Upper limb muscle atrophy associated with in-hospital mortality and physical function impairments in mechanically ventilated critically ill adults : a two-center prospective observational study

Background: Lower limb muscle atrophy is often observed in critically ill patients. Although upper limb muscles can undergo atrophy, it remains unclear how this atrophy is associated with clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that this atrophy is associated with mortality and impairments in physical function. Methods: In this two-center prospective observational study, we included adult patients who were expected to require mechanical ventilation for > 48 h and remain in the intensive care unit (ICU) for > 5 days. We used ultrasound to evaluate the cross-sectional area of the biceps brachii on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 and upon ICU discharge along with assessment of physical functions. The primary outcome was the relationship between muscle atrophy ratio and in-hospital mortality on each measurement day, which was assessed using multivariate analysis. The secondary outcomes were the relationships between upper limb muscle atrophy and Medical Research Council (MRC) score, handgrip strength, ICU Mobility Scale (IMS) score, and Functional Status Score for the ICU (FSS-ICU). Results: Sixty-four patients (43 males; aged 70 ± 13 years) were enrolled. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score was 27 (22–30), and in-hospital mortality occurred in 21 (33%) patients. The decreased cross-sectional area of the biceps brachii was not associated with in-hospital mortality on day 3 (p = 0.43) but was associated on days 5 (p = 0.01) and 7 (p < 0.01), which was confirmed after adjusting for sex, age, and APACHE II score. In 27 patients in whom physical functions were assessed, the decrease of the cross-sectional area of the biceps brachii was associated with MRC score (r = 0.47, p = 0.01), handgrip strength (r = 0.50, p = 0.01), and FSS-ICU (r = 0.56, p < 0.01), but not with IMS score (r = 0.35, p = 0.07) upon ICU discharge. Conclusions: Upper limb muscle atrophy was associated with in-hospital mortality and physical function impairments; thus, it is prudent to monitor it

Dexmedetomidine and sleep during HFNC

Purpose : High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) is a new type of non-invasive respiratory support for acute respiratory failure patients. However, patients receiving HFNC often develop sleep disturbances. We therefore examined whether dexmedetomidine could preserve the sleep characteristics in patients who underwent HFNC. Patients and Methods : This was a pilot, randomized controlled study. We assigned critically ill patients treated with HFNC to receive dexmedetomidine (0.2 to 0.7 μg / kg / h, DEX group) or not (non-DEX group) at night (9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.). Polysomnograms were monitored during the study period. The primary outcomes were total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency and duration of stage 2 non-rapid eye movement (stage N2) sleep. Results : Of the 28 patients who underwent randomization, 24 were included in the final analysis (12 patients per group). Dexmedetomidine increased the TST (369 min vs. 119 min, p = 0.024) and sleep efficiency (68% vs. 22%, P = 0.024). The duration of stage N2 was increased in the DEX group compared with the non-DEX group, but this finding did not reach statistical significance. The incidences of respiratory depression and hemodynamic instability were similar between the two groups. Conclusions : In critically ill patients who underwent HFNC, dexmedetomidine may optimize the sleep quantity without any adverse events

The epidemiology of pediatric fractures in our hospital over the past 10 years

【Background】The epidemiology of fractures in children is not reported over the past １０ years in Japan. We investigated the epidemiology of pediatric fractures in our hospital over the past １０ years. 【Method】A retrospective analysis of fractures in children（０ to １５ years-old）between April 1, ２００９, and March３１,２０１９was undertaken. We excluded cranial and/or facial bone fractures. 【Results】We enrolled２６１children and２９７fractures. Mean age was８．９year-old, and７０．８％ was boys. The highest cause of fractures is sports（２９．５％,７７／２６１children）, especially contact sports. Referred children were５８．２％（１５２／２６１children）and operated children were ８９％（２３３／２６１ children）. 【Conclusion】Enlightment activities about fractures in sports and aggregation of children who needs a operation may be important

Acquired laryngomalacia after craniotomy

Background : Laryngomalacia is a congenital abnormality of the larynx that commonly occurs in children and rarely in adults. We report the first case of acquired laryngomalacia mainly due to postoperative seizure and central pontine myelinolysis after scheduled craniotomy. Case presentation : A 69-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for elective craniotomy for craniopharyngioma. After the surgery, he developed refractory seizure and required intubation and mechanical ventilation in the intensive-care unit (ICU). After treatment for the seizure, he was extubated. However, immediately after extubation, he developed stridor and respiratory retraction. We performed fiberoptic laryngoscopy and confirmed that the epiglottis had collapsed into the posterior wall of the pharynx during inspiration, which was suspected to be laryngomalacia. He received invasive mechanical ventilation for two days following re-extubation. After the second extubation, he developed stridor again due to acquired laryngomalacia. Six days later, his respiratory condition had worsened, and he received re-intubation and tracheostomy. After ICU discharge, central pontine myelinolysis was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusions : Adult-onset laryngomalacia is a rare cause of upper airway obstruction but should be considered as a cause of postoperative extubation failure. We should not delay performing fiberoptic laryngoscopy to evaluate this pathology and provide optimal treatment

Independent ventilation of graft rejection

Background : We herein report the use of independent lung ventilation (ILV) for managing acute allograft rejection after single-lung transplantation (SLT) for end-stage emphysema. Case presentation : A 54-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital with severe hypoxemia and respiratory distress due to unilateral lung disease with diffuse alveolar damage in the right donor lung associated with acute allograft rejection and with hyperinflation of the left native lung due to emphysema. She was unresponsive to immunosuppressive medications and conventional ventilation strategies, so different ventilator settings for each lung were required. A double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) was inserted, and ILV was initiated. The right lung was ventilated with high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), intended for lung recruitment, and the left lung was ventilated with lung protective strategies using a low tidal volume and low levels of PEEP to avoid hyperinflation. Two days later, her lung function was dramatically improved, and the DLT was replaced with a single-lumen endotracheal tube. Gas exchange was maintained, and she was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation on intensive-care unit day 15. Conclusions : ILV appears to be effective and safe for managing acute allograft rejection after SLT for emphysema

extubation failure due to subglottic stenosis

Background : This report describes a case of dynamic inspiratory airway collapse concomitant with subglottic stenosis in a patient who previously underwent tracheostomy that led to repeated post-operative extubation failure. Case presentation : A 43-year-old woman who had undergone tracheostomy 25 years previously was admitted to our intensive-care unit (ICU) after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. On postoperative day (POD) 0, she was extubated, but stridor was observed. We suspected upper airway obstruction and she was therefore reintubated. Before reintubation, urgent laryngotracheoscopy revealed dynamic inspiratory airway collapse and obstruction concomitant with subglottic stenosis. Preoperative computed tomography showed mild subglottic stenosis. Although intravenous corticosteroids were administered to prevent tracheal mucosal edema and a cuff leak test was confirmed to be negative, she developed extubation failure on POD6. On POD12, we performed tracheostomy to reduce mechanical irritation from the endotracheal tube. Mechanical ventilation was withdrawn and she discharged from the ICU. On POD33, her tracheostomy tube was removed and she remained clinically asymptomatic. Conclusions : We should be aware of the history of tracheostomy, especially at high tracheostomy sites, even in the absence of respiratory symptoms as risk factors for dynamic inspiratory airway collapse concomitant with subglottic stenosis contributing to repeated respiratory failure after extubation

Preliminary results of proton radiotherapy for pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma: a multi-institutional study in Japan

To evaluate preliminary results of proton radiotherapy (PRT) for pediatric patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). From 1987 to 2014, PRT was conducted as initial radiotherapy in 55 patients (35 males, 20 females, median age 5 years, range 0–19) with RMS at four institutes in Japan. Thirty‐one, 18, and six patients had embryonal, alveolar, and other RMS, respectively. One, 11, 37, and six patients were in IRSG groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively, and the COG risk group was low, intermediate, and high for nine, 39, and seven patients, respectively. The irradiation dose was 36–60 GyE (median: 50.4 GyE). The median follow‐up period was 24.5 months (range: 1.5–320.3). The 1‐ and 2‐year overall survival rates were 91.9% (95% CI: 84.3–99.5%) and 84.8% (95% CI 75.2–94.3%), respectively, and these rates were 100% and 100%, 97.1% and 90.1%, and 57.1% and 42.9% for COG low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐risk groups, respectively. There were 153 adverse events of Grade ≥3, including 141 hematologic toxicities in 48 patients (87%) and 12 radiation‐induced toxicities in nine patients (16%). Proton‐specific toxicity was not observed. PRT has the same treatment effect as photon radiotherapy with tolerable acute radiation‐induced toxicity

