Dysbiosis of the Fecal and Biliary Microbiota in Biliary Tract Cancer.

Characteristic bile duct and gut microbiota have been identified in patients with chronic biliary tract disease. This study aimed to characterize the fecal and bile microbiota in biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients and their relationship. Patients with BTC ( = 30) and benign biliary disease (BBD) without cholangitis ( = 11) were included.

Analysis of the variation in learning curves for achieving competency in convex EUS training: a prospective cohort study using a standardized assessment tool.

Background And Aims: The need for mastering standard imaging techniques for convex EUS in the biliopancreatic regions has been increasing; however, large variations in the aptitude for achieving EUS competency hinder expert development. Therefore, we investigated the factors influencing the achievement of expert competency in EUS using a new assessment tool for multiple imaging items.

Methods: Between January 2018 and February 2022, 3277 consecutive EUS procedures conducted by 5 beginners (EUS procedures <250), 7 intermediate trainees (250-749), and 2 experts (≥750) were prospectively evaluated.

Potential significance of uncovered self-expandable metal stents for distal malignant biliary obstruction: A propensity score-adjusted competing risk regression analysis.

Objectives: Selection criteria for self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) with or without cover during palliative treatment of distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) remain unclear. We evaluated factors associated with time to recurrent biliary obstruction (TRBO) in fully covered SEMSs (FCSEMSs) and uncovered SEMSs (UCSEMSs).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with DMBO who received a SEMS.

Diagnostic Dilemma of Biliopancreatic Contrast-Enhanced Harmonic Endoscopic Ultrasonography.

Background: The utility of contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography (CH-EUS) alone in the biliopancreatic region appears to be limited because it is highly dependent on the experience and skill of the endoscopist. Therefore, the present study aimed to validate the efficacy of CH-EUS in clinical practice. Methods: Between January 2018 and March 2019, 301 consecutive patients who underwent CH-EUS were prospectively enrolled in this study.

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Predicts Tolerability of Lenvatinib in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aim: We aimed to investigate the association between The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and the tolerability of lenvatinib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 61 HCC patients treated with lenvatinib and compared those with low GNRI (≤98, n=26) to those with high GNRI (>98, n=35).

Results: The discontinuation of lenvatinib due to adverse events was more frequent in the low GNRI group (46.

Poor tolerability of lenvatinib in elderly patients ≥80 years old with hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter observational study.

Introduction: Management of elderly patients with cancer has become a global issue. We investigated the safety and tolerability of lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients ≥80 years old.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 61 HCC patients and divided them into 2 groups: an elderly group (n = 13, ≥80 years old) and a younger group (n = 48, <80 years old).

Cancerous pericarditis presenting as cardiac tamponade in a 68-year-old man with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a case report.

Introduction: Pericardial effusion is a rare complication of pancreatic cancer. We report a case of cardiac tamponade secondary to pancreatic cancer.

Case Presentation: A 68-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer during surgery and received chemotherapy for 28 months after the diagnosis.

Clinical Significance of Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells and Programed Death Ligand-1 in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

The associations of the immunological status of the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) microenvironment with prognosis were assessed. A high tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density was associated with a better prognosis. Importantly, even with a high density of TILs, the PDA cells with programed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression showed a worse prognosis than the patients with negative PD-L1 expression.

Predicted Markers of Overall Survival in Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Dendritic Cell Vaccinations Targeting WT1.

Background: We have developed a Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1)-targeting dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccine combined with standard chemotherapy for patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA).

Methods: We evaluated predictive markers of overall survival (OS) in PDA patients treated with multiple major histocompatibility complex class I/II-restricted, WT1 peptide-pulsed DC vaccinations (DC/WT1-I/II) in combination with chemotherapy. Throughout the entire period of immunochemotherapy, the plasma levels of soluble factors derived from granulocytes of 7 eligible PDA patients were examined.

Metagenomic analyses of the gut microbiota associated with colorectal adenoma.

Recent studies have suggested an association between certain members of the Fusobacterium genus, especially F. nucleatum, and the progression of advanced colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We assessed such an association of the gut microbiota in Japanese patients with colorectal adenoma (CRA) or intramucosal CRC using colonoscopy aspirates.

Clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes in patients with acute cholecystitis over aged >80 years.

Aim: We investigated the clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes in acute cholecystitis (AC) patients aged ≥80 years. We therefore sought to determine the ideal treatment for elderly patients with AC.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 253 patients with AC.

[A Case of Advanced Gastric Cancer with Bladder Metastasis].

A 61-year-old man was referred to the urology department in our hospital with gross hematuria and hydro nephrosis. Cystoscopy revealed a smooth mass lesion in his bladder, and a transurethral biopsy was performed. Signet ring cell carcinoma was found in the submucosa.

Inflammation-based prognostic scores predict disease severity in patients with acute cholecystitis.

Background: Although several investigators have reported that inflammation-based prognostic scores can predict disease severity in patients with various inflammatory diseases, whether or not these scores are associated with disease severity in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) has not yet been fully clarified.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred and sixty-two patients with AC were reviewed retrospectively. We evaluated the correlations between demographic or clinical variables, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), and the C-reactive protein/albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio, as well as the disease severity grade on the basis of the revised Tokyo guidelines.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection in a patient with esophageal adenoid cystic carcinoma.

We report the first use of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the treatment of a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the esophagus (EACC). An 82-year-old woman visited our hospital for evaluation of an esophageal submucosal tumor. Endoscopic examination showed a submucosal tumor in the middle third of the esophagus.

[A case of adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder with markedly elevated PTHrP and G-CSF levels].

A 76-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with anorexia. Computed tomography revealed a tumor lesion measuring 110mm in the liver at S4/5 with calcification and swelling of a paraaortic lymph node. The gallbladder was not visualized.