Yokohama City University Medical Center Research Articles

Association between evolocumab use and slow progression of aortic valve stenosis.

No medications have been reported to inhibit the progression of aortic valve stenosis (AS). The present study aimed to investigate whether evolocumab use is related to the slow progression of AS evaluated by serial echocardiography. This was a retrospective observational study from 2017 to 2022 at Yokohama City University Medical Center. Patients aged ≥ 18 with moderate AS were included. Exclusion criteria were (1) mild AS; (2) severe AS defined by maximum aortic valve (AV) velocity ≥ 4.0m/s; and/or (3) no data of annual follow-up echocardiography. The primary endpoint was the association between evolocumab use and annual changes in the maximum AV-velocity or peak AV-pressure gradient (PG). A total of 57 patients were enrolled: 9 patients treated with evolocumab (evolocumab group), and the other 48 patients assigned to a control group. During a median follow-up of 33months, the cumulative incidence of AS events (a composite of all-cause death, AV intervention, or unplanned hospitalization for heart failure) was 11% in the evolocumab group and 58% in the control group (P = 0.012). Annual change of maximum AV-velocity or peak AV-PG from the baseline to the next year was 0.02 (-0.18 to 0.22) m/s per year or 0.60 (-4.20 to 6.44) mmHg per year in the evolocumab group, whereas it was 0.29 (0.04-0.59) m/s per year or 7.61 (1.46-16.48) mmHg per year in the control group (both P < 0.05). Evolocumab use was associated with slow progression of AS and a low incidence of AS events in patients with moderate AS.

Non-efficacy of early intervention strategy for non-obese patients with early-onset gestational diabetes mellitus: solely based on the short-term outcomes

IntroductionTo verify the effectiveness of intervention in early pregnancy for women with early-onset gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Research design and methodsThis study included women with a singleton pregnancy who were diagnosed...

Relationship of emergency department visits for suicide attempts with meteorological and air pollution conditions

BackgroundEnvironmental factors such as meteorological and air pollution conditions have been identified as risk factors for suicide. This study aimed to clarify the relationship of the number of visits to the emergency department for suicide attempts with meteorological and air pollution conditions. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included patients who attempted suicide and were transported to Yokohama City University Medical Center from April 2005 to March 2022. The meteorological conditions recorded at the time of transport included mean atmospheric pressure, mean temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, mean humidity, wind speed, and sunshine hours, and the air pollution conditions included SO2 (ppm), NO (ppm), NO2 (ppm), NOX (ppm), OX (ppm), CH4 (ppmC), NMHC (ppmC), THC (ppmC), SPM (μg/m3), and PM2.5 (μg/m3). Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the association between the number of suicide attempts and the meteorological and air pollution conditions. Subgroup analyses were conducted by classifying the subjects according to the means of suicide attempt; comparisons were performed using t-tests. ResultsThe study included 1737 patients. Multivariate Poisson regression analyses revealed a significant positive relationship between the number of suicide attempts and SO2 levels and a significant negative relationship between the number of suicide attempts and NO levels. When subjects were divided by means of suicide attempt, different relationships with meteorological and air pollution conditions were observed. ConclusionMeteorological and air pollution conditions are environmental factors that can enable a more detailed understanding of suicide behavior according to the means of suicide attempts.

Migration of Risk Classification Between the JAES Versus ATA guidelines for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

This study aimed to investigate outcomes in the same cohort of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) risk-stratified according to the Japan Association of Endocrine Surgery (JAES) and American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines. A total of 1044 patients with PTC who underwent initial thyroidectomy at Yokohama City University Medical Center between January 2000 and June 2022 were included. According to the JAES guidelines, 480 (46%), 386 (37%), and 178 (17%) patients were classified as low, intermediate, or high risk, respectively. Furthermore, according to the ATA guidelines, 590 (57%), 261 (25%), and 193 (18%) patients were reclassified as low, intermediate, or high risk, respectively. Among 1044 patients with PTC, the 10-year cause-specific survival (CSS) rates of patients with JAES low and intermediate risk were 99.7 and 98.6%, respectively, and there was no statistically difference (p = 0.096). However, the 10-year CSS rates of patients with ATA low and intermediate risk were 100 and 99.5%, respectively (p = 0.007). Among 1001 patients with M0 PTC, the 10-year distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates of patients with JAES intermediate and high risk were 94.2, and 76.7%, respectively (p < 0.001). However, the 10-year DMFS rates of patients with ATA intermediate and high risk were 88.1 and 86.6%, respectively (p = 0.233), and there was no statistically difference. Both JAES and ATA risk classifications properly stratified the PTC patients. Furthermore, the ATA risk classification more precisely extracted patients with better and worse prognoses.

Curable leakage in stapled IPAA has little effect on the long-term pouch function.

This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and grade of anastomotic leakage (AL) in stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and its long-term impact on the pouch functions. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted on UC patients who underwent stapled IPAA at Yokohama City University Medical Center between 2007 and 2018. The diagnosis and grading of AL were performed in accordance with the recommendations of the International Study Group of Rectal Cancer. We assessed the functional pouch rate, late complication, pouch survival rate, bowel function (bowel movements per day, soiling, spotting, difficulty in distinguishing feces from flatus) and pouch inflammation (pouchitis disease activity index; PDAI) in the long-term period. Two hundred seventy-six patients were analyzed. Twenty-three (8.3%; grade B/C; 13/10) patients were diagnosed with AL, but a functional pouch was achieved in all the twenty-three patients. Anastomotic stricture was significantly more common in patients with AL (AL group) than in patients without AL (non-AL group; AL/non-AL: 13.0/3.2%, p = 0.020). There were no differences in other late complications. Furthermore, the pouch survival rate did not differ between the AL and non-AL groups (100.0/97.9%/10years, p = 0.494). There were no differences between the groups in bowel movements per day, spotting, soling, difficulty in distinguishing feces from flatus, or PDAI postoperatively. Curable AL may not affect late complications (except anastomotic stricture), pouch survival, the bowel function, or pouch inflammation over the long term. Perioperative management to prevent the severity of AL is as important as preventing its occurrence.

Glasgow Prognostic Score Predicts Survival and Recurrence Pattern in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatectomy.

The prognostic significance of the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) on outcomes of liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear; the aim of the study was to assess its significance. A total of 480 patients with HCC who underwent liver resection with curative intent at the Yokohama City University Hospital and Medical Center were enrolled in the study. Patients were classified into three groups: GPS-0, C-reactive protein (CRP) ≤1.0 mg/dl serum albumin ≥3.5 g/dl; GPS-1, CRP >1.0 mg/dl or serum albumin <3.5 g/dl; and GPS-2, CRP >1.0 mg/dl, serum albumin <3.5 g/dl. Prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed retrospectively. The recurrence pattern was also investigated using GPS. Of the 480 patients, 382 (79.6%), 81 (16.9%), and 17 (3.5%) were assigned to GPS-0, GPS-1, and GPS-2, respectively. Elevated GPS, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min, and protein induced by vitamin K antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) were significantly associated with a poor OS. Elevated GPS, alpha-fetoprotein, and PIVKA-II were significantly associated with a poor DFS by multivariate analysis. The number of patients with liver-only recurrence in GPS-0, GPS-1, and GPS-2 was 179 (86.1%), 40 (78.4%), and 9 (69.2%), respectively. The number of patients with four or more intrahepatic metastases in the GPS-0, GPS-1, and GPS-2 groups, was 33 (17.9%), 11 (27.5%), and 8 (88.9%), respectively. The number of patients with four or more intrahepatic metastases in the GPS-2 group was significantly higher (p<0.001). Preoperative GPS is a useful predictor of OS and recurrence pattern after liver resection with a curative intent for HCC.

