After bleeding is controlled with hemostats during surgery, the residual material should be resorbed without adverse effects such as inflammation, infection or scar formation. To evaluate the biocompatibility of hemostats, three kinds of commercially available collagen hemostats, cotton type (Integran^®), microfibrillar type (Avitene^®), and sheet type (TachoComb^®), were examined. A rabbit ear chamber (REC), a system for viewing materials in vivo, was applied to the auricle of male Japanese white rabbits. The REC was designed to leave a 50-μm-thick and 6.4mm-diameter chamber, and 0.5mg of each specimen (Integran; n=8, Avitene; n=6, TachoComb; n=6) was placed in the chamber. Macroscopic and microscopic observations were performed every week up to 5 weeks without anesthetizing or stressing the animal. In the Integran group, capillaries infiltrated between the collagen fibers, and the vasculature in the REC field was complete in 6 out of 8 animals at 5 weeks. Cotton type collagen fibers of Integran became thinner every week without effusion. In the TachoComb group, capillaries were directed toward the effusion at 2 weeks, while in the Avitene group, a similar phenomenon was not observed. The vasculature was incomplete, with either effusion or infection at 5 weeks in the Avitene and TachoComb groups. Material was recognized up to 4 weeks in the TachoComb group, whereas the space occupied by material remained vacant without vasculature in the Avitene group. Our results suggest that cotton type configuration is excellent as a collagen hemostat, with smooth capillary infiltration, rapid resorption of material and promotion of the healing process.

When local hemostatic agents are used in surgery, rapid dissolution followed by prompt absorption without adverse effect after successful hemostasis are essential qualities. Residual hemostatic materials greatly influence host cells during the wound healing process. Biocompatibility of material is also essential. Furthermore, hemostatic agents also should be free of cytotoxicity that may block mitosis and migration of host cells, so that wound healing can proceed smoothly. For the evaluation of biocompatibility and cytotoxicity, 4 commercially available hemostatic agents; oxidized regenerated cellulose (Surgicel^®), gelatin sponge (Spongel^®), microfibrillar collagen (Avitene^®) and cotton type collagen (Integran^®) were tested in vitro and in vivo. The hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of culture medium containing hemostatic agents was measured. Fibroblasts were cultured with the hemostatic agents in petri dishes for 5 days. A rabbit ear chamber (REC) model was used to evaluate tissue compatibility and the healing process. Each hemostatic agent was placed in the REC and evaluated macroscopically once a week up to 5 weeks. At 72h, the pH of the culture medium containing Surgicel was low at 7.2, while they stayed between 7.7-7.8 with the other agents. In the fibroblast culture containing Surgicel, cell detachment occurred and the cell numbers decreased, while no particular changes occurred with other hemostatic agents. In the REC model, after 5 weeks Surgicel was dissolved and remained in the effusion, and the healing process was disturbed by inflammation. Spongel was dissolved and absorbed, with normal vasculature. Avitene was dissolved and remained in the effusion, but did not induce strong inflammation. With Integran, the healing process was prompt but the material was still recognizable at 5 weeks. The 4 hemostatic materials tested showed differences in biocompatibility and cytotoxicity. The ability of hemostasis is important; however, after hemostasis is achieved, unused hemostatic material should be eliminated, leaving as little hemostatic agent as possible to avoid postoperative complications.

Background: Cancer may have impacts on parents for child rearing. There has been few reports regarding what support is needed for them. The aim of this study is to investigate the needs of support system for cancer patients who have young children. Methods: First, we retrospectively studied records of specialized support for patients who had young children by palliative care team in National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) from April 2013 to September 2015. The data was collected from the NCCH electronic medical records. Next, we qualitatively classified the concerns about child-rearing of patients and their family. Results: A total of 131 (Male/Female: 41/90) cases received specialized support for patients who had young children during study period. The average age of patients was 43.3. Top three of primary sites of the patients were gastrointestinal tract, lung and breast. Approximately eighty percent of the patients were in the state of the recurrence and/or progressive cancer. The average age of their young children (n=239) was 9.6 (ages 0-17). The parents’ perceptions of child-related stressors were classified into three subcategories: 1. How to tell children about illness and treatment, 2. How to manage children’s reaction and emotion after having told them about illness, and 3. How to keep the parents’ role of child-rearing. Discussion: We found that patients who have children (age 0-17) have various types of concerns depending on their condition or age of children. Therefore, multi-disciplinary team approach for improving an effective support system was needed.

Rectal irritative symptoms in cancer patients are often refractory to treat and exacerbate their quality of life. We experienced a peadiatric case of rectal irritative symptoms treated by Yokukansan. A 9 year-old boy developed rectal irritative symptoms as itching sensation in rectum caused by relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma in pelvis. Oral Yokukansan, which is common Japanese Kampo medicine for temper tantrum of children, was administered and relieved his symptoms. Yokukansan is known as adjuvant drug for neuropathic pain. It could be one of the adjuvant drugs for refractory symptoms in palliative care setting.

Although palliative sedation therapy (PST) is considered to alleviate intolerable and refractory symptoms in dying patients with advanced cancer, there have been few studies regarding the situation of tertiary cancer center. We conducted a retrospective survey of the medical records of the patients who died between April 2015 and March 2016 at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Japan. PST was conducted in 75 out of 431 patients (17.4%). The patient demographics were as follows: sex (male/female), 48/27; median age, 61 years (range 5-83; 11 patients (14.7%) were aged under 39 years); and primary sites were lung, 18 (24.7%)/ pancreas, 11 (14.7%)/ hematopoietic organs, 11 (14.7%)/ bones and soft tissues, 8 (10.7%)/ and the others, 27 (36.0%). The main target symptoms for PST were dyspnea (38, 50.7%) and delirium (30, 40.0%). The most commonly used sedative agent was midazolam (72, 96.0%). Continuous deep sedation was intended in 61 patients (81.3%) at the death. Median survival from the start of PST were 2 days (range 0-54). The differences between palliative care team (PCT) intervention group and control group were lower age (58 vs. 62.5, P=0.048) and uniformity of initial midazolam dose (5-12 vs. 9.6-25.2 mg/day). Distinctive feature in this study was large proportion of adolescent and young adult patients with rare cancers. PCT might have different approaches to sedation in comparison to non-PCT medical staffs.