Pipeline esophageal varices: Insights from clinical cases and models.

Objectives: While esophageal varices (EVs) are typically treated endoscopically, other options such as interventional radiology or surgical treatment are considered when endoscopic treatment is challenging. Pipeline EVs are difficult to treat endoscopically due to their large diameter, and currently, no specific treatment guidelines have been established.

Methods: We reviewed cases of pipeline EVs treated at our hospital and analyzed previously reported cases to collect evidence for the formulation of treatment guidelines.

Clinical Impact and Significant Technical Points of Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Using the Smaller Drug-Eluting Bead M1 (DC Bead M1™) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Series.

Background: This case series evaluated the clinical impact and significant technical points of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using the smaller drug-eluting bead (DEB) M1 (DC Bead M1; 70-150 µm).

Methods: We evaluated 12 patients and 14 HCC nodules treated with DEB-TACE using the DC Bead M1 (named DEM1-TACE). In addition to evaluating the early treatment efficacy for each treated node after DEM1-TACE, the study also used interventional radiology (IVR)- computed tomography (CT) to focus on the presence or absence of retention of the homogeneous contrast medium in target nodules after DEM1-TACE as a predictor of a good treatment response.

Oxytocin Receptor Polymorphism Is Associated With Sleep Apnea Symptoms.

Context: Oxytocin supplementation improves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and animal studies suggest involvement of oxytocin in respiratory control. However, the relationship between endogenous oxytocin signaling and human sleep status remains undetermined.

Objective: In this study, we approached the contribution of the intrinsic oxytocin-oxytocin receptor (OXTR) system to OSA by genetic association analysis.

Parametric tuning of quantum phase transitions in ultracold reactions.

Advances in atomic physics have led to the possibility of a coherent transformation between ultracold atoms and molecules including between completely bosonic condensates. Such transformations are enabled by the magneto-association of atoms at a Feshbach resonance which results in a passage through a quantum critical point. In this study, we show that the presence of generic interaction between the constituent atoms and molecules can fundamentally alter the nature of the critical point, change the yield of the reaction and the order of the consequent phase transition.

An Evaluation of the Most Convenient and Effective Procedure for Reducing the Loading Time of Epirubicin Into the Drug-Eluting Bead M1 (DC Bead M1™).

Background and objective Drug-eluting beads (DEB) have been highly useful in the current treatment strategies for multiple and large hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) with or without systemic therapy. Recently, smaller beads have become available in Japan. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the most convenient and effective way to reduce the loading time of epirubicin into the drug-eluting beads M1 (DC Bead M1; 70-150 µm).