Poor General Condition Research Articles

Prognostic impact of postoperative management by an intensive care unit intensivist after colonic perforation.

Postoperative management for colonic perforation is an important prognostic factor, but whether intensivists perform postoperative management varies between institutions. We investigated 291 patients with colonic perforation between 2018 and 2022. Patients were divided into those managed by an intensivists (ICU group; n = 40) and those not managed by an intensivists (non-ICU group; n = 251). We examined how management by intensivists affected prognosis using inverse probability weighting, and clarified which patients should consult an intensivists. The ICU group showed a significantly higher shock index (1.15 vs. 0.75, p < 0.01), higher APACHE II score (16.0 vs. 10.0, p < 0.001), and more severe comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index 5.0 vs. 1.0, p < 0.001) and general peritonitis (85% vs. 38%, p < 0.001). Adjusted risk differences were - 24% (-34% to -13%) for 6-month mortality rate. Six-month mortality was improved by ICU intensivist management in patients with general peritonitis (risk difference - 22.8; 95% confidence interval - 34 to -11); APACHE II score ≥20 (-0.79; -1.06 to -0.52); lactate ≥1.6 (-0.38; -0.57 to -0.29); shock index ≥1.0 (-40.01; -54.87 to -25.16); and catecholamine index ≥10 (-41.16; -58.13 to -24.19). Intensivists were involved in treating patients in poor general condition, but prognosis was extremely good. Appropriate case consultation with intensivists is important.

Endoscopic biliary drainage for distal bile duct obstruction due to pancreatic cancer.

Approximately 60% of pancreatic cancers occur in the pancreatic head and may present as obstructive jaundice due to bile duct invasion. Obstructive jaundice often leads to poor general conditions and acute cholangitis, interfering with surgery and chemotherapy and requiring biliary drainage. The first choice of treatment for biliary drainage is the endoscopic transpapillary approach. In unresectable tumors, self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) are most commonly used and are classified into uncovered and covered SEMSs. Recently, antireflux metal stents and large- or small-diameter SEMSs have become commercially available, and their usefulness has been reported. Plastic stents are infrequently used in patients with resectable biliary obstruction; however, owing to the recent trend in preoperative chemotherapy, SEMSs are frequently used because of the long time to recurrent biliary obstruction. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is often performed in patients who are not eligible for the transpapillary approach, and favorable outcomes have been reported. Different EUS-BD techniques and specialized stents have been developed and can be safely used in high-volume centers. The indications for EUS-BD are expected to further expand in the future.

Abstract B157: Mediating role of social and health factors on the relationship between sexual minority individuals living with high allostatic load and risk of cancer mortality

