[A Trial of the Prevention of Postoperative Acute Exacerbation of Interstitial Pneumonia in Patients with Lung Cancer].

On preventing postoperative acute exacerbation (AE) of interstitial pneumonia (IP) in patients with lung cancer, the effect of administration of sivelestat sodium, steroids and erythromycin (EM) was assessed in 24 patients who was diagnosed as having IP and underwent surgery between April 2007 and October 2016. Oral administration of EM (400 mg) was started one week before the surgery, and methylprednisolone (125 mg) was administered intravenously at the time of anesthesia induction, postoperative day 1 and 2. Sivelestat sodium was administered intravenously at 4.8 mg/kg/day during the surgery, which was continued for 3-5 days. AEs occurred in two cases (8.3%). One patient developed AEs on postoperative day 5 and died in the hospital on postoperative day 76. The other patient developed AEs on postoperative day 38 and died in the hospital on postoperative day 43. In addition to the perioperative administration of steroids and EM in patients with lung cancer and IP, intraoperative administration of sivelestat sodium was suggested to be safe and to potentially prevent AEs.

[Clinical Investigation of Surgical Cases for Pulmonary Aspergillosis].

INTRODUCTIONS: The number of cases requiring surgical resection for pulmonary aspergillosis has increased in recent years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From April 2008 to March 2019, 10 patients underwent pulmonary resection for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis(CPA) in our hospital. RESULTS: Five patients were diagnosed with simple pulmonary aspergilloma (SPA) and 5 were diagnosed with chronic progressive pulmonary aspergillosis( CPPA). The median age was 73 years, and 8 patients were men. A history of tuberculosis was present in 2 cases, diabetes was present in 3 cases, and prednisolone( PSL) administration was performed in 3 cases. The operative procedures included 1 pneumonectomy, 4 lobectomies, 1 segmentectomy, and 4 wedge resections. The median surgery time was 220.5 minutes, and the median blood loss was 301 ml, requiring perioperative transfusion in 2 cases. Postoperative pneumonia was observed in 2 cases. The median postoperative observation period was 11.5 months, and 6 out of 8 patients did not show postoperative recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Although patients with pulmonary aspergillosis have a high rate of underlying disease and it is necessary to pay attention to postoperative complications, it has been shown that surgery can be performed safely on these patients by selecting appropriate cases and surgical procedures.

Low-frequency CD8+ T cells induced by SIGN-R1+ macrophage-targeted vaccine confer SARS-CoV-2 clearance in mice.

Vaccine-induced T cells and neutralizing antibodies are essential for protection against SARS-CoV-2. Previously, we demonstrated that an antigen delivery system, pullulan nanogel (PNG), delivers vaccine antigen to lymph node medullary macrophages and thereby enhances the induction of specific CD8+ T cells. In this study, we revealed that medullary macrophage-selective delivery by PNG depends on its binding to a C-type lectin SIGN-R1. In a K18-hACE2 mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination with a PNG-encapsulated receptor-binding domain of spike protein decreased the viral load and prolonged the survival in the CD8+ T cell- and B cell-dependent manners. T cell receptor repertoire analysis revealed that although the vaccine induced T cells at various frequencies, low-frequency specific T cells mainly promoted virus clearance. Thus, the induction of specific CD8+ T cells that respond quickly to viral infection, even at low frequencies, is important for vaccine efficacy and can be achieved by SIGN-R1+ medullary macrophage-targeted antigen delivery.

Surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy for metachronous primary lung cancer? A propensity score matching analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We compared outcomes after surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) among patients with metachronous primary lung cancer (MPLC). METHODS: Patients with MPLC were treated with either surgery (2008-2018) or SBRT (2010-2018). We used propensity score matching (PSM) to reduce bias from various clinicopathological factors. MPLC was defined by the Martini and Melamed criteria. RESULTS: Of 77 patients, 51 underwent surgery and 26 received SBRT. Most median clinicopathological characteristics did not significantly differ between the surgery and SBRT groups (male sex: 67% vs 65%; age: 73 vs 77 years; time after first surgery: 6.2 vs 4.7 years; lobectomy as first procedure: 82% vs 85%; second tumor size: 11 vs 12 mm; clinical stage I: 96% vs 100%; CEA: 2.9 vs 3.0 ng/ml). However, the surgery group had significantly more ipsilateral second tumors (n = 71, 58%, P = 0.003), better performance status (P = 0.03), and preserved lung function (P = 0.02). Surgery, thus, tended to be selected for patients with good physical function and for the MPLC in the contralateral side. Five-year overall survival did not significantly differ between the surgery and SBRT groups, either before PSM (86.5% vs 65.8%, P = 0.24, log-rank) or after PSM (100% vs 84.4%, P = 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery and SBRT for MPLC patients are safe and feasible treatments with similar outcomes. However, this finding should be verified by a random controlled trial with a larger study cohort.

Enhanced airway stenting using a preoperative, three-dimensionally printed airway model simulation.

Three-dimensionally printed organ models that facilitate preoperative simulations have the potential to improve outcomes of surgical procedures. Here, we report a case involving a 54-year-old man diagnosed with lung cancer of the right upper bronchus that was invading the right main bronchus. A right upper lobectomy with carinoplasty was performed. Although complete excision of the tumor was achieved, exertional dyspnea redeveloped 4 months post-surgery. Chest computed tomography revealed that airway stenosis caused by granulation had deformed the airway. Ablation of the granulation and airway stenting was required to improve the patient's symptoms. Prior to performing airway stenting, a three-dimensionally printed airway model was constructed, and the Y-shaped silicone stent used was modified in accordance with the model. After stenting, both the right and left bronchi were preserved, and the patient's symptoms improved. The three-dimensional printed airway model enhanced the accuracy and safety of the airway stenting procedure performed.