Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Patients With Esophageal Cancer Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The perioperative nutritional status has recently been reported to influence the prognosis of various types of cancer. We investigated the relationship between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with esophageal cancer who received radical and adjuvant therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent radical resection for esophageal cancer at our hospital (n=187) were included. Background characteristics, surgical factors, and OS were examined retrospectively. The GNRI was calculated using preoperative values, with GNRI <98 classified as low-GNRI. RESULTS: Seventy-five and 112 patients were classified into the GNRI-low and -high groups, respectively. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 75.7% and 66.7%, respectively, in the GNRI-high group and 43.2% and 36.7% in the GNRI-low group; the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, low-GNRI was selected as a risk factor for OS. The hazard ratio for low-GNRI was 2.184 (95% confidence interval=1.361-3.508, p=0.001). The 5-year RFS rate in the high- and low-GNRI groups was 54.6% and 25.0%, respectively (p=0.001). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, low-GNRI was a risk factor for RFS. The hazard ratio for low-GNRI was 1.704 (95%CI=1.121-2.590, p=0.013). Regarding the type of recurrence, lymph node recurrence was significantly more common in the low-GNRI group (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Low-GNRI was an independent risk factor for OS and RFS after radical resection of esophageal cancer. The preoperative GNRI may be a useful prognostic factor after esophageal cancer surgery.

The Clinical Influence of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in Patients With Gastric Cancer Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We evaluated the clinical impact of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in patients who received curative treatment and perioperative adjuvant treatment. We also investigated the association between the GNRI and the clinicopathological features of patients with GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 280 patients who underwent curative treatment for GC between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters of the high-GNRI and low-GNRI groups were compared. RESULTS: In the GNRI-high group, the overall survival (OS) rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were significantly lower (82.7% and 77.9%, respectively) than those in the GNRI-low group (56.4% and 40.8%). The GNRI was selected for the final multivariate analysis model for OS. The GNRI was also a significant prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival (RFS). The RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 79.1% and 74.8%, respectively, in the GNRI-high group, and 48.0% and 38.6% in the GNRI-low group. The GNRI was selected for the final multivariate analysis model for RFS. The GNRI was also found to affect the postoperative clinical course, including postoperative surgical complications and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The GNRI may be a promising prognostic and predictive factor for gastric cancer. In the future, the GNRI may be used to select optimal treatment strategies.

Relative role of flower color and scent on pollinator attraction: experimental tests using F1 and F2 hybrids of daylily and nightlily.

The daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) and nightlily (H. citrina) are typical examples of a butterfly-pollination system and a hawkmoth-pollination system, respectively. H. fulva has diurnal, reddish or orange-colored flowers and is mainly pollinated by diurnal swallowtail butterflies. H. citrina has nocturnal, yellowish flowers with a sweet fragrance and is pollinated by nocturnal hawkmoths. We evaluated the relative roles of flower color and scent on the evolutionary shift from a diurnally flowering ancestor to H. citrina. We conducted a series of experiments that mimic situations in which mutants differing in either flower color, floral scent or both appeared in a diurnally flowering population. An experimental array of 6 × 6 potted plants, mixed with 24 plants of H. fulva and 12 plants of either F1 or F2 hybrids, were placed in the field, and visitations of swallowtail butterflies and nocturnal hawkmoths were recorded with camcorders. Swallowtail butterflies preferentially visited reddish or orange-colored flowers and hawkmoths preferentially visited yellowish flowers. Neither swallowtail butterflies nor nocturnal hawkmoths showed significant preferences for overall scent emission. Our results suggest that mutations in flower color would be more relevant to the adaptive shift from a diurnally flowering ancestor to H. citrina than that in floral scent.

[A case of a 14-month survival patient on advanced esophageal cancer with uncontrolled brain metastasis completely responding to nedaplatin, adriamycin, plus 5-FU (NAF) therapy].

This case was a male patient, about 50 years old. He received a curative operation for advanced esophageal carcinoma [poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma type, Lt, pT3 (pAd) pN3, pstage III] in March 2005. He also received adjuvant chemotherapy of 5-FU plus cisplatin (CDDP). Fourteen months later (May 2006) from surgery, metastases to the left lung and left subclavian lymph nodes were diagnosed, so he received first-line triplet combination chemotherapy (NAF regimen; nedaplatin 60 mg/m2: day 1, adriamycin 50 mg/m2: day 1, 5-FU 700 mg/m2: day 1-5). According to the 9 courses of treatment of this regimen, complete response for these metastases was observed and first-line chemotherapy was finished. However, a severe headache appeared 3 months later, and he had a diagnosis of solitary 5 cm brain metastasis by MRI. Excision of the metastasis was performed with sequential whole-brain radiation therapy (30 Gy). Five months later, diffuse and multiple brain metastases relapsed, and second-line chemotherapy did not respond well, and finally he was died 3 months after palliative care. But, completely controlled metastases (lung and lymph node) by first-line chemotherapy did not relapse again in all his clinical period. If an anticancer therapy goes in complete response in an advanced esophageal carcinoma patient, we should consider about a rare brain metastasis in order to find out as small and solitary state.

[Three-case reports--a program of strength training for home health care on frail elderly patients with protein rich supplement just after the training].

We have a program of strength training for home health care with protein rich supplement just after the training on frail elderly patients. Three cases (80-90 years old) received a new good taste protein rich supplement. They were also frail patients after acute clinical treatments, and were able to go home directly against their physical moving problems for daily life. We performed cardio-pulmonary and swallowing function, energy intake, parameters of muscle strength and the status for daily life before and after the training. Practical results were very different among the patients. But, the status for daily life of all was better than before. It was not clear that the new supplement was effective for the parameters of muscle strength, or not. But a trial for programs with thus foods should be an option for promoting to home health care after hospitalization in frail elderly.