Therapeutic Outcome of Multidisciplinary Treatment in Unresectable Biliary Tract Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis.

Background: There is little established evidence regarding treatment strategies for unresectable biliary tract cancer (BTC). This study aimed to clarify the situation of multidisciplinary treatment for unresectable BTC in the 2000s when there was no international standard first-line therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 315 consecutive patients with unresectable BTC who had been treated at seven tertiary institutions in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan between 1999 and 2008.

Sensing chemical-induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress via yeast-based reporter assays using NanoLuc luciferase.

Mutagens and oxidative agents damage biomolecules, such as DNA; therefore, detecting genotoxic and oxidative chemicals is crucial for maintaining human health. To address this, we have developed several types of yeast-based reporter assays designed to detect DNA damage and oxidative stress. This study aimed to develop a novel yeast-based assay using a codon-optimized stable or unstable NanoLuc luciferase (yNluc and yNluCP) gene linked to a DNA damage- or oxidative stress-responsive promoter, enabling convenient sensing genotoxicity or oxidative stress, respectively.

Isolated Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury of the Knee in a Judo Athlete: A Surgical Case Report.

Introduction: We report a rare case of surgical treatment for an isolated lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury of the knee that was difficult to correctly diagnose considering physical findings alone of a judo athlete.

Case Report: The 27-year-old man complained of pain on the lateral side of the right knee and discomfort and balance instability when climbing and descending stairs. During a judo match, he stepped on his right foot to prevent his opponent's waza (techniques), causing forced varus on his knee in a slight flexion position.

Impact of number of functional teeth on independence of Japanese older adults.

Aim: To examine the relationship between the number of present and functional teeth at baseline and future incidence of loss of independence.

Methods: Participants were community-dwelling older individuals who participated in a comprehensive geriatric health examination conducted in Kusatsu town, Japan, between 2009 and 2015. The primary endpoint was the incidence of loss of independence among participants, defined as the first certification of long-term care insurance in Japan.

Prognostic significance of sarcopenia as determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel: A retrospective study.

Sarcopenia often affects patients with various types of cancer, and has been reported to affect patient prognosis and therapeutic effects. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the relationship between gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel combination therapy (GnP) and sarcopenia in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The present study analyzed the relationship between overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rate, disease control rate, adverse events (AEs) and sarcopenia in patients with pancreatic cancer treated with GnP.

Prosthodontic treatment can improve the ingestible food profile in Japanese adult outpatients.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of prosthodontic treatment on the ingestible food profile in adult Japanese outpatients, and to identify the related risk factors that can deteriorate the profile.

Methods: The participants were 277 outpatients who visited university-based specialty clinics in Japan for prosthodontic treatment. The demographic data, number of present teeth assessed via intraoral examination, and oral health-related quality of life assessed by the total Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-J54) scores of all participants were recorded before treatment.

Direct bonded fixed partial denture with an artificial denture tooth as a pontic.

Background: The present review aimed to investigate the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of a direct bonded fixed partial denture (DBFPD) based on available literature. The efficiency of a DBFPD is mainly affected by the type of artificial denture tooth, the type of luting agent, and the adhesive preparation.

Methods: The parameters were reviewed based on the in vitro and in vivo studies conducted.

Effectiveness of denture space recording method in the prosthetic treatment of edentulous patients.

Purpose: To present a clinical rationale for the effectiveness of denture space recording methods for the prosthetic treatment of edentulous patients through a review of the literature.

Study Selection: A total of 3167 studies were extracted from a search of four terms, namely denture space, neutral zone technique, flange technique, and piezography using PubMed and J-STAGE databases. A total of 57 documents that matched the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected.

Longevity of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures made of metal alloys: A review of the literature.

Purpose In this review, we evaluate the survival rate of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (RBFPDs) made of metal alloys.Methods An electronic search of English peer-reviewed dental literature on PubMed was conducted to identify all publications reporting on RBFPDs made of metal alloys until March 2019. The searched keywords were: bridge OR fixed partial denture OR fixed prosthesis OR fixed prostheses AND resin bonded AND metal OR alloy AND survival OR longevity (RBFPD was not included).

Randomized Phase II Study of Gemcitabine Monotherapy vs. Gemcitabine with an EPA-Enriched Oral Supplement in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is often associated with cachexia. It had been reported that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) improve cachexia. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine with an EPA-enriched oral supplement in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Repeated Lusutrombopag Treatment for Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease.

Background/aims: Lusutrombopag, a small-molecule thrombopoietin receptor agonist, is used to treat thrombocytopenia based on the results of a phase 3 trial, including data for single-use administration in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) undergoing invasive procedures. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of repeated lusutrombopag use.

Methods: Lusutrombopag was administered repeatedly in patients undergoing multi-cycle invasive procedures at intervals >1 month.

Genome-wide association meta-analysis identifies GP2 gene risk variants for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Japan. To identify risk loci, we perform a meta-analysis of three genome-wide association studies comprising 2,039 pancreatic cancer patients and 32,592 controls in the Japanese population. Here, we identify 3 (13q12.

Number of functional teeth more strongly predicts all-cause mortality than number of present teeth in Japanese older adults.