Association Between Patient Satisfaction and Preoperative Task-Shifting From Anesthesiologists to Perianesthesia Nurses: A Questionnaire Survey Study

PurposeWe examined whether patients’ satisfaction improved when patients’ preoperative consultations were conducted with perianesthesia nurses (PANs) in collaboration with anesthesiologists, as compared with preoperative consultations conducted by anesthesiologists only. DesignWe conducted a study using questionnaires regarding outpatient satisfaction among patients who visited the perioperative management department of Yokohama City University Medical Center between July and December 2018. MethodsThere were 1,595 outpatients during the survey period. After exclusion criteria were applied, we analyzed 590 valid responses. FindingsRegarding the level of understanding, 96.9% of the patients in the nurse-and-anesthesiologist group and 95.6% of the patients in the anesthesiologist-only group answered, “easy to understand,” indicating no significant difference. A reduction in concerns, worries, and anxiety was reported by 86.3% of the patients in the nurse-and-anesthesiologist group and 70.4% in the anesthesiologist-only group, indicating a significant difference. Furthermore, 94.1% of the patients in the nurse-and-anesthesiologist group and 87.9% in the anesthesiologist-only group indicated patients’ satisfaction with the overall evaluation, indicating another significant difference. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the anxiety reduction and overall evaluation. We uncovered significant differences in PANs’ examinations regarding anxiety reduction and overall evaluation. ConclusionsCollaboration between anesthesiologists and PANs might be associated with satisfaction and reduced anxiety in preoperative patients without adversely affecting patients’ comprehension of anesthesia. Further research is necessary to verify the impacts of PANs’ involvement in anesthesia patient care on intra and postoperative patient outcomes and on the cost and efficiency of anesthetic care.

The indicators for early blood transfusion in patients with placental abruption with intrauterine fetal death: a retrospective review

BackgroundPlacental abruption (PA) with intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) is associated with a high risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) resulting from severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Therefore, blood products that are sufficient for coagulation factor replacement must be prepared, and delivery should occur at referral medical institutions that are equipped with sufficient blood products and emergency transfusion protocols. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with PA and IUFD (PA-IUFD) to identify possible factors that may indicate the need for early blood transfusion and investigated whether the Japanese scoring system for PPH can be applied in such cases.MethodsWe used a database of 16,058 pregnant patients who delivered at Yokohama City University Medical Center between January 2000 and February 2016. Thirty-three patients were diagnosed with PA-IUFD before delivery and categorized into two groups–blood transfusion and non-transfusion–to compare the maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes.ResultsIn patients with PA-IUFD, the transfusion group exhibited significantly more blood loss; lower fibrinogen levels and platelet counts; higher levels of fibrin degradation products (FDP), D-dimer, and prothrombin time; and a tendency for tachycardia on admission, compared to the non-transfusion group. Many patients in the transfusion group had normal fibrinogen levels on admission but later displayed markedly decreased fibrinogen levels. The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) DIC score was significantly higher in the transfusion than in the non-transfusion group.ConclusionsIn PA-IUFD, the fibrinogen level, platelet count, D-dimer, FDP, heart rate, and JSOG DIC score on admission may indicate the need for blood transfusion. However, even with normal fibrinogen levels on admission, continuous monitoring is indispensable for identifying progressive fibrinogen reductions in patients with PA-IUFD.

Sperm cryopreservation before definitive therapy for early-stage prostate cancer: A single institution experience.

