Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion and/or pleural nodules: Ten-year results of a prematurely terminated single institute phase II trial.

Background: Malignant pleural effusion and/or pleural nodules are a final stage of disease extension of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is currently classified as M1a-Stage IV disease. The role of surgery, especially extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) for local disease control and its impact on the survival of patients remains uncertain.

Patients And Methods: This single institute phase II trial was performed from March 1997 to March July 2004 to assess the effects of induction concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using a pro-drug of 5-FU, uracil-tegafur (UFT(®), Taiho Pharmaceutical Co.

Role of surgical resection for patients with limited disease-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are recommended for patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC), several series have reported favorable survival outcomes even in patients with stages II and III disease who underwent surgical resection. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of the use of surgical resection to the other conventional non-surgical treatments in patients with LD-SCLC with respect to each clinical stage.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 277 patients who received treatment for LD-SCLC and compared the outcomes of the use of surgical resection to the other conventional non-surgical treatments.

Patients' assessment of adalimumab self-injection for Crohn's disease: a multicenter questionnaire survey (The PEARL Survey).

Background/aims: Adalimumab (ADA) is a self-injectable anti-tumor necrosis factor-α antibody used for treating Crohn’s disease (CD). Although self-injecting ADA may be convenient for patients, few reports have assessed patients receiving ADA self-injection therapy.

Methodology: We conducted a questionnaire survey involving outpatients on ADA self-injection therapy at four university hospitals.

A multicenter phase II study of carboplatin and paclitaxel for advanced thymic carcinoma: WJOG4207L.

Background: Thymic carcinoma (TC) is an exceptionally rare tumor, which has a very poor prognosis differing from thymoma. Till date, there has been no report of any results of clinical trials focusing on TC. The role of non-anthracycline-based chemotherapy has not been elucidated since the previous studies included a relatively small number of TC patients.

Tolerability of nintedanib (BIBF 1120) in combination with docetaxel: a phase 1 study in Japanese patients with previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: This phase I, open-label study evaluated the safety/tolerability and maximum tolerated dose of second-line nintedanib combined with docetaxel in Japanese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Methods: Eligible patients received docetaxel 60 or 75 mg/m(2) (day 1) plus nintedanib 100, 150, or 200 mg twice daily (bid; days 2-21) in 21-day cycles. Standard 3 + 3 dose escalations were performed separately in patient cohorts with a body surface area (BSA) of less than 1.

Retinal biocompatibility of brilliant blue g with deuterated water for chromovitrectomy.

Purpose: To investigate the retinal biocompatibility of Brilliant Blue G with deuterated water (BBG-D2O) as a vital dye for chromovitrectomy.

Methods: In this animal study, 0.05 mL of 0.

Results of S-1-based chemotherapy for platinum (and antrathycline)-refractory advanced thymic carcinoma.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the role of S-1-based chemotherapy for patients with relapsed advanced thymic carcinoma (TC).

Patients And Methods: This study was a retrospective review of TC patients who had received S-1-based chemotherapy for patients with platinum- and antrathycline-failure TC. Patients received S-1 monotherapy or S-1/gemcitabine combination therapy, that were repeated until disease progression.

Adalimumab for the treatment of Japanese patients with intestinal Behçet's disease.

Background & Aims: Behçet's disease is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disease that can involve the mouth, skin, eyes, genitals, and intestines. Active intestinal Behçet's disease can be complicated by gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and perforation. We performed a multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor α, in patients with intestinal Behçet's disease who were refractory to corticosteroid and/or immunomodulator therapies.

Experience with Boston keratoprosthesis type 1 in the developing world.

Objective: To report the experience of the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil, in performing Boston keratoprosthesis type 1 implantation in the developing world.

Methods: We analyzed 30 eyes of 30 patients who underwent Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis surgery between 2008 and 2012 in a prospective interventional study. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative parameters were analyzed, including visual acuity (VA), keratoprosthesis stability, and postoperative complications.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with postoperative recurrence of surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: A few reports have evaluated the outcomes of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with postoperative recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: From 2000 through 2011, 1237 consecutive patients with NSCLC underwent pulmonary resection at our institution. Of those, 280 patients had experienced postoperative recurrence by the end of 2012.

Non-small cell lung cancer patients with EML4-ALK fusion gene are insensitive to cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Background: Although patients with the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (EML4-ALK) re-arrangement and epidermal growth factor gene EGFR mutations have proven sensitive to specific inhibitors, there is currently no consensus regarding the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with such mutations to cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: The responses to first-line cytotoxic chemotherapy were retrospectively compared between advanced or postoperative recurrent patients with non-squamous NSCLC who harbor the EML4-ALK fusion gene (ALK+), EGFR mutation (EGFR+), or neither abnormality (wild-type).

Results: Data for 22 ALK+, 30 EGFR+, and 60 wild-type patients were analyzed.

A randomized clinical trial of mesalazine suppository: the usefulness and problems of central review of evaluations of colonic mucosal findings.

