Exploration of Trends in Antimicrobial Use and Their Determinants Based on Dispensing Information Collected from Pharmacies throughout Japan: A First Report.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 prescriptions/month (DPM) as a new indicator that can be used in pharmacies, and to describe antimicrobial use patterns in pharmacies nationwide in Japan. Dispensing volumes, number of prescriptions received, and facility information were obtained from 2638 pharmacies that participated in a survey. DPM was calculated based on the dispensing volume and number of prescriptions, which are routinely collected data that are simple to use. Use of third-generation cephalosporins, quinolones, and macrolides in pharmacies that received prescriptions primarily from hospitals or clinics decreased from January 2019 to January 2021. In particular, the antimicrobial use was higher in otorhinolaryngology departments than in other departments, despite a decrease in the antimicrobial use. In the linear multiple regression analysis, otorhinolaryngology department was independently associated with the third-generation cephalosporin, quinolone, and macrolide prescription in all periods. This study reveals for the first-time trends in antimicrobial use through a new indicator using the volume of drugs dispensed in pharmacies throughout Japan. Antimicrobial use differed by the medical department, suggesting the need to target interventions according to the department type.

Calcific myonecrosis mimicking soft tissue sarcoma: A case report.

Calcific myonecrosis is a rare soft tissue condition. The first case was reported in 1960, however, the precise pathophysiology of calcific myonecrosis remains unclear. The disease was thought to arise from compartment syndrome within a confined space resulting in necrosis and fibrosis, subsequent repeated intralesional hemorrhage, mass enlargement and calcification. Several previous reports have described calcific myonecrosis, which include the formation of calcific myonecrosis after a prolonged period of post trauma. Notably, calcific myonecrosis has typically been described in the lower legs and characteristic imaging findings have been indicated. Furthermore, surgical intervention carries a high risk of complications. In the present case report 2 cases of calcific myonecrosis that occurred after a prolonged period of time following a traumatic event that impacted the lower leg were reported. CT images revealed disruption of calcified fascia and disease expansion into the outside of the fascia. Previous reports have implied that there is late focal enlargement of calcific myonecrosis following earlier enlargement, which may be caused by herniation through muscle fascia. However, no previous publications have focused on images for evidence of late local enlargement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report focusing on fascial herniation of calcific myonecrosis using images. Analysis of this feature using images may aid clinicians to differentiate calcific myonecrosis from malignancies.

Treatment outcomes of Japanese patients with Ewing sarcoma: differences between skeletal and extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of Ewing sarcoma is lower in non-Caucasian populations, compared with Caucasian populations, for unknown reasons. Most studies from western countries have reported improvement in outcomes following multi-agent chemotherapy, with no difference in outcome between skeletal and extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma. However, there are few studies of Ewing sarcoma in non-Caucasian populations, with especially few comparing outcomes between skeletal and extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine whether the outcomes and prognostic factors of Ewing sarcoma in the Japanese population are similar to those in Caucasian populations and to determine whether skeletal and extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma have similar outcomes in Japanese patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 74 Japanese patients with Ewing sarcoma treated between 1981 and 2011 from the Osaka University Orthopaedic Oncology Group. RESULTS: Extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma, tumors in the extremities, localized disease at presentation and diagnosis after 2000 were significantly associated with a favorable outcome. Among patients with localized disease at presentation, a significantly better outcome was observed for those with extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma, those who underwent a VDC/IE based or VAIA chemotherapy protocol, and those who were diagnosed after 2000. In the multivariable analyses, extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma was an independent predictor of increased overall survival among all patients and the subset of patients with localized disease. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of patients with Ewing sarcoma in Japan has improved in the last decade. The outcomes and prognostic factors are similar for Japanese and Caucasian patients, though in this series of Japanese patients, a better prognosis was observed for patients with extraskeletal rather than skeletal Ewing sarcoma.

