Clinical phenotype of anaerobic bacteremia unaccompanied by detectable abscess lesion: a 10-year retrospective, multicenter, observational-cohort study.

PURPOSE: Despite the importance of abscess lesions in clinical decisions regarding anaerobic bacteremia (AB), their impact on clinical characteristics remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the clinical factors associated with AB that were unaccompanied by detectable abscess lesions during the initial phase of infection. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective observational study involving patients with culture-proven AB at six tertiary hospitals in Japan between January 2012 and March 2022. Data on clinical characteristics, laboratory and radiological findings were collected, and their associations with the absence of detectable abscess lesions were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 393 participants were included. Abscess lesions were absent in 42.7% of the entire cohort and detectable in the remaining patients. No differences were identified in the malignancy, severity, or 30-day mortality between patients with and without detectable abscess lesions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and the modified Charlson comorbidity score revealed that the immunosuppressive status (febrile neutropenia or corticosteroid use), C-reactive protein (CRP) level ≤9.8 mg/dL at onset, and the presence of gram-positive anaerobic rods (GPARs) were independently associated with AB unaccompanied by detectable abscess lesions [odds ratios (ORs) 3.24, 3.00, and 2.81, respectively; p < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: This study elucidated distinctive clinical and microbiological characteristics of AB unaccompanied by detectable abscess lesions, with relatively lower CRP elevation, immunosuppressive status, and GPARs as the causative anaerobes.

[Effect of Japanese Traditional Medicine, Ninjin-Youei-To(TJ-108), on the Quality of Life of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy].

An increasing number of patients with lung cancer are undergoing outpatient chemotherapy, and thus, it is very important to maintain the quality of life(QOL)of these patients. Ninjin-Youei-To(TJ-108), a Japanese traditional medicine, has been reported to improve the QOL of patients with advanced cancer. However, the effect of TJ-108 in patients with lung cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy is unknown. Therefore, we conducted this study. To investigate factors influencing the QOL of these patients, we administered a QOL questionnaire,"The QOL Questionnaire for Cancer Patients Treated with Anticancer Drugs"(QOL-ACD)to 15 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Factors related to the overall QOL scores and other categories indicating"activity","physical condition","psychological condition","social relationship", and"face scale" were analyzed. No significant decrease in each of the evaluated factors was observed in this study.

[Effect of Japanese Traditional Medicine, TJ-48, on the Quality of Life of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy].

An increasing number of patients with lung cancer are undergoing outpatient chemotherapy.It is very important to retain the quality of life (QOL) of these patients.Japanese traditional medicine, TJ-48, has been reported to improve the QOL of patients with advanced cancer. However, the effect of TJ-48 in patients with lung cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy is unknown. The present study was conducted to investigate the factors influencing the QOL of these patients. We used "The QOL questionnaire for cancer patients treated with anticancer drugs" (QOL-ACD) with 16 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The medical factors related to the overall QOL scores and other variables indicating "activity," "physical condition, "psychological condition,""social relationships," "psychological condition," and "face scale" were analyzed. Significant improvement was observed in the total QOL score, mainly owing to the improvement in the patients "physical condition."

[Nab-Paclitaxel with platinum chemotherapy as sixth-line therapy for a non-small cell lung cancer patient].

A 48-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for sixth-line chemotherapy. A chest X-ray film and computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed a right-sided massive tumor with multiple lung tumors. Repeated treatment with carboplatin (AUC 6) on day 1 and nab-paclitaxel (100mg/m2) on days 1, 8, and 15, every 28 days were effective in this patient. Chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel may be effective for patients with multi-recurrent adenocarcinoma.

[Analysis of factors associated with the quality of life in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who received outpatient pemetrexed maintenance therapy].

Increasing number of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer are receiving outpatient maintenance chemotherapy. It is very important to maintain these patients' quality of life(QOL). Pemetrexed has been reported to be an effective maintenance chemotherapy. However, its effects on the QOL of patients with non-small cell lung cancer who are undergoing outpatient maintenance chemotherapy are unknown; therefore, we conducted this study. To investigate factors that influence the QOL of these patients, we provided a QOL questionnaire,"The QOL Questionnaire for Cancer Patients Treated with Anticancer Drugs(QOL-ACD)"to 7 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The medical factors related to the overall QOL scores, as well as other categories indicating"activity","physical condition","psychological condition","social relationship", and"face scale", were analyzed. No significant reductions in any of the factors were observed in this study.

Prospective therapeutic studies of disseminated extranodal large B-cell lymphoma including intravascular large B-cell lymphoma.

This study aimed to establish a standard treatment for disseminated extranodal large B-cell lymphoma, including intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (DEN-LBCL/IVL), and to validate the clinical diagnostic criteria we proposed. Between 2006 and 2016, 22 patients were enrolled in a clinical trial conducted by the Hokuriku Hematology Oncology Study Group. The first cycle of chemotherapy consisted of dose-reduced cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) with delayed administration of rituximab. From the second to the sixth cycle, patients received conventional rituximab and CHOP therapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), while the secondary endpoints included the complete response (CR) rate and time to treatment failure (TTF). The results showed a CR rate of 73%, a median OS of 65 months, and a median TTF of 45 months. These findings indicate that patients with DEN-LBCL/IVL were effectively treated with our new chemoimmunotherapy regimen. Our clinical diagnostic criteria are useful for identifying patients who require early intervention.

[Effect of Japanese traditional medicine, TJ-41, on quality of life of patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy].

An increasing number of patients with lung cancer are undergoing outpatient chemotherapy. It is very important to maintain good quality of life(QOL)for these patients, and Japanese traditional medicine, TJ-41, has been reported to improve the QOL of patients with advanced cancer. However, the effect of TJ-41 on patients with lung cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy is unknown. Therefore, we conducted this study. To investigate the factors influencing the QOL of these patients, we distributed a QOL questionaire,"The QOL Questionnaire for Cancer Patients Treated with Anticancer Drugs"(QOL-ACD)to 11 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The medical factors related to the overall QOL scores and other categories, indicating"activity","physical condition","psychological condition","social relationships","psychological condition"and"face scale"were analyzed. A significant decrease in each of the factors was not observed in this study.

[Bevacizumab with platinum chemotherapy as 6th-line treatment in a case of non-small-cell lung cancer].

A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for 6th-line chemotherapy. Chest X-ray film and computed tomographic (CT) scan showed right-sided pleural thickening with multiple lung tumors. Repeated treatment with carboplatin (AUC 6), paclitaxel (200 mg/m(2)) and bevacizumab (150 mg/kg) on day 1 every 21 days was effective for this patient. Chemotherapy with bevacizumab may be effective for patients with multi-recurrent adenocarcinoma.

Correlation of the Commercial Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain Antibody Test with the Chemiluminescent Reduction Neutralizing Test and Possible Detection of Antibodies to Emerging Variants.

Serological tests are beneficial for recognizing the immune response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). To identify protective immunity, optimization of the chemiluminescent reduction neutralizing test (CRNT) is critical. Whether commercial antibody tests have comparable accuracy is unknown. Serum samples were obtained from COVID-19 patients (n = 74), SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative (n = 179), and suspected healthy individuals (n = 229) before SARS-CoV-2 variants had been detected locally. The convalescent phase was defined as the period after day 10 from disease onset or the episode of close contact. The CRNT using pseudotyped viruses displaying the wild-type (WT) spike protein and a commercial anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) antibody test were assayed. Serology for the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants was also assayed. Both tests concurred for symptomatic COVID-19 patients in the convalescent phase. They clearly differentiated between patients and suspected healthy individuals (sensitivity: 95.8% and 100%, respectively; specificity: 99.1% and 100%, respectively). Anti-RBD antibody test results correlated with neutralizing titers (r = 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22-0.38). Compared with the WT, lower CRNT values were observed for the variants. Of the samples with ≥100 U/mL by the anti-RBD antibody test, 77.8% and 88.9% showed ≥50% neutralization against the B.1.1.7 and the B.1.351 variants, respectively. Exceeding 100 U/mL in the anti-RBD antibody test was associated with neutralization of variants (P < 0.01). The CRNT and commercial anti-RBD antibody test effectively classified convalescent COVID-19 patients. Strong positive results with the anti-RBD antibody test can reflect neutralizing activity against emerging variants. IMPORTANCE This study provides a diagnostic evidence of test validity, which can lead to vaccine efficacy and proof of recovery after COVID-19. It is not easy to know neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 in the clinical laboratory because of technical and biohazard issues. The correlation of the quantitative anti-receptor-binding domain antibody test, which is widely available, with neutralizing test indicates that we can know indirectly the state of acquisition of functional immunity against wild and variant-type viruses in the clinical laboratory.

Primary human herpesvirus 8-negative effusion-based lymphoma: a large B-cell lymphoma with favorable prognosis.