Male-fertility preservation—sperm cryopreservation is a gold standard for male-fertility preservation—has been paid attention for cancer patients over the past two decades because significant cancer treatment increasing cancer survivors and leading demand for future parenthood.1 Unfortunately, prostate cancer (PC) patients are not adequately informed about treatment-induced infertility before PC treatment although there were certain patients who hope fertility preservation.2 In this study, we report real-world data about sperm cryopreservation before definitive therapy for early-stage PC at our institution. We assessed eight PC patients who visited Reproduction Center of Yokohama City University Medical Center (YCUMC) for purpose of male-fertility preservation before definitive therapy for early-stage PC between 2013 and 2017. It is estimated that about 1.6% (8/500) of PC patients received definitive therapy could hope male-fertility preservation before treatment. We obtained the data of the PC status (prostate-specific antigen [PSA] levels, clinical stage, and Gleason scores), patients' age, type of definitive therapy for PC, sperm concentration, motility, whether to perform sperm cryopreservation, and whether to use of preserved sperm for pregnancy from the electronic medical record. Semen specimens were collected by masturbation after 48–120 h of sexual abstinence. Semen analysis was performed according to WHO guideline.3 Median age of the patients was 57 (range: 45–61). Median PSA levels were 6.1 (range: 4.1–8.6) ng/ml. Of the eight patients analyzed, one, six, and one patient were clinical stage T1c, T2a, and T2c, respectively. Gleason scores distributions were 3 + 3 in two, 3 + 4 in three, 4 + 3 in two, and 4 + 5 in one patient. Planned definitive therapy for PC was radical prostatectomy in one, seed implantation in four, and external beam radiation in three patients. Semen analysis was performed in all eight patients. Four out of eight patients were married and median age of their wife was 44 (range: 37–45). Median sperm concentration and motility were 46.5 × 106/ml (range: 5.3–110.1) and 4.9% (range: 1.3–23.3), respectively. Ejaculatory volume and normal morphology ratio of sperm were not evaluated. Sperm cryopreservation was performed in all patients except one. One patient did not hope cryopreservation because his own will. One patient who received seed implantation used preserved sperm for pregnancy and obtained a healthy baby. Boyd et al. reported that only 8.7% of localized PC patients were informed about the possibility of future male-infertility before PC treatment.2 Most PC patients are relatively aged and most physician tend to avoid about discussing it with their patients. Indeed, Boyd et al. reported that no patients with 55 years or older concerned about future infertility due to PC treatment among localized PC patients. However, patients who concerned about future male-infertility due to PC treatment are existing definitively, especially in young patients.2 Salonia et al. reported that 20% of PC patients hope for preoperative sperm cryopreservation.4 Especially, patients with younger, childless, and intense desire for fatherhood tend to hope for it. In addition, patients with early-stage PC have favorable prognosis. Therefore, physician should inform about possibility of male-infertility due to PC treatment and discuss about sperm cryopreservation before PC treatment with patients who hope male-fertility preservation. For young cancer patients, sperm cryopreservation might play a role not only for male-fertility preservation but also encourage of battle against cancer.5 Although there is no question that the sperm cryopreservation is a gold standard for male-fertility preservation, sperm preservation by testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is also useful. Especially, for the patients with ejaculatory dysfunction, for example, the patients received prostatectomy, radiation therapy for the prostate,6 or androgen ablation therapy,6, 7 TESE might be recommended instead of the sperm cryopreservation. Our study included only small number of patients. Therefore, definitive statement was not established from this study. However, we revealed that PC patients who hope male-fertility preservation before PC treatment were certainly exist. Physician should inform about male-infertility due to PC treatment and discuss about male-fertility preservation with patients. If the patients hope it, semen cryopreservation should be offered. Conceived and designed the study: Takashi Kawahara, Hiroji Uemura, and Yasuhide Miyoshi. Analyzed the data: Shinnosuke Kurodsa, Teppei Takeshima, Yasushi Yumura and Yasuhide Miyoshi. Wrote the paper: Yasuhide Miyoshi. All authors have read and approved the manuscript. None declared. Institutional review board approval of this study was obtained from YCUMC (R20002). Written informed consent was obtained from all patients for this study. N/A. N/A.

