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Background: The efficacy of anti‐CTLA‐4 antibody (ipilimumab) plus anti‐programmed cell death 1 antibody (nivolumab) in treating advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is impeded by an elevated risk of severe immune‐related adverse events. However, our understanding of associations among pre‐existing fibrosis, emphysematous changes, and objective indicators as predictive factors is limited for severe pneumonitis in NSCLC patients receiving this combination therapy. Thus, we retrospectively investigated these associations, including overall tumor burden, before treatment initiation in the Japanese population. Methods: We focused on patients (n = 76) with pre‐existing interstitial lung disease (ILD) to identify predictors of severe pneumonitis. Variables included age, sex, smoking status, programmed cell death ligand 1 expression, overall tumor burden, chest computed tomography‐confirmed fibrosis, serum markers, and respiratory function test results. Results: Severe pneumonitis was more frequent in patients with squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosis, low diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (%DLCO), and high surfactant protein D (SP‐D) level. Notably, squamous cell carcinoma, baseline %DLCO, and SP‐D level were significant risk factors. Our findings revealed the nonsignificance of tumor burden (≥85 mm) in predicting severe pneumonitis, emphasizing the importance of pre‐existing ILD. Conversely, in cases without pre‐existing fibrosis, severe pneumonitis was not associated with %DLCO or SP‐D level (93.2% vs. 91.9%, and 63.3 vs. 40.9 ng/mL, respectively) and was more common in patients with a large overall tumor burden (97.5 vs. 70.0 mm). Conclusion: Vigilant monitoring and early intervention are crucial for patients with squamous cell carcinoma, high SP‐D level, or low %DLCO undergoing ipilimumab plus nivolumab therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Segmentectomy, a surgical technique aimed at preserving as much lung tissue as possible, has become increasingly common for many small lung cancers. Since the boundaries of lung regions cannot be directly identified, various methods are employed to visualize them. The method involves using Indocyanine Green (ICG). During surgery, the vessels supplying the area to be removed are dissected, followed by the intravascular administration of ICG. When viewed with a near-infrared camera, the remaining lung fluoresces, enabling clear visualization of region boundaries. This technique is both convenient and safe. Despite following the correct procedure, there may still be instances where the region boundaries are not clearly delineated. In such instances, it is crucial to anticipate the need for alternative methods to define regional boundaries in advance. In this study, we conducted retrospective research to ascertain the causes of the unclear boundaries. Accurate identification of the intersegmental plane is essential in segmentectomy, and Indocyanine Green (ICG) assists in visualizing lung segments. Various factors, including patient-related, intraoperative, and technical issues, can influence boundary delineation. This study aims to assess the rate of unsuccessful intersegmental identification and identify the contributing factors. We analyzed cases of lung segmentectomy from April 2020 to March 2023, where intraoperative ICG was intravenously administered during robot-assisted or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Cases where fluorescence extended beyond expected boundaries within 30 s were classified as the "unclear boundary group". This group was then compared to the "clear boundary group". The study encompassed 111 cases, 104 (94%) of which were classified under the "clear boundary group" and 7 (6%) under the "unclear boundary group". The "unclear boundary group" had a significantly lower DLCO (15.7 vs. 11.8, p = 0.03) and DLCO/VA (4.3 vs. 3.0, p = 0.01) compared to the "clear boundary group". All cases in the "unclear boundary group" underwent lower lobe segmentectomy. ICG administration effectively outlines pulmonary segments. Challenges in segment demarcation may occur in cases with low DLCO and DLCO/VA values, particularly during lower lobe segmentectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long‐term nocturnal enuresis treatment leads to stress and lowered self‐esteem for children and their parents. This study evaluated the short‐term effectiveness and safety of vibegron (50 mg) for children with refractory nocturnal enuresis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of children with therapy‐resistant enuresis was conducted using data for July to December 2019. Enuresis frequency was recorded during 30 days before and after additional vibegron administration with prior treatment. We assessed the treatment effectiveness based on enuresis frequencies between before and after treatment with vibegron 50 mg. Statistical evaluation was performed using a paired t‐test. Results: Among 29 children receiving vibegron, 14 (48.3%) exhibited a partial or complete response to the drug. Enuresis frequencies (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) were, respectively, 15.8 ± 9.2 and 9.5 ± 9.6 before and after treatment with vibegron during the observed 30 days. A statistically significant reduction in enuresis frequency was