Kagoshima University Hospital Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of da Vinci® Xi and hinotori™ SRS Robot-Assisted Surgery Systems for Gynecologic Disorders: A Retrospective Study

Background and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of the da Vinci® Xi and hinotori™ SRS robot-assisted surgical systems for gynecologic disorders. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 401 cases (43 benign uterine tumors; 88 pelvic organ prolapses; 270 low-risk endometrial cancers) of robot-assisted surgery performed at Kagoshima University Hospital between January 2017 and October 2024. Surgical factors such as the operative time, blood loss, and complication rates were analyzed and compared between the da Vinci® Xi (332 cases) and hinotori™ SRS (69 cases) systems. Complications were classified according to the Clavien–Dindo classification, with Grade 2 or higher considered significant. Results: Significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, body mass index, cockpit/console time, and median time from roll-in to cockpit/console start. The cockpit/console time was significantly longer for the hinotori™ SRS system (173 min) compared to the da Vinci® Xi (156 min; p = 0.047). No significant differences were observed in the total operative time, blood loss, or length of hospital stay. Intraoperative complications were minimal, with one case of bladder injury and one case of vascular injury recorded for the da Vinci® Xi. The overall postoperative complication rate was approximately 4%. Conclusions: Robot-assisted surgery using both the da Vinci® Xi and hinotori™ SRS systems was found to be safe, with minimal blood loss and a low complication rate. The hinotori™ SRS system demonstrated operative outcomes comparable to those of the da Vinci Xi® system, suggesting that it may serve as a viable alternative. Further prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these systems.

Glutaminolysis is associated with mitochondrial pathway activation and can be therapeutically targeted in glioblastoma

BackgroundGlioblastoma is an aggressive cancer that originates from abnormal cell growth in the brain and requires metabolic reprogramming to support tumor growth. Metabolic reprogramming involves the upregulation of various metabolic pathways. Although the activation of specific metabolic pathways in glioblastoma cell lines has been documented, the comprehensive profile of metabolic reprogramming and the role of each pathway in glioblastoma tissues in patients remain elusive.MethodsWe analyzed 38 glioblastoma tissues. As a test set, we examined 20 tissues from Kyushu University Hospital, focusing on proteins related to several metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the one-carbon cycle, glutaminolysis, and the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle. Subsequently, we analyzed an additional 18 glioblastoma tissues from Kagoshima University Hospital as a validation set. We also validated our findings using six cell lines, including U87, LN229, U373, T98G, and two patient-derived cells.ResultsThe levels of mitochondria-related proteins (COX1, COX2, and DRP1) were correlated with each other and with glutaminolysis-related proteins (GLDH and GLS1). Conversely, their expression was inversely correlated with that of glycolytic proteins. Notably, inhibiting the glutaminolysis pathway in cell lines with high GLDH and GLS1 expression proved effective in suppressing tumor growth.ConclusionsOur findings confirm that glioblastoma tissues can be categorized into glycolytic-dominant and mitochondrial-dominant types, as previously reported. The mitochondrial-dominant type is also glutaminolysis-dominant. Therefore, inhibiting the glutaminolysis pathway may be an effective treatment for mitochondrial-dominant glioblastoma.

Incidence, outcomes, and risk factors of postlaparoscopic subcutaneous emphysema: a historical cohort study.

Subcutaneous emphysema is a common complication of laparoscopic surgery. We aimed to determine the incidence, outcomes, and risk factors of postlaparoscopic subcutaneous emphysema. We conducted a single-centre historical cohort study of adult patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery at Kagoshima University Hospital between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2021. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify independent factors associated with postlaparoscopic subcutaneous emphysema. We included 1,642 patients with a median [interquartile range] age of 65 [53-72] yr. Postlaparoscopic subcutaneous emphysema was diagnosed in 600 (37%) patients. Female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 99.5% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 2.58), peak end-tidal carbon dioxide ≥ 45mm Hg (OR, 2.07; 99.5% CI, 1.43 to2.98), and use of the AirSeal® Intelligent Flow System (CONMED Corp., Largo, FL, USA) (OR, 3.37; 99.5% CI, 2.34 to 4.87) were independent factors associated with postlaparoscopic subcutaneous emphysema. In addition, a lower body mass index was significantly associated with increased postlaparoscopic subcutaneous emphysema (P for trend < 0.001). No complications were associated with postlaparoscopic subcutaneous emphysema. This historical cohort study showed a relatively high incidence of postlaparoscopic subcutaneous emphysema. In addition to previously reported risk factors, female sex and use of the AirSeal Intelligent Flow System were found to be associated with postlaparoscopic subcutaneous emphysema.