Proximal Junctional Failure After Long-Segment Instrumentation for Degenerative Lumbar Kyphosis With Ankylosing Spinal Disorder.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: We report a case of proximal junctional failure at the ankylosed, but not the mobile, junction after segmental instrumented fusion for degenerative lumbar kyphosis with ankylosing spinal disorder. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Proximal junctional failure (PJF) and proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) are important complications that occur subsequent to long-segment instrumentation for correction of adult spinal deformity. Thus far, most studies have focused on the mobile junction as a site at which PJK/PJF can occur, and little is known about the relationship between PJK/PJF and ankylosing spinal disorders such as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. METHODS: The patient was an 82-year-old female with degenerative lumbar kyphosis. She had abnormal confluent hyperostosis in the anterior longitudinal ligaments from Th5 to Th10. The patient was treated operatively with spinal instrumented fusion from Th10 to the sacrum. RESULTS: Four weeks subsequent to initial surgery, the patient developed progressive lower extremity paresis caused by the uppermost instrumented vertebrae fracture (Th10) and adjacent subluxation (Th9). Extension of fusion to Th5 with decompression at Th9-Th10 was performed. However, the patient showed no improvement in neurological function. CONCLUSION: PJF can occur at the ankylosing site above the uppermost instrumented vertebrae after long-segment instrumentation for adult spinal deformity. PJF in the ankylosed spine may cause severe fracture instability and cord deficit. The ankylosed spine should be integrated into the objective determination of materials contributing to the appropriate selection of fusion levels. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Immediate Reduction of a Retro-odontoid Synovial Cyst Following Lateral Atlantoaxial Joint Puncture and Arthrography: A Case Report.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: We report on a case with a retro-odontoid synovial cyst, and the immediate reduction of the cyst was confirmed after lateral atlantoaxial joint puncture and arthrography. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Retro-odontoid synovial cysts are rare diseases located posteriorly to a dense axis. Because most reports have focused on surgical treatment, only a few have examined nonsurgical treatment. However, several months are required after nonsurgical treatment until cyst regression. METHODS: A 52-year-old female presented with atlantoaxial instability. She complained of neck pain and numbness in her hands. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a retro-odontoid synovial cyst. Lateral atlantoaxial joint puncture and arthrography were performed. RESULTS: Two days after treatment, the patient showed significant improvement in the numbness of her hands, and a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging revealed an immediate reduction in the cyst. During a 4.5-year follow-up period, no recurrence of the clinical symptoms occurred. CONCLUSION: Lateral atlantoaxial joint puncture may immediately reduce retro-odontoid synovial cysts, and the lateral atlantoaxial joint has a communication channel with the retro-odontoid synovial cyst via the atlantodental joint. Once disappearance of the cyst is confirmed, an acceptable long-term outcome can be achieved with nonsurgical treatment even in cases with atlantoaxial instability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy with high-dose ifosfamide, doxorubicin, cisplatin and high-dose methotrexate in non-metastatic osteosarcoma of the extremities: a phase II trial in Japan.

From 1997 to 2003, 40 patients (all <40 years of age) with non-metastatic osteosarcoma of the extremities were treated with OOS-D and definitive surgery. Two cycles of doxorubicin 90 mg/m(2) plus cisplatin 120 mg/m(2) and ifosfamide 15 g/m(2) were given as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and two cycles of doxorubicin/cisplatin and ifosfamide, and two cycles of high-dose methotrexate (10-12 g/m(2)) were given post-operatively. All patients underwent limb salvage surgeries, and 66% showed good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. With a median follow-up period of 117 months, 31 of the evaluable 40 patients were continuously disease-free, 7 were currently alive with no evidence of disease, and 2 died of disease. There was no local recurrence. The 5-year event-free and overall survival rates were 83 and 98%, respectively. The 10-year event-free and overall survival rates were 80 and 95%, respectively. The major form of toxicity was haematological one.

Usefulness of limb salvage surgery for bone and soft tissue sarcomas of the distal lower leg.

PURPOSE: The usefulness of limb salvage surgery for distal lower leg sarcoma remains controversial. We analyzed the long-term prognosis, limb function, and complications after limb salvage treatment of patients with distal lower leg sarcoma. METHODS: Ten patients treated with limb salvage surgery for primary distal lower leg sarcoma were retrospectively reviewed. The median follow-up period after the first operation was 9.0 years. We performed three types of reconstructive techniques for the skeletal defect after a wide resection, including (1) arthrodesis with a combination of autograft and intraoperative autoclaved tumor bone graft in two patients, or allograft in one patient, (2) ankle joint preserving surgery using intraoperative extracorporeal irradiated tumor bone graft in five patients, and (3) prosthesis in two patients. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 80%. The 5-year disease-free survival was 80%. The rate of limb preservation at the final follow-up was 90%. The mean functional score according to the scoring system of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society was 88% at the final follow-up. Postoperative complications occurred in seven patients. Skin trouble occurred in three patients, infectious non-union in one patient, fracture in three patients, and loosening of prosthesis in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high rate of complications, patients treated with limb salvage surgery for the distal lower leg sarcoma revealed excellent final functional results without impairing the oncologic results. Limb salvage surgery is therefore considered to be an effective treatment option for distal lower leg sarcoma when adequate informed consent can be obtained from the patient.

