High levels of fibrotic tumor components are associated with recurrence and intratumoral immune status in advanced colorectal cancer patients.

The importance of collagen and elastin remains incompletely understood concerning tumor immunity in cancer tissues. This study explored the clinical significance of collagen and elastin deposition on tumor immunity in advanced colorectal cancer patients. The collagen and elastin contents were assessed simultaneously using elastic van Gieson (EVG) histochemical staining.

C-reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio Predicts Short-term Postoperative Outcomes and Intraabdominal Abscess Formation in Colorectal Perforation.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate preoperative factors, including the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR), associated with postoperative outcomes in patients with colorectal perforation who underwent emergency surgery to improve postoperative prognosis.

Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients who underwent emergency surgery for colorectal perforations were included. We retrospectively investigated the clinical factors associated with their postoperative outcomes.

Neuron-selective and activity-dependent splicing of BDNF exon I-IX pre-mRNA.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is essential for numerous neuronal functions, including learning and memory. The expression of BDNF is regulated by distinctive transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. The Bdnf gene in mice and rats comprises eight untranslated exons (exons I-VIII) and one exon (exon IX) that contains the pre-proBDNF coding sequence.

Effect of standardized hypnotic bundles on insomnia during hospitalization and reducing fall rate: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

Aim: Although the use of benzodiazepine receptor agonists is a risk factor for falls and fractures, whether benzodiazepine-avoiding hypnotic bundles are beneficial in clinical settings remains unclear.

Methods: A new hospital-wide standardized hypnotic bundle for insomnia, with suvorexant as the first choice, was created for clinical purposes. This single-center retrospective cohort study involved a pre-post design and adult inpatients who had had falls.

Risk Factors of Poor Outcomes After Colorectal Cancer Surgery for Patients With Severe Comorbidities.

Background/aim: An increasing number of patients with complicated systemic comorbidity can undergo colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. Such patients have a high risk of developing poor postoperative outcomes. This study aimed to identify preoperative factors, including nutritional and sarcopenia statuses, leading to poor postoperative outcomes in patients with severe systemic comorbidities.

A Mature Tertiary Lymphoid Structure with a Ki-67-Positive Proliferating Germinal Center Is Associated with a Good Prognosis and High Intratumoral Immune Cell Infiltration in Advanced Colorectal Cancer.

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are complex lymphocyte clusters that arise in non-lymphoid tissues due to inflammation or cancer. A mature TLS with proliferating germinal centers is associated with a favorable prognosis in various cancers. However, the effect of TLS maturity on advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unexplored.

Risks and Outcomes of Early Dose Reduction in Adjuvant CAPOX Therapy for Colorectal Cancer.

Background/aim: Adjuvant capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) therapy is standard strategy for colorectal cancer with risk of recurrence. Early dose reduction (EDR) of CAPOX therapy is commonly used in real-world practice. However, there is limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of CAPOX for patients who had EDR.

A study to investigate the prevalence of headache disorders and migraine conducted using medical claims data and linked results from online surveys: post-hoc analysis of other headache disorders.

Background: Surveys using questionnaires to collect epidemiologic data may be subject to misclassification. Here, we analyzed a headache questionnaire to evaluate which questions led to a classification other than migraine.

Methods: Anonymized surveys coupled with medical claims data from individuals 19-74 years old were obtained from DeSC Healthcare Inc.

Preoperative factors associated with lateral lymph node metastasis in lower rectal cancer and the evaluation of the middle rectal artery.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify cases in which lateral lymph node (LLN) dissection (LLND) can be excluded by clarifying preoperative factors, including an evaluation of the middle rectal artery (MRA), associated with LLN metastasis.

Methods: Fifty-five consecutive patients who underwent preoperative positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) and total mesorectal excision with LLND for rectal cancer were included. We retrospectively investigated the preoperative clinical factors associated with pathological LLN (pLLN) metastasis.

