Long-term survival analysis based on tumor location in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent pancreatectomy following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The study aimed at assessing whether long-term survival outcomes were different based on tumor location in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients who underwent pancreatectomy following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods: Following CRT, resection rate was 60.5% (286/473) and the resected patients had pancreatic head (n = 218), body (n = 34) and tail (n = 34) tumors.

Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorption Therapy in Patients With Sepsis: A Feasibility Study.

Background: The pathogenesis of sepsis is thought to be linked to a dysregulated immune response, particularly that involving neutrophils. We have developed a granulocyte adsorption column as a "decoy organ," which relocates the massive inflammation in organs in the body to a blood purification column. This study was conducted to assess the safety and experimental effectiveness of granulocyte monocyte adsorption apheresis-direct hemoperfusion (G1-DHP) in the treatment of patients with sepsis, using a prospective, multicenter design.

A Case of Robot-Assisted Pylorus-Preserving Pancreatoduodenectomy for Branch-Duct Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms Complicated With an Annular Pancreas.

Annular pancreas is a rare congenital anatomical anomaly, in which the pancreatic parenchyma surrounds the descending duodenum. Generally, annular pancreas is diagnosed on the basis of symptoms associated with complications of peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, and rarely, malignant tumors. Herein, we report an 84-year-old man for whom, during hospitalization for a urinary tract infection, pancreatic cystic lesions and an annular pancreas were noted incidentally on computed tomography.

Distinct prognostic impacts of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index and geriatric nutritional risk index in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.

The optimal surgical indication for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) remains highly contentious. We aimed to determine the preoperative predictive factors of malignancy and independent prognostic factors in patients with IPMN who underwent curative-intent resection. In this study, 104 patients with a pathological diagnosis of IPMN who underwent curative-intent resection were included.

Plantar cutaneous sensation is independently associated with postural balance and lower limb motor function in older adults: the Shizuoka study.

Purpose: A relationship between decreased plantar cutaneous sensation and impaired balance function has been reported in patients with peripheral neuropathy and diabetes. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between plantar sensation and postural balance, as well as the association between plantar sensation and sarcopenia-related motor function in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: The participants included 1659 community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 74 ± 5 years, of which 43% were male patients.

Utility of Duplex Ultrasound in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome.

A 19-year-old female presented with intermittent claudication without anatomical abnormality in the popliteal fossa on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. However, duplex ultrasound (DUS) showed compression of the popliteal artery (PA) and vein during plantarflexion and dorsiflexion. She was diagnosed with functional PA entrapment syndrome (PAES) and underwent resection of the plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles using DUS with stress maneuvers, which relieved the symptoms.

Impact of Underdosing of Direct Oral Anticoagulants on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Underdoses of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are sometimes prescribed due to bleeding risk concerns in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated the prevalence of DOAC underdosing and its impact on clinical outcomes in AF patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: This multicenter observational cohort study enrolled patients with AF on DOAC undergoing PCI between January 2015 and March 2021 at 15 institutions across Japan.

Tumor budding is an independent adverse prognostic factor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients treated by resection after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Objectives: To examine the significance of tumor budding as a prognostic factor of resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) specimens after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods: Among 162 PDAC patients who underwent pancreatectomy after gemcitabine and S1-based CRT from 2012 to 2019, 131 were evaluated for tumor budding. Tumor buds were counted at the invasive front, where the degree of budding was the greatest (hematoxylin and eosin staining, ×20 magnification).

Effect of Transpancreatic Mattress Suture With Polyglycolic Acid Sheet in Pancreatic Stump Closure for the Prevention of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula in Robotic Distal Pancreatectomy.

Objective: Pancreatic stump closure in minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (DP) commonly utilizes staplers due to its simplicity; however, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains the most frequent complication. We have developed a novel stump closure technique using a transpancreatic mattress suture with a polyglycolic acid sheet (TP method) under robotic DP. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the TP method.

Prognostic significance of early and multiple recurrences after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), postoperative recurrence remains high. This study aimed to evaluate the recurrence patterns and prognosis of HCC after curative hepatectomy.

Methods: Among 352 patients with primary HCC who underwent initial hepatectomy between January 2002 and December 2022, 151 with recurrence were assessed for the relationship between recurrence pattern and prognosis.

Short-term surgical outcomes of open, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted pancreatoduodenectomy: A comparative, single-center, retrospective study.

Purpose: Although laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) and robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) are gradually gaining popularity, their advantages over open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) remain controversial. This study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes of OPD, LPD, and RPD to elucidate the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 16 LPD, 43 RPD, and 36 OPD procedures performed at a single center between April 2020 and May 2024.

Utility of Quantitative Assessment of Tc-99m-diethylenetriamine-penta-acetic acid-galactosyl Human Serum Albumin SPECT/CT in the Identification of Severe Liver Fibrosis: Its Complementary Diagnostic Value with Other Liver Function Indices.

Purpose: To evaluate the value of Tc-99m-diethylenetriamine-penta-acetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin (Tc-GSA) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for assessing liver fibrosis, and to assess its complementary value to other liver function indices such as fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index and indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test parameters (ICG-R15 and ICG-K).

Procedures: Seventy-eight patients with chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent Tc-GSA scintigraphy and other liver function tests including ICG test and FIB-4 index prior to hepatectomy were studied. Tc-GSA imaging was performed with SPECT/CT scanner (Discovery NM/CT 670).

Peritoneal washing cytology status as a crucial prognostic determinant in patients with localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent curative-intent resection following preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Prognostic implications of peritoneal washing cytology (CY) in patients with localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) undergoing surgical resection following preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic significance and predictors of a positive CY status (CY+) after preoperative CRT.

Methods: Clinical data from 141 patients with localized PDAC who underwent curative-intent resection after preoperative CRT were retrospectively analyzed to examine the association between CY+ and clinicopathological factors and survival.

A comparison of pancreatojejunostomy using the modified Blumgart anastomosis with or without a four-needle three-loop suture device and continuous sutures for duct-to-mucosa anastomosis in robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Purpose: Despite descriptions of different pancreatojejunostomy procedures using robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD), a standardized procedure has not yet been established. No prior report has described pancreatojejunostomy by RPD combined with modified Blumgart anastomosis with continuous suturing for duct-to-mucosa anastomosis. This study investigated this surgical technique and evaluated the short-term outcomes of the simplified pancreatojejunostomy procedure.

Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy with delayed division of the pancreatic parenchyma when utilizing a right lateral approach to the superior mesenteric artery.

Background: Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy (HPD) is a high-risk surgical procedure. Delayed division of the pancreatic parenchyma (DDPP) was reported as a novel technique in HPD for reducing postoperative pancreatic fistula. However, it is often difficult to dissect the pancreatic head nerve plexus while leaving the pancreatic parenchyma intact, particularly in patients with a bulky tumor with vascular invasion.

Adult cardiomyocytes-derived EVs for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.

Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological feature of cardiovascular diseases that arises from the hyperactivation of fibroblasts and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, leading to impaired cardiac function and potentially heart failure or arrhythmia. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by cardiomyocytes (CMs) regulate various physiological functions essential for myocardial homeostasis, which are disrupted in cardiac disease. Therefore, healthy CM-derived EVs represent a promising cell-free therapy for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.

Laparoscopic Warshaw procedure in pediatric solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas: Technical feasibility and oncological outcomes.

Achieving margin-negative resection is crucial in treatment of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas, while preserving the spleen during distal pancreatectomy is highly desirable in pediatric cases. Laparoscopic Warshaw procedure (Lap-WT) is invaluable when tumor involvement in splenic vessels complicates preservation. However, the feasibility of Lap-WT in pediatric patients remains contentious.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for perioperative management of infective endocarditis after COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a case report.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare cardiovascular complication in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). IE after COVID-19 can also be complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); however, the guidelines for the treatment of such cases are not clear. Here, we report a case of perioperative management of post-COVID-19 IE with ARDS using veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO).