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The optimal target blood glucose concentration for acute glycemic control remains unclear because few studies have directly compared 144–180 with 110–144 or >180 mg/dL. Accordingly, we performed a network meta-analysis to compare four different target blood glucose levels ( 180 mg/dL) in terms of the benefit and risk of insulin therapy. We included all of the studies from three systematic reviews and searched the PubMed and Cochrane databases for other studies investigating glucose targets among critically ill patients. The primary outcome was hospital mortality, and the secondary outcomes were sepsis or bloodstream infection and the risk of hypoglycemia. Network meta-analysis to identify an optimal target glucose concentration. The network meta-analysis included 18,098 patients from 35 studies. There were no significant differences in the risk of mortality and infection among the four blood glucose ranges overall or in subgroup analysis. Conversely, target concentrations of 180 mg/dL. However, there were no significant differences between the target concentrations of 144–180 and >180 mg/dL. This network meta-analysis found no significant difference in the risk of mortality and infection among four target blood glucose ranges in critically ill patients, but indicated that target blood glucose levels of 180 mg/dL. Further studies are required to refute or confirm our findings.

Study objective Some outpatient procedures are performed under sedation with dexmedetomidine, although the effect of dexmedetomidine on cognitive function remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of dexmedetomidine on cognitive function in healthy volunteers. Design Observation study in volunteers. Setting University-affiliated teaching hospital. Patients Six healthy volunteers. Interventions After infusion of a 6- μ g/kg per hour loading dose of dexmedetomidine for 10 minutes, a maintenance infusion of 0.4 μ g/kg per hour was administered for 4 hours. Measurements Cognitive function was evaluated before infusion (baseline) and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after infusion. Cognitive function, response speed, accuracy, and consistency were measured by CogHealth. Depth of sedation was evaluated at 1-hour intervals by evaluating the Bispectral Index. Data are presented as the change from baseline. Main results The Bispectral Index value was significantly lower from 10 minutes to 6 hours after infusion versus the pre-infusion value. Response speed was also significantly lower at 2 hours and 4 hours after infusion (92 ± 8%, P P P = .0009; 96 ± 5%, P = .0003). Response accuracy was unaltered by the infusion. Conclusions Dexmedetomidine slightly reduced response speed and consistency, but did not affect response accuracy. Cognitive function was restored to pre-administration values 2 hours after the infusion of dexmedetomidine was discontinued.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab plus chemotherapy for patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. A retrospective analysis of 213 patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer who received systemic chemotherapy, including 15 patients who were also administered trastuzumab, at Kochi Medical School between 2007 and 2013 was performed. The overall survival was compared between patients who received trastuzumab plus chemotherapy and patients who received chemotherapy alone, and the safety and efficacy of the trastuzumab-containing regimen was evaluated. Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2 status was examined in 86 patients, of whom 15 (17.4%) exhibited strong positive HER2 expression. The rate of strong positive HER2 expression was significantly higher for intestinal type tumors compared with diffuse type tumors [23.6 (13/55) vs. 6.5% (2/31); P=0.044]. The median overall survival of the patients treated with trastuzumab was significantly longer compared with that for patients who were not treated with trastuzumab (22.9 vs. 11.6 months; P=0.014). The objective response rate and disease control rate for trastuzumab plus chemotherapy were 46.7 and 86.7%, respectively. Frequently encountered grade 3-4 toxicities included neutropenia (26.7%; 4/15), anemia (13.3%; 2/15) and fatigue (13.3%; 2/15). Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy is effective for patients with HER2-positive advanced or recurrent gastric cancer, and the frequencies of hematological and non-hematological toxicities experienced by patients in the present study indicated that it can be safely administered clinically.

The most common sites of breast cancer metastasis are the bone, liver, lung and brain, while gastrointestinal metastasis from breast cancer is rare. We herein present the case of a 68-year-old woman who was admitted to our department with nausea and appetite loss. The patient's medical history included right mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy 5 years earlier for invasive lobular carcinoma, measuring 6.2 cm in greatest diameter, without lymphovascular invasion. Two years after the surgery, the patient developed brain metastasis and underwent metastasectomy to control the neurological symptoms, including unsteadiness and asthenia. After the second surgery, the patient received systemic chemotherapy using S-1, followed by bevacizumab plus paclitaxel. However, due to bevacizumab-related cardiotoxicity, the treatment was switched to eribulin. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, an elevated lesion was identified in the antrum, causing severe narrowing of the gastric outlet. Biopsy and histological examination of the tumor revealed infiltration of the gastric wall by undifferentiated neoplastic cells with poor adhesion, morphologically similar to invasive lobular carcinoma, and immunohistochemical staining was positive for estrogen receptor, mammaglobin and GATA3. Finally, 18F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography imaging revealed FDG uptake across the thickness of the antral wall. The patient was diagnosed with gastric metastasis from the original breast cancer and subsequently underwent endoscopic self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement. There were no procedure-related adverse events, and the patient remained alive under best supportive care 4 months after SEMS placement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of gastric outlet obstruction caused by metastatic breast carcinoma managed by SEMS placement. While such a diagnosis is rare, clinicians treating patients with gastric metastases should be aware of possible gastric outlet obstruction and SEMS placement as an effective palliative intervention.

