Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of endoscopy in the Tohoku region of Japan.

Objectives: The whole picture of the disturbance in endoscopy performance caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan remains to be clarified. Therefore, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society-Tohoku conducted this questionnaire survey in Tohoku region of Japan.

Methods: A questionnaire on the number of diagnostic endoscopy procedures and resulting diagnosed cancers in 2019 and 2020 was sent to all guidance/guidance cooperation hospitals in the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society who worked in the Tohoku region.

A Follow-up Report on the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Akita Prefecture, Japan in 2021.

We recently reported the decrease in the number of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer diagnoses in 2020 due to disturbance of the healthcare system by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, using a hospital-based cancer registration system in Akita prefecture, Japan. In this study, we extended the research by showing the latest data (2021) on the number of cancers and examinations. Information on the occurrence and stage of esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers was collected from the same database.

Characteristics of colorectal neuroendocrine tumors in patients prospectively enrolled in a Japanese multicenter study: a first report from the C-NET STUDY.

Background: This is the first report from a multicenter prospective cohort study of colorectal neuroendocrine tumor (NET), the C-NET STUDY, conducted to assess the long-term outcomes of the enrolled patients. This report aimed to elucidate the clinicopathological features of the enrolled patients and lesions.

Methods: Colorectal NET patients aged 20-74 years were consecutively enrolled and followed up at 50 institutions.

Clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS): results of a multicenter study by the SPS Study Group in Japan.

Background: Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS), a type of colorectal polyposis characterized by multiple serrated polyps, is associated with a high risk of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). This study aimed to clarify the clinicopathological characteristics of SPS in Japan.

Methods: We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with SPS from the "Multicenter Study on Clinicopathological Characteristics of SPS (UMIN 000032138)" by the Colorectal Serrated Polyposis Syndrome (SPS) Study Group.

Convenient microfluidic cartridge for single-molecule droplet PCR using common laboratory equipment.

We have previously established a cost-efficient in-house system for single-molecule droplet polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic cartridge and common laboratory equipment. However, the microfluidic cartridge was only capable of generating monodisperse water-in-oil droplets. Therefore, careful and time-consuming manual droplet handling using a micropipette was required to transfer droplets between the three discrete steps involved in the workflow of droplet PCR-i.

Sessile serrated adenoma/polyp showed rapid malignant transformation in the final 13 months.

Based on the concept of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, most colorectal cancers are considered to arise from conventional adenomas. However, recent studies suggested that a subset of colorectal cancers develop through the serrated neoplastic pathway. It has also been documented that serrated polyps can rapidly transform into invasive cancers even when they are small in size.

Surface microstructures are associated with mutational intratumoral heterogeneity in colorectal tumors.

Background: Recent studies revealed that colorectal tumors are composed of genetically diverse subclones. We aimed to clarify whether the surface microstructures of colorectal tumors are associated with genetic intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH).

Methods: The surface microstructures (pit patterns) of colorectal tumors were observed using magnifying endoscopy, and biopsy specimens were obtained from respective areas when tumors exhibited multiple pit patterns.

Subtypes of the Type II Pit Pattern Reflect Distinct Molecular Subclasses in the Serrated Neoplastic Pathway.

Background: Colorectal serrated lesions (SLs) are important premalignant lesions whose clinical and biological features are not fully understood.

Aims: We aimed to establish accurate colonoscopic diagnosis and treatment of SLs through evaluation of associations among the morphological, pathological, and molecular characteristics of SLs.

Methods: A total of 388 premalignant and 18 malignant colorectal lesions were studied.

Epigenetic silencing of in traditional serrated adenoma and colorectal cancer.

Colorectal sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/Ps) are well-known precursors of colorectal cancer (CRC) characterized by mutation and microsatellite instability. By contrast, the molecular characteristics of traditional serrated adenoma (TSAs) are not fully understood. We analyzed genome-wide DNA methylation in TSAs having both protruding and flat components.

Randomised clinical study comparing the effectiveness and physiological effects of hypertonic and isotonic polyethylene glycol solutions for bowel cleansing.

Objectives: Bowel cleansing is necessary before colonoscopy, but is a burden to patients because of the long cleansing time and large dose volume. A low-volume (2 L) hypertonic polyethylene glycol-ascorbic acid solution (PEG-Asc) has been introduced, but its possible dehydration effects have not been quantitatively studied. We compared the efficacy and safety including the dehydration risk between hypertonic PEG-Asc and isotonic PEG regimens.

Assessment of epigenetic alterations in early colorectal lesions containing BRAF mutations.

To clarify the molecular and clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal serrated lesions, we assessed the DNA methylation of cancer-associated genes in a cohort of BRAF-mutant precancerous lesions from 94 individuals. We then compared those results with the lesions' clinicopathological features, especially colorectal subsites. The lesions included hyperplastic polyps (n = 16), traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs) (n = 15), TSAs with sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) (n = 6), SSAs (n = 49) and SSAs with dysplasia (n = 16).

Endoscopic diagnosis of colorectal serrated lesions: Current status and future perspectives based on the results of a questionnaire survey.

Serrated lesions, especially sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/P) are considered one of the most important precursors of colorectal cancers. However, it is still difficult to endoscopically differentiate SSA/P from hyperplastic polyps. In the present review, we mainly focus on the current status and future perspectives of endoscopic diagnosis of colorectal serrated lesions based on the results of a questionnaire survey and report from the Endoscopic Forum Japan (EFJ) 2015 held in Tokyo in August 2015.

[A case of a patient with advanced rectal cancer and urinary bladder fistula surviving for 6 years after chemoradiotherapy without surgery].

A 60-year-old man with advanced rectal cancer and urinary bladder fistula received preoperative chemoradiotherapy with S-1(120mg/m / 2day)on weekdays and concurrent radiotherapy(65 Gy). After chemoradiotherapy, the clinical symptoms resolved and the tumor shrunk, as observed on endoscopic and radiologic examinations. However, remnant cancer was suspected; therefore, modified oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and Leucovorin(mFOLFOX6)therapy was initiated, although it was stopped after 3 cycles because of numbness in the lower extremities.

Prognosis assessment of patients with refractory ascites treated with a peritoneovenous shunt.

Background/aims: We investigated the postoperative outcome and risk factors for DIC and mortality in cases of implanted PVS.

Methodology: We reviewed the cases of 65 patients implanted with PVS from 2000 to 2010. Of these patients, 32 were diagnosed with peritonitis carcinomatosa, 21 had liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and 12 had liver cirrhosis without HCC.

[Reduction of vascular pain due to drop-infusion of oxaliplatin (L-OHP) in peripheral vein with heated infusion route].

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of reducting vascular pain with peripheral vein administration of oxaliplatin (L-OHP)by heating infusion routes during XELOX therapy.

Methods: (1) EXPERIMENT: The temperature of the 5%glucose injection solution was measured at the leading edge of the infusion route when it was heated to 36°Cor 40°C. (2) CASES: Among five patients receving XELOX therapy for colorectal cancer, we examined the occurrence of vascular pain by heating the L-OHP solution to 40°C.

[A case of pancreatic cancer treated by gemcitabine with sequential radiotherapy].

A 65-year-old man suffering from acute pancreatitis underwent MRI scanning, which revealed a low signal on the T1 and T2 sequences, and hypovascularity in arterial phase in the head of the pancreas. This corresponded to the area showing the absence of the lower common bile duct. FDG-PET was highly suggestive of pancreatic cancer (T4N1M0, Stage IVa) with lymph node metastasis.

Analysis of cell cycle-related proteins in gastric intramucosal differentiated-type cancers based on mucin phenotypes: a novel hypothesis of early gastric carcinogenesis based on mucin phenotype.

Background: Abnormalities of cell cycle regulators are common features in human cancers, and several of these factors are associated with the early development of gastric cancers. However, recent studies have shown that gastric cancer tumorigenesis was characterized by mucin expression. Thus, expression patterns of cell cycle-related proteins were investigated in the early phase of differentiated-type gastric cancers to ascertain any mechanistic relationships with mucin phenotypes.

[Case report of advanced esophageal cancer patient surviving for a long time after asynchronous chemoradiation].

We have present a case of advanced esophageal cancer(Stage IVb), that has survived for 7 years and 4 months after systemic hemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. The patient is a female, 63 years old. We diagnosed her with esophageal cancer Stage IVb with direct invasion to the main bronchus and the metastatic lesion to the right lobe of thyroid gland.