High-Mobility Group Box 1 expression predicts survival of patients after resection of adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

Background: Expression of High-Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), a multifunctional protein involved in DNA function as well as cell proliferation, inflammation, and the immune response, has been reported to be prognostic in several types of malignancies. However, the prognostic value of HMGB1 in ampullary cancer has not been studied.

Methods: Patients with adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater who underwent R0 resection with pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2001 and 2011 were included in the present multi-institutional study.

Long-term outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with obstructive colorectal cancer: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Aim: To investigate the long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer (CRC) at multiple Japanese institutions.

Methods: We identified 362 patients diagnosed with obstructive colorectal cancer from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2012 in Yokohama Clinical Oncology Group's department of gastroenterological surgery. Among them, 234 patients with stage II/III disease who had undergone surgical resection of their primary lesions were analyzed, retrospectively.

Incidence and risk factors for rectovaginal fistula after low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Background: The rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is a rare complication after low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for RVF after LAR for rectal cancer.

Methods: This was a retrospective multi-institution study of 371 female rectal cancer patients who underwent LAR with anastomosis between January 2007 and December 2011.

Role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in endotoxin-induced hepatic failure after extensive hepatectomy in rats.

Postoperative infections after hepatectomy sometimes lead to fatal hepatic failure, but the mechanism of the hepatic failure is unclear. Wistar rats underwent 90% hepatectomy, and were then divided into three groups: (i) the SAL group, injected with normal saline; (ii) the LPS group, injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) every day for 1 week; and (iii) the LPS plus TGF-Ab (LPS+TGF-Ab) group, injected with LPS with anti-transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) antibody. We investigated survival rates, TGF-beta1 expression in the liver, liver regeneration by proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index, hepatocyte apoptosis by single stranded DNA labeling index, and perisinusoidal fibrosis using Masson's trichrome staining.

Extended abdominoperineal resection with partial prostatectomy for T3 rectal cancer.

Background/aims: To describe and discuss extended abdominoperineal resection with partial prostatectomy using the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel as an alternative to total pelvic exenteration in lower rectal T3 cancer contiguous with the prostate.

Methodology: Extended abdominoperineal resection with partial prostatectomy was performed in 4 patients with lower rectal clinical stage T3 cancer contiguous with the prostate using the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel. The ultrasonic harmonic scalpel permitted en bloc dissection of the rectum and the posterior part of the prostate, removing all tumor and disruption of the normal urinary stream.

Mechanism of postoperative liver failure after excessive hepatectomy investigated using a cDNA microarray.

Background/purpose: Excessive hepatectomy often causes fatal liver failure. We have reported that this is mainly mediated by apoptosis, characterized pathologically by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay-positive hepatocytes and a ladder pattern in DNA fragmentation assays.

Methods: To investigate the mechanism, we used cDNA microarray analysis to compare clearly differentiated rat partial hepatectomy (PHx) models (90% PHx, and 95% PHx).