1.A Case of Brain Tumor with Impaired Consciousness Due to Hypoglycemia in the Terminal Stage of Cancer
Takuya HASEGAWA ; Yoshihisa TAHASHI ; Norihiro SAKAMOTO ; Keiko SHINCHI ; Yuri TOKUNAGA ; Shinji TAMURA ; Noriyuki ITO
Palliative Care Research 2024;19(1):53-57
Introduction: We report a case of sudden loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia in the terminal stage of cancer. Case: A 73-year-old man underwent craniotomy in 2016 and was diagnosed with solitary fibrous tumor. In 2022, his brain tumor recurred and he was admitted to our hospice. On the morning of the 120th day after transfer, the patient suddenly developed impaired consciousness. Blood tests showed hypoglycemia (33 mg/dL), and intravenous glucose injection improved his loss of consciousness, leading to a diagnosis of impaired consciousness due to hypoglycemia. After various examinations, hypoglycemia due to extrapancreatic tumor (non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia: NICTH) was strongly suspected. Discussion: NICTH is considered to be caused by excessive secretion of an insulin-like substance (high molecular weight insulin-like growth factor (IGF-)II) from the tumor. In patients who are exposed to hypoglycemia for a long period of time, central nervous system symptoms such as impaired consciousness may suddenly develop without sympathetic symptoms. NICTH should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with delirium, impaired consciousness, or convulsive seizures and a large tumor, although it is not easy to prove the excessive secretion of high-molecular-weight IGF-II, especially in the terminal stage of cancer.
2.Reduction in HPV 16/18 prevalence among young women following HPV vaccine introduction in a highly vaccinated district, Japan, 2008–2017
Akihiro KARUBE ; Fumiko SAITO ; Enami NAKAMURA ; Akihiro SHITARA ; Natsuki ONO ; Megumi KONNO ; Daisuke TAMURA ; Daisuke NAGAO
Journal of Rural Medicine 2019;14(1):48-57
Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was introduced in Japan in April 2013, as a national immunization program for girls aged 12–16 years, after an initial introduction in 2010 as a public-aid program for girls aged 13–16 years. The Yuri-Honjo district had the highest vaccine coverage among women aged 17–51 years in 2017, due to the original public-aid program. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the vaccine types of HPV16/18 infections between 2008–2012 (pre-vaccine era) and 2013–2017 (vaccine era).Materials and Methods: We evaluated whether HPV vaccination was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of HPV16/18 and high-risk HPV and the incidence of HPV-associated cervical lesions. A total of 1,342 women aged 18–49 years, covering both the pre-vaccine and vaccine eras, who visited Yuri Kumiai General Hospital and underwent HPV genotype tests from June 2008 to December 2017 were compared.Results: Among women aged 18–24 years with higher vaccine coverage (68.2%), the prevalence of HPV16/18 and high-risk HPV decreased from 36.7% and 69.4%, respectively, in the pre-vaccine era to 5.8% and 50.0%, respectively, in the vaccine era (p=0.00013 and p=0.047, respectively). Among those with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2− and grade 2+, HPV16/18 prevalence decreased from 30.0% to 2.7% (p=0.0018) and from 81.8% to 36.4% (p=0.030), respectively. In this age group, the rate of HPV16/18 positivity decreased significantly. Among age groups with lower vaccine coverage, HPV prevalence did not significantly differ between the two eras.Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV16/18 and high-risk HPV significantly decreased in women aged 18–24 years, most of whom were vaccinated. HPV vaccination effectively reduced the prevalence of HPV16/18 infections in the Yuri-Honjo district.
3.Two cases of atypical femoral fracture in cancer patients administered with bone-modifying agents
Yusuke FUCHIOKA ; Kohji SUZUKI ; Hiroaki KIMURA ; Hideto FURUOKA ; Yuri TAMURA
Journal of Rural Medicine 2021;16(3):170-173
Objective: We report two cases of atypical femoral fracture (AFF) in patients with cancer.Patients: Two patients, a 53-year-old woman with breast cancer and a 77-year-old man with prostate cancer, could not walk after being injured in a fall. They used bone-modifying agents (BMA) for the prevention of bone metastasis for three and four years, respectively.Results: Intramedullary nails were placed to fix the femoral fractures in each patient. Neither of them had pathological metastatic femoral fractures based on fracture site specimens; however, severe suppression of bone turnover at the fracture site was suspected. Both patients could ambulate with a T-cane and were free of hip pain after surgery. Radiographs showed no callus formation at the fracture site.Conclusion: Based on the two cases of AFF in patients with cancer related to BMA use, we should consider that the incidence of AFF may be associated with long-term BMA use.