Differences in efficacy of biweekly irinotecan plus cisplatin versus irinotecan alone in second-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer with or without prior gastrectomy.

Background: Biweekly irinotecan plus cisplatin combination therapy (BIRIP) and irinotecan monotherapy (IRI) are both expectable second-line chemotherapy (SLC) options for treating advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Although many patients receiving SLC have undergone gastrectomy, the impact of gastrectomy on SLC remains unclear, and the impact of gastrectomy may vary from regimen to regimen.

Patients And Methods: A total of 290 eligible patients registered in two randomized phase III trials evaluating BIRIP (IRI, 60 mg/m; CDDP, 30 mg/m, q2w) or IRI (150 mg/m, q2w) for patients with AGC was classified into the prior gastrectomy subgroup (PGG) or the no gastrectomy subgroup (NGG).

Correlation of multiple endpoints in the first-line chemotherapy of advanced gastric cancer: Pooled analysis of individual patient data from Japanese Phase III trials.

Background: Individual-level surrogates are important for management in patients treated for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the correlation of multiple clinical endpoints in the first-line chemotherapy of AGC.

Methods: Individual patient data (IPD) were collected from four Japanese Phase III trials comparing S-1-based first-line chemotherapies (SPIRITS, START, GC0301/TOP-002, and G-SOX trials).

Detection of Kita-Kyushu Lung Cancer Antigen-1, a Cancer/Testis Antigen, in the Stomach Close to a Cancerous Condition.

Kita-Kyushu lung cancer antigen-1 (KK-LC-1), encoded by , is a cancer/testis antigen (CTA) and an attractive target for immunotherapy. Our previous study demonstrated frequent expression in gastric cancers (GCs) and non-tumor sites of the stomach with tumors. Additionally, there was a correlation with () infection.

Clinicopathological Significance of BRCAness in Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Its Association With Anticancer Drug Sensitivity in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Objective: The concept of BRCAness has been proposed as a homologous recombination repair dysfunction triggered by a genetic defect in the BRCA pathway including the BRCA1/2 mutations. A certain number of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients have BRCAness. However, a large-scale analysis of BRCAness in PDAC has not been performed.

New image-processing technology for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimen evaluation in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Objectives: We evaluated the usefulness of a newly developed system with which the total amount of whitish cores in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) samples is automatically calculated (automated multiband imaging system [AMUS]).

Methods: From 30 prospectively enrolled patients suspected of having pancreatic cancer, four EUS-FNAB specimens per patient were obtained. Following AMUS calculations, two specimens were prepared after stereomicroscopy-guided manual division into whitish and reddish sections (isolation group), and the other two were prepared without such division (no-isolation group).

Endoscopic re-intervention after stent-in-stent versus side-by-side bilateral self-expandable metallic stent deployment.

Background And Aim: Endoscopic bilateral self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement for unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO) is widely performed; however, re-intervention after recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO) is often challenging. We compared stent-in-stent (SIS) and side-by-side (SBS) SEMS placement for MHBO considering re-intervention for RBO.

Methods: One hundred five consecutive patients with MHBO who underwent endoscopic bilateral SEMS placement in our hospital and its affiliated institutions were enrolled in this study; 75 patients underwent partial SIS deployment between December 2005 and December 2012; and 30 underwent SBS deployment between January 2013 and March 2019.

Predictive Significance of Promoter DNA Methylation of in Metachronous Gastric Cancer.

Purpose: Promoter DNA methylation of various genes has been associated with metachronous gastric cancer (MGC). The cancer-specific methylation gene, , has been implicated in the occurrence of residual gastric cancer. We evaluated whether DNA methylation of could be a predictive biomarker of MGC using specimens of MGC developing on scars after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

The Risk of Cirrhosis and Its Complications Based on PNPLA3 rs738409 G Allele Frequency.

Background: Data regarding the influence of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) polymorphism for patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) are scarce.

Objective: This study assesses the role of the PNPLA3 polymorphism for the development of LC and its complications by the findings of genetic examinations.

Methods: Patients with LC caused by virus (n = 157), alcohol (n = 104), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (n = 106), or autoimmune disease (n = 33) and without LC (n = 128) were enrolled.

CD109 expression in tumor cells and stroma correlates with progression and prognosis in pancreatic cancer.

CD109 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein, whose expression is upregulated in some types of malignant tumors. High levels of CD109 in tumor cells have been reported to correlate with poor prognosis; however, significance of CD109 stromal expression in human malignancy has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the tumorigenic properties of CD109 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

The role of thromboxane prostanoid receptor signaling in gastric ulcer healing.

The process of gastric ulcer healing includes cell migration, proliferation, angiogenesis and re-epithelialization. Platelets contain angiogenesis stimulating factors that induce angiogenesis. Thromboxane A (TXA ) not only induces platelet activity but also angiogenesis.

Recovery of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells Following Monocrotaline-induced Liver Injury.

Background/aim: Although the pathology of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is characterized by damage to liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), the processes underlying LSEC repair are incompletely understood. The angiopoietin (Ang)/Tie system contributes to angiogenesis. The present study aimed to examine the processes of LSEC repair and the involvement of the Ang/Tie pathway in LSEC recovery.

Additional L-Carnitine Reduced the Risk of Hospitalization in Patients with Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy on Rifaximin.

Background: Data regarding the additional effect on the recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after oral L-carnitine administration are scarce.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the additional effects of L-carnitine in patients who were receiving rifaximin for HE.

Methods: This randomized study comprised a screening visit and a 12-week treatment period.

Prospective study for an independent predictor of prognosis in liver cirrhosis based on the new sarcopenia criteria produced by the Japan Society of Hepatology.

Aim: There are limited data from prospective studies showing the clinical usefulness of the new criteria for sarcopenia in liver disease produced by the Japan Society of Hepatology. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of this new criteria for prognosis in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: This prospective study was performed at six centers.

A case of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis after initiation of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

In November 2020, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab became available for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its efficacy is expected as a new treatment option for HCC. However, the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with the administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors is a major concern in clinical practice. We reported a case of irAE-induced myocarditis after the treatment for HCC.

Macrophages contribute to liver repair after monocrotaline-induced liver injury via SDF-1/CXCR4.

Monocrotaline (MCT) administration induces liver injury in rodents that mimics the pathology of human sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. MCT-induced SOS models are used to investigate the mechanism of injury and optimize treatment strategies. However, the processes underlying liver repair are largely unknown.

Cartilage-hair Hypoplasia Complicated with Liver Cirrhosis Due to Chronic Intrahepatic Cholestasis.

We herein report a rare case of cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH) complicated with liver cirrhosis. A 20-year-old Japanese man with CHH was found incidentally to have liver cirrhosis and an esophageal varix. This patient had been treated for infections due to immunodeficiency since early childhood.

Risk Factors for Perforation During Endoscopic Papillary Large Balloon Dilation and Bile Duct Stone Removal.

Background: Stone removal using endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) is extremely effective. However, limited research exists regarding the risk factors for perforation of the duodenal papilla and bile duct, which may be fatal.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the risk factors for perforation during EPLBD + stone removal.

Usefulness of endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in elderly patients: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: The effectiveness of endoscopic treatment for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the elderly is unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively studied efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in 358 patients at our hospital from July 2005 to December 2018. Patients were divided into elderly (≥75 years) and young (≤74 years) groups.

The Diagnosis of Drug-induced Liver Injury: Current Diagnostic Ability and Future Challenges of the Digestive Disease Week-Japan 2004 Scale 15 Years after Its Proposal.

Objective This study examined whether or not the Digestive Disease Week-Japan (DDW-J) 2004 scale proposed over 15 years ago can be applied to current cases of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Methods The new patients group included 125 patients from 2012 to 2019 and was divided into 2 subgroups: 96 patients in the new DILI group and 29 patients in the new non-DILI group. Similarly, the old patients group included 105 patients from 1997 to 2002 and was divided into 2 subgroups: 59 patients in the old DILI group and 46 patients in the old non-DILI group.

Nafamostat Mesylate is Not Effective in Preventing Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is associated with complications such as post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Protease inhibitors, including nafamostat mesylate (NM), have been evaluated for prophylaxis against PEP.

Aim: We describe the first multicenter randomized controlled trial assessing the prophylactic efficacy of NM against PEP.