Effects of exercise therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The reported benefits of exercise therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer include maintaining and improving physical fitness and muscle strength, reducing treatment-related side effects, and enhancing quality of life. However, the evidence remains inconclusive, necessitating the integration of interventional studies to reach a consensus. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of exercise interventions for patients with pancreatic cancer through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Prognostic Impact of Cytomegalovirus Reactivation After Transplantation From Cord Blood Compared to Other Donor Sources in Patients With Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma in the Pre-Letermovir Era.

Background: Cytomegalovirus reactivation (CMV-react) is an indicator for the worse non-relapse mortality (NRM) and overall survival (OS) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using HLA-matched related donor (MRD) and unrelated donor (URD) for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). However, it remains unclear whether CMV-react correlates with outcomes after unrelated cord blood (U-CB) transplantation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective nationwide study to evaluate the impact of CMV-react on the outcomes after posttransplant 100 days.

Dysregulation of the tumor suppressor Menin and its target Bach2 in HTLV-1 infection.

Background: The tumor suppressor Menin, prone to mutations in both hereditary and sporadic endocrine tumors, along with its direct target Bach2, plays a crucial role in preventing autoimmunity by regulating CD4 + T cell senescence and maintaining cytokine homeostasis. Since human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) primarily infects CD4 + T cells, and its dysregulation contributes to both the hematological malignancy of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), we examined the involvement of the Menin-Bach2 pathway in HTLV-1 infection.

Methods: The mRNA expression of menin and bach2 in HTLV-1-infected and uninfected human T-cell lines, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with ATL, HAM/TSP, and asymptomatic carriers were analyzed.

Current status of prehabilitation before esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer among board-certified hospitals by the Japan Esophageal Society.

Background: Prehabilitation has been shown to prevent postoperative pneumonia and physical function decline after esophagectomy in recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses. However, the implementation status of prehabilitation for esophagectomy remains unknown. This nationwide survey was performed to investigate the current status of and barriers to prehabilitation before esophagectomy among Japanese hospitals.

The current status of cancer rehabilitation provided by palliative care units in Japan: a nationwide survey.

Background: To our knowledge, the current status of and barriers to cancer rehabilitation in palliative care units (PCUs) in Japan remain to be elucidated. If clarified, this information could help develop rehabilitation strategies to improve the quality of life of patients with cancer who need palliative care. Hence, this study aimed to clarify the current status of and barriers to cancer rehabilitation in PCUs in Japan by conducting a nationwide questionnaire survey.

[Intramuscular abscess and multiple lymphadenitis due to Nocardia asiatica infection requiring differential diagnosis from smoldering adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma].

A 72-year-old male engaged in horticulture developed a progressively enlarging painful mass in the left upper arm. The first biopsy revealed no malignancy or pathogenic bacteria. He completed an adequate course of antibiotics for infectious lymphadenitis, but showed no apparent improvement.

Lower-extremity muscle strength is associated with prognosis in patients with advanced or recurrent lung cancer: a retrospective, observational study.

Background: We aimed to examine associations between various sarcopenia indices-including skeletal muscle index (SMI), handgrip strength, lower-extremity muscle strength, a combined measure of handgrip and lower-extremity muscle strength, sarcopenia (defined as a combination of SMI and muscle strength), and the SARC-F questionnaire-and all-cause mortality in patients with advanced or recurrent lung cancer. Moreover, we aimed to identify factors influencing sarcopenia indices that demonstrate strong correlations with prognosis, aiming to inform the development of targeted interventional strategies.

Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled outpatients with lung cancer who underwent chemotherapy.

Relationship between quality of life before treatment and survival in patients with hematological malignancies: A meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of pretreatment quality of life (QoL) on overall survival (OS) in patients with hematological malignancies. The observational studies with relationship between QoL and OS in patients undergoing either hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or chemotherapy were collected. Stratification by treatment was performed to examine the association between QoL and OS.

Two Cases of Plasmablastic Myeloma Mimicking Plasmablastic Lymphoma With In-Depth Review of Literature.

Background: Plasmablastic myeloma (PBM) is a rare, aggressive subtype of multiple myeloma (MM) with poor prognosis. On the other hand, plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma with a plasmacytic phenotype. Importantly, PBM is difficult to distinguish from PBL, because clinical features of both diseases closely overlap.

Impact of time to treatment initiation on the development of cachexia and clinical outcomes in lung cancer.

Background: Pre-cancer onset of cachexia raises uncertainties regarding the optimal timing for early intervention in lung cancer patients. We aimed to examine changes in physical function, nutritional status, and cachexia incidence in patients with lung cancer from the initial visit to treatment initiation and determine the effect of these changes on lung cancer treatment.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled patients suspected of having advanced lung cancer who visited Kansai Medical University Hospital between January and February 2023 and were definitely diagnosed with the disease.

Evaluating and Enhancing Japanese Large Language Models for Genetic Counseling Support: Comparative Study of Domain Adaptation and the Development of an Expert-Evaluated Dataset.

Background: Advances in genetics have underscored a strong association between genetic factors and health outcomes, leading to an increased demand for genetic counseling services. However, a shortage of qualified genetic counselors poses a significant challenge. Large language models (LLMs) have emerged as a potential solution for augmenting support in genetic counseling tasks.

Echo intensity of the superficial part of the medial infrapatellar fat pad and medial meniscal extrusion are associated with knee symptoms in community-dwelling older adults.

Purpose: Knee pain is a characteristic symptom of early-stage knee osteoarthritis. Recently, the association between knee symptoms and infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) degeneration has garnered attention. This study aimed to clarify the association between ultrasound-derived size and echo intensity (EI) in the IFP and knee symptoms.

Comparative Study on Associations Between Lung Cancer Prognosis and Diagnostic Criteria Set by the European Palliative Care Research Collaboration and the Asian Working Group for Cachexia.

Background: Cachexia is a poor prognostic factor in many advanced cancers. Cachexia diagnostic criteria of the European Palliative Care Research Collaboration (EPCRC) may underestimate cachexia in Asians; therefore, new criteria have been proposed by the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC). We compared both criteria to determine differences in diagnostic rates and their association with lung cancer prognosis.

Evaluation of ALKBH2 and ALKBH3 gene regulation in patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

Background: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is an oncogenic virus that causes malignant adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Patients infected with HTLV-1 are considered HTLV-1 carriers, and a small proportion of patients progress to life-threatening ATL after a long asymptomatic phase. No antiviral agent or preventive vaccine specific for HTLV-1 infection is established in current situation.

Relationship between patient-reported health-related quality of life as measured with the SF-36 or SF-12 and their mortality risk in patients with diverse cancer type: a meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as measured with the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) or Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12) and mortality risk in patients with diverse types of cancer.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases to collect articles published before December 2022. Of these, observational studies that examined the association between HRQOL and mortality risk in patients with various cancer types were extracted.

Physical activity and prognosis and factors associated with low physical activity in patients with advanced or recurrent lung cancer: a retrospective, observational study.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and prognosis, and the significant factors associated with physical activity in patients with advanced or recurrent lung cancer.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study enrolled 50 outpatients with lung cancer who received chemotherapy. Patients were evaluated for physical function, physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), and nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form [MNA-SF]).

Current status of research on sarcopenia in post-treatment cancer survivors in Japan:A narrative review.

Sarcopenia is prevalent among 11-25% of adult cancer survivors, depending on the cancer type, although the available data on post-treatment survivors in Japan are limited. If cancer patients develop cachexia, they may experience sustained weight loss as a result, ultimately leading to sarcopenia. Conversely, some patients experience post-treatment weight gain, resulting in sarcopenic obesity.