Initial Use Experience of Durvalumab Plus Gemcitabine and Cisplatin for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer in a Japanese Territory Center.

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs), including gallbladder and bile duct cancers, have a poor prognosis. Recent advances in chemotherapy, such as using targeted drugs for specific gene mutations, have improved outcomes. Gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy has been the standard of care for the primary treatment of BTCs, but secondary treatment had not been established until recently.

Verification in an animal study of the appropriate settings for a novel radiofrequency generator in radiofrequency ablation therapy for residual intraductal lesions after endoscopic papillectomy (with video).

Endoscopic intraductal radiofrequency ablation (ID-RFA) can curatively treat residual intraductal lesions after endoscopic papillectomy. This study aimed to verify the tissue invasiveness of ID-RFA using a novel RF generator and to explore its appropriate settings in an animal experiment, followed by a small clinical study. Pig liver specimens were ablated using a dedicated RF catheter and two RF generators to investigate structural differences between them and the ablation effects produced under various voltage and power settings.

Clinicopathological significance of androgen receptor expression and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a serious disease with limited treatment options. We explored the significance of androgen receptor (AR) expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in predicting neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) resistance in TNBC, hypothesizing that AR/TIL classification using pretreatment biopsies can identify NAC-resistant subgroups and improve the understanding of apocrine differentiation.

Methods: This retrospective study included 156 consecutive patients with TNBC treated with NAC.

Consensus statement on chronic pain treatment in cancer survivors.

In September 2023, the Japan Society of Pain Clinicians (JSPC) issued this consensus statement on chronic pain treatment in cancer survivors. With recent advances in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, its prognosis has improved, so prolonged pain in cancer survivors is considered to represent chronic pain and should be addressed. In this statement, we emphasize that not all cancer survivor pain is cancer pain.

Validation of the Japanese version of the Social Functioning in Dementia scale and COVID-19 pandemic's impact on social function in mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.

Objectives: We aimed to psychometrically evaluate and validate a Japanese version of the Social Functioning in Dementia scale (SF-DEM-J) and investigate changes in social function in people with dementia during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design: We interviewed people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia and their caregivers during June 2020-March 2021 to validate patient- and caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J and compared their scores at baseline (April 2020 to May 2020) and at 6-8 months (January 2021 to March 2021) during a time of tighter COVID-19 restrictions.

Setting: The neuropsychology clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at Osaka University Hospital and outpatient clinic in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Daini Osaka Police Hospital, Japan.

Utility of the Japanese version of the Clinical Dementia Rating® plus National Alzheimer's Coordinating Centre Behaviour and Language Domains for sporadic cases of frontotemporal dementia in Japan.

Background: We aimed to validate the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR®) dementia staging instrument plus the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Centre Behaviour and Language Domains (CDR® plus NACC FTLD) for use in clinical settings in Japan and in the Japanese language.

Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled 29 patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and 21 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia from the Departments of Psychiatry at Osaka University Hospital and Asakayama General Hospital and the Brain Function Centre at Nippon Life Hospital. CDR® plus NACC FTLD, CDR®, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), Neuropsychiatric Inventory-plus (NPI-plus), Stereotypy Rating Inventory (SRI), and frontal behavioural symptom scores obtained from items of NPI-plus and SRI, were conducted to assess inter- and intra-rater reliability, validity, and responsiveness.

A fatal case of massive hemobilia caused by invasive pancreatic cancer with median arcuate ligament syndrome: A case report.

Introduction: In median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), the celiac artery is compressed, causing an arcade to develop in the pancreatic head, leading to ischemic symptoms and aneurysms.

Patient Concerns: The patient was diagnosed with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (PC) and MALS. Endoscopic biliary drainage with a covered metal stent (CMS) was performed for the obstructive jaundice.

Factors predicting technical failure of endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis.

Objectives: Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ETGBD) is a highly technical procedure, but few studies have evaluated factors that predict its technical success. Therefore, in this study, we sought to identify predictors of technically successful ETGBD.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-two patients who underwent ETGBD for acute cholecystitis at our hospital were retrospectively investigated.

A methoxyflavanone from the medicinal herb Perilla frutescens down-modulates Th17 response and ameliorates collagen-induced arthritis.

IL-17-producing T-helper 17 (Th17) cells are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we show that a methoxyflavanone from the Asian medicinal herb Perilla frutescens (termed Perilla-derived methoxyflavanone, PDMF) suppresses Th17 response and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), an animal model of RA. We found that co-stimulation with PDMF suppressed Th17 cell differentiation and inhibited IL-17A secretion by differentiated Th17 cells.

Two cases of endoscopic closure using an over-the-scope clip for endoscopy-related duodenal perforation: How to handle the over-the-scope clip.

Yamamoto et al. report two cases of endoscopic closure using an over-the-scope clip for scope-induced perforation encountered during endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, respectively. In a supporting video, they explain how to prepare the over-the-scope clip and clearly show how the actual procedures were performed.

A novel self-assembling hemostatic agent as an effective therapeutic tool for intracavitary bleeding from peripancreatic fluid collection after endoscopic ultrasonography-guided drainage using a lumen-apposing metal stent.

EUS-guided drainage using a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) has demonstrated promising clinical efficacy for peripancreatic fluid collection. However, intracavitary bleeding has been reported after LAMS placement. Yamamoto et al.

Acute cholecystitis associated with a novel integrated biliary stent and nasobiliary drainage catheter system.

A novel biliary drainage system consisting of an integrated biliary stent and nasobiliary drainage catheter system is expected to be clinically useful. However, Yamamoto and colleagues report two cases of acute cholecystitis after use of the system, suggesting that there are risks of adverse events associated with its unique design.