[Investigation the contents of employment consultation and support in a cancer center hospital].

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze and categorize the actual situation of employment consultation and support according to consultation times or employment status at the Consultation Support Center of the National Cancer Center Hospital of Japan.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the patient backgrounds, consultation contents, and the number of employment consultation cases conducted at the Consultation Support Center of the National Cancer Center Hospital during a 6-month period from May to December 2018.

Results: During the study period, 117 patients (male: female = 46:71) visited the Consultation Support Center.

Factors contributing to the systemic clearance of infliximab with long-term administration in Japanese patients with Crohn's disease: Analysis using population pharmacokinetics .

Objective: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disease with repeated cycles of exacerbation and remission. Infliximab (IFX), a chimeric anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody, has been widely used for the treatment of CD. However, no study in Japanese CD patients receiving continuous IFX for more than 1 year has been reported.

Late-onset visceral varicella-zoster virus infection presented as acute liver failure after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Although much less common than localized zoster, initial presentation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) as visceral infection can occur especially after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We herein report a case of post-transplant visceral VZV infection presenting as fatal acute liver failure. It developed 4 years after allogeneic HSCT when a long-term prophylactic anti-VZV agent administration was discontinued.

Long-term effect of NUDT15 R139C on hematologic indices in inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with thiopurine.

Background And Aim: A missense variant of the nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X-type motif 15 (NUDT15) gene (R139C) predisposes Asian patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to thiopurine-induced leukopenia. This study evaluates the long-term effect of NUDT15 R139C heterozygosity on hematological parameters during thiopurine administration.

Methods: We enrolled 83 Japanese IBD patients who were on anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents and had used thiopurine.

Toll-Like Receptor 7 Agonist-Induced Dermatitis Causes Severe Dextran Sulfate Sodium Colitis by Altering the Gut Microbiome and Immune Cells.

Background & Aims: Psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are both chronic inflammatory diseases occurring in the skin and gut, respectively. It is well established that psoriasis and IBD have high concordance rates, and similar changes in immune cells and microbiome composition have been reported in both conditions. To study this connection, we used a combination murine model of psoriatic dermatitis and colitis in which mice were treated topically with the Toll-like receptor 7 agonist imiquimod (IMQ) and fed dextran sulfate sodium (DSS).

Factors predicting the therapeutic response to infliximab during maintenance therapy in Japanese patients with Crohn's disease.

Since anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α agents (TNF-α inhibitors) induce both clinical response and remission in patients with moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the use of anti-TNF therapies has fundamentally changed the approach to treatment for patients with IBD. Infliximab (IFX) is a TNF-α inhibitor approved for the induction and remission of Crohn's disease (CD). However, even among patients who initially demonstrate a clinical response to IFX therapy, secondary loss of response occurs, although the reason remains unknown.

Fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent infection in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been reported as a safe and effective therapy in patients with refractory and recurrent infection (CDI). FMT has also been reported as a promising therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Both, CDI and UC, are believed to be caused by dysbiosis, such as altered compositions or decreased diversity of the intestinal microbiota.

Delivery of Oxytocin to the Brain for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder by Nasal Application.

Oxytocin (OXT) is a cyclic nonapeptide, two amino acids of which are cysteine, forming an intramolecular disulfide bond. OXT is produced in the hypothalamus and is secreted into the bloodstream from the posterior pituitary. As recent studies have suggested that OXT is a neurotransmitter exhibiting central effects important for social deficits, it has drawn much attention as a drug candidate for the treatment of autism.

Wearing Compression Tights on the Thigh during Prolonged Running Attenuated Exercise-Induced Increase in Muscle Damage Marker in Blood.

To examine the effects of wearing a lower-body compression garment with different body coverage areas during prolonged running on exercise performance and muscle damage. Thirty male subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) wearing a compression tights with 15 mmHg to thigh [ = 10, CT group], (2) wearing a compression socks with 15 mmHg to calf [ = 10, CS group], and (3) wearing a lower-body garment with < 5 mmHg to thigh and calf [ = 10, CON group]. The exercise consisted of 120 min of uphill running at 55% of [Formula: see text]Omax.

Limited Identification of Dual-time-point Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Advanced Colorectal Neoplasms.

Objective We investigated whether dual-time-point 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) could improve the positive predictive value for detecting advanced colorectal neoplasms (cancer, adenoma ≥10 mm or adenoma with high-grade dysplasia). Methods We retrospectively searched for consecutive patients with a known primary cancer, who had a colonic FDG uptake incidentally found by PET/CT, followed by colonoscopy between January 2013 and August 2014. The clinical characteristics including the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) were compared between advanced colorectal neoplasms and non-advanced lesions.

Wearing lower-body compression garment with medium pressure impaired exercise-induced performance decrement during prolonged running.

Objective: To investigate the effect of wearing a lower body compression garment (CG) exerting different pressure levels during prolonged running on exercise-induced muscle damage and the inflammatory response.

Methods: Eight male participants completed three exercise trials in a random order. The exercise consisted of 120 min of uphill running at 60% of VO2max.

Endocytoscopy can be used to assess histological healing in ulcerative colitis.

