No abstract

Several recent clinical trials reported that intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) for some allergens, such as cat dander and pollen, induce tolerance more rapidly than conventional subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy, have a comparable duration of effect after only 3 injections, and do not provoke serious local or systemic reactions. However, the efficacy and safety of ILIT are using Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), and dog, which are indoor allergens that are commonly found globally, need to be evaluated. Furthermore, use of multiple allergens in ILIT should be investigated. We assessed the clinical efficacy and adverse effects of ILIT using aqueous Df, Dp, dog, and cat allergens or mixtures thereof in patients with allergic rhinitis. A total of 11 subjects with AR sensitized to Df, Dp, cat, and/or dog allergens received 3 intralymphatic inguinal injections of sensitized allergen extract (HollisterStier, New Orleans, LA, USA). Clinical parameters were assessed before ILIT, and 4 months and 1 year after the first injection. Rhinitis symptoms were alleviated and quality of life was improved 4 months after ILIT (P=0.012 and P=0.007, respectively), and these improvements lasted for 1 year after ILIT (P=0.047 and P=0.009, respectively). However, we observed 2 cases of anaphylaxis, one case of a moderate-to-severe systemic hypersensitivity reaction and the other case of a severe local reaction at the injection site after ILIT. In conclusion, ILIT can rapidly improve allergy symptoms and quality of life, and this effect lasts for 1 year. In hypersensitized patients, however, ILIT can provoke severe systemic and/or local hypersensitivity reactions when performed using aqueous allergen extracts.

Postoperative inflammation due to leakage is a negative prognostic factor for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Background Even for expert surgeons, esophagojejunostomy after laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) is not always easy to perform. Herein, we compare various types of esophagojejunostomy in terms of the technical aspects and postoperative outcomes. Methods A total of 48 patients underwent LTG for gastric cancer by the same surgeon. Four types of intracorporeal esophagojejunostomies have been applied after LTG: type A, a conventional anvil head method; type B, an OrVil TM system method; type C, a hemi-double stapling technique with anvil head; and type D, side-to-side esophagojejunostomy with linear stapler. We describe and review these types of esophagojejunostomy using a step-by-step approach. Results The mean reconstruction times were longer for types A and B than for types C and D (p \ 0.05). In terms of complications, there were five cases (10.4 %) of anastomosis leakage, which was more common in types A and B: two cases in each of type A and B and one case in type C. Moreover, anastomosis stricture requiring intervention was more common in types A and B (p \ 0.05). Conclusions To date, there are no reliable reconstruction methods after LTG. Therefore, special care is needed to prevent postoperative complication regardless of methods; also, technical innovations to support development of the safest methods of esophagojejunostomy are warranted.