Retrospective analysis of independent predictors of progression‐free survival in patients with EGFR mutation‐positive advanced non‐small cell lung cancer receiving first‐line osimertinib

BackgroundClinically measurable factors affecting the progression‐free survival (PFS) of patients receiving osimertinib as first‐line therapy for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation‐positive advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not yet been established.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 61 patients treated with osimertinib as primary therapy for EGFR mutation‐positive advanced NSCLC at Yokohama City University Medical Center between August 2018 and March 2022. Our objective was to identify the independent predictors of PFS.ResultsThe median age of participants was 74 years. Overall, 73.8% had good (0–1) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS), and 98.4% had histology of adenocarcinoma. The EGFR mutation was exon19 deletion in 52.5% and exon21 L858R in 44.3% of patients. Programmed death‐ligand 1 tumor proportion score >50% was observed in 21.3% and liver metastasis in 9.9% of patients. Median PFS was 19.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.6–31.6), and overall survival was not reached. The objective response rate was 68.9%, and disease control rate was 93.4%. Multivariate analysis showed that poor PS (2–4) negatively impacted PFS (hazard ratio, 3.79; 95% CI: 1.46–9.87; p = 0.006). Median PFS in the good PS and poor PS groups was 20.4 months (95% CI: 12.4‐not evaluable) and 7.2 months (95% CI: 7.2–19.5), respectively. Interstitial lung disease of all grades and grade 3 was observed as an adverse event in 6.6 and 4.9% of patients, respectively.ConclusionPoor PS was associated with poor prognosis in patients with EGFR mutation‐positive advanced NSCLC treated with osimertinib as first‐line therapy.

Prognostic Factors Affecting Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer in Older Patients

Introduction: The benefits of surgery in older patients with gastric cancer are controversial. This single-institution retrospective study in Japan aimed to evaluate the impact of gastrectomy in older patients with gastric cancer. Methods: A series of 234 patients aged ≥80 years with histologically confirmed gastric cancer had indications for surgical treatment at the Gastroenterological Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center, between April 2002 and December 2018. Patients who were lost to follow-up (n = 27), had tumors not eligible for surgery (n = 14), and could not achieve R0 resection (n = 7) were excluded from this retrospective study. The remaining 186 patients were included. Patient characteristics, intraoperative outcomes, postoperative complications, and long-term survival were evaluated. Results: The incidence of postoperative complications with Clavien–Dindo grade ≥ II was observed in 61 patients (32.8%). The 5-year relapse-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 84.2% and 63.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that geriatric nutritional risk index (<98) (odds ratio, 1.97; p = 0.047), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (>2.36) (odds ratio, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–3.67; p = 0.043), and total gastrectomy (TG) (odds ratio, 1.97; p = 0.042) significantly predicted postoperative complications. Moreover, TG (hazard ratio, 1.91; p = 0.036) was an independent prognostic factor of OS. Conclusions: Poor immunonutritional status and TG led to worse short-term outcomes. Moreover, TG was an independent prognostic factor of OS in older patients with gastric cancer. It is necessary to provide effective perioperative care, including nutritional support, to clarify whether short-term outcomes would be improved.

An extremely prolonged second stage of labor increases maternal complications but has no adverse effect on neonatal outcomes.

To investigate how an extremely prolonged second stage of labor of 12 h or more affects maternal and neonatal outcomes. This retrospective cohort study included nulliparous, pregnant women with 37 + 0 to 41 + 6 weeks of gestation whom vaginal delivery was attempted at the Yokohama City University Medical Center between 2014 and 2018. In 446 cases of the prolonged second stage of labor, there were 296 women (66%) in the 2- to 6-h second stage of labor group, 112 women (25%) in the 6- to 12-h group, and 38 women (8.5%) in the 12-h or longer group. The longer the second stage of labor, the more significant was the increase in the rates of augmentation of the delivery, emergency cesarean delivery, and operative vaginal delivery. Even in the 12 h or longer group, 82% were able to have vaginal delivery. The 6- to 12-h group had a significant increase in third- or fourth-degree perineal lacerations compared to the 2- to 6-h group (aOR 8.12 [95% CI 1.55-42.6]). Clinical chorioamnionitis was significantly increased in the 12 h or longer group (aOR 4.88 [95% CI 1.62-14.8]). In terms of neonatal outcomes, comparison between the three groups showed no significant difference. With an extremely prolonged second stage of labor, maternal complications involved a significant increase in severe perineal lacerations and chorioamnionitis; however, there was no increase in adverse outcomes for neonates. It was not possible to conclusively determine if the duration of the second stage is acceptable.