Characteristics of patients who seek medical attention for headache and those who do not: cross-sectional survey and linked medical claims data analysis in Japan.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients who sought medical attention for headache and those who did not.

Design: This observational study used a cross-sectional online survey and linked medical claims data.

Setting: Data from an online self-administered questionnaire survey conducted in November 2020 as well as linked medical claims data spanning December 2017 and November 2020 were provided by DeSC Healthcare Inc.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus successfully treated with multidisciplinary therapy for metachronous metastatic and local recurrences after DCF chemotherapy: a case report.

Background: Docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) chemotherapy is reportedly an effective treatment strategy for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA). However, studies regarding its use in Japanese patients remain scarce.

Case Presentation: Here, we present the case of an 82-year-old woman with SCCA, cStage IIIB.

Decade-long WT1-specific CTLs induced by WT1 peptide vaccination.

Introduction: The peptide-based cancer vaccine targeting Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) is a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for hematological malignancies. It remains unclear how long and to what extent the WT1-specific CD8 + cytotoxic T cell (CTL) persist after WT1 peptide vaccination.

Methods: The WT1 peptide vaccine was administered with written consent to a patient with CML in the chronic phase who did not respond well to imatinib, and the patient was followed for 12 years after vaccination.

Effectiveness of Combination Chemotherapy With Docetaxel, Nedaplatin, and 5-Fluorouracil for Advanced and Recurrent Esophageal Cancer.

Background/aim: Chemotherapy and immunotherapy have been recently developed as potentially useful first-line treatments for unresectable, advanced, or recurrent esophageal cancer. We performed a retrospective study of the therapeutic effectiveness of triplet chemotherapy with docetaxel, nedaplatin, and 5-fluorouracil therapy for advanced, recurrent, and unresectable advanced esophageal cancer at our hospital and compared the regimen's results with those of current and possible future treatment options.

Patients And Methods: The study cohort comprised 101 patients who received docetaxel, nedaplatin, and 5-fluorouracil for advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer at Gunma University from May 2008 to December 2017.

Two-Team Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision and En Bloc Resection of the Lateral Pelvic Lymph Nodes, Main Iliac Vessels, and Pelvic Plexus for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer With Lateral Lymph Node Metastasis.

Background: Here, we describe the precise surgical technique for a novel procedure involving 2-team transanal total mesorectal excision with en bloc lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) dissection combined with resection of the involved main internal iliac vessels and pelvic plexus.

Methods: From September 2020 to May 2023, 4 patients underwent the procedure at our hospital.

Results: The operation time and blood loss were 272 to 412 minutes and 10 to 124 mL, respectively.

Retrograde drainage for duodenal stump leakage using ileal decompression tube guided by double-balloon endoscopy: a novel case report.

Background: Duodenal stump leakage is a serious post-gastrectomy complication, and there have been no reports on endoscopic drainage.

Case Presentation: We report a case of duodenal stump leakage after laparoscopic gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction in a 68-year-old man. First-line conservative management was ineffective.

Characterization of fish-specific IFNγ-related binding with a unique receptor complex and signaling through a novel pathway.

Unlike mammals, fish express two type II interferons, IFNγ and fish-specific IFNγ (IFNγ-related or IFNγrel). We previously reported the presence of two IFNγrel genes, IFNγrel 1 and IFNγrel 2, which exhibit potent antiviral activity in the Ginbuna crucian carp, Carassius auratus langsdorfii. We also found that IFNγrel 1 increased allograft rejection; however, the IFNγrel 1 receptor(s) and signaling pathways underlying this process have not yet been elucidated.

Prognostic value of a modified‑immune scoring system in patients with pathological T4 colorectal cancer.

Tumor-infiltrating immune cells, such as lymphocytes and macrophages, have been associated with tumor aggressiveness, prognosis and treatment response in colorectal cancer (CRC). An immune scoring system, Immunoscore (IS), based on tumor-infiltrating T cells in stage I-III CRC, was used to predict prognosis. An alternative immune scoring signature of immune activation (SIA) reflects the balance between anti- and pro-tumoral immune components.

