Evaluation of Interaction With Bio-absorbable Polyglycolic Acid Spacer and Anti-adhesive Agents Using a Rat Experimental Model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Neskeep®, an absorbable polyglycolic acid spacer, has been developed as the optimal material for spacer placement surgery. However, preventing its severe adhesion is a crucial concern. Therefore, we aimed to identify an effective anti-adhesion agent for Neskeep® using rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animal experiments were performed using 60 rats, which underwent Neskeep® placement on the abdominal wall. Three types of anti-adhesion agents were employed, establishing four subgroups: Seprafilm®, INTERCEED®, AdSpray®, and only Neskeep® (control) groups. Rats were sacrificed on postoperative days 7, 14, and 28 to assess adhesion levels around the Neskeep® Macroscopic visual assessment with the Lauder score and histopathological evaluation were performed to assess the degree of adhesion. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the proportion of Lauder scores on days 7 and 14 between the four groups. Histological evaluation revealed no significant differences between groups at any observation time. However, the mean Lauder scores at day 28 were 5.0, 1.6, 4.0, and 4.8 in the Neskeep®, Seprafilm®, INTERCEED®, and AdSpray® groups, respectively. The proportion of milder Lauder score was significantly higher in the Seprafilm® group on day 28. CONCLUSION: Seprafilm® may exhibit an anti-adhesive effect when used with Neskeep®.

[A Case of Liver Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer in a Hemodialysis Patient, Underwent Liver Resection and Chemotherapy after Colorectal Resection].

A 60 years old man has undergone hemodialysis due to chronic renal failure by diabetic nephropathy. A sigmoid colon cancer and multiple liver metastases(S2, S6)were found, and he had laparoscopic sigmoid colon resection first, it was local resection. The stage was pT3N2aH1, stage Ⅳ, and histopathological examination revealed that the tumor was well‒differentiated adenocarcinoma and RAS, BRAF mutation was negative. From the 4th week after surgery, mFOLFOX4 plus panitumumab( oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2[30% reduction]), continuous intravenous injection fluorouracil 600 mg/m2(regulated amount), rapid intravenous injection fluorouracil 400 mg/m2(regulated amount), Leucovorin 100 mg/m2(regulated amount), panitumumab 6 mg/kg(regulated amount)were given for 4 courses. Since partial response was obtained in both hepatic lesions, we underwent radiofrequency ablation for S6 lesion and laparoscopic partial hepatectomy for S2 lesion. Eight months have passed since the first visit, but no recurrence have been observed. The kidney is an organ that metabolizes many drugs, and it is necessary to adjust the drug volume and consider the timing of administration even in anticancer chemotherapy. We report that we experienced chemotherapy for colorectal cancer during hemodialysis with a review of the literature.

[Short-Term and Long-Term Outcomes as a Bridge to Surgery for Malignant Colonic Obstruction].

We investigated the efficacy of colonic stent as a bridge to surgery(BTS)for malignant colonic obstruction retrospectively. 25 patients were inserted self-expandable metallic colonic stent as BTS(S group), 16 patients were placed trans-anal ileus tube as BTS(I group)and in 15 patients(E group)emergent surgery were performed. These 3 groups were investigated as follows. Technical success for colonic stent placement was obtained in all S group patients but clinical success rate was 92.0%(23/25). One was not decompressed sufficiently due to 2 obstructed colonic cancers and another patient stent was migrated. 3-year overall survival was 79.7%(S group), 75.0%(I group), 73.3%(E group), respectively. 3-year progression- free survival was 47.1%, 56.3%, 53.3%, respectively. Overall survival rate for S group patients was equivalent compared with patients of non-obstructive colonic cancer(control group)in stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ for the same investigation periods. Colonic stent for BTS was indicated to be safe and effective strategy for obstructive colon cancer, and further investigation are needed to confirm long-term outcomes.

Predictive factors of response to pulse methylprednisolone therapy in patients with alopecia areata: A follow-up study of 105 Japanese patients.

