[The Significance of Surgical Biopsy in Case of the Resistance to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Postoperative Recurrence of Lung Cancer].

To evaluate the clinical features of patients who developed resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) administered for postoperative recurrence of lung cancer, we assessed eight patients who underwent surgical biopsy or sampling for the detection of T790M mutation under general anesthesia from 2017 to 2019 in our hospital. All 8 patients had undergone lobectomy with nodal dissection for lung cancer of pathological stageⅠB/Ⅲ/Ⅳa (4/3/1 patients). The median disease-free survival was 29 months (range:11~110 months). The recurrence site was the lung in six patients including malignant pleural effusion in one of six, and two pleural disseminations. All eight patients received gefitinib as first-line treatment. The median age at surgical biopsy was 75 years (range:66~86 years). We performed pleural biopsy in 2 patients, partial lung resection in 5 patients, and pleural effusion sampling in 1 patient in whom our attempt to perform partial lung resection failed because of severe adhesion between the lung and chest wall. T790M mutation was observed in 7 patients( 85.7%) and the treatment by osimertinib in 6 patients was effective in 5 patients( 83.3%). Surgical biopsy is useful for detecting gene mutations in patients resistant to EGFR-TKIs.

[Lung Cancer Accompanied by Sarcoidosis with Mediastinal and Bilateral Hilar Lymphadenopathy;Report of a Case].

A 64-year-old woman with complete atrioventricular block caused by sarcoidosis was emergently placed a pacemaker. A 10 mm nodule in the left upper lobe of the lung and the mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy was detected through chest computed tomography. To establish the diagnosis, resection of the tumor and #4L was performed. By intraoperative pathology, the nodule was diagnosed as an adenocarcinoma and #4L was found to be a granuloma without metastasis of carcinoma. Subsequently, left upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection (ND2a-2) was conducted. Pathological stage was stageⅠA1 lung cancer. No recurrence has been noted for a year postoperatively and lymphadenopathy has improved by administering prednisolone medication.

[Surgical Management of a Severely Calcified Ascending Aorta Using Intra-Aortic Balloon Occlusion].

A severely calcified ascending aorta increases the risk of perioperative cerebral damage in cardiac surgery. Conventional aortic valve replacement using an external aortic cross clamp may be dangerous in patients with this morbidity. We used an intra-aortic balloon occlusion catheter(IABOC)to minimize risks of aortic valve replacement(AVR) in an 81-year-old man with severe aortic stenosis combined with a severely calcified aorta. IABOC was introduced to the ascending aorta via the right femoral artery by esophageal echocardiography. The precise site of the inflated balloon was confirmed by the pressure of the right radial artery and was secured by 2 tourniquets around the ascending aorta. The postoperative course was uneventful. Our technique can contribute to prevention of embolic complications in some patients with a severely calcified ascending aorta.

Mesenchymal stem cells attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury after prolonged cold ischemia in a mouse model of lung transplantation: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) suppress inflammation and immune responses. We conducted this study to find out if MSCs attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury in a mouse model of lung transplantation. METHODS: C57BL/6J mouse lungs perfused with low-potassium dextran glucose solution were preserved at 4 °C for 18 h. Human MSCs were slowly injected into the left pulmonary artery of the lung grafts, and orthotopic left lung transplantation was then performed. The lung isografts were reperfused for 6 h, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from the left lung graft was collected. We measured the protein concentration, cell count, and proinflammatory cytokine concentrations in the BALF. RESULTS: The protein concentration and cell count in the BALF were significantly lower in the MSC-administered grafts than in the PBS-administered controls. Concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, IL-17A, and TNF-α, in BALF tended to be lower in the MSC-administered grafts than in the controls, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: The pre-transplant administration of MSCs via the pulmonary artery of the lung graft attenuated ischemia-reperfusion injury after prolonged cold ischemia in this mouse model of lung transplantation.

[Successful Combined Modality Therapy for an Advanced Malignant Mediastinal Non-seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor in an Elderly Female].

A 69-year-old woman was diagnosed with a germ cell tumor in the anterior mediastinum. Following 3 years follow-up, she experienced chest pain and an enlarging of the anterior mediastinal tumor and bilateral lung metastases were detected by chest X-ray. The tumor was diagnosed as a primary malignant mediastinal non-seminomatous germ cell tumor by needle biopsy. After initial radiotherapy (12 Gy/4 Fr), she was subsequently treated with EP chemotherapy which achieved a partial response. Complete resection of the residual tumors in the mediastinum and right lung was performed. No recurrence has been noted for 5 years post-operatively.

Aberrant Glycosylation of Lumican in Aortic Valve Stenosis Revealed by Proteomic Analysis.

To identify proteins related to the pathophysiology of aortic valve stenosis (AS), we investigated the protein profiles of AS aortic valves. Specifically, proteins were extracted from a thickened and calcified area (AS-C) and an apparently non-thickened and non-calcified area (AS-N) in an identical aortic valve leaflet in each of 6 AS patients. The proteins were then separated by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). Protein spots detected by 2DE were compared between the AS-C and AS-N samples. Protein spots of interest were subjected to protein identification by mass spectrometry.In total, 670 protein spots were detected by 2DE, 28 of which showed more than 1.5-fold different intensity (P < 0.05) between the AS-C and AS-N samples. Proteins were identified in 17 out of the 28 spots. Fibrinogen and lumican were identified in 9 and 3 spots, respectively. Intensity of these 12 spots was lower in the AS-C samples than in the AS-N samples. In the 1D-Western blot analysis, 4 lumican bands (80 kDa, 75 kDa, 65 kDa, and 53 kDa) were detected, of which 2 bands with 80 kDa and 75 kDa showed lower intensity in the AS-C samples than in the AS-N samples. When de-glycosylated protein samples were used in the 1D-Western blot, only a single lumican band with ~40 kDa was detected, indicating that lumican was variously glycosylated and that highly glycosylated lumican molecules were decreased in AS-C.Collectively, insufficient glycosylation of lumican in the thickened and calcified areas of AS aortic valves may be involved in the pathophysiology of AS.

[Right ventricular rupture due to blunt trauma diagnosed by MDCT; report of a case].

The survival rate of cardiac rupture due to blunt trauma is generally low. We experienced a case with right ventricular rupture due to blunt trauma. The patient was a 49-year-old man who was crushed in a traffic accident and transported to a local hospital in a shock state. He was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade due to cardiac rupture, and for pericardial drainage was immediately performed. He was then transferred to our hospital for emergency surgery. His hemodynamics was stable, and he was diagnosed with right ventricular rupture by multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT). The operation was performed successfully without cardiopulmonary bypass, and his postoperative course was uneventful. MDCT is useful for detecting the rupture site of the heart.

A Case of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

The patient was a 69-year-old man who underwent emergency surgery for acute aortic dissection that developed 5 months after coronary artery bypass grafting. The left internal thoracic artery (LITA) graft anastomosed to the left descending artery was not affected by the aortic dissection, and during the ascending aortic replacement, the artery was not identified for clamping. Although fully sufficient cardioplegia was not achieved due to the patent LITA graft, the patient's postoperative cardiac function was good. The two anastomotic sites of the vein grafts to the ascending aorta were excised along with a remnant of the aortic wall in an island fashion and were reimplanted onto the artificial graft. Based on the site of intimal tear, we speculated that partial clamping during the previous surgery had caused the dissection.

[Appropriate surgical approach to cystic thymic lesions].

We retrospectively analyzed surgical approach to cystic thymic lesions based on 25 cases. We classified to 4 groups as follows, 12 thin-wall solitary cysts with low uniform density, 7 solitary cysts with ununiform density, 5 cysts with tumor lesions and 1 multiple cysts. Preoperative image diagnoses were 10 thymic cysts, 7 cystic thymomas, 4 mature teratomas, and 1 each of multilocular thymic cyst and thymic lymphoma. Twenty cases were indicated to video-assisted thoracic surgery( VATS), the other 5 cases were operated by sternotomy. The reasons for thoracotomy were adherence with left brachiocephalic vein(LBCV)3, huge cyst compressing superior vena cava (SVC) 1, diffuse multiple cysts and tumors in hypertrophic thymus 1. Three cases were converted to open thracotomy from VATS because of dense adhesions around LBCV and malignant diagnosis. Final diagnosis are 16 congenital cysts, 3 thymomas, and one each multilocular thymic cyst, mature teratoma, thymic cancer, thymolipoma, venous hemangioma and mucosal associated lymphoid tissue( MALT) lymphoma. Thin-wall solitary cysts with low uniform density are able to diagnosed congenital thymic cysts by computed tomography( CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances. On the contrary un-uniform density cysts or cysts with tumor lesions are difficult to achieve correct diagnoses by images. These lesions may contain thymoma or thymic cancer, so that rapid pathological examination should be prepared during surgical operation. Cysts adhering to LBCV should be operated by thoracotomy to avoid accidents of massive bleeding.

Aortogenic embolic stroke after sleeve pneumonectomy with median sternotomy for lung cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The median sternotomy approach in sleeve pneumonectomy enables diseased lung ventilation in selected cases, which may reduce the difficulty in achieving anastomosis under intubation of the left main bronchus. However, with median sternotomy, the ascending aorta requires repeated mobilization to expose the operative field for anastomosis, which can cause an aortogenic embolic stroke. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old Asian man presenting 6 months after developing hemoptysis was diagnosed with right upper lobe lung cancer (stage T4N0M0), invading the lower trachea and basal bronchus. Preoperative computed tomography revealed ascending aorta calcification. Right sleeve pneumonectomy was performed using median sternotomy with diseased lung ventilation. The ascending aorta was repeatedly mobilized to adequately expose the tracheobronchial bifurcation. Surgery was uneventful, but he did not recover complete consciousness even after termination of anesthesia. Mild paralysis of both upper extremities was observed. Head magnetic resonance imaging on postoperative day 1 revealed multiple small acute infarctions in the brain, possibly caused by mobilization of the aorta. He received anticoagulation therapy and rehabilitation and was discharged on postoperative day 30. CONCLUSION: The median sternotomy approach in sleeve pneumonectomy enables diseased lung ventilation. However, the possibility of aortogenic embolic stroke should be considered when calcification of the ascending aorta is observed on preoperative computed tomography.

Emergent Transcatheter Arterial Embolization via a Transpopliteal Approach for Internal Iliac Artery Injury during Lumbar Disk Surgery in the Prone Position.

This report describes a successful case of transcatheter arterial embolization for a critical vascular injury during lumbar disk surgery that resulted in a large retroperitoneal hematoma in a 72-year-old woman. A 4-Fr long sheath was inserted via the right popliteal artery in the prone position. Pelvic angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm in the right internal iliac artery, which was managed with coil embolization. The patient underwent laparotomy because of abdominal compartment syndrome and was discharged in good condition after rehabilitation. The transpopliteal endovascular approach in the prone position may thus provide the best chance to treat this rare but critical condition.

Detection of engraftment of donor-derived antibody producing cells in a lung transplant recipient by anti-cytomegalovirus IgG avidity test.

Transplant recipients become immunocompromised through the use of immunosuppressive therapy to prevent allograft rejection. These recipients readily experience human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or reactivation. Therefore, CMV represents a life-threatening pathogen in transplant recipients. To demonstrate the serostatus and course of IgG maturation against CMV in transplant patients, we measured the transition of anti-CMV IgG and its affinity (avidity index; AI) as criteria for antibody maturation. Among 31 lung transplant recipients, 26 were infected with CMV before transplantation and maintained anti-CMV IgG and high AI values throughout the study period. Four of the 31 experienced primary infection with CMV through the allograft, with two of the 4 recipients presented high AI values even after 6 month post-transplantation. A significant portion of donor-derived plasma cells were detectable in one recipient. These results suggested that the plasma cells from donors are carried in through the transplanted lung and lymph nodes and produce matured high-avidity IgG from the early stage of transplantation.

Correlation between the native lung volume change and postoperative pulmonary function after single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Evaluation of lung volume by three-dimensional computed tomography volumetry.

PURPOSE: Whereas native lung overinflation has been thought to happen in recipients of single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis because of its increased compliance, there is no study that has reported the details on the change of the native lung volume after single lung transplantation by three-dimensional computed tomography volumetry. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the lung volume after single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis by three-dimensional computed tomography volumetry and investigate the correlation between the native lung volume change and postoperative pulmonary function. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 17 patients who underwent single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis. We defined the ratio of the native lung volume to total lung volume (N/T ratio) as an indicator of overinflation of the native lung. In order to assess changes in the N/T ratio over time, we calculated the rate of change in the N/T ratio which is standardized by the N/T ratio at 1 year after single lung transplantation: rate of change in N/T ratio (%) = {(N/T ratio at a certain year)/(N/T ratio at 1 year)- 1}× 100. RESULTS: We investigated the correlations between the N/T ratio and the pulmonary function test parameters at 1 year and 5 years; however, there was no significant correlation between them. On the other hand, there was a significant negative correlation between the rate of change in the N/T ratio and that in forced expiratory volume in 1 second %predicted (%FEV1) at 5 years after single lung transplantation. CONCLUSION: The single lung transplantation recipients for lymphangioleiomyomatosis showed increased rate of change in the N/T ratio in the long-time course after lung transplantation with the decrease of %FEV1. We expect that these cases will probably cause the overinflation of the native lung in the future.

High preoperative plasma vasohibin-1 concentration predicts better prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Vasohibin-1 (VASH1) is an angiogenesis inhibitor synthesized and secreted by endothelial cells, whose expression is induced by angiogenic stimuli such as vascular endothelial growth factor. We have previously demonstrated that VASH1 is immunohistochemically evident in endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is positively correlated with that of vascular endothelial growth factor in cancer cells. Here, we determined the preoperative plasma concentration of VASH1 in patients with NSCLC and evaluated the association between the preoperative VASH1 levels and certain outcomes. METHODS: We analyzed presurgical plasma VASH1 concentrations in a total of 79 lung cancer patients (51 males and 28 females; 34-83 y of age; 46 adenocarcinomas, 27 squamous cell carcinomas, and 6 other types) who underwent lung resection. The impact of preoperative VASH1 level was analyzed using clinical characteristics and prognosis. RESULTS: Plasma VASH1 concentration ranged from 34.1 to 1190.4 fmol/mL. We divided the patients into 3 groups according to plasma VASH1 level for this assessment: low VASH1 group (n = 26), medium VASH1 group (n = 27), and high VASH1 group (n = 26). The death and recurrence rates of the high, medium, and low VASH1 groups were 5.5, 16.2, and 12.7 per 100 person-years, respectively. Multivariate adjusted hazard ratio of death and recurrence of the high VASH1 group was lower than that of the low VASH1 group (hazard ratio 0.42; 95% CI 0.17-0.99). CONCLUSION: The present analysis suggests that high preoperative plasma VASH1 concentration is associated with better prognosis in patients with NSCLC. We propose preoperative VASH1 level as a biomarker for the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Salt intake and eating habits of school-aged children.

Salt restriction is important for the prevention and treatment of hypertension; however, salt consumption is still high in Japan. Improvements in dietary habits, including salt reduction in childhood, may contribute to the prevention of hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate the salt intake of school-aged children and the relationship between their diet diary and actual salt intake. The subjects comprised 580 schoolchildren (471 elementary school pupils and 109 junior high school pupils) who wanted to evaluate their salt intake in Kuji, a northeast coastal area in Japan. We estimated salt intake using spot urine samples and a formula. Lifestyle was assessed using a questionnaire. We also evaluated the salt intake and the lifestyles of 440 parents. The estimated salt intakes of elementary school pupils, junior high school pupils and their parents were 7.1±1.5, 7.6±1.5 and 8.0±1.7 g per day, respectively. The proportion of lower-grade children who achieved the recommended salt intake was low. In the multivariate analysis, the estimated salt intake of school-aged children correlated with their age, estimated salt intake of their parents and the menu priorities of the household. The estimated salt intake of the parents was associated with female gender, obesity, age and the habitual consumption of bread and noodles. In conclusion, the estimated salt intake of school-aged children positively correlated with the estimated salt intake of their parents, and the proportion of lower-grade children who achieved the recommended salt intake was low. Guidance on salt restriction for children and their parents may reduce the salt intake of school-aged children.

[Early postoperative complications in patients with Moyamoya disease--a comparison of inhaled anesthesia with total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA)].

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya disease is a rare neurovascular disorder that requires special anesthetic managements during revascularization procedures. We have investigated the incidence of early postoperative complications under inhaled anesthesia in comparison with total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) retrospectively. METHODS: Seventy-two patients undergoing revascularization procedures were divided into two groups, one with inhaled anesthesia (n = 23) and the other with TIVA (n = 49). Surgical procedures were performed under normocapnia, proper body temperature, and all patients were prevented from anemia by homologous transfusion. To avoid the variance in anesthetic managements, 39 patients under 15 years of age were picked up and divided in the same way as above. Early postoperative complications including transient ischemic attack and cerebral infarction during the first 2 weeks after operation were investigated. RESULTS: In all patients, early postoperative complications occurred in 48% of inhaled anesthesia group and in 49% of TIVA group. In patients under 15, these complications occurred in 44% and in 57%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two anesthetic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Several previous studies reported the excellence of TIVA for revascularization procedure on the basis of regional blood flow because inhaled anesthesia may provoke intracerebral steal in moyamoya disease. Our investigation in this study revealed that both anesthetic methods have no significant difference in postoperative complications during the first 2 weeks after operation. Thus further study should be needed to verify the safety of inhalation anesthetics in patients with moyamoya disease.

[A sheared off and sequestered epidural catheter: a case report].

This is a report of a retained epidural catheter segment after placement of 20-G polyethylene catheter (Hakko Medical) through 17-G Tuohy needle and 25-G spinal needle (Top Company) for a patient receiving combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Retained catheter fragment (approximately 10.6 cm) was removed easily with small incision under local anesthesia. Electron microscopic findings of the catheter showed that the catheter might have been traumatized by the Tuohy needle through which the catheter was placed or by the spinal needle for intrathecal anesthesia, resulting in having been sheared off.

Remission of newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia after lung cancer resection.

Secondary immune thrombocytopenia is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome of lung cancer. We report a case of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma with newly diagnosed secondary immune thrombocytopenia. On referral, the patient's complete blood cell count was normal; however, it showed marked thrombocytopenia after 1 month. Blood biochemistry and bone marrow puncture showed normal findings. We speculated that he had immune thrombocytopenia associated with the lung cancer and planned lung resection. Sleeve middle and lower lobectomy was successfully performed with preoperative intravenous immunoglobulin and intraoperative platelet transfusion. His platelet count was restored and maintained a normal level at 8 months after the operation.