Usefulness of the preoperative inflammation-based prognostic score and the ratio of visceral fat area to psoas muscle area on predicting survival for surgically resected adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.

Background: Sarcopenic obesity is associated with gastrointestinal cancer prognosis through systemic inflammation. However, in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG), the relationship between the inflammation-based prognostic score (IBPS), muscle loss, visceral fat mass, and prognosis has not been sufficiently evaluated. We investigated the prognostic value of the preoperative IBPS and the visceral fat area ratio to the psoas muscle area (V/P ratio) in patients with AEG undergoing surgery.

A Novel Method for Thoracoscopic Overlap Esophagogastric Reconstruction With Pleural Closure following Minimally Invasive Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy for Esophagogastric Junction Cancer.

Background: Intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis following minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy is a technically demanding surgical technique that can result in serious intrathoracic infections when anastomotic leakage occurs. Herein, we report a novel side-overlap esophagogastric anastomosis with pleural closure for esophagogastric junction cancer.

Methods: The 3 key points of our novel technique were the following: (1) overlap esophagogastric anastomosis and closure of the entry hole were all performed using a linear stapler; (2) the pleura was closed to separate the anastomotic site from the thoracic cavity; and (3) the mediastinal drain was inserted transhiatally from the abdominal cavity.

Cold-blooded vertebrates evolved organized germinal center-like structures.

Germinal centers (GCs) or analogous secondary lymphoid microstructures (SLMs) are thought to have evolved in endothermic species. However, living representatives of their ectothermic ancestors can mount potent secondary antibody responses upon infection or immunization, despite the apparent lack of SLMs in these cold-blooded vertebrates. How and where adaptive immune responses are induced in ectothermic species in the absence of GCs or analogous SLMs remain poorly understood.

Effects of Fremanezumab on Medication Overuse in Japanese Chronic Migraine Patients: Post Hoc Analysis of a Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Chronic migraine (CM) patients commonly take acute headache medications, often resulting in medication overuse (MO). This post hoc analysis evaluated the efficacy of fremanezumab in CM patients from Japan with and without MO, which is not yet established.

Methods: A multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 2b/3 trial randomized patients (1:1:1) to monthly fremanezumab via subcutaneous injection (initial dose: 675 mg, second/third doses: 225 mg), quarterly fremanezumab (initial dose: 675 mg, second/third doses: placebo), or placebo for 3 months.

Clinical Use of Oral Opioid Therapy for Dyspnea in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure - A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

For patients with advanced heart failure, palliative care, including opioids, is needed as a treatment for refractory dyspnea. However, little evidence has been reported on the efficacy and safety of opioids, and their use is not well established. We have introduced a protocol for the use of opioids for dyspnea in patients with advanced heart failure admitted to Saitama Citizens Medical Center.

Surgical Techniques and Stoma-related Complications Associated With Emergency Stoma Creation.

Background/aim: Determination of risk factors for stoma-related complications associated with emergency stoma creation may impact on reducing complications and improving the quality of life of ostomy patients; however, there are only few reports on stoma-related complications associated with emergency stoma creation. Our study aimed to identify risk factors associated with stoma-related complications after emergency surgery, and evaluate surgical techniques for good stoma creation in the emergency setting.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis of patient and surgical characteristics was performed in 104 consecutive patients who underwent ileostomy or colostomy as emergency surgery between January 2020 and December 2022 at the Gunma University Hospital.

Persistence of the carteolol hydrochloride/latanoprost fixed-combination ophthalmic solution, compared with the other β-blocker/prostanoid FP receptor agonist fixed-combination ophthalmic solutions.

Purpose: To investigate the treatment persistence of carteolol hydrochloride/latanoprost fixed-combination ophthalmic solution (CAR/LAT) and other β-blocker/prostanoid FP receptor agonist fixed-combination ophthalmic solutions (BB/FP) in the treatment of glaucoma.

Study Design: Retrospective observational cohort study.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study using JMDC Claims Database.