Background: There is lack of evidence regarding nutritional management among intensive care unit (ICU) patients in a population with relatively low body mass index. Therefore, we conducted an observational study to assess the nutritional management in Japanese ICUs. Also, we investigated the impact of nutritional management and rehabilitation on physical outcome. Methods: The study population comprised 389 consecutive patients who received mechanical ventilation for at least 24 h and those admitted to the ICU for > 72 h in 13 hospitals. The primary outcomes were caloric and protein intake in ICU on days 3 and 7, and at ICU discharge. The secondary outcome was the impact of nutritional management and rehabilitation on physical status at ICU discharge. We defined good physical status as more than end sitting and poor physical status as bed rest and sitting. We divided the participants into 2 groups, namely, the good physical status group (Good group) and poor physical status group (Poor group) for analysis of the secondary outcome. Data were expressed as median (interquartile range). Results: The median amount of caloric intake on days 3 and 7, and at ICU discharge via enteral and parenteral routes were 8.4 (3.1–15.6), 14.9 (7.5–22.0), and 11.2 (2.5–19.1) kcal/kg/day, respectively. The median amount of protein intake on days 3 and 7, and at ICU discharge were 0.2 (0–0.5), 0.4 (0.1–0.8), and 0.3 (0–0.7) g/kg/day, respectively. The amount of caloric intake on day 3 in the Poor group was significantly higher than that of the Good group (10.1 [5.8, 16.2] vs. 5.2 [1.9, 12.4] kcal/kg/day, p < 0.001). The proportion of patients who were received rehabilitation in ICU in the Good group was significantly higher than that of the Poor group (92 vs. 63%, p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis revealed that caloric intake on day 3 and rehabilitation in ICU were considered independent factors that affect physical status (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.05–1.34; p = 0.005 and OR 0.07; 95% CI 0.01–0.34; p = 0.001). Conclusions: The caloric and protein intakes in Japanese ICUs were 15 kcal/kg/day and 0.4 g/kg/day, respectively. In addition, critically ill patients might benefit from low caloric intake (less than 10 kcal/kg/day) until day 3 and rehabilitation during ICU stay.

Background Because there is ongoing population aging, the age of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) is also higher. However, the evidence about outcomes in elderly patients is insufficient in Japan. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study. Method The study participants were consecutive patients who were admitted to our ICU and received mechanical ventilation for more than 24 h. We divided the patients into two groups, according to age. Patients in group A were 74 years old or younger, and those in group B were 75 years old or older. The major outcome was in-hospital mortality. Findings Two hundred and twenty patients met the inclusion criteria. There were 118 patients in group A and 102 patients in group B. The overall hospital mortality in both groups were similar (19 vs. 25%, p = 0.23). The proportion of patients who were discharged home and had good physical status at hospital discharge in group A were significantly higher than that in group B (72 vs. 37%, p

A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed with type I glycogen storage disease in her twenties. She had undergone hepatectomy under general anesthesia with epidural anesthesia. Fifty minutes after the induction of anesthesia, a 20-gauge venous catheter was inserted in the patient's right hand, and an artificial pancreas (STG-55, Nikkiso Co., Tokyo, Japan) was connected for continuous glucose monitoring and automatic glucose control. Insulin was infused when the blood glucose level reached 120 mg/dL or higher, and glucose was infused when the level fell to 100 mg/dL or lower. After the Pringle maneuver, the blood glucose level increased, and insulin was administered automatically via an artificial pancreas. Hypoglycemia did not occur during the operation. After total parenteral nutrition was started in the intensive care unit (ICU), the blood glucose level increased, and the artificial pancreas controlled the blood glucose level through automatic insulin administration. Thirty-four hours after admission to the ICU, the artificial pancreas was removed because the blood sampling failed. After the removal of the artificial pancreas, blood glucose level was measured every 2 h until extubation. During the ICU stay, hypoglycemia never occurred, with the average blood glucose level being 144 mg/dL. In conclusion, the use of an artificial pancreas for perioperative blood glucose management in a patient with glycogen storage disease had the beneficial effect of enabling the management of blood glucose levels without hypoglycemia.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with mortality after cardiac surgery. Several studies have reported that landiolol might help to prevent postoperative AF. The objective of this study was to investigate whether low-dose landiolol is useful in terms of balance of benefit and risk.We conducted a meta-analysis after systematically searching the PubMed, the Cochrane library and the ICHUSHI to identify randomized, controlled trials investigating the preventive effect of landiolol on incidence of AF after cardiac surgery.Six randomized trial with 571 patients were included.The primary outcome was incidence of AF after surgery, while secondary outcomes were mortality and complications.Incidence of AF within 1week after surgery was significantly lower in the landiolol group than in the control group (odds ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.42; p0.001). Three of the 6 studies reported data regarding in-hospital mortality and complications, showing no significant differences between groups (0.7 vs 3.0%; OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.07-2.74; p=0.39; and 4.5 vs 9.7%; OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.16-1.23; p=0.12, respectively).Our systematic review revealed that low-dose landiolol might help to prevent AF after cardiac surgery and further large trials are needed to evaluate safety because mortality and morbidity rate were very low in included studies.

Background We examined whether perioperative intensive insulin therapy (IIT) using an artificial pancreas (AP) with a closed-loop glycemic control system can be used to prevent hypoglycemia in surgical patients. Methods Between 2006 and 2012, perioperative glycemic control using an AP was performed in 427 patients undergoing general surgery. A total of 305 patients undergoing IIT using an AP in the target blood glucose range of 80 to 110 mg/dL were enrolled in the study. Data were collected prospectively and were reviewed or analyzed retrospectively. Results No patients had hypoglycemia. Perioperative mean blood glucose level and achievement rates in target blood glucose range of 80 to 110 mg/dL were 100.5 ± 11.9 mg/dL and 88.1% ± 16.0%, respectively. For the 3 primary operative methods, including hepatic, pancreatic, and esophageal resections, there were no significant differences in glycemic control stability between the types of surgery. Conclusion Perioperative IIT using an AP with a closed-loop glycemic control system can be used to prevent hypoglycemia and maintain stable glycemic control with less variability of blood glucose concentration.

