Clinical Background Characteristics Research Articles

247. INVESTIGATION ON THE RECURRENCE AND PROGNOSIS WITH MM/SM1 OESOPHAGEAL SUPERFICIAL CANCER AFTER ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION

Abstract Background The therapeutic strategy for MM/SM1 oesophageal superficial cancer (OSC) after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) still remains controversial, but there are some opinions that cut-end positive, vascular invasion positive, infiltrative growth pattern (INF) c, and poorly differentiated carcinoma are the risk factors for the recurrence of lymph-node (LN) or distal metastases. Methods This study aimed to investigate the recurrence and prognosis after ESD in patients with MM/SM1 OSC who do not have the risk factors. We performed ESD in 167 patients with OSC, and among these, we enrolled 15 patients with MM/SM1 OSC who did not have cut-end positive, vascular invasion positive, INF c, or poorly differentiated carcinoma in this study. The clinical background characteristics, endoscopic findings, additional therapy after ESD, recurrence, and prognosis of these patients were investigated. Results The median age of the patients, including 11 males and 4 females, was 69 years (range: 59–84). The mean follow-up duration was 75 months (range: 17-137). Of these, 3 patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 1 had cerebrovascular disease, and 1 had chronic heart failure. Regarding the lesion location, 2 patients had the lesion at Ut, 11 had at Mt, and 2 had at Lt. In 3 patients, the lesion occupied more than 3/4 of the lumen. We found 2 patients with elevated-type lesions, 10 with flat-type lesions, and 3 with depressed-type lesions. The mean long diameter of the lesions was 29 mm (range: 11-47). Regarding the lesion depth, there were 12 lesions in MM and 3 lesions in SM1. A total of 4 patients received additional radiation therapy, and the remaining 11 patients were followed up without additional therapy. The patients who received additional therapy did not have recurrences; however, 4 among the 11 patients without additional therapy manifested LN and lung metastases. Furthermore, 3 patients died because of the progression of oesophageal cancer, and another patient received chemotherapy. Conclusion In this study we showed that follow-up without additional therapy after ESD in patients with MM/SM1 OSC is unlikely to be acceptable despite not having risk factors. Therefore, we should urgently develop a treatment strategy for patients with MM/SM1 OSC after ESD.

Efficacy and safety of a novel temperature-controlled catheter for cavotricuspid isthmus ablation.

Maintaining an adequate temperature at the target site is essential for effective ablation. We hypothesized that a tissue temperature-controlled (T-Con) catheter for cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation could improve the procedural ablation parameters. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the T-Con (DiamondTemp™) catheter for CTI ablation compared with non-irrigation (Non-Irri) and irrigation (Irri) catheters. We analyzed 150 patients who underwent prophylactic CTI ablation combined with pulmonary vein isolation. The Non-Irri, Irri, and T-Con catheter groups comprised 50 patients each, and the ablation procedural parameters and complications were compared between these groups. There were no significant differences in clinical background characteristics among the three groups. The Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc tests demonstrated that the T-Con group showed the lowest total radiofrequency energy delivery time among the three groups (median [25 and 75 percentiles]: 340 [209, 357], 147 [100, 199], and 83 [61, 109] s, respectively in the Non-Irri, Irri, and T-Con groups; T-Con versus Non-Irri, p < .01; T-Con versus Irri, p < .01). The total procedural time and acute reconnection rate in the T-Con group (264 s and 4%, respectively) were lower than those in the Non-Irri group (438 s and 24%) but were similar to those in the Irri group (268 s and 6%). No significant complications were observed in any group. The T-Con catheter achieved a short energy delivery time and a low acute reconnection rate, indicating its potential as an alternative catheter for CTI ablation.

Noninferiority of additional gastrectomy after endoscopic submucosal dissection compared with surgery alone on long-term prognosis: a propensity score matching analysis

BackgroundPatients in whom endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has resulted in noncurative resection need further surgical treatment. However, the oncologic outcome of additional gastrectomy after ESD compared with surgery alone remains unclear. MethodsThe clinical data of 778 patients who underwent gastrectomy for early gastric cancer (EGC) from January 2008 to December 2019 in Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Of these 778 patients, 187 underwent additional gastrectomy after ESD [ESD (+) group] and 591 underwent surgery alone [ESD (−) group]. We compared the overall survival and disease-free survival between the ESD (+) and ESD (−) groups, using propensity score matching (PSM) to adjust for baseline characteristics. We also assessed early postoperative outcomes. ResultsAfter PSM based on sex (male or female), age, tumor diameter, tumor gross type, and operative procedure, each group comprised 144 patients with no significant differences in clinical background characteristics. After matching, the 5-year overall survival rate in the ESD (+) and ESD (−) group was 90.9% and 87.8%, respectively, with no significant difference (P = .470). In addition, there was no significant difference in the disease-free survival rate (97.6% vs 95.8%, respectively; P = .504). The postoperative complication rate was similar in both groups. ConclusionAdditional gastrectomy for patients in whom ESD resulted in noncurative resection did not adversely affect the long-term prognosis. Additional gastrectomy after ESD is oncologically acceptable for EGC.

Clinical Background and Coronary Artery Lesions Characteristics in Japanese Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Suffering Major Bleeding.

Background: Although the clinical factors that predict major bleeding in Western patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are becoming elucidated, they have not been fully investigated, especially coronary lesion characteristics, in a Japanese population. Methods and Results: ACS patients (n=1,840) were divided into a "bleeding group" and a "no-bleeding group," according to whether they had major bleeding during the 2-year follow-up period, to investigate the prognostic effect of bleeding and the predictive factors of bleeding. Among them, patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention with optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance (n=958) were examined to identify the effect of coronary lesion characteristics on bleeding. Of the 1,840 enrolled patients, 124 (6.7%) experienced major bleeding during the 2-year follow-up period. Incidence of cardiovascular death during the 2-year follow-up period was significantly higher among patients with major bleeding (26.4% vs. 8.5%, P=0.001). OCT examination showed that disrupted fibrous cap (DFC: 68% vs. 48%, P=0.014) and calcified plaque (63% vs. 42%, P=0.011) were more prevalent in the bleeding group. DFC was a predictor of major bleeding in the multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses (hazard ratio 2.135 [95% confidence interval 1.070-4.263], P<0.001). Conclusions: ACS patients with major bleeding had poorer cardiac outcomes. Advanced atherosclerosis at the culprit lesion influences the higher incidence of major bleeding in ACS patients.

A Prospective Study of Patients with Persistent Symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 Infection Referred to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

New evidence and extrapolated data from other coronaviruses suggest that symptoms and consequences of COVID-19 may persist beyond the cure. The aims of this study were to evaluate persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection and its impact on physical condition, activities of daily living, and quality-of-life; establish whether symptom persistence is associated with higher disability; and document the evolution of the multiple domains after a home exercise program. Prospective study with patients referred to a Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine clinic, after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patient evaluations, including a symptom questionnaire, the 1-Min Sit-to-stand test (1-MSTS), the EQ-5D questionnaire and the London Chest Activity Daily Living (LCA-DL) questionnaire, were performed before and after a home exercise program. Seventy-four patients were included. The majority (n = 71) had been hospitalized (mean stay 19.66 ± 13.35 days), 51% required intensive care. At first evaluation, 54 days after symptom onset, a mean of 18.6 repetitions in the 1-MSTS were performed. The percentage of LCA-DL was above 28% in 23% of the patients. Impairments on EQ-5D were present in 44% for mobility and 44% for anxiety/depression. Mean EQ-5D VAS was 66.5 out of 100. Fifty-one (70%) had at least one persistent symptom (Symptomatic Group), while 22 (30%) were asymptomatic (Asymptomatic Group). The Symptomatic Group had statistically significantly worse mean results on 1-MSTS (16.8 vs 22.9; p < 0.001), % LCA-DL score, EQ-D5 (7.8 vs 5.7; p < 0.001) and EQ-D5-VAS. No patient characteristic, clinical background, comorbidity, or hospitalization characteristics was significantly different between groups. Every patient was given a home exercise program; 47 patients joined an additional rehabilitation program or were clinically discharged and were therefore excluded from the second evaluation. Twenty-seven patients participated in a second evaluation. In the matched analysis, mean 1-MSTS improved by 3.4 repetitions. Mean LCA-DL, mean EQ-5D score (7.1 to 6.6) and EQ-VAS score changed favourably and significantly. Two months after infection by SARS-CoV-2, persistent symptoms were frequent in patients referred to a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic. Additionally, the SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the persistence of symptoms, had a negative impact in the physical condition and functionality in ADL and quality-of-life. With a home exercise program in place, a statistically significant improvement was observed. Referral of patients with persistent symptoms to Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine may be warranted.

Sequential administration of PD‑1 inhibitor and cetuximab causes pneumonia.

Severe drug-induced lung injury (DLI) has been reported to be associated with sequential administration of osimertinib, a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, following a programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor. However, the relationship of sequential treatment with an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody and PD-1 inhibitor with the risk of DLI remains to be elucidated. The present study conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of a total of 179 patients with head and neck cancer who had received treatment with cetuximab and/or a PD-1 inhibitor (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) at Chiba University Hospital (Chiba, Japan) between September 2014 and December 2020. The incidence of pneumonia and the clinical background characteristics of the patients were analyzed. The patients were classified into subgroups for analysis of the outcomes in this study: Patients who had received sequential, but not concurrent, cetuximab and PD-1 inhibitor treatment (Group C+P; n=43); patients who had received cetuximab-containing chemotherapy, but not a PD-1 inhibitor (Group C; n=101); and patients who had received PD-1 inhibitor-containing chemotherapy, but not cetuximab (Group P; n=35). The rates of DLI in the three groups were: Group C+P, 18.6%; Group C, 7.9%; and Group P, 11.4%. Prior use of ICI was not associated with any increase in the risk of DLI. DLI is seen frequently in patients receiving sequential PD-1 inhibitor and anti-EGFR antibody therapy.

Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia Due to Central Venous Catheter Infection: A Clinical Comparison of Infections Caused by Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Strains.

Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia has a mortality rate of 20-40% and is mainly caused by central venous catheter (CVC) infection. We aimed to investigate differences between patients with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) bacteremia due to CVC infection.Methods: This retrospective study, of data collected between August 2004 and March 2016 at a single Tokyo hospital, compared the clinical background characteristics, complications, and 60-day mortality rates with positive peripheral blood cultures and positive semiquantitative cultures. MRSA carrier is defined as those with a history of MRSA detection by skin, urine, or sputum culture.Results: The median ages for the 17 MRSA and 19 MSSA patients were 72 and 55 years, respectively (P < 0.01). The occurrences of baseline disease (MRSA vs. MSSA) were 59% vs. 16% (P = 0.01), respectively, while those of complications, including septic shock, were 48% vs. 16% (P = 0.07), respectively. Catheter placement duration, time from fever onset to CVC removal, and time from fever onset to antimicrobial therapy initiation were similar in both groups. Sixty-day mortality rates were 35% and 5.3% (P = 0.04) in the MRSA and MSSA groups, respectively.Conclusion: MRSA carriers and older patients were at higher risks of CVC infection than MSSA bacteremia patients. Patients with MRSA bacteremia had higher septic shock and 60-day mortality rates despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Evaluating the safety of dienogest in women with adenomyosis: A retrospective analysis.

Dienogest (DNG) is highly effective for relieving pain caused by endometriosis and adenomyosis. However, women with severe uterine swelling due to adenomyosis who take DNG usually experience metrorrhagia. This study aimed to examine the safety of DNG usage in women with adenomyosis. This study included 20 women who were prescribed DNG for adenomyosis in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2016. We retrospectively analyzed women's clinical background characteristics (age, the use of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist as pre-treatment of DNG, the uterus size [major axis, minor axis, maximum thickness in the myometrium, and length of the uterine body] by transvaginal ultrasonography [TVUS], hemoglobin level, and the presence of metrorrhagia during treatment). These variables were compared between the DNG continuation and discontinuation groups using the Mann-Whitney U test. Thirteen women continued DNG, and seven discontinued DNG within 12 months because of metrorrhagia. The uterine size was significantly larger in the discontinuation group than in the continuation group. All uterine measurements had high Spearman rank correlation coefficients (ρ > 0.8, P < 0.05). In six of seven cases in the discontinuation group, adenomyosis was in the anterior wall. Measuring the uterus size and locating adenomyosis by TVUS are simple methods of predicting DNG discontinuation. We consider that DNG can be safely administered in women with adenomyosis if the uterine size is <6 cm in the minor axis and the main lesion of adenomyosis is located in the posterior uterine wall.

Clinical Efficacy of Baloxavir Marboxil in the Treatment of Seasonal Influenza in Adult Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

PurposeBaloxavir marboxil, a recently developed antiviral drug, has been used to treat influenza in some countries including Japan. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical efficacy of the drug, which currently remains unclear.Patients and MethodsOverall, 43 adult patients with seasonal influenza who visited the outpatient clinic of Teikyo University Hospital in Tokyo during the winter of 2018–2019 were enrolled. Of them, 14, 13, and 16 were prescribed baloxavir marboxil (40 or 80 mg once), oseltamivir (75 mg twice daily for 5 days), and laninamivir (40 mg once), respectively. A questionnaire was used to collect data about symptoms, and the Medical Outcome Study 8-Items Short Form Health Survey was employed to examine health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) before and 7 days after admission. The main study endpoints included time to defervescence and the extent of improvement in HRQOL after treatment initiation. The data were analyzed with Welch’s t-test and Fisher’s exact test using StatFlex version 6.ResultsNo significant differences in clinical background characteristics were observed among the patients. The mean time to defervescence in the baloxavir group (median [interquartile range]; 1.0 [1.0–2.0] days) was significantly shorter than that in the laninamivir group (2.0 [1.5–3.5] days; p=0.0322). No significant differences in mean time to defervescence, change in HRQOL, and time for resolution of other symptoms were observed between the groups.ConclusionThe results suggest that baloxavir marboxil has a better antipyretic effect than oseltamivir and laninamivir. Moreover, baloxavir marboxil might be clinically more valuable than the other two drugs owing to higher medication adherence among patients.

Clinical features related to rapid cycling and one-year euthymia in bipolar disorder patients: A multicenter treatment survey for bipolar disorder in psychiatric clinics (MUSUBI)

ObjectiveRapid cycling (RC) presents a risk of greater severity in bipolar disorder (BD), whereas patients with one-year euthymia (OYE) have better prognosis. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical background and prescription characteristics of patients in the two opposing states of current RC and OYE from a large sample (N = 2609) in a multicenter treatment survey on BD in psychiatric clinics (MUSUBI). MethodsMUSIBI was a cross-sectional study wherein questionnaires, based on a retrospective medical record survey of consecutive cases of BD, were distributed to 176 outpatient clinics. The questionnaire collected information on patient background, current episode, and clinical and prescription characteristics. OYE was defined as the presence of a euthymic state for at least 12 months. ResultsIn this study, current RC (9.7% frequency) was significantly higher in females, had a younger age of onset, functional impairments, and a higher rate of neurodevelopmental disorder and physical comorbidity compared to non-RC patients. OYE (19.4% frequency) was associated with a lower proportion of females, older age, higher occupational status, and lower rate of suicide ideation, psychotic symptoms, personality disorder, and alcohol or substance abuse. Mood stabilizers were prescribed in ≥80% of cases, while antipsychotics were prescribed in half of the cases (more in RC and less in OYE). Antidepressant prescription rates were lower in OYE than in RC. ConclusionsRC and OYE generally show opposing characteristics, but the details of the opposite parameters are distinctive. Clinicians can help predict the progression of BD by understanding the clinical background and characteristics of these opposing clinical features.

Late lumen enlargement after drug-coated balloon angioplasty for de novo coronary artery disease.

We aimed to identify predictors of late lumen enlargement (LLE) after drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for de novo coronary lesions. LLE, which is defined as an increase in the luminal diameter of the vessel from the immediate postprocedural measurement to follow-up measurements, is frequently observed after DCB angioplasty for de novo coronary artery disease. No predictors of LLE are known. This retrospective observational study analyzed 196 de novo coronary lesions in 182 patients who underwent both DCB angioplasty and follow-up angiography. Of the 196 lesions, 109 (56%) developed LLE during a mean follow-up period of 7.2 ± 2.5months. As defined by American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) lesion types, lesions with LLE were significantly less severe than lesions without LLE (types A, B1, B2 and C 15%, 35%, 38% and 13% vs. 7%, 24%, 45% and 24%, respectively; p = 0.036), although no significant differences in clinical or other lesion background characteristics were observed between the groups. Among type C lesions, chronic total occlusion (CTO) was more frequently observed in lesions with LLE than in lesions without LLE (79% vs 43%, p = 0.036). Lesion severity predicts LLE after DCB angioplasty for de novo coronary artery disease. Among type C lesions, CTO is expected in lesions showing LLE, and preparations should therefore be made prior to DCB application. Further research is needed.

Clinical Characteristics of Rapidly Progressive Fatal Hemorrhagic Pneumonia Caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

Objective Hemorrhagic pneumonia due to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SM) in severely immunocompromised patients has a very poor prognosis. However, the risk factors for hemorrhagic pneumonia are not clear. Methods This study assessed the predictive factors of hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by SM. The medical records of patients admitted to Osaka City University Hospital with SM bacteremia between January 2008 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients All patients who had positive blood cultures for SM were included in this study. They were categorized into two groups: the SM bacteremia with hemorrhagic pneumonia group and the SM bacteremia without hemorrhagic pneumonia group. The clinical background characteristics and treatments were compared between these groups. Results The 35 patients with SM bacteremia included 4 with hemorrhagic pneumonia and 31 without hemorrhagic pneumonia. Hematologic malignancy (p=0.03) and thrombocytopenia (p=0.04) as well as the prior use of quinolone within 30 days (p=0.04) were more frequent in the SM bacteremia patients with hemorrhagic pneumonia than in those without hemorrhagic pneumonia. The mortality of the SM bacteremia patients with hemorrhagic pneumonia was higher than that of those without hemorrhagic pneumonia group (p=0.02). Conclusion Patients with SM bacteremia who have hematologic malignancy, thrombocytopenia, and a history of using quinolone within the past 30 days should be treated with deliberation.

Validity of Endoscopic Ultrasound Findings of Chronic Pancreatitis: Evaluation from the Viewpoint of Disease Risk Factors

Background: The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (CP) using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) criteria, referred to as the Rosemont classification (RC), has been widely performed. However, the validity of the RC, which was based on expert opinion, is still controversial. If EUS findings are associated with CP, then they should be associated with risk factors for CP. In this study, to verify the appropriateness of the RC and each EUS finding, we performed a retrospective analysis from the viewpoint of risk factors for CP. Summary: Three hundred and forty-four patients were enrolled in this study. Clinical background characteristics that associate with CP were alcohol intake, smoking, history of acute pancreatitis (AP), and age. The correlation between EUS criteria for CP and clinical background was investigated. All EUS findings except the presence of cysts showed significant correlations with one or 2 of the 3 following factors: ethanol (EtOH) intake, smoking status, and history of AP. Results of the univariate and multivariate analyses showed that 3 factors (EtOH intake, smoking, and history of AP) other than age were positively correlated with the RC. Moreover, the risk of progression from normal to consistent CP to indeterminate and suggestive CP was found to increase with increasing EtOH intake. Key Messages: The RC and each EUS finding was validated from the viewpoint of risk factors for CP.

Multicenter Prospective Analysis of Stroke Patients Taking Oral Anticoagulants: The PASTA Registry - Study Design and Characteristics

ObjectivesThe management of atrial fibrillation and deep venous thrombosis has evolved with the development of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), and oral anticoagulant (OAC) might influence the development or clinical course in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. However, detailed data on the differences between the effects of the prior prescription of warfarin and DOAC on the clinical characteristics, neuroradiologic findings, and outcome of stroke are limited. DesignThe prospective analysis of stroke patients taking anticoagulants (PASTA) registry study is an observational, multicenter, prospective registry of stroke (ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and intracerebral hemorrhage) patients receiving OAC in Japan. This study is designed to collect data on clinical background characteristics, drug adherence, drug dosage, neurological severity at admission and discharge, infarct or hematoma size, acute therapy including recanalization therapy or reverse drug therapy, and timing of OAC re-initiation. Patient enrollment started in April 2016 and the target patient number is 1000 patients. ConclusionsThe PASTA prospective registry should identify the status of stroke patients taking OAC in the current clinical practice in Japan.

TO EVALUATE DECT’S ROLE IN GOUT AND EXAMINE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICAL AND PARACLINICAL

Background: To identify Urate crystals from synovial fluid under polarized microscopy is considered the gold standard in diagnosing Gout disease. However, it is not always possible to suck up enough fluid or in case of pain, it is impossible to suck the fluid. Dual-energy Computed Tomography (DECT) is a new tool for diagnosing Gout disease. DECT shows the deposition of urate crystals and bone structure images using different display colors. However, there is no agreement from the research results in the world. In Vietnam, no original research has been published. Objective: To evaluate DECT’s role in Gout and examine the relationship with clinical and paraclinical factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients who visited the Hoa Hao-Medic clinic in Ho Chi Minh City. Gout disease is diagnosed with clinical and paraclinical criteria; and have DECT results. The cases were selected continuously, there were no cases of losing samples. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent association between clinical and paraclinical variables with DECT images. Results: 61 out of 80 Gout patients with DECT positive accounted for 77.25%, There was an association between DECT and number of Gout attacks (&gt; 3 times), duration of illness (&gt; 36 months), tophi seeds. No correlation was found between clinical variables and background characteristics in the study. In the subclinical, urate crystal deposition images show a clear imprint on goute disease, while other variables do not find expression. Conclusion: DECT is closely related to the frequency of gout attacks, disease duration and tophi. Gout disease is a consequence of lifestyle behaviors, inappropriate eating habits, and exposure to risk factors in life. Key words: DECT (Dual-energy Computed Tomography), Hoa Hao-Med, Gout

Uterine endometrial carcinoma with DNA mismatch repair deficiency: magnetic resonance imaging findings and clinical features.

The purpose of this study was to identify the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of uterine endometrial carcinoma (EC) with DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency. This was a retrospective study approved by our institutional review board. The study included 118 patients pathologically diagnosed as having EC in our institution from April 2014 to December 2016. Of 118 patients, 8 were excluded because of insufficient data. Immunohistochemical analysis of MMR was performed retrospectively to observe the expressions of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. A tumor with MMR deficiency was detected in 17 of 110 cases (15%). Clinical background characteristics and MRI findings were reviewed. These findings were compared between MMR deficiency group and the other group as a control group. Statistical significance was determined using the Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate. The clinical background characteristics of patients with EC with MMR deficiency were not significantly different from those of other patients. On MRI, the tumor was significantly more often located in the lower uterine site (MMR(-) vs. MMR(+): 29.4 vs. 8.9% [p = 0.0366]). EC with MMR deficiency tends to be located lower in the uterus, though most other findings were not significantly different from those of EC without MMR deficiency.

Association of Clinical Features with Human Leukocyte Antigen in Japanese Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region has been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is classified into ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), by genome-wide association studies. The aim of this study was to confirm whether HLA-alleles confer susceptibility to UC and to determine whether HLA-allel1es are associated with the clinical phenotypes in Japanese patients with UC. In this study, HLA typing was performed by PCR-sequence-specific oligonucleotides (PCR-SSO) to confirm the correlation between UC and HLA alleles (for HLA-A, B, DRB1) in 45 Japanese UC patients. In addition, whether the HLA alleles are related to patient and clinical background characteristics was examined. Overall, 62.2%, and 66.7% of the 45 UC patients had HLA-B*52 and HLA-DRB1*15, respectively. These allele frequencies were significantly higher than in previously reported Japanese control persons (P < 0.0001). The frequencies of extraintestinal manifestations [odds ratio (OR) = 0.12, P = 0.039] and a history of colectomy (OR = 0.18, P = 0.046) were lower in HLA-B*52-positive UC patients than in HLA-B*52 negative UC patients. The white blood cell (WBC) count was significantly higher in HLA-DRB1*15-positive patients (9430 ± 4592/μL) than in HLA-DRB1*15-negative patients (6729 ± 2160/μL). Thus, HLA-B*52 and DRB1*15 appear to be associated with disease features and severity in Japanese UC patients. These results indicate that HLA-B*52 and DRB1*15 are not only associated with overall UC susceptibility, but also with the clinical phenotypes in Japanese patients.

Löfgren's Syndrome: Diagnosis, Management, and Disease Pathogenesis.

AbstractLöfgren's syndrome (LS), first described in 1946 by Swedish Professor of Medicine Sven Löfgren, is a clinically distinct phenotype of sarcoidosis. Patients typically experience an acute disease onset, usually with fever, and characteristic symptoms of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, erythema nodosum, and/or bilateral ankle arthritis or periarticular inflammation. LS patients are well documented to have a good prognosis, which is especially true for HLA-DRB1*03+ individuals. The presence of this allele correlates closely with an accumulation of clonal CD4+ T-cell populations in the lung, suggestive of local antigen recognition. Moreover, LS differs markedly from “non-LS” sarcoidosis regarding immune cell activation, differentiation, and regulation, which may influence clinical outcome and spontaneous disease resolution.This review offers an overview of the clinical characteristics, genetic background, and immunological characteristics of LS, as well as patient management, and reflections on future scientific challenges, emphasizing the concept of LS as a disease in its own right.

Chronic adnexal torsion: An under-recognized disease entity

ObjectiveTo clarify the incidence, clinical background and surgical characteristics of chronic adnexal torsion in comparison to acute adnexal torsion. Study designThe patients were divided into three categories based on the period from the onset of symptoms to surgical management: acute (≤24h), subacute (2days) and chronic adnexal torsions (≥3days). Cases, in which the onset of symptoms was unspecified, were included in the chronic adnexal torsion group. Then, a retrospective comparative study of acute (49 patients) and chronic adnexal torsion (45 patients) was performed. Laparoscopic surgery was performed as a primary surgical procedure. ResultsIn chronic adnexal torsion, surgery was performed at a median of 9days (range: 3–270days) after the onset of symptoms. The apparent onset of symptoms was not noted in 2 cases. All cases with acute adnexal torsion received emergency surgery. In contrast, emergency surgery was performed only in 13 patients with chronic adnexal torsion. Patients with chronic adnexal torsion were significantly older than those with acute adnexal torsion. Isolated tubal torsion was more frequent in chronic adnexal torsion. With the exception of 2 cases with chronic adnexal torsion in which laparotomic conversion was required due to severe adhesion, and 2 cases with acute adnexal torsion with advanced gestational age, who were managed by initial laparotomy, laparoscopic surgery was successful. Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was the most frequent surgical procedure in both groups. When confined to the patients who expressed a wish for adnexal preservation, adnexal cystectomy or detorsion was possible in 60.9% of the acute torsion cases and 57.1% of the chronic adnexal torsion cases. Severe necrosis of the adnexal tissue and extensive pelvic adhesion were the more frequent associated conditions in chronic adnexal torsion. Among the patients who were successfully managed by laparoscopic surgery, the duration of surgery was significantly longer in the patients with chronic adnexal torsion. Severe necrosis that makes a pathological diagnosis difficult was the most frequent finding in cases of chronic adnexal torsion. ConclusionChronic adnexal torsion still represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge that should be recognized as a distinct and more frequently encountered disease entity.

Neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years in offspring of women randomised to metformin or insulin treatment for gestational diabetes

ObjectiveGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy and is increasingly being treated with metformin that crosses the placenta rather than insulin, which does not. This study seeks...