found (p < 0.001). Moreover, maximum mean±SD morning urine of 200 ± 62.9 mL before treatment with vibegron changed to 232 ± 76.6 mL after treatment. A significant increase in voiding volume in the early morning was found (p < 0.05). No drug‐related severe adverse event was found. Conclusion: Short‐term treatment with vibegron is safe and effective for children with refractory enuresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pembrolizumab treatment is associated with a favorable prognosis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we investigated the associations among pre-treatment clinical factors, baseline overall tumor burden, and development of severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs; grade ≥ 3) after pembrolizumab treatment with or without chemotherapy. We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who received pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy at Hakodate Goryoukaku Hospital from March 2017 to February 2021. The baseline overall tumor burden was measured as the sum of the unidimensional diameters of up to five target lesions. We defined irAEs as toxicities related to immune checkpoint inhibitors based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Tumor burden differed significantly between patients with and without severe irAEs (85 vs. 65 mm, p = 0.0367). The cutoff value for overall tumor burden was set to 80 mm. Good performance status (PS = 0) and PD-L1 expression > 80%, but not overall tumor burden, were correlated with severe irAEs, regardless of complementary chemotherapy. The multivariate odds ratios of good PS and high PD-L1 expression for severe irAEs were 3.27 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22–8.77, p = 0.019) and 4.44 (95% CI: 1.59–12.42, p = 0.0044), respectively. Baseline overall tumor burden, good PS, and high PD-L1 expression were associated with severe irAEs in patients with NSCLC treated with first-line pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy. Patients with these factors should be carefully monitored to prevent irAEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to chemotherapy alone, monoclonal antibodies like ipilimumab and nivolumab, with or without chemotherapy, improve the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), albeit with a higher incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) than those with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy. Therefore, we aimed to investigate if baseline overall tumor burden was associated with the development of Grade ≥ 3 irAEs (severe irAEs) when treated with first-line ipilimumab plus nivolumab with or without chemotherapy. We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who received nivolumab plus ipilimumab with or without chemotherapy at Hakodate Goryoukaku Hospital between December 2020 and December 2021. Baseline overall tumor burden was measured as the sum of unidimensional diameters of up to five target lesions according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. We defined irAEs as ICI therapy-related toxicities according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. A significant difference in tumor burden was observed between patients with and without severe irAEs (100 mm vs. 67.5 mm, p = 0.001). We evaluated various clinical parameters, including baseline overall tumor burden, before treatment initiation. Of the various parameters, only high tumor burden correlated with severe irAEs, independent of complementary chemotherapy. The multivariate odds ratio of severe irAEs and high tumor burden was 6.62. Conclusively, baseline overall tumor burden may be a risk factor for severe irAEs in patients treated with first-line combination ICI therapy. Therefore, patients with large tumor burden should be carefully monitored to prevent irAEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese Respiratory Society newly updated the prognostic guidelines for pneumonia in 2017. Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score are used to evaluate the severity of pneumonia and to select the therapy for pneumonia. This is a retrospective study at Aichi Medical University hospital from January to December of 2016 to investigate the accuracy and usefulness of qSOFA and SOFA score in evaluating the severity and prognosis of healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP). A total of 81 HCAP patients were enrolled in this study. Both the 30-day and in-hospital mortality were 7.5% (6/81). qSOFA≧2 was in 33/78 patients (42%) and <2 in 45/78 patients (58%), showing a 30-day mortality of 9.1% (3/33) and 6.7% (3/45) ( p = 0.45), respectively. Comparing with qSOFA≧2 and < 2 group, HCAP patients with qSOFA≧2 had much higher A-DROP (31. v.s. 2.2, p < 0.001), CURB-65 (2.7 v.s. 1.9, p < 0.001), PSI (133 v.s. 114, p = 0.014), I-ROAD (2.7 v.s. 1.9, p < 0.001) and SOFA scores (3.8 v.s. 2.8, p < 0.001). With respect to the diagnostic value of predictive values for 30-day mortality among HCAP patients, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for SOFA score was 0.930 with a statistical significance ( p < 0.001). The SOFA score cutoff value was 4 and had a sensitivity of 20%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 68%. In conclusion, SOFA core could be one of the most useful tools in evaluating the severity of HCAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lethal events represent the most important complication in the treatment of hip fracture in elderly patients. Despite the increasing chance for treatment of such conditions, few data regarding risk factors associated with lethal events have been determined for ordinary hospitals with limited medical and human resources, particularly in Japan. Methods: The incidence of postoperative lethal events and related preoperative risk factors in extremely elderly patients (>80 years) with hip fracture were retrospectively analyzed in our hospital for the past 2 years. Results: Lethal events occurred in 11 (10.7%) of 103 patients within 3 months postoperatively. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, an elevated number of co-morbidities and preoperative respiratory dysfunction were identified as significant risk factors. Delay in surgery was not a risk factor for lethal events. Conclusions: A valid reason for delay is the need to stabilize concurrent medical conditions due to multiple co-morbidities in extremely elderly patients with hip fracture. Considering the limited resources and extreme age of the subjects, the mortality rate in the present study was quite acceptable. Patients, families of patients, and physicians should recognize the increased risk of mortality for patients with significant risk factors in the surgical treatment of hip fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are among the most serious complications especially in blood cancer patients. In January 2013, Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) introduced a new surveillance definition of mucosal barrier injury-associated laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (MBI-LCBI). This study was to determine the impact of MBI-LCBI on CLABSIs and compare the clinical characteristics of MBI versus non-MBI-LCBI cases. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 250 consecutive patients. They were admitted in department of hematology at Aichi Medical University Hospital. We applied the revised 2013 CLABSI surveillance protocol to all CLABSI cases identified during the 47-months period from May 2012 through June 2016. Results A total of 44 CLABSIs were identified. The median patient age was 65 years (range, 12 to 89). Among 44 patients, 31 patients were diagnosed as leukemia (70.5%) and 12 patients as lymphoma (27.3%). Six patients underwent bone transplantation for leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (13.6%). A total of 20 patients (45.5%) were classified as MBI-LCBI and 24 (54.5%) were classified as non-MBI-LCBI. The primary disease type ( P = 0.018), neutropenic within 3 days before CLABSI (MBI-LCBI vs. non-MBI-LCBI: 95.0% vs. 26.3%, P = <0.0001), line(s) removed owing to CLABSI (15.0% vs. 54.2%, P = 0.011) and Gram-negative organisms cultured (70.0% vs. 37.5%, P = 0.004) showed significantly difference between the groups. Conclusion Our data showed that MBI-LCBI cases account for 45.5% of the CLABSI cases identified in blood cancer patients, and constituted a significant burden to this high-risk patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal tube size for an emergent thoracostomy for traumatic pneumothorax or hemothorax is unknown. Both small catheter tube thoracostomy and large-bore chest tube thoracostomy have been shown to work for the nonemergent management of patients with traumatic pneumothorax or hemothorax. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of a small chest tube with that of a large tube in emergent thoracostomy due to chest trauma. Our hypothesis was that there would be no difference in clinical outcomes including tube-related complications, the need for additional tube placement, and thoracotomy, with the replacement of large tubes with small tubes.Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with chest trauma requiring tube thoracostomy within the first 2h from arrival at our emergency department over a 7-year period was conducted. Charts were reviewed for demographic data and outcomes including complications and initial drainage output. Small chest tubes (20-22 Fr) were compared with a large tube (28 Fr). Our primary outcome was tube-related complications. Secondary outcomes included additional invasive procedures, such as additional tube insertion and thoracotomy.Results: There were 124 tube thoracostomies (small: 68, large: 56) performed in 116 patients. There were no significant differences between the small- and large-tube groups with regard to age, gender, injury mechanism, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and injury severity score. Both groups were similar in the posterior direction of tube insertion, initial drainage output, and the duration of tube insertion. There was no significant difference in the primary outcomes of tube-related complications, including empyema (small: 1/68 vs. large: 1/56; p=1.000) or retained hemothorax (small: 2/68 vs. large: 2/56; p=1.000). Secondary outcomes, including the need for additional tube placement (small: 2/68 vs. large: 4/56; p=0.408) or thoracotomy (small: 2/68 vs. large: 1/56; p=1.000), were also similar.Conclusion: For patients with chest trauma, emergent insertion of 20-22 Fr chest tubes has no difference in the efficacy of drainage, rate of complications, and need for additional invasive procedures compared with a large tube (28 Fr). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]