[Assessment of Long-Term Sexual Function after Radical Resection for Lower Rectal Cancer].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term sexual function and risk factors of dysfunction after the autonomic nerve preserving operation for lower rectal cancer.

Methods: We evaluated postoperative sexual function assessed by IIEF5 in 91 patients who responded to the questionnaire by mail.

Results: After a median follow-up of 5.

[Regrowth of Isolated Local Residual Tumor Effectively Treated with Chemoradiotherapy More Than Five Years after a Resection for Pancreatic Cancer with an Involvement of the Portal Vein].

A 55-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain was diagnosed with pancreatic head cancer involving the portal vein. He underwent pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy without a resection of the portalvein, resulting in a macroscopic residualtumor, because radicalresection was impossible owing to the severe localinvasion. Postoperative chemotherapy( GEM plus S-1)was administered.

[Assessment of Functional Results after Sphincter-Preserving Surgery in Elderly Patients with Low Rectal Cancer].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative dysfunction and potential problems after a sphincter-preserving operation in elderly patients with low rectal cancer.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2012, 307 consecutive patients with low rectal cancer underwent curative sphincter-preserving surgery. We evaluated postoperative anal and urinary dysfunction in 190 patients who responded to a questionnaire by mail.

A bioartificial liver that combines plasma dialysis and whole liver perfusion.

Background/aims: The development of a bioartificial liver with xenogeneic hepatocytes requires sufficient hepatocyte mass for metabolic support, decreased immunogenicity, and prevention of viral transmission. Therefore, the authors developed a plasma dialysis system using a selective plasma filter, and combined this dialysis system with whole liver plasma perfusion (PDWLP). In this system, the patient's plasma was dialyzed with normal plasma recycled through the pig liver.

Heterotopic gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreatic tissue in a retroperitoneal tumor.

We believe that this is the first report of a retroperitoneal tumor consisting of heterotopic gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreatic tissue. The patient was a 19-year-old woman with the chief complaint being occasional back pain. Abdominal computerized tomography demonstrated a 3.