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Background NJLCG1402 was a phase I/II trial investigating biweekly nanoparticle albumin‐bound paclitaxel (nab‐PTX) in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The study included patients aged ≥20 years with previously treated NSCLC. Nab‐PTX (100–150 mg/m2) was administered biweekly in a 28‐day cycle. The phase I portion was performed to determine the recommended phase II dose of nab‐PTX. In the phase II portion, the primary endpoint was the objective response rate. Secondary endpoints were disease control rate, progression‐free survival, overall survival, and safety. Results A total of 15 patients received biweekly nab‐PTX (100–150 mg/m2) and 12 patients in phase II were treated with 150 mg/m2. In the phase I portion, 150 mg/m2 was determined as the recommended dose. Among those treated with 150 mg/m2, the objective response rate was 22%, and the median progression‐free and overall survival was 3.6 and 11.2 months, respectively. Adverse events grade ≥3 were observed in 39% of patients. Conclusions Biweekly nab‐PTX monotherapy was well tolerated and exhibited favorable antitumor activity in patients with previously treated NSCLC., We conducted the first prospective multicenter phase I/II trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biweekly nab‐PTX treatment in patients with previously treated advanced NSCLC. In phase I portion, 150 mg/m2 was determined as the recommended dose. Among those treated with 150 mg/m2, the objective response rate was 22%; median progression‐free and overall survival was 3.6 and 11.2 months, respectively.

Background Osimertinib is effective in patients with T790M mutation-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, its effectiveness and safety in patients with poor performance status (PS) are unknown. Methods Enrolled patients showed disease progression after treatment with gefitinib, erlotinib, or afatinib; T790M mutation; stage IIIB, IV, or recurrent disease; and PS of 2–4. Osimertinib was orally administered at a dose of 80 mg/day. The primary endpoint of this phase II study (registration, jRCTs061180018) was response rate and the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate, and safety. Results Thirty-three patients were enrolled, of which 69.7% and 24.2% had PS of 2 and 3, respectively. One patient was excluded due to protocol violation; in the remaining 32 patients, the response rate was 53.1%; disease control rate was 75.0%; PFS was 5.1 months; and OS was 10.0 months. The most frequent adverse event of grade 3 or higher severity was lymphopenia (12.1%). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was observed at all grades and at grades 3–5 in 15.2% (5/33) and 6.1% (2/33) of patients, respectively. Treatment-related death due to ILD occurred in one patient. Patients negative for activating EGFR mutations after osimertinib administration had longer median PFS than those positive for these mutations. Conclusion Osimertinib was sufficiently effective in EGFR-TKI-resistant, poor PS patients with T790M mutation-positive advanced NSCLC. Plasma EGFR mutation clearance after TKI treatment could predict the response to EGFR-TKIs.

Lessons Learned Low-dose afatinib maintenance treatment among patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC achieved long-time to treatment failure with fewer treatment-related AEs without detracting from the therapeutic efficacy. This modified regimen represents a practical usage that balances effectiveness and safety. Background Although afatinib is an effective therapy for patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), drug-related adverse events (AEs) have often necessitated dose reductions. In a post hoc analysis of the LUX-Lung 3 and 6 trials, there was no difference in median progression-free survival (PFS) between patients who had the dose of afatinib reduced and those who did not. We thus evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of low-dose afatinib maintenance treatment among patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations who had not been previously treated. Methods Eligible patients received afatinib 40 mg orally once daily. When prescribed grade ≥ 2 AEs, rash of grade ≥ 3, or unacceptable toxicity occurred, the afatinib dose was reduced from 40 to 30 mg and if needed from 30 to 20 mg. The primary endpoint was the 1-year PFS rate. Secondary endpoints were PFS, overall response rate (ORR), and toxicity. Results Among 30 patients, 93% had adenocarcinoma, 53% had exon 19 deletion, 37% had L858R, and 10% had minor mutations. The 1-year PFS rate was 50% (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.3–66.1) and the median PFS was 11.8 months (95% CI, 7.1–21.4). The incidence rate of grade ≥ 3 toxicities was 57%, including elevated aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase level (13%), diarrhea (10%), and paronychia (10%). Conclusion Low-dose afatinib maintenance treatment reduced treatment-related AEs without detracting from the therapeutic efficacy.

The endoscopic net forceps with the support of a laryngeal mask airway are a dependable choice for retrieving a round metallic object from an airway.

A 46-year-old man with no underlying diseases visited our hospital with otorrhea, ocular motility disorder of the left eye, dizziness and loss of appetite which had lasted for two months. Chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules and cavities. Furthermore, CT of the head and neck revealed bilateral mastoiditis, a left orbital abscess and a deep neck abscess. Peptostreptococcus micros was cultured from blood and otorrhea specimens. In addition, P. micros DNA was detected with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in the specimens from the site of culture-negative lesions (i.e. sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, neck abscess). Thus, we diagnosed the lung lesions as septic pulmonary embolisms (SPEs). The clinical findings of the head and neck had improved following antibiotics treatment for five weeks, and follow-up chest radiography and CT showed that all lesions almost disappeared. Since some SPE patients demonstrate a slow progression, SPE should be included in the differential diagnosis of multiple pulmonary nodules such as Wegener's glanulomatosis or neoplasm.

Background: After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the respiratory infection had increased in a stricken area. In order to prevent the increase of pneumonia, the free vaccination campaign with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine was intended for residents aged over 70 from October 2011 to March 2012 in the area. In Miyagi prefecture, the vaccine coverage had risen from 17% to 46%. Objectives: The aim was to examine the impact of the earthquake and the following vaccination campaign on pneumococcal pneumonia in adult. Methods: We surveyed the occurrence of the adult pneumonia in our hospital between January 2010 and December 2014 retrospectively. Results: From the next autumn of the earthquake, the number of pneumococcal pneumonia in adult had begun to increase. In the corresponding period, the vaccination campaign was started. Although the rate of pneumococcal pneumonia in all adult pneumonia accounted for about 40% at the beginning of the campaign, it declined to almost 20% after the end of the campaign. The rate of pneumococcal pneumonia was 27.8% in 2010, 26.0% in 2011, 28.9% in 2012, 24.3% in 2013, and 22.3% in 2014. Compared with 2012 (just end of the campaign) and 2014, the rate declined significantly (p=0.009). The mortality rate of pneumococcal pneumonia was 3.0% in 2010, 4.7% in 2011, 8.0% in 2012, 5.4% in 2013, and 3.8% in 2014, but there was no significant difference between 2012 and 2014 (p=0.13). Conclusions: Although the number of pneumococcal pneumonia increased from the next autumn of the earthquake, it decreased after the vaccination campaign. After the campaign, the rate of pneumococcal pneumonia declined significantly.