Is remnant pancreatic cancer after pancreatic resection more frequent in early-stage pancreatic cancer than in advanced-stage cancer?

Aim: As the prognosis of patients who undergo resection for pancreatic cancer has improved, reports of remnant pancreatic cancer after pancreatic cancer resection have been increasing. Previous studies regarding early-stage pancreatic cancer showed a high incidence of remnant pancreatic cancer in these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of remnant pancreatic cancer according to the degree of progression of the initial pancreatic cancer.

Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy Suppresses Apoptosis via Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response during Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Pathogenesis.

Cigarette smoke (CS) induces accumulation of misfolded proteins with concomitantly enhanced unfolded protein response (UPR). Increased apoptosis linked to UPR has been demonstrated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a type of selective autophagy for lysosomal degradation of proteins with the KFERQ peptide motif.

RFC1 repeat expansion in Japanese patients with late-onset cerebellar ataxia.

Recently, the expansion of an intronic AAGGG repeat in the replication factor C subunit 1 (RFC1) gene was reported to cause cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS). In Europeans, the expansion accounted for 22% of sporadic patients with late-onset ataxia. We genotyped 37 Japanese patients comprising 25 familial (autosomal recessive or undecided transmission) and 12 sporadic ones with late-onset ataxia.

Conversion surgery for stage IV gastric cancer with a complete pathological response to nivolumab: a case report.

Background: Patients with stage IV gastric cancer have a poor prognosis despite the recent development of multidisciplinary treatments that include chemotherapy. However, conversion surgery has emerged as a promising strategy to improve the prognosis in responders with unresectable gastric cancer after chemotherapy. Moreover, nivolumab is currently recommended as a third-line treatment in patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer.

Primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of the cervical esophagus confirmed by detection of the SS18-SSX2 fusion transcripts: case report and literature review.

Background: Synovial sarcoma (SS) of the esophagus is extremely rare. Because of the microscopic features of SS, the monophasic type can easily be misdiagnosed as other spindle cell tumors. Here, we present the first case of a primary SS of the esophagus in the presence of SS18-SSX2 fusion transcripts.

Prickle2 and Igsf9b Coordinately Regulate the Cytoarchitecture of the Axon Initial Segment.

Prickle2 has been identified in genetic studies of subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy, but the pathological mechanism of Prickle2 remains to be fully understood. Proteomic analysis of Prickle2 with mass spectrometry revealed twenty-eight Prickle2 interactors, including immunoglobulin superfamily member 9b (Igsf9b), in the brain. Here, because Igsf9 family proteins are associated with psychiatric diseases and seizures, we studied the physiological interaction between Prickle2 and Igsf9b.

Development and external validation of a prediction model for survival in patients with resected ampullary adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Ampullary adenocarcinoma (AAC) is a rare malignancy with great morphological heterogeneity, which complicates the prediction of survival and, therefore, clinical decision-making. The aim of this study was to develop and externally validate a prediction model for survival after resection of AAC.

Materials And Methods: An international multicenter cohort study was conducted, including patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for AAC (2006-2017) from 27 centers in 10 countries spanning three continents.

Clinical Impacts of EGFR Mutation Status: Analysis of 5780 Surgically Resected Lung Cancer Cases.

Background: To elucidate the clinical, pathologic, and prognostic impacts of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and mutation subtypes in early-stage lung cancer, the study investigators conducted a retrospective analysis of the Japanese Joint Committee of Lung Cancer Registry database (a nationwide database for patients with surgically resected lung cancer; n = 18,973).

Methods: Of 13,951 patients classified as having nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer in the database, 5780 patients (41.0%) had been tested for an EGFR mutation and were included in this study.

Development of an L-type Ca channel-dependent Ca transient during the radial migration of cortical excitatory neurons.

Increasing evidence has shown that voltage-gated L-type Ca channels (LTCCs) are crucial for neurodevelopmental events, including neuronal differentiation/migration and neurite morphogenesis/extension. However, the time course of their functional maturation during the development of excitatory neurons remains unknown. Using a combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization and in utero electroporation-based labeling, we found that the transcripts of Cacna1c and Cacna1d, which encode the LTCC pore-forming subunits, were upregulated in the intermediate zone (IZ) during radial migration.

Subcutaneous fat area as a risk factor for extraction site incisional hernia following gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Purpose: To identify the incidence of extraction site incisional hernia following gastrectomy for gastric cancer and its significant risk factors, including the subcutaneous fat area.

Methods: We reviewed data gathered prospectively on patients with gastric cancer, who underwent gastrectomy between 2008 and 2012 at Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. The subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and visceral fat area (VFA) were measured using axial computed tomography at the level of the L4 and L3 transverse processes, and the L2-L3 intervertebral disc.

Definitive lobectomy without frozen section analysis is a treatment option for large or deep nodules selected carefully with clinical diagnosis of malignancy.

Background: Tissue harvesting for patients with a lung nodule is sometimes unsuitable due to the size and location of the nodule. In such cases, it is unclear whether it is acceptable to proceed to definitive lobectomy without intraoperative frozen section analysis.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent definitive lobectomy or wedge resection for frozen section analysis at our institution between 2014 and 2018.

Neuron-enriched phosphatase and actin regulator 3 (Phactr3)/ nuclear scaffold-associated PP1-inhibiting protein (Scapinin) regulates dendritic morphology via its protein phosphatase 1-binding domain.

Phosphatase and actin regulator 3/nuclear scaffold-associated protein phosphatase 1-inhibiting protein (Phactr3/Scapinin) is an actin- and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)-binding protein known to negatively regulate axon elongation. In this study, we examined the expression pattern of Phactr3/Scapinin in several tissues and investigated the effect of Phactr3/Scapinin on dendritic morphology of cortical neurons. Results showed that Phactr3/Scapinin expression was up-regulated in the developing brain and enriched in neurons and in the postsynaptic density fraction, but not in astrocytes.

Thoracoscopic surgery combined with endoscopic creation of a submucosal tunnel for a large complicated esophageal leiomyoma.

Background: The standard surgical method for symptomatic submucosal tumors (SMTs) or tumors with unclear biological behavior is enucleation. Minimally invasive approaches are usually considered appropriate for surgical enucleation; thus, thoracoscopic and laparoscopic enucleation is performed widely and safely. However, it is sometimes difficult to enucleate large and complicated esophageal tumors using thoracoscopic surgery, and even if rare, there is the risk of requiring thoracotomy or esophagectomy.

Natural history and clinical outcomes of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms based on the WHO 2017 classification; a single-center experience of 30 years.

Background/objectives: This single-center study aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes and long-term prognosis of patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) 2017 classification.

Methods: We enrolled 245 patients with PanNENs treated at Kyushu University Hospital between January 1987 and March 2018. PanNENs were categorized according to the WHO 2017 classification or further subdivisions of Ki-67 index.

Influence of endoscopic resection on additional laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: a propensity score-matching analysis.

Purpose: There is no definite evidence of the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) for patients who have undergone incomplete endoscopic resection (ER). We investigated the influence of ER prior to LDG by a propensity score matching analysis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of gastric cancer patients who underwent LDG with or without prior ER from 2000 to 2014.

Presynaptic development is controlled by the core active zone proteins CAST/ELKS.

Key Points: CAST/ELKS are positive regulators of presynaptic growth and are suppressors of active zone expansion at the developing mouse calyx of Held. CAST/ELKS regulate all three Ca 2 subtype channel levels in the presynaptic terminal and not just Ca 2.1.

Impaired experience-dependent maternal care in presynaptic active zone protein CAST-deficient dams.

Although sociological studies affirm the importance of parental care in the survival of offspring, maltreatment-including child neglect-remains prevalent in many countries. While child neglect is well known to affect child development, the causes of maternal neglect are poorly understood. Here, we found that female mice with a deletion mutation of CAST (a presynaptic release-machinery protein) showed significantly reduced weaning rate when primiparous and a recovered rate when multiparous.

Effective exchange to a larger size catheter for a lung abscess with initial percutaneous drainage failure: a case report.

Background: Percutaneous catheter drainage is an effective therapy for antibiotic-refractory lung abscesses. Pulmonary resection is usually considered in cases of drainage failure, although it remains controversial.

Case Presentation: A 42-year-old man with antibiotic-refractory lung abscess underwent percutaneous abscess drainage with a 10-Fr pigtail catheter.

Laparoscopic spacer placement for recurrent sacral chordoma before carbon ion radiotherapy: A case report.

Recently, several scholars have demonstrated the efficacy of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT). To treat abdominal or pelvic tumors by CIRT, it is necessary to separate the tumor from the adjacent organs. Surgical placement of a GORE-TEX sheet as a spacer has been reported as a separation method.

Prediction of the Probability of Malignancy in Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm of the Pancreas With Ovarian-Type Stroma: A Nationwide Multicenter Study in Japan.

Objective: The aim of the study was to develop a formula for predicting the probability of malignancy of mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) of the pancreas with ovarian-type stroma.

Methods: A total of 364 patients were enrolled. A total score was calculated as the sum of the approximate integers of the odds ratios of the predictive factors identified by multivariate analysis.

Necroptosis in pancreatic cancer promotes cancer cell migration and invasion by release of CXCL5.

Background: Necroptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is accompanied by release of intracellular contents, and reportedly contributes to various diseases. Here, we investigate the significance of necroptosis in pancreatic cancer.

Methods: We used immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis to evaluate expression of the key mediators of necroptosis-receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 3 (RIP3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL)-in human pancreatic cancer.

Double deletion of the active zone proteins CAST/ELKS in the mouse forebrain causes high mortality of newborn pups.

Presynaptic active zone cytomatrix proteins are essential elements of neurotransmitter release machinery that govern neural transmission. Among active zone proteins, cytomatrix at the active zone-associated structural protein (CAST) is known to regulate active zone size in retinal photoreceptors and neurotransmitter release by recruiting Ca channels at various synapses. However, the role of ELKS-a protein from the same family as CAST-and the synergistic roles of CAST/ELKS have not been thoroughly investigated, particularly with regard to mouse behavior.

Simultaneous Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Simulation of Thoracoscopic Sleeve Lobectomy: A Quick Understanding of Pitfalls.

Thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy is challenging, considering the technical difficulty in controlling the needle angle and thread through the port. However, effective simulation of the procedure remains to be established. Here, we describe our first experience with thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy simulation using a three-dimensional printed thoracic model and a handmade rolled sponge.

Neutrophil extracellular traps promote liver micrometastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma via the activation of cancer‑associated fibroblasts.

Cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) via tumor‑stromal interactions. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are extracellular DNA meshworks released from neutrophils together with proteolytic enzymes against foreign pathogens. Emerging studies suggest their contribution to liver metastasis in several types of cancer.