Analyzing factors affecting positivity in drive-through COVID-19 testing: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Demand for COVID-19 testing prompted the implementation of drive-through testing systems. However, limited research has examined factors influencing testing positivity in this setting.

Methods: From October 2020 to March 2023, a total of 1,341 patients, along with their clinical information, were referred from local clinics to the Sasebo City COVID-19 drive-through PCR center for testing.

Impact of Nutritional Status on Antibody Titer After Booster mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Among Elderly Adults in Japan.

Background: Published studies on mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine effects focus on younger individuals, comprising the majority of the workforce. Studies in elderly adults are sparse.

Methods: In total, 107 subjects were recruited (median age 78; interquartile range [IQR], 58.

Impact of sex and age on vaccine-related side effects and their progression after booster mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

In mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, side effects after the first and second dose have been well reported. However, studies about side effects after booster vaccine are sparse. 272 healthcare workers who received the third mRNA COVID-19 vaccine were recruited, and impact of sex, age, and symptoms on the side effect progression was statistically analyzed.

Impact of Sex and Age on mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Side Effects in Japan.

mRNA COVID-19 vaccination was initiated worldwide in late 2020, and its efficacy has been well reported. However, studies about vaccine-related side effects are sparse. A total of 262 health care workers who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 were recruited, and their vaccine-related side effects were investigated.

Irregularly branched microvessels as visualized by magnifying endoscopy: a reliable marker for predicting deep submucosal invasion of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

 Magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) is reported to be useful in diagnosing invasion depth of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but accurate diagnosis of deep submucosal invasion (SM2) has remained difficult. However, we discovered that irregularly branched microvessels observed with M-NBI are detected in SM2 cancers with high prevalence. Thus, this retrospective study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of irregularly branched microvessels as visualized by M-NBI for predicting SM2 cancers.

Anorectal cancer surveillance in Crohn's disease.

Objectives: One of the characteristics of colorectal cancer complicating Crohn's disease (CD) in the Japanese population is that it frequently occurs in the lower anorectal site. This study aimed to examine CD patients biopsied in the lower anorectal sites to investigate the significance and problems associated with this method of cancer surveillance.

Methods: Among 116 patients with CD duration of ≥10 years, we examined patients diagnosed with cancer using histological examination of the lower anorectal site (287 times).

Expansion of lymph node metastasis in mixed-type submucosal invasive gastric cancer.

Background/objective: Mixed-type early gastric cancer (differentiated and undifferentiated components) incurs a higher risk of lymph node metastasis than pure-type early gastric cancer (only differentiated or only undifferentiated components). Therefore, we investigated the expansion of lymph node metastasis in mixed-type submucosal invasive gastric cancer in order to establish the most appropriate treatment for mixed-type cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 279 consecutive patients with submucosal invasive gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 1996 and 2015.

Gastrectomy with limited surgery for elderly patients with gastric cancer.

Background/objective: Elderly patients with gastric cancer can receive standard gastrectomy or gastrectomy with reduced nodal dissection, i.e., limited surgery, in order to prevent postoperative complications.

[Surgical treatment for perianal Crohn's disease].

Perianal lesions are a frequent complication of Crohn's disease (CD) and include fistula, abscess, anal ulcer, skin tag, anal stricture, and carcinoma. Perianal fistula is the most commonly observed condition and exhibits multiple incidence and intractable characteristics. The starting point for the management of perianal fistula is an accurate diagnosis, which requires careful exploration during an EUA.

Associations between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk and effect modifications of dietary calcium and vitamin D in a Japanese population.

Much interest has been drawn to possible associations between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk in conjunction with potentially protective effects of calcium and vitamin D. In a study of 685 cases of colorectal cancer and 778 community controls in Japan, we examined the associations of the FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI polymorphisms with colorectal cancer risk and effect modification by dietary calcium and vitamin D. Genotypes were determined by the PCR-RFLP method.

Efficacy and safety of irinotecan plus S-1 (IRIS) therapy to treat advanced/recurrent colorectal cancer.

Background: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) therapy and 5-FU, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) therapy are standard chemotherapies to treat advanced/recurrent colorectal cancer. However, these chemotherapies require continuous infusion of 5-FU for a prolonged time of 40 h or more, every two weeks. Accordingly, these chemotherapies require hospitalization and placement of a central venous catheter.

Sugars, sucrose and colorectal cancer risk: the Fukuoka colorectal cancer study.

Objective: A diet high in sugars may promote colorectal carcinogenesis, but it remains uncertain whether high intake of sugars or sucrose confers increased risk of colorectal cancer. The authors investigated the associations of sugars and sucrose intake with colorectal cancer risk in a community-based case-control study in Japan.

Methods: The study subjects comprised 816 incident cases of colorectal cancer and 815 community controls.

