Publications by authors named "Haruki K"
Purpose: Inflammatory, nutritional, and immune biomarkers are associated with the prognosis of patients with various tumors. Recently, a comprehensive predictive biomarker, the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, was introduced to predict clinical outcomes. We investigated the prognostic impact of preoperative HALP scores in patients who underwent hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground/aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of the inflammatory burden index (IBI), a novel inflammation-based biomarker, in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatic resection.
Patients And Methods: One hundred fifty patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The IBI was defined as C-reactive protein × neutrophil count/lymphocyte count.
Background: AT-rich interaction domain 4B (ARID4B) is a transcriptional activator that regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway in prostate cancer. However, the role of ARID4B in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has remained unclear.
Methods: This study included 162 patients who had undergone primary hepatic resection for HCC between 2008 and 2019.
Background/aim: To investigate risk factors of late acute remnant pancreatitis after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), we propose the use of a suturing pitch calculated based on the diameter of the main pancreatic duct and the number of sutures used in the pancreatic duct-to-mucosa anastomosis. This study aimed to determine whether the suturing pitch can predict late acute pancreatitis following PD.
Patients And Methods: This study included 142 patients who underwent elective PD.
Background/aim: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a complex protein involved in the transport of insoluble lipids in plasma. Its expression is predominantly genetically determined, with 70% to over 90% influenced by the number of Kringle IV type 2 domains. This study investigated the association between preoperative serum Lp(a) level and development of post-pancreatectomy nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients who underwent pancreatectomy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: Prognosis of pancreatic cancer is improved by combining postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with surgery, while the importance of extended dissection surgery has decreased. To better understand prognostic factors of recurrence, we focused on the timing of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Methods: One hundred patients who underwent pancreatectomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy and chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer were classified into early and late postoperative adjuvant therapy initiation groups.
Background: Biliary stricture is a common complication after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), but its management is challenging. We herein report a case of successful internal drainage achieved through combination of the gun-sight technique and dual hepatic vascular embolization (DHVE).
Case Presentation: A 54-year-old woman with primary biliary cholangitis underwent ABO-incompatible LDLT with the right lobe.
In patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF), low tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) on echocardiography is associated with poor prognosis. The significance of TAPSE changes post-HF treatment among HFrEF patients remains unclear. We evaluated the factors associated with persistently low TAPSE and its prognostic impact in Japanese hospitalized patients with HFrEF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study examined how outpatient oral loop diuretic dose changes affect the health outcomes of heart failure patients, following 679 individuals between 2015 and 2019.
- It categorized patients into three groups based on their diuretic dose: no reduction, single reduction, and successive reductions, finding that fewer deaths and heart failure hospitalizations were linked to dose reductions.
- Ultimately, the research concluded that reducing loop diuretic doses can be a sign of better prognosis for patients with heart failure.
Article Synopsis
- New diagnostic criteria have classified small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) after living donor liver transplantation into three severity groups, and this study focuses on grade A SFSS and its mortality risk.
- Data from 406 patients were analyzed, categorizing them into up-trend, down-trend, and ascites groups based on their bilirubin levels and ascites presence after surgery.
- While survival rates were similar for SFSS and non-SFSS patients, those in the up-trend group had significantly higher 90-day mortality and should receive aggressive intervention if they have additional risk factors.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effectiveness of pancreaticogastrostomy with endoscopic transgastric drainage in preventing postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
- A comparison of 191 patients showed that those who underwent pancreaticogastrostomy had significantly lower operative time, blood loss, and hospital stays compared to those who had pancreaticojejunostomy.
- Results suggest that this method, particularly with endoscopic drainage, offers a promising approach for better perioperative management in patients who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the cachexia index (CXI), a measure incorporating skeletal muscle, inflammation, and nutritional status, and its impact on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver surgery.
- Researchers analyzed 131 patients who had primary liver resections between 2008 and 2019, assessing preoperative and postoperative CXI to determine its correlation with disease-free and overall survival rates.
- Results indicated that both low preoperative and postoperative CXI levels, along with various clinical factors like tumor characteristics and complications, significantly predicted patient survival, suggesting that monitoring CXI changes could provide valuable prognostic information.
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted to compare the nutritional outcomes after laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) versus open hepatectomy (OH) in patients undergoing liver tumor surgeries.
- The results indicated that patients in the LH group had shorter surgery times, less blood loss, and a shorter hospital stay compared to those in the OH group.
- Notably, LH patients had significantly higher postoperative serum albumin and prealbumin levels, suggesting better nutritional status after surgery.
Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzed the effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy on patients with isolated locoregional recurrence of pancreatic cancer after surgery, examining outcomes related to progression-free survival (PFS) and post-recurrence survival (PRS).
- - Results showed that patients receiving chemoradiotherapy (with gemcitabine or S-1) had a significantly better median PFS of 16.8 months compared to 2.8 months for those treated with radiotherapy alone.
- - The study concluded that chemoradiotherapy is more effective in preventing re-recurrence compared to radiotherapy after pancreatic cancer surgery.
Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of changes in clinicopathological factors during preoperative chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, including skeletal muscle volume, on recurrence and prognosis after pancreatectomy.
Methods: Data from 41 patients who underwent resection for pancreatic cancer after preoperative chemotherapy from 2012 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Skeletal muscle volume was substituted for the psoas muscle area (PMA) at the level of the third lumbar vertebra.
This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors after pancreatectomy for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer abutting major arteries (BR-A). We retrospectively investigated relationship between preoperative and intraoperative variables and overall survival (OS) through univariate and multivariate analyses. The cut-off points of preoperative therapy duration and response rates of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels after preoperative therapy were determined through a minimum -value approach using the log-rank test for OS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), an indicator of systemic arteriosclerosis, is associated with short- and long-term outcomes in malignancies. We investigated the prognostic impact of AAC in patients who underwent hepatectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC).
Methods: The study cohort comprised 46 patients who underwent hepatectomy for IHCC between January 2008 and September 2020.
Article Synopsis
- - This study focused on understanding postoperative recurrence and prognostic factors, especially osteosarcopenia, in patients with borderline resectable (BR) and unresectable locally advanced (UR-LA) pancreatic cancer, while also evaluating the effects of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).
- - Researchers reviewed data from 32 patients and found that osteosarcopenia and lymph node metastasis were significant indicators of disease recurrence and survival, while those with osteosarcopenia had higher serum CA19-9 levels and faced more challenges with chemotherapy.
- - The findings highlighted that administering pancrelipase for at least six months after surgery improved outcomes related to sarcopenia and chemotherapy, indicating that proper PERT can enhance the prognosis
Article Synopsis
- A study explored whether the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib, when added to standard chemotherapy, could lower the recurrence risk and improve survival for patients with stage III colon cancer.
- While celecoxib did not show significant benefits for all patients, a subgroup analysis revealed that those with PIK3CA gain-of-function mutations had better disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival compared to those without these mutations.
- The findings suggest that mutational status, specifically PIK3CA, may help guide the selective use of COX-2 inhibitors along with standard treatment for this type of cancer.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers found that 34% of patients had a high AAC volume (≥ 312 mm3) and identified risk factors influencing overall survival, such as high AAC volume, prolonged surgery, lymph node metastasis, and lack of chemotherapy.
- * The results suggest that AAC volume could be a useful preoperative indicator for predicting survival rates in pancreatic cancer patients.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) compared to open liver resection (OLR) in elderly patients (65+ years) to determine short-term postoperative outcomes.
- - By analyzing data from 237 patients and using propensity score matching, researchers found that those undergoing LLR experienced significantly fewer complications, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays compared to those who had OLR.
- - The results suggest that LLR is a safer option for elderly patients, providing better short-term surgical outcomes without any operative or in-hospital deaths recorded in either group.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to investigate whether having an appendectomy reduces the long-term risk of colorectal cancer, particularly for tumors associated with the bacterial species Fusobacterium nucleatum, which is linked to colorectal tumor development.
- - Using data from extensive cohort studies, researchers found that 2811 cases of colorectal cancer were recorded, with appendectomy appearing to lower the incidence of F. nucleatum-positive cancers (hazard ratio of 0.53) but not F. nucleatum-negative cancers (hazard ratio of 0.98).
- - The findings suggest that while appendectomy may reduce the risk of developing certain types of colorectal cancer (specifically F. nucleatum-positive ones), it does not significantly impact the risk for other types,
Article Synopsis
- Simultaneous dual hepatic vein embolization (DHVE) is proposed as a method to safely prepare patients for right-sided hepatectomy, with positive outcomes for liver size and function.
- A study of 14 patients showed significant liver growth after undergoing DHVE, with median functional liver remnants increasing from 363 ml to 498 ml, and no cases of liver failure post-surgery.
- Histological assessments indicated greater congestion and necrosis in the DHVE area compared to portal vein embolization (PVE), highlighting the need for further research into how DHVE promotes liver hypertrophy.