Primary effusion-based lymphoma (EBL) presents as a malignant effusion in a body cavity. The clinicopathologic features and prognosis of primary human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)-negative EBL remain unclear. We therefore conducted a retrospective study of 95 patients with EBL, regardless of HHV8 status, in Japan. Of 69 patients with EBL tested for HHV8, a total of 64 were negative. The median age of patients with primary HHV8-negative EBL at diagnosis was 77 years (range, 57-98 years); all 58 tested patients were negative for HIV. Primary HHV8-negative EBL was most commonly diagnosed in pleural effusion (77%). Expression of at least 1 pan B-cell antigen (CD19, CD20, or CD79a) was observed in all cases. According to the Hans algorithm, 30 of the 38 evaluated patients had nongerminal center B-cell (non-GCB) tumors. Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA was positive in 6 of 45 patients. In 56 of 64 HHV8-negative patients, systemic therapy was initiated within 3 months after diagnosis. Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) or CHOP-like regimens with or without rituximab (n = 48) were the most common primary treatments. The overall response and complete response rates were 95% and 73%, respectively. Three patients did not progress without systemic treatment for a median of 24 months. With a median 25-month follow-up, the 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 84.7% and 73.8%. Sixteen patients died; 12 were lymphoma-related deaths. Thus, most EBL cases in Japan are HHV8-negative and affect elderly patients. The non-GCB subtype is predominant. Overall, primary HHV8-negative EBL exhibits a favorable prognosis after anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

[Analysis of factors associated with quality of life for older adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving outpatient gemcitabine therapy as an alternative inpatient therapy].

An increasing number of patients with lung cancer are undergoing outpatient chemotherapy as an alternative to inpatient therapy. To investigate the factors influencing the quality of life (QOL) for these patients, we administered a QOL questionnaire, The QOL Questionnaire for Cancer Patients Treated with Anticancer Drugs (QOL-ACD) to 8 older adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The medical factors related to the overall QOL scores and other categories indicating activity, physical condition, psychological condition, social relationship, psychological condition and face scale were analyzed. No significant decrease in each factor was observed in this study.

[Hyperpigmentation due to Vitamin B12 Deficiency].

Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with mucocutaneous symptoms, such as glossitis and hyperpigmentation, as well as megaloblastic anemia and neuropathy. These are reversible conditions, and the symptoms improve with early detection and treatment. Whenever anemia is encountered in routine practice, vitamin B12 deficiency should be considered and the presence of skin symptoms should be investigated.

[Primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the urinary bladder successfully treated by radiotherapy and rituximab].

A 64-year-old woman visited our hospital in December 2005 because of general malaise. Her hemoglobin level was 9.0 g/dl. Gastrointestinal fiberscopy detected a hemorrhagic gastric ulcer, which was considered as etiology of anemia. Abdominal ultrasonography showed bilateral hydronephroses and hydroureters. A urine test revealed pyuria and macroscopic hematuria, and urine culture revealed 10(8) colony-forming units of Escherichia coli per ml. Pelvic MRI showed thickening of the posterior wall and trigone of the urinary bladder. Transurethral resection was peformed, and biopsy of the mucous of the bladder gave a diagnosis of primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the urinary bladder. Ann Arbor clinical stage was IEA. It was planned to administer irradiation at a total dose of 36 Gy to the whole bladder and part of the tumor; however, radiotherapy was discontinued at a dose of 26 Gy because of the development of pollakisuria. Pelvic MRI and pathologic examination of the urinary bladder after radiotherapy showed that the lymphoma was in complete remission; however, she received retuximab therapy at a dose of 375 mg/m2/week, 8 times additionally, because of the reduced radiotherapy. The patient has remained in complete remission for 14 months.

[A case of synchronous triple cancer involving lung, stomach and bladder, responding to combination chemotherapy of S-1 and cisplatin].

A 77-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of general malaise, loss of appetite and hemoptysis. Chest X-ray film and computed tomography (CT) scan showed right-sided pleural effusion with lung tumor. Succeeding upper gastro-intestinal fiberscopy and cystoscopy revealed poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach and urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Repeated treatment with 100 mg/body of S-1 on day 1 followed by 60 mg/m(2) of cisplatin on day 8 was effective in this patient.

[Aggressive phase multiple myeloma with post-renal acute renal failure due to multiple extramedullary plasmacytomas].

