Objective: There are few reports of the long-term outcomes of elderlypatients with prostate cancer. We analyzed data from our institution from the past 12years, including the patient history, treatment methods, and prognosis of patients withprostate cancer aged 80 years or more.

Patients and Methods: A total of 179 cases of prostate cancer in patientsaged 80 years or more were retrospectively evaluated. We divided them chronologically intogroups A, B, C, and D: Group A included 40 cases from 2002–2004; Group B, 48 cases from2005–2007; Group C, 46 cases from 2008–2010; and Group D, 45 cases from 2011–2013.

Results: Sixty-one (30%) patients changed treatment course. Interestingly,no cancer deaths occurred in the patients who changed treatment course. Although 14 (7.8%)cancer deaths occurred (A: B: C: D = 4: 4: 6: 0, respectively), all occurred in 2011 orlater.

Conclusion: In our study, over 50 patients who underwent treatment survivedfor 5 years or more. By treating prostate cancer in elderly patients when appropriate, wecan lower the mortality rate due to prostate cancer. Our results support the activetreatment of prostate cancer in elderly patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two different metal conditioners for non-precious metal alloys for the bonding of porcelain to a cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Disk-shaped specimens (2.5x10.0 mm) were cast with Co-Cr alloy and used as adherend materials. The bonding surfaces were polished with a 600-grid silicon carbide paper and airborne-particle abraded using 110 microm alumina particles. Bonding specimens were fabricated by applying and firing either of the metal conditioners on the airborne-particle abraded surface, followed by firing porcelain into 5 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height. Specimens without metal conditioner were also fabricated. Shear bond strength for each group (n=8) were measured and compared (alpha=.05). Sectional view of bonding interface was observed by SEM. EDS analysis was performed to determine the chemical elements of metal conditioners and to determine the failure modes after shear test. RESULTS: There were significant differences among three groups, and two metal conditioner-applied groups showed significantly higher values compared to the non-metal conditioner group. The SEM observation of the sectional view at bonding interface revealed loose contact at porcelain-alloy surface for non-metal conditioner group, however, close contact at both alloy-metal conditioner and metal conditioner-porcelain interfaces for both metal conditioner-applied groups. All the specimens showed mixed failures. EDS analysis showed that one metal conditioner was Si-based material, and another was Ti-based material. Si-based metal conditioner showed higher bond strengths compared to the Ti-based metal conditioner, but exhibited more porous failure surface failure. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it can be stated that the application of metal conditioner is recommended for the bonding of porcelain to cobalt-chromium alloys.
Alloys* ; Aluminum Oxide ; Chromium Alloys ; Dental Porcelain* ; Fires ; Shear Strength ; Silicon

Background: We evaluated the effectiveness of gemcitabine and paclitaxel therapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma for whom two lines of sequential chemotherapy had been unsuccessful.

Methods: A total number of 105 patients who had previously received first-line chemotherapy consisting of gemcitabine and cisplatin or carboplatin, were treated with second-line gemcitabine and docetaxel therapy between June 2006 and May 2015. Of these patients, 15 with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0 or 1 were administered gemcitabine and paclitaxel as third-line treatment from 2013 after failure of the second-line therapy. For each 21-day cycle, gemcitabine (1000 mg/m²) was administered on days 1, 8, and 15, and paclitaxel (200 mg/m²) on day 1. Patients were assessed for each cycle and any adverse events were noted. Furthermore, a Short Form Health Survey questionnaire was used to assess each patient’s quality of life.

Results: Third-line gemcitabine and paclitaxel treatment cycles were undertaken for a median of four times (range 2–9). The disease control rate was 80.0%. After second-line gemcitabine and docetaxel therapy was completed, median progression-free survival and median overall survival were determined as 9.8 and 13.0 months, respectively. The only prognostic factor for overall survival, as determined by univariate and multivariate analyses, was third-line gemcitabine and paclitaxel therapy. Neutropenia (66.7%) and thrombocytopenia (53.3%) were noted as the grade 3 treatment-related toxicities. After two cycles of third-line gemcitabine and paclitaxel therapy, the pre- and post-treatment quality of life scores did not differ significantly.

Conclusions: Results demonstrate that third-line combination therapy using gemcitabine and paclitaxel is a feasible option for metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients.

The importance of off the job training in surgical education are widely recognized. The Japanese Board of Cardiovascular Surgery has required a board candidate to do at least 30 hours of off the job training from 2017. U-40 Basic Lecture Course are held annually for young cardiovascular surgeon to learn about basic surgical skills. U-40 Advanced Lecture Course was started to provide opportunity to have more advanced hands-on lecture for young cardiovascular surgeon. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the opportunity to hold hands-on seminars are highly limited. In such circumstances, we held a hybrid hands-on seminar. We report details about the hybrid hands-on seminar.