Factors associated with physical activity in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer during outpatient chemotherapy: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the physical activity level of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer during outpatient chemotherapy and the factors associated with decreased physical activity levels after drug administration.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, activity intensity and steps were measured using an accelerometer in 39 patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer for 1 week before and after drug administration. Furthermore, the participants responded to a questionnaire on their lifestyles.

Chained occurrences of early afterdepolarizations may create a directional triggered activity to initiate reentrant ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Background And Objective: It has been believed that polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) such as torsades de pointes (TdP) seen in patients with long QT syndromes is triggered by creating early afterdepolarization (EAD)-mediated triggered activity (TA). Although the mechanisms creating the TA have been studied intensively, characteristics of the arrhythmogenic (torsadogenic) substrates that link EAD developments to TA formation are still not well understood.

Methods: Computer simulations of excitation propagation in a homogenous two-dimensional ventricular tissue with an anisotropic conduction property were performed to characterize torsadogenic substrates that potentially form TA.

Texture analysis of CT colonography to develop a novel imaging biomarker for the management of colorectal cancer.

Background: Recent studies have focused on evaluating the biomarker value of textural features in radiological images. Our study investigated whether or not a texture analysis of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) images could be a novel biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: This retrospective study investigated 263 patients with CRC who underwent contrast-enhanced CTC (CE-CTC) before curative surgery between January 2014 and December 2017.

Feasibility/clinical utility of half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo imaging combined with deep learning reconstruction in gynecologic magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: When antispasmodics are unavailable, the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER; called BLADE by Siemens Healthineers) or half Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) is clinically used in gynecologic MRI. However, their imaging qualities are limited compared to Turbo Spin Echo (TSE) with antispasmodics. Even with antispasmodics, TSE can be artifact-affected, necessitating a rapid backup sequence.

Limited diagnostic performance of imaging evaluation for staging in gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma: a multi-center study.

Purpose: The purposes of the study are to assess the diagnostic performance of preoperative imaging for staging factors in gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (GEA) and to compare the performance for GEA with that of usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (UEA) among patients preoperatively deemed locally early stage (DLES) (< T2b without distant metastasis).

Materials And Methods: For this multi-center retrospective study, 58 patients were enrolled. All had undergone MRI with or without CT and FDG PET-CT preoperatively and had been pathologically diagnosed with GEA at five institutions.

Regulation of long-term memory by a few clock neurons in .

Identification of the neural circuits in the brain regulating animal behavior and physiology is critical for understanding brain functions and is one of the most challenging goals in neuroscience research. The fruitfly has often been used to identify the neural circuits involved in the regulation of specific behaviors because of the many neurogenetic tools available to express target genes in particular neurons. Neurons controlling sexual behavior, feeding behavior, and circadian rhythms have been identified, and the number of neurons responsible for controlling these phenomena is small.

Treatment outcomes in non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia and post-treatment return to social activities.

Purpose: To investigate the treatment outcomes of patients with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) at our institution, we focused on their post-treatment return to social activities.

Methods: This study included patients with suspected NOMI who were referred to our department between 2011 and 2023. In-hospital mortality was also investigated as a prognostic factor.

Investigation of the clinical implications of anterior cervical invasion in locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Purposes: This study investigates the clinical significance of the anterior parametrical invasion in surgically treated patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: We included patients diagnosed with cervical SCC with local lesions classified as T2b, who were treated at our department between January 2006 and December 2020. We evaluated the degree of anterior invasion using pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging and divided patients into three groups: partial, equivocal, and full invasion.

[Chemotherapy Strategy in a Case of MSI-High Patients with Gastric Cancer-Case Report].

A 73-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a chief complaint of black stools and abdominal distention. She was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis and multiple lymph node metastasis(cT4aN3M0, cStage Ⅲ)and was administered preoperative chemotherapy after laparoscopy and gastric jejunal bypass surgery. The surgical diagnosis was sT4aN3M0P0CY0.

Azelnidipine protects HL-1 cardiomyocytes from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury by enhancement of NO production independently of effects on gene expression.

It remains to be elucidated whether Ca antagonists induce pharmacological preconditioning to protect the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to determine whether and how pretreatment with a Ca antagonist, azelnidipine, could protect cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury in vitro. Using HL-1 cardiomyocytes, we studied effects of azelnidipine on NO synthase (NOS) expression, NO production, cell death and apoptosis during H/R.

CT-derived skeletal muscle change before immunotherapy predicts survival of advanced gastric cancer: associations with inflammatory markers and liver lipid metabolism.

Background: Skeletal muscle (SM) is a key factor in cancer treatment. However, it is unclear whether pretreatment SM change affects the outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy in gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: Advanced GCs treated with ICIs were retrospectively investigated.

