Lung cancer patients with synchronous colon cancer

Lung and colon cancers are two of the most common malignancies, which, in some cases, may develop synchronously. In the present study, the treatment and outcome of patients with synchronous lung and colon cancers were reviewed. During a 76‑month study period, from April 2009 up to July 2016, 17 (0.54%) of 3,102 patients with lung cancer were diagnosed with colon cancer within 1 month. Heavy smoking and obesity were not specific factors in these patients. A total of 9 patients succumbed to lung cancer during the study period. Survival in asymptomatic patients was longer compared with that in symptomatic patients (median survival, 80 vs. 23.2 months, respectively; P=0.007). Although the incidence of synchronous occurrence of these two cancers may be low, particularly in patients diagnosed incidentally, such patients should be treated accordingly. Future genetic and epidemiological studies are required to elucidate the potential connection between lung and colon cancer

Similar survival benefits of a good response and stable disease to platinum-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

The present study aimed to evaluate the similar survival benefits of a good response [complete response or partial response (CR/PR)] and stable disease (SD) to chemotherapy in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in clinical practice. All 322 patients who were treated between 1999 and 2012 with first‑line platinum‑based chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Tumor responses were classified according to the response evaluation criteria for solid tumors. A total of 67 (20.8%) patients experienced CR/PR and 165 (51.2%) achieved SD. There was no difference in progression‑free survival between the patients with CR/PR and those with SD (P=0.347). There was also no difference between the two groups with regard to overall survival time (P=0.878). In multivariate analysis, disease‑control (more than SD) was one of the favorable prognostic factors. In clinical practice, a survival benefit would be provided not only for the patients who have good response, but also for those with SD

Endobronchial dental prosthesis retrieval by a snare technique using a flexible bronchoscope and fluoroscopy: Two case reports and technical tips

We describe two cases in each of which a dental prosthesis, presenting as an endobronchial foreign body (FB), was successfully retrieved using a snare technique employing a flexible bronchoscope and fluoroscopy that enabled us to avoid the need for rigid bronchoscope and thoracotomy. In one case, the FB was peripherally lodged and bronchoscopically invisible. In the other case, the FB was observed in the right intermediate bronchus, but the grasping basket and forceps were unable to retrieve it. The combination of a flexible bronchoscope and fluoroscopy extended the application of the snare technique to bronchoscopically invisible FBs and facilitated placement of an encircling loop around the FB. Since dental prostheses are rigid and irregular in shape, the snare loop technique can be used. For patients in a stable condition with a dental prosthesis FB, using the snare technique with a flexible bronchoscope and fluoroscopy is a good option. We provide technical tips based on our experiences

Prospective intervention study with a microarray-based, multiplexed, automated molecular diagnosis instrument (Verigene system) for the rapid diagnosis of bloodstream infections, and its impact on the clinical outcomes

The Verigene Gram-positive blood culture test (BC-GP) and the Verigene Gram-negative blood culture test (BC-GN) identify representative Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance by detecting resistance genes within 3 h. Significant benefits are anticipated due to their rapidity and accuracy, however, their clinical utility is unproven in clinical studies. We performed a clinical trial between July 2014 and December 2014 for hospitalized bacteremia patients. During the intervention period (N = 88), Verigene BC-GP and BC-GN was used along with conventional microbiological diagnostic methods, while comparing the clinical data and outcomes with those during the control period (N = 147) (UMIN registration ID: UMIN000014399). The median duration between the initiation of blood culture incubation and the reporting time of the Verigene system results was 21.7 h (IQR 18.2-26.8) and the results were found in 88% of the cases by the next day after blood cultures were obtained without discordance. The hospital-onset infection rate was higher in the control period (24% vs. 44%, p = 0.002), however, no differences were seen in co-morbidities and severity between the control and intervention periods. During the intervention period, the time of appropriate antimicrobial agents\u27 initiation was significantly earlier than that in the control period (p = 0.001) and most cases (90%; 79/88) were treated with antimicrobial agents with in-vitro susceptibility for causative bacteria the day after the blood culture was obtained. The costs for antimicrobial agents were lower in the intervention period (3618 yen vs. 8505 yen, p = 0.001). The 30-day mortality was lower in the intervention period (3% vs. 13%, p = 0.019)

Letter to the Editor UDC: 616.24-006.4: 615..849:681.3:616.071

ung and bone are two of the most common sites of metastasis from lung cancer (1,2). At the time of initial diagnosis in certain of patients, metastases seem to be confined to these two organs. In order better to understand the etiology of such specific metastases, a review of patients with synchronous spread to lung and bone from primary lung cancer was undertaken. From 1976 to 2002, 1067 patients were admitted to the University of Tsukuba Hospital for pathologically proven primary lung cancer. TNM staging (3) was performed by computed tomographic (CT) scanning of the thorax and abdomen and a head CT scan or brain magnetic resonance imaging, as well as bone scintigraphy. Fifty (4.7%) patients had synchronous spread to lung and bone at the time of initial diagnosis; the median age was 67 years; and 31 of them were men. Histologically, there were 36 (72.0%) adenocarcinomas, six (12.0%) squamous cell carcinomas, five (10.0%) small cell carcinomas, and three (6.0%) others. Despite the presence of metastases, 27 (54.0 %) patients had a good performance status (PS 0-1) and TN staging (3) was no