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is widely used to prevent and treat spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension during cesarean section. However, the use of saline-based HES may lead to hyperchloremia. This study aimed to clarify the effects of saline-based HES on umbilical cord chloride level at delivery. We retrospectively analyzed 93 consecutive single-pregnancy patients who underwent cesarean section with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. The patients were divided into two groups, depending on the use of 6% HES 130/0.4: group A (461 ± 167 ml of saline-based HES was administered; 43 patients) and group B (HES not administered; 50 patients). The major outcome was umbilical cord chloride level at delivery. The volume infused from operating room admission until delivery was not significantly different between groups. The umbilical cord chloride level at delivery was statistically significantly higher in group A than in group B, but clinically similar (108 ± 2 vs. 107 ± 2 mmol/l, P = 0.02). No differences were observed in the Apgar score or other umbilical cord laboratory data at delivery (Na+, K+, pH, base excess). In conclusion, we suggest that although the use of up to 500 ml of saline-based HES during cesarean section influences umbilical cord blood electrolytes, the effect is not of a clinically significant magnitude.

Preoperative carbohydrate loading enhances insulin action by approximately 50 %. In some Japanese hospitals, preoperative oral rehydration therapy is performed for preventing dehydration during surgery. We hypothesized that preoperative oral rehydration therapy with a 2.5 % carbohydrate beverage that is widely used in Japan can enhance insulin action. Therefore, we investigated the effect of this 2.5 % carbohydrate beverage on insulin action in volunteers. Six healthy volunteers participated in this crossover randomized study. The participants were segregated into 2 groups: an oral rehydration therapy with 2.5 % carbohydrate beverage group (group A) and a control group (group B). Subjects in group B were allowed to drink only water from 9 pm the day before the test; conversely, group A fasted from 9 pm onward and drank 500 ml of the beverage containing 2.5 % carbohydrate (OS-1; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Tokushima, Japan) between 9 and 12 pm and again at 6.30 am. At 8.30 am, a hyperinsulinemic normoglycemic clamp was initiated using an artificial pancreas STG-22 (Nikkiso, Tokyo, Japan). Insulin action was evaluated in both groups using the glucose infusion rate. Blood glucose levels at the initiation of the clamp procedure were similar. However, the glucose infusion rate for group A was significantly higher than that of group B (8.6 ± 1.5 vs. 6.8 ± 2.0 mg/kg/min, p = 0.009). In conclusion, the hyperinsulinemic normoglycemic clamp using an artificial pancreas showed that the administration of a 2.5 % carbohydrate oral rehydration solution for preoperative oral rehydration therapy improves insulin action in volunteers.

A closed-loop glycemic control system using an artificial pancreas has been applied with many clinical benefits in Japan since 1987. To update this system incorporating user-friendly features, we developed a novel artificial pancreas (STG-55). The purpose of this study was to evaluate STG-55 for device usability, performance of blood glucose measurement, glycemic control characteristics in vivo in animal experiments, and evaluate its clinical feasibility. There are several features for usability improvement based on the design concepts, such as compactness, display monitor, batteries, guidance function, and reduction of the preparation time. All animal study data were compared with a clinically available artificial pancreas system in Japan (control device: STG-22). We examined correlations of both blood glucose levels between two groups (STG-55 vs. control) using Clarke's error grid analysis, and also compared mean glucose infusion rate (GIR) during glucose clamp. The results showed strong correlation in blood glucose concentrations (Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient: 0.97; n = 1636). Clarke's error grid analysis showed that 98.4% of the data fell in Zones A and B, which represent clinically accurate or benign errors, respectively. The difference in mean GIRs was less than 0.2 mg/kg/min, which was considered not significant. Clinical feasibility study demonstrated sufficient glycemic control maintaining target glucose range between 80 and 110 (mg/dL), and between 140 and 160 without any hypoglycemia. In conclusion, STG-55 was a clinically acceptable artificial pancreas with improved interface and usability. A closed-loop glycemic control system with STG-55 would be a useful tool for surgical and critical patients in intensive care units, as well as diabetic patients.

Traditional esophagectomy is a highly invasive procedure. Intrathoracic procedures in esophagectomy can be performed by thoracoscopy. This study compared the influence of prone positioning with that of lateral decubitus positioning on patient outcomes following esophagectomy. This study enrolled 24 patients that underwent esophagectomy with thoracoscopy in the prone position between July 2009 and November 2010 (group P) and 24 patients that underwent thoracotomy in the lateral decubitus position between July 2007 and June 2009 (group L). The ICU and hospital stay length, pulmonary complication frequency and time until walking ability was regained were recorded. The patients’ background was not significantly different. Total blood loss and pulmonary complication frequency were significantly lower in group P than in group L [209 (SD; 146) vs. 474 (279) ml, P = 0.002, and 4 vs. 38 %, P = 0.003]. The duration of ICU stay, time until walking ability was regained and hospital stay were significantly shorter in group P than in group L [865 (103) vs. 1349 (702) min, P = 0.002, 1.0 (0.2) vs. 3.1 (2.5) POD, P

