The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
-
Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · May 2024
Morphological Predictors of Primary Lung Cancer among Part-Solid Ground-Grass Nodules on High-Resolution CT.
Recent advancements in computed tomography (CT) scanning have improved the detection rates of peripheral pulmonary nodules, including those with ground-glass opacities (GGOs). This study focuses on part-solid pure ground-glass nodules (GGNs) and aims to identify imaging predictors that can reliably differentiate primary lung cancer from nodules with other diagnoses among part-solid GGNs on high-resolution CT (HRCT). A retrospective study was conducted on 609 patients who underwent surgical treatment or observation for lung nodules. ⋯ When two imaging features were combined, the combination of CTR < 0.5 and a clear tumor border was identified to have 100% positive predictive values with a sensitivity of 40.8%. Thus we conclude that part-solid GGNs with a CTR < 0.5 accompanied by a clear tumor border evaluated by HRCT are very likely to be primary lung cancers with an acceptable sensitivity. Preoperative diagnostic procedures to obtain a pathological diagnosis may potentially be omitted in patients harboring such part-solid GGNs.
-
Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · May 2024
Comparative StudyComparative Gene-Expression Analysis of the Ligamentum Flavum of Patients with Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis: Comparison between the Dural and Dorsal Sides of the Thickened Ligamentum Flavum.
Thickening of the ligamentum flavum is the main factor in the development of lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS). Although previous studies have reported factors related to ligamentum flavum thickening, its etiology has not been clarified. Furthermore, it is often difficult to set proper controls to investigate the pathologies of thickening due to differences in patient characteristics, such as age, sex, obesity, and comorbidities. ⋯ Genes related to fibrosis, inflammation, tissue repair, remodeling, and chondrometaplasia, such as COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, TGFB1, VEGFA, TNFA, MMP2, COL10A1, and ADAMTS4, were highly expressed on the dorsal side of the thickened ligamentum flavum. The biological processes occurring on the dorsal side of the thickened ligamentum flavum were extracellular matrix organization, cell adhesion, extracellular matrix disassembly, and proteolysis. These are considered important pathologies of ligamentum flavum thickening.
-
Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · May 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialEffectiveness of Roy Adaptation Model-Based Cognitive Stimulation Therapy in Elderly Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Curative Resection.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of a Roy adaptation model (RAM)-based cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) intervention on elderly patients diagnosed with primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing curative resection. A total of 280 patients diagnosed with primary NSCLC were randomized into RAM-based CST group and control group. Outcomes were assessed at three intervals: pre-surgery, discharge, and one-month post-discharge. ⋯ Additionally, the RAM-based CST group exhibited substantial enhancements in SF36 subcategory scores at 1-month post-discharge compared to pre-surgery. At post-intervention, the RAM-based CST group demonstrated significantly higher scores than the control group across various health-related domains, including role limitations due to emotional problems, mental health, general health perception, bodily pain, and role limitations due to physical problems. The RAM-based CST intervention in elderly NSCLC patients undergoing curative resection yielded significant enhancements in cognitive function, reduced delirium incidence, improved emotional well-being, and better QoL postoperatively.