[Evaluation of Risk Factors for Immune-Related Adverse Events Associated with Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors].

OBJECTIVE: Risk factors for immune-related adverse events(irAEs)associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs) remain to be obscure. Therefore, we evaluated the patient background and clinical findings to identify risk factors for the development of irAEs. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 86 patients treated with ICIs between August 2018 and March 2020. They were classified into 2 groups who developed irAEs(irAE group)and did not develop irAEs(non-irAE group). RESULTS: The median age of the subjects was 70 years(39-84 years), and there were 65 males. The underlying disease was non-small cell lung cancer in 51 patients, gastric cancer in 14, renal cell cancer in 9, urothelial cancer in 11, and MSI-high small bowel cancer in 1. The irAE group, in whom treatment with ICIs was discontinued, included 16 patients(18.6%), and the non-irAE group included 70 patients(81.4%). The median number of treatment cycles was 8(1-91), and the median treatment period was 4 months(1-45 months). Evaluation in our hospital revealed no significant background factors, such as gender, age, or the treatment period, as risk factors for the development of eras. Lung disorders were frequently observed after the third-line treatment and in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. CONCLUSION: At present, the prediction of the development of irAEs is difficult. Careful follow-up observation and early irAEs management are important. In addition, further studies are necessary to identify risk factors for the development of irAEs.

[Results of dose-intense, dose-impact weekly combination chemotherapy with rituximab for patients with CD 20-positive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Excellent results were reported for dose-dense and dose-intense weekly combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide and additional ara-C) (CHOEA-7) and with rituximab (RCHOEA-7), for patients with CD 20-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

[Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from a patient with sealed ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm].

We are reporting a case of sealed rupture of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm associated with the isolation of Listeria monocytogenes. The patient was a 75-year-old man with previous history of hypertension that had not required medication for the 3 years prior to hospital admission. He was admitted due to chest pain, but he was afebrile. There were no clinical findings indicating infection, although CRP was slightly elevated. During his clinical course, a sealed rupture of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm was found and replaced with an artificial artery. After surgery, he was treated for 2 weeks with sultamicillin. He was discharged from hospital on the 43rd postoperative day. No bacteria were observed after microscopic examination of gram stained samples from the thrombus that was present in the sealed rupture of the aneurysm. However, a L. monocytogenes strain isolated from the thrombus only after enrichment culturing by HK medium at 37 degrees C for 4 days. By histopathology, there was a slight cellular infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils at the aperture of the aneurysm. Although L. monocytogenes strains possess major pathogenic genes, such as prfA, hlyA, plcA, plcB, mpl, inlA, inlB and actA that can be identified by PCR, none of the evidence indicated that this case was a mycotic aortic aneurysm due to L. monocytogenes.