Metastatic small cell bladder cancer treated with sequential systemic therapy including pembrolizumab and amrubicin: A case report.

Introduction: Small cell bladder cancer is a relatively rare tumor, representing <1% of all bladder tumors. Amrubicin monotherapy is used as second-line treatment for small cell lung cancer in Japan. Case presentation: A 79-year-old woman presented with gross hematuria and was diagnosed with small cell bladder cancer (T2 or higher). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin resulted in a partial response. Robot-assisted radical cystectomy was performed, and radical resection was achieved. As we identified metastasis in the pleura 1 year later, we administered carboplatin and etoposide, which resulted in a partial response. Although pembrolizumab was initiated as maintenance therapy, it was not effective. Amrubicin was given as third-line therapy, and stable disease was achieved without serious adverse effect for 6 months. Conclusion: Although there is no established treatment for metastatic small cell bladder cancer, the current case report suggests the effectiveness of amrubicin in this setting.

The efficacy of STRATAFIX® spiral PDS for vesicourethral anastomosis during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a single-center retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of continuous suturing using barbed suture for vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three consecutive patients who underwent RARP by a single surgeon between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively divided based on the suture type used for VUA: group A, 3-0 poliglecaprone-25 RB-1 needle (Monocryl®), n = 46; group B, 3-0 spiral polydioxanone (PDS) barbed suture with RB-1 needle (STRATAFIX®), n = 27. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in patient background characteristics between groups, including age, body mass index, and clinical stage. However, group B had a significantly shorter operative time, console time, hospital stay, and duration of urethral catheterization. The VUA time was significantly shorter in group B than in group A (17.9 min vs. 10.6 min; p < 0.001). Only 1 case of minor leakage was observed during the intraoperative leak test (1 patient in group A). There was no significant difference in the number of pads used at 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. There were no urethral strictures, and there was no significant difference in pathologic results or postoperative prostate-specific antigen progression between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the use of barbed suture during VUA for RARP is associated with reduced VUA time.

Bladder stone formation around polyethylene glycol after use of SpaceOAR Hydrogel.

Introduction: Radiation therapy is used as primary, adjuvant, and salvage therapy for prostate cancer. When using radiation therapy, the SpaceOAR® system is considered easy to use and useful for reducing the irradiated dose and toxicity to the rectum. Although SpaceOAR® system have been reported some adverse event including death. Case presentation: A 74-year-old male was diagnosed with prostate cancer of clinical stage cT2aN0M0 and intermediate risk by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. We inserted the SpaceOAR® Hydrogel before performing intensity-modulated radiation therapy, as the patient had ulcerative colitis. We did not recognize any complications during or after the procedure, although magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydrogel in the bladder retrospectively. Fourteen months after the procedure, the patient was presented with macrohematuria and we found a bladder stone including hydrogel. Conclusion: We report the first case of a bladder stone after use of SpaceOAR® Hydrogel. We must be careful of taking place it.

Broken Tip of a Disposable Saliva Ejector as a Bronchial Foreign Body in a Patient With Severe Physical and Intellectual Disabilities.

Oral care for patients with severe physical and intellectual disabilities is important to prevent the development of systemic diseases and maintain or improve their health. Foreign bodies accidentally aspirated into the respiratory tract can cause critical problems. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of aspiration of a broken tip of a disposable saliva ejector in a patient with severe physical and intellectual disabilities. The patient's strong bite broke off the ejector's tip during oral care. The foreign body was removed by flexible bronchoscopy without any complications. Such cases are sometimes asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic; thus, learning how to appropriately respond is essential for caregivers and family doctors. In addition, this device is widely used in clinical practice, and such risks should be widely known. Moreover, manufacturers should develop more robust equipment for oral care.

Functional analysis of mutant SLCO2A1 transporters found in patients with chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic enteropathy associated with the solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 2A1 (SLCO2A1), or CEAS, causes anemia and hypoalbuminemia in young people. Dysfunction of the SLCO2A1 transporter protein is thought to involve genetic mutation, but mutant proteins have not been functionally characterized. We examined the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) transport ability of recombinant SLCO2A1 proteins containing 11 SLCO2A1 mutations found in CEAS patients. METHODS: Wild-type and mutant SLCO2A1 proteins were forcibly expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and measurements of PGE2 uptake and transport capacity were compared. The membrane protein topology and functionality of the eight SLCO2A1 mutations involving single-nucleotide substitutions were predicted using computer analysis. RESULTS: The extent of functional disruption of the 11 SLCO2A1 mutations identified in CEAS patients was variable, with 10 mutations (421GT, 547GA, 664GA, 770GA, 830dupT, 830delT, 940 + 1GA, 1372GT, 1647GT, and 1807CT) resulting in loss or reduction of PGE2 transport, excluding 97GC. CONCLUSION: PGE2 transport ability of recombinant SLCO2A1 in X. laevis oocytes was hindered in 10/11 SLCO2A1 mutations identified in patients with CEAS. Further studies on the relationships between the different mutations and PGE2 transport and clinical features, such as severity, are needed.

Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Three Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Neoadjuvant Dose-Dense Chemotherapy.

We report three cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) during dose-dense neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. All patients presented with symptoms (e.g., fever), and computed tomography showed diffuse ground-glass shadows. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed, and the diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction for Pneumocystis jirovecii. All patients had completed three or four courses of dose-dense epirubicin-cyclophosphamide chemotherapy and received prednisolone for preventing chemo-induced nausea and vomiting. Moreover, lymphocytopenia was observed in all patients. Since the onset of PJP in preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be life-threatening and leads to delayed surgery, careful consideration of prophylaxis for PJP is required.

Thoracic Empyema Caused by Campylobacter rectus.

Campylobacter rectus is a campylobacterium considered to be a primary periodontal pathogen. Thus, C. rectus has rarely been isolated from extraoral specimens, especially in the thoracic region. We herein report a case of thoracic empyema in which Campylobacter infection was suspected after Gram staining of the pleural effusion, and C. rectus was isolated using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Fusobacterium nucleatum was also detected. Molecular identification was performed using polymerase chain reaction amplification and a sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. Estimation of the causative bacteria using Gram staining led to the proper culture and identification of the causative bacteria.

Pneumocystis Pneumonia in a Patient with Ovarian Cancer Receiving Olaparib Therapy.

We herein report a case of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in a 77-year-old woman with ovarian cancer who was receiving olaparib therapy. After the patient's second relapse of ovarian cancer, she was administered olaparib as maintenance therapy following successful completion of docetaxel and carboplatin therapy. On receiving olaparib, she showed symptoms of a fever and malaise. Based on laboratory and imaging findings, she was diagnosed with PCP. After treatment with corticosteroids and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole followed by atovaquone, the patient's general condition improved. The lymphocytopenia observed after olaparib administration may have been associated with the development of PCP.

Japanese Spotted Fever Complicated With Life-Threatening Ventricular Tachycardia and Acute Cardiac Damage.

A 67-year-old man with high-grade fever and systemic erythema visited our hospital. Based on his symptoms and history of outdoor activities, we considered the possibility of rickettsial diseases, especially Japanese spotted fever (JSF). He was treated with antibiotics. After hospitalization, the patient complained of palpitations, and electrocardiography revealed ventricular tachycardia (VT). He was successfully treated with electrical defibrillation. Moreover, echocardiography showed decreased wall motion at the apex. However, coronary angiography showed no coronary artery-related stenosis. JSF was confirmed via polymerase chain reaction using a biopsy sample of the erythema. Subsequently, the patient was discharged without complications. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of JSF complicated with VT and acute cardiac damage.

Endobronchial metastasis of ovarian cancer rescued by tumor ablation and a self-expanding hybrid stent: A case report and review of the literature.

Tracheal stenosis caused by malignancy is a life-threatening complication. Herein, we performed tumor ablation and airway stenting using a hybrid stent on a patient with upper tracheal stenosis caused by endobronchial metastasis of ovarian cancer. To date, only 9 cases of endobronchial metastasis of ovarian cancer have been reported. This is the first reported case of endobronchial metastasis in the upper part of the trachea, which had a favorable outcome after tumor ablation as a sequential treatment and use of a hybrid stent. In addition, 10 cases of endobronchial metastasis of ovarian cancer, including ours and other case reports, were reviewed.

Clinical Evaluation of Endoscopic Bronchial Occlusion with an Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot for the Management of Intractable Pneumothorax, Pyothorax with Bronchial Fistula, and Postoperative Air Leakage.

Objective The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of endoscopic bronchial occlusion (EBO) with endobronchial Watanabe spigots (EWSs) for the management of prolonged pulmonary air leaks, such as intractable pneumothorax, pyothorax with bronchial fistula, and postoperative air leakage. Methods This was a retrospective study. Between April 2005 and March 2018, we recruited 21 patients with intractable pneumothorax (10 cases), pyothorax with bronchial fistula (7 cases), and postsurgical pulmonary fistula (4 cases) in whom appropriate drainage for 2 weeks had been unsuccessful and who were unsuitable for surgery. An EWS was inserted using a flexible bronchoscope via an endotracheal or a tracheostomy tube. Results The mean number of sessions with EWS procedures was 1.94, and the mean number of inserted EWS per patient was 6.5. In addition to EWS procedures, pleural washing and pleural adhesion therapy were performed in all cases with pyothorax, whereas pleural adhesion therapy was performed in three patients with pneumothorax. The successful treatment rate was 85.7%. Reduction of air leakage was observed in 19/21 patients. The mean duration of reduction of air leaks was 4.1 days (median, 1; range, 0-24 days) following EWS procedures. The mean duration from tube insertion to chest tube removal was 43.4 days (median, 29; range, 16-105 days). Complications included spigot migration and infection (aspergillosis); no complications caused significant mortality. Conclusion Performing EBO using an EWS appears to be a reasonable option for the management of intractable pneumothorax, pyothorax with pulmonary fistula, and postoperative air leakage.