A recent observational study conducted in European intensive care units (ICU) showed that body mass index (BMI) is associated with mortality. We hypothesized that a lower BMI amongst critically ill Japanese patients was associated with increased hospital mortality, similar to findings noted among critically ill European patients. Therefore, we retrospectively investigated the relationship between BMI and patient outcomes in an ICU.We included consecutive patients who were admitted to our ICU between January 2012 and December 2013. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on their BMI at ICU admission. The underweight ("lower") group (group L) included patients with a BMI below 18.5 kg/m(2), the normal weight group (group N) included patients with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m(2), and the overweight/ obese ("higher") group (group H) included patients with a BMI above 25.0 kg/m(2). Patient data were retrospectively obtained from electronic patient records.A total of 1,616 patients were admitted to our ICU. Of these patients, 346 patients were ineligible, and therefore, 1,270 were included in the analysis. There were 169 patients in group L, 779 patients in group N and 322 patients in group H. Overall, the mortality rate was 8.1% and the median hospital stay was 21 days. The mortality rate in group L was significantly higher than that in both group N and group H (13.6% vs 7.8% vs 5.9%, p=0.01).Our retrospective study suggests that lower body mass index may be associated with increased hospital mortality in critically ill Japanese patients.背景与目的：最近在欧洲重症监护病房（ICU）进行的一项观察性研究表明， 体质指数（BMI）与死亡率有关。我们假设日本危重症患者低BMI 与住院死 亡率增加相关，与在欧洲危重患者中的发现相似。因此，我们在一个ICU 回 顾性调查BMI 和患者的预后之间的关系。方法与研究设计：我们连续纳入 2012 年1 月到2013 年12 月之间的ICU 患者。根据患者进入ICU 时的BMI， 将患者分为3 组。低体重组（L 组）包括BMI 低于18.5 kg/m2 的患者，正常体 重组（N 组）包括BMI 介于18.5-24.9 kg/m2 之间的患者，超重/肥胖组（H 组）包括BMI 大于25.0 kg/m2 的患者。回顾性从电子病历中获得患者的资 料。结果：共有1,616 名住我院ICU 的患者。在这些患者中，346 名不合格， 因此，纳入分析的有1,270 名。L 组有169 名患者，N 组有779 名患者，H 组 有322 名患者。患者总的死亡率为8.1%，平均住院时间为21 天。L 组的死亡 率显著高于N 组和H 组（13.6%比7.8%和5.9%，p=0.01）。结论：我们的回 顾性研究表明，日本危重患者低体质指数可能与住院死亡率增加有关。.

This study investigated the efficacy of an artificial pancreas in managing postoperative glycemic levels for patients after esophagectomy.We reviewed 107 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy, and had postoperative glucose management using the artificial pancreas. The target blood glucose level (TBGL) range was 90-140 mg/dl. Achievement rate of TBGL, total insulin use, number of severe hypoglycemic (40 mg/dl) events, surgical complications and length of hospitalization (LOH) were evaluated.Mean achievement rate of TBGL was 78.2%. Mean total insulin use was 47.9 units. Mean blood glucose level was 136.3 mg/dl (mean SD=20.7). The incidences of pneumonia, anastomotic leak, and surgical site infection were 11.2%, 12.1%, 23.4%, respectively. The mean LOH was 29.6 days. No patient developed severe hypoglycemia.Artificial pancreatic systems could minimize blood glucose variability and prevent severe hypoglycemic events for patients after esophagectomy.

Herein we report on a case of synchronous large gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and adenocarcinoma of the stomach treated with radical surgery following neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib mesylate. A 58-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a large mass in the peritoneal cavity. Abdominal computed tomography showed a large mass measuring 21×20×14 cm in the left upper peritoneal cavity. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large elevated lesion in the upper body and a depressed lesion in the lower gastric body near the lesser curvature. Biopsy specimens revealed GIST in the large elevated lesion and signet-ring cell carcinoma in the depressed lesion. Because of the large size of the GIST, the patient was treated with neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib mesylate (400 mg/day) for 5 months. After confirmation of a marked decrease in tumor size following imatinib mesylate therapy, the patient underwent total gastrectomy and regional lymph-node dissection with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of high-risk GIST and signet-ring cell carcinoma invading the muscularis propria with one lymph-node metastasis. At the time of writing, the patient was receiving postoperative chemotherapy using oral fluoropyrimidine (S-1) without evidence of disease recurrence for 4 months after surgery. In addition to the present case, we provide a retrospective review of another 15 patients who were diagnosed with synchronous GIST in the stomach and primary gastric adenocarcinoma.

The incidence of diabetes is increasing at an unprecedented pace and has become a serious health concern worldwide during the last two decades. Despite this, adequate glycemic control using an artificial pancreas has not been established, although the 21st century has seen rapid developments in this area. Herein, we review current topics in glycemic control for both the wearable artificial pancreas for type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients and the bedside artificial pancreas for surgical diabetic patients. In type 1 diabetic patients, nocturnal hypoglycemia associated with insulin therapy remains a serious problem that could be addressed by the recent development of a wearable artificial pancreas. This smart phone-like device, comprising a real-time, continuous glucose monitoring system and insulin pump system, could potentially significantly reduce nocturnal hypoglycemia compared with conventional glycemic control. Of particular interest in this space are the recent inventions of a low-glucose suspend feature in the portable systems that automatically stops insulin delivery 2 h following a glucose sensor value

This clinical study aimed to compare a novel and conventional artificial pancreas (AP) used in surgical patients for perioperative glycemic control, with respect to usability, blood glucose measurements, and glycemic control characteristics. From July in 2010 to March in 2015, 177 patients underwent perioperative glycemic control using a novel AP. Among them, 166 patients were eligible for inclusion in this study. Intensive insulin therapy (IIT) targeting a blood glucose range of 80–110 mg/dL was implemented in 82 patients (49 %), and the remaining 84 patients (51 %) received a less-intensive regime of insulin therapy. Data were collected prospectively and were reviewed or analyzed retrospectively. A comparison study of 324 patients undergoing IIT for glycemic control using a novel (n = 82) or conventional AP (n = 242) was conducted retrospectively. All patients had no hypoglycemia. The comparison study revealed no significant differences in perioperative mean blood glucose level, achievement rates for target blood glucose range, and variability in blood glucose level achieved with IIT between the novel AP and conventional AP groups. The usability, performance with respect to blood glucose measurement, and glycemic control characteristics of IIT were comparable between novel and conventional AP systems. However, the novel AP was easier to manipulate than the conventional AP due to its smaller size, lower weight, and shorter time for preparation. In the near future, this novel AP system might be accepted worldwide as a safe and useful device for use in perioperative glycemic control.

Blood glucose management is important in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although we have used an intravenous continuous glucose monitor for blood glucose management to avoid hypoglycemia, there has been a problem with interruption of blood glucose measurement caused by blood removal failure [1]. A previous study reported that a subcutaneous continuous glucose monitor was reliable for use in critically ill patients [2].