Folate-related nutrients, genetic polymorphisms, and colorectal cancer risk: the fukuoka colorectal cancer study.

One-carbon metabolism plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Meta-analyses have suggested protective associations of folate and vitamin B6 intakes with colorectal cancer primarily based on studies in Caucasians, and genetic polymorphisms pertaining to the folate metabolism have been a matter of interest. Less investigated are the roles of methionine synthase (MTR) and thymidylate synthetase (TS) polymorphisms in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Cancer of the small intestine in patients with Crohn's disease.

Due to an increase in the number of long-term cases of Crohn's disease, the risk of combined cancer in these patients has been assessed in numerous articles. Most of these reports have involved patients with cancer of the large intestine, while cases of cancer of the small intestine combined with Crohn's disease are very rare. We experienced two cases of cancer of the small intestine combined with Crohn's disease.

Dietary polyphenols and colorectal cancer risk: the Fukuoka colorectal cancer study.

Aim: To investigate the associations between dietary intake of polyphenols and colorectal cancer.

Methods: The study subjects were derived from the Fukuoka colorectal cancer study, a community-based case-control study. The study subjects were 816 cases of colorectal cancer and 815 community-based controls.

Estrogen receptor-β gene polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk: effect modified by body mass index and isoflavone intake.

Estrogen receptor (ER)-β signaling has generally been implicated in protection against colorectal cancer. The ER-β gene cytosine-adenine (ESR2 CA) repeat polymorphism was reported to be associated with colorectal cancer, although showing contradicting results probably caused by ethnicity or age distribution of the subjects. We investigated the association between this polymorphism and the colorectal cancer risk in a community-based case-control study in Japan (685 cases/778 controls), including only subjects younger than 75.

Dietary intakes of retinol, carotenes, vitamin C, and vitamin E and colorectal cancer risk: the Fukuoka colorectal cancer study.

It has long been a matter of interest whether antioxidant vitamins are protective against colorectal cancer as well as human cancers in general, but epidemiological evidence is inconclusive. We investigated associations of dietary intakes of retinol and antioxidant vitamins with colorectal cancer risk in 816 incident cases of histologically confirmed colorectal cancer and 815 controls randomly selected for the Fukuoka colorectal cancer study in Japan. Dietary intakes were assessed by a PC-assisted interview regarding 148 food items.

The effect of lentinan combination therapy for unresectable advanced gastric cancer.

Background: Developed as a biological response modifier (BRM), lentinan mitigates patients' symptoms by boosting the immune system. In combination with S-1 (tegafur, gimeracil, oteracil), lentinan is reported to mitigate adverse reactions to therapy for unresectable recurrent gastric cancer and prolong survival. However, there are few reports from actual clinical practice, and precise methods of using lentinan have not yet been established.

Microsomal epoxide hydrolase polymorphisms, cigarette smoking, and risk of colorectal cancer: the Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study.

Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) plays an important role in the activation and detoxification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carcinogens found in cigarette smoke. Polymorphisms in exon 3 (Y113H) and exon 4 (H139R) of the EPHX1 have been associated with enzyme activity. We investigated the risk of colorectal cancer in relation to the EPHX1 Y113H and H139R polymorphisms and assessed effect modifications of cigarette smoking and the other covariates.

Constipation and colorectal cancer risk: the Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study.

Constipation has been suspected to be linked to colorectal cancer risk, but epidemiological evidence is inconclusive. We described the prevalence of constipation and related lifestyle factors in a community and examined the relation of constipation and other bowel habits to colorectal cancer risk. The prevalence study was based on 833 community controls in the Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study, and 212 cases of Dukes' stage A were used in a study on bowel habits and colorectal cancer risk.

Clinical course of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background: Colorectal cancer that develops as a complication of ulcerative colitis (UC) is a serious problem that affects the patient's prognosis. Such cancer is characterized by development at an early age, a high incidence of multiple tumors, poorly differentiated carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma. Special attention should therefore be paid to the diagnosis and treatment of such cancer.

TP53 R72P and MDM2 SNP309 polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk: the Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study.

Objective: Tumor protein p53 gene and its negative regulator, murine double minute 2 homolog are important components for cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. An arginine-to-proline substitution at codon 72 in the p53 gene is reported to decrease apoptotic potential, while a thymine-to-guanine polymorphism at nucleotide 309, named SNP309, of murine double minute 2 gene increases transcription of the gene. These two polymorphisms therefore may be of importance in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Single orifice vein reconstruction in left liver plus caudate lobe graft.

Background/aims: We describe the innovative techniques with single orifice vein reconstruction for the complete venous drainage in the left liver plus caudate lobe graft.

Methodology: Eight left liver plus caudate lobe grafts used for living donor adult liver transplantation were reviewed. A wide and single venous orifice was created by gathering the left, middle or its tributaries, and/or short hepatic vein using a patch vein graft or a conduit vein graft.