Aim: Previous studies on the association between intraoral conditions and mortality in community-dwelling older individuals reported that fewer present teeth (PT) are significant risk factors for mortality. However, how the number of PT relative to the number of functional teeth (FT), including both present and rehabilitated teeth, influences mortality has not been investigated fully. This study examined the impact of the number of FT on mortality among community-dwelling Japanese older adults.

A Phase II Trial of Everolimus in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Refractory or Intolerant to Platinum-Containing Chemotherapy (NECTOR Trial).

Background: Platinum-containing regimens are widely used as first-line chemotherapy for unresectable pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), but second-line chemotherapies have yet to be established.

Objectives: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of everolimus in patients with pancreatic NEC refractory or intolerant to platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Methods: This study was a prospective, multicenter, phase II trial in patients with pancreatic NEC after platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Randomized, phase II trial of sequential hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and sorafenib versus sorafenib alone as initial therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: SCOOP-2 trial.

Background: The efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. We conducted a multi-center randomized phase II study comparing a sequential HAIC-sorafenib regimen versus sorafenib alone as an initial therapy for HCC.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned (ratio, 1:1) to receive sequential HAIC with cisplatin followed by sorafenib (HAIC group, n = 35) or sorafenib alone (sorafenib group, n = 33) as an initial therapy.

Phase I/II Study: Experience with the Late Onset of Acute Pancreatitis after the Start of Chemotherapy with Gemcitabine Plus nab-Paclitaxel for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer.

Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel is the current standard chemotherapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. We conducted a phase I/II study in Japan, in which high response rates and manageable toxicity were observed. In this study, two patients were reported as experiencing pancreatitis due to chemotherapy.

Randomized phase III trial of post-operative chemotherapy for patients with stage I/II/III small bowel adenocarcinoma (JCOG1502C, J-BALLAD).

A randomized phase III trial was initiated in May 2017 to confirm the superiority of post-operative therapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin over observation in terms of relapse-free survival in patients with curatively resected small bowel adenocarcinoma. Total 150 patients will be enrolled from 20 Japanese institutions over a period of 6.5 years.

Predictive value of ERCC1, ERCC2, ERCC4, and glutathione S-Transferase Pi expression for the efficacy and safety of FOLFIRINOX in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

The platinum-based chemotherapy regimen FOLFIRINOX (leucovorin, fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) is currently used as a standard treatment for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. FOLFIRINOX is associated with severe toxicities, including neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and anorexia; however, there are currently no reliable biomarkers to predict its efficacy and safety. Several studies of patients with various cancers have shown that tumor expression of excision repair cross-complementing (ERCC) proteins and glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTPi) correlates with the response to platinum-based chemotherapies.

Prediction model for pancreatic cancer risk in the general Japanese population.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are significantly associated with pancreatic cancer susceptibility. We sought to replicate the associations of 61 GWAS-identified SNPs at 42 loci with pancreatic cancer in Japanese and to develop a risk model for the identification of individuals at high risk for pancreatic cancer development in the general Japanese population. The model was based on data including directly determined or imputed SNP genotypes for 664 pancreatic cancer case and 664 age- and sex-matched control subjects.

Complications in Pediatric Regional Anesthesia: An Analysis of More than 100,000 Blocks from the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network.

What We Already Know About This Topic: WHAT THIS ARTICLE TELLS US THAT IS NEW: BACKGROUND:: Complications in pediatric regional anesthesia are rare, so a large sample size is necessary to quantify risk. The Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network contains data on more than 100,000 blocks administered at more than 20 children's hospitals. This study analyzed the risk of major complications associated with regional anesthesia in children.

Alpha-fetoprotein kinetics in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving ramucirumab or placebo: an analysis of the phase 3 REACH study.

Background: Post-hoc analyses of AFP response and progression and their relationship with objective measures of response and survival were performed in patients from REACH.

Methods: Serum AFP was measured at baseline and every 3 cycles (2 weeks/cycle). Associations between AFP and radiographic progression and efficacy end points were analysed.

First Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from a Clinical Case of Canine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis in Japan.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was detected from a dog with canine granulocytic anaplasmosis (CGA) in Japan. Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA using 16S rRNA, gltA, and groEL sequences revealed that the strain was nearly identical to A. phagocytophilum detected from Apodemus agrarius (black-striped field mouse) in China and Korea.

SLCO1B1 Polymorphism Is a Drug Response Predictive Marker for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients Treated With Gemcitabine, S-1, or Gemcitabine Plus S-1.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on advanced pancreatic cancer risk and overall survival (OS) in a candidate-gene approach.

Methods: Overall, 5438 SNPs in 219 candidate genes encoding several drug-metabolizing enzymes or transporters were analyzed. In the screening study, 3 SNPs were found associated with OS (P ≤ 0.

A randomised controlled trial of gemcitabine hydrochloride plus S-1 combination therapy versus gemcitabine hydrochloride therapy alone in pancreatic cancer patients aged ≥75 years: a study protocol for an open-label randomised feasibility study.

Introduction: In Japan, the age of patients with pancreatic cancer has increased. Combination chemotherapies such as 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin, oxaliplatin and irinotecan therapy and gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM) +nab paclitaxel therapy have been developed as the standard treatments for young patients with advanced recurrent pancreatic cancer. However, both therapies produce toxicity and their administration is limited by the patients' age or performance status.