The onset of ventricular depolarization defines the start of the pre-ejection period (PEP), which is commonly used as an index of myocardial contractility. Although the fiducial point for this onset has traditionally been the onset of the Q wave of the electrocardiogram (qPEP), the Q wave is not visible in some patients. Therefore, other measurement points have also been used in the literature, including the peak of the R wave (rPEP). However, there has been little systematic examination of measurement issues associated with the selection of the fiducial point for ventricular activation.

A 59-year-old man was referred to the Kochi Medical School Hospital due to left shoulder pain. Physical examination revealed a nodular, painful mass lesion in the subcutaneous tissue of the right chest wall, with a diameter of ~2 cm. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large ulcerated tumor in the lower gastric body near the lesser curvature, and biopsy specimens of the gastric and humeral lesions revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple low-density lesions in the liver and a well-defined, 2.2-cm mass in the subcutaneous tissue of the right chest wall. The diagnosis was advanced gastric cancer with metastases to the liver, bone and skin, and systemic chemotherapy with radiotherapy for the bone metastasis was recommended. The patient also underwent distal gastrectomy to control bleeding from the primary gastric cancer lesion due to unresolved anemia, not improving by blood transfusion, and a low hemoglobin level. The subcutaneous tumor in the right chest wall was resected at the same time, to alleviate the pain caused by the mass. Macroscopic examination of the resected specimen revealed a well-circumscribed, solid tumor, measuring 2.2×2.1 cm, with a firm consistency. Microscopic examination showed infiltration of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cells into the subcutaneous tissue. Subcutaneous metastasis from gastric cancer is a rare manifestation, with a reported incidence of 0.8–1.0%. Cutaneous metastasis of cancer generally appears late in the course of the disease. Surgical resection of metastatic skin tumors is occasionally undertaken as palliative treatment to improve the patient's quality of life by controlling severe symptoms, including pain and hemorrhage.

Blood glucose management is one of the important therapies in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, blood glucose management using the sliding-scale method increases the workload of ICU nurses. An artificial pancreas, STG-22, has been developed to continuously monitor blood glucose levels and to maintain them at appropriate levels. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that compared to conventional methods, blood glucose management using the STG-22 reduces the workload of ICU nurses and has a positive impact on awareness regarding the management of blood glucose. This study included 45 patients who underwent elective surgery and were treated at the ICU postoperatively. The patients were separated into the following two groups: (1) blood glucose was maintained using the STG-22 (AP group) and (2) blood glucose was maintained using the sliding-scale method (SS group). In addition, a questionnaire was developed for an awareness survey of ICU nurses (N = 20). The frequency of blood sampling and number of double checks were significantly lower in the AP group (1.3 ± 1.4 vs. 8.9 ± 8.1 times/admission, P

Intraoperative hypothermia is associated with several unfavorable events; therefore, it is important to prevent the development of hypothermia. Amino acid consumption and/or infusion have been reported to prevent hypothermia. We hypothesized that preoperative carbohydrate-rich beverage (Arginaid Water™) loading can reduce intraoperative hypothermia in rats under general anesthesia. We divided 18 rats into 3 groups (group A, 8 mL/kg of saline; group B, 8 mL/kg of a carbohydrate-rich beverage; and group C, 21 mL/kg of the carbohydrate-rich beverage). The rats were administered each beverage at the abovementioned doses via an oral gastric tube 30 min before the induction of anesthesia. During the 2-h general anesthesia, rectal temperature was measured at 20-min intervals. Serum ketone body concentration was measured at 0 and 120 min. The baseline temperature was not significantly different among the groups. At the end of the experiment, group A showed a significantly greater decrease in temperature from the baseline (5.4 ± 0.8°C) than group B (3.9 ± 0.7°C, P = 0.01) and group C (3.8 ± 0.8°C, P = 0.01). The temperatures in groups B and C were not significantly different. There was no significant change in the serum ketone body concentration from the baseline at the end of the experiment in group A. However, the serum ketone body concentrations in group B and group C were significantly decreased from the baseline. Preoperative carbohydrate loading reduces hypothermia in rats under general anesthesia.

