Thyroid Cancer With Autocrine Sialyl-fibronectin Depletion Has a Poor Prognosis due to EMT Progression.

Background/aim: Elevated blood fibronectin (FN) levels have been observed in various cancers; however, their significance remains controversial. Herein, we measured the levels of sialyl-fibronectin (S-FN), a type of FN secreted by tumor cells, and investigated whether blood S-FN secretion is associated with recurrent metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Patients And Methods: An ELISA system recognizing S-FN was constructed, and the amount of S-FN in blood samples from 63 patients with thyroid carcinoma was measured.

A Retrospective Analysis of Perioperative Chemotherapy and Coronavirus Disease in Patients With Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: Since January 2020, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have been confirmed in Japan, and the number of patients with COVID-19 has been increasing. Two emergency declarations have been made previously and one is currently in effect. Based on our experience of a situation that could affect cancer treatment, this study retrospectively examined the correlation between perioperative anticancer therapy and COVID-19 incidence in patients with breast cancer.

Effective method of gallbladder retraction for single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Introduction: Recently, single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been accepted as an alternative to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the safety and feasibility of unique gallbladder retraction methods using an ENDOLOOP® (Ethicon, Tokyo, Japan) and Lapaherclosure™ (Hakko Medical, Tokyo, Japan).

Materials And Surgical Technique: From May 2013 to April 2015, 77 patients underwent single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy with this retraction technique.

Subareolar breast abscess in male patients: a report of two patients with a literature review.

Background: Subareolar breast abscess (SBA) is a rare infectious disease of the breast in male patients.

Case Presentation: Herein, we report two male patients with SBA. Patient 1 was initially diagnosed with a malignant tumor based on imaging findings; ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic mass with blood flow.

Severe gastrointestinal involvement in paraneoplastic pemphigus.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoimmune mucocutaneous disease, associated with neoplasia, which has characteristic clinical, histological and immunological features. While respiratory epithelial involvement has been described in several cases, lesions in the colon epithelium have never been reported. We describe a 57-year-old Japanese woman with PNP who had many aphthae-like erosions on the colon epithelium, in addition to typical mucocutaneous PNP lesions.

A practical technique for differentiation of subepidermal bullous diseases: localization of in vivo-bound IgG by laser scanning confocal microscopy.

Objective: To develop a practical technique to distinguish autoimmune subepidermal bullous diseases.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: Academic referral center-the Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw.

Purpura with cold urticaria in a patient with hepatitis C virus infection-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia type III: successful treatment with interferon-beta.

We describe a 54-year-old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection-associated cryoglobulinemia type III. The patient had suffered from cold-induced urticaria that left purpuric eruptions up to 1 cm in diameter, intermittent migratory joint pain for seven years and mild liver dysfunction for nine years. Hemophilia A was diagnosed when the patient was 26 years old, and he was then given infusions of factor VIII for a short time.