A woman in her seventies visited a previous doctor because she was reported to have abnormal opacity in her right lung. Computed Tomography (CT) revealed pulmonary tuberculosis. An upper abdominal ...mass was also found, and she was referred to our hospital. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT showed a heterogeneously mass lesion with a long diameter of approximately 83 mm in the pancreatic caudal region. Endoscopic ultrasound revealed a tumor at the pancreatic tail with distinct boundaries and internal mosaic echo. Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed a mass with heterogeneous and partially cystic degeneration. Based on these findings, solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) and other malignant lesions of the pancreas tail region were suspected. By laparotomy with subarachnoid arc incision, distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, and regional lymph node dissection were performed. The specimen was a cystic mass covered with an 80×75×65 mm membrane in the pancreatic tail region. Initially, in the results of the pathological diagnosis, epithelial cells were not observed, and a hematoma was diagnosed. However, subsequent diagnosis indicated bizarre idioblasts and numerous osteoclast-like giant cells in the surrounding capsule. This area was initially thought to be a reactive pseudotumor lesion due to hemorrhage; however, the presence of CK7, p53-positive atypical spindle-shaped tumor cells and polynucleated tumor cells led to the diagnosis of anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclastic polynucleic giant cells with extensive necrosis. We report a case of a rare pancreatic tumor with extensive intratumoral necrosis, which was difficult to diagnose pathologically, and present our findings with literature review.
We examined age-associated changes in bladder and urethral coordination involving the nitric oxide (NO)/soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) system, which induces urethral smooth muscle relaxation, and ...urethral ischemic/oxidative stress changes in rats.
Sixteen female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into young (3 months old) and middle-aged (12–15 months old) groups. Urethral activity was evaluated by simultaneously recording intravesical pressure under isovolumetric conditions and urethral perfusion pressure (UPP) under urethane anesthesia. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 0.1 mg/kg), an NO donor, and BAY 41-2272, a novel NO-independent stimulator of sGC (0.1 mg/kg), were administered intravenously to both groups. N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME, 100 mg/kg) was also injected intravenously, to inhibit NO synthase activity in both groups. Staining for the ischemic marker, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and the oxidative stress markers, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA), was performed on tissue sections of the urethra, in both groups.
Baseline UPP and UPP changes were significantly lower in middle-aged rats than in young rats. After administration of SNP and BAY 41-2272, baseline UPP and UPP nadir were significantly decreased in both groups. After administration of l-NAME, UPP change/bladder contraction amplitude in young rats was still lower than at baseline but was completely restored to control levels in middle-aged rats. Immunoreactivity of HIF-1α, 8-OHdG, and MDA was higher in middle-aged rats than in young rats.
Age-associated ischemic and oxidative stress in the urethra might be correlated with impairment of the NO/sGC system and with coordination of the bladder and urethra.
We compared the efficacy and safety of infliximab with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a standard therapy, in a phase 3 trial (NCT01596335) for Japanese patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) showing ...persistent fever after initial IVIG. Patients with initial IVIG-refractory KD, aged 1-10 years, received a single dose of IV infliximab 5 mg/kg or IV polyethylene glycol-treated human immunoglobulin (VGIH) 2 g/kg on day 0. Primary outcome was defervescence rate within 48 h after the start of treatment. Safety was evaluated through day 56. Overall, 31 patients were randomized (infliximab, n = 16; VGIH, n = 15); 31.3% and 60.0% patients discontinued due to worsening KD. Defervescence rate within 48 h was greater with infliximab (76.7%) than VGIH (37.0%) (p = 0.023), and defervescence was achieved earlier with infliximab (p = 0.0072). Coronary artery lesions occurred in 1 (6.3%) and 3 (20.0%) patients receiving infliximab and VGIH, respectively, up to day 21. Adverse events occurred in 15 (93.8%) and 15 (100.0%) patients in the infliximab and VGIH groups, respectively. No serious adverse events in the infliximab group and one in the VGIH group were observed. Infliximab improved the defervescence rate within 48 h and time to defervescence versus standard therapy, and was well tolerated in patients with IVIG-refractory KD.
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) can interfere with daily life and quality of life (QOL). Evaluating physical function and QOL and helping patients to improve is the focus of rehabilitation. Phase angle ...(PhA) assessment is widely used to measure body composition and is considered an indicator of physical function and QOL. This study investigated the relationship between PhA and physical function, physical activity, and QOL in patients with LSS. PhA, handgrip strength, walking speed, Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Life Space Assessment (LSA), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ), and EQ-5D were assessed and statistically analyzed. The study included 133 patients with LSS. Multiple regression analysis of PhA adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index (Model 1) and for Model 1 + PNI (Model 2) showed significant correlations (P < 0.05) with handgrip strength, walking speed, TUG, and LSA. Regarding QOL, PhA was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with lumbar function in JOABPEQ. PhA was associated with physical function and QOL in patients with LSS and might be a new clinical indicator in this population.
Abstract
Background
Locomotive syndrome (LS) is characterized by reduced mobility. Clinical decision limit (CDL) stage 3 in LS indicates physical frailty. Lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS) is one of ...the causes of LS, for which lumbar surgery is considered to improve the CDL stage. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of lumbar surgery and independent factors for improving the CDL stage in patients with LSS.
Methods
This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at our University Hospital. A total of 157 patients aged ≥ 65 years with LSS underwent lumbar surgery. The 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function scale (GLFS-25) was used to test for LS, and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) was used to evaluate functional ability. Lower limb pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale. Patients with at least one improvement in the CDL stage following lumbar surgery were included in the improvement group. Differences in lower limb pain intensity between the groups were evaluated using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to determine correlations between Δ lower limb pain and Δ GLFS-25. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with improvement in LS.
Results
The proportion of patients with improved CDL stage was 45.1% (improvement/non-improvement: 32/39). Δ Lower limb pain was significantly reduced in the improvement group compared with that in the non-improvement group (51.0 36.3–71.0 vs 40.0 4.0–53.5;
p
= 0.0107). Δ GLFS-25 was significantly correlated with Δ lower limb pain (
r
= 0.3774,
p
= 0.0031). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that TUG and age were significantly associated with improvement in LS (odds ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.47).
Conclusions
Lumbar surgery effectively improved the CDL stage in patients with LSS. In addition, TUG was an independent factor associated with improvement in the CDL.
The treatment of interstitial lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), remains challenging as current available antifibrotic agents are not effective in halting disease ...progression. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), also known as cellular communication factor 2 (CCN2), is a member of the CCN family of proteins that regulates cell signaling through cell surface receptors such as integrins, the activity of cytokines/growth factors, and the turnover of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Accumulating evidence indicates that CTGF plays a crucial role in promoting lung fibrosis through multiple processes, including inducing transdifferentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cooperating with other fibrotic mediators such as TGF-β. Increased expression of CTGF has been observed in fibrotic lungs and inhibiting CTGF signaling has been shown to suppress lung fibrosis in several animal models. Thus, the CTGF signaling pathway is emerging as a potential therapeutic target in IPF and other pulmonary fibrotic conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on the pathogenic role of CTGF in pulmonary fibrosis and discusses the current therapeutic agents targeting CTGF using a systematic review approach.
A
bstract Background Numerous biomechanical studies of the lateral ankle ligaments have been reported; however, the isolated function of the calcaneofibular ligament has not been clarified. We ...hypothesize that the calcaneofibular ligament would stabilize the ankle joint complex under multidirectional loading, and that the in situ force in the calcaneofibular ligament would change in each flexed position. Methods Using seven fresh frozen cadaveric lower extremities, the motions and forces of the intact ankle under multidirectional loading were recorded using a 6-degree-of-freedom robotic system. On repeating these intact ankle joint complex motions after the calcaneofibular ligament transection, the in situ force in the calcaneofibular ligament and the contribution of the calcaneofibular ligament to ankle joint complex stability were calculated. Finally, the motions of the calcaneofibular ligament-transected ankle joint complex were recorded. Findings Under an inversion load, significant increases of inversion angle were observed in all the flexed positions following calcaneofibular ligament transection, and the calcaneofibular ligament accounted for 50%–70% of ankle joint complex stability during inversion. The in situ forces in the calcaneofibular ligament under an anterior force, inversion moment, and external rotation moment were larger in the dorsiflexed position than in the plantarflexed position. Interpretation The calcaneofibular ligament plays a role in stabilizing the ankle joint complex to multidirectional loads and the role differs with load directions. The in situ force of the calcaneofibular ligament is larger at the dorsiflexed position. This ligament provides the primary restraint to the inversion ankle stability.
L-carnitine (LC) supplementation improves cardiac function in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, whether reducing LC supplementation affects carnitine kinetics and cardiac function in HD patients ...treated with LC remains unclear. Fifty-nine HD patients previously treated with intravenous LC 1000 mg per HD session (three times weekly) were allocated to three groups: LC injection three times weekly, once weekly, and placebo, and prospectively followed up for six months. Carnitine fractions were assessed by enzyme cycling methods. Plasma and red blood cell (RBC) acylcarnitines were profiled using tandem mass spectrometry. Cardiac function was evaluated using echocardiography and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. Reducing LC administration to once weekly significantly decreased plasma carnitine fractions and RBC-free carnitine levels during the study period, which were further decreased in the placebo group (p < 0.001). Plasma BNP levels were significantly elevated in the placebo group (p = 0.03). Furthermore, changes in RBC (C16 + C18:1)/C2 acylcarnitine ratio were positively correlated with changes in plasma BNP levels (β = 0.389, p = 0.005). Reducing LC administration for six months significantly decreased both plasma and RBC carnitine levels, while the full termination of LC increased plasma BNP levels; however, it did not influence cardiac function in HD patients.
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