Abstract Purpose: Sexual minority (SM) populations (including people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual) may have higher cancer risk attributable to social determinants of health (SDOH) such as limited healthcare access, discrimination, and a lack of culturally sensitive care. SM people have higher chronic physiological stress, or allostatic load (AL) compared to their heterosexual peers. Furthermore, SM individuals with high AL have more than twice the risk of cancer mortality than heterosexual people with high AL. Here, we examined the mediating effects of SDOH on the relationship of SM identity and AL with cancer mortality risk. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 2001-2010 data from 12,470 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) linked to follow-up data from the National Death Index through 12/31/2019. We calculated descriptive statistics across groups defined by SM status and AL (e.g. SM with high AL, SM with low AL, heterosexual with high AL, and heterosexual with low AL) and performed survey-weighted Cox regression to assess the association of sexual orientation/AL with cancer mortality risk. We examined the mediating effects of an individual’s SDOH including household income, self-reported general health condition, whether they attended routine health visits, whether they saw a mental health professional in the past year, location of healthcare visits, poverty to income ratio, self-reported prior health condition, and the number of health visits in the past year. Results: Compared to heterosexual individuals with low AL, SM people with high AL were more likely to report: an annual household income &amp;lt; $20,000 (22.7% vs. 12.8%), living in a single person household (22.5% vs. 8.7%), poor general health condition (7.1% vs. 1.3%), worse health now versus one year ago (16.3% vs. 7.8%), seeing a mental health professional within the past year (21.3% vs. 7.9%), and being in the lowest poverty to income ratio quartile (19.4% vs. 13.9%) (p values &amp;lt; 0.001). Among SM adults with high AL, cancer mortality risk was increased 5-fold (age adjusted HR: 4.89, 95% CI: 2.59 – 9.23) versus heterosexual adults with low AL. Upon additional adjustment for sociodemographic factors (age, race/ethnicity, education status, and gender), the association attenuated but remained significant (adjusted HR: 3.31, 95% CI: 1.77 – 6.16). The following factors all slightly mediated the relationship of SM status and high AL with cancer mortality risk: household income (% mediated = 12.35, p &amp;lt; 0.01), seeing a mental health provider within past year (% mediated = 9.88, p &amp;lt; 0.05), greater number of healthcare visits within past year (% mediated = 8.31, p &amp;lt; 0.05), and poor self-reported general health condition (% mediated = 14.08, p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Among a nationally representative sample of more than 12,000 US adults, we observed many SDOH significantly mediate the relationship of SM status and high AL with cancer mortality risk. These results can help inform the identification of intervention points to lessen health disparities. Citation Format: Alisha Patel, Justin X. Moore, Missy Spears, Tracy Casanova, Brent Shelton, Heidi Weiss, Marvin E. Langston, Keith J. Watts, Donte Boyd, Prajakta Adsul, Meredith Duncan. Mediating role of social and health factors on the relationship between sexual minority individuals living with high allostatic load and risk of cancer mortality [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B157.

Neonatal Gastrointestinal Perforations: A 4-year Experience in a Single Centre.

Gastrointestinal perforation (GIP) during the neonatal period is still a significant problem despite improved neonatal care. The study aimed to report on incidence, management, morbidity and mortality. Records of neonates with GIPs between October 2018 and November 2022 were retrospectively analysed. There were 47 patients, 22 (46.8%) males and 25 (53.2%) females. The incidence of neonatal GIP was 0.39% amongst all newborns treated in the neonatal intensive care unit. The mean gestational age was 30.4 ± 4.5 (23-38) weeks, and the mean birth weight was 1493.08 ± 753 (580-2940) g. Of 47 neonates, 5 (10.6%) were full term and 42 (89.4%) were preterm. The mean age of surgery was 12.25 ± 9.89 (0-41) days. A laparotomy was performed in 43 (91.4%) of 47 neonates, while seven of the patients underwent surgical intervention after decompression by percutaneous drainage. Four patients were managed with peritoneal drainage alone due to poor general condition. The pathologies unrelated to necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) were the most common cause of GIPs (55.3%) and included spontaneous intestinal perforation (n = 18), stomach perforation (n = 4), segmental volvulus (n = 2), acute mesenteric ischaemia (n = 1) and meconium peritonitis (n = 1). Overall survival was 55.4%. GIPs are one of the most significant causes of mortality in newborns. The most common cause of perforations is non-NEC entities and can be seen in the entire intestinal system from the stomach to the colon. Surgical exploration is still the primary management model.

Postoperative Outcomes of the Awake Colorectal Surgery with Neuraxial Anaesthesia.

To determine the outcome of awake surgery with combined spinal epidural in geriatric colon cancer patients with advanced comorbidity. Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye, from April 2022 to 2023. Twenty-four American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) I-II patients, aged 25-65 years and scheduled for colon cancer surgery were included in this research. All patients were observed preoperatively, at the operation room and at the postoperative surgery service. Spinal anaesthesia was planned for Group I and general anaesthesia for Group II. Ketofol (1:1) was administered to the combined spinal-epidural group, with a Ramsay sedation score of 3 after the spinal block. Epidural analgesia was planned for all patients. Patients' age, gender, weight, comorbidities, ASA risk scores, intraoperative haemodynamic parameters, bleeding amounts, colloid, crystalloid, and blood products were collected. There was no significant difference between the demographic characteristics of both anaesthesia groups (p >0.05). The amount of bleeding was statistically lower in Group I than in the general anaesthesia group (p = 0.004). Oral intake, drain withdrawal, mobilisation, discharge times, and costs were similar in all groups (p >0.05). The regional anaesthesia applications facilitate compliance with routine mobilisation, discharge procedures and prevent complications in abdominal surgery and its positive perioperative effects in patients with poor respiratory parameters, poor general condition, and high comorbidity in advanced age. Regional anaesthesia, Spinal-epidural, Mobilisation, Pain, Colon cancer.

212. CLINICAL RESULTS OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR ESOPHAGEAL CANCER PATIENTS WITH INOPERABLE CONDITION

Abstract Background Although surgical resection is the best way for curing cancer, there has been a certain portion of patients who could not undergo surgery because of various reasons. We experienced 10 cases of photodynamic therapy for esophageal cancer patients (Including one case of carcinoma in-situ) with inoperable conditions, and investigated the feasibility and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods Medical records of patients of esophageal cancers who received photodynamic therapies between 2005 and 2022 in our institute were reviewed retrospectively. Survival, complication rates and treatment results were evaluated. Results Average age at the time of treatment was 72.4 (±6.47, ranging 64 to 86) and average follow-up periods were 25.0 (±27.7, ranging 3.8 to 89.8). The average Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were 7.3 (±2.29, ranging 4 to 10). During the follow-up periods, 5 patients died, and only one death was related with the esophageal cancer progression. There was one case of skin reaction and no other complications were appeared. There were no complication related deaths. Complete remission of esophageal cancer showed in 7 patients (70.0%) and partial remission showed in 3 patients (30.0%). Two patients with partial remission showed loco-recurrence. One patient with complete remission had to undergo surgery because of preexisting esophageal stenosis. Conclusion Photodynamic therapy could be an option of palliative therapy for advanced esophageal cancer with reasonable complication rates. Therapeutic application could be considered in early esophageal cancer, especially for patients with poor general condition or refusal of surgery. It was still in debates whether it could substitute the surgical role in early esophageal cancers.

275. SAFETY AND TREATMENT RESULTS OF SELF-EXPANDABLE METAL STENT (SEMS) PLACEMENT FOR ESOPHAGEAL DISEASE

Abstract Background Self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement for esophageal strictures and fistulas caused by malignant tumors has been reported from various institutions as a relatively minimally invasive and safe palliative treatment. SEMS placement is often selected for cancer-bearing patients whose general condition has already deteriorated, but there are many unknowns regarding the risks and benefits of placement. Methods We retrospectively examined swallowing scores, oral intake status, complications and prognosis for 41 cancer-bearing patients who underwent SEMS placement in our hospital from 2011 to 2023. Results There were 29 men and 12 women, with a median age of 77 years. The types of cancer were esophageal cancer / gastric cancer / lung cancer / others in 22/12/3/4 cases, respectively. The reason for stent placement was stricture / fistula in 39/2 cases. Stent placement was successful in 40 cases (97.6%), and complications were observed in 7 cases (17.1%), including bleeding, displacement, and aspiration pneumonia in 2, 3, and 2 cases, respectively. Three patients underwent second stent placement for restenosis, and the median time to restenosis was 57 days. After stent placement, dysphagia score improved in 30 cases (78.9%). After stent placement 35 patients (87.5%) chose palliative treatment and the median survival time (MST) was 1.7 months (0.2-10.8). Comparing patients with PS≦2 and PS≧3 using performance status (PS) at the time of stent placement, patients with PS≦2 significantly ate more after stent placement (median amount of oral intake; 80 % vs. 40%, p=0.037), and the survival period was longer (MST; 3.1 months vs. 1.3 months, p=0.0018). Univariate analysis on the risk of complications by stent placement showed that chemotherapy history, radiotherapy history, and pretreatment dysphagia score were not risk factors, but poor PS (≥3) was the only significant risk factor (Odds ratio: 12.5, 95% CI:1.3-117, p=0.027). Conclusion Esophageal stents are less invasive treatment than any other palliative methods, like esophageal bypass or radiation therapy for patients who strongly desire oral intake. However in patients with poor general condition the risk of complications is high and the survival period is not long, so it should be performed after fully explaining the risks and benefits.

