The efficacy of open transanal drainage tube against anastomotic leakage in left-sided colorectal cancer surgery: a propensity score matching study.

Background/aim: The effectiveness of a transanal drainage tube (TAT) for the prevention of anastomotic leakage after double stapling technique (DST) anastomosis in colorectal cancer has been reported. Previously, TATs had been placed and connected to drainage bags. It was considered that a higher decompression effect could be expected by inserting an open-type TAT, without connection to a drainage bag.

Prognostic Value of the Modified Cachexia Index in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Curative Surgery.

Background/aim: The cachexia index (CXI) has been reported to be a useful indicator for predicting the prognosis of cancer patients. However, CXI calculation requires skeletal muscle index (SMI) measurements, which involves an analysis of computed tomography images using an imaging software program, which makes the calculation process highly complex and time-consuming. Recently, the modified cachexia index (mCXI), calculated using the urea-to-creatinine ratio (UCR) instead of SMI, has been reported to be a useful marker that is easier to calculate than CXI.

Impact of Changes in Psoas Muscle Index on Prognosis in Patients With Colorectal Liver Metastases.

Background/aim: Reduction in skeletal muscle mass during chemotherapy is associated with poor outcomes. This study investigated the impact of changes in the psoas muscle index (PMI) on the prognosis of patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) undergoing chemotherapy, including subgroup analyses based on the initial treatment response assessment.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated 47 patients with unresectable CRLM who underwent systematic chemotherapy and assessed changes in PMI to determine their prognosis.

Renal impairment as a risk factor for chemotherapy induced neutropenia in the treatment of trifluridine/thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor plus bevacizumab.

Although the phase III SUNLIGHT trial has demonstrated the survival benefit of the addition of bevacizumab (Bmab) to trifluridine/thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor (FTD/TPI), neutropenia, which frequently occurs during FDT/TPI + Bmab therapy, is a concern for clinicians. As TPI is excreted by the kidneys, the risk of adverse events is likely to be high in patients with an impaired renal function. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between renal impairment and the incidence of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia during FTD/TPI + Bmab therapy using real-world data.

Thoracolumbar Posterior Pedicle Screw Fixation and Laminectomy for an Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Resulting From Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in an Adult Patient: A Case Report.

Vertebral fractures (VFs) occasionally appear as the first manifestation of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in children. However, in adults, it is uncommon for VFs to lead to a diagnosis of ALL, and surgical intervention is even rarer. We encountered a case of a 42-year-old man with ALL who presented with acute severe back pain, lower limb numbness, dysuria, and hamstring weakness.

Enhancement of mono-acylated MEL-D production in an acyltransferase gene-deleted strain of by supplementation with di-acylated MEL-B in culture medium.

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are glycolipid biosurfactants produced by various yeasts. MEL producers produce mainly di-acylated MELs (consisting of two fatty acid chains). Among them, is a di-acylated MEL-B (d-MEL-B) producer.

Physical pressure resistance of gastrointestinal anastomotic site via plate of polyglycolic acid promoting fibrosis.

Anastomotic-leakage incidence has been reported to be reduced on using polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets as reinforcing materials; however, there is insufficient evidence regarding the reinforcement mechanism. Therefore, we investigated effects of PGA sheets on gastrointestinal anastomoses in rats. In the first approach, five rats underwent laparotomy; the PGA sheet was pasted onto the normal cecal wall.

Nacre-Inspired Nanocomposites from Natural Polypeptide ε-Poly-l-Lysine and Natural Clay Montmorillonite: Remarkable Reinforcing Effect at Low Polymer Content and Its Mechanism.

Nanocomposites composed of the cationic polypeptide ε-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) and natural sodium montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared and evaluated. These MMT/ε-PL composites formed highly ordered nanostructures resembling natural nacreous layers by a simple process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed that a small amount of ε-PL remarkably enhanced the MMT orientation in the composites.

Cachexia and efficiency of trifluridine/thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor + bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer.

In later-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), there may be large differences in treatment efficacy depending on cancer cachexia. Recently, the cachexia index (CXI), which was calculated from the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), serum albumin concentration, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, was developed to evaluate cancer cachexia. We retrospectively examined the CXI of 80 patients who were treated with trifluridine/thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor (FTD/TPI) + bevacizumab (Bmab) therapy as a later-line treatment for mCRC, and assessed the impact of cancer cachexia on chemotherapeutic efficacy using CXI.

Favorable Prognosis in Patients With Multiple Myeloma and Lenalidomide-Induced Skin Rash: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Although lenalidomide is an essential treatment for multiple myeloma (MM), skin rashes are a common adverse event. This retrospective study aimed to examine the association between skin rash development during lenalidomide treatment and the prognosis of relapsed/refractory MM. All patients who received lenalidomide at 10 hospitals between July 2009 and December 2015 were included in the study.

Baseline Nutritional Status and Rehabilitation Progress in Individuals Requiring Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between baseline nutritional status, medical events (MEs), and rehabilitation outcomes in individuals undergoing inpatient rehabilitation (IR).

Design: A retrospective single center cohort study.

Setting: An IR ward.

Successful resection of a rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor using a transperineal approach: a case report.

Background: Rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) complicate surgical approaches because of their anatomical position. We herein report a patient with rectal GIST on the anterior wall of the lower rectum, hat was successfully resected using a transperineal approach.

Case Presentation: This report describes a unique case of a 73-year-old man who was diagnosed with rectal GIST on the anterior wall of the lower rectum.

Utility of Assessing Early Tumor Shrinkage as an Efficacy Predictor in Patients with Non-Surgically Indicated or Recurrent Esophageal Cancer Treated with Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab.

Introduction: Nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy has been administered as a first-line treatment in Japan since 2022 for patients with unresectable progressive or recurrent esophageal cancer. The efficacy and safety of this immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) doublet therapy are now being evaluated, and it is necessary to identify populations that benefit from this treatment at an early phase after initiation. For patients not showing early benefit, changing as soon as possible to other therapeutic strategies could improve their survival outcomes.

[A Case of Intestinal Lymphoma with Two Perforation in a Short Period Time].

An 86 years old man was diagnosed with jejunum tumor by detail examination of anemia. Eight days after endoscopy he developed abdominal pain, an emergency surgery was performed by a diagnosis of gastrointestinal perforation. They detected perforation in jejunum and performed jejunum resection, small intestinal lymphoma was diagnosed by histopathological examination.

Learning Outcomes of Nursing Students' Experience With Cadaveric Dissection: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Cadaver dissection in anatomy, a cornerstone of medical school education, has been replaced by digital technologies. This study aimed to determine the learning outcomes nursing students could achieve through cadaveric dissection practice (CDP).

Methods: This scoping review was carried out using the checklist outlined in the Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews through August 2023.

The Efficacy of Chemical Bowel Preparation Against Incisional Surgical Site Infection in Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Propensity Score Matching Study.

Background/aim: In colorectal cancer surgery, the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) is relatively high. The development of SSI is related to longer and costlier hospitalization and reduced quality of life; therefore, perioperative prevention of SSI is important. Chemical bowel preparation (CBP) combined with mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) may be more effective in preventing surgical site infection (SSI) compared to MBP alone.

Dependence of Successful Airway Management in Neonatal Simulation Manikins on the Type of Supraglottic Airway Device and Providers' Backgrounds.

Supraglottic airway devices such as laryngeal masks and i-gels are useful for airway management. The i-gel is a relatively new device that replaces the air-inflated cuff of the laryngeal mask with a gel-filled cuff. It remains unclear which device is more effective for neonatal resuscitation.

Case volume and specialization in critically ill emergency patients: a nationwide cohort study in Japanese ICUs.

Background: Previous studies have explored the association between the number of cases and patient outcomes for critical illnesses such as sepsis and trauma, as well as various surgeries, with the expectation that a higher number of cases would have a more favorable effect on patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association among intensive care unit (ICU) case volume, specialization, and patient outcomes in critically ill emergency patients and to determine how ICU case volumes and specializations impact the outcomes of these patients in Japanese ICUs.

Methods: Utilizing data from the Japanese Intensive Care PAtient Database (JIPAD) from April 2015 to March 2021, this retrospective cohort study was conducted in 80 ICUs across Japan and included 72,214 emergency patients aged ≥ 16 years.