Endoscopic Diagnosis of Epithelial Subtypes of Superficial Non-Ampullary Duodenal Epithelial Tumors using Magnifying Narrow-Band Imaging.

Introduction: Superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs) include low-grade adenoma (LGA) and high-grade adenoma or carcinoma (HGA/Ca) and are classified into two different epithelial subtypes, gastric-type (G-type) and intestinal-type (I-type). We attempted to distinguish them by endoscopic characteristics including magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (M-NBI).

Methods: Various endoscopic and M-NBI findings of 286 SNADETs were retrospectively reviewed and compared between G- and I-types and histological grades.

Reduction of adverse reactions and correlation between post-vaccination fever and specific antibody response across successive SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, recognized for high immunogenicity, frequently induces adverse reactions, especially fever. We previously reported a correlation between post-vaccination fever and specific antibody responses to the primary series and first booster. We herein report changes in adverse reactions and the correlation between post-vaccination fever and antibody responses across successive vaccinations, from monovalent to bivalent mRNA vaccines.

Severe Atelectasis due to Aspirated Valproic Acid Tablet.

A 60-year-old man treated with valproic acid (VPA) for epilepsy developed atelectasis and respiratory failure after an accidentally aspirated VPA tablet-induced mucus hypersecretion. Following bronchoscopic removal of the aspirated tablet, his respiratory status improved and massive sputum production did not recur. We hypothesized that the aspirated VPA tablet increased the expression of mucin-related genes, thereby increasing mucus production.

Prognostic relevance of the most predominant and least differentiated grades of gastric adenocarcinoma after curative gastrectomy.

Background: Prognostic relevance of differentiation grade has remained controversial in gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) after curative resection.

Methods: GAC patients who underwent curative gastrectomy were analyzed. Differentiation grade was evaluated according to either the most predominant or least differentiated component.

A case of laparoscopic revision surgery 30 years after vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity.

As the number of bariatric and metabolic surgeries being performed is increasing, the importance of revision surgeries is escalating. In this report, we describe a case of revision surgery performed 30 years after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), including a review of the surgical techniques. The patient was a male in his 50s who had previously undergone VBG for morbid obesity (body mass index of 72.

Intraoperative assessment of blood flow using transabdominal ultrasound during laparoscopic surgery of celiac artery compression syndrome.

Surgical treatment of celiac artery (CA) compression syndrome (CACS) is to release the median arcuate ligament (MAL) by removing the abdominal nerve plexus surrounding CA. In laparoscopic surgery of CACS, objective intraoperative assessment of blood flow in CA is highly desirable. We herein demonstrate a case of laparoscopic surgery of CACS with use of intraoperative transabdominal ultrasound.

Stage IV and recurrent colorectal cancer cured following multimodal therapy: A case series.

The treatment strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) with distant metastasis or metastatic recurrence after resection of the primary tumor are controversial. In the present study, four cases of patients with advanced CRC with distant metastasis who achieved disease-free survival (DFS) for >5 years and were deemed potentially cured were reported. Case 1 was that of a 53-year-old male patient with rectal cancer and liver metastases (pT3N2bM1, pStage IV), and case 2 was that of a 58-year-old female patient with descending colon cancer (pT3N1M1, pStage IV) who had lung metastases at surgery and postoperatively.

Use of inducible and limiting fluorescence in laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery.

Video 1Demonstration of the special use of the near-infrared fluorescent clip in laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery.

Preoperative Imaging Evaluation of Endometrial Cancer in FIGO 2023.

The staging of endometrial cancer is based on the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system according to the examination of surgical specimens, and has revised in 2023, 14 years after its last revision in 2009. Molecular and histological classification has incorporated to new FIGO system reflecting the biological behavior and prognosis of endometrial cancer. Nonetheless, the basic role of imaging modalities including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography, as a preoperative assessment of the tumor extension and also the evaluation points in CT and MRI imaging are not changed, other than several point of local tumor extension.

Peripherally inserted central catheter securement with cyanoacrylate glue and bloodstream infection: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Treatment via a peripherally inserted central venous catheter is important for anticancer treatment, perioperative management, and nutrition management. In this study, we aimed to investigate the usefulness of cyanoacrylate glue (CG) in managing peripherally inserted central venous catheters in adults.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 411 adults requiring a central venous catheter for treatment in the Chiba University Esophageal-Gastro-Intestinal Surgery department between January 2021 and October 2022.

Inflammatory and Nutritional Indices as Prognostic Markers in Elderly Patients With Gastric Cancer.

Background/aim: Peripheral blood inflammatory and nutritional indices are independent prognostic factors for various cancers. However, as society's longevity and the demand for surgery in the elderly increase, it remains unclear whether these indices are valuable for patients aged ≥80 years. This study aimed to assess the utility of peripheral blood indices as prognostic markers in elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC).