Endoscopic intragastric balloon therapy for 15 years in Japan: Results of nationwide surveys.

Introduction: Endoscopic intragastric balloon (IGB) placement has been performed in Japan since 2004. The nationwide surveys were repeatedly carried out to confirm the effectiveness and safety of IGB in Japan. We herein present the accumulated results.

[Evaluation of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy associated with radiotherapy for two cases of local recurrence of rectal cancer].

We evaluated the effect of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy associated with radiotherapy for two cases of local recurrence of rectal cancer. We performed an intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (5-FU was injected continuously: 250 mg/day/body x 28 days, CDDP was injected weekly: 5 mg/day x 5 days) associated with radiotherapy (2-3 Gy/day x 20-30 days) for local recurrence of rectal cancer with the aim of pain-relief. Both patients markedly tended to feel less pain after the radiotherapy.

[A case of gastric cancer with liver metastasis in which obstruction of the bile duct and choledocholithiasis was caused by intra-hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy].

A 64-year-old man underwent gastrectomy and partial liver resection for gastric cancer and liver metastasis, and was administered intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for metastases of the remnant liver. This treatment was very effective against the liver metastases, but 13 months after the operation obstructive jaundice occurred. An examination revealed obstruction of the bile duct and choledocholithiasis.

[Evaluation of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer].

We evaluated the effect of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. Of 405 patients undergoing colectomy in our department from July 1993 to February 2002, 38 had liver metastasis. We performed catheterization intra-operatively or postoperatively, and intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy was given for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.

Effects of endothelin-1 on vasoactivity and its synthesis, storage, and acting sites in the rat superior mesenteric vasculature: an ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study.

Vasoactivity after treatment with endothelin (ET)-1 and immunoreactivity for ET-1 and its receptors were investigated in the rat superior mesenteric vasculature (SMV). By measurements of corrosion cast images of the SMVs, it was seen that ET-1 induces remarkable vasocontraction of the distal arterial branches, consisting of small arteries and arterioles, and localized vasoconstriction throughout the venous branches which possess localized medial thickenings. Immunoreactivity for ET-1 was preferentially seen along the endothelia of the proximal arterial branches.