Prognostic implication of SYT-SSX fusion type in synovial sarcoma: a multi-institutional retrospective analysis in Japan.

The prognostic implication of SYT-SSX fusion type in synovial sarcomas is still controversial. The aim of this study is to clarify the prognostic impact of fusion type, in association with other clinical factors, in patients with synovial sarcoma in Japan. Data on 108 SYT-SSX fusion transcript-positive patients with synovial sarcoma, treated in 11 tertiary referral cancer centers in Japan, were retrospectively analyzed. The following parameters were examined for their potential prognostic impact: SYT-SSX fusion type, patient age at presentation, sex, primary tumor location, tumor size, histological subtype, histological grade, treatment modalities and disease stage at presentation. Among the patients with localized disease at presentation, 5-year overall survival (OS) for SYT-SSX1 and -2 subgroups were 84.4 and 74.9%, respectively (P=0.244). Five-year metastasis-free survival (MFS) rates were 67.8% for SYT-SSX1 and 68.5% for SYT-SSX2 (P=0.949). Univariate survival analyses for 91 patients with localized disease at presentation showed that tumor size was the only significant prognostic factor for OS (P=0.0033) and MFS (P=0.0029) and the histological grade was marginally significant for MFS (P=0.0785), whereas the SYT-SSX fusion type and other variables were not. Multivariate survival analyses further indicated that tumor size was the most significant independent prognostic factor for OS and MFS and the histological grade was also significant for MFS. In conclusion, the SYT-SSX fusion type is not a significant prognostic factor unlike tumor size, followed by histological grade for patients with localized synovial sarcoma in Japan.

Prognostic relevance of clinical symptoms in patients with spinal metastases.

UNLABELLED: Medical and surgical advances allow surgical treatment of many patients with spinal metastases. Although emerging surgical techniques facilitate stabilization of the collapsed spine, surgical candidates should be carefully selected. However, the lack of confirmed criteria to determine survival of these patients makes selection for surgery difficult. Clinical symptoms have been considered possible factors associated with prognosis, but their relevance has not been confirmed because of inadequate power for proper statistical analysis. We retrospectively reviewed 165 patients who had surgery for spinal metastases from various cancers. Clinical symptoms including pain, paresis, and walking status were recorded. Multivariate analysis indicated that the histologic type of the primary tumor was the strongest prognostic factor, followed by preoperative paresis and pain. Myeloma, thyroid cancer, renal cell cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer had better prognoses than other kinds of cancer. Patients without paresis before surgery had a better prognosis than patients with paresis, and patients with no pain before surgery had a better prognosis than those with pain. Preoperative walking status was not an independent prognostic factor. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series--no, or historical control group). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Neuroprotective effect of NS-7, a novel Na+ and Ca2+ channel blocker, in a focal ischemic model in the rat.

NS-7 is a novel, voltage-dependent Na(+) and Ca(2+) channel blocker. This study evaluated the in vivo neuroprotective effect of NS-7 in a rat transient focal ischemic model when administered during occlusion. Left middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats for 120 min using an intraluminal thread method. The rats received a single intravenous injection of NS-7 or saline (control group) just after the onset of ischemia, and at 30, 60 and 120 min after ischemia. Their brains were removed after 48 h reperfusion, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Animals were evaluated by neurological examination at 120 min ischemia and 48 h reperfusion. Infarcted cortex and striatum were measured quantitatively and infarction volumes were calculated. Cortical infarction volumes were 128+/-74 (NS-7) and 214+/-64 mm(3) (control) immediately after the ischemia group, 155+/-48 (NS-7) and 225+/-12 mm(3) (control) after the 30 min group, 160+/-54 (NS-7) and 225+/-48 mm(3) (control) after the 60 min group, and 176+/-43 (NS-7) and 223+/-38 mm(3) (control) after the 120 min group. Cortices in NS-7-treated groups were significantly less infarcted than in control groups at all treatment times. There was no significant difference in the striatal infarction volume between the treatment and control groups. Neurological examination showed that hemiparesis and abnormal posture of the NS-7 groups were significantly more improved at 48 h reperfusion than those of the control groups without posture examination in the 120 min group. These observations suggest that NS-7 may be a new potential therapeutic agent for the acute phase of cerebral infarction.