Background and purpose The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2016 (J-SSCG 2016), a Japanese-specific set of clinical practice guidelines for sepsis and septic shock created jointly by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, was first released in February 2017 and published in the Journal of JSICM, [2017; Volume 24 (supplement 2)] 10.3918/jsicm.24S0001 and Journal of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine [2017; Volume 28, (supplement 1)] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jja2.2017.28.issue-S1/issuetoc. This abridged English edition of the J-SSCG 2016 was produced with permission from the Japanese Association of Acute Medicine and the Japanese Society for Intensive Care Medicine. Methods Members of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine were selected and organized into 19 committee members and 52 working group members. The guidelines were prepared in accordance with the Medical Information Network Distribution Service (Minds) creation procedures. The Academic Guidelines Promotion Team was organized to oversee and provide academic support to the respective activities allocated to each Guideline Creation Team. To improve quality assurance and workflow transparency, a mutual peer review system was established, and discussions within each team were open to the public. Public comments were collected once after the initial formulation of a clinical question (CQ) and twice during the review of the final draft. Recommendations were determined to have been adopted after obtaining support from a two-thirds (> 66.6%) majority vote of each of the 19 committee members. Results A total of 87 CQs were selected among 19 clinical areas, including pediatric topics and several other important areas not covered in the first edition of the Japanese guidelines (J-SSCG 2012). The approval rate obtained through committee voting, in addition to ratings of the strengths of the recommendation, and its supporting evidence were also added to each recommendation statement. We conducted meta-analyses for 29 CQs. Thirty-seven CQs contained recommendations in the form of an expert consensus due to insufficient evidence. No recommendations were provided for five CQs. Conclusions Based on the evidence gathered, we were able to formulate Japanese-specific clinical practice guidelines that are tailored to the Japanese context in a highly transparent manner. These guidelines can easily be used not only by specialists, but also by non-specialists, general clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical engineers, and other healthcare professionals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40560-017-0270-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We hypothesized that, with oral or intestinal administration of amino acids (AA), we may reduce hypothermia during general anesthesia as effectively as with intravenous AA. We, therefore, examined the effect of bolus oral and continuous intestinal AA in preventing hypothermia in rats. Male Wistar rats were anesthetized with sevoflurane for induction and with propofol for maintenance. In the first experiment, 30 min before anesthesia, rats received one bolus 42 mL/kg of AA solution (100 g/L) or saline orally. Then for the next 3 h during anesthesia, they received 14 mL/kg/h of AA and/or saline intravenously. They were in 4 groups: I-A/A, both AA; I-A/S, oral AA and intravenous saline; I-S/A, oral saline and intravenous AA; I-S/S, both saline. In the second experiment, rats received 14 mL/kg/h duodenal AA and/or saline for 2 h. They were in 3 groups: II-A/S, duodenal AA and intravenous saline; II-S/A, duodenal saline and intravenous AA; II-S/S, both saline. Core body temperature was measured rectally. After the second experiment, serum electrolytes were examined. In both experiments, rectal temperature decreased in all groups during anesthesia. However, the decrease in rectal temperature was significantly less in groups receiving AA than in groups receiving only saline. In the second experiment, although there was no significant difference in the decrease in body temperature between II-A/S and II-S/A, Na(+) concentration was significantly lower in II-S/A. In conclusion, AA, administered orally or intestinally, tended to keep the body temperature stable during anesthesia without disturbing electrolyte balance. These results suggest that oral or enteral AA may be useful for prevention of hypothermia in patients.

Background: The STG-22t is the only continuous blood glucose monitoring system currently available. The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy and reliability of the STG-22t for continuously monitoring blood glucose level in post-surgical patients. Methods: Fifty patients scheduled for routine surgery were studied in surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. After admission to the ICU, the STG22t was connected to the patients. An attending physician obtained blood samples from a radial arterial catheter. Blood glucose level was measured using the ABLt800FLEX immediately after blood collection at 0, 4, 8, and 16 h post-admission to the ICU (total of 200 blood glucose values). Results: The correlation coefficient (R 2 ) was 0.96. In the Clarke error grid, 100% of the paired measurements were in the clinically acceptable zone A and B. The Bland and Altman analysis showed that bias limits of agreement (percent error) were 0.04(0.7) 0.35(6.3)mmol (mg/dl) (7%), 0.11(2) 1.22(22) (15%) and 0.33(6) 1.28(23) (10%) in hypoglycemia (o70(3.89)mmol (mg/dl), normoglycemia (3.89(70)‐10(180) mmol (mg/dl), and hyperglycemia (410(180)mmol (mg/dl), respectively. Conclusions: The STG-22t can be used for measuring blood glucose level continuously and measurement results are consistent with intermittent measurement (percentage error within 15%). Therefore, the STG-22t is a useful device for monitoring in blood glucose level in the ICU for 16 h.

Protocols for tight control of blood glucose can be difficult to achieve in the surgical setting, especially when relying upon intermittent blood glucose testing. A continuous blood glucose monitoring system can facilitate blood glucose management. In the present study, we compared blood glucose measured continuously (STG-22, Nikkiso, Tokyo, Japan), during surgery with coincident measurements obtained intermittently using a conventional laboratory glucometer (ABL 800FLEX (Radiometer Medical Aps, [symbol: see text], Denmark). The goal of the study was to determine the reliability and accuracy of the continuous method during surgery.Twenty-nine patients scheduled for routine surgery with general anesthesia were enrolled in this study. After anesthetic induction, a 20G IV catheter was inserted in a peripheral forearm vein and connected to the continuous blood glucose monitor. A radial arterial catheter was also inserted from which samples for blood glucose estimation were obtained by an anesthesiologist, following an established protocol of discarding 3 mL of blood before the actual blood sampling. Blood glucose was measured by ABL 800FLEX immediately after sampling. One hundred points of paired blood glucose values were obtained, which were compared using Bland and Altman analysis.Bias and upper and lower limits of agreement were -2.6, 23, and -28, respectively. The percentage error of the lower/upper limits of agreement was 21% and 18%, respectively.The blood glucose measurements obtained continuously agreed with the coincident intermittent measurements within 21%. The STG-22 may still be useful for following changes continuously and reducing the frequency of intermittent measurement, but the need for testing samples with a reliable device is not eliminated.

Although we have used an intravenous continuous glucose monitor for blood glucose management, a previous study reported that a subcutaneous continuous glucose monitor was also reliable for use in critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to compare the subcutaneous and intravenous continuous glucose monitors. This was an observational trial (UMIN-CTR, ID:000013338). We included patients who were admitted to our intensive care units (ICU) after hepato-biliary pancreatic surgery. Continuous blood glucose measurement was performed from the beginning of the operation to ICU discharge using the intravenous continuous monitor STG-55 (Nikkiso, Tokyo, Japan) and the subcutaneous continuous monitor iPro2 (Medtronic Japan, Tokyo, Japan). The STG-55 measured the glucose level in real time, and the iPro2 measured this every 5 min. We compared glucose levels obtained using the two devices every 5 min using a Bland–Altman plot and a regression analyses. A total of 3592 comparative samples in 15 cases were analyzed. The mean glucose level measured using the STG-55 was 139 ± 21 mg/dl, and that measured using the iPro2 was 144 ± 31 mg/dl. A linear regression line had the equation of the form y = 0.225x + 106. The coefficient of determination was 0.11, and the F-test significance level was set as p

Although the effects on prognosis of blood glucose level variability have gained increasing attention, it is unclear whether blood glucose level variability itself or the manifestation of pathological conditions that worsen prognosis. Then, previous reports have not been published on variability models of perioperative blood glucose levels. The aim of this study is to establish a novel variability model of blood glucose concentration using an artificial pancreas. We maintained six healthy, male beagles. After anesthesia induction, a 20-G venous catheter was inserted in the right femoral vein and an artificial pancreas (STG-22, Nikkiso Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was connected for continuous blood glucose monitoring and glucose management. After achieving muscle relaxation, total pancreatectomy was performed. After 1 h of stabilization, automatic blood glucose control was initiated using the artificial pancreas. Blood glucose level varied for 8 h, alternating between the target blood glucose values of 170 and 70 mg/dL. Eight hours later, the experiment was concluded. Total pancreatectomy was performed for 62 ± 13 min. Blood glucose swings were achieved 9.8 ± 2.3 times. The average blood glucose level was 128.1 ± 5.1 mg/dL with an SD of 44.6 ± 3.9 mg/dL. The potassium levels after stabilization and at the end of the experiment were 3.5 ± 0.3 and 3.1 ± 0.5 mmol/L, respectively. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that an artificial pancreas contributed to the establishment of a novel variability model of blood glucose levels in beagles.

Few studies have reported that fever is caused by intravenous sedative drugs even though these agents are widely used. We present a case of propofol-induced drug fever. A 57-year-old woman underwent hepatic segmentectomy. Although she was diagnosed with type I glycogen storage disease when in her twenties, her liver function was normal. As the operative hemorrhage was high, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). Her temperature at ICU admission was 35.8 °C, and sedation with propofol and dexmedetomidine was initiated. Two hours after admission to the ICU, the patient had a fever of 38–39.5 °C. Remittent fever persisted until day 5 after surgery. Because of her persistent fever, pneumonia was suspected and antibiotics were initiated on day 4 after surgery. As the fever persisted after the initiation of antibiotics, drug fever was suspected. On day 5 after surgery, propofol infusion was discontinued and the patient was extubated. Her temperature of 37.7 °C at the discontinuation of propofol infusion, and rapidly decreased to 36.1 °C in the following 3 h. Propofol-induced drug fever must be considered in cases of fever of unknown origin when patients receive propofol and appear inappropriately well for the degree of fever that they have.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy has recently become popular after the laparoscopic technique was developed. However, the postoperative energy expenditure in patients undergoing this procedure has not been evaluated. Therefore, we hypothesized that postoperative resting energy expenditure (REE) following minimally invasive esophagectomy is lower than that estimated using the Harris-Benedict equation. Fifteen patients who underwent esophagectomy by thoracoscopy in the prone position were analyzed. After esophagectomy, an indirect calorimeter measured the energy expenditure during ventilation in the ICU. These values and the estimated basal energy expenditure values were compared using the paired t test. The mean age was 66 ± 10 years and mean duration of ventilator use in the ICU was 697 ± 70 mins. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores at the time of ICU admission were 13 ± 4 and 2 ± 1, respectively. The average temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate during ventilation were 36.2 ± 0.6°C, 67 ± 9 beats/min, and 12 ± 2/min, respectively. The average REE during ventilation was 985 ± 167 kcal/day (18.1 ± 3.4 kcal/kg/day). The estimated REE was 1191 ± 159 kcal/day. The average REE measured using the indirect calorimeter during ventilation was significantly lower than the estimated REE (83 ± 10% of the estimated REE, p0.001). In conclusion, the REE measured by an indirect calorimeter after minimally invasive esophagectomy at early postoperative stage under sedation was significantly lower than the REE estimated using the Harris-Benedict equation.腹腔镜技术开发后，微创食管切除术近来成为流行。然而，接受该手术的患者 术后的能量消耗尚未进行评估。因此，我们假设微创食管切除术后患者静息能 量消耗（REE）低于用Harris-Benedict 公式估算的能量消耗。本研究分析了15 例俯卧位接受胸腔镜食管切除术的患者。在重症监护室（ICU）用间接热量计 测量食管切除术后通气患者的能量消耗。使用配对T 检验，比较测得的能量 消耗和估计的基础能量消耗。患者的平均年龄为66±10 岁，在ICU 使用呼吸 机的平均时间是697±70 分钟。在ICU 住院期间急性生理和慢性健康评估II （APACHE II）和序贯器官衰竭评估的得分分别为13±4 和2±1。食管切除通 气期间患者的平均体温、心率和呼吸频率分别为36.2±0.6℃、67±9 次/分和 12±2 次/分，平均REE 是985±167 千卡/天（18.1±3.4 千卡/千克/天）。根据 Harris-Benedict 公式估算的REE 为1191±159 千卡/天。用间接热量计测量的食 管切除通气期间的平均REE 显著低于估算的REE（ 是估算的REE 的 83±10%，p0.001）。综上所述，用间接热量计测得的微创食管切除术后早期 镇静阶段的能量消耗显著低于用Harris-Benedict 公式估算的能量消耗。

A 67-year-old woman underwent right radical neck dissection for cervical lymph node metastasis from maxillary gingival carcinoma. Two months later, metastasis in the left superior internal jugular lymph nodes were discovered, and left radical neck dissection was performed. Postoperatively, airway obstruction occurred despite performing extubation after confirming that the patient had fully recovered from anesthesia. Bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy was diagnosed and the patient was reintubated. After extubation on the following day, airway obstruction was relieved, but slurred speech and impaired swallowing were persistent. In view of this, hypoglossal nerve function should be examined before the second radical neck dissection on the contralateral side.

Sugammadex, a new reversal agent for rocuronium, encapsulates the rocuronium molecule and results in rapid reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade. A case in which sugammadex was used to treat an anaphylactic reaction that occurred after rocuronium is presented. The binding/encapsulation of rocuronium by sugammadex may selectively eliminate the antigenic quaternary ammonium activity of circulating rocuronium, and prevent the propagation of rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis.

Postoperative oral intake is an important predictor of early postoperative recovery, and anesthesia is known to influence this intake. We compared the influences of desflurane anesthesia and propofol anesthesia on early postoperative oral intake retrospectively. The subjects included a consecutive series of patients who received general anesthesia with propofol or desflurane between June and December 2013. The total amount of calories and proteins taken orally and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) on postoperative days (POD) 0, 1, and 2 were collected. A total of 147 patients were analyzed. The desflurane (Des) and the propofol (Pro) groups included 52 and 95 patients, respectively. The incidence of PONV on POD 0, 1, and 2 did not show significant intergroup differences. Total calorie intake on POD 1 and 2 was not significantly different between the 2 groups (1117 ± 508 vs. 1036 ± 549 kcal/day, p=0.39 and 1504 ± 368 vs. 1437 ± 433 kcal/day, p=0.35, respectively). Total amount of protein via oral intake on POD 1 and 2 were not significantly different between the two groups (45.9 ± 21.1 vs. 43.8 ± 22.8 g/day, p=0.60 and 61.3 ± 15.0 vs. 58.9 ± 18.0 g/day, p=0.42, respectively). These findings suggest that desflurane and propofol affect postoperative oral intake in a similar fashion. These results should be confirmed in a future prospective study.术后口腔摄入功能是术后早期恢复的一个指征，众所周知麻醉影响术后口腔摄 入功能。我们回顾性分析比较了地氟醚麻醉和异丙酚麻醉对早期术后口腔摄入 功能的影响。受试者为2013 年6 月到12 月间接受过地氟醚或异丙酚的全麻患 者。我们收集分析了147 位患者口腔摄入的卡路里和蛋白质总量以及术后 （POD）第0、1、2 天的恶心呕吐（PONY）的发生情况。地氟醚组（Des）有 52 名患者，异丙酚（Pro）组有95 名患者。在组内PONY 在POD 第0、1 和2 天无显著差异。两组间口腔摄入卡路里在POD 第0、1 和2 天的差异不显著 （分别是1117±508 vs. 1036±549 kcal/day, p=0.39 和 1504±368 vs. 1437±433 kcal/day, p=0.35）。两组间口腔蛋白质摄入量在POD 第0、1 和2 天也无显著 差异（分别是45.9±21.1 vs. 43.8±22.8 g/day, p=0.60 和 61.3±15.0 vs. 58.9±18.0 g/day, p=0.42）。本研究表明地氟醚和异丙酚对术后口腔摄入功能的影响相似。 此结果还需下一步的前瞻性研究来证实。

As disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) causes multiple organ failure, recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM) is widely used in Japan for treating DIC. However, the optimal timing of rTM administration has not yet been determined. We hypothesized that the administration of rTM before progression of disease causing DIC might be better for the treatment of DIC than that after progression of disease. A total of 101 patients received rTM in the intensive care unit (ICU) between August 2008 and November 2013 were enrolled. Depending on survival at hospital discharge, the patients were divided into survivor (group S) and non-survivor groups (group NS). Patient characteristics before DIC development, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHEII) score and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score at the start of rTM administration, rTM administration dose, duration of time between the onset of disease causing DIC and rTM administration, and combination therapy were collected. Group S had 57 patients, and group NS had 44 patients. More than 70% of patients in group S were administrated rTM within 1 day from the onset of disease causing DIC (0 days, 40% vs 20%; 1 day, 33% vs 30%; more than 2 days, 26% vs 50%). At the start of the rTM administration, the APACHEII and SOFA scores were significantly lower in group S (26 ± 6 vs 32 ± 6, p

OBJECTIVE Intensive insulin therapy (IIT) reduces morbidity and mortality in patients in surgical intensive care units. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of IIT using a closed-loop system in hepatectomized patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to receive IIT using a closed-loop system: an artificial pancreas (AP group) or conventional insulin therapy using the sliding-scale method (SS group). RESULTS The incidence of surgical-site infection in the AP group was significantly lower than that in the SS group. The length of hospitalization required for patients in the AP group was significantly shorter than that in the SS group. CONCLUSIONS Total hospital costs for patients in the AP group were significantly lower than for patients in the SS group. IIT using a closed-loop system maintained near-normoglycemia and contributed to a reduction in the incidence of SSI and total hospital costs due to shortened hospitalization.

A closed-loop glycemic control system using an artificial pancreas has been applied with many clinical benefits in Japan since 1987. To update this system incorporating user-friendly features, we developed a novel artificial pancreas (STG-55). The purpose of this study was to evaluate STG-55 for device usability, performance of blood glucose measurement, glycemic control characteristics in vivo in animal experiments, and evaluate its clinical feasibility. There are several features for usability improvement based on the design concepts, such as compactness, display monitor, batteries, guidance function, and reduction of the preparation time. All animal study data were compared with a clinically available artificial pancreas system in Japan (control device: STG-22). We examined correlations of both blood glucose levels between two groups (STG-55 vs. control) using Clarke's error grid analysis, and also compared mean glucose infusion rate (GIR) during glucose clamp. The results showed strong correlation in blood glucose concentrations (Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient: 0.97; n = 1636). Clarke's error grid analysis showed that 98.4% of the data fell in Zones A and B, which represent clinically accurate or benign errors, respectively. The difference in mean GIRs was less than 0.2 mg/kg/min, which was considered not significant. Clinical feasibility study demonstrated sufficient glycemic control maintaining target glucose range between 80 and 110 (mg/dL), and between 140 and 160 without any hypoglycemia. In conclusion, STG-55 was a clinically acceptable artificial pancreas with improved interface and usability. A closed-loop glycemic control system with STG-55 would be a useful tool for surgical and critical patients in intensive care units, as well as diabetic patients.