Detection of active schistosome infection by cell-free circulating DNA of Schistosoma japonicum in highly endemic areas in Sorsogon Province, the Philippines.

The current status of schistosomiasis in highly endemic areas is difficult to determine by ovum detection because of the superficially low parasite load after mass drug administration, whereas the parasite transmission rates are still high. Cell-free parasite DNA is fragments of parasite-derived DNA existing in the host's body fluids. We conducted population-based studies to test the presence of cell-free schistosome DNA in endemic areas of Sorsogon Province, the Philippines.

Transumbilical defunctioning ileostomy: A new approach for patients at risks of anastomotic leakage after laparoscopic low anterior resection.

Background: The use of a protective defunctioning stoma in rectal cancer surgery has been reported to reduce the rates of reoperation for anastomotic leakage, as well as mortality after surgery. However, a protective defunctioning stoma is not often used in cases other than low rectal cancer because of the need for stoma closure later, and hesitation by patients to have a stoma. We outline a novel and patient-friendly procedure with an excellent cosmetic outcome.

A novel postoperative inflammatory score predicts postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatic resection.

Aim: The aim of this study was to characterize a high-risk group of patients for pancreatic fistula (PF) after pancreatic resection using postoperative clinical variables of patients.

Patients And Methods: The retrospective study included 297 patients who underwent pancreatic resection between January 2001 and December 2011. We examined the relationship between perioperative findings and the incidence of postoperative PF (POPF) among patients who underwent pancreatic resection between 2001 and 2009 (early period).

[Clinical and microbiological features of patients with pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection].

Backgrounds: The prevalence of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (pNTM) is currently increasing. Furthermore, its clinical feature is reported to be gradually changing. However, few reports to clarify the current features of pNTM have been published.

Negative impact of fresh-frozen plasma transfusion on prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after pancreatic resection.

Background: Excessive blood loss and blood transfusion may influence postoperative complications and prognosis of patients after pancreatic resection. We evaluated the influence of blood products use on postoperative recurrence and outcome of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Patients And Methods: The study included 82 patients who underwent elective pancreatic resections for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma without distant metastasis or other malignancies between January 2001 and December 2010.

Inhibition of nuclear factor-κB enhances the antitumor effect of tumor necrosis factor-α gene therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in mice.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often resistant to chemotherapy. Gene therapy using an adenoviral vector-expressing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a new therapeutic approach for chemoresistant malignancies. The efficacy of TNF-α, however, is limited, because it leads to the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB.

Combination chemotherapy of nafamostat mesylate with gemcitabine for gallbladder cancer targeting nuclear factor-κB activation.

Background: Gemcitabine is an effective chemotherapeutic agent for advanced gallbladder cancer. However, chemoresistance attributable to gemcitabine-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation has been reported. We previously reported that nafamostat mesylate inhibited NF-κB activation and induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer.

Negative impact of fresh-frozen plasma transfusion on prognosis after hepatic resection for liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Background: In perioperative management of hepatic resection for colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM), excessive blood loss and blood transfusion greatly influence postoperative complications and prognosis of the patients. We evaluated the influence of the use of blood products on prognosis of patients with CRLM.

Patients And Methods: The subjects of this study were 65 patients who underwent elective hepatic resection between January 2001 and April 2011 for CRLM without distant metastasis or other malignancy.

Glasgow prognostic score predicts therapeutic outcome after pancreaticoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the ampulla of vater.

Background: Systemic inflammation, as evidenced by the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), predicts cancer-specific survival in various types of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of GPS on the therapeutic outcome after pancreaticoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

Patients And Methods: The subjects of this study were 30 patients who underwent elective pancreaticoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

[A case of Plasmodium ovale malaria--morphological diagnostic difficulty and utility of rapid diagnostic tests].

A 46-year-old Japanese man was referred to our travel clinic because of high fever for the past 7 days. He worked as an engineer for a month in Zambia and returned to Japan 2 days ago. He had a high-grade fever of 40.

Postoperative peripheral blood monocyte count correlates with postoperative bile leakage in patients with colorectal liver metastases after hepatic resection.

Purpose: Postoperative bile leakage is one of the most common complications after hepatic surgery. The relationship between the inflammatory response and postoperative bile leakage has not been fully investigated. Therefore, we retrospectively investigated the relation between postoperative peripheral blood monocyte count and bile leakage in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after elective hepatic resection.

Negative impact of surgical site infection on long-term outcomes after hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Postoperative infectious complications are associated with a poor long-term prognosis after resection of malignant tumors. We hypothesized that postoperative infectious complication such as surgical site infection (SSI) may have a negative impact on the outcome of elective hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), and that the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), which reflects the systemic inflammatory response, might predict for such complications.

Patients And Methods: The subjects of the study were 77 patients who underwent hepatic resection for CRLM between January 2000 and December 2009.

Sputum plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 elevation by oxidative stress-dependent nuclear factor-κB activation in COPD.

Background: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is an important regulator of fibrinolysis at sites of vascular injury and thrombus formation. Recently, sputum PAI-1 was reported to be elevated in COPD. However, the mechanism of PAI-1 elevation in COPD has yet to be clarified.

Postoperative peak serum C-reactive protein predicts outcome of hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: In spite of improvements in surgical techniques, instruments, and perioperative management, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurs after hepatic resection in as many as 60-70% of patients. Therefore, it is important to predict tumor recurrence and prognosis in regard to decision making of additional adjuvant treatment after surgery. We investigated the relation between postoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor recurrence, as well as survival, in patients with HCC after elective hepatic resection.

Combination chemotherapy of serine protease inhibitor nafamostat mesilate with oxaliplatin targeting NF-κB activation for pancreatic cancer.

In this study, we assessed if nafamostat mesilate may enhance anti-tumor effects of oxaliplatin on Panc-1 cells and pancreatic cancer mouse model. In combination treatment with nafamostat mesilate and oxaliplatin, NF-κB activation was inhibited by suppressing IκBα phosphorylation, and caspase-8-mediated apoptosis was more prominent than that treated with oxaliplatin alone, both in vitro and in vivo. Nafamostat mesilate reduced proliferation rate of Panc-1 cells as compared with oxaliplatin alone in vitro and enhanced oxaliplatin-induced tumor growth inhibition in vivo.

Inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-B enhances the antitumor effect of combination treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene therapy and gemcitabine for pancreatic cancer in mice.

Background: Combination therapy with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene delivery and gemcitabine is a new therapeutic approach for pancreatic cancer. However, the efficacy of both TNF-α and gemcitabine is suppressed due to activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). We hypothesized that nafamostat mesilate (FUT175), an NF-κB inhibitor, enhances the antitumor effect of combination treatment with an adenoviral vector-expressing TNF-α (AxCAhTNF-α) and gemcitabine for pancreatic cancer in mice.

Prognostic factors of unresectable pancreatic cancer treated with nafamostat mesilate combined with gemcitabine chemotherapy.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate prognostic factors of survival for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer treated with nafamostat mesilate combined with gemcitabine chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: The study included 41 patients who were diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer and eligible for our clinical study of nafamostat mesilate, combined with gemcitabine chemotherapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer between February 2007 and November 2010 at Jikei University Hospital. We retrospectively investigated the relation between patients' characteristics and overall survival using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Risk factors of local oropharyngeal and laryngeal adverse effects from use of single inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists.

Background: Single inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists (ICS/LABA) are clinically effective and safe. However, if local oropharyngeal and laryngeal adverse effects (LOLAE) appear, adherence to the use of ICS is impaired. To minimize the development of adverse effects, it is essential to identify the underlying risk factors.

Nuclear factor κB activity correlates with the progression and prognosis of pancreatic cancer in a mouse model.

Introduction: Constitutive NF-κB activation is considered to play a key role in the aggressive behavior of pancreatic cancer. Although NF-κB in tumors may contribute to aggressive characteristic features via transcription of angiogenesis and invasion-related factors, there is no definitive evidence showing a correlation between quantitated NF-κB activity and prognosis. In this study, we quantitated NF-κB activity of various human pancreatic cancer cell lines and evaluated whether NF-κB activity was related to tumor progression and prognosis for pancreatic cancer in mice.

The Glasgow prognostic score is valuable for colorectal cancer with both synchronous and metachronous unresectable liver metastases.

Systemic inflammation as evidenced by the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) predicts cancer-specific survival in various types of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of GPS in patients with both synchronous and metachronous unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). The subjects were 40 patients who were diagnosed as having unresectable CRLM between March 2000 and August 2010 at Jikei University Hospital.