Outcomes of Vacuum-Assisted Closure in Patients with Empyema Thoracis: A 10-Year Experience

BackgroundVideo-assisted thoracic surgery is currently the recommended treatment for patients with empyema thoracis. However, open-window thoracostomy (OWT) is not uncommon and is performed as a last resort in patients who are in poor general condition or with complicated empyema. Although several professional associations have recommended vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) as an adjunct to standard treatment, exact data regarding the clinical role of intrathoracic VAC are not available. The primary objective of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of intrathoracic VAC in debilitated patients and to compare the results with those of previous OWT studies. MethodsWe investigated 127 patients with a poor performance status who initially received inpatient intrathoracic VAC for stage II/III empyema thoracis between January 2010 and December 2020. ResultsThe median duration of VAC was 15 days, and the median length of stay was 18 days. Two patients had complications, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 11.8% (15 of 127). Among the 112 surviving patients, 25 (22.3%) were discharged with OWT and 87 (77.7%) were discharged with a closed chest. Empyema recurred in 5 patients. Ultimately, we recorded an absolute success rate of 64.6% (82 of 127). ConclusionsIntrathoracic VAC appears to be safer and associated with less morbidity and mortality than OWT in debilitated patients with empyema. Our results revealed a reduced hospital length of stay and an improved success rate. The results of this work should contribute to improving treatment success in pleural empyema patients.

Determining the cut-off value for the Minimal Documentation System (MIDOS2) screening tool to initiate specialized palliative care based on patient’s subjective need for palliative support and symptom burden in inpatients with advanced cancer

PurposeThe Minimal Documentation System (MIDOS2) is recommended as a systematic screening tool for assessing symptom burden and patient needs in advanced cancer patients. Given the absence of an optimal weighting of individual symptoms and a corresponding cut-off value, this study aims to determine a threshold based on inpatient’s subjective need for palliative support. Additionally, we investigate the correlation between symptom burden and subjective need for palliative support collected through a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) with survival duration of less or more than one year.MethodsInpatients diagnosed with advanced solid cancer completed an electronic PROM, which included the MIDOS2 questionnaire among other tools. Differences in symptom burden were analysed between patients expressing subjective need for palliative support and those with survival of less or more than one year using ANOVA, Mann–Whitney-U Test, logistic regression, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests. Cut-off analyses were performed using a ROC curve. Youden-Index, sensitivity, and specificity measures were used as well.ResultsBetween April 2020 and March 2021, 265 inpatients were included in the study. Using a ROC curve, the MIDOS2 analysis resulted in an Area under the curve (AUC) of 0.732, a corresponding cut-off value of eight points, a sensitivity of 76.36% and a specificity of 62.98% in assessing the subjective need for palliative support. The MIDOS2, with double weighting of the significant symptoms, showed a cut-off value of 14 points, achieving a sensitivity of 78.18% and a specificity of 72.38%. A total of 55 patients (20.8%) expressed a need for support from the palliative care team. This need was independent of the oncological tumour entity and increased among patients with a survival of less than one year. These patients reported significantly poorer physical (p < 0.001) or mental (p < 0.001) condition. Additionally, they reported higher intensities of pain (p = 0.002), depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), weakness (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and tiredness (p < 0.001).ConclusionUsing the established MIDOS2 cut-off value with an adjusted double weighting in our study, a large proportion of inpatients may be accurately referred to SPC based on their subjective need for palliative support. Additionally, subjective reports of poor general, mental, and physical condition, as well as pain, depressive symptoms, weakness, anxiety, and tiredness, increase the subjective need for palliative support, particularly in patients with a survival prognosis of less than one year.

Practical Reconstructive Techniques Using the Transoral Approach to Segmental Mandibulectomy With Cosmofix: Technical Report.

