Objectives: We compared cancer patients who were discharged home from inpatients hospices (Home), and who died at hospices (PCU) as a comparison group regarding patients’ quality of life, to clarify the patients’ experience after discharge home. Methods: We send self-reported questionnaires to bereaved families of cancer patients who were discharged home from 12 Japanese nation-wide hospices and died without readmission to the hospicies during Janually 2010 and August 2014. We used bereaved families’ data of patients who died at the same hospices during the same period of J-HOPE3 study. Results: We sent 495 questionnaires (returned 47.3%) and analyzed data of 188 as Home. The data of 759 bereaved families of J-HOPE3 study were also analyzed as PCU. In Good Death Inventory, Home was associated with higher score on some items (staying at favorite place, having pleasure, staying with families and friends, being valued as a person), and PCU was associated with higher score on being free from pain or other physical distress. Conclusions: Patients who were discharged home from inpatient hospices had good environmental QOL, but hospices may be better in palliation of symptoms.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish criteria that would indicate whether fertility preservation therapy would likely be safe for patients aged 40 years or less with endometrioid endometrial cancer based on their DNA methylation profile. Methods: Forty-nine fresh-frozen tissue samples from patients with endometrial cancer from an initial cohort and 31 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from a second cohort were subjected to genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. Results: Epigenomic clustering of early-onset endometrial cancer was correlated with the widely used recurrence risk classification. Genes showing differences in DNA methylation levels between the low-recurrence-risk category and intermediate- and high-risk categories were accumulated in pathways related to fibroblast growth factor and nuclear factor-κB signaling. DNA hypomethylation and overexpression of ZBTB38 were frequently observed in the low-risk category. Eight hundred thirty-one marker CpG probes showed area under the curve values of >0.7 on the receiver operating characteristic curve for discrimination of patients belonging to the low-risk category. By combining marker CpG sites, seven panels for placing patients into the low-risk category with 91.3% or more sensitivity and specificity in both the initial and second cohorts were established. Conclusions DNA methylation diagnostics criteria using up to 6 of 8 CpG sites for LPP, FOXO1, RNF4, EXOC6B, CCPG1, RREB1 and ZBTB38 may be applicable to recurrence risk estimation for patients aged 40 years or less with endometrial cancer, regardless of tumor cell content, even if formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy or curettage materials are used.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between deep squatting or ROM of lower limbs, and physical function in typically developing children. 337 elementary school students were recruited for this study. The subjects were performed to squat with their heels down and then were divided into 2 groups: possible squatting and impossible squatting. ROM of lower limbs (hip flexion, knee flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion), circumference of leg, standing long jump, the five-repetition sit-to stand test (FTSST) and a standing test were analyzed. Unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for the two-group comparison. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine variables associated with squatting, and multiple regression analysis was used to determine variables associated with physical function. The rate of impossible squatting was 11.9%. The ROM of the lower limbs was significantly decreased in the impossible group. Multiple regression analysis showed that the ankle dorsiflexion ROM and BMI were correlated with squatting. In physical function, the FTSST and standing test were correlated with squatting. However, in the multiple regression analysis squatting did not significantly affect physical function. In this study, ROM of the ankle dorsiflexion and BMI affected the squatting. It was suggested that the squatting might be useful as a screening for ankle dorsiflexion ROM.

A 70-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis underwent above-knee amputation due to osteomyelitis after right total knee arthroplasty. After the surgery, the patient started rehabilitation for wearing a prosthetic leg. However, the patient could not wear the prosthesis by herself because of severe upper limb impairment due to bilateral finger joint deformity and muscle weakness associated with the rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, physical therapists and prosthetists/orthotists collaborated to determine movements that could be performed, even with muscle weakness, using assistive devices such as a Velcro strip handle with the prosthesis and a prosthetic liner stand. Subsequently, repetitive training was performed in an environment similar to the setting of the patient's prosthesis use at home. Consequently, although no change in upper limb function was observed, the patient had increased independence during prosthesis attachment. As she had difficulty wearing and removing her trousers/underwear while wearing the prosthesis, she performed movements using assistive devices and made changes to the order of movements. Six months after the surgery, she could wear the prosthesis and perform self-care correctly by herself and return home. Therefore, to maximize function that enables independence after amputation, helping patients learn how to put on the prosthesis using a team approach is important.

Objective: The long-term efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for motor fluctuations in advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been well established; however, motor fluctuations may recur over time despite multiple adjustments of DBS settings and medications. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of three patients for whom levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) was additionally administered as a rescue therapy for secondary DBS failure due to the recurrence of motor fluctuations. Results: The three patients had advanced PD with a disease duration of 14–19 years, and had undergone DBS for motor fluctuations refractory to standard medical management. LCIG was administered to the patients because of symptom recurrence years after DBS and provided complementary effects in all patients. Conclusion The cases presented here show that rescue LCIG therapy may be a complementary treatment option for patients with post-DBS advanced PD who have a recurrence of troublesome motor complications.

This study aimed to clarify the resources required to relieve distress during palliative care delivery to cancer patients. Between April 2015 and March 2017, 1479 outpatients receiving chemotherapy for cancer were screened using the Japanese version of the Support Team Assessment Schedule (STAS-J). When the STAS-J result was 2 points and higher, the patient was considered positive for distress. A certified nurse or pharmacist performed STAS-J screening and, in cases where the patient exhibited distress, took steps to alleviate the problem themselves or consulted another resource. Distress was identified in 181 (12.2%) of the 1479 patients. These 181 patients needed 288 resources. The resources used to alleviate distress were categorized as follows: direct support by certified nurse or pharmacist (153), consultation with the attending physician (98) and other (37). The required resource included the following twelve professionals: attending physician, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, dentist, orthopedic surgeon, palliative care physician, certified nurse, certified pharmacist, medical social worker, clinical psychologist, volunteers for cancer patients, and palliative care team. The frequency of the intervention by the certified nurse or pharmacist (61, 39.9%) in directly alleviating psychiatric distress was significantly higher than by consultation with the attending physician (10, 10.2%) (p<0.0001). However, the frequency of consultation with the attending physician in alleviating physical distress (88, 89.8%) was significantly higher than that of the certified nurse or pharmacist (92, 60.1%) (p<0.0001). We conclude that the certified nurse or pharmacist is important for the delivery of palliative cancer care, because they can directly provide relief from psychiatric distress.

Colorectal cancer patients account for the largest proportion of total cancer patients in Japan. With an increase in its surgical cases and relatively higher five-year survival rate, the number of cancer survivors is expected to be increasing. Therefore, primary prevention, surgical therapy and recurrence prevention for colorectal cancer are public health priorities in Japan. General and abdominal obesity (Not only abdominal but also general obesity) are risk factors for colorectal cancer. In addition, accumulated abdominal fat can extend time spent in surgery by hindering operative procedures and surgical field expansion. These factors raise the risk of postoperative complications such as bleeding and surgical site infection, which eventually leads to increased medical expenses. Physical activity is one of protective factors for colorectal cancer. Recent studies showed that exercise intervention in cancer survivors reduces the cancer recurrence risk. Furthermore, it has been suggested that exercise interventions are effective in reducing fatigue, improving immune function, and maintaining physical function. However, the effectiveness of preoperative exercise intervention aimed at reducing weight in colorectal cancer patients remains unknown. In this review article, we discuss necessity for peri-operative weight loss among obese colorectal cancer patients.

A 2-month-old female Holstein calf and a 5-month-old female Japanese black calf presented with gingival vascular hamartoma located in the interdental space between the second and third mandibular incisors in the right and left mandibles, respectively. On radiographic or computed tomographic images, osteolytic changes appeared within the mandibular bones adjacent to the masses. The masses were removed along with affected mandibular bone by using unilateral rostral mandibulectomy. After surgery, both cases exhibited a normal appetite and grew normally, with no cosmetic changes or recurrences. Unilateral rostral mandibulectomy can be applied for invasive gingival vascular hamartomas associated with osteolytic changes.
Animals ; Appetite ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cattle ; Female ; Hamartoma ; Humans ; Incisor ; Infant ; Mandible ; Mandibular Osteotomy ; Radiography ; Recurrence

Canine mammary gland tumors (CMGTs), which are the most common neoplasms in sexually intact female dogs, have been suggested as a model for studying human breast cancer because of several similarities, including relative age of onset, risk factors, incidence, histological and molecular features, biological behavior, metastatic pattern, and responses to therapy. In the present study, we established a new cell line, the SNP cell line, from a CMGT. A tumor formed in each NOD.CB17-Prkdc (scid)/J mouse at the site of subcutaneous SNP cell injection. SNP cells are characterized by proliferation in a tubulopapillary pattern and are vimentin positive. Moreover, we examined miRNA expression in the cultured cells and found that the expression values of miRNA-143 and miRNA-138a showed the greatest increase and decrease, respectively, of all miRNAs observed, indicating that these miRNAs might play a significant role in the malignancy of SNP cells. Overall, the results of this study indicate that SNP cells might serve as a model for future genetic analysis and clinical treatments of human breast tumors.
Age of Onset ; Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor* ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mammary Glands, Human* ; Mice ; MicroRNAs* ; Risk Factors ; Vimentin