhere in the world. We present a rare case of thyrotoxicosis following Ashwagandha administration, specifically painless thyroiditis (PT) in this report. The patient was a 47-year-old previously healthy Japanese man, who started taking Ashwagandha two months before his first visit to our hospital. He visited our hospital for typical thyrotoxicosis symptoms like a sense of fatigue, fever at night, and weight loss followed by diarrhea and headache. Blood tests disclosed thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid ultrasonography showed internal echo heterogeneity and no increase in blood flow. Thyroid scintigraphy revealed a deficiency in thyroid uptake. Based on these findings, he was diagnosed as PT. After stopping the administration of Ashwagandha, both his symptoms and serum thyroid markers were improved. This report may spark important debate about whether ashwagandha is safe among healthy people, especially in thyroid toxicity.

Hashimoto Encephalopathy and Thyroid Storm by Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Acute Pancreatitis: A Case Report.

Hashimoto encephalopathy (HE) is a rare condition related to autoimmune origin characterized by high titers of antithyroid antibodies. Steroids are effective for treatment of HE, suggesting the autoimmunity as an underlying mechanism. In addition, anti-NH2-terminal of α-enolase antibodies (anti-NAE antibodies) is useful for diagnosis of HE. This report describes a 69-year-old woman developing both HE and thyroid storm (TS), following diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and acute pancreatitis. She had a history of Basedow's disease and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus, and her serum hemoglobin A1c was 10%. She complained of nausea and visited our hospital. She was diagnosed with DKA and acute pancreatitis. After admission, she went into cardiopulmonary arrest and she was diagnosed with TS after resuscitation. In addition, blood test collected during acute phase of TS revealed positive for not only anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies, thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies and thyroid stimulating antibodies, but also anti-NAE antibodies. She was treated with intravenous steroids, potassium iodide and thiamazole under respirator and recovered sufficiently to do daily activities of life. We should keep in mind that there might be cases of HE in cases of TS presenting with central nervous system symptoms.