This paper introduces a new, less invasive, aesthetic, and functional reconstructive method using a transorally inserted, custom-made Cosmofix fixation plate. Two medication-related cases with stage 3 osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) are presented. Both procedures required a segmental mandibulectomy as the osteonecrosis had progressed to the mandibular inferior margin and was reconstructed by a transoral approach with a good prognosis. The reconstructed sites were satisfactorily restored with good occlusal conditions and with dentures. No esthetic or functional problems were evident >1 year after surgery. Compared to traditional reconstructive surgery involving facial skin incisions, this technique takes less time, is minimally invasive, is not associated with aesthetic complications, and does not cause facial nerve palsy. Therefore, this procedure may be safely performed in patients with advanced MRONJ who are in poor general condition or older patients.

Transient myasthenia gravis as a complication of COVID-19 in a 1.5-year-old boy: a case report and literature review

SARS-CoV-2 infection often causes neurological symptoms and complications. Those associated with the production of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies are rare. The aim of the study was to present a case of transient myasthenia gravis as a possible complication of COVID-19. A 1.5-year-old boy was admitted on day 7 of varicella due to poor general condition and anuria. On examination, he presented with dehydration, fatigue, sleepiness, and bilateral ptosis. High titre of serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was revealed with a history of viral infection 2 weeks prior. An initial diagnosis of encephalitis was made and treatment was started. Despite clinical improvement, gait disturbances and ptosis persisted and the boy was sent for further neurological evaluation. High titre of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (2.98 nmol/L; normal &lt;0.50 nmol/L) confirmed myasthenia gravis, but no treatment was started. Symptoms and antibodies resolved after 3 and 4 months, respectively. A follow-up after one year showed no recurrences. Conclusion: Transient, self-limiting myasthenia gravis may develop in a child as a complication of viral infection, including COVID-19.

Long-term survival analysis of robotic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Robotic esophagectomy has improved early outcomes and enhanced the quality of lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer surgery. This study aimed to determine risk factors for long-term survival following robotic esophagectomy and the causes of long-term mortality. We included patients who underwent robotic esophagectomy at our institute between 2010 and 2022. Robotic esophagectomy was defined as a surgical procedure performed robotically in both the abdomen and thorax. Robotic esophagectomy was performed in patients at all stages, including advanced stages, even in patients with stage IV and supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. A total of 340 patients underwent robotic esophagectomy during the study period. Ivor-Lewis operation and McKeown operation were performed on 153 (45.0%) and 187 (55.0%) patients, respectively. The five-year survival rates based on clinical stages were as follows: 85.2% in stage I, 62.0% in stage II, 54.5% in stage III, and 40.3% in stage IV. Risk factors for long-term survival included body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, clinical stages, and postoperative complications of grade 4 or higher. Among the cases of long-term mortality, recurrence accounted for 42 patients (61.7%), while non-cancer-related death occurred in 26 patients (38.2%). The most common cause of non-cancer-related death was malnutrition and poor general condition, observed in 11 patients (16.2%). Robotic esophagectomy has demonstrated the ability to achieve acceptable long-term survival rates, even in patients with cervical lymph node metastasis. However, addressing high-grade postoperative complications and long-term malnutrition remains crucial for further improving the long-term survival outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer.

Selective enzymatic debridement and modified Meek technique in the treatment of extensive burns: Preliminary observations.

Selective bromelain-based enzymatic debridement (BED) has emerged as a valid alternative for the treatment of extensive burns, with Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) > 20%. Autologous skin grafting represents the procedure of choice but the scarcity of donor sites remains the main reconstructive challenge. The modified Meek micro-grafting technique may represent a valid strategy to optimize the final outcome. A single-cohort retrospective analysis was performed, involving nine burn patients (TBSA > 20%) who underwent both BED and subsequently modified Meek technique. Demographic and clinical data (mechanism of injury, surgical treatment, complications, necessity of re-grafting, further surgery and esthetic outcome) were collected. All patients had large burns of mixed and deep dermal thickness (first, second, and third degree). All burns were enzymatically debrided postadmission and covered by the modified Meek technique. Local infection due to poor general conditions was the main complication for all patients. All but two patients survived. The selectiveness of the enzymatic debridement and dermal preservation seemed to improve the quality of scars resulting from micro-grafting. Evaluations performed at 12 ± 2 months postburn showed superior scar quality compared to areas treated with traditional (sheet/mesh) grafts. Combined BED and Meek techniques may provide an effective synergic combination for the treatment of extensive burns.

