Predictors of conversion surgery after conservative treatment for pyogenic spondylitis.

BACKGROUND: Patient demographic and clinical characteristics may be factors associated with the success of conservative treatment for pyogenic spondylitis. The ability of imaging findings at initial diagnosis to predict patient outcomes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with conversion surgery after conservative treatment for pyogenic spondylitis, with a special focus on the initial computed tomography (CT) findings. METHODS: This study enrolled 35 patients with pyogenic spondylitis who underwent CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at diagnosis and were followed-up for more than 6 months. Patients were diagnosed by MRI, and the degree of bone destruction was assessed on CT cross-sectional images. Vertebral body destruction was classified as grades 0 (almost normal), 1 (endplate irregularity), 2 (vertebral body destruction not involving the posterior wall), and 3 (destruction involving the posterior wall). Patients were divided into four groups based on grade of bone destruction and their clinical characteristics were compared. RESULTS: 1, 11, 11, and 12 patients were classified as grades 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Univariate analysis showed no significant differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics of the four groups. Eighteen (51.4 %) patients had been treated surgically, with the rate of surgical treatment being significantly higher in patients with grade 3 (83.3 %) than in those with grades 0 + 1 (25 %) and grade 2 (45.5 %) (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that epidural abscess on MRI (odds ratio [OR] 10.8, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.68-69.7), grade 3 bone destruction on CT (OR 3.97, 95 % CI 1.21-13.0), and C-reactive protein (CRP) improvement rate after 1 week of treatment (OR 0.95, 95 % CI 0.91-0.99) were risk factors for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical treatment should be considered for patients with pyogenic spondylitis who present with an epidural abscess on MRI and bone destruction extending to the posterior wall on CT at the time of diagnosis.

[Successful Treatment of Estrogen Receptor Positive, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer with Life-Threatening Multiple Bone Metastases Using the Combination of Fulvestrant and Palbociclib-A Case Report].

Palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, is found to be an effective therapeutic drug in the treatment of estrogen receptor positive (ER+)metastatic breast cancer. In this report, we describe a case of rapid progression of life-threatening multiple bone metastases of breast cancer treated with a combination of fulvestrant and palbociclib. The patient, a 58-year-old postmenopausal woman, was diagnosed with left breast cancer at the age of 43 years and underwent breast-conserving surgery. After the completion of postoperative adjuvant endocrine therapy and radiotherapy, the patient was placed on regular follow-up. Eleven years after the surgery, multiple bone metastases and multiple lymph node metastases occurred, and the patient was treated with letrozole as first-line therapy for recurrent breast cancer. Although she continued to receive this treatment for 2 years and 10 months, her general condition worsened due to the occurrence of new liver metastases and the rapid progression of existing metastatic lesions. Thus, she was sent to an emergency room. Marked hypercalcemia and a severe decrease in erythrocyte and platelet counts were observed, which could be the cause of her worsening general condition. Her performance status(PS)was 4, and palliative treatment was also considered. However, she received treatment for hypercalcemia and red blood cell transfusion; as a result, she recovered to the PS 2 where she could begin chemotherapy. Then, she began a treatment consisting of a combination of fulvestrant and palbociclib as a second-line treatment for the recurrence. The patient responded well to the treatment, and her general condition improved to PS 1. She has since maintained a good quality of life for 2 years and 11 months without serious adverse events. In conclusion, the combination of fulvestrant and palbociclib has a low risk of serious adverse events and is a worthwhile treatment for rapidly progressing, life-threatening multiple bone metastases of breast cancer.

[A Case of Breast Mucinous Carcinoma with Bladder Metastasis Effectively Treated with Endocrine Therapy and Chemotherapy].

A 57-year-old Japanese woman underwent partial mastectomy of the right breast and sentinel lymph node biopsy in July 2005. The diagnosis was mucinous carcinoma with negative margins and no lymph node metastases(pT1cN0M0, pStage Ⅰ A). Postoperative adjuvant therapy included radiation therapy and oral administration of anastrozole for 5 years. In December 2015, we observed enlargement of left supraclavicular lymph nodes; a needle biopsy revealed lymph node metastases from breast cancer. We administered toremifene and the swelling disappeared. The patient was subsequently referred to the hospital for urinary frequency in November 2016. Imaging demonstrated a bladder tumor. Transurethral biopsy of bladder revealed adenocarcinoma with mucin production consistent with breast primary. After systemic chemotherapy(UFT, eribulin), endocrine therapy(fulvestrant), and molecular targeted therapy(palbociclib), her urologic symptoms were relieved. However, 2 years and 8 months after diagnosis of bladder metastasis, the patient showed disease progression and decided to discontinue all chemotherapy and pursue palliative care. We also present a review and discussion of the relevant literature.

Atypical femoral fracture in patients with bone metastasis receiving denosumab therapy: a retrospective study and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: While denosumab has been shown to prevent skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastasis, there is a concern that it may cause atypical femoral fracture (AFF). While AFF has been reported in patients with osteoporosis receiving denosumab, data are scarce in the context of AFF occurring in patients with bone metastasis receiving monthly denosumab therapy. METHODS: To analyze the incidence of AFF in patients with bone metastasis, we reviewed the medical records of patients who had received monthly denosumab (120 mg) treatment from May 2012 to June 2017 at any of the three participant institutions. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 277 patients who had received a median of 10 doses (range, 1-79) of denosumab. Five patients were diagnosed as having AFF or symptomatic atypical femoral stress reaction (AFSR) needing surgical intervention, representing an incidence rate of 1.8% (95% confidence interval, 0.77-4.2). These patients had received 15, 45, 45, 46 or 47 doses of denosumab, respectively. Four of the patients had received prior zoledronic acid treatment. The results of our analysis suggested that long-term use of denosumab, especially for more than 3.5 years, and prior use of zoledronic acid were risk factors for the development of AFF. CONCLUSIONS: We found the AFF events in 5 patients (1.8%) among 277 cancer patients who had received monthly denosumab (120 mg) treatment. Long-term denosumab treatment and prior zoledronic acid treatment were identified as risk factors for the development of AFF.

Cooperative DNA probing using a beta-cyclodextrin-DNA conjugate and a nucleobase-specific fluorescent ligand.

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) base on the target is displayed at a gap in a ternary duplex carrying beta-cyclodextrin-modified DNA. A stable tandem duplex forms regardless of the type of SNP base. A nucleobase-specific ligand is then added to this system. The dansyl moiety in the ligand is expected to form a luminous inclusion complex with nearby beta-CyD, only when the ligand recognizes the specific base displayed in the gap.