Benefits, problems, and optimal timing of administration of indocyanine green fluorescence cholangiography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objectives: The advantages of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence cholangiography have been emphasized, but its disadvantages remain unclear. This study investigated the advantages and disadvantages of this modality, particularly the optimal timing of administration of ICG fluorescence.

Design: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected patient data.

Usefulness of Perioperative Nutritional Therapy with the Glutamine/Arginine/Calcium β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate Product in Esophageal Cancer Surgery: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

A useful perioperative nutritional therapy for highly invasive esophageal cancer surgical cases needs to be developed. We clarified the usefulness of amino-acid-enriched nutritional therapy using glutamine (Gln)/arginine (Arg)/calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) products on the short-term postoperative outcomes of minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Altogether, 114 patients (Gln/Arg/HMB group) received perioperative nutritional therapy with Gln/Arg/HMB products, and we retrospectively investigated the change in nutritional parameters including skeletal muscle mass, occurrence of postoperative complications, and short-term postoperative outcomes in this group.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease May Be a Risk Factor for Liver Metastasis After Radical Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Distant metastasis develops in approximately one-third of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who undergo radical surgery, and colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is the most common form of distant metastasis in CRC. Hepatectomy is the only potentially curative treatment for CRLM, but few patients with metastatic CRC meet the criteria for this radical resection, and the 5-year survival rate is poor. Identifying risk factors for CRLM is critical.

Adrenocortical Carcinoma with a Renal Vein Thrombus Extending to the Inferior Vena Cava Successfully Resected with the Left Kidney and Distal Pancreatectomy: A Case Report.

Introduction: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an extremely rare and aggressive tumor, and its clinical characteristics are poorly defined because of its rarity.

Case Presentation: We report a 64-year-old man who presented with upper abdominal pain and weight loss. Computed tomography revealed a 15 cm left adrenal tumor compressing the pancreas ventrally and a tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) originating from the left renal vein.

A case of anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas with intrasplenic huge mass formation.

Anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas (ACP) is an aggressive pancreatic tumor that grows rapidly, and its clinical characteristics are poorly defined because of its rarity. Thus, preoperative diagnosis is difficult and most definitive diagnoses are generally made by surgery, highlighting the importance of collecting more cases of ACP. We report a case of a 79-year-old woman with ACP that was difficult to diagnose preoperatively.

Recurrent malignant peritoneal mesothelioma treated by a second resection: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare and poor prognosis disease, is seldom treated surgically, especially for recurrence. However, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of primary and recurrent tumors can achieve long-term patient survival.

Abstract: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive tumor, and rarely indicated for surgery, especially for recurrence.

CyclosporinA Derivative as Therapeutic Candidate for Alport Syndrome by Inducing Mutant Type IV Collagen Secretion.

Key Points: Screening of natural product extracts to find candidate compounds that increase mutant type IV collagen 3,4,5 (345(IV)) trimer secretion in Alport syndrome (AS). Cyclosporin A (CsA) and alisporivir (ALV) increase mutant 345(IV) trimer secretion in AS. PPIF/cyclophilin D mediates the effect of CsA and ALV on mutant trimer secretion.

[A case of acalculous gangrenous cholecystitis due to artery dissection].

A 62-year-old male presented with right intercostal muscle pain. Clinical examination revealed muscular defense in the same area. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a distended gallbladder and ascites effusion, but no gallstones or polyps were present.

Novel Keap1-Nrf2 Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitor UBE-1099 Ameliorates Progressive Phenotype in Alport Syndrome Mouse Model.

Background: Bardoxolone methyl activates nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) covalent binding and irreversible inhibition of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), the negative regulator of Nrf2. Ongoing clinical trials of bardoxolone methyl show promising effects for patients with CKD. However, the direct inhibition of Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction (PPI) as an approach to activate Nrf2 is less explored.

Hyaluronic Acid May Be a Predictive Biomarker for Thrombocytopenia and Liver Dysfunction After Oxaliplatin-based Chemotherapy.

Background/aim: Following oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, approximately half of all colorectal cancer patients develop sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS). SOS can be monitored by measuring splenic volume; however, obtaining this measurement is not a simple process. In this study, we evaluated changes in hyaluronic acid (HA) concentrations as a simpler marker of SOS.

Preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder torsion by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: A case report.

Gallbladder torsion is a rare and potentially fatal condition presenting with acute abdominal pain. Gallbladder torsion requires early diagnosis and treatment; however, preoperative diagnosis is difficult. In the present case, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography provided definitive imaging findings and was very useful in making the preoperative diagnosis.

Conservative management of spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection: A case report.

Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SISMAD) is a rare and potentially fatal cause diagnosis presenting with acute abdominal; however, because of its rarity, the pathogenic factors of SISMAD remain unknown and no clear cause has been found. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence-based treatment guidelines.

The role of discoidin domain receptor 2 in the renal dysfunction of alport syndrome mouse model.

Alport syndrome (AS) is a hereditary glomerular nephritis caused by mutation in one of the type IV collagen genes α3/α4/α5 that encode the heterotrimer COL4A3/4/5. Failure to form a heterotrimer due to mutation leads to the dysfunction of the glomerular basement membrane, and end-stage renal disease. Previous reports have suggested the involvement of the receptor tyrosine kinase discoidin domain receptor (DDR) 1 in the progression of AS pathology.

Proposal of Comprehensive Model of Teaching Basic Nursing Skills Under Goal-Based Scenario Theory.

The purpose of this study is to design and develop a comprehensive model of teaching basic nursing skills on GBS theory and Four-Stage Performance Cycle. We designed a basic nursing skill program that consists of three courses: basic, application and multi-tasking. The program will be offered as blended study, utilizing e-learning.

Interface properties of SiOxNy layer on Si prepared by atmospheric-pressure plasma oxidation-nitridation.

SiOxNy films with a low nitrogen concentration (< 4%) have been prepared on Si substrates at 400°C by atmospheric-pressure plasma oxidation-nitridation process using O2 and N2 as gaseous precursors diluted in He. Interface properties of SiOxNy films have been investigated by analyzing high-frequency and quasistatic capacitance-voltage characteristics of metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors. It is found that addition of N into the oxide increases both interface state density (Dit) and positive fixed charge density (Qf).

[B precursor lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma manifested at onset as hemophagocytic syndrome].

A 20 year-old male patient was admitted to our department for the treatment of recurrence of fever and pancytopenia developed despite of temporal remission of hemophagocytosis syndrome that had been treated with large doses of methylprednisolone in our hospital. Superficial lymph nodes were not palpable. CT scan and echography revealed neither findings of splenohepatomegalia or enlargement of intraabdominal lymph nodes.

[High-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Findings for 41 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and/or autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) are reported. Two of the 41 patients were treated with HDC alone without PBSCT. At transplant, 20 patients were in complete remission, while 19 had resistant NHL and had failed to achieve a complete remission (CR) after several courses of conventional chemotherapy.

[Flow cytometric analysis for the activation of peripheral immunoregulatory cells from patients with bronchial asthma].

By use of flow cytometry, we have investigated intracellular activated eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in eosinophils and mitogen-induced cytokine production of T cells in peripheral blood from children with acute severe asthma. In addition, we measured ECP releasability (serum ECP/lysate ECP) as a maker of activated eosinophils. The monoclonal antibody EG2 (anti-activated ECP/EPX antibody) was used for measuring the amount of intracellular activated ECP.

[Therapeutic effects of cefclidin against severe infections in patients with hematopoietic disorders. Hanshin Infection Study Group].

One hundred thirty-eight patients with severe infections associated with hematopoietic disorders were treated with cefclidin (CFCL), and the efficacy and the safety of the drug were evaluated. The results obtained are summarized below. 1.

[Clinical evaluation of panipenem/betamipron in severe infections complicating hematological disorders].

Forty-three patients with severe infections which were complicating hematological disorders were treated with panipenem/betamipron, and the efficacy and the safety of the drug were evaluated. The results obtained are summarized below. 1.

Effects of ubenimex, a biological response modifier, on myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic leukemia.

Twenty cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) were treated with ubenimex. Seventeen cases were treated with the drug over 90 d. Among these, 10 showed improvement of anemia, 12 an increase in platelet count which had decreased before treatment and 10 an increase in neutrophil count; however, 14 showed an increase in blast percentage in bone marrow aspirate.

[Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome due to EB virus].

A 30-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. Hematological examination revealed leukocytosis with atypical lymphocytes in peripheral blood. Mature histiocytes with erythrophagia were detected in the bone marrow.

[Therapeutic effects of imipenem/cilastatin sodium against severe infections in patients with hematopoietic disorders. Hanshin Infection Study Group].

One hundred ninety-eight patients with severe infections associated with hematopoietic disorders were treated with imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS), and the efficacy and safety of the drug were evaluated. The results obtained are summarized below. 1.