Preoperative Embolization Performed Before Meningioma Resection Might Inhibit Tumor Recurrence

Recent advances in endovascular treatment have improved the safety and efficacy of this procedure, and the number of cases in which preoperative embolization is performed is likely to increase. Preoperative tumor embolization is still a controversial treatment, and as long as it carries a risk of complications, its primary benefit of reducing blood loss during surgery may not be sufficient to justify treatment. We recently reported that preoperative embolization does not significantly increase complications, but may prolong recurrence-free survival. However, currently, tumor embolization is only a preoperative adjunctive therapy, and there is no evidence that it is a stand-alone option for meningioma treatment. Nevertheless, the possibility that tumor embolization alone can promote tumor shrinkage and reduce peripheral oedema has been reported, although the number of cases is small. Further research is needed, but in the future, tumor embolization may become an in-office treatment under certain conditions, such as in cases of poor general condition, multiple meningiomas, recurrent and refractory cases, difficult surgery and cases where re-irradiation is difficult after post-radiation therapy.

Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome or Kawasaki disease - continuous challenges in Pediatrics - case report

Introduction. Kawasaki disease (KD) and pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) are similar vasculitis conditions affecting medium and small vessels, particularly the coronary arteries. This study aimed to highlight diagnostic and treatment challenges in a case initially diagnosed as PIMS, which evolved into atypical KD. Materials and methods. A 2-year-10-month-old male was admitted with a high fever persisting for 6 days, unresponsive to antipyretics. Results. On admission, the patient exhibited a poor general condition, pale skin, non-pruritic erythematous rash, and enlarged, non-painful lymph nodes. Laboratory tests showed elevated inflammatory markers, leukocytosis with neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, liver enzyme abnormalities, altered cardiac markers, and elevated D-dimers, but no initial echocardiographic changes. Positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies led to an initial PIMS diagnosis, and treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone, antiplatelet, anticoagulant therapy, and hepatoprotective agents was started. The patient’s condition initially improved but then worsened with febrile spikes, rash, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and coronary artery dilation on echocardiography. This led to a diagnosis of KD with atypical onset, and treatment with immunoglobulin, antiplatelet, and anticoagulant therapy was initiated. The patient’s condition improved slowly. Conclusions. KD and PIMS share overlapping characteristics, making them difficult to distinguish. There is no definitive criterion to differentiate KD and PIMS, leading to potential diagnostic errors.

High-intensity interval training using electrical stimulation ameliorates muscle fatigue in chronic kidney disease-related cachexia by restoring mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction.

Exercise, especially high-intensity interval training (HIIT), can increase mitochondrial respiratory capacity and enhance muscular endurance, but its systemic burden makes it difficult to safely and continuously prescribe for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)-related cachexia who are in poor general condition. In this study, we examined whether HIIT using electrical stimulation (ES), which does not require whole-body exercise, improves muscle endurance in the skeletal muscle of 5/6 nephrectomized rats, a widely used animal model for CKD-related cachexia. Male Wistar rats (10weeks old) were randomly assigned to a group of sham-operated (Sham) rats and a group of 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx) rats. HIIT was performed on plantar flexor muscles in vivo with supramaximal ES every other day for 4weeks to assess muscle endurance, myosin heavy-chain isoforms, and mitochondrial respiratory function in Nx rats. A single session was also performed to identify upstream signaling pathways altered by HIIT using ES. In the non-trained plantar flexor muscles from Nx rats, the muscle endurance was significantly lower than that in plantar flexor muscles from Sham rats. The proportion of myosin heavy chain IIa/x, mitochondrial content, mitochondrial respiratory capacity, and formation of mitochondrial respiratory supercomplexes in the plantaris muscle were also significantly decreased in the non-trained plantar flexor muscles from Nx rats than compared to those in plantar flexor muscles from Sham rats. Treatment with HIIT using ES for Nx rats significantly improved these molecular and functional changes to the same degrees as those in Sham rats. Furthermore, a single session of HIIT with ES significantly increased the phosphorylation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), pathways that are essential for mitochondrial activation signaling by exercise, in the plantar muscles of both Nx and Sham rats. The findings suggest that HIIT using ES ameliorates muscle fatigue in Nx rats via restoration of mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction with activation of AMPK and p38 MAPK signaling. Our ES-based HIIT protocol can be performed without placing a burden on the whole body and be a promising intervention that is implemented even in conditions of reduced general performance status such as CKD-related cachexia.

