Hilar/mediastinal and cutaneous drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic colorectal cancer: a case report.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the standard treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H). Among immune-related adverse events (irAEs), drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reactions (DISR) are often difficult to differentiate from cancer progression.

Main Body: This is a case of a woman in her mid-60s, with mCRC (RAS wild/BRAF mutant/MSI-H) and abdominal lymph node metastasis, treated with four courses of ipilimumab + nivolumab every 3 weeks, followed by nivolumab every 2 weeks as third-line treatment.

Case Report: Longitudinal monitoring of clonal evolution by circulating tumor DNA for resistance to anti-EGFR antibody in a case of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Treatment with anti-EGFR antibody has been shown to prolong survival in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, even patients who initially respond to anti-EGFR antibody therapy, almost without exception, develop resistance to the therapy and then fail to respond. Secondary mutations in the mitogen-activated protein (MAPK) signaling pathway (mainly in NRAS and BRAF) have been implicated in anti-EGFR resistance.

Semi-quantitative evaluation of chest computed tomography for coronavirus disease 2019 in a critical care unit: A case-control study.

The spread of abnormal opacity on chest computed tomography (CT) has been reported as a predictor of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity; however, the relationship between CT findings and prognosis in patients with severe COVID-19 remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of abnormal opacity on chest CT and its association with prognosis in patients with COVID-19 in a critical care medical center, using a simple semi-quantitative method. This single-center case-control study included patients diagnosed with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who were admitted to a critical care center.

[CapeOX Therapy as a Salvage Treatment for Advanced Gastric Cancer Refractory to S-1, Cisplatin, Irinotecan, and Taxanes].

Aim: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin(CapeOX)for heavily pretreated advanced gastric cancer(AGC)refractory to S-1, cisplatin, irinotecan, and taxanes.

Methods: Twelve patients with AGC refractory to S-1, cisplatin, irinotecan, and taxanes were enrolled in this study.Treatment comprised capecitabine(1,000mg/m / 2 twice a day on days 1-14)and oxaliplatin(130mg/m2 on day 1).

A dose-escalation study of docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 (DOS) as a first-line therapy for patients with unresectable metastatic gastric cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the recommended dose (RD) for a docetaxel/oxaliplatin/S-1 (DOS) regimen in patients with unresectable gastric cancer and to preliminarily evaluate its efficacy.

Methods: Previously untreated patients with histologically proven unresectable metastatic gastric cancer were enrolled (n = 16). Docetaxel and oxaliplatin were administered intravenously on day 8 and S-1 was administered orally twice a day on days 1-14.

Clinical features and endoscopic findings in patients with actively bleeding colonic angiodysplasia.

Colonic angiodysplasia (AGD) is an important cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. However, most episodes of bleeding from colonic AGD stop spontaneously. To date, few data are available regarding the endoscopic findings of bleeding colonic AGD.

Perfusion CT is superior to angiography in predicting pancreatic necrosis in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

Background: We performed perfusion computed tomography (P-CT) and angiography of the pancreas in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and compared the usefulness of these two methods in predicting the development of pancreatic necrosis.

Methods: We compared P-CT and angiography results taken within 3 days after symptom onset in 21 SAP patients. We divided the pancreas into three areas, the head, body, and tail, and examined each area for perfusion defects (via P-CT) and arterial vasospasms (by angiography).

Intravenously administered darbepoetin alfa once a week could maintain hemoglobin level more efficiently than once every 2 weeks in patients on hemodialysis.

Background: Darbepoetin alfa, which has a much longer half-life than recombinant human erythropoietin, is used to treat renal anemia. However, there are few reports investigating the efficacy of darbepoetin alfa administered every 2 weeks (Q2W).

Methods: We performed the single-center, prospective, and randomized study in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Administration of alfacalcidol for patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease may reduce cardiovascular disease events.

Background: Besides its effect on calcium metabolism, vitamin D may play a part in preventing the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Only a few reports on the studies relating to whether vitamin D may reduce CVD events in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) are available, and many ambiguities remain.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 665 patients with predialysis CKD.