Effect of a Novel, Energy-Dense, Low-Volume Nutritional Food in the Treatment of Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is an intermittent or persistent passage obstruction that occurs in the third portion of the duodenum between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. After symptoms stabilize, the nutritional intake is started by ingesting a small amount. Recently, an energy-dense, low-volume nutritional food, Terumeal uplead (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) with an energy density of 4.

Health-related quality of life in a randomised phase III study of gemcitabine plus S-1, S-1 alone and gemcitabine alone for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: GEST study.

Objective: This study was performed to compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS), S-1 alone and gemcitabine alone as first-line chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer in the GEST (Gemcitabine and TS-1 Trial) study and to assess the impacts of adverse events and tumour response on HRQOL.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive gemcitabine alone (1000 mg/m weekly for 3 of 4 weeks), S-1 alone (80, 100 or 120 mg/day twice daily for 4 of 6 weeks) or GS (gemcitabine at 1000 mg/m weekly plus S-1 at 60, 80 or 100 mg/day twice daily for 2 of 3 weeks). HRQOL was assessed using the EuroQoL-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire at baseline and weeks 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72.

Cellular and subcellular localization of cholecystokinin (CCK)-1 receptors in the pancreas, gallbladder, and stomach of mice.

Information concerning the cellular localization of cholecystokinin (CCK)-1 receptors has been discrepant and remained scanty at ultrastructural levels. The present immunohistochemical study at light and electron microscopic levels revealed the distinct localization of CCK1 receptors in visceral organs. Immunohistochemistry by use of a purified antibody against mouse CCK1 receptor was applied to fixed tissue sections of the pancreas, gallbladder, stomach, and intestine of mice.

Sex difference in the effects of alcohol on gastric emptying in healthy volunteers: a study using the (13)C breath test.

Several studies on alcohol and gastric emptying using the (13)C breath test showed that alcohol consumption delayed gastric emptying of meals in healthy male subjects. However, they did not employ female subjects, and the retention time of alcoholic beverages in the stomach has not been examined, yet. We examined the retention time (= gastric emptying rate) of alcoholic beverages in the stomach in healthy male and female subjects.

Randomized phase III study of gemcitabine plus S-1, S-1 alone, or gemcitabine alone in patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer in Japan and Taiwan: GEST study.

Purpose: The present phase III study was designed to investigate the noninferiority of S-1 alone and superiority of gemcitabine plus S-1 compared with gemcitabine alone with respect to overall survival.

Patients And Methods: The participants were chemotherapy-naive patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to receive only gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle), only S-1 (80, 100, or 120 mg/d according to body-surface area on days 1 through 28 of a 42-day cycle), or gemcitabine plus S-1 (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 plus S-1 60, 80, or 100 mg/d according to body-surface area on days 1 through 14 of a 21-day cycle).

Cholecystokinin plays a novel protective role in diabetic kidney through anti-inflammatory actions on macrophage: anti-inflammatory effect of cholecystokinin.

Inflammatory process is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In this article, we show that cholecystokinin (CCK) is expressed in the kidney and exerts renoprotective effects through its anti-inflammatory actions. DNA microarray showed that CCK was upregulated in the kidney of diabetic wild-type (WT) mice but not in diabetic intracellular adhesion molecule-1 knockout mice.

A humanized anti-IGF-1R monoclonal antibody (R1507) and/or metformin enhance gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.

Pancreatic cancer is a disease with a dismal prognosis and treatment options are limited. This study investigated the interaction of gemcitabine with R1507 and/or metformin and the induction of an inhibitor of apoptosis protein by this com-bination. Pancreatic cancer cells were treated with gemcitabine, R1507 and metformin alone or in combination.

Administration of ursodeoxycholate failed to prevent sludge and/or gallstone formation in cholecystokinin-1(A) receptor-deficient mice.

Gallstone disease is one of the most prevalent digestive diseases. The frequency of gallstone disease is about 10% in middle-age persons and 20% in aged persons. Gallbladder dysmotility and stasis of bile flow promote sludge and/or gallstone formation.

Multicenter phase II study of gemcitabine and S-1 combination therapy (GS Therapy) in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Objective: The aim of this multicenter Phase II study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine and S-1 combination therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve patients with histologically or cytologically proven metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma were eligible for this study. Gemcitabine was administered at a dose of 1000 mg/m(2) over 30 min on days 1 and 8, and oral S-1 at a dose of 40 mg/m(2) twice daily from days 1 to 14, repeated every 3 weeks.

[A case of pancreatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma surviving 8 years and 5 months with treatments for multiple liver tumors diagnosed as carcinoid tumor].

The case was a 58-year-old woman who visited our hospital for a thorough examination after multiple liver tumors were found in her at a nearby hospital. By liver tumor biopsy, we diagnosed them as carcinoid. Bone scintigraphy showed an abnormal accumulation in the external left scapula and in both of her hip joints, but the primary lesion was unclear.