Marantic Endocarditis Associated with Metastatic Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Young Adult: About a Case

We describe the case of a 21-year-old patient presenting with marantic endocarditis of the aortic valve occurring in the context of underlying metastatic fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient was admitted due to a pulmonary embolism complicating deep vein thrombosis in the right lower limb. Upon admission, the patient was hemodynamically stable and afebrile, with a poor general condition. Physical examination revealed a painful swelling in the right lower limb extending up to the thigh, hepatomegaly suggestive of a tumor, and moderate ascites. Cardiac auscultation did not reveal any murmurs or abnormal sounds. Laboratory tests showed a non-specific inflammatory syndrome, and blood cultures were negative. The electrocardiogram indicated regular sinus tachycardia. Echocardiography revealed a mobile, hyperechoic mass located on the ventricular aspect of the aortic valve, without regurgitation or stenosis. The patient was started on heparin therapy. Unfortunately, the patient passed away at home two weeks later, and no autopsy was performed.

Minimally invasive elective gastrectomy after preoperative chemotherapy in a patient with frailty who presented with locally far advanced-stage gastric cancer: a case report

BackgroundHerein, we report a case of gastric antrum cancer with multiple invasions to other organs that was completely cured with laparoscopic distal gastrectomy after preoperative chemotherapy in a patient with poor general condition.Case presentationAn 80-year-old male patient was diagnosed with anemia during follow-up for cerebral lacunar infarction at another hospital. He was diagnosed with advanced-stage gastric antrum cancer and was referred to our hospital. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, type 2 advanced-stage gastric cancer was detected at the greater curvature of the antrum, and the biopsy results revealed tubular adenocarcinoma. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed multiple invasions to other organs, thick gastric wall with contrast effect, and superior mesenteric vein tumor thrombus. However, there was no evidence of distant metastasis on positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan. The clinical diagnosis was stage IVA gastric cancer. Pancreatoduodenectomy with portal vein resection could be important at this point. However, preoperative chemotherapy with S-1 and oxaliplatin was administered instead of performing extended surgery because the patient had poor general condition (performance status score of 3). The patient received three cycles of preoperative chemotherapy at the hospital along with rehabilitation and nutritional management with oral nutritional supplements. After treatment, the performance status score of the patient improved from 3 to 1. Furthermore, in terms of clinical therapeutic effect, the patient achieved partial response. Hence, laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection and partial transverse colectomy was performed. After surgery, the patient was admitted for oral intake on postoperative day 6 and was discharged on postoperative day 21. Based on the histopathological examination, gastric cancer had disappeared, and there were no evident malignant findings. Therefore, gastric cancer was classified as grade 3 according to the histological treatment efficacy criteria. The patient did not present with recurrence at 2 years after surgery.ConclusionsBy actively administering preoperative chemotherapy, minimally invasive radical surgery with maximum preservation of the surrounding organs can be performed for locally far advanced-stage gastric cancer in older patients with poor general condition.

