Risk factors of poor prognosis and impairment of activities of daily living in patients with hemorrhagic gastroduodenal ulcers.

Background: Impairment of activities of daily living (ADL) due to hemorrhagic gastroduodenal ulcers (HGU) has rarely been evaluated. We analyzed the risk factors of poor prognosis, including mortality and impairment of ADL, in patients with HGU.

Methods: In total, 582 patients diagnosed with HGU were retrospectively analyzed.

Risk Factors for Acute Cholangitis Caused by and .

Background/aims: Acute cholangitis (AC) is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection, and timely antimicrobial treatment, faster than that achieved with bacterial cultures, is recommended. Although the current guidelines refer to empirical antimicrobial treatment, various kinds of antimicrobial agents have been cited because of insufficient analyses on the spectrum of pathogens in AC. spp.

Long-term survival after palliative argon plasma coagulation for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is an epithelial tumor that can cause obstructive jaundice and cholangitis due to mucin production. Although the effectiveness of argon plasma coagulation in IPNB treatment has been demonstrated, the long-term effect of the therapy is largely unknown. Here, we have presented a patient with IPNB who underwent argon plasma coagulation with a follow-up period of more than 2 years.

Hepatitis C virus relapse after successful treatment with direct-acting antivirals, followed by sarcomatous changes in hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

Background: Combination therapy of interferon and ribavirin has traditionally been used to eradicate hepatitis C virus. The sustained virologic response achieved with interferon-related therapy is persistent, and late relapses after achieving sustained virologic response at 24 weeks using this therapy are reportedly rare (< 1%). In 2014, interferon-free therapy with direct-acting antivirals was developed, and the rate of sustained virologic response was improved.

Impact of the Sensitivity to Empiric Antibiotics on Clinical Outcomes after Biliary Drainage for Acute Cholangitis.

Background/aims: Empiric antibiotics are given in combination with biliary drainage for acute cholangitis but sometimes turn out to be insensitive to microorganisms in blood and bile. Clinical outcomes were compared according to sensitivity to microorganisms detected in blood and bile culture to evaluate the impact of sensitivity to empiric antibiotics in cholangitis.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent biliary drainage for acute cholangitis were retrospectively studied.

Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis appearing after nivolumab therapy for gastric cancer: a case report.

Background: While dermatomyositis is often associated with malignancy, several autoimmune diseases like myositis can be caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors. Differentially diagnosing malignancy-associated dermatomyositis or myositis caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors is sometimes difficult, particularly when a patient with malignancy shows the symptoms of myositis after checkpoint inhibitor administration. We experienced such a case in which we had difficulties in diagnosing paraneoplastic dermatomyositis or drug-associated myositis.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Sorafenib on Overall Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma using FT Rate: A Devised Index.

Introduction: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the first-line treatment for intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and prolongs survival in HCC patients. However, repeated TACE results in diminished therapeutic response. In addition, the superiority of sorafenib to TACE monotherapy or combined therapy in patients with HCC is still controversial.

Potential Effectiveness of Tolvaptan to Improve Ascites Unresponsive to Standard Diuretics and Overall Survival in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis.

Background And Objective: After tolvaptan was approved for the treatment of cirrhosis patients with ascites, only a few studies have reported its efficacy in the real clinical setting, and no studies have reported its contribution to overall survival. This study clarified the clinical outcomes of tolvaptan treatment in terms of improving ascites unresponsive to standard diuretics (AUS) and overall survival.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 80 decompensated cirrhosis patients with AUS who were administered tolvaptan from October 2012 to December 2014.

Efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization followed by sorafenib for intermediate/advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in patients in Japan: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Sorafenib might prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence caused by the promotion of neoangiogenesis after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TACE followed by sorafenib for treating advanced HCC.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 95 advanced HCC patients treated with TACE between July 2008 and December 2012 at our institution.

Efficacy of tolvaptan in patients with refractory ascites in a clinical setting.

Aim: To elucidate the efficacies of tolvaptan (TLV) as a treatment for refractory ascites compared with conventional treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 120 refractory ascites patients between January 1, 2009 and September 31, 2014. Sixty patients were treated with oral TLV at a starting dose of 3.

Unusual presentation of localized gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma mimicking poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma.

The risk of misdiagnosing neoplastic cells typically infiltrating an epithelium forming a lymphoepithelial lesion as poorly differentiated gastric cancer in endoscopic biopsies, particularly in low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas, is described. A 76-year-old woman was referred for management of a poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma. Diagnostic endoscopy in our unit showed a 2 cm raised, submucosal lesion with central erosion in the upper body of the stomach, but repeat biopsies of the lesion were interpreted as inflamed gastric mucosa and negative for malignancy.