Background: The methods of evaluating endoscopic mucosal findings and the definition of mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel disease have not been standardized.

Aim: To examine a third-party central review of colonic mucosal evaluations.

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial was performed for 4weeks, which involved continuous administration of a 1-g mesalazine suppository to 129 patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis and active rectal inflammatory findings.

Impact of the epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status on the post-recurrence survival of patients with surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objectives: The impact of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status and the use of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy have not been well discussed only in recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to identify the prognostic factors associated with post-recurrence survival after surgical resection of NSCLC in terms of the EGFR mutation status and the use of EGFR-TKI therapy.

Methods: From 2000 through 2011, 1237 consecutive patients with NSCLC underwent pulmonary resection at our institution.

Mucosal healing of ileal lesions is associated with long-term clinical remission after infliximab maintenance treatment in patients with Crohn's disease.

Background And Aim: The aim of the present study was to endoscopically evaluate ileal mucosal healing during maintenance therapy with infliximab in order to investigate the clinical significance of endoscopic examination of ileal lesions in Crohn's disease patients.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 54 patients who mainly had active ulcers of the ileum on endoscopy at baseline who were responsive to infliximab induction and who received infliximab maintenance therapy. Mucosal healing was defined as no ulcer or only ulcer scar.

White opaque substance visualized using magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging in colorectal epithelial neoplasms.

Background: The presence of a white opaque substance (WOS) on magnifying endoscopy (ME) with narrow-band imaging (NBI) has been reported for gastric epithelial neoplasms, but the presence of WOS in colorectal epithelial neoplasms has not been investigated.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine whether WOS is present in colorectal epithelial neoplasms and to clarify its clinical significance.

Methods: A total of 590 colorectal epithelial neoplasms from 368 consecutive patients were retrospectively analyzed using prospectively collected data.

Development and progression of colorectal cancer based on follow-up analysis.

Elucidating the pathway of colorectal cancer development and progression can lead to identification of lesions that must be treated appropriately. The aim of the present review was to summarize the development and progression of colorectal cancer based on radiological and endoscopic follow-up analyses. These studies revealed several characteristic findings, including that initial morphology with progression to advanced cancer was most commonly 0-Is, followed by 0-IIa.

Characterization of gut microbiota profiles by disease activity in patients with Crohn's disease using data mining analysis of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms.

The gut microbiota plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). In this study, we analyzed the disease activity and associated fecal microbiota profiles in 160 CD patients and 121 healthy individuals. Fecal samples from the CD patients were collected during three different clinical phases, the active (n=66), remission-achieved (n=51) and remission-maintained (n=43) phases.

Second peak in the distribution of age at onset of ulcerative colitis in relation to smoking cessation.

Background And Aim: The prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasing steadily in Japan. In Western countries, a bimodal distribution, with UC onset peaks in youth and middle age, is observed, and smoking cessation is reported as a risk factor for UC. However, there are few reports on a bimodal distribution of onset age among Japanese patients.

Influence of automated disc margin determination on Stratus OCT optic nerve head measurements.

Purpose: To analyze the influence of manual correction of the automatically determined edge of the optic nerve head (ONH) in optic disc measurements in cases in which the optical coherence tomography did not identify the disc limits correctly.

Methods: The study included 127 eyes from 127 consecutive patients with glaucoma, suspects, and healthy individuals. In a retrospective analysis, eyes that underwent testing with the Stratus OCT (software version 4.

Long-term outcome of endoscopic balloon dilation for small bowel strictures in patients with Crohn's disease.

Background And Aim: Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is an alternative to surgery for small bowel strictures of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). However, little is known about the long-term efficacy of EBD. The aim of the present study was to clarify the long-term outcome of EBD for small bowel strictures in patients with CD.

Split-dose cisplatin and vinorelbine as adjuvant chemotherapy for completely resected non-small cell lung cancer.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of, and compliance with a regimen using split-dose cisplatin and vinorelbine (split-CV) as adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: The treatment schedule included cisplatin at 40 mg/m(2) and vinorelbine at 25 mg/m(2) administered intravenously on days 1 and 8, every three weeks for four cycles.

Results: This study included 22 patients (male/female; 12/10) with a median age of 67 (range 50-76) years; 10 had clinical stage II and 12 stage III; 21 had ECOG 0 and 1 patient ECOG 1; 15 patients had adenocarcinoma, 5 squamous cell and 2 adenosquamous carcinoma; 18 patients had undergone lobectomy, 3 pneumonectomy and 1 segmentectomy.

[Distribution of infectious keratitis in a tertiary hospital in Brazil].

Purpose: To investigate the seasonality of infectious keratitis in a tertiary hospital in Brazil.

Methods: Charts from the Ocular Microbiology Laboratory of the Department of Ophthalmology of the Federal University of Sao Paulo were reviewed from 2005 to 2009. Infectious keratitis were defined as those with positive culture.

Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in ocular infections.

Purpose: To study the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among S. aureus ocular infections in a tertiary health center in Brazil and compare antibiotic susceptibility patterns between MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates.