Association between Lymphovascular Invasion and Recurrence in Patients with pT1N+ or pT2–3N0 Gastric Cancer: a Multi-institutional Dataset Analysis

PURPOSE: Patients with pathological stage T1N+ or T2–3N0 gastric cancer may experience disease recurrence following curative gastrectomy. However, the current Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines do not recommend postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for such patients. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors for patients with pT1N+ or pT2–3N0 gastric cancer using a multi-institutional dataset.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data obtained from 401 patients with pT1N+ or pT2–3N0 gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy at 9 institutions between 2010 and 2014.RESULTS: Of the 401 patients assessed, 24 (6.0%) experienced postoperative disease recurrence. Multivariate analysis revealed that age ≥70 years (hazard ratio [HR], 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–7.23; P=0.030) and lymphatic and/or venous invasion (lymphovascular invasion (LVI): HR, 7.88; 95% CI, 1.66–140.9; P=0.005) were independent prognostic factors for poor recurrence-free survival. There was no significant association between LVI and the site of initial recurrence.CONCLUSIONS: LVI is an indicator of poor prognosis in patients with pT1N+ or pT2–3N0 gastric cancer.

Factors Related to Gemcitabine-induced Phlebitis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors related to gemcitabine (GEM)-induced phlebitis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 400 cases of intravenous GEM administration to 50 patients from June 2014 to May 2015. We assessed the relationship between GEM-induced phlebitis and various factors including age, sex, BMI, analgesic use (NSAIDs or opioids), and GEM-administration procedures including drug formulation, dosage, and access site. Results: Phlebitis occurred in 79 cases (19.8%). Multivariate analysis indicated that sex (female), age (<65 years old), BMI (≥25 kg/m2; obesity), drug formulation (liquid), and access site (dorsal hand vein) were significantly related to the presence of phlebitis. Discussion: GEM-administration procedures should be modified in patients with these risk factors. It is desirable to apply hot fomentation and to puncture at the brachial region or cubital fossae region vein to prevent phlebitis.

SKINFOLD THICKNESS OBSERVED ON STUDENTS IN A WOMEN'S COLLEGE / 体力科学

On 34 students (member of athletic clubs : 19 students, control : 15 students) aged 18-22 years in a women's college, skinf old thickness at the following ten sites on the right side of the body were measured four times in a year. (1) Temple, (2) Chin, (3) Anterior axillary, (4) Triceps, (5) Subscapular, (6) Chest at the level of the tenth rib, (7) Abdomen at the side of the umbilicus, (8) Waist just above the illiac crest, (9) Thigh and (10) Calf.<BR>Skinf old thickness at many sites decreased significantly from January to October. In the control group and for senior students in the athletic group, this decrease of skinfold thickness recovered almost completely untill the next January. For first-year students in the athletic group, the skinfold thickness in the next January was higher than that of October but was still lower than that of previous January.<BR>The above results suggest that skinfold is thicker in winter than in summer and skinfold thickness may be decreased by the activities in the athletic clubs.