Long-term efficacy of mepolizumab on eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a retrospective study

Aim: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a vasculitis characterized by eosinophilic inflammation. Patients with EGPA are treated with systemic glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs to induce and maintain remission. However, most patients relapse after tapering glucocorticoids, and there are refractory cases with inadequate response to glucocorticoids. Mepolizumab, a humanized anti-IL-5 antibody, is approved for relapsing or refractory EGPA. Furthermore, recent studies have reported the efficacy of benralizumab, a humanized anti-IL-5 receptor α antibody, in EGPA. Here, we investigate the efficacy of biologics on consecutive cases of EGPA. Methods: We retrospectively collected patients with EGPA treated with mepolizumab in addition to glucocorticoids at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine in Kagoshima University Hospital and Imakiire General Hospital. In this study, we compared the effects of biologics on inflammatory parameters between pre- and post-treatment of biologics in patients with EGPA. Results: Ten patients were included in the study. All patients were treated with mepolizumab, and one was switched to benralizumab later. Treatment with biologics markedly reduced EGPA relapse from 70% (pre-treatment) to 20% (post-treatment), Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score from 8.4 to 4.0, peripheral blood eosinophil counts from 470.3 /µL to 40.5 /µL, and glucocorticoid doses from 7.3 mg/dL to 1.6 mg/dL. In contrast, lung function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels were not affected by treatment with biologics. Furthermore, the duration of biologics was positively correlated with symptom improvement. Conclusions: Treatment with mepolizumab for EGPA was effective in glucocorticoid sparing, symptom reduction, and relapse prevention. Mepolizumab is expected to reduce the risk of glucocorticoid-related adverse events. Therefore, continued administration as well as early intervention with mepolizumab for EGPA might be important to conserve future medical resources and control the disease.

Machine Learning Analysis of Predictors for Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy Administration Time Post Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: A Single-Center Observational Study.

Background Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a structural deformity of the heart present at birth. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) may arise from increased blood flow to the lungs, persistent pulmonary arterial pressure elevation, or the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during surgical repair. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) selectively reduces high blood pressure in the pulmonary vessels without lowering systemic blood pressure, making it useful for treating children with postoperative PH due to heart disease. However, reducing or stopping iNO can exacerbate postoperative PH and hypoxemia, necessitating long-term administration and careful tapering. This study aimed to evaluate, using machine learning (ML), factors that predict the need for long-term iNO administration after open heart surgery in CHD patients in the postoperative ICU, primarily for PH management. Methods We used an ML approach to establish an algorithm to predict 'patients with long-term use of iNO' and validate its accuracy in 34 pediatric postoperative open heart surgery patients who survived and were discharged from the ICU at Kagoshima University Hospital between April 2016 and March 2019. All patients were started on iNO therapy upon ICU admission. Overall, 16 features reflecting patient and surgical characteristics were utilized to predict the patients who needed iNO for over 168 hours using ML analysis with AutoGluon. The dataset was randomly classified into training and test cohorts, comprising 80% and 20% of the data, respectively. In the training cohort, the ML model was constructed using the important features selected by the decrease in Gini impurity and a synthetic oversampling technique. In the testing cohort, the prediction performance of the ML model was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) and accuracy. Results Among 28 patients in the training cohort, five needed iNO for over 168 hours; among six patients in the testing cohort, one needed iNO for over 168 hours. CPB, aortic clamp time, in-out balance, and lactate were the four most important features for predicting the need for iNO for over 168 hours. In the training cohorts, the ML model achieved perfect classification with an AUC of 1.00. In the testing cohort, the ML model also achieved perfect classification with an AUC of 1.00 and an accuracy of 1.00. Conclusion The ML approach identified that four factors (CPB, in-out balance, aortic cross-clamp time, and lactate) are strongly associated with the need for long-term iNO administration after open heart surgery in CHD patients. By understanding the outcomes of this study, we can more effectively manage iNO administration in postoperative open heart surgery in CHD patients with PH, potentially preventing the recurrence of postoperative PH and hypoxemia, thereby contributing to safer patient management.

