Impact of Small Tumor Size on Prognosis in T3N1 Colon Cancer.

Background: Traditionally, large tumor size is associated with poor survival in colon cancer, but its impact remains limited and controversial. Recently, the impact of small tumor size on prognosis has gained attention. This study aimed to investigate whether small tumor size can be an additional parameter for T3N1 colon cancer prognosis.

The Efficacy of FOLFIRI Plus Ramucirumab in Recurrent Colorectal Cancer Refractory to Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin/Fluoropyrimidine-Including Biomarker Analyses.

Background: FOLFIRI (5-FU + leucovorin + irinotecan) plus ramucirumab is one of the standards in second-line metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients progressing after treatment with oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine with bevacizumab, but there is no evidence on its efficacy without prior bevacizumab. Moreover, VEGF-D has not been confirmed as a predictive biomarker for ramucirumab's efficacy, either.

Methods: The RAINCLOUD study was a multicenter, single-arm, phase II trial conducted in Japan.

The relationship between intravenous olfactory test and taste disorder in patients with olfactory disorder.

Background: The intravenous olfactory test (alinamin test [AT]) is a retronasal olfactory assessment and may evaluate the flavour disorder; however, studies assessing whether AT accurately determines the severity of taste disorders are lacking. Our study aims to evaluate the relationship between AT and subjective taste disorders in the patiensts with olfactory disorder.

Methods: Between April 2019 and March 2020, 228 patients visited our smell clinic reporting olfactory disorders.

Trends in Olfactory Threshold Test Results and Limits of Olfactory Testing in Patients with Parosmia.

Introduction: Parosmia poses a clinical challenge due to a lack of established testing methods, leading to underestimated self-reported symptoms. This study investigated olfactory threshold trends, aiming to highlight parosmia prevalence, analyze threshold patterns, and assess diagnostic potential in current olfactory testing.

Methods: A total of 407 patients who visited our olfactory clinic from April 2009 to September 2015 were categorized into parosmia and non-parosmia groups based on initial visit questionnaires.

Modified FOLFOXIRI plus cetuximab versus bevacizumab in RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer: a randomized phase II DEEPER trial.

The clinical significance of FOLFOXIRI (5-FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) plus anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody using cetuximab for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remains controversial. We report results from a randomized phase 2 DEEPER trial (UMIN000018217, jRCTs061180022) to test the superiority of modified (m)-FOLFOXIRI plus weekly cetuximab over bevacizumab in patients with RAS wild-type (wt) mCRC. Primary endpoint was depth of response (DpR).

Influence of the rotation of the diverting loop ileostomy in rectal cancer surgery on small-bowel obstruction: A multicenter prospective study conducted by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, Colorectal Group.

Aims: Whether rotation of a diverting loop ileostomy during rectal cancer surgery, for reducing the catastrophic effect of an anastomotic leakage, affects the incidence of small-bowel obstruction has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study is to explore whether technical maneuvers in diverting loop ileostomy creation, including its rotation, are associated with increased incidence of small-bowel obstruction in rectal tumor surgery.

Methods: This multicenter prospective study was conducted by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, which comprises 24 major institutions.

Phase II trial evaluating the long-term efficacy and peripheral sensory neuropathy of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) as adjuvant therapy in Japanese patients with operated stage III colon cancer.

Adjuvant oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (XELOX) therapy is recommended for patients with curatively resected colon cancer. However, prospective data on its practical application in Japanese patients are limited. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a long-term clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of adjuvant XELOX in patients with curatively resected stage III colon cancer (MCSCO-1024).

Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with D3 resection for right colon cancer in elderly patients.

Background: Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (RHC) with D3 resection, similar to complete mesocolic excision, is an oncologically satisfying procedure; however, it remains controversial in elderly patients. There are no reports of the procedure for tumors fed by middle colic vessels because it is a difficult procedure. We evaluated the feasibility and oncological outcomes of the procedure in elderly patients.

Tolerability and Safety Assessment of Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy with S-1 after Limited Surgery for T1 or T2 Lower Rectal Cancer.

Background: The short-term outcomes of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with S-1 (a combination of tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil) following limited surgery for patients with T1 or T2 lower rectal cancer have shown encouraging results.

Objectives: This study was designed to delve deeper into the long-term outcomes of CRT with S-1 after limited surgery, with the goal of evaluating both the long-term efficacy and potential risks associated with this treatment approach in patients diagnosed with T1 or T2 lower rectal cancer.

Methods: This was conducted as a multicenter, single-arm, prospective phase II trial.

Postoperative venous thromboembolism after surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Background: Local recurrence is common after curative resections of rectal cancer. Surgical resection is considered a primary curative treatment option for patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC). LRRC often requires a combined resection of other organs, especially in the case of posterior recurrence, which requires a combined resection of the sacrum, making the surgery highly invasive.

Assessing parosmia patients: a study on the evaluation method using a self-administered odor questionnaire for parosmia.

Background: Parosmia symptoms are difficult to quantify due to their heterogeneity among patients, and thus a clinical challenge. This study aimed to assess parosmia with Self-Administered Odor Questionnaire for Parosmia (SAOQ-P), a modification of the widely used SAOQ in Japan. The primary objective was to assess the effectiveness of SAOQ-P in identifying parosmia symptoms and its potential integration into the clinical assessment process.

Prognostic value of tumour-related factors associated with canine retroperitoneal hemangiosarcoma in comparison with other anatomic presentations: A retrospective observational study.

Background: Dogs with retroperitoneal hemangiosarcoma (HSA) exhibit variable postoperative median survival times (MST).

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic value of selected tumour-related factors, such as tumour size, rupture, invasion into adjacent tissue, involvement of lymph node and distant metastasis, they were analysed in dogs with retroperitoneal HSA.

Methods: Ten dogs with retroperitoneal HSA managed solely with surgical excision were reviewed and compared with spleen (71) and liver (9) HSA.

Pediatric ultrasound practice in Italy: an exploratory survey.

Background: The aim of this exploratory survey is to describe the current state of US (ultrasound) technique across different pediatric settings nationwide.

Methods: A questionnaire was emailed to all members of the Italian Society of Pediatrics, including pediatric residents. The survey was open from December 2021 to March 2022.

Rare recurrence pattern after complete response to chemotherapy in a patient with rectal cancer: a case report.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) often metastasizes to the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, and peritoneum but rarely to the bladder, small intestine, and skin. We here report the rare metastasis of anal cancer in the left bladder wall, followed by metastases to the small intestine and skin, after abdominoperineal resection and left lateral lymph node dissection with chemotherapy in a patient with clinician Stage IVa disease.

Case Presentation: A 66-year-old man presented with 1-month history of bloody stool and anal pain and diagnosed with clinical Stage IVa anal cancer with lymph node and liver metastases (cT3, N3 [#263L], M1a [H1]).

[A Case of Conversion Surgery for Unresectable Advanced Gastric Cancer of Which Metastatic Site Was Disappear by Chemotherapy but the Primary Site Was Enlarged after Five Years].

A 77-year-old man presented to our hospital with a chief complaint of stomachache. He received a diagnosis of unresectable advanced gastric cancer classified as cT3, N+, M1(LYM, HEP, OSS), Stage ⅣB. He underwent first-line chemotherapy with SOX, second-line treatment with PTX plus Ram, and third-line treatment with nivolumab.

Characteristics of higher depressive tendency in the patients with olfactory disorder.

Objective: Most patients with olfactory dysfunction experience stress and anxiety because of the inconvenience and changes caused by the loss of olfaction. However, psychological assessment is not performed routinely in patients with olfactory dysfunction, and the characteristics of these patients with psychological depression are unclear.

Methods: In this study, we used the Self-rating Depression Scale to evaluate the degree of depression in patients who visited our clinic with olfactory dysfunction and examine the characteristics of these patients with strong depressive tendencies.

Efficacy of Normalising Serum Zinc Level for Patients with Olfactory Dysfunction and Zinc Deficiency.

Introduction: Zinc deficiency may worsen the severity of olfactory dysfunction; however, the relationship between serum zinc levels and therapeutic effects on olfactory dysfunction remains uncertain. This study investigated the relationship between normalising serum zinc levels and the therapeutic effects on olfactory dysfunction.

Methods: Forty-two patients diagnosed with post-infectious, post-traumatic, and idiopathic olfactory dysfunction, with serum zinc levels <70 μg/dL, were included in the study.

Non-destructive real-time monitoring of underground root development with distributed fiber optic sensing.

Crop genetic engineering for better root systems can offer practical solutions for food security and carbon sequestration; however, soil layers prevent the direct visualization of plant roots, thus posing a challenge to effective phenotyping. Here, we demonstrate an original device with a distributed fiber-optic sensor for fully automated, real-time monitoring of underground root development. We show that spatially encoding an optical fiber with a flexible and durable polymer film in a spiral pattern can significantly enhance sensor detection.

Venous Thromboembolism Following Lateral Lymph Node Dissection for Rectal Cancer.

Background/aim: Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-recognized complication that leads to morbidity and mortality. Lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) for rectal cancer is thought to potentially increase the risk of VTE due to its technical complexity. However, the relationship between LLND and VTE remains inadequately understood.

High Level Sacral Bone Resection for Locally Recurrent Rectal Cancer.

Background/aim: Locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) involving the upper sacrum is generally considered a contraindication for curative surgery. In the surgical management of LRRC, sacrectomy is frequently performed to secure clear resection margins. Nonetheless, the indications for high sacrectomy remain controversial due to potential postoperative complications, questions about radicality, and the increased complexity of the operation.