Extracting Safety-II Factors From an Incident Reporting System by Text Analysis.

IntroductionThe use of electric health records (EHRs) has spread worldwide and has helped record huge amounts of data. However, despite accumulated data from EHRs, especially text data, the information has been underutilized. Our research questions and aims are as follows: How can an incident report system extract common themes behind incidents, good practices, improved quality, and safety based on the Safety-II/resilient healthcare approach?MethodsWe extracted data from the electronic incident reporting system of the Yokohama City University Medical Center between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2018. We utilized natural language processing and text mining to extract concept categories and word patterns. We also used the incident levels as outcomes, as well as classification and regression tree analysis to obtain associated text combinations.ResultsA total of 17,231 cases were reported through the electronic incident reporting system in our hospital during the study period. Hospital staff has to be prepared for incidents with complex mechanisms in daily practice. The hospital staff tend to focus on individual actions rather than considering a systematic approach.ConclusionCertain combinations of professions and contents may contribute to resilient management. Studies on Safety-II management utilizing clinical information and text records are needed.

Comparing the course and delivery outcomes of Japanese twin pregnancies with and without gestational diabetes mellitus: a single-center retrospective analysis.

Singleton pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at an increased risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Multiple pregnancies are associated with increased risks of perinatal complications; however, the impact of GDM on maternal and neonatal outcomes in multiple pregnancies is unknown, and there are currently few reports on GDM status in twin pregnancies. This study aimed to compare the background and perinatal outcomes between Japanese twin pregnancies with and without GDM at a perinatal center in Japan. Additionally, the clinical course of GDM was investigated. In this retrospective cohort study, women with twin pregnancies underwent GDM screening at Yokohama City University Medical Center from January 2011 to December 2016. Overall, 307 twin pregnancies were divided into GDM (47 cases, 15.3%) and non-GDM (260 cases, 84.7%) groups. GDM-associated pregnancy complications, GDM status, and pregnancy outcomes were ascertained. Women with GDM were older and had a higher pre-pregnancy body mass index than those without GDM. Glycemic control was good in all patients, and there was no difference in delivery outcomes between the two groups. Gestational weight gain was lower in pregnant women with GDM (+8.0 kg) than in those without GDM (+11.8 kg), suggesting the impact of strict nutritional guidance on twin pregnancies with GDM. In conclusion, twin pregnancies with GDM did not have different delivery outcomes compared to those without GDM. To manage twin pregnancies with GDM, this study suggests that it is important to monitor patients' weight and blood glucose levels.

Predictors of Pain in Patients with Noninvasive Fungal Sinusitis

AbstractThe number of cases of noninvasive fungal sinusitis among asymptomatic and older patients has recently increased. Older adults are more commonly predisposed to comorbidities than younger people, and it is often difficult to determine a treatment plan for such patients, particularly for asymptomatic patients. Notably, surgery is the first-choice treatment for such patients; however, to date, no clear guidelines have been established for the same. In this study, we investigated the predictive factors of pain among patients with noninvasive fungal sinusitis. Out of 554 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery between April 2010 and March 2020 at the Yokohama City University Medical Center, 59 were diagnosed with fungal sinusitis based on the identification of fungi in resected surgical specimens. Of these, 19 patients with preoperative symptoms, such as headache and facial pain, were included in the pain group, whereas the remaining 40 patients were included in the control group. Overall, 18 items were analyzed, including patient background factors, preoperative computed tomography scan results, blood test results, the location of the fungal mass, and information on the identified fungal species. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in age, alcohol consumption, frequency of occurrence of ethmoid and frontal sinus lesions, Lund–Mackay scores, and white blood cell counts between the pain and control groups. However, based on multivariate analyses, only the Lund–Mackay score and white blood cell counts were identified as independent predictors of pain. In the receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve for the Lund–Mackay score was 0.76, and sensitivity and specificity were at a maximum cutoff score of 5. Among patients with noninvasive fungal sinusitis, those with high Lund–Mackay scores or white blood cell counts should be considered candidates for surgery.