A 63-year-old woman was diagnosed as having multiple myeloma (MM), IgG-kappa type, stage IIIA, in October 2003. She achieved partial response after receiving three courses of VAD therapy and one course of high dose dexamethasone therapy (HDD); maintenance therapy consisted of melphalan and prednisolone. In November 2004, the patient developed spinal canal stenosis that required surgery. At the end of December 2004, the patient developed renal dysfunction that progressed to anuria. A CT scan showed multiple retroperitoneal masses that impinged on and obstructed both ureters and caused bilateral hydronephroses. Renal function improved after a right percutaneous nephrostomy and chemotherapy consisting of HDD, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and doxorubicin. Nevertheless, the patient died due to MM in February 2005. On autopsy, multiple retroperitoneal and pelvic plasmacytomas with 13q- and t(4;14) (p16;q32) were found. Our patient is a rare case that, in the terminal stage of MM, developed aggressive phase multiple myeloma with extramedullary plasmacytomas that caused acute renal failure due to compression on both ureters.

[Successful use of cladribine in the treatment of an elderly woman with typical hairy cell leukemia].

A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because for pancytopenia and splenomegaly. The bone marrow examination revealed hairy cells in 11.6% of all nucleated bone marrow cells. Hairy cells were positive for tartaricresistance acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, CD2, CD11c, CD19, CD20, sIgD, CD25, CD103 and k chain. In addition, abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) demonstrated splenomegaly and multiple nodular early stains in the spleen. She was diagnosed as having typical hairy cell leukemia (HCL). The patient was treated with cladribine infused continuously for 7 days at a dose of 0.09 mg/kg/day, which induced partial remission without severe adverse effects. Purine analogs such as cladribine and pentostatine are considered first-line agents for patients with HCL. Treatment with cladribine achieved a high overall response rate for patients with HCL and was safe even in elderly patients like ours. It is necessary to observe carefully the complications of severe infections, second malignancies and relapse of HCL after treatment with cladribine.

[Analysis of factors associated with quality of life for patients with non-small lung cancer receiving outpatient vinorelbine therapy as alternative inpatient therapy].

An increasing number of patients with lung cancer are undergoing outpatient chemotherapy as an alternative inpatient therapy. To investigate the factors influencing the quality of life (QOL) for these patients,we used a QOL questionnaire, "The QOL Questionnaire for Cancer Patients Treated with Anticancer Drugs" (QOL-ACD) for 8 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The medical factors related to the overall QOL scores and other categories indicating "activity," "physical condition," "psychological condition," "social relationship" and "face scale" were analyzed. Significant improvements in the factors indicating "psychological condition" were observed in this study.

[A case of small-cell lung cancer responding remarkably to CPT-11 and CDDP combination chemotherapy].

A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of general malaise, loss of appetite and body weight loss. Chest X-ray film showed left-sided pleural effusion. Computed tomographic (CT) scan of the chest also demonstrated left-sided pleural effusion with lung tumor and lymphnode swelling. Repeated treatment with 60 mg/m(2) of cisplatin on day 1 followed by 80 mg/m(2) of irinotecan on days 1 and 8 were effective in this patient.

Accelerated telomere length shortening in granulocytes: a diagnostic marker for myeloproliferative diseases.

OBJECTIVE: The telomere in mature myeloid cells derived from abnormal progenitor cells of myeloproliferative diseases (MPDs) may shorten more rapidly than that in T lymphocytes, which are considered to be derived from normal clones. To test this hypothesis, we measured telomere lengths in granulocytes and T lymphocytes from patients with MPDs and compared them with those from normal individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Granulocytes and T lymphocytes were separated from the peripheral blood of 65 patients with MPDs (25 chronic myelogenous leukemia [CML], 16 polycythemia vera, 19 essential thrombocythemia, 5 chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis) and 35 normal individuals. Genomic DNA from each cell fraction was subjected to Southern blot hybridization to determine the mean telomere length. RESULTS: Telomere lengths in granulocytes from patients with MPDs were significantly shorter than those from normal individuals (vs CML, p = 0.002; vs other MPDs, p < 0.0001). However, there was no statistical difference in telomere length in T lymphocytes between MPD patients and normal individuals (vs CML, p = 0.35; vs other MPDs, p = 0.85). DeltaTRF (terminal restriction fragment) in patients with MPDs, which is defined as the difference in telomere length between granulocytes and T lymphocytes, was significantly longer than that in normal individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the disease theory that MPDs result from extensive proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells, leading to accelerated telomere length shortening in mature granulocytes. An increase in DeltaTRF over the standard value (>1.74 kb) may be useful for discriminating leukocytosis due to MPDs from reactive leukocytosis.