Axitinib plus gemcitabine versus placebo plus gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a double-blind randomised phase 3 study.

Background: Axitinib is a potent, selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors 1, 2, and 3. A randomised phase 2 trial of gemcitabine with or without axitinib in advanced pancreatic cancer suggested increased overall survival in axitinib-treated patients. On the basis of these results, we aimed to assess the effect of treatment with gemcitabine plus axitinib on overall survival in a phase 3 trial.

Phase II study of erlotinib plus gemcitabine in Japanese patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Erlotinib combined with gemcitabine has not been evaluated in Japanese patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. This two-step phase II study assessed the safety and pharmacokinetics of erlotinib 100 mg/day (oral) plus gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) (i.v.

Pancreatic hypertrophy in Ki-ras-induced actin-interacting protein gene knockout mice.

Objectives: Pancreatic functions were determined in a Ki-ras-induced actin-interacting protein (KRAP)-deficient (-/-) mouse mutant.

Methods: Pancreatic enzyme, protein, and DNA contents were measured, and histological examinations were conducted. The mixture of bile-pancreatic juice was collected, and amylase and bile acid outputs were determined.

[Survival benefits of chemotherapy for unresectable biliary tract cancer--a multicenter retrospective analysis].

There is no agreement on the standard chemotherapeutic regimen for biliary tract cancer(BTC), although multi-drug regimens such as gemcitabine and/or S-1 have been tested in clinical trials. This study retrospectively reviewed data from patients with BTC who were seen at hospitals in the Kitakyushu and Fukuoka areas between 2005 and 2006, and examined the effect of systemic chemotherapy regimen on survival benefits in patients with unresectable BTC. Chemotherapy may benefit patients with BTC any age group, regardless of the primary site.

Amphiregulin regulates the activation of ERK and Akt through epidermal growth factor receptor and HER3 signals involved in the progression of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER3, Akt, and amphiregulin have been recognized as targets for pancreatic cancer therapy. Although gemcitabine + erlotinib has been the recommended chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, the prognosis is extremely poor.

Highest-occupied-molecular-orbital band dispersion of rubrene single crystals as observed by angle-resolved ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy.

The electronic structure of rubrene single crystals was studied by angle-resolved ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. A clear energy dispersion of the highest occupied molecular orbital-derived band was observed, and the dispersion width was found to be 0.4 eV along the well-stacked direction.

A phase II study of uracil-tegafur plus doxorubicin and prognostic factors in patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the safety and efficacy of combination chemotherapy of uracil-tegafur (UFT) and doxorubicin (UFD regimen), and to identify the prognostic factors in patients with unresectable advanced biliary tract cancer who received systemic chemotherapy.

Methods: Patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed, measurable biliary tract cancer, including intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, and ampullary cancer, who were not suitable candidates for surgery, were eligible for the study. Patients received oral UFT at 300 mg/m(2) per day divided into two doses on days 1-14 and intravenous doxorubicin at 30 mg/m(2) on day 1.

Gastric acid secretion in cholecystokinin-1 receptor, -2 receptor, and -1, -2 receptor gene knockout mice.

Gastrin is important for stimulating acid secretion as well as differentiating gastric mucosal cells via cholecystokinin-2 receptors (CCK-2Rs). In turn, CCK acts preferably via CCK-1R to release somatostatin, and somatostatin has been postulated to exhibit a tonic inhibition of gastrin bioactivity. The present study was designed to examine the hypothesis that CCK-1R and 2R may act in opposite directions in gastric acid secretion.

Surgery versus radiochemotherapy for resectable locally invasive pancreatic cancer: final results of a randomized multi-institutional trial.

Purpose: Although the outcome of surgery for locally advanced pancreatic cancer remains poor, it is improving, with 5-year survival up to about 10% in Japan. The preliminary results of our multi-institutional randomized controlled trial revealed better survival after surgery than after radiochemotherapy. We report the final results of this study after 5 years of follow-up.

[A case of advanced pancreatic cancer responding to combination chemotherapy with the individual maximum repeatable dose of gemcitabine and oral S-1].

The patient was a 70-year-old man with metastatic pancreatic cancer. After he received combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and oral S-1 on day 1, he experienced severe general fatigue, anorexia and nausea. Then we changed the dose of gemcitabine from 1,000 mg/m(2) 2 to 500 mg/m(2) according to the criteria for an individual maximum repeatable dose (iMRD) determination method on day 8.

[Phase I/II study of combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and UFT for advanced pancreatic cancer in a multi-center trial].

The aim of this phase I/II study was to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine (GEM) and UFT for advanced pancreatic cancer. In phase I study UFT was given orally every day for 14 days and GEM was infused on day 1 and 8 at three dose levels (800, 900, 1,000 mg/m(2)/week) every 21 days. GEM 1,000 mg/m(2) and UFT 400 mg/m(2) did not reach the maximum tolerated dose.