Albumin, Hemoglobin, and the Trajectory of Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Japanese: A 13-Year Longitudinal Study

BACKGROUND

Cognitive function can substantially decline over a long period, and understanding the trajectory of cognitive function is important. However, little is known about the linkage between nutritional biomarkers and long-term cognitive change.

OBJECTIVES

We analyzed 13-year longitudinal data for older Japanese to examine the associations of serum albumin and hemoglobin levels with the trajectory of cognitive function.

DESIGN

Longitudinal study.

SETTING

Community-based.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1,744 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older who participated in annual health examinations in Kusatsu town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, from 2002-2014.

MEASUREMENTS

Cognitive function was assessed annually by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Albumin and hemoglobin levels at baseline (the year when a respondent first participated in the health examination) were divided into quartiles. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze intrapersonal and interpersonal differences in cognitive function.

RESULTS

Participants' MMSE scores decreased at an accelerated rate over the 13-year period. Participants with the lowest baseline albumin level (below the first quartile line) showed a greater accelerated decline in MMSE scores over time, compared with those with the highest level (above the third quartile line). Moreover, MMSE scores in participants with a lower hemoglobin level and lower MMSE score at baseline tended to decline faster over time at an accelerated rate.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings yield new insights about the complex and diverse roles of these nutritional biomarkers on the trajectory of cognitive function in old age.

Long-term patient survival after the surgical treatment of bone and soft-tissue metastases from renal cell carcinoma

Aims

The aims of this study were to evaluate the long-term outcome of surgery for bone or soft-tissue metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to determine factors that affect prognosis.

Patients and Methods

Between 1993 and 2014, 58 patients underwent surgery for bone or soft-tissue metastases from RCC at our hospital. There were 46 men and 12 women with a mean age of 60 years (25 to 84). The mean follow-up period was 52 months (1 to 257). The surgical sites included the spine (33 patients), appendicular skeleton (ten patients), pelvis (eight patients), thorax (four patients), and soft tissue (three patients). The surgical procedures were en bloc metastasectomy in 46 patients (including 33 patients of total en bloc spondylectomy (TES)) and intralesional curettage in 12 patients. These patients were retrospectively evaluated for factors associated with prognosis.

Results

The one-, three-, five-, ten-, and 15-year overall survival (OS) rates were 89%, 75%, 62%, 48%, and 25%, respectively. The median survival time (MST) was 127 months for en bloc metastasectomy and 54 months for intralesional curettage and bone grafting. The median survival time was 127 months for the spine, 140 months for lesions of the appendicular skeleton, and 54 months for the pelvis. Multivariate analysis showed that non-clear cell type RCC and metastases to more than two sites were independent risk factors for a poor prognosis.

Conclusion

Patients with bone or soft-tissue metastases from a RCC have a reasonable prognosis, making surgical resection a viable option even in patients in whom the metastases are advanced. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1241-8.

Factors Associated With Discharge Destination in Advanced Cancer Patients With Bone Metastasis in a Japanese Hospital

OBJECTIVE

To analyze patient characteristics of cancer rehabilitation and outcomes at our hospital.

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed 580 patients, who underwent cancer rehabilitation at our hospital and rehabilitation outcome after therapy were investigated. The relationship between the initial Barthel index and discharge outcomes was investigated, with a special focus on cancer patients with bone metastasis. The Barthel index and performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) before and after rehabilitation were analyzed, and threshold value of home discharge was calculated from a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). General criteria for home discharge from our hospital included independence in performing basic activities of daily living such as bathing, feeding, and toileting or availability of home support from a family member/caregiver.

RESULTS

The outcomes after rehabilitation among all the patients were as follows: discharge home 59%, death 13%, and others 27%. Statistical differences were observed between the initial and final values of the Barthel index in patients with bone metastasis, who could be discharged home (p=0.012). ROC analysis of the initial Barthel index for predicting home discharge revealed a threshold value of 60, sensitivity of 0.76, and specificity of 0.72.

CONCLUSION

The patients with bone metastasis had a lower rate of home discharge and a higher rate of mortality than all the study patients who underwent cancer rehabilitation at our hospital. It is proposed that at the time of initiation of rehabilitation for patients with bone metastasis, an initial Barthel index lower than 60 might predict a worse outcome than home discharge.

Calcium Phosphate Cement in the Surgical Management of Benign Bone Tumors

BACKGROUND/AIM

This study assessed the mid- to long-term outcomes of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) implantation in benign bone tumor surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2000 and 2015, 130 patients underwent CPC implantation in benign bone tumor surgery. Radiographic findings and clinical outcomes were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 52 months. CPC filling immediately after surgery was sufficient, regardless of the amount of CPC used and the usage of adjuvant substances, which resulted in 92% of the patients' radiological results being classified as good or excellent. Significantly more patients had better CPC filling among patients with less hemorrhage and patients with tourniquet. The number of patients with good or excellent CPC filling had significantly increased by the final follow-up.

CONCLUSION

CPC is a useful bone substitute for benign bone tumor surgery providing excellent osteoconductivity and long-lasting stability without internal fixation.

Treatment outcomes of the simple bone cyst: A comparative study of 2 surgical techniques using artificial bone substitutes

Simple bone cysts (SBCs) are benign lesions of unknown etiology. Because of its high relapse rate, they occasionally need a long period of treatment and restriction of activities in children and adolescent. Although various treatment modalities with variable differing outcomes have been described in the literature, no consensus has been reached regarding the standard treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of a minimally invasive technique that uses a ceramic hydroxyapatite cannulated pin (HA pin) for the treatment of SBCs.Between 1998 and 2015, we have treated 75 patients with SBCs either with continuous decompression by inserting HA pins after curettage and multiple drilling (group 1, n = 39 patients) or with calcium phosphate cement (CPC) filling after curettage (group 2, n = 36 patients). These patients were retrospectively analyzed for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and factors implicated in SBC recurrence.Seventy-five patients (50 man and 25 females) with a mean age of 17.5 ± 11.6 years and a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of SBCs were included. The mean follow-up period was 33 ± 25.3 months. RFS were 88% at 1 year and 81% at 5 years. Residual or progressing cysts were observed in 12 patients after the surgery and 10 of them underwent additional surgery. Recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients under the age of 10 years (P = .01), in long bone cysts (P = .01), and in active phase cysts (P = .003) (log-rank test). Multivariate analysis results revealed that age less than 10 years was an independent risk factor of recurrence (P = .04). No significant difference in recurrence rate was observed between groups 1 and 2. However, the mean operating time was significantly shorter in group 1. (62.4 ± 25.6 vs 110.5 ± 48.4 minutes in group 2).Continuous decompression using HA pin is a less invasive surgical technique for the treatment of SBCs compared with CPC filling and has a high healing rate. The relapse rate was still high when the cysts were caused in children aged less than 10 years, located in the long bone, or remained adjacent to the epiphysis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3, Retrospective comparative study.

Preoperative evaluation of the efficacy of radio-hyperthermo-chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma in a case series

Purpose

Radio-hyperthermo-chemo (RHC) therapy, which combines radiotherapy, hyperthermia, and chemotherapy, for malignant soft tissue tumors has been introduced with the aim of decreasing the possibility of local recurrence after surgery. To avoid unnecessary neoadjuvant therapy and to plan the appropriate surgical treatment, surveillance of RHC therapeutic efficacy during treatment is necessary. In this study, we determined the optimal response criteria to evaluate the efficacy of RHC by comparing preoperative images before and after RHC with pathological evaluation of necrosis in the resected tumor.

Patients and methods

From 2004 to 2014, 20 patients were enrolled into this study. Needle biopsy revealed 6 cases of myxoid liposarcoma, 6 cases of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, 4 cases of myxofibrosarcoma, and 4 cases of synovial sarcoma. Based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 or modified RECIST, we calculated the responses to RHC therapy by comparing pre- and post-RHC therapy images. In addition, resected specimens underwent pathological analysis to evaluate response based on tumor necrosis. The correlation between assessment based on preoperative images and resected tumors were evaluated by the Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient.

Result

From the surgical specimens, pathological assessment of necrosis in resected tumor were assessed as less than 50% (2 cases), 50–90% (9 cases), 90–99% (6 cases), and total necrosis (3 cases). Use of the RECIST 1.1 underestimated good responders as stable disease (SD) or progressive disease (PD) in 5 out of 15 cases; on the other hand, use of the modified RECIST did not underestimate the pathological assessment of necrosis. The correlations between responses based on preoperative images and those based on histological assessments were 0.23 (RECIST 1.1) and 0.76 (modified RECIST).

Conclusion

Because pathological responses can be underestimated using the RECIST 1.1, the modified RECIST, which take into consideration tumor viability, as assessed by contrast MRI, should also be considered when evaluating the efficacy of RHC.

