Background: Lung cancer patients frequently suffer from sarcopenia, and reports on the association of resectable lung cancer and their postoperative outcomes are increasing. Information on whether sarcopenia has any impact on short-and long-term postoperative outcomes in patients surgically treated for nonsmall cell lung cancer remains insufficient. Furthermore, reports vary regarding the pathological stage, surgical procedure, diagnostic tool of sarcopenia, cut-off value, prognosis, and postoperative complications.We believe that sarcopenia assessment should be included as one of the factors which affect the surgical outcomes of lung cancer. Thus, we conducted a review and meta-analysis to ascertain the association between sarcopenia and postoperative outcomes. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE. Studies included cases defined sarcopenia, received lung cancer surgery, assessed postoperative complications, and prognosis. The pooled odds ratios for survival and postoperative complications, with 95% confidence intervals, were generated using Review manager 5.3. Results: A total of ten retrospective studies were eligible for this meta-analysis, including a total of 2,643 non-small cell lung cancer patients. All reviews used skeletal muscle mass as a diagnostic tool for sarcopenia.Sarcopenia was associated with worse survival outcomes and increased postoperative complications in patients with resected lung cancer. Conclusions: Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for postoperative death and postoperative complications in patients who have undergone surgery. It is necessary to explore the mechanism of sarcopenia and optimal intervention, such as exercise, nutrition, or drug therapy.

Background Sarcopenia is among the most prevalent and serious cancer-related symptom, and is strongly correlated with a poor prognosis. Moreover, it reportedly predicts poor prognosis after surgery in patients with lung cancer. However, it is unclear whether sarcopenia directly affects post-operative recurrence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether sarcopenia can be a risk indicator for post-operative recurrence, and whether it suppresses anti-tumor immunity, in a cohort of patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer. Methods This study retrospectively reviewed the data of 256 consecutive patients who underwent curative lobectomy and lymph node dissection for non-small cell lung cancer at our institution. The psoas muscle mass index was calculated as the total psoas muscle area at the third lumbar vertebral level/height2 (cm2/m2). Sarcopenia was defined by a psoas muscle mass index of under 5.03 cm2/m2 and 3.17 cm2/m2 in male and female patients, respectively. Post-operative prognosis and cumulative incidence of recurrence rates were calculated. Results The 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates post-surgery were 59.5% and 38.6%, respectively, in patients with sarcopenia versus 81.1% and 72.1%, respectively, in patients without sarcopenia (p < 0.001). The 5-year cumulative incidence of recurrence rate in patients with sarcopenia was significantly higher than those without sarcopenia (49.9% versus 22.4%, respectively) in every pathological stage. Pathological stages II and III (hazard ratio, 3.36; p = 0.004), histological type (hazard ratio, 2.31; p = 0.025), and sarcopenia (hazard ratio, 2.52; p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for post-operative recurrence according to multivariate analysis. Conclusion Sarcopenia is a risk indicator for post-operative recurrence in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

This study clarifies the transformation of Core Housing units through residents' extension at Tung Song Hong (TSH) Settlements. It was constructed by the National Housing Authority in late 1970s. The study focuses on three points such as transition of the settlements and residents, use of advantage of Core Housing and spatial characteristics of extended Core Housing. We found that settlements have been developed both physically and socially through residents continuous living. However there was lack of management system by the provider side to support residents' self-build activities, residents did not understand the detail of devices of Core Housing nor follow the projected extension process. On the other hand, there are similarity among space composition through residents' step by step extensions, even original core units were varied. We called it as multipurpose living room oriented plan. The multipurpose living room is frequently used for daily life but also very important at the ceremony and indicates residents' recognition toward the houses in Thailand.

Background: Surgery remains the best treatment for obtaining cure in patients with resectable lung cancer, regardless of age. In elderly patients, however, the presumed fear of decreased performance status (PS) after lobectomy has resulted in the delivery of sub-optimal cancer surgery. Surgical decision making for such patients would become easier if post-lobectomy survival benefits and changes in PS were well defined. Methods:We reviewed patients aged 75 years or older who received lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at our hospital between January 2004 and December 2014. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS was preoperatively and postoperatively assessed in 137 patients. Patients were classified into 2 groups based on the change in PS: in Group 1, postoperative and preoperative PS were the same; in group 2, postoperative PS was less than preoperative PS. We compared the characteristics of patients in groups 1 and 2.Results: Overall 5-year survival was 47.4% in group 1 and 0% in group 2 (P<0.001). History of cardiac ischemia (P=0.001) and squamous cell carcinoma (P=0.015) were identified as significant predictors of reduced postoperative PS. Conclusions:Our results show that maintenance of PS after lobectomy is expected to be associated with a good prognosis. However, reduction of PS after lobectomy indicates an extremely poor prognosis in elderly patients with lung cancer. History of cardiac ischemia and squamous cell carcinoma are possible risk factors for decreasing PS. Thus, careful patient evaluation and selection are needed when deciding whether to use lobectomy in clinical practice.

Background: Asthma is a complex phenotype that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Genome-wide linkage and association studies have been performed to identify susceptibility genes for asthma. These studies identified new genes and pathways implicated in this disease, many of which were previously unknown.