 Endocytoscopy (ECS) is used in the in vivo microscopic inspection of microstructural mucosal features and enables endoscopists to assess the histological severity of ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to assess histological healing in UC patients by using ECS.  A total of 64 patients in clinical and endoscopic remission who underwent ECS were selected.

Single fecal microbiota transplantation failed to change intestinal microbiota and had limited effectiveness against ulcerative colitis in Japanese patients.

Background/aims: Recent developments in analytical techniques including next-generation sequencing have clarified the correlation between intestinal microbiota and inflammatory bowel disease. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is proposed as a potential approach to resolving their dysbiosis; however, its safety and efficacy have not been confirmed. This single-arm, open-label, non-randomized study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of FMT for Japanese patients with UC as the first registered clinical trial in Japan.

Evaluation of the severity of ulcerative colitis using endoscopic dual red imaging targeting deep vessels.

 Colonoscopies can predict long-term prognoses in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Recently, a new imaging technology has been developed that uses 3 types of illumination with center wavelengths of 540 nm, 600 nm, and 630 nm. The use of both the 600-nm and 630-nm lights (Dual red imaging; DRI) is critical for identifying blood vessels in deeper tissue.

The Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity is Useful to Predict Medium- to Long-Term Prognosis in Ulcerative Colitis Patients with Clinical Remission.

Background: The ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity [UCEIS] is a validated scoring system. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated its usefulness in clinical settings. In this study, we aimed to predict the clinical prognosis of patients with ulcerative colitis [UC] in clinical remission using the UCEIS.

Impact of Scoliosis on Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication.

Aim: Scoliosis, which is often associated with neurological impairment in children, sometimes makes it difficult to perform laparoscopic procedures. This study assessed the impact of scoliosis on performing laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

Methods: Medical records and radiographic examinations of patients who underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication at a single institution from 2006 to 2015 were reviewed retrospectively.

Minimally invasive surgery for diaphragmatic diseases in neonates and infants.

Owing to recent advances in minimally invasive surgery (MIS), laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery have been gradually introduced for use in neonates and infants. This review focuses on two popular MIS procedures for diaphragmatic diseases in neonates and infants: congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CHD) repair and plication for diaphragmatic eventration. While several advantages of MIS are proposed for CDH repair in neonates, there are also some concerns, namely intraoperative hypercapnia and acidosis and a higher recurrence rate than open techniques.

Ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity is associated with long-term prognosis in ulcerative colitis patients treated with infliximab.

Background And Aim: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that is characterized by periods of remission and episodes of relapse. Mucosal healing is an emerging therapeutic target in UC and various scoring systems have been used. The UC endoscopic index of severity (UCEIS) is the only validated endoscopic index at present, with minimum interobserver variation.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Oral Qing-Dai in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Single-Center Open-Label Prospective Study.

Background/aims: Chinese herbal medicine Qing-Dai (also known as indigo naturalis) has been used to treat various inflammatory conditions. However, not much has been studied about the use of oral Qing-Dai in the treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Studies exploring alternative treatments for UC are of considerable interest.

Endoscopic Severity Predicts Long-Term Prognosis in Crohn's Disease Patients with Clinical Remission.

Introduction: Mucosal healing has emerged as a desirable treatment goal in clinical practice for patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between endoscopic activity and the long-term prognosis of CD using simple endoscopic score for Crohn's disease (SESCD) and Rutgeerts' score.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study in clinical practice at a single center.

Slow release of basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) enhances mechanical properties of rat trachea.

Aim: Severe tracheomalacia is a life-threatening disease, but symptoms usually improve with growth. The aims of this study were to investigate how slow release basic-Fibroblast Growth Factor (b-FGF) acts on tracheal cartilage, and whether growth-promoted trachea is more resistant against an increase in externally-applied pressure.

Methods: Biodegradable gelatin hydrogel sheets soaked in 10 μl of distilled water (sham) or 0.

Thoracoscopic plication for diaphragmatic eventration after surgery for congenital heart disease in children.

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the role of thoracoscopic plication for diaphragmatic eventration after surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) in children.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of pediatric patients who had undergone thoracoscopic plication of diaphragmatic eventration after surgery for CHD between 2008 and 2013 at our department.

Results: Five patients were identified during the study period.

Fingerprinting localized dioxin contamination: Ichihara Anchorage case.

Although concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibezofurans (PCDD/Fs; dioxins) in majority of Japanese river and ocean sediments decreased below the national environmental quality standard of 150 pg-TEQ. (g-dry sediment)(-1) by 2004, localized contamination inasmuch as 100-fold excess of the environmental quality standard has been reported at various locations including Ichihara Anchorage in northeastern Tokyo Bay. In the present study, we analyzed all mono- to octachlorinated dioxins in 12 surface sediments from Ichihara Anchorage and applied positive matrix factorization (PMF) to quantitatively fingerprintthe congener pattern and geographical distribution of a factor causing the localized contamination.

Disappearing cyst of the hepatic hilum in uncorrectable biliary atresia.

A 2-month-old boy with biliary atresia (BA) with an extremely rare prenatal history is reported. A cystic lesion in the hepatic hilum was diagnosed during prenatal ultrasonography at 20 weeks' gestation. However, it disappeared during later prenatal observation.