Pembrolizumab plus cisplatin and fluorouracil as induction chemotherapy followed by definitive chemoradiotherapy for patients with cT4 and/or supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (M1Lym) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Definitive chemoradiotherapy (DCRT) is administered as standard treatment for patients with cT4 and/or M1Lym esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, its long-term result is inadequate. Although several studies have reported that conversion surgery can improve the survival of these patients, none have identified significantly better long-term survival than that achieved by DCRT. Thus, enhancing DCRT seems important to improve the survival of these patients.

Guidance for assessment of the inflammation etiologic criterion for the GLIM diagnosis of malnutrition: A modified Delphi approach.

Background & Aims: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) approach to malnutrition diagnosis is based on assessment of three phenotypic (weight loss, low body mass index, and reduced skeletal muscle mass) and two etiologic (reduced food intake/assimilation and disease burden/inflammation) criteria, with diagnosis confirmed by fulfillment of any combination of at least one phenotypic and at least one etiologic criterion. The original GLIM description provided limited guidance regarding assessment of inflammation and this has been a factor impeding further implementation of the GLIM criteria. We now seek to provide practical guidance for assessment of inflammation in support of the etiologic criterion for inflammation.

Phase II Study of Intraperitoneal Administration of Paclitaxel Combined with S-1 and Cisplatin for Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Metastasis.

Background: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is promising for gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. Although a phase III study failed to show a statistically significant superiority of intraperitoneal paclitaxel combined with S-1 and intravenous paclitaxel, the sensitivity analysis suggested clinical efficacy. Thus, attempts to combine intraperitoneal paclitaxel with other systemic therapies with higher efficacy have been warranted.

Prognostic implications of the global leadership initiative on malnutrition criteria as a routine assessment modality for malnutrition in hospitalized patients at a university hospital.

Background & Aims: Few studies have examined the association between mortality and malnutrition diagnosed using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria for routine nutritional assessment; thus, this association is not well known. We aimed to clarify the association between GLIM-defined malnutrition and mortality in a large population of hospitalized patients.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled adult patients admitted to Aichi Medical University Hospital between April 2019 and March 2021, who underwent nutritional assessment using the GLIM criteria.

A comparison of the effects of anti-reflux procedures during esophagogastrostomy after proximal gastrectomy on the postoperative quality of life.

Purpose: To investigate the postoperative quality of life (QOL) in patients with proximal gastric cancer (PGC) or esophago-gastric junction cancer, a nationwide multi-institutional study (PGSAS NEXT trial) was conducted.

Methods: Patients who had undergone radical resection more than 6 months previously were enrolled from 70 Japanese institutions between July 2018 and June 2020. The Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale (PGSAS)-45 questionnaire was distributed to eligible patients, and responses were collected by mail.

Guidance for assessment of the muscle mass phenotypic criterion for the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) diagnosis of malnutrition.

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) provides consensus criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition that can be widely applied. The GLIM approach is based on the assessment of three phenotypic (weight loss, low body mass index, and low skeletal muscle mass) and two etiologic (low food intake and presence of disease with systemic inflammation) criteria, with diagnosis confirmed by any combination of one phenotypic and one etiologic criterion fulfilled. Assessment of muscle mass is less commonly performed than other phenotypic malnutrition criteria, and its interpretation may be less straightforward, particularly in settings that lack access to skilled clinical nutrition practitioners and/or to body composition methodologies.

Guidance for assessment of the muscle mass phenotypic criterion for the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition diagnosis of malnutrition.

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) provides consensus criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition that can be widely applied. The GLIM approach is based on the assessment of three phenotypic (weight loss, low body mass index, and low skeletal muscle mass) and two etiologic (low food intake and presence of disease with systemic inflammation) criteria, with diagnosis confirmed by any combination of one phenotypic and one etiologic criterion fulfilled. Assessment of muscle mass is less commonly performed than other phenotypic malnutrition criteria, and its interpretation may be less straightforward, particularly in settings that lack access to skilled clinical nutrition practitioners and/or to body composition methodologies.

Accuracy of preoperative staging of gastric stump cancer.

Background: In this study, the accuracy of preoperative staging for gastric stump cancer, which has not been thoroughly investigated since the condition is rare, was investigated using computed tomography and gastroscopic imaging.

Methods: Between February 1994 and April 2018, 49 patients with gastric stump cancer, following subtotal or total gastrectomy, were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative diagnoses of clinical T and clinical N categories were compared with post-operative pathological diagnoses (pT and pN categories).

Comparison of effects of six main gastrectomy procedures on patients' quality of life assessed by Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale-45.

Background: The effects of various gastrectomy procedures on the patient's quality of life (QOL) are not well understood. Thus, this nationwide multi-institutional cross-sectional study using the Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale-45 (PGSAS-45), a well-established questionnaire designed to clarify the severity and characteristics of the postgastrectomy syndrome, was conducted.

Aim: To compare the effects of six main gastrectomy procedures on the postoperative QOL.

Change in antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens isolated from surgical site infections over the past decade in Japanese nation-wide surveillance study.

Inappropriate antimicrobial therapy for surgical site infections (SSIs) can lead to poor outcomes and an increased risk of antibiotic resistance. A nationwide survey was conducted in Japan from 2018 to 2019 to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens isolated from SSIs. The data were compared with those obtained in 2010 and 2014-2015 surveillance studies.

QOL assessment after palliative surgery for malignant bowel obstruction caused by peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer: a prospective multicenter observational study.