Combination of transbronchoscopic oxygen insufflation and a digital chest drainage system in endobronchial occlusion: a hybrid technique for localization of fistula in intractable pneumothorax

BackgroundThe management of intractable secondary pneumothorax poses a considerable challenge as it is often not indicated for surgery owing to the presence of underlying disease and poor general condition. While endobronchial occlusion has been employed as a non-surgical treatment for intractable secondary pneumothorax, its effectiveness is limited by the difficulty of locating the bronchus leading to the fistula using conventional techniques. This report details a case treated with endobronchial occlusion where the combined use of transbronchoscopic oxygen insufflation and a digital chest drainage system enabled location of the bronchus responsible for a prolonged air leak, leading to the successful treatment of intractable secondary pneumothorax.Case presentationAn 83-year-old male, previously diagnosed with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and treated with long-term oxygen therapy and oral corticosteroid, was admitted due to a pneumothorax emergency. Owing to a prolonged air leak after thoracic drainage, the patient was deemed at risk of developing an intractable secondary pneumothorax. Due to his poor respiratory condition, endobronchial occlusion with silicone spigots was performed instead of surgery. The location of the bronchus leading to the fistula was unclear on CT imaging. When the bronchoscope was wedged into each subsegmental bronchus and low-flow oxygen was insufflated, a digital chest drainage system detected a significant increase of the air leak only in B5a and B5b, thus identifying the specific location of the bronchus leading to the fistula. With the occlusion of those bronchi using silicone spigots, the air leakage decreased from 200 mL/min to 20 mL/min, and the addition of an autologous blood patch enabled successful removal of the drainage tube.ConclusionThe combination of transbronchoscopic oxygen insufflation with a digital chest drainage system can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of endobronchial occlusion by addressing the problems encountered in conventional techniques, where the ability to identify the leaking bronchus is dependent on factors such as the amount of escaping air and the location of the fistula.

Modified FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as a salvage regimen for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

e15559 Background: The triplet FOLFOXIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) plus bevacizumab showed improved outcomes for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) as first-line systemic treatment. However, those who progressed on standard therapies still faced the lack of optimal treatments in the third or later lines. There is a lack of data on applying triplet chemotherapy plus bevacizumab in later-line settings. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified FOLFOXIRI (mFOLFOXIRI) plus bevacizumab as a salvage regimen for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods: Patients with refractory mCRC were retrospectively analyzed, who received mFOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab in the third or later lines. The key inclusion criteria were:(1) 15-75 years old; (2) histologically confirmed mCRC; (3) treatment failure to at least two lines of treatments containing oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and 5-FU. Those with poor general condition (ECOG score &gt; 2), or continuous grade 3-4 neuropathy and allergy to oxaliplatin were excluded. The mFOLFOXIRI regimen consists of oxaliplatin 85 mg/m² intravenous infusion for 2 hours; irinotecan 150 mg/m² intravenous infusion for 90 min; following intravenous infusion of leucovorin 400 mg/m² for 2 hours then 5-FU 2400 mg/m² for 46–48 hours continuous intravenous infusion, Q2W. Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg was administered by intravenous infusion Q2W. Results: 95 patients treated between January 2020 and December 2022 were retrospectively studied. The median age at diagnosis was 50.8 years (range 23-72 years). 50.5% of the patients had previously received at least four regimens. At the last follow-up date on December 31, 2023, the objective response rate (ORR) was 11.6% (1 complete response and 10 partial responses) and the disease control rate (DCR) was 68.4% (54 stable diseases). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.2 months (95% CI, 5.4-7.0) and the median OS was 13.6 months (95% CI, 12.2-14.9). The most common adverse event was neutropenia (23.2%). Grade 3-4 adverse events were reported in 37 (38.9%) patients, including neutropenia (9.5%), oxaliplatin-related allergy (7.4%), thrombocytopenia (4.2%), thrombocytopenia (4.2%), diarrhea (4.2%), anemia (3.2%), nausea (3.2%), and neuropathy (2.1%). Conclusions: Modified FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab is effective as a salvage regimen in patients with refractory mCRC and with an acceptable safety profile.