Pulse corticosteroid therapy is effective for alopecia areata (AA) in the early stage. The risk and efficacy of this therapy for patients with several backgrounds, however, remains controversial. To explore the predictive factors of the response and risk factors of this therapy, data from 105 AA patients treated with methylprednisolone (500 mg) i.v. for 3 days consecutively in our facility were retrospectively analyzed. Among good responders, longer time from the onset to therapy was correlated with longer time required for hair regrowth (P = 0.037, n = 27). Multivariate models demonstrated that "severity", "relapse" and longer "duration from the latest onset" were significantly and independently associated with poorer outcome (P < 0.01). "History of atopic dermatitis (AD)" was also associated with poorer outcome, but this correlation could be explained by the effect that duration from the latest onset of AA was longer among participants with AD. We propose that earlier initiation of pulse corticosteroid therapy is preferable for better outcome of AA, particularly among patients with AD. Clinicians should be mindful of the occurrence of mild adverse effects in the elderly patients.

A randomized double-blind trial of intravenous immunoglobulin for bullous pemphigoid.

BACKGROUND: Patients with steroid-resistant bullous pemphigoid (BP) require an appropriate treatment option. OBJECTIVE: A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effect of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG; 400mg/kg/day for 5days) in BP patients who showed no symptomatic improvement with prednisolone (≥0.4mg/kg/day) administered. METHODS: We evaluated the efficacy using the disease activity score on day15 (DAS15) as a primary endpoint, and changes in the DAS over time, the anti-BP180 antibody titer, and safety for a period of 57days as secondary endpoints. RESULTS: We enrolled 56 patients in this study. The DAS15 was 12.5 points lower in the IVIG group than in the placebo group (p=0.089). The mean DAS of the IVIG group was constantly lower than that of the placebo group throughout the course of observation, and a post hoc analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference (p=0.041). Furthermore, when analyzed only in severe cases (DAS≥40), the DAS15 differed significantly (p=0.046). The anti-BP180 antibody titers showed no difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: IVIG provides a beneficial therapeutic outcome for patients with BP who are resistant to steroid therapy.

CARD14 Glu138 mutation in familial pityriasis rubra pilaris does not warrant differentiation from familial psoriasis.

Some familial cases of pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) have the CARD14 gene mutations that are also detected in familial psoriasis vulgaris. However, genotype-phenotype correlation in these two entities is poorly understood. Here, we report a case of PRP with a new mutation in CARD14. Genomic analysis of a 40-year-old female patient with sporadic PRP type V identified a heterozygous dominant c.412G>A mutation (p.Glu138Lys) in CARD14. Two types of CARD14 mutations causing Glu138 substitutions have been reported in cases of familial PRP and pustular psoriasis. All three types, including the present case, are predicted to cause similar loss of the negative charges at this site. This suggests that the difference in molecular charge and the resulting change in molecular interaction around the N-terminal end of the coiled-coil region of CARD14 molecule do not determine the phenotypic differences between psoriasis and PRP.

Granuloma caused by carbon deposition in the dermis.

Pencil core granuloma is characterized by a delayed foreign-body reaction against retained fragments of pencil lead. Previous case reports presented pencil core granuloma resembling malignant melanoma, haemangioma, or soft tissue sarcoma. We present a case of pencil core granuloma arising from the palm 25 years after the initial injury. The patient presented a bluish nodule that had been present over 25 years before. The nodule initially measured 5 mm in diameter. However, five years before presentation, it suddenly enlarged to the size of 30 mm during six months. Computed tomography (CT) of the lesion revealed a linear radiopaque structure of 8 mm long with a mass on its distal end. Surgical resection revealed a bluish muddy mass and pencil lead. Histological examination revealed degenerative tissue with calcification surrounded by massive amounts of black granular material in the middle and lower dermis.

Refractory seborrheic dermatitis of the head in a patient with malignant lymphoma.

Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory eruption that tends to distribute on the sebaceous areas of the body and is rarely described as a paraneoplasia. Here we report a case with a responsive seborrheic dermatitis-like eruption of the head which resulted in generalized erythroderma. Intensive examinations detected concurrent malignant lymphoma.