Background: Patients with peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer have poor oral intake caused by malignant bowel obstruction (MBO). Palliative surgery has often been undertaken to improve quality of life (QOL), but few prospective studies on palliative surgery in this patient population have been published.

Patients And Methods: We prospectively investigated the significance of palliative surgery using patient-reported QOL measures.

Plasma exosome-encapsulated microRNA-21 and microRNA-92a are promising biomarkers for the prediction of peritoneal recurrence in patients with gastric cancer.

In patients with gastric cancer (GC), peritoneal recurrence is a common risk and associated with poor prognosis. A novel biomarker for the prediction of high-risk peritoneal recurrence in patients with GC is desirable. The present study investigated the effectiveness of exosome-encapsulated microRNAs (ex-miRNAs) as minimally invasive biomarkers in patients with GC that received curative surgery.

Perioperative management for gastrointestinal surgery after instituting interventions initiated by the Japanese Society of Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition.

Background: In 2012, the Japanese Society for Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition introduced the Essential Strategy for Early Normalization after Surgery with Patient's Excellent Satisfaction (ESSENSE) program to improve the perioperative management of gastrointestinal surgery. The ESSENSE program aimed to minimize ineffective perioperative management practices, and achieve adequate analgesia to expedite the return to work and activities of daily living.

Methods: After educating relevant facilities about the ESSENSE program in 2012, we conducted questionnaire-based surveys in selected institutions in 2013 and 2016.

GLIM Criteria for the Diagnosis of Malnutrition: A Consensus Report From the Global Clinical Nutrition Community.

Background: This initiative aims to build a global consensus around core diagnostic criteria for malnutrition in adults in clinical settings.

Methods: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) was convened by several of the major global clinical nutrition societies. Empirical consensus was reached through a series of face-to-face meetings, telephone conferences, and e-mail communications.

A randomised phase II trial of capecitabine plus cisplatin versus S-1 plus cisplatin as a first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer: Capecitabine plus cisplatin ascertainment versus S-1 plus cisplatin randomised PII trial (XParTS II).

Background: Capecitabine plus cisplatin (XP) is a standard global regimen, while S-1 plus cisplatin (SP) is a Japanese standard for first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). We conducted a phase II trial comparing XP with SP for patients with AGC to confirm whether these regimens can be used as controls in a phase III study and to explore whether histological subtypes favour XP or SP.

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients were randomised to receive either S-1 40 mg/m for 21 days plus cisplatin 60 mg/m (q5w) or capecitabine 1000 mg/m for 14 days plus cisplatin 80 mg/m (q3w).

Exosome‑encapsulated microRNA‑23b as a minimally invasive liquid biomarker for the prediction of recurrence and prognosis of gastric cancer patients in each tumor stage.

Recently, exosome‑encapsulated microRNAs (miRNAs) have been attracting attention as stable and minimally invasive biomarkers in cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to clarify the value of plasma exosomal microRNA‑23b (miR‑23b) as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer (GC) patients at each tumor stage. We first selected recurrence specific exosomal miRNA by miRNA microarray from 6 GC patients (stage I) with or without recurrence, and 3 healthy volunteers.

Phase III Trial Comparing Intraperitoneal and Intravenous Paclitaxel Plus S-1 Versus Cisplatin Plus S-1 in Patients With Gastric Cancer With Peritoneal Metastasis: PHOENIX-GC Trial.

Purpose Intraperitoneal paclitaxel plus systemic chemotherapy demonstrated promising clinical effects in patients with gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. We aimed to verify its superiority over standard systemic chemotherapy in overall survival. Patients and Methods This randomized phase III trial enrolled patients with gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis who had received no or short-term (< 2 months) chemotherapy.

Effect of early oral feeding on length of hospital stay following gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a Japanese multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: This multicenter, randomized controlled study evaluates the safety of early oral feeding following gastrectomy, and its effect on the length of postoperative hospital stay.

Methods: The subjects of this study were patients who underwent distal gastrectomy (DG) or total gastrectomy (TG) for gastric cancer between January 2014 and December 2015. Patients were randomly assigned to the early oral feeding group (intervention group) or the conventional postoperative management group (control group) for each procedure.

Factors Influencing Cancer Patients' Choice of End-of-Life Care Place.

Background: It is important for cancer patients to receive end-of-life care at the desired place.

Objective: To identify issues in selection of place for end-of-life care of cancer patients to realize their optimal survivorship.

Design And Setting: Between September 2015 and January 2016, a questionnaire consisting of 33 items, including end-of-life care place preferences, was administered to cancer patients who attended three university hospitals in Japan.

Clinical Significance of Area of Psoas Major Muscle on Computed Tomography after Gastrectomy in Gastric Cancer Patients.

Background: The measurement of a single abdominal image on computed tomography (CT) can provide an estimate of the total body skeletal muscle. We evaluate the change of the area of the psoas major muscle (PMMA) in a CT which was performed routinely after gastrectomy in gastric cancer.

Methods: A total of 119 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy were enrolled for the study.

Two cases of early recurrence after transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair.

We performed transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair in 46 patients (58 diseases), two of whom experienced early recurrence after mesh repair. Case 1 was a 76-year-old man with a bilateral inguinal hernia (recurrence site, left indirect hernia) after appendectomy. The recurrence occurred 1 month after transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair.

Seven esophageal perforation cases after aortic replacement/stenting for thoracic aortic dissection or aneurysm.

Background: Esophageal perforation after aortic replacement/stenting for aortic dissection or aneurysm is a rare but severe complication. However, its cause, standard treatment, and prognosis are unclear. We analyzed the treatment and outcome retrospectively from seven cases experienced at our hospital.