Persimmon Tannin Gel: Formation by Autoxidation and Caffeine Adsorption Properties

金沢大学理工研究域物質化学系Water-insoluble gel was prepared from persimmon tannin (PT) solution by the autoxidation process. The gelation reaction proceeded by applying oxygen gas and natural light to the aqueous PT solution, without using harmful reagents or catalysts. Adsorption behavior of the PT gel was assessed using caffeine. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of experimental parameters such as contact time, initial concentration of adsorbates, adsorbent dose and temperature. The equilibrium data were analyzed using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy changes were also calculated, showing that caffeine adsorption on the PT gel is an exothermic process and feasible at lower temperatures. The present results suggest that the PT gel can be used as an effective adsorbent for removing caffeine from solutions.出版者照会後に全文公

Solitary Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyps in the duodenum are not always associated with a low risk of cancer: two case reports

INTRODUCTION: A hamartomatous polyp without associated mucocutaneous pigmentation or a family history of Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome is diagnosed as a solitary Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyp. As compared with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyps are diagnosed with a lower risk of cancer and are regarded as a different disorder. CASE PRESENTATION: In case one, we describe an 84-year-old Japanese man with a 14 mm duodenal polyp. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed and histological examination showed findings suggestive of a hamartomatous polyp with a focus of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. In case two, we describe a 76-year-old Japanese man who had been treated for prostate, rectal and lung cancer. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a duodenal polyp measuring 15 mm in diameter. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed, and histological examination showed findings suggestive of a hamartomatous polyp. Liver and thyroid cancers were found after the endoscopic treatment. CONCLUSION: Although duodenal solitary hamartomatous polyps are associated with a lower risk of cancer, four patients, including our cases, have been diagnosed with cancerous polyps. Patients with duodenal solitary hamartomatous polyps should be treated by endoscopic or surgical resection and need whole-body screening

致死的低酸素血症をきたした神経芽細胞腫Stage4Sの一乳児症例

Background : Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. Although the prognosis of neuroblastoma is relatively good, newborns less than two months of age with stage 4S neuroblastoma may present with aggressive hypoxia and restrictive respiratory impairment due to abdominal compartment syndrome. Case presentation : Two-month-old girl, height of 63 cm and body weight of 10 kg. She was diagnosed as neuroblastoma with Stage 4S. Because she was suffered from refractory hypoxemia and restrictive respiratory impairment due to abdominal compartment syndrome induced by multiple liver metastasis and massive ascites, she was transferred to our ICU. Her trachea was intubated and ventilated with assist/controlled mode, driving pressure 22 cmH2O, positive end-expiratory pressure（PEEP）8 cmH2O, fraction of inspiratory oxygen（FIO2）1.0, but tidal volume was obtained only 3.2 mL/kg and PaO2/FIO2 ratio of 55 mmHg. Therefore, we insert esophageal sensor and monitored esophageal pressure to performed transpulmonary pressure guided PEEP titration. When we changed PEEP from 8 to 15 cmH2O so that the end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure achieving 0 to 5 cmH2O, her oxygenation（PaO2/FIO2 ratio : 55 to 178 mmHg）and respiratory compliance（1.4 to 3.0 mL/cmH2O）were dramatically improved. Her respiratory condition was further stabilized by ascites puncture and radiotherapy, and the patient was extubated successfully on the 25th ICU day. Conclusions : Although pediatric neuroblastoma with stage 4S may induce severe respiratory efficiency, the responsiveness of treatment for neuroblastoma is promising. Multimodal treatments including optimal ventilator management such as transpulmonary pressure -guided PEEP titration contributes to improved patient’s prognosis