A Japanese infant presenting with hypocalcemic seizures resulting from hypovitaminosis D induced by non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Vitamin D deficiency is a major cause of hypocalcemic seizures in infants. Chronic enteropathy can cause both malnutrition and vitamin deficiency disorders, such as celiac disease, in Western Caucasians. However, gluten-related disorders are considered uncommon in most Asian countries, and there have been no reports of any infant being diagnosed with a gluten-related disorder in Japan.

Label-free detection of human enteric nerve system using Raman spectroscopy: A pilot study for diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease.

Background: Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is characterized by the absence of an enteric nerve system (ENS). To remove aganglionosis, bowel reconstruction is only a curative treatment. It is mandatory to identify the extent of aganglionosis during surgery.

Laparoscopic fundoplication for a case of esophageal hiatal hernia after gastroschisis repair.

Background: Esophageal hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux have been recognized as inevitable complications after the definitive gastroschisis operation. Patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux require anti-reflux surgery; however, the surgical adhesions may complicate subsequent surgical therapy, especially in the cases treated by staged repair.

Case Presentation: A male infant who showed a severe gastroesophageal reflux due to hiatal hernia after staged abdominal fascial closure of gastroschisis.

A case of advanced gastric cancer achieved a pathological complete response by chemotherapy.

Background: Although chemotherapy is the first recommended treatment of unresectable gastric cancer, a pathological complete response is a rare event.

Case Presentation: A 58-year-old male was diagnosed as gastric cancer with a bulky tumor, lymphadenopathy, and suspicious peritoneal dissemination. The patient underwent chemotherapy with S-1 and cisplatin.

Serosal and muscular layers incision technique in laparoscopic surgery for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Introduction: To minimize the resection of stomach tissue, especially for lesions close to the esophagogastric junction or pyloric ring, we developed laparoscopic wedge resection with the serosal and muscular layers incision technique (SAMIT) for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Materials And Surgical Technique: SAMIT involves resection of the mucosal and submucosal layers and then an incision in serosal and muscular layers around the tumor. SAMIT is simple and does not require special devices.

Comparing incidence of enterocolitis after laparoscopic and open low anterior resection for stage II/III rectal cancer.

Introduction: We recently observed an increased incidence of severe enterocolitis following laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR) in some patients with stage II/III rectal cancer. This study aimed to examine the influence of laparoscopic LAR on postoperative enterocolitis compared with open LAR for Stage II/III rectal cancer.

Methods: From April 2002 to March 2012, we evaluated 65 patients with stage II/III cancer of the upper or lower rectum who underwent LAR.

A comparison of laparoscopic and open surgery following pre-operative chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced lower rectal cancer.

Objective: Although pre-operative chemoradiation therapy for advanced lower rectal cancer is a controversial treatment modality, it is increasingly used in combination with surgery. Few studies have considered the combination of chemoradiation therapy followed by laparoscopic surgery for locally advanced lower rectal cancer; therefore, this study aimed to assess the usefulness of this therapeutic combination.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with locally advanced lower rectal cancer treated by pre-operative chemoradiation therapy and surgery from February 2002 to November 2012 at Oita University.

Using an indwelled test tube as a good "navigator" during enterostomy closure.

Surgeons often have difficulty in identifying a suitable incision line to enter the peritoneal cavity for stoma mobilization during enterostomy closure. A mini-size test tube that is preoperatively placed into the stoma can act as an efficient guide in finding a free area to enter the peritoneal cavity, by supplying efficient counter traction and a palpable marker of the intestinal wall.

Suppression of tumor growth in human gastric cancer with HER2 overexpression by an anti-HER2 antibody in a murine model.

New modalities are necessary for the treatment of patients with unresectable gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not anti-HER2 antibody could suppress the growth of human gastric cancer cells with HER2 overexpression in vitro and in vivo. Four human gastric cancer cell lines, NCI-N87, MKN-45P, Kato-III, and MKN-1, were used in this study.