Structure-dependent detection of polyphenols using crown ether-immobilized gold nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles functionalized with 18-crown 6-ether (18C6-AuNPs) can be used for detection of tannic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, and epicatechin gallate by color change in the µg mL-1 range. 18C6-AuNPs were insensitive to l-ascorbic acid and l-tyrosine unlike conventional detection methods, such as Folin & Ciocalteu assay, whose principle is based on the redox reaction of polyphenols. Although 18C6-AuNPs did not respond to some polyphenols, such as gallic acid and epicatechin, if the polyphenols of interest are responsive to this approach, these are expected to be effective nanomaterial for simple sensing of polyphenols.

Bleeding Risk of Acupuncture for Patients with Hematological Malignancies Accompanying Thrombocytopenia: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Introduction: In recent years, it has been reported that acupuncture is useful for alleviating the symptoms of patients with hematological malignancies, but the safety of acupuncture for such patients has not been established. This study evaluated the risk of bleeding from acupuncture in patients with hematological malignancies accompanying thrombocytopenia. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective investigation of the medical records of patients with hematological malignancies who received acupuncture during hospitalization at the hematology department of a single medical center in Japan. The bleeding risk at the acupuncture site was evaluated in the following four groups according to the platelet count measured on the day of acupuncture treatment: (1) <20 × 103/µL, (2) 20-49 × 103/µL, (3) 50-99 × 103/µL, and (4) 100 × 103/µL or more. Occurrence of grade 2 or higher bleeding according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0, within 24 h from the acupuncture session or before the next session was defined as an event, and the risk of occurrence of bleeding was examined in each group. Results: Of 2423 acupuncture sessions conducted on 51 patients with hematological malignancies, 815 were included in the analysis. Ninety sessions were performed in the <20 × 103/µL platelet count group, 161 in the 20-49 × 103/µL group, 133 in the 50-99 × 103/µL group, and 431 in the 100 × 103/µL or more group. No bleeding event according to the authors' definition occurred in any of these groups. Conclusions: This study is the largest to date to assess the bleeding risk of acupuncture in patients with hematological malignancies accompanying thrombocytopenia. The authors considered that acupuncture could be safely performed without causing serious bleeding for patients with hematological malignancies accompanying thrombocytopenia.

Reliability of Conventional Two-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Diagnosing Extraforaminal Stenosis in Lumbosacral Transition.

Introduction: Three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is reportedly superior to two-dimensional (2D) MRI for diagnosing lumbar foraminal stenosis at L5-S1. In this study, we strictly distinguished the intra- and extraforaminal regions and compared the diagnostic reliability and accuracy of 2D and 3D MRI in each region. Methods: A total of 92 surgical cases of unilateral L5 radiculopathy were selected for imaging analysis, including 46 of foraminal stenosis at L5-S1 (Group F) and 46 of intraspinal canal stenosis at L4-5 (Group C) (48 men, 44 women; mean age, 66 years). The 2D and 3D MRI sets were assessed twice by two examiners. They were informed only of the laterality of the lesion in each case and asked to select among the following for each modality: "absence of foraminal stenosis," "intraforaminal stenosis," "extraforaminal stenosis," and "coincident intraforaminal and extraforaminal stenosis." The intra- and interobserver reliabilities were evaluated using kappa (κ) statistics for the intra- and extraforaminal regions and compared between 2D and 3D MRI. For each case, disagreements between examiners were resolved through discussion to obtain a diagnostic judgment for each modality. Subsequently, the final diagnosis of intra- and/or extraforaminal stenosis in Group F was made using multiple modalities and intraoperative findings. A comparison between 2D and 3D MRI in terms of diagnostic accuracy was performed for the intra- and extraforaminal regions. Results: No significant difference was observed in the κ statistics between 2D and 3D MRI for the intraforaminal region, whereas 3D MRI had significantly larger κ statistic than 2D MRI for the extraforaminal region. Ultimately, 3D MRI perfectly judged the extraforaminal region, whereas 2D MRI detected only 44.8% of the cases of extraforaminal stenosis. Conclusions: More than half of extraforaminal stenosis was overlooked by 2D MRI, suggesting that it is unreliable for diagnosing extraforaminal stenosis at L5-S1.

Are T1-Weighted Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Images Inferior to T2-Weighted Images for Diagnosing Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis in the Fifth Lumbar Nerve Root? A Prospective, Comparative Study in Identical Patients.

Introduction: Imaging analysis of foraminal stenosis in the fifth lumbar (L5) nerve root remains to be a challenge because of the anatomical complexity of the lumbosacral transition. T2-weighted three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance images (MRI) have been dominantly used for diagnosis of lumbar foraminal stenosis, while the reliability of T1-weighted images (WI) has also been proven. In this study, we aim to compare the reliability and reproducibility of T1- and T2-weighted 3D MRI in diagnosing lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS) of the L5 nerve root. Methods: In this study, 39 patients with unilateral L5 radiculopathy (20 had L4-L5 intracanal stenosis; 19 had L5-S foraminal stenosis) were enrolled, prospectively. T1- and T2-weighted 3D lumbar MRI were obtained from each patient. T1WI and T2WI were blinded and then separately reviewed twice by four examiners randomly. The examiners were instructed to answer the side of LFS or absence of LFS. The correct answer rate, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve were analyzed and compared between T1WI and T2WI. Also, intra- and interobserver agreements were calculated using kappa (κ)-statistics and compared in the same manner. Results: The average correct answer rate, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of the T1WI/T2WI were 84.6%/80.1%, 82.9%/80.3%, 86.3%/81.3%, and 0.846/0.801, respectively. The intraobserver κ-values of the four examiners ranged from 0.692 to 0.916 (average: 0.762) and from 0.669 to 0.801 (average: 0.720) for T1WI and T2WI, respectively. The interobserver κ-values calculated in a round-robin manner (24 combinations in total) ranged from 0.544 to 0.790 (average: 0.657) and from 0.524 to 0.828 (average: 0.652), respectively. Conclusions: As per our findings, T1- and T2-weighted 3D MRI were determined to have nearly equivalent reliability and reproducibility in terms of diagnosing LFS of the L5 nerve root.

Radical decompression without fusion for L5 radiculopathy due to foraminal stenosis.

Background: The highest incidence of lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS) occurs in the L5-S1 segment and its anatomical features differ from those of other segments. Few previous reports have exhaustively assessed surgical outcomes after decompression surgery, limiting the materials to patients with LFS at the L5-S1 segment. We aimed to prospectively investigate instability and neurological improvement following our novel surgical technique for LFS at L5-S1, named "radical decompression" of the nerve root. Methods: Patients with foraminal stenosis at L5-S1 who underwent surgery using our technique were prospectively evaluated two years postoperatively. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and the JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) were evaluated preoperatively and two years postoperatively. The following radiological parameters at L5-S1 were measured: lateral translation, sagittal translation, the difference in sagittal translation (DST) between flexion and extension, disc wedging angle, lordotic angle, the difference in lordotic angle (DLA) between flexion and extension, and disc height. Pre- and postoperative data were compared using paired t-tests. In addition, the patients were classified into a disc group (Group D) and a non-disc group (Group ND) according to whether a discectomy was performed intraoperatively. Changes in each parameter before and after surgery were compared between the groups. Results: Twenty-eight patients were included in this analysis. The JOA scores improved in all patients. The mean preoperative and two-year postoperative JOA scores were 14.5±3.2 (range, 8-21) and 24.3±3.3 (range, 18-29), respectively (P<0.01). All JOABPEQ categories improved two years postoperatively (P<0.05). None of the patients underwent revision surgery. No significant changes were observed in any of the radiological parameters. No significant differences in the changes in each parameter before and after surgery were found between groups D and ND. Conclusions: Our surgical technique resulted in good neurological recovery and was associated with a low risk of postoperative segmental instability, regardless of additional discectomy.

Correlation of toxicities and efficacies of pemetrexed with clinical factors and single-nucleotide polymorphisms: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Pemetrexed is an efficacious multi-targeted antifolate with acceptable toxicity for non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (non-Sq NSCLC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Vitamin B12 and folic acid as premedication can reduce the frequency of severe toxicities of pemetrexed chemotherapy. However, adverse effects are frequent in clinical settings. In this study, we aimed to identify the clinical factors and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the toxicity and efficacy of pemetrexed chemotherapy. METHODS: This observational study was conducted from October 2012 to December 2019; we evaluated the toxicities and efficacies of pemetrexed chemotherapy using multivariate logistic or Cox regression analysis. In total, 106 patients received pemetrexed chemotherapy. SNPs were analyzed for four patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and 67 with non-Sq NSCLC. RESULTS: The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival of 63 patients with non-Sq NSCLC, excluding four in the adjuvant setting, were 6.8 and 33.3 months, respectively. Per propensity-score-adjusted multivariate Cox analyses, favorable factors for PFS were folic acid level ≥ 9.3 ng/mL before premedication, platinum combination, bevacizumab combination, vitamin B12 level < 1136 pg/mL before chemotherapy, A/A + A/G of BHMT (742 G > A), and A/A + A/C of DHFR (680 C > A). Favorable prognostic factors included good performance status, low smoking index, body mass index ≥ 20.66 kg/m2, folic acid level ≥ 5.55 ng/mL before premedication, higher retinol-binding protein before chemotherapy, and A/G of MTRR (66 A > G). Among the 71 patients who were analyzed for SNPs, the frequencies of hematologic toxicities and non-hematologic toxicities in Grades 3-4 were 38% and 36.6%, respectively. Per propensity-score-adjusted multivariate logistic analyses, risk factors for Grades 3-4 hematologic toxicities were vitamin B12 level < 486 pg/mL before premedication, leucocyte count < 6120 /µL before chemotherapy, folic acid level < 15.8 ng/mL before chemotherapy, status with a reduced dose of chemotherapy, and C/T + T/T of MTHFR (677 C > T). Risk factors for Grades 2-4 non-hematologic toxicities were homocysteine levels ≥ 11.8 nmol/mL before premedication, transthyretin level < 21.5 mg/dL before chemotherapy, C/C + T/T of MTHFR (677 C > T), and A/A + G/G of SLC19A1 [IVS2 (4935) G > A]. CONCLUSION: The information on metabolites and SNPs of the folate and methionine cycle will help predict the toxicities and efficacies of pemetrexed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered with the University hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000009366) on November 20, 2012.

Primary Malignant Lymphoma of the Cauda Equina Diagnosed after Decompression for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Case Report.

Primary malignant lymphoma confinement to the cauda equina is rare. Only 14 cases of primary malignant lymphoma in the cauda equina have been reported. In these cases, the clinical features were similar to those of lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS). This report describes a case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the cauda equina that was diagnosed after decompression surgery for LSCS. An 80-year-old man presented with gait disturbance due to progressive muscle weakness in the lower extremities over the previous two months. He was diagnosed with LSCS, and decompression surgery was performed. However, the muscle weakness worsened after surgery; therefore, he was referred to our department. Plain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed swelling of the cauda equina. It demonstrated marked homogenous enhancement by gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) revealed diffuse accumulation of 18F-FDG in the cauda equina. These imaging findings were consistent with those of cauda equina lymphomas. To confirm the diagnosis, we performed an open biopsy of the cauda equina. Histological examination indicated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Considering the patient's age and activities of daily living, further treatment was not performed. The patient died four months after the first surgery. Rapid progression of muscle weakness, which cannot be prevented by decompression surgery, and swollen cauda equina on MRI may be signs of this disorder. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI, 18F-FDG PET, and histological investigation of the cauda equina should be performed for diagnosing primary malignant lymphoma of the cauda equina.

A case of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease with pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma-like multiple pulmonary nodules.

A 41-year-old man presented with chronic cough and chest pain. Laboratory tests revealed anemia, inflammation, hypoalbuminemia, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, and elevated interleukin-6 levels. Computed tomography revealed diffuse bilateral pulmonary nodules and multicentric lymphadenopathy. Histopathology of the pulmonary nodule resembled pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma (PHG), whereas lymph node histopathology was consistent with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD). The patient was diagnosed with iMCD involving PHG-like pulmonary nodules. Little is known about the association between these two diseases, and the present case provides insights regarding the relationship between PHG and iMCD.

Endobronchial hamartoma resected via bronchoscopy using high-frequency electrosurgical snare-Preoperative strategies using virtual bronchoscopy.

Pulmonary hamartomas are common benign lung tumors; however, endobronchial hamartomas are relatively rare. We report a case of asymptomatic endobronchial hamartoma in a 51-year-old man. Chest computed tomography revealed a 10-mm protrusion in the right main bronchus. Preoperative virtual bronchoscopy (VBS) was performed; subsequently, minimally invasive bronchoscopic resection was safely performed under local anesthesia. The use of VBS is a useful treatment strategy and follow-up modality.

Infectious Pulmonary Artery Pseudoaneurysm That Resolved with Conservative Treatment.

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PAPs) are rare but can cause massive hemoptysis if they rupture. Infectious PAPs are often treated by surgery or transcatheter embolization and are rarely treated conservatively with antibiotics. We herein report a case of PAP treated conservatively in a 21-year-old woman with lung abscess. Except for one massive hemoptysis early in the course, the patient responded well to the empirical therapy with ampicillin/sulbactam and systemic hemostatic agents. After six weeks of antibiotics, the pseudoaneurysm disappeared. Conservative therapy with careful observation can be considered in small infectious PAPs when there is a good clinical response to initial conservative therapy.

Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with long-term corticosteroid use in a patient with impaired B-cell immunity.

Corticosteroids are widely used to treat severe COVID-19, but in immunocompromised individuals, who are susceptible to persistent infection, long term corticosteroid use may delay viral clearance. We present a case of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection in a man with significantly impaired B-cell immunity due to non-Hodgkin lymphoma which had been treated with rituximab. SARS-CoV-2 shedding persisted, despite treatment with remdesivir. Viral sequencing confirmed the persistence of the same viral strain, ruling out the possibility of reinfection. Although SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgA and IgM remained negative throughout the treatment period, after reduction of the corticosteroid dose, PCR became negative. Long-term corticosteroid treatment, especially in immunocompromised individuals, may result in suppression of cell-mediated immunity and prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Serum IgG and lymphocyte counts are useful for the early detection of infection in patients receiving bendamustine-rituximab therapy.

Bendamustine-rituximab (BR) therapy has been established as a highly effective regimen for indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, patients who receive BR therapy exhibit persistent hypogammaglobulinemia and lymphopenia, resulting in an increased incidence of infections. As a sustained immunosuppressive state is a risk factor for infections, early predictive biomarkers for infections related to BR therapy need to be identified. We retrospectively analyzed 61 patients with indolent NHL who were followed up for 2 years after the end of BR therapy. Progression-free survival was significantly influenced by the incidence of infections. Patients with infections related to BR therapy exhibited persistent hypogammaglobulinemia and lymphopenia. In addition, we determined the cutoff values of serum IgG values and lymphocyte counts for infections using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Minimum serum IgG and lymphocyte counts at the first BR treatment cycle were significantly associated with the incidence of infections during and after BR treatment. Furthermore, the development of skin reactions during BR therapy was significantly associated with the incidence of infections after BR therapy. Our study suggested that these values and symptom are predictive biomarkers for infections related to BR therapy. Based on these findings, better management of indolent NHL patients will be possible.

Suspected Tuberculous Pleurisy and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Comorbidity.

A 33-year-old woman with a fever, cough, and pharyngitis was admitted after left-sided pleural effusion was detected. The fever and upper respiratory symptoms were confirmed, and she was diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after showing a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. After thoracentesis, pleural fluid revealed elevated adenosine deaminase values and a positive QuantiFeron test; tuberculous pleurisy was thus suspected. Subsequent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR and anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG tests were negative, suggesting that the initial PCR result had been erroneous. However, we were unable to confirm this. Data concerning COVID-19 diagnostics are insufficient at present. It is important to make comprehensive judgments regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients as well as public health.

Usefulness of Jackson mask ventilation during bronchoscopy in patients with acute respiratory failure: A retrospective review.

ABSTRACT: Bronchoscopy is a procedure for diagnosis and treatment decision-making in patients with lung disease, especially those with acute respiratory failure. However, the optimal bronchoscopic method for patients with acute respiratory failure is not known. Therefore, in the real world, we sometimes hesitate to perform bronchoscopy in such patients because of safety and have experienced treating patients without bronchoscopy. To address this problem, we evaluated the usefulness and safety of Jackson mask ventilation, a novel noninvasive method of bronchoscopy performed under mask ventilation using the Jackson Rees circuit, in patients with acute respiratory failure.We retrospectively reviewed patients with acute respiratory failure who underwent bronchoscopy at our institution between January 2015 and May 2018. We compared patients who received Jackson mask ventilation (Jackson group) and those who received conventional oxygen administration (conventional group). Mean percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) and mean oxygen flow rate were compared between the groups by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. We excluded patients who were intubated and those without acute respiratory failure who received Jackson mask ventilation preventively.Of 1262 patients who underwent bronchoscopy, 12 were classified into the Jackson group and 13 into the conventional group. Proper oxygenation was maintained in the Jackson group, with SpO2 increasing after Jackson mask ventilation (89.4% to 96.8%, P = .03). Mean SpO2 was significantly higher in the Jackson group than in the conventional group (96.8% vs 95.2%, P = .03). Mean oxygen flow rate was significantly lower in the Jackson group (4.0 L/min vs 7.9 L/min, P < .001). There was no significant difference in safety.Our findings suggest that Jackson mask ventilation is safe and effective when performing bronchoscopy in patients with acute respiratory failure. Jackson mask ventilation maintained proper oxygenation and decreased the oxygen flow rate compared with the conventional method. Using Jackson mask ventilation, we could perform bronchoscopy safely and effectively in patients with acute respiratory failure, including some who had unstable respiratory status. (UMIN000038481).

Refractory Hemoptysis Caused by Severe Pulmonary Vein Stenosis after Multiple Catheter Ablations.

We herein report a 48-year-old man with a history of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and repeated hemoptysis after radiofrequency ablation. Contrast tomography showed soft tissue thickening of the left hilar region and left pulmonary vein stenosis. We performed bronchial artery embolization, but the hemoptysis did not disappear, and AF was not controlled. We performed left lung lobectomy and maze procedures since we considered surgical removal necessary as radical treatment. After the surgery, hemoptysis and atrial fibrillation did not recur. Refractory hemoptysis after catheter ablation is rare, but occasionally occurs in patients with severe pulmonary vein stenosis.

Effects of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis on Respiratory Functions and FeNO Production in the Lower Respiratory Tract.

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the relevance of upper and lower airway inflammation in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS), the effects of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on lower airway functions and inflammation need to be examined in ECRS patients. METHODS: Chronic rhinosinusitis patients with nasal polyps (25 non-ECRS, 28 ECRS) were enrolled. The 12 patients in the ECRS group had comorbid asthma, in contrast to none in the non-ECRS group. We divided ECRS patients into 2 groups of ECRS with and without asthma. Clinical markers, including fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), respiratory functions, and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire, were investigated before and after ESS. RESULTS: The FeNO levels in the ECRS with asthma group decreased after ESS. The mean FeNO levels in this group were 56.3 ppb before ESS and 24.9, 25.1, 25.0, and 15.5 ppb 1, 2, 3, and 4 months, respectively, after ESS. The mean forced expiratory rates in 1 second before and after ESS were 67.6% and 73.0%, respectively. The mean maximal expiratory flow rates at 50% of the vital capacity before and after ESS were 45.8% and 58.0%, respectively. Significant differences were observed in respiratory functions before and after ESS. The mean ACT scores in the ECRS with asthma group before and after ESS were 17.5 and 23.5, respectively. The ACT scores were significantly higher after than before ESS. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that ECRS and bronchial asthma are common eosinophilic airway inflammatory diseases, and ESS for eosinophilic sinusitis may improve lower airway function.