Analysis of Changes over Time in Blood Amino Acids During Online Haemodiafiltration Dialysis in Acute Liver Failure Patients with Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a disease associated with severe symptoms, including rapid deterioration of liver function and impaired consciousness. Recently, online hemodiafiltration (OLHDF), an artificial liver replacement therapy, has attracted attention as a treatment option for comatose ALF. In this study, changes over time in blood aromatic amino acids (AAAs) and ammonia (NH3), the causative agents of hepatic coma, during OLHDF in patients with ALF were analysed. Nine patients aged 20years or older with high-grade hepatic encephalopathy admitted to the Kagoshima University Hospital Emergency Centre between October 2020 and September 2021 were included. OLHDF settings were blood flow 100mL/min, dialysate flow 300mL/min, and replacement fluid flow 100mL/min. The analysis items were blood NH3 concentration before and after OLHDF, blood amino acid concentration from before to 24hours after the start of OLHDF, and the presence or absence of conscious awakening after OLHDF. Of the 11 amino acids measured in this study, the AAAs (tyrosine and phenylalanine) had concentrations higher than the reference range before the start of OLHDF, but were within the reference range 24hours after OLHDF. NH3 was significantly reduced and the conscious awakening rate was 88.9%. When NH3 and AAAs, which were considered causative agents of hepatic coma and whose concentrations were higher than the reference range, were removed by OLHDF, the level of consciousness improved significantly. Regarding branched chain amino acids (BCAAs: valine, isoleucine, and leucine), which is considered a protective factor in hepatic coma, the concentration range before starting OLHDF was within the reference range, but the concentration 24hours after starting OLHDF was below the reference range. The Fisher ratio, the ratio of BCAAs to AAAs, increased from before to after 24hours starting OLHDF, but was lower than the reference range. Therefore, supplementation should be considered if OLHDF is continued for a longer period of time. Changes over time of 11 amino acids and NH3 in patients with ALF coma were analysed. NH3 and AAAs, which were abnormally high, decreased to within the reference range 24hours after the start of OLHDF and the level of consciousness improved. On the other hand, BCAAs, which is considered a protective factor in hepatic coma, the concentration 24hours after starting OLHDF was below the reference range. Further studies are needed to elucidate the changes in biologically useful substances during OLHDF.

A cohort study of the risk factors and the target AUC to avoid vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury in pediatric patients

ObjectivesIn recent years, Vancomycin (VCM) dosing design using area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) has been recommended as a measure of efficacy and safety, but there are fewer reports on pediatric patients than on adults. In this study, we evaluated the threshold of AUC for AKI occurrence in pediatric patients and investigated the factors that contribute to the occurrence of AKI. MethodsPediatric patients aged 1–15 years on VCM treatment who underwent TDM at Kagoshima University Hospital from April 2016 to March 2022 were included in the computation of AUC using pediatric population pharmacokinetic parameters. ResultsThe ROC curve showed that the AUC threshold for the risk of developing AKI was 583.0 μg・h/mL, and the AUC-ROC curve was 0.873 (sensitivity 0.930, specificity 0.750). Univariate analysis showed that factors associated with AKI incidence were the duration of VCM administration, ICU admission, and AUCSS. Concomitant medications identified as risk factors for AKI incidence were tazobactam/piperacillin, liposomal amphotericin B, calcineurin inhibitors, contrast agents, and H2-receptor blockers. The multivariate analysis showed that AUC ≧ 583.0 μg・h/mL (odds ratio 20.14, 95% CI 3.52–115.22, p < 0.001) and H2-receptor blockers (odds ratio 8.70, 95% confidence interval = 1.38–54.87, p = 0.02) were independent factors for AKI incidence. ConclusionsWe showed that in pediatric patients receiving VCM, the risk of AKI increases as AUC increases. The findings imply that concurrent use of VCM and H2-receptor blockers may increase the risk of AKI.

Abstract 11810: Is the Presence of Statin Use Before Onset of Disease Associated With In-Hospital Mortality in Elderly Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction?

Introduction: The effect of statin on preventing cardiovascular events is clear, and aggressive lipid-lowering therapy with statins is strongly recommended for patients with coronary artery disease including of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Hypothesis: The relationship between in-hospital mortality of AMI and statin use before onset of AMI in the elderly patients is unknown, we thus assessed. Methods: The subjects were 207 consecutive AMI patients aged 65 years or older who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at Kagoshima university hospital between January 2015 and March 2021. We investigated the association between in-hospital mortality after PCI and baseline characteristics including Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score, which is widely used for estimating mortality in AMI patients. Results: Twenty-three patients (11%) died in-hospital. The mortality rate was significantly lower in patients who were taking statins at presentation compared to those who were not (3% vs. 16%, p=0.002). Univariate logistic regression analysis of risk factors for in-hospital mortality revealed that statin use before onset of AMI, level of serum albumin, level of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and GRACE risk score were associated with in-hospital mortality. Multivariate logistic analysis models adjusted for age, statin use, level of serum albumin, level of hs-CRP, and GRACE risk score showed that statin use [Odd's ratio (OR): 0.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.02-0.81, p=0.029] and GRACE risk score (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02-1.06, p &lt;0.001) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. The optimal cut-off on the receiver-operating characteristic curve of GRACE risk score for predicting in-hospital mortality was 160. In addition, multivariate logistic analysis models using GRACE risk score ≥160 and non-use of statin before the onset of AMI showed greater risk of in-hospital mortality (HR 19.24; 95% CI 6.62-55.94; p &lt;0.001) after PCI as compared to patients with GRACE risk score &lt;160 and statins use. Conclusions: In elderly AMI patients undergoing PCI, statin use before the onset of AMI was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality, as was the GRACE risk score.

Clinical Course of Adult T-Cell Leukemia-Lymphoma with Central Nervous System Involvement

Background: Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) is a peripheral T-cell lymphoma with a highly diverse clinical presentation. Although central nervous system (CNS) involvement is common, the detailed clinical presentation of CNS-ATL needs to be clarified. Objective: This study aims to clarify the clinical course of ATL with CNS involvement. CNS involvement was classified according to the criteria of JALSG202 for acute lymphocytic leukemia as follows: Grade I: no symptoms and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)cell count less than 5/μl and presence of abnormal lymphocytes; Grade II: asymptomatic and CSF cell count 5-50/μl and presence of abnormal lymphocytes; Grade III: symptomatic or CSF cell counts &amp;gt; 50 cells/μl and presence of abnormal lymphocytes. Results: The analysis included 213 cases of ATL treated at Kagoshima University Hospital from 2002 to 2021. Of these aggressive ATL cases, the clinical subtypes at initial presentation were as follows: acute type 109, lymphoma type 54, chronic type 30, smoldering type 18, and 2 cases were unclassifiable. The median age of the patients was 63 years, and 96 cases (45.1%) were women. Sixty patients had received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants. During the clinical course, 28 patients (13.1%) with a median age of 61 years and 13 women（46.4%）had CNS involvement. Two cases were classified as Grade I, six as Grade II, and 20 as Grade III. Among them, nine patients (4.2%) showed neurological symptoms at the initial ATL diagnosis, and 1 patient presented with neurological findings at the time of chronic to acute transformation. Of the remaining 203 patients, prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy was administered in 101 cases, at which time CNS involvement was diagnosed in 9 cases (8.9%). Three patients developed symptomatic involvement while responding to chemotherapy. One patient developed symptomatic involvement when refractory to chemotherapy. Four cases were CNS recurrence with systemic disease progression after remission. Two cases were identified as primary CNS-ATL. The simplified ATL-PI (Prognostic Index) at initial ATL diagnosis for the 28 patients with CNS involvement revealed four cases with high-risk, thirteen with intermediate-risk, two with low-risk, six not eligible due to indolent ATL subtypes, and three cases with unknown risk. The incidence of CNS involvement by ATL subtype was 17.8% (19/107) for acute type, 1.8% (1/54) for lymphoma type, 16.7% (5/30) for chronic type, and 0% for smoldering type (excluding 1 case of unknown subtype and 2 cases of primary CNS-ATL) at ATL diagnosis. At the diagnosis of CNS involvement, 15 (53.6％) patients showed at least 5% of ATL cells in the peripheral blood. During a median observation period of 429 days, the 1-year cumulative incidence of CNS involvement was 12.3% (95% CI 8.3-17.1%). High-dose methotrexate-based therapy was administered to 5 patients with CNS involvement, which had a certain effect on CNS lesions but had limited efficacy for other lesions. All of these cases were treated with concomitant intrathecal chemotherapy. The 2-year overall survival rate after diagnosis of CNS involvement was 16.9% (95% CI 4.9-35.2%). The CNS-IPI (International Prognostic Index) did not predict CNS involvement in ATL. Conclusions: This is the largest study to examine the clinical course of CNS involvement of ATL. The 1-year cumulative incidence of CNS involvement was 12.3%, indicating that CNS involvement is an early complication after diagnosis of aggressive ATL, especially in leukemic subtypes. The prognosis after the diagnosis of CNS involvement was also clarified. The high frequency of CNS involvement during prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy in patients with ATL without neurological symptoms suggests that it is an important clinical question that needs to be addressed.

Glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B expression correlates with the prognosis of acute liver injury/failure.

Background: Glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) is expressed in macrophages during recovery from acute liver injury (ALI) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury model mice. In this retrospective study, we assessed whether GPNMB levels in the serum and injured liver correlate with liver injury severity and prognosis in patients with ALI or acute liver failure (ALF). Methods: The study involved 56 patients with ALI or ALF who visited the Kagoshima University Hospital. Serum GPNMB level was measured over time, and the localization, proportion, origin, and phenotype of GPNMB-expressing cells in the injured liver were assessed. Finally, the phenotypes of human monocyte-derived macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with ALI and ALF were analyzed. Results: Peak GPNMB levels were significantly higher in patients with ALF and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), as well as in those who underwent liver transplantation or died, than in others. The peak GPNMB level correlated with prothrombin activity, prothrombin time-international normalized ratio, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, and serum hepatocyte growth factor level. GPNMB was expressed in CD68-positive macrophages, and its level increased with the severity of liver injury. The macrophages showed the same polarization as M2c macrophages induced with interleukin-10 from human monocytes. Moreover, PBMCs from patients with ALF exhibited an immunosuppressive phenotype. Conclusion: We found that GPNMB levels in the serum and injured liver, which increased in patients with ALF, especially in those with HE, correlated with the severity of liver injury and prognosis of ALI and ALF. Moreover, GPNMB-positive macrophages exhibited the M2c phenotype. Our results indicate that persistently high GPNMB levels may be a prognostic marker in patients with ALI and ALF.

Enhanced measures, including PCR-based screening and syndromic surveillance for nosocomial outbreaks of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, using descriptive epidemiology and whole-genome sequencing in a Japanese tertiary care hospital

IntroductionIn this study, we aimed to analyze the effectiveness of enhanced preventive measures against nosocomial COVID-19 Omicron outbreaks based on those encountered. MethodsWe introduced PCR-based screening and syndromic surveillance, in addition to standard and transmission-based precautions, during a COVID-19 outbreak in three wards of Kagoshima University Hospital, a Japanese tertiary care hospital, in February 2022, amid the Omicron variant endemic. Furthermore, we analyzed the descriptive epidemiology and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR samples from this outbreak. ResultsPCR-based screening tests were conducted following the identification of three cases through syndromic surveillance. As a result, 30 individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, including 13 inpatients, five attendant family members, and 12 healthcare workers across the three wards. Notably, no new infections were observed within eight days following the implementation of preventive measures. Among the SARS-CoV-2 genomes analyzed (n = 16; 53.3%), all strains were identified as belonged to BA.1.1 variant. Detailed analysis of descriptive and molecular epidemiology, incorporating single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis of WGS and clarification of transmission links, considering two potential entry routes to the hospital. ConclusionsIntroduction of additional preventive measures, including PCR-based screening and syndromic surveillance, in addition to WGS and descriptive epidemiology, is useful for the early intervention of nosocomial outbreaks and for revealing the transmission route of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Preoperative and Intraoperative Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major complication of pediatric cardiac surgery. If the risk of developing SSI can be predicted based on the patient's preoperative background, appropriate preoperative management to prevent the development of SSI can be achieved. We retrospectively studied cases for patients younger than 7 years of age among surgeries performed through a median sternotomy at Kagoshima University Hospital from April 2011 to March 2021. SSI was diagnosed according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and classified into 3 types: superficial incisional SSI (SiSSI), deep incisional SSI (DiSSI) and mediastinitis. Of the 765 consecutive pediatric cardiac surgeries, 597 were included in the analysis based on the exclusion criteria. Of these, 17 (2.8%) developed SSI (3 SiSSI cases, 2 DiSSI cases and 12 mediastinitis cases), with Staphylococcus aureus as the major pathogen. Univariate analysis revealed that low preoperative serum protein ( P = 0.049) and low serum albumin levels ( P = 0.023) were risk factors for the development of SSI. No findings suggested impaired hepatic synthesis, inflammatory disease or protein loss from the kidney or intestinal tract. We concluded that malnutrition caused low serum protein and albumin levels. Low preoperative serum protein and albumin levels are risk factors for SSI development of SSI. Nutritional status should be regularly assessed in children scheduled for cardiac surgery, and interventions, such as nutritional guidance, should be considered if malnutrition is suspected.

The first report of surgery for gynecological diseases using the hinotori™ surgical robot system.

This study aimed to report the first surgery for gynecological diseases using a new robotic platform, the hinotori™, and validate its feasibility in clinical settings. The world's first robot-assisted total hysterectomy for a gynecological ailment was carried out at Kagoshima University Hospital in December 2022 utilizing the hinotori™ surgical robot system. Eleven other patients then underwent comparable procedures. The surgical team was certified to execute the procedure and had undergone official hinotori™ training. Preoperative diagnoses indicated five cases of endometrial cancer, four cases of uterine myoma and one case each of atypical endometrial hyperplasia, uterine adenosarcoma and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Median age and body mass index were 51 (range: 38-70) years and 26.9 (range: 17.3-33.3) kg/m2, respectively. Median roll-in, cockpit and operation times were 15 (range: 10-18), 161 (range: 110-225) and 214 (range: 154-287) min, respectively. The median blood loss was 22 (range: 7-83) mL and conversion to laparotomy was not allowed. Only one patient had postoperative pelvic region infection. The median length of hospital stay was 6 (range: 4-10) days. Based on our experience with presented 12 cases, robotic surgery with the hinotori™ is a feasible technique of minimally invasive surgery for gynecological diseases.

Association of delayed diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension with its prognosis

BackgroundCurrently, pulmonary hypertension-targeted therapy has been shown to improve the survival of patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). However, the importance of early diagnosis has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether a delayed diagnosis of PAH is associated with its prognosis. Methods and resultsA total of 66 consecutive untreated patients were diagnosed with PAH from January 2008 to December 2021 at the Kagoshima University Hospital. The time from symptom onset to diagnosis correlated with brain natriuretic peptide levels (p < 0.001), right ventricle (RV) Tei index (p < 0.001), and the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio (p = 0.003). These findings suggest that in patients with PAH, RV function declines with increasing time from symptom onset to diagnosis. Furthermore, older patients with PAH appeared to have a longer time from symptom onset to diagnosis. Next, patients were divided into delayed diagnosis (>3 months) and early diagnosis (≤3 months) groups based on the time from symptom onset to diagnosis. Patients were categorized into three groups according to the European Society of Cardiology (or the European Respiratory Society) risk stratification guidelines. Patients diagnosed with PAH within 3 months of symptom onset were significantly in the low- or intermediate-risk groups (p < 0.001). A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the cumulative event-free rate was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the delayed diagnosis group than in the early diagnosis group. A delayed diagnosis was significantly associated with a worse outcome than an early diagnosis, after adjusting for different sets of confounding factors. ConclusionsA delayed PAH diagnosis is associated with a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis of PAH may lead to a low-risk treatment. Furthermore, older patients need more careful screening for PAH.

Iliopsoas Muscle Weakness as a Key Diagnostic Marker in HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP).

Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a slowly progressive neurological disease that arises from HTLV-1 infection. Pathologically, the condition is characterized by diffuse myelitis, which is most evident in the thoracic spinal cord. Clinical manifestations of the infectious disease, HAM/TSP, are empirically known to include weakness of the proximal muscles of the lower extremities and atrophy of the paraspinal muscles, which is characteristic of the distribution of disturbed muscles usually seen in muscular diseases, except that the upper extremities are almost normal. This unique clinical presentation is useful information for physicians and physical therapists involved in diagnosing and rehabilitating patients with HAM/TSP, as well as critical information for understanding the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP. However, the precise pattern of muscle involvement in this condition has yet to be reported. The purpose of this study was to identify the muscles affected by HAM/TSP in order to understand the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP as well as to aid in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of HAM/TSP. A retrospective review of medical records was conducted on 101 consecutively admitted patients with HAM/TSP at Kagoshima University Hospital. Among 101 patients with HAM/TSP, all but three had muscle weakness in the lower extremities. Specifically, the hamstrings and iliopsoas muscle were the most frequently affected in over 90% of the patients. Manual muscle testing (MMT) revealed that the iliopsoas was the weakest of the muscles assessed, a consistent feature from the early to advanced stages of the disease. Our findings demonstrate a unique distribution of muscle weakness in HAM/TSP, with the proximal muscles of the lower extremities, particularly the iliopsoas muscle, being the most frequently and severely affected.

Neonatal complicated right ventricular diverticulum with effective contraction.

Pediatrics InternationalAccepted Articles e15519 CLINICAL NOTE Neonatal Complicated Right Ventricular Diverticulum with Effective Contraction Koji Nakae, Corresponding Author Koji Nakae ring.thee.noise@gmail.com orcid.org/0000-0002-3567-1635 Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan Correspondence Koji, Nakae, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan, Tel: +81-99-275-5354, Fax: +81-99-265-7196. Email: ring.thee.noise@gmail.comSearch for more papers by this authorKentaro Ueno, Kentaro Ueno orcid.org/0000-0003-0656-570X Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorJunpei Kawamura, Junpei Kawamura orcid.org/0000-0001-9968-2248 Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorYasuhiro Okamoto, Yasuhiro Okamoto orcid.org/0000-0003-4412-6441 Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, JapanSearch for more papers by this author Koji Nakae, Corresponding Author Koji Nakae ring.thee.noise@gmail.com orcid.org/0000-0002-3567-1635 Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan Correspondence Koji, Nakae, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan, Tel: +81-99-275-5354, Fax: +81-99-265-7196. Email: ring.thee.noise@gmail.comSearch for more papers by this authorKentaro Ueno, Kentaro Ueno orcid.org/0000-0003-0656-570X Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorJunpei Kawamura, Junpei Kawamura orcid.org/0000-0001-9968-2248 Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorYasuhiro Okamoto, Yasuhiro Okamoto orcid.org/0000-0003-4412-6441 Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, JapanSearch for more papers by this author First published: 03 March 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/ped.15519 This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi:10.1111/ped.15519. AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Accepted ArticlesAccepted, unedited articles published online and citable. The final edited and typeset version of record will appear in the future.e15519 RelatedInformation

Efficacy and prognosis of robotic surgery with sentinel node navigation surgery in endometrial cancer.

This study aimed to validate the surgical and oncologic outcomes of robotic surgery with sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) in endometrial cancer. This study included 130 patients with endometrial cancer, who underwent robotic surgery, including hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic SNNS at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Kagoshima University Hospital. Pelvic sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) were identified using the uterine cervix 99m Technetium-labeled phytate and indocyanine green injections. Surgery-related and survival outcomes were also evaluated. The median operative and console times and volume of blood loss were 204 (range: 101-555) minutes, 152 (range: 70-453) minutes, and 20 (range: 2-620) mL, respectively. The bilateral and unilateral pelvic SLN detection rates were 90.0% (117/130) and 5.4% (7/130), respectively, and the identification rate (the rate at which at least one SLN could be identified on either side) was 95% (124/130). Lower extremity lymphedema occurred in only 1 patient (0.8%), and no pelvic lymphocele occurred. Recurrence occurred in 3 patients (2.3%), and the recurrence site was the abdominal cavity, with dissemination in 2 patients and vaginal stump in one. The 3-year recurrence-free survival and 3-year overall survival rates were 97.1% and 98.9%, respectively. Robotic surgery with SNNS for endometrial cancer showed a high SLN identification rate, low occurrence rates of lower extremity lymphedema and pelvic lymphocele, and excellent oncologic outcomes.

Sudden death after operation, radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

The purpose of this report to determine sudden death following operation, radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer. Retrospective, observational, single-center. Data from 729 consecutive patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer (confirmed using multiple modalities) who underwent operation, RT or CRT at Kagoshima University Hospital between April 2011, and March 2020 were analyzed. A total of 199 patients underwent operation, 223 patients underwent RT and 307 underwent CRT. 175 patients who received operation, 118 patients who received RT and 190 who received CRT had a complete response. There were 13 cases of sudden death reported in 10 years. 12 were male and one was female.Sudden death occurred in 3/175 patients (1.7%) who received operation, in 4/118 patients (3.4%) who had received RT and in 6/190 (3.1%) who had received CRT. We present the first report on cases of sudden death after operation, RT and CRT for head and neck cancer. Otolaryngologists should still follow these patients carefully after such treatment given that sudden death does occur in some patients.

Early-phase prothrombin time-international normalized ratio in acute liver injury indicates the timing of therapeutic intervention and predicts prognostic improvement.

We investigated whether an early-phase prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) is an interventional prognostic indicator for patients with acute liver injury, including acute liver failure. This was a multicenter retrospective observational study. We included 595 patients with alanine aminotransferase levels ≥300U/L due to acute liver injury who were admitted to Kagoshima University Hospital or other collaborative investigation organizations between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015. Patients with alanine aminotransferase levels ≥300U/L and no previous liver disease were defined as having an acute liver injury. Acute liver failure was defined by PT-INR ≥1.5 with or without hepatic encephalopathy in acute liver injury patients. Data were obtained retrospectively from case reports and analyzed. The PT-INR on day 1 was the most accurate independent prognosis predictor in patients with acute liver injury and acute liver failure. On day 1, the transplant-free survival rates were significantly lower in patients with PT-INR ≥1.3. The transplant-free survival rates were also significantly higher in patients with acute liver injury and acute liver failure, in whom the PT-INR had recovered from ≥1.3 on day 1 to <1.3 by day 8. Early-phase changes in the PT-INR can predict the prognosis of patients with acute liver injury and acute liver failure. Furthermore, PT-INR ≥1.3 could be an interventional marker, whereas PT-INR <1.3 after 1week could reflect prognostic improvement.

Rheumatoid factor value for determining the first biologic agent to use for non-systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Currently, no indicators on which biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) should be used first for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have been established. Thus, this study aimed to determine the useful biomarkers in JIA to enable the best selection of the first bDMARDs without primary failure. This retrospective study used data of patients examined for JIA between 2015 and 2021 at Kagoshima University Hospital in Japan. Altogether, 67 cases of non-systemic JIA were analyzed, excluding cases that had been treated for <6 months. Of the 67 cases, 52 were treated with bDMARDs and all rheumatoid factor (RF)+ types (32 cases) were treated with bDMARDs. Eleven cases (31.4&) (all were RF+ types and used anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α agents) switched to other bDMARDs because of primary failure, and nine cases had secondary failure (6;anti-TNF, 3;anti-Interleukin-6). A significant difference in pre-treatment RF values (177.9 vs 25.7 IU/ml, p = 0.002) and presence (Odds Ratio 1.952,p = 0.004) were observed between the primary failure group and effective group. RF+ JIA required bDMARDs with high probability. JIA with high titre of RF tends to be refractory to anti-TNFα agents. Tocilizumab or abatacept could be a first-choice bDMARD in such cases.