Factors Influencing Arteriovenous Fistula Dysfunction in Japanese Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

Arteriovenous fistula dysfunction is a constant problem in chronic hemodialysis patients. We investigated the factors influencing fistula dysfunction in 184 patients on chronic hemodialysis. Stepwise regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were used to assess the relationship between fistula dysfunction and age, sex, duration of hemodialysis, diabetes mellitus, hematocrit, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, KW, prothrombin time, blood pressure, anticoagulant therapy, dose of erythropoietin, calcium channel blocker therapy, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy. Fistula dysfunction showed a significant relationship with a low systolic blood pressure, a low hematocrit, the presence of diabetes mellitus, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy. These results suggested that treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may help to prevent fistula dysfunction.

Anti-tumor effects of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug zaltoprofen on chondrosarcoma via activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and suppressing matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression

Surgical resection is the only treatment for chondrosarcomas, because of their resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; therefore, additional strategies are crucial to treat chondrosarcomas. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, which has been reported as a possible therapeutic target in certain malignancies including chondrosarcomas. In this study, we demonstrated that a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, zaltoprofen, could induce PPARγ activation and elicit anti-tumor effects in chondrosarcoma cells. Zaltoprofen was found to induce expressions of PPARγ mRNA and protein in human chondrosarcoma SW1353 and OUMS27 cells, and induce PPARγ-responsible promoter reporter activities. Inhibitory effects of zaltoprofen were observed on cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, and the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2); these effects were dependent on PPARγ activation and evidenced by silencing PPARγ. Moreover, we showed a case of a patient with cervical chondrosarcoma (grade 2), who was treated with zaltoprofen and has been free from disease progression for more than 2 years. Histopathological findings revealed enhanced expression of PPARγ and reduced expression of MMP2 after administration of zaltoprofen. These findings demonstrate that zaltoprofen could be a promising drug against the malignant phenotypes in chondrosarcomas via activation of PPARγ and inhibition of MMP2 activity.

Usefulness of Immunoadsorption Therapy for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Associated with Transverse Myelitis. A Case Report

Transverse myelitis (TM) is a very rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its prognosis is poor. It therefore needs to be treated aggressively. We describe a patient suffering from SLE associated with TM, who responded well to a combination of immunoadsorption therapy and steroid mini-pulse therapy. His serum interleukin 6 levels as well as clinical indicators fell to normal after this treatment.

Successful joint preservation of distal radius osteosarcoma by en bloc tumor excision and reconstruction using a tumor bearing frozen autograft: a case report

Background

The wrist joint is an extremely rare site for osteosarcoma. Joint structure preservation to maintain good limb function is well described in case of knee osteosarcoma, whereas it is not described in case of wrist joint osteosarcoma. In this report, we present the first case of joint preservation surgery to treat distal radius osteosarcoma using a tumor bearing autograft treated with liquid nitrogen.

Case presentation

A 46-year-old male presented with swelling and pain in the right wrist and was diagnosed with conventional osteosarcoma of the distal radius. The patient responded well to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the tumor shrank remarkably. Wide tumor excision to preserve the radiocarpal joint and reconstruction with a tumor bearing frozen autograft were performed. Partial bone union was detected 3 months postoperatively and complete bone union was detected 9 months postoperatively. Following the surgery, there was immediate commencement of the range of motion (ROM) training in both the wrist and fingers. At the final postoperative follow-up of 41 months, the patient had normal ROM in the wrist, fingers, and forearms, with a score of 100% in the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score and was disease free.

Conclusion

We present the first case in which en bloc tumor excision with joint preservation of the wrist and reconstruction using a tumor bearing frozen autograft were performed. The surgery yielded excellent hand, wrist, and forearm function at the final follow-up.

The Efficacy of Wide Resection for Musculoskeletal Metastatic Lesions of Renal Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

This study evaluated the outcome of wide resection for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the bone or soft tissue.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty patients who underwent surgery for bone or soft tissue metastatic lesions of RCC were retrospectively evaluated. The surgical procedures were wide resection in 14 patients (group 1) and intralesional resection in 16 (group 2).

RESULTS

The 3-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year overall survival (OS) was 76%, 48%, 35%, and 23%, respectively, and OS was significantly favorable in group 1. In addition, recurrence-free survival rate was significantly higher in group 1. In the multivariate analysis, intralesional resection was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis. There was no significant difference in surgical time, though intraoperative hemorrhage was significantly larger in group 2.

CONCLUSION

The wide resection of bone and soft tissue metastatic lesions of RCC is a favorable option for controlling local metastasis and improving prognosis.