Postoperative complications, bowel function, and prognosis in restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis-a single-center observational study of 320 patients.

To determine the selection criteria, postoperative complications, bowel function, and prognosis of stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and hand-sewn IPAA for ulcerative colitis (UC). We defined our surgical indications and strategy, and compared the postoperative complications, bowel function, and prognoses between patients who underwent stapled and hand-sewn IPAA for UC at the Yokohama City University Medical Center between 2004 and 2017. Among 320 patients enrolled, 298 patients underwent stapled IPAA while 22 underwent hand-sewn IPAA. There was no significant difference in the postoperative complications between the two groups. Regarding postoperative bowel function, stapled IPAA caused significantly less soiling (stapled vs hand-sewn: 9.1% vs 41.0%, odds ratio (OR) = 0.14, p < 0.0002), spotting (stapled vs hand-sewn: 23.2% vs 63.6%, OR = 0.17, p < 0.0001), and difficulty in distinguishing feces from flatus (stapled vs hand-sewn: 39.9% vs 63.6%, OR = 0.36, p < 0.026). No postoperative neoplasia was observed at the final follow-up in all patients. In this study, there was no clear difference in the postoperative complications between stapled and hand-sewn IPAA, but stapled IPAA resulted in better postoperative bowel function. Postoperative oncogenesis from the residual mucosa is rare. However, future cancer risk remains; thus, careful follow-up is required.

Temporal change in Syndecan-1 as a therapeutic target and a biomarker for the severity classification of COVID-19

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonitis associated with severe respiratory failure is associated with high mortality. The pathogenesis of COVID-19 is associated with microembolism or microvascular endothelial injuries. Here, we report that syndecan-1 (SDC-1), a component of the endothelial glycocalyx, may be a biomarker of severity classification for COVID-19 related to endothelial injury.Methods and analysisWe analyzed the data of COVID-19 patients for 1 year from February 2020 at Yokohama City University Hospital and Yokohama City University Medical Center Hospital. We selected COVID-19 patients who required admission care, including intensive care, and analyzed the classification of severe and critical COVID-19 retrospectively, using various clinical data and laboratory data with SDC-1 by ELISA.ResultsWe analyzed clinical and laboratory data with SDC-1 in five severe COVID-19 and ten critical COVID-19 patients. In the two groups, their backgrounds were almost the same. In laboratory data, the LDH, CHE, and CRP levels showed significant differences in each group (P = 0.032, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.007, respectively) with no significant differences in coagulation-related factors (platelet, PT-INR, d-dimer, ISTH score; P = 0.200, 0.277, 0.655, and 0.36, respectively). For the clinical data, the SOFA score was significantly different from admission day to day 14 of admission (p < 0.0001). The SDC-1 levels of critical COVID-19 patients were significantly higher on admission day and all-time course compared with the levels of severe COVID-19 patients (P = 0.009 and P < 0.0001, respectively).ConclusionsTemporal change of SDC-1 levels closely reflect the severity of COVID-19, therefore, SDC-1 may be a therapeutic target and a biomarker for the severity classification of Covid-19.

Use of metallic and polymeric ureteral stents in malignant ureteral obstruction.

BackgroundMalignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) is often caused by advanced intra‐abdominal cancers. Effective management must be attempted, but the treatment policy is unclear. Metallic ureteral stents are one of the latest options in managing MUO. Metallic ureteral stents are superior to traditional polyurethane stents. The present study retrospectively reviewed our four institutions’ experiences with treating MUO using metallic ureteral stent.MethodsA total of 45 patients who required metallic ureteral stent placement for MUO at Yokohama City University Medical Center (Yokohama, JAPAN) between January 2014 and May 2016 were analyzed. We defined stent failure as having to change the ureteral stent before the scheduled ureteral stent exchange time or having to perform percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN). Complications were defined as an unscheduled hospital visit or hospitalization caused by incompatibility, infection, and pain of the metallic ureteral stent, etc., unrelated to the primary disease. We compared stent failure and the overall survival (OS) between metallic and polymeric ureteral stents. To evaluate the workload of the medical staff, we used the NASA Task Load Index (NASA‐TLX) in a total of 11 urologists.ResultsDuring the observation period, 8 (17.8%) patients in the metallic ureteral stent group and 10 (27.8%) in the control group developed stent failure. Complications were noted in 14 (31.1%) patients in the metallic ureteral stent group and 15 (41.7%) patients in the control group. A Kaplan–Meier analysis and log‐rank test showed no significant differences between two groups in the overall survival (P = 0.673). One or more complications developed in 19 (32.2%) patients in the metallic ureteral stent group and 18 (38.3%) patients in the control group (P = 0.409). Renal dysfunction after the replacement of the ureteral stent developed in 9 (15.3%) patients in the metallic ureteral stent group and 14 (29.8%) patients in the control group. No patients developed a urinary tract infection (UTI) that required hospitalization in the metallic ureteral stent group, whereas 3 (6.4%) patients in the control group had a UTI that was treated with hospitalization. The average workload score in the six subscales was analyzed, and the scores for mental demand and performance were higher in the metallic ureteral stent group, although there was no significant difference between the metallic and polymeric ureteral stent groups.ConclusionsMetallic ureteral stents showed favorable ureteral stent patency and reduced the workload for urologists.

Impact of three-dimensional global longitudinal strain for patients with acute myocardial infarction.

In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), predicting left ventricular (LV) remodelling (LVR) and prognosis is important. We explored the clinical usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography to predict LVR and prognosis in STEMI. The study group comprised 255 first STEMI patients (65 years; 210 men) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention between April 2008 and May 2012 at Yokohama City University Medical Center. Baseline global longitudinal strain (GLS) was measured with two-dimensional (2D) and 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Within 48 of admission, standard 2D echocardiography and 3D full-volume imaging were performed, and 2D-GLS and 3D-GLS were calculated. Infarct size was estimated by 99mTc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography. Echocardiography was performed at 1 year repeatedly in 239 patients. The primary endpoint was LVR, defined as an increase of 20% of LV end-diastolic volume index and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACE: cardiac death, non-fatal MI, heart failure, and ischaemic stroke) at 1 year, and the secondary endpoint was cardiac death and heart failure. Patients were followed for 1 year; 64, 25, and 16 patients experienced LVR, MACE, and the secondary endpoint, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that 3D-GLS was the strongest predictor of LVR (odds ratio = 1.437, 95% CI: 1.047-2.257, P = 0.02), MACE (odds ratio = 1.443, 95% CI: 1.240-1.743, P = 0.0002), and the secondary end point (odds ratio = 1.596, 95% CI: 1.17-1.56, P < 0.0001). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that 3D-GLS was superior to 2D-GLS in predicting LVR and 1-year prognosis. 3D-GLS obtained immediately after STEMI is independently associated with LVR and 1-year prognosis.

A retrospective study on the possible systematic inflammatory response markers to predict the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer undergoing radial cystectomy.

Recent studies have shown that several inflammatory markers, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), lymphocyte-to-platelet ratio (LPR), De Retis and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), can function as useful prognostic factors in a number of malignancies. The present study aimed to assess the most reliable inflammatory tumor marker in patients with bladder cancer who have undergone radical cystectomy. A total of 161 cases underwent radical cystectomy between 1994 and 2014 at Yokohama City University Medical Center (Yokohama, Japan). Of these patients, the 107 who had data for the NLR, MLR, LPR, De Retis and PNI were enrolled in the present study. The correlation between recurrence-free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS) and inflammatory tumor markers were examined. Regarding the RFS, the only noteworthy finding was that a lower PNI was associated with a significantly poorer RFS compared with higher PNI (P=0.028). Regarding the OS, lower LPR and PNI were associated with a significantly poorer OS compared with higher values (P=0.048 and P=0.036, respectively). The present study revealed that a low PNI more accurately predicts a worse RFS and OS compared with other systemic inflammatory risk factors.