PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Kunii

Publications and source records attributed to Y Kunii.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Valve-in-valve replacement of primary tissue valve failure of bovine pericardial valve minor].

A 73-year-old woman who underwent mitral valve replacement with a 31 mm Carpentier Edwards Pericardial Xenograft 19 years ago. She revealed sudden onset of a grade IV/VI a seagull like diastolic murmur at the apex, and severe hematuria. Echocardiography demonstrated severe mitral regurgitation. These findings were consistent with acute primary tissue valve failure. Therefore we performed emergency reoperation. At operation, valve leaflet was torn at the commissural stitch, and bioprosthesis strut was buried in the left posterior ventricular wall. The mitral prosthetic valve replaced with a 25 mm CarboMedics OptiForm using a technique of valve-in-valve replacement. This procedure would be one option for replacement of bioprosthetic mitral valve.

Aged↗

Prognostic factors of gastric cancer tumours of less than 2 cm in diameter: rationale for limited surgery.

BACKGROUND: A recent trend in the surgical treatment of patients with early gastric cancer in Japan has been to limit surgery to an extent that ensures complete cure and improvement in the patient's quality of life. If a gastric cancer tumour can be completely eradicated by laparoscopic surgery, the patient can be cured of cancer without major operative stress. A small gastric cancer tumour of less than 2 cm in diameter is an indication for laparoscopic surgery, but little is known about what protocol of surgical treatment is appropriate for this type of tumour. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinicopathological features of 150 patients with gastric cancer tumour of less than 2 cm in diameter were reviewed retrospectively from hospital records between 1985 and 1995. The results of retrospective analysis of clinicopathological data of 24 patients with advanced cancer were compared with those of 126 patients with early cancer. Univariate and multivariate analyses of patients with small gastric cancer tumours were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of clinicopathological features. RESULTS: A significant difference was seen between the gross tumour appearances in the two groups; Borrmann type-4 tumours were more common in the advanced group. Lymph-node metastasis, lymphatic vessel invasion and vascular invasion were found more frequently in the advanced cancer group than in the early cancer group. Scirrhous type was more common in the advanced cancer group. In univariate analysis, unfavourable prognostic factors included deep cancer invasion, presence of lymph-node metastasis, lymphatic invasion and vascular invasion. Using Cox's proportional hazard regression model, only nodal involvement emerged as an independent statistically significant prognostic parameter associated with long-term survival. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery should not be performed on tumours that are Borrmann type in macroscopic appearance and scirrhous-type histologically. Lymph-node metastasis is an independent prognostic factor. We recommend laparoscopic surgery involving local resection of the stomach without lymphadenectomy for small, early gastric cancer tumours that satisfy the criteria mentioned above. However, the validity of this recommendation should be tested by a prospective randomized control trial in the future.

Aged↗

Will accident reports filed in hospitals in Japan be used in the future as evidence in malpractice lawsuits?

A major drawback of submission of so-called incident reports for medical institutions is that such reports may be able to be obtained on request by patients and to be used as evidence in malpractice lawsuits. In Japan, there are no established rules concerning the use of accident reports in medical lawsuits. More debate is needed for voluntary report systems to become established in medical institutions throughout Japan.

Disclosure↗

[Study on the intensity of MMC and UFT in postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer--study report of JFMTC Study No. 10].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between efficacy and dose intensity of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with MMC and UFT. A total of 1,410 patients from 180 institutions were allocated into a low-dose group and a high-dose group. The patients in the low-dose group received MMC at 8 mg/m2 on the day of surgery and 3 capsules of UFT (300 mg in tegafur) daily for 6 months. The patients in the high-dose group received MMC at 8 mg/m2 on the day of surgery, and in weeks 4, 10, 16, and 22 after surgery and 6 capsules of UFT (600 mg in tegafur) daily for 6 months. The patients in the high-dose group tended to exhibit higher survival rates than those in the low-dose group, although the difference was not significant. For the n(+)ps(-) patients, however, the survival rates were significantly higher in the high-dose group (p = 0.043). The recurrence-free rates showed a similar tendency. The incidence rates of adverse events were significantly higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group. Compliance was poorer in the high-dose group. Although the number of adverse events increases, a better prognosis can be expected with a high dose. These results confirmed a dose-dependency in adjuvant chemotherapy with MMC and UFT.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

[Interim report on JFMTC Study no. 21 on the effectiveness of UFT as an adjuvant therapy for semi-advanced cancer of the stomach].

This interim report, for findings as of May, 1998, covers data on 435 gastrectomized patients with semi-advanced stomach cancer collected from 144 institutions between November, 1993 and March, 1996. The active arm of the study involved CDDP i.p. administration of 70 mg/m2 at the time of resective surgery, followed by UFT oral administration for one year at 3-4 capsules daily. A randomized control involved no adjuvant therapy after CDDP i.p. administered as in the active arm. The results obtained indicated no significant difference between the groups in terms of 3 year survival or disease free survival rates. Reports appearing elsewhere have suggested that 3-4 capsules/day of UFT may be insufficient to reach the threshold of the effective tissue level, and that 6 capsules may be necessary to obtain the expected results. (JFMTC: Japanese Foundation of Multidisciplinary Treatment for Cancer).

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Interim report of JFMTC study no. 20 on the effectiveness of high dose CDDP plus 5-FU regimen as an adjuvant therapy for far-advanced cancer of the stomach].

This interim analysis of the JFMTC study as of May, 1998 covers 321 gastrectomized patients with far-advanced stomach cancer from 135 institutions between November, 1993 and March, 1996. The intensive therapy group (I-group) received CDDP i.p. administration on resective surgery with 70 mg/m2 followed by CDDP i.v. of 80 mg/m2 (day 1, i.v.), accompanying 5-FU of 350 mg/m2/day (day 1-5, c.v.i.) in the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks. The I-group was randomly compared with the standard therapy group (S-group) of MMC of 6 mg/m2 i.v. in the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks and UFT of 3-4 capsules daily for postoperative one year. The results obtained were that 1. adverse reactions were found more in the I-group than in the S-group, particularly notable in the decrease in blood cells, loss of appetite and nausea/vomiting, and incidence of grade 3 or more being 13% (neutrophile leukocytes), 26% and 21%, respectively; 2. there was no significant difference between I- and S-groups in terms of 3-year survival or disease-free survival rates. (JFMTC: Japanese Foundation of Multidisciplinary Treatment for Cancer).

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[A case of repeated surgical intervention for pulmonary venous obstruction after repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection].

A 3-month-old boy showed pulmonary venous obstruction after repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. He was treated with a novel method of stureless in situ pericardium repair. Six weeks after this operation, he showed recurrence of venous obstruction and the same procedure was performed. Another six weeks after this operation, stenosis of the left pulmonary vein necessitated the same procedure again. Although he suffered from pneumonia and died of sepsis, this procedure revealed effectiveness for at least three months. This report showed clinical course after repeated stureless in situ pericardium repair. More experience will be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of this procedure.

Humans↗

Lymph-node staining with activated carbon CH40: a new method for axillary lymph-node dissection in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the usefulness of activated carbon particles (CH40) as a vital staining dye for visualizing lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes in breast cancer. DESIGN: A retrospective evaluation. SETTING: Department of Surgery in Sendai National Hospital, Japan, a 716-bed teaching hospital. METHODS: To identify as many lymph nodes as possible in the axillary fat, by which we might decrease the possibility of the presence of undetected metastatic nodes, an emulsion of activated carbon particles (CH40) was injected into the centre of the mammary gland, close to the tumour site, 3 days before radical surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The number of lymph nodes found by the traditional method and by the CH40-injection method were recorded. RESULTS: After injection, the CH40 was readily adsorbed into regional lymphatics and streamed along with the lymph flow to blacken regional lymph nodes. The CH40-guided method increased the mean number of nodes per case found in the axilla from 8.4, by the traditional method, to 14.0 nodes per case. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the CH40 technique has two technical advantages; one is that it allows surgeons to locate the blackened lymph nodes at the time of surgery and the other is that it allows pathologists to look for the nodes in fatty tissue. Lymph-node dissection with the aid of activated carbon particles is inexpensive, easy to perform and enables the smallest lymph nodes to be easily recognized. CH40 is the technique of choice for the detection of axillary lymph nodes in cases where the number of lymph nodes detected by the traditional method is too small for accurate surgery. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that CH40 could be an appropriate tool for more accurate staging of breast cancer axillary specimens.

Adult↗

[A case of total cavopulmonary connection by utilization of coronary sinus as a hepatic venous return].

A 2-year-old boy with polysplenia, double outlet right ventricle after pulmonary banding and unilateral bidirectional shunt was operated on. A modified total cavopulmonary connection was done by utilization of coronary sinus as a retrograde route for the hepatic venous return. Left SVC was transected and its distal end was anastomosed to the left pulmonary artery after PA angioplasty. An equine pericardial patch was placed over the ostia of the hepatic vein and coronary sinus. Two ostia of the coronary veins were excluded from the created route. The proximal end of the left SVC was anastomosed to the inferior side of the left pulmonary artery. Postoperative course was uneventful. The postoperative angiogram showed smooth hepatic venous return through the coronary sinus and no pressure gradient was recorded between hepatic vein and pulmonary artery.

Child, Preschool↗

Clinicopathologic prognostic factors in patients with Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer: univariate and multivariate analyses.

BACKGROUND: Advanced gastric cancer is classified into four Borrmann types, types 1 to 4. Type 4 is a relatively undifferentiated carcinoma with little or no gland-forming capability. Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and surgical management of gastric cancer, most tumors of Borrmann type 4 are not detected at an early stage and the prognosis remains poor; the five-year survival rate after gastric resection ranges from 10 to 20 percent. We evaluated the affects of several clinicopathologic variables on the 5-year survival rate after resection of Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer. METHODS: Data on clinical characteristics were obtained from the records of patients who underwent gastric resection between 1985 and 1995 at the Department of Surgery, Sendai National Hospital, and follow-up data were obtained from our tumor registry. Pathologic characteristics were determined from a detailed review of all available histopathologic slides. The relationship between clinicopathologic variables and 5-year survival rate was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the logrank test. Multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis was then performed to determine which variables were independent prognostic factors. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients with Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer underwent a resection during the study period at our hospital. The overall 5-year survival rate was 14.8%. The relationship between clinicopathologic variables and 5-year survival rate was determined by constructing a Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Tumor location (upper, middle and distal vs whole stomach, p=0.0214), lymph node metastasis, capillary microinvasion, and peritonitis carcinomatosa (absent vs present, p<0.05) significantly influenced survival. When multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards regression of 5-year survival was performed, capillary microinvasion, peritonitis carcinomatosa (absent vs present) and tumor location (distal vs whole stomach) emerged as the statistically significant independent prognostic factors associated with long-term survival. CONCLUSION: Capillary microinvasion and the presence or absence of peritonitis carcinomatosa are more powerful predictors of 5-year survival than is lymph node metastasis. Patients with gastric cancer of the whole stomach have a poorer prognosis than do those with carcinoma in the antrum of the stomach.

Adult↗

Early gastric cancer in the young: clinicopathological study.

BACKGROUND: Thirty-four cases of early gastric carcinoma in patients under 50 years of age treated in the period from 1985 to 1995 were reviewed. METHODS: These constituted 3.7% of 923 cases of gastric cancer in patients of all ages that were treated at Sendai National Hospital during the same 10-year period. Data were compared with those of 194 patients 50 years of age or older. RESULTS: The incidence of gastric cancer in men and women was almost the same in both groups. Tumours tended to be located distally in the stomach. Macroscopically, depressed lesions were more common in younger patients. Significant differences were observed in depth of invasion, histological type and histological growth patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The distinctive histological features of early gastric cancer in younger patients were a diffuse type of cancer with infiltrative tumours in the mucosal layer. The prognosis of younger patients was similar to that of older patients.

Adult↗

Emergency abdominal surgery for small bowel perforation secondary to metastatic lung cancer.

Emergency surgery for bowel perforation caused by metastases from lung cancer is rare. Two cases of small bowel perforation due to metastasizing lung cancer are reported. Both patients were admitted as a surgical emergency case. One of the two patients presented herein survived and was discharged from the hospital. Perforated small bowel due to metastatic lung cancer is a highly fatal event that occurs in the late phases of the disease. Despite the poor prognosis, early and appropriate therapy will occasionally yield successful surgical palliation. Patients with known lung cancer who develop abdominal complaints should be examined thoroughly and treated quickly.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Poorly differentiated, solid-type adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

Data of 58 cases of poorly differentiated, solid-type adenocarcinoma of the stomach treated at our hospital between 1985 and 1995 were reviewed and compared to data of 146 cases of non-solid-type carcinoma in order to determine whether there are distinguishable clinicopathological features between these two types of carcinoma. Significant differences were observed with respect to tumor size, stage, macroscopic appearance, depth of invasion, histologic growth pattern, lymph node metastasis, microscopical lymphatic invasion and vascular permeation. Patients in the solid-type cancer group tended to have smaller tumors; the disease was in the early stage in 48% of the patients, and total gastrectomy was performed in only 20 of the 58 patients. Nodal involvement, lymphatic invasion and vascular permeation were also less common in patients with solid-type cancer. The overall survival rate of patients with solid-type carcinoma was higher than that of patients with non-solid-type carcinoma, though no significant differences were observed when corrected for stage. Our results suggest that poorly differentiated solid-type carcinoma of the stomach should be regarded as a distinct type of adenocarcinoma that has a good prognosis. The significant prognostic factors for this type of gastric cancer are lymphatic invasion and tumor location.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Clinicopathologic prognostic features in patients with gastric cancer associated with esophageal or duodenal invasion.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the influence of several clinicopathologic variables on 5-year survival of patients with gastric cancer associated with esophageal or duodenal invasion, and determined the significance of resection line involvement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A review of the database for gastric adenocarcinoma at Sendai National Hospital between January 1985 and December 1995 identified 923 patients who underwent gastric cancer resection. Of these patients, 37 were reported to have tumour infiltration of the esophagus or duodenum on histological examination of the resected specimens. Univariate and multivariate analyses of patients with esophageal or duodenal invasion were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of clinicopathologic features. Then the patients were divided into two groups based on the results of microscopic examination: a tumour wedge-positive group for resection margins of less than 5 mm in width and a tumour wedge-negative group for resection margins of more than 5 mm in width. There were 8 patients in the narrow (margin-positive) group and 29 patients in the wide margin (margin-negative) group, respectively. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed that the significant prognostic factors were nodal involvement (p=0.0004) and gross type (p=0.0031). Multivariate analysis of the esophagus or duodenum-invaded cancer cases, however, revealed that only nodal involvement was a significant prognostic factor. There were statistical correlations between these groups (margin-positive and margin-negative groups) and the Borrmann type of tumour and tumour size. The survival rate was worse in patients with tumour line involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Multivariate analysis revealed that the prognosis of patients with esophageal or duodenal invasion was affected only by nodal involvement independently. The risk of surgical margin involvement was high in cases of a large Borrmann type-4 tumour and infiltrative carcinoma.

Adult↗