Admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions on rural islands and their association with patient experience: a multicentred prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The rate of admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) is a key outcome indicator for primary care, and patient experience (PX) is a crucial process indicator. Studies have reported higher rates of admission for ACSCs in rural areas than in urban areas. Whether there is an association between admissions for ACSCs and PX in rural areas has not been examined. This study aimed to document admissions for ACSCs on Japanese rural islands, and assess whether there was an association between the rate of admissions for ACSCs and PX. DESIGN: Multicentred, prospective, cohort study SETTING: This study was conducted on five rural islands in Okinawa, Japan. PARTICIPANTS: The study participants were all island inhabitants aged 65 years or older. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: This study examined the association between ACSCs and PX assessed by a questionnaire, the Japanese Version of Primary Care Assessment Tool. ACSCs were classified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, and the rate of admissions for ACSCs in 1 year. RESULTS: Of 1258 residents, 740 completed the questionnaire. This study documented 38 admissions for ACSCs (29 patients, males/females: 15/14, median age 81.9) that included congestive heart failure (11), pneumonia (7) and influenza (5). After adjusting for covariates and geographical clustering, admissions for ACSCs had a significant positive association with each patient's PX scores (OR per 1 SD increase=1.62, 95% CI 1.02-2.61). CONCLUSIONS: Physicians serving rural areas need to stress the importance of preventive interventions for heart failure, pneumonia and influenza to reduce the number of admissions for ACSCs. Contrary to previous studies, our findings might be explained by close patient-doctor relationships on the rural islands.

[A Case of Successful Drug-Eluting Microsphere Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Associated Tumor Thrombus in the Inferior Vena Cava and Right Atrium].

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with severe vascular invasion has a dismal prognosis, and there is no well-established effective therapy. We report an 84-year-old man who benefited from multiple transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE)treatments for advanced HCC with severe vascular invasion. Initial CT revealed a recurrent, poorly differentiated HCC with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava(IVC)and right atrium(Vv3). Two cycles of TACE with 5-FU, DOC, MMC, and superabsorbent polymer microspheres(SAP-MS)with BV resulted in considerable reduction of the tumor thrombus. Tumor markers(PIVKA- / / II)showed remarkable improvement(from 3,803 mAU/mL to 673 mAU/mL). The patient has been alive for 25 months following the appearance of tumor thrombus in the IVC. This case suggests that, in patients with tumor thrombi due to hepatocellular carcinoma, thrombus control and long-term survival are achievable with TACE.

[Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization Therapy for Giant Cholangiocellular Carcinoma - A Single Case Report].

Here, we report a case of cholangiocellular carcinoma that was successfully treated with chemotherapy using a selective intra-arterial infusion technique. A 65-year-old man presented to our hospital to obtain a second opinion regarding his disease. The patient was diagnosed with cholangiocellular carcinoma. The giant tumor was located in the porta hepatis. Some small nodules that were considered to be metastatic lesions were also observed in the surroundingarea. The tumor was judged by the primary physician to be too large for surgical treatment. Consequently, it was decided to treat the patient with trans-arterial chemoembolization(TACE)by selectingintra -arterial infusion of 5-FU, epirubicin(EPI), and mitomycin C prior to EPI-loaded HepaSphere(super-absorbent polymer microsphere)embolization, combined with concurrent systemic gemcitabine chemotherapy. After 5 sessions of the above treatment, the primary lesion reduced dramatically in size. In addition, the levels of CEA and CA19-9 decreased from 34.2 to 2.6 ng/mL and 1,540 to 149 U/mL, respectively. Although the patient's initial life expectancy was only 3 to 6 months, his life expectancy was extended to as longas 26 months followingthe initiation of TACE. This case suggests that treatment with TACE together with systemic chemotherapy can be a powerful therapeutic option for patients with inoperable cholangiocellular carcinoma.

[Maxillary Cancer with Metastasis to the Rouviere Nodes -- Complete Response to Chemoradiotherapy Using a Selective Intra-Arterial Infusion Technique].

We report a case of advanced maxillary cancer with multiple lymph node metastases, including metastasis to the Rouviere nodes, which were successfully treated with chemoradiotherapy using a selective intra-arterial infusion technique.A 71-yearold man presented to our hospital with complaints of a staggering gait and epistaxis.He was diagnosed with maxillary cancer (squamous cell carcinoma)classified as T4a disease.Because multiple lymph node metastases were detected, including metastasis to the Rouviere nodes, radical surgical treatment was considered inadequate.Thus, the patient was treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy with selective intra-arterial infusion of nedaplatin and docetaxel.After chemoradiotherapy, the maxillary cancer and lymph metastasis nearly resolved and the patient achieved a complete response.No additional surgery was needed, and the patient was discharged.We suggest that chemoradiotherapy using a selective intra-arterial infusion technique is a highly effective treatment option for patients with maxillary cancer and metastasis to the Rouviere nodes.

[Introduction of Hyperthermia Therapy with Low Dose Systemic Chemotherapy and Hepatic Transarterial Chemo-Embolization for a Case of Advanced Prostatic Cancer].

The case of a 78-year-old man with hormone-independent locally advanced prostatic cancer with liver metastases is reported. Standard systemic chemotherapy was not administered due to his poor general condition. At the initial consultation, rapidly growing liver metastases, multiple lymph node metastases, and extensive locally advanced prostatic lesions were found. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, low dose systemic chemotherapy, and thermotherapy were administered. After introduction of this combination therapy, marked regression of all of the lesions, including the liver metastases, lymph node metastases, and pelvic extension was observed. The patient's condition and prognosis were markedly improved without serious complications.

[Transarterial Chemoembolization for Liver Metastasis of Ovarian Malignant Melanoma Resulting in Long-Term Survival].

Melanoma is a potentially aggressive disease, and patients with metastatic melanoma have a poor prognosis, with a median survival of only 6-9 months. There is no effective standard treatment for liver metastasis of malignant melanoma. Primary ovarian malignant melanoma is extremely rare and is usually associated with teratoma. We report a case of malignant melanoma arising in a mature ovarian cystic teratoma that had metastasized to the liver. Six courses of systemic chemotherapy were administered. However, as the liver metastases became enlarged, we performed transarterial chemoembolization(TACE). Following repeated TACE using drug-eluting microspheres for the liver metastasis, the patient survived 80 months from the initial diagnosis.