Protocol for a multicentre, prospective, cohort study to investigate patient satisfaction and quality of life after immediate breast reconstruction in Japan: the SAQLA study

Introduction The aim of breast reconstruction (BR) is to improve patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Therefore, measuring patient-reported outcomes (PROs) would clarify the value and impact of BR on a patient's life and thus would provide evidence-based information to help decision-making. The Satisfaction and Quality of Life After Immediate Breast Reconstruction study aimed to investigate satisfaction and HRQOL in Japanese patients with breast cancer who undergo immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). Methods and analysis This ongoing prospective, observational multicentre study will assess 406 patients who had unilateral breast cancer and underwent mastectomy and IBR, and were recruited from April 2018 to July 2019. All participants were recruited from seven hospitals: Okayama University Hospital, Iwate Medical University Hospital, The Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Showa University Hospital, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Osaka University Hospital and Yokohama City University Medical Center. The patients will be followed up for 36 months postoperatively. The primary endpoint of this study will be the time-dependent changes in BREAST-Q satisfaction with breast subscale scores for 12 months after reconstructive surgery, which will be collected via an electronic PRO system. Ethics and dissemination This study will be performed in accordance with the Ethical Guidelines for Medical and Health Research Involving Human Subjects published by Japan's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the modified Act on the Protection of Personal Information and the Declaration of Helsinki. This study protocol was approved by the institutional ethics committee at the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, on 2 February 2018 (1801-039) and all other participating sites. The findings of this trial will be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target

Unilateral Breast Reconstruction Using Bilateral Inferior Gluteal Artery Perforator Flaps

Background: For reconstructing moderate-to-high projection breasts in nulliparous patients with insufficient abdominal tissue or prior abdominal surgeries, a unilateral inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP) flap is an alternative procedure. In patients with slim hips, however, unilateral gluteal tissue is insufficient and inferior gluteal crease displacement may develop postoperatively. Donor-site asymmetry is also a major disadvantage. In these circumstances, bilateral IGAP flaps provide sufficient tissue without significant gluteal deformity. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients who underwent unilateral breast reconstruction using bilateral IGAP flaps by a single surgeon between November 2007 and December 2012. A quantitative outcome assessment was performed and compared with that of 22 unilateral IGAP flap patients operated on by the same surgeon. Results: Twenty patients underwent reconstruction with 40 IGAP flaps. Of the 40 flaps, 39 survived and 1 developed total necrosis due to repeated venous thrombosis. In 15 of 20 patients, the size of reconstructed breast was comparable to that of the contralateral breast. Final inset flap weight was 462.3 g for bilateral flaps and 244.3 g for unilateral flaps. Total operating time was 671.1 minutes (bilateral flaps) and 486.8 minutes (unilateral flaps). Conclusions: Use of bilateral IGAP flaps for breast reconstruction helps to avoid asymmetry of the inferior buttock volume and shape. Bilateral flaps provide sufficient tissue volume and allow for reconstruction of a breast comparable to the unaffected side. In patients with moderate-to-high projection breast whose abdominal tissue cannot be used for reconstruction, IGAP flaps may be a suitable alternative

A rare case of accessory liver lobe torsion in a pediatric patient who showed recurrent epigastralgia and who was treated by elective laparoscopic resection

Abstract Background Accessory liver lobe (ALL) is a rare liver malformation. An ALL develops due to malformation of the endodermal caudal foregut and segmentation of the hepatic bud in the third week of gestation. Most ALLs are asymptomatic and are detected incidentally during abdominal surgery. The incidence of ALL is < 1% in patients who undergo abdominal surgery. However, some ALLs twist and cause acute abdomen. We experienced a pediatric case of ALL torsion in a patient who underwent elective laparoscopic surgery. Case presentation The 5-year-old girl had a 3-month history of epigastralgia and vomiting, which occurred every 2 weeks. Abdominal ultrasonography with color Doppler imaging revealed an 11.8 × 13.6 mm nonvascular lesion with mixed echogenicity near the round ligament of the liver. Enhanced computed tomography confirmed a 14 × 16 × 20 mm low-attenuation mass surrounded by a hyperdense line and disproportionate fat stranding on the right side of the round ligament of the liver. There was no ascites or hemorrhage. These findings suggested an abscess of the round ligament of the liver. Her symptoms improved with the administration of oral antibiotics; thus, we planned to perform elective exploratory laparoscopy and subsequent resection. Two trocars (5 mm) were inserted through a multichannel port device at the umbilicus and one trocar (3 mm) was inserted at the right lateral abdomen. Upon observation of the abdominal cavity, the omentum was observed adhering to the round ligament of the liver. Macroscopic observation revealed no apparent mass lesions. We performed adhesiolysis of the omentum from the round ligament of the liver using a vessel sealing system. We performed resection at the site at which adhesion had formed between the round ligament of the liver with the surrounding tissue using a vessel sealing system and the resected specimen was extracted through the umbilical wound. The postoperative course was uneventful. A pathological examination revealed necrotic liver tissue. The resected tissue was founded to be an ALL with ischemic change. Conclusions The recurrent abdominal pain was induced by torsion of the ALL. Pediatric surgeons should consider ALL torsion as a differential diagnosis for epigastralgia of unknown etiology

Cases of pediatric intra-abdominal solid organ injury induced by blunt trauma experienced over a 15-year period at two centers in Japan

Objective The present study attempts to clarify the clinical features of pediatric intra-abdominal solid organ injury at two institutions.Methods The injured organ, patient age, sex, injury grade, imaging findings, intervention, length of hospital stay, and complications were retrospectively reviewed using medical records at two centers from 2007 to 2021.Results There were 25 cases of liver injury, 9 of splenic injury, 8 of pancreatic injury, and 5 of renal injury. The mean age of all patients was 8.6±3.8 years old, with no difference between organ injury types. Radiological intervention was performed in four cases of liver injury (16.0%) and one case of splenic injury (11.1%), and surgery was performed in two cases of liver injury (8.0%) and three cases of pancreatic injury (37.5%). All other cases were treated conservatively. Complications included adhesive ileus in one case of liver injury (4.0%), splenic atrophy in one case of splenic injury (11.1%), pseudocysts in three cases of pancreatic injury (37.5%), atrophy of the pancreatic parenchyma in one case of pancreatic injury (12.5%), and urinoma in one case of renal injury (20.0%). No mortalities were observed.Conclusion Pediatric patients with blunt trauma had favorable outcomes at two pediatric trauma centers covering a broad medical area, including remote islands