Severe tracheal stenosis after first administration of pembrolizumab rescued by Dumon Y-stent in a lung cancer patient.

A 70-year-old woman diagnosed with advanced, non-resectable programmed cell death ligand 1-positive-non-small-cell lung carcinoma was treated with pembrolizumab as first-line therapy. Soon after therapy initiation, she presented with severe dyspnea, and chest computed tomography revealed a soft tissue mass in the lower trachea of the right main bronchus. During bronchoscopy, she became severely hypoxic, and we performed endoscopic tumor ablation and Dumon Y-stent placement. We considered this severe deterioration caused by pseudoprogression, and suggest that it is necessary to perform bronchoscopy and to prepare for the bronchial intervention when treating patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Pulmonary Actinomyces graevenitzii Infection Diagnosed by Bronchoscopy using Endobronchial Ultrasonography with a Guide Sheath.

A 75-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of a low-grade fever, dry cough, and chest abnormal shadow. Chest computed tomography revealed a nodule with a cavity in the right upper lobe. Endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) of the lesion suggested that the lesion was benign. Actinomyces graevenitzii was cultured from the specimen obtained by bronchoscopy using endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath technique and was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequencing. The patient was treated with intravenous ampicillin; subsequently, his condition improved. We believe that careful observation of EBUS findings may be useful for the differential diagnosis.

Cognitively Impaired Physicians: How Do We Detect Them? How Do We Assist Them?

Our older physicians, an increasing number of those in practice, constitute a valuable human resource in the medical profession. Professional satisfaction, increasing life expectancy, concerns regarding financial security, and reluctance to retire are among the many reasons a physician might choose to extend practice into later adulthood. Despite the benefits of experience and expertise acquired by older physicians, cognitive changes associated with normal or pathological aging have been shown to have a significant negative effect on physician performance. Age-based cognitive assessment of physicians has been adopted in some countries and by some U.S. healthcare institutions for patient protection and improvement of physician quality of life, but there is no general guideline for the assessment and assistance of cognitively impaired late career physicians in the United States. Self-reports and reports from peers are an inadequate safeguard, leaving impaired physicians and their patients at risk. In this discussion, we will describe cognitive aging, the effects of cognitive aging on physician performance, some current monitoring systems, and recommendations for identifying and assisting physicians found to be impaired.

Is Helplessness Still Helpful in Diagnosing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Criteria A2, experience of helplessness, fear, or horror at the time of the traumatic event, was removed from the posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. We argue that there is empirical support for retention of A2, a criterion that has clinical value and may improve diagnostic accuracy. Specifically, we demonstrate that A2 has high negative predictive power, aids in the prediction of symptom severity, and can be indispensible to detecting the disorder in children. We examine how augmenting A2 with other peritramautic emotions could improve clinical and diagnostic utility. In our opinion, rather than being eliminated, A2 needs to be reconstructed and included as one criterion of PTSD.

Preparing residents in training to become health-care leaders: a pilot project.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe a successful and exportable training module that addresses Next Accreditation System (NAS) behavioral milestones for leadership competencies. METHODS: A novel leadership training module, which required the creation of original business plans by teams of residents, was incorporated into a psychiatry PGY-2 training curriculum. RESULTS: In the creation and presentation of their business plans, the residents demonstrated competencies in the NAS functional domains of interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice. Residents who responded with feedback after completing the course were very positive about their experience. CONCLUSIONS: The leadership training module described here allowed residents to acquire and demonstrate many of the competencies specified in leadership-oriented NAS milestones. The module did not require additional funding or a formal rotation or "track," is scalable to accommodate any number of residents and can be modified based on available local teaching resources.

Controlling leucine-zipper partner recognition in cells through modification of a-g interactions.

By focusing on the a-g interactions, successful design and selection were accomplished to obtain a leucine-zipper segment that discriminates the appropriate partner over another that provides very similar patterns of electrostatic interactions.

Molecular interplays involved in the cellular uptake of octaarginine on cell surfaces and the importance of syndecan-4 cytoplasmic V domain for the activation of protein kinase Cα.

Arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are promising carriers for the intracellular delivery of various bioactive molecules. However, many ambiguities remain about the molecular interplays on cell surfaces that ultimately lead to endocytic uptake of CPPs. By treatment of cells with octaarginine (R8), enhanced clustering of syndecan-4 on plasma membranes and binding of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) to the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-4 were observed; these events potentially lead to the macropinocytic uptake of R8. The cytoplasmic V domain of syndecan-4 made a significant contribution to the cellular uptake of R8, whereas the cytoplasmic C1 and C2 domains were not involved in the process.