Characteristics of colorectal neuroendocrine tumors in patients prospectively enrolled in a Japanese multicenter study: a first report from the C-NET STUDY.

Background: This is the first report from a multicenter prospective cohort study of colorectal neuroendocrine tumor (NET), the C-NET STUDY, conducted to assess the long-term outcomes of the enrolled patients. This report aimed to elucidate the clinicopathological features of the enrolled patients and lesions.

Methods: Colorectal NET patients aged 20-74 years were consecutively enrolled and followed up at 50 institutions.

Comparison of thrombocytopenia between patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and those with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease.

Aim: Thrombocytopenia is widely recognized as a simple surrogate marker of liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Thrombocytopenia of NAFLD has not been compared with that of hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease (CLD-C). Here, we examined whether there is any difference in the platelet counts between patients with NAFLD and CLD-C and investigated the underlying mechanisms.

Exploratory Study of the Effectiveness of Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorptive Apheresis Before Initiation of Steroids in Patients With Active Ulcerative Colitis (EXPECT Study): A Multicenter Prospective Clinical Trial.

Background: Granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) has been used for therapy of steroid-dependent/refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of GMA in UC patients not receiving steroids.

Methods: We conducted a single-arm, open-label, and multicenter prospective clinical trial.

Garcin Syndrome Due to Meningeal Carcinomatosis from Gastric Cancer.

A 58-year-old woman presented to our hospital with complaints of dysphagia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed an esophagogastric junction tumor with multiple duodenal intramural metastases, and computed tomography showed peritoneal metastasis. In the middle of her fourth cycle of chemotherapy, she displayed symptoms of a left-sided multi-cranial nerve palsy.

Safety and effectiveness of granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in special situations: a multicentre cohort study.

Background: The available information on granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) under special situations remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective, multicentre cohort study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of GMA in patients with IBD under special situations.

Methods: This study included patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease who had at least one special situation feature and who had received GMA between November 2013 and March 2017.

[The impact of direct-acting antiviral therapy on the diagnosis of hepatitis-C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma].

Since the introduction of direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-based combination therapies in September 2014 for patients with chronic hepatitis-C (CH-C), numerous patients have been diagnosed with hepatitis-C virus (HCV)-associated hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) during the screening performed prior to DAA therapy. The present study was conducted on the antiviral therapy for CH-C in two phases:i) the interferon (IFN) phase between January 2011 and August 2014 and ii) the DAA phase between September 2014 and September 2016. During the DAA phase, HCCs were detected in eight patients who were referred to our hospital for anti-HCV therapy.

Retroperitoneal Perforation Caused by Migration of a Pancreatic Spontaneous Dislodgement Stent into Periampullary Diverticula.

An 85-year-old woman underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for obstructive jaundice. Selective bile duct cannulation was unsuccessful because of periampullary diverticula (PAD). A pancreatic spontaneous dislodgement stent (PSDS) (5F diameter, 3 cm, straight type) was inserted to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Classification of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using rapid immunoassay of serum type IV collagen compared with liver histology and other fibrosis markers.

Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can progress to non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We investigated the association among serum type IV collagen level, liver histology, and other fibrosis markers in NAFLD progression.

Methods: We evaluated 184 patients diagnosed with NAFLD following biopsy, including 89 males and 95 females with an average age of 52.

[A case of HER2-positive and AFP-producing gastric cancer successfully treated by trastuzumab/docetaxel/S-1 combination therapy].

A 74-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of abdominal distension. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed advanced gastric cancer and early gastric cancer. HER2-positive and AFP-producing gastric cancer with peritonitis carcinomatosa showing no indication for operation was diagnosed by histopathological and radiological examinations.

[Case of ulcerative colitis associated with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) by salazosulfapyridine].

We experienced a case of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) for salazosulfapyridine (SASP). After we started administration of SASP in a 26-year old man with ulcerative colitis (UC), he had symptoms resembling infectious mononucleosis, high fever, skin eruption, cervical lymphadenopathy, elevate white blood cell count with atypical lymphocyte, and liver dysfunction. We diagnosed the illness as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) due to SASP.

Evaluation of transcatheter arterial embolization therapy on hepatocellular carcinomas using contrast-enhanced harmonic power Doppler sonography: comparison with CT, power Doppler sonography, and dynamic MRI.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the sensitivity of power Doppler sonography, contrast-enhanced sonography, plain computed tomography (CT), and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules incompletely treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).

Methods: A total of 63 unresectable HCC nodules were examined in this study. The HCCs were treated with TAE.

[A case of stomach cancer in which TS-1 neoadjuvant therapy was effective against multiple hepatic metastasis, allowing a radical cure A surgery].

It is believed that multiple hepatic metastases from stomach cancer are highly refractory, and resistant to clinical treatment. In the present study, TS-1 neoadjuvant therapy administered orally in a single course brought about CR in the hepatic metastatic foci and PR in the primary foci, thus enabling grade A radical extirpation in a case of advanced stomach cancer. The patient continued to be treated on an ambulatory basis.